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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Oh yeah this was goooood.
Occult + Historical fiction + mystery. I got through this very quickly!!
A wee bit slow during some of Clem's chapters . Loved Edwards pov.
Occult + Historical fiction + mystery. I got through this very quickly!!
A wee bit slow during some of Clem's chapters . Loved Edwards pov.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A 3.5 rounded up to a 4. I enjoyed this story, but there were parts where it meandered or lost me. It was compelling, but also, easy to put down. It was a twisty tale of witchcraft told during two timelines, present day and in the 16th century. Clem experiences every parent's worst nightmare, a call from the police saying that they have discovered her daughter, near death and extremely burned. Erin has been placed in a medically induced coma and her diagnosis is not good. Clem has no idea what happened, a fire on an uninhabited island? When they discover that Erin's boyfriend is dead and there friend Senna is missing, Clem knows she has to get to to the bottom of it before the police start pointing fingers. In 1524, Alison is known for her healing arts although she refuses to consort with her mother's clan of witches anymore. When she is accused of a heinous act she will have to find the courage to survive and stay strong for her family. These two seemingly unconnected storylines will weave themselves together in nefarious ways.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dual timelines between 1500s and present day Scotland that are connected with folklore, witchcraft, and motherhood. The historical timeline was stronger, but the mother in the modern timeline had a more powerful role and voice.
*Warning for the audiobook. The narrator had a delightful Scottish brogue but it needed some editing. You can hear her breath and swallow. It nearly made me stop listening a few times.
*Warning for the audiobook. The narrator had a delightful Scottish brogue but it needed some editing. You can hear her breath and swallow. It nearly made me stop listening a few times.
This is my second book by Cooke and I own a third that I just haven't gotten around to yet. Cooke writes a lot about witches and characters connecting with nature, paganism, and other things the such. I have always had a love for these subjects and get drawn in very easily. Her writing and dialogue are strong and character work pronounced. I enjoyed these aspects as well as the general story. I will say that the story didn't have much of a build. It remained relatively flat the entire time, there is little tension, and it reads more like a mystery than a horror or fantasy.
It reminded me a lot of The Crucible, which is high praise indeed. I liked the idea of the book being almost sentient, appearing and vanishing, showing people visions, whispering to them. I love books about magical books. I only wish it had been a bigger part of the story. For the title to bear the name of the book, it had a very passive role in the story. I wish it was just a little more prevalent.
The melding of the historical record and the current day story was well done. I liked that Cooke took a true historical record and did her best to fill in the missing pieces with fiction. That is what makes speculative fiction so much fun to read.
If you have liked other books from Cooke, I think you will enjoy this one. For those who aren't afraid of a slow-burn mystery, or who enjoy books involving witchcraft, puritanical oppression, cults and the such, I think this is a good pick.
It reminded me a lot of The Crucible, which is high praise indeed. I liked the idea of the book being almost sentient, appearing and vanishing, showing people visions, whispering to them. I love books about magical books. I only wish it had been a bigger part of the story. For the title to bear the name of the book, it had a very passive role in the story. I wish it was just a little more prevalent.
The melding of the historical record and the current day story was well done. I liked that Cooke took a true historical record and did her best to fill in the missing pieces with fiction. That is what makes speculative fiction so much fun to read.
If you have liked other books from Cooke, I think you will enjoy this one. For those who aren't afraid of a slow-burn mystery, or who enjoy books involving witchcraft, puritanical oppression, cults and the such, I think this is a good pick.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This book surprised me in the best way. My husband and his entire family are from Scotland, and so it is a setting that will always have a strong place in my heart. Coupled with the witch aspect of this book, and I bought everything this book had to sell.
It was just so good for me! And it was written in such a snappy way to keep you turning pages! Definitely the fast pace I needed! I found myself forgoing sleep for this one!
It was just so good for me! And it was written in such a snappy way to keep you turning pages! Definitely the fast pace I needed! I found myself forgoing sleep for this one!
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced