The Book of Witching Summary, Characters and Themes
The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke is a haunting and atmospheric tale that intertwines history, family secrets, and supernatural forces.
Set on the remote Orkney Islands, the story spans centuries, blending a modern-day mystery with a gothic tale of witchcraft and rebellion. The novel follows a mother’s desperate quest to uncover the truth behind her daughter’s strange behavior after a tragic accident and the dark legacy of an ancient book that binds their family to a perilous destiny. Richly layered with suspense, historical intrigue, and emotional depth, this novel explores themes of power, inheritance, and defiance.
Summary
In The Book of Witching, C.J. Cooke crafts a dual narrative spanning the remote Orkney Islands in 1594 and 2024. This gothic tale connects two women separated by centuries but united by their fight against oppressive forces and a cursed magical artifact known as The Book of Witching.
The historical narrative centers on Alison Balfour, a spaewife and member of the Triskele, an ancient clan of witches tasked with safeguarding the book. The Book of Witching is a sentient tome that absorbs the fears of its carriers, binding them to its dark power.
Disillusioned by the Triskele’s growing detachment from the people suffering under Earl Patrick’s tyrannical rule, Alison breaks ties with the clan. She focuses on protecting her children, Edward and Beatrice, from the Triskele’s influence. Her rebellion intensifies when she discovers that the Triskele has initiated her children into their ranks without her consent.
During a haunting ceremony, she witnesses the book’s power as her children scream their darkest fears into its pages, sealing their connection to the artifact.
As Alison wrestles with the clan’s manipulation and the political unrest of 1594, her defiance against the Triskele’s control sets off a chain of events that will echo through her descendants for generations.
Fast-forward to 2024, the modern narrative follows Clementine (Clem) Woodbury, a descendant of Alison, living in Glasgow with her nineteen-year-old daughter Erin and infant granddaughter Freya.
Clem’s life is upended when she receives a call informing her that Erin has been severely burned during a hiking trip on the Orkney Islands. Erin’s boyfriend Arlo has died in the same mysterious fire, and her best friend Senna is missing.
When Erin awakens in the hospital, she doesn’t recognize her mother and insists she is someone named Nyx.
Haunted by Erin’s behavior and the bizarre circumstances surrounding the accident, Clem travels to Orkney to uncover the truth.
Her investigation reveals the island’s dark history, her family’s connection to the Triskele, and the sinister legacy of The Book of Witching.
As Clem delves deeper, the two narratives intertwine, revealing how Alison’s defiance against the Triskele centuries ago created ripples that shape Clem’s present-day struggle.
Themes of rebellion, family bonds, and sacrifice weave through both timelines. Alison’s determination to protect her children mirrors Clem’s efforts to save Erin from the book’s influence.
The narratives converge as Clem unravels the mystery of the cursed artifact and its enduring hold over her family, leading to revelations about the cost of power and the resilience of those who fight against it.
Ultimately, The Book of Witching explores the cyclical nature of oppression and the enduring strength of maternal love, casting a spellbinding tale of survival, loss, and defiance across time.
Characters
Clementine “Clem” Woodbury
Clem is a central figure in the modern-day narrative of The Book of Witching. She is a mother who experiences the worst kind of nightmare when she learns that her daughter Erin has been seriously injured in a fire linked to a dark, ancient ritual on the Orkney Islands.
As a modern descendant of Alison Balfour, Clem finds herself drawn into the sinister history of her family and their connection to the powerful and dangerous Book of Witching. She is portrayed as a loving and protective mother, determined to uncover the truth behind Erin’s condition.
Her search quickly reveals the deep-seated legacy of witchcraft, oppression, and generational curses. Clem’s strength and resilience are tested as she navigates the challenging terrain of family secrets, uncovering the dark forces tied to her lineage and the powerful artifact that has wreaked havoc on her family.
Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she grapples with the pull of the past and her responsibility to protect her daughter, Erin, from the same fate that befell her ancestors. Clem’s actions are motivated by a deep love for her daughter and a growing understanding of the dark forces at play.
Erin Woodbury
Erin, Clem’s daughter, is thrust into the heart of the novel’s mysterious and supernatural occurrences. After a traumatic event on the Orkney Islands that leaves her severely burned, Erin awakes in the hospital to find that she no longer recognizes her mother and insists on being called Nyx.
Her transformation from a teenage girl into a person possessed by a strange force is one of the novel’s most unsettling developments. Erin’s amnesia and her insistence on adopting a different identity mark a significant shift in her character, making her a vessel for the mysterious forces connected to the Book of Witching.
Erin’s story is interwoven with themes of identity, possession, and the impact of generational curses. Her struggle to regain her sense of self while facing an ancient and malevolent force presents both a personal and supernatural battle that challenges her mother, Clem, to confront her family’s dark legacy.
Erin’s fate lies at the center of the novel’s conflict, and her transformation drives much of the suspense. Her story explores the tension between reclaiming her identity and the looming presence of dark forces.
Alison Balfour
Alison Balfour’s narrative, set in the 1590s, presents her as a powerful yet conflicted character. A spaewife—an ancient witch—living on the Isle of Gunn, Alison is part of the Triskele, a secretive clan of magic-wielders that wields immense power through the Book of Witching.
However, unlike other members of the clan, Alison is disillusioned with their methods and their detachment from the common people, especially as the political oppression under Earl Patrick worsens. Her personal rebellion against the Triskele becomes a defining aspect of her character.
Alison attempts to shield her children, Edward and Beatrice, from the clan’s dark influence. Her actions are driven by both love for her children and a desire to protect them from the dangers that come with being bound to the book.
Alison’s emotional turmoil is compounded by her strained relationship with her own mother, a staunch believer in the Triskele’s mission. As a mother, she fights to protect her children from a destiny forced upon them, but the power of the Triskele, symbolized by the Book of Witching, looms large over her every decision.
William Balfour
William Balfour, Alison’s husband, plays a supporting yet significant role in the historical portion of the novel. While his role is more subtle compared to that of Alison, his actions as a member of the resistance against the oppressive Earl Patrick highlight his moral complexity.
William is shown to be deeply involved in efforts to undermine the tyrannical rule in Orkney, yet his choices also reflect a man caught between the personal and the political. His involvement in the rebellion contributes to the overall tension in Alison’s life.
His actions add layers of conflict in both her personal and political spheres. As a father, he shares the burden with Alison of trying to protect their children from the dark, controlling forces of the Triskele, even though it is clear that the events set in motion cannot be easily undone.
Beatrice Balfour
Beatrice, Alison’s daughter, is part of the historical timeline and plays a crucial role in the unfolding of Alison’s rebellion against the Triskele. Though not as central as Alison, Beatrice is a character who represents the generational ties to the Triskele and the struggle for autonomy.
As one of the children initiated into the clan without Alison’s consent, Beatrice’s character embodies the clash between familial loyalty and the overwhelming power of the Triskele. She is caught in the web of the clan’s influence, and her journey explores the impact of that connection on her identity and sense of self.
Beatrice’s presence in the narrative serves to further the exploration of the legacy of witchcraft and the inevitable pull of the Triskele on Alison’s children, despite Alison’s efforts to protect them. Her story highlights the tension between the desire for independence and the weight of familial expectations.
Senna
Senna, Erin’s best friend who is mysteriously missing after the incident on Orkney, adds another layer of mystery to the novel. While not much is known about Senna’s full backstory, her disappearance is key to the intrigue surrounding Erin’s accident.
Her absence highlights the malevolent forces at play and suggests that the Orkney Islands hold more secrets than Clem and Erin can uncover. Senna’s role in the modern-day narrative is central to Clem’s investigation, as she delves deeper into the island’s history, searching for answers.
Senna’s character represents the mystery and danger surrounding the ancient forces at work on Orkney and ties the story back to the novel’s themes of possession, legacy, and the unknown. Her disappearance fuels the suspense, driving Clem further into the island’s dark past.
The Triskele Clan
While not a single character, the Triskele clan is an essential presence in both the historical and modern timelines. The Triskele serves as both a protector and a manipulator in the novel, wielding great power through their control of the Book of Witching.
In Alison’s time, the clan is depicted as morally ambiguous, capable of both protection and oppression, and their complex relationship with the people of Orkney shapes much of the novel’s political and magical landscape. The clan’s secretive rituals and their control over the artifact become central to the unfolding conflict.
The Triskele is more than just a group of individuals—it represents the broader forces of control, secrecy, and generational power that shape the characters’ fates. The clan’s influence plays a pivotal role in the struggles of the main characters, as they each attempt to navigate the legacy of the Book of Witching and its dark magic.
Themes
The Burden of Inherited Power and Responsibility
One of the central themes in The Book of Witching is the complex relationship between inheritance and the burden of power, particularly as it relates to The Book of Witching itself. This magical tome is not just an object but a sentient force that ties its holders to an inevitable and often destructive fate.
The book’s ability to absorb and amplify the darkest fears of its carriers casts a shadow over the lives of those who are drawn to it, often resulting in madness, destruction, or death. The story intricately explores the weight of responsibility that comes with power, particularly through the experiences of Alison and Clem.
For Alison, the burden lies in her refusal to allow her children to inherit the Triskele’s legacy, knowing the danger it poses. Her rebellious attempts to shield them from this dark inheritance only lead to further conflict.
Similarly, Clem’s discovery of her own ancestral connection to the Triskele brings her face to face with the same dilemma. She must decide whether to protect her daughter Erin from the same dark forces or embrace the power that comes with her lineage.
This theme paints a poignant picture of how inherited power can be both a source of strength and a curse, shaping the fates of generations to come.
Rebellion Against Oppressive Systems of Control and Authority
Another key theme that runs throughout The Book of Witching is the rebellion against oppressive systems of control. This theme is first explored through Alison’s narrative in 1594, where the people of Orkney are suffering under the oppressive rule of Earl Patrick.
His tyrannical governance, marked by unjust taxation and land seizure, creates an environment of widespread resentment and rebellion. The Triskele, a secretive clan of witches, plays a complex role in this oppression.
While the clan claims to protect the people, their detachment from the struggles of the common folk—coupled with their use of the Book of Witching to consolidate their power—turns them into a source of fear rather than support. Alison’s decision to defy the clan and shield her children from their influence is a direct challenge to this authoritarian structure, signaling the cost of rebellion: personal loss and familial strain.
This theme carries over into the modern-day narrative of Clem, whose search for the truth about her daughter’s injury forces her to confront both the historical oppression of her ancestors and the contemporary forces that seek to control her.
The story weaves together these personal rebellions, illustrating how systems of power—whether political, familial, or magical—can be deeply entrenched and resist change, often at great cost.
The Intergenerational Struggle Between Autonomy and Familial Duty
The tension between autonomy and familial duty is another profound theme explored in The Book of Witching. Both Alison and Clem experience the painful clash between the desires for personal freedom and the expectations placed upon them by their families.
For Alison, this struggle is clear when she learns that her children have been initiated into the Triskele clan without her consent. Her maternal instinct to protect them from the dangers of this legacy is at odds with her mother’s manipulation and the allure of the Triskele.
This personal conflict becomes a central pillar of the story as Alison fights to break free from the Triskele’s influence while keeping her children from becoming victims of its power. The intergenerational struggle deepens when Clem, a descendant of Alison, faces a similar challenge in 2024.
Her role as a mother to Erin and grandmother to Freya places her in direct conflict with her own inherited legacy. Erin’s injury, tied to a dark ritual and the curse of the Book of Witching, forces Clem to confront the truth about her ancestry and the weight of familial duty.
This theme portrays the complex dynamics of generational relationships, where the desire for autonomy clashes with the responsibility to uphold family traditions, values, and legacies, often leading to difficult and painful decisions.
The Tragic Cost of Defiance in the Face of Dark Forces
The theme of tragic loss due to defiance against powerful, uncontrollable forces is woven throughout the novel, particularly through Alison and Clem’s narratives. Alison’s defiance against the Triskele in 1594 results in a series of tragic events, including the painful loss of her children to the clan’s power.
Despite her best efforts to protect them from the dangers of witchcraft, her resistance brings about a series of tragic losses, highlighting the high stakes involved in defying entrenched power. In parallel, Clem’s modern-day rebellion against the forces surrounding Erin’s mysterious injury also comes at a heavy cost.
As Clem uncovers the painful truths about her family’s history and the dark powers at play, she realizes that her fight to protect Erin from the curse of the Book of Witching might come with devastating consequences.
The theme of the tragic cost of defiance speaks to the broader concept of the struggle for survival in a world where unseen forces—whether political, magical, or familial—exert tremendous control over individuals. Both Alison and Clem pay a steep price for their resistance, reinforcing the idea that defying such powerful forces often leads to irreversible consequences.
The Lingering Presence of History and Its Influence on the Present
The cyclical nature of history and its profound influence on the present is another crucial theme in The Book of Witching. The novel masterfully intertwines the narratives of Alison in 1594 and Clem in 2024, highlighting how the past continually reverberates through time, shaping the lives of future generations.
The historical events surrounding the Triskele, the Earl of Orkney’s oppressive reign, and Alison’s rebellion create a legacy of fear, power, and secrecy that transcends centuries. The haunting presence of the Book of Witching serves as a tangible connection between the past and the present, acting as a reminder of unresolved conflicts and unfinished business.
As Clem embarks on her quest to uncover the truth about Erin’s injury, she discovers that the history of her family’s involvement with the Triskele and the book is not just a relic of the past but a living, breathing force that continues to haunt her.
This theme explores how unresolved historical conflicts, personal traumas, and the choices of previous generations continue to shape the lives of their descendants. The past is not something to be forgotten or discarded; instead, it lingers, exerting a powerful influence on the present, often in ways that cannot be fully understood until the truth is uncovered.
These themes create a rich, multi-layered narrative that delves deeply into the struggles of power, family, and the consequences of defiance, all set against a backdrop of gothic mystery and dark magic. The novel asks profound questions about legacy, control, and survival, inviting readers to explore the boundaries between the past and the present and the forces that shape our destinies.