This book is so beautifully written, from the first page I was highlighting eloquent passages of prose. Shea Ernshaw has such a gorgeous writing style, so poetic and magical. 

The plot is slow-building, which I don’t usually like in a book but I was so atmospheric, enchanting and whimsical that I didn’t mind spending longer in the world that Shea Ernshaw was describing.

When the plot got going, it was definitely predictable, but I was intrigued to see how these elements played out so it didn’t detract from my enjoyment when I put the pieces together within 50 pages. When I say predictable, I mean REALLY predictable.

This book also features a romance plot which I’m not usually a fan off, and this is insta-love which I usually roll my eyes out but for some reason, I actually liked the romance in this one. Maybe it’s because I was reading it really late at night 😂 The romance part slightly reminded me of Heartless by Marissa Meyer- that sort of insta-love that actually makes my cold dead heart feel something!

I gave this book a 4.5 stars which I really didn’t think I would! The predictability and slow moving plot was what held it back from being 5 stars but the haunting, atmospheric nature of this book captivated me.

I have previously read The Wicked Deep by this author, and also loved it- although that one was incredibly predictable too. I can’t wait to read more from Shea Ernshaw 🖤

I’ll start with my negatives so I can end on a positive note lol. I really didn’t care for this writing style. There were so many incomplete sentences. All the time. Constantly. Like they’d never stop. 😅 I totally get that we don’t think in complete sentences all the time, but would it kill you to use a conjunction? It just took me out of the story and felt half-baked. Despite that, I did like the overall plot. I kind of saw the twist coming, but that doesn’t bother me so much. The vibes were immaculate, helping bring me back into the plot when the writing bugged me. Pro tip:  when it’s 115 degrees out, read a book set in the dead of winter! I could really feel the chilly, witchy, forest energy throughout the text.

Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw is an atmospheric, dark book follow the MC, Nora Walker. Nora Walker is descended from a long line of witches, all born in an old house beside the Jackjaw Lake. The Walkers have always shared a special connection to the Wicked Wood, the forest surrounding the Fir Haven. One day, Nora Walker finds a boy, Oliver Huntsman, who disappeared from the camp for wayward boys two weeks ago. While Nora attempts to discover how Oliver survived in the forest for that long, and how he got there in the first place, Oliver has his own secrets to keep. Ones he'll never unearth.

I Liked

I Didn't Like

This was the first book in a while that I didn't want to stop reading. While not a favorite read, I think this was worth it.

Keep in mind, Chinese is not a language, rather, an umbrella term for multiple Chinese languages/dialects.