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.

⭐⭐⭐

ARC Review

This book was unfortunately very average to me.

It was slow to pull me in and the writing felt clunky in quite a few places. It also very much undersold on the magic content promised.

I additionally found the overall plot very meh. Maybe it’s because I’m not from a small town, so don’t understand why people would care so much about someone leaving and then returning?!

The ending was beautiful, however, and I’m glad I stuck with the story.

Themes/Tropes:
Romance, Paranormal?, Outcast, Emotional Scars, Small Town, Magic, Witches? & Multi POV.

1/5 🌶 rating

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was everything I was hoping it was going to be and it is being published at the perfect time of the year. Everyone get this on your witchy TBR's. I found this book to be very well written and Rachel should be very proud of herself.

Judge this book by its beautiful cover because it delivers.

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is a haunting, magical tale of witchcraft, family and love.
Through the eyes of Carrie and Cora, we are slowly told of the family history and how magic is interweaved in their history.
"The Morgan Compendium" at the start of each chapter, provides some insight into past members of the Morgan family and events in their lives.
As the story progresses, the reader is drawn into the magic and history of the town of Woodsmoke and, in particular into the lives of the Morgans.
A sweeping, unusual romantic story.

A beautiful book about folk law, superstition, magic, romance and friendship.
Set in a beautiful back drop of the mountains and village with rounded characters that you really care about.

Really enjoyed The Woodsmoke Womens Book of Spells, completely different genre of novel for me and it was really refreshing to read.

This felt like the perfect time to read this novel, with all the cosy autumnal vibes.

Main character, Carrie left Woodsmoke years ago but when her grandma passes away and leaves the cottage to Carrie she returns to Woodsmoke and when she gets the offer to do the cottage up with a strange man (obviously there is more to that) she goes for it. He suddenly disappears and the story really sets off.

I think that this novel is great for a autumn book haul/read and the characters are well written.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me an arc in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars from me.