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Witch Light
The spooky sequel to Deep Dark, the Times Children's Book of the Week from enchanting storyteller Zohra Nabi comes another Cassia Thorne Mystery – this is Enola Holmes with a supernatural twist!
She held up the hagstone and she noticed something strange – a shimmering light like tiny clustered constellations. It was as though there were something illuminating from the girls.
Cassia Thorne uncovered a conspiracy in the deep dark underbelly of London involving a mythical beast, but has been whisked away by her uncle to Ravening Hall, a bleak boarding school on the moors of Lancashire. Far away from everything she has known, Cassia struggles to find a place amongst the girls of the school – torn between fitting in with the perfect prefects and the rebellious and wild Martha Torrent.
And something sinister happening at the school. At night there is a strange presence in Cassia’s room, growing stronger with each day. She spies older girls wandering out onto the moors at night. And the local children are terrified of a child-eating witch that haunts Pendle Hill. Suspecting another supernatural mystery, Cassia begins to investigate. Are the stories about the witches of Pendle Hill true? And what do they want with the girls of Ravening Hall?
Praise for Deep Dark:
'This book is stunning – Zohra Nabi writes like a dream and has achieved the impossible by conjuring up a living, breathing Victorian London right before my eyes. I felt like I was right there with Cassia while reading it, magic sparkling around us.' – Natasha Hastings, author of The Miraculous Sweetmakers
‘A spine-tingling, Dickensian adventure.’ – The Bookseller
'Meticulously researched and sparklingly written, with an irresistible heroine.' – The Guardian
‘An atmospheric adventure with a wonderfully engaging heroine – this richly evocative story will sweep you away to the streets of 19th century London.’ – Katherine Woodfine, author of The Clockwork Sparrow
She held up the hagstone and she noticed something strange – a shimmering light like tiny clustered constellations. It was as though there were something illuminating from the girls.
Cassia Thorne uncovered a conspiracy in the deep dark underbelly of London involving a mythical beast, but has been whisked away by her uncle to Ravening Hall, a bleak boarding school on the moors of Lancashire. Far away from everything she has known, Cassia struggles to find a place amongst the girls of the school – torn between fitting in with the perfect prefects and the rebellious and wild Martha Torrent.
And something sinister happening at the school. At night there is a strange presence in Cassia’s room, growing stronger with each day. She spies older girls wandering out onto the moors at night. And the local children are terrified of a child-eating witch that haunts Pendle Hill. Suspecting another supernatural mystery, Cassia begins to investigate. Are the stories about the witches of Pendle Hill true? And what do they want with the girls of Ravening Hall?
Praise for Deep Dark:
'This book is stunning – Zohra Nabi writes like a dream and has achieved the impossible by conjuring up a living, breathing Victorian London right before my eyes. I felt like I was right there with Cassia while reading it, magic sparkling around us.' – Natasha Hastings, author of The Miraculous Sweetmakers
‘A spine-tingling, Dickensian adventure.’ – The Bookseller
'Meticulously researched and sparklingly written, with an irresistible heroine.' – The Guardian
‘An atmospheric adventure with a wonderfully engaging heroine – this richly evocative story will sweep you away to the streets of 19th century London.’ – Katherine Woodfine, author of The Clockwork Sparrow
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 30, 2026
Witch Light is the sequel to Deep Dark, and as with the aforementioned, our 10 year old Daughter and I read this over about a week or so of bedtime stories, and we really did enjoy it.
We again follow the intrepid Cassia Thorne, after her escapades through London in book one, she's now at Ravening Hall, in the Lancashire moors, having been taken there by her uncle.
But not all is as it seems at the bleak, dreary boarding school, and it's not long before Cassia begins to feel a looming pressence in her room at night and there are whispers between the students of a child eating Witch that haunts a local hill.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
So all in all, a very enjoyable, paranormal jaunt around the gloomy Lancashire countryside with a wonderfully descriptive storyline and a great, varied cast of interesting characters.
5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from us.
We again follow the intrepid Cassia Thorne, after her escapades through London in book one, she's now at Ravening Hall, in the Lancashire moors, having been taken there by her uncle.
But not all is as it seems at the bleak, dreary boarding school, and it's not long before Cassia begins to feel a looming pressence in her room at night and there are whispers between the students of a child eating Witch that haunts a local hill.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
So all in all, a very enjoyable, paranormal jaunt around the gloomy Lancashire countryside with a wonderfully descriptive storyline and a great, varied cast of interesting characters.
5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from us.
April 16, 2026
It is an atmospheric read that is beautifully written. It is a brilliant sequel that enables us to venture further into the deep dark. There are places that might be a bit scary to some readers.
April 18, 2026
I was so excited to read another Cassia Thorne adventure and this did not disappoint! It reminded me of all the classics I loved when I was little but also felt so fresh and exciting - I would recommend this to anyone!
April 27, 2026
Another fantastic Cassia Thorne novel. An excellent mix of mystery and supernatural. Intriguing mystery, great character development. Great read
May 10, 2026
Helt utrolig god. Nervepirrende mysterie og interessante karakterer. Godt sprog
May 7, 2026
Cassia Thorne has to move in with her uncle's family after her father's death but she is not a typical young girl, and fitting into wealthy society during the British Raj is easier said than done for a young girl whose father was British but whose mother was Indian.
Cassia has left behind a slightly disreputable in London, and is grateful when her uncle forgives a serious mistake on her part, instead sending her - along with her snooty cousin Emma - to a famous boarding school on the remote fells.
But the area has a history of hunting down witches, and as Cassia is about to discover, her new school holds dark secrets...
Ingeniously conceived and skillfully delivered, this is truly original story telling. Extra points for weaving in the ugliness of colonialism (and what it does to the colonizers) in a clever and surprisingly subtle fashion. An excellent book, highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Cassia has left behind a slightly disreputable in London, and is grateful when her uncle forgives a serious mistake on her part, instead sending her - along with her snooty cousin Emma - to a famous boarding school on the remote fells.
But the area has a history of hunting down witches, and as Cassia is about to discover, her new school holds dark secrets...
Ingeniously conceived and skillfully delivered, this is truly original story telling. Extra points for weaving in the ugliness of colonialism (and what it does to the colonizers) in a clever and surprisingly subtle fashion. An excellent book, highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews