The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Cordelia Bone's life is falling apart when her estranged sister calls to tell her their great-aunt (who they didn't know) has died and they must go to Connecticut to collect the inheritance. Cordelia thinks is the answer to her problems or at least a light in the very dark tunnel her life has become. But she may find more than she was bargaining for.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

September 2023; Griffin; 978-1250835437
ebook, print (416 pages); fantasy

I wasn't sure what exactly I was going to get with this novel. I was drawn to the family drama and the two sisters searching for answers to their past. I was hoping with "witches" in the title I wasn't picking up a horror novel. While it has all the creepiness of a Gothic novel, it didn't give me nightmares.

I liked Cordelia immediately. My heart went out to her. Her life is crumbling around her and she's not sure how to pick up the pieces. She just wanted to fit in - have a normal suburban life after the rocky childhood of constantly moving around. 

I didn't warm up to her sister Eustace as quickly. We don't get to know as much about her and she takes a backseat to her sister in the story. Even though Eustace is the older sister. I think I would have liked the story to have been equally focused on the sisters. 

I typically prefer a more character-driven story, but this one is all about the plot. And it is a great plot. I like reading fantasy where at least one character is as much on the outside as I am (think Harry Potter being introduced to the magic world). The sisters have no idea about their family history and are just as unsure as the reader as to what is going on.  The story is quite intense at times.

In a story like this, an author has two choices in how to break up the creepy scenes. One option is to use humor and the other option is to use romance. Morgyn chose lust. 

I say lust instead of romance because the relationship didn't feel romantic. I wondered at times if their attraction was the result of a spell rather than a result of free will. The lack of chemistry between the characters might be because this is a plot-driven story instead of a character-driven one. In other words, the "romance" was needed to move the plot forward. 

The book has everything you need for a great Halloween read - creepy characters, a haunted house, unexplained happenings.

Buy The Witches of Bone Hill at Amazon

In case you missed it, you can read MK's review along with 8 other fantasy novels she recommends reading.

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us. Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter today! Or Follow Girl Who Reads with Bloglovin. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.