{
  "id": 14755053,
  "title": "Maritime modern gothic fiction sees Free Press Book Club get spooky",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/maritime-modern-gothic-fiction-sees-free-press-book-club-get-spooky",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T17:52:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/books/2026/10/15/maritime-modern-gothic-fiction-sees-free-press-book-club-get-spooky"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Free Press Book Club is embracing the spooky season with its October selection, The Witch of Willow Sound. This first novel by Vanessa F. Penney will be discussed during a live meeting on Tuesday, October 27 at 7 p.m. Author Penney will read from her work and engage in conversation with readers, along with Free Press copy editor Ariel Gordon, McNally Robinson Booksellers’ Joanna Graham, and Free Press audience engagement manager Erin Lebar.\n\nThe Witch of Willow Sound tells the story of Phaedra (Fade) Luck, who sets out to locate her missing aunt, Madeline Luck, in a secluded forested area known as Willow Sound. Upon arrival, Fade discovers Madeline's cottage in disrepair and faces hostility from the local townsfolk, who have long regarded Madeline as a witch, blaming her for various misfortunes. With the assistance of historian Nish, a specialist in East Coast folklore, Fade unravels family secrets and delves into her past and heritage.\n\nCritics have labeled The Witch of Willow Sound as a \"modern gothic tale,\" highlighting its exploration of complex family dynamics, the wisdom passed down through women, and the historical mistreatment of marginalized children and First Nations communities in the region.\n\nSubscriptions to the Free Press Book Club cost $205.00 + GST for one year, with automatic renewal at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks. This offer is exclusively available to new and qualified returning subscribers, who may cancel at any time. Copies of The Witch of Willow Sound are available for purchase at McNally Robinson Booksellers, with no cost associated with joining the book club or participating in the virtual discussion. Video replays of the meeting will be accessible on the Free Press YouTube channel after the event.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}