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challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Book of Witching
By C.J. Cooke
5⭐️
This book is a mix of historical fiction and fantasy. The story base is built upon a factual event in history that took place in the Orkney Islands off the shore of Scotland. Cooke develops the story among multiple timelines. The two main timelines are the of 1592 and modern day.
The story is well crafted and if you enjoy reading and learning about witch trials then this book will be a good fit for you. It tells the story of how Alison Balfour is accused of witchcraft in 1592 and her connection to 3 teenagers in modern day Scotland. This story had me so hooked that I couldn’t put this book down!
Some of the content is tough to read so please check the trigger warnings before you select this book to read.
By C.J. Cooke
5⭐️
This book is a mix of historical fiction and fantasy. The story base is built upon a factual event in history that took place in the Orkney Islands off the shore of Scotland. Cooke develops the story among multiple timelines. The two main timelines are the of 1592 and modern day.
The story is well crafted and if you enjoy reading and learning about witch trials then this book will be a good fit for you. It tells the story of how Alison Balfour is accused of witchcraft in 1592 and her connection to 3 teenagers in modern day Scotland. This story had me so hooked that I couldn’t put this book down!
Some of the content is tough to read so please check the trigger warnings before you select this book to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book felt a bit like reading two different books at once, and not always in the best way. I really loved the "modern day" story with Clem and Erin, and the author did a good job of connecting it to the witch trial story from the 1500's. Unfortunately, the whole witch trial arc felt very slow moving and I wasn't all that invested in the characters, which I found disappointing since that part of the story is based on an actual historical event. Overall I definitely wouldn't say I disliked the book, but one storyline was much stronger than the other and it left the book feeling unbalanced, or like it was lacking something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Murder
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Abortion