I’ll admit, I’m guilty of picking books based on their covers and the vibes alone. A few months ago, I started seeing Ava Morgyn on TikTok promoting The Bane Witch. At that point, I didn’t know much about the book itself, but the cover was absolutely stunning, and there was a mushroom-themed giveaway (which I regret not entering, it looked amazing). As she shared more about the book, it immediately made its way to my TBR list. Even after I got approved for the eARC, I still didn’t know exactly what I was in for—but honestly, I think that was the perfect headspace to dive into this story.

The Bane Witch is described as Gone Girl meets Practical Magic, and I’d also throw in a dash of Belladonna and American Horror Story: Coven (I kept imagining Myrtle’s last words: “BALENCIAGA!!”). From the very first page, I was hooked. The suspense kept me on my toes, and the characters pulled me in. I loved the way Morgyn layered in so many elements—suspense, found family, a little romance, and even some practical tips on how to poison someone (seriously, there’s something for everyone here).

If I had one minor nitpick, it’s that Morgyn gave all the witches floral names, which felt a bit cheesy at times. But, she pokes fun at herself in the book when another character comments on how strange American witches are with their naming conventions, which was a nice touch.

This was such a fast, fun read, and I really appreciated how interactive the author is with her readers on social media. Even before I followed her or received the ARC, she was always quick to respond to comments, which I think is a lovely, down-to-earth trait. I’m definitely excited to read more from Ava Morgyn in the future.

Big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin for the advanced eARC of The Bane Witch!

Piers Corbin has always had a knack for poison. Desperate to escape her volatile marriage, she fakes her own death and hides out with her estranged great aunt. But she quickly learns that her affinity for poison isn't just a quirk. She comes from a long line of Bane Witches, women who ingest deadly plants and use their magic to rid the world of evil men. Embracing her gift, she works at her Aunt Myrtle's cafe and tries to stay under the radar. However, things get even more intense when a local serial killer takes an interest in her and Piers knows it's time to use her skills.

I really enjoyed this book and was captivated by its unique magic. The strong female presence, using their gifts to neutralize problematic males, added an element of female empowerment that I loved.

I was quickly engaged by the story, and Piers made for a compelling and sympathetic lead. The narrative moved swiftly, with plenty of intriguing elements, including Piers's relationship with the sheriff, to keep my interest. The book was suspenseful and intense at times, and I loved the psychological aspects woven into the story. The author does an excellent job explaining Bane Witches and the history behind their magic, making the story even more immersive.

Thank you, Net Galley and St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

3.75/5 <3
WOW this book was dark, in a good way. As a woman myself, I felt so so seen by the strong female themes here: female empowerment and rage. The nasty bits were not sugarcoated. It is dark. The writing could’ve been better in my opinion, but I have never written something as lengthy as this, and I know how hard writing is. Overall, good book.

What an opportune time for a book about witches that target the unsavory men of the world! This book follows Piers as she flees an abusive husband, only to return to her roots and find that she had the answer to her problem inside her the whole time.

Are you unsatisfied and angry with the current state of the US as far as women and their bodies are concerned? This might be the perfect revenge novel for you. A story about a woman going in search of her lost family, and discovering their magical secret might not be a new idea, but Ava Morgyn flips it around in a new way. This family has a secret that’s just a little bit cooler than your normal magic.

I found the women of the Venery so interesting, I hope there is more to come concerning this family. There are many stories hiding in this family of women and we need to read them! The book ended in a way that made me think it could be a possibility, so I will just keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks so much to Ave Morgyn, St Martin’s Griffin/St Martin’s Press for the advance copy, I loved it!

I really really enjoyed The Bane Witch. It was a thrilling ride from start to finish. The writing built a strong sense of urgency and appropriately reflected the story's themes. I liked the magical element, which will appeal to fantasy fans but I don't think will turn off any readers who are averse to the genre. Primarily a thriller with a feminist, magical twist, I was hooked. The ending/reveal didn't play out exactly how I wanted it to in my head but it was still satisfying and I was guessing the whole time.

Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A perfect witchy thriller for the fall season! Our main character peers enjoys eating, pokeweed berries, all her life. When she was a child, a man died after she ate them. As an adult, Pierce fakes her death to get away from an abusive husband. She goes to her Aunt Myrtle’s home. She hasn’t seen her in years after Myrtle had a falling out with her mother when she was a child. She learned she comes from a long line of bane witches, who can keep poison in their bodies and use them on bad men. She has to deal with her ex-husband, who knows she is alive, a serial killer who is drawn to her, and a sheriff who is investigating the poisoned men.

I really enjoyed this one. It is a unique story that captured my attention and didn’t let go. It has a little bit of romance, but not much. I love the premise of women who stand up against bad men. Highly recommend.

This novel is full of feminine rage and revenge, wrapped up with self-discovery and magic. In this story we follow Piers Corbin, a woman who has always had an affinity for poisonous things, as she flees an abusive marriage. She starts over with a distant aunt in upstate New York, and learns more about the family she was born into and what that means for her. I loved the creepy woodsy setting, and the avenging feminist vibes. Overall this is a good, darker, witchy read and the revenge aspect was perfect for my mood.

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC and for @maryreadsandmakes for putting it on my radar with her spoopy guide.

Don’t be fooled by the charming, cottage-core cover—The Bane Witch is anything but whimsical. Beneath its cozy aesthetic lies a gripping and unapologetically dark story that blends thriller, mystery, and magical realism into an intense exploration of abuse, death, and grief. Think Gone Girl meets Dexter, with a dash of magic to spice things up.

The story centers around Piers, a woman who fakes her own suicide to escape her abusive husband and rebuilds her life with her estranged Aunt Myrtle. As she uncovers her family’s dark and deadly legacy, she finds herself drawn into a twisted tale of feminine rage and vigilante justice. Witches who wield poisonous plants to take down abusive men? It’s as compelling as it sounds—dark, twisted, and powerfully satisfying.

The worldbuilding is rich and immersive. The magical realism, grounded in a modern setting, strikes a nice balance for readers who like their fantasy subtle yet impactful. The magic system is fresh and inventive. The balance between thriller, mystery, and magical realism worked perfectly.

That said, there were a few things that didn’t quite work for me. While Piers’ journey is undeniably gripping, her childish tendencies at times made her a frustrating protagonist. The romance subplot also felt underdeveloped, lacking the emotional depth to make it truly compelling. And while the story’s resolution is satisfying, I felt it wrapped up a little too perfectly for my taste.

Despite these minor issues, The Bane Witch is a beautifully written and potent tale of justice and empowerment. Its unique blend of dark themes, inventive magic, and feminist undertones makes it a standout for readers who enjoy thrillers with a touch of the supernatural.

4.5 stars

Don’t let the cutsie cottage-core cover fool you!! This was a dark magical mystery that had my heart PUMPING!

I still can’t get over how this story was behind that cover. I’m SO glad I went into this book blind bc I don’t think I would’ve picked it up had I known what it was about. I loved it though!

The lore behind how the bane witches got their magic was fascinating along with how the venery operated. I think Piers made some VERY questionable decisions that frustrated me, but the feminine rage and justice that ensued was so satisfying!

I do think it would have been way cooler if the Strangler was who I wanted it to be. The climax felt…anticlimactic? It happened 93% in, so there wasn’t as much detail in the climax as there was build up to it. I wish it had been fleshed out just a littleeee bit more.

Ultimately it was such a good read with amazing writing! .It’s perfect if you want magic threaded into a thriller!

I was lucky enough to get an Arc through NetGalley and let me tell you….. this book is to die for.

This, from the moment i began reading it, was tantalizing, thrilling, exciting, and i finished reading it within one day—that’s how hooked i was. the sweet taste of feminine rage and taking justice into our hands (especially at such a time in the US) was divine. i love the way the author wrote the prose, world built, and tied everything together.

at so many points in this story i was on the edge of my seat, excited and scared and spellbound.

gone girl + poison + small mountainside town + magic…. literally what more could you ask for?

if you are considering even for a moment to read it, YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD. i will be purchasing a physical copy once released and i can’t wait to read more by this author going forward.

If you are looking for a heart-pounding thrill of a novel, look no further than Ava Morgyn’s The Bane Witch! Pitched as a Practical Magic meets Gone Girl narrative, Morgyn’s book will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they follow Piers Corbin, a young woman with a mysterious past, as she escapes her abusive husband and discovers a family she has never known.

Piers, who rebrands herself as Acacia Lee to hide from her husband, flees to a great-aunt who lives deep in the Adirondack Mountains. It is here that she learns she is from a long line of Bane Witches, women who stretch all the way back to 13th Century France. Bane Witches have curious cravings for poisonous plants, and although they have a natural resistance to the toxicity, they can pass its harm along to deserving men who are called by their unique allure. The family’s gifts are a burden, turning the women into powerful avengers, defenders, and protectors who prevent violent men from committing their crimes and collect payment for their past deeds. Although Piers resists the call of her blood, she soon learns that the burden of the Bane Witches carries incredible power, and in her family she finds the strength and love that eluded her in her isolated childhood.

“I planned my death the way I design a room,” Piers, an interior designer, reveals in the novel’s opening line, explaining that a well-designed room and a well-designed death both feel accidental but never hapless. In The Bane Witch, Ava Morgyn proves that a well-designed book is the same, bringing her reader on an exciting and unpredictable journey while masterfully weaving several threads of her plot together. In addition to Piers’ discovery of her true nature and a hometown police officer’s hunt to investigate her mysterious disappearance, there is a serial killer on the loose, a found family to embrace, and a steamy romance with a mountain sheriff who is investigating a string of just poisonings caused by Piers and her aunt. Beneath the thrill of the plot and the lush descriptions of the settings and the poisonous plants that grow within them is an empowering tale of feminine revenge against the crimes of the past, present, and future. The Bane Witch is the perfect read for those looking for an exciting but thought-provoking commentary on life, love, and the dark magic that provides justice. I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

This book was an attention grabber from the start. As a lover of gone girl, this book helped me relive the experience again!

Piers might have jumped to escape domestic abuse but my girlie Acacia, Acacia puts men down no remose. Get in witches we're going to eat poison and hunt bad boys 😎

Definitely had to read some bits with closed eyes but once we got to the protection of Aunt Myrtle and Bart better days. Great story about saving oneself and the importance of strong women.
(No dogs were harmed)

4.5 stars!

I loved this one! Ava Morgyn has a new fan. I read this right after the election, and it was the perfect moody witchy read to validate my frustrations.

Piers escapes the violent hands of her husband, and flees to live with her long-lost aunt in the backwoods. Along the way, she realizes that she has some unexpected power and accidentally kills a few bad men. Her aunt Myrtle reveals that she is a bane witch, meaning that she can kill people with her bodily fluids after ingesting poisonous plants. Meanwhile, Piers and the other witches are protected from the harmful effects of the plants. Piers is met with an ultimatum: become a part of the witches' venery, or be killed.

I am a fantasy-lite reader, and this had the perfect level of magic for my taste! The magical elements felt almost believable, and I loved how the story began as a thriller and had some romance as well. I was hooked from the beginning, and had to know if the Saranac Strangler and horrible husband Henry would get their punishment from Piers. Highly recommend this book, publishing in March 2025!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book had me in a vice. With it's thrilling scenes and magical prose this a compelling story of female rage. The opening chapter was brilliant comparing planning the perfect death was the perfect room and from there I was hooked. Piers was a fine character but I loved Myrtle. I would happily take a sequel to this book or a spin off with one of the other covens.

This is not my usual read, but I enjoyed it so much! It was a perfect fall read. The e-book provided by the publisher and NetGalley did not have trigger warnings, but I hope they include it. I loved the world-building and character development. The writing was very descriptive.

I needed time to process my thoughts after finishing this book. I loved it so much that I doubt my words can fully do it justice—but I’ll give it a try.

This novel delivered everything my soul was craving: magic in the modern world, a gripping revenge thriller, and an exploration of feminine rage and empowerment. A close friend and I often discuss how stories about women’s empowerment can sometimes unfairly diminish the good men who do exist. This book strikes the perfect balance, celebrating the good guys while utterly dismantling the bad ones.

At the heart of the story is Piers Corbin, a woman on a journey of self-discovery. After fleeing a violent marriage, she starts over with a distant aunt in Upstate New York. Piers, who has always been drawn to poisonous things, begins to uncover what that affinity means—its connection to her family and to a shadowy magical realm lurking beneath society’s surface.

With its eerie forests, sinister fungi, and dark witchy vibes, this book is a must-read for fans of thrillers, mysteries, and magical realism.

This book quickly became one of my favorite reads of the year. The concept alone had me intrigued from the start, but the writing style is so engaging that once I started I couldn’t put this down.

The main character, Piers, is strong but flawed, and very relatable despite the fantastical circumstances she ends up in. The way the witchcraft in this story is interwoven with feminine strength and the ability to take back a sense of power against abusers is absolutely masterful. I want to recommend this to every woman I know.

I enjoyed the concept of this book so much. As a woman, it's nice to momentarily live in a world where men actually get punished for their insidious deeds. I would be a Bane Witch at the drop of a hat if I could, so I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

There were a few misgivings for me, though. Piers had incredibly childish moments throughout the book. There were points when I wanted to knock some sense into her head, especially when she acted like she knew what she was doing better than everyone else. Also, while I wouldn't call the love story here "instalove," there wasn't any depth to it. They just suddenly loved each other after a few nights of needing to be together. Lastly, the ending wrapped up too tidly. What happened with Henry? How did she get away with all of those murders? I assume Regis must be covering for her for some of them, but Henry?

All in all, it was a fun book. I zoomed through it and would read a continuance if the author ever decided to keep the story going.

The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn is a dark thriller, fantasy book about witches. The story follows the main character, Piers, who fakes her own death to frame her abusive husband in South Carolina and heads to New York to find her aunt Myrtle, where she learns she comes from a long line of witches who eat poisons, called Bane Witches. Bane witches are different in that they only target men who have committed atrocious acts against women. Something about their magic helps lure these men to them and their need to eat poison becomes overwhelming the closer their “marks” get. Piers needs to learn about her magic fast as a serial killer is closing in and he’s just her type.

I was hooked on this book from the very first page. The narration was excellent and the story was captivating. I felt compelled to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. This story is mostly told from Pier’s perspective and occasionally we get the perspective of Emil, an investigator in South Carlina, which helps bring the story along. I do feel as though there should have been another two chapters from Emil. On his way to find her in NY and towards the end of the book before Azalea comes. Without it, it seems his part story is incomplete. Pier’s character goes through a very satisfying development but the final “showdown” does seem to happen to fast.. a bit of an abrupt end there but it didn’t take away from the lure of the story.

I really enjoyed reading this book and will definitely be recommending this book to others. This book is classified as fantasy but the magic system in this book isn’t too outwardly and is based on real life poisons so its easy to comprehend.