I enjoyed the thriller aspects of this book and its supernatural themes. Its historical setting also felt well realised and social nuances of the time felt well explained without feeling forced. I did predict a couple of the twists but was pleased that I still found some to surprise me. The elements of mystery culminated in a tense and atmospheric climax, so it feels perfect that this book is coming out just in time for Halloween.
I did not personally find the romance compelling, as I felt like the two parties didn't know each other very well!
This book is great for fans of the Victorian Gothic, or just anyone looking for an easy read for autumn.

I really enjoyed this historical romance and mystery with tones of the supernatural. Jenni Keer’s books are always a comforting read, perfect to curl up with on a gloomy autumnal day.

A young woman on the run from the police ends up colliding - quite literally - with Marcus Greybourne. To her surprise, instead of turning her over to the local constable, he instead hides her identity and insists that she is in fact his sickly and erratic wife, Luna. Bringing her back to Ravenswood Hall, the two of them agree that she will stay until she is healed and in return she will act as his wife long enough for him to receive an inheritance payment. But when strange events around the house start following her, the woman has to wonder if she has in fact sealed her own fate.

The “creepy old house and forest” setting of the book was perfectly suited to the story, and I liked the somewhat unclear approach to the supernatural. The relationship between the two main characters was sweet and well-paced, and their opposing views on magic was a fun element that helped add some conflict to the story without having to resort to forced miscommunications. The suspenseful parts of the plot were perfect to help keep the reader’s interest, and the more gruesome scenes were effective but not gratuitous.

There were some twists to the story that I found to be quite predictable, and a pretty major one that took me completely by surprise. Though I felt that the ending of the book had a large tonal shift from the rest of the story, overall there was the perfect balance of suspense and action to keep the plot moving and the dual timeline aspect was quite cleverly done. If you’re looking for an eerie read just in time for Halloween, this is definitely the book for you. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. This is my honest review.

4/5 A gothic romance perfect for a cool autumn night.

This book was very intriguing, the Jane Eyre inspiration definitely showed, Jane Eyre is one of my my favourite classics and it was lovely to see a book inspired by it. I enjoyed the gothic side of it, the historic side too. I loved that a friendship of convenience turned into love and the long winding road of witchcraft intertwined. It was fun to read.

This was a fun gothic historical fiction with lots of atmosphere and spooky, witchy vibes. For me, there wasn't enough strength to the character development, plot and back story as the author spent so much time creating the chilling atmosphere. The novel lacked balance and I felt it was quite melodramatic. However, this was an easy fun read and if you like this genre definitely pick it up.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

A spooky gothic read just right for the Halloween season. Set in 1885 this is the story of a deception that plays out through the book from almost the first page. It has all the ingredients of a gothic romance - crumbling old house in a raven infested wood, things that aren't as they seem, and a simmering romance between the cuckoo in the nest, Luna, and Marcus Greybourne the owner of the house. Thoroughly enjoyable, with a nod to Jane Eyre and plenty of haunting atmosphere.

‘I’m damaged,’ she said. ‘And you think I’m not?’

What a beautiful, engaging read. As soon as I started reading this book I was swept away by the beautiful writting. This is the perfect book to read during fall season, with its arresting narrative, gothic witchy vibe peppered with love and tragedy. For the first half of the book it maintains a good level of mystery, as it's a slow burn book, delving deeper into the characters' head. The pace of the book is steady, writing again is excellent. There were instances when the suspense was at its peak and I felt my heart racing along with the characters and that's the best part of this book, you hardly feel like you're reading a book, it was like I was present in the scene. Kudos to the author for writing this beautiful piece of literature.

The Ravenswood Witch
By: Jennifer Keer

5 Stars

Rose is on the run for her life when she is injured and finds herself in a very different role. She soons finds herself in the role of Luna Greybourne, or as the villagers know her, the "Witch of Ravenswood." She continues to play the role to help out her "husband, "but her life will be even more changed than she could ever have imagined.

This was a story of survival and magic. Love and hate. Secrets and betrayal. It had a good historical setting with loads of the witchy superstitious stuff. The characters were easy to follow and presented the reader with a well laid out story. It was descriptive and captivating. I'll have to add. The shocking ending was one I never saw coming and wow!!!

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

**"The Ravenswood Witch"** by Jenni Keer is a charming blend of historical fiction, mystery, and magical realism, set against the backdrop of post-war Britain. The story revolves around its central character, Hester, and weaves together themes of family, identity, and the power of secrets.

The novel is set in the small village of Ravenswood in 1947, where Hester lives in an old house, Ravenswood Hall. Her life takes a turn when she starts to uncover the mysteries of her past and the connection to witchcraft within her family. The plot delves into dual timelines, combining historical events with Hester’s modern-day story, which keeps the narrative dynamic and engaging. Keer masterfully juxtaposes the struggles of post-war recovery with the deeper, mystical secrets surrounding the Ravenswood family.

One of the book's strengths lies in its character development. Hester is a relatable and resilient heroine, and her journey of self-discovery is heartfelt. The secondary characters, including villagers and other family members, are well-drawn, adding depth and warmth to the story. The relationships, particularly the complex dynamics within Hester's family, feel authentic and compelling.

Keer’s writing is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid pictures of both the enchanting and eerie elements of Ravenswood. The pacing balances the mystery with moments of introspection, giving readers time to connect emotionally with the characters while still advancing the plot.

On the downside, readers expecting a fast-paced mystery or heavy doses of magic might find the novel’s slow burn a little meandering at times. The magical elements, while present, are subtle and often take a backseat to the family drama and historical aspects, which might leave fans of more overt witchcraft narratives wanting more.

Overall, **"The Ravenswood Witch"** by Jenni Keer is an atmospheric and heartwarming tale, perfect for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of magic. It is a story about embracing one’s heritage, the strength of family, and the power of untold stories, making it a satisfying read with a rich emotional core.

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book is perfect for this time of year! To snuggle up and read, I couldn't put it down, wanting to know to know more about the characters and what their back story was. Set in 1885, where the belief in witchcraft is still alive, a poor young woman ankle is broke by accident by a man while running from something. Luckily for her, he saves her from prosecution and asks her to pretend to be his wife while her ankle is mended for inheritance. But what's happened to his wife before ? Why are the people in Ravenswood calling her a witch ?

Brilliant read thank you for netgally, boldwood reads for the ARC read.

This was my first Jenni Keer read and will not be my last. I could not put this book down. Perfect read for autumn for any mood readers out there. A mystery set in England in the late 19th century, with a splash of magic. The plot twist got me, the mystery got me, and I would die for Bran.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which had me hooked from the beginning.

Marcus bumps into a lady in the woods who seems to be running away from someone. He takes her back to Ravenswood Hall as she injures herself.

Whilst she’s recuperating, he persuades her to take the place of his wife Luna, whose whereabouts nobody knows, he will ensure she’s safe. Luna is also known as the Ravenswood Witch. The hall has some spooky things happening and things aren’t what they appear to be.

Secrets are withheld and speculation by the villagers of witchcraft, the story keeps you turning the pages. The characters, each with their own individuality, the story was very well written, kept you guessing how it would end.

I highly recommend this book.

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and publisher.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it really was addictive reading that I couldn’t put down. This has been compared to Jane Eyre and it definitely has similarities, but it exists firmly in its own right too.

The atmosphere in this book was so good. We have a small town in England in the 1800s, a woman on the run who is injured in a collision with a stranger. The stranger is owner of a stately home but needs someone to pretend to be his missing wife in order to continue to receive her inheritance payments. He provides her a home to rest and recuperate in away from the eyes of her pursuers. However whilst in the house, strange occurrences are experienced, she sees signs of devil worship, there are odd things in the woods and she hears worrying stories about the wife she’s pretending to be. This has so many great things in for the gothic house vibes, ravens, witches, small town, decaying house, odd servants. It really nails the atmosphere.

We also have a slow unravelling of the secrets of our main character and her odd saviour. Some of this I genuinely didn’t see coming which was fab!

We also explore what it means to be a hero or a villain. Where people who are or want to be good have to do bad things to survive, people being put in dangerous situations, people being manipulated or hurt and what they have to do to get through it. This was really interesting and made the characters feel more fully realised.

A fab read!

The Rawenswood witch was a great read for me. I loved the plot, I loved the characters and mostly I loved the atmosphere of the book. While reading, I was trying to figure out all the mysteries and connect all the dots that author has created very successfully. I loved the mix of magic, love and drama. This book will keep you interested and it will give you space to develop different theories while also enjoying writing style and creative plots that will appear.

Mysterious, witchy, and dark. The Ravenswood Witch is a gothic romance centred around an unamed woman. On he run from the authorities, she is fortunately saved and hindered by Marcus Greybourne who passes her off as his wife to avoid her capture. Taking on the name and persona of Luna Greybourne, our unamed protagonist focuses on healing her broken ankle and unravelling the many mysteries at Ravenswood house.

Spookys, witches, mysteries and plot twists. While it is quite slow to begin with, once the plot gets into it, you're taken on a rollarcoaster of twists and turns. This is a perfect Autumn and Halloween read!

This was definitely a slower read which took me a little while to be invested it, but overall it was enjoyable!

The year is 1885, and a young woman is on the run, knowing if she’s caught, she’ll be hanged for murder. Moments from a safe haven, she collides with a gruff stranger, falling and breaking her ankle.

To her surprise, the man – Marcus Greybourne – convinces the local constable that she is his reclusive wife of ten years, Luna. He carries her back to the neglected and crumbling Ravenswood Hall, promising if she agrees to maintain this charade, he will keep her safe until her injuries have healed.

But the house is haunted by shadows and secrets. What’s more, the real Luna Greybourne is missing, without trace. Scratches and marks made by her around the house suggest witchcraft; and indeed Luna is known locally as the Ravenswood Witch; her reputation in tatters, like the wallpapers of the padlocked rooms she’d destroyed.

As strange happenings in the house continue, outside the screech of a raven echoes across oppressive woods that seem alive with dark magic. And 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…

Loved this story! This is the perfect fall book club read. There is murder, mystery, magic and many twists. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

2.5 rounded to 3

I started reading this book without many expectations because I wasn't really sure about it. The premise of this book was great and it definitely piqued my interest, however I found the execution flat. Personally I wasn't able to connect with or just really get invested in the story and the characters. The beginning was slow and a bit boring and even though after around 30% of the book it got a better pace (for my taste at least) it wasn't enough for it to grab my full attention and wating to keep reading. Still I did.

This being said I really liked the gothic elements and the idea as a whole was great. I enjoyed the talks about witchcraft and several moments were still entertaining.

a young woman is on the run for murder. she collides with a man in the woods, and breaks her ankle, he takes her to his home and she pretends to be his wife. good book