Only Spell Deep - by Ava Morgyn (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Rebecca meets The Craft in this dark, atmospheric novel of one witch rediscovering her power while on the run from another willing to kill her for it.

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Bane Witch!

Judeth Cole has always had certain uncanny abilities. But when she arrived at Solidago, her grandfather's estate by the sea, she was forced to keep them secret. There she lived a harsh life under his rule and the haunting legacy of her late grandmother, Aurelia. Until the fateful day she ignited a fire with her magic. It was the last time she saw her family alive.

Seventeen years later, she's living in Seattle as Jude Clark, and failing at life, when she makes a last detour through her favorite bookstore, selecting a book to read as she waits to die. But when she pulls it from the shelf, an invitation to her for a clandestine midnight meeting slips out.

Jude is quickly swept up into a world of secrets and magic, discovering a circle of powerful new companions led by the mysterious, enigmatic Arla. The source of their magic, Arla tells her, is an entity, trapped and bound, that they call The Fathom. But Jude swiftly realizes Arla wants this power all to herself, and that she's willing to kill for it.

Terrified, Jude turns to Levi, the handsome bookseller who's seen her at her worst. With his help, she begins a research journey that leads her all the way back to Solidago, the house she swore to never return to. Now, the Fathom threatening to break free and Arla on the hunt, Jude must finally face her past to save her future.

Ava Morgyn's Only Spell Deep is a novel that takes readers on a journey into a dark, glittering world of magic, a place where power should never be caged and misplaced trust can have deadly consequences.

"Only Spell Deep is beautifully written and richly immersive, weaving a gothic atmosphere with supernatural tension in a story about reclaiming one's power in more ways than one and unraveling generational trauma. Morgyn builds a world that feels both mythic and real, where gods walk among us and the most terrifying magic is the kind passed down through blood. This novel cast a lasting spell on me. I was all in." - Katy Foraker, author of Memories, Lies, and Other Binds

"Only Spell Deep is a dark parable of feminine rage and power, blending horror, fantasy, and mythology seamlessly into the streets and hidden places of modern-day Seattle. With gorgeous prose, Ava Morgyn weaves a spell of her own and gives us a courageous heroine to root for." - Alyssa Palombo, author of The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel

Review Quotes

Praise for Only Spell Deep:

Book Riot, "New Horror Books to Haunt and Horrify You in March 2026"

"Fans of darker themes as well as fans of occult and horror will find the writing immersive." - Booklist

"Only Spell Deep is beautifully written and richly immersive, weaving a gothic atmosphere with supernatural tension in a story about reclaiming one's power in more ways than one and unraveling generational trauma. I was immediately hooked, but once Jude heard the voice from her childhood again, I was all in. Morgyn builds a world that feels both mythic and real, where gods walk among us and the most terrifying magic is the kind passed down through blood. The mysteries of Jude's past and the truth behind The Fathom come together with the precision of a series of locks clicking into place, each delivering revelations that are as unexpected as they are satisfying. This novel cast a lasting spell on me." - Katy Foraker, author of Memories, Lies, and Other Binds

"Only Spell Deep is a dark parable of feminine rage and power, blending horror, fantasy, and mythology seamlessly into the streets and hidden places of modern-day Seattle. With gorgeous prose, Ava Morgyn weaves a spell of her own and gives us a courageous heroine to root for." - Alyssa Palombo, author of The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel

"Haunting and utterly enthralling, Only Spell Deep casts its spell from the first page, drawing readers into a world where magic is both a gift and a curse - and where the past never stays buried. Once again, Ava Morgyn masterfully blends gothic sensibility with a modern edge, crafting a story rich with atmosphere steeped in the eerie beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Jude's journey explores the shadows of the human psyche - grief, guilt and obsession - through a cinematic lens that is both intimate and sweeping. This is witchcraft and myth at its most seductive." - Constance Sayers, author of A Witch in Time

"A deeply atmospheric story that hooks into the magic of place and time, drawing out archetypal forces lurking just beyond sight. Only Spell Deep is a dark, modern fairy tale that reminds me of reading Alice Hoffman on a rainy evening with a glass of absinthe." - Nicola Solvinic, author of The Sister's Curse

Praise for The Bane Witch:

"Not a thriller in the traditional sense, but definitely thrilling in its own unique way, this excursion into poisons and secret families, as well as the gray area of good versus evil, will appeal to fans of witchy fiction and dark themes." - Booklist

"A compelling dive into the darker side of human nature, of good and evil, and the gray areas in between. Thrilling!" - Mindy McGinnis, Edgar Award-winning author of The Female of the Species on The Bane Witch

Praise for The Witches of Bone Hill:

"[A] wonderfully macabre contemporary fantasy. Chilling and atmospheric." - Publishers Weekly

"Part family epic, part supernatural thriller, and part gothic romance, Ava Morgyn's The Witches of Bone Hill is a haunted house book with a witchy twist. It reminds me of Practical Magic - the novel, not the movie - this is definitely a gothy, edgy witch book, not a cozy one!" - NPR

"[A] spellbinding tale... Morgyn effortlessly weaves together supernatural, horror, and romantic elements to create a quick but compelling read." - Library Journal

"A simmering, supernatural mystery that conjures a brew of legacy, sisterhood, and Scandinavian witchcraft within a magnificent and malevolent house." - Katherine Harbour, author of Thorn Jack

"The Witches of Bone Hill is a potent spell of legacy and sisterhood. With its haunted manor, powerful magic, and many mysteries, this eerie tale will keep readers up well into the night." - Rachel Griffin, New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches

"With Morgyn's fresh take on strange rituals, odd townspeople and gothic mansions, this tale will delight fans of Alice Hoffman. I read it in one sitting and wanted more! Ava Morgyn is a powerful new voice in magical realism." - Constance Sayers, author of A Witch in Time

"Wickedly wonderful, The Witches of Bone Hill is a delicious concoction of darkness, magic, and sisterhood. Ava Morgyn imbues her story with a haunting sorcery all her own, making this compulsively readable new dynasty of powerful witches impossible to put down." - Paige Crutcher, author of A Circle of Uncommon Witches

About the Author

Ava Morgyn grew up falling in love with all the wrong characters in all the wrong stories, then studied English Writing & Rhetoric. She is a lover of witchcraft, tarot, and powerful women with bad reputations and resides in Houston surrounded by antiques and dog hair. When not at her laptop spinning darkly hypnotic tales, she hunts for vintage treasures and reads the darkest books she can find. She is the USA Today bestselling author of The Witches of Bone Hill and The Bane Witch.