This book is dreamy combination of Nordic folklore, Iceland mythology, witch trials or let’s say it’s Fear Street Part three- 1666 meets German Netflix original series “Dark” with a new form of changeling ( human like creature found in folklore throughout Europe) vibes as wildling.

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke | Goodreads The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke | Goodreads

Liv doesn't know what to make of these eerie tales, but it is clear her new friends whole-heartedly believe every word. Liv dives into her work and actually ends up befriending a few village women, who fill her in on the history and lore of the island itself. Some of the things they tell her are quite disturbing, most notably a witch's curse that summons wildlings, supernatural beings who mimic human children. The Lighthouse Witches is a totally engrossing fast-paced thriller that explores the deeper meaning behind ancient folklore and history. This is not your typical witch tale, as it is multi-layered and transcends time and generations. The story is told in multiple timelines, ultimately catching up to the present day.Happy Halloween! Today is the perfect day to curl up with a spooky read (really, the entire month of October is) and I’ve got a stellar recommendation for getting you into the Halloween spirit. The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke landed on my doorstep towards the end of this month, so I squeezed it in so I could finish it by October 31, and I’m so glad I did, because it’s all about witches, PLUS its got a fantastic Halloween scene in it. And compared to some of the more violent horror novels I’ve read this month, this one isn’t gory, so it’s a more accessible story with wider appeal. The move comes after The Picture Company and Studiocanal reupped their multi-year deal to make a number of films per year. Part of the deal sees the two companies move into TV – they are already working on a series adaptation of the Johnnie To action thriller Drug War, with Jett’s Sebastian Gutierrez attached. Me: It nearly is. My only slight hesitation is that a major part of the storyline comes a bit too close to the Netflix series “Dark.” Maybe it’s true what they say that there aren’t any wholly original ideas anymore. But no matter. Buy the book for your shelves (the UK cover is gorgeous!) or listen to the fantastic multi-narrator 10-hour audiobook. Either way, you’ll love it. She squints at the object. It’s about thirty feet away, moving on the waves. A cloud shifts from the moon and for a moment the light finds the object. It’s a face. A human face, its mouth open in a howl, someone in the water. My thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio for providing a gifted advance listening copy for review via NetGalley. The Lighthouse Witches is now available.

Goodreads The Ghost Woods by C.J. Cooke | Goodreads

Midway I questioned how dark it was going to go and whether I needed to grab a cushion to hide behind, but it made me use my imagination for the darker moments which may have made things worse. The tension grew towards an unexpected and satisfying conclusion. Would I recommend?

Y'all, The Lighthouse Witches gave me exactly what I was looking for. If you read the synopsis, and it sounds incredible to you, have no fear, that is what you are getting; you will not be let down. You learn about the family's time on the island, the disappearance of the girls, and from Luna's present perspective, the aftermath of all of that. I really enjoyed the way the audiobook was done as well, and each viewpoint has a different narrator so there is a full cast. The narrators are Eva Feiler, Lesley Harcourt, Jess Nesling & Joshua Manning, and I have to say I loved every single one of them for their characters. Besides the multiple viewpoints, there are also different time periods which at times was fairly confusing on audio. I'm glad I had an eBook so I could make sure I wasn't missing anything, but I would have loved a physical copy as well. Cooke is such a master at world-building and bringing different settings to life, and I loved getting a taste of this remote Scottish island The Lighthouse Witches is set on. Highly recommend it if you are looking for a moody winter read with plenty of tension! I just felt like I didn’t trust the narrator this whole book, and it made me disconnected and irritated. This writer just isn’t for me, I had a similar issue with the other one I read. When she receives a commission to paint a mural in a historical lighthouse on a remote Scottish Island, she jumps at a chance for a fresh start.