Lucky St. James is a young woman who is struggling to make ends meet while dealing with her feisty but loving grandmother, named Stella. She lives with her grandmother in a cozy but tiny apartment in Toronto but are about to be evicted. However, everything changes one night when Lucky hears a strange but irresistible call coming from her walls. That call leads her to look for and discover a silver spoon etched with a crooked-nosed witch and the word "Salem". That spoon has strange, almost otherworldly energy; she found the spoon behind a wall. The spoon, she soon finds out, gives her a connection to a shady company called VenCo, which is funded by dark money and links a network of witches throughout North America. These witches have been waiting for centuries for the seven spoons to come together so that they could usher in a new era that will restore women to power.
Lucky and her grandmother Stella embark on a dangerous road trip to the magical city of New Orleans to find the last spoon. Along the way, they must contend with a powerful adversary named Jay Christos, who is a witch-hunter that is old as many witches themselves. The fate of VenCo is in the hands of Lucky and Stella; Jay proves to be a massive roadblock in their quest.
VenCo: A Novel is a thrilling tale which explores themes of magic, power, and identity. It also explores themes of the power and importance of family, the importance of female relationships, sticking together through hard times, and devising novel solutions to old problems. Without her grandmother, who readers initially think will be of no help to her, Lucky would not have gotten as far as she did. This subversion of expectations underscores the themes about the importance of relationships, family, and trust and adds to the mystery of the novel.
VenCo makes heavy use of symbolism. For instance, the silver spoons at the center of the novel are symbolic of the power and storied history of women throughout history. Additionally, the symbolism of the inclusion of Indigenous magic mirrors the way that women were oppressed and look down upon throughout history. Jay Christos, the witch-hunter, serves as a compelling antagonist and adds tension and conflict to the plot. Most importantly, though, the novel is entertaining. It treats its subject with respect and admiration through its tone, even though the novel is about an incredulous and fantastical plot.
