I wanted to love this but ended up putting it down for a good long while.... and kept picking it up and putting it back. This book had all the hallmarks of a book I would love but just didn't do it for me.

What is there not to like about this book! History and witchcraft merged into one! I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read more from this author!

The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer is a gothic mystery with a Rebecca-like atmosphere, following a woman on the run who pretends to be her missing "wife" to avoid arrest. The eerie setting and slow-burn tension create an intriguing read, though some twists are predictable. While enjoyable for fans of dark historical fiction, the ending falls a bit flat. A solid 3 stars for those who enjoy a Rebecca-esque vibe with magic and mystery.

I'm giving this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

This book was a unique combination of historical fiction and mystery with a touch of the supernatural. The story features two women, separated by time but connected by a mysterious house and a lurking darkness.

The Ravenswood Witch has excellent world building, interesting character, and a pet raven. However, the pacing was very slow, and at times, I lost interest. What kept me reading was the mystery surrounding what happened to the real Mrs Greybourne.

It was overall an entertaining read. I liked the
changing of perspectives and found Luna to be very likeable.The theme of witchcraft and how women were persecuted for any seemingly odd behavior always intrigues me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It pulled me in but I left thinking "What the hell....". An entertaining read for sure. Confusing and weird as well. Definitely a rip off of "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier but with a magical/devil worshiping twist.

Perfect eerie atmosphere for this gothic mystery novel. I absolutely loved the vibes in this book, it was so gut wrenchingly vivid and the romance wasn’t overwhelming. Although the book continued to make me wonder, the ending was a bit lacklustre. It could have been a lot better, however I still enjoyed it a lot. Thank you netgalley for providing with the ARC!

This is my first Jenni Keer book. I wanted so badly to like it but it just missed the mark. I like the dark gothy vibe. the beginning grabbed me. It really set the stage for drama.. just enough romance. it came across as a witchy novel but really fell short. it had potential

Clever use of not finding out about a character ourselves until the book tells us. Full of tension, spooky even at times, this was a clever book and a good read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood for the reading copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in return for an honest review.

This was an enjoyably creepy and gothic story with a good amount of tension, some interesting twists, and a bit of romance, but not as a major theme. I saw this described as "Jane Eyre vibes, but with added eeriness" and I think that's a fair assessment. I enjoyed the difficulty in figuring out to what extent this was paranormal and to what extent the story had a rational human explanation.

I enjoyed this gothic mystery with a romantic storyline. The fact that we did not find out who the main character was until Marcus also finds out made the story more compelling.
The story is a little far fetched in places but overall an enjoyable read

The Ravenswood Witch is an enthralling historical novel to lose yourself in. A young woman fleeing her village after a crime, pursued for murder, is about to be caught when she literally runs into Marcus Greybourne, breaking her ankle. He protects her from arrest, claiming that she is his wife, Luna. He takes her back to his home, and persuades her to remain and to continue the pretence that she is his wife.

It’s a gloriously atmospheric gothic tale that reminds me of some of my favourite gothic/sensationalist novels by Mary Elizabeth Braddon et al. It even reminded me of my #1, all-time favourite classic novel, The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. The Ravenswood Witch oozes mystery, madness, secrets, lust, murder and a touch of magic.… I loved it!

The main character, the Luna-impersonator (real identity would be a spoiler), is a fantastic, well-rounded strong female character with real presence. Marcus is equally vivid and the connection between them is totally convincing. Other minor characters are well drawn. The house itself breathes with eerie menace, adding to the tension.

The pacing of the novel is perfect, with satisfying peaks and troughs. The magic elements are well woven into the story, continually leaving you wondering how much is ‘real’ magic and how much is due to the characters’ distorted perceptions.

My only quibble is the style of writing, which is modern rather than in the style of a 19th century author. At no time do you feel you’re reading a classic. To be fair, historical novels that can successfully pull off archaic English are rare, so it’s not a dealbreaker for me. There are no blatant anachronisms to disturb credulity and the tone is sufficiently atmospheric to sustain the fiction.

Totally recommended for fans of historical fiction with a gothic or sensationalist twist.

My thanks to the author and the publisher, Boldwood Books, for giving me a free copy of this book. All my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.

What has happened to the Ravenswood Witch? Did she disappear and then return? Is she still out in the woods somewhere? So many different questions will arise but will you work out just what is going on, out in the woods?

I did enjoy this one, although I must say it was a bit of a slow burn. Some of the twists I figured out along the way, but some might just creep up on you.

If you like mysterious tales of witchcraft and alternative thinking, you will enjoy this one.

The story is full of twists, with just the right mix of magic, mystery, and a touch of romance.

What I enjoyed most was how the author made the setting come alive. Ravenswood Manor felt so vivid, almost like a character in itself. It was eerie and beautiful at the same time. I could picture every corner of it as if I were there.

Elsie is such a relatable character. She’s brave and curious but also unsure of herself at times, which made her feel real. As she learns more about her powers and her connection to the manor, I found myself rooting for her to find her place and her strength.

The writing is simple but so captivating. It’s easy to follow, but it pulls you into the story and keeps you turning the pages. I couldn’t put the book down because I wanted to know what would happen next. The blend of history, magic, and family secrets made it feel fresh and exciting.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you so much!

It's very reminiscent of a Jane Eyre vibe but with a completely different twist than what I was expecting!! Every part of this was a perfect read. It started off a little slow, but the slow burn was absolutely worth the wait for the reveal.

- Closed door!

I received a review copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley for which my thanks.

A gothic tale with both romance and a mystery is quite apt for this time of the year and The Ravenswood Witch combined these well and wove in a nice little twist which made it a rather enjoyable read, its slower pacing notwithstanding.

A young woman on the run collides with a man, who instead of handing her to her pursuers (a constable among them) declares her to be his wife, Luna Greybourne, as The Ravenswood Witch opens. After the ‘rescue’, Marcus Greybourne takes ‘Luna’ to his home Ravenwood where he promises her shelter and sanctuary so long as she continues to play her part (all of this playing out subtly rather than being explicitly stated), the real Luna being nowhere to be seen. Marcus seems a kind man as does this new Luna who has come into his life, yet both clearly have their secrets. In fits and snatches, we begin to learn what this Luna might have done that had caused her to flee while at Ravenswood it is revealed that Marcus’ real wife was believed by all to be a witch, shunned by all, a label that now begins to apply to the new Luna. The house moreover shows signs of what could have been the real Luna’s witchcraft or perhaps simply those of a very disturbed mind.

As the story progresses, the new Luna begins to feel increasingly uneasy amidst all the shadows and secrets; the signs and symbols, the hatred and fear of the villagers, the disapproval of the servants, a distinct feeling of being watched and not really knowing who can be trusted, and who not. But feelings are also beginning to develop between the new Luna and Marcus. The new Luna also finds a friend—a raven Bran whom she rescues when injured and nurses back to health and who becomes quite fiercely protective, somewhat of a disadvantage when you’re already suspected of being a witch.

Alongside, in intermittent chapters, we are introduced to a narrative from the new Luna’s past, of a young woman whose family has recently acquired great wealth and whose life has completely changed as a result.

How these stories connect, what secrets each character carries and how things turn out for each of them make up the rest of the book.

The Ravenswood Witch is an atmospheric novel with its dark, gothic feeling very well done. There is a distinct Jane Eyre feel here, be it in the structure (even though the new Luna is no governess) or the impression of being watched or of a presence that the new Luna gets at times, making one actually wonder whether the real Luna might actually be concealed in the attic (of course, I won’t tell if she is 😊). But it is also much more than that, eerie sounds like Jane Eyre but also strange markings and scratches—signs of witchcraft, along with more unsettling things in the woods that surround Ravenswood. And not only that but the suspicion of being a witch that attaches to the new Luna means she is also open to the reactions (not verbal alone) of the village folk, most of whom are understandably antagonistic. Marcus does his best to protect her and dispel the villagers’ fears but he can’t always be by her side.

In keeping with the gothic mystery theme, there is also the mystery—well, more than one for it isn’t just those around our main characters who are keeping secrets but both our main characters as well. As we read on, slow and steady we begin to learn something of both their stories but one isn’t able to build the complete picture till the culmination. The real strength of the plot, however, lies in that twist the author gives us, one I certainly wouldn’t have even imagined, let alone seen coming, and one that truly ‘makes’ the story. The romance thread is also by and large nicely done, feelings developing slowly but also shadowed by both characters’ pasts and a thread that doesn’t eclipse the eerie and mystery elements in any way, something I very much appreciated.

The one drawback of the book is its slower pacing. This was something I didn’t much mind when I began reading; in fact, I was enjoying the atmosphere, watching the story unfold and learning something of our main characters and those that surrounded them. But by around the half-way mark, I did begin to wish that it would move faster. While I didn’t feel the book necessarily dragged at any point, it could have done with better pacing.

An enjoyable read with great atmosphere, lifted up several notches by that wonderful twist!

A ghostly historical romance with ambition

As a mysterious woman flees from the local constabulary, a handsome stranger saves her with the lie that she is his wife, a lie that he wholeheartedly builds into a semblance of a marriage. Meanwhile, his actual missing wife seems to be sending messages from another world, threatening the ersatz wife even as she sees to escape her past fate.

For a historical romance, this hews heavily to the model of Jane Eyre, with an eccentric landholder, a desperate woman forced to accept his help, and a missing but perhaps dead wife. Any magic is only hinted at, with a local healer and strange portents appearing around the scarred house. The title is a little misdirection but this was a cleverly constructed novel, interrogating class and the role of women in Victorian society, as well as mental health and illness of the times, with an ending that is no surprise.

I got some distinctly “Jane Eyre and other gothic literature vibes from this story, which begins in 1885 with a young woman desperate and running from police. She and a man collide, and she suffers a broken ankle when both fall down. The man, Marcus Greybourne, seeing an opportunity, protects her from the police, telling them this is his wife Luna. Once safe from her pursuers, the nameless woman and Marcus agree to her masquerading temporarily as his wife, Luna, who is nowhere to be found. Marcus tells her he needs her to be Luna so that Luna's solicitor will can see that the terms of her inheritance are being met, and funds will arrive.

As Luna recuperates, she discovers that the previous Luna (PLuna) was known as the Ravenswood Witch, and was seen as immoral, hated and feared. Marcus and the servants tell her the PLuna was volatile, and now Luna (NLuna) sees the effects of the other woman's fury on the house and its contents; there are only two servants left, and walls are defaced, rooms dusty, clothing torn up, books burned. The two servants care for her, though Mr. Webber is irascible and cold, while Mrs. Webber is kindly and sympathetic to NLuna. When Mrs. Webber finds a raven trapped and injured in the attic, NLuna decides to care for it, and Bran becomes NLuna's companion, obnoxious but affectionate.

At the same time, the author provides us with the story of a young woman named Eloise who is enamoured by a young man named Daniel, and is set on nabbing him as her husband. Daniel is a factory worker, so there is naturally opposition to her infatuation from her higher class family. Eloise convinces her maid Rose to help her get to know Daniel better.

This was enjoyable, but never moved past ok to great.

What I liked:
-The atmosphere is nice, with a good build-up of tension and a constant sense of discomfort with all the strange happenings. I liked the way it was never 100% clear whether there was something supernatural happening.

-The main character is likeable.

-The romance felt believable in the careful way it developed.

-Bran is the best!


What didn't quite work for me:
-Though I found NLuna's almost instant approval of the idea of masquerading as a missing woman understandable, her insistence, despite contrary opinions of those who knew PLuna,that she WAS PLuna felt a little weird.

-The baddie's reveal wasn't a surprise, but once it was, the person felt very cartoonish.

-I wish I had had a better understanding of who PLuna really was, She was made out to be thoroughly awful with no redeeming qualities, but I'm I needed more background, particularly as this was a time when people knew very little about treating deteriorating mental health.

-I figured out the connection between both timelines pretty easily.

For a character-driven, slow burn romance, this was a nice diversion, but I think if a couple of details had been better worked out, I'd have enjoyed this story more.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

This was a magical witchy read. Set in the past.
A young girl running gets knocked over breaking her ankle and the gent who knocked her then takes her to his house and the unusual story goes from there.
Blaming others for witchcraft, rumours abound. Fingers are pointed.
But what’s the truth.
Good read.

I received a copy of this book for review from Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

*** This review contains spoilers***

As a reader, I’m ambling along through the book, thinking I know what is going on, watching the characters interact and develop, questioning why some are acting in certain ways (as all good books do) and then BAM! I get whacked over the head with a reveal that I just had to sit with and reconstruct the first half of the story. It’s all good, the story continues and then I get whacked again by a final twist.

Great story, I will try to read it again as I’m sure more will be revealed now that I know what is coming.

The book begins with an unnamed woman, fleeing from some danger, who collides with a stranger and ends up spraining her foot. The stranger, Marcus Greybourne, is the owner of the massive and ill-reputed house, Ravenswood. He convinces the constable that the unnamed woman is his wife, Luna Greybourne, not the criminal wanted for murder that the constable is seeking.

Marcus offers the woman protection while her badly sprained foot heals. In return, he requests her to pretend to be his wife for a brief period. She accepts the offer.

While she pretends to be Luna Greybourne, there is no sign of the real Mrs Greybourne. Soon the new Mrs Greybourne discovers that there is a very real sense of danger in and around Ravenswood. There are scratches on the walls and marks of devil worship have been gouged into the wood of the bedpost. Then she hears talk of the old witch that is supposed to live in the woods behind the house, who supposedly curses people and dances naked, performing acts of devil worship. Until the housekeeper, Mrs Webber, informs her that Luna Greybourne is the witch.

Her only friend is Bran, a raven she nurses to life, and Mr Findlay, a medicine man who uses herbs and potions, along with medicines, a man who was once friends with the real Luna Greybourne, and promises to help the imposter, whenever she might need his aid.

As she eases into her new life, getting closer to Marcus, she wonders if she could stay with him forever. But she knows that can't be. The danger is getting closer, and time is running out.



The book is written in the 3rd person omniscient past tense PoV and in the 3rd person past tense limited PoV of Eloise Haughton, a rich and, true to her name, haughty girl whose slightly obsessive love for Daniel Thornbury, a working-class man, ends up setting the plot of this story in motion. The story of Eloise was written in an affectionate, teasing tone, that reminded me of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.



The author builds up an aura of intrigue and mystique with her writing. The Ravenswood scenes, in particular, were written with a deliciously creepy air. Thankfully, the love story, with a markedly different tone, doesn’t appear intrusive at all.



Slowly, Bran, Mrs Webber and the two Lunas grew on me. Luna, the Ravenswood witch, though physically absent, except in flashbacks and recollections, was nevertheless drawn well and felt alive.

Eloise is a little selfish and overindulged and I didn’t like her at all. I liked her even less at the end of the book. Mr Findlay is referred to by everyone, including the 3rd person narrator, as ‘cunning’, which I found odd, until I discovered its archaic meaning, possessing some occult knowledge, a meaning that has now fallen into disuse.



The writing was good and held my interest. Sample this quote:
When your whole world had been destroyed, you clung to any small fragment of solid ground.




What I liked about this book was the deftness with which the author sneaked the twist in.


There were some errors though. Daniel is first described as 19 years old, and then as 25, without us getting any sense of the years having passed from the time Eloise first meets him to the end of that strand of the story.

A crucial plot point in the past, relating to the murder investigation, doesn’t get resolved; I thought we needed closure on that.

I also found the pace too slow for a greater part of the book. Things took much longer to heat up than they should have. For a long time, it was business as usual.

Also, I couldn’t understand why Marcus and the second Mrs Greybourne continued with their charade when they were alone.

The book ended on a note of hope and renewal that felt good for everyone, though Mrs Webber might have different thoughts on the issue.