Sadly this one is a DNF. It was moving very slowly for me and I wish the fact that cancer is a plot point was mentioned in the synopsis.

I wanted to love this so much the synopsis was so promising. While I liked the elements with the mansion and the paranormal bits. The pacing on this book is very back and forth which I found extremely distracting. The story boggs down in several places and I found it hard to stay motivated to finish. I didn't really understand the mafia subplot and felt it did nothing for the story that was trying to be told. I also had absolutely no interest in the background love story that felt forced. over all this definitely someones cup of tea and I am sure there are a ton of people who will absolutely adore this book.

The Witches of Bone Hill is a well written contemporary paranormal/horror novel by Ava Morgyn. Released 26th Sept 2023 by Macmillan on their Griffin imprint, it's 352 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

There's a palpable sense of dread throughout this story with a number of off kilter very violent scenes which throw readers off balance and unprepared for the next assault. There are some graphic scenes which might possibly make it NSFW/commute.

It's a horror romance which might seem an odd combo, but the author does a good job with the nuts & bolts writing and the central characters are fairly well fleshed out and three dimensional. There are curses galore, and blood debts, and bone knives, and magic, and ghosts, and a huge scary house which figures centrally to the plot.

Three and a half stars. Fans of Deborah Harkness, Paige Crutcher, and Karen Marie Moning will likely enjoy this one.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I love a good story about witches, however this one was just not for me.

The descriptions and setting were well-described and it felt very atmospheric; However Cordelia as a main character was very hard to invest in, and her motivations seemed somewhat contradictory. She sought truthful communication from those around her, yet won't do that herself and then lashes out when she doesn't get that which she seeks. She also would enter into something recklessly and then be confused as to the negative consequences.

Genre-wise, it also felt like there was way too much going on. The 'mafia' element on top of the ghost / paranormal / horror / mystery just made it feel disjointed and detracted to the story.

Ultimately I think Cordelia could have used some development, and the book could have used some condensing / more focus.

Cordelia's great aunt passes away and leaves her mansion to Cordelia and her sister Eustace. They must travel across the country to (they think) deal with the estate and sell the house before returning home to their own individual problems. However, once they are there they learn that the house contains ties to their family in more ways than one, and selling the house and heading home will not be the straightforward task they anticipated.

This was an enjoyable read with some good twists. However, the description was giving Mexican Gothic vibes, and this one didn't quite deliver in the same way. Still, a good, spooky read just right for the fall. I wouldn't steer anyone away from it!

I found this witchy book to be absolutely delightful! If you're looking for books that give off Practical Magic vibes then I'd suggest this one.

There's romance, sister relationships, and a good dose of horror vibes. This would be a. great fall book or something to pick up if you wish it was fall. I loved the spookiness of this book and found that I wanted more.

This is such a perfect autumn read! It has the best cozy vibes. The characters that pull you in. The story that captivates. I will for sure be reading more from this author in the future.

The Witches of Bone Hill is an engaging and atmospheric tale that seamlessly blends mystery, magic, and family secrets. The author does a fantastic job of creating a sense of place, with vivid descriptions that bring Bone Hill and its eerie surroundings to life. The characters are well-developed and relatable, particularly the sisters whose complex relationship adds depth to the story. The plot is intriguing, filled with twists and turns that keep you hooked from beginning to end. While some parts of the story unfold predictably, the strong writing and captivating narrative more than make up for it. Overall, The Witches of Bone Hill is a spellbinding read that keeps you entertained and invested throughout.

Add this to your fall reading list! If a a must for your spooky season line up. Great character development and a gripping plot

*Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for providing me this ARC to review*

Publication Date: September 26, 2023 

Cordelia's perfect life is crumbling. While in the midst of a messy divorce, her estranged older sister reaches out to inform her that their last living relative has passed away and they stand to inherit their property. Although the timing isn't ideal, Cordelia sees this inheritance as an opportunity to resolve her dire financial situation. Once they arrive to the property, the sisters discover the magnitude of wealth they stand to inherit. However, in order to obtain the inheritance, there are strict rules they must abide by - mainly, they must live on the property. During their stay, they encounter some supernatural situations and must uncover the truth behind their dark family history and the property, Bone Hill. Thankfully they have the help of a handsome, tattooed groundskeeper to help them along the way.

I was immediately intrigued with this story from the very beginning. The mystery and lore of the spooky house and the history of the main characters family had me on the edge of my seat. Although the mystery reveal was interesting, I felt like the length of the story made me less invested in the outcome. The ending was satisfying but felt rushed compared to the rest of the story and I would have loved to see more of the characters after the conflict resolution. There was a little blossoming slow burn romance intermingled that I enjoyed and would have loved to see more of that story line. The setting of this story was the total stand out and made the perfect spooky vibes. I also really loved the evolution of Cordelia and Eustace's relationship during their stay at Bone Hill.

I don't get it I guess. I honestly have tried reading this book about five times on multiple occasions with a decent span of time in between. I don't make it far. I don't think it's a bad book, I just think I can't make myself care about the story.

I really liked this book. A thrilling ride of magic and mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I enjoyed watching the sisters grow in to their powers as they took on both the town and the house. The love interest was steamy and the magic sinister. I devoured this book in one sitting.

I love the story here but the pacing seemed awkward to me. Some parts seemed flat while other parts jumped off the pages for me. All and all I am pleased that I stuck with it and I did enjoy it. I don’t want to give away spoilers but I can say the speed in the second half picks up and you start getting all the answers you want.

# The Witches of Bone Hill
# 3/15/2024 ~ 5/6/2024
# 3.0 / 5.0

3.5 rounded up. Thanks so much to the publisher for my copy of THE WITCHES OF BONE HILL. I was glad for the chance to read this debut!

Cordelia and Eustace have inherited the Bone Estate after their estranged aunt has passed. This had a really interesting premise with a few detours that I wasn't necessarily expecting.

I wished there were a few more red herrings and that we had spent more time on the romance, since it felt rushed.

I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!

[First, I’d like to say, thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to review this ARC with honesty.]

Wow, okay - so this book took me some time to read. It was the weirdest feeling in the world. It was hard to stop reading but at the same time, it felt it was being dragged out. Nevertheless, I was still very much interested in finding out what in the everloving hell was going on this crazy kooky house on Bone Hill. Ghosts perhaps? Imagination? Possible mental issues? The story definitely gives you a handful of misdirects and many mysteries that leave you along for the ride but I will say some of these - were a BIT too confusing. I still had fun with the story. Liked the characters. I was very much TRAUMATIZED by a few things - people, check your trigger warnings on some of this.

But still, the story for the most part was good. The ending became more fast paced, which I found a little disoriented with. Throughout the book it was a steady pace, almost too steady but then maybe the last 100 pages or so, the pace just went full speed and new information was thrown at you, leaving you a little overwhelmed.

I would probably read another of this author’s work. I did like the world building in this. I just wish there was more growth for the characters. I think I saw someone comment, the main character was a bit all over the place and erratic? I agree. She definitely seemed to flip flop like crazy.


My Rating: 3.5 (Rounded up)

This book wasn't what I thought it was, and it that misunderstanding, it was better.

There were some lengths, hence the 4-stars, but overall it is a balanced mix of a sisterly bond, lost family, magic, ghosts and an emerging (fast) romance, intertwined with history and murder.

TW for blood (a lot), gore, murder, suicide, manipulation, financial abuse.

It's a funny surprise that the lost family/estranged aunt that dies and heroin that herits everything/estate really far away/newly discovered magic/ghost themes are quite the same that the last witchy book I read, but this one was sooooo much better.

If you like witchy read with an intrigue, then you'll love this one!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Cordelia Bones’ ex left her broke. When her sister tells her their great aunt left them her house, she thinks her problems might be solved. Unfortunately, they must live there, can’t sell it, and must continue the somewhat creepy family legacy. The house abounds with secrets and secret passages and compartments, and nothing and no one are what they appear to be. In my opinion, the book got bogged down in the detailed descriptions and I occasionally lost track of the plot itself.
3 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

I love a good "woman (or women) inherits random house from relative and has to live there to fulfill the terms of the will" storyline. Throw in some mysterious history and creepy happenings and I am extra here for it. It was a bit slow paced and I wish we would have had a multiple pov but it was still an entertaining read.

Cordellia, and Eustace are sister that were not speaking until they found out an aunt they didn't know passed away. THey are both at points in their life where everything is falling apart. Yet they are now finding out about a whole life that they are apart of but knew nothing about. They need to learn knew things and see where they fit in.
Things dont make sense but soon they learn the truth.

this was a book that kept my interest from the beginning. I loved it and felt all the feels. I really enjoyed it.