BOOK NOOK; Waking the Witch by Rachel Burge

 I read a lot of witchy novels and I am always on the look out for a fresh take on the witch trope, so I was thrilled when Bonnier Books UK sent me an ARC of Rachel Burge's new novel, Waking the Witch.  I have already read The Twisted Tree by the same author and enjoyed it, so I was eager to read this new story.

Waking the Witch is set just off the coast of Wales on Bardsey Island, which is often said to be the site of Avalon. It is there that young Ivy travels with her friend Tom, in search of Ivy's mother, who gave her up at birth.  Ivy has grown up in care, moving from one foster home to another and she is looking for answers as to why she was abandoned.  Following up on a lead, she learns that her mother lives on the island and so Ivy writes her a letter, which results in a strange phone call from her mum telling her to stay away from the island and warning Ivy that there are dark shadows who are trying to find her and harm her.

Ivy ignores her mother's warning and goes to the island anyway, eager to find some sense of family and homecoming, but there are strange shadows that follow her, shadows which can takes over anyone and make them attack her.  When Ivy finally meets her mother, she finds herself pulled into the midst of a battle between good and evil. How far will mother and daughter go to save one another?

This is a witchy tale with an Arthurian twist, but in this book the popular mythology is subverted, with Morgan le Fey being a benevolent force and with a much darker depiction of Merlin than I have ever read before. The characters are well drawn, with Tom providing the light relief of humour to quite a dark story.  

This is an evocative novel which successfully incorporates witches, shape-shifting, demonic possession and reincarnation, all woven together quite beautifully.  As Ivy discovers more of her family history she must come to terms not only with who she really is, but what she really is too.   The book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, so I expect that there will be a sequel coming soon as well, which I am looking forward to reading. 

All in all this is another fabulous magical world created by Burge, full of twists and turns and things that I didn't expect.  I loved the Arthurian slant and the witchy vibes were strong throughout the story.  Waking the Witch is an atmospheric read, perfect for curling up with on a rainy day.  Happy reading!

Marie x

AD; This novel was sent to me by the publisher for the purposes of review.  It is released today August 18th, and is available in paperback, digital and audio book formats. 

BOOK NOOK; The Ghost Woods by C J Cooke

  

"I'm much deeper in the woods than I intended to come, and suddenly I don't feel safe. But then I spot the source of the movement - it's a person, quite tall, moonlight falling on a long cloak. The curve of a hood at their head.

I step back quickly, but my foot presses down on a branch, breaking the silence with a loud snap. The figure turns in my direction, alerted to my presence.  They've seen me.

My heart jackhammers in my throat.

I watch, frozen with fear, as the figure begins to walk stealthily towards me. I turn and stumble back to the house, branches whipping my face.  I fall on my hands, my knee connecting hard with a rock.  I turn quickly to look behind me. My pursuer is charging through the trees, gaining speed.

I'm too terrified to scream."

If I could only ever read one genre of fiction, it would be the gothic novel, which never seems to go out of style. So I was delighted when Harper Collins pre-selected me to review an ARC of The Ghost Woods, which is the latest gothic novel from C J Cooke, author of The Lighthouse Witches and The Nesting, both of which I enjoyed immensely. 

Like her earlier novels, The Ghost Woods explores the connection between humans and the forces of the natural world around them. As a gothic novel, it weaves together natural studies, folklore and mythology, to create a story that is completely unique. All the keystone elements of a gothic novel are apparent - secrets, mysteries, otherworldly beings, incarceration, madness and so on - but they are brought together in a way that I have never read before, by the power of fungi and mushrooms! 

The novel, set in the late 1950s and early 1960s,  follows two young women, Mabel and Pearl, who are sent to the same home for unwed expectant mothers. Once there, they each live out their pregnancy before giving the baby up for adoption.  This was an enforced punishment for young women and girls during that time and it was very common for women to be sent away in disgrace and forced to give up their child. It was thought that a woman of such loose morals as to allow herself to fall pregnant out of wedlock, was not fit to be a mother. 

So Pearl and Mabel find themselves at Lichen Hall in the Scottish Borders, having their babies five or six years apart.  At first the novel jumps back and forth between these two narratives, but things really start to get exciting when the two story lines merge into one and Pearl and Mabel meet. From then on, the novel really swings along at a great pace, as the two women try to solve the hidden mystery at the heart of Lichen Hall and seek to prove once and for all if the legend of Nicnevin, the witch who is said to live in the woods, is true or not. 

Nicnevin the witch, is a very spooky aspect of Scottish folklore. She is hag goddess, similar to the Cailleach or Hecate.  In some legends, Nicnevin is an ancient goddess, in others she is a fairy queen. Her name was often applied to women who were taken up on charges of witchcraft during the Scottish witch trials, so it became a by-word for a witch in Scotland, similar to Grimalkin.  She is often said to be a malignant force, rather than a benevolent one and that is certainly the case in Cooke's rendition of her in The Ghost Woods. 

In this novel, Nicnevin is an ever present threat, a malignant entity, waiting to prey on anyone who wanders into her woods, even creeping into the Hall at times. Here there are fairy rings of such magnitude they seem more like a huge trap, rather than a lovely natural phenomenon. There are lights in the woods at night, mushrooms that glow and fungi which is encroaching on the house itself. Nicnevin is all around the girls when they are at their most vulnerable, for how can they run from the threat when they are weighed down by their own great bulk of pregnancy? 

It is an atmospheric read, at times revolting in its descriptions of how fungi work, at times sinister in the gathering threat of doom that hangs over the girls. As the house they entered for sanctuary during pregnancy becomes a threat, the girls have to work together to find a way to escape from the constant menace and the contamination that is all around them. Their only hope is a little boy with strange powers of foresight, but do his gifts come from a good place, or is he being used by Nicnevin herself? 

The Ghost Woods is a fabulous book with a subtle Scottish slant. It made me feel very glad that I have never wanted babies and that I don't like mushrooms! It's a great one to read during the autumn, which is why it is being published in October, during fungi season.  A word of warning though, this novel will probably put you off mushroom soup forever, and if you dare to go foraging in the woods after reading this, you're a braver person than I am!

I hope C J Cooke continues to write more gothic novels, because she certainly has a talent for this genre. 

Blessed Be

Marie x

AD: This book was sent to me by the publisher for review purposes. It is released on 13th October 2022, but it is available for pre-order now. 

ONCE UPON A DREAM; The Upturned Cauldron Goodies

 

Today is Lughnasadh and I have had a good harvest again this year, so I've been treating myself to some new witchy bits for autumn.  I first discovered The Upturned Cauldron last year and they have fast become one of my favourite witchy brands.  I love everything about them, from their ethics to the stunning artwork on their spooky packaging.  As we are now in the final weeks of summer, my thoughts have turned to autumn and I wanted to get a few new bits in preparation for the spooky season, both from The Upturned Cauldron and beyond.   

To begin with I bought a fabulous pumpkin shaped chopping board from the local shopping center, which is just lovely.  It looks fantastic in my kitchen, as I have pumpkin crockery out all year round.  I also picked up a wonderful wine bottle holder that is fashioned to look like a witch's boot.  It has sparkly stars all over it and a curled up point at the front.  Even if you don't drink wine, you could use it for coffee syrups, incense sticks, knitting needles, cooking utensils or paint brushes - anything long and thin could be stored in this witch's boot. 

Then I got a few bewitching goodies from The Upturned Cauldron, who are an independent online candle makers.  All their candles are hand mixed and poured, fragranced with delicious spooky scents like Poison Apple and Immortal Slumber from their very own secret recipes.  My personal favourite is Bewitched Pumpkin and I am so tempted to start burning these ones, but instead I'm being good and waiting until October. They will be one of my autumn treats to look forward to. 

All their candles are made from soy wax, so they burn quite cleanly and are a natural product.  They come in compostable and biodegradable packaging, plus the tins are so witchy that you'll want to reuse them, either for spell craft or to organize your witchy pantry. You could even reuse them as tea light holders for on your altar.  As a small business they make just four scents in all, but each one is beautiful and this means that you easily collect the whole set.  They do seem to sell out pretty quickly though, so if the item you want is out of stock, it probably just means that they are currently stirring up a new batch in the cauldron or waiting for their latest batch to set, so check back in a day or two for restock. 

This year The Upturned Cauldron are also making wax melts, in their signature scents and spooky shapes, such as jack-o-lanterns and poison apples.  Each bag contains between 8-12 melts, depending on which scent you choose.  I have already started using these and my home currently smells of Bewitched Pumpkin. I love it and I am totally ready for spooky season!   These products have a touch of real magic and enchantment about them and I would describe them as an affordable luxury with a witchy twist.  I shall certainly be burning their wax melts in my study as I write my new witchy and psychotherapy books!  

This is the kind of business you would find on Diagon Alley. You can also find them in the Muggle world on Youtube, Instagram and of course at their stunningly atmospheric website, The Upturned Cauldron.  It is the perfect place for restocking your fun little witch supplies, ready for autumn to roll in on a mist. Happy Sabbat! 

Blessed Be

Marie x

AD: Some of these items were gifted to me by The Upturned Cauldron. All opinions are my own.