I read this E-ARC book in exchange for an honest review and I selected it looking for something magical and wintry to match the changing weather and this didn't disappoint.

Centred around the Morgan women, Carrie Morgan has reluctantly returned to her hometown having left under a cloud a decade before. She's drawn back by family ties and the ominous presence of the mountains which provide a foreboding backdrop to this magical tale and feel like the baddy in the story.

I found the story relatable And not so seated in magic that the characterisation was lost. I liked the ambiguity of the fantasy element - was it magic or was it the forcefulness of each of the strong characters involved? There was no way to tell.

The story progressed at a pace and it had a satisfying ending. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to those who enjoy the occasional fantasy and magic lite

A beautifully moving, emotional, magical book. Rachel Greenlaw enchants from the first page, the characters are so well written and the story is so enjoyable.

A Morgan woman can make a wish. She can scratch at the door of the mountains and ask for the world, but if they agree to help, she must give something of equal importance in return. An eye for an eye. A secret for a secret.

A life for a life."

I started reading The Wooodsmoke Women's Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw and quickly wondered why this was the first book I had read by her. It was a cosy and atmospheric read that kept me hooked for the entire book and left me thinking about it for a long time after. There wasn't a moment of The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells that I didn't love.

Carrie is returning to her hometown of Woodsmoke, a little town in the shadow of some mountains, after 10 years away. She returns following the death of her beloved grandma, Ivy. Ivy had stipulated in her will that Carrrie should return to Woodsmoke to restore the cottage. Her return stirs up a lot of memories, gossip and superstitions.

The women in Carrie's family have a book of tales passed down through her family, a book filled with 'workings' and tales of bargains to be made in the shadows of the mountains.

"There are tales in the book, Tales of beautiful people who are not quite real, stories from the mountains of the people of Woodsmoke being lured into the wild depths and never coming home. Perhaps the mountains are vengeful, perhaps just playful, perhaps in love with us. But it's been drummed into me to follow the paths and never stray from them. Most still follow the old ways here, even if they don't admit it aloud. But the hikers, the visitors, they don't know the rules. Some never leave the mountains."

Those who live in Woodsmoke are divided over the stories surrounding the mountains and over the use of the book to meddle in the affairs of those living in the town, and yet even those who claim not to believe still adhere to the superstitions.Carrie's Great Aunt Cora clings fast to her belief in the old ways but her mother and grandmother respect and feat the mountains and want no part in the bargains availble to them as a Morgan Woman. Carrie is an embodiement of the way most people in the town are hedging their bets - both believing in the power of the mountain tales, and not.

"I turn to the North, to the mountains. If I don't greet them, if I turn away and pretend they are not there, I know what could happen. I know the old tales. It's a curse and a gift being a Morgan woman with this knowledge. But we all know, really. Everyone in Woodsmoke has grown up knowing that magic isn't some intangible, wonderful thing. It's real, it has consequences, and it echoes in the mountain range. This ancient place, where magic seems to grow thick and wild. Some people in the town like to think that they don't believe, but I've seen them scratching at Cora's door. I've seen the outcome when her warnings are not heeded. We all have."

Carrie is all set to get the cottage sold and move on..until she meets a man who appears with the first frost, a man nobody else seems to have seen.

One of the things that appealed to me about The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells is the underlying message of being careful what you wish for, a message that reminds me heavily of the old style fairytales.

"The magic of the mountains is a dark thing, demanding a price, demanding blood from a Morgan woman for every bargain made in it's shadow, or so it is whispered around the town."

Another thing that struck me about the book is the way nobody, not even the Morgan family themselves, can say for sure whether the mountains have real magic, or whether it is all just superstition born of the hardness of the landscape. Whether Mathieu is real or whether he is a punishment from the mountain's as Cora suggests, a man sent to make Carrie fall in love and then to melt away with the Spring and leave her heartbroken.

"What if Matthieu is something out of one of the tales of the book? What if...What if he did appear with the frost? What if Cora is right?"

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells is getting a lot of hype online and as far as I am concerned it is well deserved .I loved every character in the book and I dare you to read it without routing for Carrie.

REVIEW
cw: anxiety, panic attacks, brief mentions of miscarriage, grief, loss, death

In the mountain town of Woodsmoke, the locals have long heard tales of a stranger linked to the first frost. Carrie Morgan fled Woodsmoke a decade ago, leaving everyone she loved behind. Her decision has haunted her ever since. Born into the magical legacy of the Morgans women, generations of whom have been able to harness the power of the imposing mountains, Carrie returns to her late grandmother's dilapidated cottage. As the temperatures drop, there she meets Matthieu, a handsome stranger who offers to help refurbish the cottage. They grow closer, but as the last frost disappears, so does Matthieu, leaving Carrie wondering if he was ever real. As she searches for the truth, and him, she must finally confront the reason she left Woodsmoke.

I was so intrigued by the opening chapters of this book. Greenlaw skillfully wove the eery tension and steeped each chapter in anticipation of what secrets the Woodsmoke mountains were keeping. The story was told from the POVs of Carrie, Cora (Carrie’s great aunt), and Jess (Carrie’s childhood best friend, now married to Tom, Carrie’s former fiancé). As such, there were three interwoven storylines which drew on each woman's relationship, not only with each other but with their families, and the Woodsmoke mountains.
I felt sorry for Carrie, particularly as we discovered why she always felt so untethered. She was constantly in limbo and never felt settled. As the story progressed I grew more and more protective of her. I won't spoil anything but it made so much sense when the secrets began to be revealed. When the mysterious Matthieu appeared I appreciated the whispers of folklore and superstition. I do wish there'd been more actual on-page romance between them throughout the story. What we got was sweet, and sometimes moving, but most of it was merely told to us, which stopped their dramatic conclusion from having quite as much emotional impact as it could have. Still, I always appreciate characters who put their mental health first, so I loved that the author allowed one of the characters time to do so.
The themes of envy, resentment, and pride were also expertly threaded through the story. Cora was such an interesting character. Younger sister to Ivy, Carrie’s grandmother, you could feel her bitterness towards Ivy through each page, especially regarding not being given The Morgan Compendium. But you could also feel her protective love for Carrie, and as her own secrets are revealed it was impossible not to care for her and her husband, Howard. Howard was so kind and stoic. But my heart broke for him when we discovered the price he'd paid for Cora's actions. That said, chapter 42 was incredibly moving and I adored the flashbacks to their courtship, and early years together. Chapter forty-seven was particularly beautifully written.
The Morgan Compendium was almost a character all of its own, and you always felt the burden of the book. I loved the extracts at the beginning of each chapter. They built the tension perfectly.
Jess and Tom's story was also well-written, and the scenes where they each discovered that Carrie had returned felt visceral in different ways. Jess's turmoil was palpable, especially over the loss of her friendship, and my heart broke for her, particularly when she finally confronted Carrie. But she had her own secrets, and, without spoiling anything, it was interesting to see how those played out. I found Jess and Carrie’s journey particularly heartwarming. The epilogue tied everything up perfectly, if a teensy bit abruptly. I'd love to have had a little bit more of the dynamic at the end, but that's what bonus chapters are for, isn't it? *winks*
A beautifully crafted story about three women learning to accept their place in the world.

Overall Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own*

Favourite Quotes:

When a story is no longer shared, it becomes a secret. Then it all too easily either withers and dies or grows into something quite monstrous: a curse.

The magic of the mountains is a dark thing, demanding a price, demanding blood from a Morgan woman for every bargain made in its shadow, or so it’s whispered around the town. And Cora has carried all of that with her for many, many years.

“The mountains didn’t welcome her home, Howard. They’re tormenting her. Punishing her for— for leaving . . .”

You can’t fit yourself into a box that wasn’t built for you.

One wants me to leave, and one wants me to stay. It’s as though the town is divided, and that same divide sits in my heart.

Matthieu is the only person in Woodsmoke I don’t have some kind of history with. Spending some time with him is like taking a break from the muddle of my thoughts. It’s the distraction I desperately need, and being near him feels like a balm. Like he’s the coolness I needed to calm my flames.

The hidden mysteries of the mountains used to fill me with wonder, but now I am older, I fear their sinister edge.

“I’m sorry it’s creating gossip. I’m sorry the town has so little going on that I’m causing such a stir. Now you know how it is to have the last name Morgan.”

Why is losing a friend always so much harder than losing a love?

"Loving someone —caring for them and losing them . . . it is a distinct kind of grief. One that’s hard to shake.”

I love how Matthieu has surprised me, shown me a different side to the mountains. A playful side, a side not closely guarded and full of tricks, like those in Cora’s book. I feel like the mountains are mine again, that seeing this side of them is reclaiming a piece of the home I wasn’t sure would be mine to come back to.

He has to be real. How could someone who carries this much love and grief and promise not be?

I realize that you can belong with a person as much as you belong to a place. Matthieu is the one I want to belong with.

I’m afraid he may be the person I’ve been unconsciously searching for— a soul that matches my own.

Everything is just as it should be, and at last he can see the love he’s craved shining from her. Love for him, love for the life they’ve shared. It’s enough. It’s everything.

I have finally found my way home.

"You’re the love of my life. Always have been, always will be."

All there is in that moment is him.

A great cosy story. Perfect for the season! The writing was beautiful and I felt like I was there with the girls. I loved all the characters, especially Carrie and Cora. A lovely book!

Enticed by this gorgeous cover, I really enjoyed this book from Greenlaw. It was completely different to the book I read last year by this author and I appreciated this alternate direction. Perfect for this winter time, I loved seeing the seasons move from chilly autumn to the depths of winter, as the frosts surround the town of Woodsmoke.

Undoubtedly, Greenlaw has created a very atmospheric book. It very much reminded me of Upon a Frosted Star, not just because of the chilly weather. The idea of cursed, unrequited love is seen in both novels and I loved how nature becomes such a driving force in the plots. You really do become absorbed into the surroundings.

However, when you are reading this book, don’t expect cauldrons and spells galore. Although there is some symbolic witchy-craft taking place during the flashback scene with Cora when Carrie and Jess were children, this is more about the beliefs of nature’s power over the fates of others. Instead, the Morgan women’s book of tales and folklore is what drives this narrative as stories of romances that come with the frost haunt the Morgan family. As the weather moves into spring, the frost thaws and the romance eventually fades and disappears with no logical explanation.

I liked this book because Carrie’s return to Woodsmoke represents her trying to understand her past and make a future for herself. Over time, readers learn the circumstances behind Carrie’s abrupt departure and I enjoyed this flashbacks that provided more background to her family – a bit like the Morgan history book. Then, switching back to the present, the looming mountains and dense forest seem to swallow everything up and cast a shadow over Carrie and Woodsmoke.

I was bewitched by this narrative and enjoyed the mystical element to the story. I could not foresee Matthieu’s role in the novel and thought the ending was clever and slightly ambiguous. On the other hand, I sympathised with how isolated Carrie feels when she returns to Woodsmoke, wishing that she would make amends with Jess and Tom.

Not heavily a fantasy book but perfect for this bewitching time of year, this is a mystical, slightly spooky story that is heavy with atmosphere and pulled me in. I was fascinated by Greenlaw’s tale of loss, love and magic. It was a really refreshing yet cosy read.

With thanks to HQ and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was unsettling—the line between what was real and what wasn’t felt razor-thin, leaving me in a constant state of uncertainty. I went into it expecting a fantasy novel, but it ended up reading more like general fiction with hints of magical realism woven throughout.

The book is definitely well written, the atmosphere is rich, and the author does a great job at creating this eerie, almost dreamlike world. However, despite these strengths, I struggled to enjoy the book. I couldn't quite connect with the characters or the plot, and without that connection, it made the overall experience fall a little flat for me.

That being said, the blurred boundaries between reality and fantasy might work better for other readers who enjoy stories with a more ambiguous, unsettling edge.

3/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cosy Magic. Mystery. Secrets. Dual timeline. Old magic. Family.

I started this book as I was feeling like a summerween read, I wanted something cosy and magical. And damn this book delivered!

There was just something about Greenlaw's writing that was so whimsical, like a narrater weaving their story to a captivated audience.

I loved that whilst there was romance, it didn't take the forefront. This was about family, friendship, a woman searching for where she belonged.

I loved the concept of the book passed down through generations and added to, it reminded of Charmed. Knowledge treasured of magical secrets and stories.

The way it all came together with the reveals, confrontations, reunions was a perfect ending. Even if there was some sadness, there was also wonder and love.

Not my usual genre of book but having read the blurb I wanted to read it and i am glad I did.. A perfect mystical, magical and mysterious read. A beautifuly beautifuly descriptive story, definitely worth reading.

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is a deeply mystical story. After staying away for ten years, Carrie Morgan returns to the small village of Woodsmoke, having inherited her grandmother’s old cottage. She comes back not only to refurbish the home but to see if Woodsmoke still feels like home to her. The Morgan family, long associated with witchcraft in the village, casts a shadow over Carrie’s return, fueling gossip and adding pressure as she faces her family’s legacy, including reconnecting with her great-aunt Cora, the keeper of the Morgan family's secrets.

The village is portrayed with a magical atmosphere, set against the backdrop of mystical mountains, which give it a sense of isolation and mystery. As Carrie grapples with the overwhelming task of restoring the cottage, she hires Matthieu, a skilled craftsman who brings his own hidden past to Woodsmoke. Carrie finds herself drawn to Matthieu in a way that feels dangerous, almost supernatural, and her fascination with him intensifies when he mysteriously disappears. No one else in the village seems to know who Matthieu is—or if he ever existed—leaving Carrie unnerved and questioning her own perceptions.

These strange occurrences seem linked to the village's eerie mountains, echoing Cora’s cryptic warnings. Could there be more to the Morgan family secrets and Woodsmoke's landscape than Carrie is prepared to face?

Adding to the emotional complexity is Carrie's personal history in Woodsmoke. She left the village a decade ago after abandoning her ex, Tom, at the altar. Now, Tom has moved on and is married to her former best friend, Jess, with whom he has a daughter. This strained relationship haunts Carrie, pulling her between the ghosts of her past and the unsettling mysteries of her present.

This was a really cosy, witchy read, steeped in mystical magic, and perfect for this time of year.

This is a great cosy read that managed to make me feel like I was sitting under a blanket by the fire with a hot chocolate even though I was sitting by a pool in Tunisia!
As someone who isn’t a massive fantasy fan this was the perfect blend of real-life issues and magic realism. The kind of small town world that Rachel Greenlaw has created can be found in many countries and it’s brilliantly described, I could see the cottage and shop, and imagine Cora and Jess living their lives there before Carrie returns. The brooding presence of the mountains jumps off the pages and the reverence they are given (willingly or not) binds the townsfolk together. They, along with Carrie’s family, are the source of the magic that sets this small town apart from those in our world, but even then the treatment of it by Rachel makes it almost everyday, like it could be happening in a small town near you. Magic realism done incredibly well.
There are also two love stories, one platonic and one romantic. These provide joy, heartache, and a fantastic is it/isn’t it situation that gripped me right up until its resolution.
This is my second Rachel Greenlaw book, I’ve also read One Christmas Morning. The two books have the same wonderful “But what if magic does exist?” warm feeling that makes you gaze up to the sky and cross your fingers.

Thank you to HQ and HarperCollins UK for granting me a digital arc of The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells in exchange for an honest and fair review.

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells is a dark, witchy read about belonging, the cost of magic, family, and love. Rachel Greenlaw managed to weave a dark, spooky, and melancholy story with beautiful atmospheric writing that brings to life the haunting place of Woodsmoke and its watchful mountains. There is no cozy fantasy here – get ready for intrigue, suspense, and complex family dynamics.

The storytelling is intensely character-driven, focusing on the lives of three women bound by the magic of the Morgan family. The twists and turns of this book always kept me guessing what was around the corner and if this place's magic and ghosts were in the character's imagination or real as it jumped between the past and present. The characters are very complicated, rich personas, especially the Morgan women Cora and Carrie, a great-aunt and niece bound by the magic of their line. Cora is the past, and Carrie is the future, the last of her line left to inherit her family's magic.

An enchanting, emotive read full of mystery, blossoming love, gothic suspense, and fevered with questions about not knowing what was real and what might have been magic. I got lost in the stories of the Woodsmoke women as their stories unraveled, their life journeys, and the prices paid for their magic.

Actual Rating: 4.5

’I’m no longer interested in exploring every inch of the mountains, taking field notes, and marvelling at the heady freedom of such an ancient place. The hidden mysteries of the mountains used to fill me with wonder, but now I am older, I fear their sinister edge.’

If you’re looking for the perfect fall read then look no further. There’s something about ’The Woodsmoke Women’s Book Of Spells’ that feels like the book equivalent of a pumpkin spice latte and the scent of freshly baked apple pie. Reading it utterly emerges you within those glorious fall vibes although if you happen to stumble across this review at another time of year don’t let that factor put you off; this is a novel that I recommend reading regardless of the weather and/or season. It’s one of those beautifully crafted gems that you can’t help but treasure.

For me there were two features that really stood out within ’The Woodsmoke Women’s Book Of Spells’ helping it to cast a spell over me fairly early on. Firstly was its wondrous writing which painted its scenes so poignantly whilst bringing characters vividly to life. Its three points of view each had their own unique feel to them and it was one of those books that, once its hooked you, refuses to let you go. Prose wise I couldn’t help but find myself enchanted.

The other standout feature was the glorious way that it managed to blend its folk style magic and the superstitious tales of the town of Woodsmoke into a novel that kept me guessing as to where the line between the mundane and mystical truly lay. It’s one of those glorious books that feels grounded in the real world yet has a sense of the uncanny and mysterious about it. It’s a story that infuses magic into its mountains and throws up tales from the past that make you question just how much of it is true. It’s a book where you can find yourself simultaneously believing in magic and wondering if there’s a more natural answer at work. Plus it goes one step further than many other novels by making you question, in a rather unique way, whether or not you can believe in the love interest that features here.

Given the reasons, that you discover fairly early on, to doubt this possibility of love it’s pretty impressive that the author had me falling for the pairing regardless. There’s this constant niggling sense of doubt over whether you should fall for this pairing and yet I did. You know those scenes that melt your heart or leave you reading with a big, silly smile on your face? They were here. And I knew, quite possibly, that by falling in such a way I was potentially setting myself up for a whole world of pain. Yet that’s all that I can truly say about the romance; it will melt your heart and keep you guessing.

Character wise I found myself oddly enchanted by Cora; her larger than life personality burst off the page from her very first chapter. Yes she was meddling yet I couldn’t help but delight in her chapters. I feel like there’s a chance that Jess’s insecurities may grate on some people – although they didn’t for me – but they’re explained over the course of the novel and her feelings of frustration felt rather true to life. Then there’s Carrie, the main perspective, whose running from a past that you’ll slowly uncover. It’s a personally taut struggle rather than danger ridden but it’s beautifully crafted and unravelled in a gloriously natural manner over the course of the novel.

Finally I can see this appealing both to readers who pick books up simply to lose themselves within a story and those that like to dig beneath the surface, pulling out details that they long to discuss. This book simultaneously feels like the perfectly crafted fall read and a deeper reflection on home, belonging, loss and the weight of the past.

Overall I definitely recommend checking out ’The Woodsmoke Women’s Book Of Spells’. Whether you like losing yourself in the atmosphere of a book, revelling in a tale with ‘Practical Magic’ vibes or falling in love with a potentially doomed romance, there’s something here for you. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for whatever the author pens next (and may well be putting her festive offering on my December TBR).

“Everyone in Woodsmoke has grown up knowing that magic isn't some intangible, wonderful thing. It's real, it has consequences, and it echoes around this mountain range.”

An atmospheric and ideal read for the autumn - winter season. Beautiful scenery, ominous and majestic mountains, folk lore, and magic.

A beautifully written book which reads like a melancholic dream. A story about women, friendship, love, belonging, sacrifice, and desire.

The Morgan women are known in Woodsmoke for their magic and connection with the mountains, they have kept their magical traditions and the book of spells as a connection to the old ways which is passed down to women from the same lineage.

Carrie returns to her grandmother’s cottage after her passing to restore it. The last Morgan woman before her is her great-aunt Cora who still lives in Woodsmoke. Throughout the story we see Carrie reconnecting with Cora and coming to terms with her past.

At the same time Carrie meets a mysterious man who knew her grandmother and offers his help to restore the cottage. However, there is an old tale that weaves through the mountain town of Woodsmoke. It whispers of a stranger who appears as the snow falls, only to disappear in spring. Leaving behind a broken heart…

So so beautiful! I have no notes, I loved it so much and it was a perfect story to soothe my soul.

P.S: There is a mention of The Night Circus 😍 I love when one of my favourite books is mentioned in another book, especially since our character loved the book as much as I do.💕

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the free digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

#TheWoodsmokeWomensBookofSpells #NetGalley

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

I loved this book so much! The 3 POVs were so good and I loved that they were all female. I loved that the book was faced on female love within families and friendships. Everything about this book was intriguing and once I was into the book I really couldn’t put it down!

I cannot recommend this book enough I think everybody should read this is they want some female love and witchy vibes!!

Overall I really got into this book, it did feel like a truly magical read. There were many beautiful moments that captivated me throughout.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's a book that has magic sewn into the real world. The magic is subtle and feels tied to real pagan beliefs and the history of women as healers. Actually the book is more about the relationships and finding our place in the world. My favourite element was the romantic priority givennto friendship in the book. It really tugged at my heart strings.

I think this would make a perfect winter read, all snuggled up, wondering and imagining.

I was hooked from page one.

As one of my most anticipated reads of the year, I was over the moon to be able to read this before it was published and oh boy, how much I loved it!

I would find myself trying to find little moments to keep reading even a few pages at a time! For fans of Practical Magic, this is the perfect cosy and magical read!

The fact that we get different POV's throughout the book make the reading experience so much better, as I feel we get a better understanding of the characters personalities and feelings.

The ending is definitely not what I expected, so if you want to read a book that will probably not go the way you think it will, definitely read this one!

A wonderful blend of supernatural mystery and gothic romance that blew me away. Atmospheric, emotionally resonant and evocatively written, this was a treat.

New to me author and I have to say I thought the writing was exceptionally descriptive, which I really loved and it bought the story to life.

‘Woodsmoke is a tapestry of tiny lights, chugging chimneys, and ancient, winding roads threading into its heart, the town square at the center.’

Very different to what I normally read, I found this story enchanting, mystical and perfect for this autumnal/spooky season. I did find it slow at times but I would definitely recommend.

Thank you for the opportunity to read it before release.