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Only Spell Deep

A Novel

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Pub Date Mar 17 2026 | Archive Date Mar 31 2026

St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin


Description

Rebecca meets The Craft in this dark, atmospheric novel of one witch rediscovering her power while on the run from another willing to kill her for it.

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Bane Witch!

Judeth Cole has always had certain uncanny abilities. But when she arrived at Solidago, her grandfather’s estate by the sea, she was forced to keep them secret. There she lived a harsh life under his rule and the haunting legacy of her late grandmother, Aurelia. Until the fateful day she ignited a fire with her magic. It was the last time she saw her family alive.

Seventeen years later, she’s living in Seattle as Jude Clark, and failing at life, when she makes a last detour through her favorite bookstore, selecting a book to read as she waits to die. But when she pulls it from the shelf, an invitation to her for a clandestine midnight meeting slips out.

Jude is quickly swept up into a world of secrets and magic, discovering a circle of powerful new companions led by the mysterious, enigmatic Arla. The source of their magic, Arla tells her, is an entity, trapped and bound, that they call The Fathom. But Jude swiftly realizes Arla wants this power all to herself, and that she’s willing to kill for it.

Terrified, Jude turns to Levi, the handsome bookseller who’s seen her at her worst. With his help, she begins a research journey that leads her all the way back to Solidago, the house she swore to never return to. Now, the Fathom threatening to break free and Arla on the hunt, Jude must finally face her past to save her future.

Ava Morgyn's Only Spell Deep is a novel that takes readers on a journey into a dark, glittering world of magic, a place where power should never be caged and misplaced trust can have deadly consequences.

"Only Spell Deep is beautifully written and richly immersive, weaving a gothic atmosphere with supernatural tension in a story about reclaiming one's power in more ways than one and unraveling generational trauma. Morgyn builds a world that feels both mythic and real, where gods walk among us and the most terrifying magic is the kind passed down through blood. This novel cast a lasting spell on me. I was all in." - Katy Foraker, author of Memories, Lies, and Other Binds

"Only Spell Deep is a dark parable of feminine rage and power, blending horror, fantasy, and mythology seamlessly into the streets and hidden places of modern-day Seattle. With gorgeous prose, Ava Morgyn weaves a spell of her own and gives us a courageous heroine to root for." - Alyssa Palombo, author of The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel

Rebecca meets The Craft in this dark, atmospheric novel of one witch rediscovering her power while on the run from another willing to kill her for it.

From the USA Today bestselling author of The...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781250363763
PRICE $19.00 (USD)
PAGES 352

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Average rating from 133 members


Featured Reviews

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I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started reading Only Spell Deep, but I was immediately hooked within the first few pages when I started this book. The story follows Judeth “Jude” Cole, a woman with a complicated past, as she gets pulled back into a magical world she attempted to leave behind as a child when she left Solidago. Jude is flawed and lost when she meets Arla and Levi who play a significant role in her journey to confronting her past and reclaiming her identity. Arla and her circle are mysterious and challenge her to find herself, whereas, Levi is steady and warm bringing balance to her life as she wrestles with her past.

The story deals with heavy themes including familial trauma, grief, and substantial loss, but never felt hopeless or overly dark. The pacing, plot layers and writing style were absolutely perfect. If you like books with strong female characters and magical theming, I highly recommend Only Spell Deep!

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I love Ava Morgyn so much. Her books are like being hugged by a flannel blanket in patchouli scented forest at dusk.

The setting had me googling if these places existed because I wanted to move there. The characters were a mix of feminine rage and fire magic swirled up in the broken heart of an heiress.

The romantic interest? A hot hipster book slinging history nerd? Are you for real! Yes please.

The villain, the magic system, the goddess - all so well done. Without giving anything away- I want to move into Medusa and go trapsing through underground basements.

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Wow!!! Is all I can say about this absolutely outstanding book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope there is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked! This was an outstanding novel from the cover to the last page!

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