THE BANE WITCH, Ava Morgyn

Female rage but make it witch.

I randomly found this book on NetGalley and was immediately drawn to the synopsis: Gone Girl x Practical Magic.

The best way to describe my experience reading this book was as if I could feel Piers’ power and self actualization grow from a slow slimmer to a powerful, rolling boil. In a metaphorical cauldron set in modern day.

While there is a bit of romance and found family, you’re really getting a badass love letter from Piers to Peirs. You see her at her
smallest, most vulnerable self to a figure who stands on her own and paves her own journey. You see her run from fear to becoming something to fear.

If you’re looking for a book with a truly unique take on magic & witchery, a woman coming into her own, and suspense this is for you.

Big thank you for St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!

Tw: sexual assault, death
Release date: March 18, 2025

"The Bane Witch" by Ava Morgyn is a captivating read that kept me on the edge of my seat. The plot unfolds with a thrilling hunt that draws you into a world of magic and intrigue. Morgyn's writing is immersive, and her characters are well-developed, making it hard to put down. A solid four stars!

Cue Taylor Swift’s Vigilante Shit because Ava Morgyn has done it again! The Witches of Bone Hill was one of my favorite books of last year and this one was just as perfect! I legit couldn't stop thinking about this book and how perfect it was for at least a week after reading it.

What I liked: ALL OF IT! Seriously though, this was such a cool take on a witch story. I loved the whole concept! The setting was fantastic and I could perfectly picture the cabin and diner in my mind. The characters really made it though. I felt so invested because of their stories. I really hope we get more stories about these incredible women!

What I didn’t like: *those* deaths. They hurt me too! Side note, make sure you read the TWs before this one. There is a common theme centered around DV and SA and it can get heavy. (Don’t worry, Bart the dog doesn’t die)

Read if you like: Vigilante femme fatale, a different type of witch story, and characters who come alive on the page.
Would I recommend?: yes, yes, hell yes!

Star rating: 5 stars

Ava Morgyn’s The Bane Witch is a wickedly enchanting blend of dark fantasy, suspense, and revenge. From the first page, you’re hooked by Piers Corbin’s eerie connection to poison and the haunting choices that define her story.

When Piers escapes her toxic marriage (quite literally) and discovers her birthright as a Bane Witch, things spiral deliciously out of control. Morgyn creates a rich world where poisonous plants, witchcraft, and small-town secrets brew into a perfect storm. Watching Piers navigate family legacies, her flirtation with the sheriff, and her pursuit of justice against evil men is both thrilling and empowering. But it’s the looming presence of a serial killer that brings the real tension—will Piers be predator or prey?

This book was incredible! A thriller with witches, romance and lots of suspense! The first couple chapters were hard to read for some reason, maybe it was just me getting used to the authors writing style. I looked forward to sitting down and getting to indulge in a few chapters and enjoyed this one so so much! I loved all the characters and the ending kinda has me hoping for another book? Maybe! Fingers crossed.

I really enjoyed this book, it was so good! Very atmospheric and cozy, a perfect read for those chilly autumn nights. It combines magic and fantasy with elements of a crime thriller in a way that makes for a very gripping read. I especially loved the fact that the author presented such a new and interesting concept of an old familiar favorite topic of witches, by using fungi and plants as a source of their magic/powers. The way that the author writes is very beautiful as well.

I loved the main characters of this book, however, I felt like around the halfway point, some of the characters did and said things that I felt were not fitting with their personality traits leading up to that point. The ending shocked me and I thought that I had predicted what was going to happen and it went a completely different route than I was expecting and I was satisfied with it. At the same time, I did feel like it was slightly anticlimactic because the encounters that the entire book led up to felt rushed and over with quickly. I would have liked to see a little bit more of an explanation or backstory.

Overall, I loved the book and it was the first book that I have read by this author and I look forward to reading her other novels as well!

The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn was a 5/5 star read for me!

I thought the writing was incredibly well done and did a great job of adding atmosphere to a book about a woman named Piers Corbin who has always been drawn to poison—both in plants and dangerous relationships.

After faking her death to escape a violent marriage, Piers moves to the mountains to live with her estranged great-aunt. There, Piers discovers her legacy as a Bane Witch: a woman who can consume deadly plants and eliminate evil men. As she embraces her dark inheritance, working at her aunt’s café and toying with a local sheriff’s interest, she catches the attention of a nearby serial killer. With her past and present closing in, Piers must confront her own nature and the killer before it’s too late.

​This book was a great moody rumination with feminist overtones that didn't feel heavy-handed. Instead, this added to the empowerment of what being a witch is about, which we have learned about from other tales and folklore. The author left me at the edge of my seat enough to keep me turning the pages while still maintaining an atmospheric tale that centered on a unique form of magic.

​I would recommend this to any reader in my life who loves thrillers, mystery, and fantasy.

A pleasantly surprising read with more depth than expected, The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn delivers a powerful story with dark themes that feel real and satisfying. The story follows Piers, part of a legacy of bane witches – women who use poison to ensure justice is served to the men who deserve it most. Through a balance of vengeance and resilience, Morgyn crafts a world where abusive men face their consequences, a cathartic fantasy that resonates with many readers.

The themes here are heavy, touching on abuse and the hardships women face, but it’s empowering to see strong female characters owning their power and place. My only wish is that the cover did this story justice, as it certainly deserves more. I recommend The Bane Witch to readers looking for stories about strong women standing up and making their mark.

3.5 Stars

I wasn’t sure what to expect when it was compared to Gone Girl given the rest of the premise - Witches who can utilize poison plants to unalive evil men. I looooved Gone Girl so I had to give it a shot. After reading it I do agree that it had *some* Gone Girl vibes!

As I started reading I got quite worried I wouldn’t like it. The first handful of chapters feel like they’re trying too hard - as though someone just discovered a thesaurus. It made it difficult to read and to be interested in the plot. After 4 or so chapters the writing style improved and I was sucked back in.

There was some minor romance but it felt unnecessary.

Sections of mystery and intrigue with just enough sprinkling of information to keep me reading. However, it was kind of odd to go between the detectives and Henry, in what almost feels like a psychological thriller, to the almost fantasy like witchcraft of Piers, the main character. At times it felt like I was reading two separate books in one or as though there were two different authors writing each section. The way the two chunks of story came together at the end didn’t meld as well as I was hoping they would.

Everything was wrapped up nicely and overall I had a good time with it!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC!

Really interesting story about a girl who craves poisonous plants. I mean to eat them. She has gotten herself into an abusive marriage and decides that the only way out is to fake her own death and travel across country to find an aunt that she has only met a few times and that she really knows nothing about. Once there she discovers that she is from a long line of poison eaters (Bane Witches) and struggles to find her own place in the family and what she should/could do with the powers that eating poisonous plants gives her. All I can say is I really enjoyed this book and I want to be a Bane Witch when I grow up.

Ava Morgyn's The Bane Witch blends dark magic with a gripping narrative, featuring Piers Corbin, a woman with a complicated legacy tied to poison. After faking her own death to escape an abusive marriage, Piers discovers she comes from a line of Bane Witches, women who use their unique abilities to rid the world of evil men. The story is rich with themes of empowerment and vengeance, making it a compelling read for the spooky season.

Morgyn’s writing is lush, filled with vivid imagery, though some may find the prose a bit over-the-top at times. The pacing can feel uneven, particularly towards the end, but the character dynamics—especially between Piers and her great aunt Myrtle—are engaging. This witchy tale is perfect for those who enjoy stories about strong women taking charge and a dash of romance. Overall, it’s a captivating read that’s definitely worth checking out.

The Bane Witch was a dark, witchy read perfect for the fall season (even though it doesn’t come out until March). I don’t think the comparison of Practical Magic meets Gone Girl is very accurate though. I get the Practical Magic comparison, but Gone Girl makes you think it’s going to be twisty, which it’s not.

Piers is a Bane Witch who ingests poisons. She then uses her poisonous body to kill bad men. At the start of the book she doesn’t know about her abilities and fakes her death to escape her abusive husband. She goes to family in a small town under a new identity where she discovers her abilities.

This book has very flowery writing. Every page is filled with similes and metaphors. I didn’t bother me, but I thought it was worth mentioning. There is also a side romance, but it doesn’t overtake the plot.

If you’re looking for a witchy book with strong women taking down bad men and a pinch of romance, this is the book for you.

This was an intense book about a women discovering an unknown power. Lots of domestic violence and abuse against women, but it’s shows women striving to take back their power. It was good, but heavy!

Wow, this was the perfect book for the end of October... it was just the right combination of spooky and spellbinding, and I loved the characters and the development that went into them

A huge thanks goes to NetGalley and St, Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A perfect witchy read for fall. This was griping from the get-go and kept the pace. The only reason I am stopping at 4 stars is personal preference but I can certainly think of a few people off the top of my head who will love it.

Ava Morgan has outdone herself with this mysterious tale of a woman desperate to leave her abusive husband while coming to terms with her own undeniable cravings. This was a page turner for me from start to finish. Morgan deftly built tension as Piers ran for her life and accepted her destiny.
The romantic chemistry between Piers and Regis was just an added bonus. Great, fast-paced, spooky read! 4.5⭐️ (rounded up)

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I’ve never wanted a magic power so badly as I did this one.

When planning your own death you need to be perfect and for Piers she has no choice but to plan down to the tiniest of detail otherwise her abusive husband will fulfill his promise to end her life , but upon reconnecting with her great Aunt she finds that some of her more peculiar quirks are her greatest assets to stay ahead of the monsters.

This is such a unique book and I loved every single second of it!

Trigger warning we deal with heavy themes including domestic violence, rape and murder and I understand very well how hard some of those can be to read least of all experience so please be mindful of the warnings before proceeding with your read.

I can’t talk this book up enough it very much reads like Gone Girl with a “good for her” attitude as we move through the human aspects of the story. This was paired perfectly with the witch element as we learn more about this unique group of women who have talents I can’t help but envy as there is a lot of things in this world that leave a bad taste in my mouth and to use that to your advantage would be the sweetest of victories.

Our characters were fantastic and I loved the little pieces we got of everyone which felt like we spent so much more time with them all than we actually did and made you care for or despise them in equal value so each strong hit in the plot really left it’s mark.

I have nothing but good things to say about this book and I look forward to adding more from this author to my shelves.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

A dark, spooky, witchy novel perfect for cold October nights! Piers is a bane witch who runs away from her abusive husband and discovers a new superpower. The author loves VERY over-the-top, sometimes snarkable similes but this only occasionally took me out of the story to roll my eyes. Overall, a very enjoyable spooky season mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

3.5 Stars

The Bane Witch is a captivating escape that skillfully blends dark magic with a thrilling narrative. As a delightful shift from my recent Dark Romance binge, this novel introduces us to Piers Corbin, a woman navigating her complicated legacy of poison and vengeance.

Morgyn's storytelling draws you into a world where Piers’s affinity for deadly plants becomes both a curse and a powerful tool in her quest for freedom from her toxic marriage. The mix of humor, suspense, and a dash of witchcraft creates an intriguing atmosphere that kept me engaged. The interactions between Piers, her eccentric great aunt, and the earnest sheriff add layers of charm and tension to the story.

While the plot occasionally veers into predictability, the unique premise and strong character development make up for it. If you’re looking for a fun read that combines a bit of magic with a lot of dark intrigue, The Bane Witch is definitely worth a spell in your reading lineup

Spellbinding... that's exactly what this book was. I loved everything about it except the end (well the last page when you turn it and the next one is blank) urg give me more