The Last Witch by C.J. Cooke (HarperCollins)

The Last Witch by C.J. Cooke is a gripping historical novel that follows Helena, a woman imprisoned alongside six others in a harsh 15th-century prison in Innsbruck. The confined space becomes the setting for a tension-filled story when a cursed witch totem appears among the prisoners, stirring fear, suspicion, and dangerous desire for its power. 

Helena’s journey is the emotional core of the story. She is an intelligent, outspoken woman caught in a loveless marriage and a society quick to label her a witch. Her struggle to regain agency and voice amidst betrayal and injustice is portrayed with striking honesty. The imprisoned women, along with figures in the contemporary storyline, create a complex web of alliances and power struggles, blurring victim and perpetrator roles. Their interactions add depth to Helena’s development, making her increasing resilience and quiet defiance compelling and real.

The novel deals with vital themes such as persecution, silencing women, and historic violence reverberating into the present world today. It highlights fears and oppressions tied to "otherness" and women's continuing struggle for autonomy. Permeating tension and terror is an eerie supernatural chilliness, while underscoring urgent and believable themes. These elements craft a story mirroring modern societal problems, and, by extension, systemic gender violence and cycles of trauma.

C.J. Cooke’s writing is clear and immersive, balancing moments of quiet despair with rising tension. It beckons us to reflect on how fear and violence against women are continuing and how resilience rises from oppression. Mixing historical detail with supernatural suspense creates an intense, memorable read.

But what makes The Last Witch so special is how it entwines historical fact with psychological concept, crafting an intense and haunting tale of injustice and survival. It calls into question the past violence in their present and how women continue to fight the retelling of their stories. Edgy with ambiance and dynamic characters, this novel draws readers into a world that has been stormed by history and the complexities of humanity. 

Drawing on real events, this historical horror paints a bright picture of female power amidst a vast, dark landscape of female disempowerment, a thrilling addition to witcherature and silenced voices from the past.

4/5