The Bone Key by Mary Rajotte
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 are disrupted by a terrifying vision. A haunting woman appears in the shadows as 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. Still, 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?
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 are disrupted by a terrifying vision. A haunting woman appears in the shadows as 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. Still, 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?
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 are disrupted by a terrifying vision. A haunting woman appears in the shadows as 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. Still, 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?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Canadian freelance writer and author Mary Rajotte has a penchant for penning nightmarish tales of Gothic folk horror. She was the 2018 HWA Scholarship recipient, and has over 70 published short stories, poems, and articles. In 2022, she launched Frightmarish: a self-published quarterly Gothic LitZine for devotees of dark fiction that explores the creative macabre. Her debut dark fantasy novel, The Bone Key, was released in October 2024 from Quill & Crow Publishing House. When Mary isn’t writing, you can find her standing on her tiptoes at concerts or conjuring ideas by moonlight. Sometimes camera-elusive but always coffee-fueled, Mary lives in Toronto, Canada with her fiancé. She welcomes messages via her website maryrajotte.com
