Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

If the title includes witches I’m down & Ava Morgyn’s The Witches of Bone Hill offers a sometimes darkly engrossing story that’s ultimately hopeful & sister-focused.

Cordelia is facing a lot of problems when the book begins, including the end of her marriage to a man who exploited her & cheated on her & the imminent sale of her home so she can try to settle the debts he left her with. But wait, there’s even more trouble waiting for her & she hopes the house & inheritance that the family she never really knew left her will help.

She goes to Bone Hill, owned by the aunt she didn’t know IRL, & reconnects with the sister she’s been largely estranged from in recent years.

There she meets the groundskeeper Gordon & realizes there are lots of family secrets just waiting to be uncovered.

There’s a good creepy factor to this book for those looking for thrills, & family secrets just keep pouring out of the woodwork. Betrayal & history & a house that shows she & her sister are part of a larger family even if their mother wanted to act like they weren’t.

This one kept my attention & I liked how everything wrapped up so hopefully.

3.5⭐️. Out 09/26.

CWs: Death of mother. Mutilation. Cancer. Mob threat. Reference to Opioid addiction.

[ID: the ebook sits on a brown desk. A yellow wall is in the background & to the left is a bunch of multicolored zinnias.]

I really tried to push through because this was an advanced copy the publisher and NetGalley so graciously gave me, but I am a big believer in also not wasting time on a book you’re not vibing with and as soon as I realized there was animal abuse it was a “no” for me and I DNF’ed.

Perhaps for a different reader this would be a five star book, but I made the mistake of thinking I was picking up an atmospheric, witchy, cozy fall read about estranged sisters and second chances with a little romance and it turned out to be bordering on horror vibes and those are not my vibes.

I don’t necessarily think the writing (of the parts I read) was bad, I think she pretty effectively immersed me in some creepy moments, but it was a hard book to get into, the mafia aspect felt really out of place, and the way the author described the presumed romantic interest was tacky and immature. I wish I could have stuck around to see if the twists and turns were good, but I can’t do gore and I can’t do animal abuse.

I love anything remotely witchy so was very excited for this read. Unfortunately this fell flat for me - it was predictable, formulaic, and I saw the ending coming very early on. None of the characters really came to life for me, I was bored much of the time, and overall there was no real substance or depth - I would call it witchy chicklit perhaps?

3 - 3.5 Stars - "The Witches of Bone Hill" was a great way to start the month off as spooky season is upon us. There were times when I got bored of the story, and others when I was dying to know what was going to happen next.

It was not too creepy, but some of the descriptions were so vividly written it was unsettling at times.

There was some randomness I could do without, but otherwise kept me engaged

If you like slight horror, and mystery, with a touch of romance. This is for you.
Thank you NetGalley, publisher, and author for the opportunity to read this arc.

I found this book to be really engaging and I loved the premise. I'm a sucker for witchy books so this story was right up my alley. I am looking forward to reading other books by the author.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martens Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Witches of Bone Hill, in exchange for my honest review!
At first it reads like a purely contemporary fiction, but something I enjoyed was as the story goes on, the magic and overall spookiness got greater and greater. It’s not so much a fantasy as it is paranormal fiction. If you are a true fan of horror and gore, looking for something dark and unsettling, that’s going to give you the creeps, I don’t think this is for you. On the flip side if you are someone who is more into standard fiction, who wants to dabble in something that has moments of eeriness, magic, and can handle a little gore, you may really enjoy it!
I appreciated that the main characters were all of mature age, I’m guessing late 30s to mid 40s, and that the issues they had before arriving at the estate were that of people in that group. The pacing and writing was good, while the fmc was a little annoying at times, the reasons behind her actions were understandable. Another thing I liked was how communicative the sisters were with each other, there weren’t moments where, as a reader, I felt frustrated by the main character and I knowing there was information that should be shared. The sisters were a smart pair, and figured everything out at a reasonable speed for the story.
The villain was very predictable but there was still a *slight* twist about it. It wasn’t so much “who” but “why” with the bad guy.

(Spoilers ahead)
The only thing that really didn’t do it for me in this story was the relationship between Cordy and Gordon. I think there had to me a romance plot in the book, and I’m glad there was.. I just didn’t really believe in their chemistry. She was genuinely rude to him outwardly and judgey inwardly, as well as recently wounded from her ex husband, which is brought up enough to know it was obviously a huge deal. Even after she very suddenly decides to stop being snooty to him, they still just didn’t make sense to me. They had a few conversations about their issues together, he mentions she’s attractive on accident, and then he just steps into the role of needing to be there and protect her (it’s kind of his only personality trait) with so much faith and gusto after like… less than three weeks. And he’s just cool with all the bad stuff happening and the violence in the end, because it’s all about making sure she is safe.. he is kind of a shell of a character. Aside from just being the only people there and trauma bonding over loss/the property, I don’t see why they like each other at ALL. Much less to sleep together in a way which would end up in immediate pregnancy. Getting knocked up after a month of knowing each other and maybe 2 weeks of sleeping together? Not the trope for me. Yucky even. It could have been something alluded to by her ancestor for the future and mentioned as part of the wrap up when it has the jump to the future at the very end. Don’t think that had to happen at all.
Overall this was a very readable story, I was able to picture the atmosphere and follow along with everything very well. It was like watching a modern day practical magic-esque film on Netflix.

DNF at 33%. Just couldn't get into the story. I attempted to read it over the month of August, but ever time I picked it up I only read for twenty or so minutes before I lost interest. I found the plot interesting, but I just couldn't connect to the characters. All in all, this book just wasn't for me, but I do think that those who enjoy a more atmospheric and slower paced story would enjoy.

3.75 stars rounded up.
Overall, I rather enjoyed this book. Things I like: The sisters relationship, the history of the Bone family, the house. It’s creepy without venturing too far into being horror.
Things I didn’t like: lots of parts dragged and in those parts it seemed as though they were just rehashing the same things over and over. I could have done without the “Bad boy romance”-it felt unnecessary to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel!

With sisters who are entirely in the dark about who they are, a scheming ex-husband, murders, and mysterious deaths, a lot is going on here. As the story is told from Cordelia’s point of view, we get to know her better than her sister, Eustace. Eustace could probably do some amazing spells, but we don’t really see that because we didn’t get to know anyone all that well. Even Gordon, who is supposed to be a great love, isn’t all that fleshed out.

Their mother, Maggie, was a terrible mother. The girls might say otherwise, but keeping dangerous secrets from your daughters, introducing shady men into their lives, and constantly moving to run away from who and what you are was a terrible thing to do to them. She had to have known what would eventually come to pass for them, and she left them completely unprepared. But the fact I didn’t like her shows how well Morgyn wrote her.

The pacing for this was off for me as it dragged for much of the book. I also figured out 80% of who we had to worry about, right from the start, which came to pass mostly. And that’s okay because this isn’t a thriller, so the enjoyment of the novel doesn’t depend on knowing. Perhaps this will be the start of a series, and the characters will become more in depth and explore what they’re capable of. I certainly would read a book 2.

This book was the perfect read to kick off spooky season! I thought the fantasy and mystery were perfectly balanced. The family drama and history were relatable and intriguing. Oh, and that little touch of romance... Honestly, I'm left hoping for an unexpected inheritance myself. I will 100% recommend as an autumn weekend read.

How do *I* find out that I'm a Nordic witch?! Love love love. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this!

really good book and kept me on my on my toes of what would happen. really enjoyed the characters and their journey and would read this author again.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is a perfect Fall mood book to snuggle up to as you enjoy witchy vibes. A Great read for the upcoming Halloween season.The story was a bit slow in the middle and had some random additional storylines, but it was a charming read.

Sisters Cordelia and Eustace inherit the family home from family they didn’t know they had. With it comes learning about the dark pasts of their ancestors, and discovering the truth about their mother’s disturbing death. What started out as a slow burn for me eventually flared into a story that was hard to put down.

There was a small mafia subplot that seemed wholly unnecessary to me, and a particularly grisly scene that will stay with me too long, but I was surprised by this book, and I like that.

3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC.

Cordelia and Eustace Bone's childhood was marred by a tumultuous upbringing, defined by their mother's chronic fears and an unstable maternal relationship. However, their lives take an unexpected twist as they receive a letter in their adulthood, revealing the existence of an aunt previously unknown to them and their inheritance of a mysterious mansion, Bone Hill.

Cordelia pins her hopes on selling the mansion as the ultimate solution to her myriad of problems—her husband's betrayal, the astronomical debts incurred in her name, and the relentless pursuit of a mob boss seeking retribution. Her dreams crumble when she discovers the unsettling condition attached to her inheritance: she, and her sister, must reside in the mansion to claim it.

"Bone Hill" emerges as an enigmatic home, harboring a strong will of its own and haunted by the spirits of past generations of Bone women. Alongside her sister Eustace and the captivating tattooed gardener, Gordon, Cordelia embarks on a chilling quest to unearth the mystery shrouding the mansion—a series of gruesome animal killings and the menacing messages written in Nordic runes in the creatures' blood within its walls.

"The Witches of Bone Hill" marks Ava Morgyn's third venture into the world of witchcraft, and it served as my introduction to her books—and it did not disappoint. While the story initially progresses slowly, it gains momentum as revelations come to light. Morgyn's storytelling shines as she spins a tale of intrigue and the supernatural, ensnaring readers in its mystique and making it nearly impossible to tear oneself away.

Fast paced, exciting and suspenseful this story keeps you turning pages and rooting for the girls. I loved this story.

I’m loving all of these paranormal stories but let me tell you guys that the summary is vague compared to the book you get. This is a very thrilling and horror type of story and I would not consider it a cute, magical read. I enjoyed the story but did not expect to go on a thrill ride. As much as I enjoyed the story, I have to say that I did not like some things mentioned in the story. The characters were well written and I enjoyed Cordelia. At first I couldn’t connect with her character but I started to enjoy her story along with Eustance who is her sister. The sisterly bond was well done and I loved their relationship with each other. There were quite a few side characters who were involved with the story and its mystery. The romance was just there in this book and I would have done without it as the story focuses on the sisters. The ending completely saved the books and overall it was a good book. I recommend checking it out for the spooky season.

*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sisters Cordelia and Eustace live in different parts of the country, both having recently fallen on hard times due to divorce and illness. When they receive a summons to an estranged aunt’s mansion in Connecticut for a will reading, the sisters are curious enough to go. What they will find out there will not only change the trajectory of their lives, but also everything they thought they knew about their family.

This had the potential to be really great - witches, sisters, supernatural elements - but something was missing for me. The witch plot line was still missing at 40% into the book….and the title of the book mentions witches!

It definitely had spooky fall vibes and would be a good one if you’re into ghosts, runes, and family mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC!

This was not what I expected at all but I really liked it!
I read Morgyn’s debut a few years back and it reminded me very much of Gaiman’s The Ocean At The End of the Lane, haunting in a very subtle way that when the actual magic came in it felt organic, so I guess I expected that from this: subtle magic, perhaps at a more deliberate pace the way adult fiction vs YA tends to be.

It was not, there are ghosts and shit from like chapter three and frankly I loved that. It made the book atmospheric in a way that made me long for it to finally be fall and I was happy to linger in the spookiness. I’m proud of myself for figuring out the “twist” but not so early that it felt obvious! This was a fun way to kick off autumn!

Granted I still felt like the “owing money to the mob” subplot felt a little shoehorned in but in the grand scheme of Plot that’s relatively minor

Cordelia Bone has a great life. A booming business, a dream home, and a loving husband. Or so she thought. Then he ran off with her assistant, running up massive debts all in her name. Then her estranged sister Eustace calls her and tells her that an aunt they never met has died and left everything to the sisters. Cordelia takes off to Connecticut to meet her sister and together they head to Bone Hill, where their family has resided for generations. The house is tied up in a legacy trust that they will only inherit if they stay. As family secrets are uncovered the sisters try to learn who they really are as someone, or something, is trying to scare them away.

This was a weird read for me. At times it felt like a romance witchy story as Cordelia and Eustace come to grips with who they are and the tension between Cordy and Gordon, the groundskeeper. It made me think of Practical Magic with the main difference being that the sisters don't know they are witches. And then out of nowhere there is creepiness with gore and death. Like I was reading the seance scene in bed and when my husband opened the door I jumped and almost dropped my tablet. Although it seems pretty obvious who is behind all the bad stuff, the ‘why’ surprised me. All in all I did like the book, but probably shouldn't have read it so late lol.

The Witches of Bone Hill
Rating 3.5 stars