Winterwood Hardcover – November 5, 2019

The story is amazing, but the F-bomb is all over this book. I bought it for my 13 yr old and it sounded so good I bought the Kindle version. I read it first and I cannot give her something with such awful language. Very disappointed this is geared towards teens.

This book caught my attention right away. Shea Ernshaw’s writing is poetic, rhythmic and draws the reader in. I was hooked. I wanted to know more about who Nora was and what kind of witch she might be. I wanted to know about the missing boy. I wanted to know what happened the night he went missing. So many questions drive the beginning of this novel that the reader can’t help but eagerly search out the answers. Unfortunately, the story gets bogged down in the middle.After setting up an intriguing premise, Ernshaw flounders. Nora spends too much time wondering whom she can trust, if she is afraid, and lamenting about the Walkers. Oliver keeps leaving and returning and acting untrustworthy. Also, there is a romance that develops out of nowhere and over a span of two days. Even for a YA book that’s fast. It’s also pretty baseless. These hiccups aside, don’t put the book down because it gets good. Really good.The ending packs a punch as questions are answered and theories are upended.I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, was bored through the middle and loved the ending. I think Ernshaw’s writing is beautiful and strong. I think her characterization is mostly enough for this contained story. I think the romance was shoddy and unbelievable. I don’t know if I particularly really like how the story ends, but it definitely was exciting to read.All in all, it was pretty good as long as you push through the mid-section.

First off, I want to say I LOVED The Wicked Deep and I was really excited for Winterwood. However, for most of the book I was a bit disappointed and just felt kinda “meh” about it mainly because it was very redundant what with talking about the woods and how she was a Walker to the point where you think “yeah, I get it.” Initially things were predictable, but then the last 60 or so pages it got really good and took an interesting turn (one that I surprisingly didn’t see coming) that had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen. The last part of the book was a five-star read, but the majority of the book was a three-star at best, so that’s what I’m giving it.

Title WinterwoodAuthor Shea ErnshawRelease Date November 5, 2019Description from AmazonBe careful of the dark, dark wood…Especially the woods surrounding the town of Fir Haven. Some say these woods are magical. Haunted, even.Rumored to be a witch, only Nora Walker knows the truth. She and the Walker women before her have always shared a special connection with the woods. And it’s this special connection that leads Nora to Oliver Huntsman—the same boy who disappeared from the Camp for Wayward Boys weeks ago—and in the middle of the worst snowstorm in years. He should be dead, but here he is alive, and left in the woods with no memory of the time he’d been missing.But Nora can feel an uneasy shift in the woods at Oliver’s presence. And it’s not too long after that Nora realizes she has no choice but to unearth the truth behind how the boy she has come to care so deeply about survived his time in the forest, and what led him there in the first place. What Nora doesn’t know, though, is that Oliver has secrets of his own—secrets he’ll do anything to keep buried, because as it turns out, he wasn’t the only one to have gone missing on that fateful night all those weeks ago.Initial ThoughtsThis book wasn’t really on my radar until I received it in my November OwlCrate box. Also, the reading group I belong to (hosted by @betterwithabookinmyhand), decided to make this one of our December books – so I decided to give it a chance.Some Things I LikedMystery and suspense. I loved that this book kept my on the edge of my seat. This wasn’t a traditional thriller, but there were several suspenseful moments and I really enjoyed that.Twists. There were some really great and unexpected plot twists in this story.Witches and their backstories. I loved the intermittent chapters with the stories of the Walker witches of the past. I really enjoyed the thoughtfulness that went into their stories as well as the recipes and spells that went with them.Final ThoughtsI didn’t really plan on reading this book in 2019 (or really at all), but I’m so glad I did. The romance was super cute, the story was mysterious and unexpected and I loved the setting. I love the way Shea Ernshaw writes and her descriptions are so vivid. I am definitely a big fan of her as an author now.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Recommendations for Further ReadingThe Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones – if you liked the mysterious elements and a strong, independent main character, give this standalone a try.Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin – once again, if you liked the witches element, do yourself a favor and read this new release by Shelby Mahurin. It’s seasonal, perfect, and has multiple POVs.The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw – if you enjoyed the writing style in Winterwood and the witchy elements, definitely try her other book, The Wicked Deep. I’m reading it right now and loving it.

I read this in two days, but could have read it in one if I'd had the time! I love Shea Ernshaw's atmospheric settings and how her writing draws me into the story. I liked this just as much as The Wicked Deep. The twist was unexpected for me, but when revealed I wanted to go back and read with fresh eyes! My only complaint is one phrase that stuck out to me as being repeated too often, and I wish an editor would have caught it. "My head clatters" really started to annoy me. Nora seemed naive, but also able to take care of herself because her mother leaves her behind often to take honey to Sparrow (a nice little Easter egg for those who've read The Wicked Deep). The push and pull of Oliver to Nora was frustrating but also kept me turning the pages, wanting to know the truth.

If you are a fan of The Wicked Deep, you will LOVE Winterwood. The story is compelling, with “edge of your seat” pacing, and “keep all the lights on and your doors locked” suspense, while remaining true to YA audiences. The main character Nora is so relatable and you will believe in her, root for her, and worry about her, as she overcomes the dark secrets of her past and discovers who she really is. Ernshaw’s writing is stellar, every page a mastery of atmosphere and an eerie sense of place. Her writing is rich and full, but never a distraction to the story. Her books could serve as a primer for aspiring YA writers.

Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw is Utterly mesmerising. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with such 19th century writing style in the 21st century before... the words & sentences are utterly enlighting & spark off the page. I adore Ernshaws writing style .. it is profoundly beautiful and utterly mesmerising!Winterwood is darkly atmospheric with such intense vivid imagery. It was like the words came to life off of the pages and all the scenes played out as I was reading. Although I found the major part of story very obvious from the beginning it just added to my curiosity. What was going to happen? How would events unfold? I throughly enjoyed the story and the black pages with spells and the history of walker witches. That was a really nice touch. This story honestly brought my heart to its knees and I was so hoping for happy ending after the wicked deep... again, the way Ernshaw writes I find utterly mesmerising but the way she writes about love is it utterly bewitching and so so deep from the depths of the soul. The entire story draws you in from the first sentence and doesn’t quite let go.

I loved The Wicked Deep and was eagerly awaiting Winterwood. I thoroughly enjoyed Winterwood it’s a tale of witchcraft, prejudice, friendship, love and living in fear of those who live around her. A young girl Nora whose prized possession is her families spellbook containing every one of her Ancestors shadow sides/unique talents Nora hasn’t found hers yet and fears she doesn’t have one and is the odd one out of her family. Nora now lives alone with her pet wolf and only a old man neighbour as a friend. The rest of the village fear Nora and her family’s and their ties to Winterwood with a ability to enter the woods during a full moon a place no one else will go. There is a camp for “lost” boys near the woods by the lake and cemetery that holds all the Walker’s graves. Nora is persecuted by the boys and the other children in the village because she’s a witch. However after the worst snow storm in history which makes it impossible to leave the village Nora comes to the rescue of one of the boys who she befriends and falls in love with. The only problem there has been a murder committed and the boy is being blamed as the murder or so it seems. During the long time of the closure of the village Nora is bullied by the boys from the camp culminating in near disaster. Then the rollercoaster of twists and turns begins and continues right to the end will there be a happy ending and will Nora find her shadow side and the companionship that she desperately craves? Can’t wait for the next book.

'"If you tell me" I say, the words breathless on my lips, "I know it will change everything". My teeth clamp down. "If you tell me, you can't take it back." He steps towards me, his dangerous, perfect, awful green eyes melting in with the dark room. "And I don't want to be afraid of you".Well Shea, you've done it again. You've completely put my heart through the wringer.Shea's writing style is so beautiful and eerie and I'm still broken drom when I read The Wicked Deep. (I also liked the little nod to Sparrow in this book.)I'm always obsessed with anything witchy or related to the moon and the Forrest so this book was perfect for me. The romance is super intense and dark and heart wrenching and I love it.The descriptions of the lake and Nora's cabin reminded me of a mix of Lake Bled (but creepy) and the home of Baba Yaga in the Winternight Trilogy.I read the whole book today in one go so I think I'm still processing. But Shea always manages to steal a piece of my heart with each story.

This book is absolutely beautiful! The cover and the book itself is very pretty, screams witches and magic. I have read another book by this author called The Deep, which is about sirens (for a younger age) but still very good. I love this book and bought another one recently for my friend's birthday. Each chapter has a page of the witches book and it's a very good story about a young witch who finds a boy in the middle of the forest. The writing is also very beautiful, I have never read anything quite so creative and magical!

This was glorious. The story of a young witch, who rescues a dead boy and the secrets, lies, magic and yearning that goes with him. This is dripping with power and love; of wanting and wishing; of finding yourself. I loved Nora and Oliver. Didn’t see the twist coming but thought it was perfect. I really enjoyed this.