A review by livvi29
The Ghost Woods by C.J. Cooke

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

 I really enjoyed The Ghost Woods. I don't usually read horror since I'm a bit of a wimp, but this book was more subtly creepy than full-on scary, which worked perfectly for me. I appreciated that alongside the supernatural horror, there was also real-world horror woven into the story, especially due to the men in some of the women's lives.

Lichen Hall was the perfect setting with its eerie atmosphere—a nice mix of beauty and horror. Is there a term for 'body horror' but with a building? Building Horror? Because there's something unsettling about an inhabited house slowly being overtaken by mold and mushrooms. 

The characters were well-rounded, and I especially loved Pearl. I was really rooting for her to figure everything out. The female friendships in the book were another highlight. I feel like adult friendships aren't featured enough in stories, but seeing all the women come together to support each other was just perfect.

My main letdown was the ending. It felt a bit predictable and anticlimactic, and I think some loose ends weren't fully tied up—like the connection between Nicnevin and the mushrooms (or maybe I missed something there).