I was excited to read this book as I've never read this author's books before. The opening chapter was great and it pulled me in. Could anything else happen to upend the MC's life? I thought the book dragged a bit in the middle, but it was an overall fun read.

Sisters Cordelia and Eustace have been estranged for five years but now, at just the right time for both of them, they've inherited a house from an aunt they didn't know. Turns out there's a lot they didn't know because their mother kept them from her family and her history and surprise- they're witches. They must stay in the house together in order to take possession (not a pun) and that sets up a coming to terms with each other, their past, and their future. Not all is easy, though, as there's a sort of curse and and bad things happen. Cordelia's voice (she tells the story) is clear but her sister is more fun. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Know that this does get dark, that there's a somewhat unnecessary romantic element, and that it's a good read.

This book is so well done. Interesting, sparkly, witchy vibes, but not too out there. Just enough balance between magical and real life. It was a pleasure to get lost in this special world!

Two estranged sisters must reunite to settle their aunt’s estate. Cordelia and Eustace reveal family secrets and must learn to harness their family’s history to survive.

I liked the overall idea here but I think it took too long to get to the more fantastical elements. I also didn’t love the voices of the characters. That might just be a personal preference though.

This book starts off slow and gets better as it goes along. I would give it 3.5 stars if I could. Cordelia’s life is falling apart due to the misdeeds of her soon to be ex husband. In the middle of discovering another disaster, she gets a call from her sister Eustace, whom she has not spoken to in five years. An unknown great-aunt has died and they have been summoned to the funeral. Quickly after their arrival in Connecticut they realize that things are strange at the house. This is an intriguing story of discovering their heritage as witches and what that means.

Spooky and spellbinding
Though this was outside of my normal scope (I tend to gravitate towards contemporary romance) this book was a delightfully dark and twisty surprise. With sisterly relationships and all the spooky season vibes, this book is perfect for anyone looking for the book version of Practical Magic. Lovers of autumnal vibes and all things witchy and murderous will devour this one.

Thanks so much for approving me to read this! I love witches, mysteries, and haunted houses, so this felt right up my alley. I really enjoyed the writing especially; Morgyn's prose brought the house to life and fit the atmosphere perfectly. It was lyrical, lovely, and she drew descriptions together in a way that made me want to jump into the book.

However, I felt like this was juggling a little too many things for me to really dive in and enjoy the plot. The mafia plotline? The complex family lore? The book builds slowly and lays a lot of breadcrumbs, but the magic system is never fully realized. It felt like wading upstream as I tried to stay invested in the book. I feel like tension was already built in to certain aspects – the sisters are estranged, and should struggle to reconnect. Cordelia could feel conflicted over jumping into a new romance after previous heartbreak, but she goes from being critical of him to liking him with little transition. These are unrealistically easy, and the author creates other confusing tensions instead. I think this is also why I struggled to connect with the characters.

The final battle/unraveling was the most exciting part of the book, and I really enjoyed the final confrontation as it all came together. But everything leading up to it lacked the same excitement and pacing, so while I was intrigued and excited to solve the mystery, I wasn't too invested either.

This book had some gems and some potential, but overall I probably wouldn't recommend it. This was more like a 2.5, but rounded up for the system.

The plot was good but the authors style of writing at times made me cringe. Especially some of the dialogue between the two sisters. Her loins? Seriously?
The witching part was good and the ending okay.

I started recommending this book to others before I even finished it. If you are looking for a book with spooky vibes to read in the fall, this is it. In The Witches of Bone Hill, Cordelia and Eustace find out they are Nordic witches after their aunt dies and they jointly inherit her house. It is a bit gory in a couple of spots but isn't going to force you to sleep with the lights on.

The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn
Releases September 26th
Genre: Family Drama with horror elements
Overall (out of 5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Prose⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pacing(1=slow 5=fast)⭐
Character Development ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scary (1=mild 5= terrifying)⭐⭐💫
Gore (1=clean 5=splatter)⭐⭐
Atmosphere⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Library or Buy-worthy: Buy-Worthy
Similar vibe:The House on Tradd Street by Karen White, The Whispering Dead by Darcy Coates, Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

***Caution Potential Spoilers Follow***
This story has it all: sister witches, a family mystery, haunted Victorian Gothic Revival style manor, light romance, horror elements and a shady mafioso.

Eustace and Cordelia are estranged sisters drawn together to parse out a deceased relatives estate. Cordelia's situation with her failed marriage were so relatable, it instantly drew me in. The author's writing is nicely descriptive. This is one of those gothic books where the house itself is a main character. You can feel the chill, imposing dread of it jumping off the page. It reminded me of Home Before Dark by Riley Sager and a little of Stephen King's Rose Red or The Haunting of Hill House, without all the horror. Although there is a constant creepy atmosphere, I wasn't scared at any time so I'd say 'The Witches of Bone Hill' falls into a dark/cozy mystery category. In short, I really loved this book. To me it was a much better developed and written version of Home Before Dark by Riley Sager. I loved the witches so much. I'll definitely be preordering a signed copy.

"In the blood dripped and spattered across the opposite wall, righted only by the reversal of its reflection, one gruesome, gut-twisting word had formed. Witch."

3.5 stars Sisters, Cordelia and Eustace Bone, inherit an old Victorian mansion in a small town in Connecticut. This comes at a great time, as Cordelia is going through a messy divorce and Eustace is battling health concerns. A caveat regarding living in the home comes with the inheritance and the sisters find out they're witches, from a long lineage of witches, and all while finding out what truly became of their mother. Major Alice Hoffman vibes with this one.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-arc.*

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and Ava Morgyn for allowing me access to this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Witches of Bone Hill is about two sisters, Cordelia and Eustace. The sisters are reunited after many years of no contact, upon discovering that they have inherited their ancestral estate. Neither of them were previously aware of their extended family, or of this property, as their mother was deeply secretive about her past. Cordelia has recently been the victim of grievous dishonesty and betrayal, and Eustace has faced a gauntlet of medical trauma. Brought together by the promise of a new beginning, they begin to uncover their legacy--the good, and the bad. What follows is a discovery of their history, their power, and the potential for a very unexpected future.

The premise of this book was excellent, and I went in very intrigued. I had heard praise of the magic system in the book, and of the relationship between the two sisters. The magic system is certainly not like anything I've found in any other book, and it was interesting to see the details of that unfold over the course of the story. The descriptions of the environment were lush and detailed, and I was able to develop a very specific mental picture of the house, which I appreciated. I love when stories get into the history of a family, and I enjoyed seeing them go through ledgers, old photos, and furniture to investigate a legacy they previously knew nothing of.

I thought that the two sisters could have been developed more fully as individuals outside of their hardships. I didn't feel that I got a clear enough view of them as people. The male supporting character felt more fully fleshed out to me as a real person than the sisters did. However, his introduction featured some elements that were so stereotypical of a romance novel that it almost made me quit on the book when he first arrived. Ultimately, those elements petered out and the descriptions of romance involving him became a little better integrated into the writing.

The greatest disappointment of this book is that it had all the elements of a really exciting story, but they were presented in such a predictable way that not one single thing ended up surprising me. Every single twist in the plot was telegraphed many pages in advance, and I predicted the ending beat-for-beat, which was extremely frustrating. Watching the main characters make "shocking" discoveries at a glacial pace made for a boring experience. After setting up a foundation of rich and unique narrative components, the plot developed with a level of simplicity that I usually see reserved for juvenile fiction. I wish that I could recommend this book to others, but I unfortunately will not be doing so.

The Witches of Bone Hill was a surprisingly dark, spooky book that I ended up loving.

I will admit, the first 15% really didn’t grip me, so it took a while to get into, but I needed up falling for this book. The story follows two sisters who have no idea their legacy, so they’ve got to unravel the mystery of their heritage and the strange gifts they have inherited.

I enjoyed how rooted this novel felt. The characters and the setting had a fullness to them made the story come to life. Cordelia and Eustace and Gordon are all great characters. I feel like the sisters have the dynamic of Grace and Frankie—affectionate and chiding all in one. And they enable one another’s shenanigans. That said, I don’t remember how old they were supposed to be. I read them as being like in their 30s or 40s. Regardless, I really enjoyed their relationship.

The story explores themes of legacy, generational curses (literally and figuratively), and breaking cycles. I thought it did so very effectively, and in interesting ways.

What most (pleasantly) surprised me was how far the book leans into the paranormal. With the beginning, I really wasn’t sure, but if you’re looking for interesting witchcraft based in Viking lore, then you’ll probably enjoy this.

I will admit, the villain is pretty predictable, and at times I was just astounded at the density of Cordelia and Eustace. This novel keeps the reader as in the dark as the sisters, and yet it was still obvious to me from context. Though, I will admit that the twist is much less predictable.

There’s also something like a 3rd act breakup that really annoyed me, because it was too contrived. I don’t see why the involved person was so mad. But it resolved in a decent way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

SPOILERS:

I could also do with the random mobster. His inclusion was largely unnecessary to the story, and the second Cordelia’s husband returned to their Texas home, it shouldn’t have been an issue for her anymore. I think the book would still resonate just as well, if not more, if that subplot were excluded.

I think the only reason it’s probably still in the book is to act like a red herring of sorts. After all, he serves as a possible antagonist. Only problem is that they never entertain him as a serious threat anyway, so he’s just kinda there in the background.

A Spellbinding Tale of Family, Love, and Redemption - 5 Stars!

"The Witches of Bone Hill" by Ava Morgyn is an enchanting masterpiece that effortlessly weaves elements of the supernatural, family secrets, and heartwarming romance together. From start to finish, this novel captivated me and left me craving more of the mystical world it brought to life.

One of the standout features of this book is its perfect balance between the eerie and the horrifying. Morgyn's ability to create a palpable sense of unease without diving into gratuitous horror is commendable. The atmosphere she crafts in Bone Hill is tinged with just the right amount of creepiness to keep you eagerly turning the pages without needing to hide under the covers.

But what truly sets this book apart is its portrayal of the bonds between women, both living and dead. The sisters, Cordelia and Eustace, are complex and relatable characters, and their journey of discovery and reconciliation is heartwarming and empowering. The themes of female solidarity and the strength that can be drawn from generations of women coming together to protect one another are beautifully explored throughout the narrative.

The romance between Cordelia and the enigmatic groundskeeper adds a layer of passion and depth to the story. While it may seem fast-paced initially, their connection is palpable. As a reader, I found myself cheering them on, hoping for their happiness amidst the supernatural chaos surrounding them.

As for Eustace and her gifts, I would have loved to delve deeper into her character and abilities. Nevertheless, the story maintains a compelling balance between the different narrative threads, leaving readers eager to explore more of this fascinating world.

The build-up to the climax is intense, and Morgyn expertly keeps the suspense at a fever pitch. You'll find yourself holding your breath as the secrets of Bone Hill unravel, and the resolution is nothing short of redemptive and heartwarming.

In summary, "The Witches of Bone Hill" is a captivating blend of mystery, romance, and the supernatural, all wrapped in a tale of family bonds and self-discovery. Ava Morgyn has crafted a spellbinding story that will enchant you from the first page. It's a must-read for anyone who enjoys stories of witches, family secrets, and the enduring power of love and sisterhood. Five stars don't do it justice; it's a literary gem that deserves all the praise it receives.

Story of 2sister who inherited a old estate from an Aunt.
They discover that there is a lot happening on the estate.
Mysteries,magic,witches,,great characters and romance.
A great witch magic story.
Volunrarily reviewed.

Overall, this book was not a favorite. I feel like the sister relationship was a bit too trite. I liked the concept of the book, but I found parts of it to drag too much (there is no reason why it should have been 416 pages). I also was confused by the plot.

Again, I liked the sisters as characters, but there were just too many other pieces of the book that I did not enjoy.

Honestly when I requested this through NetGalley, I was not expecting it to be as gory as it was in some places. I thought it was a witchy romance and while it is, that's a subplot really. I didn't hate the book by any means but I have a hard time with animal death for the sake of advancing a plot. I guess in this case it made sense but I still had a hard time with it. I thought the magic was great and really interesting. The relationship between the sisters was great and I loved the house as a character. I just don't think I was prepared for it to be more on the horror side of things than the cozy book I was expecting.

The Witches of Bone Hill is a spooky, witchy tale of two sisters discovering their family’s secret and just how powerful they are. It has elements of a slow burn romance which compliment the story without overshadowing the girls journey, and was one of the more unique witch stories I’ve read recently!

Cordelia and Eustace’s journey starts completely in the dark - separated by their mother from their family’s estate, and then estranged from each other, each sister brings their own set of traumas and problems to the Connecticut manor where they are summoned back to. As the plot unfolds, we’ll see the sisters find their way back to each other, and with the help of spectral ghosts, a fox, and WikiHow - they find their way back to their roots as well. It was just spooky enough to keep the suspense of the plot without being out right terrifying, and the pace was slow enough to follow every detail of the many layered story.

Overall I thought this was a super fun read - once it got going. The slow pace did have some hiccups for me, I was ready for the action to get going about three chapters before it did, but once the plot starts rolling, the pages started flipping for me. This is a great addition to anyone’s spooky list for Halloween season if you’re looking for a story of family, trust, and findings one way- with a smidge of kissing tossed in.

A perfect fall read! It has a bit of everything:

sisterly love, ghosts, witches, mystery, light romance, murder

Cordelia is going through a divorce and Eustace is having health issues when these two sisters find out they’ve inherited an estate. They learn quickly that there’s more to their family than they thought and someone doesn’t like that they’re back.

I loved how the house is its own character. It was a central, intriguing, and fun part of the story.

The romance is on the lighter side but it offered just enough for those who prefer romance. I’d definitely say this is more women’s fiction/thriller but it was fun and a perfect read for this time of year (fall).

ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley.

This was a slow burn read that had a spookier vibe than expected, and I liked it. It did tend to drag a bit, but overall a sold read for this time of year.