This isn't your typical light-hearted witchy read. This is the story of Piers, a domestic abuse survivor who fakes her own death in order to get away from her violent psycho of a husband. Piers makes it all the way to the Adirondacks, to her aunt Myrtle and relative safety. However, Piers has a fierce and formidable power to poison evil-doers, as does her whole family. She was never taught how to use her gifts properly by her mother, and therefore, "accidentally" kills a few bad men along the way. Once making it to her aunt, Piers becomes the target of a serial killer. But will she end up the hunter or the prey?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for this digital e-arc.*

The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn reminded me of The Lost Apothecary mixed with Practical Magic. This is a book for fans of books with witchcraft and women seeking revenge.

I liked but didn't love this book. At the start of the book the main character, Piers, fakes her own death to escape her abusive husband. On her way to reconnect with her estranged aunt she is more convinced that she has a special capabilities are inherited from her mother's family. Upon reconnecting with her aunt she discovers that she was born into a family of bane witches. They are women who can eat poisonous substances and their bodies store the poison for future use.

Within this story there is a serial killer on the loose, romance with a law enforcement officer, and an ultimatum for Piers to become part of the enclave of witches all while staying hidden from her husband. This is where the story fell flat for me. There were multiple components to the book but none of them felt fully developed. It made the pacing odd and lacked suspense where there should have been some.

Overall I enjoyed the story but wish I had learned more about the components along the way.

Thank you St. Martin's publishing and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC of Ava Morgyn's The Bane Witch.

This book truly proves what they say, never judge a book by its cover. Don't let it's Cozy cottage core cover fool you! This book is dark and twisted in all the best ways.

Reading my way through Piers' escape from the trecheries of an abusive marriage and finding her true self was empowering. I will be recommending this book to all the witchy bookish folk I know!

Title/Author: The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn

Page Count: 384

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Format: ebook/NetGalley

Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: First time

Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/9781250835451

Release Date: March 18th, 2025

Sub-Genre/Themes: Thriller, paranormal romance, magical realism, domestic drama, mystery, crime, second chance at romance, CW: domestic violence/abuse

Writing Style: Atmospheric; Richly detailed; World-building

What You Need to Know: Practical Magic meets Gone Girl in Ava Morgyn's next dark, spellbinding novel about a woman who is more than a witch—she's a hunter.

My Reading Experience: The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn is a dark, compelling story about Piers, a woman on the run from her increasingly violent marriage. When she travels north to meet her long-lost Aunt Myrtle, Piers learns she 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. This awakening of powers comes just in time, Aunt Myrtle's small mountain town is rattled by a serial killer. Piers can either take her new-found skillset and keep running or stay and help hunt the killer.

While the concept is fresh and the witch-lore is fascinating, the pacing felt a bit slow, making it hard to stay fully engaged. My experience was full of starts and stops. Piers is tough to connect with—her decisions and attitude can be frustrating. A lot of her behaviors and actions seem unmotivated, especially in the beginning. She's seriously unlikable.
The romance subplot felt unnecessary and pulled focus away from the “good for her” energy that was driving the core of the story. Despite these issues, I still enjoyed the intense stakes, My hope here is that this book will find its audience because I feel like the cover will attract paranormal romance readers looking for cozy, cottage-core witches (it's not, the themes are dark) and the intense subject matter will attract horror fans (like me) and lovers of psychological thrillers but will be turned off by the second chance romance. It's an interesting genre blend for sure.

Final Recommendation: Readers who enjoy witchy books, botanical themes, ancient magic, themes of birthright & succession/inheritance, female empowerment, crime investigations/serial killers and. If you’re into dark, supernatural thrillers with a dose of revenge & justice, this one might be worth checking out.
Comps: Weyward by Emilia Hart, A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, Simone St. James Vibes/Style

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and Ava Morgyn for the ARC opportunity.

This novel was well written, however I don’t think I was the best reader for this one, simply based on how dark it was. That does not mean this was not a good novel, because it was, however more or less just not something I would typically pick up. This novel has witchy vibes, with darker elements.

Piers is the main character from Charleston. Piers has been married to a violent and controlling man for a few years. Piers understands that she needs to find an out so she does not lose her life. Piers has some come to know that her husband will continue to kill others, as she is a Bane Witch. This is the ultimate read for someone who loves witchy stories, with a side of thriller. There are tough topics covered in this novel including domestic violence, and trauma.

This novel will not be for everyone so check the trigger warnings, and read reviews before picking this one up.

For fans of gone girl, first lie wins, the lovely bones, and practical magic with a dark spin, meet The Bane Witch. Thus was a dark dark book about witchy dark magic! Please read the trigger warnings before reading this book!

Murder, mystery, a little romance, a lot of poison. WOW I wasn’t expecting this book and it was so so well done. This book is just what I needed in this particular climate as of late. Women punishing bad bad men with a little magic and a lot of poison. This story and magic system was so well done and well explained. This was such a good freestanding book but would love to read more stories about the bane witches!

I enjoyed the little bits of romance and good sprinkled in through some really dark chapters. I was on the edge of my seat through the second half of the book and so many twists I wasn’t ready for.

“And you know what they say- a very little poison can do a world of good”

Many trigger warnings to be read prior to reading this book and I definitely had a lot of female rage while reading.

I don’t really know what I was expecting when I went into this other than “magic”, “poison”, and “witches”, but it was somehow it was all of that and so so much more! It was EXACTLY what I needed right now- A gripping, empowering, and rage-fueling middle finger up to the toxic patriarchy.

It combined elements of several genres I love: unique magic systems of fantasy/paranormal, dark and gritty elements of a thriller, real world tie-ins and relatability in general fiction. Overall, to describe this book I would say ✨ powerful ✨

This is one I would highly recommend checking the TW list, especially for domestic abuse/violence and more.

For fans of Weyward, the Lost Apothecary, and Practical Magical, with a dose of herbalism and healing of feminine rage. Thank you so much to Ava Morgyn, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. It was a pleasure to read and give my honest review. This will be one I think about for a long time!

4.5 ⭐️

Practical Magic meets Gone Girl in this dark, spellbinding thriller.

Piers Corbin has always been drawn to poison—both in plants and in men. After faking her death to escape a violent husband, she seeks refuge with her estranged great-aunt in the mountains, only to discover that her hunger for poison is more than a habit—it’s a birthright. As a Bane Witch, she’s destined to rid the world of dangerous men, but when a serial killer targets her town, Piers must embrace her lethal legacy.

If you love Adrienne Young’s atmospheric writing, this book will draw you in. The beginning reads like literary fiction, unfolding at a slower pace—but never once did I feel bored. This is a dark, mesmerizing story about women reclaiming their power, but be sure to check the trigger warnings. Read this if you want suspense, thrill, romance, and a hauntingly immersive experience. Skip it if you're looking for a fast-paced thriller packed with plot twists.

My only criticisms are that Piers drove me nuts by the end of the book her decisions made me want to yell choice words at her. A few plot holes left me wondering if certain elements truly lined up, but neither issue took away from my overall enjoyment.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this early ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found the premise of this book very interesting. It truly was a perfect blend of Gone Girl and Practical Magic. My library will be purchasing this title.

A dark and magical thriller full of empowerment and revenge. The story follows MC Piers Corbin, a victim of marital abuse, who fakes her own death and escapes to an isolated mountain town to reconnect with her estranged aunt. Piers soon discovers more about her family history and more importantly her “inheritance,” coming into her power, and making sure no one falls victim to the monsters of the world, like she did.

I’m always down for a witchy novel, especially one with strong female bonds, but the pacing was tough. Very slow going most of the way, then the big climax seemed very rushed and anticlimactic. Piers is so smart but also makes the biggest blunders. She meticulously plans her death to frame her husband, but then makes the most idiotic choices. Maybe that makes her “relatable” or she’s acting under “high stress,” but it made me not trust that she was as smart as we were supposed to believe. Strong concept, but my interest level waxed and waned. Some loveable and some infuriating characters filled in the cast, but no one was really memorable.

An interesting thriller with a touch of magical realism, like an odd combo of Strange Sally Diamond and Weyward. If you like a dark atmosphere, female rage and empowerment, and plenty of vigilante justice, give this one a try. Intriguing and satisfying, but nothing extra special.

There is a fair amount of tough subject matter, so check trigger warnings if necessary.

Thank you St. Martins Press and Netgalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Bane Witch is a witchy mystery thriller that I couldn’t get enough of! This is a dark read full of emotion, tension and a little romance. ( please check for trigger warnings) Piers’s life has been hard, full of strange things she can’t explain or escape. She now has to contend with this new life and family of a coven she’s found. Piers’s development through the book was so good! I loved the magic, how it’s passed down and has a very specific purpose! 😏There’s just so much I loved about this book from the way it was written, the layers on mystery, and the poisons.


Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for my #gifted copy!

The cover makes you think this is a cutesy witch book, but it is incredibly dark. The story starts with Piers Corbin planning to escape her abusive husband. She has always had an affinity for poison plants - having scattered memories of when she was a child eating pokeweed berries and a strange man dying during this. Piers ends up faking her death, by consuming pokeweed berries, and then jumping off a bridge into the river. She heads up north from Charleston on a journey to try to find the only family she knows of (her mother is dead, father is dead), her aunt Myrtle, up at Crows Lake. She hasn't seen her since she was a little girl but remembers that she told her not to forget being a crow. Once she gets there, she learns that what has been happening to her is nothing new, but is her birthright and Piers is a bane witch. A bane witch ingests poisonous plants and uses their magic to rid the world of evil men. While living with Aunt Myrtle, Piers catches the attention of not only the local sheriff but a serial killer as well. What is a girl to do?

This novel was great - had me hooked at the start with her plot to escape her husband. It is a thriller with magical bits woven into the story. There definitely should be warnings that this book deals with heavy subjects such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and child violence/assault. This novel is about female empowerment and using their abilities to protect women - what I liked about this book is that it wasn't hateful towards men as there are a few side male characters that are incredibly charming and good people. I thought this was an original, great story. I kind of want to read more books about the women in the venery or see how Piers's training goes.

I absolutely loved this! Strong women? Baneful witches? Taking down awful men? Yes. Yes. Yes. I will definitely be recommending this one!

Check trigger warnings as the story touched on several explicit DV situations.
This story has some great potential and gave some compelling themes about power and self-discovery, but it didn't blow me away. There were some captivating moments but I had a hard time staying engaged with the story. If you’re a fan of witchcraft and dark paranormal elements, it’s worth a read, but don’t expect a flawless journey.

ARC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn

The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn is a dark thriller with magical elements. The main character Piers Corbin discovers she is a bane witch, a poison eating witch who kill harmful men.

Wow, this book had me hooked from the start. It’s fantastically dark and made my stomach turn on more than one occasion. So definitely be aware that it covers some brutal topics/assaults. Piers is up against some truly evil men from the start and it kept me on edge the entire time. The magic system was the only part that I thought could be a little cheesy. It’s one instance I didn’t need as much explanation of the magical system, and the coven was frustrating. The Bane Witch also has a bit of romance and a small town setting.

Dark and twisty thriller fans should pick this up March 18th 2025.

Thank you netgalley and St Martins Griffin for the opportunity to read this e-arc.

Ahhh this book was like a dark practical magic! I was really enraptured from the very first page. I really liked the writing style. The authors creates a wonderfully dark tragic story that follows Piers on her way to self discover and empowerment. I think the magic of coming from a line of witches who use poison was very unique. The only thing stopping me from a full 5 stars is I wish I had trigger warnings before hand. That being said a fantastic read for spooky season.

Thank you for the gifted ebook.

I wanted to like this and I really just...didn't. Promising premise absolutely ruined by a childish main character and an author who seems to have no idea how to actually pay off the stakes she set up . I got the sense that the moral uncertainty about being a killer of terrible people was supposed to weigh on Piers but mostly she just runs back and forth between accepting her powers and yelling about them to her great aunt. She doesn't seem to take any of what she learns about being a witch into account when it comes to making any decisions, and if the lead doesn't care, why should I?
If an event was supposed to have an impact, show the impact.

If villains are supposed to be scary and difficult, MAKE them scary and difficult, not easy to kill in a paragraph.

If the coven and the other witches are so important, then offing one of the main witches should be a big fucking deal, not something that happens like 70% in and is brushed off like a minor inconvenience.
The first two thirds of this book was tense and suspenseful, and then the last third resolves in something akin to a wet fart. Can't recommend, and probably will not read another Ava Morgyn book unless she proves she knows how to deliver payoffs.

This book is described as Practical Magic meets Gone Girl. While I've read neither book, Practical Magic is one of my favorite movies so, I knew I wanted to read this. I'm so glad I was approved for the eARC.

The cover might allure you into believing this a cozy, witchy novel. Do not be fooled. The story is filled with dark, poisonous, things. We follow Piers as she fakes her own death to escape her abusive husband and journeys to seek shelter with the only family she met once as a child. Tucked away in a small town, surrounded by they woods, and with Aunt Myrtle's guidance, Piers discovers she descends from a long line of witches that ingest poisonous things to eliminate the world of deadly male predators. With the knowledge of her heritage and teachings from her aunt, Piers transforms from prey, to huntress.

I found the Bane Witch powers intriguing. I loved the concept of a family of women using their powers to protect other women. I read a lot of high fantasy and romantasy, so it did take me a minute to get my head out of my last fantasy world. But once I got thru Piers's flashes of childhood and traumatic backstory, I could not put this book down. It was a welcome change in genre for me.

Additionally, some readers may need to be aware that there were no trigger warnings listed, but based on the movie and what I know about the other book, I anticipated the D.V. and S.A. themes. There was also talks of su!c!d€, ch!d s.a. (off-page), and of course, unal!v!ng.

Piers Corbin is a Bane Witch: a witch with the power to consume deadly plants and get rid of evil men. If that doesn't hook you, I don't know what will! I’m absolutely in love with this concept. Recently divorced, Piers is working at her aunt’s café when she catches the eye of the local sheriff while trying to take down a serial killer.

Justice is something that often escapes us in the real world, and what I love about magic and fantasy, is that I can escape into a world where women have the power to seek their justice. I think that is the biggest appeal of The Bane Witch; however, I wouldn't necessarily categorize this as feminist. It's more like feminine justice/feminine rage, with women taking down men who deserve it. Piers left an abusive marriage, and this book is about her journey in reclaiming her power, not just as a woman, but as a witch with the ability to do something about men like her husband.

I loved this book. It's going to stick with me for a long time.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of this book!!!

★★★★☆
The Bane Witch (Ava Morgyn - releasing 03.18.2025)
e-ARC Review

✧ Read with me ✧ Instagram ✧| @haileydianereads

A massive thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin, St. Martin’s Press & author Ava Morgyn for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest book review! 🥰🙌

“A very little poison can do a world of good.” 🍄 🌱

“Exposure - we operate in the shadows. It’s the only way. The world as we know it has long festered a hatred of women, let alone witches, a hatred for everything we are and stand for. There is nothing it despises more than a woman with power. We are everything they want to eliminate. And we exist by living and killing covertly.” 🌿 🩸

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy…
- Dark mystery/thrillers with magical elements
- Unique takes on witches
- Female rage
- Finding your power and purpose tropes
- Gone Girl meets Practical Magic

CONTENT WARNING: I do want to provide a content warning for readers. This book deals heavily with domestic violence and sexual assault.

First, I just want to say that this book was out of my typical genre selection. I am guilty of judging a book by its cover and definitely was under the impression that this wasn’t going to be as dark and suspenseful as it turned out to be. However, I did enjoy the book (even if I was terrified at moments). For mystery/suspense/thriller fans, you will not be disappointed. Additionally, this is the first book I’ve read by Ava Morgyn and I think she has immense talent for creating a setting that you get caught up in, even a little lost, and characters that you are genuinely afraid to encounter.

RATING SYSTEM: I rate my books by 5 literary element groupings: plot and pacing, characters and development, setting and world building, dialogue and writing style. See below for a full review:

📖Plot and Pacing
Ava Morgyn delivers a fast-paced suspenseful dark fantasy that tells the story of a Bane Witches. The originality that Morgyn brings to this story is refreshing, but note, as I previously mentioned, it is rather dark. The story follows Piers Corbin who, from a young age, can’t ignore her cravings for pokeberries. Through a series of events, Piers finds herself desperate to attempt anything that might bring her a fresh start and provide justice for everything she has endured for the last few years. Bane Witches are hunters who use their very specific type of magic to rid the world of evil men. Readers can expect a harrowing novel that gives power to women who understand the role they play in providing safety for others and, at times, themselves. The pacing of this book is quick, yet detailed. Personally, I finished this book in a matter of days. I would’ve consumed it quicker had I not already made plans for the evenings. I did not want to put it down.

🧞‍♀️Characters and Development
Character development is really saved for Piers, herself. While we are introduced to a cast of characters from her past and present, the main focus on growth is concentrated on Piers. At the beginning readers see Pier’s despair, however her evolution into a woman with true power and the confidence to take charge of her life rather than simply hiding from her past comes much later in the plot. Throughout the chapters, readers are privy to her internal struggle and self-doubt, but she is never portrayed as helpless which I truly appreciate for many reasons. Her power may have been lying dormant, but Piers is only at the beginning of her true evolution.

🌇Setting and World Building
From Charleston to the Adirondacks, it is evident that Morgyn is not afraid of settings. This novel is set in a modern time as our main character charts her desperate path to autonomy, doing anything necessary to make it to her Great Aunt Myrtle’s home upstate. Morgyn is gifted at ensuring the reader is transported along this journey as a companion to Piers. The motor inn and cafe quickly provide a sanctuary for both to rest in as readers see what unfolds next. However, don’t let your guard down because there is much more happening in the trails and forests than the reader might expect.

🗣️Dialogue
At times, the dialogue in this book is terrifying and at other times it is more informative in nature. I think it is well executed and the dialogue for each character seems fitting for their interactions. I don’t want to give anything away with this story, so I will just say that the reader learns a lot about all of the characters through dialogue and internal monologues. Both are well crafted.

📝Writing Style
Wow. I really want to applaud Morgyn for her ability to not only structure sentences well and provide detailed descriptions of the events as they unfold, but also her ability to craft such a suspenseful narrative. With this book, I feel like readers don’t have to compromise splendid writing for psychological edge. Again, this is the first book I’ve read by her, but, in my opinion, it was well executed and gripping.

❉BONUS❉: Emotional Connection
I feel like the emotional connection that most readers will find with this book, and the one I had, is the pure female rage that exists at certain points throughout the novel. The visceral reaction readers may have to the in-depth descriptions of violence committed against women is genuinely heartbreaking. While the words are hard to read, they are necessary. Many victims of sexual and domestic assault never have their stories told and the lack of advocacy and legal protection should invoke rage in everyone. While it may be unsettling to sit with, it is the reality that many women deal with daily.

😤The Flaws
Given that this novel is outside of my typical genre selection, I feel like I struggle more to find many critiques. Honestly, this book was well written and compelling. One flaw that I found, and is a typical complaint of mine, I wanted a bit more closure at the end of the book. Without providing any spoilers, the readers go on such an emotional journey that I really wanted an epilogue (maybe one is coming in the final published book). I’ve not seen any indication that this book will be the beginning of a series, but maybe an announcement is coming. The other flaw I kept going back to is a plot point, so I won’t discuss it in detail. I will just say that I feel like at times Piers’s powers or perception seem to fail her and it’s never explored as to why.

Overall, although I wasn’t the typical audience for this genre, I really enjoyed it. I may have been shielded by my covers with tense shoulders, but even with the suspense level higher than my comfort, I am so glad I read this book and pushed my genre boundaries.

Gratitude, always.
- H.