Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I don’t think this book was for me. The last 25% was great and action packed, but getting there was difficult. The pacing was slow, making it hard to get through the chapters. Not much happened, yet the story kept hinting that something was supposed to occur. It was creepy and haunting, so those vibes were there as expected.

The writing itself was good- there were no issues with the actual prose. The story and the lack of significant events were the main issues.

Overall, this missed the mark for me.

SYNOPSIS:
1885 and a young woman is on the run, knowing if she's caught she'll be hanged for murder. As she gets within a stones throw from the ferry that will save her, she collides with a stranger resulting in a broken ankle. To her surprise the man convinces the constable she is reclusive wife of 10 years, Luna. He carries her back to his crumbling manor, Ravenswood Hall, where he promises he will provide for her while she heals. But the real Luna Greybourne is missing and the haunted house holds dark secrets. As strange happenings continue in the house and extend to the surrounding dark woods, Luna fears for her life as the village know her as the Ravenswood witch and want her to pay for her supposed crimes. Who can she trust and who is out to get her?

THOUGHTS:
The setting delivers the dark gothic atmosphere you would expect from a dark crumbling manor and the creep connecting woods.

However, I found the story itself rather predictable. It had little sprinkles of backstory involving Luna's life before she was on the run for murder. However, everything that happened there and the reveal of which character Luna was, was highly predictable. I also feel like there was no depth to the characters.

While the book held potential for me it was a little disappointing and is more about the vibes than the story itself.

What starts out almost as a rip off of Jane Eyre, reveals itself to be a nuanced and twisty gothic thriller.

England 1895. a woman is on the run, she's terrified of being caught, she stumbles into Marcus Greybourne and falls breaking her ankle. In return for Marcus' assistance in her hour of need she agrees to play the part of his estranged wife Luna and mistress of the house. Her true identity remains hidden and revealed slowly in flashbacks.

The real Luna's presence envelops the house, with strange scratchings on walls and ruined furniture, her last known whereabouts are suspected to be the nearby woods but it has been a long time since she has shared a home with her husband. Is Marcus telling the truth about his wife's last whereabouts or does he have a dark secret of his own.

A fine twisty, engaging tale

I really liked the vibes and the start of this book but I found the story a little too slow. Unfortunate I found it dragged on and I lost interest in the story quickly. It took me forever to finish it because of this, I don’t think it was the story for me at this time.

This author seems to be the one for unusual stories. When you read the title, you somehow have an idea what kind of story this could be. Be assured that it certainly isn’t the kind of the story I expected. That doesn’t mean it was bad or that I didn’t like it. I was surprised by the story and I liked it. The two main characters are lovable and their relationship developed nicely and reasonably. The ending of the story itself was surprising but in a way acceptable.
I liked the story and recommend the book.

Jenni Keer wrote a good, traditional gothic in the spirit of beloved authors like Mary Stewart and Victorian Holt. I'm always looking for new authors that give me those feelings, so this was a delight for me! I'll certainly feature this story on upcoming themed episodes. Should the opportunity for an interview arise, I'd be happy to do that as well. Thank you for the ARC!

When Rose was sent on an errand by her mistress, she had no idea that in a short time she would be running for her life. As she made for the ferry that would take her to London, running for all she was worth with pursuers at her heels, she collided with a man on the river bank. A hard fall resulted in a broken ankle. Scooped up by the man, Marcus Greybourne, moments before the police arrive, he convinced them that Rose was his wife, Luna who had just had an unfortunate accident. Taking her to Ravenswood Hall, he promised to keep her safe while her injury heals if she would keep up the pretence of being his wife while she was there.

Rose/Luna, left alone while Marcus was away for a couple of weeks on business, whiled away the time by imaging and planning some of the renovations that Marcus mentioned and would be desperately needed throughout Ravenswood Hall, which had fallen into disrepair. Despite several strange happenings, which gave her a fright and made her question her decision to stay, and almost against her better judgement she began to care about the Hall, and Marcus, learning more about both from letters between the two of them, and also from the housekeeper.

'Did Ravenswood have another inhabitant? Surely the housekeeper would have mentioned it. Either Mrs Webber didn’t know there was someone up there, or didn’t want Luna to know. She couldn’t even get out of bed to investigate. It made her realise how vulnerable she was – an injured girl in an unsettling house in the middle of nowhere, unable to flee if she was attacked.'

The Ravenswood Witch is quite a slow burn initially and picks up the pace as the story progresses. Tension and suspense build with a gothic atmosphere which becomes quite dark as we learn more about the original Luna, who disappeared without a trace, and her ties to witchcraft. Superstitions abound and the villagers, who still believe in dark magic, are quick to point fingers.

It was good to see the new Luna gaining confidence in her role and I loved that she and the Raven she rescued, and named Bran, bonded as they did. Bran added an extra layer to the story as he became Luna’s protector. There’s a small but interesting and well defined cast of characters that I was never quite sure of, an eerie wood close to the house which no longer houses the flock of ravens the house is named for, plus undercurrents of witchcraft, devil worship and romance running through the narrative. I wasn’t expecting the twists and the fact that appearances can be quite so deceptive…or that impactful resolution! The Ravenswood Witch is another winner from Jenni Keer.

My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley.

This one's a hard one for me to review. I loved the premise and the writing. I always wanted to keep reading it but it was too slow for my liking. The setting, and eerie atmosphere were point on for this time of year 🎃

In the beginning we have a woman running away from the law. She bumps into Marcus Greybourne and accidentally injures her ankle. Then a Constable appears to question her but Mr. Greybourne says she's his wife. He whisks her away to care for her foot on his property. He convinces her to play along that she is his wife Luna. He has his reasons and she has her reasons for agreeing. Then there is another story being told in alternating chapters about the past. There's a mystery to who that lady is. I always wanted to keep reading to find out how the stories would connect and just what exactly happened to the real Luna Greybourne?

The first half of the story dragged on for me. It definitely picked up in the second half and secrets were revealed. The author is talented and I would most certainly read another book by her. Rounding up to 3.5 stars.

4,5⭐
Absolutely wonderful gothic, spooky vibes! Add witches to it, and you got me hooked!
This story takes place in the late 19th century (1885) at a gothic house in rural England. TBH, if it would have been Victorian age, I would have given it 5 ⭐, but that's just my personal preference :D
Added to the recipe was gothic mystery on the paranormal side, with a bit of romance and success!
I love the fact that our MMC and FMC found each other in their darkest times, and still hold on to one another pushed each other towards progress.
We do have a narrator telling us the story, but the voice is not distanced from the plot. It somehow gives you the perfect blend of details and objectiveness.
Indeed, some may say that the romance could have been improved, however we need to remember which time are we in! It was a time in which all manner of more intense romance would happen after marriage, behind several closed doors. Everything should have been kept very classy.

All in all, this is a book I would definitely read around Halloween and I would recommend it to my friends!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Well, right at the beginning I was totally going, that whole situation is sus! A young woman on the run from a murder charge bumps into a handsome man looking for someone to play his mentally ill wife (who conveniently suddenly went missing) and willing to take in a total stranger? There are so many things wrong with that situation! But, despite that start I got to enjoying the story. "Luna" plays her part very well, sometimes a bit too well, as the wife of Marcus and mistress of Ravenswood. She is very likable and willing to please to make things go smoothly. Not that things are all bright and cheerful in Ravenswood or the nearby village. Rumors of witches and black magic abound (most of them pointed at Luna). There is a mystery to solve there, if Luna wants to stay and not be burned as a witch.

Besides that timeline, another one is entwined within this novel which is best not too discussed because it has a twist that I very much enjoyed and it helped explain a lot with how Luna is the way she is. I also loved the rescued raven, Brand, who has his own parts to play.

I ended up quite enjoying this story because it solved the mysteries nicely and everyone who deserved a happy ending got one.

An encounter on a riverbank - a woman fleeing something, and a man who rescues her.

Both have secrets to hide, but they can be useful to each other. But can they trust each other?

I did not enjoy it as much as No. 23 Burlington Square, but a fairly good read.

In this fascinating Victorian historical fiction novel, Jenni Kerr brings readers to Ravenswood Hall, a crumbling manor home harboring several terrible secrets. On the run and knowing she will be caught and hanged for murder, a stranger named Marcus Greybourne rescues her and persuades her to pretend to be his reclusive wife Luna. Convincing the local constable and the rest of the village that she is Luna, Marcus promises safety until her injuries heal. However, the manor home seems to carry some dark secrets hidden behind scratches, marks, strange happenings, and a tattered reputation that the new Luna thinks resembles witchcraft. With a complicated and dramatic gothic plot and some chaotic and complex narrative elements, Jenni Kerr has created a masterful and fascinating atmosphere that is perfect for October and the spooky season. With brilliant characters drawing readers’ attention to secrets and different parts of the layered mystery, Kerr has created a haunting and fascinating Victorian gothic mystery that readers will devour. As readers solve the secrets of Ravenswood Hall with the new Luna, the dramatic and sweeping nature of this fascinating mystery is compelling, immersive, and vibrant. Brilliantly written with intriguing and complex characters, this is a definite page turner that historical fiction fans will love.

3.5 stars:
The Ravenswood Witch is a gothic story set in 1885 in England. It starts with the female main character is running from the law and just as she is about to get to the ferry – she collides with Marcus Greybourne and breaks her ankle. Marcus convinces the local police that she is his wife, Luna Greybourne. Luna Greybourne is known as the Ravenswood Witch, and we aren’t sure where Luna is during this time. As the female character “Luna” integrates into her new life we learn more about her past and about the real Luna. I enjoyed the story, the gothic atmosphere and the “twists”.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced reader copy.

"The Ravenswood Witch" by Jenni Keer is a captivating historical fiction that incorporates elements of gothic mystery, the supernatural, and romance seamlessly.

The year is 1885 and the protagonist is a female fugitive accused of committing murder, who comes across a rather hostile Marcus Greybourne. In order to defend her, Marcus persuades the village policeman that she is his hermit wife, Luna. Unfortunately, the hermit, known as the Ravenswood Witch, has her own reasons for not showing up that are rather intriguing.

Keer’s work is very descriptive and beautifully written, creating a highly evocative and captivating background for the reader. From her twinkling diadem to her vaguely sinister yet alluring tower house, Ravenswood Hall is a living, breathing entity rife with ominous overtones and elfin hints.

The use of several voices, particularly Luna’s, in the recounting of incidents enriches the story and makes it quite interesting.

Most importantly, the quiet protagonist finds her romance in turbulent circumstances that manage to add anticipation to the tale. The paranormal aspect, on its turn, is very effective interspersed in the narrative, making the readers very satisfied.

To sum up ‘The Ravenswood Witch’, this is an enjoyable and well-constructed novel that will surely give you quite a few surprises. It is definitely highly recommended for those readers who prefer paranormal historical fiction with elements of gothic mystery.
Overall, "The Ravenswood Witch" is a captivating and cleverly written novel that will leave you with many "aha" moments. It's a must-read for fans of gothic mysteries and historical fiction with a supernatural twist.

Jenni Keer has been a must read and buy author of mine since I read Burlington Square and At the Stroke of Midnight. I find that she writes extremely well and has a touch of paranormal in the way of time slips and alternate dimension types of paranormal. This was different from those 2 in the way that this was paranormal based on witches and ghostly characters but nothing that shifted time and space. Different to what I knew of her writing but not bad at all.

This book is written from the point of view of 2 characters. One, a female on the run from the law and accidentally running into (literally) a man who really needs her help. This is the main voice throughout the book and we get to know and like her character although we don't really find out her name until about two thirds of the way through the story. The lesser written about POV is Eloise, a madam of recent fortune who acts like a spoilt brat and ruining the lives of whoever should get in her way. I was trying to piece together the 'who from one part is a character in the other' and I thought I had it figured out, until I found I didn't.

I loved the 'familiar' Bran and his antics, I appreciated the different characters that made up the village although can't work out why one of them wasn't given more grief for her witchy antics herself. There wasn't quite enough of the 'what actually happened in detail' at the end for me and thought that could have been padded out. All in all, another great read from Jenni Keer and a perfect read for spooky Halloween season.

Thanks very much to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Jenni Keer for the advanced review copy to read. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars - historical, gothic mystery.

After Marcus accidently causes a young woman to fall and break her ankle he offers her respite at his home under the condition she pretends to be his missing wife. The young woman, seemingly on the run from the police, accepts his offer but is wary as the missing wife, Luna, is a suspected witch. The story also switches POVs from the young woman pretending to be Luna to a wealthy girl, Eloise in a neighbouring town and her maid Rose, as Eloise tries to win the heart of a local boy, her father deems unworthy.

After a slow start the book started to pick up but I felt frustrated by the story. The young woman pretending to be Luna never wavers from her story so we don't truly know who she is, until the story draws to a close. I was shocked by her reveal as I was convinced she was someone else. I felt this overshadowed the slow burn romance of the story as Marcus also pretend she is Luna, so I was never really convinced of his feeling towards the fake Luna.

I did really enjoyed the atmosphere and the creepiness of the manor and the overall witch story arc but I also felt let down by the ending as it was left partially open.

If the synopsis hadn’t screamed at me that I must read this, then the fact it said fans of Jane Eyre will be utterly spellbound meant I was in and once you add in witchcraft, you couldn’t pull me away from it. I loved the completely gothic feel to this story, the house and it’s idiosyncrasies, accusations abd rumours of witchcraft, things that go bump in the night, I couldn’t have loved this book more.

Then there’s the Raven, well no spoilers but you’re going to love him, so intriguing and thoroughly entertaining, I loved him, almost as much as Marcus and ‘Luna’ , ok maybe a little more. I love the atmospheric feel reading this and their are some real spine tingling moments in this book.

It’s definitely an October, spooky season read and I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who loves a slow burn, lots of mystery, complex characters, an addictive and atmospheric read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Looking for a perfect book for this fall months/Halloween reads? Look no further! For me it was just okey, didn't love but I enjoyed it. It was slow at times and I struggled to keep the interest up, but I got through the book at last. An okey read.

Love a gothic novel & although there's quite a lot where not much happens there's a good twist (some may expect it but I certainly didn't!)
Very different from her previous books which I also enjoyed.

This book? Loved it! The cover, the writing, the characters, the story line, the twists…..perfect!
I thoroughly enjoyed the gothic style of this one, had the feel of a classic whilst reading it.
The story is well paced and flows so well, I got carried away with it and hadn’t realised how far I’d gotten in the first sitting. There was more than one twist in the book, and I’m pleased to say that I wasn’t expecting some of them at all.
This is perfect for the time of year, but to be honest, I’d read it at anytime.
Extremely enjoyable and I’d happily recommend this to everyone.