I didn’t love this like I did The Wicked Deep. The story just didn’t quite capture my attention, but I do still love Ernshaw’s writing style.

Ernshaw is such a talented writer! I absolutely adored Wicked Deep, and was very eager to be granted Winterwood. Unfortunately, I did not connect with this story the way I did with her previous novel. Her writing is exquisite, and the pace is fine - I just couldn't into the story itself. I do not want to dissuade others from reading this, but it was not my cup of tea. I will continue to read Ernshaw's novels with the hopes that this one was just a personal taste. 3/5 stars.

It's a very atmospheric and quick read. The woods is like a extra magical character and I didn't expect that ending. It has a bit of fairytale in it and I love it. I didn't care for the romance, but I can't complain it was cute. Overall it's a good book with a wonderful writing style.

I was so impressed with this book! The wicked deep will always be my favorite I think, but this was such a different idea. I loved the setting and it was a perfect winter read while sitting at home! The cover is breath taking its really a perfect little package

Having read the authors previous book, The Wicked Deep, I had some high expectations for Winterwood. I can say that the both did and didn't deliver on those expectations. Either way, it was a good book with good writing, it just took me a bit longer to get into it than I would have liked. I will continue to read the authors books and can't wait to see where she takes us next.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Reading "Winterwood" was falling into a sinking into a quicksand-like pudding; sweet, creepy....you can't pull yourself free but at least it's delicious! I read it in one sitting. The dreary, rainy day definitely enriched the mood. The prose was very rich enveloping the reader in a world that bordered on a dreamstate. Hauntingly creepy characters that were each flawed enough to make you either hate or love them - no in-between for me. While some of the twists were predictable, it didn't detract from my enjoying the journey. This was introduction to Ernshaw...I'm definitely going to pick up "The Wicked Deep."

Read The Wicked Deep first! This story is full of suspense. The main character, Nora, is relatable. The author will have you rooting for her the whole time. The prose is almost poetic. There is explicit language but it stays true to YA audiences.

In all honesty, I did not finish this book. I have been slowly reading it on and off for the last four months and only got half way through. I have zero interest in this novel, so unfortunately it is going into the DNF pile.

I guess what I didn’t like most about the book is there are zero stakes or plot. The first half of the book is just a back and forth of a girl asking what happened and no one telling her. That can be done well, but in this case it was more annoying than anything.

The characters were incredibly flat. There was nothing to them and were so forgettable that when it came to literally any male I kept getting them all confused.

What makes a mystery good is that urge to want to know what happens next and to try and figure out the mystery. But in this case, I just didn’t care. There wasn’t enough to pull me in to want to know what happened to these boys. And if a mystery can’t get you hooked within the first half of the book, I think it’s time to walk away.

3.5 stars. Very atmospheric and engaging premise, but some elements pulled me out of the world and were distracting. Some of the distracting elements were explained later on, but they were still bothersome. I did not buy into the fact that the winter storm was so bad that no one could get in or out or have any communication for weeks on end. I also didn’t but into their “love story”. Too fast, too easy, and I didn’t connect with them at all. I did love some of the twists and turns of the plot and some of the secondary characters were intriguing.

Winterwood was so much more than I was expecting! I hope it gets a more eye catching cover in paperback because this beautifully written and very well done novel deserves a much, much larger audience. (A better cover will make it easier for me to handsell the pb too!)

Ernshaw has a way with words. I loved The Wicked Deep and was so incredibly pleased by how incredibly beautiful this story was. The plot twists, the characters, the darkness, the romance, the magic...
If you want to read a book that captures and completely enthralls you with each and every word, this book is for you!
FIVE STARS

I really enjoyed this book. It was my first one by this author and it makes me want to go back and read The Wicked Deep. I liked the story and the twists throughout.

I am still obsessed with The Wicked Deep. I preordered Winterwood as soon as it was available. Shea has become an auto buy author for me. I loved the mysterious setting. The plot has satisfying twists and turns with a little romance that keep me reading and before I knew it, I was finished. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed!

Summary
Nora is the youngest Walker woman - a family of witches born from the Wicker Woods. During the full moon they can walk amongst the magical trees, collecting lost things. After a terrible snowstorm, Nora finds the body of a lost boy. The same boy who recently went missing from the all-boys reform school. Oliver should be dead. But he is alive, and has no memory of his disappearance.
But the woods are uneasy and Nora must discover the truth behind Oliver's disappearance. Because Oliver was not the only boy to go missing the night of the storm.

"Because I am more darkness than girl. More winder shadows than August sunlight. We are the daughters of the wood"

Overview
➸ Nora Walker: Descendant of witches, No known nightshade or power, Belongs to the Wicker Woods, Desperately wants to feel connected to her family and heritage, Loner

➸ Oliver Huntsman: Attends the all-boys reform school, Went missing and found in the Wicker Woods, Missing his memories

➸ POV: 1st Person, Alternating between Nora and Oliver's POV

➸ Content Warnings: Death of a loved one, grief, Bullying, Drowning, Forest fire

My Thoughts
This will probably go down as one of the biggest surprises and favorite books of the year. Shea Ernshaw's prose and ability to capture feeling and atmosphere is absolutely outstanding. I was completely swept away into this book and never wanted to return.

In 2019, I discovered my love for books inside of books and was so excited to find that there were snippets from Walker's spellbook throughout this. It was such an amazing add to the story and loved the small glimpses into the family's history. And the spells gave me all the Practical Magic vibes!

This was one of the most captivating and beautifully written stories I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I lived and breathed every single word and can't remember the last time I was so drawn in to a story. There were times I would look up, having completely forgotten where I was. This book makes you feel winter and ice.

I loved the magic, friendship, and message of this book. And while I agree with the comments about the relationship/feelings being fast, given Nora's ability, it made sense and actually worked for me. While I don't think the relationship was perfectly developed, this story had so many other wonderful, captivating elements that I honestly didn't care.

I really struggle to sum up my feelings about this book. It was a book I became so wrapped up in that it's hard to conjure objective and coherent thoughts. If you are a fan of lyrical and atmospheric writing, magic, and whimsy, please (please) pick up this book. Shea Ernshaw is a force to be reckoned with in the slightly magical/speculative fantasy genre.

My review is currently live on Goodreads and will be posted to my blog on February 5th

Hauntingly beautiful, enchantingly lovely and stunningly mysterious. This is a slow burn that you never want to end. A story about a soul mate lost in the cold mortal world will have you loving this fairytale-esque story.

I struggled with this one. The mystery was Intriguing, but the love story was nauseating. I seem to be the minority in this regard, so don’t let me stop you for reading it!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

Thank you to NetGalley for my Advanced Reader e-copy of this amazing book.

“I think of my grandmother -- how sturdy she was. An anchor that could not be moved against her will. Many feared her, the strong tenor of her voice, her wild dark hair -- I never saw her take a brush to it and it often caught in the wind and bound into knots, but moments later it was silk down her back. She was a marvel. And I wish I was her right now, I wish I knew what she knew.”

Nora Walker is rumored to be a witch. She is a finder and can find things that are lost and missing; the Wicker Woods near her family home tolerate her presence and help her find what has been lost. Coming from a long line of strong women, she is grieving her beloved grandmother and does not relate well to her rarely there mom. She'll need her strength, her courage, and forces that she's not sure she possesses in order to face the mystery at the center of the story.

What Ernshaw does so well is create a rich winter tapestry framed within a spooky, slightly off kilter setting. I also love her commentary on witches, strong women, and the way boys in groups can behave. Both Oliver and Nora are richly drawn, compelling, and compassionate.

A tender budding romance, an unlikely friendship, and a mysterious event are all at the core of this haunting tale. A boy is missing and another boy is dead, and Nora Walker will find herself at the crux of this grisly mystery, doing her best to keep herself from unraveling.

Winterwood is an enjoyable tale of a young witch who has yet to discover the full extent of her power and the boy she finds nearly frozen to death in the woods. It takes a lot to enter these woods - knowledge of their power, the right timing, the right offerings - and he should never be there, much less found alive. While this novel is outside the scope of my typical reading, I found it immensely enjoyable. The romance is not all-encompassing. The main character knows who she is without the boy. In fact, Winterwood flips many magical tales on its head. No more boy saves girl or boys using their immense magical prowess to defeat evil. This story is for all genders but it will be especially refreshing for young girls to read about a powerful young witch who goes to great lengths to save those that she cares about.

I love the combination of the spooky, winter atmosphere thrown in with a mysterious disappearance of a boy, his unusual return, and a budding romance.

This was a mess. I’m not reviewing because I want to give the editors a chance to fix before others read. A pond in Massachusetts is not going to freeze over for the winter in mid-November. That’s only one of the glaring errors.