I love a good witch story and there is certainly no shortage of them in October. I liked the idea of The Lighthouse Witches- people disappearing and then showing up years later, completely unchanged? That’s the makings of a great supernatural love story. However, Cooke doesn’t try to lean into the paranormal of it all; much of the book attempts to be based in reality, especially with the history of the witches, that the reality and strange don’t mesh very well by the end

Liv is a single mother with three young daughters. In the middle of the night, Liv packs up her kids and their meager belongings to journey from England to Scotland. An artist, Liv has been hired by a mysterious man to paint an even more mysterious mural in his decrepit lighthouse.

The island of Lòn Haven is small, where everyone is involved in everyone else’s business. Mysterious- and creepy- happenings lead Liv into the arms of Isla, who divulges all sorts of folklore related to the witches that were executed on Lòn Haven centuries ago. At they’re execution the witches cursed the islanders, and wildlings became a common problem; exact copies of locals’ missing children.

More than 20 years later, Luna is the only remaining member of her family. Her mother, and her sisters, Saffy and Clover, are missing. Until she gets a call. Her sister Clover has been found, but she’s still a young child.

Luna is forced to face her past and the possibility that her sister is not who she appears to be. And maybe, just maybe, that the folklore of wildlings us more true than her family originally thought.

What I like most about the book is that the story is told nonlinearly and with multiple points of view. Liv is telling the story from 1998, along with her daughter Sapphire, while Luna is in the present, looking back and recounting current events on 2021. There are also brief interludes from a book Saffy has found in the lighthouse: the grimoire of one Patrick Roberts, from the age of the witch trials. All the different perspectives lend the book a certain air of mystery, but it also lends to some painful miscommunication. If this family just talked to each other this book would be a short story instead of a 300+ pages.

The characters are okay, but they were all very forgettable. I was having a problem keeping them all straight, just because they were all one dimensional. Even the side characters seemed to be there more for convenience than to add to the story, especially Cassie and Finn. I feel like they could have easily been given larger roles, but I understand that Cooke probably wanted this o be a story about one family. However, if that’s the case, why not limit the side characters? There seemed to be just as many side characters, if not more, than there were family members.

Sadly, I think my favorite parts of the book were the snippets of the grimoire. That book alone gave more insight to the story- and the ending- thanCooke maybe anticipated. She doesn’t change names, so is it just a coincidence that Liv is painting a mural for Patrick Roberts and Saffy is reading a biography about Patrick Roberts from the witch trials? One she found in Patrick Roberts’ home no less. How did that not send alarm bells ringing for any character?!

As for the ties between the witches and the wildlings, it got too magical. I get this is a book about witches and magic, but the whole thing about the witch trials was that there weren’t really any witches; they were innocent women who were murdered. Despite this touch of reality Cooke was attempting to touch on, reality and the magic didn’t go hand in hand well for me. I wanted an ending, an explanation, grounded in reality. It can seem magical, but I wanted a realistic explanation. In real life, science is more likely to explain things than magic.

The ending was satisfying, much more than the story was. All of the stories are resolved, which feels a little too easy, but I know I’d be complaining if there was nothing resolved, or, even worse, just a couple of things. Cooke does attempt to wrap things up nicely, even if the story was bumpy. The mystery of it all kept me reading and the desire to have answers is really the only thing that kept me interested, but I don’t think I’ll remember much about this book in a month’s time.

I went into this book blindly, only knowing it would be about witches. Once I started reading this, I couldn’t put it down!

It was descriptive and atmospheric. There was so much intrigue, and I couldn’t guess what was going to happen. The ending was a twist, and I loved it!

The characters were all well written; I’d thought having kids in the story would make me like it less, but they were great too!

The story itself was intriguing and fast-paced, with a shocking (and sad) plot twist in the end.

This is the second witchy book I've read recently based on a mention on another book podcast (this was on the October most anticipated books episode from Professional booknerds even though they had a witchy books episode two prior.

The Lighthouse Witches takes place on an island off the west coast of Scotland (for some reason it's never called the Hebrides in this book.) A mother moves there to paint a mural inside a lighthouse and uproots her daughters to do so, but then they disappear. The island has a long sordid history including witchhunts and missing children, and the author has used a lot from Scottish folklore and history.

Most people know I'm a sucker for a novel set on a cold weather island and what is better for spooktober than a witchy dreary read?

Rating 4.5

A great read filled with all the magic and creep you need for October!

Liv and her 3 daughters (Sapphire, Luna and Clover) travel to a small island in Scotland so Liv can complete a commission. When they arrive everything seems fine… until it's not. In the end, only Luna makes it off the island. Twenty years later one of the missing sisters is found… but she hasn’t aged a bit.

This one was FULL of creepy moments. I loved the multiple POVs and the time jumps. The writing and atmosphere were fantastic. The ending was well done, and tied everything up nicely.

I enjoyed this book. It's not my typical read, I don't read much paranormal, but I do enjoy it. The mystery was great, and I even enjoy the 3 different timelines. Perfect for spooky season.

This was just the right amount of spooky and had a decently satisfying ending/explanation.

Luna is 32 years old. Her mother and two sisters disappeared in 1998 when they were living on a small Scottish island and she has been searching for them ever since. One day, she gets a call that her sister Clover has shown up. But when Luna goes to meet her, Clover is 7 years old. The same age she was when she disappeared.

This book alternated between multiple timelines and narrators, but each chapter was clearly labeled so it was easy to follow. At first, it alternated between Liv, the mother, in 1998 and Luna, the daughter in 2021. Then Luna’s older sister Saffy was brought in and even a few chapters from the owner of the lighthouse. I definitely was more into the chapters from the past because I wanted to know how and why the girls disappeared, but the present is intriguing too. Child Clover definitely gave me the creeps.

Lon Haven, the Scottish Island, has a history of wildlings, a lore of children being stolen and replaced with fairies in their bodies. So when the first of the daughters goes missing, the town is immediately suspicious and warns Luna about the history of the island.

I loved how old folk lore was brought into this story. I’ve always found Nordic folk lore fascinating and the combination of the Scottish tales and the Icelandic tales was what brought me to this book in the first place. This book was just creepy enough that I couldn’t put it down once I hit about 40%, but wasn’t so creepy that I was worried I’d have nightmares.

While the ending was satisfying, I was left with a few unanswered questions. You will have to suspend your belief of reality. This isn’t a book where there is a true real world explanation. There is some magic involved. But I think this time of year, that’s a good enough explanation.

I haven’t read a magical realism mystery in a very long time and I’m glad that this was the one I picked up. Take the book for what it is and you will not be able to put it down. I highly recommend this to people who want to read something for spooky season but don’t want to be left with nightmares. I do feel like I need someone else to read this so I can discuss it though!

This was the perfect mix of paranormal and atmospheric. I loved the way the story went back to 1998 and then forward to 2021 in order to tell what happened to Luna's sisters and mother, who disappeared. The writing was solid, and I couldn't stop turning pages, because I was so invested in the story. I loved the witchcraft history that was interwoven into the story through a book that was being read by one of the sisters. Spooky, intriguing, and an ending that was great!

**4.5-stars**

After the death of her loving husband, Liv has it rough trying to care for herself and her three daughters. It's generally difficult being a single parent, but Liv is really feeling the strain on her resources. 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.

Moving the girls there is a big decision, but unfortunately, she really has no other choice. Boarding the ferry on the day of their move, Liv, Saffy, Luna and Clover say goodbye to their old life. Once at the lighthouse and adjacent bothy, which will be their home, they realize it's a wee bit more dilapidated than they anticipated. Regardless, it's an exceptional location and they quickly settle in.

Saffy, as the oldest, definitely has the most difficult time with the move. You know how teens can be. As a result, she begins to distance herself from her Mom and sisters. 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.

Liv doesn't know what to make these eerie tales, but it is clear her new friends whole-heartedly believe every word. When mysterious things begin to happen to Liv and her girls, however, she starts to believe there may be some credence to the lore. After two of her daughters go missing, Liv panics and is willing to do whatever it takes, turn to whoever she must, in order to get them back.

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. The atmosphere is freaking fantastic. Everything about the island, the lighthouse, the local history and lore, it is perfect for Spooky Season reading!

The narrative follows three different perspectives, over two timelines: Liv, Saffy and Luna, with past and present perspectives. 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.

My one small issue with this story was that I did find it hard to differentiate between the perspectives in the beginning. I was still learning everyone's name and their position in the family, so it was hard to keep it all straight at first.

Luckily, the chapters were headed with the person's name who you were following and the year, but I did have to page back quite a few times to figure out where I was and who I was reading from. Eventually though, I was able to settle into it and really enjoyed my time reading this story. There are some genuinely creepy moments and some quite interesting supernatural twists.

I found the entire thing to be original and chilling. It definitely kept me up at night. The atmosphere and lore of the town were my two favorite aspects, but really there is so much to enjoy in this story!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. After this and The Nesting, I think it is fair to say, I will pick up anything C.J. Cooke releases!!

THE LIGHTHOUSE WITCHES is a dark and haunting gothic mystery of witches and witchcraft that spans centuries. 1998 — Liv moves herself and her 3 children to a remote island where she is tasked with painting a mural in an old lighthouse. Things go downhill rather quickly when 2 of her children go missing. 2021 — the remaining child gets a phone call that her sister has been found alive, yet said sister doesn’t look a day over the age at which she disappeared. Both mysteries tie back to events that transpired a century earlier, where witches were locked up and hunted, and the witches vowed curses and created wildlings to avenge their deaths.

What a delightfully dark gem this turned out to be. Dark fantasy with touches of horror, and strong message of love and family that runs throughout. The world that Cooke created was so atmospheric and rich, the salty chill of the sea breeze and the dampness of the lighthouse just leap off the page. I absolutely loved the small town feel and the accompanying politics and stories that go along with small towns. Superstition and fear are still at the heart of this town, and the implications from that centuries-old witch-hunt still plague the town in present day. The world-building in this book was hands-down my favorite aspect, and this is definitely a book I’ll be rereading again in the future. Many times.

Bottom line — a dark and mysterious tale of witches, witchcraft, legends, and folklore that will appeal to lovers of dark fantasy and horror alike. 5 stars, and I can’t wait to discover more of Cooke’s books.


*eARC received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.

“Forgiveness is a kind of time travel, only better. Because it sutures the wounds of the past with the wisdom of the present, at the same moment as it promises a better future.”

THE LIGHTHOUSE WITCHES
Thank you, C.J. Cooke, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book!

I will need to go back and reread The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke. It is an absolute crime that this happened to be the book that I had to read while moving and a staff retreat. On a normal day, I would have probably finished this book in one sitting. Because I was so busy, I had to read a chapter here and there. Olivia has three girls, Sapphire, Luna, and Clover. Olivia packs up her girls in the middle of the night to head to Lon Haven in Scotland for a job to paint a mural in an old abandoned lighthouse. Beneath the lighthouse, there is a prison that kept women accused as witches and burnt at the stake in the 1660s. Fast forward to the present day, Luna is the only one in her family left. Something happened 23 years ago and her sisters and mom disappeared. Now she is pregnant with her first child when she gets a phone call that Clover has been found. There is only one problem, Clover hasn’t aged a day. How is that possible? And it begs the question, what happened all those years ago?

This book is a beautiful mesh of history, folklore, and time travel with a stunning cast of characters. I am VERY picky when it comes to shifts in timelines and points of view, and I can say C.J. Cooke has done this seamlessly! Every scene transitions perfectly and it helped the pace move beautifully. I really felt for Olivia. Her husband was killed, and she starts having pain. It is seriously my worst nightmare having my kids grow up without their parents. I could feel her desperation and agony over this thought. I feel many could relate to Sapphire as well. She is a teen stripped from everything and everyone she knows. So some people may think her annoying, but I saw her anxiousness and desperation for a sense of normalcy. Then there is Finn. I LOVED him and Olivia’s conversations. Their chemistry is instantaneous.

Then there is the grimoire. It is a document that Sapphire finds that discusses the story of the 12 women who were accused and executed for witchcraft. I love how it discusses the terminology of a witch. Witch is a word that the world used to demean and subjugate women. It is a word that was meant to instill fear in society and women paid the price. Overall, this book is perfect for this season! I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Was questioning my enjoyment when the novel started at a slow pace, but it started to rack up! All I know is that C.J. Cooke is very talented at writing gothic settings and the atmosphere alone should be enough to get you to pick up this book!

3.5 Stars

This was a weird one. We get four perspectives in three different time periods and I'm impressed by how well I was always able to tell who was speaking, even if I started in the middle of a chapter. The character work here was very well done. I quite enjoyed seeing the different perspectives we got.

The mystery of this was a little easy to guess from the time we see the sister reappear. I went "I bet xyz is why this is happening" and I was completely right. But I did enjoy seeing everything play out and the characters figuring it out to. There's a think Luna does toward the end of the book and I thought it was going to go hugely one way and it went a different direction and I was happy to see that surprise.

Overall, I think the plot did meander a bit and I'd have liked to see a bit more action, but I still enjoyed it. The mythos behind everything is pretty cool. I really like the idea behind it. I would definitely consider picking up more from this author.

Cover 2; characters 5; plot 4; pace 3; writing 4; enjoyment 3.

The Lighthouse Witches was tense and dark mystery with sci-fi and paranormal element that revolved around Nordic folklore and mystery of missing Stay family. The story was about folklore, myth, superstitions, history of witch hunt, family drama, trauma, misplaced beliefs, guilt, regrets, and forgiveness.

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. Setting of Scottish island, Lon Haven, was atmospheric and my favorite part of the book among other aspects.

Plot was original and perfectly written. That synopsis is well written but I recommend to go into book without knowing much. It started with character introduction, how Liv (Olive) Stay got commission to paint mural in hundered years old lighthouse and dragged her three daughters- Sapphire (15), Luna( 9) , Clover( 7)- over to spooky, remote island with its terrible history; twenty years later with present chapters from Luna’s perspective telling about her trauma of her missing family, not remembering what exactly happened to her and her family, and how all of sudden Luna got call from police about finding her youngest sister, Clover, that forced confront her past and revisit place she avoided all her life.

It was suspenseful from the very beginning. I was curious to know why Liv dragged her daughters to a place and job she didn’t know much about, what happened to whole family, how they went missing, were Luna’s memory of her mother trying to hurt her was true, did Liv truly abandoned her, how Clover was found suddenly, why twenty years later she was still a child of same age she went missing, and what narrative from 1662 has to do with all that. It was fascinating to get answers to all questions I had as story progressed.

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. It was easy to remember who was who and from which timeline. Most were unlikable and still some made me feel sad for them even though they did terrible things. Luna,and Liv were my most favorite characters.

As mother, I could feel for Liv. It was easy to empathize with her throughout the book. I could see how hard it might be for her as single mother of three kids (one of whom was headstrong and literally hated her), how difficult it must be provide for her daughters with no support or permanent home. As I got to know why she dragged her daughters to a remote island, I wanted to shake her hard and at the same time hug her and could understand why she felt escape and distraction was best path. I was happy for her when she finally met someone who loved her and she could share that secret with him, but of course it has to be short lived. It was tragic, devastating and sad to see her going through missing daughters that muddled her mind and everything that happened. I admired her conscience, her gut feeling, and believing in it. She was not perfect mother, hardship of single mother made her inattentive towards her kids. she regretted sometimes having kid so early and yet I loved how much she loved them all and wouldn’t want to change any of it.

Sapphire (Saffy) wasn’t likable. She was typical teenager. She headstrong, rebellious, hated her mother, rude to her sisters, wanted to escape family. I get why she didn’t like her mother but I think the reason wasn’t enough to hate her mother. She lacked compassion, understanding, responsibility of being eldest kid. She wanted attention from her mother and others and done foolish things to get it that affected whole family. It was hard to feel sorry for her but I could see how young she was who needed a therapist for depression and grief of losing Clover and Luna’s father. It was amazing the way she realized her mistakes.

Clover was kid and just like kids are, she was unpredictable. She wasn’t much in focus in 1998 timeline but in 2021 this kid’s actions were spooky. I could see why Luna almost believed in folklore after that. She scared more than whole witch hunt timeline.

Luna was compassionate, emotionally present, and lovely kid who loved her mother and sisters, even Saffy. As adult I liked her protective nature towards her unborn child. I’m still not sure why she refused to marry Ethan even though she loved him, it must be her unconscious feeling, a wish to fill the gap in her memory, trauma her childhood left, or abandonment issue she might be still struggling. Her reaction and action to meeting Clover again but still 7 yrs old and what Clover did after meeting Luna was genuine. I could understand her fear and confusion towards things she couldn’t understand. Even with all that happened, her vulnerability, she was determined, brave and strong woman. I admired how she had courage to return to place that took away so much and confronted past to solve the mystery of her missing sister and mother and to know what happened to Clover and herself when she was kid.

Setting of 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.

Twist and turns were great. I couldn’t guess where story was going even though it was obvious from the beginning bad things happened to whole Stay family. I couldn’t guess how it all happened and how all three timelines connected. It was easy to figure about whole ‘Wildling’ thing and I was curious to see when characters would realize that. Climax was interesting. For a second, I feared for Clover and Luna. I couldn’t guess the end. Even with all horrible things happened, the end was perfect and uplifting. I liked how theory about Wildling was explained at the end.

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

Thanks NetGalley for sending me a copy of The Lighthouse Witches in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book more than I expected. I'm more of a thriller type of person when it comes to my book preferences but this story and enough suspense and plot twist to keep me hooked, even though it moved slow at times.

I appreciate the fact that it had a historical aspect to it. That made it feel less fictional and I'm sure a lot of that information was based off of facts or some sort of historical folklore.

Overall, this book was not what I expected. It was far better and I'd read something else from this author again.

This is the perfect introduction to Halloween season. The author has created a spooky mysterious world here that captures the reader Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley.

I loved this story of a young widow with three children living out of their car. Desperate to improve their circumstances she accepts a commission to paint a mural on a old lighthouse on a abandoned island off the Scottish coast. The island has a history of hidden spirits that take children and strange happenings. When two of her children go missing she is desperate to find them. Years later told from a different timeline only one daughter remains and has given up searching for her Mother and sisters. When one sister re appears 30 years has gone by and yet she is the same age. Is it truly her sister or a sinister spirit ? Truly a spooky fun read !

I tried to get into this book but it just wouldn't keep my attention. It did sound so good but unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.

A fantastic story with all the magic and spookiness you need for October 👻

A family goes to a small island in Scotland bc mom has a job to do. Everything seems fine when they arrive but then weird things start happening and people seem a little... off.

In the end, only 1 daughter leaves the island and others went mysteriously missing 👀 20 years later the daughter gets news that one of her sisters was found.... but she is the same age as when she went missing. Creepy!!!

This book was full of creepy moments. It wasn't overly scary but was definitely creepy! I loved how the story was told from the present and the past (both the sisters past and another characters past).

It was really well written and so easy to read. I felt like after every chapter I couldn't put it down. I did decide not to read at night though 😂

The ending was so good! I'm so happy things were tied up neatly because this story had a looooot going on haha

I recommend this if you are:
👻 looking for a spooky read
☠ wanting a chilling twisty story
🪄 needing some magic in your life

I am obsessed with this author. The Nesting is a favorite thriller of all time and I was highly anticipating her next book. I love how her books take premises that we see in many mystery/thrillers but gives them her own unique spin and angle. The Lighthouse Witches was super engaging and I loved the three timelines and the pacing of all these stories. The tone and story was unsettling and the reveals I did not see coming. Such a solid thriller and I cannot wait to see what this author does next.

Perfect October Read!! I am kicking off Halloween season with a novel that includes witches, wildlings, Scottish folklore, and murder...that's the way to do it!
I loved that the author switched back and forth between years while only revealing a small piece of the puzzle at a time. I loathe having everything figured out half-way through the book! I appreciated the characters both from a Historical Fiction perspective and a Fantasy perspective. Although there were parts of this story that were a little too far-fetched and a couple chapters seemed to lag, I found it overall very entertaining! I would recommend as a fun seasonal read!

Reeling from both the sudden death of her husband and a potentially devastating medical diagnosis, Liv takes her three daughters and runs. Living out of a car is only sustainable for so long however, and Liv accepts a commission to paint a mural in a century-old abandoned lighthouse on a remote Scottish island. The land and its inhabitants are teeming with an ancient magic, stories passed down through generations about witchcraft and wildlings, tales of revenge and murder.

Twenty-two years later, only the middle daughter, Luna, is left. Both of her sisters and her mother mysteriously disappeared and all these years later Luna only has the faintest whispers of memories from that time. She never gave up searching for Saffy and Clover though – and when she receives a call she never expected would come, that Clover has been found alive, she’s ecstatic. Upon arriving at the hospital, however, she quickly realizes something isn’t right. At all. Clover should be a grown woman approaching 30. Instead, the person she greets is a 7-year-old girl. A girl who looks and sounds exactly like her little sister, but a child nonetheless. The longer Luna spends with this girl, the more she begins to wonder if those tales were true: is Clover actually a wildling? And what really happened to her family?

The moment I first heard of The Lighthouse Witches I knew it was something I wanted – no, needed – to read. Like so many other readers, the second the clock struck midnight on October 1, I began reaching for all things moody and supernatural. Give me all the witches, give me all the nightmarish beliefs and missing children that reappear two decades later the same age.

It certainly didn’t hurt that this novel bounces around in time, one of my absolute favorite methods of storytelling. The story not only follows Liv in 1998, but the reader also spends time with Saffy, the oldest daughter. Fifteen is a hard age for any girl, but to still be grieving over her stepfather while having her life upended to move to a remote island? It’s little wonder Sapphire lashes out and prefers to spend more time with a boy from school than with her family. Meanwhile, Luna’s chapters are set in the present day and there’s also a story woven throughout the book from a boy in the 1600s. Needless to say, I was in my happy place.

To solve the mystery behind whatever’s going on with Clover (and hopefully learn the truth behind Liv’s and Saffy’s disappearances), Luna has to return to the one place she never wants to visit again: the lighthouse. The spot where, centuries before, women were imprisoned and tortured until they confessed to witchcraft. The spot where one grieving daughter shouted out a curse of revenge that would last generations. The spot where a boy uncovered a hidden portal.

To say more would be to give away the entire story, but know that The Lighthouse Witches was a fantastic way to kick off spooky season. Admittedly I would have liked things to have been a bit creepier, something a little darker that would have left me sleeping with the lights on, but what I got was still immensely enjoyable. Cooke has several other novels, including last year’s highly praised The Nesting, and though The Lighthouse Witches was my first, I’m delighted to say it absolutely will not be my last and I can’t wait to see what comes next!