The Witch of Willow Sound by Vanessa F. Penney
ECW Press (September 2025)
Reviewed by Rowan B. Minor
Vanessa F. Penney is a new author who was born in northern Newfoundland and raised in rural Nova Scotia. Currently living in Dartmouth, NS, she is most inspired by “the coal-black ocean depths and bone-buried shorelines of the East Coast.” The Witch of Willow Sound is her debut novel.
The Witch of Willow Sound is a modern gothic tale that is grounded in regional folklore, feminism, and family. Set in the fictional village of Grand Tea, Nova Scotia, this novel follows protagonist Fade as she searches for her recently missing aunt, Madeline. It has been years since Fade has been to Grand Tea, but her vivid memories transport her back in time and she is home again. Along the journey to find her aunt, she meets several townsfolk who are full of rumors and accusations about Aunt Madeline, but that doesn’t stop her from unraveling the truth about her family, and discovering the monster who has been burning people alive.
The novel’s inviting woodland cover, which rightfully honors both life and death, is the perfect pairing to Penney’s mesmerizing prologue about a witch burning. Her writing is equally visceral and intellectual, as she pulls from East Coast Canadian folklore and traditions. This is especially reminiscent of the 1515 witch trials of Nova Scotia, where approximately 500 witches were said to have been burned in Geneva. Some chapters are very cozy and occasionally humorous, while others are more intense and oftentimes disturbing. The softer chapters are a great palate cleanser from the plot’s deep spiral. Penney also uses genuine witchcraft throughout her novel, instead of campy pop-culture magick. Although the main character, Fade, is in her 30s, The Witch of Willow Sound is similar to a coming-of-age story, as she attempts rekindling with family in Grand Tea. This book is just as much about Fade discovering who she is, as it is about solving the mysteries surrounding her estranged aunt.
One minor distraction while reading The Witch of Willow Sound is that the author chooses to consistently spell out noises, such as “Tappity-tap-tap,” instead of writing intimate descriptors of sounds. The onomatopoeia is used too frequently throughout the book, sometimes every few page, and could potentially break the fourth wall for some readers. However, this decision, as well as the choice to censor serious foul language, makes this novel suitable for secondary school alongside adults.
Fast-paced and forward-moving, The Witch of Willow Sound is an original, poignant story with a fresh perspective on magic. Suitable for teens and adults alike, this brilliant novel is for anyone who loves folkmagic, feminist horror, or a spellbinding tale about witches. This is also for the fans of American Horror Story: Coven and Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Rooted in authenticity, Penney’s debut novel is effective and successful, and it will be interesting to see where she takes readers next.
