‘Why is losing a friend always so much harder than losing a love?’

This book follows Carrie Morgan, who returns to her family’s magical mountain town to renovate her late grandmother's cottage. While there, she also becomes the heir to a coveted spell book passed down through generations of Morgan women. As she settles back into her hometown, she meets Matthieu, a mysterious stranger tied to an old legend. But when Matthieu disappears with the arrival of spring, Carrie is forced to confront both her past and the town’s mystical secrets in a quest to find him.

The book starts off with a cozy, atmospheric vibe, full of intrigue and a hint of suspense. There’s an air of mystery surrounding the Morgan women—are they cursed, witches, or perhaps something even more otherworldly? It leaves you wondering, though the question is never fully answered. But then again, it's a magical story, so anything is possible, right?

As this is one of my favorite genres, I was initially excited for the potential of Woodsmoke. The author touches on themes of feminism here and there, but unfortunately, these moments never felt fully developed. There’s a sense of it, but the exploration doesn’t go as deep as I would have liked—it’s more of a surface-level nod than a thorough examination.

The characters didn’t leave a lasting impression. Many of them fade into the background, and I found it difficult to feel a strong connection with them. The only character who really stood out to me was Howard, who was a quietly supportive figure, always standing by his woman through thick and thin.

While reading, I found myself skimming at times. There were moments when my curiosity was piqued, pulling me forward, but for the most part, the story felt predictable. At certain points, I even considered DNF-ing it, as the pace and character development didn’t fully engage me.
That said, Woodsmoke does explore themes of friendship, relationships, and sisterhood—ideas that have potential but could have been delved into much deeper with more character development.

The ending, however, was satisfying and offered a sense of closure that left me content. I appreciated how it wrapped up, even if the journey there wasn’t always compelling.

Overall, I’m unsure if I would recommend this book to everyone. I found myself struggling to keep going at times, and it took some convincing to continue. However, if you’re new to fantasy or looking for something light between heavier reads, this could be a good fit.

I would like to thank Times Reads for sending me a review copy.