The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn is a wonderful novel about two sisters who find them selves pulled from their "ordinary life" into a world of magic, hauntings, mysteries, and danger. It's very entertaining, I found myself looking forward to reading this every night.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. However, I did not enjoy it as much as I had anticipated. I could not connect with any of the characters and I did not understand how Cordelia could go from disliking Gordon to suddenly attracted to him. It made no sense. To be honest, the fantasy genre is not one I care for. So I should have passed on the opportunity to read this book. And, unfortunately, I had to force myself to continue reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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if you want a deliciously spine-tingling book for the Halloween season, here ya go.

If it weren’t for bad luck, real estate agent Cordelia Bone would have no luck at all. Her soon-to-be-ex-husband cheated on her (with her assistant, in their house). Not just that, but he’s racked up a truckload of debt in her name, some of it with mob connections who are now looking to collect from her. She can’t sell her house in Dallas without fixing the recently discovered black mold problem first. And then her estranged sister Eustace calls to tell her their one surviving relative, their great-aunt Augusta, has died and left them an inheritance in Connecticut. Well, maybe that will fix the money problem. So Eustace and Cordelia are off to Bellwick, Connecticut to collect an inheritance from a great-aunt they barely knew.

Why don’t they know their great-aunt? Because their mother, Maggie, fled the old home place years ago. The sisters’ childhood was spent in rough conditions, always on the move, always with their mother having one loser boyfriend after another. And then Maggie was murdered, a tattoo ripped from her very skin. So they have no idea what awaits them in Connecticut.

This story is about the power of family. The bitterness of a bond that chafes for too long. The importance of sisterhood. And most of all, it is about Cordelia and Eustace finding the voices that are truly theirs, the voices they never knew about because their mother tried to leave it all behind.

The house, Bone Hill, is truly a character in and of itself. The family attorney, Bennett Togers, tells the sisters that the house will make its will known, and it does. With all the happenings that can’t be explained and that are well out of the ordinary, it’s no wonder the town of Bellwick views the Bone family with, at best, suspicion.

The story itself gets real close to lines I don’t like to cross with its very vivid descriptions of witchcraft and with some disturbing scenes involving animals. I do, however, appreciate the Norse mythology that is at the root of the sisters’ – indeed, of their family’s – power.

And the sisters themselves are wonderfully written characters. Eustace is the easygoing one, more able to adapt to her new circumstances. Cordelia, on the other hand, grew up with her ears full of Maggie’s warnings – don’t look at them, don’t speak to them, and under no circumstances sing to them. She has a harder time adjusting, and she can’t understand why Maggie would flee from family and drag her girls through a hard-knock life. All is revealed in time, though, as Cordelia comes to grasp the true strength she and Eustace can only have together.

This is a quick, compelling read that I finished in less than 24 hours. If you’re looking for a book to give you the chills, full of vengeful spirits and newfound powers, this is it. I suggest you put The Witches of Bone Hill at the top of your October TBR.

Witches of bone hill
Cordelia Bone’s life is in shambles…her husband, who has been cheating on her with her 20-something y.o. assistant, has now left her and racked up tons of debt in her name! So when her estranged sister Eustace calls and tells Cordelia the great aunt they never knew has died and they have inherited her large estate, she sees it as an opportunity for a clean slate. But the Bone Hill mansion has a dark past, secrets, and is more than either Cordelia or Eustace expected. Will the Bone sisters be able to find out what happened to their mother, uncover their family’s mysteries, and discover who is preventing them from obtaining Bone Hill?

This story is unlike any other “witchy” book I’ve ever read…it was so much darker, macabre, and has such a well thought out backstory! It took me the first few chapters to really get into the book but once I did I was hooked. I will absolutely read Ava Morgan’s next book! This was a great fall book, and I definitely recommend reading.

Read if you love:
🔮Witches
💀Macabre/Seances
📜Norse Mythology
🤫Family Secrets
🔥Slow Burn Romance

I absolutely devoured The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn. The writing is so eloquent and the imagery is magical. I felt like I was immersed in Bone Hill and I was there for it.

In the interest of a spoiler free review I will only say that the story is full of thrills and chills. It has mystery and romance. It has family drama and self realization/personal growth. It was the most beautifully written spooky tale I have ever read.

I have posted this review on Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5861528828

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxrEvaCroon/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

And Amazon.

Ava Morgyn's third book has all the usual mix of elements you will find in a good paranormal fantasy- magic, a bit of romance, and some horror scenes. Above all, it's a story of family secrets, self-growth, self-acceptance and sister love. I was immediately drawn into reading about Cordelia Bone's woes with her impeding divorce from her good-for-nothing, greedy, philandering husband who racked up huge debts and ruined Cordelia's business. Ava Morgyn's writing is so vivid that it's impossible not to empathise with Cordelia and feel her desperation at this point. But then Cordelia's sister Eustace informs her that their great aunt Augusta passed away and they stand to inherit the house which has been in their family possession for centuries. First, Cordelia sees this as an opportunity to get a reprieve from her troubles as much as the sisters' only chance to find out why their mother chose to flee her home town and stay away from her family. As Cordy and Eustace learn more about the secrets and dark powers of their own ancestors, the atmosphere grows more and more tense. It turns out that despite all the differences in the sisters' magic gifts, their love and devotion to each other will help them get to the root of the dark tragedies that have been haunting the house and the family.
Cordelia's character is extremely well-written-you know where she's coming from and what made her into a strong, loving woman she is. Eustace remains a bit in her shadow throughout the book.
I already mentioned that although there is romance, it stays in the background, as Cordelia needs to process why she ended up falling for her philandering husband in the first place.
I liked the way the ending ties up loose ends and leaves us with a hope that future generations of the Bone family will lead a happy life. Overall, the book didn't strike me as warm and fuzzy, so a happy ending was more than welcome.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

It took me a while to get into the writing style because I felt like it didn’t flow very well and I had a very slow start but I still ended up enjoying it. Read this if you love reading about sister witches ✨

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Ava Morgyn for this ARC ebook. The Witches of Bone Hill will be published September 26, 2023 (TODAY!!!).

Since it’s spooky and all fall things season, it seems like the perfect release date for this book.

This book checked all the boxes for such an amazing read. What a page turner. I started reading this book today and finished it just now. I’ve never read anything by Ava Morgan so I was skeptical at first, but she drew me in so well with all her perfect descriptions. I felt like I was walking in that mansion, in the woods, listening to the characters talk. She set such a spooky mood that makes you feel grateful for October.

This book felt like a twisted kind of Clue-do with witches and Norse magic. I’m one for mythologies and Norse mythology is one of my favorites. To have a foundation in mythology in such a book, this author earned brownie points from me.

From the start this book started with a mysterious backlash. I felt myself questioning what I thought was going on just trying to figure out what would happen next. You’ll read about ghosts and witches and magic and family affairs and heightened drama and intertwined family histories.

It had actual family drama not just fictional things were used to in books. I also liked how it focused on the relationship of the sisters while they were on their own journeys and trying to figure out what happens now that they’re in Bone Hill.

What a great read!! I loved every second of it. I loved how descriptive it was and the author’s writing style was very intriguing. This is the second book I read about witches and I’m liking how it’s going for me.

This was entertaining fun, full of mystery, ghosts, nexeomancers, gore, romance, and ginormous plot holes. It kept me turning pages but with lots of heavy sighs. I think with a bit more judicious editing (it did NOT need to be 400 pages long), this book has potential to be even better. I will check out her next book as I was entertained.

(Read book description for synopsis)
This book was cute and fun for witchy season. But I felt like the relationship between the sisters was too forced and never felt natural.
I also couldnt understand why the mob was brought into it. It could have been a much more timeless story with a different plot line. I didnt feel that there was ever a balance between the vibes. It felt like two different story lines.
It was also a little slow.
But. If you like a cozy mob story it’s probably right up your alley!
Would still recommend, it just wasn’t for me.

“Cordelia fell back a step, heart grinding to a halt within her chest, breath trapped inside as she gave over to little-girl terror. Not again, she thought, squeezing her eyes shut. Not again, not again, not again.”

Thank you so much to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this gifted eARC.

Witchy read that’s horror filled. I didn’t know I needed this book until I read it, there was everything I could have wanted. It definitely is not a cozy witchy read as the cover may suggest but it was fantastic!

Synopsis:
Estranged sisters brought together for an inherited Victorian mansion that they didn’t even know existed. Terror ensues and they are forced to embrace a heritage that has been buried to make it out alive. The writing is beautiful and I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.

Actually 41/2 stars.
The Bone sisters, Cordelia and Eustace inherited the Connecticut mansion and fortune of their great-aunt, Augusta. For Cordelia, it may be a way for her to get much needed money to pay off her husband John’s debts from a gangster and to fix a mold in their Texas home so she can sell it. For Eustace, as you read further on, she is one more chemo treatment away. Once they live in the house, Eustace begins to gain weight and looks like the peak of health. Cordelia learns that if any of them leave off their land for anytime, it is not safe for them health-wise.They can even die when visiting the nearby town for groceries. She also learns the townspeople fear the Bone family. The sisters figure out they are descendants of Nordic witches, bone witches. Meanwhile, Cordelia is falling for their groundskeeper. If that wasn’t all, Cordelia needs to find out why she is not getting better like her sister, and it also appears someone is out to get them.

If The Addams Family and The Haunting of Hill House gave birth, this dark fantasy with romance would be the result. It pulls the reader into this mystery and wickedly magical story that is hard to put down.

Thank you to Netgally and Ava Morgan for approving this Arc.


Are you looking for the perfect book for the beginning of your Spooky season?

Then I have the book for you.

The Witches of Bone Hill is about two sisters that have been estranged from each other and the rest of their family for some time, but our brought back together by the death of an aunt.

They find out they have inherited the mansion where the family has resided for centuries, the only problem is that they must stay in order to gain the inheritance from the aunt they never met.

Cordelia Bone has no other option but to stay, her slimy ex-husband cheated on her and has left her with a debt she must repay or the ones she cares about will be in harms way.

Eustace is eager to have a home to stay in, learn more about their family, and learn about the mystery of their mothers murder from whence they were younger.

Then there is the handsome but grouchy groundskeeper with tattoos that Cordelia must avoid because her track record with men has not been good, and a man with hellfire on his knuckles can't be trustworthy.

I can't sing this book's praises enough! This was marketed as horror, but I felt it was more gothic horror or fantasy with elements of horror. This story is more about finding your roots and coming back to them.

The villain was pretty obvious but at the same time there was a twist to my theory, so that was a pleasant surprise.

This book has everything!

The magic, the sisterhood, the ghosts, the romance, mystery, and elements of horror.

I always love stories where the ghosts aren't the bad guys but are just trying to help the MCs solve the mystery and uncover the truth of what happened to them and to right the wrongs of their past.

All these themes this book felt very Practical Magic meets Crimson Peak.

I do also want to add that there are some scenes that depict animal abuse and horror. If you don't want to read about that type of thing then maybe this might be a bit too dark for you.

For me I was OK, but I definitely cried during one of the scenes at the end especially, but understood why it was necessary.

4.5 stars

This book definitely has a bit of a slow start, but that is completely forgotten once you get halfway through because shit really hits the fan quick! There is so much mystery and intrigue in this book, I was surprised a few times and did not see the end coming.

I really liked our lead character Cordelia and her sister, though I do kind of wish we could have read from her perspective too. The book follows Cordelia, a middle aged woman with painful headaches and a pain in the ass (ex) husband who finds herself at Bone Hill.

I also loved Gordon and thought their romance was a perfect balance to the other tensions rising within the book.

The setting is wild because it’s basically a haunted house where stuff is just always going sideways! Every detail is so spooky and specific, it really lures you in.

The magic system wasn’t overly complicated and the lore really unfolds nicely throughout the book because we are learning along with the sisters.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it definitely got me hype for Halloween and the fall season! I highly recommend to anyone who’s into magic, witches, paranormal/supernatural mysteries and/or fantasies!

This book was a wild ride and such a fun way to kick off spooky season! It combines two of my favorite seasonal themes - witches and haunted houses. But don’t let the cutesy, whimsical cover fool you - this is 𝘯𝘰𝘵 what I would call a cozy read! The magic leans more towards the sinister side of the supernatural, with darker elements like murder, curses, and vengeful spirits.

Cordelia and Eustace are sisters who have been estranged for 5 years when they are brought back together by the death of their mysterious aunt, who has left them her magnificent Victorian manor. They know nothing about the house or its long history in their family because their late mother kept them away from it.

When they arrive at Bone Hill they discover a cast of strange characters - an elderly attorney who is keeping secrets about their cryptic family history, a sexy, tattooed groundskeeper who seems mysteriously attached to the house, ghostly relatives who want revenge on the sisters, and a shadowy figure that’s been stalking the Bone women for decades. Cordelia and Eustace know they must uncover the truth about their family, and themselves, once and for all - but to do it they must work together and face an unknown darkness that threatens their lives and their legacy.

While this one started off a bit slow, after the first 30% it really gets going! I loved the sisters and how they complimented each other. The writing is very descriptive and the creepy clues kept me turning the pages as they work together to unravel secrets, decode ancient symbols and rituals, and discover their own powers. If you love ghosts, they show up right away and are an eerie, lingering presence throughout the book. Trigger warning for graphic animal cruelty (this was a tough one for me, but it wasn’t gratuitous and served a purpose in the overall plot).

While this one made me a bit uncomfortable at times with its darker elements, it was also full of hope, healing, sisterhood, a bit of romance, and the power of family bonds and legacies. I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a witchy, haunted house story that will give you thrills and chills!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn is at the same time super creepy AND unputdownable. Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC. This book is available today. If you like fantasy that tips pretty heavily towards horror, scoop this up for your fall TBR. There’s even a little romance mixed in!I could not read it before bed, but also kept thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it.

This is the story of two estranged sisters who learn that they are Nordic witches. They get a call that a great aunt they never met has died and they must travel to a small town in Connecticut to deal with the estate. And when they arrive they realize that there is nothing simple or innocent about their aunt’s Victorian mansion or the family secrets kept within the walls.

Excellent writing, definitely spooky–a win for Fall reading. And I did love the ending.

First off this cover is amazing! This book gave me charmed vibes which made me feel all nostalgic! With the house and family being so important it locked me in for the long haul!! I felt things alongside these characters and kept going back for more. This book will leave you saying just one more chapter over and over again until you are done and you didn’t even realize you made it that far in the book. It is a build and then everything just starts happening so if you are a person who doesn’t like that I will tell you it is worth the build up.

This story follows two sisters who travel to Connecticut to deal with the estate of their great aunt. Once there, the sisters start to uncover family secrets.
This book is a fantasy with some romance and mystery elements. Overall, I enjoyed the story. I loved the thriller and mystery aspects of the books and it kept me wanting more at times. However, I did find it dragged at times, making it difficult for me to fully get into it. It started to pick up in the last few chapters of the book and had me booked. I felt that the climax and ending felt too quick to wrap everything up, although it was very action packed! As for the characters, I had a hard time connecting with them. Still a spooky read perfect for Halloween time!

Two sisters, each with their own problems, come together to accept a large inheritance from an unknown aunt. However, they get much more than wealth. The Bone sisters’ mother ran away from her wealthy family at a young age to the hard-scrabble life that was all the family memories that the two sisters had. Learning their history is the real gift from their dead aunt. But it is not as straightforward as the women expected. There are dark forces at work here. Will The Witches of Bone Hill be able to accept their family burdens? Will they survive long enough to appreciate their family’s unusual legacy?

Atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere! The overstuffed, maybe even overwrought, prose sets the creepy scene. The adjectives outnumber the verbs by ten to one. The entire plot reminds me of the Victorian era Mary Roberts Rinehart “had-she-but-known” gothic novels of my youth. Think Rebecca or Wuthering Heights if you are more familiar with old movies. This style is not necessarily bad, but it does slow down the book’s pacing to a crawl.

Whether you like the book’s writing style and pacing or not, the conclusion is definitely not to be missed. I loved the surprising end of The Witches of Bone Hill, which brings my rating up to 4 stars.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

If you only read one book for spooky season, this book needs to be your choice! It has everything I could want in a witchy read plus some. I went into this one thinking it would be more light hearted and the typical sisters-finding-out-they-have-powers read and I was definitely wrong. This one was far more creepy than I gave it credit for! I got serious The Haunting of Hill House vibes!

I loved all the characters, the setting of Bone Hill, the overall plot, the romance, and all the twists and turns. I basically just loved everything about this book. The hauntings were pretty creepy and gave me chills when I read at night. I will say, there is one part that animal lovers won't be thrilled about, so read the trigger warnings prior to picking this one up.

All in all, this was a total gem of a book! I give it an easy 5/5 stars!