The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn will be released on March 18th. This is the first book I've read by this author, but it definitely will not be my last! I found The Bane Witch to be an exceptional read, including tropes such as antihero, dark magic, family secrets fantasy × thriller, feminine rage, forbidden romance, and small town. Please note that the read does include DV and SA triggers.
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

2.5/5 rounded up. If you are a fan of true crime and Gone Girl you might like this book, but fantasy readers and maybe even witchy readers should pass on by; I'd say it's 15% witches, 25% escaping an abusive husband, and 60% trying to catch a serial killer. For *all* readers: I wish I could slap the largest possible content warning label on this book, because there are 2 rapes (one attempted, one completed) in the first 3 chapters alone, which kicks off the string of frequent rape, abuse, and murder mentions. My personal tolerance level for that subject matter is more along the lines of a L&O:SVU episode, so I was really unpleasantly surprised to discover how much of the book's air time was dedicated to abuse as opposed to the witchy women hunting abusers. I understand that we need to know the stakes, but you could have halved the number of mentions or nixed the level of detail and I think that readers would still get the point; I don't need to know that a murderer also masturbates into a plastic bag to know he's a bad guy, y'know?

The premise of The Bane Witch is excellent, and there are some well-written moments of suspense between Piers and the Strangler. The characters are OK, although Ed and Bart are the ones who had the most personality and natural dialogue IMO. It was frustrating to watch Piers try to fake her own death but trip every police wire she possibly could along the way: ditching her car in public, squatting in a hotel with cameras, stealing, etc.. I love the concept of the Hunt, and I liked the sub-plot with Regis the investigator, but ultimately the writing didn't grab me and the only plot point that developed naturally was the showdown between Piers and the Strangler; the witch elements developed unevenly and took a back seat.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

This was the perfect blend of witchy, romantic, and suspenseful. I absolutely adored this story.

Piers was such an interesting character and her growth really made this novel for me. The plot kept me unable to put this book down. The only reason this wasn't a 5 star read for me was the final 10% of the story. Things felt a bit chaotic and rushed at the end. I wish there had been a little more time to wrap things up and give the ending the attention it deserved.

This was just perfect. Witchy thriller with killer girl power vibes. I wish I belonged to the venery ;)

4.5 stars. I had fun time with this book! This is set in the “real world” but does involve witches who can consume toxins then use those toxins to kill. These witches kill bad men only. I want to be a witch and want an Aunt Myrtle!

Loved the main character and Aunt Myrtle. There’s a little bit of police investigation as well. Maybe could have been a teeny bit shorter.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Publishes March 18, 2025.

Unique magic system, a woman on a journey of self discovery! Sign me up! This book does have dark themes so check your triggers before starting! I loved that the author went into the magical history of the magic, it helped set up the story better!

This is my first read by Ava Morgyn, but it won't be my last!

Our MC, Piers, grew up thinking something was wrong with her. Her mother shed her obligations and family attachments in favor of a "normal life". So when 5 year old Piers acts on her cravings for poisonous berries, instead of teaching or helping her understand their bloodline, her mother takes her to the doctor. Piers is diagnosed with Pica and put on medications. Maybe her mother was doing what she thought best, but she left Piers totally unprepared for the life she was meant to live.

Luckily, Piers remembers meeting an aunt (Myrtle) shortly after her childhood "pica" incident. When her adult life spirals out of control, she seeks out Aunt Myrtle who teaches her what it means to be a bane witch. Of course, they still have to convince the rest of the family (the venery) that Piers can learn and follow their ways, which means giving up the life she knows, the life she could have and facing the very type of monster she just escaped.

I loved the unique magic system of the bane witches! I also appreciate the author including the history behind the witches' magic. This novel is one of self-discovery, suspense, magic and murder with the potential for love, if it wasn't forbidden...

Due out March 18, 2025, I recommend adding this to your TBR!!

Thank you Netgalley, Ava Morgyn and St. Martin's for the ARC!

TW: attempted suicide, domestic violence, sexual assault
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️ some spice without too many detailed descriptions.

I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. The plot was unique and the characters were well thought out. The spice level in this book was perfect for my taste, not too much nor prolonged. It didn’t feel unnecessary or gratuitous. The writing was fast paced and clever.

That being said, it has very dark themes, starting on page one that could trigger some.

Thank you Ava Morgyn, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was hooked from the beginning. It did need trigger warnings because I almost DNF'd due to the rape scenes. I loved these characters though and the mystery waiting to be unpacked throughout the book. It was the feminine rage book I needed. The mix of thriller and fantasy was great. I enjoyed the book. The inner dialogue was a bit much at times but I was so into the story it wasn't as bad for me. The twists were great. This book had me on edge. Thank you so much for giving the opportunity to review it.

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up. I was into this story right from the get-go and had a hard time putting it down. It was described as Gone Girl meets Practical Magic, and I would say that's very accurate. It has very dark vibes, but the story is compelling and I loved the characters. The idea of a bane witch (who eats deadly plants to use for poisoning) was different than other witch stories I've read before, and I enjoyed it, as well as the family structure of the witches. Piers' backstory was very interesting and made me root for her from the beginning. I would definitely recommend this book if the idea of witches hunting really bad men sounds intriguing to you (although I'd check the trigger warnings of some of the misdeeds of these men if that might be of concern to you)!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book, which is expected to release on March 18, 2025.

THE BANE WITCH was a really atmospheric, feminine rage book that, once I got about a quarter of the way through the book, was a really unique and engaging read. While some aspects of the plot needed to be more fleshed out to me as a reader, the concept was one that had me hooked, the magic system was interesting, and the character development was well done.

I will say the story is one that grows over time. Piers, the FMC, is in an abusive relationship and fakes her death to escape her husband. The novel is really about her growth as she comes to terms with her family legacy as a bane witch, women who essentially poison men who harm the women of the world. The way the magic system is explained and as Piers navigates her newfound power and comes to terms with her new family dynamics and strength, the novel becomes extremely engaging and hard to put down. Just the absolute feminine rage that takes over is fabulous and makes the story so interesting. But it takes some time to get there. It is definitely a slow burn novel.

The ending, though, to me, felt a bit rushed and I wish that the family dynamics of the bane witches was fleshed out a bit more. The novel is a slow burn, but it rushes in the parts that could have elevated the story more.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. It felt a bit like The Frozen River if it took place in modern day and had magic. There are things that could be triggering to readers, so be aware of that before you open up the book. But I find this book to a great read for those that love angry women and feminine rage, slow burn novels, character growth, and magic.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this early review copy.

This book started off immediately intense, and the whole book needs many, many content warnings. However, it was a fantastic read. It was very different from the typical witch book I would pick up and really surprised me at how great it was. It was such a different take on a woman finding her independence and reclaiming control over herself and her life.

Make sure you read the description of this book, and not just go by the cover. It looks like it might be cozy, but it is actually a thriller. While I think saying it’s like “gone girl” is not really accurate, it is gritty and dark. The characters felt realistic and her quest for vengeance was very well done.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

💀 Death
🔎 Mystery
🔮 Witches
🍄 The Hunt
🗡 A Serial Killer
💜 Healing

Wow. I absolutely LOVED THIS BOOK! Loved it. Easily one of my top favorite books now.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is my honest feedback about the book as an avid reader.*

The two storylines playing out together was fantastic. Both had such intense topics & were highly interesting to me. So getting two sides of it was really enjoyable.

I loved Myrtle & her community. The nature & the feeling of belonging. The close knit people.

The combination of crime & fantasy, two of my favorite genres is probably why this landed such a high rating on my favorites list. Magic is so much fun to read about but magic AND a serial killer? All wrapped in one well done story? Heck yes!

This was a beautiful book. So many emotional moments. Please be sure to check for potential triggers. 💜

Hunt well. ✨️

This story is original which is quite refreshing. It has some dark themes in it. If you do not feel comfortable with don't read. I love the strength she has and her passion to seek revenge.

Despite the cottage core cover, this was surprisingly dark and should definitely have trigger warnings at the beginning. Nothing is detailed explicitly, but there are graphic mentions of assault and violence throughout.

I really enjoyed the world building and lore for the witches. While the concept itself is fairly common, the execution was done well. They're not out in the open but they're unabashed about their purpose.

The ending felt rushed and anticlimactic. Most of the story is built around the main character coming to terms with her lot and her growth as a person. Despite that it was still a satisfying story, and I look forward to Morgyn's work in the future.

I think billing “The Bane Witch” as a cross between Practical Magic and Gone Girl is a stretch. It lacks the whimsical humor of the first and the twisty psychological aspects of the second. However, it is a solid woman-on-the-run thriller with murdery, fantasy elements that kept me engaged until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

From the first page, this book is gripping. We follow a determined heroine as she outruns her abuser and begins to form a new life in an whimsically eerie mountain town. Even here, she can’t escape the horrors of her reality, though she can learn to defend herself with a magic she must embrace.

The Bane Witch is action packed and fast paced. The writing style truly emerges you into the book and will have you looking over your shoulder and feeling adequately uneasy (in a good way.)
At no point during this read did I trust a single character to not have ulterior motives. I’m starting to believe that’s exactly how Ava Morgyn wants you to feel.

This is a thrilling fantasy cottage core "murdery" (yes, that's a word now) story that shines a light on empowering women, standing up against the abusers of this world and trusting what’s inside of yourself!

I could not recommend this book enough!!

Oh I loved this book! I am a regular reader of the author’s, Ava Morgyn, and enjoy her witchy tales and the exquisite detail she provides. In THE BANE WITCH, Morgyn has created characters and developed a setting that is as beguiling as the book’s content. She weaves in current issues, regarding abuse of women, that make this tale especially engaging. I could not put it down and read it straight through in one day. And then, of course, I was sorry not to have more to read the following day. I would love to see a sequel and find out how are protagonist is fairing. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

A delightful tribute to feminine justice unfolds as one woman stumbles upon a clandestine sisterhood dedicated to balancing the scales—and eliminating the worst of men.

When Piers devises her escape from her abusive husband, her plan must be flawless—there’s no room for error. She can’t risk Henry tracking her down, even as she carefully lays breadcrumbs to lead the police straight to him. With nowhere else to turn, she seeks refuge in a remote mountain inn, owned by an aunt she’s met only once. and the potential threat she poses to those around her.

This book doesn't shy away from the brutality of the sisterhood and the decisions they have had to make. By the end of the book, Piers is making brutal decisions of her own, carving her own path out of the gifts - or curse - laid before her. I also loved her sweet meet-cute with the local sheriff, and the tension between their blossoming crushes and the fact that she should be a suspect in almost all his cases.

This well-written page turner led to an ending that felt both unexpected and inevitable. Bravo to the author!
 
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.