This book definitely delivered on its promise of spooky gothic mystery, with some romance included as well. It took a while for the exposition to get moving, but I read the last half of the book in one sitting. The characters were interesting, largely because they all had secrets. Several twists at the end made the climax very entertaining.

Because I have studied Wicca, I am particular about the way witches are portrayed in literature. I don't go for the stereotype of evil, spell-casting witch. But this book had an interesting take on the witch issue - the prejudices of the various characters allowed us to see the different assumptions made about witches, but the story acknowledged that few of these assumptions are part of actual witchcraft. That said, there was a link between witchcraft and devll worship that bothered me, since traditionally witches were not followers of the devil.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
4 stars book from me. Loved the plot and the storytelling in The Ravenswood Witch and relatable, likable characters,. Loved every single second reading it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🧂
The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer was a read that left me with mixed feelings. Because it was an ARC, I was excited to dive into the story, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. One of my main struggles with this book was the characters. I found it difficult to connect with them, as they never felt fully fleshed out. Luna, in particular, left me puzzled. I never quite understood her motivation to do the things she did. The characters made it challenging to stay engaged, and I almost didn’t finish the book. However, I pushed through, really wanting to give it a fair review. That said, there were aspects of the story that I appreciated. The twist ending was interesting and caught me by surprise, and the character reveal added a layer of intrigue that I enjoyed. These elements provided some redemption for the story and kept me invested enough to see it through to the end. Overall, The Ravenswood Witch was a decent read, but it wasn’t quite what I expected. While it has its moments, it didn’t fully captivate me, and the characters didn’t do as much for me as I’d hoped. If you’re looking for a light, twisty read, this might be worth a try, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me.

Okay, Jenni Keer, "The Ravenswood Witch" is an absolute gem of a book! I struggled to put this book down and when I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about this book!

From the very first page, I was completely captivated by the enchanting world that Keer has created. The characters are so vividly portrayed, and many are so enduring, yet even at the end of the book when secrets begin to reveal themselves, I found myself shocked and amazed! Keer leaves so many hints and clues along the way, which makes the ending all the more thrilling!

The story itself is a delightful blend of magic, mystery, and heartwarming and tender moments that kept me eagerly turning the pages. The author's writing style and storytelling is simply mesmerizing, and her ability to weave together a tale of family secrets from two different families who collide together and the incredible dilemma they face is truly remarkable. I found myself completely engrossed in the story, eagerly trying to unravel the mysteries alongside the characters.

What I loved most about "The Ravenswood Witch" is how seamlessly it combines elements of a beautiful love story with a touch of the otherworldly. The magical elements are woven into the narrative in such a subtle and believable way that I found myself completely enchanted by the story.

Overall, "The Ravenswood Witch" is a spellbinding read that effortlessly blends magic, mystery, and heart. Jenni Keer has crafted a truly special book that will appeal to those who love a mystical romantasy. I cannot recommend this book highly enough – it's an absolute must-read! I eagerly await more from this talented author!

Thank you SO MUCH to #NetGalley, #JenniKeer, and #BoldwoodBooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. #TheRavenswoodWitch

This book is the perfect read for spooky season. I couldn’t put it down. There was always another mysterious thing happening and really keeps your attention. If you’re looking for a book with witchy vibes, possible ghost and haunted house, murder, mysterious disappearances and more, then this book is a must read!

This book follows a young girl who is on the run and being accused of murder. She runs into Marcus Greybourne and breaks her ankle. When the constable shows up and inquires about her being the girl they are looking for, Marcus steps in and claims she is his wife, Luna, of 10 years and they are mistaken. He then offers “Luna” refuge in his home if she agrees to take on the role of his missing wife, so that he can still claim her inheritance money.

While staying at the decrepit house, she is convinced she is seeing the ghost of the real Luna and she is leaving her threatening messages to leave or die. The real Luna was accused of being an actual witch and the entire town is a convinced of this. Follow along as the imposter “Luna” tries to uncover the secrets of the house and whether or not she can really trust anyone. Did she escape one terrible fate to stumble upon one much worse?

Thank you NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read the arc copy of this book. I gave this book 4 stars and will be recommending it to others. What a great historical mystery!

A historical gothic mystery with some cozy magical components & a slow burn subplot that keeps you guessing until the end. Combining a 3rd person pov that makes you suspicious of everyone (even the female main character), ans paranormal elements and small twists throughout creates an eerie gripping read focusing on the taboo subject of witchcraft. Would Recommend🙌🏻

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC of The Ravenswood Witch in exchange for an honest and independent review.

This book was perfect for dipping my toe into the start of this years witching season. The Ravenswood Witch perfectly encapsulated everything I want out of a novel (historical fiction, witchcraft themes mixed with romance and a dash of mystery and intrigue). While this was my first book by Jenni Keer, it certainly won't be my last. Her descriptions of the time and the physical location of Ravenswood makes the reader feel as if they are actually there watching everything unfold. I whole heartedly loved that there are two timelines running through this novel, which only adds to the mystery of what's actually happening in present day and keeps the reader guessing as to who our main character "Luna" actually is and what foul deed has happened in her life to send her on the run and land her at Ravenswood under the care of it's mysterious owner, Marcus and his many mysteries that surround him and his prior life.

There were several times throughout the book I thought I had an idea of what was occurring or who was behind the mysteries of Ravenswood, but I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered I had absolutely no idea what twists and turns this book would take and I was more than willing to come along for the ride. I genuinely loved our main characters, Marcus and Luna. They are perfect examples of sometimes good people can do bad things, but that doesn't necessarily make them a bad person.

The Ravenswood Witch was truly a wild ride the whole way through and I very much enjoyed every bit of it. If your interests are peaked by witches, the occult, romance and mystery, I would very much recommend picking this one up this fall season. Grab your book, a cozy blanket, turn on the fireplace, make yourself a hot chocolate, and get comfortable because you're not going to want to put this one down! The Ravenswood Witch is out in stores near you on September 30th!

The year is 1885 and a young woman is on the run, knowing if she’s caught, she’ll be hanged for murder. Moments from a safe haven, she collides with a gruff stranger, falling and breaking her ankle. To her surprise, the man – Marcus Greybourne – convinces the local constable that she is his reclusive wife of ten years, Luna. He carries her back to the neglected and crumbling Ravenswood Hall, promising if she agrees to maintain this charade, he will keep her safe until her injuries have healed.

But the house is haunted by shadows and secrets. What’s more, the real Luna Greybourne is missing, without trace. Scratches and marks made by her around the house suggest witchcraft; and indeed Luna is known locally as the Ravenswood Witch; her reputation in tatters, like the wallpapers of the padlocked rooms she’d destroyed. As strange happenings in the house continue, outside the screech of a raven echoes across oppressive woods that seem alive with dark magic. And the woman who is now pretending to be Luna can’t help but fear she’s escaped the noose for a far more terrible fate…

This was brilliantly written. I loved the gothic feel, the suspense, the vibes from this novel are top notch. I loved Luna. I loved Marcus. This is one of those books that I won't forget any time soon. If you enjoy gothic paranormal romance, READ THIS BOOK! ❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

✨ Book Review: The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer ✨

First off, thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book.

I had high hopes for The Ravenswood Witch—the premise was right up my alley, and I was excited to dive in. However, I found the first 50% of the book to be a real slog. It took some effort to get through, and I ended up skimming about 10% of it. Things started to pick up around the 60% mark, and that's when I really began to enjoy the story.

For most of the book, I struggled to connect with the characters. Luna, the main character, felt disingenuous to me, and her unreliable narration made it hard for me to care about what happened to her. I even felt like some of the things she experienced were deserved, which made it tough to root for her. Marcus didn’t fare much better in my eyes.

Surprisingly, the character I cared most about was Bran, the raven. I found myself genuinely concerned for his well-being, which kept me invested until the end.

The last 40% of the book was actually quite engaging, and it managed to hold my attention. Because of this stronger finish, I'm giving The Ravenswood Witch 3 stars. Normally, I would have given up on a book that didn't grab me, but since this was an ARC, I pushed through to provide an honest review.

Would I recommend it? Maybe. It just wasn’t my cup of tea until the latter half, but others might enjoy it more. If we'd learned more about Luna earlier on, I might have been more invested from the start. If you’re curious, give it a shot—just be prepared for a slow burn.

🌟 Rating: 3/5 🌟

*This book was an Advanced Reader Copy provided in exchange for honest feedback.*

#TheRavenswoodWitch #JenniKeer #BookReview #Bookstagram #ARCReview #SlowBurn #FantasyReads #Bookish #Netgalley

New author for me and for my first book it was such a good read. The story of Eloise, Rose and Luna just shows how obsession can turn to desperation and then blame, a young girl running for her life and the chance meeting with a kind man. This book kept me reading when I should have been sleeping and I just didn’t see the reveal at the end coming. Lovely book full of mystery and that wonderful twist at the end.
My thanks as always to NetGalley, Publisher Boldwood Books and Author Jenni Keer for the opportunity of the early read 📚

Whether you're looking for a fall read or a Halloween novel, The Ravenswood Witch by Jennie Keer is sure to captivate you . The story draws you into a world of mystery and magic, with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. The blend of supernatural elements and a compelling mystery makes this book hard to put down—each chapter pulls you deeper into the narrative, making it a true page-turner.

Blurb:
Set in 1885, a young woman fleeing a murder she didn’t commit finds herself at the decaying mansion of Marcus Greybourne, who insists she is his missing wife, Luna. As she recovers, she becomes caught in a web of dark secrets, local witchcraft, and the mystery of the real Luna's disappearance. The eerie atmosphere and supernatural occurrences create a gripping tale that blends mystery and suspense, leaving you questioning whether escaping one danger might lead her into something even more terrifying.

As someone who enjoys mysteries, I found the intrigue in this book particularly engaging. Jenni Keer masterfully builds suspense, and the layers of secrets unravel in a way that leaves you both satisfied and craving more. This is definitely one of those books that will keep you up late, eagerly flipping through the pages to see what happens next.

The book will be published in September 30th and I will definitely want to get a physical copy for my shelf.

Brilliant! I couldn't put it down! Set in 1885 when witchcraft was still looked on as being an actual thing. People were very superstitious and could turn on each other without much provocation. Ravenswood is a large gothic house on the edge of a wood from which the house draws it's name. Marcus and Luna Greybourne live there and the villagers believe Luna is the Ravenswood witch because of her antics. People avoid the house and it's a sad and lonely place.
Into this comes a young woman fleeing for her life and she crashes into Marcus who rescues her and tells the constable who's following her that she's his wife. He also tells her he'll keep her safe if she pretends to be his wife who is actually missing.
The atmospheric writing and the tension throughout was palpable! There are some fantastic characters, none of which you can be quite sure of. There's also a bird who's a character in his own right and I loved him! Two big twists occur, one I guessed at but the other came out of the blue. I couldn't believe it!! It was a little dragged out in the middle but that didn't bother me.
This is the third book I've read by this author and she's just getting better and better. I'd highly recommend this read!

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an early copy of this book.

As today is the first day of meteorological autumn it seems fitting that I have just finished reading this spooky witchy novel, which has held me in its grip for the past two days. I was sent a ARC of The Ravenswood Witch by the publisher, Boldwood Books and I have enjoyed it immensely. Autumn is the perfect time of year to read witchy books and I am always on the lookout for exciting new titles in this genre.

I would describe The Ravenswood Witch as being a Gothic mystery, with a subplot of witchery. The witchcraft isn't the main thread of the story, but more of an intriguing backdrop to a murder mystery which is set in the late 1800s. It is quite a slow burn, but this adds to the atmosphere as you come to know the house and its inhabitants over a period of time, just as the main protagonist does.

In this novel, she is fleeing from a troubled past when she bumps into Marcus Greybourne and suffers a broken ankle from her subsequent fall. In order to escape the policemen who are following her, she agrees to play the part of Marcus's wife Luna, who has mysteriously disappeared. In the arms of her rescuer, the newly named Luna is carried back to his house, Ravenswood, a dilapidated Gothic mansion standing on the edge of a dense forest.

There they make an agreement not to pry into one another's past, but to focus on building a believable marriage together. Luna sees this as an opportunity to escape her own troubles and is willingly drawn into the shadowy world of Ravenswood. However, her new husband failed to mention that his missing wife was rumoured to be a witch and now the new Luna has to live with that reputation and all the danger it brings.

The novel has a duel narrative, with well-drawn characters in both storylines. The way these plots merge together was quite a twist and this novel has lots of surprises to keep you guessing. Just when you think you've foreseen what's going on, the plot thickens or turns and turns again. It's certainly a page-turner! It has echoes of Jane Eyre and Rebecca, with a touch of Victoria Holt's mastery of Gothic storytelling. Personally, I would have preferred it to be a little faster paced, but the slow unfolding of the plot didn't diminish my enjoyment of the novel, and things do speed up at the last few chapters, so it leads to a breath-taking ending.

The Ravenswood Witch is a suspenseful novel, with plenty of satisfying twists, a very Gothic atmosphere and an adorable raven familiar and psychopomp, named Bran, who I simply loved! It's not the strongest witchy book I've ever read, but it was very enjoyable and it is the perfect eerie mystery novel to kick off the autumnal spooky season. So as the nights begin to draw in and its time to light the candles again, this is a novel that will keep you company during the chilly evenings this autumn. It's worth reading just to meet Bran!

"Quoth the raven, nevermore."

This superb book drew me in immediately and the direction it went kept changing! Ravenswood Hall is at the centre of this with its shadows, secrets and rumours about witchcraft. The characters are written with such depth and their uniqueness shines through. Marcus Greybourne comes across a young woman who is quite obviously running from something or someone. He convinces her that if she pretends to be his missing wife of ten years, Luna, he will keep her safe. However Luna is locally known as the Ravenswood Witch and the hall with its ghostly goings on shows signs that all is not as it seems……. This is atmospheric, twisty, keeps you guessing and has so many clues hidden within its pages. A must read!! Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

What could be better in the Autumn than a new release from Jenni Keer and the fact its about witchcraft and the evils of the devil is ideal
On the run from a murder charge an unnamed woman is escaping the constables, colliding with a man causes her to break her ankle. But as the constables catch them up, Mr Greybourne surprises her by saying she's his wife Luna. Keeping up the charade she spends her recovery as the lady of the house. But where is the real Mrs Greybourne and why do all the villagers call her a witch.
This novel was quite mysterious, fairly dark in places and with a touch of romance. I loved it

This was my first Jenni Keer book and with the word 'witch' in the title it was well on to being a winner in my mind before I'd even started. Unfortunately I was to be disappointed. The Ravenswood Witch started off as a pleasant enough story with little hints of gothic but never really went anywhere. A nice enough read but a little boring in parts. Not for me I'm afraid.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! ❤️ I saw a couple low reviews and I'm really trying to figure out why? I thought it was beautiful, well done, and a fun twist on some classics. Think a little Jane Eyre, mixed a little with the Scarlett Letter, mixed with something all it's own! A young woman running from her past steps into the role of wife to a man she doesn't know. She's looking for shelter and he's looking for someone to play the role of his wife. There is sorcery, ghosts, mystery, and a love story all tied into one. This was the perfect book to start the spooky season! The author is a great writer and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.

Book Review: The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer

As someone who has devoured over 1,400 books, it’s rare for a story to truly surprise me. I often find myself predicting plot twists, uncovering the villain’s identity, or mapping out the love story before the first seeds are even planted. But The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer took me on an entirely unexpected journey that I couldn’t put down.

From the moment I started reading, this book captured my imagination and refused to let go. The intricate plot kept me guessing at every turn, challenging my expectations and keeping me on my toes. I found myself constantly thinking about the story, even when I wasn’t actively reading. Each time I thought I had figured it out, Keer masterfully twisted the narrative in a new direction, leaving me questioning everything I thought I knew.

The characters are richly developed, and the setting is wonderfully atmospheric, drawing you deeper into the mysterious world of Ravenswood with every page. This is more than just a book; it’s an experience that lingers with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

Without a doubt, The Ravenswood Witch is an easy 5-star read. It’s a perfect pick for the fall season, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. This was my first book by Jenni Keer, but it certainly won’t be my last. I’ve already requested her other works from my library, eager to explore more of her storytelling.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, and an even bigger thank you to Jenni Keer for crafting such an extraordinary tale. Please, do yourself a favor and read this book!

Although I enjoyed the begining of this book it became slow and repetitive quite early on!

I was hoping for a spooky start to the season which this book did give me it just fell flat on pacing.

I found myself getting bored of the characters and not caring about the next chapter and reading it became a chore.

I honestly think this is a good book with a great premise. For the right person this will be incredible.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @Boldwood for providing me with an ARC of Jenni Keer's The Ravenswood Witch prior to its September 30th release.

A woman accused of murder is on the run through the English countryside when she collides with the solid figure of Marcus Greybourne, the master of Ravenswood house, and breaks her ankle. With the constable on her heels, and Marcus himself in mysterious need of help, they enter into deception together and decide in that moment that she is actually his wife, Luna, thus saving her from authorities. He takes her to his home to let her ankle heal and explains as much of the situation as he can: his wife Luna is gone but without her, he cannot claim the staggered payments of her inheritance and he needs this new Luna to play the role. With no other real option, Luna does. But the real Luna's mantle is not an easy one to assume. She was the Ravenswood Witch, hated and distrusted in the village for cursing people and her ungodly acts, and she was known for violence and destruction. Can Luna keep up the charade? Can she live with a man at close quarters as his wife? Can she handle the ghost that haunts the home and the full weight of this new role?

This was a bit of a slow start for me...but then I read 250 pages in a sitting and was completely hooked through to the end. Keer's book has gothic elements, references to Victorian history that I adore, a forced proximity love plot, supernatural elements, and a setting and characters that jump off the page. A twist 3/4 of the way through that ties the alternating past/present storylines together was well done and not what I expected, which was a fun surprise.

The only thing that I found less compelling was the climax of the drama. The "villain" talks too much in the moment, giving us a step by step layout of their own plot and history that I felt was a bit reductive and like the author was explaining everything directly for readers to understand what was going on. I didn't feel trusted as a reader and I found that all the characters' dialogue from that point on felt a bit too direct/less authentic.
But overall I really enjoyed this and think you should pick it up!

Happy reading 📚
Shell