Don't let the cozy cover fool you. This is a tale of the power of women of real darkness in the form of a witchy story. I absolutely loved this book. I love Piers as a women who is recovering and coming into her true power and essence. I love all of the little side characters you meet along the way who support and challenge her in different ways. This book does have some challenging parts to read and doesn't shy away from the ugly parts of reality. I love that it always felt like it was coming from a place of 'good will conquer'. I highly recommend this book that is packed full of action and intensity, but also has heart. If you enjoyed Weyward, this felt kind of similar. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

A Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn is a dark, atmospheric tale of magic, vengeance, and female empowerment. Piers Corbin, a woman with a dangerous knowledge of poisons, fakes her own death to escape an abusive marriage—only to discover she comes from a long line of Bane Witches, women who harness deadly plants to fuel their magic and rid the world of cruel men. As Piers embraces her new power, she must navigate the fine line between justice and revenge.

Morgyn’s writing is immersive, weaving a haunting and spellbinding world where danger lurks in every shadow. The themes of resilience and reclaiming power add depth to the story, making it both gripping and emotionally charged. While some parts of the plot could have been more developed, the premise and execution make this a compelling read for fans of dark fantasy with a feminist edge. If you love stories of witches reclaiming their power, The Bane Witch is one to pick up!

This was absolutely amazing! I very seldom read the plots of books before picking them up, I like to be completely in the dark. This surprised me in every single way!! I initially requested this ARC because the cover was absolutely stunning and I’m a sucker for witchcraft! I enjoyed this story so much, it literally had everything that I need in a book: strong female characters, women dispatching justice against predatory men, witchcraft and a thriller subplot. The pacing in this book was absolutely amazing and had me drawn in the whole time, I also really enjoyed the length it wasn’t too short or long! I really loved Piers as our MC and her story was so well done and the author really took care with the DV storyline. This book is for you if you crave a revenge story, with a little romance and plenty of satisfying female characters! I will absolutely be buying a copy of this book for my collection I just absolutely adored this book.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. “The Bane Witch” will be published March 18, 2025.

4.75

The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn is dark, unsettling, and completely absorbing—but before anything else, let me be clear: this book deals with some heavy subject matter. If you’re thinking about picking it up, I highly recommend checking the trigger warnings first. It covers domestic violence, sexual abuse, assault, rape, and serial killings, among other disturbing themes.

One of the things that really stood out to me was the way the magic is woven into the story. The origin of it is well explained, and the idea of women ingesting toxic plants to take down violent men? Absolutely fascinating. It’s unsettling but also powerful, and Morgyn does an incredible job of showing both the weight and the necessity of their actions. There’s this underlying theme of women reclaiming power in a world that constantly denies them justice, and that really stuck with me.

The atmosphere is another huge strength. The eerie woodland setting, the poisons, the rituals—it all builds this quiet, creeping tension that pulls you in. I also appreciated how the pacing kept things moving without feeling rushed, balancing suspense with just the right amount of reveals along the way.

That said, there are definitely parts where you have to suspend disbelief, especially when it comes to how law enforcement is handled. It’s not a dealbreaker, but there were moments that had me raising an eyebrow.

Maybe part of the reason this book hit so hard for me right now is because I’m feeling so much feminist rage over what’s happening in this country. Reading a story where violent men actually face consequences—where justice isn’t something to beg for, but something these women take—was deeply satisfying in a way I didn’t even realize I needed. It doesn’t change anything in real life, but for a few hundred pages, it felt like it did.

Overall, The Bane Witch is a gripping, beautifully written story about women reclaiming power, protecting each other, and redefining their magic to fit a modern world. There’s murder, found family, botany, and just a touch of romance—plenty to sink your teeth into. I devoured it in just a few days, and while I really loved it, I don’t see myself rereading it—which is what I typically reserve a five-star rating for. So, this one lands at a solid 4.75 stars for me.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting original take on the typical witch coven. Not that a 'bane witch' in and of itself is unusual but the way this author chooses to depict them here certainly is. Ava Morgyn's writing style is always good. It brings you right into the story and makes you care for the main character. There was a really great movie from the early 90s called Sleeping With the Enemy. The beginning of The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn reminds me of that a little. Throw in paranormal elements and morally grey main characters and I'm sold. I used to LOVE that movie and I liked this book too.

Piers aka Acacia is in a terrifying marriage to Henry, a potential serial killer. As she launches her 'Gone Girl' worthy plan to escape his diabolical abuse, we learn about her latent psychic abilities and childhood. Ava Morgyn blends magic with mystery in the most absorbing way with these characters. I liked The Witches of Bone Hill (her debut standalone novel) but she's really outdone herself with The Bane Witch.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶
Darkness (1=cozy 5=twisted):💀💀
Prose: Very well Written
Pacing: slow build
Character Development: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Piers Corbin has had enough. After years of mistreatment by her husband, she’s ready to make her escape. Without any close family around, Piers is putting her faith in a memory of an aunt who visited her as a child. Two words will serve as her guide – Crow Lake. What she finds on her journey is not just a location but a family and a purpose. She discovers she’s part of a long line of witches, specifically Bane Witches. These powerful women ingest poisonous flora and fauna and use their deadly properties to rid the world of evil men. As she learns more about who she is and what she can do, Piers will finally find a place where she belongs.

This book kept my attention from start to finish. The concept was so unique, and I always love a story about strong females. The idyllic setting is beautifully described, and the relationships between the characters were very well-developed. The justice brought down on very deserving deviants was satisfying.

Overall, a wonderfully written magical realism book that will leave readers wanting more from this author!

The Bane Witch has a solid premise, but it leans too hard into being a shallow revenge fantasy without giving its characters enough depth. The atmosphere is moody and immersive, yet the motivations feel surface-level, making it hard to get fully invested. I kept hoping for more complexity—some moral tension, deeper character arcs—but everything stays pretty one-note. If you're in the mood for a quick, witchy tale with strong vibes but little substance, it’s an entertaining enough read, just not a particularly memorable one.

The Bane Witch is part fantasy/part suspense book about Piers who escapes her abusive husband by faking her own death. She then goes to live with her aunt Myrtle who teaches Piers that she is a bane witch who can ingest poison and kill harmful men. Piers comes to terms with this reveal and wants to use the gift to kill a serial killer who is terrorizing women in the area

This book was unique but it didn't pull me in the way I was hoping. I'll still give it 3.5 stars for the interesting story and different take on witches. Also, it was great for those men to get what they deserved.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

3.75 stars rounded up to 4

I need a whole new genre category for this thriller/fantasy combination - Thrilltasy? Fantasiller? Whatever it is, it's a very intriguing combination that made for a novel that's hard to put down.
Read this for:
🍄 A thriller-like atmosphere with both cops and vigilantes chasing a serial killer
🍄Vigilante witch assassins who use poison to take down evil men
🍄A side-romance between the two
🍄A witchy conclave full of interesting characters
🍄A small woodsy town with more interesting characters
🍄More information on poison mushrooms and berries than you knew you needed

The romantasy reader in me wanted more out of point three, but I recognize that that's not the genre this was actually trying to fit into. This is much heavier on plot than it is on character development, and it's good to know that going in. But if serial killers, vigilantes, and a bit of witchiness is your vibe, this might just be the right pick for you. (As these witches largely go after abusers, and there's a fair amount of murder, it's safe to say that you should look up the trigger warnings if these things may be sensitive for you.)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was very unique and I didn’t mind the modern take but I wish that it was more of a fantasy magical atmosphere. That is the only reason it is a a 4 star for me rather than a 5.

The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn is filled with witches, mystery, and murder. I really enjoyed the FMC Piers journey and her personality was very relatable. On the other hand, I wasn’t a fan of the pacing, the beginning started slow and it was hard to get into the story, and the lack of TW’s where there probably should have been something are the only things I have against this one. The overall story is fantastic and it was an entertaining read that I’m sure many will love!

"The Bane Witch" by Ava Morgyn is much more than its cozy and cutesy cover suggests. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it, the blend of fantasy involving witches with mystery and murder. Piers Corbin has always had an affinity for poisonous things, both plants and men. From consuming pokeweed berries at a young age that led to the accidental death of a stranger, to using them to fake her death in order to escape an abusive husband, she hides in the mountains with an estranged aunt. There, she learns that her predilection is not merely a hunger but a birthright. Piers hails from a long line of poison eaters, Bane Witches, who ingest deadly plants and use their magic to rid the world of evil men. While working at her Aunt Myrtle's cafe and honing her skills, she catches the attention a local sheriff and a local serial killer. But this time, she has no need to hide, only to consume. This thrilling novel combines fantasy, witches, murder, and mystery. I loved the storyline that blends witches with my favorite mystery thriller; it is a must-read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of Bane Witch. Don't let this whimsical cover fool you this is a full suspense/thriller fantasy and I loved every single second of it. When Piers a young interior designer from Charleston makes the decision to finally leave her abusive husbad she runs to the only person she has left, a mysterious aunt who runs a small number of cabins and cafe in the small town of Crow Lake. She soon discovers that her long attraction to poisonous plants is something that runs in the family. Fans of Adrienne Young and Barbara Davis will devour this book!! I truly didn't know what would happen from one page to the next. I would definitely recommend.

This book was INCREDIBLE!??!??! I'm not usually a cozy book person but this was amazing. Witches. Mystery. Romance. Absolute PERFECTION. While this may not be a genre I pick up often, I will definitely read more from this author. And you should too!

This is the first time I have read a novel by Ava Morgyn. I decided to give it a try because the description of the book was intriguing. I absolutely loved this book and went searching to see if the author had any information about expanding the book into a series. I want more. I need to know if Piers and Regis make it work long term. Piers, running from an abusive husband does something extreme and drastic and sets the stage for a suicide made to look like murder by her husband. Determined to make her way to what she feels will be safety ends up turning her world more upside down than it already is. Discovering family secrets and who she really is bring death, love at a cost and unknown heartbreak. It also brings strength, courage and a new life.

Tbh, I love anything witches, and POISON witches?? YES! The duality of suspenseful plot with cozy setting was great. My only stipulation was the lack of a trigger warning page. As someone who has escaped toxic relationships and abuse, that would've been nice going through. I probably won't recommend unless that is added.

Posted to Goodreads: 2/21/2025

This fantasy thriller keeps you captivated till the very end. With poison-eaters, serial killers, and a woman on the run, this book has it all. This book follows the story of Piers Corbin, who is escaping her abusive husband. You then go through her journey to discover what she truly is and has suppressed for far too long... that she is a bane witch. The book does have some fairly heavy topics, so please check for trigger warnings before reading. I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley, and hope that it finds the hands of other readers who will enjoy it!

A surprise five stars! The way the story and characters were revealed in the first third was mind blowing! I judged the FMC till I learned more, which is masterful on the author’s part to walk the reader through her story to empathy!
Interesting world building and take on witches that I love. We are presented with thought provoking challenges that the FMC wrestles through along with the reader.
I loved it; I hope there’s more.

Title: The Bane Witch
Author: Ava Morgyn        
Genre: Fantasy        
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Piers Corbin has always had an affinity for poisonous things—plants and men. From the pokeweed berries she consumed at age five that led to the accidental death of a stranger, to the husband whose dark proclivities have become… concerning, poison has been at the heart of her story.

But when she fakes her own death in an attempt to escape her volatile marriage and goes to stay with her estranged great aunt in the mountains, she realizes her predilection is more than a hunger—it’s a birthright. Piers comes from a long line of poison eaters—Bane Witches—women who ingest deadly plants and use their magic to rid the world of evil men.

Piers sets out to earn her place in her family’s gritty but distinguished legacy, all while working at her Aunt Myrtle’s cafe and perpetuating a flirtation with the local, well-meaning sheriff to allay his suspicions on the body count she’s been leaving in her wake. But soon she catches the attention of someone else, a serial killer operating in the area. And that only means one thing—it’s time to feed.

I wasn’t too sure about this at first. It started off slow for me—or I had trouble connecting with Piers at first. But somewhere on her flight to the mountains, I became invested in Piers’ story. I actually didn’t care for her aunt or the other Bane Witches at all, and the small-town kind of gave me the creeps, but Piers herself was a joy to read. I may never look at mushrooms the same way again!

Ava Morgyn lives in Houston. The Bane Witch is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 3/21).

I really enjoyed this so much! Right from the first page I was gripped and invested in what was going to happen. I love the strength and vulnerability shown in Piers. She was so strong when she needed to be, but you could feel her terror and trauma over what she endured. I also love that we learned she was a witch along side of her so the lore was clearly explained in a way that makes sense. Since there isn’t really “world building” in a story like this, I think lore is especially important and it was executed so well

I loved how tense and stressed I was during the second half, and the turns I did NOT see coming. I also really enjoyed the romance. It was just enough that you rooted for them but not so much that it took away from the main story

Overall 4.5/5 - loved this and absolutely I’ll be recommending