Wildwood Whispers

By: Willa Reece

Narrated by: Kamali Minter, Grace Rolek, Andrew Kishino

A heartwarming tale of hope, fate, and folk magic unfolds when a young woman travels to a sleepy southern town in the Appalachian Mountains to bury her best friend.

At the age of eleven, Mel Smith’s life found its purpose when she met Sarah Ross. Ten years later, Sarah’s sudden death threatens to break her. To fulfill a final promise to her best friend, Mel travels to an idyllic small town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. Yet Morgan’s Gap is more than a land of morning mists and deep forest shadows.

There are secrets that call to Mel, in the gaze of the gnarled and knowing woman everyone calls Granny, in a salvaged remedy book filled with the magic of simple mountain traditions, and in the connection she feels to the Ross homestead and the wilderness around it.

With every taste of sweet honey and tart blackberries, the wildwood twines further into Mel’s broken heart. But a threat lingers in the woods—one that may have something to do with Sarah's untimely death and that has now set its sight on Mel.

The wildwood is whispering. It has secrets to reveal—if you're willing to listen . . .

Praise for Wildwood Whispers:

"Readers craving a witchy story full of found family, lush nature, and small-town secrets will find it utterly enchanting.” —Hester Fox, author of The Witch of Willow Hall

"A feast for the senses. 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

“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 A Witch in Time

"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 Caf

Critic reviews

"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 A Witch in Time

"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

"I loved everything about Wildwood Whispers. Reece’s poignant writing style truly captured the vivid setting of small-town Appalachia. Readers craving a witchy story full of found family, lush nature, and small-town secrets will find it utterly enchanting.” —Hester Fox, author of The Witch of Willow Hall

“A wonderful heartfelt novel full of intuitive nature-based magic, wise women, and found family.”—Luanne G. Smith, author of The Vine Witch

"Willa Reece's Wildwood Whispers will cast a spell on its readers. Rich with imagination and rooting itself in the tendrils of rural Appalachia, the story will pull you in and never let go. A glorious read.”—Lydia Kang, author of Opium and Absinthe

"A beautifully-written debut spun from love, suspense, and a deep connection with nature that simply entrances. Wildwood Whispers is an unforgettable tale.”—Tish Thawer, author of The Witches of BlackBrook

"A sweet tale of self-discovery, but it’s also a story of the way women and marginalized communities have always been underestimated by those with power."—Culturess

Terrible narrator, terrible ending

Okay, only one of the narrators was awful. The accent the woman who voiced Sarah’s parts used was so beyond obnoxious there were times I had to turn it off because I couldn’t stand it. Totally ruined the beautiful writing. Additionally, the ending was so ludicrous it tainted the whole book for me

Beautiful Story

This was a beautiful story, but didn’t fully pull me in or excite me. It’s definitely an atmospheric book, driven more by the location, feel, and vibes than by the plot. The wildwood is a magical place that connects the earth, flora, fauna, and people who are close to it. I did enjoy getting to know the wildwood alongside Mel, but overall, the book was just too slow and a little predictable for me.

Thank you narrators for telling us this story.

Thank you Willa Reece for writing this book and outstanding story to listen to.

Almost

This left me confused. I almost loved it. Yet, I almost quit listening. It missed the mark, I think on what could have been a lovely, rich story. I rewound more than once to see if I missed an explanation that just wasn't there.

And a few production problems to note. 5 or 6 times words or parts of sentences were repeated, like a skip on an old LP.

Narrator's Lack of Articulation - Very Distracting

I am 4 hours in to the book and will probably finish. The story is interesting. But I am continuously distracted by how often one of the narrators slurs the words, especially contractions. I can't imagine the author allowing her work to be published with this reading. I wish I knew which of the narrators it was and I would avoid any future books read by her.