The Witch of Willow Sound: A Novel
$14.99-
2025 CIBA Booksellers’ List Selection
A feminist gothic tale with a tough-as-nails female protagonist who must find her elderly aunt, long suspected of being a witch.
Madeline is missing. Ordered to find her, Madeline’s estranged niece Fade must return to the lonely forest of Willow Sound, Nova Scotia. There, Fade discovers her aunt’s once-cozy cottage empty and rotting. The ominous smell of something burnt hangs in the air.
In her search for answers, Fade clashes with the people of Grand Tea, a nearby village struggling under the shadow of a massive, looming rock that could tip and crush them all at any time. For generations, they’ve invented bizarre lore about Madeline, calling her a witch and blaming her for their misfortunes. They’ve had more misfortunes than ever lately. And a hurricane is coming.
Inspired by real East Coast traditions and witch lore, The Witch of Willow Sound is a modern gothic tale that explores family lost and found and throws firelight on dark truths about what societies do with the people, and the past, they don’t want.
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Vanessa F. Penney was born in northern Newfoundland and raised in rural Nova Scotia. The coal-black ocean depths and bone-buried shorelines of the East Coast inspire her writing. Vanessa lives in Dartmouth, NS. This is her first novel.
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Published: September 2025
ISBN: 9781770418424
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 in.
Pages: 320
Reviews
“Part mystery, part tragedy, and all feminine ferocity, The Witch of Willow Sound is a spellbinding debut novel.” — Foreword Reviews, starred review
“This fun and twisty story is... an ode to the wisdom of nature and the women who carry it, as well as [a] reminder of the importance of balance and the way that histories will haunt us unless we are honest about what our stories really are.” — Pickle Me This blog
“Penney understands intimately the craft of writing fiction, of good research, of creating a story which, while most definitely genre fiction, moves beyond genre by exploring believably and credibly a history, the interweaving of relationships, of the effect of willful ignorance upon those who don’t conform to rigid, closed-societal standards.... A resonant and prevalent voice of Canada’s East Coast.” — On Spec Magazine
“Fast-paced and forward-moving, The Witch of Willow Sound is an original, poignant story with a fresh perspective on magic.” — Cemetery Dance
“This is a moody, atmospheric, and fast-paced novel with a lot of suspense, tempered with a good amount of humour as well, thanks to Fade’s acerbic wit. Penney evokes an incredible sense of place throughout the book with vivid and detailed descriptions of the landscape, the woods, the cottage; we feel we are right there with Fade, moving through this place.” — Elizabeth Obermeyer’s blog
“The Witch of Willow Sound is perfect for readers who love modern gothic stories, feminist reimaginings of folklore, and atmospheric mysteries with emotional depth. It’s a gripping reminder of how superstition and fear can shape entire communities—and how easy it is to lose those we love when we don’t take the time to listen.” — Write on the World blog