"The Triskele is the oldest clan in Scotland and, I daresay, the whole wide earth. This is not the main characteristic of the Triskele, however - rather it is the knowledge and practice of old magic that the Triskele is known for. And while magic is as pervasive as the grass in the fields and the leaves on the trees, the Triskele are the only clan to be entrusted with the most important of magical artefacts - the Book of Witching."

Set on the Scottish Orkney islands and with a dual timeline (1594 and 2024), this is a beguiling tale of family, loyalty and secrets. I devoured this mystery, to understand how the timelines are connected and to learn the outcomes for the engaging female protagonists. Blending fiction with fact, this is a perfect autumnal read for fans of gothic, feminist fiction.

Thank you to the author and publisher for a digital ARC of this book.

I absolutely love a witchy historical fiction and this was 5 stars for me.

A dual timeline, tense and atmospheric read I inhaled quickly. I can’t wait to read other books by this author

The Book of the Witching is a captivating mix of historical and modern thrillers, with a hint of the supernatural. The narrative alternates between two timelines: the 16th century and the present.

In the 16th century, Alison, a spaewife, is wrongly accused of using witchcraft to poison the Earl of Orkney. She undergoes horrific torture at the hands of the King's chamberlain, Father Colville, and is forced to confess to a crime she didn’t commit.

In the present day, Erin has become involved with a cult fascinated by Orkney’s dark history and the lingering traces of magic. As she delves deeper into the cult’s twisted beliefs, eerie connections between her life and Alison’s begin to emerge, blurring the boundary between past and present.

When Erin and her friends embark on what’s meant to be a hiking trip to explore her Orkney heritage, it ends in a devastating fire. This fire sets off a series of events that ties the two timelines together, uncovering long-hidden secrets.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough, I finished it in just two days. I found the fact that the story is based on true events particularly fascinating. If you’re after a witchy read this spooky season, The Book of the Witching is a must-read. It's definitely one of my favourite books this year!

Clem receives a terrible call saying that her daughter is unconscious in hospital after a hiking trip in the remote Orkney Islands. When she wakes up she is convinced she is someone else. Clem travels to where her daughter had her accident to try and work out what happened. Is it due to a dark secret in the history of island?

I wanted to read this as I have read another book by this author under a different name and really enjoyed it. This is a bit different to what I usually read but I thought it sounded intriguing. The author has proven with this novel what a great story teller she is. I liked the gothic vibe and really got a sense of the haunted atmosphere.

The story is told in two timelines, modern and historical. I personally much preferred the modern time line, finding it more engaging. I struggled a bit more with the historical section, however this is likely due to this not being one of my favourite genres so it takes a lot to get me fully invested. I don’t usually love witchcraft stories either but think it was done well in this instance. Overall this was a good, clever, spooky read, perfect to read around Halloween. I would be interested to see what else this author writes. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

I love C.J.Cooke's books and read quite a few of them. The lighthouse witches being my favourite! I always get excited when there is a new book out.

This book was fast paced and well written which is what I look for when reading a book.
I enjoyed the twists (don't we all).

It seems like a lot of effort went into this book and the author did the research.

It did take me a while to get into it at the start but once I kept going, I am glad I stuck with it. Its such a great book and perfect for this time of year.

Thank you Net galley for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Publication date of book- 10th October 2024

Link for goodreads: www.goodreads.com/stephcosyreads

Loved this book!! It took me a minute to get into but I devoured the last 45% of it in about a day! The other is so good at intertwining past and present for a smooth story. The characters were okayish, you didn’t really get to know the ones in the present day and I felt more of a connection to the characters in the 1500s. Overall, an enjoyable book! :)

I mean... I was always going to love this. Consider me a CJ Cooke fan girl - everything she writes is my favourite, and I immediately want to re-read all of her books once I've finished them. I'm already missing this one!

The Book of Witching is exactly what I want from a book about folklore and witchcraft. The past is rich in historical detail, setting and atmosphere, from the damp dungeons to the heat of the pyre, while the present has cult vibes with a dark mystery and sinister edge.

I loved how the two timelines played alongside each other with this ominous book binding them, and I was deeply invested in both stories and lead characters. I feel like this is more historical than Cooke's other books and maybe a little more difficult to get into, but the events in the first few chapters are sure to pique your interest. It didn't take long before I was absolutely consumed and I couldn't wait to pick the book back up again in between reading sessions.

There's a lot of suspense throughout. The twist isn't big and powerful like A Haunting In The Arctic, but instead brings everything together and provides a clever link between the past and present. Mostly, the story feels like an authentic story about witchcraft, linking a part of our history that we often think about as fantasy to our modern world.

The author's notes were really fascinating too, knowing that the 1594 timeline is based on some truth. I think Cooke has used Alison's story brilliantly to centre this book around, really doing her story justice, and it's great to learn more about the real-life witch trials during this era.

Overall, a brilliantly written and deeply engaging historical fiction with a twist of horror, perfect for spooky season. This is definitely going to remain one of my favourite books of 2024!

This was such a poignant, atmospheric and touching book. The characters were so good. While some were not that good. If you like witchy books with mystery, secrets and dual timelines, read it. In 1594, Allison was accused of witchcraft. In the old times if women were accused of witchcraft, they were burned alive. While in Glasgow, Erin’s past memory returns back but rest of the memories vanish. The two women are somewhat connected and only they can solve the old mystery. The 16th century Orkney description was so intriguing and the present day, Glasgow setting is intriguing too. Both the storylines were gripping. There were secrets, mystery and atmospheric elements were spot on. This was such an emotional historical witchy book

Thanks to the Author and Publisher

It’s the 16th Century in Orkney and local healer Alison Balfour stands trial, accused of witchcraft. Hundreds of years later, two teenaged are found badly burned on a beach? What do they have in common? All is revealed in The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke.

This book properly got under my skin. I was deeply invested in both Alison and Erin’s narratives. So good is the writing, that I felt I was on trial for witchcraft and in the modern day narrative, I was so keen to find out what led to Erin’s injuries.

Thrillers are my go to genre and I kind of feel that not much unnerves me, but this book certainly did. I read it in bed one evening and sent my husband downstairs to fetch something, as I was so concerned that if I went down, I might find the book of witching waiting for me.

If you are looking for a spooky read in the lead up to Halloween, look no further. I would definitely recommend it to fans of historical fiction and magical realism.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, powerful story.

Warning, sensitive issues in the book.

Based loosely on true events that happened in 1594 in Orkney.

1594 and Alison Balfour lives on the isle of Gunn in Orkney in a cottage with her husband and two children. Alison’s mother sneaks the children out of their beds and they are initiated into the Triskele against their parents wishes. Alison used to be a member.
2024 and Erin has been found injured in extreme circumstances that need to be solved. Her mother Clem is called to the hospital. Clem is shocked and confused, the police want answers too.

Moving in historical chapters and modern timelines this book had me gripped throughout. I was totally absorbed. The suspense was palpable.
This book could be a movie.
It is the first book I have read by the author, and I now long to read her other books.
The authors note at the end of the book is a must read too.
A book I will remember.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

Thanks to @netgalley @harpercollins and @cjcooke_author for this brilliant arc!

Where do I start on this one! Firstly thanks to CJ Cooke and HarperCollins, CJ has done it again! This book has had me gripped from the start, I absolutely loved it! It’s a perfect read for the eerie era we are about to embark on. The twists through me by surprise and the ending, OMG! Brilliant read, thanks all.

Absolutely brilliant. I loved the inspiration behind this story and the research that had gone into it. C.J. Cooke had this incredible way of writing that makes every story beautifully gripping, realistic and unputdownable. Loved every second of it, especially Alison’s side of the story and how it interlinked with Erin’s.

This is a case of if only one timeline was the main focus I would have loved it more.
I found the past tense chapters were slower and would take me out of the story. While the present tense intrigued me. I wanted to see where that story went. What went on and why.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This is only the second book I've read by this author, but I'll definitely be reading more. This was a fantastic read, and fully deserving of five stars.

I've pre-ordered the special edition of this book!

How can an event from four hundred years ago impact the present? What lengths will a mother go to in order to save her daughter? And how do you rescue someone who doesn't want to be saved?

A single phone call shatters Clem's world. Her 19-year-old daughter, Erin, is in the hospital, critically injured and unconscious from severe burns. Erin had traveled to Orkley Island with friends to explore their family roots, but something went terribly wrong. Now, her boyfriend is dead, her best friend is missing, and Erin... Erin doesn’t even know who she is when she wakes up. She claims to be Nyx.

Clem has no choice but to go to Orkley Island herself, unraveling the mystery of what happened that night and figuring out how to save her daughter, and perhaps others, from whatever dark force lingers.

This book grips you from the very first moment, and as the story moves between the present day and events from four centuries ago, you can’t help but be drawn deeper into its mysteries. It's a tale of families torn apart, both then and now. On one hand, you have Clem’s fractured family, desperate to save their daughter. On the other, a loving family from four hundred years ago, cruelly ripped apart by their neighbors. There’s heartache, fear, and an overwhelming sense of impending doom that permeates every page. The vivid descriptions and raw emotions make it impossible not to empathize with Clem and Alison, keeping you invested until the very end.

That said, Alison’s chapters occasionally felt long and, at times, a bit dry. I understood their importance, but they lacked the same intensity as the rest of the story. However, those detailed scenes were essential to build the emotional and historical weight of the plot. Some of the torture scenes were so well-described, they felt chillingly real, leaving me stunned at how viscerally the author captured such moments. It's a testament to how powerful words can be.

I went in with small expectations and came out completely blown away. This is a haunting, heart-wrenching story that will stay with you long after you've finished it. I highly recommend it to fans of thrillers, witchcraft, and the supernatural. It's the perfect companion for a chilly autumn evening, and I’m already looking forward to exploring more of the author’s work.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, for this unforgettable reading experience and for the ARC copy!

Review in Estonian: https://brixieblog.wordpress.com/2024/09/23/the-book-if-witching-c-j-cooke/

I love CJ Cooke books. She is a skilled modern gothic/horror writer who always manages to send shivers down my spine with her truly atmospheric books. "The Book of Witching" isn't my favourite, as there are many similar witch books out there with mysterious and magical books. However, as the story developed, I really got into it and wanted to know who Nyx was and why they were haunting the main character, amongst other questions. Suitably creepy for this time of year.

The Book of Witching was an anticipated read for me, especially after loving The Lighthouse Witches, and while I enjoyed it as a whole, there were certain parts that just didn't work for me, namely the magic system that I felt was under-developed.

Told in a similar vein to The Lighthouse Witches, The Book of Witching flits between perspectives past and present. Our past perspective's focus on 16th century Orkney and center around true events, where we see Alison Balfour put on trial for a crime she did not commit, accused of witchcraft, of consorting with the devil and plotting to kill a man of power. The present focuses mainly on current day Glasgow and Orkney as we see Clem dealing with the fallout after her daughter and friends somehow had a fatal accident on one of the Islands off Orkney. Cooke makes us wait to see how these two stories are entwined, and you do have to be patient because it isn't until the last 15% or so that all the pieces start coming together.

While I did enjoy the reveal into how these stories were linked, I also felt the reasoning behind it seemed a little flaky, something that I think could have been developed more throughout the story, but just seemed to be dumped in towards the end. The focus was more on Clem trying to work out what exactly happened on Orkney that lead to her daughters hospitalisation, one friend dead and the other missing. And with the past perspective we spend a lot of time focusing on Alison's trial, how she tries to fight against the men accusing her of witchcraft, even whilst knowing the same men are behind the crime she was accused of. It felt more character focused, than magic/folklore which let it down a little bit for me, and when we did get into the folklore side a little more, there were just holes that didn't seem to want to knit together and I had way too many questions at the end to feel like it was a satisfying conclusion.

One thing that Cooke does incredibly well in her stories is really dig into the feminist themes, and the characters she focuses on. On Orkney we have Alison fighting for her life, accused of a crime she did not commit. Cooke delves into how women were treated at the time, how easy it was for Alison to be accused of witchcraft, of consorting with the devil, simply for being a healer, someone who used potions to help others. There is more of a fantasy spin on this story than I was expecting, especially when it comes to how the two timeline's link together, but Cooke still manages to show the depravity of what these women went through, how they were bullied and threatened into confessions, even by people who knew their innocence.

Cooke's writing style lends itself to a slower read story, and I did take my time with this one. Her descriptions easily transport you between timelines and having been to Orkney myself a few years ago, I enjoyed being able to traverse the land again easily, able to envision places in my mind. I do think the story took a little while to get going, there are a few twists thrown throughout that certainly keep you hooked, but it just took a little too long to get to how the two timelines were linked, and I felt that despite the build up and the horrific events that happened in both timelines, a little too easy of an ending.

All in all I enjoyed this one, maybe not as much as The Lighthouse Witches, but I feel that's more too do with there being too many plot holes in the magic and weaving of the timelines for me. Things just weren't explained enough, mainly I think because the author left so much to try and tie up at the end. I did like the characters, and felt that she managed to get that folk horror vibe across without it seeming too scary, but there were just too many things left unanswered for me to fully enjoy this one the way I had hoped.

The Book of Witching expertly blends historical fantasy with horror and mystery. I absolutely loved every word. It’s fierce, feminist and full of folklore. The story being based on true events just creates a more compelling read for me. The writing is exceptional as Cooke weaves the reader between two timelines smoothly. There’s subtle language differences that transport you into each time and place. The setting on Orkney is atmospheric and definitely makes me want to visit to see the beautiful landscape. I found the witchcraft really interesting and with the dark secrets slowly unraveling it is creepy and intriguing.
This is a must read for any fans of witchy revenge stories with haunting elements. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

If you’re interested in the history of the witch trials in Scotland then you’ll love the Book of Witching. I liked the historical section about Alison Balfour’s trial the most and was shocked to read the it’s based on true events in Orkney. I also enjoyed the modern day story and liked how it all tied together.
It's set between 16th century Orkney and present day Glasgow and the dual timelines were easy to follow.
CJ Cooke’s writing style is great and I loved the use of Scottish words throughout the text too and how much research clearly went into this book. This is my first book by this author and I’ll definitely be reading more!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the advanced copy.

This was my first book by C.J. Cooke but it won't be my last. It has three of my favourite things in a good book, a split time line, a mystery and a witchy theme. The Book of Witching is based on the Orkneys. Alternate chapters are set in the late 1500s and deal with the true story of Alison Balfour's trial as a witch. The rest are fictitious, set in modern times and deal with a mysterious fire leaving one teenager dead, one missing and one badly burnt. These chapters investigate how and why this happened. Throughout there are links between the two times and the Book of Witching suggested to add to the suspense. The research that has gone into this book is superb and really makes the book alive. I read it in one sitting and was holding my breath in parts with anticipation as to what was going to happen next. An altogether fabulous read I have no qualms about recommending.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own