The Witches of Bone Hill excels in the construction of its gothic estate, sprawling with all the blood, bones and things that go bump in the night that genre savvy readers could ask for. Bone Hill itself is atmospheric, its spirits as unsettling as they are unsettled, skeletons spilling out of its closets.

Where this novel falls short is not its premise, which will make fans of Anne Rice's Mayfairs right at home, but its execution. While the setting is excellent and its ability to build tension adept, the characters are unremarkable stock and the twists lead to a predictable denouement which is surprising less in the nature of its twist than the fact that it was, in fact, used as the twist. This is the recurrent problem in Witches; Cordelia is a frustrating enough protagonist to very nearly sink the novel as a whole, not because of any character traits of hers, but because of how utterly at the mercy of narrative contrivances her characterization is. She is capable of great mental feats when some plot thread needs to be connected for the reader; she is incredibly dense and incompetent when an inevitable reveal needs to be dragged out. She is irrational and unreasonable only to create contrived conflict nonsensical enough to be melodrama, and only for the duration necessary. She is as aware of her abilities at any given time as it is narratively convenient for her to be, leading to redundant revelations regarding things that have already been observed. Most of what we know about her, or any given character, is purely expository; information is doled out in paragraphs before readers are given reason to care about the background being thrown at them, and supporting characters' motivations are handed to us in soap opera monologues or explained away after the fact.

This is, ultimately, a novel of great potential that falls short, resorting to almost satirical genre cliches and characters more recognizable as plot devices than characters with rich inner lives. It's a fast, easy read for a dark and stormy night, but doesn't live up to its promise nor predecessors.

Thank you to NetGalley!

This book had everything I love - magic, a mystery, spooky gothic vibes, some romance, and sisterly love. I liked seeing Cordelia come to terms with their family history and powers, her reconnecting with Eustace, and her relationship with Gordon. Did it feel a little insta-love? Yes, I could’ve used some more flirting or lead up, but I was still here for it. I would’ve liked a little more backstory on the villains and why they did what they did, or maybe I just rushed through the explanation and didn’t grasp it all because I was too excited to see how it was going to end. Either way, I loved it and would recommend this book for fall/Halloween/spooky season since it comes out September 2023.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This spellbinding book had me captivated from the first page. This was so good. I absolutely loved this book so much! It was perfect for me. It was just what I was looking for!
I just reviewed The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn. #NetGalley
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The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn is a riveting, romantic novel about family secrets and two young women who discover their Nordic witches.

I was under the author’s spell from almost the first page.
Cordelia and Eustace are well-developed characters who I instantly started to love.
Their journey was completely interesting and their story kept me reading till early morning hours.
The author's writing style is descriptive and immersive, bringing the magical world of these sisters to life.
This had an interesting, gripping plot that kept my attention and left me satisfied.
TWoBH was engaging from the first chapter. And I couldn’t have enjoyed it more if I tried.
I hope she continues to create such stories as this because it was outstanding!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The Witches of Bone Hill follows two estranged sisters, Cordelia and Eustace, as they inherit an old Victorian mansion from an aunt they have never met. However soon the girls learn things are not as they seem as they discover family secrets and their connection to witchcraft. This book had everything I could want from a spooky fall read. Morgyn nailed the atmosphere, from the moment the sisters arrive everything is so eerie and ominous I had chills! As someone who enjoys reading about sister relationships, I thought this nailed the vastly different/estranged sisters who come together and reconnect as they discover their magic. I was rooting for them the entire time! The only thing that took me out of it was all the drama with Cordelia’s husband, the whole mob thing felt weirdly out of place and it just felt so jarring compared to the rest of the story. Overall this was such a fun read and one I can’t wait to revisit this fall.

This novel has a gothic feel and is perfect as a fall or Halloween read. Two sisters learn their great aunt has passed away and they are to inherit their family estate. This comes at the perfect time for Cordelia, the youngest sister, as her marriage has fallen apart and she is in massive debt.
Cordelia and her older sister Eustace have been estranged for years and I really enjoyed their relationship in this novel and how they work to repair it. Finding out about their heritage and all the family secrets definitely kept the book interesting. If you enjoy paranormal books I would definitely recommend this one.
Thank you to Netgally and St. Martin's Press for the arc.

Cordelia and Eustace Bone have been estranged for five long years. After the loss of their mother, they’re all the family they have left. Until one day they receive notice of an inheritance from the family they never knew. But along with the family estate comes secrets and stories of their forebears. Can the sisters make it together and will they be able to figure out why their mother left home all those years ago and never introduced the girls to their aunts? First they have to survive discovering what and who they really are.

This is a FABULOUS book and I loved every page of it! The relationship between Cordie and Eustace is one we can all relate to and while they have had their differences, they sisters have each others backs. The story of their childhood, their mother and the history they find out about their Bone ancestors really throws you through a few loops along the way. Ultimately the story of family ultimately comes full circle and everything is made clear to the sisters. Well written and completely spellbinding!

The Witches of Bone Hill is an awesome story about two sisters who inherit a Victorian mansion from an aunt they never met. As the story moves on the sisters learn a whole lot more about themselves and the gifts that their family has. This story pretty much ticked all the boxes for me, old spooky house, witches, hot guy, unexplained powers, animals, and more. It is so good! I loved the sister's chemistry and the house was pretty much a character all by itself. The creepy attorney and the weird nephew just add to the overall suspense. I could have gone without the ex-husband drama but that is really insignificant in the grand scheme of things. The end really packs a whole lot into it, so be prepared. I really enjoyed this one and hope that the author will revisit the characters in another book.

When Cordelia’s cheating husband has her deeply in debt and threatened by the mob, she is thrown a lifeline. Her sister, Eustace, calls to inform her that they have inherited a home and must go to claim it. They do not know their family history and learn that it is not typical. Bone Hill takes them in and the mysteries and tragedies of them ancestors envelops them and shapes their future. This book is well written, and the characters are multifaceted. I got caught up in all that Bone Hill offered and recommend it heartily. I read this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Witches of Bone Hill is about two estranged sisters coming together after the passing of their great aunt who they have never met and getting more than they bargained for. Now they sisters must dig up the past and discover their lineage. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I didn’t want to put it down. As soon as I read the synopsis I was hooked. This book is released September 26,2023 which in my opinion will be a great read for fall/Halloween. Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Publishing, Ava Morgyn and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Loved it. Finally a story where people act reasonable and logical...sometimes. As opposed to the whole plot of story being centered around people unwilling to communicate. Would love to read a follow up to this story, to see how the bone sisters are settling into their new lives.

Cordelia Bone has created a life she is good with in Dallas. Unfortunately for her, her husband isn’t as good with it. Now her entire life is about to blow up because said husband can’t be faithful or even honorable. And when some sketchy loan shark shows up demanding she pays off his debts, she doesn’t think things can get any worse.

Until her sister calls. Eustace Bone is a cannabis grower in Boulder, Colorado and they haven’t spoken much. This call will change a lot of things. Their aunt has died and left them a house. A lot of house. With a mind of its own apparently.

The Victorian mansion in Connecticut could be the answer to Cordelia’s money problems. Sell the entire thing and go back to real life. But both women are keeping big secrets from each other that will affect their decisions. Also keeping them there is a creepy lawyer with an even creepier nephew. Keep an eye on those two.

The terms of the will state they must remain in the house. And almost at once, odd things begin to happen. Cordelia has always hidden her gift but now it’s just not possible.

I enjoyed this story. Parts moved a bit slowly but the story itself was a good one

NetGalley/ 26 Sep 2023 St. Martin’s Griffin

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the opportunity to read The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn. I had a hard time getting into this book due to not really liking or caring for the two sisters. I am glad I stayed with it and did come to enjoy the sisters.

From the setting, to the characters, to the magic there's so much to love and I hope we get more beautiful books from Ava in the future!The plot is mellow but envelopes you in a cold, eerie and wintry aesthetic. It's seriously the perfect book to cozy up to this fall/winter.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would hazard to say this will appeal to a very specific sort of reader. I don’t see it being a good fit for our libraries. The cover is gorgeous.

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

The Witches of Bone Hill is a spellbinding tale of legacy and sisterhood that left me wanting more. Set in a haunted manor, this story is filled with powerful magic and intriguing mysteries that kept me reading well into the night. The simmering supernatural mystery is steeped in Scandinavian witchcraft and occurs within the walls of a magnificent and malevolent house. This wickedly wonderful story is a delicious concoction of darkness, magic, and sisterhood with a tale of haunting sorcery that makes this new dynasty of powerful witches impossible to put down. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is expertly crafted, drawing readers in and holding them captive until the end. The Witches of Bone Hill is perfect for anyone who loves a good mystery, supernatural elements, and strong female characters. So, brew yourself a cup of tea, settle in, and prepare to be spellbound by this captivating tale.

Kindle Copy for Review from Net Galley and St. Martin's Press.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Two sisters find themselves on a discovery of finding themselves when they realize they are Nordic witches. They will learn to deal with their power as they learn about their power and itss effects on their lives.

A compelling read for fans of witchery and the power it brings. Quaint read to enjoy.