The leaves are getting raked up, and that means fall is coming to an end here. But not before Halloween! This time, a few years ago, we had a couple of inches of snow on the ground, so I will not complain. A witchy book seemed only appropriate
Thanks to Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy in exchange for the honest review
THE BOOK OF WITCHING – C.J. Cooke (Released October 8th, 2024)
You can see my thoughts on Cooke’s other books here!
Book Description:
Clem gets a call that is every mother’s worst nightmare. Her nineteen-year-old daughter Erin is unconscious in the hospital after a hiking trip with her friends on the remote Orkney Islands that met a horrifying end, leaving her boyfriend dead and her best friend missing. When Erin wakes, she doesn’t recognize her mother. And she doesn’t answer to her name, but insists she is someone named Nyx.
Clem travels the site of her daughter’s accident, determined to find out what happened to her. The answer may lie in a dark secret in the history of the Orkneys: a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft and murder four centuries ago. Clem begins to wonder if Erin’s strange behavior is a symptom of a broken mind, or the effects of an ancient curse?
My Thoughts: 4/5 stars
I love picking up the newest from Cooke whenever they release. They’re always compelling and unique, and the atmosphere almost comes a live and suffocates you at times. An overwhelming feeling of dread as the story progresses and we bounce between present day and 1594.
A mother’s worst nightmare becomes a reality for Clem when she hears that her daughter is found unconscious after hiking with her, now missing, friend and, now dead, boyfriend. When Erin wakes up, she doesn’t recognize her mother and claims she isn’t actually Erin, but a girl named Nyx. Clem is determined to get to the bottom of things, and in her search, she comes across the story of a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death. The area may now be the sight of a centuries old curse.
This is loosely based on the witch trials that happened in Scotland in the 1500s, and I loved the bits of history mixed into the fantasy, mystery, and horror of it all. I so appreciated the historical aspect, and the research always shows in her books
Jessicamap Reviews 
Ohh this sounds really good! Also, I’m jealous that your leaves have fallen already. It’s still relatively green here in Alabama and around 80 today.
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Hello! I loved the honest review of this book (and I’m also so glad there were no spoilers!). Based on your review I will definitely give this a read when I manage to get my hands on a copy. The mix of history and fantasy elements in this seem to be incredibly up my alley with the type of novels that I love to read. I think I will also have to find a day when it’s a little colder and raining so I can read this with bit of a darker atmosphere because it is sunning down in Melbourne for us at the moment. But reading suspenseful novels like this are perfect for a rainy day, curled up on the couch with a hot choccy!
How do you feel as though the blend from the past to present is presented in this novel? As I sometimes find that it can be a bit jarring with any time jumps, and it can also make it harder to follow along. That being said, when its done well it is always such a wonderful read!
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I think that Cooke always does a great job going from timeline to timeline. I completely agree, some books it feels all over the place or jarring. I should know I’m in a different timeline but not to the point that it’s a clear break in the story. The stories connect really well and it made for a super immersive read. I hope you enjoy this and it will be perfect for the rainy day reading!
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