The Bone Key - MaryRajotte.com

Book cover of The Bone Key by Mary Rajotte. in the middle, an aged key with an owl skull sits on a purple velvet background. The key is surrounded by white feathers, green moss, iridescent teal branches, and purple mushrooms.

My debut paranormal dark fantasy novel The Bone Key was published by Quill & Crow Publishing House

Publication date: October 20, 2024
Editors: Tiffany Putenis, Lisa Morris
Cover Art: Fay Lane

ABOUT THE BONE KEY

Valeria Salcedo is a member of the Aquelarre Buho, a coven that shares the magical ability to transform into owls. When a ruthless faction of hunters known as Los Cazadores close in on the witches with the intention of stealing their magic, Valeria must master the powers of both light and dark to defend her coven’s gifts against those who have pursued them for generations.

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PUBLICATION DETAILS

Centuries ago, the First Witch of the Aquelarre Buho coven conjured the ability to transform into an owl. Since then, a faction of hunters known as Los Cazadores has been intent on stealing that magic for their own.

As Valeria hones her craft, her hopes of being granted the power to shape-shift is disrupted by a terrifying vision. A haunting woman appears in the shadows the same way she did when Valeria was a child, a foreboding omen that culminates in the murder of her best friend, Gwen.

Seeking solace, Valeria flees south to reconnect to her roots, but her journey turns bittersweet when painful memories of her father’s death resurface and fuel her determination to protect those she loves. As Valeria delves into darker magic, she discovers her abilities are stronger than anyone knew. But just as her confidence soars, the hunters return intent on stealing the Elixir the witches rely upon for their transformative powers.

Can Valeria invoke the bravery needed to protect her coven’s legacy for future generations of owl witches? Or will Los Cazadores finally take the very thing they’ve spent centuries pursuing?

AN EXCERPT FROM THE BONE KEY

When I was a young girl learning the ways of the Craft, my mother taught me to put on a brave face for life’s challenges. My father, a powerful witch and folk healer, warned me the world would provoke me with danger and temptations I could only imagine. Older now, I have seen these things firsthand, only now realizing my truest test was having the courage to be myself.
© MARY RAJOTTE

READER REVIEWS OF THE BONE KEY

The Bone Key is a relatively fast paced, very witchy, and entertaining read steeped in folklore and cultural mythology. Setting and atmosphere are done gorgeously as well as the attention to detail in relation to rituals, witchcraft, folklore, and historical references. I really enjoyed the perspective of a person being pulled between two worlds, a mixed ethnicity character and feel the struggles there were well stated and thoroughly explored. The character development of Valeria is realistic and intense, at times even leading the reader to be frustrated for her as she finds herself, but ultimately resulting in a great deal of build up to cathartic moments that deliver quite gracefully. It really felt like a coming of age/young adult story to me, ripe with emotional turmoil, obstacles to overcome, resolving of doubts concerning self worth and self esteem, parent-child dynamics, family dynamics etc. There also seems to be an inkling of a slow burn romance there with the Will character and I wanted to see more of that. Overall, a skillfully woven, diverse, entertaining and witchy read.

P.S. — fuck around and find out vibes.

– Alma G.

Rajotte captures the isolation of being between
cultures so perfectly! I was so stressed out reading this, not knowing whether the conflict was going to come from the villainous coyotes or from someone Val should be able to trust. The lush forest environments really transported me to the world of these clashing factions. Whether it’s Montreal or California, Rajotte places the reader firmly in the setting, surrounded by friend and foe. I’d love to read more from this world! Hopefully, this becomes a series.

– Chris O.

What an amazing book. I’ve been lucky enough to
read this prior to the release and Mary Rajotte has woven a powerful tale. The authority, the magic, the grand weirdness, the emotion—it’s a rollercoaster ride, and I could NOT put it down. And what a great cover.

– Richard T.

Mary Rajotte is our new Gothic literary queen. The Bone Key is lush, brimming with folklore and shimmering with witchcraft. A tale in which heartache leads to finding one’s true power. Exquisite.

– Cynthia Pelayo, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Vanishing Daughters

“The Bone Key by Mary Rajotte is a phenomenal witchy, coming-of-age novel that has quickly become a standout favorite for me this year. Though fast-paced, the storytelling remains deeply immersive, and the quick tempo never detracts from the plot or the characters’ growth.

One of the book’s highlights is its rich use of folklore and cultural mythology, which sets it apart from other reads in the genre. Rajotte’s descriptive writing brings this mystical world vividly to life, making the story both entertaining and endlessly intriguing. If you’re looking for a witchy read that combines a thrilling pace with depth and atmosphere, The Bone Key is not to be missed.“

– Stephanie C.

Rajotte captures the isolation of being between cultures so perfectly! I was so stressed out reading this, not knowing whether the conflict was going This dreamlike coming of age fantasy matches deep witchcraft with twisty mother-daughter conflict and mourning for a parent that’s handled with sensitivity and honesty — and there are cross-cultural owl witches! I never knew what to expect next and I couldn’t wait to find out. So very satisfying!”

– Loren Rhoads, author of Unsafe Words

“The Bone Key is a richly detailed fantasy made of magic, folklore, and dark secrets. Such a lovely read!”
– Mercedes M. Yardley, Bram Stoker Award winner of Little Dead Red and “Fracture.”

“The characters are intriguing and so is the world-building. I already mentioned how I thought the blend of witches and shape-shifters was unique – I think the whole set-piece here is unique. It blends perfect Craft related practices as well as Mexican and Canadian backdrops.

I am not a Craft practitioner myself although I am a non-religious pagan who is more than passing familiar with the Craft. It is very clear that a lot of research has gone into this book (or perhaps the author practices the Craft themselves or knows someone who does?) It’s very well done anyway.

I think my favourite character here is Desi. He’s laid-back yet cheeky and very likeable. I hope we get to see more of him in future books.

By the way, this book is left open-ended so I am hoping that there is a hope of more books in this series. I believe that the plot is strong enough to support further books down the line and I’m very intrigued to find out what is in Valeria’s future.

– SS Long