I think I have definitely entered my Witchy Era, especially when it comes to books!

The Book of Witching is a dual timeline novel which cleverly weaves a witch trial in 1594 with a horrible accident in 2024. How are the two related and what does The Book of Witching have to do with it?

This was a great read and the desire to find out how the two stories intertwined kept me turning the pages long after I should have turned my light out.

In the past few years, ever since I reviewed The Lighthouse Witches, C J Cooke has fast become my favourite Gothic author and I have been lucky enough to review a few of her more recent novels on my blog. Her work is very atmospheric and often set in Scotland, which is what drew me to her novels in the first instance, so I was delighted when her publisher, Harper Collins, sent me an ARC of her latest novel. I fell on it immediately, putting everything else on hold until I had read the book.

The Book of Witching is a story of the witch trials that swept through Scotland during the 1500's. Set on the Orkney Isles, it follows the fate of Alison, a woman who is a skilled healer and herbalist who is inadvertently drawn into the political intrigues of the islands at that time. King James VI is on the throne of Scotland and he has recently made his feelings on witchcraft quite clear, having presided over the Berwick witch trials a couple of years earlier. So this is not a great time for a wise woman to come to the attention of powerful men with a political agenda! Even worse, Alison comes from a family known to be skilled at spellcraft, a family who hold a very special book of magic in their possession.

Fast forward a few hundred years to the present day and Alison's fate becomes entangled with that of a young girl, Erin, who is found very badly burnt on one of the islands after a trip to Orkney with her boyfriend and best friend. When Erin comes out of a coma, she claims that her name is Nyx and that she doesn't know who Erin is. As the novel slips back and forth between these two timelines, we begin to unravel just how Erin is connected to a woman accused of witchcraft four hundred years ago.

This is such a thrilling read! The chapters alternate between one timeline and the other so that you're never quite sure how it all fits together, but you know that it does. It skips along at a fast pace and the structural use of the turning points is designed to keep you invested in the story. As with all of C J Cooke's novels, the Gothic atmosphere is dark and ominous, the threat building throughout the story. Her way of creating tension in the reader is second to none. In many ways, C J Cooke's style of writing reminds me very much of contemporary Gothic masters such as Victoria Holt and Virginia Andrews - her stories have that same undercurrent of mystery, secrets and tension, akin to the Flowers in the Attic series, but with witchcraft attached!

The Book of Witching held me in its grip from the opening paragraphs, which is something that I look for in novels - I like a book that starts on the very first page and this one certainly does, dropping the reader into the midst of the action and catastrophe right from the start. It's the kind of story where you find yourself holding your breath as you read, because it does tackle some very dark topics such as torture, serious injury, incarceration, mock executions, and the powerlessness of women who were accused of something they didn't do, but who knew that the odds were stacked against them from the very first whisper of 'witch!' It brought tears to my eyes at times and I really felt for both the injured characters and their dual plight.

This Orcadian novel has all the eerie vibes of a witchy thriller, with secret cults, a coven of witches, an enchanted and indomitable book of magic and powerful men providing lots of menace. I wouldn't describe it as a cosy read for autumn, because it evokes such a powerful and indignant response in the reader for the crimes that have been committed against women for centuries. Having read lots of books about the witch trials over the years, I thought that I had become somewhat desensitized to the topic, but this novel really drove it home to me once again how lucky I am to be able to practice my Craft in safety, without fear of being tortured and burnt for it. There is the sense that Alison's fate could so easily have been mine, or yours, or our mother's and grandmother's. It is only the passing of time that keeps us safe.

While it might not be an especially comforting novel, The Book of Witching is a wonderful and disturbing witchy thriller that will keep your heart in your mouth from cover to cover, so if you are in the mood to be scared to death by the plight of witches past this October, this is the book for you. It's certainly a great novel to curl up with on Samhain night, when the pumpkins are gleaming and it's dark and cold outside. Light a candle in remembrance of the lost souls of historical women who were burnt as witches, and enjoy the safety of modern practice this All Hallows Eve. Blessed Be.

Marie x
To be published on my blog 8/10/24

The Book of Witching is CJ Cooke’s classic style of interlinked thrillers, but with a healthy dash of folklore and witchcraft to bring the novel to life. Following two separate storylines simultaneously from different eras, the book fantastically weaves together the plots and drops just enough clues to help you work out how the two stories are connected.

I think the setting and atmosphere of the Book of Witching is some of CJ Cooke’s best writing to date, particularly the Shetland segments of the story. The historical research gives the trial a very realistic feel that I could fully believe and become invested in, with real-world places and people from the late 1500s influencing the direction of the story. The elements of secret organization and cult that appeared in both timelines was really well executed - I thought it was fascinating to see how membership to these groups is accepted to different extents between the 1500s and the present day.

The emotion and empathy with both lead characters is excellently done, and I thought it was very impressive how the emotions Clem and Alison showed mirrored each other so well in their respective story arcs; despite the different circumstances they both show fear and uncertainty, unsure as to why events are happening to them. Critically though, they remained distinct characters whose internal monologues didn’t blur into one, which was very impressive given the similarities between the two.

I wasn’t as much a fan of the story end though, I must admit. Compared to her previous works, I thought the final revelation was a little simplistic, and rushed through with the dramatic change of pace in the final few chapters of the novel. That being said, Haunting in the Arctic and The Lighthouse Witches set an incredibly high bar, and I still really enjoyed watching the clues of the story fall into place.

Thank you so much to @harperfiction @harpercollinsuk @netgalley

Wow, I absolutely LOVED this book so much, but my gosh the female rage I felt for Alison and what she went through, I felt it so deeply, it brought tears to my eyes, for her children and family!! This was such an amazing read, my favourite witchy read so far!!

This book tells the story of two different timelines, Alison - Orkney 1594 and Erin - Glasgow 2024.
I loved all the strong female characters in this book!

Clem, is going through every mothers worst nightmare to find her daughter in a hospital bed, badly burned, she thought she knew her daughter so well, but what secrets has she been hiding...Erin was found on a beach in Fynhallow Bay, Orkney with catastrophic burns and only one memory, her name is Nyx. But how did she get these burns? And how did her boyfriend end up burned alive?

Erin, a teenage girl, trying to figure out her life and how she feels about her estranged father. While also bringing up a baby, Freya. Erin wants to feel part of a bigger family.
Erin and her friend Senna join a witchcraft cult where she meets Arlo. Which leads Erin being handed over The Book Of Witching...and a terrible fire accident takes place...Clem must fight for her daughters life, she travels to the site of where the accident happens, determined to figure everything out!!

Alison, accused of witchcraft, she awaits trial. The punishment, to be burned alive. A mother, a healer, a wife, accused of witchcraft by brutal horrible men for their own wrong doings, leading to the witchcraft trials that took place in Orkney in the 16th century.

The book binds these two timelines together.
Four hundred years separate them.
One book binds them.
One turn of the page, and you’ll be bound forever.
And the ending....

This was so gripping, thrilling, and enraging at the same time, my heart was racing and screaming at those men, my blood boiling!!
To all the women brutally tortured on the grounds of witchcraft!

I could literally re read this again already, and I will do so in the future!! Now to read more by this author!
5/5⭐️

Tense and haunting, the dual timeline added rich depth to the mystery of the story line. Set in 1500s Scotland and the present day, it brings to life the suffering of the women who were accused of witchcraft, and the corruptness of the men who accused them. A far from cozy read, but the characters and historical details are incredibly well written and researched. Highly recommend.

One of the most enraging books I have read in a while.

I even screamed with all my female rage at the prelude. C J Cooke is a master at evoking emotional tension and The Book of Witching demands the reader to recognise the horrific trials of women during the 16th century witch craze. Throw in a present day mystery and we have a tantalising thriller that had me gripped from the first page.

I loved The Haunting in the Arctic and The Ghost Woods, and The Book of Witching is another masterpiece. If this author wrote it, am gonna read it! Sensitive themes of gender, sexuality, social class, motherhood and more are woven into an intricate tale that made my heart ache with compassion but also a lot of rage against an intolerant world.

Book Review: The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke

I want to extend my gratitude to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Book of Witching. This novel truly captivated me from the very first page, weaving together a gripping narrative that spans four centuries.

Set in Glasgow in 2024, the story follows Clem, who is at her daughter Erin’s hospital bedside after a mysterious incident on the Orkney beach. Erin’s shocking burns and her fragmented memory, where she only recalls her name—Nyx—draw the reader into a chilling mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. I felt Clem’s desperation and fear as she sought answers, making me invested in their fate.

In parallel, we meet Alison Balfour, accused of witchcraft in 1594 and awaiting a harrowing trial. The historical context adds a rich layer to the narrative, and I was fascinated by how Cooke skillfully tied Alison's fate to the present-day events. The dual timelines are seamlessly intertwined, and I found myself equally engrossed in both stories.

The atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, filled with a sense of foreboding that perfectly complements the themes of witchcraft and mystery. Cooke's writing is evocative, drawing vivid imagery that made Fynhallow Bay feel like a character in its own right. I could practically feel the chill of the sea air and the weight of history pressing down on the characters.

The unraveling of the mystery kept me guessing throughout. I loved how Cooke skillfully revealed secrets and connections between the two women, creating a sense of urgency as they raced against time to uncover the truth. The exploration of trauma and survival adds depth to the plot, and I appreciated how the author handled these themes with sensitivity.

What truly resonated with me was the bond that formed between Clem and Alison, despite the centuries that separated them. It highlighted the enduring nature of maternal love and the lengths one will go to protect their child.

Overall, The Book of Witching is an atmospheric, beautifully crafted tale that blends historical intrigue with modern suspense. It’s perfect for anyone

This is an absolute spectacle of a book. A triumph. A glittering, powerful, extraordinary tour de force of a book. Quite simply C.J Cooke has created a masterpiece.

I don't think I've read any of her books before, but I do have a copy of A Haunting in the Arctic that I will read at some point (as she says the same for all the other 1,200 books she owns).

It is mainly set between 1594 and 2024, with a couple of very short scenes in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

I am often iffy about alternative points-of-view but contradicting myself, I do enjoy alternative time periods. I love them individually but I also love the comparisons. I love a historical novel so I think that comes into play here, and as a fan of historical novels I enjoyed those sections a bit more. But the modern scenes are just as fascinating and well written, I just like being nosy about time long past.

Both time periods start with a bang and it instantly grips you. It's a historical novel obviously, but there's also bits of a thriller in it and I thought that worked really well. It can be hard to weave two very different time periods together seamlessly but she's managed it here, and they're both as enjoyable as the other. I wasn't sure at first how the two time periods linked, but she kept dripping in clues here and there which meant I was working it out like a puzzle.

I love books about witchcraft, until I remember these things actually happened. How men were barely in trouble for unexplainable things, but if a woman so much as looks at the wrong person, then they're clearly a witch and sentenced to death. It's fascinating and engaging but quite anger-inducing too. It shows this real power struggle, that if a man couldn't explain something, or if a woman was more powerful then them, then it had to be witchcraft.

I didn't realise that this, at least the old scenes, is based on a real story and I got lost in a Google black hole reading up on it. Mainly because there's a character called Patrick Stewart and I kept imagining the X Men would appear.

It is seamless writing, and addictive, taking me away from any other job other than reading it. Which meant I devoured it within a matter of hours, so desperate I was to get back to it when I put it down. This led to an exhilarating but intense reading experience, but I think that adds another layer to the storyline, and I would, if you can, absolutely recommend reading it in such a way that you get utterly absorbed by it.

I am a huge fan of C J. Cooke and when I got this ARC through I put off and put off reading it as I knew once it was done it would be a while before I had a new one to read. I both stand by and regret this decision.

This book was incredible. I inhaled it and enjoyed every minute. The characters are developed so well, I felt like I was right there on Orkney with Clem. Alison Balfour was very well developed and her storyline was very fitting for what we know of the time she lived. Some of how she was treated infuriated me and in spite of reminding myself it was fictional, I couldn't forget that things like this happened to her and to other women of the time.

C.J. Cooke has an incredible writing style, her writing flows so well that it's easy to slip into the story and forget that you're not there, watching it happen, with incredible imagery and descriptive scenery. Can't wait for the next one!!

This is really intriguing dual timeline /multiple POV set between the C16th and modern day partly based on real life events surrounding the witch trials in Orkney - Alison is a healer, arrested and accused of murder. Meanwhile Erin, a young mum in the present day has fallen into being a member of a pagan group week becomes increasingly dark and when a mysterious book appears which can't be destroyed she travels to the book's origin in Orkney to attempt to rid herself of it. Whilst carrying out their pagan ritual a member of their group dies and Erin herself is critically injured. Her mother Clem has to figure out what happened to Erin and her friends and eventually find a way to rid them all of the curse of the book.

A great read for autumn, and the fact it's partly based on real life makes the historical aspects even more fascinating. I enjoyed the strong female characterisation and the multiple POV have a good insight into their lives.

TW: Burns victims and disfigurement

C J Cooke is an autobuy author for me and this book reminded me why.

The plot is dark and tension filled throughout, it builds and kept you guessing. I much preferred Clem’s POV as I was so entranced by the mystery surrounding what happened at the beach, I had to know more.

This book has strong references to witchcraft, cults, persecution of women and folklore.

"Sometimes, no magic in the world can save a life."

I was instantly drawn to Alisons side of the story. As the author describes in her notes this character is a real person who was sentenced to death for witchcraft. Her side of the story is filled with horror and injustice while Clem and Erin's point of view is mystery and worry.

A brilliant gothic read!

I look forward to reading more books by this author.

This was my first book by author C.J. Cooke and I was blown away. I very quickly became addicted to the characters, the storyline and the absolute mastery of the writing. This is a perfect blend of historical and fantastical writing. I loved how Cooke interweaved the two timelines seamlessly and I loved how heart-breaking and emotionally connected the two were. The writing was easy to follow but it was incredibly clear just how much work and research had gone into the Orkney folklore. The ending was a surprise twist for me which I loved as too often I seem to be able to work out where the book is going. This book has definitely made me a fan of C.J. Cooke and cannot wait to read more of her work.

This story flicks between the past and present. In the past we have Alison, a woman on trial for witchcraft in the 1500s in the Orkneys and in the present we have Erin, a young woman seriously injured in mysterious circumstances on an Orkney island trip which has also left her boyfriend dead and her best friend missing.

The story is compelling and I found myself itching to pick the book back up to continue reading. The author leaves you just enough tidbits bits to draw you in as the mystery and connection is revealed.

The characters are very well developed and the past parts are beautifully intertwined between historical fact, with embellished fiction to develop the story of Alison.. She was a woman who had in reality existed and was trialled as a witch, as the author explains in her notes.

A fantastic pace, great plot and at times vivid imaginary, makes this a great read

Thankyou to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ebook ARC

This review will also be published on my instagram page on 13/9/24 and is on my Goodreads now

I have read three previous books by CJ Cooke and have enjoyed them all. This one kept me gripped and I enjoyed the duel timeline and the intrigue about the Book of Witching. I was hooked right from the start and the book didn't disappoint. I will be recommending this to my reading friends who enjoy witch lit and gothic fiction.

This had some great moments throught the book and some moments were very intense, and made for some page turning excitement. Despite this, I felt other partw of the book were a bit slow and it wanst my type of book. I would recommend this book to people who like slightly slow burn/dual timeline stories, however this was not my thing, and I only read 50% of the book before deciding it wasnt my thing.

A link to my full review on instagram will be below.

CJ Cooke's The Book of Witching is a captivating and chilling tale that seamlessly weaves together historical and contemporary narratives. The novel's dual timelines, set in 1594 and modern-day Orkney, create a rich and atmospheric backdrop for a story that is both haunting and heartbreaking.
Cooke's story transports readers to the windswept fictional Scottish islands of Gunn and Fynhallow, where Alison Balfour must fight against corrupt officials determined to brand her as a witch and traitor to her people.
The modern day timeline deals with Clem, mother to Erinn, who is desperate to see her child recover from horrific injuries after a ritual went horribly wrong on the Orkney island. As past and present collide, Cooke weaves a tale of women fighting to save what they love most.
If you enjoy gothic fiction with a historical twist, The Book of Witching is a must-read. Lighter in scares and chills than her previous books, it is nonetheless a captivating read.

Hauntingly atmospheric this was a fantastic book to read entering the 'ber months, I loved how feminism was meshed with folklore to give a unique gothic fantasy thriller, sometimes dual timeliness can make a book feel clunky but this was expertly executed, would recommend to fans of historical fiction, strong themes of female empowerment and a lil heartbreak

A fascinating, mystical book with a dual timeline.
Orkney 1594, Alison Balfour is accused of attempted murder by witchcraft.
Glasgow 2024, Clem’s daughter Erin is in a coma, following a trip to Fynhallow Bay, which has left her with third degree burns, her boyfriend dead and her friend missing.
As the story unfolds, we discover how these women are bound by The Book of Witching.
Based on true events, Alison’s chapters are both harrowing and heartbreaking. Life was hard for the working class and poor people, and the land was ruled by callous and corrupt leaders. It was awful to read how innocent people were unfairly tried and killed for crimes they did not commit.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this book we follow Clementine aka Clem who gets a call that all parents dread - her daughter is in the hospital in medical coma after a hiking trip with her friends on the remote Orkney Islands which has left her boyfriend dead and her best friend missing. When her daughter (Erin) wakes, she doesn’t recognize her mother, doesn't remember what happened and thinks her name is Nyx.
In a similar format to other C.J. Cooke books this book goes between present day and 1500's Orkney, showing the lives of seemingly two unconnected families. However we come to learn that maybe there is something that is tying them together.

C.J. Cooke actually bases her books on real people/events which to me highlights the injustices that women have faced throughout time and shows how religion can skew peoples views. One aspect of this story is the sad reminder that for a long time women in particular were accused of witchcraft and murdered for this with no way of being able to defend themselves as whatever the church/men said was taken as the truth.
Whilst based on a saddingly true person/event there are fantasy/magical elements within this story which helps to soften the blow that these type of things did actually happen to women.

In every C.J. Cooke book I have read, she has an amazing way of creating atmosphere and making you really empathise with some characters whilst absolutely detesting others (for good reason) and this book is no exception. I could easily have read this in one sitting if I hadn't had to go to work as I was completely hooked from the start.
A hauntingly beautiful read.