The Ravenswood Witch throws you right into the story as two characters literally run into each other. The main character is not immediately named, the reason becoming clear as you read further, but this made it hard to follow as you learned the characters and the world.

From there though, the story gets slow and repetitive. I loved the modern gothic magicy vibe and found the story interesting, but the main character frustrated me. By the end it felt like there were far too many red herrings and meaningless clues through a plodding plot that the twists at the end didn’t matter.

Overall, It’s well-written, making it an easy read. I think this one just wasn’t for me.

This is a pretty interesting read! So a young girl is on the run and bumps right into a man who is in need of a woman to pretend to be his wife. Perfect! But did she make a mistake shacking up with this stranger? Time will tell in this period mystery/romance.

I feel that the story was enjoyable but slow at certain points. I could also easily guess what was going to happen next. However, I would definitely recommend this as a nice and cozy autumn time read!

I had a rough time getting through this one, it just wasn't holding my attention. I don't know if it was due to the initial mystery around the main characters that I wasn't able to form a connection with them and therefore want to rush through to see the conclusion.

A runaway girl acused of murder is given sanctuary by a gruff stranger, Marcus where she has to pose as his wife, Luna . This is the start of many spooky happenings at Ravenswood Hall involving a notorious witch.
I don't often read dark gothic novels such as this one, however it was the right mix of mystery, witchcraft and suspense for me without the graphic horror that these sometimes have. It manages to bring to life the time where superstition is still rampant and belief in witchcraft acknowledged. Both "Luna" and Marcus have secrets that are gradually revealed, with some definite surprises and misdirections along the way. An ideal book for those who enjoy their supernatural stories to concentrate more on the mystery than horror.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Book Fort Rating: 3 Stars
Is it building the Book Fort? It can visit from afar every once in awhile, so long as it brings a raven along.

I waffled on how to rate this book for awhile, honestly. I truly think this book is a victim of a "great idea, not so great execution" trope. While I loved the overall story Jenni Keer put together here, certain aspects of the plot either outright did not make sense with the character development of the main character, or simply left a bad taste in my mouth. Warning - most of this review will be spoilers, which I will mark or tag appropriately.

Firstly, I want to talk about what I did like about this book:

- I was a huge fan of the character development of the main character throughout the story. She grows in a believable way and becomes a real force of nature by the end of the book overall. I was rooting for her the whole time.
- Marcus was a great, if a little one-paned, male lead. I would have liked a bit more character development/complexity to his character, but overall I really enjoyed any scenes he was featured in.
- Bran the raven. That is all.

So here's what I didn't like as much (warning, massive spoilers from here on out):

- I frankly hated that it turned out Luna was not, in fact, a witch, but simply an actual madwoman being "manipulated" and drugged by a male witch. This took so much of the strength out of her character, and by the end of the book you just end up really pitying her. Rather than a woman actually conducting rituals in the woods, she's just a stark-naked raving madwoman dancing around a fire or well. It just reeked of misogyny, frankly.
- Why, please tell me WHY, the main character actually goes out on All Hallow's Eve, even though the one character she trusts up to this point has expressly warned her not to? It didn't make sense with her character development, or the friendship/trust that was built between those two characters. And covering it up with a "summoning spell" or "I was just so worried about my husband" felt like plot armor. Just a weak point for me.
- Every single chapter with Eloise's point of view felt like it dragged. I said early on to a friend that I was considering skimming those chapters - I'm glad I didn't for plot purposes, but the desire was strong. She was just insufferable to read, and I felt took away from the story. The point of her chapters is to lead you off-course as you try to figure out what's happened to the main character, but it felt like a cheap "gotcha" when the twist was finally revealed. It just wasn't my favorite.
- Certain characters felt like they existed purely to advance the plot, rather than stand as their own characters. As a result, I didn't really allow myself to get attached to many of the characters, which I think took away from my experience of the story as a whole.

For all the things that bugged me about this book, I did think it was a fun story, and I enjoyed reading it. If you're a fan of semi-gothic vibes, Jane Eyre-esque retellings, casual mystery vibes, and 3rd-person stream of consciousness narration, give this one a shot!

Thank you to Jenni Keer, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely fabulous. Marcus and Rose... just so lost but so good for each and together. Luna is a whole different matter. Completely off her rockers and the damage she inflicted on Marcus, just evil.

This book is not my typical genre, but I am happy to have picked it up. The underlying small mindedness and persecution of awful people is well portrayed. The mystery behind the happenings at Ravenswood well defined and explained. It's spooky, it's mysterious, it's totally completely crazy.

#netgalley #TheRavenswoodWitch

"The Ravenswood Witch" by Jenni Keer is a blend of mystery, historical fiction, with a touch of the supernatural. This story revolves around two women, separated by time but connected by a mysterious house and a dark legacy.

The book starts in the present day with Maggie, who is struggling to find her place in the world after a series of personal setbacks. She inherits a crumbling mansion, Ravenswood, and decides to take on the huge task of restoring it. As she works on the house, she begins to uncover clues about its past, particularly about a woman named Maude, who lived there during World War II.

Maude’s story, set in the 1940s, is also great. She is a strong-willed woman dealing with the challenges of war, societal expectations, and her own secrets. As Maggie delves deeper into Ravenswood’s history, she discovers a connection between herself and Maude. This connection is tied to the legend of a witch who is said to have lived in the house centuries ago.

Jenni Keer does a great job bringing together the dual timelines, allowing the past and present to intersect in ways that kept me engaged and guessing throughout the entire read. The setting of Ravenswood, with its eerie yet enchanting presence, adds to the overall mystery and intrigue.

Keer’s writing is richly descriptive, bringing both the house and the English countryside to life. The supernatural elements are subtle, enhancing the story without overshadowing the very real emotions and struggles of the characters.

Overall, this is a beautifully crafted novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, mystery, and stories with a hint of the paranormal. It's a tale of love, loss, and the enduring power of the past to shape our present.

The publisher provided an ARC ebook but the review is my own.

Tis the season to welcome back ghosts and ghouls, windy nights and hot drinks. Mysteries to curl up with are a required addition to any cozy night and one can never have too many. Keer's story fits right into a line up of possible reads. It's a story about a scary witch who holds a town in terror of her black magic and her intentions of calling forth the devil. Everyone kn0ws her and the curse she's laid on the townsfolk and her husband. So why are they keeping silent when a strange woman running for her freedom shows up and claims to be the local witch redeemed. And why are the inhabitants of Ravenswood House acting as if nothing has changed after ten years and where is the real witch of Ravenswood. All these questions and more are blended into a mystery story about redemption and the ripples our actions have on our lives and others.

All in all Keer presents an interesting puzzle within a mystery. Characters are involving and the settings are atmospheric. However there are a few bumps in the road. A sense of suspension of believe needs to be used as you read this, there is a surprise twist later on that helps to ease some of that but overall you feel as though maybe this sleepy town may be suffering from some kind of spell to overlook something as simple as a young lady replacing another out of the blue. Keer does explain this of course but as the reader I just felt like there were too many what ifs left unanswered. Still a good read and worthy of curling up with.

This is a very well-written witchy Gothic novel, perfect for the upcoming spooky season! The plot description had my curiosity piqued and then the first chapter alone had me hooked. The many mysteries throughout kept me guessing, but the revelations had me shocked. One in particular was set up in such a crafty way that I don't think most people will see it coming.

This was my first Jenni Keer book, and I'll certainly be reading more!

wonderful book! thankyou to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for giving me this arc in exchange for anhonest review. RTC soon after the publication!🥰

This is the perfect little book for this time of year. The mystery of Ravenswood captivated me, but the different timeline chapters did so even more. There was a lot of intrigue throughout, supported also by the fantastic ambience and prose; there was a good balance of flowery descriptions and action that worked for me. However, any book carrying this amount of intrigue runs the risk of falling flat by the end. I don't think The Ravenswood Witch fell flat, but it is true some of the talk about grey morality lost meaning to me with the way it all wrapped up. I am however satisfied, it provided the spookiness I am craving this time of year.

It has been a while since I read any historical fiction, so I was ready to dive into this book when it arrived on NetGalley. The setting was lovely and Keer is able to build a wonderful Victorian world without leaning on stereotypes or tropes. The story unraveled at a brilliant pace, and the twists and turns really kept me on my toes right until the very end! The combination of the mystical and the practical was really enjoyable, and it leaves the reader to decide where to draw the line as to what was truly supernatural.

The central characters of Luna and Marcus, although loveable, were particularly memorable to me, and I didn’t find their characters developed very much throughout the narrative. A lot of the side characters also appeared to be very one note, and didn’t have more than one discernable character trait. I did, however, enjoy the author’s use of time jumps to reveal plot points and this was used to reveal a twist I was very surprised by.

Overall, a fun and easy read for lovers of historical fiction, or for lovers of the mystical and magical (myself included).

The Ravenswood Witch was reminiscent of other books such as Rebecca, but that didn’t detract from the story and it was unique in its own way.
My favourite character was Bran, I’m not sure how anyone wouldn’t fall in love with him!
The story kept me guessing throughout and I would recommend giving it a read.

This is my first book by Jenni Keer but it certainly won't be the last. I will be looking for her other books to add to my tbr pile.

I loved the mystery and suspense that Jenni created. It certainly kept me guessing.
Her characters are so well formed I felt like they were old friends. I could easily imagine myself standing beside them, watching their interactions.

Bran the raven was by far my favourite character. I adored him. What a clever bird and such a good judge of character.

Marcus, the ever-suffering husband with a very sick wife. I really felt for him and what he must have gone through. His 'new' wife Luna, well she also became a favourite, even though she had a secret she was hiding.

No spoilers, but I absolutely loved the ending. So unexpected but right.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

It's the year 1885 in rural Victorian England. A young woman on the run from a murder accusation trips over a man and breaks her ankle, just metres from the ferry that could get her to safety. But now Marcus Greybourne does something strange - he tells the police she's his reclusive wife of ten years Luna and to leave her alone.

He offers her temporary reprieve at Ravenswood Hall until her ankle heals if she keeps up the charade of being his wife so he can keep getting access to Luna's money. She accepts but soon fears she made the wrong choice. The dilapidated house is unsettling - the garden is in ruins, the furniture is destroyed, the scratched walls have weird symbols on them and there are only two servants left - the Webbers, a husband and wife team that has seen better days.

Also, where is the real Luna Greybourne, and is she really the Ravensbourne Witch? The superstitious villagers certainly seem to think so. At the very least she's mentally unstable, judging from the state of the house and garden.

So begins a story of secrets, lies and hidden identities. In a dual timeline we switch from the present to the past and learn what happened to bring the young woman to this spooky place. The story of Eloise Houghton who fell in love with unsuitable Daniel Thornberry is compelling. He seems to be very progressive for his time with his longing for equality to all men (women of course not included), his atheism, contempt for the monarchy and disrespect for "his betters". But it looks like his romantic entanglements will become his undoing.

At the same time we see how Luna settles into her new role, tames a lonely raven and makes friends with kindly Mr Findlay, a herbal healer with leanings towards the occult, whom her husband can't stand and forbids her from seeing.

The setting is atmospheric, gothic and eerie, just right for an autumn read coming up to Halloween. There are a lot of rational explanations given for spooky goings on and yet you know something isn't right and not explainable through conventional wisdom.

This is one of the most unusual and original stories I've ever read. It's a cross between a murder mystery, a supernatural thriller and romance in a historical setting. The characters are well-drawn and compelling. Marcus and new Luna are both lost and damaged souls managing to rescue each other in this unconventional set-up they have created. But something is threatening their new-found romance and wants to destroy everything. Can they find the culprit in time and repair Luna's reputation, meaning they can have a future together, or will their past demeanours catch up with them?

I loved how the story unfolded but particularly the two big twists about 75% in, which took me completely by surprise. Totally spellbinding. Read this in one sitting. Jenni Keer is an author to watch!

Thank you for giving me early access to this book. This is the first book I have read from this author so I was excited to read it. Unfortunately, this book just didn't work out for me. The writing of this book was great, however; I just couldn't connect to any of the characters. I would have loved if the book had some more spooky vibes. I think my expectations of this book was different to what I got. However, I will check out other books from this author 😀

Set in the 1880’s a young girl is on the run when she collides with a man breaking her ankle. He takes her back to his house and somehow manages to convince people she is his reclusive wife Luna.
She’s befriended by a raven who looks after her. The house slowly comes back to life and we learn about the girl’s previous life. A very dark book. Not the usual time slip book but very interesting

Devoured this Witchy read, perfect for fall ❤️

Haunting, Suspenseful and full of Heart!

The Ravenswood Witch follows two girls. The first is Eloise, a young intelligent girl willing to risk her status to be with an eccentric lower class man. Though, this decision to continue to court him could cost her reputation and ruin his. The second, a young woman on the run from police who stumbles upon the mysterious proprietor of Ravenswood Hall. A charming, handsome, Marcus Greybourne…. Who may of killed his wife?!

Both girls must determine which path they will take, who will do the right thing?

I really enjoyed the changing POVs/Timelines. I felt it kept a good pace and built suspense. The ending put the puzzle together nicely, as if a cozy text…

But the gothic setting, mysterious warnings and talk of witchcraft kept the stakes high and the pages turning.

I love a story that explores the shades of morality. This text kept me guessing, because… no character was ever perfect! They each had their secrets, lies, attitudes and some sort of aloofness. Yet, each one had their own memorable and likeable qualities. (Speaking generally about the characters, as to not give anything away)

I do wish there was a little more solid of a suspenseful/dramatic…. SOMETHING end to Eloise’s story, but I also am not mad with how it played out!

Also Bran the Raven? 🐦‍⬛ New familiar obsession (and GOT vibes)!!!

Thank you Boldwood Books and Net Galley for the ARC 🥰

The Ravenswood Witch is a gothic tale to keep you entertained this spooky season.

A young woman, on the run, literally runs into a man by a stream. The collision sends her reeling, and she breaks her ankle. When the constable catches up, the man says the woman is his wife, Luna Greybourne, and she readily agrees.

But what happened to the real Luna? And what haunts the Ravenswood property st night?

Thanks to the publisher, the author, and Netgalley for this ARC. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because I thought it was entertaining but predictable.

I struggled with this book , as for me, it was too slow moving.
The suspense of 'was she or wasn't she' didn't quite work.
I also didn't quite get the sense of menance that the whole Ravenswood house, inhabitants, wood, well, healer and villagers were meant to exude. For me it just seemed rural ignorance at a time when most couldn't read or write and general superstition.
The style for this type of story thus, to me, was lacking the punch necessary. It was a touch rural idyll in many places.