Ravenfall (Ravenfall #1)

by Kalyn Josephson (Author)

Reading Level: 6th − 7th Grade
Series: Ravenfall

One magical inn, two kids with supernatural powers, and an ancient Celtic creature trying to destroy their world by Halloween night... Halloweentown meets Supernatural in this spooky middle-grade series from the acclaimed author of the Storm Crow duology!

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.

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Kirkus

Magical traditions, creatures, and objects abound in this intriguing setting, offering possibilities for sequels... Largely spellbinding.

Publishers Weekly

With her psychometric power to envision deaths seen through other people's eyes, 13-year-old Annabella Ballinkay, who is Irish, Jewish, and aromantic, feels out of step with the rest of her family. Her relations' psychic abilities--including empathy and mind-reading--all prove more useful for running the sentient Ravenfall Inn in magic-steeped Wick, Ore., positioned "at a weak spot in the veil to the Otherworld, where spirits dwell." Leading up to the celebration of Samhain, when the border grows even thinner, 14-year-old Colin Pierce arrives from Montana following his parents' murder and his older brother's disappearance. Anna recognizes him from a recent vision, and the two soon find that Colin's family were Ravenguards, protectors of the Shield separating the realms. As Colin learns about his magic and connection to an ancient Irish being with a sinister agenda, the two must locate the killer. Alternating between Anna and Colin's voices, Josephson (The Storm Crow) presents memorable characters in an engaging and eerie magical mystery. As emotionally rich characterizations follow olive-skinned Anna seeking to define her place among her sprawling family, and pale Colin navigating grief as the result of losing his, the novel's quirkier aspects manifest in the house's ever-changing layout and via Max, a powerful Jabberwocky taking the form of a mischievous black cat. Ages 10-up. Agent: Carrie Pestritto, Laura Dail Literary. (Aug.)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Twisty and thrilling. Ravenfall is an enthralling adventure that pulls readers in from the first page, with delightful worldbuilding that will make you want to linger for a long time."—Julie Abe, author of the Eva Evergreen series

"Ravenfall is an utterly enchanting read packed with imaginative magic and folklore, a creeping sense that something wicked is coming, and a vibrant, endearing cast of characters you'll root for every step of the way. Settle in with a full mug of hot cider and a cozy blanket: you won't want to put Ravenfall down."—Tracy Badua, author of Freddie vs. the Family Curse

"A wonderfully bewitching tale of magic, grief, and the power of friendship. Josephson weaves a fantastical story you'll never want to leave, full of memorable characters, a heart-pounding mystery, and a sentient inn that will make you wish you could book a room of your own for next Samhain."—Alexandra Overy, author of These Feathered Flames

"As cozy as a warm cup of tea in the middle of a graveyard at midnight on Halloween. Don't you dare sleep on this story—or its truly excellent black cat."—Alyssa Colman, author of The Gilded Girl

Kalyn Josephson
Kalyn Josephson is a fantasy author living in the California Bay Area. She loves books, cats, books with cats, and making up other worlds to live in for a while. She is also the author of the Storm Crow duology.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593483589
Lexile Measure
790
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
N/A
Publication date
September 06, 2022
Series
Ravenfall
BISAC categories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV022000 - Juvenile Fiction | Legends, Myths, & Fables | General
JUV018000 - Juvenile Fiction | Horror
Library of Congress categories
-

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