Thank you Cursed Dragon ship publishing, Independent book publishing and NetGalley for this ARC of Root and Bone by Jessica Raney.

I liked this story of two sisters who fall into the middle of a murder mystery in a sleepy town. With a bit of paranormal mystery, dark romance , witchy vibes, magic and a family saga in the middle of it all.

It felt like the story was a bit rushed at times but I like it nevertheless

I have mixed feelings about this book.

On the one hand I loved it everything this book offered up. The magic, the paranormal, the light dusting of a forbidden romance.
On the other hand I felt like it could have been more. I wanted more character building, I wanted more suspense, I want to have more time with Granny Kay! I just felt like I wanted more. And that leaves room for a sequel, now don't it?

Overall the writing is excellent. I feel like time jumps, especially the larger ones need to be made a bit more apparent, but I still felt like they worked well in the construction of the story.

I really enjoyed the main characters and all the side characters felt well thought out and carefully crafted. I do wish that the main characters flaws and internal turmoil wad a bit more explored and expanded upon.

My only gripe is that I feel the story moves too quickly. That can be a double edged sword, I know, but it just felt like events were really close together and it didn't leave much room for you to process them before something else was happening. That just leads me back to my feelings of wanting more story.

In the end, I liked this story very much and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a pretty quick, cosy-ish thriller read.

4.5/5 👻

Sister witches Leona & Jewel get up to alsorts in this story.
There are murders in town & obviously they get caught up. This is a crime book but cute and magical. It does have a couple of dark turns with the murders and what happens.
Enjoyed it and feel the characters will continue to grow if we get more.

Im always down for witchy reads so this book was right up my street. Sisters leona and jewel are “granny women” better known as witches, each with their own gifts, one of leonas is seeing and being able to talk to ghosts, so when a girl goes missing she uses her gift to reach out and see if she can make contact. This quickly turns from a missing person issue into two brutal murders with more likely to come, worse yet, the ghosts of the brutally murderer are wrong, angry and set on attacking leona. It’s not long until werewolves, ghouls and vampires pop up and leona must fight for her family while resisting the voice inside her baiting her to use dark magic.

I loved reading this book. It felt like I was reading a Supernatural episode and just loved it. It is just the perfect fall read and was easy to get into and enjoy. I read this as an ebook and will be getting a physical copy once it is released

Thanks to @curseddragonship for making the ARC of 'Root and Bone' by Jessica Raney available on @netgalley

'Root and Bone' is a contemporary fantasy/horror story, focusing on two sisters, Leona Monroe and Jewel Spencer, whose magic allows them to see what's going on below the surface of their Appalachian home town. When a local woman is brutally murdered, and her ghost appears with murderous intent, the sisters are drawn into the search for her killer - and find themselves coming up against a series of increasingly dangerous foes along the way.

While I wouldn't say that Root and Bone is groundbreaking, I do think it's a solid new addition to this subgenre. The dynamic between Leona and Jewel is well-established, as are their relationships with Leona's ghost companion, Cale. They work well as a trio who are largely situated in contrast to the other characters around them.

Unfortunately, things get a bit messier once you start moving beyond the three main characters. You find yourself immediately dropped into a world where there are supernatural elements present, but the parameters of this world - and its interaction with the non-magical world - are never clearly established. This, combined with the fact that it's never quite made clear what time period the story is situated in (it seems to be the 1950s or 60s, maybe?), made it feel like, as a reader, I was always slightly off-kilter. I hope this is something that later books in the series can address.

Overall, despite some fuzziness in the details of world, I did enjoy the book more than not. I think there's a lot of potential here, if some of the issues with this book can be addressed in the sequels. I'd recommend giving it a go, and will be keeping an eye out for the next instalment in the series.

CWs: mild gore, domestic violence, misogyny, violence

Rating: 3.5

'Root and Bone' will be available for purchase from the 14th of May

Thank you to Netgalley the Publisher, of Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing, LLC, and the author Jessica Raney for providing and allowing me to review this book. Which, I'm giving my honest and sincere review.

I found myself captivated not only by the enchanting tale within its pages but also by the beauty of its cover. Adorned with intricate elements that hinted at the magic and mystery awaiting within, the cover served as an enticing invitation into the world of Leona and Jewel, two sisters with extraordinary powers passed down through generations. Living in the serene Appalachian town of Ames, where gossip flowed as freely as the nearby streams, I found myself drawn into a tale of mystery and magic.

As descendants of Granny Women, Leona, and Jewel possessed abilities that set them apart from their neighbors. Their connection to the supernatural realm granted them insight into a chilling murder that shook our community to its core, revealing layers of darkness hidden beneath the surface.

With each page turned, I journeyed alongside the sisters as they delved deeper into the mystery, encountering adversaries wielding malevolent magic. These sinister forces, coupled with their internal conflicts, posed a formidable challenge to their quest for justice and peace.

Throughout their journey, the sisters leaned on the wisdom of Granny Kay, a revered mentor, and found solace in the guidance of friendly spirits. Yet, it was their bond as sisters that proved to be their most potent weapon against the encroaching darkness. However, their insecurities and doubts threatened to undermine their efforts, risking not only their own lives but also the safety of our beloved town.

"Root and Bone" intricately woven together themes of familial loyalty, the struggle between light and dark, and the resilience of the human spirit. Jessica Raney's vivid prose transported me into a world where magic and mystery intersected, captivating me with each twist and turn of the narrative.

As the first installment in the Spencer Sisters series, "Root and Bone" set the stage for an epic saga filled with intrigue, danger, and the enduring power of sisterhood. I eagerly anticipate the next chapter in Leona and Jewel's extraordinary journey.

I made it to 13% before I had to DNF. I was not expecting it to be as dark as it was. I also was not connecting with any of the characters. ( thought I did like Cale a little.) The first 4 chapter just dragged for me and I just couldn't get into the book.
Love the thr cover though. It's a really eye-catching cover.

This was different, fast paced and it grabs you from the start! I feel like the description of the book could definitely be better, I dont think it really quite "gets you there" as far as the magic and situation..The book itself, chefs kiss 100%! maybe consider revamping the description so it hits the target audience better.

Woah! This was soo good! For fans of Criminal Minds and Practical Magic, this is the book for you. Leona and Jewel Spencer are two witches who live and work in the same small town. Leona can see and talk to ghosts and Jewel can whip up curses and spells. When a girl goes missing and the sherif asks for their help, the sisters use their talents to find her. This book is gory, funny, and mysterious. There is a little romance but not a lot. My only complaint about this book other than one or two plot holes was the accents. The town in in Ames, Iowa but the accents written in are wildly all over the place. I have friends from Ames and I know they sound nothing like this 50s or not. It definitely threw me off and made me think the book was set in Louisiana and not Iowa. Otherwise this book was a great fast mystery perfect for a magic lover!

Rating: 4/5
I received eARC for my honest opinion.

This book follows two sisters, who are witches and they both are completely different with the way that they use and see magic. You will see them with their everyday lives, and how they help out their little Appalachian town. You will go with the sister as they try to figure out a brutal murder, that ends up becoming 3 brutal murders. You will see magic, supernatural creatures, and get to watch the sisters grow and learn more about themselves. It is set in the 1950’s, so you will see a lot of references about the war but while reading the book you will just have a view of how everything was done in the 50’s.

I liked the plot of this book; I found the paranormal aspects of this book to be well done and interesting how the author would introduce new characters that are supernatural to you. I liked the magic system and found it to be what I would expect from herbs and learning to channel magic. I did at times find that there were a few slower parts of the book but once you get past that it does pick up and it does not stop until the end. I found the characters to be interesting.

I don’t know if I can say that I was able to connect with the main characters that well, mainly Jewel I found an instant connection with her, but with Leona I had a harder time with. Leona is from an era that didn’t really treat women that well. She is stuck in a loveless, abusive marriage too and drunk who doesn’t care if he beats her or their child. Leona’s daughter is cute, but at the same time she has some behavioral issues but that is understandable when you see the life that she is living. Leona does everything, she works two jobs to support her family and she does a little magical spell for extra money. Jewel is married to someone who she doesn’t love and wouldn’t mind if he passed away already. She has even thought about helping him along from time to time, but she is doing a little better than her sister. I loved that they had different views on magic and how to use it, I don’t think one of them is right but it’s all about the intent when using it. I found the character development to be well done and it was nice to see Leona at the end of the book.

I want to NetGalley and Cursed Dragon Pub for the opportunity to review this book.

Thank you to Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing, LLC & NetGalley for this ARC of Root and Bone in return for my honest review.

This book follows the adventures of two witchy sisters, Leona and Jewel, who live in a small Appalachian town. When a girl is murdered, the two sisters set out to find the culprit and solve the mystery. This book is dialogue heavy, with a Southern accent undertone. I did manage to make it 50% in because the characters are pretty likable and the magic descriptions were pretty great. Sadly I started noticing some redundant sentences and noticed myself skimming, so I decided to abandon the book. It just didn't keep my attention.

This would probably be a good book for readers that love Witchy, Southern mystery themes. Overall, the author's writing is readable and the characters likable, I just couldn't stay interested in the plot.

I was really excited for this book but I had a really hard time getting through this book…I was struggling with the characters . I really felt is was hard to get through the beginning of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

If you seek a gritty, atmospheric story with strong female leads, "Root and Bone" by Jessica Raney will undoubtedly draw you in. Set in post-WWII Appalachia, the novel follows two witch sisters unraveling a string of grisly murders. The world feels authentic, and the sisters' dynamic is heartwarming and relatable.

While Raney's writing is evocative, the story's pacing can feel inconsistent, and the ending may leave you wanting more. Additionally, some sensitive readers may find the themes of abuse quite heavy. However, for fans of the genre, the engaging characters and a well-crafted supernatural mystery make it a worthwhile read. Thanks to NetGalley, Jessica Raney and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. #RootandBone #NetGalley

I thought this book was well done! I loved the premise, gritty small working class town where nothing happens until a body is found. What could be more atmospheric than that? I also loved the supernatural and dark elements woven into this story. The Appalachian lore also made this book extra spooky!!

I received an ARC of this book in return for a fair review, and I’m so glad of it! I enjoyed this much much more than I expected to.

We follow sisters Leona and Jewel who are 1) witches and 2) practically polar opposites. The dynamic is intriguing and believable throughout and I really enjoyed reading their back and forth. It took a while for Leona to grow on me, but I really enjoyed her character arc. Dorval and Kay? Wholesome and wonderful. Jewel? Iconic.

The story kept me hooked throughout with the intrigue of what was happening to those poor girls and why, and what would become of the ghosts.

Sometimes, the way that magic interacted with society didn’t feel completely coherent, and I never got a solid idea of what was a secret and what wasn’t. The explanation for why the girls had been murdered also felt very… meh. But aside from that, this was a really enjoyable read and I’ll definitely be picking up any sequels that may arise!

Definitely recommend if you like a true-crime fantasy feel with witches, ghouls, and all manner of magic and monsters.

Listen- I love all things Appalachia because I find this area equally terrifying and amazing. This book did not disappoint. The nonstop action and suspense with the mix of mythical creatures was absolutely perfect. This is my first book by Jessica Raney and I know she will already be an auto buy author for me. I'm recommending this to all of my fantasy friends & booking a trip to Appalachia now!

This book was well paced and had dark and gritty themes. It was extremely dialogue heavy which for me isn’t what I look for in a book, a better balance between description and dialogue could go a long way. The relationship between the sisters was well established but I did feel surrounding characters weren’t fleshed out enough for me to grasp a full picture.

Overall I felt this book was ok, but I didn’t enjoy the abuse that takes place. Although I understand sometimes authors like to delve into abuse to get an emotional understanding. I just didn’t think it was written in enough context and reflection for me. It made me uncomfortable at times and that largely ruined the book for me.

2.5/5 ⭐️

I actually DNF'd this book and it was one of the first books that I have done so.

I was really excited for this book and I might have to go back and try it again but it was just not hitting right. I loved the idea but I had a hard time getting into and connecting with the characters. I loved that it took place in the past but I just really had a hard time with it.

I definitely want to go back and try again but it might be a few months before I try to read it again.

Root and Bone by Jessica Raney was an entertaining read. I loved the setting and the way magic and creatures from folklore were interwoven into it, and most of all I enjoyed the voice. The narrative voice and the dialogue really made the 1950's Appalachian setting come to life.

Our protagonist, Leona has a lot on her plate. Due to the era, she's trapped in a loveless, abusive marriage to an unemployed drunkard who has no qualms with sabotaging her efforts to keep them afloat. Their young child has behavioural issues and is neglected while Leona is stuck working two jobs (and a magical side hustle) to support the family. Also Leona sees dead people.

Root and Bone dodges the usual trope of “I see Dead people and it’s so annoying!” with Leona. She doesn’t mind seeing dead people, if anything it makes her feel special and rather than try to ignore the spirits, she tries to help them pass on and find peace.

That is until one of Leona’s clients (love spells, charms, that sort of things) goes missing and Leona starts seeing a different type of ghost, one more interested in violence than peace. It seems a murderer with a dramatic flair for the occult has come to their small Appalachian town and with the sheriff well over his head, Leona and her sassy sister Jewel are the only ones equipped to deal with the supernatural threat endangering their town

I found the pacing of this to be comfortable. It’s a very dialogue heavy book. There isn’t much in the way of description or action beats. The characterisation is one dimensional, especially the male characters. Which is fine, this isn’t literary.

Root and Bone is the kind of book that would be perfect for a bingeworthy Netflix adaptation. It’s fun… which considering the decapitation and dark topics it covers might be a bit odd to say, but nevertheless it is. And best, despite its series potential it is a stand alone novel with a clear resolution.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.