Around the Fire review of The Witch's Lens by Luanne G. Smith

I don't get to read as often as I would like. You know how it is. Life and busyness get in the way. I love when we go on long trips and can enjoy audio books. Sometime I also have difficulty finding books that catch and hold my attention. A couple of pages in and often I end up DNFing a book. DNF? Did not finish. But scrolling through the other day I found The Witch’s Lens by Luanne G. Smith.
I liked it very much and finished it in two sittings.
Quite a unique story. Paranormal? Yes. Historical? Yes. But not what I expected. The world-building took me to a place where I wasn’t familiar. The location and time period from references would have been WWI Eastern Europe. I haven’t read many books from this era.
The main character is Petra, a woman and witch whose human husband has gone to war. She is left in dire straights of poverty and fear. Though many witches have been conscripted into the fighting, she hides her magic from those who would use it for personal gain.
A camera, a gift from her husband before he left, exposes her not only as a lone woman in the city. One unique paranormal talent she has enables her to see ghosts when she develops the film. Dressed as a man, she prowls the streets at night, taking pictures.
Josef is searching for those witches who have gone into hiding to build a special team to turn the tide of the battle where revenants are being used against them. Though he appears human, something is off about him.
Petra must decide. Does she continue in her miserable state and try to elude authorities and those who would use her other powerful magics or join the group of men and try to turn the tides of war both of mortals and paranormals.
The harsh reality of WWI and the difficulties of women left behind when men go off to war is revealed through the pages of this story. It is also how people can make a difference when they choose to use their strengths for the greater good. 
I do recommend this story. 

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