The Raven Spell

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.

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?

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Paranormal, Witches, Magic

267 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2022

About the author

Luanne G. Smith is the Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Vine Witch series, The Raven Spell books, The Witch's Lens, The Wolf's Eye, and The Golden Age of Magic coming July 1, 2025.

(*Scam Alert* SHE IS NOT ON FACEBOOK and she does not sell marketing or writing advice online. It is a scam.)

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Reviews

[Margaret M - (having a challenging time and on GR as much as I can) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 star rounded down.

With a spellbinding start and promise of murder, magic, and drama, I expected to be gripped by this intriguing story throughout and sat down for a long read.

The premise was good, the opening was excellent and the setting of Victorian England perfect. Then the book failed to build on that start, the story did not create any excitement and it just meandered through pages and pages of text. The characters were uninspiring and very ordinary despite the mix of magic, the plot was weak despite the work of a serial killer and the storytelling a little bland.

I also found this thread of fantasy was not for me. Capturing someone’s memories in an orb as they passed from this world, just felt a step too far for my imagination.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindle First for January. 3 stars.

The book was good. I don’t think it was bad but I didn’t love it to death. It was a little murder mystery with some magic and witches and shifters and stuff.

It wasn’t too much of a mystery as I mostly figured it out. Anyway, on to the next!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[Jeff Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. I've been impressed with Luanne's work since her debut novel The Vine Witch, but I thought this one was even better. It has suspense, a little romance, and a great mystery to be solved in a Victorian London setting with an interesting magic system. If you liked Paper Magician, you'll probably like this. It's not as heavy on the romance though (sorry, Charlie!). But it's one of the best new fantasy novels I've read recently.

[* A Reader Obsessed * · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

If you like an alternate Victorian setting that contains secret magic, then you might enjoy this story about two powerful sisters who eke out a humble life in the city, all the while trying to hide who they truly are. However, when one of the sisters takes the memories off an almost dead man per her magical leanings, their lives become more complicated when he happens to survive.

This is a mystery in finding out who Ian is and what his purpose in the city was before he almost got killed. As they unravel the mystery, some discoveries have grave consequences.

This was a slow buildup and the big reveal doesn’t come til the very end. I’m still not sure what to think of this, and I’ll contemplate reading the sequel. This ends on a HFN as this has a touch of romance. Overall, if you’re in for a historical witchy read, check this out on KU!

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off very promising but, halfway through it just didn’t seem to go anywhere just dragged along and the story got boring. I struggled through this book and was so relieved when I got to the end. It’s a shame as I thought this would be a good one but unfortunately it wasn’t.

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sale Alert: Kindle Daily Deal 18Sept22 $1.99

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Raven Spell it is first book in the new Conspiracy of Magic series.  It is a magical mystery set in Victorian England involving twins who are outcasts in their witchling society and a detective come to town to solve a missing persons case.

Edwina and her sister, Mary, are twins with very different kinds of magical powers.  They are on their own after their father left with no indication of when he will return.  And that would be fine, they have each other and run a little collectables shop in London.  But when they come along on a body thought to be dead and Mary uses her power to take the memory from him, it sets into motion something that could ultimately tare the sisters apart.

Ian, a detective, wakes up in a hospital with no recollection of who he is or why he is in London.  All he knows is the last thing he saw was two women hovering over him.  They may have some answers to why he is missing memories and what his purpose was.  As Ian starts to retrace the steps of his investigation, he is certain he knows something about the sisters and their involvement in the disappearance of a wizard's son and perhaps all the murders happening in the city.  Is it all just coincidence, or have one or both played a part in the deaths.

This is my first book by Luanne G. Smith.  I really liked the set up to the magic and the overlaying of the magical people in the city with the regular folk.  The characters were interesting and I really liked both Edwina and Ian.  I felt bad that Edwina felt so responsible for her twin.  Enough that she has given up every opportunity for a normal life to stay with the sister she loves who is attracted to death.  Ian's memory loss, too, added to the mystery of the story as he tried to piece together the time he is missing and determine who is friend and who is foe.

Overall this is an entertaining first installment with a pretty good teaser of what is to come in the next book.  I was entertained throughout as the details of the sisters and the magical world are teased out.

Narration:
Susannah Jones is one of my favorite narrators for stories.  She has a natural and almost melodic voice that lent itself to this story well.  There were a few times she got to sing in a character voice which I always find amazing.  I was able to listen to this at my usual 1.5x speed.

Listen to a clip: HERE 

[Amy S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this was an ok read.

Pros: -The prose are well-written with lovely scene descriptions
-The plot flowed with plenty of mystery

Cons: - This is minor, but it really annoyed me. I have no idea what any of the main characters look like. I found it very frustrating that the minor house elf character was given more physical description than the protagonist, her sister, or the detective. My imagination was not given enough information to comfortably settle on any image. For instance, the protagonist is described as an "ethereal beauty." I can assume she's not Black since another minor character was described as Black with more detail than any of the main characters are given. But really, I have no idea what any of them look like.
- The bad guy was disappointing. Because the bad guys in the book are held a mystery for obvious reasons there was no development. The antagonist characters are pretty flat and we, the readers, are led to believe, it's just their nature to be evil.

Overall, it was a pleasant enough read, but the mystery is very plot driven without much character development (or description), leaving a less than satisfying feeling at the end.

[JJtheBookNerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Victorian London, Edwina and her sister Mary, who are witches, stumble across a man at death's door on the shore of the river they have been exploring.

The man is rescued by a nearby policeman, after Edwina raises the alarm. He wakes up in hospital realising he's had a nasty blow to the head and can't even remember his name.

Once he regains some of his memory - with the help of Hob the hearth elf and some magic - we find out he's Ian Cameron, a private detective, who is on the hunt for George, a friend's son who has gone missing.

This was a bit of a slow and meandering murder mystery, with witches and magic thrown in. It was nicely written and I liked the concept and the time period in which its set, but it seemed to drag out even though it's not a particularly long book.

I thought it also lacked depth. I like to know what my characters look like, and we were never really told. Not much to the magic backstory either. It all felt a little pedestrian.

We start to suspect early on that a certain character isn't all they seem, so it was a bit predictable.

Rating this one 2.5/5 but will round up.

[Christi M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came to know the author through the Vine Witch series and was looking forward to this latest one. While some books have non-stop action or plots that move at break-neck speeds, I have found her writing style to be more relaxed. I never feel the need to rush through, instead her stories are the type you read next to a cozy fire with a cup of hot tea.

The Raven Spell is a mystery that primarily focuses on two sisters: Edwina and Mary. To be honest, I thought they were old women at first. They are not. The two sisters live a somewhat lonely existence running a shop that sells the items that they girls find when walking along the river bank. They are also witches. People tend to notice their oddities and as a result shy away from them. Edwina has accepted this quiet isolation, but there is a loneliness there too. While Mary has an unsettling fascination with memory orbs and their glow. At times, I found some of her thoughts a little disquieting - especially her sadness when one of her collected memory orbs is returned. She should be happy that the man she took it from didn't die after all. Yet, she only displays sadness that she's lost the orb.

The story begins when Mary takes the memories of a man who is about to die. Except, as they discovered the next day - he didn't die. It turns out he is a private investigator hired by a famous wizard to find his son. As he reworks his case, Edwina assists at times and as events unfold, she realizes she must face the tough questions she's been avoiding.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and the characters, especially Edwina who had nice character growth and development. The mystery keeps you engaged as you try to figure out what is occurring and the developing romance between Ian and Edwina was nice too. But it is the author's more relaxed style of writing that always wins me over and how it allows you to look at not only the plot, but the characters too.

Rating: 4.5 stars

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderful! I was captivated by the vivid descriptions of people and places to the point where I could clearly visualize the experience in my head. The author literally takes you into the story.

The story is that of witches and magical creatures, co-existing in a city of mortals. An increasing amount of people are dying at the hands of a serial killer, so a witch joins forces with a private detective in a search for the murderer. There are many suspect possibilities, so your mind is always trying to figure out which one is the culprit. Just when you think you've figured it out, the story turns and takes you to another possible outcome.

The wording is colorful, eerie, and exciting! The book is a well rounded tale for any reader. There are magical areas that appeal to a fantasy reader, a fantastic journey of intrigue for mystery lovers, and a sprinkling of romance throughout for those readers as well. Fantasy has never been my preferred genre, but this author may be the one to change that for me. I'll look forward to the next release!!

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bailed at 29%. I wasn���t really enjoying it and then the groveling house elf came in. Nope. I’m out.

[julia ☆ [owls reads] · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Raven Spell had such a great beginning. The set up in regard to the Blackwood's magic was so intriguing and it worked as a fantastic way to introduce a few of the main conflicts in the book. Edwina's perspective was pretty easy to get into and Ian's was equal parts confusing and tense.

Sadly, as the story progressed, I started losing interest. The setting here never felt entirely real to me? Neither did the characters after that initial introduction. There also wasn't that much explanation in regard to magic in this universe and how it worked--which was a true shame because I really wanted to know more about Edwina and Mary's powers.

There was also a little sprinkle of romance throughout, but nothing that took away from the investigative plot. And speaking of plot... there was one, but I also felt like there was nothing really substantial about it? I guess because I didn't feel like there was enough build up for the final twists to impact me in any way.

The Epilogue did manage to be super interesting, though?? But I'm not sure if I'll continue the series considering I didn't have the best of times reading the majority of this book.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Witch Vine and knew I needed to listen to The Raven Spell. I was not disappointed. From the rich Victorian setting to the magic and lyrical prose, I was entranced.

The tale opens with twins, Edwina and Mary Blackwood, sifting through the banks of the river bank in Victorian London. One sister finds a ring and the other a body. The body belongs to private detective Ian Cameron. The sister’s belive him near death for indeed he is blue. Mary takes something from him and the two leave the bank and use magic to push the local police to find the body. Only Ian doesn’t die and he wants what was lost. The tale that unfolds leads us on an engaging mystery with twists and turns that kept me hooked.

The sister’s own a shop where they sell the goods they find. They are mostly outcasts and live alone since their father left. Their magical abilities are odd and I found myself immediately drawn to them (more so Edwina) and their shop.

I loved traveling along with Ian and Edwina as they search for clues and connected the dots that lead to a series of gruesome murders, safe houses for witches and secrets. We briefly learn of the rules of magic and their policing system. Ian was a member of that force until he left for the private sector. He was in London looking for a missing person when he was struck on the head and left for dead.

The magic felt fresh from Mary’s ability to Ian’s watch to the police sergeant’s spiders. We get a side of romance, but the mystery was the main focus. Perhaps the next book will deliver more.

From the beautiful prose to the world building, this was one of the best books I’ve read in this genre. I cannot wait to listen to more. Susannah Jones is a lovely narrator, and she brought both the characters and written prose to life. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Melanie Denyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable but could have done with some British input

I picked this up as a Kindle First Read because I’d enjoyed the author’s previous book, The Vine Witch. There is nothing wrong with the story, and if you’ve enjoyed the author’s work before I would recommend it.

Unfortunately, for me, there were basic errors that came up too frequently for them not to grate. The insistence on calling Sir Henry Elvanfoot “Sir Elvanfoot” is a basic one that a little research could have resolved. Likewise some anachronistic language that would not fit the supposed period in Britain.

I can see that there is a suggestion that this is the first in a series. I can only hope that if any more of the series is to take place in the UK, that the author does the appropriate research or finds a willing British reader - I’m happy to volunteer! - to proofread the sequel.

[Elsa Carrion · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate that I was only able to give it 3 stars. I loved the premises of the story but the writing was not to my liking. The plot and characters had protentional but it fell flat by the way it was shared to the reader.

Not sure if I'll pick up the next one in the series.

[Liz Etnyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my Amazon First Read for Jan. 22 - and it was rather a frustrating read. It was a good story, with interesting characters - but it mangled fair sized chunks of the setting. For instance, there is no title that is addressed Sir Surname - it's either Lord Titlename or Sir Firstname. It's the White Tower, not the white castle. (White Castle is a burger joint. Lots of very strange capitalization, or lack thereof, choices in this book.) London is not referred to as 'the square mile', that is the City of London - which is not the same thing. I could go on. London is SUCH a well known city, even to those who have never been there. Victorian London is also VERY well documented. Getting this stuff wrong is, well, lazy - and really knocks those who do have a clue out of an otherwise very enjoyable story. Then there's so much that isn't explained about the magical system that has been overlaid. Solid 4, maybe 4.5 star story, but only 2.5 stars for ham-handed/lazy worldbuilding - so a generous 3 stars overall. I will probably read the next one, as the characters were interesting and plot was entertaining - but I hope more care is taken with the other elements of the story.

[Erika Hayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book. Oh my, what to say. It took forever to read because it was mostly a paragraph or two at most. At the beginning (about the first two chapters) you really get into the story. The wheels fall off the wagon. This book. If you had this book professionally edited some editor somewhere should be fired! So many places I had to just stop and shake my head. Talk about being yanked out of the theater of the mind. Also, several times the author clearly clicks to find words in the thesaurus to replace her actual words to make the book sound better. Several times the chosen word did not reflect the author's knowledge of it. On my Kindle, I would even stop to make sure I wasn't losing my mind. It's a classic 10th-grade move, the thesaurus says the word is "similar" in meaning perhaps or has an antiquated equal meaning. Just saying, you may get very annoyed with this as it pulls you away from what could have been a delightful story.
Finally, the story lags in the middle and the pacing is literally broken!

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edwina and Mary walk along the river at low tide searching for valuables they can sell in their shop. While searching they discover a man who has been the victim of a violent attack and on the brink of death. Knowing death is near, Mary steals his memories.

But he doesn't die.

And with no memory all he can do is find the two women who took them from him and demand them back.

Witches are feared so Edwina and Mary do their best to fly under the radar. But a murderer is on the loose violently slashing the throats of his victims. And somehow the man with no memory and the two witch woman are all tangled up in it.

Every time I hesitate to read Luanne G. Smith, and every time when I finally get around to it, I'm blown away. She is such a great writer. The beginning of another great series.

[Kirsty Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery, murder and magic rule in this tense and atmospheric historical fantasy. Smith’s series opener introduces the enigmatic and strong sisters Edwina and Mary Blackwood who are navigating their lives as outcasts as well as their hidden talents of witchcraft. Add in a brutal slew of murders and a missing wizard, some slow burning romance and this story gets better and better. I am a huge fan of historical fantasies and this one didn’t fail to deliver. Roll on book two!

[Olena Brazhnyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Мені було неймовірно нудно весь час, доки читала 🫠
Після 250 с почалося пожвавлення, але тривало не довго😅
Той момент, коли книжка пройшла повз

[Jessen Reads Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazon First Reads 3.5 stars
Smith introduces readers to an interesting alternate history world. The first entry does a good job introducing magic system and characters & I am glad it didnt have as much romance as I feared. An intriguing start and i will continue to read this series.

[Jacq.and.the.readstalk · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Kohannyachko · Rating 2 out of 5]

Це мало всі шанси стати чимось хорошим, але зрештою скотилося у щось надзвичайно бісяче.

Мова симпатична, але вже на третині книги я втомилася від кілометрових описів, які не несли ані СЮЖЕТНОЇ ВАГИ, ані АТМОСФЕРНОСТІ. Основна інтрига подарувала мені синець на чолі від фейспалмів, а мотивації рівня «ну так хотілося, ну штож».

Дочитувала по діагоналі. Бо після 25% стало надзвичайно нууууудно. І цікавіше не ставало.

Верніть мені нервові клітини, які підгоріли від розвʼязки. Чому такий високий рейтинг?
Категорично не розумію.

А тепер до спойлерів і чому у мене так горіло.

Ну по перше, головні героїні — Едвіна та Мері — відьми, чиї батьки не так давно їх покинули без причини. Ну от просто, зникла мама, потім тато. І це так часто повторювалось, що я небавом почала очікувати феєричного воззʼєднання родини. Але цього не буде. От просто не сподівайтеся. Бо ж коли треба будувати конфлікт двох сестер — наявність батьків ускладнять процес. Лайфхак: зробіть сестер сиротами.

(Завʼязка у тому що ж такий собі детектив у якого відібрало памʼять, а єдині кого він памʼятає — це наші сестри. Згодом цей пан розуміє, що вів якесь розслідування, бо він бачте відьмацький детектив. А ще були стійкі вайби позичання сетт��нгу Поттеріани).

Вже від початку ясно, що з Мері щось не те. Ба більше — про це йдеться в анотації. Тож коли 200 сторінок ходіння туди-сюди Едвіни та Іяна (детектив, ака хамло, ака любовний інтерес, ака важний маг), нарешті виходить на слід Мері… ну ок, це ж зрозуміло з перших сторінок.

А ну і на фоні у нас серійник. А Мері бачте любить викрадати спогади людей при кончині. Робить з них кульки собі. Ну шаріки такі скляні. Має людина хобі таке.

Коротше, суть у тому, що детектив шукає зниклого сина якогось супер-мага і це все якось повʼязано з Мері і серійником і зрештою виявляється, що серійник СРАНИЙ ПІДЛІТОК з яким спить Мері, і вони собі оце вдовольняють свої дефективні потреби. Ну бо їм так захотілося. (Тобто так, основні лиходії виявляються просто божевільними. Це і є мотив).

Фінальна битва — це ну… Мені вже хотілося накричати на героїв. Бо одне й те саме, бігають по тому подвірʼю туди-сюди. Не обійшлося і без монологу лиходійки, як завжди. Герої вели себе не логічно, сюжетні дірки тріщали по швах.
До назви книги: ну от виявилось у фіналі, що Мері та Едвіна у нас з древнього могутнього роду відьмаків і перетворюються на ворон. Це було словами автора в черговому кілометровому абзаці описів. На цьому власне і все.

В кінці Мері вкорочує собі віку, а Едвіна планує зробити з її тілом фотосет в найкращих вікторіанських традиціях, аби показати батькам ті знимки, якщо повернуться. Знаходить у труні конверт в стилі «я за тобою слідкую, цьом» і на цьому історія нарешті ЗАВЕРШУЄТЬСЯ.

Сина мага до речі знайшли — він сидів під театром. Спав.

Мені так подобалось на початку, що розчарування стало незміренно болючим.

[Kai · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the future, I will have to listen to this book again. I feel like if I gave it a 2nd shot, my rating would be higher. This time, though, I had a hard time staying focused on it. The beginning of it drew me in, and I love that it's multigenre. But at some point, it became a bit of a struggle. I think it was a me thing and not the book. Sometimes, this happens, and when it does, I feel it only fair to revisit it in the future.

[Justine at BookSirens (A Community of ARC Readers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Raven Spell was something of a new genre for me. I do love mysteries which is why I read the book. But I don’t typically pick up historical fiction or books that incorporate the supernatural, two integral aspects of this book based in Victorian London. I did enjoy the book. The descriptions by the author are vivid, and it’s easy to imagine the world where the events happen. The mystery has many layers and remains the driving force behind the book. The characters, especially the witches, are a great and unique addition that brings color and intrigue to the plot.

[Ann Dudzinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Blackwood sisters, Edwina and Mary, barely earn a living as second-hand merchants in Victorian London. Left on their own after their parents left, they scour the shore of the Thames, searching for trinkets to sell. One morning, they find a body and Mary takes his memories, turning them into a shining bauble to add to her collection. The only problem is - the man isn’t dead.

The sisters have moved from place to place, outcasts even among witches. They’d hoped that London would offer them the anonymity they sought, but when private investigator Ian Cameron arrives in their shop seeking his lost memories, their days in London are numbered. Unless Edwina can help him solve the disappearance of a master wizard’s son. Investigating the case leads them to a string of unsolved murders and possibly to secrets in Edwina’s own family she’d rather leave uncovered.

I’d been waiting for this book to be published and was delighted when it showed up as a January Prime Read. I jumped on it and pushed it to the top of my TBR pile and it didn’t disappoint. I love Victorian fiction, possibly because I write it as well, and the historic details were spot on. Add in a world of witches and wizards living alongside mundanes, and I happily binged the book.

Although I had difficulty getting absorbed in the author’s previous trilogy, that wasn’t the case in this novel. The mystery and action took off immediately and the pacing never flagged. The two points of view (Ian and Edwina) worked well for me. The romance tied into the arcs was believable, as well as Edwina’s blind spots. I also appreciated the twist in the sister’s powers that wasn’t revealed until the last bit of the book. All in all, Smith delivered a new magical world that I’m looking forward to reading more of.

I did have one complaint about this novel that kept my rating down slightly. While I went into this knowing there will be a sequel, my preference is to have most, if not all, of the loose ends tied up at the beginning of the first book. Obviously, there needs to be a new conflict in the subsequent novels but I’m not a fan of sequel bait. The hook for the next novel was so obvious that it left this one feeling unfinished. Personally, I’d rather it be left a surprise.

Regardless, this book checked all of my boxes - great voice, intriguing mystery, imaginative premise, and witches. I rated this book 3.5 stars.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Raven Spell by Luanne G. Smith

An intriguing new gothic series filled with magic, mayhem, and mystery. Fans of Smith's will love. Looking forward to book two.

[Shirley Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book combined both of my favorites: Magic and Mystery. So well written with plenty to keep you guessing. Can’t wait for the next book to come out.

[Shelly Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witches,magic and Victorian England what more can you ask for? How about serial killer man hunt and a hot witch detective! This book hit all of my OHH Myyy sweet spots! Loved it.