Hallowed Bones

Sons of Salem #1

by Lucy Smoke

The first in The Sons of Salem series, a witchy dark romance by USA Today bestselling author Lucy Smoke.

Four men. One girl. Five families accused of witchcraft. A dark secret they all hide.

Their souls are damaged, hiding secrets and harboring just as much hate as I am.

Ezra Bishop
Cameron Goode
Lyall Corey
Reyes Scott

And me. Haven Wardwell.

They are the monsters hidden in the shadows, but I am no novice when it comes to monsters.

We are all legacies, but there’s one grand difference between us. I am the first female witch born in four hundred years.

Now that I’m here, there’s no telling what the dark gods will ask for in return.

Death and ghosts haunt the corridors of Ipswich Academy. If I’m not careful, I might become one of them.

Genres: Why Choose, Paranormal, Fantasy, Witches, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

Lucy 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.


Reviews

[Sheri | HawksNestReads🪶 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Sophie ❦]

Another 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!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨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.

[mackenzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

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!

[har.]

got the arc!! but now i'm scared cause of the reviews lol

[Ashley R · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Gia · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Brittney - TwoDogsandaBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Nicole del Rosso · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Freya · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Dani's Book Spiral · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Aly Carnevale · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kristina Nichole]

UM... You had me at WHY CHOOSE...

but also super STOKED for this ARC

[azalia . · Rating 1 out of 5]

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 :)

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

***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.

[ReadTheHotline · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Madalyn Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. ♥️

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[princess ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

♡ 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).

[Reinecko · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review

This wasn’t a bad book, but it’s not special or memorable. It doesn’t stand out among the hundreds of other reverse harem, paranormal academy book series. If this wasn’t an ARC, I probably would have DNF and I don’t plan on reading the second book.

My biggest issue is that very little actually happens, while the writing spends an excessive amount of time on unimportant details. So the author will spend 2 paragraphs describing Haven taking a shower, but 1 sentence describing the 5 classes of magic. At the 50% mark, I wrote down what happened and it was just ‘She meets the guys, sees a creature and the guys have finally revealed magic to her’.

Things I liked
* The monsters are incredibly creepy

Things the book doesn’t explain
* How the magic system works. The book mentions twice that there are 5 classes but doesn’t go into detail. I’m not even sure what Cameron’s magic class is and what magic he does. The book doesn’t even reveal the name of the 5th class. Why be so coy about this information?
* How exactly are the boys cursed? They keep on talking about how the bloodlines are dying and how they might be the last generation. Why would their generation be the last? How many bloodlines did there used to be?
* I have no idea why the book is named Hallowed Bones.
* Ezra’s sad past is referred to multiple times, but we don’t find out any specific besides an abusive father. The other boys cryptically tells Haven to ask Ezra. Again, why be so coy about this information?
* What roles does Amelie and her brother have in the magic community?


Things I didn’t like
* The “two wolves inside us” story is already a very obvious metaphor. You don’t need to explain it to us.
* Why is Haven so antagonistic towards the guys? Because Cameron didn’t shake her hand when they first met? Because Ezra was a bit possessive right before saving her life? She even gets angry at them when they send her a book about magic. Her unjustified antagonism made me dislike her.
* Haven’s denial about magic became irritating. She learns magic is hereditary, discovers her father was involved with the coven, sees creatures, weird things happen around her, and literally meets Reyes through dreams. Why is she shocked that she might be magical?
* Haven’s lack of magical training endangers herself and everyone else. Why does Ezra want to give Haven a choice in not being trained? This is not a difficult ethical dilemma.

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley

Hallowed Bones • Lucy Smoke

This book feels like stepping into a cursed gothic academy where the walls whisper secrets, the boys are emotionally unstable in the hottest way possible, and literally everyone seems one bad decision away from complete destruction 😮‍💨🖤

Lucy Smoke absolutely NAILED the dark academia atmosphere in this one. Ipswich Academy felt alive in the creepiest, most addictive way with haunted corridors, ancient bloodlines, hidden magic, secret societies, dark gods, and this constant lingering feeling that something terrible is coming.

And honestly?
I ate it UP.

Haven Wardwell was such a solid FMC for me. Angry, stubborn, isolated, messy, powerful… she never felt overly polished or unrealistically perfect. There’s something so compelling about watching her navigate being the first female witch born in centuries while everyone around her either fears her, wants her, or wants to use her.

And the men???
Yeah… Lucy Smoke knew EXACTLY what she was doing.

Ezra.
Cameron.
Lyall.
Reyes.

Each one brought a completely different energy to the story and I loved how distinct their dynamics with Haven felt. The tension between all of them was absolute slow burn torture in the best possible way. Every interaction felt charged with secrets, obsession, and emotional damage 😭

The WHY CHOOSE setup in this book worked SO well because none of the relationships felt rushed. It’s all simmering tension, layered attraction, and emotionally chaotic “I hate how much I want you” energy.

Also as someone obsessed with witchy New England vibes???
The coven politics and bloodline magic scratched something in my spooky little soul 🕯️

✨ Tropes & vibes:
🖤 why choose romance
🕯 dark academia
✨ witches & bloodline magic
🔥 obsessive morally gray MMCs
👀 secret societies
🌙 cursed legacies
📚 gothic academy setting
🖤 slow burn tension
⚡ paranormal romance
🕸 emotionally damaged characters

📚 Read this if you like:
The Covenant vibes, dark gothic academies, cursed magical bloodlines, emotionally unstable hot men, secret societies, witch lore, and slow burn reverse harem tension that makes you feral.

And THAT ending???
Lucy Smoke respectfully… how dare you 😭

#HallowedBones #LucySmoke #DarkAcademia #WhyChooseRomance #ParanormalRomance @stmartinspress

[Kali Favino Davenport · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of Hallowed Bones in exchange for an honest review.

Despite some of the lower ratings I've seen, I genuinely enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. Hallowed Bones is a promising start to what looks like an intriguing new series, and it left me eager to see where the story goes next.

One criticism I've seen from other reviewers is the use of multiple points of view, but I actually enjoyed that aspect of the story. Multiple viewpoints allow readers to better understand what other characters are thinking and feeling, and they provide valuable context for events unfolding around the main character.

As a fan of reverse harem romances, I was immediately drawn to the dynamic developing between the heroine and the Sons of Salem. The atmosphere and relationships gave me strong Darkmore Penitentiary vibes, which is definitely a compliment from me. While the romance is still developing, I can already see the potential for some compelling relationships in future installments.

The main character frustrated me at times. Considering everything she's been through, I found myself wishing she would trust that the Sons of Salem are genuinely trying to help her. At the same time, I also wanted the Sons to be more forthcoming with information. Being warned about dangers and secrets would go a long way toward helping her navigate the increasingly complicated situation she finds herself in.

Could there have been more character development? Absolutely. Were there questions left unanswered? Definitely. But for me, those shortcomings didn't outweigh how invested I became in the story. The mystery kept me engaged, the pacing made it difficult to stop reading, and the world Lucy Smoke is building has a lot of potential.

Overall, I really enjoyed Hallowed Bones and am looking forward to continuing the series. If you enjoy paranormal romance, multiple viewpoints, reverse harem dynamics, and stories that leave you eager for answers, this one is worth checking out.

Drink Flavor: Blackberry Mocha cold brew for all those dark vibes
Ice Cream Flavor: Black Cherry Dark Chocolate - for all the drama desire and slightly dangerous feel
Song: Taylor Swift Who's Afraid of Little Old Me"

[vicsbookshelves · Rating 2 out of 5]

•───⋅⋆⁺‧₊☽⛦☾₊‧⁺⋆⋅───•

My rating: ★★☆☆☆

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Netgalley and Lucy Smoke for the eARC.

The combination of witches, a gothic academic setting, and a why-choose romance was literally screaming my name so I knew I had to pick this up. From the description, Hallowed Bones seemed captivating and right up my alley but while there were aspects I enjoyed, this ended up not being exactly what I expected.

The Salem dark gothic academic atmosphere was a big draw in the book but it quickly fell to the side as the school setting barely played a role in the story. Beyond it adding to the aesthetic and being a place where they all happened to be, it never became a theme which was a bit disappointing.

Given the prophecy and the setup of all the "weird" things happening around Haven, I expected the story to focus heavily on accepting her witch background, learning to control her powers, and eventually standing alongside the four men to face some sort of larger threat like the killer for example. Instead I found myself 75% through the book wondering where the plot was headed because Haven hadn't even fully accepted that she was even a witch yet. I can understand why Haven struggled with acceptance of that especially with her parental status but it just felt repetitive when the guys were like "Oh no we can't tell her" versus "We need her".

The multiple POVs was also a bit of a miss for me. Writing five POVs and making sure that each character is unique isn't a walk in the park so I know that were a lot of effort to making sure that each guy felt distinct. Some stood out to me more than others (Ezra, I'm looking at you - I just love a deep broody man) and I liked the different personalities each one had. Unfortunately the constant switching between POVs made the pacing feel a bit choppy at times and there were times I wished for someone else's perspective when reading a chapter.

Overall, I think this was an easy nighttime read but it left me with too many questions and desires for more to be satisfying. There is also a cliffhanger at the end that completely changed the entire course of the book so just keep that in mind when going into it.

[KC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book Review: Hallowed Bones by Lucy Smoke

Hallowed Bones had all the ingredients of a book I should have loved: a gothic witch academy, cursed bloodlines, secret societies, and a supposedly dangerous magical history buried beneath Ipswich Academy. Unfortunately, once the atmosphere wears off, the story reveals itself to be the same romantasy structure that has been recycled endlessly over the last few years, just repackaged with a prettier cover and darker aesthetic.

The setup follows Haven Wardwell, the first female witch born in centuries, arriving at the academy and immediately becoming the center of attention for four heirs from powerful magical families. The book hints at deeper mythology surrounding forbidden magic, prophecy, and the school’s hidden past, but those ideas never develop with enough depth to carry the narrative. Instead, nearly every thread loops back into the same cycle of attraction, jealousy, territorial behavior, and emotional angst between the central cast. The academy politics and magical systems feel more implied than actually built out.

What frustrated me most is that the story constantly gestures toward being more interesting than it actually is. There are moments where it seems ready to lean into mystery, horror, or meaningful consequences tied to Haven’s power and the academy’s history, but the momentum repeatedly collapses back into relationship drama. Even the major reveals surrounding Haven and the darker forces tied to Ipswich feel designed more to heighten emotional tension than to meaningfully reshape the story itself.

Despite the explicit sexual content pushing it into dark romance adult territory, the execution reads overwhelmingly YA in tone and structure. The protagonist has that very familiar “everyone is obsessed with her immediately” energy, and the emotional beats are exaggerated in a way that makes the stakes feel repetitive rather than intense. By the end, I was mostly left feeling like I had read a less memorable version of several other academy romantasy series blended together. 2.5 stars for the atmosphere and cover design, but very little here felt fresh enough to justify the hype.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's for the ARC!

I loved Lucy Smoke's Sick Boys series, so hearing that she had written a gothic why-choose with witches had me running over. The setting is decadently gothic academia, set in a college in Salem where witches are real, and the coven of Salem specifically has been cursed since the Witch Trials to have no female witches and to eventually die out. Enter, Haven, a traumatized girl who doesn't understand all the creepy things that keep happening around her, but who is legacy here in Salem, and the Sons of Salem immediately recognize her and want to claim her.

Of the four Sons of Salem, I loved Ezra best (sorry, I love a broody shadow wielder, what can I say?) He's the leader of the coven and the one most conflicted about what Haven's identity means for their coven as a whole, and he is often torn between his duties to the coven and wanting to give freedom to his brothers and Haven herself. Lyall is fun as the wild werewolf-witch, most open in his desires and hopeful about Haven showing up here. Reyes is mysterious, and Cameron is a bookish beautiful nerd, and all of them get charged moments with Haven but only Reyes gets a smut scene with her so far.

Haven is not quite as much fun as Avalon Manning from the Sick Boys series, and it takes awhile for her to accept the existence of witches and that she is one, but it's somewhat understandable, even if it slowed down the pace a lot. She has a core of strength about her though, and I look forward to seeing how she develops. Her relationship with the boys does start off fast, but it develops more gradually, and you do understand why they're all so drawn to her since she might be the savior they're all looking for.

Loved the twist that she might be their end though.

The worldbuilding of the setting is beautifully gothic and intricate, with a new magic system set up and all sorts of creepy monsters creeping in from the Veil. I look forward to seeing where all this goes in the next book, and definitely check out this latest from Lucy Smoke!

[Dorothee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This why choose paranormal story follows Haven as she enters college and learns that she is a Salem legacy witch and her interactions with four male students at the college who are her fated coven.

My favorite parts of this book were the moments of tension and mystery building. It's very much set up to be a series and there's a lot of room for the plot and lore to grow. For me this worked especially well in the first half and whipped through the first half but somewhere along the way it started to feel like there was not going to be any answers or release from this tension in this book. It felt like a lot was teased out but not a lot would be manifesting in this book and in the end that seems to be the case. The writing was also not my style - I did go and recheck at the beginning that this was not a YA book because even though I knew this was supposed to be a spicy book, the writing felt younger. Granted the main character is a freshman in college and young but it carries across all the POVs. I wasn't as bothered by the five POVs as some other readers but again I found the writing style and overall voice to be similar in all the sections and would've liked more diversity. The guys all had different backgrounds and things that they focused on but still the narrative voice in the chapters felt similar. If you took a paragraph or two from one of the chapters (without it containing character specific facts like who their parent was, or their witch type) then I would be unlikely to identify who the speaker was just based on the writing.

2.5 stars, rounded down. I really struggled with the rating on this because the first half I would've rated higher and the second half lower but at the end of the day it's the second have that stuck with me. I do think there's a good chance that the second book will add a lot to the plot and I think this read more like a long introduction to characters and plot but I have to rate it on the book it is and not on the potential for the series.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Lucy Smoke, and Netgalley for this e-ARC. Included are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[A. King · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, thank you Netgalley for the review copy of this book!

Ohhhh this is gonna be good. I knew it the moment I started reading it that I was going to enjoy it. For the record, I started it this morning and I'm done already. It's barely 2:30 pm. And I have taken breaks from the reading because I was zoning in so hard for the story!

Salem. Witches. A female witch who has literally no idea that she IS one. Oh, and the four male witches who easily become enamored by her.

The only downfall of the story? IT'S ONLY BOOK ONE!

I have to stop doing this to myself. I find a story I cannot wait to enjoy, DO enjoy it, thrive in the reading of it, and then find out I'm gonna have to wait for the next parts. I'm laughing as I say this, because really, this for me is a good problem to have. But at the same time. I need more!

The idea of losing one's parents is never easy. But to lose them, and then literally be dropped off at a university to live on campus as a "means to an end" (while also avoiding the only other living family member you have left who seems to not give a rats patootey about you) only to find out that witches are real, and oh hey, you're one of them! ... yeah, that doesn't strike me as the best way to find out either. Knowing your parents, your father specifically, hid his whole past away from you and then died untimely before being able to express any sort of reckoning for it? The notion breaks my heart, and I'm not even the one who went through it.

But her trials have paled in comparison to those that the boys have been through. I won't put everything in here. I don't want to spoil the story. Just know that each of the quartet has their own story. Their own pains and weaknesses.

And that the cliff-hanger ending has me SCREAMING for the next part to come out already. I feel as though this is going to be far more than just two books too. Something tells me three... maybe even four? I'm not sure but just a guess at what's coming! I'll be on the lookout.

[Harper Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hallowed Bones was such a fun surprise. As someone who loves anything involving Salem, witches, dark academia, and gothic vibes, this book checked a lot of boxes for me.

The atmosphere was probably my favorite part. Lucy Smoke creates a world filled with ancient magic, creepy creatures, secret societies, and a mysterious college setting that feels perfect for fall reading. Ipswich College and the surrounding Salem-inspired setting had exactly the spooky, witchy energy I was hoping for.

This is a why-choose romance, but readers looking for immediate spice should know that this is very much a slow burn. The chemistry between Haven, Ezra, Reyes, Lyall, and Cameron is there from the beginning, but the story focuses much more on building tension, relationships, and mystery before the romance fully develops. Honestly, I didn't mind because the anticipation made the interactions even better.

I really enjoyed Haven as a heroine. She's thrown into a world she doesn't understand and spends much of the book trying to figure out who she is and what role she's meant to play. While her journey of accepting magic and her identity occasionally slowed the pacing, it felt realistic given everything she discovers.

The four Sons of Salem each have distinct personalities and brought something different to the story. I kept changing my mind about which one was my favorite. The group dynamic was one of the strongest parts of the book and left me wanting more scenes with all of them together. There are enough mysteries, curses, and supernatural elements to keep you invested while still leaving plenty of questions unanswered for future books. I absolutely did not see the ending coming. It left me with more questions than answers.

If you enjoy dark academia, witchcraft, Salem-inspired settings, supernatural mysteries, and slow-burn why-choose romance, Hallowed Bones is definitely worth picking up—especially during spooky season. I was given an early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.