Glunda the Veg Witch is a delightful little cozy fantasy novella which focuses on two magical factions fighting over their power over the local villagers and the food that will sustain them through the winter months. I found Glunda and her coven-mates reminiscent of Terry Pratchett’s witches. The book has a similar tongue-in-cheek humour and light-heartedly pokes fun at its main characters.
The Veg Witches and the Drupe Mages are fighting over the village farmers’ bounties. The Mages just want to get everything they can for the cheapest amount of money, no matter what winter hardships this brings to the villagers and the witches. The witches want to help the villagers but have to survive winter themselves, and require some form of payment for their help.
The unlikely alliance of Glunda, her old schoolmate Clem, the farmer’s son and the handsome Drupe Mage, Alar Reeve (who finally sees the error of his group’s ways), comes up with a solution in the form of a People’s Council.
Maybe the author has found a solution for bipartisan politics everywhere:
“No one over thirty will be allowed to stand for election. The council is for those that want to make a difference, not those who are only interested in safeguarding their tiny little piece of the pie.”
Glunda the Veg Witch is a quick and cozy light-hearted read, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The inclusion of a recipe for Glunda’s veggie soup at the back of the book was a nice touch.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through the SFINCS3 novella competition, for which I am grateful!
