Wildwood Whispers had the potential and set up to be a great book. Unfortunately, it took too long to get to the meat of the story and I just felt a little blah about it. I didn't find that I connect with the characters or the journey the author was taking us on.

I almost dnf'd this book a few chapters in. I'm glad I kept going because it was not a bad book. I'm not going to redo the blurb review because there are several of those. Go read them.

I LOVED the setting and the closeness of the women in the story. The story has just enough magic in it that it wove itself around you and felt comforting. I liked the whole "sect" storyline because I'm a sucker for some cultish stuff.

Now for the dislikes. The repeativeness (probably not a real word but when have I cared?) I swear the Wildwood is mentioned on almost every single page. The whole rampancy part of the story line. It felt weird to me and really was not needed.

It's a cute book. One that you can totally just snuggle up and read on the couch.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review

Magic. Just pure magic! I feel like this book is the answer that people have been looking for when it comes to beautiful works of

What a wonderful Southern tale. My patrons will love it. We have a huge fan base of the southern mythical/mystical reads and this will be a great addition to our selections for them!

Thank you for the gifted book!

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this Wildwood Whispers as I couldn't get into the story and didn't love the authors writing style. I would love to try something else of hers in the future.

This is such a well written book. It read like a song.. This isn’t usually the type of book I read but I am so glad I did. Willa Reece, tells the story of Mel Smith and how until she was 11 years old she never had a friend, a person. That is until she meets Sarah Ross. Sarah Ross comes from a small Appalachian town, called Morgan’s Gap. Sarah spoke so much of the town and the people, that Mel always wanted to go. Fast forward 10 years and Sarah Ross, has passed. Mel knows she has to bring Sarah to Morgan Gap to bury her. Mel finds that once in Morgan’s Gap, she feels a connection to Sarah and the place. It is a small town, tucked into the mountains. While there Mel meets the locals.. learns about the area and also meets a woman named Granny. Granny is know for healing people and she has a book of remedies, that seem more like healer/magic than actual medicine. Before Sarah knows it, she has been in the town for a few months. She has e become close with Granny and has made some friends. She starts to learn the ingredients and how to make some of Granny’s remedies. The author makes you feel like you are in this forest. I imagined how warm it felt and how magical it was. But there is also a darker side to the woods. Sarah can’t help but feel it. She knows that something is going to happen. Could this have something to do with Mel’s death? Will it ruin her time in Morgan’s Gap? Will it make her leave the first place she considers home? She knows to trust the woods but can she come out alive? This was a very good story. It was a 4 star read for me. I really enjoyed it and Ali hope you do too..

This is a story of a close friendship that started when Mel and Sarah met in foster care. Mel was an old hand at age 11 but Sarah was a newby who was going to be ate alive so Mel took her under her wing. Years later Sarah dies and Mel has promised to return her ashes to Morgan Gap, deep in the Appalachia Mountains. There she finds a sense of peace and an old woman who knows all about her. Just a touch of mountain magic and a wild religious cult near by bring excitement. romance and new friends into Mel's life. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Wildwood Whispers holds a strong emphasis on cultivating friendships, strengthening bonds, and establishing trust. I really enjoyed the herbal references throughout. I was captivated by the magical realism as well. Because of these things, I found Wildwood Whispers to be a very quick read.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a free and unbiased review.

I read Wildwood Whispers last month and it was a lovely magical realism book perfect for an October read. Vivid prose and imagery is set against an Appalachian backdrop, where you can envision the charms and secrets of the Wildwood.

This is a slow building book that features a quiet magic system, cult-like religious sects, government corruption, while following the storyline of mysterious deaths that seem to plague the women of this small town.

Mel is a strong and dynamic character looking to find answers pertaining to her dearest friend’s death, and the cast of characters she meets along the way are as endearing as they are suspicious. I knew there was something weird going on and although it was easy to see that some of the fishy characters had to be involved, the author still surprises us with the role certain characters play in this tale.

If you’re a fan of quietly beautiful storytelling and an intrinsic magic system, Wildwood Whispers might be a good book for you!

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A stunningly written tale of love, relationships, magic, and finding the true meaning of what home is.

WILDWOOD WHISPERS is such a beautiful book. Reece has gifted her readers with an eloquent, poignant, and truly magical story. By allowing us to see this world through Mel, we grow and learn with her. Then you have the infusion of Sarah’s life story—making the experience so much richer.

What made the reading experience even better for me was the writing. There was almost a lyrical way the prose unfolded the story which propelled us further into this small town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. The people we meet are not characters but come across as real and honest depictions. The situations Mel, Granny, and the others are put in are depicted with candor, heart, and wit.

If you cannot tell, I loved this book. If you are all a fan of books with a hint of whimsy, engaging characters, and a side of suspense, this book is for you.

A good mix of magical realism and mystery. This was a book I didn't want to put down and I would definitely shelve it in the "cozy" category. The atmosphere of the woods and the small towns just hit the spot for me and I loved all of the quirky little characters.

The writing is really good and moves with a fantastic flow. The prose is fairly lyrical and great in description. I was really sucked into the story with the imagery created. The pace is a little slow and there is a lot of setup, but it worked for me. Some readers may get bogged down by this.

I also really enjoyed the cultish element that was mixed in to the narrative. I would've honestly liked more, but that's no surprise. Cults in fiction are kind of my jam.

The plot is a bit of a mystery, but it's fairly predictable, so I would plant it solidly in the magical realism genre. Don't go into this expecting a thriller or a complex whodunit. It's just an enjoyable tale with a little bit of tension and a small town with a good mix of good and evil. Cozy up with a blanket and enjoy.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

Wildwood Whispers by Willa Reece is an excellent novel. Both the characters and the story are well developed.

This book was everything I had hoped it would be. The writing was beautiful and magical. The story was enchanting and mysterious. I also enjoyed reading about another aspect of Appalachian history.

Mel’s tough upbringing is transformed when she’s given a purpose at age 12. That is when she meets Sarah, whom she vows to protect. Now, at 23, Mel is traveling to Sarah’s small Appalachian town to spread her ashes. Morgan’s Gap surprises her in the best way, as she’s taken in by the local herbalist and finds a connection with the local biologist. Wildwood Whispers by Willa Reece is such a lush, magical story with a darkness lurking underneath its idyllic facade - perfect for the end of summer. Fans of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane and The Witch of Willow Hall will love this one.

I guess I'm in the minority that felt this was a very slow moving book. Don't get me wrong it was very magical and full of feeling and something that I would dive right into - the slowness just didn't capture me the way it should have. It was just okay for me, but others really seem to enjoy it - so while not my cup of tea give it a shot.

When I received a copy of Wildwood Whispers, I didn’t know what to expect when I opened up to the first page. It turned out to be the lush witchy tale I needed.

Since middle school, it had just been Mel and Sarah, Sarah and Mel—two foster kids who chose to be sisters. Ten years later, when Sarah is killed in a hit and run, Mel journeys to Morgan’s Gap, Sarah’s hometown nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Granny, the resident wise-woman, takes Mel under her wing as Mel grieves Sarah’s loss and faces the question, “what now?”

There is a darkness that lurks at the edges of town, a threat to the wildwood and those who love and protect it. Will Mel find a place with these strangers who are becoming her friends?

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book I’ve savored THIS MUCH. Willa Reece has a gift with words; I fell into the pages, drunk on the vivid imagery and the addictive magic of the wildwood. I actually intentionally slowed down and read it bit by bit because I didn’t want it to end.

Tender, dark, and sprinkled through with magic, Wildwood Whispers is a quiet novel about family and the places that capture our hearts, the places we call home.

I don’t often much magic realism fiction (or women’s fiction…not sure how I feel about that even being a subgenre category…), but the book description for this book was giving me major “Practical Magic” vibes, so I thought it was worth checking out. The cover art was also beautiful, and my mood fit well for a more quiet, reflective read. This one wasn’t a perfect fit for me, but I think it’s a solid entry for fans of these genres.

Growing up bouncing around in the system, Mel could never find her home. That is until she met Sarah, a young girl who had recently been orphaned. Together, the two made a home for one another in their enduring bond. Years later, Mel once again feels the sand shifting beneath her feet when Sarah dies. To fulfill a promise, she travels to Sarah’s childhood home. There, she discovers there was much more to Sarah than she had understood. And as the dark woods whispers and family secrets swirl through the town’s quiet streets, Mel begins to see a new place for herself.

I liked the idea of this book more than the book itself, in the end. Those familiar with the blog will know that I love a sisters book, which this is. I also really liked the imagery of a small, quiet town in the mountains, having grown up in one myself. There’s something compelling about the quirks and histories that come out in places like this, strange to all but those who have grown up with them. Mel’s exploration of the two, people, and woods was particularly poignant for me in this way.

I also liked Mel herself, especially the brief flash we see of her as a child when she first meets and bonds with Sarah. She was definitely started out on a strong note here, a defiant loner who discovers kinship with a younger girl. But the adult Mel was more difficult for me to handle. The flashes of defiance and strength seemed muted, and there were many early moments between characters that left me scratching my head. Mel comes to the town, a complete stranger, and then strikes up some really bizarre conversations with various locals. I couldn’t figure out what was going on here. Was it poor writing that made these portions of dialogue read as odd? Was it on purpose? Either way, it hurt Mel’s characterization as I couldn’t understand her lack of human reaction to these weird happenings.

I also struggled to identify with several other plot elements. The antagonist was easily spotted from the beginning of the story (even if the motives were left murky for a bit longer). And the romance felt tacked on and, again, unnatural. I didn’t feel any real chemistry between these characters other than the fact that the author simply designed them to be together, so they were. r

I liked the magical elements that were interspersed throughout the book, but was left wanting more. This is a point that is particular to my taste, however, as a lot of magical realism stories are light on the magic. The exploration of grief, family, and home had moments of depth, but, again, never struck any real chords for me. Ultimately, it was a bit too sentimental for me.

Readers who enjoy quiet, thoughtful books and magic realism will likely enjoy this story. If you’re looking for a fast plot, strong romance, or strong characterization, this might be more of a disappointment. I don’t regret reading it, but it’s enough to prove that a little goes a long way for me with this kind of stuff.

Rating 7: Decent for what it is, a sentimental story of a woman processing her grief and discovering a new sense of self and roots.

So Wildwood Whispers took me a bit.. I found it to be a slower paced story, nothing wrong with that. I think it fits the light magic, small town cottagecore feel but I did find my interests dwindle throughout reading it. It follows a woman who’s best friend passes away and she travels to the small town where she lived as a child to scatter her ashes but it reveals to the reader very quickly the darkness of her past which involves some witchery elements and even a cultlike presence. I don’t regret reading this by any means, the writing is beautiful, the atmosphere it feels like you can touch it, it was definitely out of my comfort zone but I did find when we met other characters that the writing lacked a meaningful difference in their voices and found I grew bored quite often. It was a very different read then my normal grimdark fantasy which is what I wanted. I wanted a break from the dark stuff I constantly feed my brain so this was great for that.
Full review on my YouTube channel.

We all have that moment. A point of clarity so full and complete the way forward is no longer a mystery. Mel Smith knows that moment , when Sarah came into her life. First fierce protector and reluctant emissary of her return to be joined with her ancestors high in the mountains. The person who knew Sarah best knows Sarah put into motion a force of reckoning and revelation. Here among those who like Sarah heard and felt the woods and their songs, were true stewards of the wild woods that surround and nurture those awakened by natural truths. A valentine to the natural world.

I've never felt more like the target audience for a book in my life. The magical realism was very well done and believable. Having grown up in Southwest VA, this book also gave me so much nostalgia for traditions like making Apple Butter the old way and breaking beans with my Granny.