The Bane Witch has a fascinating premise where families of women are given the power to hunt and kill men who abuse women and children using the poisons they ingest and are themselves immune to. This story gives women power and agency while also punishing men who would otherwise hurt and kill, and probably get away with it. There’s a certain power to this story and the stories of the women it tells. But I struggled with almost everything else, from the mystery to the romance to Piers learning how to be a bane witch.

Piers has been married to a man who secretly abuses her for the past two years. Initially charmed by him, she now works to escape him, faking her death so he doesn’t look for her. With her mother dead, she only knows she has an Aunt Myrtle who invited her to stay with her at Crow Lake at any time. So that’s where she goes to hide out and get herself reestablished and on her feet. Crow Lake is quiet, though there’s a murderer strangling women on the loose, so it’s the perfect place for Piers to learn about her powers and how to use them. And, with a murderer in their midst, it’s the perfect time for her to prove she can be a bane witch, as long as she can stay one step ahead of him while keeping the local sheriff off her scent, if only she didn’t find him so attractive.

The Bane Witch feels mostly like a story that’s supposed to empower women, to show they don’t have to stand by and be victimized. Maybe they can’t kill men like Piers and her female relatives, but they don’t have to stand for being a victim. Maybe this story is supposed to make women think there’s someone out there hunting the men who would hurt them. Maybe it’s just the story of an abused woman finding her own power and strength, and a willingness to save others. And, if it was just any of this, I’d probably love this book. But I felt bogged down in Piers’s life and, honestly, it often felt like two steps forward and one back with her. She wasn’t my favorite character, and her reluctance to really embrace her heritage put everyone in danger. But the mystery of who the stranger is just kind of wafted through, and the romance felt like the more prominent subplot. Fortunately, it’s sort of balanced out by the investigation going on down south regarding her supposed death, which I really enjoyed.

I get Piers. I understand why she’s characterized the way she is. She’s been traumatized and abused. She just wants a normal life. She wants peace and a safe bubble. And then she finds out she’s a bane witch and she’ll either take to it or her family will kill her because she’ll never be able to just stop eating poisonous foods and take the lives of men, no matter how much they deserve it, and they require discretion, which she won’t have. I did like the struggle between her wants and her heritage, but she spends so much of the novel running from her duties that it endangers so many people. She often felt irresponsible, stumbling around and doing whatever she wanted no matter how much Aunt Myrtle tried to caution her. But Myrtle also really didn’t spend much time teaching her so, as much as I loved Myrtle, I kind of feel myself laying some of the blame at her feet. I had a really hard time with Piers and all the decisions she made. Of course they come back to bite her, but at the cost of lives.

There are two mysteries woven into this story, one more interesting and developed than the other. I get that the hunt for the strangler probably isn’t supposed to be a mystery and we’re never really supposed to know who it is; it’s just some nameless male who could stand in for any man who has ever hurt a woman. But Piers is working with and against the local sheriff, Regis, to catch him. Piers and Regis often butt heads and are inexplicably drawn to each other because of their mutual hunt, and yet it never felt like a focal point of the novel. It’s just a device to get Piers to learn to use her powers. It’s there to teach her how to be a bane witch. But there are clues to follow and bodies that pile up, and I kind of wish a more traditional mystery had been baked into this. On the other hand, the investigation into Piers’s death was fascinating. She planned it so carefully that even I was in awe of every little step, every little bit of evidence, she planned. And yet she made so many mistakes it almost made me scream. Watching Detective Emil Reyes really work to figure out what happened, while also making his own missteps because he has a special tie to Piers, had me glued to that story. I wanted more of it, and I was disappointed with the way it kind of fizzled out.

But it was the romance that really frustrated me. I liked Regis. He was a good guy through and through. He puts so much trust into Piers, and she’s really drawn to his safety and stability. In theory, they make a great pair. Except for the problem that he’s the local sheriff and she’s a witch who kills men, from a family of women who actively plot and plan to kill men who would hurt others all over the country. They’re constantly drawn to each other, but I felt like most of the time it wasn’t to discuss the case, but instead to have sex. Their romance felt like it burned so hot it should have hurt them badly, and, yet, it somehow works out, and somehow I feel a little disappointed. So much of the story focused on their romance and how illicit it was that I really struggled with it.

I really wanted to like The Bane Witch. I think it has a lot to say and share, and, maybe, to the right reader it can feel empowering or satisfying. But I found the details to be a little agonizing and Piers to be too reluctant. The different parts didn’t mesh as well as I would have liked, making the story feel disjointed in my head. There are too many different parts, and none of them are really satisfactorily followed. It was fantastic finally getting to the end to see how the threads merge and resolve, but all the steps along the way felt a little grueling.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This one made me think... good vs evil? Does the end really justify the means?
The Bane Witch was a great read.. finished in one day! Great characters, great storyline, great writing! Witched, poisons, magic, infused with a great thriller.. definitely worth reading!

A dark witchy vibes read - if you love practical magic, with a hint of mystery thriller, you will enjoy this.

I was surprised to find that I was wrong about the identity of our strangler. This was a solid read with overarching themes of justice, revenge, female power really sold it for me.

Thoughts
Loved it -Binged in one sitting
An Atmospheric read full of descriptive language and phrasing creating a true visual and mental escape for the reader
( I highlighted like crazy)

Charcters
The Venery- scary and sassy , a Vigilante witch conclave targetting the degenerates
Regis- sheriff, he’s hunting a serial killer, the bodies in his small town keep piling up, and there is something about The newcomer that just doesnt sit right
Reyes- detective, saved once by Piers and now finds his future linked to hers
Henry- ass hat ex, abuser
Piers-Acacia
Myrtle- great aunt, business owner, murderess

Overall
The magical storyline of the Bane witches and their purpose gives this thriller/romance a fresh feel. Murder, Vengeance and a women’s wrath fuel the narrative and make this book a bingeable page turner.

Publishes March 18
Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and Ava Morgyn for this ARC!

I've never ran to my computer faster after finishing a book. Right from the beginning I was invested in the narration, and once the lore and story-building began to grow and flourish I could not put this book down. If you're a fan of Practical Magic and love a good murder mystery, then I cannot reccommend this book enough! I absolutely want to read more of Ava's books and I'll be thinking about The Bane Witch for a long long time!

I live for the dark, witchy, mysterious vibes that this book was able to develop throughout the storyline.

The book felt as if I was reading an action packed version of Practical Magic. Piers' on the run for a horrific husband fleeing north to the only family she has, only to discover a family secret magic. The book mixed together may favorite parts of a mystery/suspense novel and a witchy fall tale.

I would caution that people sensitive to themes of SA or DA should be warned about the potential triggers in this book. Piers is subjected to significant physical and psychological abuse at the hands of her ex-husband for which I feel some readers may have a hard time reading.

Thank you St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Bane Witch.

A spellbinding and gothic tale of magic, grief, and empowerment. Morgyn crafts an atmospheric world full of eerie beauty and powerful storytelling. A must-read for anyone who loves witches and haunting prose.

The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn is a beautifully dark and magical read. With its haunting atmosphere and strong, relatable heroine, it’s perfect for anyone who loves witchy vibes and emotional, character-driven stories. A must-read for fans of dark fantasy!

This is a first rate murder mystery with compelling characters and a fascinating magical world existing within our own.

Piers escapes an abusive marriage and runs away to a small town to hide with an aunt she hasn't seen in decades. There she learns the truth about her magical ability to eat poison and her family legacy of expelling it through their bodies to kill others - in the name of justice, of course. While she grapples with her newly understood abilities, she also has to deal with a budding romance with the local sheriff who is suspicious about her aunt's role in several untimely deaths. And if that weren't bad enough, there's a serial killer on the loose...

The setting: Piers Corbin, a young [30-something] interior decorator in Charleston SC, unhappy in her volatile, abusive marriage, fakes her suicide--to escape. She seeks to find her aunt Myrtle, who lives in the mountains in New York state, having not seen her since she was a young child. "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." Add in a serial killer to thicken the plot.

A mystery, a thriller, a romance. Domestic abuse abounds--not just Piers. DARK.

Love, family, witchcraft, poisonous berries and mushrooms.

A hunt--for Piers, and for the serial killer. I quite enjoyed the sections where Detectives Reyes and Will were piecing together Pier's disappearance--especially when they confronted Henry, Piers' husband.

I did not enjoy the "mush moments"--found them annoying and with prose that made me want to gag.

In the distinct minority; sometimes I just found it tiresome and I think it could have used a bit of editing to tighten the story although the plot and twists did keep me going. At first I thought a 3,5 but round up, but the last 15 percent just threw me off and it became a solid 3--mainly because of originality. That said, perhaps I don't read enough of this genre and I might have liked it more if I did. However, I have read magic realism and do enjoy books on witches--this one, not so much.

I went into this one blind, and was thinking it was more fantasy based, rather than more thriller/suspenseful but honestly it was a good unexpected change.
I found this to be intriguing enough to want to keep reading, and I liked the dynamic of Aunt Myrtle and Piers. I also loved the witch elements with the poison and how they were out to only go after bad people, it was a twist I haven’t seen done before,
There were some plot holes or things that were a bit too coincidental for me, but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Rating it 3.5-3.75.

Unfortunately I ended up DNFing this one at 40%.

I LOVED the premise - a woman who eats poison to get revenge on evil men. That is 100% my thing, Unfortunately this story didn't do it for me.

Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to get into this novel. I've read other books by Ava Morgyn and enjoyed them!

Thank you NetGalley, Ava Morgyn, and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity for reviewing this novel!

I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one and I’m really glad I read it! This book has a little bit of everything—fantasy, of course, but adventure, romance, friendship, just everything you’d want in a well-rounded story and the writing was easy to follow and made for a quick read!

This book was a great read! It was an easy read which helped me out of my reading slump. The concept was interesting and I loved the romance.

The Bane Witch by Ava Morgan was a wonderfully dark and witchy story that focuses on Piers, a woman who is looking to escape her abusive husband. Once she arrives at her aunts home, she is let into the world of magic, specifically the Bane family magic. Overall, I really enjoyed this book a lot. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

This book had me enthralled from start to finish in a cleverly built world full of dynamic characters. Modern fantasy worlds sometimes don't do it for me, but Morgyn builds a mythos that works without exposition. Trusting the reader to connect the dots and experience learning about magic alongside the protagonist makes for a fully engaging world. Our fair protagonist learns and grows in "real time" along with the reader in a perspective that feels very refreshing after a slew of description heavy romantasies. The narrative is dark and hopeful all at once. Blending the grim reality that real evil lurks in humanity and a feminist revenge fantasy, here everyone, including the Bane Witches themselves, get their just desserts.

The only thing keeping this from being a five star read, ironically given that I am die hard fan of romance novels, was the romantic subplot. Piers' love interest seems to be only one-dimensional character. Not even acting as a foil, he seem to exist just to further the plot of secrecy around Piers' past and the Bane Witch network. Could have lived without that...could have really lived without breasts being compared to candy apples.

I loved this book and I was engrossed in it from the start.

Piers is on the run. The story begins with her fleeing from her abusive husband, Henry, and doing her best to stage her own death to disappear. She is headed north to find her Aunt Myrtle, who she met once when she was little and promised her assistance if she ever needed it.

However, where Piers goes, death follows.

Having chosen the new name Acacia, when Piers arrived on Aunt Myrtle’s doorstep she is welcomed with open arms into the small town community. However, peaceful as the town may seem, it is being terrorized by a serial killer known as the Saranac Strangler.

It is while staying with Aunt Myrtle that Piers discovers she is a Bane Witch and that there are others like her, those that can ingest poison without harm to themselves to inflict it upon evil men.

As Piers discovers more about her identity and their family, she works at Aunt Myrtle’s cafe and vows to establish herself in the ranks of the Bane Witches.

Overall I really liked the writing and the premise of this book! It was very hard to put down and the plot kept moving nicely. I did enjoy the characters and I thought Piers’ story was really well written.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for a review.

Warning of domestic violence, sexual assault, violence against women.

I was thrown off at first by the graphic violence, but after I got over the initial shock, I was able to see how it was necessary to build the plot. It was done with intention and purpose to carefully expose the violence women experience. This violence was balanced out within the plot and very well executed.

I love witches getting revenge, and I especially love vigilantes. This was a great read that stirred the witch inside. 3.75 (rounded up).

I knew from the blurb I was going to love this. It's about a woman who ingests deadly plants and uses her magic to hunt and kill evil men. I have two main takeaways after finishing the book. First: good for her. Second: hell yeah.

I enjoyed it so much! It's dark, but so interesting and suspenseful. I was hooked throughout and shocked by several twists. Very satisfied with the ending. I highly recommend this if you're in the mood for a witchy mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review! Pub date: 3.18.2025.

A book about poisonous plants is exactly what delights me — especially when those delicacies are used for justice. (Not that I would try anything — I’ve taken three Mycology classes and I would still never eat a mushroom I found in my own lawn).

Piers, like the Julia Roberts character in “Sleeping with the Enemy,” is an abused Charleston housewife, who fakes her own drowning to escape a husband who will definitely murder her one day. But beyond a fake ID and a change of clothes from Goodwill, she has little cash and no guaranteed plan to get to a great aunt who maybe still lives near the Canadian border.

Piers does remember a vague power from childhood to overpower creepy predators (which seems to have failed her with husband Henry), a high tolerance to poison berries and plants, and premonitions of women in distress when she encounters the men who hurt them. Piers (now Acacia) settles into Aunt Myrtle’s cafe and rental cabins, but there’s also a serial killer, the Saranac Strangler in the area, to complicate her fear that Henry will eventually find her. Myrtle isn’t too worried: “We don’t fear men in this house. Men fear us.”

What Piers/Acacia discovers is that she is (and her entire female family members) a bane witch, a poison-eater who can then kill with a kiss.This revelation involves a lot of feminine rage and vigilante action against horrible predators who have escaped any regular justice. The action in this supernatural thriller continues at an incredible pace until the very end. It reminded me of Kristen Miller’s “The Change,” with less subtle female action heroes. I was riveted until the very end. 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Lots of them. It appears that being a bane witch also means you have green eyes. Piers has the “greenest” eyes, and Myrtle’s are the color of shamrocks.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO The author knows her poisonous plants and fungi. When Myrtle was looking for Poet’s Daffodil, I knew they were rare bulbs — but I finally located 40 to plant last year (to bloom, not eat).

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Griffin and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!