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BOOK TOUR x RANDOM THINGS TOURS - The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke

 



"The Longing has been standing for a hundred years amidst all that Mother Nature and the sea gods have to throw at her, and I daresay she'll stand a hundred more." 


1998. Liv arrives on a remote Scottish Island at the Lighthouse, known as the Longing, that she's been commissioned to paint with her three daughters, desperate for a new start for her family. She's trying to escape the past and find a new home, some light in their lives. But all she finds is darkness, as just a short time later her daughter Luna is found abandoned, her family nowhere to be seen.

2021. Twenty long years later, Luna returns to the Island of Lon Haven, the island that took everything from her, in search of the truth. She's grown up alone, and despite having a life and a family of her own, strange and unusual occurrences draw her back to the Lighthouse again.

But Luna soon finds her family disappearing isn't the only mystery around the Longing. It was once the site of a brutal and bloody witch hunt, and even now a hundred years later people are disappearing into the night without a trace. Luna feels like the ghosts of her past aren't the only ones clinging to the stormy Island, there's something more. 

But once she manages to shine a light on the dark past of the Lighthouse, she's never going to be able to see the world the same again.

"It's named for the people who lost loved ones. Sometimes they'd visit the site where the longing was built and ... pay their respects." 

The Lighthouse Witches is an enchanting Gothic mystery full of witches, fae, curses and magic. Taking inspiration from Scottish superstition and  folklore, this story weaves a completely unique web of wonder for the reader that will leave you spellbound. 

Told from multiple times and perspectives, this story remained so easy to follow and each perspective was distinct and with a unique voice as we slowly piece together the history of the Longing. The setting was perfect - darkly atmospheric, so visceral that you could feel the isolation of the island, the chill of the sea, the crushing darkness of the night. Each small detail was crafted so delicately to create the most immersive setting, despite some interesting choice of similes. 

Slow burning and intense like fire, this wasn't the type of book that makes you scream and fumble for the lights, but with a subtle horror that leaves you with a chill in your spine and an urge to check over your shoulder just one more time. 

With fierce commentary about the relationship between the persecution of witches and misogyny, this story had me ready to cast my own curse.

The Lighthouse Witches is definitely one to keep you up all night reading...  and then the rest of the night too. 


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


The Lighthouse Witches was released on 30th September 2021 and you can get your copy now! 


About The Author

C.J. Cooke is an acclaimed, award-winning poet, novelist and academic with numerous other publications written under the name of Carolyn Jess-Cooke. Her work has been published in twenty three languages to date. Born in Belfast, C.J. has a PhD in Literature from Queen’s University, Belfast, and  is currently Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, where she researches  creative writing interventions for mental health. C.J. Cooke lives in Glasgow with her husband and four  children. She also founded the Stay-At-Home Festival.




Thank you to Anne at @RandomThingsTours and the publisher for inviting me to take part in this tour. I was gifted an advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review. 



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