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VenCo
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
40 posts | 28 read | 18 to read
An incredibly inventive, highly anticipated second adult novel--with witches, magic, and a road trip through America--from Cherie Dimaline, the critically acclaimed author of Empire of Wild. Mtis millennial Lucky St. James is barely hanging on when she learns she'll be evicted from the tiny Toronto apartment she shares with her cantankerous but loving grandmother Stella. But then one night, something strange and irresistible calls out to Lucky. She burrows through a wall to find a tarnished silver spoon, humming with otherworldly energy, etched with a crooked-nosed witch and the word SALEM. Lucky is familiar with the magic of her indigenous ancestors, but she has no idea that the spoon connects her to a teeming network of witches across North America who have anxiously awaited her discovery. Enter VenCo, a front company fueled by vast resources of dark money (its name is an anagram of "coven.") VenCo's witches hide in plain sight wherever women gather: Tupperware parties, Mommy & Me classes, suburban book clubs. Since colonial times, they have awaited the moment the seven spoons will come together and ignite a new era, returning women to their rightful power. But as reckoning approaches, a very powerful adversary is stalking their every move. He's Jay Christos, a roguish and deadly witch-hunter as old as witchcraft itself. To find the last spoon, Lucky and Stella embark on a rollicking and dangerous road trip to the darkly magical city of New Orleans, where the final showdown will determine whether VenCo will usher in a new beginning...or remain underground forever. A wildly imaginative and compulsively readable fantasia of adventure, history, Americana, feminism, and magic, VenCo is a novel only the supremely gifted Cherie Dimaline could write.
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BarkingMadRead
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Tyler!! These books look epic, and the bookmarks are amazing! I cannot wait to use them, especially ghost face! My absolute all time favorite horror movie series!!! You‘re so talented! I‘m so glad you won the fight with your daughter for my treats as well, they look so yummy! Thanks also to @wanderinglynn for organizing! #hhs #hhs24 #hauntedhollowswap

wanderinglynn Fantastic! 🧡🎃🖤 3d
forestandcrow So happy you love them! 3d
50 likes2 comments
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Zuhkeeyah
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pickpick

I really liked this book. All about crushing the patriarchy and women being stronger together than alone. The caregiver aspect to the story was almost too relatable at times.

This month's #doublespin! @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 2mo
12 likes1 comment
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Creadnorthey
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Mehso-so

It‘s not as tightly considered as some of her other novels, but the loose driving searching journey across America mixed with magic and witchcraft is most definitely enjoyable!

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lil1inblue
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read and a good story. I am hoping, however, that another book about the coven will be forthcoming, because I so enjoyed spending time with them!

julesG 🤣🤣🤣 I have that picture on a postcard. And the book on my TBR. 9mo
TieDyeDude Ha! I love that picture! 8mo
17 likes2 comments
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janeycanuck
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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So this is probably my top read for 2023. I absolutely loved it!!

#12booksof2023

Clwojick This cover reminds me so much of the old VC Andrews paperback covers. 10mo
5feet.of.fury I really liked this book, I like this cover so much more than the US cover though 10mo
janeycanuck @Clwojick oh, yeah - I can see that! 10mo
See All 9 Comments
janeycanuck @5feet.of.fury I don‘t know if I‘ve seen the US cover but I love the one we got in Canada!! 10mo
Andrew65 Not heard of this book previously, off to check it out! 10mo
PaperbackPirate One of my favorite new-to-me authors this year! 10mo
janeycanuck @Andrew65 She‘s an Indigenous author from Canada. The Marrow Thieves is probably her best known, it won the Governor General award and a host of other awards. Highly recommend her!! 10mo
janeycanuck @PaperbackPirate I‘ve also read The Marrow Thieves and Empire of Wild but I‘m not the biggest YA fan so haven‘t gotten too far with her. She‘s so good, though! 10mo
Andrew65 @janeycanuck Thanks will have to check her out. Always looking for more books set in Canada or written by Canadians. Seem hard to find in the U.K. 10mo
38 likes1 stack add9 comments
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Laughterhp
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Panpan

This book was a bit boring and nothing happened… they spend all this time looking for the coven and then what happened? Is it just me?

#scarathlon #magicalmonsters #rushathon #20in4 #31by31 #spookoween #witchathon #falling4books #bookspin #finalstretchreadathon #littenlisten

Andrew65 Oh no 😔 12mo
TheSpineView Well done! 12mo
Read4life Ugh! 😕 12mo
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5feet.of.fury I liked it, but it did seem more like it was setting up a series than being a cohesive novel itself 12mo
Catsandbooks 🙌🏼🦇🧡 12mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 12mo
35 likes6 comments
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BookBr
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pickpick

Absolutely gorgeous story. A strong focus on connections — family, friends, the land, and the world, all a network of connections that make us thrive. The magic and power of the feminine. The foundations of all of us, and what‘s worth keeping. Sharp, honest writing with great, memorable characters. Plus, an intriguing plot with a big nasty and a short timeline to keep things moving. A great spooky season read, and one I highly recommend.

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Nessavamusic
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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This started so strong, but all the build led to a very blah ending. A story about the building of a group of witches to help fix the world. The idea is solid, a fun feminist story. However, the execution just fell flat. It just felt like this needed more time and editing to come together. I didn‘t hate it, but was disappointed. 3⭐️
#Scarathlon 6 hours reading 181 word search words #HHC
⬇️

33 likes1 stack add3 comments
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xicanti
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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I finished VENCO while I turned this witchy diamond painting into a wall hanging for my mum. It was such a cool book! Loved the magic rooted in place and identity; loved the characters (especially Stella!); loved the vibe of it all. My attention did waver a little bit as it rolled along, but it was still a great experience overall. #audiocrafting

jlhammar Love that! 12mo
xicanti @jlhammar it was a lot of fun to make! 12mo
27 likes2 comments
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Kimberlone
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Mehso-so

I thought this book had a really interesting premise (modern day witches creating a coven in Salem, MA, who are also being stalked by a witch hunter). What worked for me was the backstories of each witch and how their journeys led to coming together as a coven. Less successful was the hamfisted integration of identity politics and “wokeness”. I found the main character to be pretty annoying, so it was hard to be invested in the outcome.

Kimberlone A more successful book that also plays on the Salem witch trials as an alternate history is The Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow 1y
47 likes1 comment
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arader68
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
Pickpick

Couldn't put it down. If you love strong characters, inclusivity, and witchcraft, then you're going to gobble it up.

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Augustdana
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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My friend and I both borrowed this book from the library, any maybe I‘m in my first book club??

Lindy Accidental book club 😁 1y
paper.reveries Hope you're enjoying it! :) 1y
Augustdana @paper.reveries finished it last weekend, I do love a woman on a journey. Want to hear more about the coven for sure! 1y
paper.reveries @Augustdana Oh yessss, a prequel would be delectable! 1y
17 likes4 comments
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mcctrish
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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I missed Independent Book Store day last weekend because we went to pick up our youngest up from Uni so I made up for it today 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

PurpleyPumpkin I quite enjoyed Looking for Jane. Great debut for this author!👍🏽 1y
PurpleyPumpkin Hope you enjoy it too! 1y
Tamra Envious! 1y
See All 8 Comments
mcctrish @PurpleyPumpkin I started it a while back from the library and then had to return it before I got into it very far, thought I might want to buy it and the author signed this last weekend. I am so glad I waited 1y
mcctrish @Tamra I am ridiculous with the books 🤣🤣 1y
Christine Thank you for your service to indie bookstores. 😁 (And great choices!) 1y
mcctrish @Christine I wanted to buy so many more 🤣🤣 1y
PurpleyPumpkin Omigosh, signed by the author! Awesome!🤩 1y
58 likes8 comments
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Larkken
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pickpick

I think this is the quickest I‘ve read a #doublespin pick!
This was a sweet, often silly, and a bit smutty of a little romp. Honestly, only a little like my #littenkitten, who is a silly, sometimes sweet, and often annoyed and pushy little barfmachine. But he is a black cat, and this is a book about witches… 🧙‍♀️
He also couldn‘t figure out how to use this scratching post house I got him for Halloween 🎃 😂💀

Ruthiella 😻😻😻 2y
5feet.of.fury I love that scratching post! We have one for our spooky kitties that‘s a TV, we used to have a food truck but neither would stick their heads out the drivers window😹 2y
5feet.of.fury I thought VenCo was so fun. I hope we get more of the coven 2y
See All 7 Comments
RaeLovesToRead Those eyes 🥰 2y
Larkken @5feet.of.fury @Ruthiella @RaeLovesToRead kitty power! He does have good puss-in-boots eyes. He‘s so hit or miss with toys, but I guess I‘ll be able to break this toy out again next Halloween since he didn‘t destroy it? 2y
Larkken @5feet.of.fury it was lots of fun! I had a number of times listening to the audiobook where I was giggling at it in public like a lunatic 2y
Gissy 😻 ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
25 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Jolynne
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pickpick

What an excellent tale of womanhood (and so much more, I won‘t say what as to not spoil the story). I loved the grandma/granddaughter relationship so much.

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MysticFaerie
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Mehso-so

3.5⭐️/5⭐️ I wanted so badly to have enjoyed this book more. Sadly, it was a slow read for me.

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psalva
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
This post contains spoilers
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I read the tagged and Bad Cree back to back and I was noticing a lot of similarities. They were both written by indigenous authors. There was the use of dreams leading the characters to a final confrontation, the group of strong women characters, mysterious birds, villains interfering from a distance, and a bunch of other minor things. Nonetheless, the stories were very different in tone, atmosphere, and resolution. ⬇️

psalva I enjoyed them both differently, but preferred VenCo in the end. Has anyone else read both of these? Thoughts? 2y
4 likes1 comment
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psalva
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pickpick

The thing I liked most about this was that the magic of the coven comes from listening, researching, pooling resources, love, convening with/knowledge of nature, and memories- overlooked human powers. The villain meanwhile uses mostly manipulation to get what he wants. I appreciated the themes here even if my cynical heart isn‘t always as hopeful about the world outside this book. This was adventurous and uplifting and I need that sometimes!

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ChaoticMissAdventures
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pickpick

Loved this. One of those books where you don't want to put it down. The characters are fun and full of life. The story is interesting, filled with history and folklore, and of course a terrible villain. A great read.

jlhammar Great to hear! Really looking forward to this one. 2y
27 likes1 comment
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paper.reveries
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pickpick

Been loving reading during our nugget's naps. 💛🥰 Finished up this new release— thanks to Penguin Random House for the free ARC!

If you enjoyed The Change by Kirsten Miller, you'll want to check this one out. A powerful matriarch of witches is ready to change the world. They just need one thing: their sixth witch. Young, rebellious Lucky St. James may just be what the coven's been looking for. Often hilarious and definitely binge-worthy!

tpixie That precious little hand 🥰 2y
paper.reveries @tpixie Simply the cutest!!! 💛🥹 2y
29 likes1 stack add3 comments
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janeycanuck
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pickpick

I went into this nervously because I‘ve only read one Dimaline before and while I liked the writing, the plot wasn‘t for me. I thought this might be the same. I was wrong. The writing was even better - sharp and funny and so expressive - and the plot blew my socks off. This was so good! And I think she may be setting up this up for more books, which I‘ll be very excited for!!

5feet.of.fury Same! I‘m really hoping for more books with the coven! 🔮 2y
bunny I really love this photo! 2y
janeycanuck @5feet.of.fury Yes! I am in for whatever is in store for these women!! 2y
janeycanuck @bunny thank you! 2y
40 likes1 stack add4 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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#weeklyfirecast
🎧 Tipping the Velvet & Radio Silence (thank you Libby)
E-reader: finish VenCo & start Wandering Souls (WP)
📚 All My Rage, Jane Goodall 's Hope, If An Egyptian Cannot Speak English, Mind of My Mind

I am back into the groove of reading after a February slump, and it feels great!

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mdemanatee
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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As of today, I‘ve discussed 99 books in focused Featured Fridays on YouTube. Wild.
https://youtu.be/YqlBfMI4lz8

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mdemanatee
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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“Focused inward and down, she missed all the magic and chance.”

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angieinwonderland
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
Pickpick

I had been eagerly anticipating this one and was slightly disappointed at first because I felt like I couldn't get immersed. Then, I tumbled down the hole with all the themes, characters, and symbolism. Even if I kinda, sorta thought I had it figured out, the confirmation was a beauty. I should have trusted the journey right from the beginning.

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Lindy
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Brittany mentioned the difference in cover design between US and Canadian editions when she commented on my review. I like them both, especially that yellow birds are included. The US cover (on the left) doesn‘t hint at how atmospheric the novel is, although flipping VenCo to CoVen alerts readers to its witchy content. The Canadian cover doesn‘t hint at the contemporary setting. Would you be more likely to pick up one over the other?

TrishB I prefer the one on the right. 2y
jlhammar Hmmm, really like them both. Might prefer the US cover a bit more. Looking forward to this one! 2y
squirrelbrain I like the one on the left. The right-hand one looks a bit ‘generic gothic mystery‘, but maybe that‘s accurate?! 2y
See All 18 Comments
Soubhiville I like them both, but the one on the left grabs my attention more. 2y
5feet.of.fury I like all the details on the Canadian cover! I think the US (left) is a little plain for the magic of the story. IMO 2y
Cuilin Right. I‘d walk right past the left one. 🤷‍♀️ 2y
Lindy @TrishB @squirrelbrain I haven‘t seen anything about a UK edition yet. Maybe it will be a blend of both of these? Helen, it‘s too zippy and brash to be a generic gothic mystery, but Dimaline has definitely incorporated genre elements to give some of that atmosphere to the story. 2y
Lindy @jlhammar I look forward to your thoughts when you have a chance to read it. 2y
Lindy @Soubhiville I agree that it‘s the more immediately commanding of the two. 2y
Lindy @5feet.of.fury Yes, I think the depth of magic and the importance of connection with the land are both missing from the US cover. 2y
Lindy @Cuilin Do you usually enjoy fantasy or other genre fiction? I wonder if the Canadian cover is more appealing to particular kinds of readers. 2y
squirrelbrain Yes, I just had a quick look on Amazon UK, Lindy, and only the US edition is on there…for (de! ? @TrishB (edited) 2y
Lindy @squirrelbrain There needs to be full colour artwork throughout to justify that price. 😬 2y
Cuilin @Lindy I mostly read historical fiction and mythology. Maybe that has an influence. 2y
Singout I‘m with @squirrelbrain: I don‘t lean towards Gothic fiction, so that doesn‘t appeal. The starkness of the words on the left contrasted with the birds is much more intriguing. Took a publishing course many years ago, in which we spent one class focussing exclusively on all the different ways covers could be designed, including seeing about 20 covers from all over the world for one book. 2y
Lindy @Singout Cover design fascinates me 2y
Lindy @Cuilin Thanks for responding to my question about genre. The US cover looks to me like it holds a purely contemporary story. 2y
33 likes1 stack add18 comments
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Lindy
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pickpick

An atmospheric story about a coven of witches that is also a story about community building, gathering together people of all ages who can tear down the patriarchy, led by Black & Indigenous and queer women who are full of joy in the midst of the struggle. Audiobook read by Michelle St John. #Canadian #Indigenous

5feet.of.fury Oooh I love that cover 😍 I liked this one, it was slow to set up but Lucky & Stella were so perfect. 2y
Lindy @5feet.of.fury Yes, I also enjoyed the grandmother/granddaughter pair. It‘s interesting that the US cover has the same colour palette as the Canadian one. I like them both. 2y
40 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Lindy
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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The land holds magic like a giant sponge.

Cathythoughts ❤️ 2y
31 likes1 comment
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Lindy
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pomegranate peel dye project final result. White area is the original cloth colour; yellow from the pomegranate dye and green from the subsequent iron dip.
#audiocrafting #LitsyCrafters

Catsandbooks This is so very cool!!! Beautiful 💛 2y
Lindy @Catsandbooks thanks ☺️ 2y
IndoorDame Oooh, striking! 2y
See All 9 Comments
MissHel That‘s gorgeous! Is it fast? 2y
Lindy @IndoorDame thank you! 2y
Lindy @MissHel It is indeed. I treated the cotton first with oak tannin, then an alum acetate mordant. Pomegranate peel dye is known for its fastness, and the iron acts like an extra mordant as well as shifting the yellow to green. 2y
MissHel @Lindy wow! I‘ve never tried using pomegranates for dye. Thanks for the addition to my list! 2y
Lindy @MissHel You‘re welcome. I‘ve actually been working on a kitchen scraps colour project lately. I‘m dyeing skeins of alpaca yarn and this square of cotton mull was just to use up some of the pomegranate exhaust bath. 2y
LeahBergen That‘s gorgeous! 2y
38 likes9 comments
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Lindy
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Cotton cloth after pomegranate peel dye bath. Next step: a dip in an iron solution.
#audiocrafting #Litsycrafters

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Lindy
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Starting a pomegranate peel dye bath…
#audiocrafting #litsycrafters

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Lindy
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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“Aren‘t all butterflies magic?”

(Internet image)

Chelsea.Poole Yep 🦋 2y
31 likes1 stack add1 comment
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5feet.of.fury
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pickpick

Slow to start, but the characters make the journey worth it. the slow climb pays off once the boss battle nears.As someone who had the both difficult & rewarding task of caring for an aging relative(when at times I barely knew how to take care of myself) I found Lucky &her grandmother Stella‘s interactions sweetly (& painfully)familiar. Very pretty, with an interesting & inclusive magic system, &anti-patriarchy overtone. Loved it.

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5feet.of.fury
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Found the cliché!

Ruthiella That is one of my bugaboos! 😠 2y
5feet.of.fury @Ruthiella 🤣🤣 same, at least this one was over a house and not a man 😂 2y
26 likes2 comments
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5feet.of.fury
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Best. Chapter name. Ever.
🍗🍛

DebinHawaii This book has great chapter titles! 🤣 2y
32 likes1 stack add1 comment
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5feet.of.fury
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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I‘m so excited! I probably won‘t be able to start it till the weekend, but it‘s herrrrreeee

#HappyPubDay

36 likes1 stack add
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Mpcacher
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pickpick

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was about family and female power and is told through the search for a missing spoon needed to find and reunite a coven of witches. I especially loved the characters of Lucky and Stella and the feminist fiction aspect of the story. It also had great humour and a bit of a madcap adventure, with just a touch of spice. I really hope Dimaline plans a sequel as I would love more of these characters. 4.5/5 stars!

TheKidUpstairs I am so excited for this one!!! 2y
5 likes1 comment
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DebinHawaii
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pickpick

An enthusiastic pick for this one, publishing 2/7/23. I have had the #ARC for a few months & finally was able to pick it up. If you loved Empire of Wild, you will likely love this one too. Focusing on Lucky who is scrabbling to get by & take care of her grandmother when she finds a “witch” spoon that leads her to a group of indigenous women, all witches trying to find their 6th & 7th members to form a coven before time runs out or a witch hunter⬇️

DebinHawaii …gets to them first. Darkly humorous & empowering, I loved the folklore, the strong female characters & their stories. As the author says in her closing, “…it‘s always a good day to hex the patriarchy.” 🖤

If you haven‘t read her first novel (tagged) it was one of my favorites for 2022 & this one will probably end up as an early edition of my 2023 list.
(edited) 2y
Bookzombie I didn‘t know about this one. I loved Empire of Wild. Exciting! 2y
SamAnne Stacked! 2y
47 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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vlwelser
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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Pickpick

This is funny and the characters swear a lot. Lucky finds an old spoon which leads her to a group of witches but time is running out to find the 7th spoon and the witch it is meant for. Obviously there's a bad dude that wants to prevent this.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Pub date is 2/7/2023

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 2y
SamAnne Is it YA or adult? I loved Empire of Wild! 2y
vlwelser It's adult. Definitely adult. 2y
5feet.of.fury Ooooh! Thanks for the heads up. Just went and preordered! 🔮 I loved Empire of Wild, I didn‘t want to forget this. 2y
46 likes1 stack add4 comments
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vlwelser
VenCo: A Novel | Cherie Dimaline
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*gasp

How dare she? And in a book set in MA.

💜💛💚

Just kidding. I promise no more of my nonsense for today...

Aimeesue 😂 2y
37 likes1 stack add1 comment