Amazing writing, new favorite book!! From the very beginning it hooks you right in. Not enough words to express how much i enjoyed this book.

A gothic feminist mystery about a missing woman, a rotting town, and the dangerous power of buried truths.

I found The Witch of Willow Sound to be beautifully written, with main characters I genuinely cared about. Although not scary as such, there’s a lingering eeriness that gets under your skin. The injustices explored were haunting.

(Firstly thank you very much for the arc)

To say I couldn’t put this book down is an understatement, It made me late for work twice. And when I was at work I was thinking about how soon I could get back to this book.

It is a wonderful spooky mystery, equal parts cozy and daunting, wrapped up in some truly stunning atmospheric prose. Everything is described with such emotive elegance, the trees, the house, the teacups, the twigs on the ground. I don’t know enough about flowers to actually say “wow, this writer knows a lot about flowers” but it felt like they knew a lot about flowers.

Fade was an excellent and well written protagonist, she’s definitely tough-as-nails like the summary puts it but shes not inhuman. She’s strong, resourceful, funny (her dynamic with Nish was a joy to read, I’m begging for a whole series of their adventures actually) and despite everything, kind. There was so much heart in this book and she was the perfect protagonist to carry it.

Flaws? Made me ship the protagonist with a cop, my moral backbone is breaking.

I really enjoyed reading this modern gothic novel! It kept my attention the entire time reading it. The prologue was very disturbing and graphic, it was definitely a different way to start off a story. However, this is a very important part to read, because there will be a complete understanding as to why it happened. This book has all the gothic book elements in it, which I loved. I found the female main character to be funny, strong, witty, interesting and sarcastic.

What truly intrigued me is that this story is inspired by real witch lore and east coast traditions. This fast paced book is not scary, just a little spooky mixed with a cozy cottage setting. This book has all the witchy vibes! It also comes with mystery, a gothic romance, identity discovery, family secrets, vivid descriptions and the power of magic! The author’s debut novel took me into a rabbit hole of gothic fantasy!

“The Witch of Willow Sound” starts off with an eerie dark disturbing graphic scene. Once the prologue is over, this story takes us on a journey with a girl named Fade. She is asked to look for her aunt, who went missing. Fade is also told to not trust anyone she comes across, including the cops. Willow Sound is the place where her aunt always stays. As Fade arrives at her aunts home, everything about it was different. It was no longer this bright and cheerful cottage, but a dark and gothic one. As this story unravels, we get to learn about Fade and what kind of powers she possesses. Overall, I give this a 4 out of 5 stars!

I highly recommend this to anyone that loves gothic mystery and witchcraft. This reminded me of Alice in Wonderland mixed in with gothic witchcraft. Also, I think readers of the book “The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches” would enjoy this.

Content warnings include murder, death and misogyny.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Vanessa F. Penney and ECW Press publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on September 30, 2025!

The Witch of Willow Sound is a gorgeous novel, from the intriguing cover to the exquisite woodcut flower stamps on each separate, titled book, to the beautifully written story. Unbelievably, this is the author's debut book! Contrary to the title, if you're looking for spooky witchcraft or magical realism, you won't find it here. Oh, there are plenty of witchy accusations and ignorance from people who should know better, considering this is the 21st century. "The history of those accused of being witches, in any culture, is often a story of hatred, oppression, and fear of strong women."

The remote Nova Scotia coastal location is a perfect gothic setting, especially with a deadly hurricane on its way. The story unfolds slowly, bit by bit, as Fade tries to discover what has happened to her Aunt Madeline. Fade carries scars, both physical & emotional, from her years of cyber-hunting child abusers but is still a force to be reckoned with. "After years hunting the most evil monsters on earth, I realized they are everywhere. They look like anyone. They're nothing special. And there's no end to them."

My favorite character was Nish, the folklore historian/archivist, who "looks like he's on the verge of exploding into confetti." The comfortable bantering between Fade and Nish felt like true friendship, even though they are opposites in every way. (I hope there might be another book in the works that continues their adventures, with Nish "Indiana Jones" and Fade "Tony Stark.")

I loved everything about The Witch of Willow Sound and will purchase a copy when it's published. This is a book I will enjoy rereading.

I love Emilia Hart and T. Kingfisher, and now I can add Vanessa Penney to the list with their names.

Protagonist Fade Luck has faded out of society and away from her family and professes to prefer it that way. When her mother contacts her after a three year silence to let her know that her once treasured aunt has disappeared, Fade only somewhat begrudgingly agrees to find out what is going on.

Fade’s attempts to find her aunt pit her against narrow-minded locals who want to capitalize on and simultaneously destroy her aunt, the “Witch of Willow Sound.” Armed only with love and her nerdy new friend, Fade faces danger and questions everything in her race to discover what happened to her aunt.

I found myself captivated yt the descriptions and overall plot. I can’t wait for my next Vanessa Penney read!

I. Love. This. Book.

I love the main character, Phaedra, known as Fade. Scrappy, tough, without a home, as mysterious as her missing Aunt Madeline. When Fade arrives at Aunt Madeline's home in the woods she finds angry townspeople who have denounced Aunt Madeline as a witch. The old house in the woods is in a state of squalor. Fade makes some very creepy discoveries on the property, and thing get mysteriouser and mysteriouser....Town archivist Nish soon joins Fade in her quest to find Aunt Madeline, make sense of the grisly discuss, and why the hell do the townspeople insist that Madeline was an evil witch, the Witch of Willow Sound? The crazed town mayor is intent on using this witch craze as an occult tourism opportunity. What lengths will people go to, what lengths have they gone to to eradicate and bury their own evil deeds?
I loved this book, the creepy and the gothic and the witchy and also truth to power spoken. What characters and what a story! I can't wait to read more from this author . Thanks to Netgalley and ECW press for the opportunity to read and review this book, My opinions are my own

I absolutely loved this book! I read it in one day. Could not put it down. The story is of Fade searching for her missing Aunt Madeline. She discovers her lost family history while combating many obstacles along the way. The inclusion of nature and natural magic made it intriguing and interesting. The characters were mostly dynamic and like able. I of course, did not like the mayor or townspeople. I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and ECW Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The Witch of Willow Sound” is a haunting, beautifully written gothic mystery that blends small-town suspicion and buried family secrets into a slow-burning, emotionally rich debut. Set against the stormy, remote coast of Nova Scotia—with a hurricane looming and secrets swirling—it’s a story that wraps you in tension from the first page and doesn’t let go until the final, cathartic reveal.

At its heart is Phaedra—aka Fade—a former cyber-investigator who carries emotional and physical scars from her dark line of work. Now, she’s come to the eerie, rotting town of Willow Sound to search for her missing Aunt Madeline, a woman long ostracized and vilified by the locals. Accused of being a witch, Madeline has become the scapegoat for a community more eager to condemn difference than confront truth. The atmosphere is heavy with suspicion, and Penney expertly captures the oppressive weight of mob mentality, generational fear, and the need for someone—anyone—to blame.

But this isn’t a story about supernatural magic—it’s about the real-life horrors of ignorance, fear, and misogyny. The "witch" in the title is symbolic, a reflection of how strong, unconventional women have historically been silenced, scapegoated, or destroyed. The book's social commentary is sharp without being preachy, layered within a mystery that unfolds like a puzzle box—each revelation more surprising than the last, especially the deeply moving truth behind Aunt Madeline’s past.

Adding both levity and heart to the darkness is Nish, a folklore archivist who’s equal parts confetti and chaos. Over-the-top, dramatic, and downright delightful, Nish brings humor and warmth to the story. His banter with Fade is one of the book’s strongest threads, grounding the eerie plot with a believable and deeply lovable friendship. Their dynamic feels real and earned—a balance of opposites that works brilliantly.

The writing is a standout—lush, lyrical, and deeply evocative. From the creaking of Aunt Madeline’s wind-lashed house to the decaying edges of a town steeped in secrets, Penney’s prose conjures an atmosphere of unease that lingers long after the final page. While not traditionally scary, the story carries a subtle eeriness that gets under your skin. And though a few minor questions may remain unanswered, the emotional resolution is deeply satisfying—highlighting themes of memory, grief, and the lasting power of love and belief.

A powerful debut with soul and teeth, “The Witch of Willow Sound” is part gothic mystery, part feminist fable, and wholly unforgettable. Vanessa F. Penney has delivered a novel that’s as thought-provoking as it is beautifully crafted—a quiet storm of a book that speaks to the danger of buried truths and the resilience of those who refuse to be silenced.

I could not put this book down! The atmosphere in this is unreal. The journey this story takes you on is so fresh, fast paced and full of mystery. Such a joy to read.

Fade, the FMC, is such a strong willed character. Seriously, this woman was tough as hell. I admired her determination - once she had her mind set on something, nothing could stop her. Also her loyalty and strength of character. She took s*it from nobody and I LOVED it. Her interactions with some of the townsfolk had me chuckling.

Nish, the archivist and historian in the book, reminded me a little of Giles from Buffy. His extensive knowledge for the town history and lore was incredible and I loved how uncovering new information brought him pure joy. Nish is a friend you want to have by your side.

One of my favourite parts was the blossoming friendship between Fade and Nish. Nothing pulls on my heart strings more than two outsiders finding each other. Ultimate duo, these two 🥹

Folklore and town urban legends play a big role in the story with Fade's missing aunty being accused of being a witch. To find out in the afterword that some of the town history is based off some real life events - *chefs kiss* to my brain that loves dark things 🥰

I have no notes. This was such a refreshing read! 4.5/5 ⭐️

If you’re looking for wonderful story of east coast lore and gothic vibes, look no further than The Witch of Willow Sound, which has all you could ask for and much more.

I loved the gothic vibes and witch lore in this fast paced book! This was a wonderfully atmospheric read, perfect for fans of gothic tales, with quite a few twists.

The Witch of Willow Sound is a beautiful witchy, folk story that reads like new adult. It was paced so well and the intrigue was there from the very beginning. That prologue was insane.

This book had a gothic vibe to it and was seeped in lore and the setting east coast of Canada (Nova Scotia) was so rich. The descriptions were incredible and I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style.

Fade, our main character, was so sarcastic and confident in herself it was great to read her journey solving this mystery with Nish.

Great read.

This book is a must read! It drew me in from the very beginning. I’m going to be following this author for all future book! The story had so many twist and turns. I loved it.

💕 Review: The Witch of Willow Sound 💕 by Vanessa Pinney.

Thank you to NetGalley and @ecwpress
for this e ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If I could give this book 6 stars I would. The writing is captivating, enchanting, poetic, artistic.... simply beautiful prose. The story itself is a combination of mysterious and cozy. Found family vibes as well. I would describe it overall as dark but cozy murder mystery with witchy vibes. Loved every minute of it. I read this book in less than 48 hours :)

Can't wait to read more from this author... and she is now on my auto buy list!

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