Ravenfall, by Kalyn Josephson is the start of a spooky middle grade series that will grab you from the first chapter!

Anna and her world of creepy monsters, moving houses, and Jabberwockys is so interesting, you won't want to leave! I love the friendship that grows between her and Colin, and how they both grow as characters.

I did feel this got a little too dark and violent for middle grades at times, but overall this is a fantastic story!

Overall

The minute I saw this book comped to Supernatural, I knew I had to read it! Such an interesting premise for a middle grade book. Plus, have you seen that cover? It gives me all sorts of creepy vibes, perfect for fall reading! Throw in the promise of Celtic mythology, and there was no way I wasn’t going to pick this book up at some point. I’m only human, after all. Or am I?!

Ravenfall combines the whimsically dark world (and house!) of books like Nevermoor with a slightly darker, more sinister paranormal world like Supernatural to spin a thrilling story of magic, sibling bonds, and found family.

This book was so much fun. It’s got a magically whimsical world complete with a semi-omniscient house that feels a lot like Nevermoor or even Encanto. So if you haven’t been charmed by a house before, prepare yourself. The experience is thrilling. Anna and Colin are fantastic characters, and the supporting cast are all charming and make for one heck of a ride. I never wanted to leave this world!

My Thoughts

- Anna is one of two protagonists, and she’s so relatable in her struggle to feel needed and useful but not quite knowing yet how to do that. Anna’s so relatable because her struggle is one that’s quintessentially at the core of human being in general: wanting to belong. If you’ve seen Encanto, you’ll recognize Anna’s struggle right off the bat. In a house full of people with these amazing powers, Anna’s ability to see Death feels like more of a curse . . . and a rather unhelpful one at that. Though, now that I think about it, curses, in general, are unhelpful in nature, so that maybe was a little redundant. Oops?

I really connected with Anna, because she tries so hard to do the right thing, but she doesn’t always quite make it. I mean, she’s a kid, and kids often make mistakes (but so do adults, which also comes up in this book!). In the end, Anna just wants to feel useful and a bit less lonely, which I think is something most people can relate to, especially middle grade readers.

- Our other protagonist is Colin, who isn’t entirely unlike Anna in his desires, but with an added benefit: like the reader, he’s new to this whole magic thing. And he doesn’t always handle it well. I think this worked really well, since the reader gets to see the world through Anna’s eyes, as someone who’s used to magic, but also gets to discover the world little by little with Colin, who’s often surprised and impressed by what he discovers. It’s a great balance that also mirrors the reader’s reaction to some of the supernatural elements as they crop up.

Colin has seemingly lost everything, having witnessed the death of his parents at the hands of some supernatural creature. Now he’s determined to avenge their deaths, whatever it takes. But deep down, Colin really wants what most of us want: a place to belong. Made all the more important, of course, due to his loss of everyone he ever considered to be home.

Colin is doing his best to be brave in the face of so much change and loss, and his character is really admirable in that regard. Little by little, though, he has to learn how to let other people in again, because this isn’t a problem he can solve on his own. Especially as he realizes the world is bigger (and more dangerous) than he ever imagined.

- If you’re a fan of cute animal sidekicks, you won’t be disappointed. Meet Max, the black cat, who’s actually really a Jabberwocky, filled with sarcasm and attitude. He is the best sort of sidekick. Namely, one that has an attitude and isn’t afraid to show it. Max serves as comic relief in many ways, but he also plays an important role. A Jabberwocky, after all, is a sort of guardian, so don’t let the cute, fluffy exterior fool you. Despite having no speaking parts (obviously . . . he’s a cat!), Max is still one of my favorite characters.

- This book is filled with all sorts of tropes I love, including sibling/family bonds and found family. It’s not even just between Anna and her siblings, though that’s definitely an element. As inadequate as Anna already feels, it’s made worse by the fact that her older sisters are twins, with pretty cool powers, who live a little bit in their own worlds. Despite the fact that of course her sisters would have her back.

The struggle is also reflected with Colin and his older brother, Liam, whose fate is currently unknown. Both boys escaped the encounter with their parents’ killer, but they were separated in the process. Which means Colin has no idea what’s become of his older brother, who has always taken care of him.

What I especially loved about this book, though, is that the sibling bonds (and sometimes conflicts and struggles) are echoed through the adults, even, which provided an extra level of realism and honesty that is so refreshing to see in middle grade. Roy and Elaine still quarrel and tease each other like siblings, and there’s even arguments between Nora and Elaine, including mentions of possible resentments and unresolved conflict between them. Because relationships are tricky and hard to navigate, especially with siblings. It’s so nice to see that just because people grow up, it doesn’t mean they’ve figured out how to handle their siblings. I sure haven’t!

- This world is 1,000% percent one I would absolutely LOVE to live in, and its mix of magic and darkness will likely appeal to many readers and have them begging to visit longer. There’s so much charming magic in this book, from the way the house has a life of its own (even demanding to wear a hat to match its mood), to the cantankerous Jabberwocky guardian named Max, to all the characters. There’s so much utterly adorable magic in this world, and I really don’t want to get too into it, because half the fun is discovering all the unique little elements. Needless to say, though, this is a world I absolutely loved and can’t wait to visit again in the sequel!

Don’t get it mixed, though: this world can also be dark. Like the idea of Redcaps, who are murderous creatures whose primary concern is their next kill so they can dip their hats in fresh blood. Creepy, right? There’s definitely a darker side to magic, and set on the backdrop of Samhain, it really creates a spooky atmosphere that makes this a wonderful fall read. The plot itself is focused around Samhain and includes Celtic mythology, which helps with the spooky factor!

Sticking Points

- As thrilling as the build-up is, the actual resolution of the climax was a bit of a let-down for me. I can’t decide if this is just as a result of constraints due to acceptable middle grade tropes and content or if I’m making just asking for too much. This isn’t unique to this book, even, but something I’ve seen a lot in middle grade horror. Authors build the atmosphere and tension splendidly, but then the actual resolution relies on some convenience that doesn’t entirely make sense given the backstory and goal of the Big Bad. Finding a strong ending for a middle grade book, given the constraints, is hard, and I realize that, but I still wanted something a bit more from the resolution of this conflict.

I really enjoyed this book! It was such a fun read. I loved how atmospheric it was, with the spookiness added in, and it's a perfect book for the fall season. I also really enjoyed the dual POV, and I thought both Anna and Colin had such unique voices and were both very likable and real characters, and it made for such an enjoyable read. I also really liked that Colin knew nothing about this world of magic, so we got to learn about it too through him, but not in a way that felt forced or just info dumping. Overall, a very good read, and I definitely recommend this to anyone who reads middle grade!

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review.

This was the PERFECT book to read to get in the mood for Fall and spooky season! It's a middle grade book that will appeal to both kids and adults. I would visit Ravenfall in a heartbeat if I could, the house and town sound amazing (you know, outside of the bad things that happen). I'd love to try wish cider and have some of Gran's baked goods. And as someone who has the philosophy of must pet all the animals, not gonna lie, I want to see a Jabberwocky.

I appreciate that Josephson gave both Anna and Colin space within the narrative to tell the story from their point of view, especially since even though they came from such different back stories, at the heart of it, they both wanted the same thing. The mystery/threat was compelling, as was how everything ties together. How our heroes got their last burst of power during the final battle made me sob... and then I cried all over again with what happened after the battle. The adults within the story aren't perfect, they make mistakes, but they are shown doing the best that they can while owning up to their mistakes.

LOVED the subtle nods to the TV show Supernatural and that RAVENFALL is about found family and friendships rather than making this into a romance (the space is there for it, but that's not what these characters needed within this plot). I'm excitedly looking forward to the next book in this series!

<strong>Meet Anna: resident psychometric 🔮 </strong>Her family - the Ballinkays - runs the Ravenfall Inn, a meeting point for all sorts of magical people and normals alike. <strong>Everyone in her family has a unique power that manifests when they are younger and Anna's just happens to completely suck</strong>. While her two sisters and mother can use their powers to contribute to the Inn, her ability to touch people and see death they have experienced is mildly creepy. She loves the house and wishes to use her magic for good, but Anna is laden with chores as no one seems to take her seriously. <strong>I really felt her hurt and anger at being left out and useless while everyone else seems at ease with who they were.</strong> I loved her humor and bond with the Ravenfall Inn, you can tell how much it means to her, despite her frustrations!

<strong>Meet Colin: a lost boy 💔 </strong>Colin's parents were just murdered by a mysterious man and Ravenfall Inn is the place they considered a last resort should things go wrong. Colin has been moving around his entire life without knowing why and now he's lost contact with his brother as well. <strong>He comes to Ravenfall with his own questions and hopes to find out what his parents were hiding</strong>. His grief and anger were really well-written. Colin feels left behind by everyone, especially as he discovers secrets and everything that has been kept from him his entire life.

<strong>I loved Colin and Anna's friendship 🥰 </strong>The book is dual POV, so you get to see Colin and Anna's struggles and how both of them mirrored each other. <strong>They are both feeling left out by their families and alone without knowing who they truly are.</strong> Anna immediately offers to help Colin when he appears at the Inn and goes with him to uncover his parents' murder. She doesn't always know how best to comfort him but tries to make him feel at home a the Inn since Colin has constantly been on the move. <strong>Their friendship was sweet and supportive</strong>, even though it had its ups and downs as well.

<strong>Generally, the world was so immersive and atmospheric 🍂 </strong>This will be the perfect autumn read since it's set around the time of Samhain and features lots of <strong>descriptions of mouth-watering food and gorgeous decorations</strong>. The Inn has a cozy feel to it and I <strong>LOVE the 'magical house' trope where the house is sentient</strong> and alive! There is also so much magic, paranormal creatures, and a small town called Wick that is hard to find but has most humans and magical beings coexist. The Supernatural and Halloweentown comparisons are definitely justified! We have a fun, sometimes dark adventure as Anna and Colin race to stop the entity that killed his parents as they threaten to unravel magic.

<strong>The secondary cast was also great!! </strong>The author really managed to bring Anna's family to life and give us an insight into each character. I <strong>especially loved Uncle Roy</strong>, a pyrokinetic who used to get into all kinds of trouble and still has a mischievous and fun side to him. Then there's Gran, Anna's mother Nora, and Elaine, each powerful psychics in their own right. Anna also has two sisters called Rose and Kara who sometimes annoy her but would do anything for her. The <strong>highlight was Max, a Jabberwocky appearing in the form of a cat</strong>. He is a protector of the house and loves Anna and Colin. I like when books have animal companions!

<strong>IN CONCLUSION.</strong> ➽ <em>Ravenfall </em>is a <strong>fantastic spooky, atmospheric Middle Grade story with a lot of heart</strong>. You cannot help but love Anna, Colin, Max, and Ravenfall Inn ❤️ There is a great mix of adventure, heartfelt, but messy family relationships, and strong friendships!

This was wonderful! We follow Anna, who is part of a family of psychics who run a haunted inn and Colin, a boy whose life has become a mystery after the death of his parents. They connect when he books a room at Anna’s inn, and the story really takes off from there.

This story has a lot of interesting and fun magic, and a good amount of scares. The atmosphere is perfect, and I would give it to any kid in October. The characters are also really likable. Colin really becomes a part of Anna’s eclectic family, which was so sweet. Both characters struggle to find their place in their magical world, and it was very easy too root for them. There is some pretty heavy stuff in this, but there’s a lot of heartwarming stuff too. Also, a very heroic cat. This does falter at points, giving a few questions some very easy answers, but overall, I really liked it. I immediately found myself comparing it to Lana Harper’s From Bad to Cursed meets The Raven Cycle, but middle grade. And that’s a great thing, since I really love those titles. I definitely recommend this for the spooky season!

Thank you NetGalley for early access to this title in exchange for an honest review.
Ravenfall is a wonderfully spooky middle grade paranormal mystery. Colin Pierce finds himself at Ravenfall Inn after his parents are ripped away from him and his brother has gone missing for this was where he was told to go. The B&B is run by the Ballinkays who just happen to be a family of psychics in charge of watching over the crossroads between our world and the Otherworld. The youngest Ballinkay, Annabella, is determined to help their newest arrival through whatever challenges he’s suddenly facing. The dynamic duo team up, with help from the rest of the Ballinkay clan, to prevent a very old enemy from Celtic Mythology from coming back to our world on Halloween night.
I could not have wished for a better book for jump start my spooky reads for the year. Every character was well crafted to be complete individuals – no cookie cutter stereotypes. The development of Anna and Colins friendship while quick felt completely natural as they were both looking for someone to fit in with after a long time of feeling left out in their respective pasts. The sentient house plus a not-cat-cat named Max created just the right amount of levity to keep this story from getting too dark. The descriptive writing was so beautifully crafted that the town of Wick jumped right off the page. All and all a bewitchingly beautiful tale of magic, grief, friendship, family, and finding acceptance. I look forward to seeing where the story goes in Hollowthorn out next year.

This was a fun fall vibe read perfect start to my spooky season can’t wait until I can grab an actual copy

Anna has always be a little weird, she lives in a bed and breakfast that brings all kinds of magic together. She knows her family isn’t of the “normal” variety but hasn’t seen that to be a huge problem.

When Colin, a young orphan comes knocking at this place he knows nothing off Anna jumps to help him anyway she can. Colin saw horrible things he couldn’t quite explain and needs help to not only find his family but also to understand that the world isn’t always what we think it is.

As truths and long lost stories come to light and powers are explored and developed this multi pov story shows how families are not always blood but are always strong in bonds.

The story is fascinating and I loved all the characters. I just wanted more and more of them all. I hope that there will be many more books in this world that was created. It had the feel of the cozy Halloween movies I loved as a kid and continue to love as an adult.

It was a perfect read for going into fall, a very quick fast paced read and I can’t recommend it enough.



💫Thank you to @NetGalley and @randomhouse and @delacorte for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun, balanced ride! The chemistry of the characters is great, the world is so playful and dynamic--a delight to read.

This was a fun read. It's always great to see middle grade horror. I also enjoyed the references to Celtic mythology. I don't know a ton about it and liked learning more.

- Did someone say supernatural powers?
You’re definitely getting a lot of supernatural powers and people in this book. I mean, when I heard what Ravenfall was about, I just had to request myself a copy of the book. Other than the fact that this book has been written by one of my favorite authors.

- Do you want a great Halloween read?
The cover is already screaming autumn, and the content of the book clearly does not disappoint. This is one of my favorite spooky reads of the year for MG Readers, but also an older and ‘experienced’ spooky reader might enjoy this book.

- Blossoming friendship?
Be prepared for Anna and Colin because their friendship is one of the sweetest.

- Great characters
This one is self-explanatory, I suppose, but I just want to mention again how amazing each one is. Josephson really managed to put some life into every character that is somewhat important to the story.

- Amazing world building
And we’ll get more because this is going to be a series!

Scheduled to post 9/15/22.

A little bit Supernatural, a little bit Addams Family, RAVENFALL is equal parts creepy and cute (okay, I think it trends a little more toward creepy) that gives you a good horror story while telling you about some kids finding their place in the world.

The Ravenfall house is the epitome of a haunted house, yet it's written in a way that also makes it cosy. Like it's permanently Halloween around it, you get that very haunted house feel, but once you get inside and see how it works, and that the house has a sense of humor, that creepiness dissolves. But it's not the house that makes the story creepy. The house makes the story safe. The creepiness is with the wraiths and how they're hunting Colin and how they attack. That's what's creepy.

RAVELFALL is, on the surface, a story about a boy bringing his baggage down on an unsuspecting family. Except as it all unfolds, it's revealed that the family more than knows who he is and that Ravenfall house is way more intertwined with what's chasing him than he ever thought.

Meanwhile, Anna just wanted to be useful, and I adore her. I adore Colin too, but I like Anna more. She very much feels unappreciated and useless in her house of psychics with this gift that doesn't do a whole hell of a lot. Until it does. Enter the miscommunication trope between her and her family and there's cause for a few tearful moments toward the end. 

It's a wonderful fall/Halloween read that has fantastic characters, a house full of personality (literally), and enough creepiness to sate that particular need when it comes to horror. Plus it's moody as all getout. I fall short of calling it gothic, but it has an atmospheric fog to it that adds to the creepiness. The setting is wonderful, and I could picture the house and the town around it so clearly. Hell, I could smell what Josephson was describing. RAVENFALL is just such an immersive, well-rounded story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

4.5

Anna's psychic family runs a sentient inn. Magical and non-magical people are welcome. Everyone in her family has a useful Magical ability. Anna can only foresee death if she touches someone. So, she spends her days doing chores around the inn.
When a boy named Colin shows up at the inn saying his parents have been murdered, Anna thinks this might be her chance to show that her ability is useful. She will find the murderers and prove that she is capable of more than just chores.

I loved this book! Anna and her family are so unique and interesting. The "cat" and the Inn are my favorites.

Disclaimer: I received an e-arc of this book. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Ravenfall

Author: Kalyn Josephson

Book Series: Ravenfall Book 1

Rating: 3.5/5

Diversity: Jewish decent MC and characters

Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, horror, mystery

Publication Date: September 6, 2022

Genre: MG Paranormal Horror

Age Relevance: 12+ (death, gore, parental death, murder, violence, animal death, scary moments)

Explanation of Above: There is a death/murder that happens in the book and parental death is discussed. Nothing graphic is shown, but there is some blood mentioned in the book and some physical and weapon violence. There is an animal death in the book and there are some scary moments.

Publisher: Delacorte-Press

Pages: 256

Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Annabella Ballinkay has never been normal, even by her psychic family's standards. Every generation uses their abilities to help run the Ravenfall Inn, a sprawling, magical B&B at the crossroads of the human world and the Otherworld. But it's hard to contribute when your only power is foreseeing death.

So when fourteen-year-old Colin Pierce arrives at Ravenfall searching for his missing older brother and the supernatural creature who killed their parents, Anna jumps at the chance to help. But the mysteries tied to Colin go much deeper than either of them expects. . . .

As the two team up to find answers, they unearth Colin's family's secret past and discover that Colin has powers beyond his imagination. And now the supernatural creature, one with eerie origins in Celtic mythology, is coming after him. If Anna and Colin can't stop the creature by Halloween night, the veil to the Otherworld could be ripped open--which would spell destruction for their world as they know it.

Review: For the most part I thought this was a good book. The story is riveting and I loved the use of the multi-POV. I really liked how Addams Family this book felt and it was a great mystery/comedic horror book as well. The book did well with the world building and the character development.

However, I thought that the book was too fast paced and that it offered little explanation of what was going on in the book. The book was confusing and sometimes hard to follow. I think that the arc I got was just very raw and I have very high hope that the finished product is polished and well written, but for this copy it was just hard for me to figure out what was going on.

Verdict: It was good, just needs a little work.

What a perfect book to kick off fall! (Yes, it's technically not fall, but it IS September and that's close enough for me.) I'm also a fan of urban fantasy, where magical beings live among everyone else in a sort of secret society. Anna lives in a magical town and her family runs a haunted inn that attracts both tourists and other magical folk for their celebrations. Meanwhile, Colin's family is hiding a big secret from him and after his parents die, he winds up at the inn to find help.

I thought this was fast paced, exciting, and a lot of fun to read. I liked the alternating points of view and watching both kids learn about their abilities and gain confidence in themselves. It had a sort of found family aspect, especially for Colin who didn't want to be lonely anymore. Happily, he found people who understand and cared for him at the inn.

I'm definitely excited for the sequel and hope we get to see more monsters and magic!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the copy

Book Review

Title: Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson (Ravenfall Book 1)

Genre: Middle Grade, Paranormal, Fantasy

Rating: 5 Stars

I don’t normally read middle grade but this one sounded so interesting and I was so happy to be chosen as part of this blog tour. The opening to Ravenfall was interesting as we are introduced to Ravenfall inn and the family that run it. All the family have powers and Anna is the youngest and she recently got the power of visions but only visions concerning death, at one party she witnesses the murder of a couple and something feels off about the vision and the person who touched her although she doesn’t know who that is. The next day a new guest arrives at the inn in Colin, who is the son of the people Anna saw murdered, his parents kept secrets from him and his older brother, Liam who should have been meeting Colin at Ravenfall but he hasn’t arrived and Colin is worried something has happened to him. I want to know more about Colin and how his family ended up in witness protection and why he was sent to Ravenfall, a place of magic when he doesn’t seem to have any magical abilities himself unless he hasn’t realised them yet.

As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, Anna’s aunt recognises Colin because she knows his parents but didn’t realise that they were dead meaning they were heavily warded. When Anna reveals to Colin that she knows how his parents died and touched one of the men responsible for their death they team up to find answers. Initially, they don’t know where to begin but when the spirits of his parents come to the inn and warn Colin that they are coming, whoever they are, they decide to ask for help. Colin vaguely remembers a logo on one of the men’s clothes and it belongs to a local donut shop and Colin recognises on of the employees when Kara shows him pictures, a man named Kaden Richards. Kara also learns that Kaden isn’t human and he is still in Wick looking for something and discourages Anna and Colin from going after him but they do anyway because if anyone has answers about Colin’s parents then it is Kaden but he could potentially be very dangerous. Learning about the inn which still close to the Shield protecting the human world from the Otherworld was interesting and the question of where Liam has gone still hasn’t been answered. While this does read very middle grade and there isn’t a lot in the way of world building I was enjoying the story and couldn’t wait to see how the mystery was going to unravel.

As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, the pair are finally beginning to get some answers but they only create more questions. Apparently, Kaden has been possessed by a wraith and the possession has been made permanent. The wraith is working with an extremely dangerous being of unknown origin to kill Colin like his parents because he is a Raven, or someone with an extremely strong connection to the Shield like his parents before him and that’s why they were murdered. The wraith lets slip that they will be coming for Colin on Halloween when the barrier between the worlds is at its weakest meaning the wards won’t be as effective as they normally are. The questions I have now are about why Colin’s parents kept his heritage hidden from him and possibly from Liam as well and why he hasn’t been trained when he was clearly a huge target. I believe that Liam might know about what he is and is looking for answers of his own which is why he hasn’t joined Colin at Ravenfall yet or something else might have happened to him. I also liked seeing the different species and creatures that aren’t human and how they co-exist with the human world.

As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, Colin is confirmed to be a Raven by Nora, Anna’s mother and explains that the purpose of the Ravens was to maintain the Shield by drawing power from it and certain creatures. Colin realises that Liam knew about the Ravens and continued hunting even when his parents sent them into hiding and he was the only one that was kept in the dark probably because he is the younger of the two brothers. Once Colin bonds with his mother’s journal, his powers awaken giving him enhanced senses and fighting abilities, his mother was also in possession of a pair of Saint Blades and when Colin uses them he collapses and experiences a vision which might help them. Colin believes from the vision the man he saw fighting and the crest he wore are related to Kaden’s master and they try to find out who he is but they aren’t really getting anywhere and Samhain or Halloween is less than two weeks away and the Shield is weakening quicker than it normal does due to the deaths of several Ravens. I have a feeling that Anna’s powers are going to come into play soon as I think there is more to her than just vision of death, like another level to them that she hasn’t uncovered yet but I could be wrong about this.

As we cross into the second half of the novel, Colin is learning to use his various powers with great success but the threats are growing since Kaden is creating more wraiths which are going to be an issues. A few days before the Samhain party they are attacked by one of the wraiths in the costume shop and this wraith has managed to possess a witch but Anna also gets a vision which reveals a lot of things. It seems that Colin is directly related to Fin Varra, the Irish King of the Dead, which is why he can control and create wraiths but he is bound to the Otherworld and like Max, he might not be able to spend large amounts of time in the human world because of the Shield which explains why he is killing the Ravens to weaken it. However, Gran learns that Fin Varra is able to possess Colin without him knowing about it and it was Colin under this possession that killed one of the creatures protecting Ravenfall, letting everyone know that no one is safe as long as Colin is around. It is agreed to move Colin to somewhere else until the threat has passed and the person they need to help now is Anna. Anna’s ability is incredibly rare but it is perfect for finding out what Fin Varra looks like since she only needs to touch him and she will see the death of Colin’s parents revealing to everyone what he looks like so they can deal with him before he is able to kill Colin and weaken the Shield further. However, Anna’s visions of Fin possessing Colin and destroying the Shield are weighing on her and that might come into play in the final section of the novel.

As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, Fin is doing everything he can to see his plan through even at one point possessing Gran and killing a jabberwocky in order to throw Max into chaos but Anna pulls them both out of it. Despite seeing herself as a failure and the weakest of the children, Anna is proving to be one of the strongest at bringing the best out in others and supporting them when they need it. After being released from her possession Gran knows that Fin’s plan is to destroy the barrier and give his people new bodies, he wants to do this because they enter the Otherworld, alive rather than dead, so their bodies withered away leaving only the spirits behind and they want to truly live again. Anna realises that they plan to kill Colin so they quickly get him back to Ravenfall and prepare for the attack that is likely to come the night of the party, Colin isn’t sure if he can kill Fin but he knows he needs to but before that he wants to know what happened to Liam. Elaine conducts a ritual for him and Liam’s spirit is wondering but she doesn’t believe he is dead, she felt his spirit pulling at her while she was pulling it and I think that Liam is trapped in the Otherworld and he might be a hostage that Fin is planning to use against Colin when he attacks. Honestly, I can wait to see how the novel ends as some middle grade books I have read in the past like the Cassidy Blake series can get pretty dark for children’s books.

As we cross into the final section of the novel, we get to see the final showdown between Fin and the others including Colin and Anna. The battle was great but it wasn’t the action that really stood out to me it was how the characters came together to overcome something that none of them could defeat alone and the lessons they learnt from it. Middle grade novel tend to have some really important messages buried within them and this one was about loss, the importance of family, finding your own self worth and finding a place to call home which were all really important thing that people need to learn. I must say though I genuinely sobbed at Max’s sacrifice and he was one of my favourite characters in the entire book. Overall, Ravenfall was an amazing middle grade novel and I will definitely be picking up both the sequel, Hollowthorn when it comes out and the Storm Crow duology in the near future. Highly recommended.

Thank you, NetGalley for an ebook arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ravenfall is described as Halloweentown meets Supernatural in this spooky middle-grade series from the acclaimed author of the Storm Crow duology.

I loved how this MG had dual POVs and the characters were a little bit older than most characters in middle grade.

This is the perfect book to read for the fall and Halloween spirit this year. This book is a quick read and the characters are likable. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I recommend it.

What a lovely, magical world! It felt like fall was being heralded in on raven wings. Anna, as the youngest psychic in her family, has to find her place in the world. She sees her own powers as lesser and useless. She sees death. Any death a person has seen becomes immediately real to her when she touches them. She just doesn’t see a use for this until she sees through the eyes of a killer. Then, she comes face to face with one of the people from the vision. I just loved every character in this story, including the house. This is a charming and raucous family I’d love to get to know.

A great read for middle graders (and anyone else) who love spooky, Fall and adventure. Annabella and Colin must team up together to discover what supernatural creature killed Colin's parents before it can destroy the town of Wick, Oregon and beyond!

Filled with the taste and feel of Fall and all things Samhain--or for most of us, Halloween--this story is filled with action, things that go bump in the night or even in the daytime if you are staying in the sentient hotel in town, and well-developed characters. It also is about friendship, family, and finding yourself. So, a bit of substance along with a good thrill.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.