Book Review by Christine Bode
Title: The Last Witch
Author: C.J. Cooke
Publisher: HarperCollins
Released: October 14, 2025
Pages: 384
ISBN 13: 978-0008656270
Stars: 5.0
The Last Witch by C.J. Cooke is a chilling tale of survival, power, and persecution set in 15th-century Innsbruck. It follows a woman accused of witchcraft during a time of rampant misogyny and fear.
I couldn’t put this book down. I read it in just two days. It’s an utterly perfect Gothic historical thriller that speaks powerfully to the patriarchal imprisonment women have faced across the centuries. Moreover, it affirms one of the strongest reasons I remain pagan despite my parents’ born-again Christianity.
Helena Scheuberin, a wealthy and outspoken young wife, lives a life of privilege in 1485 Austria. However, her world soon collapses. Her husband, Sebastien, invites Father Heinrich Kramer—a witch-hunt inquisitor sanctioned by the Pope—to dine with them and Sebastien’s mother, Ericka. He hopes their hospitality will deflect suspicion. Tragically, Helena’s best friend Anna and her daughter Catherine were burned at the stake on Kramer’s order. Grief-stricken, Helena cannot stay silent. She makes the fatal mistake of publicly accusing Kramer of his heinous crime.
Soon after, Helena is imprisoned with six other women accused of witchcraft. They are thrust into a filthy, rat-infested dungeon where fear reigns. One of the accused hides a cursed witch totem—a severed hand believed to hold magical power. At first, the women hope it might save them. Instead, the totem unleashes the malevolent spirit of Hecate, the Greek goddess of magic and witchcraft. Their desperate bid for freedom becomes a deadly gamble. As they endure torture and wrestle with supernatural forces, Helena must decide whether to risk everything by confronting the monstrous witchfinder who seeks to burn her alive.
Importantly, The Last Witch blends historical horror with psychological suspense. It explores themes of female agency, spiritual terror, and the brutal legacy of witch trials. Cooke’s narrative draws on real historical figures and events, especially the infamous witch hunts led by Heinrich Kramer, author of Malleus Maleficarum. Her research elevates the story. She is an exceptional storyteller, and the pacing is superb.
Through Helena’s journey, the novel critiques societal systems that demonize women who defy convention. It also weaves in folklore and the occult, adding layers of meaning and mystery.
Ultimately, this gripping page-turner uses rich symbolism and historical detail to examine the persecution of women, spiritual resistance, and the psychological toll of systemic oppression. It is both a shocking portrait of injustice and a powerful tribute to the enduring strength of women. I highly recommend it.