Amazing book full of magic and characters you want to get to know. It whispers of secrets and family within the pages of this story and you can’t help but listen.

When my friend Tina brought my attention to the Sara Addison Allen-approved “Wildwood Whispers” by Willa Reece, I dropped everything to start a new buddy read.

And what a charming and unexpectedly suspenseful tale Reece has woven.

A combination between "Handmaid's Tale" and "Garden Spells," this magical story is about finding your place, your power, and your voice.

Mel Smith is such a familiar and relatable protagonist, and her grief after losing her best friend is palpable, making her abrupt relocation to Morgan’s Gap a natural next step in her journey.

The mechanics of this remarkable world are sometimes convoluted, and the storyline at times seemed muddled with too many superfluous magical moments.

But the stunning description in these moments leant a certain #ethereal quality to the narrative, so they were not entirely in vain.

All in all, what a lovely book to enjoy alongside an earthy cup of loose leaf tea.

The nitty-gritty: A lushly written tale rooted in folklore and magic, Wildwood Whispers has a lovely, homespun vibe as comfy as a warm blanket.

I couldn’t resist this beautiful cover, and I’m happy to report that the cover is perfect for this magic-tinged tale. This is a quieter and more uplifting story than I normally read, but I have to admit it was a breath of fresh air. There is a lot of Alice Hoffman's style in Wildwood Whispers, in the whimsical magical realism that Hoffman does so well, although the writing doesn't quite have that sparkling quality that Hoffman's has. Still, if you are looking for a heartwarming, folkloric story of sisterhood, set in a small town with plenty of quirky characters, you will probably enjoy this too.

Mel and Sarah grew up in the foster care system together, and Mel made it her duty to protect Sarah over the years. But one day when the girls are grown, Sarah is killed in a car accident. Sarah had always talked about her life growing up in Morgan’s Gap, Virginia, which she fled after her mother was murdered. And Mel promised Sarah that if anything ever happened to her, she would lay Sarah to rest in her beloved Wildwood, the forest where she spent so many happy years growing up. Now the unthinkable has happened, and Mel makes the trip to Morgan’s Gap with Sarah’s ashes in tow.

When she arrives, she meets some of the quirky townsfolk, including Granny, who takes Mel under her wing; Sadie, a beekeeper; Lu, a musician who makes dulcimers; and Jacob Walker, a mysterious and handsome biologist who seems to always turn up wherever Mel goes. Granny and the others introduce Mel to the Wildwood garden, full of blackberries and medicinal herbs and other rare plants, and Mel is given an old book to read, the Ross Remedy Book, which contains the knowledge of generations of Ross women. Little by little, Mel comes to feel that she belongs in Morgan’s Gap, and that she has some sort of connection to the Wildwood, although she doesn’t yet understand what that is.

As she becomes more and more entrenched in small town life, Mel explores the reasons she was brought to Morgan’s Gap. The Ross women “know” things, can cure ailments, can read tea leaves and predict the future, and seem to have an affinity with certain animals. Mel herself feels drawn to the garden behind the old Ross cabin in the woods, and she’s learning some of the recipes in the Book. But a threat hangs over the town, the threat of progress. Mayor Hartwell is determined to turn the Wildwood into a fracking site, threatening the natural resources that the town’s residents have come to depend on. Mel wants to learn the truth behind Sarah's death, but could being too close to that truth put her in danger as well?

The story is told from Mel’s first person point of view for the most part, and I enjoyed joining her on her journey to becoming a wisewoman of Morgan’s Gap. Reece intersperses Mel’s chapters with flashbacks showing Sarah’s early years growing up near the Wildwood with her mother Melody Ross. These flashbacks are structured as dreams that Mel is having about Sarah’s life, which was a nice way for us to learn bits of the past, but also to reinforce the fact that Mel is somehow connected to Sarah and the people of Morgan’s Gap. Later in the story we get a third point of view from a mouse that has befriended Mel, which turns out to be another connection between the two girls. The mouse, who Mel names Charm, is one of the few magical elements in the story, and I really enjoyed these whimsical scenes.

I loved the message of female empowerment, although there are some male characters that are part of this as well. As one character says, “The Wildwood isn’t concerned with gender,” which I thought was a nice sentiment. But it’s mostly the women who drive the story, and I loved each of them for different reasons. They call themselves “wisewomen,” but the word “witch” is also thrown around a couple of times too. The women are connected to nature in some interesting ways, and they have a fierce sense of loyalty to each other and are always looking for ways to protect the most vulnerable among them. There is a horrid character named Reverend Moon who has a group of women under his control, called “Sect” women, who I’m assuming are abused in some way—probably raped and physically abused as well, although we don’t actually see any of that happening. Granny and the others have helped these women over the years, especially the ones who have the strength to run away from the Reverend. The wife of the Mayor (another awful male character) is a fragile woman named Violet who used to be part of Reverend Moon’s Sect, but the Reverend “gave” her to him and now she’s even worse off than she used to be. My heart ached for Violet, but I loved the way the other women rallied around her.

My very favorite parts of the story, however, were the descriptions of food and how the townsfolk came together to carry on their traditions of making and baking. Granny tells Mel that she should harvest the blackberries behind the cabin, and then Mel makes her own blackberry jam from a recipe in the Book. In another favorite scene, Mel decides to try a pickle recipe, and I can’t tell you how much it made me want to make my own pickles! Some of these scenes were told in lush, sensual language, in particular a scene with Mel and Jacob in the blackberry patch, that I could practically taste the blackberry juice and feel it dripping off my fingers.

I did have a few issues with the story, though. The first half is very slow, and it wasn’t until the midway point that I really became invested in the characters. I also didn’t care for the “bad guys,” the Reverend and the Mayor, who are so moustache-twirly and obvious that I almost laughed every time they made an appearance. The story would have worked better if their characters had been more subtly drawn, although I do admit there were some very unsettling scenes involving the Reverend that weren’t too bad. And if you’re hoping for intrigue and mystery, it's there but it's subtle. I knew immediately who was responsible for the deaths of both Sarah and her mother—it was telegraphed early on—and I also guessed Mel’s connection to the Wildwood, so it’s not hard to figure out either of these “mysteries.” There’s also a very slow burn romance between Mel and Jacob that felt a bit odd to me. I enjoyed the focus on the women’s relationships, and the story didn’t really need a romance on top of that.

But these small issues aside, I loved the story’s folksy vibe and the familial love the characters have for each other. This one really grew on me the more I read, and readers who are in the mood for a feel good story of female empowerment and subtle magic will enjoy this as well. 

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

This book was exceptionally well written, but I’m going to be in the minority on this one. With a very slow start, I found it to finally star pick up the pace at about the 30% point. While I say picking up, it didn’t go anywhere fast!! I didn’t connect with the story and found it to be too “out there” for me. Many will love this book and it’s lovely prose, it was just not the book for me.

This book was ethereal and enchanting with a touch of mystery and romance.

There were some poignant phrases that gave me pause. However, it was long with a lot going on (cults, magic, a murder mystery, insta-love, commentary on environmental issues). I grew impatient with the story but stuck with it because I had a deep need to know the answers to some of the mysteries. I recommend this if you have time to savor and stay awhile with a story.

I almost wished I read this in the thick of fall as its general atmosphere pairs well with all things autumn.

A special thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the gifted eArc in exchange for an honest review.

With spooky season coming up, this is a perfect addition to add to your tbr. It’s the perfect mix of magic, murder, and mystery.

I can’t find anything I disliked about this book. If felt like so much happened in one book and the plot unraveled so perfectly.

I will never stop judging a book by its cover. I know, I know! We are not supposed to do that but I can’t help it. The good thing about this cover is that it’s gorgeous on the inside too! I was surprised at all the different things going on with this book. We have a murder mystery, cult, magical realism, romance, and a character finding herself. It made it an interesting read!

I ended up enjoying this book but I struggled to get into it. It took me about 25% to really get into the story. I think the biggest reason for that is that the plot moves slowly. In addition to that, the pages were wordy. There’s a lot of paragraphs that are beautiful and flowery but don’t say much. I admit I was a bit confused about what was going on at times. With that being said, after I hit the 25% mark it took off for me. I found that the flowery words fit the story so well and made it feel very magical. There’s so much detail that I felt like I could picture everything exactly in my mind. Even though, I was more immersed in the rest of the book the plot still drags from time to time. The last third of the book makes the whole thing. There’s a lot to unpack in that time but I think that Willa Reece does a fabulous job making it all fit in and it doesn’t feel forced or rushed.

Another thing to keep in mind is that this is a very character-driven book. Mel has a very complicated past but she’s a well-rounded character. I loved her and it was great to see her find the hope, beauty, and even magic in the world! I loved all the characters in this book. There is a small romance but it’s such a slow burn. Mel and Jacob did feel intense at times though. I liked the fact that the romance wasn’t the main focus of the story.

Overall, I loved this story. I’m so glad that I kept on going because I was so worried that it would be a DNF for me. Trust me, give it some time and it will really grab you. It’s just so beautifully written and has a strong message about hope. The women in this book are fabulous and I enjoyed getting to know them all. This was my first book by Willa Reece but it will not be my last!

Many thanks to Orbit for providing me a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Free Netgalley book for review ~. This one is hard for me to rate. Low three star, maybe 2.5? There were bits I enjoyed a lot, others that I hated. Sometimes the writing was strong and worked well for me and other times it was choppy and had terrible grammar (particularly the end bits, but maybe it will get a thorough edit). I liked the connections Mel made as she learned to navigate the small town and grows into her found family, but I guessed one of the major plot twists early on and the mystery wasn’t so much of a who done it as a why done it. Even that bit was fairly apparent soon into the book, at least by the fifty percent mark. So I hesitate to call this a mystery at all.

Also I can’t just appreciate the constant anti-Christianity. It made me very angry at certain points in the book, particularly at a certain scene when Mel describes her disdain for foster parents that forced her to go to church and attend vbs. This to me, felt like she was mocking people who were actually /trying/ to help her. I know plenty of people who both foster and adopt and are also Christian families. I respect them a lot, because it’s hard to open your home to foster kids when courts and their families can make the whole situation messy and difficult. We’ve all heard horror stories of terrible fostering examples— but there are people out there who genuinely care, even if their religious beliefs aren’t the same..

Now, the fantasy aspect of the woods and Charm I did like, and I enjoyed the aspect of the Ross family book. I wish we’d had a scene of Mel writing her own recipe down! I realize this isn’t that type of book but I would have liked to see some more spell work, too.

The romance was ok. I generally don’t read books for their romantic plots, though, so it didn’t make too much of an impact on me, although the main couple was cute.

As for some of the feminist aspects of the book, probably most people wouldn’t have an issue with it. Contraceptives are brought up (fine and dandy, and they make use of modern medicine, which was a bit funny) but they also don’t shy away from abortion either, even if (thank goodness) it’s not described in detail.

One Sentence Summary: After the death of her best friend Sarah, Mel takes her ashes to Sarah’s family’s home in the small mountain town Morgan’s Gap, only to end up wrapped up in the town, the people, and the wildwood that refuses to let her go.

Overall
If Garden Spells (Sarah Addison Allen) had a baby with For the Wolf (Hannah Whitten) and made Snow Dust and Boneshine (Grendolyn Peach Soleil) and Quaking Soul (Jennifer M. Zeiger) it’s godmothers, I’m pretty sure Wildwood Whispers would be the product. It’s witchy and magical and the reverence to nature is stunning. There’s also something of an ideological undercurrent to the whole story as the people of Morgan’s Gap and the Sect community just a few miles away have a silent war going on. But Wildwood Whispers is also all about Mel, a foster child all her life, finally finding her place and a home and purpose.

Extended Thoughts
Mel and Sarah met as children in foster care. Mel never knew her parents and Sarah’s mother was killed. But they have each other and they call each other sisters, drawn together as though by magic. When Sarah is killed, Mel keeps her promise of taking her ashes to the Ross cabin in Morgan’s Gap, a small Appalachian town on the edge of the wildwood.

Mel never intended on staying in Morgan’s Gap, but an elderly woman affectionately called Granny by everyone in town, takes her on as an apprentice, giving her time to heal and to learn. The longer she stays, the stronger Mel is tied to Morgan’s Gap and the wildwood, uncovering secrets and magic, and earning the hate of Reverend Moon, the man who runs a strict Sect community just a few miles away, compelling Mel to believe Sarah’s death wasn’t just an accident.

Wildwood Whispers is a witchy read. It’s witchier than I expected, but I loved it because of that. It doesn’t shy away from the magic, doesn’t give a sprinkle of magic and call it magical realism. It really brings magic into our reality, and made me believe in it all over again. I feel about ready to start gardening and hope it turns out to be just as magical as the wildwood.

Morgan’s Gap is an incredible and odd little town in the mountains of Virginia. It’s close knit, though traditions have started falling by the wayside and younger generations are more interested in modern times than the old magical ways of their parents and grandparents. It’s quaint, but didn’t always feel quintessentially southern to me. Still, I really liked how small and close it was. When times called for it, the town rallied together. There’s a delightful magical thread that runs through it all, connecting people and offering the wisewomen and woodsmen certain magical affinities and a unique closeness to the wildwood around the town. The wildwood was fascinating. At times, it felt truly alive and protective. At other times, it kind of freaked me out a little, but I loved how there’s such a close bond between it and the people. It’s a big part of the story and, while I probably wouldn’t want to wander around it, I couldn’t help but appreciate and love it.

At the same time, there’s something of a religious or ideological conflict underlying the entire story because a Sect community is just a few miles away. It’s strange and strict and cruel, especially to the women and girls. Led by Reverend Moon, it keeps its women close and obedient, though many seek the wisdom, magic, and healing of the Ross women and Granny. Moon, however, is displeased and haunts Mel as she moves through town, a threatening, shadowy figure who is good friends with Morgan’s Gap’s mayor.

As Mel becomes tangled more and more in Morgan’s Gap, she understands someone might have intentionally killed Sarah and her mother. She’s determined to solve that mystery, but it means danger is in her near future. Mel, though, is strong and brave. Once protective younger sister of Sarah, she’s now determined to find out exactly what happened to her friend and why while also taking her own rightful place in Morgan’s Gap. No matter how much danger it puts her in.

I had a hard time figuring Mel out. The story is told from her perspective, but I found it a struggle to get to know her. She repeatedly tells the reader how tough and closed off she is, but I couldn’t help but think of her as something softer. I know everything she did and why, but I didn’t always feel I understood, or even that she understood, what she was doing and why. The wildwood just seemed to hook it’s thorns into her and she was helpless. But I did like her. She’s so strong and wants so badly to do what’s right. In a way, she seems to be taking Sarah’s place, which kind of felt weird, but I loved that she was finding her own feet, her own home.

There’s also a bit of a romance. While it comes on early, it’s not very present. Jacob Walker is, for some reason, distrusted by Granny, but Mel feels pulled towards him. I enjoyed the conflicted feelings, but it also felt fairly predictable. How they ended up so closely wound, though, was a lot of fun. They have a unique, weird relationship.

The one thing that bothered me about Wildwood Whispers was the beginning. It switched so fast between Mel and Sarah I almost felt like I was getting whiplash. It took me a couple of chapters to really find my feet with this book. The flashbacks/memories were also a little jarring, but, by the end, they started making sense. I just wish they had tied in a little bit more into Mel’s story. It felt like they were built up around one detail and just spun out so they spanned a few pages.

Wildwood Whispers is a fun, magical, witchy read. I loved that some of the people had certain abilities, certain magical parts of their beings. I also loved the care it took with the natural world. It’s detailed and lush and there’s clearly a huge tie between the people and the wildwood. It felt at many times like it was showing reverence to nature, gently telling readers how important it is to respect nature and accept its gifts. I loved how the wisewomen used the nature offered to tend to the people of Morgan’s Gap, to offer remedies and aids and any kind of help they could.

Thank you to Angela Man at Orbit and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

“𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙢 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙨,” 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙎𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙝 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚.
Wildwood Whispers begins with a friendship between foster children Mel Smith and Sarah Ross. Mel has always had to save herself, feeling ancient with adult wisdom no child should bear. Stuck in the system since before she could remember, she knows all too well how to lay low and when to fight hard. Small, vulnerable, sweet Sarah is new to this world, and the first friend Mel has ever had. Sarah is still grieving an immense loss and needs protecting. Forging a sisterhood, as adults Mel works hard brewing coffee at a shop so that Sarah can attain her dream of becoming a nurse. Sarah has always been special, attuned to the world, her awareness almost uncanny. She has shared secrets with Mel, even her real last name, Ross. Where Sarah has always flowed with natural grace, Mel is as stubborn and immovable as they come, a fighter. But her strength can’t stop what is already fated, and a chill is about to enter her heart. After Sarah’s tragic death, Mel must journey to Morgan Gap and take Sarah’s remains home. It is there, in the Appalachian Mountains that her story truly begins.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way, there is a burning rage in her heart and a pit of loss. She isn’t ready to say goodbye to her dearest friend in this alien place that is cut off from city life, harboring murderous secrets that echo whispers from the wildwood. She encounters a granny that, if she were to listen to warnings, could brew up more than remedies and shouldn’t be trusted- there could be danger. She owes it to Sarah, whom she failed to keep alive, to keep her promises. She has faced much harder things than rumored witches and creepy Reverend Moon obeyed by a flock of women as fearful as birds. Then there are the emotional stirs from a handsome biologist, Jacob Walker, but she doesn’t have desire nor time for such a thing. It will take a hell of a lot more to scare her off, not even death itself will move her to fail Sarah again.

In the middle of nowhere, she makes her way to the cabin Sarah and her mother lived in so long ago, bringing her ashes to the garden. Something is unlocked inside of Mel in the smell and taste of the garden’s bounty, tying her to the mysteries of her lush surroundings, opening her mind into Sarah’s past, glimpses of her friend’s memories, some downright ugly. Is it fantasy? Is she falling under some superstitious nonsense? The garden has rare plants that have been extinct for years, some dangerous, others healing, not a place for those unschooled and no one knows this better than Jacob. There is a connection between them, and Mel knows there is more than meets the eye where he is concerned. But is he someone she can trust?

Mel learns that bringing Sarah to her final resting place isn’t the only reason for her journey. There are darker secrets lurking, in old photographs, in women that need help and under the tutelage of a wisewoman she may discover buried abilities of her own. It’s as if Sarah’s inner magic has rubbed off on her and maybe even her pocket sized charm is a remnant of her love. There are threats, like a shadow, watching and waiting, who don’t much take with meddlesome women nor immovable mountains like Mel. Sometimes, you have to stand in the way of darkness to let the light in. If she opens herself to the wildwood it may well never let her go, just like Sarah and her mother before her. It is down to survival now, not just for Mel but other women too, they are all linked. If she can trust her instincts, the ‘nudges’ that mountain folk speak of, and dive deeper than appearances she might make it out alive and expose all the buried lies of the past. She is bound to learn things about herself she didn’t know existed.

I’m a sucker for Appalachian folklore, stories that immerse readers in nature and darkness being forced into the light. It’s a unique, magical tale about sisterhood and our ties to the earth. Engaging, lovely, I could smell the lavender and hear the buzz of bees.

Publication Date: August 17, 2021

Redhook Books

I started this one but wasn’t feeling it at the time. I will pick it up again to give it a chance.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the advanced e-reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

The little bit I read of this book reminded me of Practical Magic, so if you liked that book, you should give this one a try.

Unfortunately, I had to temporarily put it down. The grief in the beginning of this book hit too close to home... I could really feel the emotions in chapter one. In fact, it was written so well that I immediately had to put the book aside. I'm planning on coming back to this novel but it's hard for me to tell when I will be able to do that. I need some time.

Thank you to Redhook and Orbit for an advanced reading copy!

It took me a while to get through this one. Parts were interesting (nature, folklore) while the relationships (particularly romantic) seemed limp. Overall this fell flat for me…just not as magical, beautiful or compelling as others like it.

Wow! This new novel is so beautiful. I am familiar with Appalachian culture as I am from Kentucky. The author did an amazing job of putting me in the scene. This book also reminded me of Practical Magic and it was so fun! Definitely one to remember!

"A heartwarming novel of hope, fate, and folk magic unfolds when a young woman travels to a sleepy southern town in the Appalachian Mountains to bury her best friend.

“Dark, tender, and thought-provoking, Wildwood Whispers is a beautifully woven tale of fantasy, feminism, and mystery set in rural Appalachia.” —Constance Sayers, author of A Witch in Time

At the age of eleven, Mel Smith’s life found its purpose when she met Sarah Ross. Ten years later, Sarah’s sudden death threatens to break her. To fulfill a final promise to her best friend, Mel travels to an idyllic small town nestled in the shadows of the Appalachian Mountains. Yet Morgan’s Gap is more than a land of morning mists and deep forest shadows.

There are secrets that call to Mel, in the gaze of the gnarled and knowing woman everyone calls Granny, in a salvaged remedy book filled with the magic of simple mountain traditions, and in the connection, she feels to the Ross homestead and the wilderness around it.

With every taste of sweet honey and tart blackberries, the wildwood twines further into Mel’s broken heart. But a threat lingers in the woods—one that may have something to do with Sarah's untimely death and that has now set its sight on Mel.

The wildwood is whispering. It has secrets to reveal—if you’re willing to listen… " - Synopsis from GoodReads.

This story reminded me a lot of Alice Hoffman's infamous writing style where it's not simply stating something but painting a picture with all the feels out for you to be immersed in. I absolutely fell for this story hard within the first 10% of all the pain and anguish over Mel losing her best friend. The way the author describes the mountain and its people - the wildwood people is also very captivating. The dark shadows of those that do not like the ways of the Wildwood was also and interesting take. The magic isn't in your face Hogwarts. This is nature and nuture magic. The kind that so long as your willing to give, it is willing to as well.

Hands down, I absolutely loved this story. This is probably gonna be one of my favorites this year. I might even try and get a physical copy at some point so I can reread it.

Rating: 5 Stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

(Also posted at my blog <a href="https://cassieshauntedlibrary.blogspot.com/2021/08/review-arc-wildwood-whispers-by-willa.html">👻Cassie's Haunted Library👻 </a> and GoodReads.)

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this!

3.5/5 stars
My Thoughts

While I really enjoyed this quick read, I had a few qualms with its pacing. Mel’s journey takes her to Morgan’s Gap, so that she can say goodbye to her best friend who passed away recently. What she doesn’t expect is to feel compelled to stay in the town and get to know its residents.

This book moves slowly as Mel grapples with her grief and her connection to Sarah, and as she begins to grow accustomed to life in a small town in the middle of the forest. There are some interesting characters in here, some of which I would’ve liked to get to know a lot more than we really did.

There is a “bad guy” which gives us most of our plot, but also doesn’t take up much page time. The resolution to the big issue wrapped up extremely quickly for my tastes, so it felt like it had less impact.

I really enjoyed seeing women helping women, and I also enjoyed the generational passing of knowledge of the woods and what helpful medicines, etc that you can make from the ingredients found there.


Overall (TLDR)
Overall, I really enjoyed the setting more than anything. The descriptions were lush, the forest had a lot of secrets and vitality to it, and I would’ve loved to have learned even more about the forest and the town itself.
I would recommend this to those who enjoy setting descriptions and a slower plot, and for those who may have read The Nature of Witches and really enjoyed that too.
I’d give this a 3.5/5 stars.

Thanks again to Redhook for the review copy!

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for a review. This does not affect my opinion of this book.

Wildwood Whispers is witchy, feminist, nature filled and beautifully written. I loved the garden and the recipes and the wisewomen were everything I wish I could be. Seriously when I'm outside in my garden pruning my herbs and harvesting my vegetables and berries for now on in my mind I will be a wise woman practicing my witchy craft.

I struggled to finish this book-it was not interesting, the characters were not well developed and the writing was stilted.

Mel Smith grew up with a rough life in the foster system and finally found solace in Sarah Ross. However, when Sarah dies in a car accident, Mel brings her ashes back to her family cabin at foot of the Appalachian Mountains. There she discovers Sarah’s secret roots to the magic of the Wildwood as she tries to come to terms with her death.

Wildwood Whispers by Willa Reece is a magical, heartfelt examination of trauma and grief and finding a sense of belonging. It’s a story about connection—both with people and with nature.

While most of the characters feel believable and well-written, my one complaint is that I felt like two of the story’s main antagonists, Reverend Moon and the Mayor, felt like one-dimensional caricatures.

Lastly, I do also have gush about how beautifully vivid and descriptive the author’s writing is. I could practically smell the apple butter and taste the blackberry jam, and it left me drooling. Honestly, this is a bit of a sentimental read for me since it reminded me of my grandmother teaching me how to make jam and all the times I used to play in her woods.

All and all, this book is a cozy, Ghibli-esque love letter to nature, and I cannot recommend this book enough to people who enjoy herbalism and stories of found family.

This cover 😍, I can't find the words to describe how much I love it. I know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover so let me say that this book is just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the out. I loved the setting of the Appalachian Mountains and I could visualize them so easily. This was my first book by Willa Reece (aka Barbara J. Hancock) and it was such a great read.

Wildwood Whispers was full of drama, interspersed with just the right amount of magical elements all the while with a steady story progression. I loved how the characters and their interpersonal relationships developed as the story moved forward. The sisterly relationship was well written too. Some of the dialogues were so deep and meaningful that just showed how wonderful a writer Willa Reece is. Overall, I had a great time reading this enchanting, magical book.