Tallow and Bone: A Salem Witch Trials Romantasy Retelling

by Rhiannon Hargadon

If Salem would rather kill witches than let them exist, how much will one witch sacrifice to save it?

After her family flees allegations of treason in Europe, Amity Merriweather hopes Salem will be a fresh start. Instead, she finds a land poisoned: Toxic relationships. Crop failures. Sick children. Deep-seated superstition and irrational fear. With every death, the curse buried beneath Salem's cobblestone streets grows stronger.

Gifted with rare earth magic, Amity has spent her entire life hiding, suppressing her magic. She has a chance to heal the town before hysteria turns neighbor against neighbor. But Salem doesn't want saving. Every acre of poison she clears will risk discovery, and she'll get no thanks from its citizens.

Meanwhile, Amity must choose between two very different men:

A male witch hardened by abuse, who would gladly burn Salem to its poisoned roots... Or a scarred shoemaker with a heart too generous for its own good. Knowing which path to take requires knowing both men, but more importantly, it requires knowing herself.

Amity has worn as mask for so long, she no longer can be sure of who she truly is.

As accusations mount and innocents are dragged to the gallows, Amity faces an impossible choice. Keep sacrificing herself for people who would rather see her burn—or abandon Salem to the curse consuming it.

Tropes and Triggers:

Love Triangle with a masked MMC
Surprise (unwanted) pregnancy
Elemental magic
Generational curse
Witch Trials
Religious Trauma
Morally gray characters

TALLOW AND BONE is a dark paranormal romance. It is a retelling of the Salem Witch Trials with a healer witch, a cursed village, and the choice between mercy or retribution.

Genres: Romantasy, Witches, Fantasy, Retellings, Paranormal, Spicy, Dark

694 pages, Paperback

Published September 21, 2026

About the author

There was a willow I loved by a creek; sometimes I slept there. I was never afraid, alone in the dark. There was nothing to fear from water and trees and fairytales.

The real monsters were always people.

...

Can we forgive injustice?
Do we accept the fate forced upon us?
Should we fight, no matter the cost?
How do we move on from great loss?
What would you trade to relive one moment?


I write folklore and mythology inspired dark fantasy. Emphasis on dark. I don't shy away from serious issues and emotions: suicide, depression, mental illness, abuse, death, infertility, and assault are all in my books. These are not for pleasure or shock value, but because I want to write about authentic pain and suffering, and how we heal ourselves through the bad things that have been done to us.


My books will probably make you cry. I hope it helps more than it harms.




Official Site: https://www.rhiannonhargadon.com
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Email: hello AT rhiannonhargadon.com
Tiktok: rhiannonhargadon
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Thanks for reading.

Reviews

[Steph]

I knew I was going to love Tallow and Bone, but I don't think I could ever have prepared myself all the ways it would break me. Going in you know it's a Salem Witch Trials retelling and you know it's Rhi - one of the things I love about her writing is that she doesn't shy away from the difficult topics, the ones that make people sit in an uncomfortable and awkward silence when someone dares voice them. Those avoided because it's easier to ignore than it is to challenge the taboos around them. So beware all ye who enter here: at it's core, this book was always going to be a tragedy. The delivery is subtle at first, until it hits you like a hammer blow and cleaves your heart wide open. You've been warned.

Amity is our FMC, and as with all of Rhiannon's FMCs, I loved her from the moment we begin her story, as she flees from those hunting her and her family for her witchcraft. 15 years ago, I probably would have hated her. Her naivety and the consequences for it, were my own once upon a time. I've found as I've got older, that a lot of things I often disliked were because they reflected something I didn't like in myself. That's what I love about her. Amity is flawed and she's messy and she's real. She's got such an inner fire, but has been taught to try and supress it at the cost of losing a part of herself. She wants to be loved and lead a normal life, but also longs for the freedom to be herself and be accepted as a witch.

The love triangle between herself, the witch and George is one of the best I've ever read. The male witch is desire and risk and lust and everything Amity believes she wants because he's another witch and therefore her happy ending lies with him. But he's emotionally unavailable, cruel and detached with some serious baggage. And then there's George. Beautiful, kind, honest George. A good man that offers Amity protection and a shield from the hysteria consuming Salem. They agreed to marry, not to love each other and Amity struggles to trust her new found protection with George, let alone trust him with her heart.

Tallow and Bone is another heart wrenching work of art from Rhiannon. It explores many difficult topics such as PPD and of course, draws on one of the most brutal eras of oppression for women and the tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials where so many innocent people lost their lives due to hysteria, religion, greed and misogyny that saw neighbour turn against neighbour. It explores religious trauma and abuse that seeds hatred so potent it becomes toxic for those that can't let go of it. But it also portrays the beauty of friendship found in unlikely places, and the loyalty and deep bonds between siblings. But above all, it showcases that the raw power of love, even when found in the most unexpected circumstances, cannot be broken when you finally find the courage to accept yourself and bare your soul to another. Because you might find, that they had accepted you, your flaws and your doubts, and your joys and your truths, a long time ago.

[Marie C]

Thank you so much to the author and her team for having me as an ARC reader!

Tallow and Bone was sadly not for me. I liked the general story, it really had potential for me, but there are a lot of things that I didn't like too. The last 10% of the book were really great though, but considering the length of the book, that makes a lot of pages were I was bored or hate-reading, sadly.

I find that this book was wrongly advertised, especially with the tropes. It's not a slow burn. The attraction between characters is everything but slow, and there was barely any tension between characters. I also disagree with "family is everything", when half the family is awful or don't care for the other. It's also not a friends to lovers, that would require friends to begin with. And lover is also to take in the general sense, I found that there is no real love story before the 70% mark.

George and Harriet are my favourite characters, I absolutely loved them, and that ending made me ache and cry for them. That part was well written.

Then about the things that I disliked:
- There are a lot of plot holes, timeline holes, and inconsistencies in general in the book. It may be because I read the ARC, but even then, it feels like it's too much.
- This book has cheating, it's something that wasn't written when I requested the ARC. Had I known, I wouldn't have applied,
- I can't stand the FMC nor one of the MMC. All things considered they are well suited because I find that both are awful people.

Here are two of my favourite quotes, which describe each one of the main characters, and perfectly summarise them I think:
🕯️ The FMC: "No one is so stupid, so stubborn, [...]. Utterly detestable and inadequate."
🕯️ The masked MMC: " "That I was a fool. And a coward." "And a liar and an idiot," I add."

[Books &Chaos]

Tallow and Bone is a haunting and deeply emotional retelling of the Salem witch trials that blends historical fact with fiction. This is not a fluffy, feel-good romance. It is messy, complicated, raw, and at times incredibly heartbreaking.

The pacing was a little slow for me in the beginning, but it steadily picked up as the story progressed. Looking back, though, I think much of that slower pacing was necessary. It gave us the time to truly understand the characters, their motivations, and the circumstances surrounding them, while also allowing the horrors of the Salem witch trials to unfold in a way that felt devastatingly real.

The characters are deeply flawed, and they make some incredibly questionable decisions. But that complexity is part of what made them feel so human. This story broke my heart, stitched it back together, and then broke it all over again.

I also have to admit that this book completely changed my mind about love triangles. I don’t typically enjoy them, but I genuinely loved both men equally… just in very different ways. The relationships were complicated, but the love at the heart of this story was beautiful.

As a mother who has experienced postpartum depression, I found Amity’s experience especially relatable. I thought the author handled this sensitive subject matter with a great deal of care and portrayed her experience in a way that felt honest and authentic. It was one of the aspects of the story that resonated with me most deeply.

Read this book if you want: a historical fantasy that doesn’t shy away from the ugly parts of its story, morally complicated characters, messy relationships, emotional devastation, and a romance that is both beautiful and complicated.

And yes, there is also some seriously good spice… including a masked man!

But go into this one knowing that it isn’t an easy or fluffy read. It is raw. It is heartbreaking. It is sometimes uncomfortable. And for me, that’s exactly what made it so memorable.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes ✨:
Historical Fantasy
Witchcraft
Elemental Magic
Masked MMC
Scarred Hero
Love triangle
Morally Gray Characters

Thank you to the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[bookrat_reads]

A beautifully heartbreaking retelling of The Salem Witch Trials with a love triangle twist.
This story had struggle, tragedy, heartbreak, denial, acceptance, and some healing.

Amity is a witch with hidden powers. Her whole life has been a game of pretending to be a normal Puritan girl. A game that she has never won at. Uncontrollable power has led to a life of being on the run with her family. Arriving in Salem, once again tragedy has struck and lives are lost.
Upon arrival it becomes apparent Salem is cursed. Crops are not growing, people are sick, and everything is dying. Amity sets out to help, to learn, and to be able to control her powers. With the help of three other witches, a mother daughter and a masked male witch, Amity explores her powers.
She soon finds herself navigating this new town where women are damned for being different, unwed and even outspoken.
Amity ends up in a love triangle with the male masked witch and the local burn scarred hero. These two men are like night and day. One is steady, the perfect man to start a family with, a true gentleman. The other is arrogant, wreckless and the ultimate forbidden fruit. We end up with wild, steamy chemistry with both men. Great banter and tension all the way around.

Fighting for her life, the life of her new child, and the people she loves makes for an emotionally damaging book. Even with all the heartache and pain, the author did a good job giving us a beautiful healing happily ever after.

Thank you to Rhiannon Hargadon for the opportunity to read and review this early copy of Tallow and Bone. Another great story!

[Terri McCarrell]

This is a difficult review for me to write. Hargadon’s last book, Bloody Black, was one of my top reads of 2025. And the premise for this book had me absolutely lathered. Unfortunately, it didn’t really deliver for me. The characters aren’t very compelling or likeable, some of the side characters take wild leaps in your perception of them, which felt very odd and pulled me out of the story. It rambled on a lot, and I would keep looking at my progression and be stunned how much left in the book there was. It felt like I had been reading it forever.
About two-thirds way through the book we randomly jump forward nine months in the story (which there had been no lurches in time progression to that point). It was very odd and for a story that had been dragging, suddenly felt like it was yanking forward rapidly.

For me, the FMC simply wasn’t very likeable, and she should have been. The same goes for the male witch MMC. It was hard to root for either of them, despite them having backstories that should have made them incredible characters.

The last 25% of the book was the best parts of the book and had some interesting twists. Ultimately, I would have liked about 200 less pages to arrive where we did, and I wish I could have liked the characters more. I am so grateful to the author for the opportunity to read this book in advance, and I truly look forward to whatever she writes next.

[Tara Nelson]

Tallow and Bone was not what I was expected. I truly loved Bloody Black with my entire heart and soul, but had a really hard time connecting with this book.

It’s entirely possible that it’s the subject matter. The absolutely vile and repugnant manner in which people fed paranoia in order to get away with disgusting and immoral behavior during the Salem witch trials. It could be the general treatment of women during that time period, or the creepiness of a rot and plague infecting the people of Salem. All of this was really well done. It made my skin crawl, as it should.

Unfortunately I had a hard time connecting with these characters. Even the devoted green flag MMC didn’t cut the mustard in a way that resonated. Maybe I really and honestly do not like a love triangle, or riding a moral line that leans towards infidelity. Actually I know that I don’t.

I’m so glad that the writing is landing for other readers and I’m so bummed that it didn’t work for me. I’ll still read anything coming from this author, and am so appreciative of the opportunity to read this as an arc.

[Brenda Stokvis]

Maybe 1,5 ⭐
After her family flees allegations of treason in Europe, Amity hopes Salem will be a fresh start. Instead, she finds a land poisoned. She has a chance to heal the town before hysteria turns neighbor against neighbor. As accusations mount and innocents are dragged to the gallows, Amity faces an impossible choice. Save herself or sacrifice herself.
I have to be fair, this turned into a hate-read at some point, that has definitely influenced my rating and I should have DNFed. This book needs MAJOR editing, lots of cutting of unnecessary parts and filtering out loads of inconsistencies.
-SPOILERS AHEAD-
This book is sloooooow, it's not like things aren't happening but most of it is irrelevant to the plot. There is the moment with the creepy reverend, he wants to see Amity again next Sunday. That never happened? This could have been a real predatory situation, but it never feels that way and fizzles out.
Amity needs the blood and beak of a chicken for a spell. She takes a golden knife, gifted to her father by the King of England, to do it. Why? There was absolutely no reason she couldn't have taken a regular kitchen knife. She then loses the knife and I thought that would have consequences, none whatsoever. What was then the point of mentioning this expensive golden knife? Besides me thinking that this family is poor and should have sold it to create a better life for themselves.
Moments of unbottuned shirts, to fumbling with buttons a few pages later or tightening his grip on her when they were not touching moments ago, because she didn't want him to touch her and was keeping her distance. I could go on and on really. What really sealed the deal for me is when Amity is pregnant, doesn't want the baby and is showing clear signs of post partum depression, that this storyline, which could have been amazing and healing, is solved by her having a good shag? Come onnnn! So infuriating!
I did not like the fmc Amity and one of the mmc's Steadfast. Amity had hardly any growth and made constant stupid decisions. Steadfast is not just a red flag, he is the loudest tornado warning you can imagine. You cannot convince me this man is capable of love. George is literally the only character I liked, justice for George!
The ending was OK, probably the only part where it got interesting. For a book that is supposed to be about the Salem witch trials, there is surprisingly little about those witch trials. I'm sad about George, that was a heartbreaking moment, and I hate Stead with a passion.

[Romie (romesreads)]

dear lord i was not ready to be emotionally destroyed by this book

this was a raw and heartbreaking salem witch trials retelling with a tragic love story at the centre

rhiannon really is an absolute master of her craft, she creates such a vivid atmosphere of salem and the hysteria surrounding witchcraft - I was lucky enough to read this just before a trip to salem and reading about all the consistencies with the history made it even more devastating

the themes of love and sacrifice were gut wrenching and bittersweet, this book felt like getting hit by wave after wave of anguish and yet I couldn’t put it down

did I finish this book or did this book finish me ??? tallow and bone has imprinted on my brain and I don’t know how I’m meant to move on from it tbh

i urge everyone to pick this one up, it’s phenomenal

(please be mindful of triggers as this is quite a dark one)

[Erica]

Let me start out by saying I enjoyed the authors Bluebeard retelling, so I had high hopes for a Salem witch trials retelling -- unfortunately, this fell flat. It was a bit of an info dump in the beginning and I took that as setting up the rest of the story considering its a standalone, well all that info was all for nothing because it barely comes into play for the rest of the story. At parts it felt repetitive, I found myself getting annoyed with Amity, and there was so much set up in the first 50% that I forgot it was supposed to be a love triangle. By this point I thought it was going to pick up because there was so many questions and things to tie up by the end, so surely the pace is going to ramp up, but no, it didn't. It was still a bit of a slog.

Circling back to the love triangle that didn't really feel like a triangle. Was she fated to this masked witch? Sure, but it didn't feel like he had any interest in her beyond the physical and even when he did open up, it still didn't feel like they were meant to be. I mean, there was push and pull between them and she was hating him even in the last few chapters and you want me to believe they were meant to be and they live happily ever after? Mind you, she was torn up over Saint George (who had to be the best character, hands down, so justice for George) and even went back to try and save him because she was so in love with him, but sure shes fated to a witch or whatever. Honestly, it seemed as though they were going to end in a throuple and I would've preferred that outcome.

There were too many questions left unanswered, hella plot holes, and too many side characters to keep up with (Meg died when? What happened to her brother that went off to Virginia? What of Charlotte? Did Elizabeth ever catch a beating from the reverend? Did the kids just accept the mother was dead, because it doesn't take that long to walk to Salem? What's the point of her being a witch if shes not even going to use her gifts beyond protecting herself from being assaulted..?) It had so much potential, but missed the mark incredibly. I believe it would've benefited from being a duet to give the proper attention to the storylines

[Marissa C]

As someone who has been to Salem and very much enjoys all things witchy, I really enjoyed this book. The storyline felt like a historically accurate retelling of the witch trials with a touch of magic added in. The author does a wonderful job of outlining the way women were treated and declared a witch for the most minute of actions. This was a hefty book with a lot packed in!
Amity Merriweather, our main character, goes through so much in this book, experiencing grief, desire, fear, jealousy, and love to name a few emotions. We meet her and her family as they flee to Salem. Upon arriving, she tries to hide her inner witch, but immediately draws the eye of townsfolk and the reverend. The theme of religion v witchcraft is done well, contrasted by multiple characters. She soon meets a male witch, the first she’s met of whom she immediately feels aflame. A love triangle eventually makes itself known, as marriage is pushed on Amity (practically a spinster in her young twenties-gasp!). And this just scratches the beginning of the story.
Parts of the rest of my review will be vague so as to no spoilers.
My favorite character was George. Sweet, sweet George. This man went through so much in this book and, like Amity, went through a multitude of emotion. Yet underneath, he just continually showed so much respect and love. He was definitely the epitome of goodness in this novel.
There were many characters to contrast this goodness with “evil” in this story. I use quotations, as the witchery was viewed as evil and the tug back and forth (especially in the penultimate scene!) made one question who was really evil! Not to mention the lustful reverend (ew.) and his questionable son, Amity’s drunken father, and a brainwashed, prying town. Rumors about relationships and witchery spread like wildfire.
The romance was very heavy and pretty spicy in this book, but I didn’t mind so much as the worldbuilding and story still was prominent and kept me interested. Also, some of the sexual ploys were kind of fun (strip chess, anyone?)
Overall, I throughout enjoyed this book. It was quite a long read, but the length made for a thorough experience, and whilst not quite a can’t put it down book for me, I was still invested and interested in the characters and story. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone interested in a fiction retelling the witch trials with heavy romance.
A big thank you to the author for the ARC!

[Erin | the.gremlin.reader]

I so badly wanted to love Tallow and Bone by Rhiannon Hargadon but, unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. I think the kinder thing would have been to DNF. Instead, I transformed into Michael Scott and Tallow became my Toby.

I may not be a historian but I am a New Englander and this felt like a woefully fumbled Salem Witch Trials retelling. It drew too much from surface level recorded history while cherry picking aspects of Puritan society & Colonial New England culture to use as a thematic backdrop, which often felt incomplete, inaccurate and underwhelming.

The characters themselves lacked depth and often acted in ways that were counterintuitive, counterproductive and confusing. Family dynamics and romantic elements felt nonsensical. Do I think other readers will harbor an overwhelmingly negative visceral reaction to almost every aspect of this book? No. But the abandoned plot threads and flagrant plot holes verged on egregious, which is difficult to reconcile after a ~700 page investment.

Tallow and Bone comes out October 6th. While it ultimately wasn’t for me — I still admire Rhiannon, love her backlist and look forward to reading her future work.

[★*☆ Cheryl ★*☆]

It has taken me a full 24 hours to be ready to write a review. This book absolutely broke my heart and left me ugly crying. Some of my review will be vague, so that I don't spoil anything.

Amity Merriweather arrives in Salem, with her family, after fleeing every other place they've lived, due to her (and her mother) being a witch and the ongoing witch hunts. When Amity arrives in Salem, she notices that something is wrong and that even her earth magic isn't working right. There's a dark curse that's spread throughout the land, making it difficult to grow any crops. Through fear and superstition, the Salem residents believe witchcraft is the cause of all their problems.

Amity attempts to acclimate to her new environment, by having tea and gossiping with girls her age; with her fiery red hair, she does everything possible not to draw attention to herself. However, that's not really possible, because she can't help but voice her opinions, at times. This leads to her catching the attention of the reverend. That's all I will say about the reverend, but know that it's an ongoing issue.

She is able to meet 3 other witches in Salem: an older crone named Mary; a girl, around Amity's age, named Meg; and a mysterious male, that always wears a mask. Together, they attempt to fight the curse, believing that if they make it go away and the crops are restored, then the witch hunts will stop.

Through the book, we follow Amity's life around Salem. The hardships she faces, along with the happy moments. There is a love triangle that, at times, left me feeling angry, so much that I had to put the book down and come back. If I had a physical book, I probably would have thrown it across the room. There are times where you'll love all the characters, and then there are times where you'll hate some, if not all of them. Amity does have an unwanted pregnancy and struggles after the birth, during a time where post-partum depression wasn't known or recognized. We are given a look at how women we're treated, at the time, and how every little transgression can have you accused of witchcraft.

George. Sweet, sweet Georgie. That's all I will say about him.

Tallow and Bone is very well written. There's good character development. There's highs, lows, and heartbreak along the way. Like I said at the beginning, by the end of the book, I was crying ugly tears. Be sure to check your triggers.

Check. Your. Triggers!!

Rhiannon has a knack for great story telling and making you feel. I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to read this before it's published and offer my review. Thank you Rhiannon.

[Sarah]

Thank you to the author for my advanced copy of Tallow and Bone. This book took me on such a journey through Amity and her family moving to Salem, Amity trying not to draw attention to being a witch, the stress of hiding her true self, being caught between two men, and the emotional roller coaster that she (and I) went on through it all.

Amity is caught between being defiant and stubborn, and also wanting to blend in to protect herself and her family. By the halfway point, I felt like I was already deeply connected to the characters. The second half was a roller coaster of events and emotions. I had a deep understanding of Amity, empathized with her, and constantly asked myself what I would do in her situation. Keep in mind that this is not a world/time period that was kind to women, let alone a woman who was a witch.

The witch (as I’ll call him so as to not spoil anything) was so incredibly frustrating but I was living for every moment between him and Amity. If you like the hate to love trope, you’ll love this. And George, what do I even say about him - he’s just the most perfect patient loving supportive man and although I understood and felt for Amity, her indecision and apathy at times broke my heart for him. I’m so glad Amity found someone to love her unconditionally, even if only temporary.

Let me not forget to mention the postpartum rep. Amity really went through it after the birth of her daughter and I felt like her PPD was portrayed so well. Imagine being back in this time period and no one, including you, understood what was happening to you mentally. George remained so stable and caring to Amity and their daughter.

For me, this book was a little slow for the first half and really picked up after that. For those people that may feel the same, trust the process! You need the first half for the character development and for the rest of the book to land properly. After 50%, I could not put it down. I lost track of time. Time ceased to exist.

There were many heartbreaking moments, moments where I wanted to cry, and the ending finally got the tears flowing. The ending was so bittersweet. I love the research that was put in and the care for the topics that the author puts into every single book she writes. This book was so beautifully heartbreaking and bittersweet and it will have you so deeply invested in every single aspect of the story and characters. This is one that will stick with my soul for a long time.

If you want an emotionally complex and devastating story, perfect for fall witchy vibes, a very complicated love triangle, and characters that you’ll fall in love with and will break your heart, this is the perfect book for you.

[Kelsey 📖]

Thank you to the author for this ARC, here are my thoughts:

It’s 7 AM and I’m sobbing…
I’m simply UNWELL.

Forget Me Nots 🥹😭
& you will always be my witch
He was too pure and loving (a literal angel)

This story sucked me in from the first chapter
I simply did not much else other than read this
Any free moment I was picking up the book

The bleakness of the Salem witch trials
& complete evil and unfairness

All of these characters and side characters had SUCH DEPTH
The author DELIVERED.

But my eyes hurt from crying
I’ll never recover from “more weight”
& he never got to hold her

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
An unconventional HEA and I’m hurt 😞

[Linz_loves_books (Semi-Hiatus)]

Pre-Read Review: A Salem Witch Retelling with A Masked MMC....Yes Please....Phone on DND!

[Ruxi Avram]

Arc review

Tallow And Bone is written like a held breath, like a tremble, like a dream you are trapped in. Amity 's life is hidden and she is folded into herself completely, hiding her witch power for everyone, to stay hidden and play the role of a meek puritan woman.

This book terrified me completely, just thinking at what humankind did to itself, how, in order to have power over others, so called priests killed innocent men and women in horrible ways. And thinking that this story is based on actual facts,it is mind numbing. Yet this story is so beautiful! With all the sadness, and all the fear, there is so much love in here!

I cannot express my thoughts without a bit of a spoil, though I am truly trying! The whole story revolves around Amity. She is one of the six children of Merriweather family, and the only one who is a witch, like her mother. The book begins with their flight from Boston, followed by witch hunters. A tragic event separates the family, and they decide to meet in Salem, and see where to go next, to be safe. And so the Merriweathers reach Salem, a decrepit village, full of darkness, curses and resent, and they establish home in a deserted cottage: Edward- the father, Tobias, Amity, Elisabeth, Harriet and Jacob, and they wait for their mother to find them, togather with Charlotte. And time goes by, and they try to blend in: a family that raised the children at the British court of Charles the II-nd, children raised with books, chess, perfumes and high society, made to run away from the witch burnings from Europe to the Americas, where the witch hunts meant drowning, hanging and pressing with stones,as means of torture, trying to blend in with a Puritan based village, that hate indiscriminately and judge without thinking.
The way Rhiannon Hargadon managed to transform this period into a such a beautiful book is absolutely stunning!

The storyline develops when more witches come out seeking Amity, and she is dragged in a whirlwind of choises and decisions she has to make, in mistakes that run out of control. She is stuck between the love she chooses and the love she is fated to, and the way this transforms her, leads to an unexpected ending.

This is one of the books I was eager to read, yet afraid to reach the end: so much death, so many evil people dressed in righteousness, so much pain and sorrow that had me in tears...

The two men from Amity 's life bring different feelings and pluses to the story, and mark her life in different ways. Her experiences and her grief mark an age filled with darkness in our history, a period not meant to be repeated, yet never forgotten!

This is definitely a 5⭐️ book (and that because there are only 5 stars, it would deserve more!), one of the best fantasy books of the year,and I am truly grateful for having the honor of being part of the ARC team! Rhiannon Hargadon is a master of storytelling and her ability to bring to life such powerful stories and characters is filled with magic!

I have received this book as ARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Anita]

ARC Review for Tallow and Bone by Rhiannon Hargadon:

"That’s what this is. A blood sacrifice of myself. My future. My wildness. My freedom."

Tallow and Bone is a Salem Witch Trials retelling set around a dark, insidious backdrop, but at its heart, it is a love story. A story about finding your power in a world that aims to silence it. Of choosing good, pure love, or the fiery, toe-curling forbidden love.

Starting at the 1st page, the writing and story draws you in.
Descriptions of everything are so vivid you can smell the tallow, taste the rot, feel the presence of everyone and everything. The characters, the ambiance, all brings you along on this twisted mystery. You feel like the wind silently observing in the background as the plot, relationships and conversations take place. The banter and comradership of the siblings is everything! If you are from a large family, it makes perfect sense. As Amity's story progresses, you can feel what she feels. And ugh the moment she walks out the door away from her fate and towards her future. I'm still reeling! Sweet devastation at its finest. The tension, the anger, the love and the pain in those moments. It truly embodies how you feel through the entire book.

“Whatever you do, don’t give up. Don’t let them take your wildness. And if you ever doubt, even for an instant, know that I love you. You are my heart and soul, my blood and tallow and bone. Nothing and no one will make you less.”

This tale at its core is about life. The naked truth of it. The freedom and wilds of being a young person. No cares, just fire. Love and lust that lead you into adulthood. You change, love changes. As you age, love is always present, morphing as you do into the different roles of life. The honesty of this story, the light as well as the dark sides of life are truly riveting.

The devil, the crux, in the story is the humanity contained within. Using power to generate fear that's contagious, that corrupts and poisons all upon its soil. The one thing it can't destroy is love. Love can never be taken by force, only given, gifted to those we deem worthy.

I want to thank the author and publisher for allowing me to be an early part of this book's journey and for trusting my opinions of it. Rhiannon you are truly a master of your craft and it is made ever more evident with every word you put to paper. Thank you for this stark reality into our histories, done so magically that will have you screaming, crying, cheering, angry and the gambit of all the emotions in between.

[SinE. Loves Books]

Thanks to the author for the eARC of this book.
Tallow and Bone is a raw retelling of the Salem witch trials.
It was really interesting learning more about what happened at the end of the book.

This had me hooked right from the first line:

Kissing the butler's son was such a mistake.

Chapter 1 had me gasping with shock multiple times as things kept getting juicier with each line, it has got to be one of the most memorable chapters 1s I have ever read!

"The fire does not care what type of wood feeds it. It devours indiscriminately. And when it is done, only ashes are left."

This quote out of context is good. With context, it is a devastating, terrible beauty.

As I neared the end, I realised that there would be no way for this book to end that would satisfy me, as often is the case when reading love triangles. What I did not realise was how heart-wrenching the ending was going to be.

Did I end up taking a break from reading at one point to sit staring at my wall, mind working in overdrive? Yes.
Did I then go back to the book only to realise that the thing that made me stop was not even the saddest thing, and the next paragraph was even worse? Yes, and that is why I enjoyed this so much!

Sure, I didn't love all the characters, but I felt them instead. This book made them real and raw. If you do not want to cry then don't read this. If you are like me and a sucker for having your heart stings pulled then enjoy!
George deserves a mention for being one of the only characters that was truly good at heart. ❤️

[em (whats.em.reading)]

absolutely stunning, full review to come once i’ve stopped crying

it’s been a day and i can’t stop thinking about it

utter and absolute devastation. This book will live with me forever, I find the salem witch trials so fascinating, i wrote my a level coursework on them and have been twice to Salem. This retelling was so expertly written. It’s bathed in historic accuracy with twists of magical realism intertwined.

Our girl Amity is such an amazing FMC, she’s impulsive, naive and flawed. But she is also feisty, strong, witty and fuelled with the injustice of being a witch during the hysteria of new england in the 1690s.

I didn’t look too deeply into this before starting it which meant for such a wild ride. My heart was torn to pieces, I genuinely haven’t cried this hard since Alchemised.

The quote “More weight” will haunt me forever

This book will never leave me, it’s out in a week ! and I hope that everyone picks this up and experiences the ride.

[Megan]

WTF

As an Avid RH reader this book was a huge disappointment.
Amity was a ville horror, and the "Male witch"...don't get me started on him.

This could have been amazing because of George- we could have had our own little Pride & Predujice Witch trials, but instead we got this amityville horror.

Outside for George and Harriet, none of the characters are likeable. They are deplorable.


Fucking steadfast. like seriously- what in the fucking weird playboy incel behavior is happening with him? He doesnt want to settle, wants to fuck around, found the ONLY person he was able to even touch, but said nah, Ill fuck you on your wedding day because I told my BFF to marry you and I want to spoil the mood. And then he disappears, comes back and what in tarnation?!?!?!?!? And Amity - I get it, suffering from post partum depression. But like girl, you knew you were pregnant and literally never tried to do anything to no be pregnant. You could have, but chose not to, then had some issues, then played jealous before literally being totally fine sleeping with his best friend?

[Katie]

3.25 stars.

I am SO torn about this book that I keep going back and forth on my star rating.

On one hand, I really loved the author’s writing style and the overall vibe of this book. The atmosphere was gloomy, gray, and mysterious, and I loved the constant feeling that something was lurking just around the corner. I was constantly trying to piece things together and figure out what was going to happen, with this underlying sense of impending doom that kept me intrigued.

However, the pacing was a struggle for me. Aside from the first chapter, the first 55% of the book felt incredibly slow, to the point where I seriously considered putting it aside. BUT once things finally started picking up, I found myself much more invested. I really enjoyed the last 30–40% of the book, and it definitely pulled me back in.

So… I’m still torn. There were things I absolutely loved, but the slow pacing made it a bit of a struggle to get there.

[Stephanie Keijzer]

Soft dnf for now..

[Ana]

♡⊹˚₊ ARC Review ₊˚⊹♡

Opinions and comments are completely my own.


There are some spoilers in this review and I've hidden the major ones but some aren't, tread with caution!!

I cannot believe what I just read. This was the longest book I have read this year and probably one of the worst. Truthfully, the marketing for this book gave it a lot of disservice. My expectations were pretty high considering all the good things I've heard about this author everywhere and when she announced a Salem Witch retelling standalone, I was immediately intrigued. On top of that, the advertising of the tropes ruined a lot of the book for me. The claim of a masked MMC and Hidden Identity is completely ruined by the fact that the author's account openly announces the identity of the witch on every other post (his reveal would have been a crazy plot twist if I didn't know). The claim of a love triangle was worse. This book is NOT a love triangle, it's a WHYCHOOSE at best and CHEATING at worst. In fact, the cheating should be disclosed at the beginning, so I didn't waste my time with it (I'll get into this a little later). When you market a book as a love triangle, don't tell the readers who your FMC is gonna end up with. The love triangle becomes pointless at that point, because we know the other love interest has no chance. Basically, most of the important parts of the book were spoiled by the marketing before I even experienced it.

Now, onto the actual book. The beginning was okay and I actually enjoyed the setting and the family dynamics. At that point I was looking forward to my reading sessions. Amity was a little annoying at times but I didn't want to strangle her as I will want later on. My only complaint was this thought process: "If only we had all been born ugly. That would have been magnificent." There is so much wrong with these two sentences. She frames this like being born pretty is a disadvantage and maybe for her (a witch trying to hide) it is. But the amount of times she complains about her natural beauty and then goes and uses it to get what she wants by seducing people left and right is astounding. It's hypocritical and I would be okay with it as a flaw if she didn't have more flaws than merits. I do not believe the author's intention is to make Amity unlikable but that's what she did in this book.

Unfortunately, as the book progressed, so many issues resurfaced. The pacing was all over the place from slow to too fast, with time skips that were hard to keep up with and acknowledge. The plot was also all over the place with so many plot points abandoned and never explained, character motivations practically non-existent, even some character assassinations toward the end with behaviour that didn't align consistently (namely George).

The major issue was Amity. Her motivations at first were to avenge her mother which we promptly abandoned to do the exact opposite: save the town she wanted to destroy. She kept chasing a man she claimed to love because she believed they were fated and was always upset when he rejected her despite him making it very clear he didn't want commitment from the start. It would've been funny it wasn't so embarrassing.

Her relationship with George was even weirder: she didn't want the marriage; claimed it was on paper; proceeded to ask him if he loved her and got upset when he didn't answer; always pointed out his scars as ugly and terrifying; proceeded to fuck him on a daily basis and be surprised that she got pregnant; proceeded to claim she didn't want the baby and do nothing to get rid of it; have a difficult birth and be cured by a good fuck; then she somehow loved him for a bit only to change her mind, and then love him so much that she never got over him at the end.

In the middle of all that she cheated on George. There's no confusion about what happened. She got jealous of other women who didn't even flirt with her husband but then proceeded to full on cheat and act like a victim when George was upset with her for it. Not ONLY did she cheat on her husband (as if I needed more reasons to dislike this book), she decided that the proper way to cheat on your husband is ask your lover to PRETEND to rape you...so you wouldn't feel guilty about it. I am appalled.

I've come to the conclusion that Amity's sole motivation was to have sex (didn't really matter with who) because the only time she seemed remotely happy was when she was getting it on with one of them regularly.

Frankly the only positive part about this whole book beyond the setup was George and his animals. George was the best character from the start and what happened to him was not tragic but unfair. Amity used that man in every way and then went off to have the happy ending she never deserved. And the author somehow tried to justify his end by saying that he knew everything and loved her, so he chose that path for himself. I only continued reading because I wanted to see what happened to George at the end and I was thoroughly disappointed by everything.

I'm not going to talk about Steadfast because he was a red flag at every turn and it wasn't even the good type of red flag that we like to see in books.

There was so much potential in this story, if only she focused on the family dynamics more; deleted Steadfast from the equation completely; and made Amity a smidge more likable and loyal. I would've ate that up. That would've been tragic and beautiful and healing. In its current form, it's messy and infuriating.

Genuinely, for anyone who rated this above 3 stars, I have no idea how you read these lines and still made that decision (spoilers ahead):

"I may not love him, but I am obsessed with fucking him." - literally her about her kind husband

"I want him to pound into me, repeatedly, the way he once did. This game, where I say no, and he forces it… that’s the only path we have." - her pretending to be raped so she can cheat on her husband

"Unbidden, I think of his lips, of his thinning blonde hair. The idea of him touching me is completely repugnant, but I will do it. I will have sex with him in the center of the chapel, if it would keep me off the gallows." - literally her lover's father and the man she hates the most


Overall, if you hate cheating in books, I beg you to not pick this up. Read something else. If you want a love story, read something else. If you like infuriating characters, this might be for you...maybe.

[Victoria Gavin]

4.5 stars that I am going to round up to 5! Right away this book grabs your attention and takes off, literally in the midst of running away. The author did an amazing job creating an eerie & gothic atmosphere while layering in a heavy layer of mystery that is such a prevalent theme throughout, you will NEVER predict where this book is going. That ending will throw you for MANY LOOPS. My mind was blown.

I am only going to use this section to describe why it wasn't 5 stars for me, and it is my own fault that I did not catch it listed in TWs, but accidental pregnancy is just not theme I enjoy reading, so mind you I did skip through those parts. But this story is incredible and I don't feel that the rating should reflect my mistake and the author's hard work/beautiful story, therefore I just skipped those parts and rated the book on the majority that I read (i'd guess maybe 13-15% of it I ultimately skipped). This is more just a warning to not be a ME and just skip right in by just skimming the TWs and liking the tropes list. And accidental pregnancy is really the only theme I hate so I'm used to being pretty lackadaisical with TWs, and I thought that accidental pregnancy would be in tropes section. But again, that's on me, not the author!

Okay now onto what made this great! Firstly I was so entertained at her inner dialogue. She was basically playing emotional chess and stating the moves in her head while she had to act daft & demure. It really helps her personality and intelligence shines, her quips are hilarious. "They're scrying, although these idiots don't know the word for it."
I even caught myself laughing at some of the unhinged dark humor amidst in the chaos (witch cake, if you know you know).
The plot is just so interesting to me from the POV of being a witch in Salem, and the author does a great job setting the foundation to Amity's life, so when events progress throughout the book they do have a deep emotional impact alongside the traumas.

My heart definitely broke for our FMC many times. One being how deeply painful and emotional the family dynamics were. There is so much grief. We get such an intimate view into the relationships and it's enough to make you tear up. She endures so much throughout this story and it was captivating to watch her character persevere like a stubborn flower surrounded by such an immense amount of scourge (literally and figuratively).
Equally one of our male characters at the end had me actually crying with the visceral self loathing + guilt he was feeling, it was all so convoluted, and bravo to Rhiannon to evoke such strong emotions in her writing.
The other male character being the epitome of someone wearing their heart on their sleeve and just being pure goodness was a masterfully written dichotomy that had me crying for different reasons (buckle up...just have tissue boxes near you).

Though unconventional beginning (and middles, to be honest), this was a heart-wrenching and equally beautiful love story. A soul deep sort of love that you really feel like you experience with them.

This is a gothic dark read that as long as you check the TWs & Tropes, you will absolutely love. It is hard not to love the characters that are all very REAL and flawed. Thank you to Rhiannon Hargadon for putting your whole heart and mind to this, it paid off so poetically. I know this book must have been emotionally difficult to create but thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for bringing it to us readers. You are an incredible author and I am thankful for you and the chance to receive an ARC.

[Darkromancerobyn]

A retelling of the Salem witch trials that includes:
✨ Masked men
✨ Enchanting magic
✨ Sleepy Hollow vibes
✨ Family above all
✨ Love triangle
✨ Friends to lovers
✨ PPD representation

Rhiannon has a knack for crafting intricate plots filled with twists and turns. Her world-building and character development are exceptional. Her stories are never slow to start; from the first page, the action grips you and pulls you into the ride. You get to know her characters deeply, and their relationships feel real and genuine. She makes you fall in love with the family unit, only to tear your heart apart. The PPD representation was incredibly emotional and truly broke my heart.

Amity is a fiery woman full of feminine rage, and I loved her internal dialogue when dealing with unsavoury men. George deserves protection at all costs; he’s a literal angel. I adore his character.

“Agreeable? The only way that word would describe me is if I were dead.”

“You are my family. You are my beloved, my friend. You are my mornings, my eventide, my midnight. And I want—I want—to measure my life by this. I want these minutes with you, in our house, in our kitchen. I want to count your laughs and kisses, and make those my hours.”

When Amity and her family entered Salem, it felt like stepping into Sleepy Hollow. The spooky vibes were palpable. Although the story was packed with action, I felt it could have benefited from some cuts to shorten the page count while still delivering a fantastic tale. I adored George; he was the real MVP of this story. Honestly, his character kept me engaged. Amity’s other love interest never really impressed me. He wasn’t likeable, and it seemed purely physical. George got dealt a bad hand, and it made me mad. Maybe this kind of love triangle isn’t for me. I wanted to love this story as much as I did Bloody Black, but it was just way too long. I predicted some of the plot twists, but it was still entertaining enough for me to continue. I didn’t quite understand how they ended the curse of Salem either. I’m torn because there are parts I loved about this book, but also a lot that bothered me.

The ending was blasphemy in itself. If you know, you know. How dare they 😭 The last few chapters tore my heart to smithereens.
Crushed.
My.
Soul.

While this story started out really strong for me, these issues ultimately prevented it from being a 5-star read.

Thank you, Rhiannon Hargadon, for the advanced reader copy of Tallow and Bone. ARC received in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and views are my own.

[Paula Livingston]

Thank you Rhiannon Hargadon for an advanced copy of this book - I have officially stopped crying long enough to write a review❤️‍🩹

Tallow and Bone emotionally devastates in the best way possible. The gradual build up of the story could be deemed as slow burning, however it was the perfect set up for the creeping dread which led us to the spectacularly shattering climax. I think it was such a genius idea to start the book right in the middle of a tense escape, and having the Merriweather family seek out a new life for themselves once arriving to Salem. It immediately sets the stakes and implants a sense of unease into the reader for the entirety of the book. There is so much foreboding within the narrative, making me think countless times that our FMC, Amity, should just uproot and leave to avoid any severe consequences. Despite it all, we witness her ingrain herself more and more into this cursed village, gripped by her necessity to cure it. Through all the hysteria and witch hunt, she is steadfast and tethered and refuses to run. Some of her decisions I really don't like or even condone, although I cannot entirely fault her for - she appears morally ambiguous, but those actions come from a place of desperation and hope.

The relationships within the story, both familial and romantic, are so incredibly well-written and complex. There are so many painful and raw moments that really weighed me down, and so many tender and genuine displays of love that tug so aggressively on my heartstrings. Without spoiling too much, I absolutely adored the duality we explore within the narrative. How for some, love can make you reckless or resolute. How trust can be given, with or without secrets. How sacrifices can mean leaving or staying. How safety and security and survival are all subjective. Just phenomenal.

We haven't even begun to touch on the incredibly authentic representation of misogyny, post-partum depression and traumatic encounters but all in all, it is an astounding retelling of one witch's heart-aching account during the Salem witch trials.

"Whatever you do, don't give up. Don't let them take your wildness. And if you ever doubt, even for an instant, know this: you are my heart and soul, my blood and tallow and bone. Nothing and no one will ever make you less."

[AndaReadsTooMuch]

Huge thank you to Rhiannon Hargadon for the eARC. All opinions are my own and freely given. This one is a wall-starer of the highest order. It took me three days of sitting here before I could even start to put words down about how I felt about this book. Full disclosure, I’m not sure I’ve fully processed yet so if it doesn’t make sense, don’t @ me about it.

Let me start here. The amount of research Rhiannon Hargadon went to in order to get this right is incredible. There are characters in here that are the fictional embodiment of the people in Salem we have learned about all our lives.

Not the dumb version where everyone is witches and evil and blah blah blah the devil or whatever. The version that tells the story of white men with power that wanted more. The profitable orchard, knowledge of medicine, a big house, a successful business, someone else’s wife or daughter. The real motivation behind the cries of witchcraft wasn’t purity, it was patriarchy.

This isn’t a love story. Don’t come here thinking you’re going to find the morally gray FMC that secretly has a heart of gold. Everyone is human, everyone is fallible, and everyone makes mistakes that cost people their lives.

This isn’t a happy story, while it is a standalone, it will not be the ending you think you want to have. It’s not here. Be ready to go in, eyes wide open, and understand how a town besieged by a curse ended up losing its humanity.

This book will change you. This book will be a reckoning. There are actions in this book, during a time that we truly think is behind us, that are happening to this day. Don’t go into this expecting romantasy. Go into this expecting emotional devastation and a rage that will fuel your entire body for the winter. Go into this book and come out different. And if you don’t…? Well, that is between you and your wall.

Five pentagrams for this one.

[Lena]

Thank you Rhiannon Hargadon for the gifted arc! This was such a complicated book for me to rate, but ultimately the last 20% or so cemented its place as a 5 star read. This has so many things I don’t normally like (love triangle, pregnancy, cheating, etc.) but it somehow worked for me here—after how much I loved Bloody Black by the same author, I decided to trust the process, and I’m glad I did.
This book is a retelling of the Salem Witch Trials, and the author weaved a lot of real history into it, which is further explained in the authors note at the end. The story follows Amity Merriweather, a witch on the run with her family. After escaping their last home, the Merriweathers settle in Salem, where she ends up in a love triangle with two vastly different men—George Cartwright, the town hero, and the mysterious Witch, the rude, coarse masked man.
When I say this book BROKE me—full body sobs and whispering “no no no” more times than I can count. At times, Amity is a deeply unlikable FMC, but you also can’t help but root for her. The masked witch is morally black but their chemistry is off the charts. And George? George is absolutely everything—the kindest, most loving, most understanding man to ever exist in a work of fiction. More than anything, I wanted them all to end up together somehow, but the Salem Witch Trials were evil and brutal, and no one in this story gets away unscathed.
This is a story full of tragedy and complicated characters who make mistakes and aren’t particularly likable. But to me, their flaws made them all more realistic and made this book so emotionally devastating. It’s a long one, but it is a standalone and perfect for fall if you too like getting your feelings hurt by a book

[tammys bookish life]

The moment I saw the masked man with the washboard abs asking for ARC readers, I applied so fast I practically left a smoke trail — and I’m so glad I did. The page count may look intimidating, but Rhiannon delivers a rich, immersive retelling of the Salem Witch Trials through the eyes of Amity Merriweather, blending history and fiction in a way that feels both fresh and devastating.

I adored the dynamic between Amity and her siblings, especially her sister Harriet. Their early antics in Salem had me laughing out loud, and Ham’s choice to stand beside Amity when it mattered most genuinely made me tear up. The sibling bond is one of the strongest and sweetest threads in the entire story.

And then there’s the love triangle — Amity, the male witch, and George — which gave me emotional whiplash in the best way. Loving someone who isn’t ready to settle down is its own heartbreak, and finding unexpected love where you thought none existed was so tender. Fair warning: keep some milk nearby, because this book gets spicy.

The Salem Witch Trials truly were a perfect storm of fear, religious extremism, social tension, and mass paranoia — and seeing those events through Amity’s eyes wrecked me. So many innocent people were caught in the snare, and the book doesn’t shy away from that tragedy.

Favorite passage:

“Whatever you do, don’t give up. Don’t let them take your wildness. And if you ever doubt, even for an instant, know this: you are my heart and soul, my blood and tallow and bone.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Ingrid]

What an incredibly beautiful story. Despite the emotional damaged it caused me, I absolutely loved it! I shall be sending an invoice for this shortly after my review 🙃.

This is a dark romance of the Salem Witch Trials that was emotional, heartbreaking and unlike any other retelling I have read. I loved how the story went in a different direction from most traditional romantasy books. Many have started to feel very repetitive and this did not. It was full of struggles, tragedy, acceptance and healing. One that had a character you can find yourself relating to.

Amity is a witch who has hidden her identity all her life. She is stubborn, strong willed, and at times messy. She makes impulsive decisions that have tragic consequences. All she wants is to be her true authentic self. To have freedom and not be suppressed by others. I enjoyed watching as her character developed from when we first met her and how she navigated a world in which women were damned for being outspoken or different.

Lastly, let’s talk about the romance in this book. I have never been a fan of love triangles because they usually leave me heartbroken. You root for one but then you start to root for the other. Then you are left torn between two men. It never ends well, unless it does. Here is where I’ll leave it because no spoilers in this review 😅. I will say that the chemistry was steamy, the tension was hot and the banter was fun & delightfully. And the author gave us a very healing HEA.

Thank you Rhiannon Hargadon for giving me the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book. I loved it and I am excited to see what you have in store for us next.