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Conspiracy of Magic #2
The Raven Song
Fleeing Victorian London, a witch finds her newfound independence comes with all-new perils—both mortal and immortal.
Forever untangling the branches of her strange family tree, Edwina Blackwood is at a turning point. Her parents’ disappearances still strike her as unaccountably odd. Her sister’s questionable life and untimely death have left her shaken. Spellfire has transformed her home and livelihood to ash. And now a devious stalker is on her trail. With supernatural detective Ian Cameron by her side, Edwina can’t get out of London fast enough.
Gaining safe passage, she finds refuge with Sir Henry Elvanfoot, famed wizard of the north, and is promised protection from ill-aimed curses. But in this unfamiliar city of fair folk and witches, where the veil between Earth and the Otherworld is about to be lifted, something is amiss. How else to explain Edwina’s sudden prophetic visions? Or the fear that surviving whoever pursues her will require the powers of an ancient bloodline she’s only beginning to comprehend?
Whatever destiny awaits, it’s Edwina’s to finally control. Where will it lead? Only time, cunning, and magic—in this world or the Other—will tell.
Forever untangling the branches of her strange family tree, Edwina Blackwood is at a turning point. Her parents’ disappearances still strike her as unaccountably odd. Her sister’s questionable life and untimely death have left her shaken. Spellfire has transformed her home and livelihood to ash. And now a devious stalker is on her trail. With supernatural detective Ian Cameron by her side, Edwina can’t get out of London fast enough.
Gaining safe passage, she finds refuge with Sir Henry Elvanfoot, famed wizard of the north, and is promised protection from ill-aimed curses. But in this unfamiliar city of fair folk and witches, where the veil between Earth and the Otherworld is about to be lifted, something is amiss. How else to explain Edwina’s sudden prophetic visions? Or the fear that surviving whoever pursues her will require the powers of an ancient bloodline she’s only beginning to comprehend?
Whatever destiny awaits, it’s Edwina’s to finally control. Where will it lead? Only time, cunning, and magic—in this world or the Other—will tell.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2022
1662 people are currently reading
5181 people want to read
About the author
Luanne G. Smith
11 books1,696 followersLuanne 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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(*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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 354 reviews
October 12, 2022
Rounded up to 3.5 stars. Book 2 in the Conspiracy of Magic Trilogy. I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one. The world building really took place in this one. Witches and wizards always reals me in. In the first book we are taken on a journey of discovery, the sisters magic, the mysterious Ian and how it all comes together. In this book it really gives that end story of rounding all the characters up and closing it off. Not sure if this one will have another book in the series. Might be a good idea to get the back story on how Mary's story played out like it did. An entertaining read, a bit slow in places but with a good close off.
Thank you Netgalley and 47North for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Thank you Netgalley and 47North for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
September 6, 2022
I enjoyed the gentle mystery of this and it’s clear to me this author has certainly improved her craft since I read The Vine Witch . I enjoyed following the characters in this story and the slight misdirection only added to my enjoyment . Although with the notorious tricksters that the Fae are I really should have seen the ending coming but sometimes a surprise or two makes everything worthwhile .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
January 16, 2023
After the events of (book 1) Raven Spell, Edwina is on the run from a stalker. She flees London with her companion, Ian, headed for the estate of the famed Wizard of the North.
This is a great book that I struggled with. I love Luanne G. Smith's writing, she is a great story teller, I love her characters and I can recognise that this is a great book. For whatever reason, it didn't quite cross that line of knowing it's a great book to me loving it.
Not sure why.
This is a great book that I struggled with. I love Luanne G. Smith's writing, she is a great story teller, I love her characters and I can recognise that this is a great book. For whatever reason, it didn't quite cross that line of knowing it's a great book to me loving it.
Not sure why.
August 8, 2025
This is the sequel to The Raven Spell, it's book 2 in The Conspiracy of Magic series.
We start with Edwina saying goodbye to her sister. When her mysterious stalker from the end of book 1 sends her a cursed bunch of flowers that burns down her shop, she is forced to flee the city. Edwina catches a train and heads North to the wizard Elvanfoot. Ian pops up again to help her out.
There was a minor romance element in this between Edwina and Ian, which I found just fell really flat. I just wasn't feeling it. I'm glad that part wasn't focused on too much.
Edwina could be frustrating at times, she made some strange decisions in tricky situations. For someone with such unique powers, she came across as a pretty weak character.
This got off to a promising start and then.. nothing really happened. There was a little more explanation of the magic world in this than the first book, but that's about it. This was slow, really slow, even more so than the first book. I'm sorry, I just found this one a bit boring.
We start with Edwina saying goodbye to her sister. When her mysterious stalker from the end of book 1 sends her a cursed bunch of flowers that burns down her shop, she is forced to flee the city. Edwina catches a train and heads North to the wizard Elvanfoot. Ian pops up again to help her out.
There was a minor romance element in this between Edwina and Ian, which I found just fell really flat. I just wasn't feeling it. I'm glad that part wasn't focused on too much.
Edwina could be frustrating at times, she made some strange decisions in tricky situations. For someone with such unique powers, she came across as a pretty weak character.
This got off to a promising start and then.. nothing really happened. There was a little more explanation of the magic world in this than the first book, but that's about it. This was slow, really slow, even more so than the first book. I'm sorry, I just found this one a bit boring.
October 22, 2022
I waited a while before writing a review. I jumped at buying this book. While overall it was an enjoyable read I feel that it lost momentum. Edwina and Ian really weren’t together much in this one and I thought Elvanfoot would have a larger role since Edwina was at his house.
October 18, 2022
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.
3.5 hearts
We are back with Edwina and Ian in The Raven Song, the second book and possibly final book of the Conspiracy of Magic series. Edwina is still on a search to find out who she is and why she, a witch, also has the gift of shapeshifting into a Raven. She is the last left, after the death of her sister. Her mother went out one day and never came back and her father is nowhere to be seen either. She is left alone in this world with only Ian to help her find answers to who seems to be stalking her and what her true place in this world is.
Ian takes Edwina to the only place he thinks he can help keep her safe from the stalker that is sending ominous notes and put a tracking spell on her. Back to his home where there are more witches and Fae in the town and he has friends who can help him with her safety. Still the man tracking Edwina is also not what he seems and Ian, whose memories Mary took, might have been looking for the sisters specifically when he went to London. Unsure of himself, he keeps a small distance hoping he didn't betray Mary.
This is an interesting mystery where at times you get to look through the villains' eyes and see just how deranged and corrupted they are. The stalker's goals are creepy and it adds to the fear the reader feels for Edwina. In Ian's home town, the veil between the faery realm and the mortal world are about to become thin as Sauwin approaches the the Fae will cross over for a night of revelry. Edwina has a part to play that will answer all the questions she has about herself, her sister and her gift.
Luanna G Smith seems to improve as a writer every book and she has come a long way since her first book The Vine Witch and even since The Raven Spell. She does a great job of capturing the feel of the city in a Victorian time while adding a subtle flare of magic to it. I've enjoyed this story and the slight romance and mystery involved in it. Edwina's character has come a long way since the first book and it was a satisfying conclusion to the series.
Narration:
Savannah Jones is a favorite narrator of mine and she is perfect for these light mysteries with some romance in them. Her voice is a pleasure to listen to and she always does great with her narration of the story. I was able to listen to this at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
We are back with Edwina and Ian in The Raven Song, the second book and possibly final book of the Conspiracy of Magic series. Edwina is still on a search to find out who she is and why she, a witch, also has the gift of shapeshifting into a Raven. She is the last left, after the death of her sister. Her mother went out one day and never came back and her father is nowhere to be seen either. She is left alone in this world with only Ian to help her find answers to who seems to be stalking her and what her true place in this world is.
Ian takes Edwina to the only place he thinks he can help keep her safe from the stalker that is sending ominous notes and put a tracking spell on her. Back to his home where there are more witches and Fae in the town and he has friends who can help him with her safety. Still the man tracking Edwina is also not what he seems and Ian, whose memories Mary took, might have been looking for the sisters specifically when he went to London. Unsure of himself, he keeps a small distance hoping he didn't betray Mary.
This is an interesting mystery where at times you get to look through the villains' eyes and see just how deranged and corrupted they are. The stalker's goals are creepy and it adds to the fear the reader feels for Edwina. In Ian's home town, the veil between the faery realm and the mortal world are about to become thin as Sauwin approaches the the Fae will cross over for a night of revelry. Edwina has a part to play that will answer all the questions she has about herself, her sister and her gift.
Luanna G Smith seems to improve as a writer every book and she has come a long way since her first book The Vine Witch and even since The Raven Spell. She does a great job of capturing the feel of the city in a Victorian time while adding a subtle flare of magic to it. I've enjoyed this story and the slight romance and mystery involved in it. Edwina's character has come a long way since the first book and it was a satisfying conclusion to the series.
Rumors were like weeds, setting their roots deep and flowering quickly so they could go to seed and release their nonsense and be carried away on the wind.
The fair folk operated by different rules than the mortal and witch isle residents. They were flighty, capricious, fickle. Yet they had honorable hearts and occasionally showed kindness if you remained in their good graces. But cross them and your life wasn’t worth spit.
Narration:
Savannah Jones is a favorite narrator of mine and she is perfect for these light mysteries with some romance in them. Her voice is a pleasure to listen to and she always does great with her narration of the story. I was able to listen to this at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
July 23, 2022
I really enjoyed the first book so I was excited to return to this series but unfortunately in a lot of ways this is a disappointing followup. It starts off well and for readers like me that need a reminder of where we left off the author quickly reminds us so I think this is a book that’s easy to return to. It’s starts off right after the funeral with the cliffhanger from the last book. Edwina and Ian are quickly brought together again and it seemed like the story was about to take off but unfortunately we almost never see the two of them together again and the characters really started to come apart. They suddenly seem to be mooning over each other while apart which really struck me as very different from the last book and started to seem juvenile. Even worse Edwina started to make completely unbelievable choices. I think even the same choices could have been made more believable if they had been written better, like because she can transform she was overconfident or something. The author chose to have her flee to the very powerful wizard and yet he’s barely a footnote in the story which is annoying and frankly back to dumb the way Edwina acts.
On the plus side we do get a lot more world building and answers to the questions from the first book, although again when they had the chance they missed asking a crucial question. At one point she reads a letter which basically self-destructs only to have her read it again which also really annoyed me. This book could clearly have used more thought and editing. I’m glad I read it because I did love the first one and I still enjoy the world so I hope if there is another book it has more thought out in. I think this book had less violence and explicit scenes than the first book. I preferred the tone of this book in that sense. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
On the plus side we do get a lot more world building and answers to the questions from the first book, although again when they had the chance they missed asking a crucial question. At one point she reads a letter which basically self-destructs only to have her read it again which also really annoyed me. This book could clearly have used more thought and editing. I’m glad I read it because I did love the first one and I still enjoy the world so I hope if there is another book it has more thought out in. I think this book had less violence and explicit scenes than the first book. I preferred the tone of this book in that sense. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 14, 2023
Great finish to a 2 book series.
April 20, 2023
Once again seemed like it would be a 4-star read, but unfortunately it suffered similar and other issues.
We got A LOT more world-building in here than in the first, which I liked, but at times it felt like it was there to compensate for the lack of story. I suppose I'm someone who appreciates a more intense storyline in fantasies, cause this just felt rather neutral through out. Even though this book is not long, it felt long.
The characters were also exactly the same; there was no development whatsoever. There is very minimal romance as well; it is veryyyy much not a priority which is fine with me, but honestly anything to add something more to this story would've helped. I also had my issues with Edwina; her decision making is part of the reason for my 3-star rating. Her naivety in order to move the story along annoyed me quite a bit.
Overall a pretty meh reading experience, but I'm not mad that I read this series.
We got A LOT more world-building in here than in the first, which I liked, but at times it felt like it was there to compensate for the lack of story. I suppose I'm someone who appreciates a more intense storyline in fantasies, cause this just felt rather neutral through out. Even though this book is not long, it felt long.
The characters were also exactly the same; there was no development whatsoever. There is very minimal romance as well; it is veryyyy much not a priority which is fine with me, but honestly anything to add something more to this story would've helped. I also had my issues with Edwina; her decision making is part of the reason for my 3-star rating. Her naivety in order to move the story along annoyed me quite a bit.
Overall a pretty meh reading experience, but I'm not mad that I read this series.
December 3, 2022
I’m not exactly sure what happened with book 2 of this duology and why it didn’t capture my attention. I enjoy this author and her style of writing, and I was entranced by the first book. Perhaps I simply missed Mary, who was a fascinating character. I’m glad the delightful hearth elf Hob was still part of the story.
Edwina and Ian’s relationship continues as Edwina finds she has a magical stalker. After the stalker burns down her shop with spelled roses, she and Ian head north to Ian’s village where the fairie folk and humans have an amicable relationship, and where they hope she’ll be safe. Of course, the stalker follows.
There are magic folk, secret tunnels, helpful fairies, secret birthrights, new characters, and a demon intent on capturing Edwina to uncover the key to her rare shapeshifting ability. And though danger lurked in the background, for most of the book I didn’t sense much urgency on the part of Edwina or Ian (not until the last 20% anyway). The reveal at the end was hinted at, but there was also a fair amount of explaining of the plot, the secrets, and the characters' motivations. Again, I love the author's prose, but this one missed the mark for me.
Edwina and Ian’s relationship continues as Edwina finds she has a magical stalker. After the stalker burns down her shop with spelled roses, she and Ian head north to Ian’s village where the fairie folk and humans have an amicable relationship, and where they hope she’ll be safe. Of course, the stalker follows.
There are magic folk, secret tunnels, helpful fairies, secret birthrights, new characters, and a demon intent on capturing Edwina to uncover the key to her rare shapeshifting ability. And though danger lurked in the background, for most of the book I didn’t sense much urgency on the part of Edwina or Ian (not until the last 20% anyway). The reveal at the end was hinted at, but there was also a fair amount of explaining of the plot, the secrets, and the characters' motivations. Again, I love the author's prose, but this one missed the mark for me.
July 6, 2022
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
Luanne Smith does it again with an absolutely enchanting fantasy novel following Edwina, Ian, Hob, Henry Elvanfoot, and a whole host of new and amazing characters.
I love reading Luanne Smith’s books because they’re easy to read while still having great world building, plot, and character development. She accomplishes so much within so few pages and the way she weaves a believable historical setting into a world laced with magic is masterful.
I would absolutely read more about this cast and will be definitely be reading the Vine Witch trilogy. I highly recommend The Raven Spell and The Raven Song for fans of historical fantasy!
Luanne Smith does it again with an absolutely enchanting fantasy novel following Edwina, Ian, Hob, Henry Elvanfoot, and a whole host of new and amazing characters.
I love reading Luanne Smith’s books because they’re easy to read while still having great world building, plot, and character development. She accomplishes so much within so few pages and the way she weaves a believable historical setting into a world laced with magic is masterful.
I would absolutely read more about this cast and will be definitely be reading the Vine Witch trilogy. I highly recommend The Raven Spell and The Raven Song for fans of historical fantasy!
May 2, 2022
After finishing the first book, I was so excited to jump into this one when I saw it pop up. Unfortunately, the excitement ended there.
The Raven Song kicks off right after book 1 in the Conspiracy of Magic series, The Raven Spell. After certain events, Edwina flees her home in Victorian London to take up refuge with Sir Elvanfoot, a renowned wizard who helps her with spells and protection. Edwina's journey takes her on the cusp of two worlds to find her answers of her ancient bloodline and heritage.
For me, it was slow. Very, very slow. I found myself putting the book down a few times just to clear my head to keep reading. It definitely felt like it had a middle of the story syndrome. The read had no real enjoyment for me.
I recommend you read this directly after book one, or if you enjoy a very chilled out read.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Raven Song kicks off right after book 1 in the Conspiracy of Magic series, The Raven Spell. After certain events, Edwina flees her home in Victorian London to take up refuge with Sir Elvanfoot, a renowned wizard who helps her with spells and protection. Edwina's journey takes her on the cusp of two worlds to find her answers of her ancient bloodline and heritage.
For me, it was slow. Very, very slow. I found myself putting the book down a few times just to clear my head to keep reading. It definitely felt like it had a middle of the story syndrome. The read had no real enjoyment for me.
I recommend you read this directly after book one, or if you enjoy a very chilled out read.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2022
As another reader said in his review, the action in The Raven Song is slower than in the first book, which I consider necessary to spark the reader's curiosity and very much in keeping with the story.
However, the plot is just as interesting as that of The Raven Spell; in fact, the second book picks up right where the first ends.
As usual, the characters are perfectly developed, the setting is very well done and the ending is satisfactory, without leaving unfinished business, although I would gladly read more books in this series, if the author decides to expand it.
Five well deserved stars. ☆☆☆☆☆
I thank the author, publishers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this duology, and state that the opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think of this book.
However, the plot is just as interesting as that of The Raven Spell; in fact, the second book picks up right where the first ends.
As usual, the characters are perfectly developed, the setting is very well done and the ending is satisfactory, without leaving unfinished business, although I would gladly read more books in this series, if the author decides to expand it.
Five well deserved stars. ☆☆☆☆☆
I thank the author, publishers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this duology, and state that the opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think of this book.
June 23, 2022
The Raven Song
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5’star read
Fleeing Victorian London, a witch finds her newfound independence comes with all-new perils—both mortal and immortal.
Forever untangling the branches of her strange family tree, Edwina Blackwood is at a turning point. Her parents’ disappearances still strike her as unaccountably odd. Her sister’s questionable life and untimely death have left her shaken. Spellfire has transformed her home and livelihood to ash. And now a devious stalker is on her trail. With supernatural detective Ian Cameron by her side, Edwina can’t get out of London fast enough.
Gaining safe passage, she finds refuge with Sir Henry Elvanfoot, famed wizard of the north, and is promised protection from ill-aimed curses. But in this unfamiliar city of fair folk and witches, where the veil between Earth and the Otherworld is about to be lifted, something is amiss. How else to explain Edwina’s sudden prophetic visions? Or the fear that surviving whoever pursues her will require the powers of an ancient bloodline she’s only beginning to comprehend?
Whatever destiny awaits, it’s Edwina’s to finally control. Where will it lead? Only time, cunning, and magic—in this world or the Other—will tell.
Review to come closer to Pubday
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5’star read
Fleeing Victorian London, a witch finds her newfound independence comes with all-new perils—both mortal and immortal.
Forever untangling the branches of her strange family tree, Edwina Blackwood is at a turning point. Her parents’ disappearances still strike her as unaccountably odd. Her sister’s questionable life and untimely death have left her shaken. Spellfire has transformed her home and livelihood to ash. And now a devious stalker is on her trail. With supernatural detective Ian Cameron by her side, Edwina can’t get out of London fast enough.
Gaining safe passage, she finds refuge with Sir Henry Elvanfoot, famed wizard of the north, and is promised protection from ill-aimed curses. But in this unfamiliar city of fair folk and witches, where the veil between Earth and the Otherworld is about to be lifted, something is amiss. How else to explain Edwina’s sudden prophetic visions? Or the fear that surviving whoever pursues her will require the powers of an ancient bloodline she’s only beginning to comprehend?
Whatever destiny awaits, it’s Edwina’s to finally control. Where will it lead? Only time, cunning, and magic—in this world or the Other—will tell.
Review to come closer to Pubday
February 23, 2023
Great continuation of The Raven Spell
Book #1 ends with a cliff hanger, This book picks up right where #1 left off.
Book #2 has much more mystery and intrigue. Forces unseen seem to be plotting against the main characters. New characters are introduced, but we do not yet know if they are helping or out to get one or more of the main characters.
I really enjoy Luanne G. Smith writing style.
I believe with this series she has really extended her range, and was able to create multiple concurrent stories. Smith really keeps you engaged with all the different threads.
I so enjoyed this book
Book #1 ends with a cliff hanger, This book picks up right where #1 left off.
Book #2 has much more mystery and intrigue. Forces unseen seem to be plotting against the main characters. New characters are introduced, but we do not yet know if they are helping or out to get one or more of the main characters.
I really enjoy Luanne G. Smith writing style.
I believe with this series she has really extended her range, and was able to create multiple concurrent stories. Smith really keeps you engaged with all the different threads.
I so enjoyed this book
January 17, 2024
DNF @ 51%
I enjoyed the first book (The Raven Spell) quite a bit. So much that when my library didn't have a copy of this second book, I went ahead and bought a copy. But for whatever reason this one could not keep my interest. I kept putting it back down and reading other books instead of picking it back up. Even the romance between Ian Cameron and Edwina Blackwood fell flat, when that was one of the best parts of the first book! I am not sure why this one didn't have the spark of the first one - too many months between reading book one and book two? The lack of Mary Blackwood? A less interesting villain? Whatever it is, I am unfortunately raising the white flag on this one.
I enjoyed the first book (The Raven Spell) quite a bit. So much that when my library didn't have a copy of this second book, I went ahead and bought a copy. But for whatever reason this one could not keep my interest. I kept putting it back down and reading other books instead of picking it back up. Even the romance between Ian Cameron and Edwina Blackwood fell flat, when that was one of the best parts of the first book! I am not sure why this one didn't have the spark of the first one - too many months between reading book one and book two? The lack of Mary Blackwood? A less interesting villain? Whatever it is, I am unfortunately raising the white flag on this one.
October 30, 2024
The Raven Song continued directly after the first book and despite what Edwina had lost, she was determined to unravel the mystery around Ian. They both worked together but it was soon very apparent that she was part of something bigger than what had happened to Ian.
They were separated for a time and things got a bit dicey there. Ian was determined to get back to Edwina, to protect her and ensure of her safety. As the story unravelled, things fell into place, and I was excited to see this story unfold and how it all entwined together.
I really enjoyed how Susannah Jones narrated this story. She portrayed the characters perfectly and I kept me engaged in the story. For my first series by Luanne G. Smith, I was quite impressed and enjoyed the story immensely.
They were separated for a time and things got a bit dicey there. Ian was determined to get back to Edwina, to protect her and ensure of her safety. As the story unravelled, things fell into place, and I was excited to see this story unfold and how it all entwined together.
I really enjoyed how Susannah Jones narrated this story. She portrayed the characters perfectly and I kept me engaged in the story. For my first series by Luanne G. Smith, I was quite impressed and enjoyed the story immensely.
October 18, 2022
“What does one ever need books for?
To read what is not already in the head.”
I stumbled across Luanne G. Smith's “The Raven Song” first, and so naturally, I had to read “The Raven Spell” first.
I loved the initial concept: Mary and Edwina are fraternal twins, two shunned and magically adept sisters in Victorian England, scavenging recovered treasures from along the riverbank to keep their shop afloat. Mary has a knack for telling the time at any given moment, but more importantly - detecting shiny corpse lights. These act as a beacon, leading her to prone bodies from which she extracts memories and shapes them into marble-like gems (she collects these baubles… quite morbid, but I thoroughly enjoyed the original idea). Edwina’s talents are for singing spells and instinctively knowing the tide’s rise and fall, in conjunction with lunar phases. Oh, and they can both transform into ravens at will. No big deal.
“the man’s memory cradled in her palm, an orb of iridescent cobalt and gold that could pass for a fisherman’s glass float.”
However, upon finishing the first novel, I was in no great hurry to dive into the second. I will say, Smith has a style of writing that is very relaxed and flows from one chapter into another. She has inventive notions and imposes vivid descriptive elements (albeit not so much to her characters).
I wanted to love this series, but unfortunately the characters themselves are flat, we aren’t given nearly enough on their physical descriptions, and the minor romance introduced is sadly lacking. The character’s thoughts and feelings are frequently given to us, but since there is no complexity or relatability, we can’t truly connect with them on any level. The combination of these things made it impossible to become emotionally invested.
I will not divulge too much from the first novel, for those interested, but essentially it is a murder mystery. The villain that is unmasked leaves much to be desired, and the twist thrown in, due to the lack of character development, was quire ineffectual. This made the ending of the novel almost – tedious. The charming elements that were present in “The Raven Spell,” the shop filled with mosaics of frames, small clocks, endless keys without locks, a sisterhood of dreams cast for the future and sipping sherry at midnight, were not present in this sequel.
This novel picks the story back up with our protagonists Edwina and Ian Cameron fleeing London after an admittedly clever spellfire incident. In the North, Edwina comes an unfamiliar city, filled with witches and fair folk. Here, in proximity of the veil between worlds, she comes into a new power: visions of prophecy. The minor romance between Edwina and Cameron, which I had hoped would finally start to build properly, remains stagnant. I believe there is more chemistry in a bubbling teapot. We’re given a brief history on the fae, which was missing from the first novel:
“The first witches were mortals who served the fair folk in their ceremonies and rituals. And when this world could no longer hold all the fair folk and their magic, most left for the Otherworld, but they left behind the gift of spellcasting for those who’d served them.”
There’s another case to solve here, a mysterious interloper rippling disturbances through the north by means of illegal portal travels. We see further appearances of Ian’s sidekick, Hob (a hearth elf) who almost seems to have had his character inspiration pulled from J.K Rowling’s much-loved Dobby the House Elf. Though he is not nearly as loveable.
Edwina’s character continues to lack definition and independence. There’s a connection between Edwina and the Otherworld, an ancient and powerful lineage in her blood, and yet we are never given a glance beyond the magical veil. We briefly meet the fae, yet another disappointing villain is unmasked and captured, and the story is ended quite abruptly.
I’m of a mind that, had this novel continued with Edwina’s journey as a prophetess into the Otherworld, it could have drastically improved the ending. There was so much buildup to the “secret admirer,” the villain who stalks and covertly attacks Edwina, merely to uncover a character who was quite unimpressive, and a deeper plot that almost seemed an afterthought (thrown in and unsatisfactory).
I am sorry to say, I would not reread these, nor is it likely that I would read a sequel, were it released. Though I would like to express my gratitude to the publisher and netgalley for providing this copy to me.
“We were fortunate to have finished..”
***I was given a free advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***
To read what is not already in the head.”
I stumbled across Luanne G. Smith's “The Raven Song” first, and so naturally, I had to read “The Raven Spell” first.
I loved the initial concept: Mary and Edwina are fraternal twins, two shunned and magically adept sisters in Victorian England, scavenging recovered treasures from along the riverbank to keep their shop afloat. Mary has a knack for telling the time at any given moment, but more importantly - detecting shiny corpse lights. These act as a beacon, leading her to prone bodies from which she extracts memories and shapes them into marble-like gems (she collects these baubles… quite morbid, but I thoroughly enjoyed the original idea). Edwina’s talents are for singing spells and instinctively knowing the tide’s rise and fall, in conjunction with lunar phases. Oh, and they can both transform into ravens at will. No big deal.
“the man’s memory cradled in her palm, an orb of iridescent cobalt and gold that could pass for a fisherman’s glass float.”
However, upon finishing the first novel, I was in no great hurry to dive into the second. I will say, Smith has a style of writing that is very relaxed and flows from one chapter into another. She has inventive notions and imposes vivid descriptive elements (albeit not so much to her characters).
I wanted to love this series, but unfortunately the characters themselves are flat, we aren’t given nearly enough on their physical descriptions, and the minor romance introduced is sadly lacking. The character’s thoughts and feelings are frequently given to us, but since there is no complexity or relatability, we can’t truly connect with them on any level. The combination of these things made it impossible to become emotionally invested.
I will not divulge too much from the first novel, for those interested, but essentially it is a murder mystery. The villain that is unmasked leaves much to be desired, and the twist thrown in, due to the lack of character development, was quire ineffectual. This made the ending of the novel almost – tedious. The charming elements that were present in “The Raven Spell,” the shop filled with mosaics of frames, small clocks, endless keys without locks, a sisterhood of dreams cast for the future and sipping sherry at midnight, were not present in this sequel.
This novel picks the story back up with our protagonists Edwina and Ian Cameron fleeing London after an admittedly clever spellfire incident. In the North, Edwina comes an unfamiliar city, filled with witches and fair folk. Here, in proximity of the veil between worlds, she comes into a new power: visions of prophecy. The minor romance between Edwina and Cameron, which I had hoped would finally start to build properly, remains stagnant. I believe there is more chemistry in a bubbling teapot. We’re given a brief history on the fae, which was missing from the first novel:
“The first witches were mortals who served the fair folk in their ceremonies and rituals. And when this world could no longer hold all the fair folk and their magic, most left for the Otherworld, but they left behind the gift of spellcasting for those who’d served them.”
There’s another case to solve here, a mysterious interloper rippling disturbances through the north by means of illegal portal travels. We see further appearances of Ian’s sidekick, Hob (a hearth elf) who almost seems to have had his character inspiration pulled from J.K Rowling’s much-loved Dobby the House Elf. Though he is not nearly as loveable.
Edwina’s character continues to lack definition and independence. There’s a connection between Edwina and the Otherworld, an ancient and powerful lineage in her blood, and yet we are never given a glance beyond the magical veil. We briefly meet the fae, yet another disappointing villain is unmasked and captured, and the story is ended quite abruptly.
I’m of a mind that, had this novel continued with Edwina’s journey as a prophetess into the Otherworld, it could have drastically improved the ending. There was so much buildup to the “secret admirer,” the villain who stalks and covertly attacks Edwina, merely to uncover a character who was quite unimpressive, and a deeper plot that almost seemed an afterthought (thrown in and unsatisfactory).
I am sorry to say, I would not reread these, nor is it likely that I would read a sequel, were it released. Though I would like to express my gratitude to the publisher and netgalley for providing this copy to me.
“We were fortunate to have finished..”
***I was given a free advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***
October 17, 2022
Set in an alternate Victorian London where magic exists in the background of daily life, this book seamlessly picks up where The Raven Spell left off. The potential downside is that the book cannot exist independently of the previous title. This is good, though, because it extends a single narrative rather than telling two separate stories. Where the first book established the magic system and built the main characters, this book dives more deeply into the consequences of a mortal thinking he can obtain magic.
The magic system is also developed more, really leaning into Celtic lore. Again, being set in England with the center of magic being in the North, fairies, elves, sealie and unsealie play key roles in the story. That does not take away any autonomy from the protagonists but instead explains where their powers come from and provide a way to enrich the story.
I really enjoyed the action and light mystery that formed the framework of the book. I got the alternate Earth vibes without too much changing from the London and Northern England we know. Read both books for a fun mystery with a supernatural twist and light romance.
The magic system is also developed more, really leaning into Celtic lore. Again, being set in England with the center of magic being in the North, fairies, elves, sealie and unsealie play key roles in the story. That does not take away any autonomy from the protagonists but instead explains where their powers come from and provide a way to enrich the story.
I really enjoyed the action and light mystery that formed the framework of the book. I got the alternate Earth vibes without too much changing from the London and Northern England we know. Read both books for a fun mystery with a supernatural twist and light romance.
December 5, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and 47th North for the chance to read The raven song by Luanne G. Smith. I loved the author's debut novel The vine witch and I quickly requested this new book The raven song, without realizing that it was book 2 of the Conspiracy of magic series, and felt I had to read The raven spell first. While I enjoyed it, I wasn't a fan of where the middle of the story went, but was so intrigued by the surprise ending that I quickly started book 2 and was totally hooked!!! The issues I had with The raven spell now made sense. I enjoyed Edwina and Ian, and the character Hob, was hilarious. I totally recommend this series, especially if you enjoy historical fiction about witches and The Fae.
August 31, 2022
The Raven Song by Luanne G. Smith
A great conclusion to The Raven Spell, with the coveted happily ever after.
The Raven Song followed the same rhythm as the previous book. The pacing was well done and kept me on my toes. I loved all the magic and the introductions to new characters.
The suspense was so good. I never knew what was going to happen next. The writing is very expressive and gave the book an almost classical feel without being drawn-out. I really enjoyed this story and can’t wait to read more from Smith.
Content Warning: mild language, dark magic
A great conclusion to The Raven Spell, with the coveted happily ever after.
The Raven Song followed the same rhythm as the previous book. The pacing was well done and kept me on my toes. I loved all the magic and the introductions to new characters.
The suspense was so good. I never knew what was going to happen next. The writing is very expressive and gave the book an almost classical feel without being drawn-out. I really enjoyed this story and can’t wait to read more from Smith.
Content Warning: mild language, dark magic
November 7, 2022
3.5 stars
I liked this book better than the first book.
First of all, I liked that Edwina got the entire spotlight. The whole story felt a lot more dynamic without Mary around.
I also really liked how we got some proper world-building in this book. The switch of settings did the story a favour and made it more interesting, somehow.
As a proper bonus, the villain of this book was both entertaining and utterly wicked.
I probably shouldn't enjoy the addition of a really cruel villain, but I did.
I'm now looking forward to the third book!
I liked this book better than the first book.
First of all, I liked that Edwina got the entire spotlight. The whole story felt a lot more dynamic without Mary around.
I also really liked how we got some proper world-building in this book. The switch of settings did the story a favour and made it more interesting, somehow.
As a proper bonus, the villain of this book was both entertaining and utterly wicked.
I probably shouldn't enjoy the addition of a really cruel villain, but I did.
I'm now looking forward to the third book!
May 31, 2023
#1) The Raven Spell ★★★☆☆
I had fun with this sequel! The romance still lacked chemistry but the development of the world-building pulled me in. The snatches of the villain's POV were timed perfectly to build intrigue. This somehow took all my gripes from the first books and worked on them. A delightful, easy read.
➸ Trigger warnings for .
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
July 3, 2023
This is The second book in The Conspiracy of Magic series. I adored the first one and I LOVED THIS ONE. It completely consumed me. The enchanting details of the Otherworlds fey creatures & the landscape was truly magical. I enjoyed Edwina(The main protagonist) , but admittedly could use a bit more depth to her. All the side characters were marvelous though and enchanting to say the least.
This book has a beautiful mixture of fantasy, mystery and magical realism all snuggled up into this masterful world Smith has created for us. I cannot wait for this series to evolve!
This book has a beautiful mixture of fantasy, mystery and magical realism all snuggled up into this masterful world Smith has created for us. I cannot wait for this series to evolve!
June 18, 2022
I loved the first book in this series and I still loved many aspects of this second book, but the pacing was a problem for me. So slow. I almost gave up twice. But, I just loved the characters and the magic building the author has created so I kept going and I am glad I did. Now I am up to date and ready for the next in the series, which I can't wait for! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy.
November 22, 2022
A solid follow-up to the first book “Raven’s Spell”, though not quite as good in my opinion. Edwina and Ian both have a few “too stupid to live” moments that had me yelling at them. Just a little too self-assured those two were several times. Once again the audio narration was good, if not odd, since the reader reads with her usual American accent only using UK/Scottish accents for when the characters speak. It’s a bit of a disconnect for me, but her voice is nice enough. Overall enjoyable and I will likely pick up the next book if there is one.
January 29, 2023
satisfying
I can leave the story here and be satisfied with everything. I love the main characters, but when any book get into the fae I'm out. It’s always a way to be cruel for no reason. I can’t stand that. This was still a wonderful book. There are just elements of it that drove me nuts.
I can leave the story here and be satisfied with everything. I love the main characters, but when any book get into the fae I'm out. It’s always a way to be cruel for no reason. I can’t stand that. This was still a wonderful book. There are just elements of it that drove me nuts.
July 8, 2023
The follow up to book one picks up right after the death of Mary. Ian is still wrestling with his lost memories and Edwina may have picked up an ardent admirer in addition to Ian. Fleeing up north to Ian’s hometown brings magic, danger, and answers to the disappearance of her parents months before.
May 10, 2023
I thought it was alright but the ending felt weird. The majority of the main plot was told in the last 3 chapters or so. The story was big enough that it could've been a third book bit instead we got this.
October 19, 2023
Again, intriguing and unique. There were a few things I didn't see coming. My only complaint is that I wanted a little bit more.
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