Member Reviews
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Witches, yes sign me up.
Have never read anything by this author, but the book cover and synopsis drew me in.
Am so happy I was granted a copy to read and review.
The plot setting and most of all the characters made me fall in love with this book.
You will too. Will be reading more by Ava Morgyn!
Five stars. Recommend? YES!
Overall I really loved The Witches of Bone Hill, and instantly got sucked in. Unfortunately about a third of the way through the pacing slows down a bit and I found myself getting bored.
The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn is a complex tale of two sisters, their mysterious family history, and the danger of claiming their legacy. Morgyn has written an intriguing story, with complex characters and a story that keeps you turning the pages.
I found the book somewhat slow to start, but it was compelling enough to keep me going to the part where things really took off. The family secrets are peeled back layer by layer, and revealed slowly for both the sisters and the reader. It is, at its heart, a story of family, albeit with a paranormal slant, and all of the good and bad that comes with it, both in the past and the present.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheWitchesofBoneHill .
Cordelia is down on her luck - her husband cheated, left her with unimaginable debt, and she can't sell her home to recoup her costs because now it's full of mold. Then she and her sister learn that their great-aunt has passed and left them with the family estate - which they must visit to claim. Upon arrival, they learn they've inherited much more than just a house - and realize they must fight some dark forces to claim their birthright.
The first third of this book is a great introduction to the characters and the plot. It sets the atmosphere well and I was genuinely creeped out as they first explored the home and we start to see the sisters' gifts. But the second two thirds of this book fell flat for me - character development almost stopped, the romance came almost out of nowhere and didn't really grow from there, and certain elements of the plot didn't quite fit together. This book has a lot of interesting bones (pardon the pun), but didn't fulfill the promise. Interesting magic, good creepy atmosphere, some gripping antics, but overall I was left scratching my head as I worked to fill in the missing details.
I don’t mind supernatural type books, so that didn’t bother me in my mystery book selection. I just felt it was missing something, and dragged on a bit. It could be me. However I don’t think this is the one for me.
* This isn’t a book genre I would typically choose (suspense, ghosts) but I surprisingly enjoyed it.
* The mystery was great - there were enough twists to keep me from figuring everything 100% out.
* It felt a bit dragged out at times but not to the point where I’d stop reading!
* There is an unnecessary mob threat that sort of cheesed up the storyline.
Overall the book kept me intrigued and wanting to finish it as quickly as possible to understand the mystery of the Bone witches! That definitely warrants 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I made the mistake of judging this book a teeny bit by the cover before I started reading. I was expecting a corny little fantasy romance with cutesy witches and such. What I got was an exciting mystery with family secrets, witchcraft, sizzling romance, and bone magic. What more could a girl want!!
The story begins with half of our sister protagonist duo Cordelia as her real estate business and personal life are set in a dumpster fire by her shitty soon to be ex husband. Amidst all this personal drama, Cordelia finds out that her mysterious aunt has passed away, and left her, and her sister Eustace as heirs to her fortune and fancy manor hidden away, Bone Hill. The two sisters venture to the manor hoping to sell it and make a profit (thereby solving some of Cordelia's woes) but they get way more than they bargained for. Moving to Bone Hill unlocks family drama and secrets the girls had never been told about by their mother. Together Eustace, Cordelia, and the handsome mysterious groundskeeper Gordon begin to unravel the secrets of the Bone family. I will say I was expecting thrills and a little gore, but this was a bit gorier than I anticipated, not an issue for me, but if you're squeamish about gore, especially animal related, you may have some issues with parts of this book.
For me this was a read that I picked up and couldn't put down. The dynamic between Cordelia and Eustance was so fun, sisters who were distant reunite once more type of vibe. I loved both of their distinct personalities, it was really fun to see them interact. I also loved the magic system in this book, and the heritage of the Bone sisters, it's really a unique twist that I haven't seen done in my time reading witchy books (which is a lot of time). Magic was a win for me, characters, beautiful and gothic atmospheric setting, and dynamic side plot romance!! Sometimes in books like this the romance feels crammed in, Morgyn has seamlessly woven a story of family, magic, and love. Doesn't hurt that the love interest is fioooneeeeee and tattooed, we love to see it. Overall I would recommend this to lovers of Practical Magic, The Craft, and A Discovery of Witches. Pretty much anyone who likes a cozy witchy story would enjoy this. Rated 4.5/5, rounded down to 4/5 for Goodreads!
Disclaimer: This is my honest review and opinions in exchange for the ARC from NetGalley,
What more could I ask for in a book.. This has witches magic and ghosts! I love a good mystery that includes the paranormal and this well written atmospheric novel gave me everything.
Thank you NetGalley & St Martin’s Press for the ARC of The Witches of Bone Hill!
I really enjoyed this. It was so atmospheric & descriptive - there were plenty of parts during the book where I was spooked out! I loved the descriptions of the magic, this eerie mansion home, & the relationship between the two sisters.
Cordelia & Eustace Bone are reunited after 5 years when their estranged Great Aunt passes away. They learn they’re about to inherit a huge Victorian mansion - but it turns out they may be getting more than they bargained for. I loved the romance subplot between Cordelia & their sexy tattooed groundskeeper, Gordon!
Overall, this was slow paced, but it really worked as it all came to a head towards the end of the book - which was exciting & intense! Great book & I highly recommend to all who love atmospheric, mysterious settings with witches, magic, & the love between two siblings.
I will be posting my review to Goodreads & my bookstagram closer to pub date!
*There aren’t any published trigger warnings, but please make note there are graphic scenes of animal abuse.*
This would be a perfect Halloween read. It has ghosts, witches and dark magic, There's a gothic horror feel to it. Two sisters inherit a Victorian mansion that comes with a tragic family history. It's creepy, atmospheric, and full of mystery and suspense. I found it really hard to put down once I got about halfway through. That said there are some disturbing events that almost made me stop reading a couple times. I'm a mood reader and I didn't realize this book was going to lean into the horror genre as much as it did when I chose it. I was not expecting some of the more graphic descriptions of gore and mutilation. I really wanted to know what was going to happen though, so I stuck with it. I'm glad I did because it was a good story. I was satisfied with how it came together. I enjoyed the writing.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I struggled to get into this book so it took me a little bit longer to finish it. I’m glad I came back to finish the story. After the first few chapters it grabbed my attention and I couldn’t put it down! Definitely a must read!
The overall premise of this book but the right spooky and compelling notes: sisters taking over a mysterious estate and becoming entrenched in a troubled family history. I was definitely interested! However, once I got into the story, it did not hold my interest fully. The characters felt a little flat, and I had trouble getting invested in their individual stories.
Where the setting was rich and detailed, the character elements did not match that height. The romance element did not have any significant build up, and I didn’t necessarily have anything to latch onto in order to really root for it. We’re outright told the motives for the primary characters, but things never seemed to develop beyond surface level, and there is a massive unraveling and info dump at the very end.
While this story had a lot of potential, the execution felt a bit disjointed. There were elements (Busy and the mob?) that, while explained, felt completely out of the blue and unrelated to the rest of the story. I wanted it to have just a bit more meat on the bones of the story and pull a little more emotional weight. 3⭐️
A big thank you to Ava Morgyn, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this eARC of The Witches of Bone Hill in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a wild ride from the beginning to the end. While it’s classified as SciFi / Fantasy, I think it should also be tagged as Mystery and maybe even Horror. This is a suspenseful story about two sisters who are down on their luck who inherent a sprawling, seemingly sentient, historical estate from a family their mother kept them ignorant of their entire lives. Their mother, along with almost every female member of their family, has died in gruesome and brutal ways, and Cordelia and Eustace need to get to the bottom of why in case they might be next. Through their hunt to understand their family’s misfortune, they accept the sisters learn to accept their magic and place in this long line of Bone witches.
This was a wonderfully written story, which had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The characters were compelling, and the plot moved quickly and not unnecessarily. Again, I went in expecting a cozy like fantasy (the cover is a seemingly cute, harmless picture) but wound up in a murder mystery. If you’re squeamish, there are some vivid depictions of gruesome murders and nasty scenes, but I would say it‘a not enough to be considered full horror. I really enjoyed this read!
Magical mystery in small town CT. Superstition and secrets and witches, along with ghosts that get into the game. Complex tale with just a few characters, focus on the mystery and the past. Knocked a star due to Cordelia's repeated gross errors of judgement, kind of became annoying.
I was so excited to receive a copy of this book! First, let me just say the writing was beautifully descriptive. The author paints such a vivid narrative that I could not only see every detail in my mind but I could hear it too. The Witches of Bone Hill is a spooky, supernatural read about two estranged sisters (Cordelia & Eustace) that come together after receiving an enormous inheritance from their great aunt. An aunt that they didn't even know existed. Along with the house on Bone Hill they also learn their heritage and family history. Cordelia, who is trying to wrap up a divorce with her cheating husband is desperate to sell and cash out in order to pay off a debt to the local mafia that her deadbeat husband bailed on leaving her responsible for the repayment in their eyes. Eustace has simpler needs and just wants to find a place to call home. A lot is on the line for both sisters as it becomes clear that someone wants to stop the sisters from accepting the inheritance and all it entails. With the help of a fox, a smoking hot groundskeeper and a few restless spirits, Cordy and Eustace must figure out who is lurking in the shadows trying to derail the solution to both of their problems. I would have given this 5 stars (it gets 4.5) only because of a couple instances of animal abuse. That was not my favorite part and I didn't see any trigger warnings. I received a digital copy of this book from Net Galley in return for an honest review. I really did enjoy the writing, the story line and the characters. It had a great pace and some spectacular plot twists.
This is a story about two sisters that haven't seen each other in awhile. Both inherite the family home that they have never been too. Their morher kept them away from there, dragging them from town to town. They're mother has recently died and now they're. Cordelia Bone's marriage is on the rocks, her husband has leftvher with huge debts and the mob is after her because of it. Her sister, Eustace, has been battling cancer and has just finished all her treatments. The head off to the families home to find out about the will. The will itself is a surprise and it also has stipulations.
They find out more about the Bone family and learn things that they knew nothing about. Ghosts are seen by both women, the town people hate them. Many things started happening, and they needed answers. Were they witches? What causes Cordelia's headaches and how has Eustace health done a complete turnaround.?She is the picture of health. I really enjoyed this book.and I rate it 4 out of 5. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this book.
I was excited to read this book, I love witchy stories. However, 50% into the book (of 400+ pages) I still disliked the main character, I had absolutely no sympathy for her overall bitchiness. The romance set-up was choppy, it went from sporadic, he's so dreamy but only in her head, to her being awful to him to them kissing. By 55% into I could tell you who did it. I remarked, this is as bad as an episode of Scooby Doo. Low and behold a few pages over one character says, "it's like we are in Scooby Doo." With the absolute massive amount of detail that went into the first half, one would think a little more charm could have been put into the romance. There were times I really wanted to stop reading.
The second half was much better, it flowed and was intriguing. Yes, it was predictable who was responsible, but the how kept me going. The relationships were growing the characters were flushed out and the main character was more likeable. I enjoyed the ending. I feel like if about 100 pages were cut out of this it would be a 4-5 star read.
The second half definitely carried the first so I gave it 3 stars because I genuinely enjoyed the las half of the book.
Thank you to Ava Morgyn, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a digital copy of The Witches of Bone Hill.
Cordelia works in real estate and lives the perfect life in her beautiful home in an upscale Dallas suburb. Then, sadly for her, but a marvelous break for the readers, every possible aspect of her world falls apart. We’re talking the big things: her marriage is over, she’s beyond broke, she is going to lose her home, and the mob is out to get her. You may think that last item was just me being whimsical. Nope, I’m serious!
In the middle of all this turmoil, Cordelia gets a call from her sister, Eustace. The sisters couldn’t be any more opposite – Eustace grows and sells cannabis in Colorado. The sisters don’t have a close relationship and haven’t spoken in a long time. But, Eustace has news. An aunt they’d never met has died and left them a house. Cordelia sees this as the answer to her problems. She’s eager to go see the house, sell it as fast as possible, and use the money to repair her life.
But there’s a catch (because of course there’s a catch!) The will states that both sisters must live in the house to inherit the family fortune. Cecelia is determined to sell the place anyway, so off she goes to Connecticut, where she will reunite with her sister. Her plan is to take care of business and head back to Dallas.
Now, if everything had gone the way Cordelia planned, we wouldn’t have much of a story. Thankfully for us, her ancestors, the house, and even her own latent powers she doesn’t fully understand all have their own agendas. And there are secrets. So many secrets that need to be revealed.
This isn’t a horror novel (though a few scenes are horrific). I see it through more than one lens. It’s a love story, a coming-home story, a family ties story, and a wickedly moody gothic tale. As Cordelia and Eustace explore the house and the land surrounding it, they learn about their ancestors and how they are tied to them. They get to know the house as it reveals their family history, sometimes freely and sometimes reluctantly. Even the caretaker who lives on the property, and the local townsfolk have secrets. The sisters are keeping secrets from each other as well – and then there’s that big secret that has haunted them both for so long – what really happened to their mother?
If dark and stormy nights, eccentric Victorian mansions, atmospheric landscapes, chilling family crypts, strong magic, handsome yet brooding groundskeepers, and witchy family legacies appeal to you, this is your next read. Brew a cup of tea, sink into a comfy chair and turn your phone off. You are encouraged to read this story well into the night.
I would certainly enjoy a sequel, as I’m curious about how Cordelia and Eustace settle into their new home, new talents, new relationships, and new outlooks on life.
My thanks to author Ava Morgyn, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital review copy of this book. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I was excited to start this book. The plot sounded intriguing and right up my alley. Sadly, this was a disappointment for me. I really struggled to finish it completely and found myself getting bored throughout.
This is the story of Cordelia Bone. The book starts with her life in Texas falling apart- her husband has left her for her assistant, stolen her identity in the process leaving her in debt, and in the midst of selling her home, mold is found. As if on cue, she gets a call that her estranged aunt has passed away and that she is required to come to her home to determine her inheritance. We come to find out that she has a sister, Eustance, who she has not spoken to in 5 years. We learn that the sisters can only receive their inheritance if they stay and live in the house. We also learn that they are witches and by coming back to the house, they are starting to come into their powers. Lastly, we learn that almost all of the women in their bloodine have died in either a tragic or mysterious way.
I can't really put my finger on it, but I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters in this book. The story was also very discombobulating- just all over the place I don't think there was a lot of depth, and it seemed like something major would happen and then be brushed over. I found myself flipping back through pages to see if I missed something. Cordelia and her sister haven't spoken in 5 years but all of a sudden they are good and relying on each other. Cordelia has a thing for the groundskeeper, Gordon, and then within a few weeks, she can't live without him, but the way the story is told once again it is as if I missed something.
I will say I probably would have dropped a star if it had not been for the end. The crescendo of the book slightly made up for its shortcomings.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this! It felt like a story of acceptance and of loving ones self for who they are, while there was still magic and romance, mystery and murder.