Scan barcode
rhi_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, and Car accident
tamara_joy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Very creepy, very... fungal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Abortion, Abandonment, and Classism
kimbekaw's review
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Death and Sexism
Minor: Body horror, Child death, Homophobia, and Rape
thatpreciousplot's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“I have a ghost in my knee. There’s a small pocket just behind the kneecap and she’s hiding in there, all tucked up in the soft mattresses of cartilage. She is very small and terrified so I’m sitting with that leg straightened so I don’t disturb her. I’ve not set a word about this to anyone. They’d think I’m mad.” - how is THAT for an opening line!!!
'The lighthouse witches' was one of my favourite reads of last year so to say I was EXSTATIC when I was approached by the publishers to read C.J Cookes newest book 'The Ghost Woods' might be an understatement!
The story itself is set around the creepy, atmospheric grounds of Lichen Hall in Scotland, which stands as a home for unmarried pregnant mothers to go have their babies away from the prying and judging eyes of the public of the time, and arrange for these children to be given up for adoption. It is told from dual perspectives, Mabel in in the 1950s and Pearl in the 1960s, following both as they navigate the mysteries of Lichen Hall, it's inhabitants and uncover the mysteries within...
C J Cooke is masterful at creepy atmospheric writing and capturing the Scottish setting (I am biased being Scottish but I LOVE it!) there was really some truly horrifying imagery throughout the book as well as body horror which made for such a spooky read.
Overall, a very enjoyable read - I would give it a solid 4 stars (my only negative was it involved some content/triggers that I try my best to avoid reading about but I understand for the plot why it was there)
Thanks again to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for offering me the chance of reading the ARC!
'The lighthouse witches' was one of my favourite reads of last year so to say I was EXSTATIC when I was approached by the publishers to read C.J Cookes newest book 'The Ghost Woods' might be an understatement!
The story itself is set around the creepy, atmospheric grounds of Lichen Hall in Scotland, which stands as a home for unmarried pregnant mothers to go have their babies away from the prying and judging eyes of the public of the time, and arrange for these children to be given up for adoption. It is told from dual perspectives, Mabel in in the 1950s and Pearl in the 1960s, following both as they navigate the mysteries of Lichen Hall, it's inhabitants and uncover the mysteries within...
C J Cooke is masterful at creepy atmospheric writing and capturing the Scottish setting (I am biased being Scottish but I LOVE it!) there was really some truly horrifying imagery throughout the book as well as body horror which made for such a spooky read.
Overall, a very enjoyable read - I would give it a solid 4 stars (my only negative was it involved some content/triggers that I try my best to avoid reading about but I understand for the plot why it was there)
Thanks again to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for offering me the chance of reading the ARC!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, and Infertility
_teoeo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
The rating for this book is indeed a bit tricky to me.
I enjoyed the storyline and after reading the author's note I understood the plots intentions even more. I liked that it had lesbian representation and a lot of sapphic characters. And the ghothic atmosphere, yes!!
However, what destroyed the reading experience a little for me was the writing. I was really surprised because I've read The Lighthouse Witches and in that book the writing was really good. But in this one it seemed rather loveless, tbh. It's not that I dislike reading first-person-perspective in general but I think a third-person-perspective would suit this book and plot a lot more.
But all in all it was an enjoyable read.
I enjoyed the storyline and after reading the author's note I understood the plots intentions even more. I liked that it had lesbian representation and a lot of sapphic characters. And the ghothic atmosphere, yes!!
However, what destroyed the reading experience a little for me was the writing. I was really surprised because I've read The Lighthouse Witches and in that book the writing was really good. But in this one it seemed rather loveless, tbh. It's not that I dislike reading first-person-perspective in general but I think a third-person-perspective would suit this book and plot a lot more.
But all in all it was an enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
queenmackenzie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Last October I loved the atmospheric setting of The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke, so was very keen to pick up her next book. The Ghost Woods is set at Lichen Hall, a grand but crumbling home in a secluded part of Scotland, and it offers an alternative to the mother and baby homes that were prevalent in the 20th century. Single pregnant women could live out their pregnancies at Lichen Hall, and after the child’s birth Mrs Whitlock, the lady of the house, would arrange for them to be adopted. This is how both Mabel and Pearl, one in 1959 and one in 1965, find themselves at the imposing house, isolated from their families and friends.
The book follows the two, each chapter alternating between them in their different timelines, each slowly revealing the underlying darkness of Lichen Hall. Because, though it is beautiful and surrounded by forest, all is not quite what it seems… the forest itself is haunted by a creature of shadow, Mr and Mrs Whitfield have bursts of strangeness, and mushrooms sprout all around, some even invading the hall and breaking it down slowly. The tension is built slowly, helped by the fact that the setting is viewed from two different points in time as they gradually catch up with each other. However, I can’t say that I was ever properly pulled in or felt a chill at any point.
I’m not really a horror reader, but I do sometimes like when a book gives me goosebumps or keeps me up because I have to resolve the tension, and sadly this one didn’t hit that spot. I really liked the characters, Mabel most of all, and the writing was beautiful, but I mostly remained indifferent to the story and when I’d finished it was left quite unsatisfied. I was hoping more would come of the figure that stalks the narrative: the mythic witch Nicnevin. I think a bit point of the story was to highlight the horror of the situation unmarried mothers found themselves in during this time, which it did do very well, but that’s just not what it’s marketed as…
However, if you are looking for a tense, character-focused story with horror elements and a wonderful cast of female characters, I do recommend you pick this and other books by C.J. Cooke up. Just beware that it’s a bit of a slow build-up.
The book follows the two, each chapter alternating between them in their different timelines, each slowly revealing the underlying darkness of Lichen Hall. Because, though it is beautiful and surrounded by forest, all is not quite what it seems… the forest itself is haunted by a creature of shadow, Mr and Mrs Whitfield have bursts of strangeness, and mushrooms sprout all around, some even invading the hall and breaking it down slowly. The tension is built slowly, helped by the fact that the setting is viewed from two different points in time as they gradually catch up with each other. However, I can’t say that I was ever properly pulled in or felt a chill at any point.
I’m not really a horror reader, but I do sometimes like when a book gives me goosebumps or keeps me up because I have to resolve the tension, and sadly this one didn’t hit that spot. I really liked the characters, Mabel most of all, and the writing was beautiful, but I mostly remained indifferent to the story and when I’d finished it was left quite unsatisfied. I was hoping more would come of the figure that stalks the narrative: the mythic witch Nicnevin. I think a bit point of the story was to highlight the horror of the situation unmarried mothers found themselves in during this time, which it did do very well, but that’s just not what it’s marketed as…
However, if you are looking for a tense, character-focused story with horror elements and a wonderful cast of female characters, I do recommend you pick this and other books by C.J. Cooke up. Just beware that it’s a bit of a slow build-up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death and Medical content
Minor: Rape and Car accident