The Last Witch by C.J. Cooke
Darkness, fear, and history collide in a story that refuses to let you look away.
This is one of those times that proves judging a book by its cover can go either way. The moment I spotted that purple cover with the pentagram on NetGalley, I didn’t even think twice—I just clicked request. I mean, witches, right? No need to dig deeper. What I didn’t catch was that this was historical fiction, a genre I’m super picky about and not one I usually gravitate toward. So at first, I struggled to connect.
But the deeper I went, the more I realized this wasn’t just a story about witches—it was about persecution, power, and survival. Cooke’s writing made the past feel immediate and raw. There’s a tension that builds from the first accusation, pulling you into the fear and injustice of what it meant to be “other.”
This book isn’t frivolous fantasy—it’s a powerful story about how easily people can be silenced, and the courage it takes to fight back. That’s what hooked me. What started as hesitation because of the genre turned into a reading experience that lingered long after I closed the book.
At first, I dragged a little because of the setting and history, but with the pub date coming up I knew I had to push through. Then the audiobook practically fell into my lap like a sign from above. While scrolling through Penguin Random House Audio, that same cover popped up like a rescue beacon. I downloaded it immediately, and immersion reading made all the difference.
The narration by Olivia Vinall was fantastic. Her pacing is on the slower side, but it fit perfectly here, giving the words the weight they deserved. And her British accent added just the right historical flair—it felt like it was meant to be read that way.
In the end, this turned out to be one of my rare historical fiction wins. It was chilling, thought-provoking, and cinematic all at once—and I’m so glad I didn’t let my hesitation hold me back.
Sometimes a cover does more than catch your eye— it can lead you to a story that stays with you long after the last page.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC from Berkley Publishing via NetGalley and an audio ALC through the Penguin Random House Influencer Program which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
