This is such a lush, atmospheric story; I was utterly engrossed. It was the best book I've read in awhile, and I'll be picking up a copy of The Wicked Deep as well as pre-ordering a finished copy of this to share with my daughter.

Though I saw one of the twists coming long before it was officially revealed, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. This was also the perfect length for me. Too often, stories that are written this lyrically wax on forever, describing everything so in-depthly that it detracts from the plot moving forward. This wasn't the case here. While I highlighted numerous sentences just because I so immensely loved the way they flowed, the book still managed to be a page-turner, keeping me hooked well into the night.

It also had the perfect amount of resolution for me. It didn't leave a bunch of unanswered questions, but also didn't go on and on and on after the climactic scene with loads of chapters of tying things up and saying goodbye slowly to each character without any additional plot to keep me interested.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for the free advanced copy of this ebook.


{ I will post this review here: http://runningwithspears.com/winterwood-book-review/ as well as on my Instagram later in September of early October.

I already pre order a copy of Winterwood for my library and after reading it I am so excited to share this one with my patrons. Shea Ernshaw is one of my new favorite author her books are interesting and never let you down. This one is a must read and if you haven't read The Wicked Deep go out and get it because it's also an amazing read. Can't wait to read more from Shea.

I loved this book! Shea Ernshaw is extremely talented! The book is written so good! There's mystery, great characters, and a fantastic story line. I couldn't have asked for anything better! Would definitely recommend, and can't wait to read more from her!

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Uff. I really wanted to give this one a higher rating, because the writing is just so beautiful and atmospheric, but the predictability of the plot and the gaping holes in character development left me wanting more. I have heard that the final copy will be different from the ARC I received, and I'm very excited to see what changes are made. It's quite clear that the author is immensely talented, and I enjoyed the dark, oppressive setting so much that I've grabbed her first book from the library to read as well. Those looking for a gothic, witchy book this fall should check out WInterwood.

Where ‘The Wicked Deep’ was Hocus Pocus, ‘Winterwood’ is very much Practical Magic, with a long line of women with their own gifts and taste for magic that would make the Owens girls proud.

“Winterwood” follows Nora Walker wandering through the woods looking for lost things when she finds a boy half buried under the snow. As the two become closer Nora tries to unravel the mystery behind his disappearance and uncover the truth about the other boy from that night but when faced those who would rather leave the past behind she finds herself staring into the woods hoping nothing will look back.

I adored every second of this book! It reads a lot like a lost fairy tale whispered on a cold winter night while sitting near the fire and I couldn’t read it fast enough. Nora is the only Walker we meet but we get to see insights from the lives of the women in her family who have shaped her love for magic and the connection to the forest which she holds so dear.

The main story plays to a lot of different themes and it was interesting to see this kind of murder mystery unfold and how far those involved are willing to go to keep things buried even if it means adding to the body count. Having the boys across the lake treat Nora and her family like urban legends was also an interesting take as they were quick to make her a joke but unwilling to see the truth when it was drawing them closer to the woods themselves.

This was such a great read and as much as I would like to recommend it for autumn and the spooky vibes that fit the season, this one really is perfect for a snowed in winter night where you can feel the chill in your bones right along with the characters.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**