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Summoning Spruce
Josephine Swell lives in a magical community pinched between forests healing from clear-cuts and a logging town gone-bust. Freshly dumped and back living with her brother and pot-smoking grandmother, Swell has accepted a job with The Row’s Council. It’s now her job to follow up on all illegal magics practiced within council territory. But when the body of a young woman is found inside the boundary of the Mayback Woods, the fragile treaty between those who protect the forest’s magic and loggers is tested. Swell must follow the trail of dark magic, to find the killer before the home she loves is cut to the ground.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 20, 2022
3 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 21, 2022
Magic and family and trees! What more could you need!
Summoning Spruce is a fantastic read for anyone feeling disconnected from the magic around them. The town of Spruce may no longer be a logging hub, but the people who live there are alive and fully realized members of the town. Combine that with The Row and you've got a world of intrigue and magic and the soft sweet smells of moss floating up to your nose through the words on the page. The descriptions of forest and Swell putting her hands in the dirt to remove weeds and sort through her own thoughts instantly bonded me to this character and made me SUPER interested in her journey!
We are hand in hand with Swell and she uses her magic and her smarts to deal with situations both magical and frustrating in ways that remind us of our own struggles with relationships and family life in the beautifully lush setting of the Pacific Northwest. Ann Ornie really creates a world that we can see, smell and touch!
*I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and, honestly, you should read it!
Summoning Spruce is a fantastic read for anyone feeling disconnected from the magic around them. The town of Spruce may no longer be a logging hub, but the people who live there are alive and fully realized members of the town. Combine that with The Row and you've got a world of intrigue and magic and the soft sweet smells of moss floating up to your nose through the words on the page. The descriptions of forest and Swell putting her hands in the dirt to remove weeds and sort through her own thoughts instantly bonded me to this character and made me SUPER interested in her journey!
We are hand in hand with Swell and she uses her magic and her smarts to deal with situations both magical and frustrating in ways that remind us of our own struggles with relationships and family life in the beautifully lush setting of the Pacific Northwest. Ann Ornie really creates a world that we can see, smell and touch!
*I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and, honestly, you should read it!
March 20, 2022
I completely enjoyed Summoning Spruce and couldn't put it down, reading it over the course of a few days and loving every minute. Ornie describes a world that's at once completely familiar and deeply evocative of a small town tucked into the lush hills of the Pacific Northwest, while also richly magical and full of unexpected twists. The characters mirror this dynamic and are relatable and real while navigating relationships, work, and personal growth alongside magic, intrigue, and unexpected dangers. A wonderful book especially for nature lovers or fans of earthy magic, but a fun read for anyone!
March 22, 2022
Of Magic and Mycelium🍄🌲
March 20, 2022
"Equal Parts Magic and Beautifully Described Nature"
Though Josephine Swell is a practicing resident of the magical community of “The Row”, her internal struggle mimics that of nearby Spruce, a town left for dead after logging companies clear-cut the land and moved on. When a young woman is found murdered in the woods and other citizens begin disappearing, the ante is raised. Swell must double down on confidence in her own self-worth and magical powers while encountering a host of suspects in the murder.
Beautifully written with indelible characters, this mystery sets the reader in the middle of small-town politics facing tradeoffs between its economy and the preservation of nature. Full of menacing crows, blood magic, hidden dark powers, spells, and cantrips, the story employs engaging dialogue and intrigue to move it along briskly. The mix of action and dialogue is perfectly balanced, giving us a full sense of the sights and sounds of the community, its citizens, and the surrounding nature WITHOUT stalling the story’s pace. The setting descriptions were wonderfully natural, mixing equal parts of magic and nature with ease.
In particular, the dialogue between Swell and her grandmother Beatrice are some of the best, truest lines I’ve read in a long time. Often, their talks made me chuckle or laugh out loud. I love the rich depth of their characters, and I especially warmed to Beatrice’s racy humor. The dog, Tater, is a fantastic companion serving as good comic fodder while mirroring Swell’s feelings and struggles. Ornie absolutely nails these characters; I felt like I’ve known them all my life.
Sprinkled throughout the book, humor stands right alongside the deadly mystery and its dark magic. An example from Chp.10: “There were only so many times I could see seventy-year-olds dance naked under a full moon.” The old lady busy-body, Ilene Frank, is a hilarious addition to the cast, and she almost steals the scene every time she shows up. Again, all the characters are SO WELL DONE.
The forests and nature around “The Row” are wonderfully detailed as well. If you’ve never been to the forests of the Pacific Northwest, this story will take you there! I felt like I was walking along with Tater, Bronson, and Finn as Swell works to solve the murder. And I learned so many new words about forest floral, too.
This book is so well written. It flows effortlessly as the wind over a rich terrain of flora, fauna, dialogue, and nature-infused magic. I didn’t want it to end. But some loose ends were left untidy on purpose, I believe, so I’m hoping for a sequel. Fingers crossed!
(Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.)
Though Josephine Swell is a practicing resident of the magical community of “The Row”, her internal struggle mimics that of nearby Spruce, a town left for dead after logging companies clear-cut the land and moved on. When a young woman is found murdered in the woods and other citizens begin disappearing, the ante is raised. Swell must double down on confidence in her own self-worth and magical powers while encountering a host of suspects in the murder.
Beautifully written with indelible characters, this mystery sets the reader in the middle of small-town politics facing tradeoffs between its economy and the preservation of nature. Full of menacing crows, blood magic, hidden dark powers, spells, and cantrips, the story employs engaging dialogue and intrigue to move it along briskly. The mix of action and dialogue is perfectly balanced, giving us a full sense of the sights and sounds of the community, its citizens, and the surrounding nature WITHOUT stalling the story’s pace. The setting descriptions were wonderfully natural, mixing equal parts of magic and nature with ease.
In particular, the dialogue between Swell and her grandmother Beatrice are some of the best, truest lines I’ve read in a long time. Often, their talks made me chuckle or laugh out loud. I love the rich depth of their characters, and I especially warmed to Beatrice’s racy humor. The dog, Tater, is a fantastic companion serving as good comic fodder while mirroring Swell’s feelings and struggles. Ornie absolutely nails these characters; I felt like I’ve known them all my life.
Sprinkled throughout the book, humor stands right alongside the deadly mystery and its dark magic. An example from Chp.10: “There were only so many times I could see seventy-year-olds dance naked under a full moon.” The old lady busy-body, Ilene Frank, is a hilarious addition to the cast, and she almost steals the scene every time she shows up. Again, all the characters are SO WELL DONE.
The forests and nature around “The Row” are wonderfully detailed as well. If you’ve never been to the forests of the Pacific Northwest, this story will take you there! I felt like I was walking along with Tater, Bronson, and Finn as Swell works to solve the murder. And I learned so many new words about forest floral, too.
This book is so well written. It flows effortlessly as the wind over a rich terrain of flora, fauna, dialogue, and nature-infused magic. I didn’t want it to end. But some loose ends were left untidy on purpose, I believe, so I’m hoping for a sequel. Fingers crossed!
(Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.)
March 21, 2022
Summoning Spruce is a delightful read. It's the sublime majesty of a peaceful forest... with murder. This cozy mystery honors earth witchy magic. If you've ever dreamed of moving to a small forest town and losing yourself to lawn gnomes and twinkle lights, this is the book for you. If you get through the day fueled by coffee and chocolate, Josephine Swell is your protagonist. She's frustrated, awkward, compassionate, strong, and in her own head too much... so like most women I know!
When illegal magics and murder invade the town of Spruce, Swell must find out what magic is threatening her town. She's also reconciling her newly single status, the stuck-up rich girl in town, and Bronson the park ranger she's investigating with. But the star of the show is Tater. Ornie's careful crafting of this lovable pup made me want my own dog by my side as I read.
Ornie has mastered what a place looks like and how Swell (& co.) feel about it. This debut novel is engrossing and a beautiful homage to the trees in our back yard. If you want to feel a little more connected to the earth, find your nearest forest clearing and bring this book with you!
*Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book from the author for an honest review. But I've already ordered my own paperback copy*
When illegal magics and murder invade the town of Spruce, Swell must find out what magic is threatening her town. She's also reconciling her newly single status, the stuck-up rich girl in town, and Bronson the park ranger she's investigating with. But the star of the show is Tater. Ornie's careful crafting of this lovable pup made me want my own dog by my side as I read.
Ornie has mastered what a place looks like and how Swell (& co.) feel about it. This debut novel is engrossing and a beautiful homage to the trees in our back yard. If you want to feel a little more connected to the earth, find your nearest forest clearing and bring this book with you!
*Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book from the author for an honest review. But I've already ordered my own paperback copy*
March 17, 2022
Celebrates the Environment and Magic as One
From the first page to the last, Summoning Spruce is a triumphant tale of old magic meeting modern crises. I consumed my pre-release copy in three days because I wanted to stay with the heroine Swell as she confronted both bad actors and her own self-doubt. Swell is all of us muddling through a divorce and being micromanaged by a greedy and out-of-touch office, more concerned with “how things look” than human life. In a category with Fern Gully, Avatar, Sometimes a Great Notion, and Silent Spring, Ornie’s Summoning Spruce is a novel that brings forth the living web of life. Full of vivid settings, the story is permeated with ocean mist and forest magic and reveals Ornie as a passionate environmental writer with deep knowledge of small-town dynamics. Ornie’s writing style is accessible yet the reader can find nuggets of mystery and intrigue. Though a single novel, this story could continue, and I for one would be ready to jump back in.
From the first page to the last, Summoning Spruce is a triumphant tale of old magic meeting modern crises. I consumed my pre-release copy in three days because I wanted to stay with the heroine Swell as she confronted both bad actors and her own self-doubt. Swell is all of us muddling through a divorce and being micromanaged by a greedy and out-of-touch office, more concerned with “how things look” than human life. In a category with Fern Gully, Avatar, Sometimes a Great Notion, and Silent Spring, Ornie’s Summoning Spruce is a novel that brings forth the living web of life. Full of vivid settings, the story is permeated with ocean mist and forest magic and reveals Ornie as a passionate environmental writer with deep knowledge of small-town dynamics. Ornie’s writing style is accessible yet the reader can find nuggets of mystery and intrigue. Though a single novel, this story could continue, and I for one would be ready to jump back in.
March 30, 2024
This book gave me my cozy mystery fix. The setting is quirky, the characters are unforgettable, and the plot is easy to follow. I especially admire the author weaving eco consciousness into the heart of it. I hope this book becomes a series.
dnf
April 19, 2022Ann Ornie is a talented writer with a wonderful story, but when I got to page twelve and the second bloody death of a young teenage girl I had to stop. I know I would love the book if I read it, but I cannot read violence these days. This is entirely on me and not this blooming author.
August 29, 2023
This is a good first novel. I like the way the author intertwines the people with magic and those without. It would be nice to read more about the Row people and the Sprucers.
April 17, 2022
This book is a wonderful joy for anyone who loves fantasy or magic or murder mysteries or eco friendly things! I love all 4 so when I got to the last 5 pages I didn’t want to read them because I knew it would end!! I highly recommend!
March 23, 2022
The story follows the main character Swell and her trusty sidekick, Tater, a sweet potato loving pup. After a local girl is found murdered, Swell uses her earthly magic to investigate.
The world Ornie created is both familiar and mystical at once. The setting is beautifully described and the characters are deep and relatable.
A well written story full of mystery and nature will keep you intrigued from start to finish.
The world Ornie created is both familiar and mystical at once. The setting is beautifully described and the characters are deep and relatable.
A well written story full of mystery and nature will keep you intrigued from start to finish.
November 26, 2023
A swift good read
A magical detective story. Thinking about the impact of what colonial capitalism does to our planet. A good, fast read
A magical detective story. Thinking about the impact of what colonial capitalism does to our planet. A good, fast read
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews