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emzvoice 's review for:
The Book of Witching
by C.J. Cooke
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Complex, turbulent and gripping.
C J Cooke writes with intelligence and manages to build such a bleak world time and time again. Certainly delivering that here.
Evoking terror and rage in equal measure.
Expertly meshing the different timelines.
The plot hinges on complex family dynamics, misplaced trust, and the difficulty of escaping the circumstances in which you were born. Of course with a strong element of witchcraft, both modern and traditional, and mystery.
The epilogue delivered something different than we usually see at the end of Cooke's novels. A well managed switch up in the usual formula. As always the book shows an immense amount of research, the world feeling robust due to the efforts Cooke goes to in order to prepare for her plots.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail