The Dead Woods

The Dead Woods are a dark realm localized near the Kingdom of Corona, featured in the novel Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch serving as a home for the dead of the whole world for many centuries and its caretakers, the witches of the dead woods. It is also stated that the witches of the dead woods can't leave the Dead Woods. The Dead Woods are ruled on by the queen of the dead, who must protect it at all cost. At the beginning of Mother Knows Best, the current queen of the dead is the powerful well-known witch Manea, who is later suceeded by her daughters, most specifically her youngest one, Gothel. The Dead Woods will be subjected to several renovations before being destroyed by the soldiers of the Kingdom of Corona in order to grab the last rapunzel flower to save the ill Queen, expecting a child.

Environement
The Dead Woods are described as bleak with its grayish sky, black lifeless trees covered of twitsed and brittle branches ressembling to long grasping hands and white headstones.It is protected by an enchanted, impenetrable thicket of rosebushes that can't be break through by the living unless they receive the help of a powerful witch able to create a counter spell to break the enchantment of the thicket.

The mausoleums, cemeteries and crypts are bedecked with crumbling statues of weeping angels. One of the famous crypts is Sir Jacobs' one with its stained glass windows.

The conservatory is considered as the place of power of the queen of the dead and look alike a giant greenhouse, shining in the darkness of the dead woods. It shelter the rapunzel flowers as well as magical items. It is also the place in which takes place the blood rituals. It will be destroyed by Gothel in order to protect her sisters from their mother and renovated as a greenhouse.

The vault contains spell books of Manea as well as a portion of her blood keep in a glass bottle, hidden by a secret passageway and chests of gold.

The house, made of dreary cobblestone is inhabited by Manea and her daughters Hazel, Primrose and Gothel.It is described as huge, cavernous, barren, cold, uninspiring and covered with carvings of night creatures. It contains five rooms: One for Primrose, one for Hazel, one for Gothel, one for Manea and one who was occupied by Manea's mother (and later The Odd Sisters).

The house will be subjected to several renovations and adjustements such as a morning room or adaptations like shetters, rugs and tapestries.

Facts
The Dead Woods were inspired by many songs of the infamous singer Nick Cave.