The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn – Review

Published: March 18, 2025

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Series: N/A

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 379 (Kindle)

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:
Practical Magic meets Gone Girl in Ava Morgyn’s next dark, spellbinding novel about a woman who is more than a witch – she’s a hunter. Piers Corbin has always had an affinity for poisonous things – plants and men. From the pokeweed berries she consumed at age five that led to the accidental death of a stranger, to the husband whose dark proclivities have become… concerning, poison has been at the heart of her story. But when she fakes her own death in an attempt to escape her volatile marriage and goes to stay with her estranged great aunt in the mountains, she realizes her predilection is more than a hunger – it’s a birthright. Piers comes from a long line of poison eaters – Bane Witches – women who ingest deadly plants and use their magic to rid the world of evil men. Piers sets out to earn her place in her family’s gritty but distinguished legacy, all while working at her Aunt Myrtle’s cafe and perpetuating a flirtation with the local, well-meaning sheriff to allay his suspicions on the body count she’s been leaving in her wake. But soon she catches the attention of someone else, a serial killer operating in the area. And that only means one thing – it’s time to feed. In Ava Morgyn’s dark, thrilling novel, The Bane Witch, a very little poison can do a world of good.

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Ya’ll. This book was so much darker than I expected it to be, DESPITE the synopsis mentioning a woman descended from a line of poison eaters and a serial killer. The cover said ‘cozy, witchy with some poisons’ but the pages said ‘serial killers and black widows’. Though it didn’t line up with my initial perception, I actually loved this book for exactly what it was – a story of female triumph over the male predators of the world.

This follows Piers Corbin Davenport, an interior designer who is in the midst of faking her own death to escape her abusive husband. Piers is planning to head to the Finger Lakes region of New York to hide out with her aunt Myrtle, who she met exactly one time as a child. While that seems like a risky move, it’s far safer than sticking around with a man that Piers is sure will kill her in the future. She arrives with her fake name and backstory prepared to start a new life, only to find that the tiny, quaint town is home to its very own serial strangler that targets only women. 

As Piers, now going by the name Acacia, begins to settle into her new life running a café and roadside inn, she’s also busy learning about her heritage as a Bane Witch. Bane witches eat poisons and then unleash those poisons on evil men. The poison eating is risky for those close to them, so most remain single and if they bear a son they typically give up the child so he isn’t accidentally killed. The girls are raised to follow the Bane Witch traditions, as the gift will manifest in each of them eventually. Piers, having been raised by a rogue who thought she could seek out a normal life, has a tough time coming to terms with this, but also finds relief in the fact that all the mental health issues she thought she was medicated for as a child were merely attempts by her mother to suppress her gifts. 

The Bane Witch was a compelling read that kept me guessing throughout and though I predicted how a few plot points would turn out, I was nevertheless completely hooked. Piers was admirable, though on occasion her stubbornness and determination to forge her own path made things more complicated than they should have been. I also enjoyed the complicated romantic relationship she developed with the handsome local sheriff – nothing better than a good guy inadvertently falling for an unexpectedly dangerous woman! I also think the consequences of Piers’ choices were explored well and they didn’t just go away because it was convenient for the plot – she had to deal with them. This might be a surprise favorite for the year and I would highly recommend it, especially if you’re ready for change from all the cozy witchy romances!