It’s that time of year again. Nights are drawing in, leaves are crunching underfoot, there is a frosty nip in the morning air. Halloween approaches and everyone feels like cuddling up in front of the fire with a good piece of gothic fiction. Or is that just me? Well, if this description sounds like you as well, you can do a lot worse than pick up Jenni Keer’s new book, The Ravenswood Witch.

Jenni is getting a reputation for writing beautiful, historical fiction blended perfectly with a dollop of the supernatural and her writing just keeps getting stronger and stronger with every book so, those of us who are in on her rising brilliance eagerly await her latest novel and this one has been worth the wait. A young woman is careening through the woods, running for her life, when she collides with a mysterious man, who is forced to rescue her. But has she actually been rescued or simply catapulted into a different type of peril? The man’s wife – known locally as the Ravenswood Witch – is missing, occult symbols scratched around the house all that indicates her presence, and there is only one suspect in her disappearance…

The setting of this book perfectly sets the tone, creepy woods, gloomy house, nearby village full of hostile locals; it has more than a whiff of the Rebecca about it so, if that is your vibe (and who doesn’t love Du Maurier?) you are going to LOVE this book. But it is in the characterisation that its strength truly lies. The cast is small but mighty and each one is drawn with precision and purpose, perfectly playing their role and coming together to tell a believable story of the unbelievable. Everyone has a secret, everyone could be dangerous and working out who to trust and who is dangerous not only proves problematic for the main character, but for the reader as well, it is brilliantly done.

Whilst the book is largely character-driven, the plot is also cleverly woven to keep the reader guessing right until the end – and beyond. The author knows exactly when to let information slip and when to keep certain cards close to her chest and she slithers through the plot with mastery and obvious glee, so the reader is compelled to follow her merry dance, but this is no hardship. I devoured the book in 24 hours and loved every minute.

This book is a masterclass in how to write modern, gothic fiction and it is really obvious to the reader that the author loves and is committed to what she is writing. the enthusiasm cannot help but carry over to the reader, and both reader and writer go on a joyous journey of storytelling together. The discovery of books like this is why I read. Truly wonderful.

*Thank you to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for sending a digital copy to review*

This Gothic historical fiction is the perfect book for the spooky season and has the same vibe as Jane Eyre but with witches.

A young woman on the run for murder collides with a stranger and breaks her ankle before she can escape to London. The stranger, Marcus Greybourne, promises to help her if she pretends to be Luna, his reclusive wife. She is taken to Ravenswood Hall, a house haunted by secrets and has been destroyed by Luna, known as the Ravenswood witch.

This book has a lot of mysteries to keep you engaged. From the whereabouts of the original Luna to figuring out who this new Luna is and how she wound up in this situation. From the very beginning imposter Luna maintains her cover and not even the reader knows who she is. The story jumps between two storylines which converge at the end. The other storyline hints at imposter Luna’s background and I was surprised to learn who she actually is.

The story reads like a gothic movie, with witches, Ravens, and mysterious forces that want imposter Luna to leave. She’s constantly trying to figure out who she can trust and everybody is not who they seem at first. I loved the notion of the ‘Ravenswood Witch’ and depending on the character original Luna was either a real witch or labeled one due to her many issues.

Overall it was an easy story to get invested in and if you love trying to figure things out then you will definitely enjoy this gothic mystery.

A totally enthralling story of dark magic and the mysteries that surround it!
 
The first page had me in a chokehold! I was immediately pulled into this story, this mysterious world, and I did my best to savor every last word.
 
While it could be quite slow at times, I was still enchanted the whole time. It had some romance perfectly thrown in there too, which I really liked!
 
The perfect book to snuggle up with this spooky season!
 
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy!

It wasn’t a bad start but there wasn’t enough to keep my attention. I wanted to read other books. However, I think this would be great to read during October so I might try again.

The Ravenswood Witch is the perfect book to start the Spooky Season! I loved the Gothic vibes and endearing main characters. There were a couple of twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend!

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of the book.

Tis the season of witchy reads right now!

I haven't read a book by Keer to date that hasn't been a five star read, so knew The Ravenswood Witch was not going to disappoint.

It's 1885, witches are believed to be real and superstition is rife! Keer delights with a spine tingling, grand gothic mystery that's steeped in history and shrouded in atmosphere.

The plot had me hooked from the opening pages where we have our first encounter with Luna. I sure wasn't expecting THAT twist though, were you?

Fantastic characters, romance and a touch of the paranormal...perfect!

This is definitely a perfect read for the season! There is spooky witchiness, thrilling mysteries, and some romance too. I thought Jenni Keer did such a great job writing a suspenseful and twisty story. I was definitely left wondering and creating predictions; a few I actually guessed correctly. I loved how the author gives some information that leads you to believe one thing, but as you read more and gain more information, you realize that what you originally thought may not be true. The way the characters are written is to make you feel like they might be trustworthy but still have enough reason to suspect them, making it hard to actually know if they are a good person. I don't think there was a single character that I felt I could trust at all until things started to come together at the end. I really enjoyed that because it made that anticipation to get the truth even stronger.
 
I did find parts of this, specifically towards the middle of the book, to be a bit slow. I felt like it started off strong and pulled me in immediately but slowed significantly before picking up again in the second half. 
 
I definitely recommend this book, especially if you're looking for a witchy book for the spooky season.

Brilliant!! Tis the season for witchy books!

This book takes place in 1885 as a perfect gothic historical fiction back when people still believed that witchcraft was a thing.

The book starts with a young woman running through the woods when she collides with a man and breaks her ankle. As it turns out, the person she is running from is the constible. As the constible catches up with her and informs the man that she is wanted for murder this strange gentleman says that she is his wife. At that moment, she assumes the identity of Luna Greyborne and agrees to stay at the run down house that is in total dismay. What happened to the real Luna Greyborne? Can this man be trusted? What are the strange noises in the attic?

This book was spooky and kept you in suspense.

I took half a star off because I felt a little bored in the middle of the book but I do understand the need for backstory.

Oh boy is this story a corker!! Fantasy writing, great suspense, shockers and a great ending!! All the characters in this book are brilliant. I was gripped and had to read into the early hours to finish!!
Rose is on the run from being made to look like she murdered her boy friend and Marcus is really low from being married to a nasty woman. They collide on a towpath, and life turns in that moment for both of them!. As the story continues, we learn more about what has happened but it’s near the end that the truth comes out, and boy will you be gripped till the end!
Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #TheBoldBookClub, #JenniKeer.

In a Nutshell: A historical Gothic mystery with paranormal shades. Jane Eyre vibes, but with added eeriness. Great atmosphere, good plot and twist, decent characters, slowburn. Could have worked even better with more depth to the characters and more detailing of some plot points.

Plot Preview:
1885. When a young woman, trying to escape from the police, bumps into a stranger and breaks her ankle, little does she know that life as she knew it will change forever. To her surprise, the man, Marcus Greybourne, convinces the policeman that she is his reclusive wife. He takes her back to his home, the crumbling Ravenswood Hall, and tells her that he will keep her safe if she agrees to the charade and pretends to be his wife Luna, who seems to be nowhere around. The new “Luna” has no choice but to agree. But she soon realises that the woman she is impersonating is known locally as the Ravenswood Witch, and is despised as an immoral and mad woman who dabbled in the dark arts. The home, with its myriad scratches and marks, also bears signs of her. What has “Luna” gotten herself into? Did she escape one fate to jump into a more dire one?
The story comes to us from two timelines in the third-person perspectives of “Luna”.

In my review of ‘No. 23 Burlington Square’, the only other book I’ve read of this author, I wrote the following line: “Imaginative in concept, somewhat slow in progress, interesting in plot development, okay in character development.” The exact same feedback is applicable even this time around.

Bookish Yays:
✨ The two timelines are equally gripping. Each has enough drama to contribute to the story.
✨ The connection between the two narratives is great, with one outstanding twist. I won't go into details for fear of spoilers, but will just say that this redeemed the book in my eyes to a great extent.
✨ The atmosphere is excellent. This is a Gothic mystery with a Gothic house and spooky woods around it, and the author makes great use of both these locations.
✨ The book straddles multiple genres: historical, dark fantasy, mystery, romance. Thankfully, it has its priorities in the right order, with the dark magic and the mystery dominating over the historical and the romance.
✨ There are plenty of intriguing characters in the book who aren’t ‘good’ but ‘grey’. Whether major character or minor, it is tricky to guess whom to trust or root for. Those who prefer likeable characters might not enjoy the book, but complex and conniving characters work better for me.
✨ Not everyone gets their due by the end, no matter what horrible deed they committed. If you prefer neat endings with justice for all, this might irk you. I liked the more realistic approach towards the depiction of how justice works in real life.
✨ Though the lead pair is in a romantic situation, romance isn't at the forefront of the story, and the spice content is at the minimal level.
✨ Bran the raven – always love it when animals are used well in the plot.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
🔮 “Luna” is intriguing as a character. All the issues in her arc get clarified after the link between the two narratives is established. But her dedication to being called ‘Luna” felt like it went too far, especially at the start.
🔮 Marcus being out of the scene for a great chunk of the first half doesn’t help us to see the connection form between him and “Luna”. But the chemistry between them feels fairly convincing in the second half, even though the foundation of the relationship is weird.
🔮 The writing is quite character-driven, which is both a pro and a con. The proceedings are more focussed on introspection than action for much of the story. As such, we get to know “Luna” decently thanks to her third-person perspective. But some of the other characters’ motivations and past actions could have been detailed out better.
🔮 Guessing the antagonist’s identity is easy, but it is not so easy to guess the mystery in its entirety.
🔮 The pacing is slow, which is somewhat expected in a character-oriented narrative. But the middle section is too repetitive, and hence feels dragged.
🔮 The witchcraft and dark magic adds just enough of intrigue and mystery to the plot. However, I wasn’t convinced by how the fake Luna knew so much about the witchy symbols and objects used in dark magic.
🔮 I am not so comfortable with the mental illness rep in the story, though it does align with the beliefs of the time period.
🔮 There is much animal brutality, though I do acknowledge that a story with elements of dark magic often resorts to this content.

Bookish Nays:
💥 The original Luna’s character had so much potential but the writing leaves her quite vague and shallow. Adding more depth to her character would have enhanced this novel.
💥 The ending is too smooth and rushed, and has many convenient explanations to tie the pending arcs neatly. Though the main points are explained well, I needed more answers. Some of the creepier events are left unexplained.
💥 Something in the dialogues makes the lines feel anachronistic, though I can’t put my finger on the exact reason. I remember saying the same thing in my review of ‘No. 23 Burlington Square’.

All in all, this is a good read for the spooky season, as long as you can suspend disbelief and go with the flow. The slow pace and the questionable character decisions at the start weren’t appealing, but once the timelines connected, the twist saved the book for me. The facts that it was less of a romance and more focussed on the Gothic mystery components also worked in my favour.
Recommended to readers who like complex characters, atmospheric storytelling, and don’t mind slowburn stories and characters getting away with bad behaviour.

3.5 stars, rounding up.

My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for a complimentary copy of 'The Ravenswood Witch' via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

The digital version of this book is currently available free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

Such an amazing book! I read it so quickly, most of the time I forgot I was reading it. I'll be getting a physical copy as soon as I can. ❤️

The beginning of this book almost gave off Jane Eyre vibes so I was very excited. I found the idea of the plot interesting and the gothic theme to not be too spooky. I do feel like the pace slowed down quite a bit in the middle with a bit of repetitiveness. I also think the MMC wasn't developed enough to have the effect the story needed.

There were a couple surprise twists that I really enjoyed. I liked the FMC and I thought she was very well written. I liked how the author switched from last to present to share her backstory. If you enjoy gothic historical fiction then you will probably enjoy this.

"And when someone saves you like that, so dramatically, you are all but obliged to fall in love with them."

A mix of gothic and witchy novel perfect to start off October 🖤 Not too predictable, interesting characters and a woodsy cottage setting. I liked how the backstories were slowly unraveled before the final act. I wish there had been more slow burn action but oh well it's not a romance after all

PS: the raven being called Bran made me cackle


[Review posted on Goodreads and short one on Instagram]

Haunting, mysterious and a little bit dark in places, this wraps several stories into one narrative. Early on, it’s difficult to work out the exact identity of one of the main characters, but this plot device builds tension and makes for another layer to the story. Having read previous books by this author, I was expecting a good read but wasn’t sure if this was going to be a book for me given its magical nature, but I loved it! My favourite character is the Raven! 🐦‍⬛

A thumping good read 5*

My thanks to Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for the tour invite and to the publisher for the ebook to review via Netgalley. The Ravenswood Witch is the third book I’ve read by Jenni Keer – No 23 Burlington Square, At the Stroke of Midnight being previously reviewed here. As soon as I saw the word ‘Witch’ I was there, especially as it’s from Jenni, I didn’t need any persuading at all to say please to reviewing this.

This historical fiction with its setting in 1885 has as its background a rather neglected big old house, suspicious characters and chilling supernatural elements. On the run from the police during which she injures herself, a young woman takes refuge at Ravenwood at the invitation of its brooding owner Marcus Greybourne, the only other occupants being his housekeeper and her husband – the latter whose behaviour is rather disturbing and unfriendly. In return, she will publicly pretend to be Greybourne’s missing wife Luna. I was intrigued from the beginning and had questions – where was the real Luna and would she return to find an imposter in her place – despite the likeness between the two women surely people would realise? Further what was the real identity of the ‘imposter’ and who had been killed to result in such a desperate escape.

There is a smallish cast of characters here with the setting mainly in Ravensbourne House and its grounds but the story is no less disturbing. There is significant internal destruction and witchcraft and occult symbols are everywhere – presumably made by the real Luna, who was viewed with much fear and distrust by the villagers for they perceived her as the Ravenswood Witch. There are two strands to the story, one of which initially led me down a different garden path. The eventual blending of the two stories results in a shocking revelation. With ghostly apparitions and witchcraft tokens, this is a superbly creepy and mysterious story with rather dark characters committing evil deeds.

The supernatural element and that constant feeling of foreboding kept my interest throughout and for much of the book I was never quite sure which events were true or a manifestation of imagination or even who could be trusted. Much like the pretend Luna, I was never sure of Marcus’ role in his wife’s disappearance although that didn’t stop her developing a sympathetic attachment. The atmospheric setting of the old house and surrounding forest certainly had that sinister factor – and I haven’t mentioned the Ravens!

I’ve said before that Jenni Keer has become a must read author. I love her style of writing with the ability to immediately hook me into a story. This is a book that could be read at any time but with Halloween fast approaching, it would be superb candidate for a spooky read.

This is a dark and sinister gothic novel which introduces us to Ravenswood and the story of a young woman, rescued from harm, who is prepared to enter into an odd arrangement with Marcus Greybourne who is the enigmatic owner of the house. In agreeing to pretend to be Luna Greybourne, his estranged wife, this, as yet, unnamed young woman receives a place of safety and even though the dark and shadowy corners reverberate with menace, she is prepared to stay at Ravenswood as her own secrets, if revealed, would place her grave danger.

There are lots of spooky moments in this gothic mystery and there were definitely times when I found myself, particularly when reading at night, jumping at shadows. The author has captured the menacing atmosphere of Ravenswood well and brings to life a cast of characters who are all flawed and some are just downright evil. I especially enjoyed the company of Bran, the raven, who brings an interesting element and shows the intelligence of Corvids. With a couple of unexpected twists which I didn’t see coming The Ravenswood Witch is nicely spooky and with a chilling, atmospheric presence throughout, I think it would make a perfect read for Halloween.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read No 23 Burlington Square by Jenni and loved it, so jumped at the chance to read and review her new book. I’m so glad I did as this was such a fabulous twisty witch story perfect for this time of year.

We meet our main character as she is running for her life and collides with a gentleman who inadvertently breaks her ankle. He offers to take care of her until it is healed and this is where the story gets interesting. There are flashback chapters from her previous life setting the scene for her escape. We also meet some kind and not so kind characters in the village, and their ancient beliefs.

I love how this story unfolds, strange goings on that make you wonder who is who and who is telling the truth - and more importantly what the truth is.

This was a beautiful story. I loved the two main characters had difficult situations. Two individuals ran into each other in the middle of town. The female assumes the role as Luna, the man's wife. The female is given the role of a lifetime after escaping the accusation of murder. This book has so many twist and turns. I feel like it was totally great read. I don't want to spoil anything. I will recommend to friends and family.

I'd enjoyed two of Jenni Keer's previous titles in the past, and so I was really looking forward to 'The Ravenswood Witch'. Especially because of the whole witchy thing and spooky season is upon us after all.

A nameless young woman is running away from a possible destiny with the noose, trying to make her way to a ferry to go live in the city, when she collides with Marcus Greybourne and hurts her ankle. When the local constable comes across them, Marcus convinces him that the nameless young woman is his wife of ten years, Luna. If the nameless young woman agrees to keep up this charade, Marcus promises he will keep her safe.

But there are weird things happening at his house. Odd carvings and writings, dark and oppressive rooms, padlocks, scorch marks ... it's not quite the welcoming home one would wish for. The real Luna was known around the local village as being a witch, even considered responsible for the death of one of the locals. But where is she? Is she dead, or alive? Did Marcus kill her? What's up with the Webbers? Can "fake" Luna even trust any of these people? And what does any of this have to do with the flashbacks chapters?

Plenty of mysterious goings-on to sink your teeth into, I'd say. Unfortunately, I personally felt there was't enough of the witchy and spooky, and too much of the romance, which is really not my thing. I was on the wrong track with trying to figure out how "fake" Luna was connected to the chapters set in the past. However, I did figure out who had a hand in the strange happenings, so that reveal didn't come as a surprise to me.

There was a distinct lack of creepiness for me. Not that there wasn't room for it because there were moments, especially in the middle of the book, where it felt like nothing much was happening. I never really felt drawn in, didn't really warm to these characters (I'd say my favourite character was a bird so you know), never felt unsettled like I was hoping for, and had a hard time believing in the instant connection between Marcus and "fake" Luna. Also, did I mention romance really isn't my cup of tea?

All in all, I'd say I wasn't the right audience for 'The Ravenswood Witch'. It was an okay read, but it didn't come anywhere near 'No. 23 Burlington Square', which still remains a favourite.

"It was as though the house had crawled from the darkness of the trees and collapsed as soon as it had ventured into the daylight."

The Ravenswood Witch is a book so completely different from what I normally read, yet I was enticed by the pretty cover and even more so by the intriguing premise. A young girl, running away from alleged murder, coming across a man who seems to simply adopt her as his wife of ten years. What did the girl do? Where is the wife? What happened to her? What is happening in the manor and its woods the young girl is now to call her home? Will she ever be able to leave again?

So as said, I was pulled in by the premise. I was pulled in even further by the creepy vibes that were literally oozing from the page. With the vivid scene descriptions (much like the one above), it was not hard to conjure up an image of what the Ravenswood Mansion and woods must have looked like. It was easy to imagine what "Luna" must have felt getting to know the house, its mysterious owner, and all the other villagers. That's another thing that makes this book a gripping read actually, its host of wonderful characters (including an epic raven by the name of Bran), none of whom you will ever fully be able to trust as a reader.

The plot was interesting enough, and, while I had guessed pretty much every 'reveal', I noticed that I kept turning the pages to find out whether I had guessed things right. Way to make me feel smart I suppose. If you are looking for a hugely atmospheric read, with some rather unique characters, some spookiness and witchcraft, and a bit of romance, look no further.