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The Bone Key
Centuries ago, the First Witch of the Aquelarre Buho coven conjured the ability to transform into an owl. Since then, a faction of hunters known as El Cazadores has been intent on stealing that magic for their own.
As Valeria hones her craft, her hopes of being granted the power to shape-shift are disrupted by a terrifying vision. A haunting woman appears in the shadows as she did when Valeria was a child, a foreboding omen that culminates in the murder of her best friend, Gwen. Seeking solace, Valeria flees south to reconnect to her roots. Still, her journey turns bittersweet when painful memories of her father’s death resurface and fuel her determination to protect those she loves. As Valeria delves into darker magic, she discovers her abilities are stronger than anyone knew. But just as her confidence soars, the hunters return intent on stealing the Elixir the witches rely upon for their transformative powers.
Can Valeria conjure the bravery needed to protect her coven’s legacy for future generations of owl witches? Or will El Cazadores finally take the very thing they’ve spent centuries pursuing?
As Valeria hones her craft, her hopes of being granted the power to shape-shift are disrupted by a terrifying vision. A haunting woman appears in the shadows as she did when Valeria was a child, a foreboding omen that culminates in the murder of her best friend, Gwen. Seeking solace, Valeria flees south to reconnect to her roots. Still, her journey turns bittersweet when painful memories of her father’s death resurface and fuel her determination to protect those she loves. As Valeria delves into darker magic, she discovers her abilities are stronger than anyone knew. But just as her confidence soars, the hunters return intent on stealing the Elixir the witches rely upon for their transformative powers.
Can Valeria conjure the bravery needed to protect her coven’s legacy for future generations of owl witches? Or will El Cazadores finally take the very thing they’ve spent centuries pursuing?
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 20, 2024
About the author
Mary Rajotte
32 books104 followersCanadian author Mary Rajotte has a penchant for penning nightmarish tales of Gothic folk horror which have been published in a number of anthologies.
In 2022, she launched Frightmarish: a quarterly Gothic LitZine for devotees of dark fiction, poetry, and the creative macabre.
Her debut paranormal dark fantasy novel, The Bone Key, will launch in October 2024 from Quill & Crow Publishing House.
When Mary isn’t writing, you can find her standing on her tiptoes at concerts or conjuring ideas by moonlight. Sometimes camera-elusive but always coffee-fueled, Mary lives in Toronto, Canada with her fiancé. She welcomes messages via her website maryrajotte.com
In 2022, she launched Frightmarish: a quarterly Gothic LitZine for devotees of dark fiction, poetry, and the creative macabre.
Her debut paranormal dark fantasy novel, The Bone Key, will launch in October 2024 from Quill & Crow Publishing House.
When Mary isn’t writing, you can find her standing on her tiptoes at concerts or conjuring ideas by moonlight. Sometimes camera-elusive but always coffee-fueled, Mary lives in Toronto, Canada with her fiancé. She welcomes messages via her website maryrajotte.com
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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August 27, 2024The bone key is a relatively fast paced, very witchy, and entertaining read steeped in folklore and cultural mythology. Setting and atmosphere are done gorgeously as well as the attention to detail in relation to rituals, witchcraft, folklore, and historical references. I really enjoyed the perspective of a person being pulled between two worlds, a mixed ethnicity character and feel the struggles there were well stated and thoroughly explored. The character development of Valeria is realistic and intense, at times even leading the reader to be frustrated for her as she finds herself, but ultimately resulting in a great deal of build up to cathartic moments that deliver quite gracefully. It really felt like a coming of age/young adult story to me, ripe with emotional turmoil, obstacles to overcome, resolving of doubts concerning self worth and self esteem, parent-child dynamics, family dynamics etc. There also seems to be an inkling of a slow burn romance there with the Will character and I wanted to see more of that. Overall, a skillfully woven, diverse, entertaining and witchy read.
P.S. — fuck around and find out vibes.
P.S. — fuck around and find out vibes.
September 11, 2024
Rajotte captures the isolation of being between cultures so perfectly! I was so stressed out reading this, not knowing whether the conflict was going to come from the villainous coyotes or from someone Val should be able to trust.
The lush forest environments really transported me to the world of these clashing factions. Whether it's Montreal or California, Rajotte places the reader firmly in the setting, surrounded by friend and foe.
I'd love to read more from this world! Hopefully, this becomes a series.
The lush forest environments really transported me to the world of these clashing factions. Whether it's Montreal or California, Rajotte places the reader firmly in the setting, surrounded by friend and foe.
I'd love to read more from this world! Hopefully, this becomes a series.
September 27, 2024
3.75
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This one was enjoyable but I did find it to sit quite heavy. I found that we were introduced to the plot quickly but getting to have an understanding of the characters and the world took longer, which meant it took me a while to get invested into the story. I did get lost a few times and had to figure out where I was within the story and what had happened, but I think a lot of that was to do with my struggle to focus. I really enjoyed Valeria as a character and her growth was really strong. Watching her come to terms with who she is and accepting it all as one was really beautiful to see. I did get teary eyed at points as there were times that I could connect with her and how she felt as an individual. I loved that family was the core message within this book, it shows how important family is and the role they play into who you are as a person and how that shapes you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This one was enjoyable but I did find it to sit quite heavy. I found that we were introduced to the plot quickly but getting to have an understanding of the characters and the world took longer, which meant it took me a while to get invested into the story. I did get lost a few times and had to figure out where I was within the story and what had happened, but I think a lot of that was to do with my struggle to focus. I really enjoyed Valeria as a character and her growth was really strong. Watching her come to terms with who she is and accepting it all as one was really beautiful to see. I did get teary eyed at points as there were times that I could connect with her and how she felt as an individual. I loved that family was the core message within this book, it shows how important family is and the role they play into who you are as a person and how that shapes you.
September 20, 2024
Valeria always admired her parents abilities and wished to once find her powers as well. A sequence of events leave that unknown until she loses someone close to her which causes her to seek out what is dark and hidden within her.
This is not a book I would typically pick up but I’m so glad I did! Being of Mexican decent, I was able to grab onto the folklore and whimsical aspects that I grew up hearing but then adding the twist of the covens and powers was great to read through! Twists and turns and the betrayal had me turning pages to find out what is going to happen! I wish I would have heard more about Will at the end to tie up his part but overall… Nicely done!
This is not a book I would typically pick up but I’m so glad I did! Being of Mexican decent, I was able to grab onto the folklore and whimsical aspects that I grew up hearing but then adding the twist of the covens and powers was great to read through! Twists and turns and the betrayal had me turning pages to find out what is going to happen! I wish I would have heard more about Will at the end to tie up his part but overall… Nicely done!
July 30, 2024
What an amazing book. I've been lucky enough to read this prior to the release and Mary Rajotte has woven a powerful tale. The authority, the magic, the grand weirdness, the emotion—it's a rollercoaster ride, and I could NOT put it down. And what a great cover.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews