Though it took a minute to hook me, Shea Ernshaw’s Winterwood stole my heart. Set in the snow-blanketed woods of Fir Haven, the story centers on Nora Walker, a girl rumored to be a witch with a deep, mysterious connection to the forest, who discovers Oliver Huntsman alive after he vanished weeks earlier—only he has no memory of what happened. As Nora digs into the truth behind Oliver’s disappearance and the secrets lurking in the dark woods, the novel slowly unfolds into a haunting and beautiful tale of magic, love, and self-discovery.
Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4.25/5)
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Bookish Essentials
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Magical Realism / Romance
Series: Standalone Novel set in the same universe as The Wicked Deep and The Beautiful Maddening
Reading Age: 14+
Published: 2019
Pages: 336
From the Jacket of Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw
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.
Always Eventually Review
Though it took a minute to hook me, Shea Ernshaw’s Winterwood stole my heart. Set against the eerie, snow-covered woods of Fir Haven, the story follows Nora Walker—a girl rumored to be a witch, and the latest in a long line of women with a strange connection to the forest. When Nora discovers Oliver Huntsman alive in the woods weeks after he vanished from a nearby camp, she’s drawn into a quiet mystery thick with secrets, magic, and the kind of cold that creeps under your skin. But Oliver has no memory of what happened—and the deeper Nora digs, the more dangerous the truth becomes.
I have to be honest: the first few chapters of Winterwood bored me to tears. I couldn’t get into it at all, and I came very close to DNF’ing. I had the same issue with The Unmaking of June Farrow—both books move at a slow, almost sleepy pace in the beginning. But the reward for sticking with them? Totally worth it. I’m so glad I didn’t put Winterwood down. Once the story clicks into place, it becomes a true page-turner, and I couldn’t look away.
The Romance in Winterwood
I absolutely loved the romance between Nora and Oliver. Both characters are so likeable, and the way their connection unfolded felt natural and perfectly paced. It was believable and had my full buy-in from the moment their paths crossed. I truly wanted more. It’s the kind of love story that leaves you feeling just a little sad when the book ends—not because it was lacking, but because it mattered. Winterwood is a standalone, and it completely delivers on what it sets out to do. Still, part of me wishes I could linger a little longer with Nora and Oliver.
Winterwood’s Twist
I’ve seen some criticism online that the twist in Winterwood is a little obvious. And honestly? I figured it out pretty early on too—but it didn’t bother me at all. The twist isn’t what makes this book beautiful. What makes it shine is the story it tells about Nora—how she comes to understand herself, her magic, and what it means to love someone fully. That emotional arc is what stuck with me, far more than any big reveal ever could.
Why I Gave It 4.25 Starts
I gave Winterwood 4.25 stars because it’s easily one of the best books I’ve read this year. Shea Ernshaw masterfully builds an immersive, haunting world and weaves it together with likeable characters and a romance that feels real. Though it takes a minute to get going, the reward is absolutely worth it.
If you love slow-burning, character-driven stories with a hint of magic and a touch of romance, Winterwood will be right up your alley. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy atmospheric settings, quiet mysteries, and emotional payoff over big plot twists. Fans of The Unmaking of June Farrow, The Wicked Deep, or even Bone Gap will find a lot to love here.
Read Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw Now or Eventually?
Read Shea Ernshaw’s Winterwood right away if you’re a fan of slow-burn romances with a hint of magic. This one reminds me so much of The Unmaking of June Farrow — it starts off quiet, but when it picks up, it hooks you and stays with you long after. Winterwood is both haunting and beautiful, and if you haven’t read it yet, move it to the top of your TBR stack.
If You Liked Winterwood, Try
- Forgotten Cove, by T.G. Elsher
- The Bone Charmer, by Breeana Shields
- House of Blight, by Maxym Martineau
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