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Review with Spoilers of The Book of Witching

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My Review with Spoilers of The Book of Witching discusses that this BOTM pick has a past-present narrative, an isolated Scottish setting, and a paranormal murder mystery. The spoiler section for Teh Book of Witching has a full plot summary and the ending explained! If you enjoy historical fiction, I think this makes a perfect Spooky Season Read!

Graphic for Review of The Book of Witching by CJ Cooke. Graphic shows the book's cover, which has a large raven in front of a burning fire.

The Book of Witching: Jen’s Quick Take

Original photo collage by Jen Ryland. The Book of Witching by CJ Cooke next to candles, an herb bundle, and a leather bound book
  • Paranormal suspense
  • Historical fiction /past-present narrative
  • Remote Scottish setting
  • Published by Berkley on October 2024
  • Thanks to the publisher for the advance copy for review
  • 384 pages
  • Book of the Month Club pick for October 2024

Review of The Book of Witching

As I discussed in my recent post on Affordable and Creepy Books for the Spooky Season, I don’t read a lot of paranormal fiction.

But I’m really glad I took a chance on The Book of Witching!

There was a fair amount going on in the book, but I thought the author balanced everything extremely well.

There’s a “law and order” style body discovery at the beginning (in the present) that sets the mystery tone for those of us who like some structure.

But in the end, The Book of Witching is a story of three women.

In the present-day Scotland, the book follows Clem, who thought her daughter Erin went on a camping trip with two friends, but gets an ominous knock on the door.

In 1590s on the Scottish Isle of Gunn, Alison watches her young children being initiated into a secret society. It’s a group she has complex feelings about. (The Orkney Islands in northern Scotland are real. There is a real Scottish Clan Gunn, but The Isle of Gunn appears to be fictional. If I’m wrong, please correct me in the comments!)

Photo of Orkney, UK. A rugged coastline with steep cliffs against a blue ocean

The narrative takes place during the reign of King James VI, son of Mary Queen of Scots and the longest ruling Scottish-born monarch in UK history.

The narrative shifts between past and present as both Clem and Alison are thrust into different nightmares. Clem tries to unravel the mystery of the camping trip and what happened there. Alison gets questioned about a treasonous plot and accused of witchcraft.

That’s about all I can say without spoilers. If you want to know more about the plot and are fine with spoilers, proceed!

But I really recommend this to fans of witchcraft fiction, and fans of feminist historical fiction!

Spoilers for The Book of Witching

SPOILERS BELOW! To protect readers who HATE being spoiled you will need to click on the blue “Show Me” box below and log in with a Grow account, Facebook, or Google. By doing so, you will be added to my email list and receive weekly updates about new books! For more information on why I protect my spoilers, please read this post! If you are having any issues check this tutorial OR leave a comment below as I want to help!

Present Day Narrative

  • Erin went to university and was drawn in by her friend Senna to a cult-like group called the Triskele.
  • She was convinced to participate in a weird sex ritual for the group with her friend Arlo.
  • She became pregnant during the sex ritual, which is a huge deal for the Triskele, and later has her daughter Freya
  • A man in the group called The Brother gives the Book of Witching to Erin.
  • Erin tries (unsuccessfully) to lose and destroy the book, but it keeps reappearing
  • Paul, an antiques dealer, tells Erin the Book of Witching can only be burned on Beltane (the beginning of summer) in a place called Fynhollow.
  • This is where Erin and her friends, on their “camping trip,” try to destroy the book. Arlo is killed, Senna goes into hiding with the book, and Erin ends up in the hospital with severe burns.
  • In the hospital, Erin is periodically possessed by a paranormal being called Nyx who is connected to the book and the Triskele
  • Four years later, Freya has the book and also becomes Nyx

Past Narrative

  • Alison is a powerful healer whose birth family are Triskele
  • The Orcadians (residents of Orkney) are unhappy that a powerful Earl of Orkney has taken their land and they want the Triskele to get it back.
  • There is a plot to kill the Earl. They try to recruit Alison to make a death charm, but she refuses.
  • Alison is still charged with witchcraft and imprisoned
  • Alison’s husband William thinks the Earl’s brother John Stewart (also the King’s cousin) is behind the plot to kill the Earl.
  • Alison is put on trial, but the proceedings are a sham Alison’s lawyer is murdered.
  • She dreams of the book. A Triskele “carrier” can slip into the body of another carrier.
  • After William is killed and Alison’s son Edward is threatened, Alison confesses.
  • Edward is Nyx. He is the one who made the charm to kill the Earl.
  • Alison’s mother visits her in prison and give her a shell to use as a hex
  • Alison is executed and as she dies, throws the shell into the fire, curses John Stewart, and says he will never claim the earldom.
  • Soldiers capture and kill Alison’s mother, but Alison’s children Bea and Edward escape with the Book of Witching
  • As stated above, the book and being Nyx transfer to Freya

My questions as an infrequent paranormal reader:

  • What is the difference between a “carrier” and Nyx? Can any Triskele be a carrier?
  • I understand why Erin would have been Nyx when she was pregnant, but why was she Nyx in the hospital? Why didn’t Nyx go straight to Freya? Age thing??

If you have questions (or think I got something wrong – it happens!) please leave a comment. Spoilers are fine as only people who have read the book tend to comment!

If you liked The Book of Witching, try The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson (feminist historical witch story set in Puritan times!

About Jen Ryland

Over 12 years of book blogging and reviewing, I have read over 1500 books. A fair and honest reviewer who loves book discussions, I'm here to help you find a book you'll love to read AND give you a place to talk about it and ask questions.
Find me on Instagram and Pinterest as @jenryland!

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