ARC received from Netgalley and Book Box Club

4.5 Stars

Havenfall is, essentially, a fantasy mystery story. In the story, Havenfall is an inn in our world under which there are doors leading to other worlds, most of which have been closed off, but two - Fiordenkill and Byrn - are still open. Though we never actually get to visit these other worlds in this first book, we meet many of their inhabitants as they arrive at Havenfall for what is essentially an annual summit. Weird stuff happens - including a monster on the loose - and the protagonist, Maddie, has to step up and take charge when her uncle is no longer able to do so.

I flew right through this super fun book. Usually the books I consider fun lean more towards humorous, but Havenfall charmed me with its mystery instead, and the mix of fantasy and mystery really worked for me. While I did guess some of the twists, I certainly didn't piece them all together, and there was one in particular that totally caught me unawares. I hope the sequel is just as twisty!

In terms of characters, I'm not head over heels for them yet, but I definitely do like them and could easily grow to love them. I particularly liked Maddie's character arc - there's something very relatable about a character who is determined to prove herself, but constantly falls short of her aspirations. The way she grew in the story felt very realistic; there wasn't any point where she didn't feel like an actual teenager desperately trying to fill her uncle's shoes, and there was something rather refreshing about that. The romance was pretty realistic too - there's kind of a love triangle, but not of the early 2010s variety, thank god. It's a very small part of the story, and I'm actually intrigued as to where the author will go with it.

I'm so glad this was the ARC I got in my Book Box Club box. Netgalley provided me with the first two chapters, and given I was hooked from the start the wait for the rest probably would have driven me mad. Apparently this series is just a duology, but it could easily be a trilogy - there's just so much to explore! Definitely looking forward to the sequel.

High in the Colorado mountains is the Inn at Havenfall and it is a sanctuary for more than just humans. It was built upon a spot where there are currently doorways to three worlds, each with their own people and magics. The Innkeeper and the Inn itself are neutral which provides a place of safety and belonging to those who seek it. Maddie Morrow's history is chock full of sorrow and disappointment - except when she spends her summers at the inn. The inn is where she grew up with the Fiorden soldier Brekken, it's where she can hopefully forget that her own mother sits on death row sentenced for murdering Maddie's brother and it is where she will hopefully become the Innkeeper after her uncle decides to retire.

Maddie's hopes for this summer come crashing down faster than an avalanche when a dead body is discovered on the grounds of the inn. After her uncle is found mysteriously unconscious suddenly she is in charge of the inn and everyone's safety but she finds herself in even more dire straits when Brekken goes missing and a dangerous being is also loose on the grounds. Maddie finds that she will do anything to keep the inn and everyone in it safe - even if it means relying on Taya, the new staff member with mysterious intentions as well as origins. Will Maddie be able to find the truth among the dark, dangerous and sometimes predatory secrets of the inn itself while keeping everyone safe?

Oh Havenfall - had I not started reading late at night I would've finished in the same day. Sometimes I wonder why I read anything other than fantasy novels, I live for books that transport you to other places. Especially if you literally don't realize the passage of time while you're reading. I really enjoyed the concept of portals to other worlds being in underneath mountains in my own home state. I think what stuns me the most about fantasy writers is the depth they have to put into everything that isn't a part of our known world. I believe it's much harder because you don't have a common knowledge base for your world(s) but you can also do whatever you want with it.

It is true that we don't get much other than a broad description of each world that a portal leads to (Byrn, Fiordenkill and Solaria) but it makes sense as our protagonist Maddie cannot visit the worlds. Other than experiencing physical objects that can be transported through the portals each race only has the knowledge and descriptions provided through the experiences of others. My hope for book two is that it dives more into the worlds, the races, Maddie's family history and relationships.

The LGBTQ aspect of this novel I feel is really light - it's more mentioned in passing and factual than written about in length. There are not many sensitive topics in this book other than the LGBTQ aspect, some mild violence and romance via make out session. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy young adult fiction, fantasy, and LGBTQ characters. Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this up and coming fantasy series - I look forward to reading the rest of Maddie's adventure.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book, and already can't wait for the next one in the series! The worldbuilding was great and the world itself is a welcome change from normal fantasy tropes. I did see one of the twists coming a mile off but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the story. The one thing I would have appreciated was a little more explanation of how magic actually worked, but maybe Holland will go into more detail about that in subsequent books.

Great plot and interesting characters, I hope in future books we get the opportunity to know more about the other worlds, including those no longer accessible according to the current plot. I look forward to reading what happens after that ending!

I had pretty high expectations for this book, I loved the Everless duology and after reading a sampler of Havenfall last year, knew I needed it. I didn’t really have any doubts that I would love this and it was one of my most anticipated books for 2020. It definately did not disappoint and I think I actually loved it more than I expected.

At the beginning (before the prologue) there is a few pages with a brief introduction to the adjacent realms, which was so helpful because I went into the actual story knowing the basics; there are many, many realms, which have all slowly been closed off for various unknown reasons. Haven (Earth), Fiordenkill and Bryn are the last three that still have communication between them, an incident at the inn on Haven caused the door to Solaria to be closed off years before and Solarians are feared because of this, with some possibly being loose on Earth still years later. We know that humans cannot step foot on the other realms for more than a few moments, and every year on the summer solstice delegates from all three realms come togther in Haven to celebrate the Peace Summit. I love seeing Maddie and Brekken’s childhood friendship grow into something more, and I love it even that their closeness isn’t frowned upon because they’re from different realms, but because it may look to the Byrnisian delegates that she is being biased towards the Fiordens. Maddie’s dream is to take over from her Uncle Marcus’ role as Havenfall’s innkeeper when he’s ready to step down from the job, but when something happens to him, she has to learn the role pretty quickly and we see her struggle with the pressure. Her struggle is portrayed really well, there’s no cliché of her knowing exactly what to do and just fitting into the role perfectly from the get go and she also has to deal with Brekken disappearing to who knows where.

4 ★★★★

I was drawn to this book because a) THAT COVER! and b) the description sounded amazing. So I definitely had high expectations going in - hoping for something amazing. And I wasn't disappointed, Havenfall provided a much needed fresh world and story in YA Fantasy.

Havenfall is based in a magical inn, nestled in the mountains of Colorado. It is the gateway to other worlds, and a place of peace where people from all worlds can come together and find safety. Maddie's uncle is the innkeeper, and one day she will follow in his footsteps and run the inn herself. But when the door to a dangerous world, sealed a long time ago for everyones safety, is opened, leadership is thrust upon Maddie and she is faced with challenges she feels unprepared to handle. We join Maddie as she unravels the mysteries of the present and of her own past.

I really loved that concept of this book - the idea that the inn was the gateway to other worlds/realms/universes. It felt fresh and different to a lot of YA Fantasy I've read recently. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me interested and the ending wasn't a cliffhanger, but still kept things open for future books. However, the pacing in parts was slow and was filled with a lot of dialogue and descriptions. Whilst I enjoy some good world building, it was sometimes prioritised over pushing forward with the plot. This didn't stop me from enjoying the book overall, and I'm definitely excited to see what the next instalment brings. I think there is a lot of scope for where the story could go, and I'm hoping we get to learn more about the other worlds.

Maddie was an enjoyable and realistic character. She spent much of this book fighting the limitations she believed she had, and that were put on her by others. This was her journey of discovering the strength inside of herself, and her own abilities to lead. She doubts herself a lot, and constantly believes her own gut instincts are wrong. I live for character flaws, and even more for watching a character overcome their flaws.

I wish we could have seen more of her relationship with Brekken, because whilst we witness her relationship grow with Taya, we are only told that she does/did have a strong relationship with Brekken, but we don't actually get to experience much of it for ourselves which prevented me from feeling invested.

Overall, Havenfall was highly enjoyable and so interesting. I can't wait to read more and sink my teeth deeper in to this intriguing world Sara Holland has built. I haven't actually read any of her other books (despite them sitting on my book shelf) so I will definitely be finding the time soon to read them!

Thank you to Netgalley for the Advanced Readers Copy of this book, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

Read the first two chapters and it got me completely hooked. Can't wait to read the rest of it. Haven't read her first book yet but now I'm changing my mind and it's probably going to be the next one on my list.

Sara Holland's debut, Everless, was a huge surprise for me as I really enjoyed it. While this was only an excerpt, I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more.

The premise of the book is fantastic (as is the cover) - a hotel in the mountains that stands guard over the doorways to other worlds & acts as a neutral zone for the different people to meet, trade & gossip.
The Innkeeper plays an important role in maintaining neutrality between the different worlds, settling disputes and also protecting our non-magical world from anything that might slip through.
The main character, Maddie, hopes to inherit the role of Innkeeper from her uncle. When her uncle is incapacitated she gets her wish a little earlier than expected and then has to deal with a monster on the loose & the threat of war between the worlds.

In general, I enjoyed this story. It had an great premise, a range of interesting & complex characters - all seemingly with secrets or hidden agendas, a mystery to solve. The location is beautifully described and makes you want to go off into the mountains in the hope of finding a magical hotel hidden there.
But the main character was fairly useless and kept repeating that she trusted the wrong people whilst simultaneously trusting everything anyone tells her.
We also never get to visit the other worlds, with all the action taking place in and around the hotel in our world. The confines of this book, with the promise of expansion in the next, makes it feel like a prolonged prologue - the speed with which I whizzed through it probably didn't help with this feeling.
Overall, an intriguing set up with lots of potential.

I would like to thank Bloomsbury Publishing Plc & Sara Holland for my copy of the ARC. Due to this kind gesture, I have decided to leave an honest review.
I absolutely adored Everless so when I was approved for a copy of Havenfall, I got giddy with excitement! I love the way Sara writes and she manages to catch my attention at the start of her books which is really important for me as I tend to lose interest if it doesn't. I struggled with my rating here but I have settled on a modest 3.5 stars!

When all the whispers of the town are directed towards you, it gets lonely trying to escape them but Maddie manages to keep it together because every Summer for 3 months, she gets to escape to the most amazing place ever.. Havenfall. Maddie's uncle Marcus owns an Inn deep in the mountains of Colorado, but it isn't just any old inn of course. Its a place where worlds connect, mingle, trade, but what if the peace is disturbed? Can Maddie help be the new Innkeeper? or will Havenfall.. fall.

I have fell in love with this new series! We have new worlds that absolutely intrigue me. Fiordenkill, a world encased in ice and forst, where animals are big, colourful an beautiful. Palaces of packed snow under amazing auroras and stars. Byrn, a world in ruins of sweltering heat and bad storms due to magic. Their King has built an Oasis behind walls to keep it safe from the storms, but if you live within the walls you can no longer use your magic, except the nomads. Solaria, a tiny seled off world that no one knows hardly anything about. Shapeshifters with advanced technology where mythology surrounding vampires, djinni and demons began. All under a blazing sky. Now tell me whats not to love about this?!


The plot was pretty good, but a little slow. Did you kinda know what was going to happen? A little... but Sara did put in twist an turns that had you second guessing yourself. I have fell in love with the worlds, the reason I haven't given the book any higher than 3.5 stars was due to it only being in the Inn. I seriously hope we get to explore them in the next book.

I did like our characters, even the bad guy! We had our leading lady Maddie, her uncle Marcus and his husband Graylin. Willow and the mysterious Silver Prince. Taya and of course The Heiress. Lastly, our handsome Brekken! I didn't really connect to any of our characters but at the last length of the book I started to a little place in my heart for Taya. Also, I loved our bad guy, like seriously.. I hope he lives up to it.

All in all its worth the reading, I feel it leans into the more younger YA readers but it is still enoyable!

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review, "Havenfall: by Sara Holland. I was disappointed to find out that I only had an excerpt of this book! I was completely intrigued and devoured the little bit of this book that I did have. Maddie Morrow is a very interesting main character. I would love to see where the rest of her story takes her.


Update: I did re-download the book and somehow, I have the full version now. Full review of the book to come!

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

UGH, I got the tiny version again and not the whole book? Complete sadness. Even though I did completely enjoy re-reading this little extract again. My heart is just a teeny tiny bit broken because I thought I finally got the gigantic full book. Alas, it wasn't meant to be.

I wish Maddie luck on her adventure.. and maybe next month I will be able to purchase and read the full book. Maybe.

"Havenfall" by Sara Holland was a fun mystery wrapped up in a hidden, modern fantasy world. I wasn't very gripped by the characters or the details of what they did line by line, but the mystery kept me reading and wanting to find out what happened until the end. One character in particular, though she ended up being important, felt like she was dropped into the story just to form a love triangle, and even when her twist was revealed toward the end it still felt a little too convenient that she supposedly had just ended up at this magical inn by chance, because she'd just happened to get a job there. It felt a little too convenient. I also could tell she was supposed to be a love interest for the MC, but never felt much chemistry between them. The other corner of the love triangle, Brekken—he was a hot elf man I was into, but he was also missing for the majority of the book. That was pretty disappointing.
So, it was a creative story and a genuinely good mystery with fun twists and turns, I think I just never really liked being in the main character's head. I'm not sure why. Maybe she was too much of a Mary Sue and everything came too easy for her and she didn't have enough relatable flaws. Maybe she just seemed too isolated in this fantasy world and disconnected from everyone around her so I couldn't connect to her either. Maybe she was just boring. Regardless, I think she is what really kept me from getting invested in this story, which was unfortunate because I think it did overall have a good plot. This could also very much be a me thing that most people would feel differently about.

This story is a must-read for all lovers of fantasy and science fiction! I'm always on the fence about magical realism and science fiction stories because they lose that fantastical element I long for when reading the fantasy genre. Havenfall is the perfect blend of fantasy, magical realism, and science fiction. The main character, Maddie, is your average teenager if your average teenager's mom is on death row for killing her son. Maddie is traveling to spend the summer with her uncle, who manages the inn at Havenfall, the crossroads for the multiverse. The sole purpose of the innkeeper is to ensure harmony between the different universes and be a neutral ground for peace discussions. Maddie hopes to take over as innkeeper someday, but she isn't ready for the responsibilities this summer will bring. (Insert awesomeness here.) The plot of this story takes off from the get-go, and leads you down a path of twists and turns that you wouldn't expect. This story had me guessing the whole time and was so action-packed that I literally could not put it down. I don't usually finish books in a day, but this book was unstoppable. I was worried about the pace of this book interfering with my connection with the characters, but it enhances the experience with twinges of mystique. I thoroughly enjoyed the protagonist, Maddie, she was relatable, and I loved seeing her rise to the challenge of her new responsibilities. The idea behind Havenfall being the crossroads to other worlds was genius, and I loved how the author built up the world of Havenfall. I cannot gush enough about how great this book was! It's a must-read.

A really great opening, can't wait for the rest of the book! Love Sara Holland's work, and the premise promises it to be an excellent read.

When I was seventeen/eighteen, I was in my third year of college. You'd think that being in my last year of my scholastic year - so far - that I had got everything together and solid. But I wasn't; I was in the cusp of teenage angst and questions of 'is this what I really to do'.

Just like Maddie.

But Maddie, unlike me, knows what she wants and what she wants to do - and that is be the next Innkeeper after her Uncle Marius.

This sneak peek into Havenfall melds together a insight into the life of the character herself and the introduction to the mysterious and intriguing Havenfall and the lands beyond. The first two chapters weaves a description of something beyond the metropolitan and the modern, of a place removed from the now and untouched by the contemporary. Something that could only be reached after a long walk through fog and fen.

Ah, getting poetic here. But I always do this whenever a book is whimsical and has potential for a good deal more.

I received this extract for free from NetGalley, thank you to the author (Sara Holland) and the publishers (Bloomsbury Publishing/Bloomsbury YA) for accepting my request to read this!

There is another disclaimer that I want to say as well - this review is based on only an EXTRACT of the book. I received the first two chapters for free to read and review so please keep that in mind when reading this review! These are just my thoughts so far on what I've read.

Our main character is Maddie Marrow who has clearly led a very troubled life and has overcome a lot. She is a niece to Marcus, who is the innkeeper of Havenfall and has a responsibility to keep everyone safe. Maddie has high ambitions as she is hoping to be named his inheritor one day. Overall, she is like any young girl who wants to hang out with her friends and is at an age where she feels out of place in the world. The difference being that she has an extra touch of magic. Plus, I am very much looking forward to how the hint of a possible future romance will play out!

I love how the author introduces the characters in this extract, it's only been a couple of chapters but I am hooked and want to know more about them. Plus, Havenfall is such an intriguing concept and sounds like such a magical and mystical place. I'm excited to read more about it. Additionally, there has been some beautiful writing so far, it's really gripping and just pulls you in!

Only a short review this time round but I think you can tell that I really enjoyed what I have read so far and I will definitely be buying the whole book after it has been released!
Thank you again to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this opportunity!

Consisting of a diverse and unique new-world, dynamic protagonists, distinct antagonists, and a gripping plot-line, Sara Hollands new-series shapes to be an elegantly composed master-piece. Within the work, all the characters have a dimensional depth that surpasses typical fantasy themes.

Whilst the P.O.V leaves more to be desired, the fast-paced plot-line consisting of twists and turns to shock the reader begin from page 1. This alone redeems the book from the world of 3.5 Stars, and thrusts it solely into 4.5

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for the ARC.

I liked Everless. so I was positive I would love this book. The cover, is simply beautiful, and the blurb sounded wonderful as well. And in the beginning, it was everything I hoped it would be and then, then it just does a complete 180 and went downhill.

The book was easy to figure out and there was no "wow" moments or moments that made me love the characters. I wish there was.

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.