#cjcooke

[pavel-nosok]

The Mayfair Witches Will Cast Another Season of Spells

Angels are coming to Evil, and apparently, they’re not not evil. Scott Lang’s Ant-Man autobiography has somehow become a real thing you can read. Plus, Velma gets ready to solve her first-season mystery. And I would have gotten away with it, too, if not for these meddling spoilers! Read more…

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[booksteacupandreviews]

𝙌𝙊𝙏𝘿 - 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙃𝙪𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠? Disclaimer- Many thanks to @berkleypub for eARC via #Netgalley 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝘾. 𝙅. 𝘾𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 This was tense and dark mystery with sci-fi and paranormal element that revolved around Nordic folklore and mystery of missing Stay family.  Plot was original and perfectly written. It was suspenseful from the very beginning.  Writing was amazingly vivid, engaging, dark, and intense. This was written in third person narrative from Liv, Luna, and Sapphire’s perspective; told in three timelines- 1998, 1662, and 2021. All characters were flawed and so very interesting. There were many characters in book with its three timeline but it never confused me, nor I had to keep list. Setting of Scottish Island, Lon Haven, and everything related to it was best part of the book. It was horrifying to read its tragic and terrible history, what happened in 1662, how they tortured and burned women at lighthouse, curse of witches and how it connected all timelines and folklore, Iceland mythology, Nordic Folklore of Wildling, how and why even after centuries people believed in folklore, curse, magic, and superstitions. Everything was revealed gradually keeping readers hooked till the end. It was amazing how author portrayed human being, how people react in fear specially when loved ones are involved, desperation, loneliness, trauma, paranoia, misplaced beliefs, grief, misogyny, and history of witch hunt. Overall, The Lighthouse Witches was dark, intense, atmospheric, chilling and engaging mystery with Gothic vibe and sci-fi and paranormal element made it perfect for Halloween read. I highly recommend this if you love, witch hunt books magic and curses Icelandic myths and Nordic folklore atmospheric Scottish setting Dark and layered plot family drama multiple timeline and POV flawed and interesting characters spooky and chilling story #TheLighthouseWitches #CJCooke #mystery #thriller #paranormal #witches #curses #whitchhunt #horror #spookyread #halloweenread #octoberread #bookforspookymonth #Berkleybooks #penguinrandomhouse #Booksteacupandreviews (at Ahmedabad, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CU-CVRmIi--/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jannianni]

I Know My Name by C.J. Cooke- a 4/5 Star Review!

Washed up on shore with nothing but scrapes and bruises only to discover that the island is as deserted as her memory.  The main character is rescued by 4 other people who happen to be on the vacant island for a writer's retreat.  As she struggles to remember anything about herself, even her own name, she also struggles to survive as not everyone on the island is as helpful as they intially seemed.

The story does get very deep as well as jump around a lot from past to present as well as between characters.  Mostly between Eloise and Lochlan, her husband who is desperate to find her-alive.    Although a time or two it moves into Gerda's, Eloise's grandmother's, narrative.  Once I read past the first two-thirds of the book, then it became very hard to put down as everything begins to come together quickly.  The last 10% or so is very detail heavy and focused on mental illness which I appreciated, however, it is a big change in tone of the story as it begins to feel more like a lecture on mental illness rather than a work of fiction.  On the other hand, it does wrap up the story in a warm manner.

My favorite character was Max.  He seemed to portray the polar opposite of what Eloise's childhood was as well as the "red rope" that tethered Eloise to her own self.  He was so pure, so hopeful, so precious.  

The only thing that I felt took away from the story was the red herring that brought forward a side of Lochlan that wasn't really necessary.  It was almost a red herring and a half as it is in regards to two side characters that I felt were pretty weak.

I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy psychological thrillers.  I would also recommend this book for readers who are fascinated by mental illness.

Conversely, I would not recommend this book for readers who my be sensitive or triggered by: mental illness, drug abuse, sexual abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse to children, rape, violence, self-harm, parental abandonment, cyber invasions of privacy, and infidelity.

Please note: An electronic copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.

[oxfaithxo-blog]

💕Charlie💕