I love reading and enjoy the pure escapism from the world. I love books that capture my imagination, that inspire and are a delight to read so when I spotted *Witchcraft Couture by the author Katarina West, I was intrigued to read more.
"Oscar Pellegrini is a talented fashion designer with a deadly enemy: his own critical mind. He destroys much of what he designs and has been drifting for years, gradually retreating from the fashion business he loves but holding on to his dreams of success.
A chance meeting with a former girlfriend triggers a creative crisis so deep that Oscar escapes to Russia, where he drinks and despairs like never before. Just when he thinks he has lost everything he discovers a magical machine that turns ordinary outfits into irresistible sartorial triumphs. Oscar takes the machine back to Italy - and before he knows it, he has become famous for his designs, and celebrities and socialites are fighting to be first to wear his gorgeous garments.
But the happily-ever-after ending for the fashion messiah turns into a nightmare when his dresses acquire a life of their own, gaining energy and evil as time goes on. Haunted by his creations, a dark secret he is no longer able to hide, Oscar finds himself fighting for his life and sanity, and searching for the answer to a question he never knew existed.
Is there such thing as stolen genius, and if there is, can it turn against the very person that stole it?"
I chose to read this book as I like anything to do with magic and this book encompassed fashion as well. The only other book that I can think of which is of similar connections is the 'Emperor's New Clothes,' which I read as a child and intertwined with the thinking of 'is it all in your head?'
The author Katarina is an intelligent, well cultured and friendly person whose writing in this book is highly descriptive. The characters, places and events are described in great detail with an impressive array of vocabulary.
It did take me quite a while to finish this book as different events took precedence in my life. I would say that the book was medium paced whereas I prefer a fast paced book that I can whip through easily. What kept me hooked was the wondering of what the magical machine was going to do and how it was going to end.
The book gets you thinking at the end which is a favourite technique of mine. Is the Sampo (magic machine) real or was it actually Oscar's talent after all which created the garments? Can the belief
that you're not good enough at something be directed elsewhere so that it seems as though someone or some thing else has created the magic? The fact that Oscar's friend Ben writes a letter at the end which gives a contrasting point of view throws the whole of Oscar's mind set in doubt.
Was it magic or talent? That is the question.
Love Laura xoxo
*Item sent by the lovely author to review :)
