In May 2024 Erin is seriously ill in a Glasgow hospital. She's been very badly burned in a camping accident on Orkney in which her boyfriend died. After being brought out of a medically induced coma she claims her name is Nyx. On Orkney in 1594 Alison Balfour awaits trial, accused of witchcraft. If found guilty she'll be burned alive. With over 400 years separating them, how are Erin and Alison linked?

Set during dual timelines, The Book of Witching is a compelling read. The historical aspect is fascinating and although incredibly cruel and brutal, it's hugely interesting and educational. I found myself glued to the pages and totally immersed — a testament to the author's research and knowledge. The fact that the book is inspired by real events adds extra depth and brings home how despicably the accused were treated. A great read.

This was a gothic-infused mystery with some horror/supernatural elements, told in dual timelines. The historic witch persecution element of this story for me provided more horror than the slight supernatural element provided by the Book of Witching itself, on the occasions when it featured. That, and the body horror of visiting your horrifically burned daughter in hospital. There are a lot of descriptions of torture and injuries, not gratuitous but necessary for the story. I've read a few stories about witch trials and they tend to be quite a difficult read for a number of reasons. I thought this was a good story overall.

This is another wonderful story from the brilliant C.J Cooke. A historical fiction story set in Scotland (Glasgow and Orkney mostly), over two timelines. I really enjoyed this story, anything about witch trials wherever they may be is always of great interest to me. The settings in both the time lines are atmospheric and totally believable. A great read for autumnal evenings.

This isn't my usual genre but given we're in October I thought I'd give it a whirl. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the twin timelines and from about halfway through I was really engrossed. I would definitely read another by C J Cooke.

I enjoyed this book, initially i thought the pacing was a little off but it came together well and I was completely hooked from around the 60% mark.

The story follows a number of POVs by the end but we spend most of the book with Alison in 1594 and Clem in 2024 and learn how their stories are linked by the Book of Witching.

This was an easy read, slightly creepy at all the right times and had a few good twists and turns I didn't see coming. Overall a great read for the spooky season.

An exceptional book of historical fiction.
This is from a genre which I generally don't read but this one has turned out to be the exception.
The story is set between two timelines, one in the modern day and the other in the 1500's. This method of storytelling was delivered with perfection by Cooke. The storytelling was exceptional and kept making me want to read on and on.

Witch fiction made to perfection!

C.J. Cooke did it again! Similar to the Lighthouse Witches, we get in this book a dual timeline and another witch story.

Be warned though, this one is rough and doesn't hold back! This is partly the story of what happened to witches during the witch hunt in the 1590's, so go in it knowing its not all rainbows and butterflies...
I liked both stories and once more the author is really good at leaving tiny details along the way and tying it all up very nicely by the end.
It's atmospheric and a perfect October read!

*Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for access to the ebook against an honest review.*

It's hard to imagine a time when women were routinely accused of witchcraft because of their healing skills, but C. J. Cooke takes us there. The Book of Witching is two parallel stories, one the story of Clem, badly burned and in the burn unit of a local hospital after being found on the island of Gunn, on the beach of Fynhallow Bay, Her boyfriend, Arlo, is dead, and her good friend, Senna, is missing. The alternating chapters describe the history of Orkney, and the story of Allison, accused of witchcraft. We witness her imprisonment, her unfair trial, and eventual death. And throughout it all is the mysterious Book of Witching, which will drive anyone unauthorized to own it mad.

C. J. Cooke is an auto-buy for me, one of the few authors of historical fiction with supernatural, paranormal, or gothic vibes that I intensely enjoy!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction for an advance reader's copy.

I am a huge fan of CJ Cooke and this did not disappoint. The story is told through a dual timeline. It’s Glasgow in 2024 and Clem is called by the hospital to tell her that her daughter Erin is in intensive care. The last Clem knew Erin was in the Orkney Isles with her boyfriend Arlo and best friend Senna. Clem rushes to her bedside, where she finds Erin is in a coma and has horrendous burn injuries, Senna is missing and Arlo has burnt to death. Clem is desperate for Erin to wake, but when she does she has no memory of what happened, or her life, telling her mother she is called Wyx.

It’s 1594 in the Orkney Isles and a woman is accused of witchcraft. Alison Balfour is innocent of the charges but is arrested and taken to await trial. If she is found guilty the punishment will be to be burnt alive. Alison’s family are desperate to save her from this fate, but will they be able to do so?

This book is a powerful piece of fiction that drew me into the women’s lives and the mystery of how they are linked. I particularly felt for Alison and the way women were persecuted and forced to confess to crimes to stop their families suffering torture, and I was desperate for her to be found not guilty against the odds. CJ Cooke explores the themes of gender, power, and maternal love, particularly the ability of mother’s to endure anything to protect their families, in a beautifully written and emotional atmospheric read. If you like historical fiction with strong female characters and narratives you will love this. Such a thought provoking book again from CJ Cooke.

Fast-paced, captivating, enraging, it will surely keep you reading deep into the night.

🖤 witchcraft
📖 thriller
🖤 historical
📖 mystery

The story is split between the terrifying past in 1594 when Alison is unfairly accused of witchcraft and the mind-boggling present in 2024 when Erin is a victim of a burning accident while on a trip with friends.
The chapters about the past are incredibly rage-inducing and the present is as horrifying as it is confusing… you cannot put the book down at all because these women’s stories are so addictive. One thing that ties both stories is The Book of Witching, a book made of darkness and fears.

“Not long after the earth's violent and fiery birth, a book came into existence. With a binding made from the bark of the first tree, and with pages black as moonless night, this book held the secrets of dark magic practised by the earth's inhabitants. Whispered tales claimed the book was crafted not by human hands, but by spirits of darkness. It was called the Book of Witching.'”

When I started this book I did not know it was inspired by real people and I enjoyed it very much as a piece of fiction, but finding out its origin brought a deeper meaning to the whole story.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes books about historical witchcraft, thrillers, and stories about women.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the free digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

C.J. Cooke’s The Book of Witching is a haunting, atmospheric blend of historical fiction, psychological suspense, and supernatural mystery. Set across two timelines—Glasgow in 2024 and Orkney in 1594—the novel explores the lives of two women connected by dark magic, the enigmatic Book of Witching, and the harrowing legacy of witch trials. Cooke weaves together historical tragedy and contemporary intrigue with a deft hand, delivering a story that is both chilling and deeply poignant.

The novel opens with a tense and sorrowful scene: Clem, a mother, waits anxiously by her daughter Erin’s hospital bed. Erin was found with life-threatening burns on an idyllic beach in Fynhallow Bay, Orkney, but remembers almost nothing of the incident—only that her name is Nyx, a mysterious identity that Clem cannot comprehend. As Clem digs deeper into the mystery of what happened to Erin and how her boyfriend perished in the same fire, she finds herself drawn into the eerie history of Orkney, where dark secrets linger just below the surface.

Cooke skillfully parallels this contemporary storyline with that of Alison Balfour, a woman accused of witchcraft in 1594, awaiting her trial and inevitable punishment: to be burned alive. Alison’s narrative is both tragic and terrifying, as it captures the brutal realities of the witch trials and the paranoia that plagued the era. Through Alison’s story, Cooke highlights the historical injustices faced by women accused of witchcraft, imbuing the novel with a sense of urgency and relevance.

What makes The Book of Witching particularly compelling is how seamlessly the two narratives are interwoven. Though separated by four hundred years, Clem and Alison are united by the Book of Witching, a mystical tome with the power to change fate, but at a terrible cost. Both women are forced to confront dark forces beyond their control, and as the novel progresses, their stories intertwine in unexpected ways. Cooke masterfully builds suspense, layering clues and revelations that lead to a powerful and shocking climax.

The setting of Orkney—wild, remote, and steeped in history—adds a layer of eerie beauty to the story. Cooke’s vivid descriptions of the island’s windswept beaches, ancient ruins, and stormy seas create a sense of isolation and foreboding that permeates the novel. The landscape becomes a character in itself, haunting the present as much as the past.

At the heart of the novel is a meditation on the themes of motherhood, memory, and survival. Clem’s desperation to save her daughter and uncover the truth resonates deeply, while Alison’s struggle against the forces that seek to destroy her reflects the endurance of women throughout history. Both protagonists are richly drawn and compelling, their bravery and determination anchoring the novel amidst its darker, supernatural elements.

While The Book of Witching is undeniably a gripping thriller, it also delves into complex emotional and psychological territory. It explores the trauma of loss, the weight of historical injustices, and the terrifying possibility that the past may never truly be buried. The novel’s pacing is taut, and though the slow-burn tension might frustrate some readers initially, the payoff is worth the wait. Cooke keeps the reader guessing until the very end, with twists and revelations that feel both surprising and inevitable.

Overall, The Book of Witching is a mesmerizing and thought-provoking novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, Gothic thrillers, and stories of witchcraft. With its haunting atmosphere, compelling characters, and richly woven plot, it is a story that lingers long after the final page is turned. C.J. Cooke has crafted a novel that bridges the gap between past and present, showing how the ghosts of history continue to shape the world we live in today.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HaperFiction for the ARC

Damn what a fantastic book! I've never read anything by C.J. Cooke before but now I defenitely want to. It was mysterious and captivating. The story was so fascinating and the characters interesting. I loved seeing how the two timelines were connected and throughly enjoyed my time reading it. I was on the edge all the time.

I liked the historical aspects of the novel and I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a historical novel. Still an enjoyable read, especially in the run up to Halloween

I could not put this book down!!! This is my third book I have read by C.J Cooke and I'm definitely now a fan. I'm usually not a big fan of books going to and from past to present throughout as sometimes I can get lost and confused, however this is done so well on this book, I felt when I was in the past I hurried to see the future and via versa. I felt so much for the character Alison and grew fond of her. All the characters I could visualise and understand them this book was so well written. Like I say I couldn't put it down to the point I went WAY past my bedtime till I finished! Would definitely recommend to read

This was the perfect spooky read to kick off the season of the witch . I've been a fan of C J Cooke since reading A Haunting in the Artic last year. Also I love books featuring witches, especially when they are based on real history as this book is. I quite enjoyed reading the authors note about the research that went into bringing this story to life.

The plot unfolds over two separate timelines, modern day Glasgow and Orkney in 1594. I enjoyed both story lines equally and trying to work out what links the witch trials to the events centuries later. How does the book of witching play a part?

I found the witch trial harrowing to read but also compelling at the same time. Alison Balfour was a real person who was executed on charges of witchcraft. It angers me at the way these trials were conducted and the tortures used to extract a confession.

This book was a haunting and atmospheric read that had me hooked from start to finish. It's the perfect tale to read during the dark nights ahead. Thank you to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC.

Another compelling, gripping, and thought-provoking book by C.J. Cooke. Be sure to read the author's note as well. I found it to be informative and detailed the research that went into the writing of this book.

I enjoyed the two timelines which were both captivating and pulled on the emotions. I did find that the timeline in Scotland in the 1500’s which featured Alison Balfour, who had been accused of witchcraft. That timeline was the most gripping to me as I felt for Alison and the way she was treated. The timeline in the present featured Clem, a mother whose daughter, Erin, has been hospitalized. Erin’s best friend is missing, and Erin’s boyfriend is dead. What is more troubling is that when Erin wakes up, she claims to be someone else.

I enjoyed how well thought out this book was. Everything came together nicely and for several moments had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. This book had me thinking back to the past and how women (and men) were accused of being witches and what befell them.

I enjoyed the tension and feeling of dread which flowed throughout this book. I especially enjoy C.J. Cooke’s writing and how each book is completely different from her previous books. Each book feels fresh, original and riveting.

Knowing that this book was based on a real person made this book even better for me. I admire the amount of research that went into the writing of this book.

Wonderfully written, well thought out, terrifically paced, and hard to put down. I can't wait to read what C.J. Cooke writes next!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me the ebook ARC.

Thrilling, supernatural, witch-haunted history of the Orkneys

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars

Overall, I really enjoyed the thrilling and engaging story telling. It’s a dual-timeline novel set in both 2024 and 1594, based on a historical Scottish story with the names and locations fictionalised. The story switches timelines between the present time/year of 2024 in Glasgow and the parallel historical plot-line takes place in 1594 in Orkney, focusing on Alison Balfour, who is accused of witchcraft.

I really liked the historical descriptions of Orkney, attention to detail, characters and the author's writing style and also describing the brutality of the Scottish witch trials in the storytelling. I recommend The Book of Witching to anyone who loves engaging, thrilling historical stories and books about witches. Perfect for spooky season.

Easily a 5 star read for me. There’s not a single thing that i didn’t like about this book, from start to finish it’s captivating, beautifully written. Alison’s story broke my heart but i love when real life events are used in books to create a new story.
It’s the perfect book for spooky season, i’ll be definitely be checking out more books by C.L Cooke since this is the first book i’ve read by her. I loved the writing style, the attention to the details, the characters, how it has you on edge and flipping the pages as fast as possible to find out what comes next.

Thank you NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Extremely well done! I loved the historical references and the juxtaposition of the two timelines of past and present. I wouldn't call this a light read, but it's PERFECT for fall, anyone who loves that witchy spooky vibe, anyone looking for a soft horror pick, or just a reader who loves high-stakes fast paced atmospheric fantasy. Some of the material, given our current struggles with women's rights and equality, hits a little close to home and could be considered triggering. I mean... let's face it. We've not exactly been treated well throughout history and this book does not sugar coat that position during the 16th century. Regardless, it's a past that needs to be heard and remembered and this book does a great job of blending positive feminism, storytelling, and history, which I wholeheartedly appreciated. This book came for my stars and ate everyone up. 5+.

3.5 STARS.. I loved the mix of historic and modern storylines and how they interconnected. Another good Scottish tale by C.J. Cooke.