The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood

By H. G. Parry

From the author of The Magician's Daughter comes a lush historical fantasy where dreams come to life and Arthurian legends are reborn, perfect for fans of The Everlasting and The Once and Future King. Wales, 1941. As the second world war ravages the globe, people everywhere begin to dream of King Arthur. Whispers arise of wonders and unexplained sights--dragons in the London Underground, strange lights over Stonehenge. Some claim these things are miracles, heralding Arthur's return at Britain's darkest hour. 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 London Blitz and is frustrated to instead be sent to catalog a reclusive professor's private library on the coast of North Wales. But not all is as it seems. 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. "A dreamy tale about the power of stories. Beautifully conceived and impossible to put down." --Morgan Ryan, author of A Resistance of Witches "A true feast of myth and wonder." --Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light "A charmingly original entry into the Arthurian canon." --Louisa Morgan, author of The Faerie Morgana

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Published Jul 21, 2026

448 pages

Average rating: 9

1 RATING

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Community Reviews

Sophie Wolf
9/10 stars
For all lovers of the Arthurian myths and legends, this is for you. The Witch Below the Dreaming World weaves those stories in with the life of a rather hapless heroine who has managed to survive the Blitz in 1941, then finds herself sent off to Wales to catalog the books of an eccentric's library. From there on it's a wild ride, sometimes delightfully enchanting, but usually full of dangerous, raw magic and a plot that can leave you rather breathless. At least it did for me. What I'm trying to say is that it is an exceptional book, hard to put down especially if you love King Arthur's world. H.G. Parry spun a marvelous tale. I gave it a 9 instead of a 10 because for me the ending was a little too bittersweet and a little disappointing. But IMHO it's worth reading again, maybe even a few times.

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