Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Raven Song by Luanne G Smith Narrator: Susannah Jones
Series: Conspiracy of Magic #2
Published by Brilliance Audio on October 11, 2022
Genres: Fantasy
Length: 8 hours, 46 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
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?
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
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I’ve bought a few things by this author but haven’t read them yet. For 2023, in addition to challenging myself with reading my freebies, I should add reading audiobooks I already own.
I have so many books I’ve picked up over the years. I just need more time to read them all 😛
I’m glad you enjoyed this one. I haven’t heard about this author before. And I love that cover.
The cover is pretty cool. I liked the blended Victorian world with some Fae in it.
I haven’t heard of this author, or this series. I do love the cover of this one.
A cover with Beautiful Books. What is not to love
I have a copy of The Vine Witch but haven’t read it yet. It sounds like I really do need to give her books a try.
Yes I have had the Vine Witch for a long time. I should finish that series.
I’m glad you enjoyed this series. It sounds great. I like a bit of romance with a bit of mystery
The blend was good. Just enough romance for my heart and totally enough mystery for my brain.
“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.”
Creepy!
True but totally adds to the feel of the story 🙂