I found rating this book a difficult task. I settled on 3.5 because, honestly, I would most likely want to read the next book as I grew to love the characters of Leona and Jewel; and the ending opens the box of possibilities for the next book in the series.

The story follows sister witches of different skills and abilities, thrown into a murder case. But there so much more going on in the background.
Ghosts, witches and werewolves, vampires, ghouls... you name it, its lurking in there somewhere! A complete kaleidoscope of fantasy beasts.

The pacing was interesting. Sometimes it felt rushed and a bit "skip-to-the-end" but the concept and characters were so much fun, I couldn't stop reading it. The tension and plot built up steadily and I loved that there was some gripping, shock moments that kept the story moving.

There is a lot in Root and Bone to keep the reader entertained. The characters of the sisters were well thought out as strong female leads supporting each other through the story. They each had their own strengths, weaknesses and unique voice. Leona felt the stable, grounded one with something simmering below the surface. Her relationship with her ghost boyfriend was emotional and sweet - with some of their history explained in well crafted memory/flashback scenes.
Jewel was a contrast - in that she was louder, more crass but with a heart of gold and would often ground Leona when her magic started to twist out of her control.

All in all, a fun story, a mash up of witchy- crime solving "kickass -ness" where I could see this as a TV series. (That's how it kind of played out in my mind, the chapters being like episodes.)

I would like to thank author Jessica Raney and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Root ad Bone - it was an absolute pleasure to read.

I was drawn in immediately by the concept of this being a witchy, magical murder mystery. It isn't something I've seen very often in mystery books, so I was intrigued right from the start.

Three stars for the overall plot in general, I really enjoyed how strong Jewel and Leona were in their own ways. Despite the fact that this takes place in the 1950s or 1960s, the two sisters aren't afraid to stand up for themselves which I admired.

I felt many details could've been fleshed out more. For instance, how did Jewel and Leona become witches? Why did they have powers but no one else in their family did? And where did Ida Mae come from? Although she was their other sister, the relationship between her, Jewel, and Leona never seemed to be expanded on very much.

That leads me to my biggest question, which in this case is Cale. The concept of having a ghost buddy/lover/partner was interesting, and I really wanted to know more than what the reader was given. I would've loved to read more about how Leona and Cale grew closer over time. I'm still confused about the whole ghost-baby thing though.

In all, this was a fun book from the perspective of it being a murder mystery that overlaps many literary genres. It's a unique concept that I was quite impressed with the author for taking on; incorporating that many genres into one (fairly short) book isn't easy. That being said, I was left with so many questions about characters, plot holes, and other interactions that were only briefly touched on, that I felt I finished this book feeling confused and wanting more context.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book which was just published last week. Root and Bone by Jessica Raney.

The Spencer Sisters both witches with very different powers but work together and help the sheriff to rid their little town of some evil forces. Witches, Ghosts, Vampires and Werewolves what more could you want in a book!
Took me a little while to get into but I preserved and overall was a good book.

I enjoy a good book that includes witches, folklore, female empowerment and twist endings. This book covered all of these subjects. I quickly grew to like sisters; Jewel and Leona. When girls started going missing and then being found with horrible injuries, the sisters quickly used there witchcraft to discover who the murderer was. Soon, the girls had to deal with much more than they expected. Even though they were warned off the case in several ways, this did not stop the sisters from continuing to stand up for those who had no one on their side. There was plenty of danger, courageous women and despicable creatures. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed the elements of the crime mystery, the sisters with supernatural powers, and the atmosphere of the whole novel, set in a small, somewhat dark town. I also love strong female characters! However... that's about it for the positives. Unfortunately, there were a lot of repetitions, sometimes the exact same phrases repeated after just a few lines. The beginning was extremely chaotic, and I felt that the roles of some characters and who they really are were not explained for too long. Maybe the novel was just too short to fit everything that needed to be included. Because of this, some situations seemed absurd, and instead of focusing on the action, I wondered if I had missed something. Despite everything, the ending was interesting, and if the opportunity arises, I will give the second part a try, because I hope that maybe everything just needs time to develop.

The storyline for Root & Bone was entertaining but the old time language, I felt was unnecessary and made it much more difficult to read. I wanted to finish the book because I wanted to see how the story finished but it took me a lot longer to finish that I had hoped.
Lorena and her sister Jewel are “witches” and both have different strengths. Lorena can see ghosts and Jewel is a spit-fire that doesn’t holdback. Lorena falls in love with a Ghost named Cole who is only a breathe away and always by her side. When gruesome murders start to occur in Ames and the local sheriff Ed doesn’t have the understanding to solve the murders; Lorena and Jewel follow the clues and the magic and of course end up finding out who was murdering those poor girls.
The forbidden love story of Lorena and Cale is what really pulls the book together.
Am I glad I read it? Maybe - I’m always a sucker for a good love story. This absolutely could be a good book for someone who likes reading this writing style; I just wished I could have enjoyed it more.

This had so much potential to be four or five stars. However, the author had so much going on in their head that they couldn’t condense it down nor could they flush some of the content out to make for a better. It took me a while to get through this one as I felt like a writer with ADHD a dump it is hard to keep up with it all.

The supernatural elements in the story really worked, however, that author really needed to give the story a good shake and see what it fell out in order to make sure everything else for me. I think it needed a much better edit before being published.

Leona Monroe and her sister Jewel Spencer live in Ames, a quiet Appalachian town where everyone seems to know everything about each other. However, the Spencer sisters had a unique perspective. Descendants of Mother-in-Law - a lineage of healers, truth keepers and powerful magicians - they possess the ability to foresee the future, influence nature and communicate with spirits. When violent crime sweeps through their peaceful town, Leona and Jewel are convinced the local police won't solve the case. The sisters become aware of the supernatural and realize that the seemingly ordinary town of Ames holds mysterious secrets. Rainey creates vivid descriptions that immerse the reader in the narrative along with the characters. While I wished I had gained more insight into Grandma Kay and this elusive "name" that is rarely talked about, the book's fast-paced plot felt overwhelming at times due to the breadth of its content. The ending seemed a little rushed, but overall it was a promising start to the series and has me excited for the sequel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Cursed Dragonship Press.

"Root and Bone" started out as a crime story, then developed into a crazy fantasy/horror/ghost story. This was an interesting, fun and entertaining read!

Set in the past these strong female characters truly captivated me through the book. I loved the book the sister shared and is what kept me invested, along with the writing style and plot development

Thank you for the ARC of this book and giving me the chance to read and review.

It follows the story of two sisters Leona and Jewel. They come from a long line of powerful magic wielders. The sisters are very different in the way they use their gifts. When a murder in their small town happens its clear the local law enforcement isn't going to solve the case so the sisters have to step in to solve the mystery.

This is the first book i have read by the author and i will be looking out for more. I loved the banter between the two sisters and the general plot and character development. It was none stop action, gritty, full of magical creatures and murder mystery.

If you're into books about magic and mystery you will love this one.

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is so original !! Yes the sisters are witches and do magic, but there are other pieces at play here also. They live mundane lives and both with horrible men. I would use magic to subdue a husband like that also. But there are other characters in here that are rare to find in other books involving magic, such as the ghoul. Introducing him right off the bat and showing the kindness the sisters have for all things "different" is perfect. It sets up for them not only being different, but also being viewed as outcasts by certain people of the town, such as the more religious folk.

I did find it a little difficult to read. It is one of those ones that you have to remind yourself that you are reading as a character based in the 50s-60s. Took a little more concentration, but once you were reading, you were pulled so in depth to the story that it is like you are right there with them. There is also the fact that one sister can see ghosts. Both can speak to Cale, as he has been around for so long, once I realized he was a ghost that part of the story was always interesting. We have all heard the legends of Hallows Eve right? Where the veil is thinnest and the dead walk the earth? Probably my favorite part!

The fact that both sisters have different affinities for different types of spells or magic was another bonus. No two people are the same, so why would witches be. Which is also different from other books where all spells can be learned. I like that this book focused on one sister, but i wonder if it would be beneficial to view the story from the other sister's point of view as well.. Right now the other sister is seen as almost a bully, but yet she also doesn't seem to care what other people think. Could that be a facade?

Overall, the book was great! The fact that it closes off the important/main focus of this book but yet also leaves just enough loose strings for the next book was very well done. I can't wait to see what happens next!

As anyone from the Appalachians knows, magic is still very much alive there. The Spencer sisters—Jewel Spencer and Leona Monroe—know this better than just about anyone in their little town of Ames. Both are trained in healing and witchcraft, and Leona has a special aptitude for seeing and speaking to ghosts. And all of those skills will come in handy when a gruesome murder plagues the tiny town.

The ritualistic killing isn't just gory to look at: it's affected the ghost of its victims and other ghosts in the vicinity. This could potentially extend to Cale, Leona's long-time ghostly confidant and (according to many) ill-advised crush. But things grow more complex as more players enter the field: a charismatic preacher and his ghoulish brother, a band of werewolves to whom Leona's abusive husband is indebted, and a second murder victim. And Halloween is just around the corner, meaning magic and danger will both be in the air.

This intro to the world of the Spencer Sisters is equal parts delightful and terrifying. Folk magic blends with small-town police procedural, and the rules of this supernatural world are laid out in full (with a few variants from the norm). Most intriguing, though, is the lurking threat of magic use, as Leona balances her desire to do good with her understandably turbulent emotions. The ending leaves the door open for more adventures for the sisters... but not everyone makes it out of the first book alive.

This one was a tough one for me to get into and unfortunately I had to DNF around the 30% mark. That doesn't mean it's not good, just wasn't my cup of tea.

I will rate it 3 stars because the author put their time and energy into writing this novel.

The cover is very pretty

Thank you Netaglley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows two witch sisters, Leona and Jewel, who try to figure out the person behind some gruesome murders in a small Appalachian town.
This book has creatures that go bump in the night, spells, werewolves, and sisterly bond.
I loved this book! It was well written and vividly detailed. The style of writing also was immersive enough to distinguish the sisters accents.
The only thing that I wish this book had was a little more back story of the sisters and how they came about their powers.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of Root and Bone.

This story takes place in a small town known as Ames which is an Appalachian town. If you’re familiar with the Appalachian region then you’re familiar with some of the myths and lores surrounding this area. Two women, Leona and Jewel, are Granny Women - or essentially as we would call them - witches. When a woman is brutally murdered in Ames, the Spencer Sisters must use their insight and magical abilities to find out why a woman was brutally murdered in this small town.

This book is heavy with Appalachian dialect and customs. As someone who has family that lives in a small Appalachian town, I had no issues understanding the Spencer Sisters and the other characters in this book. The things both women go through (i.e. with their husbands) is reflective of the time period in which the story takes place (after WW2 so assuming that this is around the late 50s and early 60s).

Leona is more traditional and Jewel is more eclectic and free spirited. But they work together almost seamlessly when the time calls for it and after they discover a friend has been murdered, they join forces with the friendly spirit named Cale to figure out what is going on.

This book is filled with myths and lores of Appalachia. It’s filled with magic, horror, gore. I enjoyed the writing and it was an enjoyable and easy read overall.

This is a series I believe if not it should be .

Sleepy town with witchcraft only two that process it two sisters both completely different . Elements of the paranormal I loved it 🥰

The dialogue was too much..."ain't" being consistently used and the southern colloquialisms turned me off immediately. But telling a child to "get their own switch" was the final bit for me. It probably would have been a good read, but I found myself annoyed by the characters. Would probably do well with readers familiar with that upbringing. However, this Appalachia born and raised reader felt it was stereotyped, but not in a good way. This, unfortunately was a DNF.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jessica Raney, and Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing for the eARC of Root and Bone.

Set in a 1950s small town, this witchy read follows sisters Leona and Jewel as they uncover supernatural forces behind a series of murders. Practical Magic vibes! While the end feels rushed, the characters are intriguing, namely Cale, Granny Kay and Peggy.
Be sure to check TW!

3.5/5 ⭐️

Well there is a lot to be said about Root and Bone and I can sum it up in one word..LOVE. From the cover to the very last page it was brilliant. It was warm, it was “real” and it embraced a lot of lore and legend. This is very much my reading style as far as developing characters that I care about. I sometimes get nervous when I see a book that isn’t even released yet being part of a series, but in this case, BRING THEM ALL. I cannot wait for the next installment and as of May 15th this is my favorite read of the year.

Root and Bone follows the Spencer Sisters, Leona and Jewel, as their usually quiet town is rocked by a seemingly unsolvable murder that only the Spencers can get to the bottom of. Expect witchcraft, supernatural creatures, a very 1950s setting and punchy dialogue as the two witches try to manage their family lives, conceal the extent of their powers and avoid the gaze of some heavily religious villagers.
I really enjoyed the dialogue in this book, and I found it a very fast paced read as the mystery unravelled. I very much hope we see a bit more from Jewel's perspective in the series- I love how she used her magic to her advantage unapologetically, compared to Leona's more cautious approach. The plot developed very naturally without over- or under- explanation, and the side characters were just as full of personality as the main characters.
One key selling point of this book is definitely the colloquial writing style- overall I think this was definitely a positive, however some of the phrases and words used didn't work for me ('carrot' being one of them). I also think that while the witchcraft and supernatural aspects of the plot were well developed, the family side of things felt a bit like it was pushed to the side for convenience. A lot of the more serious topics were glossed over and some of the fairly central characters were just missing for a good part of the book, perhaps to make it easier for the sisters to do their thing.
Overall I'd rate this a 3.5 stars, it was an enjoyable read, and I will definitely be reading the next in the series.