Not only has it been a women empowerment month of reading for me, but it’s also been a witchy month as well. The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn was a wild ride. Think Practical Magic packed with even more suspense. The cozy, woodsy cover drew me in, but the journey was not even close to cozy.
We begin with Piers Corbin, our FMC, who creates and follows through with an elaborate plan to escape her abusive husband. If domestic violence stories are a trigger for you, I’d tread lightly with this one. Piers shares quite a few disturbing memories, which has the reader rooting for her escape and his downfall.
Piers finds the only family she knows of and in the process learns about her unique hunger. Witches, evil men (including a serial killer), and a wide array of poisonous plants take root in this story of survival. Morgyn threw in a dash of romance to balance the acrid taste of the other male interactions, but it didn’t take away from the storyline.
Thank you, NetGalley, Ava Morgyn, and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Loved the read! Now off to forage.
4.5 Stars

Practical Magic meets Gone Girl?! Yes, please!

Piers Corbin escapes her volatile and abuseive marriage by faking her own death and starting her new life with a long lost relative where she finds out her diagnosed pica is actually a personality trait: she's one in a line of bane witches: women who ingest deadly plants and use their magic to rid the world of evil men...
While hiding within Aunt Myrtle's community, she learns the way of the bane witches, starts a questionable relationship with a local sheriff, and tries to do her part to find and rid the area of a serial killer.

This book [obviously] had all the green-witchy vibes, feminine rage, vigilante-ism, found family, a little romance, and suspense! What a great combo, right? Right. However, there is so much going on in this book...that the pacing was hard for me: the book felt like such a mystery/suspense/atmospheric but also felt slow...
I did appreciate the ending mostly, but wanted more "closure," for Henry, one of the driving forces behind a revenge arc.

PSA: the cover is way cuter than the story ends up being, there is some dark stuff in here, check your trigger warnings!!

TL;DR: a book darker than the cover appears, but recommended for: witch, suspense, atmospheric, feminine rage lovers!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. I would love to see this as a mini-series - the drama is just perfect for that.

The characters are great. While there are some purely evil bastards, most of these characters are flawed but likable. Piers, in particular, was a flawed character that you root for from the first page. Did she make some truly stupid decisions? Yes. Was her story arc believable (taking into account that this is a book about witches, so you have to suspend some disbelief)? Yes. Everything she did felt true to her character and the motivations she had. The side characters and townies also felt very real in the sense that they did not seem like cookie cutter versions of people. There were just so many good characters to root for here.

The plot was fantastic. While the mystery/gone girl aspects of the story were really entertaining, the entire premise of the Bane Witches was so original, and I loved it. If you're looking for a new and interesting take on a feminist rage novel, then this is definitely a contender. Such a creative take on the idea of women defending and protecting other women. I really loved that. There were a couple of parts of the plot that seemed to lack basic logic, which is why I am only giving 4 stars, but it was still a really enjoyable reading experience.

Poisonous witch assassins. That's it. That's the story. AND IT IS AWESOME!

In the beginning of the book it wasn't clear (at least to me) the setting and time period of the story, so I found myself confused about what was happening. Further in I became hooked and couldn't set my kindle down. There are two pov's, one of the main Character- Piers, and one of Emil who is an investgator whose life she saved in the past. His story is short but ties in at the end. One love interest, and many kills. I liked the way this author wrote the story, it flowed easily. There was one intimate scene with the love interest that made me cringe with the line " He takes my breasts in his mouth like candied apples." I had to step away from that because I couldn't stop laughing. Overall, I really enjoyed this fantasy meets murder meets mystery, and would love to read more from this author.

Practical Magic meets Gone Girl in this story about a woman who fakes her death to run away from her husband who she knows is days away from killing her only to discover she comes from a long line of witches who poison men and a new killer is closing in on her. Piers Corbin has always had an appetite for poison, both in consuming poisonous plants... and marrying a poisonous man who plans on killing her. Piers knows her husband is one step away from finally going through with it and decides to escape, she fakes her death and goes to the only person she can, an estranged aunt who she met when she was a child. Piers escapes to her aunt's small town but nothing is easy... because when she hitches a ride there she is nearly assaulted until she magically kills the man... or rather poisons him. Her aunt is the only person who can give her answers... but the answer Piers finds might throw away her plans for a quiet life completely out the window. Piers discovers that the women in her family all belong to a secret society of bane witches, witches who consume poison and kill evil men. Piers powers have only begun to fully activate as her mother has tried to keep them locked away... and Piers' gifts are so strong... that it attracts a very specific type of poisonous men: serial killers. The moment Piers comes into town a killer begins dropping bodies and gets closer and closer to her. Piers has to learn to accept her new abilities while also sorting out her feelings for the town sheriff who is growing closer and closer to her. This was extremely practical magic coded but yet I still couldn't stand Piers. That was the biggest issue with this book for me, I loved the idea, I loved the premise, but I just could not stand Piers. She was so annoying and it just grated at my nerves. If there was a different protagonist I'm sure I would have loved this book but Piers really took this book down for me unfortunately. I would recommend this book for fans of Practical Magic with a bit of a darker storyline.

Release Date: March 18, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Ava Morgyn's "The Bane Witch" is a potent brew of dark fantasy, gripping character development, and a story that lingers long after the final page. I'm rounding my 4.5-star rating up to a full 5, though I do have a few caveats.

From the outset, Morgyn crafts a world steeped in shadow and ancient magic. The protagonist, a (newly aware of her identity as a) witch burdened by a harrowing past and a dangerous destiny, is compellingly drawn. Her journey is a relentless push against both external forces and internal demons, and Morgyn handles this with a deft hand. The character development is exceptional; we witness her transformation from a victim to a force to be reckoned with, a process that is both painful and triumphant.

The narrative's strength lies in its ability to create a sense of inevitable dread. Even when you anticipate a particular event, you find yourself utterly unprepared for the emotional impact. I knew, from the very beginning, that a certain tragedy was looming, yet when it unfolded, I still hated it. This speaks to Morgyn's talent for crafting emotionally resonant scenes and her ability to manipulate reader expectations.

However, I must address the book's darker elements. I hope the published version of the book has appropriate trigger warnings. The story has extremely graphic depictions of domestic violence, that at some points felt like trauma p0rn. Readers sensitive to such content should approach with caution.

My only significant critique lies with the character of "Lady Mother." While I understand her role in the narrative, her interactions in that one scene felt excessively theatrical, verging on caricature. This, for me, was the one element that pushed the boundaries of suspension of disbelief a bit too far.

Despite these minor issues, "The Bane Witch" is a remarkable book. Morgyn's prose is evocative, her world-building rich, and her characters unforgettable. This is a story that will haunt you, challenge you, and ultimately, leave you craving more. If you're a fan of dark fantasy with complex characters and a story that doesn't shy away from the shadows, "The Bane Witch" is a must-read. Just be prepared for a journey into the heart of darkness.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC.

Piers Corbin was five when she first killed a man. She had no idea the pokeweed berries she consumed would lead to the accidental death of a stranger, Her mother never told her about her birthright - that she came 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. Years later, Piers uses some of those pokeberries to help fake her own death and frame her abusive husband. It is the only way she can see to get out of the marriage alive. If only she had known about her birthright sooner, but she didn't find out until she escaped to Aunt Myrtle's home up north, where she runs a cafe and group of cabins for tourists. Piers sets out to make herself indispensable around Myrtle's place, hoping to fly under the radar and keep Henry from ever finding her. However, she has attracted the attention of not only the local sheriff, but a serial killer that has been circling the area for weeks, and now has his sights on Piers. And that only means one thing—it’s time to feed.

I loved this book. It was a different take on the average witchy tale, in that the witches could ingest poisons safely, in fact craved the poisons, and then those toxins were used to kill bad men.....vigilante witches! I loved Piers, and how resilient she was, and the amount of detail that went into planning her "death" and framing Henry was amazing. She deserved an award. I was on the edge of my seat the last several chapters as the serial killer was after her, as well as Henry. I would love to see this have a sequel or become a series so I could see where Piers goes from here, because I feel like there is so much more story that could be told. If you love fantasy fiction, then you will definitely want to put this at the top of your TBR pile.

This was a nice food. I don’t really read witchy books, but this one caught my attention as soon as I read the description and it did not disappoint. I loved the female man character. She was amazing. I loved her story and the way she developed throughout the book.

"A very little poison can can do a world of good"

Thank you to St Martin's Press for sending me an ARC of The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn. I appreciate the opportunity to review it.

Piers Corbin has had a very strange life and is now isolated away in her husbands fancy house living with a lot of dark secrets. Her husband is abusive and evil and Piers knows it's only a matter of time before his goal of ending her life happens. She takes matters into her own hands and is able to find her estranged family who have very dark and deadly secrets of their own.

The Bane Witch takes the trope of a young woman returning to her estranged family and adds an element of magic which is a very interesting turn. Piers finds her strength inside which is aided by an old family secret and she turns herself into a weapon to protect not only herself but also innocent lives of women in her orbit.

This is quite a dark telling and a lot of abuse discussed and seen on page so please take care of yourself when picking up this one as it can be quite shocking and triggering if you are not expecting it.

The Bane Witch will be available on March 18 2025 at your local book seller or library

The world as we know it has long festered a hatred for women, let alone witches, a hatred for everything we are and stand for. There is nothing it despises more than a woman with power.

If you loved elaborate escape of Amy in *Gone Girl* and the magic (pun intended) of women coming together to deal with abusive men in *Practical Magic*, then you’ll LOVE this book!

*The Bane Witch* is a dark, moody story about a woman, Piers, who escapes her violent and dangerous husband and runs away to upstate New York where her estranged aunt lives. As she settles into her life with her aunt, things get even more complicated, and she discovers she comes from a long line of witches whose magic is used to protect women (it’s giving badass women in coven hellbent on vigilante justice).

So, clearly this is right up my alley because who doesn’t love a little feminine rage, and women making sure the men who fuck around, also find out (also I just love dangerous women).

However, this is definitely a book you should check trigger warnings on because it is, like I said, dark. There’s ALOT of violence in this book especially against women as the Piers is a domestic abuse survivor. So, please check the trigger warnings before giving this one a read (I’ll have the tws I noticed at the bottom of the review but my list is likely not exhaustive).

Anyway, I ended up really enjoying this. It’s a genre-bender, for sure — including elements of thrillers, romance, fantasy, and even maybe a little lit-fic (?).

The lore behind the history of bane witches and also learning about the venery (basically the coven but make it cooler and more badass) was easily one of my favorite parts about this book, and I was literally on the edge of my seat wanting more and more info about everyone and the history because it’s just such a cool concept (I would absolutely eat up a textbook style book about the bane witches).

Also, the whole breadcrumb trail that the Piers left to try and set up her husband *Gone Girl* style was really fun because even though I knew he didn’t kill her, I was like “omg” when they found stuff implicating him. She really was girlbossing and gaslighting the cops from hundreds of miles away.

The pace of this novel was almost perfect — like it was sooo close to being one of those books you just eat up so quickly, but unfortunately, the ending kinda felt flat to me. There was all this build up and yet everything resolved so quickly that it felt kinda like whiplash. I wasn’t disappointed by the end, but the way everything finishes felt rushed and like it didn’t fit the high stakes build up and the writing of the rest of the book.

Despite the fact that this was a suspenseful, thriller-esque book, it definitely was not twisty in the way I’ve come to expect from the thriller genre — so fair warning on that. The plot was very predictable, and there was no real plot twists at any point, like it’s going to end exactly how you expect a book like this to end.

I enjoyed the writing for the most part. It has some beautiful moments but also had some overwritten moments too, but ultimately, the writing didn’t add to or detract from the story — in alot of cases it kinda just faded into the background.

There was an additional POV of a cop back in her hometown who is investigating her disappearance. I was surprised how much I enjoyed his chapters. Like I said earlier in the review, it was fun to read about the way she schemed to frame her husband, and it was through this cop’s eyes that we got to see how she did that. However, I do feel like his POV could have been used better to build more suspense rather than just showing her handiwork in her escape. Because of his POV, there wasn’t this air of like “when is my husband going to find me?” because the cop is keeping tabs on the husband. He also somehow wasn’t even all that relevant to the resolution of the plot. He plays a part but it’s not what I would have expected from the way it was set up, and that was kinda disappointing.

Finally, there was a romantic subplot. Honestly, that’s all I have to say about that (lol). It was there. Seriously though, it fell flat for me because the love interest was kinda like cardboard and also a little like “oh i’m not like all the other bad men” because he somewhat restores her faith in men in general. Also, he was quite a pushover and just accepting the info Piers was giving him which felt super unrealistic for a man in his position (iykyk). But that being said, their relationship did add some fun complications to the story that I enjoyed.

So all that being said, I recommend this book. I had a good time. It’s nothing truly revolutionary or life changing, but it’s a good book to throw into the mix — it was a good palate cleanser between epic fantasies for me. It’s perfect for anyone who loves vigilante justice, feminine rage, witches, and bad men getting what’s coming to them.

I actually hope there is some kinda follow up to this book because I really wanna know more about the venery, and with how it ended, I think it’s possible there might like an interconnected standalones type thing happening *fingers crossed*

This book was really confusing and hard to keep up with. It also had a lot of unnecessary details. To me it seemed like the author did that to make the book longer. This book sounded like it was going to be good, but it was just not for me.

I love a good "poison woman" story, so I was instantly drawn to a tale of a line of witches who can eat poison plants and use that poison to kill others with their touch. Be warned, this is definitely heavy though, as they go after men who have abused their power and harmed women, and there are quite a lot of descriptions of abuses women suffer at their hands. Piers, who has faked her own death to escape an abusive marriage, has no idea what sort of power she wields or how to use it, and her only clue is her Aunt Myrtle, whom she hasn't seen since she was a child.

What follows is an exploration of female rage and vigilantism, of taking back power and Piers coming into her own as both a bane witch and a survivor. While not exactly tightly-paced, it is well-written, and once it grabs you, the book doesn't stop until it's hurtling down to its finish line.

I do wish there were a little more exploration of how the venery actually works and has survived (especially since it's the only one in North America, while others have survived), as well as a little more about the ramifications of Piers' specific powers and ability to see future harms done, but for a standalone, it definitely stands well on its own.

TW: Domestic Abuse (Graphic/Detailed), Sexual Assault/Rape

I quite liked the premise of this one, and I appreciated that there were good reasons for the protagonist not knowing what she was rather than it just being a lack of communication. Piers wasn't my favorite protagonist, and there were times when I wanted to shake her for some of those decisions. I think she could have been a stronger character overall, and wasn't quite sure why she went from being so meticulous in the beginning to making so many poor choices in the middle/end.

The pace of this work is pretty slow. It starts off strongly, lags in the middle, then manages to pick up a bit again by the end. There was a lot going on at some points, which contributed to the pacing issues, and at other points it was just a lot of exposition that could have been trimmed some. 

This is more of a mystery/thriller with elements of magical realism rather than a fantasy. It was a good read overall, and should be enjoyable for fans of modern witches and vigilantes. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Piers has always had a strange compulsion to eat poisonous plants and that usually results in the death of a man, usually a bad one. As a victim of an abusive husband, she decides to fake her own death to escape her violent husband Henry before he ultimately kills her. She flees to her great aunt Myrtle, whom she barely knows. In the mountains with Myrtle, she forges a trusting relationship and learns about her true nature and heritage as a Bane Witch. In the meantime, Henry suspects she is still alive and is waiting for his opportunity to pursue her, while a serial killer that strangles women comes closer and closer to the community Piers now calls home. Will Piers learn her new skills quickly enough to save herself?

This is a well written, fast paced read! Loved the themes of feminism, murder, good conquering bad and the touch of romance. This is such an interesting story that will draw you in. Highly recommend!

The Bane Witch is a fabulously unique spin on one of my favorite subgenres - the feminine rage witch story. Piers has been through absolute hell and decides to escape it the only way she knows how - by jumping off a bridge to fake her death. She flees to her estranged great-aunt's house where she learns the true meaning of her family legacy.

This book kept me glued to the pages and up well past my bedtime. The characters are well developed, the pacing is excellent, and I never quite knew what was going to happen next. The dark, moody setting was atmospheric but my fellow seasonal readers should know that this a great year-round read, as the witchiness presents more like a well done thriller than a Halloween spooky read. There are many hard topics covered here (if there's a bingo card, this book may be a blackout) but the storytelling is more focused on the strength of the revenge than the pain.

If you loved Practical Magic and Gone Girl, this dark psychological thriller is for you. I'm immediately adding Ava Morgyn's backlist to my TBR and you should, too!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to spend time with the venery before this book's publication in exchange for my honest review.

This book had so many eye catching things. First, that cover is beautiful. I'd love for this to get the sprayed edge treatment with some mushrooms along the edge. Second, a witch who eats poisonous plants to then kill dangerous men was an extremely unique concept. I love all the descriptions of what the plants looked, smelled and tasted like. A witchy thriller, I don't read many of those. I was sucked into this story and completely fascinated by Piers' journey to escape and her enlightenment of who she is. The forest setting was so immersive to me, I felt like I was literally there. Every victim got what they deserved and I'm really glad it didn't end the way I was half expecting it to. I did notice that around 50% the book slowed down for me and it took me forever to finish it and it's not because I wasn't enjoying it. I honestly don't know what happened, if the story itself became slower or what. I had some questions about why these witches couldn't maintain a certain lifestyle that I won't mention because it could be a spoiler. My biggest question though, what if a woman is a predator because they do exist. Would that just be written off with the excuse that any women wouldn't be a predator if it weren't for men's influence etc. There are plenty of women who are just as despicable. All in all I highly enjoyed this and ended up giving it 4 stars and would most definitly buy a copy especially if you give it a little razzle dazzle.

2.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for access to this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued by the description of this book, and when I read that it was “Practical Magic meets Gone Girl”, I expected it to be a bit more…balanced, maybe? I can see the comparison to those two stories, but this book is definitely darker. Some of the plot elements remind me of Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter, which was much too dark for me. There are a ton of references to domestic abuse and rape. And, while I am all about a female rage/revenge theme, this kind of missed the mark for me.

Some of the language felt cringey and a bit over descriptive; the author uses a LOT of similes and a lot of them feel like filler or just unnecessary.

I did not like the arc of the romance between Regis and Piers. It felt forced and totally unnecessary to the plot. I just have a hard time believing a survivor of horrible abuse would be interested in sex or any intimacy with a man just days after leaving her abusive husband.

I think the main idea is unique, with the way the bane witches are able to sense evil men and the unique way they can unalive them. I also appreciate that the book began in Charleston (my hometown) and all the references to some of the well-known places in that area. I think overall with some editing and some reworking of certain elements of the plot, this could be a solid female rage/revenge novel, not unlike The Change, but overall this was meh.

I’d describe The Bane Witch as a cross between Dexter and Weyward: Piers flees an abusive relationship and finds refuge with a female relative. While there, she discovers who, and what, she really is - a woman who hunts the bad guys. As Piers learns more about herself and her capabilities, both her mark and her past are closer, making The Bane Witch a thrilling and empowering read.

I knew from the first few pages that this book would be one that stuck with me, and upon finishing, I know that this will be a book I think about and recommend to everyone who will listen.

I loved every page of this book, and I’m beyond thrilled for its upcoming publication date!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Ava Morgyn for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. It has been an honor and a privilege to read this work.

This is a fast paced, entertaining, well-written, paranormal fantasy romance novel. It contains elements of female empowerment and has a likable, strong and capable female protagonist, an engaging male protagonist, magic, family drama and secrets, twists and turns, and a gratifying conclusion. Many thanks to Ms. Ava Morgyn, St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley, from whom I received an advanced reader copy of this fantastic novel. This is my honest opinion.

Ｅｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟🌟🌟
O M G! O M G! Don't, please don't let the beautiful cover of this book trick you! The cover along gives you cozy, witchy vibes, but it's far far far from cozy witchy and I am here and in love with this story! We finally get a STRONG FEMALE LEAD that will do anything to protect the innocent children and women in the world. This book is described as 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.

Definitely check the trigger warnings before reading this story. Once I started this story, I didn't want to stop reading. I gave this story 4 stars simply because I felt like it could have been a little shorter, but overall, it's a great read. And lowkey wish women in the world did have these types of powers.

Thank you, Netgellay, and St. Martin Press for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.