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Marrow
A searing take on femininity and power, Marrow transports readers to a small island off the coast of Maine, where a coven has done the seemingly impossible.
The day Oona was kicked out of her mother’s coven, she gave up on her dreams of harnessing the witchcraft that was her birthright. Years later, she's carved out an ordinary life with her husband, though she is filled with a longing she can barely name. If she could only become a mother, then—according to island lore—she will come into her magic.
But after years of being unable to carry a pregnancy to term, Oona begins to feel desperate. Without the money to seek medical treatment, she decides she must return to the rugged, windswept island where she was raised—and to her dark, enigmatic mother . . . a witch who gives childless women the chance to become mothers.
Oona returns under the cover of anonymity, hoping for an answer. But, despite a celebrity clientele and a long wait-list, there are dark forces at work on the island, and as her time there grows more harrowing, the truth threatens to come to light. How far will Oona go to access the power her mother commands?
Tender and intense, witchy and wise, and written in prose that glitters and seethes, Marrow is a gripping novel about the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, about what we must believe in order to imagine a future for ourselves, and what we must let go in order to fully live it.
The day Oona was kicked out of her mother’s coven, she gave up on her dreams of harnessing the witchcraft that was her birthright. Years later, she's carved out an ordinary life with her husband, though she is filled with a longing she can barely name. If she could only become a mother, then—according to island lore—she will come into her magic.
But after years of being unable to carry a pregnancy to term, Oona begins to feel desperate. Without the money to seek medical treatment, she decides she must return to the rugged, windswept island where she was raised—and to her dark, enigmatic mother . . . a witch who gives childless women the chance to become mothers.
Oona returns under the cover of anonymity, hoping for an answer. But, despite a celebrity clientele and a long wait-list, there are dark forces at work on the island, and as her time there grows more harrowing, the truth threatens to come to light. How far will Oona go to access the power her mother commands?
Tender and intense, witchy and wise, and written in prose that glitters and seethes, Marrow is a gripping novel about the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, about what we must believe in order to imagine a future for ourselves, and what we must let go in order to fully live it.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2025
44 people are currently reading
11589 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
July 13, 2025
Genuinely surprised! This is definitely outside of my scope, but I rushed in not fully digesting the blurb. I’m definitely not a witch fantasy fan, but that is a loose description of fantasy. Somehow the words in the blurb translated to an African spirituality tale in my head.
So….. I read the first chapter and thought, meh. Put the book down and read several other books before coming back to Marrow and picking it back up one afternoon and read it for a few hours. At that point I became invested in the journey of Oona, the protagonist of this witchy thriller and I found myself committed to her journey. What happened? Why? How?
I had all the questions that only turning pages can answer. In my final assessment, though this wasn’t the story I wanted to engage with, it turned out to be a pleasant reading experience. Samantha Browning Shea’s prose is exquisite, easily bringing her characters to life and infusing them with heartfelt emotions as they work through real-felt crossroads. What will one do to conceive a child? How would one feel about cheating that process?? Hmmm. I won’t add any spoilers here.
The lesson for me is age-old; don’t judge a book by its blurb, which of course I didn’t do in this case. But had I read the description thoroughly, I probably would have skipped this title, but in hindsight I’m pleased that I didn’t despite the witchiness.. Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam & Sons for an advanced DRC. Book drops 09.09.25
So….. I read the first chapter and thought, meh. Put the book down and read several other books before coming back to Marrow and picking it back up one afternoon and read it for a few hours. At that point I became invested in the journey of Oona, the protagonist of this witchy thriller and I found myself committed to her journey. What happened? Why? How?
I had all the questions that only turning pages can answer. In my final assessment, though this wasn’t the story I wanted to engage with, it turned out to be a pleasant reading experience. Samantha Browning Shea’s prose is exquisite, easily bringing her characters to life and infusing them with heartfelt emotions as they work through real-felt crossroads. What will one do to conceive a child? How would one feel about cheating that process?? Hmmm. I won’t add any spoilers here.
The lesson for me is age-old; don’t judge a book by its blurb, which of course I didn’t do in this case. But had I read the description thoroughly, I probably would have skipped this title, but in hindsight I’m pleased that I didn’t despite the witchiness.. Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam & Sons for an advanced DRC. Book drops 09.09.25
September 24, 2025
This had an appealing setting and some interesting ideas. I found the witchcraft portions intriguing but honestly had hoped for more magic and less of the progression that actually occurred. That said I do think the progression and reveals involving magic made some very valid points so while it’s not quite what I expected it did contribute to the story and plot.
I did not find myself loving any of the characters too much. The main character Oona drove me a little nuts for a good portion of this book. She did not have many admirable qualities for most of the book..she was petty, jealous, sneaky, calculating, avoidant, etc. but by the end she does become tolerable and almost admirable. I think there is a point there, something along the lines of she was like this because she was lost before (insert spoilers here) but it was a little difficult to bear at times. If this character development and growth was absent I would not have enjoyed this book nearly as much. This was also very eerie and at the end it definitely makes your jaw drop some.
This did also touch on topics that truly aren’t discussed enough too. It made some great points about the emotions that come with the desire to become a mother-that can sometimes make us ugly or unrecognizable to ourselves. That choosing to be happy (as hard, sad, and impossible as it may feel and seem) for others even when we have our own struggles can at times actually be a relief and can be rewarding.
So in the end I am glad I stuck it out and finished this one. The points this book makes, the scenery/setting, and the drastic character development make this worth the read. It is a bit heavy imo-especially if you’re a parent or have ever struggled/are struggling to become one but again the points it makes are profound. This is not a light hearted cozy magical book-more of a heavy subject with a good dose of magical vibes and surroundings. I would be sure to be in the right mood for this one.
I did not find myself loving any of the characters too much. The main character Oona drove me a little nuts for a good portion of this book. She did not have many admirable qualities for most of the book..she was petty, jealous, sneaky, calculating, avoidant, etc. but by the end she does become tolerable and almost admirable. I think there is a point there, something along the lines of she was like this because she was lost before (insert spoilers here) but it was a little difficult to bear at times. If this character development and growth was absent I would not have enjoyed this book nearly as much. This was also very eerie and at the end it definitely makes your jaw drop some.
This did also touch on topics that truly aren’t discussed enough too. It made some great points about the emotions that come with the desire to become a mother-that can sometimes make us ugly or unrecognizable to ourselves. That choosing to be happy (as hard, sad, and impossible as it may feel and seem) for others even when we have our own struggles can at times actually be a relief and can be rewarding.
So in the end I am glad I stuck it out and finished this one. The points this book makes, the scenery/setting, and the drastic character development make this worth the read. It is a bit heavy imo-especially if you’re a parent or have ever struggled/are struggling to become one but again the points it makes are profound. This is not a light hearted cozy magical book-more of a heavy subject with a good dose of magical vibes and surroundings. I would be sure to be in the right mood for this one.
September 23, 2025
Book Review 📖🌿✨
thank you so much partner @putnambooks for the gifted copies!
Marrow
by Samantha Browning Shea
About the book 👇🏽
The day Oona was kicked out of her mother’s coven, she gave up on her dreams of harnessing the witchcraft that was her birthright. Years later, she's carved out an ordinary life with her husband, though she is filled with a longing she can barely name. If she could only become a mother, then—according to island lore—she will come into her magic.
But after years of being unable to carry a pregnancy to term, Oona begins to feel desperate. Without the money to seek medical treatment, she decides she must return to the rugged, windswept island where she was raised—and to her dark, enigmatic mother . . . a witch who gives childless women the chance to become mothers.
🍃 My thoughts:
Magic and motherhood… a recipe for my next obsession. This story really gets into the nitty gritty of the desire to become a mother and the complicated path it can be for some. I will be honest, this story is not at all what I was expecting and that is the biggest compliment because geezus. It’s not just magical but also dark and mind altering. While touching on fertility it manages to be a psychological horror of sorts. This one right here is not for the faint of heart and I highly encourage looking at content/trigger warnings before diving in. The atmosphere is all consuming, which lead me to devour the book in a day. But the gripping desire to become a mother, the emotional lacerations, and intricate mother daughter relationships are what drove this story home for me. Mother horror and witchy reads will get me every single time. And Marrow was no different making this a must read in my opinion! Marrow is out TODAY 9/9/25!
Happy reading 📖✨🌿🍃
thank you so much partner @putnambooks for the gifted copies!
Marrow
by Samantha Browning Shea
About the book 👇🏽
The day Oona was kicked out of her mother’s coven, she gave up on her dreams of harnessing the witchcraft that was her birthright. Years later, she's carved out an ordinary life with her husband, though she is filled with a longing she can barely name. If she could only become a mother, then—according to island lore—she will come into her magic.
But after years of being unable to carry a pregnancy to term, Oona begins to feel desperate. Without the money to seek medical treatment, she decides she must return to the rugged, windswept island where she was raised—and to her dark, enigmatic mother . . . a witch who gives childless women the chance to become mothers.
🍃 My thoughts:
Magic and motherhood… a recipe for my next obsession. This story really gets into the nitty gritty of the desire to become a mother and the complicated path it can be for some. I will be honest, this story is not at all what I was expecting and that is the biggest compliment because geezus. It’s not just magical but also dark and mind altering. While touching on fertility it manages to be a psychological horror of sorts. This one right here is not for the faint of heart and I highly encourage looking at content/trigger warnings before diving in. The atmosphere is all consuming, which lead me to devour the book in a day. But the gripping desire to become a mother, the emotional lacerations, and intricate mother daughter relationships are what drove this story home for me. Mother horror and witchy reads will get me every single time. And Marrow was no different making this a must read in my opinion! Marrow is out TODAY 9/9/25!
Happy reading 📖✨🌿🍃
October 6, 2025
Thank you Putnam, Netgalley and Samantha Browning Shea for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Let me start out by saying this was a weird book, which is typically something I enjoyed, so my continuous disinterest in this work left me a little confused. On paper, it had a lot of things that I enjoy--social commentary re: toxic wellness culture, potential magic that is a little wacky and a lost female protagonist on the verge of madness. However, I have to the conclusion that whilst this was an attempt at weird, it felt oddly grounded so it was neither "normal" or surreal, which made it hard for me to fully understand its mission and purpose.
The good thing about this book is truly the atmosphere. The author knows how to craft a place that can change in accordance to the narrative--hopeful at first, suffocating at last. The descriptions definitely put me right there with our main character and I found the island to be incredibly curious and fun to explore as we tagged along.
The characters left a little to be desired, but our main character definitely had some depth to her. I just wish that the cast was smaller so that (perhaps) the others would have felt more like real people instead of caricatures until the end. The plot progression is slow and definitely had me wishing for some magical realism--which is what I had hoped for from this book. I really appreciated the ending and the plot twist at the end though.
Overall, it was a fine read but not what I was expecting, which is probably the reason behind my lukewarm reception of this book.
Let me start out by saying this was a weird book, which is typically something I enjoyed, so my continuous disinterest in this work left me a little confused. On paper, it had a lot of things that I enjoy--social commentary re: toxic wellness culture, potential magic that is a little wacky and a lost female protagonist on the verge of madness. However, I have to the conclusion that whilst this was an attempt at weird, it felt oddly grounded so it was neither "normal" or surreal, which made it hard for me to fully understand its mission and purpose.
The good thing about this book is truly the atmosphere. The author knows how to craft a place that can change in accordance to the narrative--hopeful at first, suffocating at last. The descriptions definitely put me right there with our main character and I found the island to be incredibly curious and fun to explore as we tagged along.
The characters left a little to be desired, but our main character definitely had some depth to her. I just wish that the cast was smaller so that (perhaps) the others would have felt more like real people instead of caricatures until the end. The plot progression is slow and definitely had me wishing for some magical realism--which is what I had hoped for from this book. I really appreciated the ending and the plot twist at the end though.
Overall, it was a fine read but not what I was expecting, which is probably the reason behind my lukewarm reception of this book.
September 17, 2025
dnf 18%
got this as a giveaway. but just not clicking. might came back to this later.
got this as a giveaway. but just not clicking. might came back to this later.
November 26, 2025
Not what I expected. Slow and didn’t intrigue me. Didn’t care for the characters either.
did-not-finish
November 13, 2025DNF @ 22% on audio 11/11/25. Why is the main character doing anything? Why is anyone on this island doing anything? Why are they doing these things?
September 10, 2025
An extremely impressive debut, Marrow swept me up in its mystery from page one. Questions piled up as the story was introduced, and I never saw their answers coming. Culty, magical, complex and surprising.
My only qualm with this novel came with the reveals at the end, so..
My only qualm with this novel came with the reveals at the end, so..
July 10, 2025
Marrow had me hooked from the first few chapters—there’s something magnetic about the way Samantha Browning Shea builds atmosphere. The writing is sharp and eerie, like walking through a foggy forest where every branch might whisper a secret. I loved the slow-burn tension and the way the story peeled back layers of its characters like—well, like marrow from bone.
That said, the pacing was a bit of a rollercoaster. Some parts moved like a dream, others dragged just enough to pull me out of the mood. And while the emotional beats hit hard, a few plot twists felt more confusing than compelling.
Thank you so much for this ARC NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons!
That said, the pacing was a bit of a rollercoaster. Some parts moved like a dream, others dragged just enough to pull me out of the mood. And while the emotional beats hit hard, a few plot twists felt more confusing than compelling.
Thank you so much for this ARC NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons!
Want to read
February 21, 2025The premise sounds interesting. My guess is that her struggle somehow ties with her leaving her coven. Not going to lie, the coven of witches drew me in
September 7, 2025
When I picked up "Marrow," I was expecting something more mystical—what I got was entirely different. Samantha Browning Shea's debut novel, "Marrow," establishes her as a writer willing to take risks with both subject matter and structure. Part psychological thriller, part fertility horror story, the book fuses witchcraft, family dynamics, and questions of reproductive autonomy into a narrative where maternal love obscures manipulation.
The story follows Oona, who returns to Marrow Island, desperate to find a way to carry a pregnancy to term after multiple miscarriages. She seeks help from her estranged mother, Ursula, head of the Bare Root Fertility Center, a coven that promises protection but conceals far darker practices. What begins as a search for healing gradually becomes a reckoning: with her past, with Ursula's deceptions, and with the blurred line between inheritance and choice.
Shea excels in layering themes. "Marrow" is not simply about fertility struggles but about the definitions of motherhood itself—biological, chosen, and manipulated. Oona's yearning collides with Ursula's rigid belief in who "deserves" to be a mother, creating a moral tension that drives the novel. The book also interrogates power in its many forms: the coercive authority of covens and families, the commodification of spirituality, and the resilience found in solidarity among women. By grounding contemporary debates about fertility and bodily autonomy in a gothic island setting, Shea gives these urgent issues an unsettling immediacy.
The novel's atmosphere is shaped by sensory detail and recurring imagery of water, storms, and salt air. This environment feels inseparable from Oona's inner turmoil, the island itself becoming a mirror for her desire and fear. Mythological allusions—particularly to Hekate and Demeter—deepen the novel's exploration of motherhood, sacrifice, and inheritance, without overwhelming the contemporary urgency of the story.
Where Shea's narrative shines brightest is in character complexity. Oona is impulsive, self-deceiving, and often difficult to root for—her jealousy toward other women and her capacity for self-serving rationalization make her a challenging protagonist. Yet her evolution toward someone who can redefine power and motherhood on her own terms feels believable and earned. Ursula, meanwhile, is one of those rare antagonists whose charisma and conviction make her dangerous but never one-dimensional. Her own history of abandonment creates psychological depth without excusing her actions. Even secondary characters, from the defiant young initiate Gemma to the pragmatic doctor Shelly, complicate the story in ways that feel authentic.
The novel's most significant weakness lies in its pacing. Shea's commitment to psychological realism means extended passages where Oona cycles through the same emotional patterns—her desperate longing for motherhood, her resentment toward seemingly favored women, her quest for Ursula's approval. During a lengthy period of confinement and searching, these repetitive internal monologues create narrative drag. Oona's arguments with her husband Jacob follow similarly circular patterns, emphasizing their breakdown without advancing plot or character development. While this repetition reflects authentic psychological trauma, it tests the reader's patience and occasionally obscures the propulsive mystery at the story's heart.
The quieter stretches of introspection provide psychological weight, but they also slow the momentum between the novel's more dramatic revelations. Readers expecting consistent forward movement may find themselves frustrated by Oona's tendency to revisit the same grievances and self-recriminations.
Where the pacing does work effectively is in the final act, when revelations cascade with increasing intensity. The discovery of long-buried truths about the fertility center, Oona's growing understanding of her own situation, and the dramatic confrontation that follows create much-needed momentum.
Ultimately, "Marrow" succeeds as an interrogation of how society weaponizes women's desire for motherhood. Oona's journey toward understanding that motherhood involves choice and action rather than biological destiny or inherited power speaks directly to contemporary conversations about fertility, control, and the often-predatory industries that profit from both. The resolution forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the systems that exploit women's deepest desires for both motherhood and belonging.
Shea's debut challenges readers to examine how easily manipulation masquerades as care, and how the promise of power often conceals its absence. "Marrow" unsettles not through supernatural horror, but through the very real terror of discovering that the institutions and relationships we trust most may be built on fundamental deceptions.
This review is of an advance reader's edition provided by NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons.
The story follows Oona, who returns to Marrow Island, desperate to find a way to carry a pregnancy to term after multiple miscarriages. She seeks help from her estranged mother, Ursula, head of the Bare Root Fertility Center, a coven that promises protection but conceals far darker practices. What begins as a search for healing gradually becomes a reckoning: with her past, with Ursula's deceptions, and with the blurred line between inheritance and choice.
Shea excels in layering themes. "Marrow" is not simply about fertility struggles but about the definitions of motherhood itself—biological, chosen, and manipulated. Oona's yearning collides with Ursula's rigid belief in who "deserves" to be a mother, creating a moral tension that drives the novel. The book also interrogates power in its many forms: the coercive authority of covens and families, the commodification of spirituality, and the resilience found in solidarity among women. By grounding contemporary debates about fertility and bodily autonomy in a gothic island setting, Shea gives these urgent issues an unsettling immediacy.
The novel's atmosphere is shaped by sensory detail and recurring imagery of water, storms, and salt air. This environment feels inseparable from Oona's inner turmoil, the island itself becoming a mirror for her desire and fear. Mythological allusions—particularly to Hekate and Demeter—deepen the novel's exploration of motherhood, sacrifice, and inheritance, without overwhelming the contemporary urgency of the story.
Where Shea's narrative shines brightest is in character complexity. Oona is impulsive, self-deceiving, and often difficult to root for—her jealousy toward other women and her capacity for self-serving rationalization make her a challenging protagonist. Yet her evolution toward someone who can redefine power and motherhood on her own terms feels believable and earned. Ursula, meanwhile, is one of those rare antagonists whose charisma and conviction make her dangerous but never one-dimensional. Her own history of abandonment creates psychological depth without excusing her actions. Even secondary characters, from the defiant young initiate Gemma to the pragmatic doctor Shelly, complicate the story in ways that feel authentic.
The novel's most significant weakness lies in its pacing. Shea's commitment to psychological realism means extended passages where Oona cycles through the same emotional patterns—her desperate longing for motherhood, her resentment toward seemingly favored women, her quest for Ursula's approval. During a lengthy period of confinement and searching, these repetitive internal monologues create narrative drag. Oona's arguments with her husband Jacob follow similarly circular patterns, emphasizing their breakdown without advancing plot or character development. While this repetition reflects authentic psychological trauma, it tests the reader's patience and occasionally obscures the propulsive mystery at the story's heart.
The quieter stretches of introspection provide psychological weight, but they also slow the momentum between the novel's more dramatic revelations. Readers expecting consistent forward movement may find themselves frustrated by Oona's tendency to revisit the same grievances and self-recriminations.
Where the pacing does work effectively is in the final act, when revelations cascade with increasing intensity. The discovery of long-buried truths about the fertility center, Oona's growing understanding of her own situation, and the dramatic confrontation that follows create much-needed momentum.
Ultimately, "Marrow" succeeds as an interrogation of how society weaponizes women's desire for motherhood. Oona's journey toward understanding that motherhood involves choice and action rather than biological destiny or inherited power speaks directly to contemporary conversations about fertility, control, and the often-predatory industries that profit from both. The resolution forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the systems that exploit women's deepest desires for both motherhood and belonging.
Shea's debut challenges readers to examine how easily manipulation masquerades as care, and how the promise of power often conceals its absence. "Marrow" unsettles not through supernatural horror, but through the very real terror of discovering that the institutions and relationships we trust most may be built on fundamental deceptions.
This review is of an advance reader's edition provided by NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons.
August 31, 2025
I was lucky enough to win an early paperback copy of Marrow, so aspects of the version I read may change before it is officially released. My opinion of the book is also influenced by the fact that I practice an eclectic version of green and hedge witchcraft, so I will touch on that aspect of the story first.
Though I enjoy the reference to the sabbaths, various deities, and herbalism, I am disappointed that the book presents another stereotypical depiction of witchcraft that isn't entirely accurate. I understand that for the sake of storytelling dramatic liberties are often taken, but I thought author Samantha Browning Shea wanted to create a more realistic portrayal of witchcraft and so I am let down by her version of a modern coven. The belief in the book that only mothers can join a coven and practice craft, and the idea that a woman doesn't "come into her power" until she goes through puberty and "sees" Persephone are both very strange concepts to me. Witchcraft is practiced differently from one witch to another and not all witches invoke the same god or goddess (some are even agnostic or atheist). Power doesn't come from deities but from intention and manifestation in most craft. Even setting the inaccuracies aside, the presentation of witchcraft in the story is in my opinion quite negative given the dark and secretive nature of Bare Root and Ursula's morally grey choices.
The characters are also difficult to connect with because they are not fully fleshed out enough. I think Oona and Ursula's relationship could be explored more, and Oona and Daphne's relationship definitely needs more time dedicated to it. I feel really sorry for Oona in regards to how her mother treats her, however I find it difficult to like Oona as a main character and don't understand her choices. It is understandable for a child to want to prove themselves and be acknowledged by their mother but as a grown woman I am surprised Oona does not recognize her mother's abuse and still defends her poor behavior. It feels like Oona is very immature for her age and as if she only wants to be a mother in order to become an active member of the coven and not because she really wants a child. This is a huge insult to Daphne, who Oona accused of doing the same thing, and to the other women at Bare Root who legitimately dream to become mothers. I am also upset with how Oona treats her husband Jacob. Despite him going through the same trauma from loss alongside Oona, Oona continuously dismisses him and minimizes his sacrifices to be with her.
All and all, I didn't hate the book but I can't say I liked it very much either. There were a lot of things still left unexplained and not fully fleshed out, so it was just an okay read for me.
Though I enjoy the reference to the sabbaths, various deities, and herbalism, I am disappointed that the book presents another stereotypical depiction of witchcraft that isn't entirely accurate. I understand that for the sake of storytelling dramatic liberties are often taken, but I thought author Samantha Browning Shea wanted to create a more realistic portrayal of witchcraft and so I am let down by her version of a modern coven. The belief in the book that only mothers can join a coven and practice craft, and the idea that a woman doesn't "come into her power" until she goes through puberty and "sees" Persephone are both very strange concepts to me. Witchcraft is practiced differently from one witch to another and not all witches invoke the same god or goddess (some are even agnostic or atheist). Power doesn't come from deities but from intention and manifestation in most craft. Even setting the inaccuracies aside, the presentation of witchcraft in the story is in my opinion quite negative given the dark and secretive nature of Bare Root and Ursula's morally grey choices.
The characters are also difficult to connect with because they are not fully fleshed out enough. I think Oona and Ursula's relationship could be explored more, and Oona and Daphne's relationship definitely needs more time dedicated to it. I feel really sorry for Oona in regards to how her mother treats her, however I find it difficult to like Oona as a main character and don't understand her choices. It is understandable for a child to want to prove themselves and be acknowledged by their mother but as a grown woman I am surprised Oona does not recognize her mother's abuse and still defends her poor behavior. It feels like Oona is very immature for her age and as if she only wants to be a mother in order to become an active member of the coven and not because she really wants a child. This is a huge insult to Daphne, who Oona accused of doing the same thing, and to the other women at Bare Root who legitimately dream to become mothers. I am also upset with how Oona treats her husband Jacob. Despite him going through the same trauma from loss alongside Oona, Oona continuously dismisses him and minimizes his sacrifices to be with her.
All and all, I didn't hate the book but I can't say I liked it very much either. There were a lot of things still left unexplained and not fully fleshed out, so it was just an okay read for me.
September 10, 2025
Title: Marrow-a standalone
Author: Samantha Browning-Shea-debut author
Publication date: 9-9-25 | Read: 9-10-25
Format: e-Book 336 pgs.
Genre:
*Women's Fic
*Horror
*Paranormal
*Fantasy
*Gothic
Tropes:
*secret identity
*h illness
*witches/magic
*motherhood
*mothers & daughters
*female friendship
*family drama
*hidden truths
*mythology: Hekate- Greek goddess of magic and spells, Persephone-Greek goddess of the underworld, and Demeter-Greek goddess of fertility
POV: 3rd person single
TW: infertility, miscarriages, teen pregnancy, drug use-mentioned, toxic parents, suicide, mental illness
Setting: Portland and Marrow Island, Maine
Summary: Oona returns home to Marrow Island after fifteen years banished by her mother Ursula. She believes she was cursed by a friend never to have children, and her mother told her she would never have magic. Desperate to stay pregnant, she sneaks into Bare Root Fertility Center for a protection spell. She finds the center changed and uncovers her mother's secrets.
Heroine: Oona-33 used someone else's identity-Maggie Jones-to sneak into the center.
Other Characters:
* Ursula-Oona's mother, a midwife who owns Bare Root Fertility Center and has a witch coven devoted to giving women a chance at motherhood. She wasn't motherly towards Oona and called her a disappointment.
* Jacob-Oona's husband who travels the sea as an oceanographer.
* Daphne-Jacob's sister(deceased)- believed Oona had magic, suffered from postpartum depression, drank poison (herbs from Oona) and later passed
* Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka-Jacob's parents, blames Oona for Daphne's death
* Vivian, Grace, Shelley, and Gemma (16& pregnant w/a famous mother, married to older religious man-Elijah)-women coming to the center for fertility issues
* Joyce and Lally-midwives/witches who work for Ursula at the Center and knew Oona
*Holly and Inez-Initiates studying to be midwives/coven members
My Thoughts: This was a devastating story of a woman's desperation for a family. I thought Oona wanted a child or just the idea of one. Because her mother never showed her real affection, Oona just wanted love. Ursula was a sinister figure who was caught up in greed instead of truly helping women. I felt sorry for Oona, Daphne, and Gemma's different experiences with motherhood, and the emotional journey kept me entertained.
Rating: 4/5
Spice level: 0/5
Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, and Samantha Browning Shea for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
Author: Samantha Browning-Shea-debut author
Publication date: 9-9-25 | Read: 9-10-25
Format: e-Book 336 pgs.
Genre:
*Women's Fic
*Horror
*Paranormal
*Fantasy
*Gothic
Tropes:
*secret identity
*h illness
*witches/magic
*motherhood
*mothers & daughters
*female friendship
*family drama
*hidden truths
*mythology: Hekate- Greek goddess of magic and spells, Persephone-Greek goddess of the underworld, and Demeter-Greek goddess of fertility
POV: 3rd person single
TW: infertility, miscarriages, teen pregnancy, drug use-mentioned, toxic parents, suicide, mental illness
Setting: Portland and Marrow Island, Maine
Summary: Oona returns home to Marrow Island after fifteen years banished by her mother Ursula. She believes she was cursed by a friend never to have children, and her mother told her she would never have magic. Desperate to stay pregnant, she sneaks into Bare Root Fertility Center for a protection spell. She finds the center changed and uncovers her mother's secrets.
Heroine: Oona-33 used someone else's identity-Maggie Jones-to sneak into the center.
Other Characters:
* Ursula-Oona's mother, a midwife who owns Bare Root Fertility Center and has a witch coven devoted to giving women a chance at motherhood. She wasn't motherly towards Oona and called her a disappointment.
* Jacob-Oona's husband who travels the sea as an oceanographer.
* Daphne-Jacob's sister(deceased)- believed Oona had magic, suffered from postpartum depression, drank poison (herbs from Oona) and later passed
* Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka-Jacob's parents, blames Oona for Daphne's death
* Vivian, Grace, Shelley, and Gemma (16& pregnant w/a famous mother, married to older religious man-Elijah)-women coming to the center for fertility issues
* Joyce and Lally-midwives/witches who work for Ursula at the Center and knew Oona
*Holly and Inez-Initiates studying to be midwives/coven members
My Thoughts: This was a devastating story of a woman's desperation for a family. I thought Oona wanted a child or just the idea of one. Because her mother never showed her real affection, Oona just wanted love. Ursula was a sinister figure who was caught up in greed instead of truly helping women. I felt sorry for Oona, Daphne, and Gemma's different experiences with motherhood, and the emotional journey kept me entertained.
Rating: 4/5
Spice level: 0/5
Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, and Samantha Browning Shea for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
March 1, 2025
Marrow is an atmospheric, taunt debut suspense novel from new author Samantha Browning Shea. The blurb for the novel drew my interest - witches? Oh yes. An isolated island coven where appearances could be deceiving? Sign me up. Strong themes of femineity, motherhood, sisterhood, and fertility. Those are right up my alley. I'm pleased to say that the sypnosis did not fail me - Samantha Browing Shea's novel makes good on all of these promises.
Oona Walker was once part of Bare Roots coven on Marrow Island, off the coast of Maine. Sure she wasn't a practicing witch yet, as one cannot become such until you have both started your menstrual cycle and had the goddess Persephone appear to you, it really is just a matter of time until she can also call herself a full member of the coven. To both Oona's delight and consternation, her only friend on the island - Daphne - also wants a coveted spot in the coven. A series of events one summer sees Oona losing her best friend, and life on Marrow after her mother, Ursula, head of the coven, banishes Oona from Marrow for her part in the events. Set in the present day, and interspersed with detailed recollections from Oona's past, we see Oona returning to Marrow in disguise fifteen years after her banishment in the desperate hope that the coven's fertility magic can help her finally achieve a successful pregnancy.
Sensitive readers should note that this book contains descriptions of child loss, including miscarriage, infertility and treatment thereof, and childbirth. These things are viewed through the eyes of our protagonist, Oona, who is definitely an unreliable narrator. Oona has a lot of trauma from her past that returning to Marrow seems to exacerbate. As a mother who has also had multiple pregnancy losses and also suffers from infertility, I could definitely relate to thoughts and emotions that Oona has during her stay on Marrow. Even with Oona's biased thoughts and perceptions being given to us, the plot twist of the book was pretty easily deducted beforehand. It didn't stop my enjoyment of the novel, and I was interested in seeing what kind of spin Samantha Browning Shea was planning to put on it. "Marrow" is an enjoyable debut novel that asks the question: 'How much are you willing to sacrifice to be able to realize your greatest desire?'
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons NY publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book.
Oona Walker was once part of Bare Roots coven on Marrow Island, off the coast of Maine. Sure she wasn't a practicing witch yet, as one cannot become such until you have both started your menstrual cycle and had the goddess Persephone appear to you, it really is just a matter of time until she can also call herself a full member of the coven. To both Oona's delight and consternation, her only friend on the island - Daphne - also wants a coveted spot in the coven. A series of events one summer sees Oona losing her best friend, and life on Marrow after her mother, Ursula, head of the coven, banishes Oona from Marrow for her part in the events. Set in the present day, and interspersed with detailed recollections from Oona's past, we see Oona returning to Marrow in disguise fifteen years after her banishment in the desperate hope that the coven's fertility magic can help her finally achieve a successful pregnancy.
Sensitive readers should note that this book contains descriptions of child loss, including miscarriage, infertility and treatment thereof, and childbirth. These things are viewed through the eyes of our protagonist, Oona, who is definitely an unreliable narrator. Oona has a lot of trauma from her past that returning to Marrow seems to exacerbate. As a mother who has also had multiple pregnancy losses and also suffers from infertility, I could definitely relate to thoughts and emotions that Oona has during her stay on Marrow. Even with Oona's biased thoughts and perceptions being given to us, the plot twist of the book was pretty easily deducted beforehand. It didn't stop my enjoyment of the novel, and I was interested in seeing what kind of spin Samantha Browning Shea was planning to put on it. "Marrow" is an enjoyable debut novel that asks the question: 'How much are you willing to sacrifice to be able to realize your greatest desire?'
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons NY publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book.
June 30, 2025
Marrow is a dark, atmospheric debut that weaves together themes of motherhood, fertility, grief, and the bonds—and fractures—of womanhood. For the right reader, it will resonate deeply. For others, it may feel distant, lacking something, or even impenetrable.
Set against the haunting backdrop of a secluded island off the coast of Maine, the novel centers on Oona Walker, a woman returning in disguise to Marrow Island fifteen years after being exiled by her mother and the coven she was born into. The plot toggles between Oona’s present-day desperation and the slow unraveling of a traumatic summer that led to her banishment. Along the way, we encounter coven rituals, the cult-like trappings of faux-witchcraft, and the emotional wreckage left by broken friendships, loss, and unmet longing.
This book won’t be for everyone. It deals with infertility, pregnancy loss, complicated mother-daughter dynamics, and deep emotional wounds. If these aren’t experiences you’ve had or closely connected with, the intensity of the narrative may feel alienating or hard to fully grasp. Much of the story unfolds through Oona’s unreliable perspective, which adds psychological depth but also makes it harder to connect to her emotionally.
That said, the strength of Marrow lies in its mood and emotional weight. Browning Shea’s prose is evocative, and her setting—wild, eerie, and intimate—supports the book’s introspective tone. The magic in the story is more symbolic than fantastical, rooted in the rituals of womanhood and the desperation of wanting something just out of reach.
There are moments when the plot feels predictable and others when it drags, and some readers may find the "witchcraft" element underwhelming if they’re expecting traditional fantasy. But taken as a literary exploration of grief, guilt, and womanhood within a Gothic framework, Marrow is stupendous.
In the end, this is less a story about witches than it is about the ache of longing and the sacrifices women make to reclaim their power, identity, and place. A promising, if emotionally heavy, debut.
Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Set against the haunting backdrop of a secluded island off the coast of Maine, the novel centers on Oona Walker, a woman returning in disguise to Marrow Island fifteen years after being exiled by her mother and the coven she was born into. The plot toggles between Oona’s present-day desperation and the slow unraveling of a traumatic summer that led to her banishment. Along the way, we encounter coven rituals, the cult-like trappings of faux-witchcraft, and the emotional wreckage left by broken friendships, loss, and unmet longing.
This book won’t be for everyone. It deals with infertility, pregnancy loss, complicated mother-daughter dynamics, and deep emotional wounds. If these aren’t experiences you’ve had or closely connected with, the intensity of the narrative may feel alienating or hard to fully grasp. Much of the story unfolds through Oona’s unreliable perspective, which adds psychological depth but also makes it harder to connect to her emotionally.
That said, the strength of Marrow lies in its mood and emotional weight. Browning Shea’s prose is evocative, and her setting—wild, eerie, and intimate—supports the book’s introspective tone. The magic in the story is more symbolic than fantastical, rooted in the rituals of womanhood and the desperation of wanting something just out of reach.
There are moments when the plot feels predictable and others when it drags, and some readers may find the "witchcraft" element underwhelming if they’re expecting traditional fantasy. But taken as a literary exploration of grief, guilt, and womanhood within a Gothic framework, Marrow is stupendous.
In the end, this is less a story about witches than it is about the ache of longing and the sacrifices women make to reclaim their power, identity, and place. A promising, if emotionally heavy, debut.
Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 30, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (3.5/5 stars)
eARC courtesy of NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam in exchange for my honest review.
Samantha Browning Shea’s debut novel "Marrow" is a haunting, atmospheric exploration of motherhood, feminine power, and the weight of ancestral legacy. Set on a remote island off the coast of Maine, the story follows Oona, a woman desperate to carry a pregnancy to term after a string of devastating losses. Believing herself cursed by past choices, she returns to her childhood home—Marrow Island—where her estranged mother leads a coven of witches who run a fertility clinic. But homecoming is no balm; instead, it unearths buried secrets and forces Oona to confront truths she’s long avoided.
Shea’s prose is lyrical and evocative, steeped in mist and magic. Her writing style calls to mind Emilia Hart, especially in its reverence for feminine strength and maternal mysticism. The island itself becomes a character—wild, secretive, and steeped in ritual—mirroring the emotional terrain Oona must navigate.
However, while the writing is undeniably beautiful, the pacing falters. The first two-thirds of the novel move slowly, making it difficult to stay immersed. The final act delivers more momentum and a few satisfying twists, though they lean toward the predictable. Characterization is another stumbling block: Oona, despite being in her thirties, often feels immature and self-absorbed. Her husband and mother are similarly difficult to connect with, which made emotional investment in their arcs challenging.
The ARC’s chapter structure also felt unwieldy—long and occasionally meandering. Hopefully, the final edition will benefit from tighter editing and more refined pacing. Still, as a debut, “Marrow” shows promise. Shea’s voice is distinct, and her thematic ambition is admirable. I’ll be curious to see how her storytelling evolves in future works.
eARC courtesy of NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam in exchange for my honest review.
Samantha Browning Shea’s debut novel "Marrow" is a haunting, atmospheric exploration of motherhood, feminine power, and the weight of ancestral legacy. Set on a remote island off the coast of Maine, the story follows Oona, a woman desperate to carry a pregnancy to term after a string of devastating losses. Believing herself cursed by past choices, she returns to her childhood home—Marrow Island—where her estranged mother leads a coven of witches who run a fertility clinic. But homecoming is no balm; instead, it unearths buried secrets and forces Oona to confront truths she’s long avoided.
Shea’s prose is lyrical and evocative, steeped in mist and magic. Her writing style calls to mind Emilia Hart, especially in its reverence for feminine strength and maternal mysticism. The island itself becomes a character—wild, secretive, and steeped in ritual—mirroring the emotional terrain Oona must navigate.
However, while the writing is undeniably beautiful, the pacing falters. The first two-thirds of the novel move slowly, making it difficult to stay immersed. The final act delivers more momentum and a few satisfying twists, though they lean toward the predictable. Characterization is another stumbling block: Oona, despite being in her thirties, often feels immature and self-absorbed. Her husband and mother are similarly difficult to connect with, which made emotional investment in their arcs challenging.
The ARC’s chapter structure also felt unwieldy—long and occasionally meandering. Hopefully, the final edition will benefit from tighter editing and more refined pacing. Still, as a debut, “Marrow” shows promise. Shea’s voice is distinct, and her thematic ambition is admirable. I’ll be curious to see how her storytelling evolves in future works.
November 12, 2025
*Thank you #prhaudio For This Gifted Audiobook
Thank You #Putnam Books #Putnampartners For This Book
"She'd missed it all. But that was the trouble, wasn't it? That had always been the trouble for Oona. She loved it here too much. She wanted it too badly: for it all to be real, for it all to be hers."
"So you don't believe in witchcraft?"
"No, but I believe in you."
The gothic atmospheric Marrow, by bold debut author Samantha Browning Shea, is often a somber complex novel about motherhood, family, marriage and witchcraft.
Oona returns home to the small island off the coast of Maine after 15 years of banishment by her mother Ursula, the owner of the Bare Root Fertility Center and head of the witch coven that runs it, in disguise with a false name.
After 5 miscarriages she is pregnant again. She knows the magic here will save this baby. But after she feels the familiar pain of loss, she reveals herself to her mother who saves the baby...or does she?
There's a reason voice actress Saskia Maarleveld is an award winning narrator. Her portrayal of Oona is honest, as unapologetically written, with all the desperation, jealousy, impulsiveness and selfishness that makes Oona a complex character, always justifying her actions. She is not always likeable but definitely leaves you wanting her to find peace.
The writer boldly tackles the pressure society puts on their definition of motherhood; who is deserving of it, who can afford it, and who is denied it. Marrow's unsettling main twist went deeper than what I figured out; it isn't so much witchcraft as greed and narcissism. Yet there's hope. Like the body's marrow, replenishing new blood cells, there's another day to make better choices in this life.
Thank You #Putnam Books #Putnampartners For This Book
"She'd missed it all. But that was the trouble, wasn't it? That had always been the trouble for Oona. She loved it here too much. She wanted it too badly: for it all to be real, for it all to be hers."
"So you don't believe in witchcraft?"
"No, but I believe in you."
The gothic atmospheric Marrow, by bold debut author Samantha Browning Shea, is often a somber complex novel about motherhood, family, marriage and witchcraft.
Oona returns home to the small island off the coast of Maine after 15 years of banishment by her mother Ursula, the owner of the Bare Root Fertility Center and head of the witch coven that runs it, in disguise with a false name.
After 5 miscarriages she is pregnant again. She knows the magic here will save this baby. But after she feels the familiar pain of loss, she reveals herself to her mother who saves the baby...or does she?
There's a reason voice actress Saskia Maarleveld is an award winning narrator. Her portrayal of Oona is honest, as unapologetically written, with all the desperation, jealousy, impulsiveness and selfishness that makes Oona a complex character, always justifying her actions. She is not always likeable but definitely leaves you wanting her to find peace.
The writer boldly tackles the pressure society puts on their definition of motherhood; who is deserving of it, who can afford it, and who is denied it. Marrow's unsettling main twist went deeper than what I figured out; it isn't so much witchcraft as greed and narcissism. Yet there's hope. Like the body's marrow, replenishing new blood cells, there's another day to make better choices in this life.
September 14, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC ebook copy. All opinions are my own.
Oona wants more than anything than to have a child and return to her mother Ursala's coven on Marrow Island. She was banished by Ursula 15 years prior after the tragic death of her friend Daphne and because Ooma didn't have any magical powers. Now a married woman Ooma finds herself newly pregnant and desperate to hold onto this baby after five miscarriages, so she travels undercover to Marrow, hoping her mother or the other women in the coven don't recognize her. Her visit is two-fold - to prove to the coven and her mother that she does indeed have power and also to be under the protective spell of the coven so her baby will grow to full-term.
I'll be honest - this book was not for me. I did not like Ooma (I felt she was too whiny and selfish) or her mother (too mean to Ooma and everyone else for no reason) or Ooma's husband Jacob (he's a bit controlling and sort of toxic). The relationships between Ooma, her mother, Jacob and her in-laws the Tanakas felt very weak and shallow. The pacing was slow and choppy - I wanted the author to get on with the story already. It wasn't really until the last 20% that things moved along toward making some sort of sense or resolution, and even then the events were predictable. There was really no magic to the book - it really was nothing more than the women learning how to harvest, identify and make herbal remedies and some allusions to spells.
I would have put this book down after reading the first third if it wasn't a NetGalley read.
2.5 stars
Oona wants more than anything than to have a child and return to her mother Ursala's coven on Marrow Island. She was banished by Ursula 15 years prior after the tragic death of her friend Daphne and because Ooma didn't have any magical powers. Now a married woman Ooma finds herself newly pregnant and desperate to hold onto this baby after five miscarriages, so she travels undercover to Marrow, hoping her mother or the other women in the coven don't recognize her. Her visit is two-fold - to prove to the coven and her mother that she does indeed have power and also to be under the protective spell of the coven so her baby will grow to full-term.
I'll be honest - this book was not for me. I did not like Ooma (I felt she was too whiny and selfish) or her mother (too mean to Ooma and everyone else for no reason) or Ooma's husband Jacob (he's a bit controlling and sort of toxic). The relationships between Ooma, her mother, Jacob and her in-laws the Tanakas felt very weak and shallow. The pacing was slow and choppy - I wanted the author to get on with the story already. It wasn't really until the last 20% that things moved along toward making some sort of sense or resolution, and even then the events were predictable. There was really no magic to the book - it really was nothing more than the women learning how to harvest, identify and make herbal remedies and some allusions to spells.
I would have put this book down after reading the first third if it wasn't a NetGalley read.
2.5 stars
November 23, 2025
Oona grew up on an island, raised by her mother within a coven as the blessing given to her by the goddess. Ever since, her mother’s coven specializes in fertility, helping women from start to finish with their pregnancies. But after a tragic accident, Oona was kicked from the coven and forced to give up her birthright of witchcraft. Now, unable to carry a pregnancy to term, desperate for her child who will help Oona receive her magic and to finally have the baby she’s wanted, she returns to the island under a new name, hoping for the help of her mother’s coven to keep the baby growing within her. But as time passes, Oona begins looking into the strange circumstances surrounding her past, and as secrets begin coming to light, she doesn’t know what to truly believe in.
This was…. good. There were a lot of times that I wanted to throttle Oona for her unwavering belief in her mother who was very clearly not a good person from the very beginning and I get why she was like that? But in all honesty, there were like ten red flags too many. Oona was an overall annoying character, and I got very close to DNFing this book at about 16% in. That being said, I loved this concept, and the way that we get the twisting of the coven and the meaning of sisterhood, as well as a look at the actual magic of childbirth. There was a lot going on, but I think the ending was messed up, and all the reveals leading up to it was so fantastic. I just with that Oona was annoying beyond belief. This was a wild ride with lots of twists, and I would recommend it for that, just know that Oona will definitely get on your last nerve.
This was…. good. There were a lot of times that I wanted to throttle Oona for her unwavering belief in her mother who was very clearly not a good person from the very beginning and I get why she was like that? But in all honesty, there were like ten red flags too many. Oona was an overall annoying character, and I got very close to DNFing this book at about 16% in. That being said, I loved this concept, and the way that we get the twisting of the coven and the meaning of sisterhood, as well as a look at the actual magic of childbirth. There was a lot going on, but I think the ending was messed up, and all the reveals leading up to it was so fantastic. I just with that Oona was annoying beyond belief. This was a wild ride with lots of twists, and I would recommend it for that, just know that Oona will definitely get on your last nerve.
July 21, 2025
This book was an interesting read, but it didn’t quite match the description—or the genres—it was marketed under. Labeled as horror and fantasy, I found it to be neither. There weren’t any real “dark forces” at play, aside from Oona’s claims of seeing goddesses, which felt more symbolic or psychological than supernatural.
The setting was also a bit confusing. Marrow is an island off the coast of Maine, so the references to Portland are meant to be Portland, Maine. However, a minor character based in San Francisco is mentioned often—even in the final chapters—and that, combined with frequent references to "Portland," made me assume it was Portland, Oregon for most of the book. That disconnect pulled me out of the story several times.
Character-wise, I struggled the most with Oona. She’s supposed to be in her thirties, but her behavior often felt immature and erratic, more like a teenager. I couldn’t really connect with her or find her particularly likable. Her husband, Jacob, was worse—dismissive, manipulative, and frustratingly unwilling to listen. The only characters I truly enjoyed were Lally and Alice, who brought warmth and clarity to a narrative otherwise full of emotionally charged but hard-to-root-for people.
Despite all this, I did appreciate the arc of the story and felt a sense of closure with Oona’s final decisions. The book had its flaws, especially in terms of genre identity and character development, but the overall narrative had enough substance to keep me reading.
Would I recommend it? Maybe—with a few caveats. Don’t go in expecting horror or fantasy. Go in expecting a messy, emotionally driven exploration of identity, relationships, and self-rediscovery—with some confusing side notes on geography.
The setting was also a bit confusing. Marrow is an island off the coast of Maine, so the references to Portland are meant to be Portland, Maine. However, a minor character based in San Francisco is mentioned often—even in the final chapters—and that, combined with frequent references to "Portland," made me assume it was Portland, Oregon for most of the book. That disconnect pulled me out of the story several times.
Character-wise, I struggled the most with Oona. She’s supposed to be in her thirties, but her behavior often felt immature and erratic, more like a teenager. I couldn’t really connect with her or find her particularly likable. Her husband, Jacob, was worse—dismissive, manipulative, and frustratingly unwilling to listen. The only characters I truly enjoyed were Lally and Alice, who brought warmth and clarity to a narrative otherwise full of emotionally charged but hard-to-root-for people.
Despite all this, I did appreciate the arc of the story and felt a sense of closure with Oona’s final decisions. The book had its flaws, especially in terms of genre identity and character development, but the overall narrative had enough substance to keep me reading.
Would I recommend it? Maybe—with a few caveats. Don’t go in expecting horror or fantasy. Go in expecting a messy, emotionally driven exploration of identity, relationships, and self-rediscovery—with some confusing side notes on geography.
October 3, 2025
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Wow, what a debut! The writing style had me hooked from page 1, and once I was a little farther into the story, I couldn't put it down anymore and stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it!
There is one big trigger warning. The main theme of the book is infertility and miscarriage. I usually don't give trigger warnings in my reviews because they can be spoilers, but as this one is really starting on page 1 and the whole book is about this, I feel like I need to mention it.
I have seen this book labeled as fantasy. In my opinion, that's not accurate. Whether you believe in witchcraft in real life is up to you, but that's the kind of covens and witches in this book, not the Harry Potter type. I really liked how it was left unclear until the very end whether the witchcraft in the book was real or not; it kept the suspense up for me.
If the triggers are not an issue for you and you want a dark, slow-paced but suspenseful, feminist, psychological thriller kind of read with real life witches, I highly recommend this.
Wow, what a debut! The writing style had me hooked from page 1, and once I was a little farther into the story, I couldn't put it down anymore and stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it!
There is one big trigger warning. The main theme of the book is infertility and miscarriage. I usually don't give trigger warnings in my reviews because they can be spoilers, but as this one is really starting on page 1 and the whole book is about this, I feel like I need to mention it.
I have seen this book labeled as fantasy. In my opinion, that's not accurate. Whether you believe in witchcraft in real life is up to you, but that's the kind of covens and witches in this book, not the Harry Potter type. I really liked how it was left unclear until the very end whether the witchcraft in the book was real or not; it kept the suspense up for me.
If the triggers are not an issue for you and you want a dark, slow-paced but suspenseful, feminist, psychological thriller kind of read with real life witches, I highly recommend this.
September 6, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Marrow is a dark, witchy tale set on a windswept Maine island, exploring the ties between power, motherhood, and family. At its heart is Oona, a woman desperate to reclaim both her lost magic and a sense of belonging.
I went through phases with this book—sometimes pulled in, sometimes less so. Oona was, for me, an incredibly frustrating character, and even by the end I didn’t feel she had a full redemption. Many of the side characters were similarly prickly, which made the reading experience uneven at times. That said, I loved the way the author sets the scene and builds the world—the atmosphere is vivid and haunting, and the island feels like a character in its own right. And the plot twist near the conclusion landed really well.
For readers who enjoy morally complex characters, gothic settings, witchcraft, and themes of motherhood, Marrow delivers a haunting and thought-provoking story.
Marrow is a dark, witchy tale set on a windswept Maine island, exploring the ties between power, motherhood, and family. At its heart is Oona, a woman desperate to reclaim both her lost magic and a sense of belonging.
I went through phases with this book—sometimes pulled in, sometimes less so. Oona was, for me, an incredibly frustrating character, and even by the end I didn’t feel she had a full redemption. Many of the side characters were similarly prickly, which made the reading experience uneven at times. That said, I loved the way the author sets the scene and builds the world—the atmosphere is vivid and haunting, and the island feels like a character in its own right. And the plot twist near the conclusion landed really well.
For readers who enjoy morally complex characters, gothic settings, witchcraft, and themes of motherhood, Marrow delivers a haunting and thought-provoking story.
July 5, 2025
Oona secretly returns to the one place she shouldn't - the remote fertility clinic/witches coven that her mother started. She goes there because she is desperate to have a child but first must correct a mistake that happened on the island years before of her doing. What has happened with the clinic and the women who run it has changed since she was cast out but the desire and desperation of the clients to have a baby has not. This is a deeply personal debut that speaks to connections between mothers and women, of want and natural magic. It also suggests that attaining that goal can be achieved by any means. For fans of THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD MOTHERS and the natural magic in SPELLS FOR FORGETTING and readers who enjoy strong connections to nature and women. The author's notes at the end of the book were illuminating. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
September 29, 2025
Dark maternity horror?
Our main character sneaks back to her childhood home, a retreat for women who struggle to conceive. Her mother is said to have witchy magic which she uses to lead rituals that help these women make their mothering dreams come true. But the community on the mainland has always been skeptical, including our main character's husband and his family. And they have good reason.
Very atmospheric writing that flows consistently throughout the book. Characters are easy enough to tell apart, though side characters could have used just a hair more development (still good nonetheless). Plotline flowed logically and reveals were sprinkled throughout, including a big one at the end.
Subjectively, this was a 3 star for me, but objectively it was a 4 star.
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Our main character sneaks back to her childhood home, a retreat for women who struggle to conceive. Her mother is said to have witchy magic which she uses to lead rituals that help these women make their mothering dreams come true. But the community on the mainland has always been skeptical, including our main character's husband and his family. And they have good reason.
Very atmospheric writing that flows consistently throughout the book. Characters are easy enough to tell apart, though side characters could have used just a hair more development (still good nonetheless). Plotline flowed logically and reveals were sprinkled throughout, including a big one at the end.
Subjectively, this was a 3 star for me, but objectively it was a 4 star.
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 30, 2025
Very hard to rate this one 😆 I loved the themes of motherhood, infertility, and witchcraft. The writing was bingeable and I genuinely did not see the twist coming. But there were so many detail I was nit picking the entire time:
* I found Oona absolutely insufferable and clueless.
* Her pregnancy timeline made no sense, it was implied that she was between 20-24 weeks yet she said she was “barely out of her first trimester.”
* There was a very unnecessary R word…literally a jump scare.
* Trying not to spoil here but in the end her douchebag gaslighting husband turned out to be…right? I am not the correct audience for that.
* A prologue that gave an update on literally every single character. Could have left some of that to the imagination.
Giving this 3 stars because it read like an easy, fast paced thriller so I think it could be worth a shot if you enjoy those types of books.
* I found Oona absolutely insufferable and clueless.
* Her pregnancy timeline made no sense, it was implied that she was between 20-24 weeks yet she said she was “barely out of her first trimester.”
* There was a very unnecessary R word…literally a jump scare.
* Trying not to spoil here but in the end her douchebag gaslighting husband turned out to be…right? I am not the correct audience for that.
* A prologue that gave an update on literally every single character. Could have left some of that to the imagination.
Giving this 3 stars because it read like an easy, fast paced thriller so I think it could be worth a shot if you enjoy those types of books.
June 9, 2025
I came for the Craft, and I stayed for the domestic suspense.
If you have a great relationship with your mom, this story might lose you.
If you have a functional uterus and ovaries, but enjoy an uncomplicated relationship with fertility and motherhood, this story might lose you.
For those of us I suspect this book was written for, this is a richly layered trauma drama. We get herbology, dark rituals, and magickal lore, sure. These are just part of the setting within which complicated webs of guilt, redemption, obligation, coercion, and longing are woven for a cast of fallible humans to muddle through, trying not to become fatally entrapped.
Cheers to the author for a thought-provoking debut, and thanks to the publisher for an early review copy.
If you have a great relationship with your mom, this story might lose you.
If you have a functional uterus and ovaries, but enjoy an uncomplicated relationship with fertility and motherhood, this story might lose you.
For those of us I suspect this book was written for, this is a richly layered trauma drama. We get herbology, dark rituals, and magickal lore, sure. These are just part of the setting within which complicated webs of guilt, redemption, obligation, coercion, and longing are woven for a cast of fallible humans to muddle through, trying not to become fatally entrapped.
Cheers to the author for a thought-provoking debut, and thanks to the publisher for an early review copy.
August 23, 2025
At first I wasn’t sure how much I’d end up enjoying this one. It was atmospheric, a touch witchy, and the author did a superb job of conveying the longing our main character had for a family and a place she belonged. It did seem though, that the characters and story were placing so much on becoming pregnant that I was worried that’s all the story would be about. While it was what many of the women craved, in the end they found so much more. The end really tied the whole story together in a beautiful way and I almost got emotional when Oona came to the realization that even if should couldn’t be a mother in the way she originally wanted, she could still mother. I think it was a beautiful ending and while I think everyone should check triggers before reading, I highly recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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