The Witch's Lens: A Novel: 1 (The Order of the Seven Stars) Paperback – 1 Oct. 2023

Love this book with plenty of twists and turns. If you want something supernatural this book has it all. Let the magic fight.

A different sort of book that I usually read. Enjoyed it.

I’ve taken ages to read this, but it’s an extremely interesting tale of war and witchcraft, of frozen wastes and Zars, I wasn’t quite sure where it was going to start with but it becomes very compelling and you get involved with the charactersI will definitely be reading more of this authors work

I did not enjoy this book ,it left me bored and iwill not read any more of the books in this seris

enjoyed reading it

What a great read I couldn't put it down !It felt like I had been transformed into their world.Brilliant !

an unsettling story of war, witches and ghouls set in deep midwinter. Spells abound which heal or hurt. Love smoulders.

Smith returns to the source of modern vampire myths, creating a supernatural thriller that offers a rich world and characters rather than relying on subtle differences from other modern horror and urban fantasy for its charm.Separated from her husband by the Great War, Petra Kurková discovers she has the ability to capture ghosts on film. Worried that a woman roaming the streets alone with a camera will attract trouble, she disguises herself as a man; but instead of mundane threats, she draws the attention of a former soldier tasked with assembling a team of people with unusual powers to counter supernatural attacks on the eastern front. Pushed away by polite society and drawn by the chance she might hear news of her husband, Petra accepts.Smith sets her story during World War 1, in an Eastern Europe where Carpathian legends of sorcerers and the dead returning to feed on the living are more than inflated rumour. While this is very much a fictional story rather than a treatise on folklore, Smith stays close to the traditional tales that existed well before Rymer, Prest, and Stoker brought vampires to Western attention; this both creates a freshness that can be missing from vampire novels that build on the foundation of Dracula and his literary descendants, and a sense that the story is embedded in the location and people rather than being an addition.Smith’s magic and the supernatural is clear enough that success or failure feel due to an in-world system rather than serving what is convenient for the plot, while remaining mysterious enough that it feels like magic rather than science-with-fancy-trappings. Readers who enjoy riddling out possible solutions to supernatural conflict and those who seek the feeling of otherness that comes from horror are thus equally likely to enjoy the novel.The plot is a skilful balance between a small irregular unit of mostly civilians and the vastness of international war. This both allows the protagonists to achieve meaningful goals while maintaining the greater realism of them not being “the chosen one who will end the war”, and creates a new set of challenges for the protagonists—such as there being a difference between most people being superstitious and military command being willing to set aside modernity, hierarchy, and rationalism on the say-so of a ragtag bunch of mystics and oddballs. Thus, while there are fast-paced fights and tense action scenes, this is more a tale about supernatural investigation than spell-slinging warriors.The denouement is clear both in terms of overall plot and personal threads. Therefore, while this listed as the first volume in a series and so leaves room for there to be more, it stands alone rather than seeming to actively withhold closure.Petra is an engaging character, traumatised by events from her childhood that caused her to set aside her strange powers but unable to utterly escape their draw. In addition to her struggle to determine where—or even whether—someone with her abilities fits in society, she is uncertain whether her marriage is based on actual abiding love for each other or happened because social convention made them think it was the right response to their attraction.The others in her impromptu team have similarly imperfect pasts, both binding them together as fellow outsiders and creating further challenges from their sometimes gaping differences and unexpected boundaries.The supporting cast are a plausible mix of the highly skilled and the average, supporting the idea that magic is individually powerful but the collective action of myriad ordinary people also shapes the world.Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking a supernatural thriller that showcases a different mythology from Westernised horror and urban fantasy.

A little slow to start but once I got into it I really enjoyed this story. The writing drew a picture in my mind. Well done!

Petra Kurková has an unusual ability. Through her camera’s lens, she can capture images of souls on film, identifying presences that would not otherwise be seen. That was all I needed to know about The Witch’s Lens to convince me to read this book.Petra was born a witch and her unique talent attracts the attention of a man recruiting for the battle at the front. Josef Svoboda forms a team of sorcerers to be combatants in a secret society that is fighting a paranormal war that rages alongside the mundane conflict.Petra’s husband left for the war long ago and she does not even know if he is alive or dead. So, with nothing to keep her at home, Petra joins the team. At first the team doesn’t really know what they can do. But the dangers of the human war combined with the supernatural attacks inspire the team to action. As the story unfolds, the reader learns more about the talents of the team and of Petra, who is more than a mere photographer. I appreciated that there was no information dump of the team and the secret society. The readers will learn what is important – when it is important.Petra and Josef are drawn to each other, and while there may be a hint of romance, the focus is pretty much on Petra. Several paranormal players will be added to the story, adding complexity, intrigue, and danger for Petra and her team. This convergence of paranormal players leads to many heroic actions for the team and also provides fodder for future plots in this new series.The more I got into the story, the more imperative it became for me to finish the book. The story never dulls, and even though it takes place during war, it is not without some happier moments and hope. One of the nice things about this book is the price – $4.99. If you think the combination of history and the paranormal sounds intriguing, I recommend The Witch’s Lens.

What an amazing story. Not my normal read, but totally captivating.Such a clever writer, characters were believable and emotive.Detailed without being boring. This is a binge read!

Wish it kept going❤️ I thoroughly enjoyed the story and characters. I look forward to reading the next book. So exciting.

Luanne G. Smith has done it again, and created another excellent and spellbinding series. Set during World War 1, the Eastern front, and the events that ultimately lead to the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a band of misfit witches are trying to rid the war front in the Carpathian Mountains of evil hexes and curses, all of which are obliterating the troops. Petra Kurková, a witch with a talent for capturing ghosts on film, is recruited by the enigmatic, intense Josef Svoboda to join the group fighting magical evil on the front. As danger looms, and destruction is imminent, will Petra choose to fight, or will she continue to hide her power? I really liked that the novel jumped right into action with characters moving forward, and allowing the world-building and character development to unfold organically with the story. I also really liked that there are still lots of secrets, and characters to explore for the rest of the series. Petra is a great character, and I'm sure more will be revealed about her in subsequent books. She is strong, but also not overtly so. Her life experience and reluctance to use her power make her very human. And yet she doesn't flinch when duty calls. Josef is also a fascinating character, and I'm curious to see what will eventually happen with him as well. He makes for a very charismatic leader, and I also appreciated the whole band of misfits portrayal, and how they work together. The villain was particularly villainous. It's hard to say more without spoiling things, but with all the characters, including the heroes, there is plenty of interesting grey morality, and complexity to make things interesting. I'm really excited for the rest of the series. And I also love the cover so much!