Actual rating: 3,5 stars

The Witch of Willow Sound was a very enjoyable read, with a modern gothic atmosphere that worked beautifully throughout. I especially appreciated how the story was woven with real folklore and historical references. It added a rich layer of authenticity that made the mystery even more compelling. The subtle witchy elements were a nice touch, and the plot kept me hooked all the way to the end, which was full of unexpected twists and turns.

That said, the book occasionally struggled to find a consistent tone. The writing reminded me of T. Kingfisher (an author I love) for its blend of eerie and humorous elements, but it didn’t always strike the right balance between horror and levity.

Still, as a debut novel, The Witch of Willow Sound shows a lot of promise. I’m definitely curious to see what Vanessa F. Penney does next, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for future releases.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I love the cover, first of all. I also love the setting, the atmosphere that is created, and the inclusion of east coast folklore. This book was great, especially regarding women that are outcasts. I was invested through the whole book.

I finished this book in one evening while cozy in my reading nook under my most favorite blanket. Truly, the book demanded that I do not put it down and instead turn each page fully enchanted by the story that was unfolding in my hands.

It is not often I run across a book that I absolutely cannot put down. One of those books that will stay with me because I enjoyed the story so much. I was so engaged in the characters and what was happening that the world around me disappeared with this one.

Fantastic read!

-Gothic
-Spooky
-Atmospheric
-Fast paced
-Strong female lead character
-Great setting
-References to eye-opening history.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of The Witch of Willow Sound.
I very much enjoyed this book.
I appreciate the witch story that did not get too crazy. We are left constantly wondering if Madelaine is a witch or if it is just the folklore of it.
This book does a great job of highlighting the fervor with which people are afraid and enamored by witches. We get a glimpse into what can happen when an entire town blames the supposed witch for the calamities that exist in life.

The prologue was intense and graphic but it was a great start to hook the reader and have us connecting it to the story consistently.
The fact that the book is based out of Nova Scotia folk tales helped me to get into it as well.
I do think that there were some grammar and spelling issues that should have been picked up by the editor, this does hurt it a bit.
Very readable, enjoyable story.

This was easily my most anticipated release of the year and I was lucky enough to snag an ARC copy of it.
I am so pleased with this book. I went in to it with really high hopes and came out with even better opinions.
It was atmospheric in the spookiest of ways. While I wouldn't classify this as "scary" in the traditional sense there were a couple scenes that gave me the heebie geebies!
The characters were well written, the plot was thick, the twists were astounding, and the book as a whole was just phenomenal. Highly recommend this one.

The Witch of Willow Sound goes by many names. Madeline, for starters. And Aunt Madeline to our main character, Fade. We meet Fade on her journey to Grand Tea, Nova Scotia – a small, superstitious town precariously plopped in the shadow of a large rock perched on the cliffside. Aunt Madeline doesn’t live in town, but on the outskirts in a remote clearing in the woods. And she has been missing for… somewhere between 1 and 6 months, depending on who you ask. It’s up to Fade to visit the cottage and cooperate with authorities just enough to find a lead on where Madeline went. Little does Fade know that this task, bestowed upon her by her mother, would take her down a path of death, destruction, and discovery.

Fade has to contend with a quirky archivist, prejudiced law enforcement, an unctuous mayor, and the townspeople of Grand Tea, most of whom are eager to capitalize on the legend of the Witch of Willow Sound now that she is very likely almost certainly dead. To Fade, Madeline was simply a beloved aunt that she missed dearly, having not seen her since a falling out between Madeline and Fade’s own mother decades earlier. Fade discovers more than she bargains for in Madeline’s old cottage. She discovers several intriguing photographs and scrolls, uncovers untold secrets, and stows away in secret passages. With both blood and found family, Fade also uncovers a tragic and shady operation to hide undesirable family members from the public eye, starting with an estranged family member of her own.

Absolutely do not skip the afterword—it holds vital truths we must dutifully carry in both heart and mind. We cannot allow the atrocities committed against women, Indigenous peoples, and other marginalized communities to fade from memory, or we risk perpetuating them anew. These patterns of injustice are not relics of the past; we are witnessing their resurgence daily here in the United States. And while this profoundly moving story takes place in Canada, its implications reach far beyond—demanding that the conversation continue as long as systemic inequities persist.

The Witch of Willow Sound is expertly paced: a slow, smoldering burn through the first act that catches the dry tinder of your curiosity to ignite a maelstrom that you want to extinguish in one sitting. Plotting and characters aside, the writing is a feat all its own. Penney employs such delicate imagery, you have to take a moment to appreciate how effortlessly she drops you into Grand Tea or Aunt Medaline’s cabin in the woods.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t for me. I did enjoy the gothic vibe and the concept of a town living under a giant rock. I also liked the character Nish. However, I felt as though the dialogue was a little awkward and unrealistic.

While I enjoyed some of the themes in this book, I felt as though the prologue was the highlight.

Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Note: Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press for giving me the opportunity to read The Witch of Willow Sound in exchange for an honest interview.

Wow. This book starts out slow, hooking you in bit by bit until it delivers a series of gut punches that leave you hollow and wrung out as you face some uncomfortable truths about the hidden and not-so-hidden evils of the people of our past and in our communities now. Penney touches on so many topics, but in the end, this book is about the horrifying reality faced by many people with neurodivergencies, mental illnesses, and disabilities in the past--and even today; centering on how this destroyed one family, and sent long-lasting ripples through their community, and even the communities around them. This book is about sisters, and family, and that family, in the end, is what you consider family, and not only the people you're related to.

I loved Fade, Nish, Madeline, <spoiler>Maryflower</spoiler>, and even Doreen. I was enthralled by the unraveling mystery before me and the relationships that were revealed and forged along the way. I loved the gothic nature of Penney's writing throughout the novel, and the humor she sprinkles in.

I appreciated the post-finale section at the end detailing the real life history and events that Penney used as inspiration, which treated them with the respect and gravity they deserved, including informing its audiences about how that history effects us and our communities even today.

If you like the real history behind witchcraft (handled respectfully and insightfully), dark history, and complex familial relationships, as well as chosen families, this book is for you! I highly recommend this read!

The Witch of Willow Sound is a beautifully atmospheric gothic tale that drew me in right from the start. Vanessa F. Penney weaves together eerie coastal folklore, haunting atmosphere, and themes of family, loss, and resilience in a way that feels both chilling and heartfelt. The writing is vivid and immersive, and the setting of Willow Sound and Grand Tea carries a weight of history and mystery that lingers long after the last page.

While the pacing was a little uneven at times, I found myself completely invested in Fade’s search for her aunt and the village’s strange, unsettling lore. One of the highlights for me was the relationship between Fade and Nish, it added a layer of warmth and depth that balanced the darker, more ominous tones of the story. Their dynamic gave the book an emotional heartbeat that I really loved.

Overall, this is a strong, modern gothic novel that fans of folklore, witch lore, and atmospheric mysteries will enjoy.

"Wow. That was a really good book" - me, out loud, the second I finished DEVOURING this lovely witchy story.

Everything about this was incredibly well-crafted and engaging from page one. I was already thinking "I'm gonna need a physical copy of this when it comes out" before I even finished reading.

My absolute favorite part of this was the characterization of Fade and Nish, and their unique and seriously wholesome friendship. Fade is an incredible and refreshing protagonist and Nish was so loveable and nerdy. All of the side characters also breathed their life into this story, and the setting of Grand Tea was super interesting. I felt like the town itself was a character, which not every author can accomplish.

Also, the mystery was compelling and paced really well, with good bread crumbs along the way that let you piece it together without it becoming obvious and boring. I never felt like the story was just meandering between plot points.

I'd also like to highlight the artist of this GORGEOUS cover - Teagan White. I recognized their art style and that's what originally led me to find this delightful book.

Many thanks to Netgalley and ECW Press for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.

Very attracted by the cover and the summary, I finished this novel a little disappointed. I did not find the gothic atmosphere that I expected (and which was announced by the summary), and I found that the events either went too quickly or were not sufficiently explained. I had guessed several plots very early in the reading and I was not surprised. I read a rather interesting thriller even if not very surprising, not a gothic novel...

This book starts off incredibly strong. Haunting, eerie, mysterious, gothic. The prologue is intriguing and creepy, but oddly enough, the book never reaches that kind of atmosphere again and very quickly, the plot falls flat. There are no more gothic elements, things happen but do not seem to matter that much in the story, and some are never discussed again.
It seems like this book is in need of some editing. The short and choppy sentences somewhere made it feel harder to immerse myself in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to ECW Press and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of The Witch of Willow Sound in exchange for review.

3 stars

This book starts off incredibly strong. Who is our main character and WHAT in tarnation are they doing??? It quickly does give us a glimpse into why they’re in their current predicament without spending too much time delving into the past. It had my interest immediately.

The allure of Fades mysterious missing family member and the exploration of their property and house also had me hooked, it was very eerie creepy without being “scary” if that makes sense (sans one moment).

It quickly diverts to how a small town can use tragedy for its own business and benefit to survive, while the mystery continues to unravel.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the side characters, the townsfolk didn’t seem to have much depth and I was confused with some of their behavior towards the end of the book. I also wish that the immediate family dynamics were better explained or explored once we had our answers.
There’s an “event” within the town that is hinted at but still felt slightly out of place for me when it occurred. However this was a fun quick read that did have a lot of interesting witchy whimsy that I loved. Thank you so much, this really got me into the autumn mood!

"For readers of Our Wives Under the Sea and The Once and Future Witches comes a feminist gothic tale with a tough-as-nails female protagonist who must find her elderly aunt, long suspected of being a witch.

A spooky, atmospheric, and fast-paced feminist tale about women called witches and the parts of our history we'd rather forget.

Madeline is missing. Ordered to find her, Madeline's estranged niece, Fade, must return to the lonely forest of Willow Sound, Nova Scotia. There, Fade discovers her aunt's once-cozy cottage empty and rotting. The ominous smell of something burnt hangs in the air.

In her search for answers, Fade clashes with the people of Grand Tea, a nearby village struggling under the shadow of a massive, looming rock that could tip and crush them all at any time. For generations, they've invented bizarre lore about Madeline, calling her a witch and blaming her for their misfortunes. They've had more misfortunes than ever lately. And a hurricane is coming.

Inspired by real East Coast traditions and witch lore, The Witch of Willow Sound is a modern gothic tale that explores family lost and found and throws firelight on dark truths about what societies do with the people, and the past, they don't want."

So this is what I should have been doing that one time I went to Nova Scotia... Looking into their traditions and witch lore instead of being bored and binging miniseries in a tiny upstairs room on an old VHS player.

While I put things together with the information given a little bit faster than the main characters, I was unaware of how this book was going to end. The writing style seems to change depending on the chapters; some simple, some deep and complex. I personally preferred the latter. I feel as though there must be a reason this is sectioned into different "books" as well as chapters but I definitely missed that? It seemed to not have a purpose.
Love that this was set in Canada 🍁
I also love that Nish honored the unnamed individuals from HH.


*Review also shared on GoodReads, unable to link*

What an interesting story! I was immediately pulled in by the cover of this book, and the prologue was incredibly creepy and atmospheric. Once chapter one began, however, I wasn't sure how I felt about the abrupt change in writing. Fade Luck is charged with finding out where her Aunt Madeline has gone after no one has heard from her in a long while. She drives to her aunt's remote home in rural Nova Scotia to find it abandoned. After attempts to find out where she might be in the neighboring town of Grand Tea, Fade is left with more questions than answers. Together with the town's new archivist, she sets out to see what really has happened before the storm of century arrives with its eye set on the town.

I wanted to like this more than I did, and I think a lot of it is because there was a lot going on and not much was resolved. I enjoyed the characters, although found them sometimes less believable. Fade as a character seemed like it could have used a little more fleshing out.

Overall this is worth a read, and I look forward to seeing what the author publishes next. I give it 3.5 stars.

The vibes are immaculate. Eerie, dark and haunted. The perfect autumn read. Loved the friendship between Feda and Nish! However somewhere around 75% the pacing threw me off sadly, the ending came hurdling down a bit too fast and messy. Still a solid 3.5 and highly recommend to anyone in the hunt of a creepy witch story laced with historical references full of dark dark secrets that have been left buried for too long. Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!

I heard about this book on a webinar for work about upcoming sci-fi and fantasy releases and I immediately went to Netgalley to check it out. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book which sets up a mysterious, witchy vibe. Then we flash to our main character, Fade Luck who is tasked with checking on her estranged Aunt who hasn't been heard from in a while. She lives near a hostile town that seems to want to paint her as the town witch. When Fade gets there (after scaring away some local hooligans) she can't find her Aunt but she does find a creepy mystery. I really enjoyed her relationship with the town historian, Nish, and I thought the storytelling was ambitious. I do think this would have benefited from being longer, so story elements would have more time to develop. I also thought there was some repetition of phrases that took me out of the story, but overall this was fun, spooky, diverting read.

DNF at 48% the writing style as well as the FMC are incredibly childish. What sort of grown woman says “cripes” and “frig”? I was going to push through but it seems the book gets worse, not better and I just wasn’t enjoying myself.

The Witch of Willow Sound
by Vanessa F. Penney
Pub Date: Sep 30 2025

Madeline is missing. Ordered to find her, Madeline’s estranged niece, Fade, must return to the lonely forest of Willow Sound, Nova Scotia. There, Fade discovers her aunt’s once-cozy cottage empty and rotting. The ominous smell of something burnt hangs in the air.

In her search for answers, Fade clashes with the people of Grand Tea, a nearby village struggling under the shadow of a massive, looming rock that could tip and crush them all at any time. For generations, they’ve invented bizarre lore about Madeline, calling her a witch and blaming her for their misfortunes. They’ve had more misfortunes than ever lately. And a hurricane is coming.

Inspired by real East Coast traditions and witch lore, The Witch of Willow Sound is a modern gothic tale that explores family lost and found and throws firelight on dark truths about what societies do with the people, and the past, they don’t want.