The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer - Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 30th Sep 2024

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/RavenswoodWitchSocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209499498-the-ravenswood-witch

Genre: Dark Historical Fiction, Paranormal

3 Stars

One Liner: Could have been better!

Book Blurb:

‘There are a lot of shadows at Ravenswood, so you will need to be strong…’

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 a trace. Scratches and marks made by her around the house suggest witchcraft, and indeed Luna is known locally as the Ravenswood Witch; her reputation is 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…

A completely compelling and unforgettable historical book club read – fans of Jane Eyre, Weyward, and The Binding will be utterly spellbound.

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My Thoughts:

The story comes in the third-person POV.

I enjoyed the author’s previous two books (No. 23Burlington Square and At the Stroke of Midnight) and had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, the terrific premise was given an average execution.

Firstly, what I liked about the book –

The setting delivers the Gothic vibes it promised. It is dark, dirty, and suffocating. There’s a bit of animal cruelty as well, though the mentions are limited to what is necessary for the plot. The atmosphere is spot on.

Bran is such a terrific pet. The crow ends up with more personality than some of the characters (take what you will from this statement).

The beginning is great and hooks the reader right away. It establishes the conflict and sets the stage for drama and intrigue.

The romance is not explicit or excessive. While I still wish for a few more interactions between them, it doesn’t overpower the plot most of the time.

However, things started to go downhill pretty soon. Here’s why –

We get extensive snippets about the past from another character’s third-person POV. This could be the young woman or not. While I was initially curious, by the halfway mark, I had enough of it. All this is filler content and unwanted.

A better approach would have been to provide the backstory in three chapters – one to establish the details, the second to deal with the conflict, and the third for the reveal. That way, we would have saved around 50 pages (or more).

Marcus and Real Luna could have gotten a chapter or two each to add depth to their arcs. Except for being the brooding, handsome, heartbroken man, Marcus doesn’t do much. The real Luna is worse since we don’t even get to see her.

A lot of space has been wasted on a character that pretty much went nowhere. Not to mention the repetition that weighed down the pacing and made this move slower than a snail.  

The side characters like Mr. and Mrs. Webber also could have gotten some detailing. A couple of more scenes in the village would have made it easier to support the sudden developments at the end. Right now, it sounds strange and out of character.

For books with paranormal and witchy themes, it is better to go full into the vibe. Going this way and that doesn’t help much. Sustaining the effect is important, irrespective of the characters’ opinions.

To summarize, The Ravenswood Witch has immense potential but ends up underwhelming and slow, with more fluff than substance. However, it will suit your needs if you want an atmospheric read for the season.

Of course, I will read the author's next book.

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

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About the Author – Jenni Keer

Jenni Keer is a well-reviewed author of historical romances, often with a mystery at their heart. Most recently published by Headline and shortlisted for the 2023 RNA Historical Romantic Novel of the Year.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @JenniKeerAuthor

X/ Twitter: @JenniKeer

Instagram: @JenniKeer

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JenniKeerNews

Bookbub Profile: @jennikeer

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This has been a stop on the #TheRavenswoodWitch blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources. (@rararesources) Thanks for stopping by!