I really wanted to love this book. Witches, Appalachia, horror. What could be missing? Well, fleshed out characters, world building, and drive to want to read this book. There is so much dialogue that it doesn't feel like I'm in the world. The sisters fight so much, just for the sake of fighting that it is almost insufferable. I didn't DNF this book but looking back, I might have.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable reading experience.

Root and Bone was one of those books that pulled me in with its Appalachian witchy vibes and sisterly magic. Leona and Jewel—modern-day Granny Women—stepped right off the page with their flawed but powerful bond. I loved the blend of murder mystery, ghosts, and natural magic bubbling through the small-town setting. A few parts felt a bit rushed, but the atmospheric storytelling and quirky sibling dynamic more than made up for it. If you're into cozy horror with a supernatural twist, this one’s definitely worth a try.

The premise of Root and Bone immediately hooked me. An Appalachian setting, generational magic, and a murder mystery? Yes, please. The eerie, enchanting cover drew me in, and I had high hopes diving in.

I’ll admit I struggled with the dialogue at first. It felt jarring and a bit clunky. But as I settled into the rhythm of the characters and the dialect, I started to understand its purpose. It’s deeply rooted in the culture and world Jessica Raney is building, and eventually, it added to the atmosphere rather than detracting from it.

Leona and Jewel, two sisters born from a line of powerful Granny Women, are compelling leads. Their dynamic is complex and messy in the way only sisterhood can be. The story weaves magic, folklore, and personal trauma into a mystery that steadily builds in tension. I especially enjoyed Granny Kay and the touch of ghostly help, which gave the narrative some unexpected emotional weight.

That said, the pacing stuttered at times, and while the stakes were high, the story occasionally lost momentum. Still, the themes of legacy, power, and the strength of familial bonds kept me invested.

If you’re a fan of atmospheric magic and women-led stories with a haunting Southern Gothic flair, this one's worth checking out, even if it takes a few chapters to find your footing.

Firstly, thank you to the author and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book!

Two sisters, Leona and Jewel, are witches living in rural Appalachia. Neither are particularly happy with their lives, but they use their gifts to create something passable. When a local girl goes missing only to be found brutally murdered, they know they have to step in.

Part murder mystery, part occult thriller, this book is deeply disturbing and fascinating. Even when I untangled the mystery, I still had no idea how the sisters would handle it.

I recommend reading on a cold, atmospheric autumn day when you can binge read the entire book in one setting. You’ll definitely think about it when you’re not reading, if you don’t.

This one has a killer setup — a creepy little village tucked in the Appalachian mountains, a murder mystery, and witches. The atmosphere is eerie, tense, and totally immersive.

But while the vibes are strong, the world-building and characters don’t go very deep. I wanted more from the lore and more complexity from the people involved. It ends up feeling a bit style-over-substance. Still, if you’re in the mood for something dark and witchy with small-town secrets, I think you will enjoy this.

It came across to me as a mix of spooky horror, mystery, romance, paranormal or urban fantasy... but none of them were felt fully fleshed out outside of the two sisters and their witchy powers. The plot felt a bit all over the place.

I finished the book and still had questions, especially about Cale. It felt like every time I thought I understood the world and what was happening, some new element got introduced and the previous one didn't feel finished.

The relationships between the two sisters and their husbands just felt icky to me. I have read a lot of books that mention abuse and what it was like for the victims... this was all the actions with only shallow feelings mentioned from the sisters. It was as if the abuse was just an expected part of marriage and that was not my cup of tea. The dialogue was also a little jarring for me. Were the sisters supposed to have an accent? Maybe southern US? That's kind of the feeling I got from the way it was written, but it was a bit distracting for me. The final conflicts also felt a bit rushed.

However, despite the confusion and flaws, I didn't hate it. It was dark and gritty and there were parts I loved.

There was a lot going on but still very enjoyable. I love how the author brought together thriller and fantasy with a cute romance. The underlying drama kept me going throughout the book. It was so exciting and kept me on my toes. I would check trigger warnings as there are mentions of abuse, grief, and religious commentary. Well worth the read!

DNF after 50 pages, I just realised that this was not my thing. The writing style wasn't bad, just didn't quite work for me and I knew I wasn't going to enjoy the book.

This book blends magic, ghosts, and otherworldly creatures with a powerful exploration of sisterhood, love, power, and intent—all set against the vividly drawn backdrop of a not-so-distant Appalachian past. The plot is inventive and full of unexpected turns. Each character feels distinct, fully realized, and true to themselves. Without a doubt, a top!

First off, the cover is so pretty! I think it draws you in for sure.

I liked the story, a dark mysterious plot and great leading characters.
I love a small town witchy book and this one definitely delivered.
It was a page turner, and I will be recommending it for sure to anyone who likes the vibes.

This was definitely a slow paced novel, but had interesting characters. I wish I enjoyed this one more than I did, but I just never fully connected into the story or characters. Nonetheless, it was a quick read despite the slow pacing.

3.5/5 stars

Root and Bone is creepy, weird, and full of Southern gothic vibes — basically everything I love in a book. It’s about Annie, who goes back to her spooky hometown in Louisiana only to find out her family tree has way more ghosts, curses, and weird magic than she signed up for.

The writing was super atmospheric, but some scenes ended so fast I barely had time to be scared — like, let me panic a little longer, please.

Annie was awesome, the family drama was messy in the best way, and the small-town horror vibes were chef’s kiss. If Jessica Raney writes more in this world, I’m absolutely coming back.

Perfect for fans of haunted woods, family secrets, and books that feel like a ghost story told around a campfire.

DNF @9%

It's set in an older time period and with some redneck southern speech that made me want to pluck my eyeballs out and I could not keep going.

"ain't"
"You was"
"Some people is sour"

Thank you to Netgalley for the after published copy. My thoughts are entirely my own.

I didn't get around to reading this title, but I am thankful for the e-ARC noetheless. Appalachian gothic/horror stories are some of my favourites, so I defintely do want to get my hands on a copy of this.

"Root and Bone" by Jessica Raney is a gripping blend of Southern Gothic, mystery, and magic. The story follows sisters Leona and Jewel, descendants of Appalachian healers, as they navigate a brutal murder in their small town. The setting is richly atmospheric, and the sisterly dynamic is both heartfelt and humorous. While the plot could use a bit more depth in places, the book's charm and supernatural intrigue make it a compelling read. If you love folk magic, family bonds, and a touch of darkness, this one’s worth picking up.

I didn’t have this but it wasn’t a love either. I had a hard time connecting and it indeed took me a LONG time to finish. It was slower and kept losing my attention. The premise going into it sounded so good so it’s a bit of a bummer and I’ll definitely try to revisit it at a later time. Maybe it was my mood, but it didn’t click with me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc!

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Root and Bone by Jessica Raney in exchange for an honest review. This was a fantastic book about two sisters with magic. An evil comes to town and they need to work together to save everyone. I loved Leona and Jewel's relationship and how true it felt.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt like one of the books greatest strengths was the cosy town setting. That with the magic/paranormal just felt like a great combination.
I found myself really invested in the murder mystery and I am looking forward to the next book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing for the ARC.

I love mystery novels mixed with genre fiction. Investigating horrific murders with folk magic? Sign me up! Especially these murders, the description of the crime scenes were graphic and absolutely my thing. But the execution was so-so. The culprit was the obvious choice, and we don't really get the details about the dark god they serve, even when hints are dropped all throughout the book. I don't hate Leona and Jewel, but I can't say I loved them. And the relationship between Leona and Cale was cute... until you read about how they met, then its a little creepy. It was a quick read, a decent way to pass the time, but it wasn't the best.