A Reader’s Take on The Bane Witch
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When Ava Morgyn sets her spellbinding novel The Bane Witch into motion, readers are transported into a world where Practical Magic meets darkly hypnotic tales of death and secrets. The Bane Witch follows the haunting story of Piers Corbin, whose life changes when she discovers a mysterious connection to a serial killer operating in New York. As a child, Piers survived ingesting deadly plants—pokeweed berries, to be exact—and her near-brush with death sparked a lifelong fascination with poisonous things.
Now living with her enigmatic Aunt Myrtle, who knew far too much about poisons and dark magic, Piers learned to navigate a world where witches, bane witches, and the resurrection of dark forces lurked in the shadows. From volatile marriages to the accidental death that haunts her past, Piers’s journey is filled with Aunt Myrtle’s warnings, whispers of her own death, and a dangerous fascination with evil men and little poisons. Ava Morgyn, who studied English writing, has once again spun a darkly hypnotic story—a spellbinding tale that will leave readers wondering just how far they’d go to protect their secrets, and what kind of magic meets the edge of reason.
Title: The Bane Witch
Author: Ava Morgyn
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Format: eARC
Genre: Witches, Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy
Release Date: March 18, 2025
Pages: 384
Star Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded up)
Spice Rating: 1 chili pepper
Practical Magic but Poison Eaters!
You wouldn’t know this but Practical Magic (like many) is one of my favorite witchy movies. It has an allure that one just can’t pass up. So when I saw That Ava Morgyn was coming out with a book (it releases March 18, 2025) that is a cross between Practical Magic and Gone Girl, it was a no-brainer.
The Bane Witch has great execution in the storytelling though not in the beginning. It is organic yet slightly random and harmonious with a smidgen of unpredictability. Everything you want in a well-told tale. A tale that feels intentional with all of its elements drawing your attention with a sleight of hand. The correlation between Practical Magic, Gone Girl, and The Bane Witch is there. The story lets you luxuriate in the elements of a traditional mystery, building towards the solution you know is coming, but letting the pieces fall where they may. While doing all of that it holds to the unique elements of Practical Magic. Illustrating the importance of family all while stalking a serial killer operating under the guise of night.
“Sussuros del Cielo, she called them-whispers from heaven.”
It’s a story that feels cavernous. Like being lost and found at the same time. Inviting the reader to lose themselves in the depth of the words. There’s a sense of wonder and curiosity as Piers navigates her new life realizing that she is a bane witch and what that means for her. Readers stumble over hidden layers of the plot and developments of the characters that may not have been considered before.
But at the beginning of the story, it isn’t all rainbows and warm chocolate. Because while it is well written I was mildly bored in the first half. It isn’t that too little happens or even too much but there is an off-kilter leaning in an unappetizing way. Books have a precarious balance. A tad too much to the left or right and it could skew the feelings you experience in that half of the book.
“Those who hunt alone often starve.”
I must admit that it took me a while to get to the point of my initial statement of wonder. Because it is true that during the first half of the book, I was bored. I thought that maybe the story wasn’t for me and I should DNF it. It wasn’t until I hit a little over fifty percent of the story that I started to find my groove on the plot line. For some, this may be too late for the buy-in of the story. I am also not usually one who says to stick it out, it gets better (my previous statements hold though overall it’s a meh book).
This middle-of-the-road feeling leaves me torn. Even while writing this review. On one hand, the story has intrigue, giving copious moments of interest to keep you reading. On the other the pacing (at least in the first half) makes the story too slow. Taking a while to get into the flow of the words like warming your car on a frosty morning. It takes just that long for the unleashing to work itself out giving weight and tension to the words. Eventually, the story compels you to keep reading and see how everything plays out. You feel drawn to the killer as if you are hunting him yourself.
“A Master of le jeu sombre, the dark game.”
The words then become burnished and unhindered rippling over in waves. Undulating into the next moment building until it creates a story that punctuates the expressions. As I have mentioned in previous reviews, good books leave you feeling various emotions. The Bane Witch is no different. Beyond the thrilling heart-racing theme is one of sadness. Not just for the women and children they work to save but for the friends and family that they cannot.
The Bane Witch was a solid, middle-of-the-road read for me. It didn’t quite reach the heights of my favorite dark fantasy books, but it had enough intriguing moments to keep me interested. If you’re a fan of atmospheric settings, mysterious magic, and complex family dynamics, there’s definitely something here for you to enjoy. The story has a mix of Practical Magic-style charm with a hint of gothic darkness, and while it wasn’t a perfect fit for my tastes, I think those who love tales of witchcraft laced with poisonous secrets will find it worth checking out.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Bane Witch releases on March 18, 2025. Pre-order a copy from Bookshop.org and help support local bookstores.
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