Ava Morgyn crafts a deliciously dark and twisted tale in The Bane Witch, blending magic, murder, and moral ambiguity into an irresistible concoction. Piers Corbin is a spellbinding anti-heroine—dangerous, unapologetic, and utterly magnetic. Her discovery of her Bane Witch heritage is both chilling and empowering, as she embraces her unique gift of turning poison into justice. The atmospheric mountain setting, paired with the sinister charm of Aunt Myrtle’s café, creates the perfect backdrop for Piers’ deadly escapades. With a serial killer on the loose and tension brewing, the stakes rise to a deadly crescendo. A wickedly fun read that’s impossible to put down!

Before I get to the review, I want to list the content warnings up front because there are so many.

Content Warnings- domestic violence, rape, physical assault, attempted sexual assault, murder, blood, gore, kidnapping, and suicide.

I first discovered this author in 2023 when her debut, The Witches of Bone Hill, released. I enjoyed it quite a bit, so when her sophomore novel came available for review, I snatched it up right away. I’m helpless against anything described as a cross between Practical Magic and Gone Girl.

The opening chapter grabbed my attention almost immediately. I had intended to read only a chapter or so and then head to bed. Instead, I found myself flipping pages as quickly as possible until I was about 20% in and realized it was way past my bedtime. This book starts out with the main protagonist, Piers Corbin, carrying through with a plan to fake her own death in order to escape her abusive, monstrous husband. The first seven or so chapters are her making her desperate escape, travelling across the country with little money and no resources, toward the home of her estranged aunt. She changes her appearance, and avoids cameras, but keeps finding herself in dangerous and impossible situations. There are flashback scenes of her violent life with her husband and several incidents as a girl that foreshadow her real identity. It was so compelling that I could not stop reading.

Then she finally arrives in Crow Lake, to the home of her aunt Myrtle, and can finally stop running. But this is when she discovers why she has such a pull toward poisonous plants. She’s a bane witch, and her birthright is consuming these plants and then using her magic to purge the world of wicked, evildoing men. She’s introduced to likeminded women who are part of her extended “family” and is given an ultimatum to which she has no choice but abide.

From there the chapters start to move between the police investigating her disappearance, and her in Crow Lake. I can see why it was compared to Gone Girl. Piers, now going by a different name and a fictional identity, has to learn everything she can about her magic, while planning her next mark, and keeping the local sheriff at bay. The entire book is a fast-paced adventure, with brutal scenes of poisonous murders, Piers basically fighting for her life to learn all she can about her craft and tracking the local serial killer and tiptoeing around a forming attachment to the sheriff. I was invested and even though what the ending would inevitably be became clear to me by around the 70% mark, I couldn’t wait to see how Piers would achieve her goals.

This is two books I’ve read by this author and enjoyed, I look forward to reading more.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the gifted ARC E-book Version of The Bane Witch!

I love when I get into a book and find myself constantly thinking about it and finding time to sneak in even a page or a paragraph just to find out what happens next, and that was The Bane Witch!  The best way I can think to describe this book would John Wick, meets Gone girl, Meets Practical Magic. I mean, what's not to love?😅


The story follows  along as the main character escapes the abuse of her husband and  finds her inner strength while also realizing her powers as a Bane Witch, a power that runs in every female in her family and has been used for generations to protect themselves and the women and children around them.

I honestly went in expecting just another typical witchy fun book. This book was anything but typical. Reader be warned this book touches on a lot of sensitive heavy topics: Domestic Abuse, SA, Emotional Abuse, & Murder... just to name a few. That being said, it was used so beautifully to set up the story and plot that it couldn't have been written without it. It was dark and heavy hitting at some points, and quite honestly the perfect Witchy Female Rage read and help channel some inner frustration with how the current political climate when it comes to women...

As someone who mainly reads books that are more on the spicy side, I have to say this book did semi closed door so perfectly. An amazing example that sometimes you don't always need extra spicy sex scenes and given the main characters history it almost felt respectful to her in a weird way.

Read if you enjoy:
Female Rage
Anti Hero
Family secrets
Witchy romance
Suspense
Serial Killers

This book was so good! I am not much for romance/smut but it had the thriller aspect I loved so much I could ignore the smut. It had everything I love about magic and women empowerment in a book. Can't recommend enough!

This book is for those who feel like the bad guy always wins.
It’s about taking down the patriarchy one scumbag at a time. Often through…unorthodox means if you catch my drift.
But more than that, it’s about survival, family, solidarity, and resilience. It’s about the centuries of pain and trauma women have endured and continue to endure at the hands of powerful men, but about the strength we always find to fight back - to survive. To thrive. And to hold our sisters up as those before held us.

Practical Magic meets Gone Girl was the perfect match!

The gripping story of a woman fleeing the abuse of her husband, with a witchy and dark twist!

4.5 stars! I really enjoyed this! I would call this a magical psychological thriller. It's definitely dark at times, with themes of revenge and taking your power back from abusive men. There are a ton of important messages throughout, but also some touchy subjects. TW for domestic abuse, mur/der, and SA. I was enthralled from the beginning and continuously rooting for the FMC. I like that the magic system is unique and explained well, and that you're given a backstory on how bane witches came to be. There are a couple twists I saw coming, and one that I was surprised didn't happen. The ending is slightly anticlimactic, but despite that I still highly recommend. This is a beautifully told story with great detail and vivid imagery. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This book is dark, haunting, and completely addictive. I loved every moment of it.

It follows Piers, a woman escaping her abusive husband by faking her own death. When she reconnects with her estranged aunt Myrtle, she discovers her family’s dark secret: they’re Bane Witches—women with the power to ingest poison and take vengeance on predatory men.

The story is packed with tension, and the eerie forest setting adds so much atmosphere. The lore around the Bane Witches is fascinating and unlike anything I’ve read before. Piers’ character growth kept me rooting for her, and I absolutely adored Myrtle—she’s the kind of no-nonsense mentor every witch story needs.

That said, the climax felt a bit rushed, and the writing can be a little over-the-top in places. But honestly? It didn’t matter much because I was so hooked. This isn’t an easy read—it tackles heavy topics like abuse and violence—but it’s powerful, emotional, and totally unique.

If you’re into dark, witchy thrillers, this one is a must-read.
Just make sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

**Netgallery Approved Review**

If I could describe this book in one word I would say she is intoxicating! I couldn't put this book down after the first chapter. Every chapter left me on the edge of my seat.

This is a story of her Piers Corbin a woman taking her life and death into her hands. She will learn that she comes from a world that she never knew but also never left. Her childhood habits once thought as a disorder become her chance at survival. Could her rebirth be quiet and peaceful as she hoped or another nightmare. Lets head into the forest and find out...

The baneful herbs being woven into the story with admirance for what these herbs represented and did for women at a time of need. As well shining a light of what it truly means for a women coming out of a abusive relationship, into a world were they can find themselves again while at the same time becoming a new woman.

As a herbalist that's studying baneful herbs and mushrooms (cant forget them), I couldn't help writing down each one. The relationship between our characters and these baneful beauty as well as each other is empowering. A coven is like a forest both unique and every flowing together as one in this story. They look out for one another not just with each other. But every woman that felt alone and destroyed that they had a witch in their corner.

I feel that this book taught me that a woman is only a threat to those that are weaker then her. A woman is both deadly and sweet to her core, that is a gift we should nuture and express without being forced to be small.

Thanks again to Netgallery, St Martin's Publishing Group, and Ava Morgyn for this ride or die of a book.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley. I tend to stick to audiobooks lately, so I must have requested this ebook by mistake. I don’t recall, but when my request was approved, I let it sit for a while because I was struggling to find the time to read instead of listen to a book. Then, I realized that Ava Morgyn also wrote The Witches of Bone Hill, which was excellent. Suddenly, getting started with this ebook was the top of my list of priorities.

It did not disappoint.

This book was absolutely spectacular. I was hooked from the first page and had a hard time putting this down when pesky things like preparing meals or sleep called.

There is so much mystery set up in the first half of the book. As pieces unravel, new mysteries are introduced. The suspense aspect of this book is very well done. The threads of all these mysteries finally come together to a satisfying conclusion.

There are a lot of elements to this story: magic, a coven, hunting a serial killer and more. However, the heart of this story is Piers (FMC) healing and reclaiming her strength and power after abuse which is always energizing to read about.

i couldn’t really get into this book unfortunately, the writing just wasn’t for me and some of the things written in the book were just not for me. the plot had a lot going on and was hard to follow at times which left me confused. i did not finish it

The Bane Witch follows Piers Corbin, a woman in Charleston who formulates an escape plan from her toxic husband by faking her death. When she's finally able to get away and head north to her aunt's place, Piers finds herself in even more trouble.

This novel is very fitting for women in the present day where we are being empowered to fight for ourselves. I found the main themes to be interesting and engaging, but a bit over the top. It does tie into the magic of why Piers is able to deal with poisonous things so the plotline and character connections are solid. However, I felt the magic system was somewhat forced and the pace of the story was too quick to fully grasp (or to allow our main character to fully grasp) what was going on.

I also was not a big fan of the romance storyline, considering the starting point of the novel. The plot would have been more powerful in my opinion if it didn't occur.

I did like the additional chapters about what happened in Charleston after Piers' death. It felt like the novel was able to come full-circle with that story continuing and wrapping up.

Overall, not a bad start to 2025! I'd recommend this novel to any readers who love strong female characters and some magic. This does have strong, dark themes so be warned!

I loved this book! It has such a unique way of viewing witches, and power, and death. I've read a lot of books with witches and so it's rare to find one that really grabs your attention like this one. It keeps you on your toes with suspense and a few twists and turns. It has some fairly dark descriptions so if you are sensitive to sexual assault this could be a tough read but it also shows a woman taking her power back. I give this book a 4.5 because there were too many witches - a handful would have been fine. Also, it could have used some more heat in the romance area. Overall, fantastic book!

Piers Corbin has always known that she was different. By the age of five Piers ate poisonous berries and killed her first man. Piers is now a married woman with an abusive husband. What she does next no one would ever think she would. Piers eats the poisonous berries again and then jumps off a bridge into the water never to be seen again. When Piers emergaes from the water she is no longer Piers Corbin Davenport but, Acacia Lee. Acacia is now seeking refuge from her past and to start a new life with her Aunt Mertle in Crow Lake, New York. What Acacia finds out about her family will change everything about who she thought she was. This was a great mystery and romance book. The storyline was intriguing when it came to the poisonous plants that grow in the wild and why these women do what they do in order to make the world a better place. I was hooked from the very first page. I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for letting me read an advanced copy of this book.

For as weird and creepy as this book is (witches killing via bodily fluids), I kinda liked it. It was a very engaging read, and I just had to know what would happen next. Big, huge trigger warnings for domestic violence (sexual, physical, psychological) so take care of yourself while reading. Thanks to St. Martin’s for the ARC.

A powerful, well-researched story that draws you in from the start. A compelling and rewarding read from cover to cover

Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC.

This book had my feminine rage side whole heartedly beating. I loved the story and how it doesn’t follow a typical witch story and had its own twist of magic within it.

The FMC Piers is going through it with her husband and has to die just to get away from this hell hole of her marriage because her husband is abusive and is honestly trying to kill her.

This story has a lot of domestic violence cases and lots of survival happening throughout the book, but learning about your own mother’s past really puts things into perspective for Piers and her entering her witch era.

Thank you again.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!!

This book absolutely exceeded my expectations!! It's gritty and dark, it's empowering and political, it's funny - it's a must read for sure.

Piers Davenport has always felt different from those around her. After faking her own death to leave her terribly abusive husband, she comes into her own and embraces her true self in more ways than she can ever imagine.

The premise of this book greatly intrigued me! I loved the idea of a woman tracing her roots to magic and using it to get revenge and rebuild herself after years of abuse and trauma. It isn't a new concept, but this particular brand of witch is indeed new to me. Overall, I did enjoy this book, and I would greatly agree with the tagline that references Practical Magic (I blatantly pictured Stockard Channing as Aunt Myrtle), but Gone Girl this isn't. Piers herself seemed to go hot and cold in her characterization, making really obvious, questionable mistakes and doubting herself (understandable given her circumstances), but then turning around and blowing everyone away with her power and self-assurance I also don't really think the men in this story, with the exception of the primary antagonists, were necessary. Don't get me wrong: hot sheriffs and do-gooder detectives are fine and dandy. There might have been greater resonance, however, had Piers been able to accomplish her goals with just the strength she finds within herself and the family she's found. The thrill of the hunt was exciting, but the resolution was lackluster, anticlimactic. In the end, I think the main idea of this story is what will stick with me rather than its actual execution.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

First I would like to say thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book!

Now, this book was phenomenal. It was difficult to get into the first few chapters, but after that I was hooked. I finished it really quickly and I loved every minute. There were many nights I needed to go to bed but the end of a chapter left me needing to continue.

The plot was fantastic and I LOVED the concept. I’m always in awe about how authors come up with these concepts. It was a little predictable at times, but the plot was so crazy that it didn’t matter if it was predictable because it was still so addicting.

I will absolutely be recommending this to all my friends.
As long as you’re able to handle the trigger warnings I couldn’t recommend this book enough. Please read it!