If you are running in the woods, scared for your life, it might be kind of nice to trip over a stranger, break your ankle and have him tell your pursuers that you are his mentally unstable wife, right?

If this sounds like a sentence which captures your attention, then you are in luck because this is how we find our mysterious main character who is the new woman of the house, "new Luna" as I called her, since we are not given her true name until the last 20% of the book (but no peeking). New Luna is a bit of a soft spoken, push over of a woman. She is meek and does not want to cause a scene. She is also more than happy to keep her head down to keep from being pursued by those who were pursing her in the beginning of the novel and she is not unhappy with Marcus Greybourne, the man of the Greybourne manor who accidently fell on her ankle in their tumble, causing her injury.

He, too, is mild mannered, and seems to be firm but kind. As her time in Greybourne Manor passes, day-by-day, New Luna, comes to learn more about the previous woman of the house and her insanity as she spiraled into madness and religious hysteria possibly linked to witchcraft.

New Luna finds strange things are still afoot around Greybourne Manor but whether the threat comes from within or without is yet to be seen.

I have to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this great fall read with all of it's witchy vibes as we work our way towards Halloween where the book reaches it's own intense conclusion.

1885
A woman running from the law to catch a ferry to London collides with Marcus Greybourne twisting her ankle and ending her flight for freedom. When the law catches up to her moments later Marcus does something unexpected and claims she is his wife Luna, who has not been seen around the village much in the last few years. The new Luna accepts her new role and the respite that comes with it. But who was the real Luna, and why is a stranger able to take her place? And what happened to the home she now resides in? Has she exchanged her freedom for her safety?
I am ultimately not quite sure how I felt about this book. It is an intriguing story. I enjoyed the mystery wrapped in a mystery. I also liked that parts of this are left up to the reader to decide what’s real and what’s not. But it did feel like the ending was rushed. A lot of the story went along at surface level and it felt like it was missing depth. Still an enjoyable read.
Thank you to @theboldbookclub and @netgalley for letting me have an advanced copy for review. Look for The Ravenswood Witch September 30, 2024.
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I was quite intrigued by the description of this book, but sadly I did not end up liking it. I was bored most of the time, because the story dragged on, and the characters had absolutely no personality.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This was a quick read with lots of supernatural events. It kept me reading only because I was invested enough to want to know who was responsible for all the strange occurrences. There was also some mystery as to who the main characters really were. The book could have been shorter and I did find myself skimming through many of the middle chapters. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC. This review is in my own words.

In the Ravenswood Witch by Jennie Keer, we have a story of a girl, a guy and a ghost. Luna, or is she, is running from something and is found by Marcus, a man who has been suffering from living with a woman who didn’t love him. Marcus protects Luna from controversy and as they live the lie, they fall in love with each other. Luna helps heal the village and Marcus’ heart, proving that the Ravenswood Witch does not exist.

This story is very good, as it is fast paced, thrilling and spooky. Perfect for fall. This book is intended for adults who love romantasy, fantasy, ghost stories, and witch stories. Anyone who likes these genres will enjoy this book. I gave the book 5 stars. I believe this is a standalone story, but I would read other books by this author.

Overall, this is a great spooky love story, perfect for fall reading vibes.

In 1885, a mysterious woman is on the run, knowing that if she is discovered, she will be hanged for murder. Colliding with the mysterious Marcus Greybourne, he offers her sanctuary until her injuries are healed, as long as she pretends to be his wife, “Luna” Greybourne. She continues to act as "Luna" Greybourne, but the real Luna has vanished without a trace, and she is surrounded by Marcus's house, which seems to be haunted by secrets and shadows. Everything points to witchcraft, including the real “Luna”’s reputation being in tatters. 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...
If this is your first time reading anything by Jenni Keer, you will be in for a treat, especially with it being on the cusp of spooky season. Keer can have the story flow seamlessly between different points of view while allowing the reader to be fully immersed in the atmosphere of The Ravenswood Witch. Some authors may struggle with writing three different points of view, but Keer manages to make all her characters clearly defined. The Ravenswood Witch is a book that delivers on all aspects of character-driven stories that use the atmosphere of the world Keer has built brilliantly to set up different plots and mysteries.
While the first part of The Ravenswood Witch draws you in with its mystery, there is a bit of a lull throughout the middle part of the story, but Keer’s writing style helps get through the weaker parts. The pacing of The Ravenswood Witch can be a bit inconsistent, with some chapters feeling dragging out a little, but the intrigue of the mystery and the dark magic is enough to keep the reader entertained.
A story can only be as strong as its characters, and Keer ensures that her two main characters are pulling their own weight. With some questionable decisions, some readers may find it hard to connect to “Luna” as she tries to figure out who to trust. The character’s motivations may be a little questionable, but the payoff during the final twist helps to add a layer of intrigue that is entertaining.
The Ravenswood Witch is a quick read, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. In fact, Keer may have written a great book to read during the autumn season that will have you delving into the atmosphere of the book as much as the mysteries of The Ravenswood Witch. The story subtly explores the concept of good and bad, the grey area between them, and the importance of forgiveness and moving on from the past. It also emphasises the need to trust and love again, as no person is one-dimensional.

This book has a gothic feel to it. Lots of mystery and surprises along with witchcraft will keep you turning the pages. It has a nice romance woven in too. You won’t be able to put it down. Definitely add to your spooky reading list!

The book was well written, and the style really gave a historical feel. I just couldn't connect with the characters. They didn't excite me, and I felt like the start of the book was a bit too sudden. What happened felt really unrealistic to me. Definitely not my favourite story and characters.

this really couldn’t have been a more perfect read for september. dark and spooky woods, witchcraft, ravens. while it wasn’t a long book it did take me awhile to finish on account of it being paced so slow for me. it felt like not a lot happened for a majority of the book and i found myself only reading a chapter or two each night.

the story itself isn’t bad though. set in the 1880’s, a young woman is on the run from a crime she did not commit but then collides with her would be savior as she tries to make her escape from the town’s constable. and to somehow make matters worse, he agrees to help her if she could just pretend to be his wife. from there we learn bits and pieces of the truth surrounding the woman she is pretending to be and the man who calls himself her husband.

the undeniable chemistry between the main characters, luna and marcus greybourne, kept me engaged enough to see this whole thing through. though i honestly think a little more interaction between them would have been an added benefit to the story. it did pick up for me about halfway through the book with the plot twists and my half cooked theories being proven wrong. with that said, this was a decent read. not bad, but not great. a nice little gothic mystery if you’re looking for something to break up your longer reads.

tysm to netgalley & boldwood books for the arc ◡̈

This is a perfect quick read for Autumn, and for spooky season in particular! It has a historical setting and includes paranormal, gothic, romance and mystery elements.

At less than 300 pages, it's a quick and absorbing read and I read it all in one evening. It wastes no time getting into the action and I really enjoyed the pace. I did guess the twists but it didn't stop me from enjoying the story at all. It was atmospheric, at times a bit creepy, and I did like the romance but Marcus was away for a chunk of the book, so it could have pushed the paranormal/gothic and romance elements a bit further for me. I think because of the length, there wasn't any fluff or filler in the book, which created a tight narrative, but I would have liked to spend a bit more time with Luna and Marcus.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC of this novel.

This is a story about things real and imagined, about magic dark and light, death of the self and self invention, truth and untruth, love and hate. At its heart is a mad wife, Luna Greybourne, whose unfathomable ways have made her out to be the Ravenswood Witch of the title. Like Jane Eyre’s mad wife in the attic, she torments her husband and his household, and especially the woman who comes to heal her husband’s heart. In other words, all the elements of the gothic novel are here. Ravenswood House is a once impressive, now deteriorating estate long held by the Greybourne family, at the edge of a small Sussex village, surrounded by woods once populated by great flocks of ravens believed to be its protectors. Curiously, since they are often portrayed as witchs’ familiars, the ravens were killed by the witch herself. It is 1885. Although witches have not been put to death for two centuries, there are many in Queen Victoria’s bustling Britain who still believe, still fear, and can easily be persuaded to persecute those they think are practitioners.

Although Luna Greybourne is on every page, she is not the terrible Ravenswood Witch, who has gone missing before the first page. A young woman running away from her own village in hopes of hiding in London has a literal collision with Marcus Greybourne, the witch’s husband, on her way to the London train. He falls on her and breaks her ankle. Within minutes, he has surmised that she is being pursued by the law, and a bargain is struck in very few words. Petrified, penniless and now injured, she needs protection. He needs her to be his missing wife. She becomes Luna. But this is a sane and loving Luna who repents her earlier malevolence and abuse, now attributed to an addiction to laudanum, an all too common ‘ladies’ medication for the ‘nerves’ believed to cause women much suffering.

There are many twists and turns regarding the real Luna and the substitute Luna, who feels the mad wife’s presence, has visions of her and night terrors about her. She also fears being caught, despite the fact that Marcus is committed to the charade and even those who know—the husband and wife who are the only remaining servants—are equally so. And there is the question about where the real Mrs Greybourne has gone, and what her husband may have to do with it. He was desperate enough to take in and protect a stranger with a past to which she has only alluded. Was he desperate enough to have killed her?

The novel, as historical romance and gothic mystery, offers much in the way of intriguing storytelling, with little of what seems evident actually coming to pass. It is very well written and suspenseful. At times Marcus’s determined charade seems a bit of a stretch, but the author keeps coming back to the notion that our own beliefs have the power to make things happen, and he and ‘Luna’ exemplify this view. I also wanted to believe, and ultimately found the story and its resolution very compelling.

The Ravenswood Witch is a gothic tale set in 1885, where mystery, witchcraft, and romance intertwine in the crumbling Ravenswood Hall. The story follows a young woman on the run, who assumes the identity of Luna Greybourne, Marcus Greybourne’s missing wife, in exchange for sanctuary.
As eerie messages and supernatural events unfold, Luna discovers not everything at Ravenswood is as it seems!

The spooky setting is perfect for current autumnal weather we are having - the perfect read in front of an open fire.

This book is ideal for fans of gothic mysteries and light supernatural stories, especially for those who enjoy a cosy autumn read with a sprinkling of romance and witchcraft.

A wonderful and atmospheric read for the fall. I especially enjoyed it as it was also historical fiction. My only complaint is that it seemed to lag a bit and I had a hard time wanting to keep reading. I do believe many readers would enjoy it however, I personally enjoy something a little more fast paced. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eCopy to review

The Ravenswood Witch is set in 1885, the story follows a young woman on the run, falsely accused of murder. Just as she nears safety, she breaks her ankle and is rescued by Marcus Greybourne, who convinces the local constable that she is his reclusive wife, Luna. This sets the stage for a tale filled with mystery, witchcraft, and eerie happenings at the crumbling Ravenswood Hall.

The atmosphere of the novel tries to be gothic, but I felt it just didn't quite hit the mark being very cliché and not overly frightening or foreboding. The character of Bran, the talking raven, was a unique and interesting addition, adding both wisdom and drama to the story.

However, I felt that the plot was a bit predictable at times, and some of the twists didn’t quite land for me. The pacing also felt uneven, with some parts dragging while others rushed through important developments. The romance between the protagonist and Marcus was sweet, but it felt somewhat forced and lacked depth.

The exploration of witchcraft and the superstitions of the time added an interesting layer to the narrative.

An unknown woman on the run. A mysterious man by the riverside. A fortuitous meeting in the night that provides a cover for both their secrets.

The premise of The Ravenswood Witch is full of spooky potential - the setting, the secrets, the suspicious villagers full of superstition. Witchcraft and the occult. If a classic cosy autumn spooky read is what you're after this October then this delivers in spades.

For me though, I wanted something a bit more original and it's a shame that this novel couldn't deliver the road less travelled with this starting point. What follows is a largely predictable plot, cardboard cut-out characters and nothing strikingly original to set it apart from other novels of this kind.

The dual POV was a nice touch and the little twist with these that I did not see coming was absolutely refreshing and jogged me out of the viewpoints I was harbouring about certain characters.


The writing was nice enough but the pacing was uneven - the first two thirds quite slow and all the action in the last third. It didn't need to be this long. The final reveal was anti-climatic at best and did nothing new or exciting and the tying up of loose ends was rushed and badly developed.

Overall it was fine, but I was hoping for something less run-of-the-mill.

A woman on the run bumps into Marcus Greybourne on his vast estate. Quickly the pair realize they can mutually benefit from one another. Marcus offers her a safe haven in exchange for the woman to assume his late wife’s identity, Luna. Luna takes on the role of lady of the house while Marcus is away securing investments and learns that all is not what it seems at Ravenswood. Messages from the prior Lady Greybourne appear in the walls and her face floats ominously outside the current Luna’s bedroom window. Despite her challenges, Luna comes to love Ravenswood and its mysterious owner Marcus.

The Ravenswood Witch was a really fun, delightful read. The touch of mystery kept me turning page after page (metaphorically since this was an e-ARC) wanting to know what would happen next. I could easily see this book being shelved under cozy fantasy. The plot was moderately predictable, though that didn’t always take away from my overall enjoyment. The plot at the end of the book felt weak and a little too much “happily ever after” when compared to the effort put into character development between Eloise’s/Luna’s shifting perspectives and the struggles the women originally faced. Overall this was an amusing read and I found it satisfying getting to know the characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an e-ARC of The Ravenswood Witch in exchange for my honest opinions and review.

“They were lost in their own troubles but lost together.”

This is overall an enjoyable and easy read. The biggest plot twist for me was realizing “Luna” is in fact Rose and not Eloise. Up until that point, I had a hard time reconciling with the main character. I didn’t fall in love with any of the chapter development’s throughout the story, but I also couldn’t piece together how the story would eventually come together, so I had to keep reading to find out. The author did a beautiful job of foreshadowing to keep me reading.

It is a beautiful setting and I think anyone who enjoys a gothic mystery would enjoy this.

However, I wish that the author would have made the MMC less condescending to the FMC. I understand that women had little rights during this time period, but I don’t think some of the patronizing dialogue was needed. It just added to my very neutral feelings toward him.

Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for this ARC. A fabulous story from beginning to end which had me engaged the entire way. I loved Bran (I wish he was my pet Raven) and I loved the developing love story. Always a fan of a witchy story too, it was brilliant.

Hey Book Besties,
I have another great spooky season arc for you, and just look at that gorgeous cover!

I really enjoyed this book. It's a Gothic mystery blended with the paranormal and some romance. And it worked beautifully.

The setting was absolutely perfect! A run-down Gothic home in 1885 right on the edge of the woods.
It's very moody and atmospheric with witchcraft and ominous weather that adds such a tone to the story.

The characters jump off the page and are so interesting and well fleshed out. I loved the two timelines that run through the novel, but not all is as straightforward as it seems. There are time shifts and plot twists and a mystery to solve along with the touching romance between Luna and Marcus.

I would recommend you get cozy and settle down with this novel, which is perfect for the fall season. You won't be able to put it down.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgally for my copy. My review was voluntary.

🍂“The Ravenswood Witch” set in the turbulent year of 1885, contains a gripping tale of deception and dark intrigue. The story begins with a young woman fleeing from a murder charge, only to find herself caught in a web of lies spun by the enigmatic Marcus Greybourne. After a fateful accident, Greybourne persuades the local townspeople to believe she is his long-lost wife, Luna, thereby offering her sanctuary at the eerie Ravenswood Hall.

🍂The book manages to intertwine gothic horror with psychological suspense as the protagonist takes the identity of Luna Greybourne. Ravenswood Hall, a decaying mansion steeped in mystery, becomes a character in its own right, its oppressive atmosphere mirroring the protagonist's psychological struggles . The author's vivid descriptions of the haunted house and its sinister past creates a perfect world where reality blurs with the supernatural.

🍂The subplot of the missing Luna Greybourne and her alleged witchcraft adds layers of intrigue and tension. The interplay between the protagonist's growing fear and the enigmatic history of the real Luna really kept me on edge .

🍂This book represents the perfect read for this autumn.

Rating:4/5⭐️