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Cackle
A darkly funny, frightening novel about a young woman learning how to take what she wants from a witch who may be too good to be true, from the author of The Return.
All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate. She’s stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation.
Then Annie meets Sophie. Beautiful, charming, magnetic Sophie, who takes a special interest in Annie, who wants to be her friend. More importantly, she wants Annie to stop apologizing and start living for herself. That’s how Sophie lives. Annie can’t help but gravitate toward the self-possessed Sophie, wanting to spend more and more time with her, despite the fact that the rest of the townsfolk seem…a little afraid of her. And like, okay. There are some things. Sophie’s appearance is uncanny and ageless, her mansion in the middle of the woods feels a little unearthly, and she does seem to wield a certain power…but she couldn’t be…could she?
All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate. She’s stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation.
Then Annie meets Sophie. Beautiful, charming, magnetic Sophie, who takes a special interest in Annie, who wants to be her friend. More importantly, she wants Annie to stop apologizing and start living for herself. That’s how Sophie lives. Annie can’t help but gravitate toward the self-possessed Sophie, wanting to spend more and more time with her, despite the fact that the rest of the townsfolk seem…a little afraid of her. And like, okay. There are some things. Sophie’s appearance is uncanny and ageless, her mansion in the middle of the woods feels a little unearthly, and she does seem to wield a certain power…but she couldn’t be…could she?
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Community Reviews
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
Cackle takes readers by surprise with a surprisingly cozy and heartwarming read.
Storytelling & Characterization
Someone needs to tell me why this story was categorized as horror when it was first published because, after reading it, nothing was frighting or scary throughout the whole book. If anything, it was the complete opposite. And that’s not a bad thing.
The story follows Annie, who has been unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend of 10 years. Eager to mend her broken heart, she takes a teaching job in a tiny little village in upstate New York. This is where she meets Sophie.
Everyone in the town is polite and friendly, but when it comes to Sophie, who Annie is immediately drawn to, they seem a little afraid of her. Slowly Annie begins to discover that Sophie is a witch.
It was fun how Cackle developed the relationship between Sophie and Annie. Sophie has this way of talking that lets the reader in on the secret of what she is. But what made it heartwarming was how she challenged Annie and pushed her to find comfort within herself. I loved that the storytelling focused on Annie finding her voice and identity.
For so long, Annie’s life was wrapped around her relationship. Annie didn’t even realize there was anything wrong in the relationship. And in the end, she didn’t know who she was outside of it.
As the story continues, even her ex/best friend gives little snide remarks to make her feel wrong about the relationship, and by the end, we all realize just what type of person he is.
Annie spends the story figuring out who she is with the help of Sophie, and It is such an incredible journey. She learns so much about herself, but the reader also learns so much about Sophie.
The question you ask yourself throughout the story is, is she a good witch or a bad witch? Neither and both. She’s a woman who has gone through so much and learned to love herself despite all the pain inflicted upon her.
There are some moments with ghosts and kids coughing up spiders. But even those moments aren’t scary or frightening. Instead, they exist within the story’s scope to add some context and history.
Final Thoughts
Cackle is a heartwarming read. Both thoughtful and charming, it is a novel you can curl up to and read in one sitting.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
Cackle takes readers by surprise with a surprisingly cozy and heartwarming read.
Storytelling & Characterization
Someone needs to tell me why this story was categorized as horror when it was first published because, after reading it, nothing was frighting or scary throughout the whole book. If anything, it was the complete opposite. And that’s not a bad thing.
The story follows Annie, who has been unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend of 10 years. Eager to mend her broken heart, she takes a teaching job in a tiny little village in upstate New York. This is where she meets Sophie.
Everyone in the town is polite and friendly, but when it comes to Sophie, who Annie is immediately drawn to, they seem a little afraid of her. Slowly Annie begins to discover that Sophie is a witch.
It was fun how Cackle developed the relationship between Sophie and Annie. Sophie has this way of talking that lets the reader in on the secret of what she is. But what made it heartwarming was how she challenged Annie and pushed her to find comfort within herself. I loved that the storytelling focused on Annie finding her voice and identity.
For so long, Annie’s life was wrapped around her relationship. Annie didn’t even realize there was anything wrong in the relationship. And in the end, she didn’t know who she was outside of it.
As the story continues, even her ex/best friend gives little snide remarks to make her feel wrong about the relationship, and by the end, we all realize just what type of person he is.
Annie spends the story figuring out who she is with the help of Sophie, and It is such an incredible journey. She learns so much about herself, but the reader also learns so much about Sophie.
The question you ask yourself throughout the story is, is she a good witch or a bad witch? Neither and both. She’s a woman who has gone through so much and learned to love herself despite all the pain inflicted upon her.
There are some moments with ghosts and kids coughing up spiders. But even those moments aren’t scary or frightening. Instead, they exist within the story’s scope to add some context and history.
Final Thoughts
Cackle is a heartwarming read. Both thoughtful and charming, it is a novel you can curl up to and read in one sitting.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
This. Book. Was. Not. It.
I get this may be a horror comedy or whatever you want to call it, but the only comedic horror thing I found was the atrocious lack of plot and characterization.
Annie was too self loathing and annoying. I get what the author was trying to do but she didn’t have to do her like that to deliver her message. This was cringey and had zero sense of direction. Didn’t even know what the plot was until like 90%? Was there even a plot? Also what was the point of the magic?
All the characters were awful. Plus who lets someone call you “pet” upon meeting you?
Spoiler:
“I’m not your pet!” This particular outburst surprises both of us. I was completely unaware this term of endearment bothered me until this moment. Suddenly, I realize how patronizing it is. How it implies ownership and reinforces an unfair power dynamic. This resentment must have been simmering in my subconscious for months.”
It took Annie a good old 261 pages to tell someone they weren’t their pet because Sophie told her she shouldn’t go back with Sam her ex? And Sophie is the evil one? Huh?
The entire book Annie was just so desperate for validation and love she literally was groveling for it the entire novel. God so cringey. And even in the end she turns into a witch where she forces people to adore and love her? Uhhh okay. What was the point of this book?
So if you want to read a book about a self loathing 30 year old, who is an alcoholic, who wants the D more than actually move on with her life, then I guess go for it?
The spider was cool I guess. Weird but cool.
I get this may be a horror comedy or whatever you want to call it, but the only comedic horror thing I found was the atrocious lack of plot and characterization.
Annie was too self loathing and annoying. I get what the author was trying to do but she didn’t have to do her like that to deliver her message. This was cringey and had zero sense of direction. Didn’t even know what the plot was until like 90%? Was there even a plot? Also what was the point of the magic?
All the characters were awful. Plus who lets someone call you “pet” upon meeting you?
Spoiler:
“I’m not your pet!” This particular outburst surprises both of us. I was completely unaware this term of endearment bothered me until this moment. Suddenly, I realize how patronizing it is. How it implies ownership and reinforces an unfair power dynamic. This resentment must have been simmering in my subconscious for months.”
It took Annie a good old 261 pages to tell someone they weren’t their pet because Sophie told her she shouldn’t go back with Sam her ex? And Sophie is the evil one? Huh?
The entire book Annie was just so desperate for validation and love she literally was groveling for it the entire novel. God so cringey. And even in the end she turns into a witch where she forces people to adore and love her? Uhhh okay. What was the point of this book?
So if you want to read a book about a self loathing 30 year old, who is an alcoholic, who wants the D more than actually move on with her life, then I guess go for it?
The spider was cool I guess. Weird but cool.
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. AND. I. LOVE. RALPH. (better review to come, at some point, when I have time to think more intentionally about it).
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