Ravenfall was one of the novels that our 5-7th grade lit class read in the fall of 2022. It was a massive hit with the kids.

This was a great middle grade read set around Samhain, or Halloween but rooted in Irish origin. Collin ends up at Ravenfall after his parents are murderd and his brother disappears. Ravenfall is a magical Inn run by Anna's family, who each have their own magic powers. The 2 try to figure out why they're being targeted by wraiths and how to stop them, while Collin learns the truth about his family and his own magic along the way. The 2 become close friends over the course of the book and help each other understand their own magics better.

I love it. It's really amazing the plot and flow of the story is amazing. I love everything about it.

I loved this book! Great middle school grade read. I really enjoy Kalyn Joseph’s on writing and I can’t wait to read more by her!

I found this story to be delightful. It was a whimsical and atmospheric read. Enjoyed the darker tone of it.

This was a fun, atmospheric read. I enjoyed the setting of a supernatural mansion. In fact, the house was one of my favorite characters (although Max was my absolute favorite). It was an interesting concept and fairly fast-paced. However, sometimes the dual perspectives didn't quite work for me - I wasn't always able to tell which character the viewpoint was coming from. I had to flip back to the beginning of the chapter to figure it out. I was also pretty invested in the first half of the book, but the last half felt like it resolved to quickly. Overall, though, I had a fun time reading this book. Readers that enjoy slightly spooky fantasy with a twist of humor would likely enjoy this book.

This was a really good MG novel! The main characters were great. Overall, I would definitely recommend!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Bringing me back to Salem, MA with this book! So in other words, I loved this book! It started off super dark for the age range it was subject for, but quickly lightened up. The magic in the book was beautiful and all the creatures that were introduced were wonderful. Each character was beautifully written and developed nicely throughout the book. The mystery to Colin and his parents was amazing and really brought so much to the book.

4.5 Stars — I loved this! It was full of magical creatures, supernatural abilities, found family, as well as a wonderful message about believing in yourself. I found the world to be rich with magical details while keeping a small town feel. Our main protagonists, Anna and Colin, were amazing friends who are loyal to each other, despite sometimes feeling envious of the other. I love that they loved each other, and had a deep connection and bond over their shared loneliness and struggles. Side characters were interesting and I suspect we will fall in love with them with future books.

The standout character in this is Max, the jabberwocky aka a guardian of the Shield, who is disguised as a cat. Max has no spoken dialogue in the book, and yet he became such an impactful character full of spunky personality.

Some of the lessons were a bit on the nose for me, but perfectly appropriate for its intended audience. And as someone who rarely cries while reading, there’s something about children’s fiction that often gets me in my feels. There is a moment in the book, during a battle scene, that absolutely gutted me. It all ends well but I had to take a moment. *emotional damage*

I can’t wait for future books! I anticipate many exciting adventures for our Ravenfall Inn family.

Lost interest in this book about halfway through. It just didn't click with me. I'm not really sure why I liked the concept but for me it faded fast.

First, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc.

Ravenfall is not what I expected. It started out dark, very dark. But as I read I discovered it was not nearly as dark as I thought.
Preferred age: 10 and up

Anna, the youngest of 3 sisters, is just another family member with magical powers, living in a haunted b&b. The town of Wick attracts both the magical and the non-magical, especially during Halloween/Sanhaim. This year, though, it attracts Colin, a young teen whose parents have been murdered and whose brother has disappeared. Who killed his parents and why? Why do these strange things keep happening to him?
It is through trying to help Colin, that Anna finally embraces her powers and learns what it is like to have a friend.

Filled with awesome descriptions, you are transported to Wick and to this fantastical adventure, joining in on the fight of good vs. evil.

This book is such a Halloween treat! Whimsical and so much fun. I want to stay in Ravenfall and see everything it has to offer, especially on Halloween. I love that this book was complex but also didn't require too much energy in figuring out the world building and the mystery around it. I would have liked to see MORE worldbuilding but it sounds like there is a book 2 so I will patiently wait for it!

Ravenfall is a must add to your fall TBR list. It is the perfect spooky read that will have you desiring cool days and a warm cup of tea.

In the world if Ravenfall, humans and magical being co-exist, and Anna and Colin must find ways to traverse it. The development of Anna was very well done as we watch her start full of self-doubt, come into her power.
As Colin stumbled into Ravenfall, he realized that he finally had a place for him to come home to which rounded his backstory perfectly. Their adventures had me intrigued the entire time. I had so much fun reading this book, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

When I read that Ravenfall Inn was a "B&B at the crossroads of the human world and the Otherworld", I knew I needed to read this book. This book is perfect for fall, especially near Halloween, as Anna and Colin race against the clock in this story. I love the magic and supernatural aspects of the story and honestly found it a bit spookier than expected for a middle age book. Very excited to see where the story is headed in the sequel!

A Fun Fall Read!

Annabella yearns to join her family in entertaining party-goers in the packed ballroom of their Ravenfall Inn. Instead, she’s hiding in a dark corner, alone—unless you count the ivy that’s singing and trying to play with her hair—feeling sad and jealous, lonely and useless.

Most of all, she doesn’t want to touch anybody. Since turning 13 and coming into her psychic powers, even an accidental brush against a stranger brings Anna visions of any death the person has experienced. Why can’t her gift be useful, Anna wonders, like mindreading or one of the other skills practiced by the rest of her Jewish-Irish family?

Meanwhile, 14-year-old Colin journeys to Ravenfall desperate to find his brother. Their parents always told them to meet at the inn if they were separated in an emergency. Now their parents have been murdered, but his brother isn’t there.

When Colin arrives at the sprawling, sentient, hat-wearing inn, he doesn’t know magic is real or that Wick, Oregon, sits at the junction between our world and the Otherworld. Or that the border grows especially porous during the annual, fast-approaching Samhain celebration. Colin grew up believing he was in the witness protection program, but he soon learns he hails from a magical family and has powers, too.

As Anna and Colin try to solve the mysteries surrounding his family, they’re forced to confront an ancient evil. By turns scary and funny, this entertaining story offers relatable characters, lots of action, and an evocative, whimsical setting. Beyond the magic, monsters and Irish mythology is a celebration of family, friendship, and each person’s unique gifts.

Disclaimer: I only post about books I finished and enjoyed.

“In the town of Wick, Oregon, where magic is never far from your fingertips, Halloween is the biggest holiday of the year, and Ravenfall is the place to be.”

Thirteen-year-old Anna Ballinkay feels like she doesn’t fit into her family of psychics. With a power that only allows her to see death when she touches people, it feels like the only thing she’s good for at her family’s inn, Ravenfall, is chores. But when fourteen-year-old Colin Pierce ends up at Ravenfall while searching for his missing older brother after the death of their parents, everything is launched into chaos. Anna and Colin team up to try to figure out who killed Colin’s parents, but when they discover secrets about Colin’s past that reveal that an ancient Celtic god is hunting him, they’ll have to use their wits and everything else at their disposal to stop the god’s destruction before Halloween—or else.

With Halloween approaching, everyone wants to read stories to get them in the mood, and RAVENFALL is the perfect spooky yet sweet read for this season. If you know me, you know I love dual-narrated books, and this one did not disappoint. The quirky characters really brought the story to life, and while I grew to really care about Anna and Colin, I have to say that Max—a jabberwocky masquerading as a black cat—completely stole the show! The various powers in the family were also enjoyable, and I liked seeing how the characters’ personalities somewhat matched their powers. With just the right mix of action, adventure, and heartwarming moments, this haunting and slightly spooky middle grade is perfect for Halloween!

Content Warnings: Blood, murder, death of a parent, violence, some graphic descriptions, fire, death of an animal

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

If you’re looking for a fun and fast read to enjoy for fall/spooky season, then look no further!

Ravenfall is exactly what the author advertised. This is for the fans of Supernatural, Scooby Doo, Encanto, Halloweentown, Celtic mythology, and the found family trope. Josephson wasn’t kidding when she said all of that. The book seriously hits all of those spots.

The story itself was magical and super enjoyable. I absolutely loved the dual POVs of Anna and Colin. Their narratives and personalities are so unique.

I had a blast with this and I’m eagerly anticipating the sequel.

'Life isn't all joy and flight; it's also raw aches and pains. It's loving someone so much it makes it
hard to breathe, and then letting them go.'

Ravenfall is a middle grade story that has Encanto and Supernatural (two brothers, family of hunters) vibes; the house – Ravenfall Inn, a connection between the human world and the Otherworld – is sentient, and likes to wear hats. The main characters are Anna, whose family of psychics owns the magical inn situated in a magical small town, and Colin, a boy who just lost his parents. The two of them form a connection and team up against a great evil, revealing mysteries about Colin's heritage and his magical powers. The veil between the human world and the Otherworld is in danger.

This was such a magical, cute, funny, sad and spooky story. I liked it a lot, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.
Anna and Colin both are loveable characters. The young teenagers have both been feeling lonely – Anna because of her ability to see death when touching someone, and Colin because of his family being on the run – they are longing for friendship, which they find in each other; so cute!! I also loved the Irish/Celtic mythology, and other supernatural elements, that were of great importance in the book; it added to the spookiness. There are slower parts because they do lots of research, but it was very interesting to read and helped with understanding Colin's past and the mythological connections. The different attacks, and the ending, were so well-written and full of tension; I couldn't stop reading and had to read the rest of the book in one sitting. Most of my favourite parts included a "cat" named Max. He lives at Ravenfall Inn, he's intelligent, funny, responsible for changing the house's hats, and there is more to him than one would expect...
If you're still looking for a book to add to your spooky/witchy TBRs, check out Ravenfall. It has all it takes to be a great Halloween read! BOO!

This was such a lovely story! The setting and overall vibe were perfect for spooky season (or if you are craving something spooky), and the plot itself was whimsical and enchanting. I am beyond excited for the next book, and I cannot wait for it to come out!

Overall, I’m really happy with Ravenfall and excited to see this book released! (especially after reading the author’s note). It’s the perfect cozy, magical, and atmospheric middle-grade read for Halloween, complete with interesting mystery and some great actions. I highly recommend this book for the ~spooky~ season! 🧡