Havenfall by Sara Holland

Rating: ★★★

Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the sneak peak in exchange for an honest opinion.

As I don't have the full ARC copy of this novel, I can't make a full honest rating of the novel as a whole, so my rating here is based on the sample I received. However, from the brief glimpse I was able to enjoy, this novel intrigues me. It seems like it will be full of mystery, suspense, magic, love and a journey of self-discovery. I can't wait to dive in and explore more of this beautiful story. Side note: The cover is fantastically beautiful!

Once I've read the full novel, I will return and either edit this review accordingly or post a fresh one (depends on how far in the future I get a finished copy.)

I really enjoy Sara Holland's writing, It has a calming, rhythmic flow that lulls you into the story. Her descriptions are apt and not bogged down with flowery wording, but just enough to build an image in your mind of a place or character. This story is intriguing and I wish it wasn't just an excerpt. I'm curious about the inn and the treaty. I want to know the truth about her brother's death, her mom's imprisonment and the monster that created the situation. The romance seems like it might be girl and girl which will probably be written well, but isn't my cup of tea. The only thing I didn't really enjoy was the beginning section about Marcus. It felt like an info dump set up and seems like something that could be woven in the story. It wasn't a piece of writing that made me excited to read. I prefer the story starts right away with Maddie leaving the prison. That is more of a hook for me. All in all, I'm delighted with the story so far and look forward to the full release.

Maddie Morrow is dealing with a lot. She has a reputation as a weirdo and a loner, but that’s nothing compared to her mother’s infamy as Goodwin Lane Killer.
Maddie should be heading to Omaha, to intern at Grandma Ellen's insurance company for the summer – “something she can put on her college applications” according to her dad. Instead, after visiting her mom on Death Row, she boards the bus to Haven, the one place she actually feels like belongs.
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An interesting extract from Sara Holland’s upcoming novel Havenfall.
Unfortunately, with such limited a limited look into the book, all that really stood out to me is how derivative a lot of the concepts were. The wrongfully convicted parent like DC’s Flash, the magical intergalactic inn like Ilona Andrew’s Innkeeper Chronicles, talk of interspecies Accords like Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter Chronicles and some very familiar names like Brekken and Fiorden that instantly bring up Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows.
This seems like a very interesting story, however, from such a short glance, I can’t help but feel like I’ve heard this one before.

I recieved a snippet from netgalley. The story drew me right in and sounds promising, I can not wait for more.

I really enjoyed this! I am looking forward to reading this when it comes out in March. I really enjoyed Sara Holland's previous duology, Everless, so I am excited to get my hands on this one.

I found the extract to contain a very interesting story and I'm curious now for what's going to happen in the book.

I LOVEEEE Sara Holland!!!! Her Everless series is one of my favorites, so when I saw this book I was like YES PLEASEEE!

But I was SOO sad to see it wasn’t the full book! I’m bouncing on my toes now waiting for the rest!

I was totally drawn in by Havenfall, Holland did a good job at creating the inn and the world that surrounds it and making you want to read more. I assume some of the confusion will be cleared up in the full novel and I can’t wait for it :)

I need the rest of this book!
This excerpt provides the first two chapters of Heavenfall which immediately captured my attention.
Maddie makes her way to Havenfall as we find out that her mother is on death row and her older brother is dead. Heavenfall also has its secrets, as it is a connection to other worlds.

Thank you Net Galley and the Publisher for this sampler! I look forward to the book’s release!

I really enjoyed this extract, I loved the writing and I love the idea of the different roles, I will definitely be reading this when it comes out. I recommend people definitely give this extract a read before picking up the book as I feel like it would not be for everyone.

Havenfall is a place of secrets. For centuries it has held passage ways to other places. Only these places are filled with magic and after hundreds of years of war Havenfall A.K.A Earth is the neutral meeting place of these magical continents.

The Inn which hides this secret has been inherited. Passed down through family for as long as anyone can remember and in a few years who knows it might be Maddie who inherits it from her uncle. Havenfall is the one place Maddie feels normal, here she is not the daughter of a murder. Here when she says a monster killed her older brother people believe her, Here she has friends.

Unfortunately this summer wont be like the rest, this summer is not all fun and happiness. A death means that the treaty that made Havenfall a peaceful meeting grounds is compromised. This means déjà vu for Maddie, just like her mother, her friend Brekken now stands accused of murder. Refusing to lose another person she loves Maddie has to face the truth about what lies underneath Havenfall. But will that change her forever?.

I have only read the first 33 page extract granted to me by NetGalley I feel very intrigued by this book.

The book is set in modern day America, complete with technology. This is often something that goes wrong in Fantasy at least it's something I often find dealt with poorly. However from what I have so far read I think Holland has done well. We are aware there is technology and a modern world but Holland has not tried to drag it into the magical world.

It is clear to see why Maddie would want to go to Havenfall and I would be on the next bus.


I was trilled with Holland's writing style, she had strings of great prose but they were not over flowery. Just enough to get my imagination going but stopping well short of boring me. A nice middle ground which I appropriate.

Holland's world building is subtle yet as clear as crystal. It didn't take chapters or pages. I like it when I can see a fantasy land in a few sentences.

In fact aside from noticing a continuity error where Taya got on her bike just after, getting on her bike with no mention of dismount in between, I was enjoying the book and look forward to finishing it.

Certainly will be an interesting read, I love how intriguing is this extract, and I'm looking forward to read the entire book!

An enticing sampler hinting at worlds beyond ours that I can't wait to explore. There's an uneasy atmosphere, a sense that something is coming, and the disjoint between Maddie's soul and our world. Can't wait to read the book!

I really enjoyed the excerpt of this book. I loved Sara Holland's Everless duology, and I'm so excited to read Havenfall, The writing is, as always, beautiful, and I'm so interested in the idea of the different worlds.

I loved Sara Hollands previous books Everless and Evermore and I'm so excited to read Havenfall! The cover is gorgeous too. This extract is the perfect teaser and I was so disappointed to have it come to an end. The prologue speaks of an epic fantasy but we're then into Maddie's very contemporary world. I loved the eerieness to opening though everything feels very dark and foreboding with a sense that things will be very different on this visit to Havenfall. Maddie seems like a great character so far, independent with a tough backstory that causes her to be a little reckless. The writing is great too - I just want to read it all!

This were only the first two chapters?

Can I get the rest ASAP? Please 😅🤗

I’m intrigued by the storyline and set up about the worlds, I’m very curious about the characters developments and which role each has to play...
We get to meet Marcus, Maddie and Taya in these first two chapters..
but Maddie talks about some more, it makes me wondering who they are and what they mean to her and where the story is gonna go with those characters 🤗

I’m definitely hoping on the ARC or to get my hands on this book 📖

This is a two chapter teaser from netgalley. I am intrigued. I have not read the author before, other than it being overly wordy, it did not seem hard to follow. With the sample having only two chapters it is hard to tell much about the character growth, the total world building, or who or what I didn’t like. However I am intrigued to read more.

A personal fan of Holland’s duology, I was excited to read a bit her new work! I’m always interested with her world building and characters and this doesn’t disappoint!

Author: Sara Holland, author of Everless

Publication Date: March 3rd, 2020

Extract Length: Chapters 1 & 2

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Place

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Fiction



A young adult fantasy fiction tale set-in modern-day Colorado on top of a mountain town surrounded by enchanted fog, sits the magical inn of Havenfall. The gateway between the realms has been entrusted to human caretakers for generations to ensure peace between the mystical beings. But something dark stirs in the shadows, threatening the very peace protecting the realms from utter chaos.

Author Sara Holland has created yet another wonderful and enchanting best seller. The world in which young Maddie Marrow must overcome her greatest fears, presents a beautiful message of courage, truth, and finding one’s identity. Although the advanced ebook extract only provided the first two chapters, the conflict and emotional pull emitting from Maddie was enough to get me interested into the story.

Fantasy plots and magical beings have always been my go-to for stories to read; this arc reminds me of a darker and intense version of the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull. Maddie’s fears over her family dynamic and desire for a place to call her own is relatable. The narrative and dialogue aren’t forced but flow naturally with the story.

Readers will be introduced to a world of magical and otherworldly creatures’ intent on survival, but also on the brink of collapse as Maddie desperately searches for a way to save all the realms; while proving her mother innocent of a terrible crime.

Sound like your kind of story? Mine too. I am fully invested into finding out what happens and was more than disappointed when I finished chapter two.

Havenfall is set to be published on March 3rd, 2020 by Bloomsbury Publishing. Be sure to follow Bloomsbury Publishing and Sara Holland for updates about the upcoming release.

Love this excerpt!!! Need this book ASAP!!!! First couple of chapters are very intriguing....... excited to see what is next. I love Sara’s writing style and cannot wait to get lost in this story!!!!

OK so I just read the extract for this on NetGalley and I loved it. The only problem now is that I need more! I loved the premise, I loved the start of the story that I read in the generous extract, and I can't wait to see where it goes. Also there's a bit of a queer vibe too and I am here for it.