A very well written novel that I had a hard time putting down. I cant wait to read the next novel by this author.

The storyline and characters are well written. I can't recall a moment, off the top of my head, where I thought "This is redundant. Didn't they already say this? Why am I hearing this again?" as I have in some other books I've read recently. The only thing off-putting about this is the narrator, her voice, at times, is better suited to autobiographies or videos on animal nature. The narrator reads slow at times when there should perhaps be more excitement and so it set the story off kilter a bit for me.

The story concept wasn't a concept that I had read recently so it was a refreshing storyline.

Luanne G. Smith can basically do no wrong in my opinion. The Vine Witch series is one of my favorite witchy reads and I recommend it every fall. The Raven Spell is just another addition to my every fall recommendations list. I loved the mystery so so so much. And the twists! So we’ll done. I’m super excited to read the sequel and basically everything else Luanne writes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A cool witch and a clever detective work together to solve murders? Count me in! Spoiler: I loved the adventure! It had nice moments and mysterious scenes. The atmosphere was full of tension and I felt the danger behind my eyes.

I loved the Vine witch trilogy by the same author so I was thrilled to read her next work!
Once again I enjoyed the author‘s writing style, it made the book quite atmospheric (even though it performed even better in the Vine witch trilogy in my opinion). The characters were engaging, the magic system was intriguing (especially Mary‘s powers), I liked the mystery aspect of the plot and I liked the idea of the shop filled with discarded things the sisters found around. My only gripe is about Mary‘s storyline. The ideas that people tend to sacralize everything that is related to death too much, that we shouldn‘t be afraid of making contact with it because it‘s a natural part of life and that having unusual interests doesn‘t make us evil were the best parts of the book so I was really disappointed when the author proved the total opposite by making Mary the villain for the same reasons! That was a huge let down.
I will read the sequel.

I really tried to get into this book, but it was not my cup of tea. I had a hard time connecting with the characters, and the plot was very confusing. Still, I recommend this for fans of paranormal mysteries!

Good mystery and interesting witches…not cheesy…perfect for October.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A good sci-fi paranormal Novel. Recommend

The Raven Spell is the first book in a lush and engaging historical fantasy mystery series by Luanne G. Smith. Released 1st Feb 2022 by Amazon on their 47 North imprint, it's 267 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The second book in the series, The Raven Song, is also currently available on KU.

This is a non-linear story, full of side trips and some impressive world building. Despite having a murder/serial killer subplot, there's not a huge amount of dramatic tension, and I found it a relaxing and enjoyable read. The author is adept at storytelling and there's a significant romance subplot. The book is a fantasy mystery, so there's also a shifter/witch/supernatural element.

There are two books available in the series now (and it's currently available on KU), making it a good bet for a short weekend mini-binge read. Some of the word choices were a bit iffy, and the book would have benefited from being worked over by a ruthless editor, but it's eminently readable and enjoyable in its current form.

Three and a half stars. Readers who enjoy Deanna Raybourn, Anna Lee Huber, Tasha Alexander, et. al., will likely enjoy this book. It's got more fantasy/magical elements, but largely within the same subgenre.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Despite a great premise this book falls flat and comes out quite bland. There's nothing to hate it about, unless you are being nitpicky, however it doesn't leave you enthralled in any way.

The Raven Spell follows Ian, a detective who was attacked and is now missing his memories, and Edwina, a witch who might be able to help him recover his memories. Edwina and her sister, Mary, have interesting powers, ones that have caused the sisters to move frequently. As their history and powers are revealed, it's also revealed that they have a connection with Ian's missing memories and the case he was investigating before he was attacked.

This book was a slow burn but very good. The Victorian England setting was perfect and I loved how atmospheric it was. Edwina and Mary were both good characters and their powers were very interesting. I liked the chemistry between Edwina and Ian, and seeing how Ian slowly regained some of his memories. The mystery aspect was really good and there were a couple very good twists.

The Raven Spell is the first installment in the new duology Conspiracy of Magic, written by Luanne G. Smith, set during the Victorian era and in which its protagonists, the enigmatic twin sisters Edwina and Mary Blackwood, both witches, will be involved in a mysterious series of supposedly ritualistic murders.
Edwina, along with Ian Cameron, a detective and also a witch, join forces to solve the disappearance of the son of a prominent member of the magical society and at the same time unmask the culprit of the crimes that terrorize London.
An excellent story, with a novel plot, well-developed characters, and an unexpected ending, The Raven Spell is a book that absorbs the reader and transports them to a world of witchcraft and romance.
Read it, it's worth doing!

The Raven Spell is the first in a new series from established fantasy author Luanne G Smith, Having really enjoyed some of her previous books, most notably The Vine Witch, I was keen to give this one a try. As a lover of historical fiction and fantasy, this authors ability to blend those genres together has made her a favourite of mine.
The Raven Spell is the story of two sisters in a Victorian England where magic exists but is tightly regulated. The sisters use their abilities to find "treasure" along the banks of the Thames which they sell in their small family shop. One morning as they are out hunting, Mary and Edwina find the body of a young man on the shore, certain that he is dead Mary uses her magic to collect his memories, which she keeps along with others she has collected. However the man is not in fact dead, he is a private detective who is on the hunt for the son of a master wizard, and when he wakes up with no memories he is far from pleased. Horrified at their mistake, Edwina tries to restore the memories , but it is not as simple as she expected and soon she finds herself working with the detective as they hunt down a possible serial killer.
This book was a really engaging blend of magic and mystery with charismatic and interesting characters. The setting , both time and place , was vividly brought to life on the page for the reader, really drawing me into the story . I was intrigued by the sisters, Mary and Edwina, from hints dropped throughout the book it was clear that there was more to their magic than first met the eye, and the reveal was wonderful and made me want to know more of their story. I also liked the sibling dynamics between the pair, it felt very real. There is some romance in the story as Edwina begins to get closer to Ian, the detective, and I appreciated the gentle pace of their attraction. Speaking of pace, this is definitely a book for readers willing to take their time and let a story unfold gently, so please be aware of that when picking it up.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I’ve read Luanne’s Vine Witch series and came into this with fair expectations.

However the pacing on this book was very slow. Confusing at times with the different types of magic, the sometimes over explaining, sometimes under explaining of happenings in the story.

The concept is very cool. Witches in an Alternate Victorian Era setting. A serial killer. It should have been a very fun read. But the pacing made it hard for me to finish and I kept forgetting what had happened because my interest wasn’t kept. There were very few descriptions of characters, and little character development (both of which are important to me if the pacing is slow - I need to know who I’m reading about and why I should care).

Don’t let my review keep you from trying it! It still had an overall fun idea and will definitely be enjoyable to some.

I picked this up solely because of the beautiful cover. Don't judge a book by its cover, guys. This isn't a bad book, but it wasn't for me. Too boring with characters I couldn't get into. A soft fantasy with gothic vibes - good for someone, but not me.

A magical mystery set in the 19th century that features a detective and a witch working together...yes please!

An engaging mystery that focuses on a missing persons case. Magic, history, and murder combine in this new exhilarating series featuring a concoction of two witchy outcast sisters, a budding romance, and who-dunnit mystery with perfect Gothic tones. There is a mixture of everything but it well balanced. The start of the novel is slow but does pick up. There are some dark scenes but nothing gruesome.

The author has created a truly fascinating magical system accompanied by dazzling descriptions and a truly bewitching plot. Here you will find witches and wizards and fae kind, living shoulder to shoulder with humans.

I am intrigued for the sequel and what is to come. This is the perfect witchy read on a dark, cold and stormy night

Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

Edwina & Mary are sisters and witches, living quiet lives in a big city. When Mary finds a man near death on the sea shore and uses her magic, the sisters are pulled into a mystery involving a missing person and a serial murderer rampaging through their city. Together with Ian, a detective suffering memory loss, Edwina uses her wits and magic to help Ian recover his memories, and in the process, finds herself on the trail of the serial murderer.

This was a nice quick read set in Victorian England, with magic and a suspenseful mystery. Even though it dealt with murders and death, this book had a feel good fantasy nature. I would've finished it in a single sitting if I'd had the time.

Edwina and Mary have always been different from their peers, both in the magical and mortal societies. But they've always had each other to rely on, best friends and sisters for life. In the course of helping a detective recover his lost memories, Edwina discovers secrets that make her question & test the bond of her sisterhood.

I liked the sisters' relationship. It wasn't perfect, but they strove to live together in harmony, respecting each other's needs and differences. Being older spinster sisters meant that they had several years of experience at it, and learned by now how to fight, and how to forgive and forget.

The magic, while important to the plot, wasn't big and flashy. The witches used natural magic and poetic charms to cast incantations. It made it feel natural and magical simultaneously. This book had a similar flavor to the Vine Witch series by the same author, but with a Victorian English setting. I liked those books, but I enjoyed this one more. It had a good mystery and a fun cast of characters.

This book is different to what I’ve read in recent months. Set in Victorian london, it is a great story that starts off very well and at a great pace. I didn’t find any lag or the story slows down, it was very good. There were some inconsistencies in names and language used, but aside from that a great book. I haven’t read much from the author, but I heard Vine Witch is good so I’ll read that next.

I'd read and enjoyed something else by this author (The Vine Witch, also a historical fantasy book of sorts though its sequel didn't quite live up to it), so was happy to request this from Netgalley as it sounded interesting.

The basic premise of The Raven Spell is that it's set in faux-Victorian London with an undercurrent of magic to it. We first meet the two main female characters as they're mudlarking on the banks of the Thames, looking for items they can sell in their shop, only to come across the near-dead body of a man. One of the Blackwood sisters, both of whom are witches, (Mary) has a thing about collecting the dying spark of the dead and takes it upon herself to do the same with this man, adding his memories to her collection. Which work out fine if the other sister (Edwina) hadn't then told the police just in time for him to be taken to hospital and survive, without his memory of course.

Naturally, because there's a crime element to this story as well, there's a series of brutal murders taking place and our main male character (yep, the guy in hospital without his memories) is a detective looking for a missing man. He (Ian) manages to find his way to the sisters' shop and Edwina becomes involved with his case, as well as wanting to try and restore Ian's missing memories.

There's some quite nice overall world-building but also quite a few Americanisms sneak their way into the plot (e.g. the sisters early on are eating boysenberry jam, despite the fact boysenberries were first cultivated in the 1920s) and there's also an annoying thing around how names work for people who've been knighted that should be immediately addressed by any editor with experience of books with English settings. There's also the issue around writing the vernacular for Ian, who is Scottish, which rarely works quite as well as people think.

Overall, it's still pretty readable and the plot moves along at a good pace. The characters are less convincing, with our villains in particular being a bit too close to the moustache-twirling end of the spectrum. I appreciated the decision not to push for a heavy romantic sub-plot, which wasn't a massive surprise given that I've read this author's books before and she's not usually too heavy-handed in that area. As the first in an apparent series, will I go on and read the next one? Probably not.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley. This is my honest review of the book in question.

Fascinating… A beautiful story that captures your attention and your heart from beginning to end. Bares all the hallmarks of a great thriller/mystery I defy anyone not to get swept up in it!