The Ravenswood Witch
Historical , witchy ,Gothic, paranormal read with a touch of romance I really enjoyed this book !

Set in the 19th century (1885) this historical paranormal mystery is packed full of witchy activities, plot twists and turns with a spooky setting and characters. The story kept me intrigued and pulled me in from the first page to the last.
The authors atmospheric writing creates lots of tension setting the scene for the character’s whose emotions are reflected brilliantly throughout. The setting itself is a large gothic house Ravenwood and is situated on the edge of a wood which is where the house takes its name from.
Marcus and Luna Greybourne live in ravenswood house, only Luna is troubled, and her bizarre behaviour has caused the local villagers to believe her to be the ravenwood witch. The word witch still held plenty of provocation in 1885, with many still holding onto their superstitious ways the villagers struggle to understand Lunas behaviour and look to witchcraft as the answer.
Into the story comes a young woman fleeing for her life she crashes into Marcus and injures her ankle; Marcus scoops her up and takes her back to Ravenwood house. While she is there a police constable comes knocking looking for her, Marcus convinces him that she is his wife, Luna.
But where is his real wife? Where is the real Luna?
The author leads us to question each of characters that surround Luna, who can be trusted ? and who cannot?
The story is full of spinetingling moments that will give you chills, without giving away any spoilers “what appears to be safe is actually sinister” and “what is good is shrouded in evil”.
I loved getting to know all the characters and Bran the stunning talking Raven who is very protective of Luna was an interesting character adding extra level of intrigue. This is the second book I have read by Jenni Keer I love her writing style and the way she weaves each character into the setting. I definitely recommend The Ravenwood Witch especially if you love spine-tingling hair-raising moments and it is the perfect Autumn read.
Thankyou to Boldwood books and Netgalley for the Arc..

The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer

A great read. This is a fab period book with plenty of atmosphere and intrigue with a few twists along the,way to keep you interested.
I like how they meet and under which circumstances and the way the two went about getting to know each other.

It is 1885, and a young woman is on the run,, knowing if she was caught she will be hanged for murder. In her haste to get away, she collides with Marcus Greybourne and they both fall. Unfortunately for her,, he lands on her leg breaking her ankle in the fall. Unable to walk he takes her up to his manor on the hill. He strikes a bargain with her: if she will pretend to be his wife Luna Greybourne, then he will provide her a safe place to recuperate and he will tell no one her true identity. She agrees, and begins the charade of being Luna Greybourne of Ravenswood Manor, 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 was known locally as the Ravenswood Witch. 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…

This was the first book I have read by this author, but I look forward to reading many more. This book was so good. I couldn't put it down. The book goas back and forth between the current storyline, and the timeline before she had to run away. In the current timeline you are finding out all that the "first Luna Greybourne" did, how she had descended into insanity, and this person was taking her place out of necessity. In the past timeline you find out what caused that person to have to run for their life. This book is perfect for fans of Simone St. James & Hester Fox. I highly recommend it!

This book will certainly become a classic! What a fantastic autumn read. This is the third Jenni Keer book I’ve read in the past two weeks and I am now her biggest fan.

The Ravenswood Witch is a great period read with every emotion you’d want in a good story. There are surprises, twists, and the ending is wrapped up in a perfect literary bow. The characters are well defined and the story moves along at a perfect pace. I enjoyed every page. Jenni Keer has such a special way to pull my opinions all over the board regarding characters and their situations.

Thank you for this advanced copy.

I rate this book a 3.5 but will round up to 4.

I had a harder time getting into this book until about 30% of the way in. Even then, it was a slower paced book but I felt more connected to the main character and was curious to see where it was going. I enjoyed a couple of the plot twists and the mystery in the book. I did feel disappointed with the ending though. I wish it would have ended differently. I felt like the biggest plot twist at the end seemed a little predictable and I didn’t like the turn it took explaining the reality of the original Luna. I also felt like the ending felt very rushed and a lot of loose ends needed to be tied up quickly in 20ish pages.

I did feel like this was a fun spooky mystery that is enjoyable for an October read, although a bit of it was a little bit “dark” for what I normally enjoy. I still enjoyed it and am grateful for the chance to have read an ARC copy of the book.

This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it, I would definitely read more books from this author. I’ve started to ready more historical books has the few I have read I’ve enjoyed, I loved this book well written and dark creepy vibes it was a bit slow in places but I didn’t find myself losing interest.

A young woman, wanted for a murder is on the run for her life when she collides with stranger Marcus Greybourne. As she falls, accidentally he lands on her and breaks her ankle.
To her surprise, he scoops her up just as the constable who has been pursuing her arrives on the scene. Marcus convinces the constable that the woman in his arms in his own wife of 10 years, Luna, and when asked about the woman he has been chasing, Marcus states that he has seen no one else in the area.
Marcus carries 'Luna' up to his old, wreck of a home - Ravenswood Hall. He enlists the help of his staff to tend to 'Luna's' wounds, and to get her comfortable for the night.
He and Luna come to an arrangement that they will continue the charade, and he will keep her safe until her ankle has healed. In return she needs to stay in character when a solicitor arrives for his annual visit. The man needs to see that Luna is safe and well so that he will be paid an annuity from Luna's family wealth.
The thing is, the real Luna is nowhere to be found. The Luna whom the locals believe to be a witch. Where can she be? Is she hiding in the house? Is she dead? Is she really a witch? Who can imposter Luna trust?
I loved this book from start to finish. Full of mystery and with excellent characters.
A1.

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.