Beautiful gothic story thats part horror, part historical fiction, part mystery. Set in Scotland in the late 1950s, the story focuses around two sisters who live in a manor for unwed mothers. All seems well until they realize the house and the grounds around all have their own dark secrets. Really enjoyed the eerie atmosphere in this novel.

I really wanted to love this one, but I just found myself struggling to get into it. The premise and plot really intrigued me at first, but fell a little flat for me. I truly think it was a me problem, and possibly a case of the right book but wrong time. Looking forward to picking it up again to see if I enjoy more the second time.

Thank you to Berkley Pub for the chance to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.

It didn't register how little investment I was feeling in this story until I realized I avoided reading for a week. It just wasn't gripping, and the two timelines had such a similar voice that they blended together. The folklore was the most promising element.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by C.J. Cooke. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

In the midst of the woods stands a house called Lichen Hall. This place is shrouded in folklore—old stories of ghosts, of witches, of a child who was not quite a child. Now the woods are creeping closer, and something has been unleashed. Pearl Gorham arrives in 1965, one of a string of young women sent to Lichen Hall to give birth. And she soon suspects the proprietors are hiding something. Then she meets the mysterious mother and young boy who live in the grounds—and together they begin to unpick the secrets of this place. As the truth comes to the surface and the darkness moves in, Pearl must rethink everything she knew—and risk what she holds most dear.

This is the final book in a trilogy of gothic novels, although they are definitely all stand alones. This one centered around Lichen House, a home for unwed mothers in Scotland, surrounded by woods. It perfectly melds horror, the supernatural, and the all too real horrors that have occurred in places like this. It looks at motherhood, both the joys and the shame and abuse that many have endured. It’s creepy, tense, and the atmosphere is dark and feels alive. Another great book by C.J. Cooke!

This was the perfect mixture of gothic folklore with a dash of supernatural.

Lichen Hall is A home for fallen women who are pregnant. This novel follows several women who are forced to endure their pregnancy at Lichen Hall which is crumbling manor owned by the infamous Whitlocks, who is hiding dark secrets within its walls.
It’s 1959 and seventeen year old Mabel has discovered she’s pregnant. Confused she’s done nothing wrong. It must be the ghosts inside her as they make her do some very strange things.
September 1965 we meet Pearl whose a nurse and she’s nervous and very pregnant. Right away she’s told about the rumors that surround the Whitlocks and the ghost woods with trees that have pale ghostly trunks that are on their property, this just adds to the strangeness. Pearl is unaware she’s treading where Mabel had treaded before her and soon their stories become entangled in a very scary way. Together we read as they start to unravel the hidden secrets as darkness threatens to swallow them whole. The story comes in the first-person POV of Mabel and Pearl in alternating timelines.
Lichen Hall is decaying from the inside out, with mold within its walls with mushrooms and very strange apparitions that seem to haunt its grounds, and the woods appear to hold a mysterious figure. Soon we’re taken on a twisting, suspenseful ride that leads to a shocking conclusion and who will make it out alive?

The Ghost Woods by C.J. Cooke is another beautifully atmospheric read that reminds me why I always come back to her books. Cooke has such a talent for weaving spooky, gothic vibes into every page — the kind of writing that pulls you in and gives you that deliciously eerie feeling. I especially loved the subtle supernatural elements that added an extra layer of mystery to the story.

I’ll admit, the beginning started a bit slow for me, but I’m glad I stuck with it. Each part of the book drew me in more and more, and by the end, I was completely hooked. The buildup was worth it!

If you enjoy a haunting, moody read with a touch of the otherworldly, this is definitely one to pick up.

Third book by C.J. Cooke for me, and each one has been a charm. She has magic in her words and stories, writing mostly realistic fiction with a brushstroke of the supernatural. This is gothic horror/mystery and it's my favorite kind. We follow Mabel and Pearl, unwed pregnant women in the 60s and 70s at a mother and baby home called Lichen Hall--cast off from the world to hide their shame. The book follows Mabel about six years earlier and Pearl in the book's present day and eventually brings the two stories together. The world's current favorite mushroom, Cordyceps militaris, makes an appearance, and the story powerfully portrays love, loss, fear, the chimeric nature of pregnancy, and hope against all odds.
Some side stories with Pearl's family and boyfriend didn't seem necessary to me, but the relationships among the females living at Lichen Hall showed the complexity of unexpected and sometimes unwanted connections. The writing was beautiful and those relationships were well crafted. I loved this book. Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the gifted advance digital copy.

This book kind of left me underwhelmed. I felt like there were so many different things going on that the tropes left me feeling like they were unfinished. I thought the story was great, but it wasn't easy to listen to. I kept going back to my physical book since there were a lot of different POV's and timelines to keep track of.
I really enjoyed the supernatural vibe that was going on and wished that was leaned into a bit more. I loved the characters and their large personalities. It wasn't at all what I was expecting, but the characters really stole my heart.
This is definitely a vibes book, so I'd recommend going into it with that mindset!

I really love the way Cooke creates spooky, gothic atmospheres. The entire time, I felt like I was in a deteriorating house surrounded by all the mushrooms and woods one could imagine. I could SMELL it as I went through the story. One of my favorite things Cooke does is always gives us something a little paranormal with nearly no exploration why. This was a great story and I definitely recommend it.

This book is told from multiple POVs and divided into four parts. The first part is really slow, to the point that I was wondering if I'd made a mistake picking up this book. Things become a bit more interesting in part two, and the final two parts become fully interesting and move at a good pace. The POVs are told from the first-person, which at the beginning made it a little difficult to keep the two separate. Aside from the MCs, the remaining characters were relatively static, but they did what they needed to to support the MCs and plot so it didn't detract from the work much overall.

The atmosphere is quite strong once you're past that first part of the book. I loved the inclusion of folklore, fungus, and science. Those elements, plus the social issues surrounding the hypocrisy and treatment of unwed mothers, combined to make an interesting tale with many different elements. The setting was utilized quite well overall.

I would call this one much more of a gothic historical fiction with some mystery than a work of horror. It was a decent read overall, especially past the first part. My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an eARC to read and review.

I really enjoyed the differing POVs that eventually collided. I'm also really interested in reading more about young women who were sent to birthing homes. I was shocked to discover that the last mother and bang home in the UK closed in 1990, which was one year before I was born.

I would agree with other reviewers when they say the language didn't always match the timeline. The ending was satisfying, but there are still many unanswered questions for me (but would spoil the ending if I posted them here).

And Sebastian can kick rocks.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I feel inspired to read more gothic horror. I especially liked the Scottish folklore, which was very eery and unsettling.

This book has the creepy, Gothic mystery of Rebecca and the folk horror vibes of T. Kingfisher. Mixed together, those vibes create a wonderfully spooky, slow burn of a horror with heart-wrenching elements of history and human nature.
I greatly enjoyed the flip-flopping narratives of Pearl and Mabel. Both women arrive at Lichen Hall to have their illegitimate babies, only to come face-to-face with the dark horrors of the house, and the shocking mysteries of the family who lives there.
The mystery really seeps in quietly and before you know it, you're completely immersed. It's a story that you have to just let unfold in front of you. Several times, I through I knew where it was going only to be twisted into a different, more shocking, direction. Considering the time period (1950's-60's) and the focus on pregnant women's (lack of) rights, there are some harsh realities interspersed within this supernature tale. I think that the humanity of those parts balances out the supernatural elements nicely.
I think there are a few aspects to the story that I wish had been expanded upon (character's backgrounds, etc.) but that is just a tiny quibble about an otherwise excellent read. If you want a solid Gothic horror with plenty of shocking twists, check this one out!

This was an atmospheric gothic horror told from dual timelines and perspectives. The pacing was steady, if not a bit slow in the beginning. However, that slow pacing helped set the foundation for what was to come. This was a shocking horror story of not just the supernatural but of how monstrous people can be as well. This was dark, heartbreaking, and gory with some body horror for those who need a little warning. It tells a story of motherhood and portrays the way women were treated in the not too distant past. This was a memorable read written by an excellent storyteller. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for this ARC.

This was a pretty fun horror story. I don't want to spoil anything, but the premise is one that I have actually wondered about in the past...it's a very intriguing idea. The characters are well developed, and the setting was definitely adequately creepy. Those who are regular readers of the genre will probably call the twist from the beginning, but I think this one was less about the twist and more about the "who will survive it" aspect of the story. My main complaint is that I would have liked for the story to contain less human on human horror and more of the "supernatural" horror. As it stands, the real horrors in this novel were humans and how we treat each other, which feels a little too realistic for me as a reader who seeks escape in my reading. Still, this was an intriguing horror novel with a cool premise. Definitely recommend if you are a fan of a gothic house horror story.

Real Rating: 3.5* of five

Heed my content warning. It's part of my biggest problem with this well-written, if awkwardly paced, gothic tale: Making action too graphic does not make a read go faster. If anything it slows the reader down to have this strong a tonal shift from beautiful evocative scene-building to bloody or emotionally violent moments.

Not without pleasures for tougher gothic-fiction fans in search of a powerful modern twist on Ann Radcliffe's <i>The Romance of the Forest</i>.

Set in the 1950s and 60s, this gothic tale follows two unwed mothers - Pearl and Mabel - who end up at Lichen Hall, a crumbling manor surrounded by eerie woods where pregnant women are sent away to give birth in secrecy. The dual timeline structure creates a nice back-and-forth rhythm as we gradually discover the house's dark secrets through both women's experiences with the strange proprietors, the Whitlocks, and their bizarre grandson Wulfric. Despite the mushroom angle (add this to the growing pile of fungal horror novels colonizing my shelves), I found myself drawn in by the genuinely atmospheric setting of the decaying manor and the heartfelt relationships that form between the women as they navigate their shared trauma. Oddly enough, this is the second book I've read in two months about unwed mothers' homes, though the villain reveal felt a bit silly and undercut the otherwise creepy vibes.

I just finished The Ghost Woods by C J Cooke and here are my thoughts.

Lichen house is not an ordinary house in the woods… The rumors of ghosts, witches and a child who isn’t really a child is just the tip of the iceberg… something has been unleashed.

Pearl has arrived at Lichen hall to give birth but she soon realizes that the proprietors are hiding something and she wants to uncover the dark secrets within the walls.

Firstly the book is told for 2 POV from 2 different time periods. 1959 and 1965. The women are sent their when they are pregnant and unwed… They figure out pretty quickly that the dark rumors swirling around the house are actually true… and worse. It’s menacing and suspenseful… There is a lot to unpack with the murder, cruelty and betrayal oozing from the pages.

My biggest problem was the pacing in the first part of the book. It was too slow and not creepy enough to ignore the pace. The end was a tad rushed but honestly, I felt like I needed the race to the end. It was a wild ride.

I love the writing style. It was really well done and I was thoroughly entertained.

I loved the use of folklore to bring an extra special creep session to an already enjoyable book.

4.5 stars

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for my gifted copy.

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In The Ghost Woods by C. J. Cooke, the author has created a truly creepy gothic tale that weaves supernatural elements together with the very real history of the time wherein girls who became pregnant out of wedlock were thrown away and at the mercy of anyone who was willing to help them, even though the cost could be higher than they might be willing to pay.
From the start of the book, one of the aspects I liked was the contrast between Pearl and Mabel, two girls from different times, both pregnant at Lichen Hall. The isolation and experiences of both are compelling, especially when the girls must deal with giving birth and when they deal with the loss of their child. That element adds to the thread of despair throughout the novel.
The supernatural elements are well thought out and creepy, the horror and the truth of what is happening at Lichen Hall a revelation best saved for reading the book but trust me when I say, you will love the fantastic ending and the gothic vibes the narrative uses as it explores the various possibilities for the truth of Lichen Hall and its legend.
If you like supernatural horror with a creepy gothic feeling, this novel is for you. It expands on C.J. Cooke’s previous novels about motherhood, reflecting back on the experience in a different way than her previous novels. The novel is full of loss and horror but most especially, it explores the despair of giving up a child and the lack of choice or power. It is a powerful and emotional story.

I was excited to dive into C.J. Cooke’s newest novel, The Ghost Woods, and I was not disappointed. This dark, gothic horror fantasy takes us to Lichen Hall. A place shrouded in folklore about ghosts & witches. This remote home stands alone deep in the woods. Pearl Gorham arrives in 1965, to give birth to a child and the tale that unfolds held me captive.

I have read three of Cooke’s novels now and enjoy the different settings and her prose. The Ghost Woods is a standalone gothic horror set in 1965. Pearl Graham finds herself in a familiar way and goes to Lichen Hall to deliver the baby. The home has boarded others in the same position.

Lichen Hall is set deep in the woods and is run by an older woman and her ailing husband. Pearl noticed strange things soon after she arrived. A young boy no one else seems to know about, strange mushrooms growing in the woods and in parts of the home itself, not to mention strange visitors in the parlor. The old woman’s refusal to call for help when a young girl struggles to deliver and a strange force in the woods all added to the atmospheric tale.

The story that unfolds is split between dual timelines. Both from the perspectives of pregnant young women who have come to Lichen Hall. Pearl’s POV set in 1965 and Mabel’s set in 1959. I found myself riveted as the suspenseful tale unfolded. It included twists and some dark and disturbing moments. The house and woods became characters themselves as I pulled the covers higher.

The paranormal aspects and old lors regarding the witch only added to the creep factor as we learned Mabel’s story and were present for Pearl’s harrowing experience. Cooke spins a tale that pushes your imagination and makes things feel very surreal.

If you love tales steeped in lore that also highlight the conditions young women found themselves in during these time periods set against darker threads, such as violence, manipulation, betrayal, and murder, you will definitely want to grab this one.

C.J. Cooke's The Ghost Woods weaves together a dual-timeline narrative set in a remote Scottish manor, Lichen Hall, a place rife with folklore, dark secrets, and a palpable sense of unease. The novel follows Mabel in 1959 and Pearl in 1965, both young women sent to Lichen Hall to give birth and surrender their illegitimate babies for adoption.

Cooke excels at creating a wonderfully atmospheric and creepy setting. Lichen Hall, with its crumbling facade, mold-ridden walls, and isolation, becomes a character in itself. The surrounding "ghost woods," steeped in local legends of witches and strange occurrences, contribute to the growing sense of dread and mystery. The author's vivid descriptions effectively draw the reader into this unsettling environment.

The novel explores themes of motherhood, societal expectations, and the treatment of women in the mid-20th century. The plight of unwed mothers forced to give up their children is handled with sensitivity, highlighting the limited choices and harsh judgments they faced. The burgeoning relationships between the women at Lichen Hall, and how they find strength in each other, is a definite plus.

However, the pacing of The Ghost Woods is uneven. The beginning is slow, with a lot of emphasis on setting the atmosphere, which, while effective, can feel sluggish. The plot picks up in the latter half, introducing more elements of mystery and horror, but some of these elements feel underdeveloped or rushed. The large number of ideas sometimes feel like too much.

The ending, while providing some resolution, may leave some readers wanting more. Certain plot threads could have been more tightly woven together, and some of the reveals, while intriguing, require a significant suspension of disbelief.

Overall, The Ghost Woods is an atmospheric and engaging read, particularly for those who enjoy gothic settings and stories with a strong sense of place. Cooke's strength lies in her ability to create a creepy, unsettling atmosphere and explore the experiences of women in a difficult era. However, the uneven pacing and somewhat convoluted plot prevent it from being a truly outstanding novel.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars