Wow! I really enjoyed this book. Vivi is off to college, against her moms wishes. When she joins a sorority for witches, she realizes that there is dark magic at play. Vivi's big, Scarlett is a legacy and has a lot to lose, including her perfect boyfriend. This story reeled me in and didn't want to let me go! I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

Once this book was announced as BN YA bookclub pick, I knew I had to read this asap! When I saw this book on Netgalley, I had to read it! As a avid YA reader, this book was nice shakeup in the YA world. Instead of your typical ‘teen’ or ‘high school’, this was set in college. I could related to Vivi (expect being a witch!) which brought up so many memoires as a freshman in college, and trying fit in. The storyline was so creative and fresh. What I enjoyed the book is told in two different point of view, but wasn't confusing on who was speaking. We meet Vivi, a witch who just wants to fit in and our mean girl Scarlett who is from a long line of legacy witches. The book hooked me from the very start, and until the very end. I can't wait for the next book in the series. That cliffhanger!!! 4 stars.

This book is about sisterhood, mixed in with mysterious secrets and, of course, it is brimming with witchcraft.
Vivi is moving on from a hectic life with her tarot card reading mom and moving to Savannah to attend Westerly. This is where she discovers a sorority name Kappa and meets the seemingly perfect Scarlett who will wind up becoming a major part of her life. Kappa is not a normal sorority. It is literally a sorority of witches and their sisterhood overflows with magic.
I definitely recommend this for a fun and quick read. I had a blast reading about all the awesome spellcraft and the more normal day to day life of an awkward college student. Overall a great read.

The premise of The Ravens is a fun one and it's a book that would be great adapted into a shop on the CW or Netflix. It follows a sorority that is secretly a coven of witches, with each author writing a different character perspective.

Vivi is an incoming freshman excited to start fresh and stay in one place after a nomadic childhood with her tarot-reading mother. When she's asked to pledge the Ravens, she has no idea what she's in for. Meanwhile Scarlett is gunning to be the next president of the sorority and has her future perfectly planned out. And something about Vivi rubs her the wrong way. This is full of drama, danger, and (not-so-unexpected) twists, and would certainly make a fun show.

I mostly had fun with the story, but the early pacing of the book is a little slow and the twist was pretty obvious with quite a lot of foreshadowing. There's also an element I didn't totally love involving (view spoiler) Also the school is set in the South (though it feels pretty generic) and Scarlett is Black, but it's all written as if race is a non-factor beyond literal skin color. And honestly it feels a little tone deaf to not at the very least nod to the reality of racial tensions, especially right now given that this is set in the ACTUAL American South, not a fantasy world.

That said, overall it's a fun, escapist book and I think people will enjoy it. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed The Ravens, it was fast paced and very easy to get sucked into the story and the characters. I loved the concept behind the story, that hidden among the sororities is one of the most powerful covens recruiting new sisters. I would also consider this upper YA/NA since the characters are in college, one a new freshman and one a junior. And while they were older, I would not say the content was incredibly inappropriate (minus the human sacrifices and possible death threats) but language or sexual content was not out of control. (I personally think that having this at college instead of high school helped to keep down on the over the top immature drama I have been encountering a lot in YA, so I am a big fan.)

The story alternated narration at chapters between Vivi and Scarlet, two characters who could not be more different. Vivi is a newbie freshman naïve in the ways of the world who is just looking for roots and a place to fit in. Scarlet is a junior who knows the greatness she is capable of and demands respect, while at the same time battling family expectations and her own wants. I really expected to have Scarlet and champion Vivi, but I will admit that I adored Scarlet and wanted to occasionally shake Vivi (no, it is not ok to be with a friend's ex! Everyone should know that rule, and there are so many other fish in the sea.) I loved the person Scarlet really was and rooted for her at every hard choice, and I do hope that in the future she can get a certain suspicious boy to come around, just saying.

While the ending wrapped up the big issues in this story, it is in no way the end for The Ravens and I will certainly be back to see what will happen next to these powerful lady witches. I didn't realize when I started that this was a series but I am happy that I get more time set in this world.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

This book was amazing! I love that the story is told from two different points of views, that of Scarlett who has grown up a witch and always known that her destiny and goal was to be president of her sorority/hidden in plain site witches coven. The other point of view is from Vivi who just wanted to finally have a stable place and chose Westerly for the school...and has no idea about witchcraft.

This novel was wonderful and exciting and was a book I was always excited to pick up and couldn't wait to find out what happened next. The only negative I would say for the entire novel is the minimal love triangle felt a bit forced but thankfully, it was such a minor part and didn't overwhelm the actual story.

This novel is the beginning of the series, however, it also was a fully finished novel as well with now horrendously frustrating cliff hangers! I am excited to see what else is to come with these sorority sisters/coven!!

The Ravens was a witchy sorority story. I love books about witches, love Southern Gothic, and am really happy to read YA set in college!

The Ravens are a sorority of witches at a Southern college. Scarlett is a legacy member whose mother and sister were members. Vivi is the newbie and didn't even realize she has powers. The Ravens have a secret, one that they'll do anything to protect.

This was a little fluffier and less dark than I was hoping for, but it was still a fun read.

Definitely for fans of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

The Ravens is the first installment in co-authors Kass Morgan (the 100 series) and Danielle Page’s (Dorothy Must Die series) Raven series. This is a contemporary fantasy series about a sorority of witches called Kappa Rho Nu (Ravens). It is told in two different perspectives. One belonging to Westerly College freshman Vivian (Vivi) Devereaux, and the other to Westerly College Junior Scarlett Winter. For Vivi, this is her chance to break away from what she believes is a paranoid mother who has premonitions of darkness that seems to be calling for Vivi.

After years of picking up and moving from city to city and changes schools in the middle of a school year without any real explanation, Vivi is given a scholarship to attend Westerly College which is in Savannah, Georgia. Vivi does not want to be like her mother Daphne who she believes defrauds people with her tarot card reading; she wants to redefine herself in a way that feels true to herself. Vivi wants to stop running and settle down and enjoy the next 4 years of college and just maybe, find some friends in the process. Vivi had no idea that she was a witch until she attends a party at Kappa Rho Nu and lights a sparkler which is an indication that she’s a witch.

In this world, every witch is born of their own magic. Cups = Water, Swords = Air, Pentacles = Earth, and Wands = Fire. Each sign is aligned with a suit of Tarot Cards. Vivi’s arrival on campus ends up with her choice to attend a Kappa Rho Nu party where they are looking for new members, one girl per suit. After Vivi is told that she’s a pentacle, she must also go through initiation games, aka Hell Week to become a full pledge member of the coven. As usual, there is the usual hanky panky that comes with rushing for a sorority.

Scarlett is a Junior at Westerly College and part of the Kappa Rho Nu coven. Her mother was a Raven, her sister was a Raven, and now she is working towards becoming the next President of the sorority which just happens to be a major coven of witches. Scarlett struggles to escape from the shadow of her family’s legacy and live under the pressure of being a Winter. Scarlett’s isn’t one of my favorites in this story due to her treatment and resentment of Vivi and the fact that she couldn’t see what was happening right in front of her own eyes. After Vivi and 4 others are offered a chance at initiation, Scarlett ends up being Big Sister to Vivi who she despises because there’s really nothing of her background that would inspire anyone’s confidence that she’d be a good witch and sister.

In the middle of all the shenanigans, they must contend with a missing sister, a vengeful former sister, someone threatening to expose them all, as well as boyfriend games and exploration. On top of everything, Vivi discovers a few secrets about her own mother that she’s been keeping secrets and reasons why she is always on the run and moving at the drop of a hat. We also learn that Vivi isn’t someone to be trifled with. She may be one of the most powerful Pentacle witches in a generation. But it also makes her a target for villainous sisters and those who want to use her to get what they want.

By the end of the story, I was kind of hoping that Scarlett would find her own happiness that she’s apparently lost on the way to attempting to become the Raven’s President. I think that if the Ravens are supposed to exemplify in personality, pedigree, intelligence, and sophistication, there is an exceptionally long road to get there from those who are introduced in this story. Recently, I’ve been having issues with authors focusing on the color of the persons skin instead of who the character is. IE, white girl, or that girl with the dark skin. You get my point. I honestly though that with this being 2020 we could finally get away with caring what skin color a person is, but I guess not.

The Ravens by Kass Morgan and Danielle Page is the exciting first installment in their YA fantasy series of the same name. I’m always drawn to books that are set in schools, so this one being set on a college campus really appealed to me. The Ravens does not disappoint either. It’s a dark and atmospheric, fast-paced read that is perfect for spooky season, but at the same time, it’s a wonderful story about sisterhood and sacrifice. I really enjoyed it.

Kappa Rho Nu sorority is the envy of all at Westerly College. Filled with glamorous and powerful women, it is easily the most elite and exclusive sorority on campus, issuing the fewest invitations to join during the sorority rush week. Vivi Deveraux, a new student at Westerly, is shocked but thrilled when she receives an invitation to join. She is even more shocked when she learns why – Kappa Rho Nu is not just a sorority; it’s also a coven of witches. Only witches are allowed to join, which comes as a huge surprise to Vivi, as she had no idea she even was a witch. Scarlett Winters, next in line to be President of the Kappas, is the first sister Vivi meets during rush week and they unfortunately get off on the wrong foot. Things get even more awkward for Vivi when Scarlett gets assigned to be her mentor and help her learn how to harness her magic. When a dark secret from the Kappa’s past rears its ugly head and threatens not just their reputation on campus, but also their actual lives, can Vivi and Scarlett put aside their differences and neutralize the threat?

Vivi was probably my favorite character, mainly because she has that underdog vibe from the moment she gets on Scarlett’s bad side. I always have a soft spot for those underdogs. I also found her to be a very sympathetic character in that she has come to Westerly looking for a fresh start. She and her mom have spent most of Vivi’s life moving from place to place around the country, never putting down roots anywhere long enough for Vivi to make any friends. As soon as I heard her backstory I was really rooting for Vivi to find her squad. I also found Vivi to be an interesting character in that her mother is completely opposed to her attending Westerly, swearing that it’s too dangerous for her there. That, coupled with the fact that Vivi’s mom obviously never told her she’s a witch, made Vivi an all the more compelling character. There’s a mystery there and I really wanted to get to the bottom of it.

I do have to confess that I didn’t like Scarlett quite as much as I liked Vivi, probably just because she was so cold to Vivi when she first arrived at Kappa. She grew on me though as I learned more about her. She’s a legacy and is trying to live up to the reputation of both her older sister and her mother, both of whom were Kappa presidents. She’s under a lot of pressure because of that and she’s also trying to live down something that happened in her past, which makes her an interesting character to keep an eye on.

Filled with twists and turns as the Kappa sisters confront the danger that threatens to destroy them, The Ravens is a riveting read that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

Vivi's mother has moved her around all of her life, claiming that darkness is following. She's never had an opportunity to make friends or build relationships. Now Vivi is headed to college, and for the first time in her life, she can put down some roots. At Westerly, she decides to rush Kappa, a very exclusive and swanky sorority, even though she feels like she is not good enough for them. To her surprise, not only is she given a bid, she learns that she's a witch! Kappa is the perfect cover for her coven, the Ravens, to discover, recruit, and train witches without being discovered. Vivi finally starts to feel like she belongs, but everything is not as it seems with her new sisters. Someone is using dark magic, and no one is safe.

The Ravens was a good spooky book to read that got me into the Halloween spirit without being scary. As a former sorority girl myself, I really enjoyed the Greek traditions and processes that the author included, because it gave me some flashbacks to my college days. My biggest complaint for the book was that I felt that some characters were really unnecessary to the plot, and were only there to create a romantic angle that wasn't really needed. The book would have been better without the forced romance/love triangle, and should have stayed focused on the sisterhood aspect. Overall, it was a fun read and I'd recommend it if you like witchy/magical books. I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley, in return for my review.

I liked this one a lot. I thought the concept was interesting and the characters really drove the plot and story. It was the perfect mix of contemporary and fantasy. So many twists that I didn't see coming!

If you haven't heard of The Ravens it's a story about sorority which is actually a secret coven. The story follows two sorority sisters Vivi Deveraux, a freshman and Scarlett Winters, a junior. While Vivi has come to Westerly to escape her mother and find stability she stumbles upon something much greater when she discovers powers she never knew she possessed. Scarlett comes from a legacy of witches having been raised her whole life to be a Raven like her mother and older sister. This year her biggest goal is to become the sorority president like her family members before her.

The story is set on a Southern college campus but I'll be honest and say I didn't feel much Southern vibes and it could've been set elsewhere and felt more realistic. I get what they were going for setting it in Savannah because it's America's most haunted city but some things felt off to me. Outside of the few mentions of gothic architecture here and there it could've easily been set at a college up north or on the west coast and had the same vibes. Or it could've even been set at an elite boarding school since at times I got more high school than college vibes.

At times I felt like it was a little too politically correct. Granted I never went to college in The South but even here in the north there is a little racial tension between the different races at time. They really went out of their way to point out how diverse this predominantly white institution (PWI) is by always mentioning people around campus of different races. And in the sorority of itself you have Scarlett who is Black and who has family history rooted in Kappa Rho Nu. With Greek life being notoriously exclusive and other races having had to create their own sororities to have a place on campus it was a little hard to believe so many girls of different races were legacies. And in this book kind of side steps race while trying to show diversity. I understand not wanting to lean into oppression all the time but let's not pretend racism exists in an environment where it's known for being present.

The magic system is easy to understand. There are four types of witches which include Cups, Wands, Pentacles, and Swords. Each have their own element they are strongest working with. Swords are the air sign, Cups are the water sign, Pentacles are the earth sign, and Wands are the fire sign. Each sign is aligned with it's own deck of tarot cards which can be used to cast spells. Though the tarot cards are more of a pretty prop as when a witch has control of her powers she doesn't need to draw on them.

Let's talk about what sparks a rivalry between Vivi and Scarlett. It's not just the rich girl/poor girl dynamic that causes tension. Scarlett being the queen of campus is dating the hottest guy from a popular fraternity. Of how I disliked Mason and his summer growth. Yes, people change as they get older and realize things they thought they cared about before really don't interest them at all anymore. He went away for one summer and started acting brand new. All of a sudden he's so above all the shallowness of everyone around him after his privileged summer of backpacking through Europe without a care in the world. So he returns to campus and moves in on the impressionable freshman girl and continues to pursue her despite knowing she's joining a sorority with the girl he's still dating. Not sure why either girl wanted him because he was rather bland.

All in all The Ravens is an entertaining guilty pleasure kind of book with some twists I didn't expect sprinkled in the last half. It starts off slow setting up the world around the girls but the mystery really kicks off in the last half and we get to see the girls in action. The magic gives me Charmed vibes with rhyming spells, gathering herbs and other ingredients, scrying to find things, etc. I thought the tarot card aspect was cool and liked that it was explained early on but I wanted to see if go deeper and explore their specific powers outside of them tapping into their powers together as a whole. I found Scarlett to be more fleshed out than Vivi though Vivi got more interesting to me after the 60% mark. I would watch a movie or series based on this book. And this being an Alloy Entertainment production I'm sure a series or movie is already in the works.

Originally posted at
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-ravens-by-kass-morgan-and-danielle.html

I did not finish this book the writing was fine and the storytelling was adequate, however there was way too much historical inaccuracies. Yes it is fantasy but how did you set a book in a old Southern city like Savannah and act as if race was a non-factor. It is impossible to believe that a Black and white sorority would exist in the deep South where people of color, particularly Black people and white people co-existed peacefully with no legacy of slavery and segregation mentioned which lasted way after Jim Crow. At least mention that there needed to be some sort of magic employed (like charming) or talk about how Scarlett's Black ancetors may have been white passing, to be able to make this believable . It was unrealistic for me to believe that Scarlett, her mom and ancestors belonged to this sorority in the deep South.

The Ravens is about Scarlett and Vivi, two very different girls attending Westerly College. One is a junior aiming to become the next president of her sorority; the other is a freshman trying to join that same sorority. Oh, and did I mention that sorority is actually a coven of witches? Trust me, the premise is just as cool as it sounds.

The Ravens started a bit slow with all the info-dumping in the beginning. I get that we need to establish the magic system behind the witches’ powers and some background on our main characters, but I shouldn’t feel like I have to bookmark a page to refer to later. It was unnecessary, too, since the powers and spells are explained and categorized enough throughout the story. It didn’t all have to be unloaded at once.

That said, I really did love the magic in The Ravens. It was done in a way I haven’t seen before, although to be honest, this is the first book with witches that I’ve read in some time. But I mean, a sorority of witches? That’s a concept that’s hard to beat.

I also really loved the college setting. It was so nicely done and so, so relatable. However, I find it kind of funny (and sad) that the character I related to the most is a love interest. The dude was literally used as a plot device. 😆 It’s not a knock against the girls and how they were written; it’s just that his internal struggles and my post-grad crisis are basically the same. It also happens to be a struggle that I don’t read too often, so The Ravens definitely gets some brownie points for including it.

Speaking of love interests, I wasn’t the biggest of the romance. It wasn’t bad, just kind of meh and pretty predictable. I almost wish the romance wasn’t included at all.

Vivi and Scarlet were relatable in their own ways and struggles, as well. But I kind of went back and forth between liking them, being annoyed with them, and wanting to facepalm because of them. Their individual journeys were a bit of a w-i-l-d ride. It’s interesting because, at the surface, I relate to Vivi more, but I actually prefer Scarlet, even if she’s bitchier and sometimes got blinders on. Vivi’s just more naïve and, honestly, confusing.

Vivi’s growth kind of feels… inauthentic? It just feels too glossed over. She went from insecure to super confident in like two weeks after pledging The Ravens. Maybe I should have joined a sorority in college? If only there was a coven that masqueraded as a sorority at my school.

Still, my favorite aspect of The Ravens was the mystery embedded within it. That aspect, along with the magic (after all the info-dumping), was so well done. I’m not fooled by books too often, but dang, The Ravens got me good. And honestly, it was enough to bump this read up by 0.5 stars – this was veering into 3.5-star territory before it became more of a thriller. Let’s just say the second half went a lot faster than the first. No more info dumps and more action makes for a happier Emily.

IN CONCLUSION…
The Ravens has a great magic system, mystery, and college setting. But it could have been better with less info-dumps, less romance, and some more character development. I’m really looking forward to reading the sequel!

The Ravens is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys witchy novels or, of course, movies/tv shows like The Craft, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Charmed, etc. This one . Kappa Rho Nu is a super exclusive sorority at Westerly College. They are the cool, powerful girls also known as the Ravens. Little does everyone else know, they are witches! The story is told from the perspectives of Scarlett and Vivi. Scarlett has always known she’s a witch and is determined to be president of the Ravens, but her deepest secret could get in the way. And Vivi has no idea she’s a witch when she gets the invite to the Ravens. The story feels like an adventure with plenty of world-building, an intriguing magical system, and tons of action to keep things moving. There is mystery, romance, and excellent characters. Be prepared for shocking twists and a solid ending. Highly recommended to readers who love YA novels involving witches or if you’re looking for an entertaining contemporary fantasy to get lost in.

The Ravens by Kass Morgan is a fascinating young adult paranormal fantasy that is perfect to sink your teeth into. As a cross between The Craft and Mean Girls, reading The Ravens is one of the most fun books I've read in a while.

A perfectly witchy read for the spooky season! I loved every moment of reading this. The characters, the world that was built - and the fact that it was set in Savannah!! I think my favorite part was the character development. There was one main POV character that I wasn’t sure about at the beginning, but as the plot thickened and the book went on, she won me over! The ending was perfect, although I would LOVE to have more stories from this amazing coven of sisters. Highly recommended!

This was a little formulaic and predictable but a fun read for Halloween, especially for fans of witchy media like Motherland: Fort Salem, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina or The Craft reboot, and/or stories about female friendship and secret sisterhoods. I'd read the sequel if I was looking for something relatively light and escapist in this vein.

I read this title with my teen book club because we were gifted a set of advance copies, in addition to the digital arc I received from Net Galley. Responses from teens were lukewarm, and I agreed that The Ravens had faults and the premise was problematic...readers must suspend disbelief a lot...but it was a fun selection for Halloween. If you’re looking for an entertaining read with light, clean romance (OK for middle school) and lots of tarot-inspired magic, this is a good title. But there are better choices in the category of school of magic books...try Leigh Bardugo, Rainbow Rowell, or Sarah Rees Brennan. It might be fun to pair this with the movie The Craft. Younger readers should be advised that there are dark elements, including murder and a parent with terminal illness, but it is balanced by character development and a sense of redemption at the end. Recommend with reservations.

I am just not impressed. It is a decent novel, the pace works, the characters are passable if not memorable (other than Scarlet), but the college setting/sorority as a witch coven thing was not used to its fullest potential. It brings nothing new/exciting to the table. We get so hung up on the background mystery of "what did Scarlett DO?" or "Who is going after the witches?!" that the journey from the new witches is barely explored. From one chapter to the next the new witches are able to do ridiculous amounts of things just from memorizing a book of spells in 24 hours. It is a bummer.

The magic system reminded me so much of Charmed. Witches make things happen by making funky rhymes and sometimes (for the major arcana) getting ingredients for spells. I just, wanted a more subversive experience. I wanted an exploration and melding of college life and the sorority lifestyle-I wanted a 20 somethings read and I feel like The Ravens reads very YA, which makes sense because of the author's backgrounds but college is about forging into adult territory. The Ravens could have easily been set in an prep school to keep the kids away from their parents with minimal adult supervision and then it would have read a little truer.

There is romance--it is not great. Vivi (the new recruit/witch) is instantly attracted to Mason, who happens to be Scarlett's boyfriend (shocker). The relationship between Scarlett and Mason is on the rocks after one summer apart though, so you know that ain't gonna last. My biggest problem was Mason, why in the seven hells are either of these girls into this guy? He is the <b>worst</b>. He was flirting with Vivi while still in a relationship with Scarlett, but has no issue in kissing Scarlett and doing other things. But Scarlett is his issue because he is going through a phase and Scarlett is really confused as to where this sudden change came from (girl, so was I and I barely knew the guy). He is also so BLAND, which I guess it would make sense for him to be into VIVI.

CHARACTERS! Vivi is a bland piece of toast. I'm sorry, but her character is so not interesting. I kept wanting to skip her parts just so I can read from Scarlett's POV. On the other hand Scarlett is the f ing best--she tries to work on her relationship but understands that there are things more important than this less than stellar guy, like her standing in the sorority and her sisters. Kick Mason to the nearest moon please. Is she a bit self centered and cares too much about pedigree? YES, but those are flaws that the character can overcome/work around. She has issues with her family putting too much pressure on her; she is a product of her upbringing. It makes her interesting to read! While Vivi's most interesting story line is her "forbidden" romance with Mason, which as I already stated is not great.

I was just disappointed. The Ravens makes for a quick read, if not a memorable one. It doesn't bring anything new to the table and doesn't go too deep into developing the college life setting (other than parties and a VERY short and kind of kiddie "Hell Week"). Maybe I'll pick up the sequel, but probably not.