Review of 'Winterwood'

Synopsis

Be 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.

For as long as there have been fairy tales, we have been warned to fear what lies within the dark, dark woods and in Winterwood, New York Times bestselling author Shea Ernshaw, shows us why.

Review

Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw is an eerily magical read that warns readers to be afraid of the woods after dark, for they have their own secrets.

If there is one thing that Ernshaw excels at, it is creating an eerie atmosphere. The story opens with Nora entering the Wicker Woods under the safety of the moonlight. These are woods alive with malice in their roots. That description alone is perfect for helping to create an eerie atmosphere. Alongside Nora’s narrative, the reader is lured into the haunting story.

A compelling read, Winterwood’s sinister atmosphere, and magical edge give it substance. However, the pacing for the first third of the novel is a little slow. Focusing on developing the sinister Wicker Woods and establishing the character dynamics slows the pacing of the story. While Ernshaw does an excellent job with her characterization and building the dynamics, at times, the eeriness of the story gets a little lost.

Strong Characterization

Nevertheless, the characterization is fantastic.

Take Nora, for instance, ostracized for being a Walker, a witch, Nora keeps to herself, collecting lost things she finds in the woods. She is an introvert, perfectly happy in her loneliness, giving her a sharply defined and fierce narrative. Nora’s unique personality compels the reader by making her someone worth reading. Her voice is strong, never trembling as it keeps the reader engaged in her tone narrative. It also serves as the perfect balance for the cold and eerie atmosphere that Ernshaw has established.

Oliver also has a strong narrative, but his tone is softer. Abandoned at the camp for wayward boys, Oliver is an outcast himself as the new boy, and he keeps to himself as much as Nora. Their dynamics together bring out the best of both characters, giving the story some warmth to contrast the cold and eerie setting. Ernshaw does an excellent job of subverting the readers’ expectations by creating questions with his narrative. There is something underneath his story, something mysterious that keeps the reader on the edge, eager to discover what secrets he is hiding.

Final Thoughts

Winterwood is a novel full of surprises, bursting with magic and darkness, captivating the reader and luring them into the dark and mystical woods.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband and son and their two cats, Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx.