What do you think?
Rate this book
Sons of Salem #1
Hallowed Bones
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26The first in the Sons of Salem series— a seductive, dark why-choose romance filled with cursed bloodlines, secret societies, and a powerful heroine destined to save the coven.
Four cursed heirs. One forbidden witch. A desire that burns bright.
I was warned to stay away from the Sons of Salem. Not because they’re monsters—but because they’re broken enough to recognize one.
Ezra Bishop.
Cameron Goode.
Lyall Corey.
Reyes Scott.
And me—Haven Wardwell.
Legacies. Witches. Something far worse than myths.
Now that I’m here, there’s no telling what Now that I’m here, there’s no telling what the Dark Gods will ask for in return.
Ghosts haunt the corridors of Ipswich College, and if I’m not careful, I might just become one of them.
Four cursed heirs. One forbidden witch. A desire that burns bright.
I was warned to stay away from the Sons of Salem. Not because they’re monsters—but because they’re broken enough to recognize one.
Ezra Bishop.
Cameron Goode.
Lyall Corey.
Reyes Scott.
And me—Haven Wardwell.
Legacies. Witches. Something far worse than myths.
Now that I’m here, there’s no telling what Now that I’m here, there’s no telling what the Dark Gods will ask for in return.
Ghosts haunt the corridors of Ipswich College, and if I’m not careful, I might just become one of them.
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Lucy Smoke
76 books3,109 followersLucy Smoke, also known as Lucinda Dark for her fantasy works, has a master’s degree in English and is a self-proclaimed creative chihuahua. She enjoys feeding her wanderlust, cover addiction, as well as her face, and truly hopes people will stop giving her bath bombs as gifts. Bath’s get cold too fast and it’s just not as wonderful as the commercials make it out to be when the tub isn’t a jacuzzi.
When she’s not on a never-ending quest to find the perfect milkshake, she lives and works in the southern United States with her beloved fur-baby, Hiro, and her family and friends.
When she’s not on a never-ending quest to find the perfect milkshake, she lives and works in the southern United States with her beloved fur-baby, Hiro, and her family and friends.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews
June 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book by Lucy Smoke, and I was immediately drawn in by her engaging writing style. I wasn’t sure this would be a book for me, which makes it a nice surprise with how much I enjoyed it. The storyline was captivating, and it left me excited to continue with the series.
The atmosphere was one of my favorite aspects of the book. It delivers the perfect blend of magic, mystery, and spice, all wrapped in spooky season vibes. If you’re looking for a book to add to your fall reading list, this is an excellent choice. I look forward to reading more from this author.
This was my first book by Lucy Smoke, and I was immediately drawn in by her engaging writing style. I wasn’t sure this would be a book for me, which makes it a nice surprise with how much I enjoyed it. The storyline was captivating, and it left me excited to continue with the series.
The atmosphere was one of my favorite aspects of the book. It delivers the perfect blend of magic, mystery, and spice, all wrapped in spooky season vibes. If you’re looking for a book to add to your fall reading list, this is an excellent choice. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 20, 2026Another DNF @ 26% 😭
This was my first book by Lucy Smoke, and probably my last. I picked this up because it was a Why Choose, but the writing style is not my favorite. I’m struggling with the insta lust, the info dumps, and the stiff dialogue. If you like fast paced romance, you might like this.
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
This was my first book by Lucy Smoke, and probably my last. I picked this up because it was a Why Choose, but the writing style is not my favorite. I’m struggling with the insta lust, the info dumps, and the stiff dialogue. If you like fast paced romance, you might like this.
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
June 10, 2026
✨ARC Book Review✨
This book has all the dark academia, spooky Sabrina witchy vibes, but with four super hot men who all want her. I’m so obsessed!
Haven’s story is actually so sad. After losing her parents and being stuck with a selfish aunt, I was really hoping she would fit in at her new school. Turns out that wasn’t an issue. I was hooked by the ever present threats to her life from being chased by monsters, the nightmares, and feeling of being stalked.
She ends up meeting 4 different men who are all from old money families in the town. They are reclusive but the tea is they sometimes like to share. Each guy had his own moments with her, filled with the slow burn tension I absolutely live for. They all had different skills and magical abilities. I was literally laughing out loud during Haven’s date with Lyall.
The slow burning intimacy was sooo good! I wish it had happened a little sooner in the book, but that’s only because the tension was so good.
With her life constantly being threatened, she finds herself relying on the guys. I really enjoyed watching Haven learn more about magic. I do wish we had gotten more from her dad’s point of view. I heard their side of the story, I wish I knew his.
The ending had my jaw on the floor! I was expecting literally anything else. But yessss!! It was so good! I need the next book in this series ASAP!
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book has all the dark academia, spooky Sabrina witchy vibes, but with four super hot men who all want her. I’m so obsessed!
Haven’s story is actually so sad. After losing her parents and being stuck with a selfish aunt, I was really hoping she would fit in at her new school. Turns out that wasn’t an issue. I was hooked by the ever present threats to her life from being chased by monsters, the nightmares, and feeling of being stalked.
She ends up meeting 4 different men who are all from old money families in the town. They are reclusive but the tea is they sometimes like to share. Each guy had his own moments with her, filled with the slow burn tension I absolutely live for. They all had different skills and magical abilities. I was literally laughing out loud during Haven’s date with Lyall.
The slow burning intimacy was sooo good! I wish it had happened a little sooner in the book, but that’s only because the tension was so good.
With her life constantly being threatened, she finds herself relying on the guys. I really enjoyed watching Haven learn more about magic. I do wish we had gotten more from her dad’s point of view. I heard their side of the story, I wish I knew his.
The ending had my jaw on the floor! I was expecting literally anything else. But yessss!! It was so good! I need the next book in this series ASAP!
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔 (I’m assuming more is coming in later books?)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡ (It was decent!)
Romance: 💞💞💞 (I wasn’t strongly feeling it but I’m assuming it will evolve over the course of the series)
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: first person from all 5 mains
More character focused or plot focused? plot? Maybe character? It’s kind of weird because not a TON happened but I also don’t feel like I know anyone super well...more of like day to day conversations and things...
How did the speed of the story feel? slow
When mains are first on page together: it varies for each main – Haven and Cameron meet somewhat soon in
Cliffhanger: Yes! This will end on a cliffhanger with what feels like relationships beginning. (It’s not a tragic ending or anything, just super incomplete feeling)
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in e-book form
Why I chose this book: It looked interesting on NetGalley so I decided to pick it up
Mains: Haven Warwell, Ezra Bishop, Cameron Goode, Lyall Corey and Reyes Scott – This is a polyamorous relationship that is starting between these mains – it’s not fully developed by the end of book 1. I am not sure if they are all cishet mains? I know some of the hero’s ‘shared’ in a relationship but assumed it was heterosexual?
Audiobook available (as of posting)? Yes, narrated by Corvin King, Grayson Owens, Michael Norman Johnson, Sarah Sampino and Stephen Dexter
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
This is the first in Smoke’s Sons of Salem series, but yes read in order as this ends on a cliffhanger and you will want the background for book 2.
Basic plot:
Haven isn’t aware of what her father’s particular ties are with Ipswich College but she’s relieved to be out from under the thumb of her manipulative aunt and recruited there. But the College is mysterious. She’s drawn to Cameron and dreaming of Reyes – and Lyall is pursuing her while Ezra is protecting her from things she doesn’t understand...
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary paranormal romance
- Salem, MA setting
- set up for a why choose / polyamorous relationship between a heroine and four heroes
- witches, shifters, magic and other realm creatures
- heroine has heterochromia
- dark academy setting – Ipswich College
- you want a slower burn and mysterious series that will evolve over more than 1 book
- lower steam – I believe there’s only 1 full scene in this book towards the very end (and it is only a M/F scene so if you are looking for the M/F/M/M/M scenes it will not be in this story)
Ages:
- Haven is 18 (19 in a few months) – this all takes place at a college so I’m assuming all mains are late teens to very early 20s
First line:
The front gates of Ipswich College look like the open mouth of a monster.
My thoughts:
This was a bit of a trial for me to read – I’m not sure if it was because it was slower than I was expecting or if I had a bit of a writing disconnect. I did like some parts. I am a bit curious about how it’s going to play out – I don’t know if I’d read the next book but I would consider grabbing the audio if I saw it at my library or something!
I liked the set up overall for this one. It’s mysterious – there’s hints of magic and other realm creatures. Haven doesn’t understand herself or her powers – only that bad luck and weird happenings have followed her for years. She doesn’t understand her father’s ties to this college, but it’s already feeling like home to her.
I overall liked all the heroes – I think I wanted to know them all a bit better by the end of the first book? The book seemed to have a lot of focus on….daily happenings? Some remembrances for the heroine of her past, but mostly conversations and interactions as they were happening. But nothing much really happened in the book either. So I think I was just a bit frustrated with how stagnant it felt for me? But I am left a bit curious about the rest of the story.
It does feel a bit like instalust for some of the mains but overall I liked the tension building. There wasn’t a lot of sex in this one, just kisses until the end and I think that helped it build over the course of the book.
I was a bit annoyed with the heroine and her just outright denial of accepting any kind of paranormal explanation for anything – with her visions and fears, with her experiencing the things she has, with her feeling different her whole life and having unexplainable things happen to her I was like super side eyeing her that she’s finally handed an explanation on a platter and she’s like….no.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 3 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Endearments
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔 (I’m assuming more is coming in later books?)
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡ (It was decent!)
Romance: 💞💞💞 (I wasn’t strongly feeling it but I’m assuming it will evolve over the course of the series)
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: first person from all 5 mains
More character focused or plot focused? plot? Maybe character? It’s kind of weird because not a TON happened but I also don’t feel like I know anyone super well...more of like day to day conversations and things...
How did the speed of the story feel? slow
When mains are first on page together: it varies for each main – Haven and Cameron meet somewhat soon in
Cliffhanger: Yes! This will end on a cliffhanger with what feels like relationships beginning. (It’s not a tragic ending or anything, just super incomplete feeling)
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in e-book form
Why I chose this book: It looked interesting on NetGalley so I decided to pick it up
Mains: Haven Warwell, Ezra Bishop, Cameron Goode, Lyall Corey and Reyes Scott – This is a polyamorous relationship that is starting between these mains – it’s not fully developed by the end of book 1. I am not sure if they are all cishet mains? I know some of the hero’s ‘shared’ in a relationship but assumed it was heterosexual?
Audiobook available (as of posting)? Yes, narrated by Corvin King, Grayson Owens, Michael Norman Johnson, Sarah Sampino and Stephen Dexter
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
This is the first in Smoke’s Sons of Salem series, but yes read in order as this ends on a cliffhanger and you will want the background for book 2.
Basic plot:
Haven isn’t aware of what her father’s particular ties are with Ipswich College but she’s relieved to be out from under the thumb of her manipulative aunt and recruited there. But the College is mysterious. She’s drawn to Cameron and dreaming of Reyes – and Lyall is pursuing her while Ezra is protecting her from things she doesn’t understand...
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary paranormal romance
- Salem, MA setting
- set up for a why choose / polyamorous relationship between a heroine and four heroes
- witches, shifters, magic and other realm creatures
- heroine has heterochromia
- dark academy setting – Ipswich College
- you want a slower burn and mysterious series that will evolve over more than 1 book
- lower steam – I believe there’s only 1 full scene in this book towards the very end (and it is only a M/F scene so if you are looking for the M/F/M/M/M scenes it will not be in this story)
Ages:
- Haven is 18 (19 in a few months) – this all takes place at a college so I’m assuming all mains are late teens to very early 20s
First line:
The front gates of Ipswich College look like the open mouth of a monster.
My thoughts:
This was a bit of a trial for me to read – I’m not sure if it was because it was slower than I was expecting or if I had a bit of a writing disconnect. I did like some parts. I am a bit curious about how it’s going to play out – I don’t know if I’d read the next book but I would consider grabbing the audio if I saw it at my library or something!
I liked the set up overall for this one. It’s mysterious – there’s hints of magic and other realm creatures. Haven doesn’t understand herself or her powers – only that bad luck and weird happenings have followed her for years. She doesn’t understand her father’s ties to this college, but it’s already feeling like home to her.
I overall liked all the heroes – I think I wanted to know them all a bit better by the end of the first book? The book seemed to have a lot of focus on….daily happenings? Some remembrances for the heroine of her past, but mostly conversations and interactions as they were happening. But nothing much really happened in the book either. So I think I was just a bit frustrated with how stagnant it felt for me? But I am left a bit curious about the rest of the story.
It does feel a bit like instalust for some of the mains but overall I liked the tension building. There wasn’t a lot of sex in this one, just kisses until the end and I think that helped it build over the course of the book.
I was a bit annoyed with the heroine and her just outright denial of accepting any kind of paranormal explanation for anything – with her visions and fears, with her experiencing the things she has, with her feeling different her whole life and having unexplainable things happen to her I was like super side eyeing her that she’s finally handed an explanation on a platter and she’s like….no.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 3 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Endearments
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
the vibes were immaculate.
and that's about the only positive thing i feel towards this book, because while it was very gothic and atmospheric, nothing else about it landed.
i'm not a big why choose girlie, but i was open to it, until we were getting spice within the first five chapters. hello instalust! which is very much not my thing, i love a slow burn too much to be satisfied with characters jumping each other's bones before we even hit 100 pages.
on paper, this book sounded like so much fun, like it would be a great fall read, but yeah... just fell really flat and i lowkey wish i would've dnfed because it just wasn't for me at all.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc!
and that's about the only positive thing i feel towards this book, because while it was very gothic and atmospheric, nothing else about it landed.
i'm not a big why choose girlie, but i was open to it, until we were getting spice within the first five chapters. hello instalust! which is very much not my thing, i love a slow burn too much to be satisfied with characters jumping each other's bones before we even hit 100 pages.
on paper, this book sounded like so much fun, like it would be a great fall read, but yeah... just fell really flat and i lowkey wish i would've dnfed because it just wasn't for me at all.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc!
Want to Read
June 8, 2026got the arc!! but now i'm scared cause of the reviews lol
June 3, 2026
This is an advanced reader copy given to me by Net Galley
This was my first Lucy Smoke book, and I can definitely see why so many people love her books. The gothic atmosphere, witchcraft, and coven storyline immediately pulled me in. There were a lot of interesting ideas throughout the story, and the Sons of Salem were exactly the kind of morally gray, attractive characters that make books like this so much fun. And that cliffhanger? It definitely made me want to pick up the next book.
One thing I really enjoyed was the insta-lust between the characters. I know some readers prefer a slow burn, but the instant attraction was exactly what I was in the mood for. It added a lot of tension and kept things exciting. The romance and spice definitely helped keep me invested in the story.
While there were a lot of things I enjoyed, the character development and dialogue didn’t always work for me. The multiple POVs sometimes made the story feel a little confusing, and because the focus was constantly shifting, I found it harder to connect with the characters.
Overall, I still enjoyed the book and can see a lot of potential in the series. The world-building, magic, gothic vibes, and chemistry between the characters were all strong points for me. It wasn’t a favorite, but I’m definitely interested in seeing what happens next.
This was my first Lucy Smoke book, and I can definitely see why so many people love her books. The gothic atmosphere, witchcraft, and coven storyline immediately pulled me in. There were a lot of interesting ideas throughout the story, and the Sons of Salem were exactly the kind of morally gray, attractive characters that make books like this so much fun. And that cliffhanger? It definitely made me want to pick up the next book.
One thing I really enjoyed was the insta-lust between the characters. I know some readers prefer a slow burn, but the instant attraction was exactly what I was in the mood for. It added a lot of tension and kept things exciting. The romance and spice definitely helped keep me invested in the story.
While there were a lot of things I enjoyed, the character development and dialogue didn’t always work for me. The multiple POVs sometimes made the story feel a little confusing, and because the focus was constantly shifting, I found it harder to connect with the characters.
Overall, I still enjoyed the book and can see a lot of potential in the series. The world-building, magic, gothic vibes, and chemistry between the characters were all strong points for me. It wasn’t a favorite, but I’m definitely interested in seeing what happens next.
July 14, 2026
3/5
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author Lucy Smoke for gifting me with this ARC to review!
I’m really in the middle with this book. I think it has potential but there were definitely some undeveloped aspects to the story.
Liked:
-why choose when you can have them all. 4 hot as sin men who want to be with you sounds like a very fun time (not in reality…that would be so draining 😂).
Lyall: sexy, wolf shifter/witch
Reyes: sexy, dream walker/witch
Cameron: sexy, bookish, witch
Ezra: sexy, brooding, blood witch (I wonder if he’s into knife play 🔪)
I have to say that Haven is one lucky girl 😏
-a curse you say? The Salem Coven has been cursed because of something their ancestors did and Haven is their only hope for redemption. The mystery surrounding how the coven ended up like this and how Haven is supposed to help them is left unanswered (at least for now).
Disliked:
-not a huge instalust fan. I’m totally fine with a character acknowledging that another character is hot, but panting after people for no other reason besides them being attractive isn’t my cup of tea.
-wish there was some more background on the void and its creatures. For the most part I think the plot was really geared towards setting up the romantic relationships then it was actually helping Haven with her powers and doing anything with that.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author Lucy Smoke for gifting me with this ARC to review!
I’m really in the middle with this book. I think it has potential but there were definitely some undeveloped aspects to the story.
Liked:
-why choose when you can have them all. 4 hot as sin men who want to be with you sounds like a very fun time (not in reality…that would be so draining 😂).
Lyall: sexy, wolf shifter/witch
Reyes: sexy, dream walker/witch
Cameron: sexy, bookish, witch
Ezra: sexy, brooding, blood witch (I wonder if he’s into knife play 🔪)
I have to say that Haven is one lucky girl 😏
-a curse you say? The Salem Coven has been cursed because of something their ancestors did and Haven is their only hope for redemption. The mystery surrounding how the coven ended up like this and how Haven is supposed to help them is left unanswered (at least for now).
Disliked:
-not a huge instalust fan. I’m totally fine with a character acknowledging that another character is hot, but panting after people for no other reason besides them being attractive isn’t my cup of tea.
-wish there was some more background on the void and its creatures. For the most part I think the plot was really geared towards setting up the romantic relationships then it was actually helping Haven with her powers and doing anything with that.
May 9, 2026
Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the eARC
It was well written.
It has The Covenant vibes plus reverse harem.
I did find it hard to differentiate between the men. I do wish there had been more physical descriptions for them.
The cliffhanger was a surprise. Will definitely read the second in the series.
It was well written.
It has The Covenant vibes plus reverse harem.
I did find it hard to differentiate between the men. I do wish there had been more physical descriptions for them.
The cliffhanger was a surprise. Will definitely read the second in the series.
June 8, 2026
Cursed bloodlines, witches, and secret magical history? Say less.
This book definitely kept me entertained. I do wish there had been a little more character development, but I loved the mystery and magical lore enough to keep turning the pages.
And the boys…
Was every single one of them obsessed with her? Yes.
Did I love that? No.
Did I still want them all to end up together? Also yes.
Overall, not a new favorite, but a fun read with plenty of magic, secrets, and drama to keep me hooked.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This book definitely kept me entertained. I do wish there had been a little more character development, but I loved the mystery and magical lore enough to keep turning the pages.
And the boys…
Was every single one of them obsessed with her? Yes.
Did I love that? No.
Did I still want them all to end up together? Also yes.
Overall, not a new favorite, but a fun read with plenty of magic, secrets, and drama to keep me hooked.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
June 17, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc
3.5 rounded up. The vibes of this book are fantastic; you’ve got a gothic school, witches, murders, and I love a why choose. I was all here for the set up, but it was a little slow paced for me and felt like not a lot happened until the end. I know this is book 1 of a series, but we are definitely left with all the questions and no answers. But there’s great potential for book 2 and I’ll definitely read it to see what happens next.
3.5 rounded up. The vibes of this book are fantastic; you’ve got a gothic school, witches, murders, and I love a why choose. I was all here for the set up, but it was a little slow paced for me and felt like not a lot happened until the end. I know this is book 1 of a series, but we are definitely left with all the questions and no answers. But there’s great potential for book 2 and I’ll definitely read it to see what happens next.
Want to Read
July 1, 2026baby's first arc!
May 23, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Lucy Smoke for the eARC! :)
This was my first Lucy Smoke read! The plot and tropes had so much potential, and the witchcraft storyline was especially intriguing. There were a lot of interesting ideas here, particularly surrounding the gothic atmosphere, the coven and magic, and the mystery woven throughout the story. The Sons of Salem also sounded exceptionally hot. The cliffhanger was well done and genuinely made me curious to see where the story goes next. Unfortunately, the writing style itself felt a bit underwhelming for me overall, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the world and connect with the characters on a deeper level.
While there were definitely moments I enjoyed, the character development and dialogue left something to be desired. I think the multiple points of view (five in total) contributed to this issue. Because the narrative was constantly shifting between characters, I never felt like I had enough time with any one perspective to develop a strong emotional attachment. At times, the pacing of certain interactions felt rushed or incomplete, which made some character motivations difficult to follow.
Haven’s characterization especially felt inconsistent to me throughout the book. One moment, she is intensely drawn to the Sons of Salem and clearly fascinated by both them and the idea of belonging to their coven, but then almost immediately she becomes defensive and antagonistic toward them again. Her extreme reactions often felt contradictory without enough development in between to make those shifts feel natural. I wanted more internal reflection or stronger development to better support her emotional back-and-forth.
Even though this wasn’t a favourite read for me overall, I can still see the potential in the series, and I’d definitely be interested in picking up the second book to see how the story and characters develop further.
This was my first Lucy Smoke read! The plot and tropes had so much potential, and the witchcraft storyline was especially intriguing. There were a lot of interesting ideas here, particularly surrounding the gothic atmosphere, the coven and magic, and the mystery woven throughout the story. The Sons of Salem also sounded exceptionally hot. The cliffhanger was well done and genuinely made me curious to see where the story goes next. Unfortunately, the writing style itself felt a bit underwhelming for me overall, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the world and connect with the characters on a deeper level.
While there were definitely moments I enjoyed, the character development and dialogue left something to be desired. I think the multiple points of view (five in total) contributed to this issue. Because the narrative was constantly shifting between characters, I never felt like I had enough time with any one perspective to develop a strong emotional attachment. At times, the pacing of certain interactions felt rushed or incomplete, which made some character motivations difficult to follow.
Haven’s characterization especially felt inconsistent to me throughout the book. One moment, she is intensely drawn to the Sons of Salem and clearly fascinated by both them and the idea of belonging to their coven, but then almost immediately she becomes defensive and antagonistic toward them again. Her extreme reactions often felt contradictory without enough development in between to make those shifts feel natural. I wanted more internal reflection or stronger development to better support her emotional back-and-forth.
Even though this wasn’t a favourite read for me overall, I can still see the potential in the series, and I’d definitely be interested in picking up the second book to see how the story and characters develop further.
June 30, 2026
I love the vibes and the setting that the author created for us. Readers, it’s amazing the Salem vibe with all the characters had me invested.
To me, this felt like a dark romance meets Gothic with witch back stories and I loved it! I liked the fact that the group of guys are meant to be the topic of the conversation however once the plot twist comes everything has you gasping and it’s amazing!
The author did a really great job with all the characters and back story in this. Anyone who knows me knows I love dark romance and witch vibes really anything to do with this topic of genre lol
Overall it’s amazing I loved the fmc you feel like you’re going on this journey with her and finding things out just like she is. Then you get all the mmcs which feels like a party of info but it’s so good lol
I can’t wait for the next book! I need to know what happens
I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy stuff like this.
Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my advanced copy
July 15, 2026
Review of an advanced copy received from NetGalley
Hallowed Bones by Lucy Smoke was my first book by this author, and it definitely will not be my last. As someone who loves witches, witchcraft, and the history surrounding Salem and the witch trials, this one immediately caught my attention.
This is the first book in the Sons of Salem series, and it really does feel like a foundation book in the best way. We get introduced to Ipswich College, the history, the secrets, the magic, and the characters who are clearly going to have so much more to uncover as the series continues.
The story follows Haven Wardwell, who arrives at Ipswich after a really difficult year. She is trying to rebuild her life, but instead finds herself surrounded by mystery, danger, and a past she never knew she was connected to. Learning that her father attended Ipswich and had deep roots there adds another layer to everything Haven is trying to understand about herself and where she comes from.
Then we have the four Sons of Salem: Ezra Bishop, Cameron Goode, Lyall Corey, and Reyes Scott. Each of them has their own baggage, secrets, and connection to this world. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Haven and the guys. This is a why-choose romance, and honestly, I do not think I could pick between them.
This one is definitely more of a slow burn. The romance and tension build throughout the book, and then the last little bit really starts to take off. Since this is book one, there is a lot of world-building and backstory, but I think it sets everything up well for what is coming next.
By the end, I was fully interested in where the story is going. Now that we have the history, the characters, and the secrets starting to unfold, I feel like book two is where everything is really going to explode.
Hallowed Bones by Lucy Smoke was my first book by this author, and it definitely will not be my last. As someone who loves witches, witchcraft, and the history surrounding Salem and the witch trials, this one immediately caught my attention.
This is the first book in the Sons of Salem series, and it really does feel like a foundation book in the best way. We get introduced to Ipswich College, the history, the secrets, the magic, and the characters who are clearly going to have so much more to uncover as the series continues.
The story follows Haven Wardwell, who arrives at Ipswich after a really difficult year. She is trying to rebuild her life, but instead finds herself surrounded by mystery, danger, and a past she never knew she was connected to. Learning that her father attended Ipswich and had deep roots there adds another layer to everything Haven is trying to understand about herself and where she comes from.
Then we have the four Sons of Salem: Ezra Bishop, Cameron Goode, Lyall Corey, and Reyes Scott. Each of them has their own baggage, secrets, and connection to this world. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Haven and the guys. This is a why-choose romance, and honestly, I do not think I could pick between them.
This one is definitely more of a slow burn. The romance and tension build throughout the book, and then the last little bit really starts to take off. Since this is book one, there is a lot of world-building and backstory, but I think it sets everything up well for what is coming next.
By the end, I was fully interested in where the story is going. Now that we have the history, the characters, and the secrets starting to unfold, I feel like book two is where everything is really going to explode.
June 20, 2026
Thank you to author, St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF at 42%
Very slow moving book. I’m obsessed with the dark academia so this book was right up my alley, however it is extremely boring and has an insufferable FMC. She goes 0 to 100 in rage towards people for no good reason. She resents her aunt for being cruel to her yet she turns around and does the same thing. She is extremely mean and self centered. This book has so much potential. Love the private college and the connections with the Salem witch trials. The families attached to them. Lots of mystery but the book could not keep me engaged.
DNF at 42%
Very slow moving book. I’m obsessed with the dark academia so this book was right up my alley, however it is extremely boring and has an insufferable FMC. She goes 0 to 100 in rage towards people for no good reason. She resents her aunt for being cruel to her yet she turns around and does the same thing. She is extremely mean and self centered. This book has so much potential. Love the private college and the connections with the Salem witch trials. The families attached to them. Lots of mystery but the book could not keep me engaged.
August 9, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of Hallowed Bones, but unfortunately this was not for me. From the beginning, I found something about the writing style unlikable and inconsistent.
What I struggled with the most here was the insta-lust Haven has to not one, not two, but four men; obviously I knew that this was a Why Choose, but it was immediate upon meeting each man so we didn’t even have to wonder. In general though, I just found everyone in this book odd and unlikeable.
I don’t think I will be continuing this series, even if none of my questions were answered in this book.
What I struggled with the most here was the insta-lust Haven has to not one, not two, but four men; obviously I knew that this was a Why Choose, but it was immediate upon meeting each man so we didn’t even have to wonder. In general though, I just found everyone in this book odd and unlikeable.
I don’t think I will be continuing this series, even if none of my questions were answered in this book.
June 15, 2026
It’s a mixed bag here. On one hand, we have a pretty predictable “why choose” plot, but there were several awkward and eye-rolling moments. The female protagonist is one of the most dense characters I’ve ever encountered. This was a slow-burn romance that got on my nerves halfway through, but it was still strangely captivating. The payoff at the end for the excruciatingly slow pace was definitely worth it. I’ll definitely be returning to this series. The male characters? Drool-worthy and tick all the book boyfriend boxes.
July 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this book in exchange for a review!!
This book definitely gave me a bit of The Covenant and Sabrina vibes iykyk.
OK, I really liked this book. The plot was a lot different than a lot of other books that I’ve read, especially ones including witches. Normally, you read allllllll about female witches, but this one is focused on a male coven with four best friends (the Soms of Salem) and newcomer, Haven. Haven has a bit of a sad and depressing past and shows up at this creepy school not realizing it’s history or what she’s walked into. Without giving any spoilers, let’s just say that her life is not what it seems.
This is definitely a slow burn and the connection with each guy is different and in different stages. One big reason that I gave this four stars is because I didn’t feel like I knew a lot about the male characters. A lot of the conversations that Haven had with each of them felt more like day-to-day conversation rather than me as a reader getting to know them. So, I’m really looking forward to that in future books.
This was my first book by Lucy, but it won’t be my last. I’m also excited that this comes out on my birthday!
This book definitely gave me a bit of The Covenant and Sabrina vibes iykyk.
OK, I really liked this book. The plot was a lot different than a lot of other books that I’ve read, especially ones including witches. Normally, you read allllllll about female witches, but this one is focused on a male coven with four best friends (the Soms of Salem) and newcomer, Haven. Haven has a bit of a sad and depressing past and shows up at this creepy school not realizing it’s history or what she’s walked into. Without giving any spoilers, let’s just say that her life is not what it seems.
This is definitely a slow burn and the connection with each guy is different and in different stages. One big reason that I gave this four stars is because I didn’t feel like I knew a lot about the male characters. A lot of the conversations that Haven had with each of them felt more like day-to-day conversation rather than me as a reader getting to know them. So, I’m really looking forward to that in future books.
This was my first book by Lucy, but it won’t be my last. I’m also excited that this comes out on my birthday!
May 11, 2026
Love. Love. Love this book
Sons of Salem has potential to become one of my favorite series by Lucy.
I have seen some negativity over “insta lust” in this book but I disagree. I do not consider this book insta lust and if anything I wanted it sooner lol. I’m not a slow burn girly. I think insta just is breaking into sex scene right away and that was no where near the case here. It took time. It doesn’t happen till damn near the end of the book. It was more of insta attraction at best.
Anyways. I love how authentic this book was to modern Salem, Wiccan, and witches. The research was there. The credit was given. Lucy really did this book well and I can’t wait for more.
Sons of Salem has potential to become one of my favorite series by Lucy.
I have seen some negativity over “insta lust” in this book but I disagree. I do not consider this book insta lust and if anything I wanted it sooner lol. I’m not a slow burn girly. I think insta just is breaking into sex scene right away and that was no where near the case here. It took time. It doesn’t happen till damn near the end of the book. It was more of insta attraction at best.
Anyways. I love how authentic this book was to modern Salem, Wiccan, and witches. The research was there. The credit was given. Lucy really did this book well and I can’t wait for more.
June 28, 2026
Yikes! That ending was not what I expected!!
I’m here for the witches and the scary vibes. Haven is a bit of a mess but can we blame her considering everything she’s going through?? Hate her aunt. Little suspicious of the Vice Dean. Really enjoyed this and can’t wait for book 2!
I’m here for the witches and the scary vibes. Haven is a bit of a mess but can we blame her considering everything she’s going through?? Hate her aunt. Little suspicious of the Vice Dean. Really enjoyed this and can’t wait for book 2!
Want to Read
May 19, 2026UM... You had me at WHY CHOOSE...
but also super STOKED for this ARC
but also super STOKED for this ARC
May 4, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for my arc copy!
I went into this with really high expectations, I’m not too familiar with this author and the idea of a spooky witch, romance, was everything that I wanted!
But unfortunately this book just really didn’t do it for me, the pacing seemed strange, they were referring to the which trials being done 300 years ago, but they were talking, dressing and acting line it was this year? There was also smut on chapter 4 already, and I’m very much a slow burn reader (my opinion!! Lots of people are the complete opposite of me). I unfortunately didn’t connect and care about any of the characters, and it just felt kind of messy to me.
I absolutely loved the idea behind this story and I’m definitely going to keep a close eye on this author, as I’m definitely very interested to see what she’ll do next! This ARC has a lot of good reviews all ready, so it’s definitely just me. But that’s what an opinion is for :)
I went into this with really high expectations, I’m not too familiar with this author and the idea of a spooky witch, romance, was everything that I wanted!
But unfortunately this book just really didn’t do it for me, the pacing seemed strange, they were referring to the which trials being done 300 years ago, but they were talking, dressing and acting line it was this year? There was also smut on chapter 4 already, and I’m very much a slow burn reader (my opinion!! Lots of people are the complete opposite of me). I unfortunately didn’t connect and care about any of the characters, and it just felt kind of messy to me.
I absolutely loved the idea behind this story and I’m definitely going to keep a close eye on this author, as I’m definitely very interested to see what she’ll do next! This ARC has a lot of good reviews all ready, so it’s definitely just me. But that’s what an opinion is for :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Do you like WITCHES?
Do you like it when witches are HORNY?
Do you like horny witches and REVERSE HAREMS?
Then you might like this book!
Written in the first person POV of five different characters and using present tense, this was interesting to dive into.
Personally? This book was not for me.
The entire thing felt like a nothing burger. If you came into this expecting any sort of dark academia, you'll be misled. College is simply the setting that ends up getting abandoned entirely for interpersonal issues and misunderstandings.
I'm just going to spoiler the rest of the review because I have a lot of thoughts about this book and they're all pretty explicit to the contents of it.
Anyway! That's enough of my ramblings! Thanks for reading the review, if you did. I'm curious to know what other people thought about this book as well.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an advanced review copy of the book!
Do you like it when witches are HORNY?
Do you like horny witches and REVERSE HAREMS?
Then you might like this book!
Written in the first person POV of five different characters and using present tense, this was interesting to dive into.
Personally? This book was not for me.
The entire thing felt like a nothing burger. If you came into this expecting any sort of dark academia, you'll be misled. College is simply the setting that ends up getting abandoned entirely for interpersonal issues and misunderstandings.
I'm just going to spoiler the rest of the review because I have a lot of thoughts about this book and they're all pretty explicit to the contents of it.
Anyway! That's enough of my ramblings! Thanks for reading the review, if you did. I'm curious to know what other people thought about this book as well.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an advanced review copy of the book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
***ARC courtesy of St. Martin's Press and NetGalley***
Tropes: Dark Academia, Witches, Why Choose?
Spice: 3/5
Trigger Warnings
I typically stay away from the dark romance genre as well as any academia tropes. This book was stacked against me but as this was an ARC sent directly to me, no way was I going to turn down the opportunity. This was also my first Lucy Smoke read, but thankfully I was aware of her previous writings. As for my personal enjoyment, I would only give this book a 2/5 as I did not particular care for the subject matter and never felt connected to the characters. As a reader who is here to judge/hype by removing my biases, it is a solid 3/5 read.
Lucy Smoke's writing makes it clear that she has a degree in literature. Her writing does not feel immature or inexperienced. The descriptions of the landscape, the architecture of the buildings, and the creepy monsters were spot on; I honestly wanted to be reading with a light on because I do get spooked easily. She puts you right in the moment.
As for the book itself, the summary is fairly accurate. Our FMC has been admitted to a college in Ipswich, a college that she has a full rise scholarship due to her family legacy, though she has never heard of this school before. Both parents died in a fire one year prior and she only has vague recollections of that dreadful night. Upon arriving at the school, she quickly learns of four mysterious men who are rumored to be witches. Their families have been rooted in Ipswich for hundreds of years, and despite their devastating good looks, people give them a wide berth. We quickly learn that the rumors are indeed true; not only are they witches, but their families have been cursed for three hundred years. They need a female witch born into their bloodline to finally break the cycle.
Our FMC has been plagued by nightmares and odd disturbances in the past year. The boys quickly identify her as their savior. She has witch blood and she belongs to their coven. The story follows her reluctance to learn the truth, their persistence at chasing her, and the overall instant lust that blooms between all of them.
Lucy Smoke describes the instant lust as the attraction between their magics. I appreciate that basis instead of instant lust based purely on looks alone. All of the men are described as good looking, though I cannot remember what all of them look like now that I have finished reading. I know one wears glasses, one has a top knot, and one has scars all over his face. Maybe the lack of descriptors was intentional as it allows the readers to let their imagination run wild.
My first critique is that unfortunately this book does not pass the Bechdel test. I understand that many romance novels do not pass the test, but with this book, it quickly became a story about a damsel in distress and the four boys who want to save her. I would have appreciated meeting other students besides her roommate. I would have loved going to one of her classes. We were introduced to the Dean and Vice Dean of the school and I would have loved more information about the two of them. By the end of the book, we know those two are somehow involved in the witchy business, so maybe their lack of information is intentional and will be expanded in book two.
I also wanted a lot more background into the boys themselves. I would have happily read another 100 pages if they were given more depth. The chapter headers offered some insight into their emotions, but I can't even name all of their parents. I wanted to see them perform another spell or talk to their elder a few more times. I wanted to be present in their magic lessons with the FMC. Instead, we were told that she had completed her lesson with them or they handed her a book to read. I do not understand the cost of magic, only some of the consequences of using too much magic.
I understand that a lot of history between the families will be saved for book two. I hope we learn the more details about the fire that killed her parents. Did she accidentally kill them? Was it another coven? Was it magic-related at all?
As for the spice, it is delayed gratification. We know of their reactions towards each other and there may be some steamy kisses, but save your blushing cheeks for book two.
Because these tropes are not my favorite, I will not pursue book two. If I know someone who reads it, I will ask them what happens by the end.
Tropes: Dark Academia, Witches, Why Choose?
Spice: 3/5
Trigger Warnings
I typically stay away from the dark romance genre as well as any academia tropes. This book was stacked against me but as this was an ARC sent directly to me, no way was I going to turn down the opportunity. This was also my first Lucy Smoke read, but thankfully I was aware of her previous writings. As for my personal enjoyment, I would only give this book a 2/5 as I did not particular care for the subject matter and never felt connected to the characters. As a reader who is here to judge/hype by removing my biases, it is a solid 3/5 read.
Lucy Smoke's writing makes it clear that she has a degree in literature. Her writing does not feel immature or inexperienced. The descriptions of the landscape, the architecture of the buildings, and the creepy monsters were spot on; I honestly wanted to be reading with a light on because I do get spooked easily. She puts you right in the moment.
As for the book itself, the summary is fairly accurate. Our FMC has been admitted to a college in Ipswich, a college that she has a full rise scholarship due to her family legacy, though she has never heard of this school before. Both parents died in a fire one year prior and she only has vague recollections of that dreadful night. Upon arriving at the school, she quickly learns of four mysterious men who are rumored to be witches. Their families have been rooted in Ipswich for hundreds of years, and despite their devastating good looks, people give them a wide berth. We quickly learn that the rumors are indeed true; not only are they witches, but their families have been cursed for three hundred years. They need a female witch born into their bloodline to finally break the cycle.
Our FMC has been plagued by nightmares and odd disturbances in the past year. The boys quickly identify her as their savior. She has witch blood and she belongs to their coven. The story follows her reluctance to learn the truth, their persistence at chasing her, and the overall instant lust that blooms between all of them.
Lucy Smoke describes the instant lust as the attraction between their magics. I appreciate that basis instead of instant lust based purely on looks alone. All of the men are described as good looking, though I cannot remember what all of them look like now that I have finished reading. I know one wears glasses, one has a top knot, and one has scars all over his face. Maybe the lack of descriptors was intentional as it allows the readers to let their imagination run wild.
My first critique is that unfortunately this book does not pass the Bechdel test. I understand that many romance novels do not pass the test, but with this book, it quickly became a story about a damsel in distress and the four boys who want to save her. I would have appreciated meeting other students besides her roommate. I would have loved going to one of her classes. We were introduced to the Dean and Vice Dean of the school and I would have loved more information about the two of them. By the end of the book, we know those two are somehow involved in the witchy business, so maybe their lack of information is intentional and will be expanded in book two.
I also wanted a lot more background into the boys themselves. I would have happily read another 100 pages if they were given more depth. The chapter headers offered some insight into their emotions, but I can't even name all of their parents. I wanted to see them perform another spell or talk to their elder a few more times. I wanted to be present in their magic lessons with the FMC. Instead, we were told that she had completed her lesson with them or they handed her a book to read. I do not understand the cost of magic, only some of the consequences of using too much magic.
I understand that a lot of history between the families will be saved for book two. I hope we learn the more details about the fire that killed her parents. Did she accidentally kill them? Was it another coven? Was it magic-related at all?
As for the spice, it is delayed gratification. We know of their reactions towards each other and there may be some steamy kisses, but save your blushing cheeks for book two.
Because these tropes are not my favorite, I will not pursue book two. If I know someone who reads it, I will ask them what happens by the end.
May 21, 2026
Hallowed Bones | Lucy Smoke
🖤🖤🖤🖤.5/5
Your ghoul has not been reading enough dark romance lately and it shows...because I absolutely inhaled this book like it had been hexed directly for me.
“Hallowed Bones” by Lucy Smoke drops you into a dark, cursed academic world layered with ancient bloodlines, secret covens, dangerous magic, and a heroine who’s far more tied to it all than she realizes. Haven Wardwell is pulled into Ipswich College, where old power hums beneath every corridor and every whispered warning seems to circle back to one thing: stay away from the Sons of Salem.
Naturally… she does not. And thank every dark goddess for that because we’re asking my favorite question here: WHY CHOOSE? And Lucy Smoke said, “you don’t have to, babe”.
In this story, we get four MMCs (Ezra, Cameron, Lyall and Reyes) and every single one of them is dangerously addictive in their own way: alluring, obsessive and emotionally bruised. The romantic tension in this book is slow-burn torture in the best way. There’s immediate chemistry, heat simmering under nearly every interaction, that had me speed-reading like my life depended on it.
Now let’s talk vibes and witch-lore. As a New England ghoulie myself, the entire Sons of Salem witch-bloodline storyline scratched a deeply nostalgic itch within my spooky little soul. The covens, the lineage politics, the curses, the history woven into the magic system, it felt rich and intentional. You can tell care was taken to make the world feel lived in, haunted, and deeply rooted in old power.
And if you’re someone like me who absolutely wore out your Covenant DVD in the 00's while side-eyeing the Sons of Ipswich like they were your entire personality? This is going to be your bread, butter, and probably your dark ceremonial wine.
Haven was also a pretty solid FMC for me; angry, isolated, stubborn, and not overly polished. She felt messy in a way that worked. I liked that she wasn’t instantly all-knowing or perfectly composed. The only reason this wasn’t a full 5 stars for me is my wee-little struggle with the pacing. There were moments where I wanted things to move faster and Haven’s resistance to fully accepting certain truths occasionally tested my patience. But honestly? The mystery, romance, and atmosphere kept me locked in.
And that ending? Honestly, how dare you (complimentary)! Now I need the next book like I need oxygen.
Tropes!
🖤 Slow burn romance
🔥 Why choose/reverse harem
⚡Obsessive MMCs
🕯 Dark academia/gothic atmosphere
✨ Witches & bloodline magic
🌙 Cursed legacies
🕸 Multi-POV
📚 Found family-ish dynamics
If you love cursed boys, dark academia, witch politics, and a why-choose setup full of emotionally unstable hot men, add this to your TBR immediately. Then, grab your copy of Hallowed Bones on October 6, 2026, just in time for the spooky season.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and Lucy Smoke for the opportunity to be read and revel in this book.
🖤🖤🖤🖤.5/5
Your ghoul has not been reading enough dark romance lately and it shows...because I absolutely inhaled this book like it had been hexed directly for me.
“Hallowed Bones” by Lucy Smoke drops you into a dark, cursed academic world layered with ancient bloodlines, secret covens, dangerous magic, and a heroine who’s far more tied to it all than she realizes. Haven Wardwell is pulled into Ipswich College, where old power hums beneath every corridor and every whispered warning seems to circle back to one thing: stay away from the Sons of Salem.
Naturally… she does not. And thank every dark goddess for that because we’re asking my favorite question here: WHY CHOOSE? And Lucy Smoke said, “you don’t have to, babe”.
In this story, we get four MMCs (Ezra, Cameron, Lyall and Reyes) and every single one of them is dangerously addictive in their own way: alluring, obsessive and emotionally bruised. The romantic tension in this book is slow-burn torture in the best way. There’s immediate chemistry, heat simmering under nearly every interaction, that had me speed-reading like my life depended on it.
Now let’s talk vibes and witch-lore. As a New England ghoulie myself, the entire Sons of Salem witch-bloodline storyline scratched a deeply nostalgic itch within my spooky little soul. The covens, the lineage politics, the curses, the history woven into the magic system, it felt rich and intentional. You can tell care was taken to make the world feel lived in, haunted, and deeply rooted in old power.
And if you’re someone like me who absolutely wore out your Covenant DVD in the 00's while side-eyeing the Sons of Ipswich like they were your entire personality? This is going to be your bread, butter, and probably your dark ceremonial wine.
Haven was also a pretty solid FMC for me; angry, isolated, stubborn, and not overly polished. She felt messy in a way that worked. I liked that she wasn’t instantly all-knowing or perfectly composed. The only reason this wasn’t a full 5 stars for me is my wee-little struggle with the pacing. There were moments where I wanted things to move faster and Haven’s resistance to fully accepting certain truths occasionally tested my patience. But honestly? The mystery, romance, and atmosphere kept me locked in.
And that ending? Honestly, how dare you (complimentary)! Now I need the next book like I need oxygen.
Tropes!
🖤 Slow burn romance
🔥 Why choose/reverse harem
⚡Obsessive MMCs
🕯 Dark academia/gothic atmosphere
✨ Witches & bloodline magic
🌙 Cursed legacies
🕸 Multi-POV
📚 Found family-ish dynamics
If you love cursed boys, dark academia, witch politics, and a why-choose setup full of emotionally unstable hot men, add this to your TBR immediately. Then, grab your copy of Hallowed Bones on October 6, 2026, just in time for the spooky season.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and Lucy Smoke for the opportunity to be read and revel in this book.
June 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Lucy Smoke for an advanced reader’s copy of “Hallowed Bones”. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW I LOVED THIS BOOK. IT WAS GENUINELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS I’VE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR!
To begin, it is incredibly atmospheric. It has a very dark Addams Family (Wednesday goes to boarding school) feel to it but without the silly or comical undertones. I read this in the middle of the summer and these vibes were still somehow perfect— I can’t even imagine how impeccable the dark academia vibes will feel during the fall!!
“Hallowed Bones” is steeped in mystery and suspense, and I’m obsessed with how on-my-toes the author kept me for the entirety of the book. Each time we get answers, we’re left with more questions. It was such a fun way to be left in really dark suspense.
As I was getting close to the end of the book, I couldn’t imagine how the book would end, and the ending and the plot twist absolutely shook me.
My biggest complaint, by far, is that this is book one of the series, and it comes out in October, which means I have NO IDEA how long I’ll need to wait for book two. And this is obviously not really a complaint, but rather a huge compliment.
I briefly read a review that said it was annoyed by the insta-lust, and normally I am incredibly bothered by insta-love, but insta-love feels like a much more genuine and real reaction to me. The immediate lust in this book has its purpose, and I still hold firm that while insta-love is annoying and difficult to buy, lots of people experience lust immediately— that’s kind of the nature of attraction!
The reviews followed up by saying they wanted yearning and slow-burns… But that makes me feel like they didn’t read this book all the way through. Because although there is instant attraction, Haven, our female main character, is not simply swayed by physical attraction— there is a huge aspect of yearning, denying, and slow-burn, even up until the very end of the book.
And again, the chemistry in this book has a REASON.
All this to say, I really enjoyed the attractions, the chemistry, and the unique relationships in this book. I thought everything was incredibly well-written, captivating, super addicting, and extremely steamy. Lucy Smoke writes chemistry INCREDIBLY WELL. 🔥🔥🔥
I could go on and on, but basically, I was just simply obsessed with “Hallowed Bones”. I loved the witchy lore, the unique take on covens and magic, the why-choose element, the dark academia vibes, the mysteries, the downright scary moments, and the relationships in this book.
As long as someone is okay with a book that’s a little unhinged and outside of the normal box, I will absolutely be recommending this book to them. It was WONDERFUL. ♥️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW I LOVED THIS BOOK. IT WAS GENUINELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS I’VE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR!
To begin, it is incredibly atmospheric. It has a very dark Addams Family (Wednesday goes to boarding school) feel to it but without the silly or comical undertones. I read this in the middle of the summer and these vibes were still somehow perfect— I can’t even imagine how impeccable the dark academia vibes will feel during the fall!!
“Hallowed Bones” is steeped in mystery and suspense, and I’m obsessed with how on-my-toes the author kept me for the entirety of the book. Each time we get answers, we’re left with more questions. It was such a fun way to be left in really dark suspense.
As I was getting close to the end of the book, I couldn’t imagine how the book would end, and the ending and the plot twist absolutely shook me.
My biggest complaint, by far, is that this is book one of the series, and it comes out in October, which means I have NO IDEA how long I’ll need to wait for book two. And this is obviously not really a complaint, but rather a huge compliment.
I briefly read a review that said it was annoyed by the insta-lust, and normally I am incredibly bothered by insta-love, but insta-love feels like a much more genuine and real reaction to me. The immediate lust in this book has its purpose, and I still hold firm that while insta-love is annoying and difficult to buy, lots of people experience lust immediately— that’s kind of the nature of attraction!
The reviews followed up by saying they wanted yearning and slow-burns… But that makes me feel like they didn’t read this book all the way through. Because although there is instant attraction, Haven, our female main character, is not simply swayed by physical attraction— there is a huge aspect of yearning, denying, and slow-burn, even up until the very end of the book.
And again, the chemistry in this book has a REASON.
All this to say, I really enjoyed the attractions, the chemistry, and the unique relationships in this book. I thought everything was incredibly well-written, captivating, super addicting, and extremely steamy. Lucy Smoke writes chemistry INCREDIBLY WELL. 🔥🔥🔥
I could go on and on, but basically, I was just simply obsessed with “Hallowed Bones”. I loved the witchy lore, the unique take on covens and magic, the why-choose element, the dark academia vibes, the mysteries, the downright scary moments, and the relationships in this book.
As long as someone is okay with a book that’s a little unhinged and outside of the normal box, I will absolutely be recommending this book to them. It was WONDERFUL. ♥️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The basic premise of the book is that Haven, after having lost her parents and subsequently suffered from several unexplainable circumstances, is looking for a fresh start at college in Ipswich. There, however, she encounters the Sons of Salem. They are descendants of the witches who suffered during the Witch Trails of Salem. She's immediately drawn to them and scared of them in equal measure - so we're dealing with a why choose romance (this is something I enjoy). They, on the other hand, know something she does not - she's one of them.
Let's start with the things that absolutely work for this book. The writing itself is very good, with an ability to really sell the atmosphere of the environment. The tension in the book in terms of suspense when encountering creepy or dangerous things was quite good and kept me flipping pages. The overall concept of the book is both intriguing and something that makes me want to know more. It was creative and interesting. The monsters they encounter, the mysterious deaths that happen, the ongoing mystery, the rather macabre feeling school - all of these lend well to the overall tone of the book.
Things which diminished my overall enjoyment of the book include the pacing and the multiple POVs. In terms of pacing, I felt the story went a bit slow in the first 50% of the book. It was quite a bit of "oh look how mysterious those guys are" followed by "no, I can't be one of them." This went on for what seemed far too long. Finally, the book picked up and then went quite quick for the latter half of the book. So much so that I felt like I missed parts at times but this could have been due to the everchanging POVs as well.
Speaking of the POVs in this book. There were five. This was a lot and it made the story confusing far too many times. I felt myself going back to the beginning of the chapter several times to remind myself of which POV I was reading. Additionally, it made me feel like I missed events in the plot. I would be reading something that happened and it would reference an earlier event I didn't recall happened at all. I would, again, have to flip back and yes, it was there but due to the POV change, the way it was presented didn't come across. Basically, it made several parts of the book unnecessarily confusing.
Given my issues, I still think this was an engaging and interesting book. These are not insurmountable things to enjoying the book but did take me out of the story enough that I noticed them. I am undecided on if I would continue this series or not given this information. Three stars.
The basic premise of the book is that Haven, after having lost her parents and subsequently suffered from several unexplainable circumstances, is looking for a fresh start at college in Ipswich. There, however, she encounters the Sons of Salem. They are descendants of the witches who suffered during the Witch Trails of Salem. She's immediately drawn to them and scared of them in equal measure - so we're dealing with a why choose romance (this is something I enjoy). They, on the other hand, know something she does not - she's one of them.
Let's start with the things that absolutely work for this book. The writing itself is very good, with an ability to really sell the atmosphere of the environment. The tension in the book in terms of suspense when encountering creepy or dangerous things was quite good and kept me flipping pages. The overall concept of the book is both intriguing and something that makes me want to know more. It was creative and interesting. The monsters they encounter, the mysterious deaths that happen, the ongoing mystery, the rather macabre feeling school - all of these lend well to the overall tone of the book.
Things which diminished my overall enjoyment of the book include the pacing and the multiple POVs. In terms of pacing, I felt the story went a bit slow in the first 50% of the book. It was quite a bit of "oh look how mysterious those guys are" followed by "no, I can't be one of them." This went on for what seemed far too long. Finally, the book picked up and then went quite quick for the latter half of the book. So much so that I felt like I missed parts at times but this could have been due to the everchanging POVs as well.
Speaking of the POVs in this book. There were five. This was a lot and it made the story confusing far too many times. I felt myself going back to the beginning of the chapter several times to remind myself of which POV I was reading. Additionally, it made me feel like I missed events in the plot. I would be reading something that happened and it would reference an earlier event I didn't recall happened at all. I would, again, have to flip back and yes, it was there but due to the POV change, the way it was presented didn't come across. Basically, it made several parts of the book unnecessarily confusing.
Given my issues, I still think this was an engaging and interesting book. These are not insurmountable things to enjoying the book but did take me out of the story enough that I noticed them. I am undecided on if I would continue this series or not given this information. Three stars.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
♡ Character(s) Chemistry: 6/10
♡ Ezra: 7
♡ Cameron: 9
♡ Lyall: 2.5
♡ Reyes: 6.5
♡ Dialogue/Banter: 7/10
♡ Plot: 8.5/10
♡ Smut: 8/10
♡ FMC: 9/10
♡ MMC: 7/10
♡ Ezra: 9
♡ Cameron: 9
♡ Lyall: 4
♡ Reyes: 7
I rated every guy separately based on their own characterization and the chemistry with the FMC.
First, I’d like to say thank you to the publishing company and Goodreads for doing the giveaway that allowed me to read this ARC, I am very grateful.
While I normally do not like the why choose genre for a lot of reasons, I do love witches and dark academia so I was interested in giving this book a chance by entering the giveaway. I’m glad I did because it was a fun read, though there wasn’t much…academia in the book except as a backdrop. I did enjoy the plot a lot, and I found the pacing to largely be very well done—though there were some abrupt jumps into relationship progression between the FMC and the MMCs that felt a little odd to me (especially with Ezra).
My biggest criticism is the characterization inconsistency. I’m not sure if it’s a plot intention or not yet, but Ezra having two distinctly different eye colors at different points in the book threw me off and felt like the author forgot what color eyes he had. Lyall’s entire characterization feels messy and incoherent, almost like he couldn’t decide what tropes to be and stick to them. Cameron felt the most stable of everyone in terms of characterization and I liked him the second most behind Ezra. Reyes just felt like he was there and I think by the end of the book, the author felt the same lmao.
I also didn’t like that some of the relationship progression felt shoehorned in or progressed just for the sake of having the FMC “round robin” with everyone equally and fairly. That made some of the scenes rather awkward, especially the one with Ezra near the end because they felt rushed and forced instead of there being lead up to those vulnerable and intimate moments.
I do love the MMCs and I look forward to seeing how they progress in the story, especially Ezra because he was my favorite. I hope he gets more care in the second book in terms of screen time. Anyway, the story itself is really interesting and despite the abrupt cliffhanger, I am looking forward to the second book and finding out what is going on with Haven. This series has the potential to be very rich in its world building, but also its magic system building if the time is taken to expand on it (especially with things like Reyes’s dreamwalking).
♡ Ezra: 7
♡ Cameron: 9
♡ Lyall: 2.5
♡ Reyes: 6.5
♡ Dialogue/Banter: 7/10
♡ Plot: 8.5/10
♡ Smut: 8/10
♡ FMC: 9/10
♡ MMC: 7/10
♡ Ezra: 9
♡ Cameron: 9
♡ Lyall: 4
♡ Reyes: 7
I rated every guy separately based on their own characterization and the chemistry with the FMC.
First, I’d like to say thank you to the publishing company and Goodreads for doing the giveaway that allowed me to read this ARC, I am very grateful.
While I normally do not like the why choose genre for a lot of reasons, I do love witches and dark academia so I was interested in giving this book a chance by entering the giveaway. I’m glad I did because it was a fun read, though there wasn’t much…academia in the book except as a backdrop. I did enjoy the plot a lot, and I found the pacing to largely be very well done—though there were some abrupt jumps into relationship progression between the FMC and the MMCs that felt a little odd to me (especially with Ezra).
My biggest criticism is the characterization inconsistency. I’m not sure if it’s a plot intention or not yet, but Ezra having two distinctly different eye colors at different points in the book threw me off and felt like the author forgot what color eyes he had. Lyall’s entire characterization feels messy and incoherent, almost like he couldn’t decide what tropes to be and stick to them. Cameron felt the most stable of everyone in terms of characterization and I liked him the second most behind Ezra. Reyes just felt like he was there and I think by the end of the book, the author felt the same lmao.
I also didn’t like that some of the relationship progression felt shoehorned in or progressed just for the sake of having the FMC “round robin” with everyone equally and fairly. That made some of the scenes rather awkward, especially the one with Ezra near the end because they felt rushed and forced instead of there being lead up to those vulnerable and intimate moments.
I do love the MMCs and I look forward to seeing how they progress in the story, especially Ezra because he was my favorite. I hope he gets more care in the second book in terms of screen time. Anyway, the story itself is really interesting and despite the abrupt cliffhanger, I am looking forward to the second book and finding out what is going on with Haven. This series has the potential to be very rich in its world building, but also its magic system building if the time is taken to expand on it (especially with things like Reyes’s dreamwalking).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars
*Hallowed Bones* is a dark, atmospheric introduction to Lucy Smoke's *Sons of Salem* series that blends witchcraft, mystery, dark academia, and romance into an addictive read.
What immediately stood out to me was the character work. Haven Wardwell is a compelling protagonist whose caution and skepticism felt refreshing. As the first female witch born in four hundred years, she's thrust into a world full of expectations, secrets, and danger. I appreciated that she didn't immediately trust Ezra, Cameron, Lyall, and Reyes. Instead, those relationships developed gradually, making the emotional connections feel far more authentic and rewarding.
The four male leads each bring their own distinct personalities, secrets, and emotional baggage to the story. Rather than feeling interchangeable, they each contribute something unique to the dynamic, and uncovering their individual layers became one of my favorite aspects of the book.
The atmosphere is wonderfully immersive. Ipswich Academy practically becomes a character in its own right, with its haunted corridors, hidden secrets, dark history, and ever-present sense of unease. Lucy Smoke creates a world that feels rich with mystery and supernatural intrigue.
Early in the story, I found myself drawing comparisons to *The Covenant* and *Fallen*. The magical legacies, academy setting, and supernatural tension felt familiar in some ways. However, around the halfway point, the story began carving out its own identity, expanding its mythology and deepening the mystery in ways that kept me fully invested.
While the pacing in the first half occasionally felt slower as the worldbuilding and relationships were established, the payoff was worth it. The final portion of the book significantly raised the stakes, delivering revelations, emotional moments, and enough twists to keep me turning pages.
The last two chapters were easily my favorite part of the novel. They brought together many of the threads woven throughout the story and left me eager to see what comes next. The cliffhanger absolutely threw me for a loop, but in the best possible way. Rather than feeling frustrated, I finished the book immediately wanting the next installment in my hands.
Overall, *Hallowed Bones* is a strong start to what promises to be an intriguing series. Fans of dark academia, witchy romances, paranormal mysteries, morally complex characters, and slow-burn relationship development will find plenty to enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*Hallowed Bones* is a dark, atmospheric introduction to Lucy Smoke's *Sons of Salem* series that blends witchcraft, mystery, dark academia, and romance into an addictive read.
What immediately stood out to me was the character work. Haven Wardwell is a compelling protagonist whose caution and skepticism felt refreshing. As the first female witch born in four hundred years, she's thrust into a world full of expectations, secrets, and danger. I appreciated that she didn't immediately trust Ezra, Cameron, Lyall, and Reyes. Instead, those relationships developed gradually, making the emotional connections feel far more authentic and rewarding.
The four male leads each bring their own distinct personalities, secrets, and emotional baggage to the story. Rather than feeling interchangeable, they each contribute something unique to the dynamic, and uncovering their individual layers became one of my favorite aspects of the book.
The atmosphere is wonderfully immersive. Ipswich Academy practically becomes a character in its own right, with its haunted corridors, hidden secrets, dark history, and ever-present sense of unease. Lucy Smoke creates a world that feels rich with mystery and supernatural intrigue.
Early in the story, I found myself drawing comparisons to *The Covenant* and *Fallen*. The magical legacies, academy setting, and supernatural tension felt familiar in some ways. However, around the halfway point, the story began carving out its own identity, expanding its mythology and deepening the mystery in ways that kept me fully invested.
While the pacing in the first half occasionally felt slower as the worldbuilding and relationships were established, the payoff was worth it. The final portion of the book significantly raised the stakes, delivering revelations, emotional moments, and enough twists to keep me turning pages.
The last two chapters were easily my favorite part of the novel. They brought together many of the threads woven throughout the story and left me eager to see what comes next. The cliffhanger absolutely threw me for a loop, but in the best possible way. Rather than feeling frustrated, I finished the book immediately wanting the next installment in my hands.
Overall, *Hallowed Bones* is a strong start to what promises to be an intriguing series. Fans of dark academia, witchy romances, paranormal mysteries, morally complex characters, and slow-burn relationship development will find plenty to enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews