annieb123's Review of The Raven Spell (A Conspiracy of Magic, #1)

by Luanne G. Smith

In Victorian England a witch and a detective are on the hunt for a serial killer in an enthralling novel of magic and murder by the Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author of The Vine Witch.

After a nearly fatal blow to the skull, traumatized private detective Ian Cameron is found dazed and confused on a muddy riverbank in Victorian London. Among his effects: a bloodstained business card bearing the name of a master wizard and a curious pocket watch that doesn’t seem to tell time. To retrieve his lost memories, Ian demands answers from Edwina and Mary Blackwood, sister witches with a murky past. But as their secret is slowly unveiled, a dangerous mystery emerges on the darkened streets of London.

To help piece together Ian’s lost time, he and Edwina embark on a journey that will take them from the river foreshore to an East End music hall, and on to a safe house for witches in need of sanctuary from angry mortals. The clues they find suggest a link between a series of gruesome murders, a missing person’s case, and a dreadful suspicion that threatens to tear apart the bonds of sisterhood. As the investigation deepens, could Ian and Edwina be the next to die?

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

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.

The Raven Spell (A Conspiracy of Magic, #1)

by Luanne G. Smith

Reviewed by annieb123 on Oct 24, 2022

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