The story is a MUCH darker practical magic. Be prepared for tiggers of s.a., faked suicide, poison long and “addiction” to poisonous plants. Unfortunately this one just isn’t for me. The story is pretty good but I can’t personally get past the s.a. Shaun’s our FMC. Thank you for the opportunity.

“A very little poison can do a world of good. It’s all about how you apply it.”

Summary: Piers Davenport is a poison eater. But the thing is, when she eats something poisonous, someone else ends up dying instead. Her whole life, she’s been drawn to toxic things, including her husband who has threatened to kill her -and attempted to- on more than one occasion. Piers decides to fake her own death to finally escape him. When she goes to live with her estranged aunt, she finds out that she comes from a long line of bane witches- woman who can store toxins inside their body and then unleash them on others. With a murderous husband searching for her (convinced she’s still alive), a serial killer being drawn in by her magic, and an attractive town sheriff suspicious of the poisoned bodies that all seem to connect back to her, Piers is about to find out that she escaped one monster…just to end up in the sights of another.

Review: This book was absolutely incredible. When it comes to witchy books, this might be one of my favorites that I’ve ever read. While it does compare a lot to the vibes of Practical Magic (aka one of my favorite movies of all time,) the premise and the magic system are both so unique, that you enjoy the Practical Magic vibes while still reading a story that is entirely its own. This book was very empowering, and I was connected to our main character from the very beginning. It was extremely interesting to read about how the magic worked for each member of her family, and it just really made me jealous that I can’t be a poison eating witch that lives in a forest and hunts down bad guys.

There is a bit of romance in this story, though I personally feel the main focus is more on the plot and background of the characters. If you are looking for a fall read with witches, a cute sheriff, a serial killer who is getting closer and closer, a bunch of bad men who end up dead at the hands of powerful women, and a unique and interesting storyline, this is the book for you.

This novel needs a fair amount of trigger warnings: domestic abuse, SA, choking, rape, unaliving (self and others), miscarriage, emesis (so so much of this because, poisonings), parent loss, and more I’m sure I’m forgetting.

If you can manage all of that, then you should absolutely read on.

Non-spoiler review: It’s dark - really dark. It’s also good - really good. I’d recommend this for anyone who roots for a good feminist coven revenge story and the downfall of predatory men.

Main tropes: good vs. evil, women vs. men, family vs. outsiders, forbidden romance, small town spookiness, forest, serial killer.


SPOILERS AHEAD************


SA and spousal abuse is normally a no-go for me and I’ll DNF a book rather than read that, but for this novel it’s a necessary element to understanding what the bane witches’ role is in this world.

Piers is a witch who doesn’t know she’s a witch. What’s more, she’s a bane witch and that means she can eat poisonous plants that other humans can’t. Her mother hid her true nature from her in an effort to protect her and allow her to live a life unburdened by her powers - and what those powers call her to do.

It all begins to come to the surface after Piers fakes her own death in order to escape her abusive husband. She travels to a small, rural New York village to find her aunt Myrtle who is the only family she has left. In no time, Piers begins to learn more about who - and what - she is.

I think a lot of us would find ourselves in a simlar quandry as Piers: resist the powers you possess because they go against your lifelong way of thinking, or accept what your are and what you’re here to do. The latter requires you to change how you view the world.

As a coven, I find this type of witch and magic to be really unique. I’ve not read anything else quite like it. The way they protect the whole at all costs is not unfamiliar, but their way of relating to each other is.

I love that there’s no sense of entitlement among the witches in terms of longevity. They’re fully aware of their vulnerability and go to great lengths to protect themselves, but are under no dilusion that they are just as succeptible to death as those they hunt. It makes them more realistic.

Really, my only gripe with this book is a certain aspect of the writing style. Most of the chapters start off with you not really knowing whose POV you’re hearing and I often had to go back and re-read the first paragraph or two once it became clear. About four chapters in I was getting kind of frustrated with it, but then something happened and it grew on me. It made sense with the story somehow. It became part of the ongoing puzzle.



Thanks to the publisher, St. Martin’s Griffin, for providing this e-ARC via NetGalley.

This sounded like the perfect fall read....but it was not for me. It was darker than I am used to and I could have used a few trigger warnings for some scenes.

I did like the idea of poison witches. Totally new concept on magic and how to deal with bad people.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of The Bane Witch!

After escaping her abusive husband Piers Corbin heads to the only family she has left, a great-aunt she has only met once. After a harrowing journey to get to Aunt Myrtle, Piers learns there is more about herself than she ever dared to imagine and she is stronger than she ever dared to dream.

This book is so unique and engaging! Oftentimes I hate the comparisons to other books that publishing companies come up with to market their books but "Gone Girl meets Practical Magic" is very fitting to describe this book. Piers's struggle to survive is harrowing to read but also so engrossing. I couldn't put this one down. The characters are well-developed and the setting is perfectly scary with the wild forest and a killer on the loose.

I HIGHLY recommend this book but please review the trigger warnings.

This was my first mystery thriller and without a doubt I will be reading more, because this was so entertaining! This story was full of twists and suspense, an absolute page turner - I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The magic system was so interesting and unlike anything I’ve read to date. The origin of these witches and the traditions they’ve held through the years is fascinating.

The FMC and her journey is gripping, everything she has been through and to come out on the other side as she does. A powerful new woman with a purpose. I really enjoyed seeing all the connections she forges along the way and the evolution of how she forges them as she familiarizes herself with this new way of life. All the connections felt so well flushed out and I felt like their personalities were all so evident.

I liked getting the alternate POV of the ongoing investigation but felt like a little something was maybe missing once it all came together. As I sit here analyzing back, I feel like there were implications made by providing this POV that didn’t necessarily come to fruition. While I am not entirely sure what I even think that could have been, I was expecting something. Nonetheless it gave vital insight to the other side of Piers’ story and why she has done what she’s done.

Morgyn’s writing is incredibly descriptive, allowing me to truly envision everything on the page but done so well that it didn’t feel like fluff or filler to me. It was a perfect balance.

I will say it was more graphic than I was expecting, and it made the story incredibly captivating/suspenseful but trigger warnings should absolutely be included. Gone Girl gives you some idea of what to expect, but a clear list would be beneficial as well!

Looking for a cozy, witchy read with a side of mystery and revenge?

I’m almost sad I finished this book as quickly as I did! The scheming and evolution of Piers is what really had me hooked. I found the source, process, and consequences of Bane Witch magic to be a refreshing take, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the idea of a feminist vigilante!

👇 My spoiler-free synopsis below👇

Piers Corbin has everything in place to leave her life behind, all she has to do is jump - literally. By following her meticulously concocted plan to fake her own death, she is finally able to escape the torment that has become her marriage. As she flees to find her aunt and seeks out safety in the mountains, she experiences some unwanted encounters that unexpectedly result in the poisoning of few men along the way. While her aunt helps her get settled, it quickly becomes apparent that Piers, like the rest of the women in her family, is a Bane Witch. Coming from a long line of Poison Eaters, Piers learns that her strange desire to consume poisonous berries and plants has been within her nature all along. By consuming these toxins, their blood and inherent magic draws out the true monsters hidden among men so they can be eliminated. But the path of bodies piling up behind this new witch begins to lead law enforcement straight to her doorstep and brings unwanted attention from some Bane Witches that were already hesitant to let her live. With time running out and threats circling in, Piers must feed her inner witch to prove her strength and do everything within her power to keep her bloodline’s secret safe.

The Bane Witch is not for the faint of heart. This is not your cozy witch fall vibes. This is female rage and retaliation. This is witchy with a deadly edge. I enjoyed this magic system and the badass women. As a woman with friends and family who have been in abusive relationships, I could only hope they were secretly Bane Witches!

Piers Corbin has not had an easy life , with a mother who abandoned her and an abusive husband who will definitely kill her, so she decides to fake her death as the only way to escape. Fleeing north to an aunt she only met briefly when she was five, Piers finds a new home with her and the answers to so many questions she’s had all her life.

This started out really great, the magic system is fabulous. But the writing wasn’t my favorite, and it started to drag halfway through. It is a lot more dark and violent than expected.

Ava Morgyn’s “The Bane Witch” is a captivating dark fantasy that beautifully blends elements of magic, mystery, deadly plants, and luring/destroying evil men. The novel follows Piers, a young woman on a path to escaping her extremely abusive husband while grappling with her past and understanding her unique powers. These “powers” have drawn the attention of both dangerous enemies, potential allies, and found family.

The author's skillful storytelling and intricate plotting make this book a must-read for fans of the genre. The characters are well-developed, and the setting is vividly portrayed, drawing the reader into the dark and mysterious world of the story. I appreciated the eerie woodland cabin setting, the poisons, and the curated collection of deadly fungi and other botanicals. The pacing is perfect, with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep the suspense building throughout and creates a remarkable foreboding atmosphere for the reader.

The strength of “The Bane Witch” lies in its characters, particularly Piers, who is a flawed but compelling protagonist. Her journey of self-discovery and healing feels authentic and raw, as she struggles to reconcile her inner darkness and feeling of helplessness with her new found strength and desire to protect girls and women from predatory men. The supporting characters, particularly her Aunt Myrtle, Sherif Regis, the enigmatic bane witch clans, and their intricate dynamics add layers of intrigue, fascination, and emotional interest.

Morgyn's prose is lyrical and atmospheric, creating a haunting mood throughout the novel. Overall, “The Bane Witch” is a spellbinding read for fans of dark, character-driven fantasy.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Attempted rape, emotional abuse, domestic violence, pedophilia references, sexual abuse, sexual harassment.

Thank you, #NetGalley, #AvaMorgyn, and #StMartinsGriffinNY, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of #TheBaneWitch. I loved it!

Quite an interesting read! Piers suffered so much, to finally become herself, her way! I quite enjoyed the pace at which the whole story unfolds.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGallery for the advanced copy in return for an honest review!

Overall, the book was pretty good. I loved the idea of the plot, but to me, it wasn't executed as well as I had hoped. Some things were over-explained, while other crucial details weren't explained nearly enough. The pacing of the book was also strange; the parts I wanted to drag on switched way too fast, and the annoying parts dragged on way too long. The ending was also a bit abrupt, and I wish the story had gone on a bit longer to close out all the loose ends.

Thank you Ava Morgyn, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this free ARC in exchange for a review.

This fantasy thriller had good characterization and a story that held my attention. It's sad how rare that is in novels coming out these days.

If you’re looking for a witchy thriller with a hint of romance this fall season, this is the book for you!! Ava Morgan paints a beautiful setting and a terrifying atmosphere in this book. Major trigger warning for domestic violence, rape, and suicidal ideation. This thriller follows our cunning and calculating FMC Piers while she discovers her true calling. There is nothing more refreshing than a FMC who doesn’t need a man to save her. There is nothing she can’t do, including eating poison and jumping off a bridge to her death. Piers will have you rooting for her the entire book. You definitely won’t want to put this book down. Just remember, a very little poison can do a world of good!

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.

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

A witch who has a penchant for poisonous plants and men will fake her own death to discover the truth behind a stranger’s death. She will find herself in a deadly situation as she seeks the truth before it ultimately be the end o her. It’s not your typical witch story as the character seems rather intriguing.

Wow what a story! I didn’t really know what to expect going into this one but I could not have enjoyed it more. The characters were fabulous and the eerie, dark magic was so different than anything I’d read before. I loved the imagery the author used with her descriptions of the fungi and the effects of the various poisons. The magic system could be a bit difficult to grasp at times, but not enough to distract from the plot or inhibit the understanding of the book.

I was sucked in right at the beginning and could not put it down until I finished. If you like dark magic books you’ll absolutely love this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy!

I read this book’s description and instantly started reading and didn’t come up for air until it was done.
Piers has always been drawn to poisonous plants and has never questioned the fact that they don’t seem to effect her too much. But after faking her death to escape her abusive husband she tracks down the only family she knows of, her great aunt Myrtle. Her aunt reveals to her that she is more then she ever knew, she is a bane witch, one in a long line spanning centuries. When they eat a poison they become poison and use that power to rid the world of evil men. And with a serial killer operating in the area she might have to put her new found powers to the test.
It’s a great dark thriller, with magical realism. This is one of those books that makes you want more books written about the side characters and the ones who came before.
Thank you so much to @stmartinspress and @netgalley and @avamorgyn for letting me review #thebanewitch
Look for it March 18, 2025
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Looooved! It's giving Gone Girl, but witchy, and it was excellent! I had all of the emotions throughout the entire read, and the ending was exactly what I hoped for. I highly recommend this read!

Witches who eat poisoned plants to kill evil men? Okay, sign me up! This book ended up being a little darker than I had expected and the writing style wasn't quite my cup of tea. Overall it was a good read for me.