by C.J. Cooke
Format: eBook
Format: eBook
C.J. Cooke checked all the boxes and crossed them with a F (for Fjord, frightening, fantastic, etc.) is this Gothic tale set in a house on a cliff over a Norwegian Fjord! I love books where the location is very much a character in the book. The cliffs, the forest, the Fjords, the folklore, the the things that go bump in the night! Lexi is down on her luck. She finds herself on the streets trying to pick up the pieces of her life. When she overhears a conversation about a Nanny position in Norway, her interest in piqued. Sophie, the woman who has applied for the job, is talked out of going for the interview and Lexi goes in her place. claiming to be Sophie. What could go wrong? This could be the fresh start she is looking for! Things have gone so wrong in her life lately. Wouldn’t it be nice to be someone else for a change? She is hired and finds herself whisked off to Norway to be the Nanny for two young girls, Gaia and Coco, whose Mother, Aurelia has recently committed suicide. Their widower father, Tom, has thrown himself into his work and Sophie/Lexi is left to care for the girls and this idyllic life soon becomes a nightmare. Sophie/Lexi begins hallucinating (or is she?), hearing noises and seeing “foot” prints in strange places. Is the house haunted? Is the land haunted? Has someone messed with Mother nature? What happened to Tom’s wife? What are the consequences when you do not respect the land? This was a wonderful creepy, atmospheric and chilling book! It sucked me in, and I was glued to the pages of this compelling and mystical book. As the tale progressed, we are given both Lexi and Aurelia’s stories through past and present storytelling. As we learn more about each woman, the tale becomes darker, more sinister and frightening. As the similarities begin to grow, both women’s tales become more intriguing. Gaia and Coco were adorable, Lexi/Sophie really grew on me, while other characters, such as Maren, made me go hmm and others were interesting, and I will not say more…. Big marks for atmosphere, chills and use of folklore! Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own. |