“Vibrant.” – Emily A. Duncan, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked Saints “An enchanting and thrilling contemporary fantasy.” – Brigid Kemmerer, New York Times bestselling author of A Curse So Dark and Lonely A safe haven between four realms. The girl sworn to protect it–at any cost. New York Times bestselling author Sara Holland crafts a breathtaking new contemporary fantasy perfect for … bestselling author Sara Holland crafts a breathtaking new contemporary fantasy perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and Holly Black.
Hidden deep in the mountains of Colorado lies the Inn at Havenfall, a sanctuary that connects ancient worlds–each with their own magic–together. For generations, the inn has protected all who seek refuge within its walls, and any who disrupt the peace can never return.
For Maddie Morrow, summers at the inn are more than a chance to experience this magic first-hand. Havenfall is an escape from reality, where her mother sits on death row accused of murdering Maddie’s brother. It’s where Maddie fell in love with handsome Fiorden soldier Brekken. And it’s where one day she hopes to inherit the role of Innkeeper from her beloved uncle.
But this summer, the impossible happens–a dead body is found, shattering everything the inn stands for. With Brekken missing, her uncle gravely injured, and a dangerous creature on the loose, Maddie suddenly finds herself responsible for the safety of everyone in Havenfall. She’ll do anything to uncover the truth, even if it means working together with an alluring new staffer Taya, who seems to know more than she’s letting on. As dark secrets are revealed about the inn itself, one thing becomes clear to Maddie–no one can be trusted, and no one is safe . . .
Sara Holland takes the lush fantasy that captured readers in Everless and Evermore and weaves it into the real world to create a wholly captivating new series where power and peril lurk behind every door.
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Sara Holland is a fierce storyteller. An intoxicating blend of blood, secrets, and haunting mythology.
What a fascinating novel. Havenfall is a novel for readers interested in contemporary fantasy, wonderfully blending in fantasy and realism. It follows Maddie, a girl on her way to her Uncle’s Inn, a place that serves as a bridge between realms, a haven for all. However, when a mysterious attack sends her uncle in a coma and leaves others wounded, Maddie is left in charge.
Smooth Pace
It moves at a slow pace, in the beginning, building up the history of the realms, the history of the inn, and the history of the people in the novel. It does come off a little boring, making it a novel the reader can easily put down.
However, the intrigue between the characters, the tension, and the dynamics unfolding keep the reader engaged. It does make the story intriguing as the events continue to unfold at a smooth pace, lulling the reader into a sense of comfort.
It is easy to get lost in the story and the magic as it unfolds, exploring the dark history of the inn. However, the real magic of the novel is in exploring the realms the magic within them. There is such richness in exploring the realms, with taking elements of fantasy and giving then a fresh new outlook, a connection to the folklore and mythology.
Characterization
Maddie is a good character but not overly compelling. There are times when her narrative falls flat because her voice lacks spirit; it lacks emotion. So at times, it is hard to connect to her and be pulled in by her voice.
Nevertheless, she doe go on a fantastic journey of self-discovery, of growing an finding her strength. Maddie does grow, and by the end, she is compelling because her voice finds the reader, making her worth reading.
Taya also seems more like a background character, a plot device to encourage Maddie to think and question the world around her. Taya is easy to visualize, but there is something in her that lacks engagement with the reader. While the LGBTQ representation in the novel is excellent, the characters just do not jump off the pages.
Final Thoughts
Havenfall is worth reading because the mystery, the intrigue, and the magic surrounding this inn and the realms it is connected to make it worth reading. The fantasy and magic make it exciting and the eventual growth in characterization makes it worthwhile.
Readers will lose themselves in [Holland’s] stunning prose for hours on end and be hungry for more when they reach the last page.
Haven Fall is a uniquely designed story with magic, heart and dazzling worlds. I really enjoyed the Haven inn, the characters, the magic, the world building and the creatures; and the pacing was good. I really felt the world come alive as well as the inn. I could picture the remoteness, the grandeur and the history. The magic system was great as well. There were also a lot of great characters to get to know.
I did have two issues. One, the story seems to me to suffer from first book syndrome. What I mean by this, is that there was so much world building and explaining relationships the action/mystery was a bit lacking in details. And two, I didn’t believe or feeling anything toward the main character Maddie. I felt like she wasn’t a strong character and was too young. She didn’t grow into her role nor did she ask for help. It just wasn’t believable that people who were older, wiser with years upon years of knowledge would just let a teenager make all the decisions all if a sudden.
That said, I did enjoy this story and will be reading the next one. There were so many things left open at the end of this book (nothing was completely wrapped up) and I have so many questions I need answers for, reading the next is a must.
I really loved Sara Holland’s Everless duology Havenfall sounded amazing, so I decided to read it once I got it.
Shall we cover the good and bad???
The Bad and confusing:
•While it kind of goes right into the story, it drags on and says or hint at the same things over and over.
• There was a lot of information that could have been added to the storyline and if Maddie’s self deprecation and feeling sorry for herself were cut out of every few pages that this story really could have moved on a lot quicker and could have been more developed.
•Personally, I feel so cheated that the realms are mentioned repeatedly in this book and you get hints as to what the places will be like, but you never fucking see any of them!!!
•Brekken. Why, as a soldier, would you run away back home if you witnessed a murder instead of going to the Innkeeper Marcus to begin with?
•It was pretty obvious who the bad guy was once he was brought into the story as a main focal point.
•Does Maddie’s father not know about Nate? Ever? It seems very confusing how the father would never tell Maddie that Nate wasn’t her biological brother..
The Good:
The premise behind this book is fantastic! I love the realms and that the main character is not a princess or of royalty and she’s bisexual!
In closing,
I REALLY hope the next book goes in detail about the realms and we actually get to see someone go in their realm so we know what it’s all about. What really happened with the Solarians that caused them to be written out? More on the great (great?) grandma and her connection with the Solarians.
I hope their is little to no self deprecation and feeling sorry for oneself.
This is a new author to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The author beautifully captured a mystical landscape/realm and introduced us to a variety of characters; and giving us Maddie Morrow. She’s kickass, a strong leader and I’m excited to see what happens next! Thanks to NetGalley and to Bloomsbury YA for making this ARC available to read. This is my honest review.
Twisting plot threads intersecting with tantalizing glimpses of fully realized other realms, Havenfall creates a vibrant world where magic is closer and more dangerous than we know. Maddie is a delightfully messy and real teenager and I adored following her as she tried to untangle the mysteries around her.
Havenfall is contemporary fantasy at its finest, a smart, poignant rumination on home and family with a supernatural twist. Holland’s seamless blending of reality and fantasy will leave you checking your closet doors for secret passages to other worlds, hoping to find a magical adventure of your own.