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A review by krystal_lacelle
The Ghost Woods by C.J. Cooke
4.0
The Ghost Woods was a chilling read written with atmospheric beauty. You could vividly see the beauty and horrors of Lichen Hall and the woods surrounding it. A place where pregnant, unwed mothers were sent to have their babies and send them off to their adoptive families. The Whitlocks were the family who owned the gothic manor. A place offered to women in need, but in the end it wasn’t as it appeared.
The characters were well developed and interesting in a heartbreaking way. A story told in two time lines that eventually meet up. A little boy with a gift that must be saved. This terrifying and troubling tale is intelligently told with complex emotions.
The authors note really pulled it all together. Reading the authors inspiration for this book really made me appreciate it more. Cooke mentioned a photo by Igor Siwanowicz of an Alice in wonderland book with mushrooms growing out of it as part of her inspiration. I love that, and it adds such a level of understanding. I kind of wish the authors note was at the beginning of the novel.
This gothic novel was inspired by the weirdness, and almost otherworldly characteristics of fungi, history of female repression and control, social restrictions, history of policing women’s bodies and their sexuality, rise of equality around gay rights.
Trigger warnings: r@pe, infant loss, child abuse.
I couldn’t give this book a full 5 stars because I felt it dragged on a bit. I found myself getting bored in the middle and just wanted to get on with it. I think reading the authors note first would have made me appreciate it sooner.
The characters were well developed and interesting in a heartbreaking way. A story told in two time lines that eventually meet up. A little boy with a gift that must be saved. This terrifying and troubling tale is intelligently told with complex emotions.
The authors note really pulled it all together. Reading the authors inspiration for this book really made me appreciate it more. Cooke mentioned a photo by Igor Siwanowicz of an Alice in wonderland book with mushrooms growing out of it as part of her inspiration. I love that, and it adds such a level of understanding. I kind of wish the authors note was at the beginning of the novel.
This gothic novel was inspired by the weirdness, and almost otherworldly characteristics of fungi, history of female repression and control, social restrictions, history of policing women’s bodies and their sexuality, rise of equality around gay rights.
Trigger warnings: r@pe, infant loss, child abuse.
I couldn’t give this book a full 5 stars because I felt it dragged on a bit. I found myself getting bored in the middle and just wanted to get on with it. I think reading the authors note first would have made me appreciate it sooner.