A review by themanfromdelmonte
The Raven Spell by Luanne G. Smith

4.0

I don't know why I didn't write a review of this when I first read it a year and a half ago. I bought it on the strength of the Vine Witch novels and was not disappointed. However, I was underwhelmed by the author's latest offering (The Witch's Lens) and decided to re-read this to see if I'd made a mistake. the short answer is that I hadn't. This is a good story, replete with period detail and a decent plot.

Spoiler

Edwina and Mary are shapeshifting witches, orphaned and alone in London, eking out a living by scavenging for valuables left by the tide to sell in their small shop. Mary also has the power to capture the memories of the newly dead in the form of a jewel. Early on they come across a dying man on the shore of the river and, convinced that he will soon expire, Mary takes his memories even though he isn't dead. He survives and is revealed to be another witch working as a PI, looking for the missing song of a powerful mage.
To cut a long story short, he finds the sisters, and he and Edwina skirt the edges of a budding relationship.
Unfortunately, Mary's fascination with her ability leads her to take up with a killer. Apparently the memory jewels are brighter and shinier (see where this is going?) if the, um, victim is young and vigorous.
At the denouement, the sisters transform into ravens to escape.

There's a neat cliff hanger at the end that sets up a sequel. All in all, very enjoyable.