In Marrow, the author presents groups of apparent midwives and folk healers as covens, providing mostly beneficial herbal combinations but with an air of magic presented. A little like goop, maybe? This book is full of characters who you don't like and root against, as well as those who you sometimes like and sometimes don't but you still root for them. The way pregnancy and motherhood is written is quite convincing and relatable: what mother hasn't at one point or another questioned herself, like Oona, "can I do this? Am I too broken?" I found the first half to be a bit slow and somewhat repetitive, but the second half kicks up the suspense as Oona begins to unravel her mother's mysteries.

This one was a little bit harder for me to get into initially and some parts of the book kind of lost me but the more I read the more I enjoyed it and it ended up being a fun little witchy read. Just fast paced enough to pull my interest back in when I thought I was going to put it down and there were bits that felt really nostalgic and comforting even while being tragic.

This had the peefect vibes for summerween and I think it will also be great for fall/Halloween. Super atmospheric and I thought the writing was beautiful.

I loved the dynamics around mother and daughter relationships as well as the witchy goddess stuff. I also am always down for any camp type setting.

My only real small gripe was that there were times that the story felt like it was dragging on a little, but overall I found this really engaging.

This book was an interesting read, but it didn’t quite match the description—or the genres—it was marketed under. Labeled as horror and fantasy, I found it to be neither. There weren’t any real “dark forces” at play, aside from Oona’s claims of seeing goddesses, which felt more symbolic or psychological than supernatural.

The setting was also a bit confusing. Marrow is an island off the coast of Maine, so the references to Portland are meant to be Portland, Maine. However, a minor character based in San Francisco is mentioned often—even in the final chapters—and that, combined with frequent references to "Portland," made me assume it was Portland, Oregon for most of the book. That disconnect pulled me out of the story several times.

Character-wise, I struggled the most with Oona. She’s supposed to be in her thirties, but her behavior often felt immature and erratic, more like a teenager. I couldn’t really connect with her or find her particularly likable. Her husband, Jacob, was worse—dismissive, manipulative, and frustratingly unwilling to listen. The only characters I truly enjoyed were Lally and Alice, who brought warmth and clarity to a narrative otherwise full of emotionally charged but hard-to-root-for people.

Despite all this, I did appreciate the arc of the story and felt a sense of closure with Oona’s final decisions. The book had its flaws, especially in terms of genre identity and character development, but the overall narrative had enough substance to keep me reading.

Would I recommend it? Maybe—with a few caveats. Don’t go in expecting horror or fantasy. Go in expecting a messy, emotionally driven exploration of identity, relationships, and self-rediscovery—with some confusing side notes on geography.

Incredibly atmospheric psychological thriller that takes place on an island where a fertility cult/coven has taken root. Some beautiful writing and a well-earned emotional climax and betrayal. I'm a sucker for warped mother/daughter stories, and this one delivered, with some light notes of contemporary culture commentary (GOOP-flavored). I found myself really bleeding for these desperate, injured people, no matter what they'd done (or thought they'd done). My only complaint is that the speculative elements are a bit uneven at times. Summoning various goddesses is treated rather literally at times but not exactly shown, but I suppose that goes with the psychological/unreliable narrator component.

Genuinely surprised! This is definitely outside of my scope, but I rushed in not fully digesting the blurb. I’m definitely not a witch fantasy fan, but that is a loose description of fantasy. Somehow the words in the blurb translated to an African spirituality tale in my head.

So….. I read the first chapter and thought, meh. Put the book down and read several other books before coming back to Marrow and picking it back up one afternoon and read it for a few hours. At that point I became invested in the journey of Oona, the protagonist of this witchy thriller and I found myself committed to her journey. What happened? Why? How?

I had all the questions that only turning pages can answer. In my final assessment, though this wasn’t the story I wanted to engage with, it turned out to be a pleasant reading experience. Samantha Browning Shea’s prose is exquisite, easily bringing her characters to life and infusing them with heartfelt emotions as they work through real-felt crossroads. What will one do to conceive a child? How would one feel about cheating that process?? Hmmm. I won’t add any spoilers here.

The lesson for me is age-old; don’t judge a book by its blurb, which of course I didn’t do in this case. But had I read the description thoroughly, I probably would have skipped this title, but in hindsight I’m pleased that I didn’t despite the witchiness.. Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam & Sons for an advanced DRC. Book drops 09.09.25

Marrow had me hooked from the first few chapters—there’s something magnetic about the way Samantha Browning Shea builds atmosphere. The writing is sharp and eerie, like walking through a foggy forest where every branch might whisper a secret. I loved the slow-burn tension and the way the story peeled back layers of its characters like—well, like marrow from bone.

That said, the pacing was a bit of a rollercoaster. Some parts moved like a dream, others dragged just enough to pull me out of the mood. And while the emotional beats hit hard, a few plot twists felt more confusing than compelling.

Thank you so much for this ARC NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons!

Marrow takes place on a foreboding island. A coven conducts fertility ceremonies and helps women fulfill their dreams of motherhood. Oona had been kicked off the island, and out of her mother's coven. Desperate for a child with her husband, she disguises herself and returns to the island. Dark forces are at work on the island, and has little to do with the craft. How will Oona reconcile what she wants with what she discovers?

Each section of Marrow had merits. There were strong female characters, a solid plotline, and a perfect setting. I found myself wanting more development in some sections. The discoveries felt rushed. The foreshadowing was there, but needed another push to shine.

I was lucky enough to win an e-ARC of MARROW by Samantha Browning Shea from a Shelf Awareness/Publisher's Weekly giveaway. Thank you for the early look, and have a safe and happy summer!

Marrow is a dark, atmospheric debut that weaves together themes of motherhood, fertility, grief, and the bonds—and fractures—of womanhood. For the right reader, it will resonate deeply. For others, it may feel distant, lacking something, or even impenetrable.

Set against the haunting backdrop of a secluded island off the coast of Maine, the novel centers on Oona Walker, a woman returning in disguise to Marrow Island fifteen years after being exiled by her mother and the coven she was born into. The plot toggles between Oona’s present-day desperation and the slow unraveling of a traumatic summer that led to her banishment. Along the way, we encounter coven rituals, the cult-like trappings of faux-witchcraft, and the emotional wreckage left by broken friendships, loss, and unmet longing.

This book won’t be for everyone. It deals with infertility, pregnancy loss, complicated mother-daughter dynamics, and deep emotional wounds. If these aren’t experiences you’ve had or closely connected with, the intensity of the narrative may feel alienating or hard to fully grasp. Much of the story unfolds through Oona’s unreliable perspective, which adds psychological depth but also makes it harder to connect to her emotionally.

That said, the strength of Marrow lies in its mood and emotional weight. Browning Shea’s prose is evocative, and her setting—wild, eerie, and intimate—supports the book’s introspective tone. The magic in the story is more symbolic than fantastical, rooted in the rituals of womanhood and the desperation of wanting something just out of reach.

There are moments when the plot feels predictable and others when it drags, and some readers may find the "witchcraft" element underwhelming if they’re expecting traditional fantasy. But taken as a literary exploration of grief, guilt, and womanhood within a Gothic framework, Marrow is stupendous.

In the end, this is less a story about witches than it is about the ache of longing and the sacrifices women make to reclaim their power, identity, and place. A promising, if emotionally heavy, debut.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you first to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me an arc in exchange for my honest review- all thoughts and opinions are my own.


- twists, turns, some I guessed- but was still hooked and loved the journey!
- triggering for some: miscarriages, labor trauma.
- interesting concept- culty, beachy, myths and magic and lore.
- what would you do, to be a mother?

I only wish some parts weren’t *as* long, but overall, I enjoyed it. Would have wanted more on Oonas mother!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Giving it 3.5 stars but rounded down to 3. The story was interesting but very slow for a long time. This read like a YA. The whole relationship with her mother I found very confusing and I’m still not sure what all that was about. I did like some of the other dynamics and the thought of a coven doing great things for women, and some of the twists at the end.

Candles, crystals, herbs, incantations, Mothers, babies. These come together in Marrow, a narrative about a coven of witch wannabees who want to help young women become mothers---or not become mothers. A group of women living on a small island where men are forbidden trying to birth--or adopt--babies.The book is narrated by the daughter of the head midwife or witch.The story slowly builds to an unexpected climax, and a sad but hopeful ending.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Marrow. 3.5 stars but rounded down to 3. As a New England girl, i love to read books that take place locally (in this case, Maine). The local charm was woven into the book. These witches were more cult like fake witches than true fantasy/magic witches. The story overall was good but it dragged way too much. The ending got better but it took awhile to get there. I wanted something more out of it. Not sure what but definitely felt like it was lacking.

the plot is interesting. a coven which can guarantee you have a kid. a protag who was raised there and is coming back. occasionally confusing but in general 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Marrow is an atmospheric, taunt debut suspense novel from new author Samantha Browning Shea. The blurb for the novel drew my interest - witches? Oh yes. An isolated island coven where appearances could be deceiving? Sign me up. Strong themes of femineity, motherhood, sisterhood, and fertility. Those are right up my alley. I'm pleased to say that the sypnosis did not fail me - Samantha Browing Shea's novel makes good on all of these promises.

Oona Walker was once part of Bare Roots coven on Marrow Island, off the coast of Maine. Sure she wasn't a practicing witch yet, as one cannot become such until you have both started your menstrual cycle and had the goddess Persephone appear to you, it really is just a matter of time until she can also call herself a full member of the coven. To both Oona's delight and consternation, her only friend on the island - Daphne - also wants a coveted spot in the coven. A series of events one summer sees Oona losing her best friend, and life on Marrow after her mother, Ursula, head of the coven, banishes Oona from Marrow for her part in the events. Set in the present day, and interspersed with detailed recollections from Oona's past, we see Oona returning to Marrow in disguise fifteen years after her banishment in the desperate hope that the coven's fertility magic can help her finally achieve a successful pregnancy.

Sensitive readers should note that this book contains descriptions of child loss, including miscarriage, infertility and treatment thereof, and childbirth. These things are viewed through the eyes of our protagonist, Oona, who is definitely an unreliable narrator. Oona has a lot of trauma from her past that returning to Marrow seems to exacerbate. As a mother who has also had multiple pregnancy losses and also suffers from infertility, I could definitely relate to thoughts and emotions that Oona has during her stay on Marrow. Even with Oona's biased thoughts and perceptions being given to us, the plot twist of the book was pretty easily deducted beforehand. It didn't stop my enjoyment of the novel, and I was interested in seeing what kind of spin Samantha Browning Shea was planning to put on it. "Marrow" is an enjoyable debut novel that asks the question: 'How much are you willing to sacrifice to be able to realize your greatest desire?'

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons NY publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book.

Shea's debut take on femininity and witchcraft was a lengthy but enjoyable read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

This is a book like no other. Literary agent Samantha Browning Shea takes on patriarchy and feminism in one fell swoop in Marrow, a haunting and mesmerizing tale of power, lineage, and dark magic.

Oona, once cast out from her mother’s secretive coven, returns years later to the isolated island off the coast of Maine—a place where childless women become mothers through ancient rituals. She comes in disguise, determined to claim the island’s mystical power for herself. She longs for motherhood, and she knows the island’s magic will make it possible. But with that transformation comes something more—the power her mother has spent a lifetime wielding.

But not all secrets are meant to be unearthed. Oona’s mother has buried something dark beneath the coven’s rituals, and she will stop at nothing to keep it hidden.

A spellbinding, emotional, and chilling story about motherhood, power, and the weight of secrets, Marrow will stay with you long after you turn the final page. #marrow #samanthabrowningshea #penguingroup #dutton

A much different take on conception and fertility than what I have come across in books. It was interesting to get lost in this story. I think the book will find the correct audience and do well. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.