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The Ghost Woods
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 is 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 place is shrouded in folklore – old stories of ghosts, of witches, of a child who is 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.
408 pages, ebook
First published October 13, 2022
About the author
C.J. Cooke
9 books1,412 followersC. J. Cooke is an award-winning poet and novelist published in twenty-three languages. She teaches creative writing at the University of Glasgow, where she also researches the impact of motherhood on women's writing and creative writing interventions for mental health.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 822 reviews
July 23, 2022
Then: Dundee, May 1959, Mabel Haggith aged 17 visits the doctor with her mother, they say she’s pregnant but she doesn’t understand as she’s done nothing wrong. It must be the ghosts inside her as they make her do some strange things.
Now: Pearl Gorham, September 1965, aged 22 and a nurse. She’s heavily pregnant and being taken to a mother and baby home in the Scottish Borders which is a 16th Century Manor House called Lichen House and is owned by the Whitlock family. There are many rumours about the Whitlocks and certainly the ghost woods, trees with pale ghostly trunks that are on their property adds to the strangeness. Pearl is treading where Mabel treads before her and their stories become entangled and intertwined.
This is another clever, creative and different Gothic tale from CJ Cooke. In this one motherhood is the principal theme, specifically unmarried mothers and their treatment and lack of power at this time. It’s well documented that mother and baby homes in this era have terrible reputations, look no further than the Magdalene laundries.
However, of course, it’s not that simple as a fantastical, imaginative story emerges woven in with several aspects of nature which mingles with fables and legends especially those from Gaelic folklore. I really enjoy this element though obviously it requires some suspension of disbelief but with the evocative descriptions of the house and its surrounds and some thoughtful explanation the author pulls you in and you go with the flow.
At times it’s creepy and menacing as a suspenseful dark tale unfolds with even darker deeds which includes betrayal, murder, destruction, some cruelty, manipulation and violence. There is a big mystery that lies at the heart of Lichen Hall and the further the Pearl in particular digs, the more horrifying it becomes.
The characterisation is good throughout and the author gives us some to root for and cheer on especially in Mabel, her son Sylvan and Pearl. The portrayal of Sylvan is fascinating but my lips are sealed on how!
Overall if you like a mixture of the factual and Gothic, the supernatural and fantasy then this one is for you.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Now: Pearl Gorham, September 1965, aged 22 and a nurse. She’s heavily pregnant and being taken to a mother and baby home in the Scottish Borders which is a 16th Century Manor House called Lichen House and is owned by the Whitlock family. There are many rumours about the Whitlocks and certainly the ghost woods, trees with pale ghostly trunks that are on their property adds to the strangeness. Pearl is treading where Mabel treads before her and their stories become entangled and intertwined.
This is another clever, creative and different Gothic tale from CJ Cooke. In this one motherhood is the principal theme, specifically unmarried mothers and their treatment and lack of power at this time. It’s well documented that mother and baby homes in this era have terrible reputations, look no further than the Magdalene laundries.
However, of course, it’s not that simple as a fantastical, imaginative story emerges woven in with several aspects of nature which mingles with fables and legends especially those from Gaelic folklore. I really enjoy this element though obviously it requires some suspension of disbelief but with the evocative descriptions of the house and its surrounds and some thoughtful explanation the author pulls you in and you go with the flow.
At times it’s creepy and menacing as a suspenseful dark tale unfolds with even darker deeds which includes betrayal, murder, destruction, some cruelty, manipulation and violence. There is a big mystery that lies at the heart of Lichen Hall and the further the Pearl in particular digs, the more horrifying it becomes.
The characterisation is good throughout and the author gives us some to root for and cheer on especially in Mabel, her son Sylvan and Pearl. The portrayal of Sylvan is fascinating but my lips are sealed on how!
Overall if you like a mixture of the factual and Gothic, the supernatural and fantasy then this one is for you.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
October 28, 2022
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Atmospheric
In the middle of Ghost Woods in Scotland is Lichen Hall, a huge house with mysterious members, rooms, and incidents. It is a place where unwed girls go to give birth and hand over the child to adoptive parents. It is supposedly a better place than the ‘institutions’ that serve the same purpose.
Mabel goes there in 1950 and Pearl in 1965, along with a good many other girls. Pearl notices strange happenings and events in and around the house. One day, she meets a mysterious young woman and a boy on the grounds. Together, they start to unravel the hidden secrets even as darkness threatens to swallow them whole.
The story comes in the first-person POV of Mabel and Pearl in alternating timelines.
My Thoughts:
The story is divided into four parts:
• Part I: okayish and slow
• Part II: picks up pace and intriguing
• Parts III and IV: engaging and steady-paced
As you can see, the book is slow to start and even a little boring. But once the atmosphere sets in, it keeps you hooked.
I read The Lighthouse Witches by the author and know that she writes settings very well. The book lives up to the previous one in this aspect. It is atmospheric, gothic, and dark. It’s not spine-chilling but has enough to sustain the mood.
Folklore and science blend nicely, and there are enough social issues to add to the list. However, it doesn’t get preachy or OTT.
Various human emotions and dark sides merge seamlessly as the story progresses. It also requires a little suspension of belief to take a few things in stride.
The main characters are well-defined if not fully sketched. The side characters do what’s required of them. Though they aren’t explored, we get the essence of each character without trouble.
Mabel and Pearl’s voices are distinct enough. They blur a little toward the climax, but it’s still easy to keep track.
The author’s note at the end is detailed and provides insights into her idea and intent for the book.
The climax and ending are predictable (there are many hints). The climax isn’t as impactful as I wanted, but the detailed epilogue is more than satisfying.
To summarize, The Ghost Woods is a dark and atmospheric tale that uses folklore and science to explore the dark human side. Be careful of the triggers.
Thank you, NetGalley and Emma Pickard from HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheGhostWoods
One Liner: Atmospheric
In the middle of Ghost Woods in Scotland is Lichen Hall, a huge house with mysterious members, rooms, and incidents. It is a place where unwed girls go to give birth and hand over the child to adoptive parents. It is supposedly a better place than the ‘institutions’ that serve the same purpose.
Mabel goes there in 1950 and Pearl in 1965, along with a good many other girls. Pearl notices strange happenings and events in and around the house. One day, she meets a mysterious young woman and a boy on the grounds. Together, they start to unravel the hidden secrets even as darkness threatens to swallow them whole.
The story comes in the first-person POV of Mabel and Pearl in alternating timelines.
My Thoughts:
The story is divided into four parts:
• Part I: okayish and slow
• Part II: picks up pace and intriguing
• Parts III and IV: engaging and steady-paced
As you can see, the book is slow to start and even a little boring. But once the atmosphere sets in, it keeps you hooked.
I read The Lighthouse Witches by the author and know that she writes settings very well. The book lives up to the previous one in this aspect. It is atmospheric, gothic, and dark. It’s not spine-chilling but has enough to sustain the mood.
Folklore and science blend nicely, and there are enough social issues to add to the list. However, it doesn’t get preachy or OTT.
Various human emotions and dark sides merge seamlessly as the story progresses. It also requires a little suspension of belief to take a few things in stride.
The main characters are well-defined if not fully sketched. The side characters do what’s required of them. Though they aren’t explored, we get the essence of each character without trouble.
Mabel and Pearl’s voices are distinct enough. They blur a little toward the climax, but it’s still easy to keep track.
The author’s note at the end is detailed and provides insights into her idea and intent for the book.
The climax and ending are predictable (there are many hints). The climax isn’t as impactful as I wanted, but the detailed epilogue is more than satisfying.
To summarize, The Ghost Woods is a dark and atmospheric tale that uses folklore and science to explore the dark human side. Be careful of the triggers.
Thank you, NetGalley and Emma Pickard from HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheGhostWoods
October 13, 2022
Okay, I’ll admit it, I was officially creeped out by this book. It is set in the late 1950s - mid 1960s in Scotland where being an unwed mother and her unfortunate illegitimate child was still very much a stigma. We’ve all heard of the horrific Magdalen laundries which only closed down far too recently for any reasonable person’s thinking. In this story, Lichen House, a truly massive gothic mansion in a remote Scottish location abutting some very dense woods seemed like a humane alternative for many families. The house has a dark past but we don’t believe in witches and ghosts - do we?
Mrs Whitlock runs the house now. Her older husband, who is obsessed with fungi and the symbiotic relationship between some fungi and animals, is slowly developing dementia so his actions are somewhat erratic. Mrs Whitlock herself is alternately charming and friendly and then cold and mean. Also living there is their grandson, Wulfric, another very strange individual. Into this weird environment the young, pregnant women arrive. Some of them do not stand a chance.
There is no midwife, they must fend for themselves. When a problem arises no doctor is called. The red flags are already flapping madly in the wind! The story focuses on Mabel, Pearl, Morwen, Rahmi and Aretta.
Mabel feels she has ghosts inhabiting her body and her baby, Sylvan, is rejected by the couple that comes to adopt him after only a few days. Mabel is happy to have him back but struggles to make a life for them in a crude shack on the grounds of Lichen House. Sylvan is indeed a very different child, he has ‘the sight’ and can see things that others can’t.
Pearl is the last of these women to arrive and she tries to help them as she is a qualified nurse. But it is all too little and too late for most of the residents. This would be a perfect Halloween read - spooky but not violent per se. The story is very gothic and unsettling and quite mysterious.
Do read the author’s notes at the end of the story. She has successfully explored the themes of motherhood, the different views of it, women’s equality and rights and the freedom to choose their own se*uality. Many thanks to Netgalley for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Mrs Whitlock runs the house now. Her older husband, who is obsessed with fungi and the symbiotic relationship between some fungi and animals, is slowly developing dementia so his actions are somewhat erratic. Mrs Whitlock herself is alternately charming and friendly and then cold and mean. Also living there is their grandson, Wulfric, another very strange individual. Into this weird environment the young, pregnant women arrive. Some of them do not stand a chance.
There is no midwife, they must fend for themselves. When a problem arises no doctor is called. The red flags are already flapping madly in the wind! The story focuses on Mabel, Pearl, Morwen, Rahmi and Aretta.
Mabel feels she has ghosts inhabiting her body and her baby, Sylvan, is rejected by the couple that comes to adopt him after only a few days. Mabel is happy to have him back but struggles to make a life for them in a crude shack on the grounds of Lichen House. Sylvan is indeed a very different child, he has ‘the sight’ and can see things that others can’t.
Pearl is the last of these women to arrive and she tries to help them as she is a qualified nurse. But it is all too little and too late for most of the residents. This would be a perfect Halloween read - spooky but not violent per se. The story is very gothic and unsettling and quite mysterious.
Do read the author’s notes at the end of the story. She has successfully explored the themes of motherhood, the different views of it, women’s equality and rights and the freedom to choose their own se*uality. Many thanks to Netgalley for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
November 3, 2023
2.5 stars
A gothic and atmospheric tale that never quite engrossed me.
A home for fallen women. This is what Lichen Hall offers. An isolated decrepit estate tucked and hidden near The Ghost Woods. This novel follows several women who are forced to endure their pregnancy surrounded by strangers in this crumbling mansion. There are plans for their babies that they promise to give up.
I liked the idea of this story and was excited to read it in October during spooky season. Gothic stories are usually a win for me but this didn’t quite work the way I had hoped. The gothic, witchy aspect wasn’t believable for me so I never felt truly invested. I also didn’t fully connect with any of the characters which kept me at a distance from the story. I usually love stories revolving around pregnancy, birthing and motherhood but this missed its mark for me.
This novel unfolds through two timelines, a few years apart. It shares a few chapters of each timeline in chunks which I found choppy. I did find myself confused between storylines several times as they are similar and share some of the same characters.
Overall, this had a promising start but never captured my full attention. This is my first book by this author and I would be curious enough to try another to see if this was just a one-off with my lack of connection.
A gothic and atmospheric tale that never quite engrossed me.
A home for fallen women. This is what Lichen Hall offers. An isolated decrepit estate tucked and hidden near The Ghost Woods. This novel follows several women who are forced to endure their pregnancy surrounded by strangers in this crumbling mansion. There are plans for their babies that they promise to give up.
I liked the idea of this story and was excited to read it in October during spooky season. Gothic stories are usually a win for me but this didn’t quite work the way I had hoped. The gothic, witchy aspect wasn’t believable for me so I never felt truly invested. I also didn’t fully connect with any of the characters which kept me at a distance from the story. I usually love stories revolving around pregnancy, birthing and motherhood but this missed its mark for me.
This novel unfolds through two timelines, a few years apart. It shares a few chapters of each timeline in chunks which I found choppy. I did find myself confused between storylines several times as they are similar and share some of the same characters.
Overall, this had a promising start but never captured my full attention. This is my first book by this author and I would be curious enough to try another to see if this was just a one-off with my lack of connection.
May 24, 2023
This book started off really well, it was intriguing, atmospheric and rather creepy. There were two timelines that you could tell would eventually connect with each other and it was fun learning how it would all connect.
It was quite hard hitting there were a lot of really heavy topics in this one. It was based on Scottish Folk Lore which was very interesting and I would love to learn more about it.
The horror in this book relies on isolation and atmosphere, there is a little bit of body horror to near the end. I wished this was a short story because this book really dragged in the middle it took too long for the timelines to merge and when they did it wasn't all that satisfying.
I would try something else from this author as I did like the concept and the writing I just thought it got as a little lost in the middle.
It was quite hard hitting there were a lot of really heavy topics in this one. It was based on Scottish Folk Lore which was very interesting and I would love to learn more about it.
The horror in this book relies on isolation and atmosphere, there is a little bit of body horror to near the end. I wished this was a short story because this book really dragged in the middle it took too long for the timelines to merge and when they did it wasn't all that satisfying.
I would try something else from this author as I did like the concept and the writing I just thought it got as a little lost in the middle.
April 21, 2023
TW: rape
A case of cool concept which ended up being wasted in a very long and tedious story.
The initial dual pov didn't help, because after awhile it just became... boring.
The fantasy wanna be mixed with gruesome every day life details, needed more development at the end, and not the swift ending that the author provided us with.
I was like, "really, after all of that, we get this?" -_-
Not for me I guess.
A case of cool concept which ended up being wasted in a very long and tedious story.
The initial dual pov didn't help, because after awhile it just became... boring.
The fantasy wanna be mixed with gruesome every day life details, needed more development at the end, and not the swift ending that the author provided us with.
I was like, "really, after all of that, we get this?" -_-
Not for me I guess.
February 13, 2023
Very disrespectful towards mushrooms
May 10, 2023
It was fine. It’s a feminist book from the point of view that all men are bad, all women are gay and isn’t it awful how badly women were treated in the past? To the point where my eyes did a few rolls.
I finished it as I wanted to know what happened in the end so I did skim read the last quarter. Some of the book is a little drawn out.
It was atmospheric though. Not creepy or supernatural enough as everything explained by ‘science’. It was a comment on women’s rights masquerading as a gothic horror.
I enjoyed The Nesting much more.
I finished it as I wanted to know what happened in the end so I did skim read the last quarter. Some of the book is a little drawn out.
It was atmospheric though. Not creepy or supernatural enough as everything explained by ‘science’. It was a comment on women’s rights masquerading as a gothic horror.
I enjoyed The Nesting much more.
October 18, 2022
Omg what a read!!!
The story of two young pregnant women who stay at Lichen Hall a gothic mansion with a dark secret which the owner tries to hide. I devoured this book in one sitting. Gothic, creepy in places terrifying. I dare you to take a trip into The Ghost Woods I can promise you will not be disappointed.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
The story of two young pregnant women who stay at Lichen Hall a gothic mansion with a dark secret which the owner tries to hide. I devoured this book in one sitting. Gothic, creepy in places terrifying. I dare you to take a trip into The Ghost Woods I can promise you will not be disappointed.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
October 29, 2023
C.J. Cooke is one of my favorite authors since I adore books that are a bit paranormal.
The Ghost Woods is an excellent dual-timeline book with two girls arriving at Lichen Hall. Mabel in 1959 and the Pearl in 1965 and both are pregnant. They have been sent away to give birth and then to give up their babies. However, there are strange things going on at Lichen Hall....what is really going on there?
I really liked this book, it was engrossing and I found myself drawn into the story and the lives of Pearl and Mabel. I quite like the paranormal angle of the story and I did guess right what was going on towards the end, not that hard to figure it out. The ending made me wish that it would be a sequel.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
The Ghost Woods is an excellent dual-timeline book with two girls arriving at Lichen Hall. Mabel in 1959 and the Pearl in 1965 and both are pregnant. They have been sent away to give birth and then to give up their babies. However, there are strange things going on at Lichen Hall....what is really going on there?
I really liked this book, it was engrossing and I found myself drawn into the story and the lives of Pearl and Mabel. I quite like the paranormal angle of the story and I did guess right what was going on towards the end, not that hard to figure it out. The ending made me wish that it would be a sequel.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
December 19, 2022
This absolutely freaking ROCKED. The story, the characters, the writing, the setting, the gothic horror of it all, everything. My sole wish would be for more lore on the witch BUT that’s not enough to drop it down from 5 stars.
October 16, 2022
“I have a ghost in my knee. There’s a small pocket just behind the kneecap and she’s hiding in there, all tucked up in the soft mattresses of cartilage. She is very small and terrified so I’m sitting with that leg straightened so I don’t disturb her. I’ve not set a word about this to anyone. They’d think I’m mad.”
I don’t think I’ve read a more perfect opening-line to a gothic horror novel in long time, and The Ghost Woods only got better from that point on. An overgrown house in the woods, whispered legends of ghosts and witchcraft, a child who isn’t quite a child, and a pregnant woman sent to give birth amidst it all. If you’re still looking for your perfect Halloween-read, look no further because this is my definitive recommendation for 2022.
The Story
Told in dual timelines, The Ghost Woods follows two young, pregnant women’s time at Lichen Hall; an remote gothic manor in the woods that serves as a safe haven for unwed women to give birth and potentially offer up their new-borns for adoption. In 1959, 17-year old Mabel is shocked and confounded by her condition; how could she be pregnant, while she knows she’s never had sex? It must be due to the ghosts that inhabit her body…
In 1965, 22-year old nurse Pearl lost everything after the “shame” of her pre-marital pregnancy got around town. Desperate, and knowing she won’t be able to take care of the baby, she turns to Lichen Hall for help.
Both women soon find Lichen Hall not as safe a haven as the had hoped. Mould festers within the walls, strange apparitions lurk in the surrounding woods and the caretakers and inhabitant of the manor all seem privy to bouts of strange behaviour. Whether that be Mrs Whitlock insistence of “no medical intervention” surrounding the pregnancies, her husband’s collapse into dementia, or the strange boy with a precocious interest in mycology and botany.
Both women’s stories eventually collide to unearth the secrets at the roots of Lichen Hall.
What I liked
I’ve been a C.J. Cooke fan ever since The Nesting and The Lighthouse Witches. Both are gothic thriller/horror novels that combine a taught mystery, interesting characters and strong themes of motherhood, and both showcase the authors pension for creating unsettling imagery and vivid atmosphere perfectly. The Ghost Woods follows perfectly as the third entry in this “spiritual trilogy”, and might be my favourite thus far. On a surface level, you have a creepy tale that plays with many of the familiar tropes in horror (witches, ghosts, haunted houses, Scottish folklore etc.) and takes inspiration from the classics (Hill House, The Fall of the House of Usher, Frankenstein…). On a deeper level, there’s a far more disturbing and emotional story of the price of motherhood, memory, trauma and the (medical) mistreatment of women in our not too distant history. It’s this subtle interweaving of “layers of horror” and emotion that sets a great horror novel apart from the bunch. I was not only on the edge of my seat, intrigued, excited and thrilled from beginning to end, but I also had plenty of food for thought left long after I’d closed the final chapter.
What I didn’t like
You could argue that the reveal at the end requires some suspension of disbelieve, that I can see might put some readers off. Throughout the story we’re constantly questioning whether the events at Lichen Hall are natural or supernatural in nature and the ending ultimately doesn’t quite fit neatly into either box. Because of the great set up, I was completely able to suspend my disbelieve towards the ending, but I can see it being point of contention for some.
Overall, I highly recommend The Ghost Woods , especially as a companion on a dark and gloomy autumnal night. I can see this becoming a favourite of the year for me personally.
Many thanks to Harper Collins UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t think I’ve read a more perfect opening-line to a gothic horror novel in long time, and The Ghost Woods only got better from that point on. An overgrown house in the woods, whispered legends of ghosts and witchcraft, a child who isn’t quite a child, and a pregnant woman sent to give birth amidst it all. If you’re still looking for your perfect Halloween-read, look no further because this is my definitive recommendation for 2022.
The Story
Told in dual timelines, The Ghost Woods follows two young, pregnant women’s time at Lichen Hall; an remote gothic manor in the woods that serves as a safe haven for unwed women to give birth and potentially offer up their new-borns for adoption. In 1959, 17-year old Mabel is shocked and confounded by her condition; how could she be pregnant, while she knows she’s never had sex? It must be due to the ghosts that inhabit her body…
In 1965, 22-year old nurse Pearl lost everything after the “shame” of her pre-marital pregnancy got around town. Desperate, and knowing she won’t be able to take care of the baby, she turns to Lichen Hall for help.
Both women soon find Lichen Hall not as safe a haven as the had hoped. Mould festers within the walls, strange apparitions lurk in the surrounding woods and the caretakers and inhabitant of the manor all seem privy to bouts of strange behaviour. Whether that be Mrs Whitlock insistence of “no medical intervention” surrounding the pregnancies, her husband’s collapse into dementia, or the strange boy with a precocious interest in mycology and botany.
Both women’s stories eventually collide to unearth the secrets at the roots of Lichen Hall.
What I liked
I’ve been a C.J. Cooke fan ever since The Nesting and The Lighthouse Witches. Both are gothic thriller/horror novels that combine a taught mystery, interesting characters and strong themes of motherhood, and both showcase the authors pension for creating unsettling imagery and vivid atmosphere perfectly. The Ghost Woods follows perfectly as the third entry in this “spiritual trilogy”, and might be my favourite thus far. On a surface level, you have a creepy tale that plays with many of the familiar tropes in horror (witches, ghosts, haunted houses, Scottish folklore etc.) and takes inspiration from the classics (Hill House, The Fall of the House of Usher, Frankenstein…). On a deeper level, there’s a far more disturbing and emotional story of the price of motherhood, memory, trauma and the (medical) mistreatment of women in our not too distant history. It’s this subtle interweaving of “layers of horror” and emotion that sets a great horror novel apart from the bunch. I was not only on the edge of my seat, intrigued, excited and thrilled from beginning to end, but I also had plenty of food for thought left long after I’d closed the final chapter.
What I didn’t like
You could argue that the reveal at the end requires some suspension of disbelieve, that I can see might put some readers off. Throughout the story we’re constantly questioning whether the events at Lichen Hall are natural or supernatural in nature and the ending ultimately doesn’t quite fit neatly into either box. Because of the great set up, I was completely able to suspend my disbelieve towards the ending, but I can see it being point of contention for some.
Overall, I highly recommend The Ghost Woods , especially as a companion on a dark and gloomy autumnal night. I can see this becoming a favourite of the year for me personally.
Many thanks to Harper Collins UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2023
This didn’t work for me. There is nothing distinctive about the two protagonists, which, coupled with the fact that their POVs are set in the same place with all the same people around the dame time, means you easily lose sense of who’s who and whose POV you’re reading. The book also dragged on for 350 pages and then ended in a mad rush, with hurried and half-hearted explanations and for everything we patiently sat through for 350 pages. TW for rape and graphic childbirth scenes.
Want to read
July 16, 2022Is this for real?! Is this happening this year?
October 23, 2022
Most importantly this book was beautifully written, atmospheric, clever, and vivid with a cast of great characters. But…it just fell a little flat for me. I didn’t get a particular scary vibe from the book-yes it’s set in a fancy old house in the middle of nowhere, and yes there’s a sinister vein running through the story but was I creeped out? No.
Did I figure out what was going on somewhere around the moment one character told another about a fungus that spreads and infects ants? Sadly yes.
I didn’t hate the story I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hoped. I slogged through part one, really enjoyed part two, and then read steadily through part 3.
Content warning: SA, FAMILIAL RAPE, RAPE, BABY LOSS.
Personal note: I started this book a week after a miscarriage-whilst this doesn’t change my opinion of the content of the story it most likely did have an effect on how I read it, and why I found it hard work in parts.
Did I figure out what was going on somewhere around the moment one character told another about a fungus that spreads and infects ants? Sadly yes.
I didn’t hate the story I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hoped. I slogged through part one, really enjoyed part two, and then read steadily through part 3.
Content warning: SA, FAMILIAL RAPE, RAPE, BABY LOSS.
Personal note: I started this book a week after a miscarriage-whilst this doesn’t change my opinion of the content of the story it most likely did have an effect on how I read it, and why I found it hard work in parts.
August 24, 2024
4.5 stars! Mushrooms, ghosts, lesbians and a witch? Beautiful. 🌈
October 19, 2022
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for approving me for an ARC of this book. I listened to the audiobook of The Lighthouse Witches last year and absolutely loved it so could not resist requesting this one. I even found a copy of the book in Rossiter Books, Cheltenham to add to my collection.
The Ghost Woods is a dual timeline story which is one of my favourite tropes. I love seeing how the two different stories come together and how they are linked. Whilst these two stories were set quite close together in terms of time I loved the puzzle of figuring out what had happened in a short space of time.
Our first story centres around Mabel, a young girl who finds herself pregnant in the late 1950’s and is sent to Lichen Hall, a home for unwed pregnant women. The plan is for her to give birth to her child and then give it up for adoption before returning home. When she arrives there she meets Morwen and the two soon develop a loving friendship.
Skip forward to 1965 and Pearl, also pregnant finds herself at Lichen Hall. From the minute she arrives things are not right and you get the sense that she is in trouble. Mabel no longer works at the house and every one seems to be lying to her. The owner Mrs Whitlock is acting very strange and Pearl can’t work out what is going on. To top if all off there’s also something strange happening in the woods.
I will fully admit that this book gave me all the creepy, spooky dark Halloween vibes I was expecting. I was engrossed in the story and wanted to work out what was going on. There were lies, secrets, love, friendship and so much that the end felt like a whirlwind. I love that the story is based on real places and whilst the events in this book did not happen, establishments like Lichen Hall did exist and it’s scary to think of the trauma’s many young women and children faced in such recent times.
C.J. Cooke has done it again and written something superb, it’s twisted, horrifying and full of suspense. Definitely the perfect spooky read for this season!
The Ghost Woods is a dual timeline story which is one of my favourite tropes. I love seeing how the two different stories come together and how they are linked. Whilst these two stories were set quite close together in terms of time I loved the puzzle of figuring out what had happened in a short space of time.
Our first story centres around Mabel, a young girl who finds herself pregnant in the late 1950’s and is sent to Lichen Hall, a home for unwed pregnant women. The plan is for her to give birth to her child and then give it up for adoption before returning home. When she arrives there she meets Morwen and the two soon develop a loving friendship.
Skip forward to 1965 and Pearl, also pregnant finds herself at Lichen Hall. From the minute she arrives things are not right and you get the sense that she is in trouble. Mabel no longer works at the house and every one seems to be lying to her. The owner Mrs Whitlock is acting very strange and Pearl can’t work out what is going on. To top if all off there’s also something strange happening in the woods.
I will fully admit that this book gave me all the creepy, spooky dark Halloween vibes I was expecting. I was engrossed in the story and wanted to work out what was going on. There were lies, secrets, love, friendship and so much that the end felt like a whirlwind. I love that the story is based on real places and whilst the events in this book did not happen, establishments like Lichen Hall did exist and it’s scary to think of the trauma’s many young women and children faced in such recent times.
C.J. Cooke has done it again and written something superb, it’s twisted, horrifying and full of suspense. Definitely the perfect spooky read for this season!
November 21, 2022
I would not recommend this book to anyone. It is a poorly written story where the plot line has more holes than a wormy mushroom, plenty of times it is moved on a whim as a fool attempt to keep the story going, forgetting about the logic or motivation behind it (here is the reference to the love life of the second main narrator - Pearl). And OMG how many times the author was losing a trail of her thoughts, it is just insanely confusing to see snow turn into rain, a character change his outfit in midsentence, object "magically" appear in the next line after they mentioned to be thrown away (and there was no gothic mysticism behind it, only a teenager throwing a tantrum and a pen while starting to doodle in mare seconds, with a ghost pen no less).
June 27, 2023
This was an absolutely delicious story.
Duel timelines, slight mystery, who can you trust vibes and a splash of magic make this a true winner!
I am kicking myself for not picking this up sooner.
The characters are well fleshed out, the plot is intriguing from the start and the setting is on fire.
Run, don't walk, to read this!
Much love to NetGalley & HarperCollins UK for my DRC.
Check the triggers on this one before jumping in.
Duel timelines, slight mystery, who can you trust vibes and a splash of magic make this a true winner!
I am kicking myself for not picking this up sooner.
The characters are well fleshed out, the plot is intriguing from the start and the setting is on fire.
Run, don't walk, to read this!
Much love to NetGalley & HarperCollins UK for my DRC.
Check the triggers on this one before jumping in.
October 6, 2023
Atmospheric, dark and mysterious!
Welcome to Lichen Hall, where you'll be made very welcome but you may not want to venture into the woods at night....
I enjoyed this book, but it is long and plods on a bit in the middle! It offers no surprises but it's well-written and perfect for an October night.
Welcome to Lichen Hall, where you'll be made very welcome but you may not want to venture into the woods at night....
I enjoyed this book, but it is long and plods on a bit in the middle! It offers no surprises but it's well-written and perfect for an October night.
June 27, 2023
Lichen Hall, an imposing and gloomy residence, sits deep within the forest and miles from anywhere. Run by the Whitlock’s, it is a temporary home for expectant mothers. In 1956 Mabel arrives and then, six years later, in 1965, Pearl is sent here. It’s a lonely place, Mrs Whitlock doesn’t encourage visitors and as a result, Lichen Hall is almost self sufficient. These two girls are expected to give birth, hand their babies over for adoption and then leave. But Lichen Hall may have other plans…
This was a wonderfully spooky read. I listened to it and the narration was perfect. There’s a deep sense of foreboding within the story, the mysterious lights, the darkness of the nature surrounding Lichen Hall, the unpredictability of Mrs Whitlock all really ram the tension up. The two separate timelines of the characters work together brilliantly and the 1960s setting really enhances the eerie remoteness and isolation of the hall.
Incredibly atmospheric, this would be the perfect Halloween read. But I loved it just as much in the height of summer!
This was a wonderfully spooky read. I listened to it and the narration was perfect. There’s a deep sense of foreboding within the story, the mysterious lights, the darkness of the nature surrounding Lichen Hall, the unpredictability of Mrs Whitlock all really ram the tension up. The two separate timelines of the characters work together brilliantly and the 1960s setting really enhances the eerie remoteness and isolation of the hall.
Incredibly atmospheric, this would be the perfect Halloween read. But I loved it just as much in the height of summer!
May 21, 2024
Thất vọng quá. Truyện thể loại fantasy có yếu tố kinh dị, nhưng nó cứ không ra hẳn fantasy mà cũng không ra hẳn kinh dị (kiểu nửa này nửa nọ nên không cảm thấy quá kì bí hay sợ hãi).
60% đầu của truyện tương đối lan man và thu���n tuý kể về quãng thời gian sống ở lâu đài Địa Y của Mabel và Pearl ở hai dòng thời gian, họ lo lắng về việc sinh đẻ thế nào, rồi một số sự bí ẩn họ trải nghiệm khi sống ở đây. Nhưng những bí ẩn đó diễn ra rải rác trong 60% đầu này mà không được tập trung nhiều nên cảm giác tò mò của mình không kéo dài lâu.
Truyện bắt đầu tăng tốc hơn khi hai nhân vật này sinh con (ở 2 dòng thời gian khác nhau) và thêm một số hành động bí ẩn của bà Whitlock (chủ nhân lâu đài), sau đó là một vụ giết người bí ẩn, khiến mình bắt đầu cảm thấy hấp dẫn hơn. Tuy vậy, truyện lại trở về nhịp độ đơn điệu ban đầu, kể cả khi đã có nhiều tình tiết hơn cho thấy sự kì lạ đáng sợ đang xâm chiếm lâu đài Địa Y. Hai dòng thời gian chập lại với nhau ở dòng thời gian hiện tại, các nhân v���t gặp nhau và tiếp tục quá trình sống ở lâu đài Địa Y. Mình khá thất vọng vì nghĩ rằng dòng thời gian 1956 sẽ tiết lộ điều gì đó giải đáp những hành vi kì lạ của bà Whitlock, nguồn gốc của nấm đang xâm chiếm lâu đại Địa Y ở năm 1965 (hiện tại), nhưng dòng 1956 đáng tiếc thay chỉ là kể một câu chuyện đơn thuần về Mabel (kèm theo một chút sự kì lạ diễn ra ở lâu đài Địa Y) và kết thúc, không tạo thêm cái gì mới hơn cho dòng năm 1965.
Đến cuối cùng lên cao trào truyện thì nhịp truyện đã nhanh hơn, nhưng mình không cảm nhận được sự căng thẳng và dồn dập của tình tiết truyện. Truyện kết thúc mang tính nhân văn nhưng cũng không thực sự giải quyết được mọi thứ triệt để.
Truyện cũng tập trung vào mối quan hệ mẹ con, việc phải từ bỏ đứa con mình sinh ra vì không thể nuôi nó... nhưng mà mình không thấy chủ đề này mang sức nặng quá lớn trong truyện. Mình nghĩ là nếu tác giả muốn trọng tâm của truyện là về mẹ con, nỗi đau mất con, sang chấn tâm lý thì truyện chưa làm tới.
TW là có yếu tố cưỡng hiếp nhé.
60% đầu của truyện tương đối lan man và thu���n tuý kể về quãng thời gian sống ở lâu đài Địa Y của Mabel và Pearl ở hai dòng thời gian, họ lo lắng về việc sinh đẻ thế nào, rồi một số sự bí ẩn họ trải nghiệm khi sống ở đây. Nhưng những bí ẩn đó diễn ra rải rác trong 60% đầu này mà không được tập trung nhiều nên cảm giác tò mò của mình không kéo dài lâu.
Truyện bắt đầu tăng tốc hơn khi hai nhân vật này sinh con (ở 2 dòng thời gian khác nhau) và thêm một số hành động bí ẩn của bà Whitlock (chủ nhân lâu đài), sau đó là một vụ giết người bí ẩn, khiến mình bắt đầu cảm thấy hấp dẫn hơn. Tuy vậy, truyện lại trở về nhịp độ đơn điệu ban đầu, kể cả khi đã có nhiều tình tiết hơn cho thấy sự kì lạ đáng sợ đang xâm chiếm lâu đài Địa Y. Hai dòng thời gian chập lại với nhau ở dòng thời gian hiện tại, các nhân v���t gặp nhau và tiếp tục quá trình sống ở lâu đài Địa Y. Mình khá thất vọng vì nghĩ rằng dòng thời gian 1956 sẽ tiết lộ điều gì đó giải đáp những hành vi kì lạ của bà Whitlock, nguồn gốc của nấm đang xâm chiếm lâu đại Địa Y ở năm 1965 (hiện tại), nhưng dòng 1956 đáng tiếc thay chỉ là kể một câu chuyện đơn thuần về Mabel (kèm theo một chút sự kì lạ diễn ra ở lâu đài Địa Y) và kết thúc, không tạo thêm cái gì mới hơn cho dòng năm 1965.
Đến cuối cùng lên cao trào truyện thì nhịp truyện đã nhanh hơn, nhưng mình không cảm nhận được sự căng thẳng và dồn dập của tình tiết truyện. Truyện kết thúc mang tính nhân văn nhưng cũng không thực sự giải quyết được mọi thứ triệt để.
Truyện cũng tập trung vào mối quan hệ mẹ con, việc phải từ bỏ đứa con mình sinh ra vì không thể nuôi nó... nhưng mà mình không thấy chủ đề này mang sức nặng quá lớn trong truyện. Mình nghĩ là nếu tác giả muốn trọng tâm của truyện là về mẹ con, nỗi đau mất con, sang chấn tâm lý thì truyện chưa làm tới.
TW là có yếu tố cưỡng hiếp nhé.
August 18, 2022
Deep in an ancient forest stands a house.
A place shrouded in old stories.
Of ghosts,of witches,and of a child who is not quite a child.
The woods creep ever closer.
In the midst of the woods stands a house called Lichen Hall which has been the topic of folklore and legend for many years, responsible for countless old stories of ghosts haunting those who dare enter, always just on the periphery of vision, eluding your gaze. Of witches responsible for such lurid acts they could only have place in lore and myth for being so heinous for something took place on these old grounds, and now it longs to roam again.
Pearl Gorham arrives to the crumbling Lichen Hall in 1965, one of many a woman to be sent to give birth under the shadows to stay clean of scandal and society’s judgements and it isn’t long before Pearl suspects the proprietors are hiding something and when she meets a strange mother and her young son who live on the grounds, it’s only the beginning of what she is to uncover among the dark and twisted history of this once grand estate.
As the truth begins to surface, the darkness grows closer for it may already be too late to save those who Pearl cares about most for Nicnevin, Scotlands Hecate, stalks her prey, knowing they can never leave and it is this power of fear and the unknowing that she thrives and grows stronger with each birth she witnesses as she knows a new child means her life is extended indefinitely as long as she can maintain appearances.
Will Pearl ever succeed in freeing herself and her new friends from Nicnevin’s grasp or has she already been infected with the very thing that surrounds the grounds?
Deliciously dark,sumptuous and gothic with a hint of the otherworldly,this story will have you racing from chapter to chapter to find out Pearls fate!
A place shrouded in old stories.
Of ghosts,of witches,and of a child who is not quite a child.
The woods creep ever closer.
In the midst of the woods stands a house called Lichen Hall which has been the topic of folklore and legend for many years, responsible for countless old stories of ghosts haunting those who dare enter, always just on the periphery of vision, eluding your gaze. Of witches responsible for such lurid acts they could only have place in lore and myth for being so heinous for something took place on these old grounds, and now it longs to roam again.
Pearl Gorham arrives to the crumbling Lichen Hall in 1965, one of many a woman to be sent to give birth under the shadows to stay clean of scandal and society’s judgements and it isn’t long before Pearl suspects the proprietors are hiding something and when she meets a strange mother and her young son who live on the grounds, it’s only the beginning of what she is to uncover among the dark and twisted history of this once grand estate.
As the truth begins to surface, the darkness grows closer for it may already be too late to save those who Pearl cares about most for Nicnevin, Scotlands Hecate, stalks her prey, knowing they can never leave and it is this power of fear and the unknowing that she thrives and grows stronger with each birth she witnesses as she knows a new child means her life is extended indefinitely as long as she can maintain appearances.
Will Pearl ever succeed in freeing herself and her new friends from Nicnevin’s grasp or has she already been infected with the very thing that surrounds the grounds?
Deliciously dark,sumptuous and gothic with a hint of the otherworldly,this story will have you racing from chapter to chapter to find out Pearls fate!
January 29, 2023
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
After loving The Lighthouse Witches, I desperately wanted to pick up The Ghost Woods. While the books are standalones, set in different areas and eras, it's hard not to see similar themes running throughout both. Cooke has not disappointed with their latest offering!
What I loved:
- Split timeline - gosh I love dual timelines, wondering when or if they'll come together. The tension when you know something that one character doesn't that another has already experienced in the past. Edge of your seat kind of reading!
- The Scottish setting of Lichen Hall, Cooke has truly painted a vivid picture of this stately home, turned home for 'fallen women'.
- The folklore vibes; I'm such a sucker for folklore.
- Characters with drive and conviction. Our two main female protagonists come from different backgrounds but have very similar goals and both find themselves at Lichen Hall for the same reason, years apart.
- The subtle weaving of supernatural elements into the narrative. Cooke did this expertly in The Lighthouse Witches and does the same again here; one of my favourite aspects of their writing!
- The genuine creeps this book gave me; but in a good, invested kind of way!
What didn't reel me in:
- I think it's intentional but there are a couple loose ends that I wanted a bit more closure on, but that's just me wanting everything to be wrapped up neatly!
Read if you enjoy:
- Reading: The Lighthouse Witches, The Glass Woman, The Liar of Red Valley
- Strong FMC's
- Historical Fiction: Mid-20th Century
- Gothic settings.
After loving The Lighthouse Witches, I desperately wanted to pick up The Ghost Woods. While the books are standalones, set in different areas and eras, it's hard not to see similar themes running throughout both. Cooke has not disappointed with their latest offering!
What I loved:
- Split timeline - gosh I love dual timelines, wondering when or if they'll come together. The tension when you know something that one character doesn't that another has already experienced in the past. Edge of your seat kind of reading!
- The Scottish setting of Lichen Hall, Cooke has truly painted a vivid picture of this stately home, turned home for 'fallen women'.
- The folklore vibes; I'm such a sucker for folklore.
- Characters with drive and conviction. Our two main female protagonists come from different backgrounds but have very similar goals and both find themselves at Lichen Hall for the same reason, years apart.
- The subtle weaving of supernatural elements into the narrative. Cooke did this expertly in The Lighthouse Witches and does the same again here; one of my favourite aspects of their writing!
- The genuine creeps this book gave me; but in a good, invested kind of way!
What didn't reel me in:
- I think it's intentional but there are a couple loose ends that I wanted a bit more closure on, but that's just me wanting everything to be wrapped up neatly!
Read if you enjoy:
- Reading: The Lighthouse Witches, The Glass Woman, The Liar of Red Valley
- Strong FMC's
- Historical Fiction: Mid-20th Century
- Gothic settings.
September 27, 2022
The Ghost Woods || CJ Cooke
The Ghost Woods is a standalone feminist gothic novel by best-selling author, CJ Cooke. It is thematically the third book in a trio of books which focus on nature, motherhood, memory and trauma. The first two books being, The Lighthouse Witches and The Nesting. I have read the Lighthouse Witches and thoroughly loved it, which is what prompted me to pick up this book.
CJ Cooke has a wonderful ability to create atmospheric, gothic and thought-provoking stories. It was hard to put this one down. Told in alternating POV and multiple timelines, the story follows two expectant mothers, Mabel and Pearl who are accommodated at Lichen Hall, a place for unmarried women to have their babies and adopt them out. The book explores issues of motherhood during a time when pregnant women held limited choices or power. While not the main focus, the book also features LGBTIQ+ characters and explores experiences of queer women.
I love CJ Cooke’s writing style and the way in which she allows you to fully immerse in and experience these women’s journey, heartache, love and loss. This book was easy and effortless to read and the pages devoured themselves. I am keen to go back now and read The Nesting. I will be keeping an eye out for future releases by this author.
Thank you to CJ Cooke, HarperCollins and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel.
The Ghost Woods is a standalone feminist gothic novel by best-selling author, CJ Cooke. It is thematically the third book in a trio of books which focus on nature, motherhood, memory and trauma. The first two books being, The Lighthouse Witches and The Nesting. I have read the Lighthouse Witches and thoroughly loved it, which is what prompted me to pick up this book.
CJ Cooke has a wonderful ability to create atmospheric, gothic and thought-provoking stories. It was hard to put this one down. Told in alternating POV and multiple timelines, the story follows two expectant mothers, Mabel and Pearl who are accommodated at Lichen Hall, a place for unmarried women to have their babies and adopt them out. The book explores issues of motherhood during a time when pregnant women held limited choices or power. While not the main focus, the book also features LGBTIQ+ characters and explores experiences of queer women.
I love CJ Cooke’s writing style and the way in which she allows you to fully immerse in and experience these women’s journey, heartache, love and loss. This book was easy and effortless to read and the pages devoured themselves. I am keen to go back now and read The Nesting. I will be keeping an eye out for future releases by this author.
Thank you to CJ Cooke, HarperCollins and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel.
September 8, 2022
My first ever Gothic historical novel and I am hooked. I devoured this in one day and now wish I had taken my time.
The setting was so descriptive, I felt really immersed into the stories of Mabel, Pearl, The Whitlocks and Lichen House.
I fell in love with Mabel and her son Sylvan and of course Pearl and it was easy to cheer them on and really hope for a happy ending for all of them.
It's truly a masterpiece of folklore and womens rights & unseen forces that are hidden in the woods. A perfect read for this time of year as summer ends and Autumn begins.
Honestly the thrill and suspense as the story unfolds with some serious dark scenes from destruction and lies to murder. This is a book for anyone who loves a grisly tale.
Thank you to @netgalley C J Cooke and Harper Collins for the advanced e-copy in exchange for my review.
The setting was so descriptive, I felt really immersed into the stories of Mabel, Pearl, The Whitlocks and Lichen House.
I fell in love with Mabel and her son Sylvan and of course Pearl and it was easy to cheer them on and really hope for a happy ending for all of them.
It's truly a masterpiece of folklore and womens rights & unseen forces that are hidden in the woods. A perfect read for this time of year as summer ends and Autumn begins.
Honestly the thrill and suspense as the story unfolds with some serious dark scenes from destruction and lies to murder. This is a book for anyone who loves a grisly tale.
Thank you to @netgalley C J Cooke and Harper Collins for the advanced e-copy in exchange for my review.
October 30, 2022
After reading Cooke’s “The Lighthouse Witches” and it easily becoming one of my favorite books of all time, I had to pick this book up when I saw it at Chapters! I loved the extremely short chapters and the eerie vibe of this book. I would definitely classify this as Gothic fiction. The story went in a direction that I didn’t expect but I still really enjoyed it. It was very easy to connect with this story and the characters. It didn’t beat The Lighthouse Witches but C.J Cooke has officially become and auto-buy author for me!
March 3, 2023
I liked the characters in this book, even Nicnevin, the witch. The story was told very straight forward and flowed well. The thing that keeps me from rating it higher is there seemed to be some confusing loose ends and story lines that didn't really make sense. So it ended on more of a confusing note for me.
As I am one of those "the book is always better than the movie", I oddly feel that, in the right hands, this could make a good movie. Movies are, by their nature, less complicated than books and I think this could be a scary one if handled right.
As I am one of those "the book is always better than the movie", I oddly feel that, in the right hands, this could make a good movie. Movies are, by their nature, less complicated than books and I think this could be a scary one if handled right.
November 16, 2022
4.5 stars
Nobody writes a haunting atmosphere quite like C.J. Cooke does.
Loved the suspense in this one and was super satisfied with the final resolution. Great themes of motherhood, othering and queerness.
Nobody writes a haunting atmosphere quite like C.J. Cooke does.
Loved the suspense in this one and was super satisfied with the final resolution. Great themes of motherhood, othering and queerness.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 822 reviews