4 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for the E-ARC!

This was such a not quite cozy, witchy read if that makes sense. There’s something about the Morgan women that makes the town suspicious of them. When Carrie returns to town after leaving in a hurry years earlier, old emotions get dug up. Carrie’s trying to find her place back in her hometown and wondering if the mountains will accept her. All while trying to figure out if she believes the folklore.

I loved the story between Carrie and Matthieu and the nagging feeling of the frost story. You teeter right on the edge of disbelief but not quite going one way or the other. The ending felt like the perfect closure. But, boy did the mountains take their price and it was steep.

4.5 / 5 stars
From the first paragraph of this book, and everything that followed, the reader sees beautifully detailed sentences, that creates the perfect picture through description. This is truly the most detailed book I have every read, each sentence playing out like a movie in the readers head. The characters are complex, never showing their true motives or meaning until the last second, or in some cases, the end of the book. The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells using previous generations experiences to guide the future, unless you want history to repeat itself. The spell book reveals that even though each generation of Woodsmoke women are unique and individual, the generations to come still have those major similarities. Something really beautiful and that shows these similarities is the perfect parallel relationship

I really enjoyed this book! The characters in it are complex and well written, and even though I didn't like some of them, their presence in the story helped move it along. I liked how the magic system is a mystery but that you get hints thoughout.

The only thing I didn't love is that the chapters were broken into POVs, but sometimes it seemed like we were getting into the mind of the other person in the scene. Or that we were getting too much insight into that other person's thoughts.

Overall, an absolutely great book!

(This is a review of an Advance Reader Copy, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher)

I was given an advanced copy in exchange for my review. This is my honest opinion that I am giving voluntarily. Everyone is right in saying this is kind of a practical magic retelling but I still enjoyed it. I love the different POVs we get and the mystery is thrilling and engaging. It doesn't give you a happy ending per say but it does end in conclusion. I really like the mind of this author and I will be following.

I enjoyed The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells. The questions of belonging and being fulfilled are well expressed. Well done.

This book felt very similar to The Unmaking of June Farrow and I was not mad at it. I loved that book and ended up thoroughly enjoying this one too. As a huge lover of Practical Magic, I enjoyed the family curse element and “old Magic” themes throughout the book. I loved the progression of Matthieu and Carrie’s relationship, watching them fall in love was quiet and easy. I also loved watching the characters fight their own selfishness, second guessing themselves and fighting their own demons head on. Thank you NetGalley and Avon for this ARC!

If you liked Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young with a hint of Practical Magic, I think you’d enjoy this! This book was such a surprise. I expected to like it but I didn’t expect it to be so heartbreaking and impactful. All of the characters are very real and flawed. They make mistakes, meddle, keep secrets, but that’s what makes this story feel so real. The lingering uncertainty and mystery kept me reading till late in the night. I wanted to understand the magic, the town of Woodsmoke and the people that inhabit it. But magic, like the town isn’t meant to be fully understood. That, for me, is what made the story so enjoyable. There were not clear cut choices and answers just like in life. I really loved the writing of this story. Incredibly atmospheric, allowing me to escape into the frigid temperatures of autumn and winter. I love the journey each of our characters went on and how they developed. The ending was bittersweet but felt like the perfect ending. The story was almost perfect for me. I wasn’t the biggest fan of two of the characters subplot, but it was important to the story and our main character. It took me till about the 30 ish percent mark to finally feel hooked in and get an idea of where the story was going. I still would give this a solid 4.5 stars. Not a new all time favorite but incredibly memorable and one of my favorites of the year.

I really enjoyed this! If you're in-between longer, more intense books and need a somewhat low-stakes witchy palette cleanser, I think this is a good one. The plot wasn't remarkable, but I enjoyed the characters. I agree with the blurb; I think if you like Adrienne Young's books and also Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Fairies, you'll vibe with this.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free arc in exchange for an honest review.

Who says you can't come home again? Well, if you're Carrie Morgan, everyone. She left Woodsmoke after realizing what her family legacy meant and never intended on coming back. She was forced to when her grandmother died, and has to deal with past hurts, family legacy of witchcraft, and what it means in the community. Fans of Practical Magic will love this book. It's thoughtful, introspective, while dealing with life and coming to terms with who you are and how to deal with things outside of your control.