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Review of The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw
Fantasy | Magical Realism | Romance | Witches
There is a promising foundation here, but I felt the story spent considerably more time exploring everyone’s feelings than developing the magic woven into Woodsmoke.
When Carrie returns to Woodsmoke following the death of her grandmother Ivy, her first instinct is to leave as quickly as possible. She has never felt that she truly belonged, especially given her family’s history with witchcraft. Now she has an inheritance to deal with, relationships she isn’t sure how to navigate, and the guilt of having stayed away for so long. The question becomes whether Woodsmoke is somewhere she can finally call home.
Should You Read The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells?
The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is best suited to readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy, complicated relationships, family secrets, and stories about returning home. While witchcraft and old traditions are woven throughout the novel, the focus is more on emotional conflict and belonging than magical world-building or supernatural action. Readers looking for a magic-forward story may find those elements underdeveloped.
The Magic I Wanted More Of
The inherited book, the old traditions, the stories of townspeople seeking Cora’s help when something wasn’t right, and the arrival of the man with the frost all suggest a deeper magical history. Yet much of that remains in the background. I wanted to experience more of that world rather than simply hear about it.
For me, the most interesting character was Cora, Carrie’s great-aunt. Her history, her connection to the old ways, and the stories surrounding her were far more compelling than Carrie’s journey. Cora believed in Woodsmoke’s magic. She understood its traditions and carried its history with her. In many ways, she was the magic I kept hoping to find more of throughout the book. Her memories offered glimpses into Woodsmoke’s history, the traditions that shaped its people, and the events that continued influencing their lives. Henry, who is part of Cora’s story, was another character I wanted to spend more time with.
In fact, I would have happily read an entire book about Cora.
When Introspection Becomes Repetition
My frustration wasn’t with the use of internal monologue itself. Cora’s reflections were some of my favorite parts of the book because they added something to the story. Her memories revealed history, explained relationships, and helped me understand why Woodsmoke was the place it had become.
With Carrie, Jess, and Tom, however, the internal struggles became repetitive. I understood their insecurities and the complicated history between them, but there were only so many times I could revisit the same fears and questions before losing patience.
At times, their relationships felt more like teenage angst wrapped in adult clothes than the complicated adult relationships the story was trying to explore.
Jess was particularly frustrating for me. Her anxiety surrounding Carrie’s return was understandable, but her insecurity about Tom became tiresome. The story repeatedly returned to those fears without giving me enough new information or development to make the repetition worthwhile.
The difference was noticeable. Cora’s internal monologue helped me understand the story. The others’ often made me feel as though I was waiting for it to move forward.
Belonging, Romance, and Character Growth
Carrie’s journey is built around finding somewhere she belongs, and I understand why her uncertainty is central to the novel.
Unfortunately, I struggled with how much of her development seemed tied to her relationships, particularly her growing feelings for Matthieu.
For a story so focused on belonging and finding one’s place, I wanted Carrie’s decision about Woodsmoke to feel more firmly rooted in herself. Instead, the romance seemed to become a significant part of what made staying possible.
That didn’t quite sit right with me.
Even when the story moved into genuinely dangerous territory, the constant introspection sometimes weakened the impact. Moments that could have created considerable tension were overshadowed by Carrie’s fears about her relationship, leaving the danger itself less memorable than I expected.
I can recognize her growth and appreciate how the relationships ultimately connect, but I still felt that too much of Carrie’s development depended on the romance.
At its heart, The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is about complicated relationships, the weight of family history, and finding a place to belong. In that respect, I understand what the story was trying to accomplish.
I just wish there had been more story surrounding those themes, particularly the magic and history that made Woodsmoke interesting in the first place.
The ending brings the different threads together, but the journey to get there was simply okay for me. The repeated introspection, uneven balance between character development and magical history, and my frustration with Carrie’s journey kept a promising premise from becoming a book I genuinely enjoyed.
It wasn’t a bad book. It simply wasn’t a particularly memorable read for me.
If this story stayed with you, these reads belong on your shelf → Books Where Home is Complicated
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