I'm mixed on this book. After reading Everless I fell in love with Sara's writing. When I got an ARC of this book, I was ready to dive in instantly.



As I began reading, I couldn't tell if I would like Maddie just yet. She's on her way to Havenfall. She goes every year and this year her dad wanted her to go someplace else. Well she got on the bus to Havenfall instead and her dad wasn't all that mad really. He understood what Havenfall means to her. Its home, family, it's in her blood.



Maddie hasn't been back long before things take a huge twist. She went from making a new friend, making out with the boy she's always liked to now being the innkeeper. While she worries about her uncle and the inn, she must also figure out who she can really trust and who is looking to gain from this mess.



The middle of the book was meh. There were many parts I loved and many that could have been done way better. Considering the magic from her first series I was surprised how it lacked some in this book.



However, the ending of the book does redeem the story. When the truth comes out and Maddie must fight for her home, things build up and finally it's the moment you've been waiting for. Then....your hit with the largest cliff hanger ever!



I really can't wait to dive into book two!

After reading both EVERLESS AND EVERMORE by Sara Holland, I was eager to get back into a world she’d created. HAVENFALL is super different than her previous books in that it takes place in this world, but adds other worlds and magic that are connected to this one through portals.

I liked all the politics between the different groups and the different characters with their own goals and secrets piled on top of those political rifts. It created a sense of complexity and made the world feel bigger.

I guessed some of the plot elements pretty early on, but others were a complete surprise to me, so I felt like it had a good mix of predictability and unpredictability. There were a couple of things I thought should have been clarified sooner– for instance, the shape-shifting race can’t just impersonate anyone. They have a really limited number of specific forms they can take.

Maddie and her allies don’t know this early in the story, though. But when someone behaves very strangely, it never seems to occur to Maddie that the person could have been a shapeshifter in disguise (even though she doesn’t know at that point what the limits of shifting are). It does eventually get explained, but not until much later.

That’s a pretty minor point in the story, though. Overall, I liked Maddie’s character and the way she navigates tricky relationships with the people around her. The ending leaves a lot open for a sequel, so I’m really interested to see what happens next.

I think readers who enjoyed THE IMMORTAL RULES by Julie Kagawa or ANGELFALL by Susan Ee should check out HAVENFALL.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I found this fantasy quite interesting especially the idea of the doorways between the worlds. This made me think of the first Chronicles of Narnia book, The Magician's Nephew and the portals in the wood. Portal fantasies have always intrigued me, which drew me to this one.

The setup is pretty good. There is a safe haven, an inn that holds the doorways to four different worlds. One sealed off from the rest to keep the others safe and an innkeeper who is meant to reside over Havenfall and keep the peace between them all. Maddie is the niece of the Innkeeper of Havenfall. Along the way, Maddie is thrust into a job that she doesn't feel she is quite ready for. And finds out many secrets hidden. The mystery aspects of this book really added to the overall story and made me question what would happen next.

I really enjoyed the magic system in this book and am interested to see where the next book will go. This book also makes me want to see the other three worlds and what else this world has. Similar to The Magician's Nephew, which has also always made me intrigued to see what other secrets the wood always held. I believe this was a great setup book to what could be a great series. It could go in so many directions, especially with the many different worlds.

I read and loved Sara Holland’s Everless a while back (I still need to get round to Evermore!) so I was really intrigued when I heard she was coming out with a new series set in a completely new world. Havenfall is the story of Maddie Marrow a young girl who spends her summers at the Havenfall inn – a sanctuary between worlds. She hopes one day to inherit this inn from her Uncle, but when a dead body is discovered and things start to go wrong, Maddie has to race to uncover the truth behind the goings on in Havenfall.

I always thought the concept for Everless was really unique and I felt the same way about Havenfall. The idea of a sanctuary between worlds was so fascinating and Sara Holland does an excellent job building this world for the reader to sink into. Holland has a really gorgeous writing style and it’s so easy to get wrapped up in her writing. I did feel the story was a bit slower paced, lots of the book is taken up my introducing the world and the characters so it is much more slow burn.

Maddie is a really interesting protagonist and I liked her as a character. There’s a bit of romance in the story and I enjoyed this because it didn’t take away from the main plot too much. The story touches on a variety of themes and has a diverse cast of characters. It also had a few surprising twists towards the end that I didn’t see coming. Overall it was a really enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to reading the next instalment in the series. It also has a completely stunning cover and I can’t wait to pick up a physical copy.

If you’re a fan of Sara Holland’s Everless duology or you’re looking for an exciting new fantasy series to start, this is definitely one to pick up!

Havenfall by Sara Holland
3.25⭐️
I found this book to be very compelling! The cover is absolutely stunning, and I have enjoyed the Author's other works! The main character/s, story line, and magical world building is very detailed, and beautifully written.
The only issues I had with this book, was that for me, it quickly became very predictable. It did not take away from the overall story!
I hope that Sara Holland has plans to write a sequel or a series following these characters.

Thank you so much for the chance to review this amazing new title!

There’s more to the small town of Havenfall than there seems – the inn sits on tunnels that lead to different worlds, the doors to some of which are open, others have been sealed shut.
Maddie Morrow’s uncle runs the inn, and for Maddie the inn is a haven, somewhere she can forget her troubles and be herself.
Maddie hopes to take over from her uncle in the future and plans to use the summer as a chance to show her uncle that she is ready.
But Maddie soon finds herself in over her head when her uncle is injured, leaving her in charge, with a monster on the loose and her best friend missing.
Can Maddie keep everyone safe?
What secrets will she uncover?

Havenfall was one of my most anticipated 2020 reads, but, unfortunately, I ended up not enjoying it.
The premise of Havenfall was intriguing and interesting, but I felt like it didn’t reach its potential for me.
The setting was interesting and I would like to find out more about the different worlds.
Maddie was an okay protagonist and I felt sorry for her – she’d had a tough time of things and the inn was her safe place until suddenly it wasn’t.
None of the characters stood out for me and there were a few times when I thought a character said something odd and Maddie didn’t question it.
The plot was okay, but I felt like the pacing could have been better as it did drag for me in places.
I guessed several of the plot twists early on, so found Havenfall fairly predictable, but there were some things that surprised me.
I found that I didn’t care what happened to the characters.
The writing was easy to follow most of the time, but I wasn’t gripped.
I’m really disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this more as Havenfall had a lot of potential and I was excited to read it.

Overall, this was an okay read.

Havenfall reads like a murder mystery in a mythical place that combines different fantastical worlds. I loved both the magic and mystery element to it.

Havenfall is such a cool idea. It’s an inn that resides on Earth and It’s the only realm that doesn’t have magic and so it’s considered a neutral zone. This is why Earth is called Haven by other worlds. There are many doors leading to other realms but most have been closed due to either the world dying out or disagreements. One in particular is Solaria which is what a lot of the story is based around. I really like how the magic system works. Although for some reason I kept mixing up the two worlds that were open even though their names are nothing alike it was really interesting. I’ve always loved when you get to have different fashions and cultures in a fantasy world.

I don’t want to give away the plot because there are lots of twists and turns. Not all that I was expecting, some I probably should have seen but didn’t. There are hints to things and there were points when you knew certain things were connected but not exactly how. I liked it, I think a mystery always keeps a story moving.

I feel bad for Maddie. There are things that she has to deal with, with her mom that I feel like if someone had just told her the whole truth might have relieved some parts of it. Not all of it. She is very resilient though, she always pulls herself up again. Even if she would rather just curl into a ball. She kept moving because she needed to.

So there is a little bit of a love triangle but the characters weren’t all interacting at the same time. Not really so it wasn’t annoying. Brekken is the boy she’s loved forever and Taya is the new girl that brings a different element to her life. I loved the way Maddie and Taya meet because it just reminded me of some kind of old school movie.

I enjoyed Havenfall and I think it will be interesting to see where the story goes. I liked that the ending felt good. It wasn’t that there weren’t questions to be answered but it ended in a good place.

As the first book by Sara Holland that I've tried... Havenfall wasn't a promising start. It reminded me a lot of the YA fantasies I used to love in middle/high school but what worked over a decade ago doesn't work now and the book fell entirely flat. 

I think the book tried to be a mystery but ended up failing because the protagonist, Maddie, isn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. She spent more time waffling about what to do and lamenting about her lack of preparedness while also wanting the very role she ends up in that I couldn't take the internal monologues anymore. Maddie makes so many bad decisions and maybe that's resembling of the teen experience so it will appeal to the intended audience? But I don't know because I've read a number of pretty amazing YA fantasies that manage to make bad decisions work without their characters coming off as a one-note brain cell. This just wasn't one of them.

Which I realize sounds harsh and may not be entirely reflective of my feelings about Havenfall because... I don't really feel anything. I started it and the story moved quickly. It's a fast read, I'll give it that. But I never gained enough of a sense of the setting to really imagine anything. The characters were all pretty flat. And the dialogue was everywhere and a bit of a mess. I grew bored with the plot and... that's it. After a while I finally just decided to let it go and move on. 

It's a shame because Havenfall has such an interesting premise and all the pieces are there, but the execution just struggled along from start to finish. I even made it farther than I expected, hitting the 68% mark before calling it quits (usually I just finish the book at that point). 

Here's hoping her other books are better, I was planning on reading them but this one makes me hesitant.

Quick Stats:
Overall: 4/5 Stars
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Plot and Themes: 4/5
Awesomeness Factor: 4/5
Review in a Nutshell: Havenfall will pull you into a world of betrayal, romance, mystery, and magic.

// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Assault, Murder, Illness, PTSD, Kidnapping/Abduction //

- Writing & Setting -

This is Sara Holland’s second YA series, but it was my first time reading one of her books. I really enjoyed her writing style- the inner monologue of our protagonist was very relatable, and the descriptions of the world around her was gorgeous. I guess you can say- Sara Holland’s writing will transport you to another world. (I’m not sorry for that pun). The worldbuilding is truly where this book excels. The concept of portals to other worlds isn’t new, but Sara Holland breathes fresh life into the genre, showing the more political and realistic side to this world. I also enjoyed seeing the history of the different worlds, and the rich cultures each world has. I really can’t wait to learn more about this universe (or is it multiverse?), and one world in particular (but no spoilers here).

- Plot -

The plot itself is good: mostly focusing on a mystery and various betrayals, but I personally didn’t find myself sucked into the book until around the 100 page mark. The beginning is focusing on setting the stage for the rest of the book, and while it sets the stage well, I just struggled to get into it. The pacing was very slow. That said, once I was hooked, I was hooked. The final act of the book really picks up the pace. After it hooked me, I finished the rest of the book in a single sitting because I couldn’t make myself stop!

- Characters -

Maddie, our protagonist, has quite a lot going on in her life- a mother on death row, an uncle she desperately wants to prove herself to, and a big challenge ahead of her. I loved that she was truly flawed- while she is a good leader, she makes mistakes and seeks guidance. She sometimes trusts the wrong people, but she learns from those mistakes. Also, did I mention she is queer??? Yeah, that made my day. I can definitely see a love triangle building up, which I’m not too happy about, but these characters are so interesting, I can’t complain. I can’t go into too much detail on the side characters and antagonists without risking spoiling something, but I will say that they are equally well developed and compelling!

- Conclusion -

Pros- Interesting concept, good worldbuilding, great protagonist
Cons- Slow paced, can be hard to get into
Overall- 4/5 stars.
Havenfall is a fun read- a great start to a promising series!

As Shakespeare once said, "There are more things in heaven and earth...Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." In Sara Holland's latest work, a land of ice and frost crosses with a world of two suns and three moons and a closed doorway to a place without a sun but a golden sky. There is a juncture where all the beings of these worlds can meet under the Peace Treaty alliance of the Last Remaining Adjacent Realms: the human world of Earth.


The Inn at Havenfall has been a sanctuary that has withstood the congregations of the Byrnisians and Fiordens where Maddie Morrow's family have been innkeepers, and mediators, for decades. After a turbulent past that resulted in the loss of her brother, Maddie seeks to escape the whispers and stares of her town by stepping into her role as the next innkeeper of Havenfall under the wing of her uncle, the current innkeeper. Not to mention that Havenfall also allows Maddie the opportunity to see her childhood friend Brekken - a Fiorden soldier who makes Maddie's heart beat with the promise of something more.


Yet even Maddie's safe place soon is shadowed by the emergence of a dark force that threatens to ruin the peace of the three worlds. When her uncle is taken ill, Maddie is suddenly thrust into the role of Havenfall's innkeeper and, without the guidance of her uncle, she must find her voice to moderate the delegates of Byrnisians and Fiordens while trying to track down the being responsible for wrecking the sanctuary at Havenfall.


Sara Holland once again demonstrates the magic of world-building in this first installment of the Havenfall series. Maddie was an individual who showed a great amount of resolve in the midst of trying circumstances and her vulnerabilities made her an empathetic character that readers can root for. I certainly look forward to the next chronicle of Maddie's life at Havenfall!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Fantastic Flying Book Club, Netgalley, and Bloomsbury YA for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

Okay so I personally really enjoyed Holland from when I first read Everless. Of course I never ended up finishing the duology even though there was just TWO books to read but I liked what she wrote, so I knew that I wasn’t really going to have a problem reading this one. Plus the premise for this novel just seemed super interesting and I was excited to see what she would be having next for us.

So I went into this one and I was just blown away really. I think that this one was even better than what we had for Everless and I really liked Everless, ya feel? Okay, so.

I feel like lately I’ve been really into books where they can successfully blend the fantasy world with the real world, and this was one of those that I really ended up liking. I mean, who would have thought that I would have liked a girl that was from Colorado, when I have never been there myself, nor have I ever really wanted to go? Not saying that Colorado is a bad place or anything like that but it was never one of those places where I was like “omg I have to go” even though I do have some family there and I should totally go there to visit them one of these days.

Anyway.

I also freaking love it where we have a supposedly normal girl from a normal world being thrust into this fantasy world – whatever kind of fantasy world it is, no discrimination really because there are so many kinds out there and there’s something for everyone so just bare with me here – and then finding out that she has the power to actually take matters into her own hands and be a freaking boss ass bitch. Excuse my language, but that is the best way for me to phrase that because that was totally the vibe that I was getting from Maddie when she was going through her journey. It helps that Maddie’s family has been at this for generations, and sure maybe that gives her an advantage, but there is always room for improvement and for Maddie to discover something about her that none of the other family members ever knew until now.

Plus, I get it. I would not want to be anywhere near the real world if I were in Maddie’s shoes. The fact that her mother is in jail accused of killing Maddie’s own brother? Ugh, that part just hurt me because I could not even imagine what she was going through, how she could even survive that. You know? It’s just insane to me.

This book was great and I think that I need to get ready to read the sequel, and definitely go back to Holland’s first duology so I can actually finish a series from her, and that’s just my own fault really.

Havenfall started off a little slow, but I was still intrigued enough to keep reading. Havenfall is an unusual fantasy with fantastic world-building! I thought that the magical realms were curious and interestingly described, and the elements of magic added a different element of intrigue to the story, aside from the murder at the center of the plot. I also loved all the twists and turns-just when I thought I’d figured everything out another facet was added to the story. The characters are interesting and well written. This is the first book in a planned series, and I’m hoping to learn more about the different realms in the other books.

I would definitely recommend this to fantasy and mystery fans alike.

Note: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF 39% - The premise for this one was really promising, but I just can’t get into it. I’m not really jiving with the main character and I find that I just don’t really care what’s going on? The rules of the world(s) seem a little arbitrary. I could see other people really liking this one, but it’s not for me.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a unique fantasy with great world-building! I thought that the magical realms were intriguing as well as the magic. I also loved all the twists and turns. The characters are interesting and well written. I'm interested to read more about the realms and I'm looking forward to reading book two!

First and foremost, can we please take a moment to appreciate the cover design? It took me a moment to see the face, but the details are truly exceptional because it’s a good representation of the book in my opinion.

Havenfall is another book I read this month where I found a blend of fantasy and modern world mixed together. This mix is really well done. I very much enjoyed this story. The main character, Maddie, wants to escape her life (or forget about some parts of it) by embracing her path. She wants to become the Innkeeper of a place that is a neutral ground and a crossroads between other worlds. But Maddie is thrown into a difficult situation where she will have to prove herself to be worthy of that title.

Maddie is a character I enjoyed most of the book. She is bisexual and this part was really well handled. I love that it was M/F and F/F. I enjoyed how the author made it feel so natural. Now, I’m not a big fan of love triangles so it annoyed me a bit at times, but I want to say that it did not make like this story less.

The author’s writing is effortless. I found myself reading this book very fast even if at times, I felt there was too much description that felt unnecessary. The worlds the author creates are beautifully depicted and I found myself wanting more of them. The mystery and mistrust I felt throughout the book were a huge part of what made me turn the pages. I also enjoyed the concept of doors to another world, and darkness lurking. The ending made me want to read book 2.

This book ended up being nothing like what I had expected. And it was fantastic!

Maddie is a teenage girl who desperately NEEDS the comfort of Havenfall to escape her life at home, where her mom is on death row. She needs the comfort of her best friend, Brekken. She needs to be around her uncle Marcus and his husband, Graylin. But, this summer is different in so many ways. Things between Brekken are different. This is the year she is going to throw caution to the wind and tell him how she really feels about him. She also meets Taya, a girl with a troubled past, who becomes her friend, but also has secrets of her own.

When trouble falls upon Havenfall, Maddie is thrown into a place of power before she is ready. Nothing is what it seems and truths become revealed about the inn and its inhabitants, as well as her own past.

*3.5 stars

Havenfall by Sara Holland is a light fantasy story with a mystery/suspense element mixed in. What drew me to the story was the idea of a shared sanctuary on Earth between all the ancient worlds and their different magics, where everyone could connect and come together.

Maddie Morrow is the main character who lives with her father and his wife because her mother is on death row, accused of killing her brother. Her only solace from the sideways glances and whispers of her daily life is at the Inn at Havenfall, where people from ancient worlds come to connect. This summer, she wants to convince her uncle, the Innkeeper, to allow her to stay with him to learn about the job, with the eventual goal of taking over. And yet, with this intriguing backstory, Maddie did not impress me. I understand that her life and family were torn apart because of the murder, but you'd think that it would make her less whiny and annoying. When her uncle becomes gravely injured, Maddie must step up to the position as Innkeeper. It isn't under ideal circumstances, but the entire time, Maddie just keeps complaining about not wanting to do this or that or blaming her uncle for not teaching her x, y, and z. The other irritating aspect of her personality is how naive she is: she's too trusting and cannot seem to pick up on shady/suspicious hints. She doesn't have a growth mindset, nor does she seem to grow at all during the book. However, to her credit, she is incredibly determined and willing to step up to the challenge. As much as she complains about it, Maddie doesn't shrink from her duties, and on the inside, is a good person.

The other characters in Havenfall sadly weren't anything special, which is disappointing as some are quite literally from other worlds. They were cookie-cutter like, with awkward mannerisms and full of predictability. For example, none of the characters are subtle in their motives or type of character they are (ex. villains exude villain energy and general sliminess). It seems very MG to have such blatantly obvious villains, rather than subtly hinting at the idea or allowing the character to reveal themselves. Part of the appeal of books like Havenfall is trying to find out the cause of the murder and the crimes –– not being handed the villain on a silver platter. The characters also had some strange and overly sappy dialogue. Some of the lines sounded as if they came right out of a motivational self-help book.

The world and plot were simplistic, as well. I liked that there was a guide that talked about the worlds at the beginning, rather than getting the info dumped all at once (which takes me out of the world) or barely giving any info (which leaves me confused). The rules about world traveling were particularly interesting to me because they changed with each world, with the Inn at Havenfall being the only safe place for long periods. The goal was straightforwards: get to the bottom of what is happening at the inn and keep everyone safe, unsuspicious, and peaceful at the same time. The plot was easy to follow, and while there were one or two side tasks, finding the truth is always at the forefront. The plot wasn't necessarily slow, but the descriptions are what made the half-a-week(?) timeline feel at least like two weeks. The only time when the pace seemed to match the plot was at the ending, where everything starts to come together –– in an extremely obvious way (except for one little plot twist). Looking at the big picture, the plot was executed well. There weren't any major holes left open, and I was able to follow along. Once I looked past all the frustrating parts, I realized that I greatly enjoyed the story and how it all played out.

In general, the descriptions were heavy-handed. And to make matters worse, sometimes the extra descriptions left me even more confused. In one case, I got a paragraph full of instrument descriptions from an ancient world. Did I need to know all of that information? Nope. Did it add anything to the story? Not really. It was also difficult for me to envision some aspects as I was too busy trying to wrap my mind around all the overly specific descriptions. Thankfully, I was only confused about trivial things. I was easily able to understand the big picture and the world, which I give Holland a lot of credit for being able to do. And like I touched on in the previous paragraphs, there was a lack of subtly in the writing. I was excepting more nuanced writing, rather than the almost explicit way in some parts. I think that Holland was trying for some mystery and suspense by posing almost rhetorical-like questions, but the execution was poor. For example, there were one or two moments where Maddie internally asks or takes note that the eyes of one person seem familiar somehow in a way she cannot place. Making the connection as to what Maddie was thinking about was easy. I wish instead, a seed of an idea was planted. Additionally, one of the most frustrating parts was how coincidental and predictable some things were. In general, I'm not too fond of coincidences in fiction and fantasy books that rely on that connection to progress the story. All coincidences will feel artificial, but as long as they aren't relevant to the big picture story, I don't care. And predictability is predicability. It is hard not to have in a book, but Havenfall, in particular, was disappointingly full of it. In defense of the writing, however, I was quickly sucked into the world. I cannot remember a single moment that completely pulled me out of the story. And while the extra descriptions made the timeline seem longer than it was, the book itself was a fast read (I'm not sure how to really describe what I am talking about –– this is the best that I've got). The ending was epic and a great culmination of all the things building up over the story.

Overall, while the star rating that I am giving this book may seem disproportional to the parts that bothered me, it is ultimately the ending and the plot that influenced my more favorable rating. My biggest annoyances came from overly simplistic characters with obvious motivations, predictability, and heavy-handed descriptions. I would recommend it with reservations but, I am planning on reading the next book.

*I received this book for free from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.* 

After reading and loving Sara Holland's first series, Everless, I had high hopes for her newest book. I feel like my expectations were met, and I am excited to see where she takes the world of Havenfall in the future. 

First, I really loved the world building in this book. The concept of having multiple worlds that all converge in the basement of an inn in Colorado was such a fun concept. And the fact that it is a safe space, where anyone can meet with someone from another world in peace is a really great place to begin this series. I love that the inn of Havenfall itself is a little magical, even though Earth itself isn't. We don't learn a ton about the worlds of Fiordenkill, Byrn, and Solaria, but I'm hopeful that we will find out more about them in future books. 

Our main character, Maddie, was quite believable as a teenage girl that is suddenly thrust into a position of power. She laments a lot about not getting to just laze away her summer, and that was absolutely believable to me. What 16 year old wants to be put in charge of delicate political talks? I certainly wouldn't have! At the same time, it was cool to get to watch her mature and grow as the story went along. Her relationships with Brekken and Taya were fun, and I still don't know who I want her to end up with. ;) 

This book really kept me on the edge of my seat. I didn't know who to trust for a vast majority of the book. It was kind of fun, but I wished that there was at least one person that she absolutely knew she could trust (my poor little heart was just having a hard time with that). The fact that it was a fantasy but also a little bit of a mystery was a fun surprise though. 

Overall, I think this is a great start to what I hope will be a great series! I definitely want to see what Holland has in store for the future of Haven, Fiordenkill, Byrn and Solaria! 




My Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I gave Havenfall 4 STARS! If you like fantasy with some mystery and the smallest hint of LGBT romance, you will like this book. :)

➝ Sum it up in points!

✔ three worlds converge at an inn on Earth
✔ vulnerable female protagonist
✔ shape-shifters, soul devourers
✔ bisexual main character, LGBTQ+ side characters
✔ surprising revelation at the end

Havenfall is treading on a line that connects four worlds, out of which Earth is neutral with its non-magical people, balancing the growth of a girl recently burdened with responsibility and danger lurking in the form of shape-shifters from a crack in this Inn that connects the magical worlds to Haven (Earth). An excellent portrayal of a vulnerable, self-doubting protagonist that allows a growth pattern to be created is appreciable and the dynamic scenarios where the normality of an inn needs to be coordinated with keeping away monsters and ensuring the safety of this world's inhabitants, are commendable. With the queer main protagonist allowing some feelings to float for the sapphic love interest, since the straight male crush has surprisingly disappeared, and LGBT+ side characters, the sexual diversity is refreshing. However, the romantic explorations are lacking, the story moves a little too slowly, and predictable plot turns make the overall reading experience enjoyable but not extremely delightful.

➝ Trigger Warnings

✔ violence & moderate gore scenes
✔ criminally sentenced mother
✔ loss of a loved one

Earth is a realm without magic, which is why the Inn at Havenfall is a safe place to connect worlds that each has unique magic. For many years, the inn has given protection to everyone who enters for refuge. If someone breaks that peace, then they cannot return. Maddie has spent her summers at the inn with her uncle, the Innkeeper. She loves the chance to escape the burdened life she lives on Earth and looks forward to the day when she will take over the inn. This summer is different, though. Her uncle becomes gravely injured and there is a dangerous creature wreaking havoc. Maddie is now the Innkeeper and is responsible for the safety of everyone in Havenfall. As she tries to figure out the truth, she must also determine who she can trust. Is anyone safe?

Havenfall is the first book in the Havenfall series and Holland has done a wonderful job of world-building and character development without it feeling like a second section. Maddie is rushed into a role she knew was coming but thought it was many years away. As she is dealing with being in charge, she is also dealing with a possible romance and trying to determine what secrets her uncle was keeping from her and everyone else. This story is fast-paced and readers will enjoy the secret revealing and backstabbing that is woven throughout. I recommend Havenfall to all fantasy and urban fantasy fans.