Wildwood Magic

by Willa Reece

Overview

"An enchanting tale full of magical moments." —Library Journal

A woman escapes her abusive husband and finds shelter in an enchanted orchard in this spellbinding novel of magic, resilience, and self-discovery from the author of Wildwood Whispers.

Here be witches and wayward girls…

In a town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, Rachel Smith has found a new life tending a lush apple orchard. She’s safe within its grove. If her dreams are haunted by memories of her violent husband, that pain is soothed by fresh mountain air and apples that taste as sweet as honey.

But Rachel wasn’t meant to live in the shadows. The orchard drew her to Morgan’s Gap to fulfill a purpose, and a tight-knit community of wisewomen who honor the old mountain traditions are ready to teach her. A world of magic awaits Rachel, one filled with new friendships and new love.

Yet Rachel’s past is creeping in. A preacher with a familiar face has stormed into town, and his dangerous sermons may damn Rachel—and the people she’s come to love—to the flames.

For more from Willa Reece, check out Wildwood Whispers. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316591812
Publisher:	Orbit
Publication date:	07/25/2023
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	159,241
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 5.40(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Willa Reece is a pseudonym for Barbara J. Hancock. She lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia where stories are often told on a dark side porch in the flicker of firefly light.

Editorial Reviews

"Full of women wielding the magic of the land, Reece's latest is an enchanting tale full of magical moments that also confronts the harm that hate and fear can inflict." —Library Journal

“Rachel's voice shines in this first-person narrative interspersed with sections from other characters' perspectives, including that of Ezekiel. Filled with all-too-real hatred and prejudice, Reece's second Wildwood novel also brims with love, hope, and the magical power of womanhood and community.”—Shelf Awareness

Praise for Wildwood Whispers:

"A feast for the senses. Wildwood Whispers is everything I love in a book and I fell under its spell. Willa Reece has written a magical, romantic tale about our essential connections to nature and to each other." —Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author

"Willa Reece has perfectly infused magic, suspense, and a love of nature deep into the pages of this novel. Ultimately filled with hope, love, and the power of growth and resilience, Wildwood Whispers is a thought-provoking, memorable debut." —Heather Webber, USA Today bestselling author of Midnight at the Blackbird Café

“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 The Ladies of the Secret Circus

"The Appalachian Mountains are alive with magic in this folksy, feminist contemporary fantasy...Mel’s story is full of human compassion and animal wisdom that will charm readers. This works both as a contemporary fairy tale and a slow-burning romance—and fans of both genres will appreciate this walk through the wild woods." —Publishers Weekly

"A lovely tale of sisterly love, the power of inheritance, and the many magics of the natural world. Readers will love Reece’s wonderful wisewomen and cheer for the abandoned baby who grows up to find her true home. A deeply satisfying read!" —Louisa Morgan, author of The Age of Witches

From the Publisher

06/01/2023

In 1960s Virginia, Rachel flees her abusive husband, preacher Ezekial Gray, when she learns she's pregnant. Drawn to an apple orchard in a small Appalachian town, she finds refuge there in the cottage home of wisewoman Mary May. Hoping to make sure her husband never finds their daughter, Rachel gives her to the local midwife to raise. As Rachel slowly begins to heal and discover her own power, however, she is faced with new challenges when Ezekial comes to town for a religious revival and threatens the place where she has found home. Readers will relish another foray into the magical Wildwood, this time a historical visit, and find some familiar characters from Wildwood Whispers, although this novel also works as a stand-alone. VERDICT Full of women wielding the magic of the land, often through skills like beekeeping, sewing, or singing, Reece's latest is an enchanting tale full of magical moments that also confronts the harm that hate and fear can inflict.—Melissa DeWild

Library Journal