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

A woman, accused of murder, is on the run. She collides with a man, falls and breaks her ankle. The man, Marcus, convinces the local constable that she is his wife, Luna. He takes her back to his house and promises that she can stay with him to heal if she pretends to be his wife.

But where is the real Luna Greybourne and what of the scratches, marks and destruction found in the house? These are all questions that the woman pretending to be Luna is determined to find the answers to.

The book was quite slow-paced and not much happened for most of it. I felt a strong connection between Marcus and Luna when they first bumped into each other, but the connection faded as the story went on.

The Ravenswood Witch was incredible; I loved how Jenni designed her characters and filled it with suspense. As a reader who isn’t always into the more fantasy, witches, etc I love this book! It was a great way to dabble in around in a different area. Highly recommend this to anyone wanting a good suspenseful book full of twists.

The Ravenswood Witch is a nice way to kick off the spooky seasons. This book had a very interesting plot that intrigued me. The pacing and writing however, I found be rather slow and boring. Overall a good read but not one of my favorites.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

I really enjoyed this historical paranormal mystery set in 1885. It is full of unnerving witchy activities, spooky characters and strange twists and turns that kept me intrigued from start to finish. The emotions of the characters were often reflected in the moody weather that added to the ominous atmosphere. The shadowy woodsy location is both appealing and frightening. And Bran, the stunning talking raven, added both wisdom and drama to the story. His protectiveness of Luna was endearing and he certainly lived up to the attributes of ravens as being bearers of prophecy and insight. As a psychopomp, the bird kept everything swirling between the spirit realm and physical world.

A woman has run away from a sticky situation where she is accused of murder. During her middle of the night escape along the river bank, she literally runs into Marcus Greybourne and breaks her ankle. He scoops her up and takes her to his home to attend to her injury. When a constable arrives looking for this woman, Marcus pretends this woman is Luna (his wife) to save her from being taken away. But what has happened to his real wife? It is a fair while before this question is answered and in the meantime nobody can be trusted. The author leads us to question each of the characters that surround Luna. Who is friend and who is enemy?

This story is full of many eerie moments that gave me numerous chills! Strange threatening messages, a cracked mirror, flying roof tiles and other unusual activities kept things interesting! Were they the handwork of a woman’s ghost? Who was behind all this haunting on the premises?

There is a lot of discussion about witchcraft in this novel. Marcus says he does not believe in the supernatural but Luna is not quite sure what she thinks. Doubts she may have are challenged, when a number of bizarre things start to happen. It is obvious someone is out to get her.

The thing about this story to remember is that evil is good at deception and sometimes what appears to be safe is actually sinister. I cannot say too much more about this or I risk giving the plot away.

We learn a fair bit about the real Luna and what a mad woman she was with her bizarre behaviour. And how she tortured her husband who tried so hard to save her. But when this woman comes on the scene and agrees to continue the charade of being his wife, a lot begins to happen. This new Luna, so as not to be labelled a witch (like the real wife of Marcus) must convey her improved condition. That she has changed into a better person. Well many in the village do not believe she is who she says she is. Others are willing to go along with the pretending as they believe Marcus deserves some happiness. And this woman definitely appears to be brightening his life. In fact, an unexpected romance erupts and these two lonely souls find great solace and tenderness in each other. A second chance at happiness. But will it be upset by the townspeople’s superstitious beliefs and accusations?

I loved the ending—once I got past all the scary stuff! And getting to know Marcus a little more was beneficial. I gravitated to the new Luna and watched her come full circle as a stronger and more vibrant woman in control of her destiny. I highly recommend The Ravenswood Witch — an entertaining original read. Hats off to Jenni Keer for stirring up lots of hair-raising moments! My heart raced on more than one occasion. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

It’s 1885 and the book opens with a young woman running into a man and breaking her ankle. It soon becomes clear that she was being pursued by a constable. To her surprise, for some inexplicable reason, the man persuades the constable that she is his wife, Luna Greybourne, and he takes her back to his home Ravenswood Hall. Written in dual timelines and dual POV’s - those of Elena and the ‘new’ Luna - this is a well written gothic, witchy book which was compelling reading.

Briefly, having agreed with Marcus that she will continue the pretence that she is Luna, who is missing, she is shocked to find that the destruction in virtually every room in the house was caused by Luna. Luna was also feared by the locals and is known as the Ravenswood Witch so this fear and anger is now thrown at her. The new Luna is beginning to think she has jumped out of the fat into the fire but there is no denying that she is attracted to Marcus so she stays.

The second POV of Elena is a flashback - Elena is the only child of a wealthy couple. She has formed an attachment to a local man who her parents will not consider as a potential husband and her only ally is her maid Rose. There are some great characters in the book but the one I really enjoyed was Bran, no spoilers. Full of suspense this is a dark, more grey than black, and very spooky read and I couldn’t work out who to trust. There are some good twists and turns and they had me fooled too. A very enjoyable read. 4.5⭐️

I loved this book! it had the perfect mix of mystery and thriller and romance to keep me hooked. There were so many twists and revelations that kept me guessing, I would definitely recommend this.

A witchy Jane Eyre-esque tale, gothic and sometimes unnerving, this is another superb book from Jenni Keer! So many clever twists and turns the story has fantastic pace, it never slows down. Every character really deserves their place in the book and as the story progressed I didn’t know who I could trust!

I was so excited to begin my first “witchy” book of fall and this one didn’t disappoint. I love historical fiction featuring women accused of witchcraft - it’s total catnip to me. The relationship between the two main characters dragged a bit in the middle but things really picked up by the end. Overall, I enjoyed this one a lot and am looking forward to seeing what else this author comes out with.

Synopsis: it is 1885, a woman accused of murder flees in the middle of the night only to run in to a man on the bank of a river. When the constables arrive he pretends she is his wife. She is grateful for this secret, until she begins to question what happened to the real wife who may or may not be haunting her.
Pros/cons: a totally original, creative, and spooky story! I was invested in finding out what happened to the real wife, it was just a bit slow to get there. For a relatively short book this one felt long and took a while to get through. But if you like spooky and dark magic, this will be a great Halloween read for you! Thank you NetGalley, due out next month!