Atmospheric read between magic and reality

I really enjoyed this book. The women and their relationships, the way everything is rooted in nature and the seasons, the way the author, Rachel Greenlaw, keeps you guessing until the very last page!

Set in a small town near the mountains, this novel is both about the relationships between the female characters, through whose eyes it is told, and the Morgan family's history with the mountains and the magic they believe to be there. A mysterious stranger appears, just as to several generations before the current one, and it is impossible to tell whether he is real or not.

There is a lot going on in this book but the author skillfully weaves all the threads and plot lines together. The atmospheric setting and descriptions are the cherry on top. It's a very cosy, somewhat wild read, perfect for autumn or winter!

Highly recommend if you are into herblore and magic, family mysteries and curses and complicated bonds between women both family and not!

A genuine pleasure to read. Thank you for this ARC copy, it hit just the spot for a warming, hysterical, witchy easy-read. I know a few people I could easily recommend this too!

LOVE LOVE LOVEDDDDDDD THIS BOOK!

no more needs to be said! Defo going to buy the physical of this I enjoyed that muchb

This is the first book i have read from Rachel Greenlaw and will be looking out for more of her books in the future.

The sleepy town of Woodsmoke nestles under the watchful mountains. Legend says to be careful as the mountains take people and never return them. Aswell as send mysterious strangers at the first frost only for them to leave when the frost thaw.

The Morgan family have live in Woodsmoke for centuries and Legend tells of a book of spells that is handed down from Grandmothers to Granddaughters through this family.
Carrie Morgan left Woodsmoke ten years ago and has been summoned back when her grandmother dies and leaves in her will her cottage and shop.
She starts renovating the old cottage ready to sell it only to start falling in love with the place again.
A lovley mystical love story

This book ended up being... not quite what I was expecting. The comp's to Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic made me expect a small town, mystical style novel, with some sort of sinister underbelly and, although there were definitely some parts of that woven through, the story as a whole just fell a little flat for me.

Told from the POV's of three women who call/called Woodsmoke home, Carrie, Jess and Cora. Carrie was supposed to be the next of the Morgan women who have called Woodsmoke their home for centuries, using a book passed down through the generations to keep the town safe. But an event from her past saw her running away from that life, and how she has only returned to fulfill her grandmothers wishes. She is someone who has never found somewhere she belongs, a place she can really call home, and someone to share it with. Jess, Carrie's once best friend, whose life has seemingly now been turned upside down since her return. The pair used to be inseparable, almost like sisters, but then Carrie left without a word, and ten years passed, ten years that saw them both become different people. And finally Cora, Carrie's great-aunt, and the current Morgan women who keeps the town safe. She is someone who was dealt with loss, not just from Carrie leaving, but the price she pays for protecting the town from the mysterious mountains.

These three characters all had individual, distinctive voices, but I felt the telling of their stories, the choppiness with which it flicks between past and present tense, didn't really help to create that bond that I look for when reading a story like this. A story that is very character driven, very character heavy, and although I did empathise with them in parts, for the majority I struggled to care for them and their plights.

The writing was prosaic and lyrical, extremely beautiful, but annoying in the way it replicated itself. The author used one paragraph to describe something, an emotion, an event, a tree, and then the next one followed with the same thing, just using different words. It was almost like she felt the need to get as much descriptive language in there as she could, and a lot of it just felt like filler words, they didn't really add anything to the story, and I did find myself skipping through some of the bigger passages of inner monologue or descriptions just because of how repetitive they got. That being said, Greenlaw knows how to create an atmosphere, and despite it missing the sinister feeling I expected going in, she really brings to life Woodsmoke and the surrounding mountains. A place shrouded in mystery, where the people laugh at the Morgan women, whilst sneaking to their house under the cover of dark asking for their help.

The plot itself ended up being quite simple, which is maybe why I didn't end up loving it. I'm not saying it's a bad story, it's not. It's a story filled with grief, with characters longing to belong, and one that shows the price the Morgan women have to pay for their power. But it isn't much beyond that, and I wanted more. From the start the mountains are shown as this mysterious being, something to be feared, something that can lure in even the wariest of townspeople never to be seen again, but we never really see any of this in the story. In fact, there is very little magic at all. Everything ends up having a more mundane reasoning behind it, which just made it feel a little flat for me. I found myself reading, hoping that something would rear it's head and show it's teeth, something more dangerous than simple mountains in winter, but we didn't really get much more than that. There are things eluded to from the past, especially with Cora's POV, but nothing for us to dig our teeth into in the present.

All in all this ended up being a bit of a meh read for me. If you don't mind a simpler story, one where everything kind of sits at face value, then I would recommend giving this a go. I guess, especially from the comp's, I just expected something else going in, and was disappointed when it never showed up.

wow what a book!
i absolutely devoured this i couldn’t put it down. and loved the stiorybthe settling and the characters.
it was a magical tale with loads of twists that has you gasping out loud.
loved it!!

Family secrets, magic, fresh starts and old entanglements all combine and combust when Carrie Morgan returns home after a ten year absence to rennovate her grandmother's cottage. Slow, dreamily written, multi pov and atmospheric this wasn't quite the supernatural fantasy I was expecting but something more rooted in place, nature and superstition as Carrie and the reader struggle to work out what is real and what, if anything, is supernatural. An interesting read.

Lovely and cozy just want I needed and wanted. It captivated me from the first chapter with its magical vibes. There were some heavy themes which was handled well within the story. Overall great read. Thank you

A story of strong women and a strong community interwoven with some sort of magic- perhaps?
Morgan women from Woodsmoke are witches, or so their community believe. Certainly there are some strange goings on...bargains with the mountains, herbs at the threshold and a general air of mystery as people make deals with nature via a Morgan to get their hearts desire.
At first a little skeptical as to whether I would enjoy the book I was actually drawn into Woodsmoke very quickly and the magical elements of the story are written to enhance rather than to hammer home all things witch.
Beautifully and intricately woven with nice throwbacks to previous generations of Morgan women to solidify the mystique.

A beautiful, atmospheric tale of family, friendship, love and loss. I really enjoyed the different perspectives in The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells, it really made me feel for each character. and the individual price they had to pay. The secret and mystery surrounding the mountains kept me hooked, the only thing I struggled with a bit was the frequent changes in person and tense..

Huge thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this, I loved it.

Oh, this story, Carrie and Jess, Carrie and Tom, Jess and Tom then Carrie and Matthieu, the most beautiful story with the most beautiful characters, love, loss, friendship and love again, a heartwarming story, thank you

Beautifully written with magic skillfully woven into a glorious story of romance and family drama.

A truly special book full of charm and authentic characters that endear you to them. And an ending that is uplifting and full of warmth..

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the eARC of The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells.

As soon as I saw Rachel Greenlaw had a new book out I had to read it. I became obsessed with Compass and Blade and I needed to read this book!
I was not disappointed, this book exceeded expectations. It is written beautifully and it pulls you in as soon as the story starts. I loved the alternating POVs between Cora and Carrie, they gave an excellent insight into the past and the present and really fleshed out the storyline. The characters are all created really well and they are fleshed out realistically, you could imagine meeting Cora, Carrie and Matthieu in real life.
I loved Cora, she was meddlesome but her heart was always in the right place and I just loved how she was with everyone. Carrie for me was my favourite character, her past was intriguing and her present made for an intriguing read. I loved her interactions with Matthieu.
I was gripped reading this book, I really enjoyed how it kept me guessing, I was sure Cora was correct with what she thought (I'm being vague as spoilers) and the twists and turns always had me surprised.
I can not wait for this novel to hit the shelves, I will be getting a copy for sure. Rachel Greenlaw has now become a must read author for me and I urge everyone else to add her to their lists.

A beautiful modern day, dark magic, witchy read. I loved the storytelling and mood of this..I really was able to feel like I was deep in the story among the mountains and cottages of Woodsmoke with Carrie, who has returned home upon the death of her grandmother after a decade of being away.

The entries at the start of each chapter from the women of Woodsmoke's history really added to the 'folklore' feel of the story

Cora...I absolutely adored her and she was etched deep in my heart by the end of the book. This book truly has it all...beauty, romance, mystery and love.

Carrie Morgan returns to her hometown of Woodsmoke after drifting across different places for a decade. Following her grandmother's passing, she inherits a rundown cottage and plans a brief stay to renovate it during winter. Amidst cautionary tales of a mysterious figure who disappears come spring, Carrie meets Matthieu, a newcomer who joins her in refurbishing the cottage.

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells surprised me in the best possible way. Expecting a cosy paranormal romance, I instead found a captivating blend of romance, mystery, supernatural elements, family drama, and a touch of gothic suspense that blurred the lines between reality and magic. The story gripped me so intensely that I read it in one sitting, compelled to unravel its mysteries. My perceptions of the characters shifted constantly as the plot unfolded, showcasing the author's adept storytelling.

Set against the backdrop of autumn and winter, the narrative perfectly captures the atmospheric essence of these seasons. It begins with a haunting and melancholic tone, gradually building tension as Carrie confronts the reasons behind her departure from Woodsmoke. The excerpts from The Morgan Compendium preceding each chapter added layers of depth and intrigue, enriching the unfolding tale and heightening its allure.

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This book had so many twists and turns that were so unexpected and kept me coming back for more, I felt like I was literally addicted to this book.

I feel like I need a physical copy when it comes out!

Carrie is a lost soul and you itch to know what is going on with her life and the book.

Cora and Ivy are sisters that lost their way and their connection due to the mountain and family book of spells

Tom and Jess are connected by the book in more ways than they both know.

At the center of it all is the mountains and if they accept you back, or will they curse you?

I personally loved this book and felt like I practically sped read it (as much as you can with a 4 month old) it’s a great read for those who love fantasy written interwoven with a realistic setting.

*Thank you to HQ books and NetGalley for an Arc of this book*

The setting of The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells whisked me away from the first page. The mountains, the forests, the British countryside. It all felt very real and alive and therein lies the magic of this story.

I loved the themes of homecoming, family and finding your place. I loved the cottage, the homely atmosphere and the drama of all the characters paired with the lush, comforting writing which transported me away.

A cozy, wholesome read, perfect for the Autumn!

I loved the premise of this book, especially as I’d originally assumed it was set in the US, so was pleasantly surprised when I realised it’s set here in the UK. When Carrie is left a derelict cottage, she is sure that she won’t be welcomed back into Woodsmoke, especially after the way she left 10 years ago. And she’s right, if anything it’s harder than she thought it would be, relationships need mending, but it’s not that easy.

I loved the way this story is written, with various generations POVs, with snippets from the entries in the Book of Spells, and how the book has affected so many lives, not just the Morgan women and their families, but the whole of Woodsmoke seems to be under its spell in one form or another. It’s also really descriptive of the area in and around the town. A couple of times it felt as though the pace was too slow, but it built up nicely with a lovely ending. There’s tension between Carrie, Jess and Tom, and between Cora and Carrie, for varying reasons all adding to the feel of the book. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I adored this book! So many witch books are set in the USA and it was wonderful to read one set right here in the UK. The magic is woven throughout this book in such a subtle way and the writing is just beautiful. I could picture the cottage and the mountains as I was reading. The story is heartbreaking yet uplifting and I needed a few days to just let it all sink in after reading. The romance is beautiful but what made this book special to me was the focus on the creation, nurturing and healing of female bonds. The feelings I had after reading this book were very similar to the feelings I had after reading Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman and that is one of my favourite book series!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Rachel Greenlaw. I went in to it expecting a somewhat cosy witchy book but was pleasantly surprised by the darker themes running through it. The curse. The price paid for magic. Damaged relationships. The pacing was fairly gentle but never felt too slow. The characters were intriguing and complex. The ominous setting with the watchful mountains felt very atmospheric.
I am very pleased to have read the arc copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.