The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is a mysterious story steeped in folklore and magic.

“The mountains are so ancient, so soaked in blood and stories, that they’re almost alive. Almost sentient. And I know never to cross them again.”

Rachel Greenlaw has a stunning writing style and the raw depiction of grief and the hurt of friendship breakups was almost visceral. The longing to return to where you grew up and knowing that both you and the place have changed. Trying to find how you fit as an adult whilst navigating relationships with elderly relatives and carving out the life you dream of.

Beautiful characterisations and such depth in the connections. Each and every character felt true and real in the best way. I adored this book!

I would highly recommend this to lovers of witchy low fantasy.

i had the pleasure of reading woodsmoke women’s book of spells, courtesy of harper collins, and it didn’t disappoint. i read this in the lead up towards halloween (around the similar time, i also read rewitched, which i also recommend).

this book is quite complex with character history and family relations. it’s got that small town vibes, where everyone knows everyone and all their ancestors were doing weird things. i do wish there was a family tree to make things somewhat easier - as i kept getting mixed up between how two characters were related to another. (that’s on me though, I’m always mixing people up 😭)

the romance was a little confusing at first, as i thought it was going to go in a completely different direction (and I’m glad it didn’t go there!). we’re introduced to an old love interest as well as a new one, and i really liked how different they were from one another.

there’s a bit of a mystery going on as well, where a sort of curse comes into play. (I’m not sure if ‘curse’ is the correct word for it…) tales of a man who comes with the frost and disappears when it melts. i was really intrigued by this aspect of the book as i genuinely had no idea what was going to happen.

the only thing that felt like a bit of a letdown was the surprising lack of magic. for a book titled “book of spells”, there’s actually very little in the way of magic. i was hoping for more. that being said, it was still a very good book.

woodsmoke women’s book of spells is an exciting book filled with romance, witchy vibes and a bit of a mystery! this book is well rounded and perfectly suited to all kinds of witch fans.

Carrie Morgan, a woman from a family of powerful witches, returns to the town of Woodsmoke, from which she fled 10 years ago.

A cosy mountain town witchy tale, perfect for the cold dark nights. A story of tradition, superstition, love, friendship, family, a book of spells and a mysterious stranger.

I thoroughly enjoyed the back story, the characters were believable and well crafted, especially the lead Carrie. I loved her relationships with all the other characters in the book.

A beautiful witchy mystery romance with a sprinkling of magic!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC.

There was so much I liked about this book, especially the characters and their relationships. Combining romance, folklore and practical magic is something I love and this ticked every box in that sense.

It was a nice, easy read although, it was too slow for my taste and I didn't enjoy the three povs. It was darker than I expected which I enjoyed. I'd have liked a little bit more magic but the world building was great.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the early ARC.

2.5⭐️ Sadly, this book wasn’t what I expected and ended up not really being for me so my review is quite lengthy. It was pitched as being witchy, with dark magic & mountain folklore so I’d imagined there’d be a fantastical element to it but none of those things were as pivotal as anticipated. I did feel that the book did a good job of being atmospheric, which it had also been described as, and at times it felt chilling, as though it could easily have become a thriller.

I wish there was more depth to the magic elements and the lore around the mountains and their magic was fleshed out because at times I felt like the ‘magic’ elements in this book were for the sake of it. The witchiness was mainly just a small town’s superstitions and there was no real explanation about the ‘magic’ of the mountains- or any exploration of the relationship between the Morgan women, their book, and the mountain’s magic. The book was less a book of spells and more a book of stories and any ‘magic’/‘spells’ Cora performed were so vague. She literally would just take the book to the mountain, draw some blood and then the mountain would take something but she never knew what it was taking or took (it had taken 10 years of her grandmother’s life and yet Cora would risk this great price for the most frivolous and mundane asks, or for her own selfish gain and meddling)

This brings me on to the characters, specifically the three narrators: Carrie, Cora and Jess. This book was very character driven but I struggled to connect with any of the three because, honestly, Cora and Jess were just unlikeable and kind of insufferable and I don’t feel like Jess’ POV really added anything- both were jealous, insecure, selfish and at times immature individuals . At times I liked Carrie but then felt like she was also naive and some of her actions were questionable. She was so quick to believe everything Matthieu said ignoring some pretty big red flags that even without Cora’s narrative based on stories in the books should have been enough to give pause.

I also found some inconsistencies in the story which are also present in the finished copy so haven’t been edited out from the earc. Carrie discusses seeing Matthieu ‘just an hour or so ago’ and two pages later, on the same day in the book, she says ‘the fact is I haven’t seen Matthieu since yesterday. Haven’t heard from him at all today’ which is quite a glaring inconsistency that really takes a reader out of a book (there is also a dog that changes gender among other things).

I know a lot of people loved this book, and there are many others who will enjoy it but this wasn’t for me and I think that’s down to a combination of some mismarketing, admittedly my own expectations, preconceptions and tastes and it being a character driven book where I didn’t connect with the characters and that (pacing wise) felt like it took a while to take off.

Thank you to HQ for an earc and finished copy of this book. This is my honest review.

When Carrie Morgan returns to the small town of Woodsmoke where she grew up she knows the past has never truly left her. Morgan women have always been a strange breed and the family heirloom, the book of "workings" is behind it. Carrie left in a hurry ten years ago and has only returned following the death of her grandma Ivy. Ivy has left Carrie her home and business with the proviso that she remains during the winter to renovate the cottage. Who is mysterious stranger Matthieu who appears from nowhere to help. Has he really come from the mountains to spirit Carrie away? A strange book and I couldn't decide where it was set which troubled me. The description and name of the town seems American but the terminology is British. Confusing. #netgalley #thewoodsmokewomensbookofspells

I don’t even know where to start. I was taken completely by surprise by this book. It was mesmerising.

The descriptions and the town of Woodsmoke, the magical realism, the mystery & kind of folklore surrounding the mountains, the curse, the spells and the atmosphere all come together to create a magical read that will fill you with love, joy & hope. (It will break your heart as well but, don’t worry, it mends it too!)

Carrie is a gorgeous character with whom I adored. Along with her grief she’s also trying to rediscover herself and find out if Woodsmoke is her true home.
I’ve never wanted a character to find happiness more than I did her.

We then have Cora & Howard. Cora is wonderful and even though she did upset me I understood her reasons. And then Howard. Oh I loved him. Sweet, quiet, adorable and so wise. He stole my heart.

However I didn’t like Tom or Jess. I just found them to be selfish.

One of my favourite lines ~
“There is no razor at the edge of his syllables. No tiny cuts at the end of each word. Only a low, soft roundness that wraps around me.”

I’ve now read 2 books by Rachel (this and One Christmas Morning) and can confidently say she is an auto-buy author. Her YA Compass & Blade I haven’t read but do own so will get to that early next year.

Official rating ~ 4.5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley & HQ, for the eArc of this gorgeous book.

I was totally enthralled by this book from the beginning to the end. Just enough magic and mystery, but with a good dollop of reality, blended together perfectly in this novel. I wasn’t sure about the title, but the story blew me away.

Carrie is a Morgan, and the Morgan women have a very special place in the heart of Woodsmoke. They have a special book, passed from Grandmother to Granddaughter which shows them how to harness the power of the Mountains to make things happen – but the price is sometimes too high to pay. Carrie had escaped from Woodsmoke, but when her Grandmother dies she returns to renovate her cottage so she can sell it. Whilst there, she meets Matthieu who offers to help her with the renovations, and she is forced to evaluate all she feels about Woodsmoke. Is Matthieu all he seems? After all, no one else has actually seen him.

If you like a good book, with a bit of a magical touch, this is the one for you.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6956238966

https://maddybooksblog.blogspot.com/2024/10/woodsmoke-womens-book-of-spells-by.html

Thank you to NetGalley for this review copy. This is an easy to read book exploring relationships and the after effects when friendships fracture. I would have loved to have seen more of the magic and book of spells developed, as the title and plot line really draws you in, and I feel there was a missed opportunity to develop that side of the story. Imagery was beautiful and I could really imagine the mountains. 3.5*

Beautifully written this book left me as spellbound as most Morgan women were with the ancient mountains, folklore and the tome of stories. Told by Carrie, the youngest Morgan who has returned home and Cora, the keeper of the spellbook this novel is one of secrets, family and belonging. Of friendships, sacrifice and dealing with the past for a better future. Atmospheric and immersive it's ideal autumn reading when the first frost arrives.

This lovely story showed female friendships and relationships at their worst and best. From Carrie and Jess to Cora and Ivy, these women have developed bonds that fail to quieten even in the toughest circumstances. The community and how they reacted to the Morgan women were reminiscent of the community in Practical Magic. I loved the descriptions of the mountains but felt that I wanted more magic and spells. Still an enjoyable story though.

3.5 stars
An enjoyable read with magic and folklore rippling through the pages. I found the characters and their relationships so interesting and enjoyed seeing how the village and the mountains played such an important part in the tale. The mountains, almost characters in their own right were foreboding and mysterious and added that tension needed and felt thoughout.

This is basically a winter Hallmark story with a small dash of magic, which sees a woman returning to the small town she left ten years ago after her grandmother's death, which some people will love but it wasn't for me at all. The further I got through the book, the less interested I was with any of the characters. For starters, they're all so self-absorbed. They make "magic bargains" to get what they want, knowing that there is a price to pay and it's not always them who pays it, and they don't even seem to feel anything like guilt or regret about it. In typical small town style, if you leave the small town, you're lost forever because apparently it's impossible to call, write, email or even return for a visit, until you dramatically decide to do so ten years later.

For a story where a person's place and sense of belonging is apparently such an important detail, and Woodsmoke is important enough to feature in the book's title, there is a surprising lack of description of the place itself, other than that it's a small town near the mountains. There's hardly any side characters either. It could have been anywhere. There was a small amount of magic but it was mainly small town family drama and romance, and the magic didn't seem to be as important as I thought it would be. I felt like I didn't really know what the point of the book what, it was a bit of this and a bit of that, and didn't really hit the mark for me on any score.

This book wasn't what I expected - it felt darker, more dangerous and with a sharp edge and yet I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Told through the eyes of Carrie, her childhood best friend Jess and her great aunt Cora, this book shows that magic has a cost that someone has to bear, meddling will always come to light in the end, and that the mountains hold dark secrets.

Every character in this book felt so human, flawed and trying their best in an ever=unfolding situation. The long past relationship between Cora and her sister felt like years of resentment, slowly bubbling under the surface until it was too late to resolve.

This felt like all of the darkest, and brightest parts of Appalachia, captured in a book, and it made me nostalgic for a home I've never lived in.

A little on the fence with this book.
Enjoyed it but found it had too little magic to live up to the blurb.
Also it was a book that wasn't sure where it was based, Americanisms jarred in places.

I didn't know what to expect, I know it wasn't going a witchy rom-com. I got a lot as it's a very beautiful, poignant, and gripping story that mixes tropes, old myths, the story of a family of magical woman and a love story.
Magic is at the center of the story: magic as curse, magic as a mean of exchange, magic as part of your inheritance.
Well written, emotionally charged, excellent world building and storytelling
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Rachel Greenlaw’s “The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells” wasn’t quite what I was expecting, although, to be fair, I wasn’t sure what I’d get when I asked for the ARC! I so enjoyed her previous novel, “One Christmas Morning,” so I hoped I’d be in for something intriguing and well executed. An interesting cozy paranormal romance, I hoped. And yes, it’s that, but this also is a captivating blend of multiple genres—mystery, supernatural, family drama, a little bit of gothic suspense, and romance, and Ms. Greene intertwines them all as she teases us by blurring the lines between reality and magic. However, if you’re looking for a deeper exploration of the townsfolk and the nuances of the magic presented here, then know that “Woodsmoke” focuses more tightly on its MC than its wider elements. While the set-up features generational magic, it’s the narrative that provides the atmosphere and “feels” rather than overt, fantastical use of it. So, enjoy the enticing excerpts from the Morgan Book of Spells, but if you’re a fan of Harry Potter or some such, don’t expect wand waving.

Instead, enjoy a compelling story of love and that “magic” (in the non-magical-realism sense) of rediscovering your roots. I adored the atmospheric world that Ms. Greenlaw creates, effortlessly drawing you in. I almost felt I was inside Carrie Morgan’s cottage setting, enveloped by the mystical charm of the surrounding mountains as the story touches on some deeper themes such as grief, sacrifice, identity, and what it truly means to call a place home, all while giving us a delightful, and different, romantic thread.

4.5 stars bumped up because the prose is gorgeous!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Carrie left Woodsmoke 10 years ago in a flurry of rash decisions and heartbreak, leaving behind everything she knew

So when she does finally return it is to whispers, gossip, and cold shoulders. Her Gran has passed away, leaving her the house and Carrie just wanted to return to spruce the place up to sell. Her aunt, Cora, tries to convince her to stay but between feeling the Wanderlust and her broken relationship with her old best friend and old fiance, who are now a couple well established in their life, Carrie is unsure if Woodsmoke is where she belongs

But whilst mending a broken house, Carrie also meets a traveller, Matthieu, but her aunt warns her the man is only there over the winter and will break her heart.

Carrie must tackle some very conflicting feelings and decide where she wants to be. And who she wants to be with.... as well as accepting her complicated family history with a magical book, the town, the people in it, and also the treacherous mountains that surround it....

This was such a touching book, it really dove into the emotions of all the characters through their own POVs in addition to Carries. I really loved the raw honesty and complex nature of what they felt as this is how emotions are... hard and complicated

Definitely giving the Practical Magic vibes and Perfect for this time of year

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the review copy, all opinions my own

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is cosy, witchy, magical story that is perfect for this time of year! After jilting her ex at the altar ten years ago, Carrie Morgan returns to the small village of Woodsmoke after inheriting her grandmother’s old cottage. She comes back to refurbish the home and discover if her attachment to Woodsmoke as her 'home' remains. The Morgan family have long been associated with witchcraft in the village which adds additional pressure to her return and family’s legacy.

The renovation proves more difficult than expected and Carried hires Matthieu, a skilled craftsman who brings his own hidden past to Woodsmoke as well. Drawn to his mysterious nature he interest intensifies when he disappears and no one else seems to know of him. Could these occurrences be connected to the eerie mountains Carrie now lives in. The ghosts of her, and her family's past, both re-emerge with her strained relationship with Tom, Jess, Cora and how to soothe those old wounds.

Carrie had been left Woodsmoke cottage by her grandmother. She hadn't left it previously on a good vibe and is anxious upon returning. She needed to make some repairs. It was a lovely read, but I wish there was more magic as the title suggests and perhaps less characters as it can gey confusing at times.
Thank you to netgalley and HQstories@HarperCollinsfor an early copy to enjoy