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A review by susana82
The Ghost Woods by C.J. Cooke
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A slimmy cosy gothic read. If that is ever a thing.
I enjoyed this a lot. The gothic atmosphere is definitely there. Great world building, we are dragged into that house and its luxury, and already decaying. The woods in the surroundings. The herbs and plants. The Micrarium. The people coming for business, the girls coming to give birth.
We follow 2 main young characters that arrive at the manor 5 years apart, so we get to understand the decay of the place and its people during this period, bit by bit. We get to see a sisterhood being created and grow stronger. We get to see the fungus slowly take over.
Sacrifices had to be made, but the ending was both horrific and right. I quite enjoyed the story and all the eerie atmosphere.
Besides all the eeriness and fantasy, there was a lot of the real world. How society and norms were so controlling of women's bodies and lives. The shame of having sex and turning pregnant outside the wedding was a sentence of almost death to any woman. When women were in need the most, they wouls lose their jobs, could no finish their studies, were forsaken by their families, were left without anything them and their children ostracised by society, because of stupid unfair norms. The conditions in which women had their newborns, absolutely ghastly. Women having their babies taken without their consent. All the gynecological violence against women and that it still exists today.
This book is justas much of fantasy terror as real life terror.
I enjoyed this a lot. The gothic atmosphere is definitely there. Great world building, we are dragged into that house and its luxury, and already decaying. The woods in the surroundings. The herbs and plants. The Micrarium. The people coming for business, the girls coming to give birth.
We follow 2 main young characters that arrive at the manor 5 years apart, so we get to understand the decay of the place and its people during this period, bit by bit. We get to see a sisterhood being created and grow stronger. We get to see the fungus slowly take over.
Sacrifices had to be made, but the ending was both horrific and right. I quite enjoyed the story and all the eerie atmosphere.
Besides all the eeriness and fantasy, there was a lot of the real world. How society and norms were so controlling of women's bodies and lives. The shame of having sex and turning pregnant outside the wedding was a sentence of almost death to any woman. When women were in need the most, they wouls lose their jobs, could no finish their studies, were forsaken by their families, were left without anything them and their children ostracised by society, because of stupid unfair norms. The conditions in which women had their newborns, absolutely ghastly. Women having their babies taken without their consent. All the gynecological violence against women and that it still exists today.
This book is justas much of fantasy terror as real life terror.