That book SISTERS was better, no? Well, I’m happy enough to live in a world where we can get more & more of this.

am wholeheartedly a fan of C.J. Cooke after reading this book.

What could easily have been just another book about witches and how horribly women were treated in the distant past (and sometimes even still) was instead refreshing and original.

There are numerous twists in this book and readers will become invested in the lives of the main characters.

The writing itself is fantastic and I was brought to tears more than once while reading.

I rate this book as 5+ out of 5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I will be posting more about this book on my blog at

http://Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com

Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram at

http://www.instagram.com/Amiesbookrev...

Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy of this book.

The story is a bit all over the place in the beginning, but is deeply built on witches, their persecution, what people do in the face of unknown and how that creates a different reality.

A mom of three runs aways from her life, with her three daughters in tow to an island in Scotland. To do a job, but also to hide from her own reality..

There's a lot of old history in the place, one closely tied to witches. They were persecuted, and burned there. And it's believed they cursed the island and their inhabitants. The locals believe, that a wilding sent by a fae shows up, and the next day your kid will disappear, so they kill these wildlings in order to save themselves.

The story is told in a couple of different perspectives and timelines. And we eventually learn the truth about the wildlings, the magic surrounding the place, and all the characters and their motivations. It was a pretty good read, engaging and magical. A multidimensional story with lyrical and atmospheric writing. Perfect for the spooky season, for those that like paranormal-light.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

The Lighthouse Witches is an atmospheric and gothic mystery set in The Black Isle, Scotland. Single mother Liv moves to the remote Scottish island with her three daughters. She is tasked with painting a mural in an old lighthouse. The cave beneath the lighthouse was once used as a prison for women who were accused of witchcraft. According to the townspeople, witches have cursed the island, which has led to the disappearance many local children and the subsequent arrival of wildlings—evil supernatural beings who take on the physical form of the missing children.

I was probably the most interested in the supernatural aspect of this story. Are witches real? Do they have any real powers? Is the curse real? Are the children actually being replaced by wildlings? Are the wildlings evil supernatural beings or are they just innocent children? What are the markings on them and how did they come about? I had a fun time figuring out the answers to these questions.

The story is told through multiple POVs, during three timelines: 1998, 2021, and 1662. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators each did an incredible job bringing this story to life. It was fairly easy to keep track of the three different timelines. The atmosphere is eerie and the whole wildlings thing was incredibly creepy.

I would argue that the build up of the mystery is the best part of the story. I was very invested in the characters and I wanted to know how their story would end. The ending is probably the book's weakest point. It's a satisfying ending for the characters involved, but the supernatural aspect and certain coincidences are kind of left open to the reader's interpretation. It kind of felt like a cop out? The relationships and the main conflicts are both resolved, but there are small things that are still nagging at me. And the ending happened so quickly that it didn't leave that strong of an impact on me, in comparison to the excellent build up.

Despite the lackluster ending, I did enjoy reading this book. If you're looking for creepy and atmospheric book with witches, then I recommend it.

I’m going to be honest–I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book. I don’t typically gravitate towards stories centering around magic or witches, so I was hesitant. My worries were completely unfounded because THE LIGHTHOUSE WITCHES was a pleasant surprise!

Told in dual timelines, the story centers around two girls who go missing on a secluded Scottish Island. The girls lived in a lighthouse rumored to be a prison for women accused of witchcraft in the 1600s. Twenty years later one of the sisters mysteriously returns but hasn’t aged since the day she went missing.

At its heart, this is a solid mystery with historical and magical elements. It felt rooted in reality with Scottish witchcraft folklore woven into the story which worked well for me. The lighthouse island setting made for an incredibly atmospheric read and I loved the exploration of mother-daughter relationships.

Whether you wholeheartedly embrace witchy reads or just want to dabble with a bit of magic, be sure to pick up THE LIGHTHOUSE witches. Perfect for Halloween weekend!

RATING: 4/5 stars
Available Now!

A big thank you to Berkley books and NetGalley for an electronic copy of this book and for including me on the blog tour.

I tried really hard to get into this book, but gave up and didn't finish at 50%.

The setting in Scotland is fantastic and atmospheric as all heck, but there were two different timelines and too many points-of-view for me to keep track of. I kept getting confused and bored because the plot didn't move itself forward very well and I could not keep the characters straight.

You might enjoy this more if you like folklore retellings and don't mind a slow slow moving plot.

This might be in the running for my favorite book of the year. It was haunting and atmospheric, and I had such a hars time putting it down. I couldn't wait ti fond out if Clover and the other disappearing children were actually wildlings, and my heart broke when the truth was revealed. I was thinking about this one long after I finished reading, which doesn't happen often for me. I really, really loved this novel.

This is the first C.J. Cooke book I've read but it will definitely not be the last!

Single mother Liv runs away from a recent realization when she relocates her family to a remote Scottish island. Painting a mural inside a dilapidated lighthouse may not be what she believes is the ideal artist's commission but the location will allow her ample quality time with her three daughters. Told in time jumps with history of both the lighthouse and the witch trials of the British Isles and Scotland, this book kept me wondering and questioning what in the world was going on--but in the best way. Creepy, spooky, and a little horror, this is the perfect story to cuddle up with on a cold autumn night.

Creepy. Chilling. A family drama told in three voices and seperated by decades.
Liv drags her three daughters to a remote Scottish island - in the middle of the night. The owner of The Longing has commissioned a mural - a decommissioned lighthouse to become a writing studio. With the help of a local plasterer, Liv gets started. And learns the history of their new home.
Saffy is an angry teenager - misunderstood, her mother doesn't swem to care. But then Brodie starts talking to her.
In 2021, Luna tells us about her devastating loss - her mother and sisters disappearing, never to be found. Until she receives a phone call - Clover has been found.
Engaging. Family mystery drama. Great writing - you can feel the Scottish weather. History. Well done.

3.5 stars

The Lighthouse Witches takes place in two different timelines. The first one is 1998 and the second one is present-day 2021.
1998 is the mother Liv who has taken her daughters to a secluded Scottish Island to paint a lighthouse and to escape from the problem she is currently facing. The island isn't exactly what Liv thought it would be though, and the lighthouse is surrounded by rumors of what happened to the town's witches in the past. With people still thinking it's haunted and that the curse is still present from what the witches did all those years ago Liv is in a rather interesting position. With three daughters who are all in school and trying to make friends, while also having to have moved once again they are all facing their own struggles. The oldest is the one that is struggling the most as she is a teenager. She runs away and ends up going missing as well as the youngest going missing as well. The town suspects it is witches and by the end of it, all Liv goes missing as well leaving her middle daughter Luna behind.

2021 is Luna who is Livs daughter. She has never stopped looking for her mom and sisters and one night mysteriously gets a call from a hospital saying they have her little sister she is in for the surprise of her life. Her sister is not at all what she thought she would be and Luna ends up with far more questions than answered. With her sister constantly asking to go back to the Scottish island Luna eventually agrees where things get even stranger. But questions finally get answered and the mystery of the town's witches is finally solved.

Overall I enjoyed reading this book. It ended up going in a different direction than I was expecting it to. I still found it enjoyable, was just not thinking that's what it would be. It was easy to keep track of the time changes and it did help to figure out the entire story to go from time period to time period as it did. We learn why Liv did what she did as well as the old tales that the town's people believed, while also seeing how Luna was dealing with her life as an orphan basically and how what happened on the island changed her forever. We also see Luna deal with suddenly having a sister back who is not what she thought she would be and is acting stranger than ever.
Without all of the backstory from Liv, we wouldn't be able to piece everything together in the present day time period with Luna. It was a little confusing at times because of how everything was happening, but I think part of that was because I wasn't expecting the final part of it all. I was going a completely other direction in my mind, but the ending that did happen is the one that made the most sense and I liked it.

This was an interesting read and one that I do think a lot of people will enjoy.

Thanks to @berkleypub and @netgalley for my #gifted copy!

Do you ever have days where you can’t decide what sounds good? That was me yesterday so I just made a mini charcuterie plate for lunch 🤣 I enjoyed it with an ice cold Topo Chico and finished The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke.

Things I liked:
• The format - multi-POV and dual timelines are my catnip and Cooke used them fabulously.
• Goldilocks chapters - not super short or excessively long…just right
• Characters - Liv, Saffy, Luna, and Clover were interesting and I loved the realistic family dynamic. I also adored Finn
• Ending - I didn’t figure it out until Cooke wanted me to and it was chefs kiss
• Witchy vibes - LOVED this and it was perfect for October. It was written in a mature way that didn’t come across too dark.
• Setting - Books set in Scotland are another favorite of mine because the atmosphere is incredible!

Things I didn’t like:
• Pacing - the book started off slow IMO. However, this could have just been my issue because I was reading 3 other books
• Ending - I would have liked a little more at the end. I think editing down some of the middle to give more to the end would have worked better for me.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one! It was a great October read and I recommend if you’re looking for a fantastic setting and story different from other books out right now.

C.J. Cooke was born in Belfast and now makes her home in Glasgow. Her previous books are "The Nesting", "The Blame Game" and "I Know My Name". This new release is the fiction SPOTM f(Staff Pick of the Month) for October. The story is set on a small island off the coast of Scotland in both 1998 and 2021, with a small bit set in the 1600's. In 1998 we meet single mother Liv and her three daughters, Saffy (16), Luna (10) and Clover (7). Liv has taken a commission to paint the inside of a lighthouse with a mural and they have traveled to the remote island with plans to stay for a month. The island people have numerous stories of witches and wildings (supernatural children that look like their own children and are sent to end bloodlines). When Saffy and then Clover go missing, Liv is frantic and seems willing to try anything to get their safe return. In 2021 Luna is an adult now and expecting her first child. When her sisters and mom went missing she was raised in foster care, but has looked for them for years. When she is informed that that Clover has turned up on the island she heads there to reunite with her, but is shocked at what she finds. This is a fun read for anyone looking for something a little 'spooky' this Halloween season.

Not particularly my cup of tea, but I still finished it. I have patrons that will definitely eat it up from beginning to end, so I'll be purchasing several copies for the library. Thank you!

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke paints a chilling and atmospheric Scottish gothic that follows the lives of a mother and her three daughters across different decades.

1998: Liv is an artist hired to paint a mural inside a lighthouse on a small island off the coast of Scotland. She’s moves there with her daughters (Sapphire, Luna, and Clover). However, the mural she's been commissioned to paint includes strange symbols and she swears she keeps catching glimpses of a child in the lighthouse.

2021: After Luna's sister has been missing for 20 years, she mysteriously reappears—only she’s unaged. Luna’s baffled, so she tries to get to the bottom of the mystery and find out if this girl truly is her sister or if some supernatural being is trying to trick her.

First of all, I really love the author really plays into the story’s coastal setting and sheds light on Scotland’s bloody history of witch hunts. I’m so used to American gothics set in haunted houses that I find a cursed lighthouse is a refreshing change of scenery

Also, as a fair warning, this is not a straightforward story. It’s a tad confusing at first and hops between different characters and timelines. However, the structure thematically reflects the idea that time is not linear and history and events echo across all of time. It’s twisty and turvy, but gradually the puzzle pieces fall into place with a surprise reveal that shocked me.

Overall, The Lighthouse Witches is a witchy mystery that kept me guessing throughout, and I recommend this book if you’re looking for an unusual haunt!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Scottish author C.J. Cooke brings us a tale of gothic horror, set against the backdrop of a spooky lighthouse on the Scottish islands. “The Lighthouse Witches” is creepy, magical and immersive, full of folklore and urban legends.
Single mother Olivia is looking for an oppourtunity to flee from her life, and when she is commissioned to paint a mural on the wall of a lighthouse in Scotland, she immediately packs up her three daughters and makes the trek in the middle of the night. But when two of her daughters vanish, Olivia is frantic. Townspeople tell her stories of the caves that lie underneath the lighthouse, where women labeled witches were held before being burned at the stake. Rumour has it these women placed a curse on the town- ensuring that children from the town would continue to disappear, leaving wildlings in their place, and the only way to abolish these shape-shifting demons is for their parent to kill them. Twenty two years later, Luna is the only sibling who survived, having been taken into foster care after her mother disappeared. Luna is desperate to avoid thinking about her past- until a young girl is found wandering who claims to be Clover, Luna’s sister who disappeared twenty-two years ago.
Unfamiliar with author C.J Cooke, “The Lighthouse Witches” caught my eye solely because of the Scottish setting and folklore, and the “witchy” component, and Cooke delivered on both in spades.
“Witches” is narrated in two time periods (1998 when the family moves to the Scottish lighthouse and 2021 when Luna returns) by both Olivia and Luna (with the eldest sister, Sapphire, taking over some narration in the 1998 storyline). Each section and narrator is clearly labeled, and the overlapping plot lines flow well and easily into one another. There is also a historical grimoire found on the island that is read by Sapphire, and covers the historical component of the island itself.
Initially, the novel had so many stories to tell that each chapter seemed to have enough to substantiate its own story. However, as the novel continues, and the components begin to connect with each other, and the plot merges into the intriguing and page-turning tale I expected.
“The Lighthouse Witches” has an Alice Hoffman element to it, which fans of “Practical Magic” will flock to, and the Scottish backdrop will have “Outlander” fans daydreaming of brocks and cairns (the city of Inverness makes an appearance). Both Olivia and Sapphire start out as difficult characters to like, but as their backstories are unveiled, it was impossible not to bond with them. All of the women in this story are completely charming and likable, regardless of their flaws. The heart-warming ending provides a delightful conclusion to the plotline. I was pleasantly surprised by Cooke’s writing skill and prowess, and will definitely have to check out more of her work!

The perfect thriller for spooky season! The Lighthouse Witches has, well, witches, ties to the witch trials in 1600s Scotland, and cursed magic. I was up late reading this one, worried about the potential nightmares involving cursed children, but I couldn't put it down. It took me a few chapter to get into it, but once I was sucked in, I read it in less than 24 hours. Between the alternating character perspectives and timelines, I was piecing together how this story could be possible until the very end. Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book as a physical arc, and it got me out of 3 week-long reading slump. I couldn’t stop thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading. The multi-POV and different years worked together really well to lead the reader towards different conclusions and possibilities about where the story is going. It easily could have felt confusing but instead you get a really harmonious, but deeply haunting story about small isolated villages and people, and family dynamics. Highly interested in reading more from this author now.

DNF @ 50%

Oh my goodness, did I try to read this book. I tried reading this book so many times I've lost count. I tried both reading the ebook and then I bought the audio to try to get through it. There is a lot of break down so here are some times I liked and some things I didn't:

Liked:
- The atmosphere is great. The story takes place in Scotland and the audiobook really embraces that.
- The characters were likable and enjoyable to read about

Disliked:
- The book had too many things going on. In the book you're following 2 POVs from the past 1 from the present. There is also a book you're reading from in one of the POVs which is also almost like its own POV too. Overall, it was just too much. I couldn't keep them all straight and it made the reading experience confusing and frustrating.
- The book didn't really have a strong plot or pull from the start. It was unclear where exactly the book was going and with so many POVs, the plot was hard to follow.
- The story was forgettable. I will admit it took me a bit to write the review after I DNFed and I almost forgot I had read this one. Besides the atmosphere/setting, the book was forgettable.

To sum up my thoughts, even though I didn't love this one, I still think there is an audience for this book. People who love lots of details in their books about the characters and setting may enjoy the writing and format of this book. People who are intrigued by the witchy premise will most likely enjoy those elements in the book. People who are intrigued by the Scotland setting will enjoy reading about it in this book.

Lastly, my best recommendation for how to read this book is with book the audiobook and the book (physical or ebook). I audiobook really brings the story to life with the different narrators, but the changing character and timeline may get confusing if you are just listening on its own. Therefore, I think you should follow along as you listen.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for an e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This one is a perfect read for October, spooky settings, eerie vibes and TONS of folklore! Definitely recommend picking it up.

In 1998, single mother Liv is hired to paint a mural in a decommissioned lighthouse in Scotland. She sees it as a new start with her three daughters Sapphire, Luna, and Clover. The cave beneath the lighthouse once held witches condemned to death, and there is a local legend of wildlings mimicking the children that had gone missing. Then the unthinkable happens and two of her daughters disappear. Twenty-two years later, Luna had been searching for her missing mother and sisters when her younger sister Clover is found. The thing is, Clover was found in Scotland at the exact same age she was when she went missing.

The Lighthouse Witches is fantastic and hooked me in from the beginning. Liv had a lot of difficulties in her life before accepting the job in Scotland, fifteen year old Sapphire was desperate to be liked and accepted, ten-year-old Luna felt invisible and seven-year-old Clover had no idea what was happening. The local legends are frightening, especially with stories throughout the centuries of missing children, calamities befalling the town, and the curse placed upon the town by the witches that had been killed there in the 1600s as part of the Witch Hunts spurred on by King James. The lighthouse is older and decrepit, and the mural Liv is asked to paint is one of runes. The spooky place hadn’t been kept up, and the locals tended to band together, keeping the newcomers at bay.

In this book are several threads: Liv in 1998, Sapphire in 1998, and Luna in 2021. Dovetailed along with this are sections from a grimoire that Sapphire found in the lighthouse that detailed what had happened during the witch hunts that set off the curse in the town. The stories progress with a greater and spookier outlook, especially when some of the past tales seem to be happening again in 2021. We don’t know why Clover is still seven years old and where she had been for twenty-two years, and Clover can’t explain some of her bizarre behavior when Luna sees her. The two go back to the lighthouse, knowing that they have to be there, and it’s only toward the end that we find out why everything had happened. It’s an enthralling story, one that had me racing through the pages to see what would happen next. The different voices and the timelines are richly done, and I enjoyed every moment reading this.