This book is one of my favorites of the year. It's not necessarily a holiday book, since it runs darker than a cheery Christmas tale, but it definitely has a winter-y vibe.

Winterwood is about Nora Walker, the youngest of the Walkers. Being a witch runs in her blood and all Walkers have a special relationship with the Wicker Woods. They know how to navigate it, but being a Walker does not guarantee safety. They know how to get past the woods in one piece. This book is a mystery tale, circulating around the death of a boy and the disappearance of a boy. And Nora is caught in the middle of it.

Ernshaw crafted a literary masterpiece with the plot, characterization, and setting. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters and exploring the setting she created. The plot was well thought out and beautifully executed.

The only thing I didn't like, which is why I gave it four stars, is the repetition. Ernshaw repeated main plot points as the characters pondered and reflected upon past events, but it was a struggle not to skip over those paragraphs. It's like constant recaps.

In the same breath, I love the language and the way it was written. I love the dark atmosphere and the word choice Ernshaw used to craft it. I especially liked the entries from the book, detailing lives of past Walkers. It helped set the scene and make the story more believable.

Overall, I loved this book and I need to read her other novels.