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.

When a girl is brutally murdered in the sleepy Appalachian town of Ames, it's clear that the local police force have no idea what's at play and it falls on Leona and Jewel, two local witchy sisters to dig deeper into the mystery. In the midst of the investigation two strangers come to Ames who are both powerful and dangerous setting Leona and Jewel at odds with dark magic and vengeful spirits.

This was a gripping read when I actually got a second to sit down with this I flew through it. The beginning was slow but once you get past the first 20% it feels like theres so much going on. There is DV throughout this as a warning to anyone wanting to pick this up. This was filled with paranormal romance, family bonds and dark magic. This was very character driven and I'd have liked to see more of the world and supporting characters. There's also snippets from the girls past and hopefully we'll see more of that in future books.

I really enjoyed Root and Bone! It’s a beautifully written mix of mystery, magic, and family, set in the heart of Appalachia. The story follows sisters Leona and Jewel, who have inherited their family's magical abilities, as they deal with small-town struggles and dark forces creeping into their lives.

The Appalachian setting is so rich and atmospheric—it really pulls you in. The magic feels natural and deeply tied to the land, which makes it even more compelling. But what I loved most was the relationship between the sisters. Their bond feels real, full of love and tension, and you can’t help but root for them.

I wish some parts of the story had been explored in more depth, but overall, this book completely drew me in. If you love stories about witchy family ties, small-town secrets, and a touch of the supernatural, Root and Bone is definitely worth a read!

I actually quite enjoyed Root and Bone overall! The vibes in this book are fantastic, with a gripping narrative centered around two strong witches working to uncover the murderers haunting their small town. The mix of supernatural elements, like magic, witches, werewolves, and other magical beings, creates an atmospheric world that I couldn’t get enough of.

The suspense in this book is relentless – it's the kind of story that keeps you hooked from start to finish, refusing to let go until you reach the final page. It’s an intriguing blend of fantasy, horror, and mystery, with just the right amount of supernatural tension to keep you guessing.

Though the book tackles some hardcore themes, it’s still incredibly enjoyable, and the plot never lets up. If you’re into witches, mystery, magic, and all things paranormal, this book is definitely for you. I’m definitely looking forward to more from Jessica Raney. It’s a page-turner for sure!