The Bane Witch

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may make a small commission if you purchase through the links within this post at no additional cost to you. Please see my Full Disclosures + Privacy Policy for more details.

Synopsis

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.

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.

But when she fakes her own death in an attempt to escape her volatile marriage and goes to stay with her estranged great aunt in the mountains, she realizes her predilection is more than a hunger – it’s a birthright. 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. But soon she catches the attention of someone else, a serial killer operating in the area. And that only means one thing – it’s time to feed. In Ava Morgyn’s dark, thrilling novel, The Bane Witch, a very little poison can do a world of good.

Synopsis source: Goodreads

Review

Genre(s): Paranormal, Fantasy
HB&W Rating: 4.5 stars / 2 flames
View on Goodreads
Buy on Barnes & Noble, Amazon
Releases March 18, 2025

I was 83% of the way through this book and completely engrossed when I posted on my Instagram stories and tagged the author blaming her for making me want to put off adult things in favor of finishing her book. It sparked a quick little chat about how she was #sorrynotsorry LOL and it’s okay because I wasn’t sorry either. Needless to say, I rushed through my adulting for the day and immediately picked it back up and finished it.

After reading The Witches of Bone Hill, which I loved, I was excited to get an eARC of this one. It did not disappoint, I loved this book! It’s dark and atmospheric and while it isn’t due to publish until March, it was the perfect mood read for me this October.

I loved Piers’ strength and growth throughout the story. I loved the family bond she had with her aunt and the tenuous new bonds she forms with other family. I liked the touch of romance added to the story but loved that it wasn’t the focus.

I loved the whole concept of a group of vigilante witches (called the venery, which means the practice or sport of hunting, very appropriate) set on ridding the world of the human monsters that walk among us. I loved the magic and how it was fed and how it worked. It was an interesting and imaginative concept. I loved the dark setting and mood. Total Practical Magic vibes with a touch of Dexter.

I loved that while some of the worst examples of men were shown in this story, there were plenty examples of the best too. It’s about balance. While I wouldn’t classify this necessarily as a horror novel, I would say it is horror-adjacent due to some of the graphic descriptions, so be aware of that if you’re sensitive to such things.

Speaking of sensitivity, trigger warnings include domestic violence and sexual assault (attempted on page plus some off page SA).

I was absolutely engrossed in the story the whole way through. Morgan has such a way of writing her settings, characters, and story that it’s a guaranteed good read every time. I can’t wait to get a physical copy in March!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Until next time,

Be sure to subscribe to my blog so you never miss a review! You can also sign up for my newsletter for a recap of titles read, crochet patterns I’ve released, and more! I only send it out sporadically so that I don’t spam you, promise. 😉