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The Witch's Lens: A Novel (The Order of the Seven Stars, Book 1) Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Luanne G. Smith (Author), Gail Shalan (Narrator), Brilliance Audio (Publisher)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 7,100 ratings
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As World War I rages, there are evils—both living and dead—that only a witch can see in a spellbinding novel by the Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author of The Raven Spell.

With her husband off fighting at World War I’s eastern front, Petra Kurková embraces her fleeting freedom, roaming the city at night with her camera. A born witch, she’s discovered that she can capture the souls of the dead on film. Her supernatural skills don’t go unnoticed by the enigmatic Josef Svoboda. He’s recruiting a team of sorcerers to infiltrate the front lines, where the bloodshed of combat has resurrected foul creatures. Petra’s unique abilities will be needed against the most dangerous enemies of all—those ever present, undead, and unseen.

Deep in the cursed Carpathian Mountains, the ragtag team meets with an emissary of an ancient organization founded to maintain balance between worlds. Photographing the escalating horrors is beyond anything Petra imagined. So are the secrets among her fellow witches. But Petra can’t turn back. Not before she discovers her husband’s fate and the myriad ways her magic is manifesting. To defeat an occult foe, Petra must release the power she’s been concealing for so long, or risk damning a war-torn world to ashes.

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  1. Book 1 of 2
    The Order of the Seven Stars
  2. Listening Length
    8 hours and 41 minutes
  3. Author
    Luanne G. Smith
  4. Narrator
    Gail Shalan
  5. Audible release date
    October 1, 2023
  6. Language
    English
  7. Publisher
    Brilliance Audio
  8. ASIN
    B0BZ13ZDDN
  9. Version
    Unabridged
  10. Program Type
    Audiobook
  11. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 8 hours and 41 minutes
Author Luanne G. Smith
Narrator Gail Shalan
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date October 01, 2023
Publisher Brilliance Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0BZ13ZDDN
Best Sellers Rank #36,595 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#142 in Gothic Horror Fiction
#348 in Historical Fantasy (Audible Books & Originals)
#995 in Historical Fantasy (Books)

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
7,100 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the premise unique and intriguing. They describe the story as well-written, spellbinding, and delightful to read. Readers praise the characters as well-developed, brave, and determined. They appreciate the blend of real and magic that works cleanly.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
IntrigueStory qualityReadabilityCharacter developmentMagicPacing
112 customers mention "Intrigue"104 positive8 negative

Customers find the premise unique and intriguing. They say the story is fascinating, exciting, and different from other stories they've read. Readers describe the book as fun historical fiction meets magical fantasy, saying it provides fodder for future plots. They also mention the twists are well-telegraphed and enjoyable.

"...leads to many heroic actions for the team and also provides fodder for future plots in this new series...." Read more

"...there is plenty of interesting grey morality, and complexity to make things interesting. I'm really excited for the rest of the series...." Read more

"...of the war from the Russian pov was novel, and the folklore elements were quite interesting. Overall, it was a good book...." Read more

"...Good over evil. This book had it all. Sad parts. Happy parts. Exciting parts. Bloody parts. A great read. Glad I had the opportunity." Read more

78 customers mention "Story quality"60 positive18 negative

Customers find the story well-written, spellbinding, and relatable. They say the characters and plots make for an interesting read. Readers also mention the descriptions are vivid and beautiful.

"...The story never dulls, and even though it takes place during war, it is not without some happier moments and hope...." Read more

"...G. Smith has done it again, and created another excellent and spellbinding series...." Read more

"...Petra, the main character, is well-written and relatable, in so much as a WWI heroine with a secret magical past can be...." Read more

"...Pure alchemy. But there is still so much that wasn't explained. Her dad was a big deal, but we don't learn that until the end...." Read more

75 customers mention "Readability"75 positive0 negative

Customers find the book delightful, engaging, and superb. They say the beginning is enjoyable, the middle is okay, and the end is a mess. Readers also appreciate the setting and writing.

"...and even though it takes place during war, it is not without some happier moments and hope...." Read more

"Luanne G. Smith has done it again, and created another excellent and spellbinding series...." Read more

"...Good over evil. This book had it all. Sad parts. Happy parts. Exciting parts. Bloody parts. A great read. Glad I had the opportunity." Read more

"This was a fun read in a world where witches and paranormal creatures are common lore...." Read more

38 customers mention "Character development"33 positive5 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed. They say the author did a good job at world-building and the heroine is wonderful.

"...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...." Read more

"...The story, and characters were imaginative and engaging, leading to a very compelling second half of the book...." Read more

"...All of the characters work well in the book allowing for conflict, love, and laughter to be easier brought out during their interaction with each..." Read more

"...Good character build up and development, but I honestly wished for one day of sunshine." Read more

10 customers mention "Magic"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book has enough magic to make it interesting. They say the blend of real and magic works cleanly. Readers also mention the mission is very good.

"The magic is epic and the story of wwi had me jumping back and forth to google locations and dates of historic events in wwI- turns out the author..." Read more

"...They each have great talents to help kill the monsters and their mission was very good, but so minimal of the story...." Read more

"...The protagonist is fairly smart, and the magic believable." Read more

"...Fun story. Nice buddy story, magic mixed in, little war—I am completely the target audience. I’m looking forward to more." Read more

9 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some mention it's well-crafted and balanced, while others say the characters are not very well-developed, unrelatable, and mediocre. They also say the big reveal is flimsy and gets flimsier with every additional twist.

"...She is strong, but also not overtly so. Her life experience and reluctance to use her power make her very human...." Read more

"...some magic was lost as some of the protagonists were weak and lacked development...." Read more

"...this book but not as much as her first two—writing is, as always, impeccable. Worth reading for sure." Read more

"...The characters, other than Petra, were not very well developed and any of them could have been killed off at any given moment without leaving a void..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

rann
5.0 out of 5 stars Combination of History and Paranormal
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2023
Verified Purchase
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.
7 people found this helpful
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eleanorreadseverything
4.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent novel from Luanne G. Smith!
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2023
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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!
18 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Not What I Expected
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2023
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Having read and enjoyed The Vine Witch, this book was an easy pick, though I suppose I should have read the blurb closer.

Petra, the main character, is well-written and relatable, in so much as a WWI heroine with a secret magical past can be. The view of the war from the Russian pov was novel, and the folklore elements were quite interesting. Overall, it was a good book.

It was the nature of the creatures they were fighting against that was not my cup of tea and slogged down the read for me. And that's okay, not every story is for every reader. While that particular foe appears to be dealt with (maybe?), it doesn't make me eager to read the next book in the series.
2 people found this helpful
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alienninja
5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2024
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What I liked most about this book was that it held my interest through the end and ready for more. A story of underdogs. Small beginnings and friendship. Love conquering all. Good over evil. This book had it all. Sad parts. Happy parts. Exciting parts. Bloody parts. A great read. Glad I had the opportunity.
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Thicc & Ired
4.0 out of 5 stars 3.7 / 5.0
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2024
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This was a fun read in a world where witches and paranormal creatures are common lore. I enjoyed how the story built giving enough information to keep me interested, but not so much I was overwhelmed. Some of the action scenes were intense and graphic, but I felt connected enough to the characters and their plight to get through.

This is a series and I am entertained enough to pick up the next and see what this band of magical misfits gets up to, especially since the romance is tastefully done.

Until Next Time,
MC
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Top reviews from other countries

Leslie Bethmann
4.0 out of 5 stars A good read
Reviewed in Canada on April 1, 2024
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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!
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Dave Higgins
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging Character-Driven Variation on Eastern European Myth
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 23, 2024
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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.
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Tracey
5.0 out of 5 stars Take a chance. Thank me later 😉
Reviewed in Australia on June 29, 2024
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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!
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Shelagh Howell
4.0 out of 5 stars loved the rich story and characters
Reviewed in Canada on January 2, 2024
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Wish it kept going❤️ I thoroughly enjoyed the story and characters. I look forward to reading the next book. So exciting.
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Sharon
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2023
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A different sort of book that I usually read. Enjoyed it.
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