The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood

by H.G. Parry

From the author of The Magician's Daughter comes a captivating historical fantasy where dreams come to life and Arthurian legends are reborn.

Wales, 1941. As the second world war ravages the globe and bombs fall from the sky, people all over the world begin to dream of King Arthur. The dreams spread like a fantastical plague, flooding people's sleep night after night. Whispers arise of wonders and unexplained sights - dragons in the London Underground, and strange lights over Stonehenge. Self-proclaimed prophets claim they are miracles, heralding Arthur's return at the time of Britain's greatest need.⁣
⁣
Elaine Ambrose has never dreamed of Arthur, and she doesn't believe in miracles. A librarian at the British Museum, she wants only to protect the museum's collection from the Blitz, and is frustrated to be sent instead to catalogue a reclusive professor's private library on the coast of North Wales. But all is not as it seems. Soon Ellie must confront what she's tried to ignore: she dreams not of Arthur, but of Nimue - the Lady of the Lake. And her dreams promise not salvation, but a return to the darkness of the last days of Camelot. ⁣

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Adult, Mythology, Historical, Arthurian

448 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 21, 2026

About the author

H.G. Parry lives in a book-infested flat in Wellington, New Zealand, which she shares with her sister and two overactive rabbits. She holds a PhD in English Literature from Victoria University of Wellington, and teaches English, Film, and Media Studies. Her short fiction has appeared in Intergalactic Medicine Show, Daily Science Fiction, and small press anthologies. The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Christina Baehr]

One of my favourite living authors has an Arthurian novel that is also set in 1940s Wales?! I think this was made in a lab for me!

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lush and beautiful love letter to Arthurian myth, H.G. Parry's The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood is everything that I could have hoped for.

In the midst of World War II, the dreams begin. Dreams of Arthur, Camelot, and the Knights of the Round Table are appearing all around. Yet Elaine is sent to Camlan House, an old mansion in the Welsh countryside at the request of a mysterious and elusive Professor Emory. There, alongside a distant housekeeper and a charming, wounded groundskeeper named Tom, Elaine must discover the truth within her own dreams for Nimue, Merlin's doom, is calling.

It is a book uniquely suited to those of us who grew up with Arthurian legends, who wept over the fall of Camelot, and have held onto its promise of hope and a returning king since childhood. It's about destiny, doom, the power of story, and about fighting against the darkness one day at a time.

I loved it.

Advanced Readers Copy was granted, courtesy of Edelweiss.

[R.J.]

A beautifully crafted historical fantasy, mythologically rich and emotionally resonant, deftly blending Arthurian legend and the latter days of WWII in a dual-timeline story where both Nimue's quest and Elaine's prove equally entrancing and hard to put down. H.G. Parry is fast becoming one of my must-read modern fantasy authors and this may be my favourite of her books yet.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I won this e-copy of the ARC in a giveaway (my first ever win, actually!) and I wasn't quite sure what to expect since this was also my first H.G. Parry book. But, considering ARCs are an opportunity to get real readers reviews before a book comes out I felt it's my duty to write an actual review that might help someone decide to pick this up or not.

That being said, I loved this. Arthurian lore isn't even normally up my alley, and I enjoyed every second of this. There's a great mystery at its core, and a pacing that works so well with the dual perspectives. Somehow it manages to be both light hearted at times and dark at others without compromising the overall tone/feel of the book. The character development is so interesting as the mysteries unravel and there's a lovely romance at the book's heart that doesn't completely overwhelm the plot. Speaking of which, the plot has a conclusive ending that is satisfying to reach which always feels like the pinnacle of reading as a hobby.

I won't glaze it too much so as to avoid any one suffering from overhype. Overall though, I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy that feels a bit like a historical fiction! I will be looking to get a completed copy when this releases for sure, and will be picking up many more books by H.G. Parry.

[louise ʚଓ]

me and arthurian retellings are a match made in heaven

[Erika George · Rating 5 out of 5]

the gasp i gasped when i saw this was arthurian
_______________________________

This was spectacular!

"All the stories I'd ever known were entwining, rewriting themselves in front of my eyes, and I didn't know what they would become."

"Stories grow and change over the years. They're never entirely true. Sometimes they're not true at all."

I love a blend of historical fiction and Arthurian!

With dual timelines (WW2, and Arthurian) we meet Nimue and Merlin the first time she leaves her mother

In the WW2 timeline, Elle is called to a house to organize a library and catalogue it for her work at the library.
"It was impossible. Any archivist with a shred of sense would despair at it. It was wonderful."

Working together all the different versions of the Arthurian story, this book brings them all together in an engrossing, beautiful mess that made me so happy. The underlying theme was perseverance, even when there is no hope. i loved it.
Here are some quotes:
War, poverty, bureaucracy, cruelty - they're not the sort of things you win against. But if you're very fortunate, you can hold the line for a little bit longer. You can push back the dark as long as you can, and when it finally closes in, you can face it with your head held high.
"It will end one day, of course. Everything does. Until then, we have the ground we hold against the dark, and the stories we fill it with."
I love a bittersweet ending. I was flipping through the end so fast to see where we were going. My expectations for this book were blown away.

Would I recommend? YES, if you like time-travel and Arthurian you will be happy with this! I recommend it for fans of The Everlasting & Divine Rivals, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Would I reread? Yes, I would love to revisit this. esp in audio, I loved the characters and I highlighted a bunch of quotes! And I will be seeking out other books by this author!

[Emma Cathryne]

After absolutely adoring Parry's novel The Magician's Daughter, I thought I had turned a corner on her books. This novel, unfortunately, proved me wrong. I struggled with the discrepant paces of the two POVs. I was greatly enjoying the mystery unraveling in Elaines's time (a thoughtful alternate history of WWII interspersed with lovely descriptions of the Welsh coast) but was exhausted by the rapid-fire pace of Nimue's medieval-era chapters. The frequent time skips in this POV made it impossible to connect with any of the characters, both the famed Arthurian legends (Merlin, Arthur) and the lesser known figures such as Nimue herself. In comparison, I felt more in-tune with Tom and Elaine, but the split POV meant that I didn't get as much of their story as I wanted. I've decided that Parry is at her best when following a single POV in a more contained, character-driven story (a là Magiaican's Daughter) and hope she returns to this format in the future.

[Dotti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood is H. G. Parry’s excursion into Arthurian myth. Our main character, Elaine, is an archivist during the Second World War, working to preserve documents in London. For her safety, she is sent to the countryside in Wales, to Camlan House, in order to archive their vast library. Meanwhile, all over Great Britain, people are having dreams of Arthur and his Round Table—and Elaine begins having dreams of Nimue, Merlin’s apprentice and betrayer. Along with her friend Tom, the groom at Camlan House, Elaine must unravel the mystery of Arthur and Nimue and the magic that is in the air.

The story is told in two timelines—Nimue’s story unfolds parallel to Elaine’s, and the two manage to parallel without compromising the pacing of the book. The story combines myth and history in a compelling way, and I felt engaged with both timelines. I would have liked the magic system in this book to be a little more defined, as it was often under-explained, but the magic at the end of the story really made up for that. The story had layers of foreshadowing that had solid payoffs at the end of the book.

This story does follow the pacing of a traditional fantasy, which means it starts slower than a lot of the popular books on the market, but the book builds well, and I found both timelines to be engaging. I never felt frustrated to fall into the other timeline, which is a common experience for me in these story structures.

I do feel like the ambiguity in Tom and Ellie’s relationship felt confusing; I wish that the author had been a little more direct. I can’t tell if Tom and Ellie’s relationship is supposed to be coded as romantic, but the book felt as if it was, which I think would be a mistake given the conclusion.

Altogether, this was a really engaging story if you’re interested in Arthurian legend or creative storytelling. The foreshadowing had a solid payout, the stakes were high, and the story was compelling. If you’re looking for a very strong romance plotline, especially for our main character, this story does not provide that.

Thank you to Orbit Books, H. G. Parry and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

[Nocturne Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood is a Historical Fantasy novel true to the author's roots in genre. That's right. HG PARRY WROTE THIS. Thank you Netgalley and Orbit Publishing for this early opportunity! It will be available to the public on July 21st. This is a mix of the history surrounding the Blitz era (in the 1940s) with that of Camelot and King Arthur. Add in what every book secretly needs in a main character; a librarian. That's all I needed to know in order to check this out further. You may be wondering, how do you blend those two time periods? HG Parry just did the dang thing. Aside from combining these two very well-known events in history/fantasy tales, HG Parry also manages to add in some important themes that pick at your brain so you're not just reading a story, you're dissecting your own daily thoughts, words, activities. How do these affect others? Using characters of old and adding new ones from her own imagination makes it a story all on Parry’s own. One thing I felt was lacking was depth in the human environmental aspects. I could FEEL the Fae world vividly, the details of the other side were just lackluster. It's difficult choosing to do multiple timelines, multiple POVs, multiple ANY element in writing because there is a chance the audience will enjoy one or more over the remainder. That was unfortunately the case in this novel. I kept itching to go back to my preferred POV and so I was dragging through the other. My brain just kept craving more detail to make it truly shine. The conversations also seemed a little forced, everyone either seemed way too quick to put their walls up, or way too keen to pull them down and vice versa; too quick to judge. But maybe that was just a sign of the times. I DO know that the back and forth made it hard to connect to the characters as much as I would have liked to. If I were Ellie I would have, you know, asked ANY QUESTION. The crossover between timelines was done in a fantastic way, just could have been a bit more gradual. That didn't change how whimsical everything was. 3.5 ⭐ 

[Kristine Gift · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of this book for review.

I fear that H.G. Parry may have outdone herself with this one. The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood is a story told in two timelines. The first follows Elaine Ambrose, a librarian who, in 1941, is sent from Blitz-ravaged London out to an estate in Wales to archive a vast library collection. Meanwhile, all around Britain, people are having dreams of King Arthur, but not Elaine. However, when she arrives at the estate, she begins to dream... not of Arthur, but of Nimue, whose story we get from Ellie's dreams.

TWBTDW had me guessing at false identities and secret villains throughout. It had me curious how Ellie and Nimue's plots would intersect, and what would happen when they did. It made Arthurian legend human and relatable, and fitted WWII against a fantastical, mythical backdrop. The blend was fantastic and surprising. I was completely enchanted by both storylines, which led to some far-too-long reading sessions (oops).

And then comes the absolute gut punch of the last 20% of this book. Despite my many guesses and highlighting of suspected clues on my ereader, I was in no way prepared for the reveal or everything that it would mean, both for the plot and our beloved characters. Every heart-wrenching revelation is fully earned and agonizingly beautiful, and I cried through the last fifth of the book basically without pause.

I will 100% be buying a copy of The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood upon its release, and I will be loaning it out to my friends, because I am absolutely intent on making my friends cry about it too (plus I'll be rereading it so I can sob about it all over again).

This is also my first 5 star read of the year that wasn't either a reread (Deep End) or an expected 5 star (Alchemised, which I knew I'd love because I read Manacled), so I think it deserves a special little trophy.

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting and intellectually thoughtful work of historical fantasy.

The central premise is fascinating: while the rest of Britain dreams of Arthur returning as a symbol of hope during the Blitz, Elaine dreams of Nimue and remembers the darker truth behind Camelot’s fall. The novel continually asks whether legends ultimately save us or destroy us, and each chapter explores that question in ways that feel melancholy, beautiful, and quietly unsettling.

What makes the story especially compelling is its refusal to romanticize Arthurian mythology. While the nation clings to visions of Arthur’s return, Elaine is haunted by Nimue and the devastation hidden beneath the legend itself. Through this contrast, Parry dismantles the traditional heroic narrative and instead centers the forgotten voices and buried costs that myth often conceals.

The prose is richly atmospheric, driven more by mood and symbolic resonance than by fast-moving plot. Fog, ruins, forests, and dreams recur with an almost ritualistic rhythm, creating the sense that history is actively haunting the present. As the boundaries between memory, dream, and reality begin to blur, the novel takes on a dreamlike quality that feels far closer to literary gothic fiction than conventional fantasy.

Ultimately, the novel succeeds because it understands that myths survive not because they are true, but because people desperately need them to be true. Parry presents Arthurian legend as something both wondrous and destructive at the same time.

Overall, The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood completely absorbed me. That said, it’s definitely not a fast-paced fantasy, and I can easily imagine some readers struggling with its slow, deliberate pacing. For me, though, that slowness was part of the novel’s power. The story lingers. It asks you to remain inside its sorrow, beauty, and unease rather than rushing toward resolution.

[ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free digital ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

It is a truth universally acknowledged that all Arthurian literary adaptations will have similar elements. It is simply inevitable, and part of the story, one we will tell again and again, as long as we remember how to tell stories.
The Sword. The Stone. Arthur, doomed to die. Merlin, pulling all the strings except for his own. The Lady of the Lake, the Round Table, Lancelot and Guinevere. They will be there, constants in this tale.
And Mordred will always be a little bitch.

One thing that H.G. Parry does better than anyone is unusual family dynamics, and it always hits the goddamn spot. The Magician's Daughter and The Scholar and the Last Fairie Door, the two books of hers I've read, both do those things exceptionally well, even with less established characters than this cast of characters that we already know so well. And probably because of my time wasted on tumblr, reblogging romantic gifsets of Merlin the Show, I was already so invested. I usually go about my day thinking that the Arthurian reimagining market is so saturated that I won't be able to stand another retelling, until I crack open a book and slip and fall back into Camelot once more. One thing about characters that are constant is that we can see how authors really work their craft to still leave their own thumbprint on the story, casting their shadows over well-worn plot points and patterns. I love the choices Parry took, and I won't talk about them here to avoid spoilers, but those comparisons, those recommendations - "for fans of The Everlasting" really are apt, and that's all I'll say about it.

Anyway. I cannot wait to see on what journey H.G. Parry will take me on next, because I already know I wouldn't miss it for the world.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unconventional love story to rival The Everlasting by Alix E Harrow.
I can’t describe this as anything other than magical.

A standalone historical fantasy that weaves Arthurian legend with the gritty reality of World War II.
As the horrors of the London Blitz ravage Britain, a strange phenomenon plagues the world: people everywhere begin experiencing vivid dreams of King Arthur, sparking desperate hopes for his return.

In 1941 Wales, a librarian and a grounds man get pulled into a mystery as they try to figure out why the veil is thinning. Is it even possible?
In alternating chapters, we get the story of Nimue, the Lady of the Lake. Or rather, a story because, as the book itself acknowledges, there is more than one passed down in history.

The fall of Camelot could be about so much—chivalry, infidelity, political factions, empire building, an entire way of life—and still rest in the hands of such a small group of people.
- From the author’s note.

Like I said, this book is magical and enchanting. Normally, I hate anything that plays with time, but this managed to pull it off in a fairly satisfying manner.

It tackles destiny, PTSD, and what we mean by courage.

What I truly appreciated was the focus on platonic love. I called this a love story, but it’s more focused on the encounters and choices built over encounters, on months and years, on compatibility and accountability.

I do think it tried to pack slightly too much in - for example, Robin Hood showed up for a scene which felt random.

Overall, an enchanting standalone that mixes WWII and Arthurian legend in an unconventional and creative way.

Physical arc gifted by Orbit.

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[nika.ex.libris · Rating 5 out of 5]

OFFICIALLY AN AUTO-READ AUTHOR NOW!

Thank you so much to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the ARC!!!

After reading just 1/4 of the book, I realized why I love her style so much—it’s so smooth, luminous, and magical. It all feels like those old childhood movies that you wanted to keep watching, and the feelings stayed with you for a long time. At the same time, the style isn't typical, though I guess that depends on who’s reading. It all looks like a beautiful dream where you can’t predict what happens next.

​Oh, how I love this atmosphere! You know that type of book that makes you want to dive deeper into the theme of the plot, and you start craving more similar books, movies, or series? I’m now ready to watch everything there is about Nimue! I love the Arthurian legends, but I haven't actually watched or read much (shame on me), but I don’t want to binge everything at once—I want to take it slow.

​Towards the end of the book, I just broke down and started sobbing. I have no idea why—the moment wasn't even pure "heartbreak," it was just the realization of the plot twist...

​The Plot in short:
​There are 2 timelines, 2 POVs.

• ​1st POV: 1941, a girl named Ellie who dreams of Nimue’s life, while everyone else dreams of Arthur. She has to go to Wales, where the veil between reality and magic is collapsing.

• ​2nd POV: The era of King Arthur, the Lady of the Lake, Nimue—a girl destined to make Merlin fall in love with her, betray him, and doom Camelot. At least, that’s what her mother expects of her.
​
We shouldn't do what is expected of us; we should be ourselves... We don’t need Arthur for there to be peace. We are Arthur.

​⚠️ Content Warning: To everyone sensitive to war themes, please take note!

[Sahara · Rating 4 out of 5]

H.G. Parry is incredibly good at what she does, and that is reimagining English history and lore through a fantastical lens. She's become an auto-read author for me, and this book snuck its way into my heart.

"The Witch" follows two protagonists; Ellie, a librarian in World War II, and Nimue, a character from the Arthurian legend. At points it felt like two separate books that happened to be sharing a cover, but they ended up carefully intertwining.

One of the things I loved about this book was how in many ways it was about the concept of stories, and how they evolve. I recently read The Bright Sword, and had a moment of being mad at this one because it was wrong. This wasn't Nimue! I had clearly just read her! But even that ended up fitting into this world as it explored how stories change over time while still remaining true.

Overall this was lovingly crafted and beautifully told. It was fantastical but grounded, managing to feel like a fairy tale while also exploring the impacts of war and the emotional scars it leaves. I feel lucky to have read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun retelling of Arthurian legends and my first book by H.G. Parry.

I enjoyed both story lines: Elaine’s and Nimue’s. When Elaine gets transferred from her librarian job at the British Museum during the London Blitz to what she thought would be relative safety of North Wales, it soon turns out that the assignment is not as straightforward as it seemed. Her new workplace is an old, isolated house at the edge of a cliff, surrounded by wild land and howling winds (or howling creatures?). The atmospheric setting adds to the mystery as Elaine and Tom race against time to find answers and save more than just themselves.

As mythical creatures are coming though the thinning veil, and King Arthur is dominating people’s dreams, Elaine dreams of Nimue. I loved this take on the legend and following it through Nimue’s eyes. It was satisfying when both story lines started to come together. The characters and their relationships, and the way the story was crafted made it a captivating read.

I really enjoyed this retelling of a beloved tale. I liked how it shows the power of stories and how people reach for them for comfort and hope in desperate times.

The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood is a great historical fantasy and will not be my last book by H.G. Parry.

Thank you to Orbit Books | Redhook and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood is a retelling of Arthurian legends and myths spun into a light fantasy mystery. It features dual POV narratives: Elaine and Tom in 1941 solving the Arthur dream mystery and Nimue hundreds of years in the past sent to help covertly destroy Camelot from within by seducing Merlin. There's a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it romantic subplot (not a bad thing). There are a couple of twisty twists that may give you a headache. The themes focus on stories pre-determining doomed destinies and what power there is in changing such stories by taking the chance and having the will.

Anyone who is unfamiliar with Arthurian legends or retellings will enjoy this. The source material on which it's based and takes inspiration from is told accessibly without having to know anything about it. Even if you are familiar with Arthurian fiction, you'll probably enjoy it, too. The character resolutions for Elaine and Tom (but mostly Elaine) and the story’s overall conclusion left me feeling unsatisfied. The third act relied heavily on repetitive, heavy-handed exposition to achieve its thematic goals and concepts, which didn’t work for me. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the eARC.

[Sarah Covington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book via a Goodreads giveaway and it is set to release in July 2026. I am having a hard time writing anything besides please do yourself a favor and read this book! This is a dual timeline historical fiction book, part of the story is told during King Arthur’s rein and the other part of the story is told during World War II. You get the perspectives of two women who are being faced with unimaginable challenges and responsibilities in their own times. Their stories intersect in the dreams of Elaine Ambrose when she is sent to Wales during the London Bombings. She is dreaming of the life of Nimue as she is tasked with assisting in the fall of Camelot. Nimue is learning everything she can from Merlin while knowing that she has a dark destiny ahead. And Elaine is researching King Arthur and his court in the midst of dealing with the traumas of war. The strength and determination of both women truly carry the story. If you enjoy historical fiction with a hint of fantasy and whimsy, I would encourage you to add this to your summer TBR.

[Hannah Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

H.G. Parry has quickly become an auto read author for me. I’m such a sucker for Arthurian retellings and this one was so good. I don’t know how Parry’s mind kept all the details and timelines in order. She’s truly a mastermind. The story is one we all know (or so we think) but overlapped with 1941 and the Second World War. I wasn’t sure how this was going to work but it did! The parallels between the timelines were brilliant. Although I’ve read many retellings and versions of different Arthurian legends, I never found myself bored. Somehow the story was unpredictable! I had no idea where it was going. The pace can be slow going until things start to unravel. I think describing the ending and how complex it is would make me want to enter a thousand year enchanted sleep, I don’t know how HG Parry did it. I have slightly a headache trying to understand the ending but I enjoyed it so much. I will obviously continue to read from this author and am eager to see what Parry comes up with next!

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!*

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book!

Where to begin with this one? I discovered H. G. Parry's work at the end of 2025 and have since read her entire bibliography - her writing really just scratches an itch I didn't know I had, and all of her works are essentially love letters to literature.

Her latest, "The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood", is no exception. Set during World War II where all of England begins dreaming about the many stories and tales associated with Camelot and the Round Table, the tale follows Elaine, a librarian who is sent to to catalogue the books in a library at a house on the countryside with a mysterious housekeeper and an equally mysterious groundskeeper. It is here where her dreams of Nimue begin. We examine how stories become legend and how, despite what appears to be destiny, one still has agency. There is love, there is courage, and yes, there are choices that matter.

[Courtney Sparshu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book cast a spell on me almost immediately - I loved the way the author blended real history and Arthurian mythology and made it her own in such a unique way. She breathed new life into familiar characters, they were so well written that I could vividly picture them in my mind. There are some twists and turns, some very unexpected plot points and developments, so it felt like I was always on the edge of my seat. I felt the narrative was thought provoking in its’ reflection on war. After reading the novel I definitely understand and agree with the comparisons to The Everlasting. I have not yet read The Once and Future King but this book has rekindled my interest in Arthurian mythology so I hope to read it soon. There is a bit of a romance in this book but those parts are definitely not the main focus, and some are expected (if you know your legends!). Overall I found this book beautifully written and the story interesting!

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, H.G. Parry, and Orbit Books for the ARC!

The perfect blend of legend, myth, and fantasy! I love that a classic legend has been reimagined and retold from a different point of view. The pacing of this book was absolute perfection. It kept me hooked the entire time. The twists and turns at the end were superb! A story of hope, fighting against destiny, determination, love, and the age-old fight of light vs. dark. The main character, Ellie, arrives at a seeming abandoned manor house in the Welsh countryside amid the bombings of WWII. What she finds and discovers will change her life forever. The references to all the classic Arthurian stories, the explanation of Merlin's history, the interweaving of Welsh myths and the cameos of other legendary characters make this book a complete joy to read!

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC!

This is my first H.G. Parry book and honestly, I get it. I get why she's an "auto buy" author for so many. How have I not read something by her before? I'm truly disappointed in myself, and you bet I'm about to go digging into her Goodreads to find my next read.

Anyway, it is IMMEDIATELY evident that Ms. Parry does her research. Plain and simple. The novel's world and the blend of fantasy with history is just eyewatering-ly stunning. As an aspiring author, this was the type of writing that makes you take a step back and smile and feel proud that someone cares this deeply about creating such an immersive world (while also feeling intimidated by the skill it takes).

I loved the characters, the fresh perspective on old legends, the lore, the tone, the everything and I want to read it again.

[Bksm · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

I really enjoyed this book! It splits its time between two eras, the Arthurian past with Nimue and 1941 with Elaine. Wondering how their two worlds connected kept me completely hooked.

What I liked:
Nimue’s POV: Her chapters were my absolute favorite. I loved getting to see her side of the Arthurian story.
The Time Jumps: The back and forth between the ancient past and WWII created a really interesting mystery. It kept me guessing how they were connected.

What I didn't like:
The Pacing: The chapters were just too long. Elaine’s chapters dragged sometimes because not a lot was happening in them compared to Nimue's chapters.

Overall:
Despite the slower pace in the modern timeline, the Arthurian lore and Nimue's perspective made this a great read!


Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

[Tea_with_a_book · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a 4.5 rounded up for me! It took me a second to get into this timey whimey story but once I was in I was completely hooked!

I love Arthurian stories and this was no exception! It was layered, well told where it could have gotten really confusing. I absolutely loved the character development, I loved the friendship between our two WW2 characters. The twist of the story was fun!

I really enjoyed it! I was engrossed and had a hard time putting it down!

If you enjoyed The Once and Future King and the Everlasting, you will enjoy this!

Thank you to the publisher for the arc! I loved it and this review is given of my own will:)

[Candie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s 1941 and Elaine has fled the bombings in London to take on organizing a collection of books in a remote Welsh estate. People all over England are having dreams of Arthur returning but not Elaine- she dreams of Nimue. Dreams are fine but when mythical people and creatures start appearing in reality- Elaine knows something terrible besides the war is coming and she has to figure out how to stop it.
This was a wonderful edition to the Arthurian pantheon. So happy to have T.H. White as a character as Once and Future King was how I learned to love Camelot.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! I’ve recommended this book to a library patron all ready.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dnf at 60%

3.5 stars

I don't think this book was for me. I was hooked for the first 30%, but then I found myself stopping on and off. I have adored H. G. Parry's other works, so this is probably just a run-off. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book early.

I look forward to more books by H. G. Parry in the future. I would recommend giving this book a try if the summary sounds good to you.

Thank you to NetGalley, H. G. Parry, and Redhook for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[illiterateaura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be still, my BBC Merlin (2008) heart.

THE WITCH BELOW THE DREAMING WOOD is visceral, vivid, and all-encompassing. A story of witches and magic that spans centuries while still somehow remaining unpredictable and mysterious to the very end. And while this isn't a romance novel, it felt like an ode to love itself.

H. G. Parry somehow breathed new life into centuries-old stories with countless iterations. I especially loved the characterization of Nimue, and grew to care for the original characters, Ellie and Tom, as well.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eARC!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley & Orbit books for this eARC.
This was a beautiful story. It was a perfect blend of Arthurian tales historical fiction/ fantasy. Told in dual timelines - WW2 & Arthurian - with dual POVs - Ellie & Nemue. Readers will get all different versions of Arthurian tales. The way HG Parry writes and weaves in themes like perseverance immediately made me want to read more of her catalog. While it’s not a face paced read the story has stuck with me as I think it will with many.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

H. G. Parry does an excellent job intertwining past and present in this reimagining of Arthurian legend alongside the meanings of myth and storytelling. Highlights included a tantalizing mystery, WWII era excitement, foreboding mythology, and fun main characters. While the legendary aspects in modern times worked well, I found the bits that took place in Camelot less engrossing. However, the ending was great, and made me cry, so definitely points for that.