Book Review | Cackle by Rachel Harrison

Annie moves to a small town after a breakup with her long-term boyfriend. She meets the mysterious and beautiful Sophie, who instantly becomes her friend. But the townsfolk seem afraid of Sophie and her mansion hides frightening secrets. Who is Sophie and is Annie safe from her new friend?

We just met a minute ago, but I swear she’s looking at me like we’re best friends, like I’m her favorite person.

Cackle is a cosy horror with a quaint small-town setting in autumn. Unlike the author’s previous book, The Return, this leans towards a lighter fare when it comes to the scares and the witchy vibe is more quirky than scary. One of the most interesting characters is a cute spider named Ralph! I adored the snappy, smart writing and how the dialogue flowed easily. Everything is vividly described without being overwrought. One particular scene involving a student and a spider had me cringing, but I also couldn’t help but be impressed by the visuals. The spooky scenes in Sophie’s mansion help to offset the funnier moments and lend weight to Annie’s situation.

The book is mainly about Annie’s self-growth and her friendship with Sophie. Neither of them is admirable people to be fair, as Annie spends her time thinking about her ex and Sophie basically has no boundaries. But I could relate to Annie’s insecurity and loneliness, and I can understand why Sophie seems to lack social skills. Their friendship has its ups and downs, and the drama is entertaining to read. I do wish there’s more meat to the story because the plot doesn’t go beyond Annie’s predicament. I wanted to know more about Sophie’s powers and her history, and I wish the townsfolk are given a better deal. What I liked most is how the book subverts the usual witch tropes and embraces wickedness. Who wants to be a good witch anyway?

Cackle is the witch story I’ve been looking for, where powers are called, covens are formed and being different is welcomed. Light your candles and stir your cauldron, this book is perfect for a cosy Halloween!

CW: arachnophobia

About the author: Rachel Harrison

Photo by Bee Felten-Leidel