Ravenfall is the perfect read to get you into the halloween spirit! I loved Anna and Colin's friendship and the found family elements of the book. I'll be picking up a copy for my classroom when it releases!

I loved this book! A while back I read another book about a magical inn on the edge of other magical worlds, and, I mean, it was okay? I liked it fine, I guess. I wanted something more from the book, though, and I don’t think I even realized what I’d been looking for until I read RAVENFALL.

Right from the beginning, I loved the quirky house and the cat-who-isn’t-a-cat. I loved the way Anna and her sisters each have a specific kind of magic and the way their gifts fit together. Colin’s mysterious past hooked me right away. His parents’ deaths. His missing brother. He had so much going on, and I felt like that well kept getting deeper and deeper in all the best ways!

I read this whole book within 24 hours, and I already feel like I want to read it again. I’m still thinking about the characters and some of the big moments in the story.

I went ahead and ordered copies of Kalyn Josephson’s YA duology, because after this one, I feel like I’m going to need more of her storytelling. I’m excited to read them.

So technically this is a middle grade book, as Anna and Colin, the point-of-view characters, are thirteen and fourteen. I think the writing was a bit more of a YA style, but the story fit the middle grade age group. I would put solidly in the in-between, for sixth to ninth grade readers.

I think readers who love stories about reimagined fairytales will definitely love this one. Readers who enjoyed CINDER by Marissa Meyer or VASILISA by Julie Mathison should check this one out for sure.

Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson is very fun and whimsical. I loved the sentient bed and breakfast and the cat.

When I saw the Ravenfall tour it gave me all the spooky vibes by the bucket load and as I was in search of everything spooky I knew that I had to read it. I wasn't even bothered that the book had been compared Supernatural and Halloween Town instead I was intrigued to see how Kalyn who predominantly wrote YA I was intrigued how her writing style would suit MG and I was not disappointed. The main characters were Colin and Anna and each chapter was written in one of their perspectives and then you had the rest of Ann'a''s family who really added to the story. Then you had Max the 'cat' who by far was my favourite character. All I can say if you like spooky books set in a spooky town during Halloween then this is 100% the book you need to read. For all these reasons I am giving Ravenfall 4 stars and will be continuing with the series. Big Thank you to TBR Tours &Beyond and to the Publisher for sending me an E-ARC

→ 4.5 stars

Anna lives in a magical inn with her psychic family who all have extraordinary abilities, Anna's being that she can see death through physical touch. Anna doesn't feel like she's really contributing much with her ability but when a young boy arrives at the inn, they team up to track down the people who killed his parents. That's the basic gist of the plot!

I'll start off by saying that Ravenfall is Autumn in a book! It gave me cozy fall vibes from the very beginning and it helps that it's set during Halloween. Kalyn Josephson has created such an atmospheric read that is best devoured snuggled up with blankets and a hot drink.

The Ravenfall Inn and the town of Wick was such a magical setting. I loved that the house was sentient and was able to do things like deliver objects to different rooms and groan when it was unhappy with something, it felt like a character in it's own right. The town itself is also quintessential, my favourite locations being the tea room and fairy garden! Josephson's descriptions really feed into the imagination and appeal to the senses with so many wonderful sections on food and the surroundings.

Anna and Colin have such a sweet, supportive friendship. I love that this was a dual POV story so that we got to be in both their heads and they are both so brave and kind and just wanted to belong somewhere that it made my heart ache at times. I just want them both to be happy! Anna's family are chaotic in the best way with their pet Jabberwocky, Max (who is disguised as a cat), being a particular highlight of the book.

I loved how each family member's ability plays a significant part and all correlate to their personality. I also enjoyed all the mentions of magical creatures in here too with a lot of them being drawn from Celtic mythology. It was fun to read a book with a lot of Irish influence as well as a middle grade that wasn't afraid to get a little dark at times.

I always struggle to put into words how fantastic I find certain books because it feels like I can't do them justice. Ravenfall has so much heart, a beautiful friendship, a loving family, tons of magic and all the Fall vibes you could want. I am so excited that this is a series and there'll be future instalments to look forward to. If you love Nevermoor and Halloweentown, then this is the book for you!

"Ravenfall" by author Kalyn Josephson is an entertaining and exciting middle-grade novel full of unique supernatural creatures, magic, and mystery. It is also a coming-of-age story, though under extraordinary circumstances, told from the dual viewpoints of Anna and Colin. The cast of characters is broad, and young readers will find a diverse range of strong, good, and capable personalities. I enjoyed the wide array of magical abilities presented in the story and liked Anna's remark about living with a sister whose special power was hearing other people's thoughts. One that would surely come to mind for all of us if that ability was real.

"It's hard not to think about something you don't want Kara to hear, because by thinking about not thinking about it, you always end up thinking about it."

I liked that both the lead characters, Anna and Colin, experienced similar feelings about their place in their families and the world. These are feelings that almost all of us can recall experiencing at one time or another growing up: not fitting in, not feeling valued, not belonging, or feeling like no one is listening or taking us seriously. Both are lonely kids, though in vastly different situations, revealing these feelings can occur under a variety of circumstances.

Both Anna's and Colin's families are loving ones with a lot going on at the moment, and in their different ways, they are just trying to keep their children safe. But both Anna and Colin are kept in the dark about certain family matters, with their parents not recognizing they are growing up faster than they thought.

The story is set in the charmingly described town of Wick. Surrounded by old woods with colorful cottages, shops, and a Faerie Garden, the magical and non-magical live side by side with one group none the wiser. I enjoyed the interesting and unique beings, some of which I'd never heard of before, mentioned throughout the book, such as cù-sìth, dybbukim, or merrow. The author borrowed from a wide range of cultures. Max the "cat" is mischievous, fun, and definitely, my favorite.

With its exciting and suspenseful plot, interesting characters, and dual viewpoints, RAVENFALL grabbed me from the beginning and kept me engaged and entertained until the very last page. I was delighted to read that there is a sequel in the works. I recommend this book to middle-grade readers who like a story with magic, magical creatures, and determined and capable young protagonists.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through "NetGalley" and "TBR and Beyond Book Tours."

Thank you so much @tbrbeyondtours , @netgalley and @kalynmjosephson for the advanced copy in exchange for honest opinion!❤️

"Embrace The Weird" - Anna.

So this is what perfection feels like! I loved every second of this book - the warm, supportive friendship between Anna and Colin, the bond between the family members, their unique personalities, flaws and the enchanting world they live in.

Anna isn't your picture-perfect female protagonist. She is insecure about not belonging, not having a cool power like the rest of her relatives and not contributing enough in maintaining the inn to be useful. When Colin makes a dramatic entrance in her life, after experiencing the traumatic death of his parents and being separated from his older brother Liam, Anna figures out that helping Colin to discover his family's secrets might be the best way to prove that her power can be useful too. But the more the dig into the mystery, the more complex it becomes. Now it's not only Colin whose life is in stake. If they can't defeat the evil being by the Samhain night, spirits from the otherworld will flood the town of Wick and everyone's life will be endangered.

The story is brilliantly written and my heart is bursting with love for all of the characters. The dual perspective was helpful in understanding Anna and Colin more intimately. As we progress, Anna learns to be confident being who she is and accept that there's more to her than her power. On the other hand, Colin stops suppressing his emotions in order to appear strong and expresses himself more openly. Max and the house ( You'll understand after you read the book!) are the best companions ever! Every single character adds a bit of humour, thrill and colour to the story and I wouldn't want to change a thing about them. What a wonderful, engaging story! Highly recommended ❤️✨. I'm super stocked to read the sequel.

It’s rare that a book fully delivers on the comparisons made in its blurb, but Kalyn Josephson’s middle-grade debut dark fantasy Ravenfall lives up to the expectations. I saw so many elements that were reminiscent of Halloweentown and Supernatural, among other movies and shows.

Anna Balinkay is a small part of the larger family unit that runs the Ravenfall Inn, a hub and a meeting place for both normal folk and supernatural creatures. Her less-than-spectacular ability, being drawn into visions of death with a single touch, leaves her stuck with the boring chores as her other family members help keep the inn running smoothly. When she meets a new guest, Colin, a boy who has just lost his parents, they are drawn together in the hopes of solving the mystery of his parent's murders and ensuring all the visitors to the inn remain safe from a supernatural threat straight out of Celtic myth.

The dual points of view helped give readers a complete picture of what was happening in the book. Both Anna and Colin feel left out by their families, but for very different reasons. Given how Anna’s powers don’t directly assist with the day-to-day operations of the hotel, she feels kind of useless. She summarizes her struggles very well with this quote; “All my life I’ve wanted what he practically tripped and fell into, and I’m starting to think, no matter what I do, I’ll never get it…What do they need my powers for?” Colin, on the other hand, feels left out because of his late introduction into his family’s history as Ravens. Given how he’s now racing against the clock and the deadline for Samhain to master his powers, I can certainly empathize with his frustration. Their friendship ultimately proves instrumental in helping them both work through their struggles, and that was so exciting to see as a reader.

I’m a big fan of anything to do with mythology, so the opportunity to learn more about Celtic mythology was exciting. It’s not featured in books nearly enough, in my opinion. Ms. Josephson introduces readers to red caps, wraiths, triskelions, and the festival of Samhain (a Celtic tradition that’s been somewhat overlooked in recent years due to the commercialized Halloween). She also introduced readers to the idea of the Shield, as well as the ‘Ravens’ who help maintain the balance and protect the Shield (this concept in particular was reminiscent of NBC’s Grimm).

Ravenfall Inn definitely has the multi-generational family home feel of the Addams Family or Encanto. Every member of the family has an ability, with some having a more obvious benefit than others. Anna’s hurt at being unable to help in the same way her family members do is obvious; it reminded me a lot of how no one took Mirabel in Encanto seriously due to her lack of a gift. With this in mind, I really appreciated how all of the family abilities played into the storyline in some manner or fashion (no one had an ability “just because”). The addition of the “sentient house” was cool. Out of all of the Balinkay family members, I think my favorite family member was Uncle Roy, but I was quite enamored by the Jabberwocky Max (who prefers to run around in cat form).

Overall, this was a fantastic middle-grade debut from Kalyn Josephson. I’m excited to be able to go back and read her Storm Crow duology as soon as I have a chance. If you’re a kid (or a big kid at heart) who loves spooky, family-friendly mysteries then I think you’ll enjoy Ravenfall. I’m curious to see what the author will do with subsequent books in the series because there’s so much more to explore with the characters and the world that she built (at the time of writing this review, the next book is titled ‘Hollowthorn’).

Thank you to the author, the publisher Delacorte Press, the team at TBR and Beyond Tours, and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Ravenfall immensely! Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.

CW: Parental Deaths (Murder), Missing Person, Injuries, Animal Death, Grief, Violence, Possession

Before reading Ravenfall, I was already looking forward to the spooky season, but now that I’ve finished it, I truly cannot wait for the air to turn crisp, the leaves to become orange, and for all the delicious and warm smells to permeate the air. This book is the perfect story to add to your fall TBRs. It will have you longing for cool days, huddled under a blanket with a warm drink in hand.

The world of Ravenfall was so fascinating to read about. The world is full of magic and magical beings, but most humans are either oblivious to it, or willfully turn a blind eye to the knowledge. Because of this, Ravenfall becomes a sort of haven for magical beings to co-exist with humans. The town of Wick is so cozy, but even so, there’s mystery and darkness looming in the distance, which the main characters, Anna and Colin, must work together to solve.

Anna, being one of the only psychics in her family who is unable to use her power to help out around the inn, feels isolated from the rest of her family, and as if her gift is useless. This causes a lot of self-doubt and hesitation that she has to work through during the course of the novel. She’s so determined to prove herself that she’ll do anything to show her family she’s useful. Anna’s development was really well thought out and progressed seamlessly. Watching her come into her own was so much fun.

Colin, the other main character, was also super interesting to read about. Him and his family had been on the run for a while, but he wasn’t really sure why. All he knew was that his parents were in trouble, and when that danger caught up to them and took their lives, he was determined to do whatever he could to stop their killer. Because he was always on the move, Colin longed for a place to call his own, which is why Ravenfall was the perfect place for him to settle down and actually discover who he is.

Since both Anna’s and Colin’s goals aligned, they agreed to work with each other early on. Their friendship was rocky at times, as they both learned to ask for help instead of trying to do everything on their own. By the end of the book, their bond was even stronger because of all they went through together. Something I really enjoyed about their friendship was how much they accepted each other and their flaws. Anna is super socially awkward and anxious, but Colin never made her feel less than because of it. They were always there for each other, and I can’t wait to see what kind of adventures they go on in the next book.

Aside from those two, the book is rich with a unique and eclectic cast of characters. Every person in Ravenfall added another layer of magic and intrigue, and even though they were helping Anna and Colin in their journeys, they also had their own thoughts, desires, and storylines. My favorite of these was definitely the Jabberwocky cat, Max. He was such a loveable and protective animal companion who would do anything for his loved ones. He had such a personality, too! All of his scenes were a joy to read.

Additionally, the inn itself was its own character. I find stories with sentient buildings to be so entertaining! This one was reminiscent of the hotel in Nevermoor (one of my favorites), as the inn provided comfort and assistance to its occupants when needed, but was also quick to exhibit its displeasure if it was offended by anything. Ravenfall Inn was so whimsical, and really added to the enchanted and cozy feeling of the story.

Another fantastic part was the vivid descriptions of all of the foods and decorations! These were all done so well and had me craving the spooky season like nothing else. If you’re looking for a charming story to curl up with during the coming fall days, I highly recommend Ravenfall!

I had so much fun reading this book, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, TBR and Beyond Tours, and the Publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

“One magical inn, two kids with supernatural powers, and an ancient Celtic creature trying to destroy their world by Halloween night...“

Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson is hands down one of my favorite books I have read all year.

Abby has spent her entire life being far from normal, so much so that her even psychic family all agrees. While her immediate family has incredible powers from the art of telekinesis to direct mind reading, all Abby has inherited is the ability to see deaths. She spends the vast majority of her days taking care of the magical B&B in Wick, a town full of the magically inclined and so difficult to find that even GPS doesn’t even acknowledge its existence. Despite that, the town is a tourist destination for those seeking an exciting escape, and the parties held in the Ravenfall ballroom compare to none.

When Abby touches anyone, she sees the deaths that they have experienced. From an older relative dying in a hospital, to highly unfortunate accidents, her visions do not leave room for imagination, Abby has always seen her visions clearly, so when she accidentally bumps into someone at one of Ravenfall’s regular balls, she is taken back by the lack of clarity. What she does know is that people have been murdered, and it looked like one had escaped, and the murderer clearly had magical abilities to shield themselves.

Ater months of living on the run with his parents, Colin experiences the worst thing imaginable. His parents have been murdered, and his brother Liam has gone on the hunt for those that did it. Ravenfall was the place his parents always told him to go to in case they were no longer there to protect him. Once he arrives, he quickly discovers a world he never imagined existing and finds out that his parents have kept their true nature from him his entire life.

Ravenfall has some of the greatest character and world building that I have experienced in middle grade fantasy in ages. Even though this is the first of a duology by Josephson, the book could easily stand out on its own. I am absolutely looking forward to the next installment!’’

4.79/5

Thank you so very much to NetGalley and Random House Children for the opportunity to read and review in exchange for my honest review,

Such a fun book! I read through this one quickly and even stayed up past my bedtime to finish 😊. Anna is discouraged and frustrated because she feels like her powers are not as helpful or useful as her family's. She is eager to prove herself and throughout the adventures of this book she gets a chance to do so. I loved all of the magical creatures in this story, especially the jabberwockie Max! He was probably my favorite character! I always enjoy a dual POV book, and this one goes back and forth between the two main characters. I am definitely excited for the second book in this new series, expected August 2023.

What a fantastic imaginative read! The magic system that Kalyn created worked so well and was so original. I also felt there was so much left for additional stories. I really enjoyed watching the friendship develop between the two main characters and that it was written as a great friendship, versus a budding romance--and that Kalyn addressed the non-romance swiftly and in a no-big-deal way. I wanted to visit Ravenfall and be swept up into the magic and enjoy the cider and (hopefully) be one of the people with magical abilities. There was just enough danger to keep me quickly turning the pages and a heart stopping moment which I won't spoil. Just read it for yourself!

This is a great read for fall and the upcoming holiday (Halloween). It's a dual-POV middle grade story. There's a nice mix of mythology and magical elements. The world building is solid, and Colin and Anna are enjoyable and well-developed characters. The magical B&B is a fun addition to the story. Themes of grief and friendship are key. While it didn't quite meet my expectations, it's a fun, quick read overall.

I'm a massive fan of mysteries of all types, so when I heard Ravenfall centered on a magical B&B and its psychic inhabitants, included Celtic mythology, and also featured a mystery, I was immediately intrigued. However, I'm afraid it ended up falling short of my (admittedly high) expectations.

Ravenfall is a delightfully spooky book with plenty of fun magical worldbuilding, but is at times jarring and often booted me out of the world with unexpected tonal shifts and its adult-sounding voice. The plot centers on some brutal murders and the mystery surrounding them, and while I'm no stranger to murder mysteries in MG this one felt particularly discordant considering the whimsy of the setting (a sentient house) and the magical characters we meet along the way.

This is a dual-POV book focusing on the main characters, Colin and Anna. Unfortunately, both have very similar voices and I sometimes had to remind myself which POV I was in at the moment. The mystery itself was intriguing at first, but felt rushed and a bit predictable towards the end. I do appreciate the way the author deals with themes of grief and Colin’s turmoil of learning how much was kept secret from him. I also enjoyed the friendship that develops between Anna and Colin.

Overall, Ravenfall will be an enjoyable story for upper MG readers looking for a fun and spooky read. While it missed its mark with me, I will still recommend it to young readers looking for a mystery series with mythological and magical elements.

I loved this middle grade! It was described as Halloweentown meets Encanto, and that is the PERFECT description. A great fall read and I will definitely be recommending this to students. Loved the alternating point of view chapters as well.

I really loved this book. I think this book gave me such fall vibes and loved the setting of this read. I also loved this book because it not only had so any different types of witchcraft and powers but also creatures as well. It also had elements of irish mythology. It was a really quick read. I also really enjoyed the murder mystery was at the heart of this read. I also really enjoyed that this book had parent involvement and also elements of classic action adventure. It also gave me both keeper of the lost cities vibes, fall vibes and also haven fall vibes because this whole book is set at a magical inn!! I also really loved both main characters as well and not only how different they were but also the friendship the developed. I am so excited we are getting book 2!! Such a great fall read!!

Such a cute fantasy novel. I absolutely adore Anna and Colin a long with the entire supporting cast. This was very whimsical with a good dash of emotions and drama to round out the story.

I also really liked the storyline and thought the ending set up the continuing of the series perfectly. Would recommend to fantasy lovers young and old.

I loved the premise of this book and for the most part it delivered on them. It was a good story, a spooky town where it’s basically Halloween all year round due to the magic beings and the witchy family that lives at the inn.

Each member of the family has some sort of psychic ability and Anna’s is that if she touches someone, she sees a death that they’ve seen. I thought that would be kind of heavy for a middle grade book but it wasn’t like it went into the gory details about it and the character reacted believably and had developed ways to avoid it, basically not touching anyone. It was good.

We get a dual narrative and the other belongs to Collin, a boy who runs to Ravenfall after the murder of his parents. They told him and his older brother Liam that if anything happened to them, they were to go there so, he does.

He’s closed off, afraid, tired because his family has been in witness protection and constantly moving and he doesn’t feel like he’ll be at the inn long anyway.

He’s wrong about that.

So, the story itself was okay but there was one thing that stopped it from being a four (4) out of five(5) for me and knocked it down to a three(3) which I’ll get to in a sec.

As Collin learns where he fits in at Ravenfall, he discovers his family were magic themselves and that he has abilities that make him a fighter. They’re called Ravens. Ravens have these journals that are attuned to them and allow them to do things like pull whatever is drawn in them, like knives, out into their hands and then put them back.

So, late-ish in the book, Anna tries to draw in the journal for Collin and it snaps shut. He can’t use it, his connection is broken and it puts them in a very dangerous position later on.

After he finds it and feels the connection is broken, feels that it is actually cold, he bleeds on it a little and it’s normal. And that’s it. He tells her not to do it again and she says she won’t.

But the way it was handled just sort of pulled it down for me. It was anticlimactic and the fix was fast and dare I say, easy.

The other issue I have is that Anna says she is half Irish and half Jewish. Her father is Jewish, a magical artifact hunter, and rarely home due to it. He’s not close with his family and we never find out why.

And that’s the extent of her Jewish heritage on the page.

The rest of it? All Irish. If she hadn’t said she was half Jewish in the beginning, you wouldn’t know. It would just be another book where everything is Irish and the family has always been that way.

That bothered me. I’m not Jewish but I am mixed and if I were to have one half of my being essentially erased for the other, that would hurt. Slap in the face doesn’t cover it. I can’t imagine how awful a little kid would feel reading that, seeing that the girl is Jewish like them, and then it being completely thrown away.

Those are what brought it down for me. So it gets a three (3). I would recommend it to young readers though.

I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting world building, featuring magic, psychics, etc. At first, the voice grated on me, but as the story got going, I enjoyed it much more. Beginning to a series, I think. Decent middle grade.

This is such a good book! I loved the setting of Wick, a magical town, with an amazeballs magical Inn! The story was fun, whimsical, very magical, and a little bit dark.

I love the whole magically alive Inn, and the town filled with magical beings, Max the jabberwocky cat is one of my new favorite sidekicks, and Anna and Colin make a great team. I loved the atmosphere and setting of this book, it oozed all things fall and Halloween.

When Colin arrives at Ravenswood to await the arrival of his brother, he has no idea what kind of awesomely magical stuff he's walked into. Anna lives at Ravenswood, she and her family are its caretakers, as well as psychics, Anna has the ability that when she touches someone she can see a death they've witnessed, and while she feels she is the least useful of all her family, only good for doing chores around the house, she has no idea that colins arrival will take her on a magical journey of self-discovery.

Colin is running from the people who killed his parents and has found a wonderful home with Anna and her family, as well as someone to teach him about all things magical. But the killers have followed him to Ravens fall and they want something from Colin that he's not willing to give. Thankfully he has a family full of people willing to fight with him. Everyone comes together for an epic final battle that had me on the edge of my seat, and frantically flipping pages until everything was over. Followed by some heartfelt moments that gave me all the feels.

This book was just absolutely wonderful, and everything I hoped it would be. This is definitely a book I will be buying a physical copy of, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!