Thank you so much netgalley and publisher for approving me for this ARC.

This was my first read from C.J. Cooke and I enjoyed the story but it wasn't my favorite. I felt it was slow and just wasn't for me. I loved her writing style and will be reading more from her.

Eye catching cover with a witchy title, had me hooked along with a great synopsis. I really enjoyed the transitions of the story from the 1500’s to
current day. The book had me truly guessing. It came together perfectly in the end. This was my first C.J. Cooke novel, I have heard a lot about her books and this one did not disappoint. Totally recommend, This would be a great read anytime, definitely a great spooky season read. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to CJ Cooke for a great story.

Firstly a HUGE thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me to read a copy of this amazing book!

“The Book of Witching” had me hooked from the start. It’s mind-blowing, and the details had me squirming and cringing with the torture techniques used on so-called “witches” in the 1500s. This book was everything and more. We switch between present day, where a mom is searching for answers about why her daughter is burned over almost 70% of her body, and 1594, where another mom is accused of being a witch.

The author masterfully weaves these two timelines together, creating a hauntingly immersive experience. The characters are vividly drawn, and their struggles feel incredibly real. The suspense is palpable, and the historical details are meticulously researched, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative.

The emotional rollercoaster of a mother’s love and desperation transcends time, making this book a powerful read. I found myself deeply invested in both timelines, eagerly turning pages to uncover the next twist. The blend of historical fiction and modern-day mystery is perfectly balanced, making it a truly unforgettable read. Highly recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🙌🏻

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group. A well written story told between a woman accused of witchcraft in the late 1500’s and a present day mother trying to find the truth of what happened to her daughter. There is a solid storyline and compelling characters make for a very good read. 3.5 stars

“This short life is wasted only when one does not use it for good. Even the moon waxes and wanes. Even the earth, immeasurable in her wisdom and brimming with secrets, is yet turning.”

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for for providing me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

All I can say is wow, C.J. Cooke has done it again.

This story jumps between two timelines.
The first in Orkney (a group of islands in Scotland) that follows Alison, a woman in the 1594 accused of witchcraft. This part of the novel happens to be based on a true story.
The other timeline follows Clem, a women in 2024 whose daughter, Erin, has just barely survived a terrible accident in Orkney that claimed the life of her boyfriend and perhaps her best friend as well, who is missing. Clem believed Erin was in Orkney for a camping trip, but when Erin wakes up from her coma claiming to be a different person, Clem begins to question the real reason Erin and her friends ventured to the abandoned and desolate island.

After now reading four of the author’s previous books, believe me when I say that no one writes a dual timeline novel better than C.J. Cooke. Both timelines were so engaging that each chapter felt like a cliffhanger I couldn’t wait to return to.
I don’t want to give to much away to future readers, but the author has such a beautiful way of connecting timelines in flawlessly unexpected ways.

I felt immediately so gripped by this story and found myself unable to put it down. C.J. Cooke builds such vivid and compelling scenes that make you feel like you are in the story yourself. Her books almost always have a historical aspect to them, but with enough social commentary to feel relevant and current to today.

Another 5 star read for me and I cannot wait to see what C.J. Cooke comes up with next ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

read as an arc - absolutely LOVED this book. the dual timelines and rich history throughout kept me absolutely enamored. so hopeful that cliffhanger ending leads to a sequel

I really enjoyed this, and it was hard to put down. It’s told in two different time lines, and both timelines have some INTENSE stuff going on. I also find it fascinating that this is (albeit loosely) written around some true incidences at the time of the stupid witchcraft trials of Europe. All in all, an excellent book and one that I was wholly invested in.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of this book! This will be out in October and it absolutely should be added to your TBR.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. The premise of this one sounded really interesting but unfortunately I couldn't get into this one right away. Overall I still enjoyed the story and the writing and look forward to see what they come up with next.

On the basis of title and cover a lot of people will be interested in this one, and it’s well worth your time if you like this type of thing. Clem’s nineteen year old daughter, Erin (the best name EVAH!) is found unconscious and injured after a hiking trip with her boyfriend and her best friend in the Orkney Islands. Her boyfriend died and her friend is missing. When Erin wakes she doesn’t seem to recognize her mother and she claims her name is Nyx.

Also here, the story of a 16th century woman accused of witchcraft.

The stories, told in dual timelines, got right down to it. This is not one of those dreamy fantasy books that everyone is so enamored with nowadays (and that I’m completely uninterested in) but a gritty story with real stakes. I enjoyed it quite a bit and recommend it.

4 stars

C.J. Cooke really got my art with this one. All her Cooke’s books have been great, but this was exceptional. I love the blend of historical mystery and some supernatural elements. It was a hard book to put down.

More and more books like this, please! I’m generally a slow reader but was compelled to stay up until three in the morning to finish this. Knowing the tragedy of the real Alison Balfour from the sixteenth century in part thanks to the stories shared by the author on Instagram made this even more enjoyable but in a somber way. I finished the book feeling some heaviness for Alison and so many other women who met a similar unfair fate—and I say that in a complimentary way as I think it’s important history. Dual timelines, supernatural elements, a mysterious death or perhaps murder combine for an excellent story. This is the second book I’ve read from Cooke (the first being The Lighthouse Witches) and will read more this summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I was especially eager for the opportunity to read this one early and have shared my excitement about it in a large social media group dedicated to Appalachian witchcraft so that other members can preorder or put it on their radar.

"C.J. Cooke's 'The Book of Witching' is a riveting blend of historical mystery and supernatural chills, set against the stark backdrop of the Orkney Islands. The novel follows Clem, a devoted mother plunged into a nightmare when her daughter Erin, after a tragic hiking accident, wakes with no memory of her past and claims to be someone named Nyx. As Clem navigates a labyrinth of ancient curses and familial secrets, the story toggles between her desperate search and the tragic tale of Alyson Balfour, a woman ensnared by the witch trials of the 16th century. Cooke weaves a tight, atmospheric narrative that bridges centuries, blending folklore with raw human emotion. Though occasionally overshadowed by its ambitious dual timelines, this novel is a compelling read, earning a solid four stars for its hauntingly beautiful prose and intricate plotting."

A good read. I was not overly entertained by this book, but there was not really anything wrong with it either.

The history repeats itself! Another fantasy thriller blending folklore and feminism from C. J. Cooke that connects different timelines and challenges our grey cells with its mind-bending execution and fast-paced storyline filled with twisty revelations. This book has earned my five blazing stars for its perfect blend of horror, mystery, and historical fantasy!

I recently read "A Haunting in the Arctic" by this author, which blew my mind nearly a year ago. In my opinion, "The Book of Witching" is even more compelling. Based on true events that occurred in 16th century Orkney, Scotland, it tells the story of seventy-two women who were executed during the North Berwick witch trials. The tale begins with Alyson (or Alison) Balfour, who was accused of assisting a man in a plot to kill his brother. Despite the man being acquitted, she was executed in 1594 at Gallow Ha’ in Kirkwall, Orkney.

The book opens in the present day at Fynhallow, Isle of Gunn, Orkney, where a park ranger finds a teenage girl covered in blood with a burned body, still alive, lying on the ground.

Clem, a fifty-year-old divorced mother, works two jobs to care for her teenage daughter Erin, who recently went on a hiking trip with friends and her baby granddaughter Freya.

When Clem gets a horrifying phone call informing her that Erin is hospitalized and in a medically induced coma in Orkney, she rushes to find out what’s going on. She discovers that Erin is unconscious, with several fingers amputated and suffering from serious burn marks. Erin's boyfriend Arlo, who was on the trip with her, is found dead with his body burned and hands bound. Her best friend Senna is missing. The police start an investigation and, based on text messages, suspect Erin might be responsible for Arlo's death and possibly harmed Senna, who has not contacted her parents.

Strangely, when Erin wakes from the coma, she doesn’t recognize her parents and denies her name, insisting on being called “Nyx.” What happened to her on the Orkney Islands? What was the black book with ugly pages that Clem saw in the restroom, which disappeared before her eyes? Who was the woman burning at the stake that appeared and vanished?

We also get to read Alison Balfour's POV, where she is asked to make a charm for an earl’s bastard brother who wants to replace him using powerful magic. Even though she refused, she was still put on trial, tortured for a crime she didn’t commit, and declared a witch.

What connects Erin and Alison? A charm, a powerful curse, or the "Book of Witches"? Continue reading to find out!

Overall, this book is pure addiction! I couldn’t put it down. Absolutely devoured, thrilled, and enjoyed it! Orkney folklore, the bridge between two timelines, smart twists, historical facts, and the pulsing pace make this book a reader's dream come true! C.J. Cooke is one of my auto-approved, brilliant authors who can blend history and folklore into perfect horror fantasy plotlines!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.