Review: The Book of Witching - Vilma Iris | Lifestyle Blogger

A mother must fight for her daughter’s life in this fierce and haunting tale of witchcraft and revenge from the author of A Haunting in the Arctic.

Clem gets a call that is every mother’s worst nightmare. Her nineteen-year-old daughter Erin is unconscious in the hospital after a hiking trip with her friends on the remote Orkney Islands that met a horrifying end, leaving her boyfriend dead and her best friend missing. When Erin wakes, she doesn’t recognize her mother. And she doesn’t answer to her name, but insists she is someone named Nyx.

Clem travels the site of her daughter’s accident, determined to find out what happened to her. The answer may lie in a dark secret in the history of the Orkneys: a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft and murder four centuries ago. Clem begins to wonder if Erin’s strange behavior is a symptom of a broken mind, or the effects of an ancient curse?

Book Type:

Psychological Thriller / Horror

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Review: The Book of Witching
By C.J. Cooke

Review: The Book of Witching

C.J. Cooke’s THE BOOK OF WITCHING is a captivating blend of horror, historical fiction, family drama, and mystery—making it the perfect read for spooky season.

The story follows Clem, a mother desperate to uncover the truth behind her daughter Erin’s mysterious trauma. After a hiking trip on the remote Orkney Islands leaves Erin unconscious, badly burned, and claiming she is someone named Nyx, Clem is drawn into a web of ancient curses and buried horrors.

The novel alternates between two timelines: present-day Glasgow and the Orkney Islands in the 16th century. The historical narrative centers on Alison Balfour, a woman accused of witchcraft amid betrayal and superstition. As Clem investigates her daughter’s condition, eerie connections between the past and present emerge—forcing her to question whether Erin’s state is psychological or something far more sinister.

What makes The Book of Witching particularly compelling is how it weaves procedural elements with folklore, creating a haunting, witchy atmosphere. Cooke’s exploration of generational trauma and dark family secrets adds emotional depth to the supernatural themes, delivering a story that is both thrilling and thought-provoking. The vivid atmosphere and dual timelines maintain tension throughout, making this an easy binge.

If you love tales of witch trials, ancient curses, and complex family dynamics, you’ll love this chilling, gothic thriller.

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