I can’t wait to read the full book!

The author has a real way with words. I found myself really seeing the town of Havenfall...the descriptions were illustrative and I was drawn to this interesting isolated town.
Similarly with the arrival at the Inn, and sentences like this:
‘A waterfall behind the inn turns into a winding stream that feeds into Mirror Lake, circling the inn like a silver ribbon.’
And then the extract ends...at the perfect time (to make me want to read more)...

I want to get into the Inn, I want to learn more about Tara, I want to meet Marcus, and I want to see where this story goes.

Thanks Bloomsbury for the sneak peak.

This was a double download somehow so already reviewed gave it 4 stars and will be continuing this book.

Well I need the rest like NOW! I have so many questions, this seems like its could be a really good story and i can not wait to read the rest!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this extract! After checking it out, I actually don't think the book is for me. I wasn't immediately grabbed by the premise, though I did enjoy all the beautiful descriptions of the setting. I really enjoyed Holland's Everless, but struggled with Evermore, so I appreciate the chance to check out a small sample.

Main body of my review taken from my excerpt review post (attached/linked):

Given that the excerpt only contains the first two chapters of Havenfall, we don’t have too much of an opportunity to get to know the main cast of characters, although I’d say I got a pretty good feel for Maddie as a protagonist. She’s witty, having made me laugh at numerous occassions while reading the excerpt (even though I don’t know if the lines I laughed at were intended by Holland to be funny), and knows what she wants. Maddie’s tired of just spending her summers at Havenfall – she wants her uncle to name her as the next innkeeper (which he presumably will as she’s the only candidate in the running) and not go to college like her dad wants. I just wish the excerpt was longer so that us as readers get to spend more time with Maddie before March; I think she’s going to have quite the interesting journey.



Besides Maddie, a few other characters were name-dropped, and we’re introduced to Taya, a girl who applied for a gardening/landscaping position at the inn. Although we didn’t spend too much time with Taya, we got a little bit of background information on her – namely, the reason why she’s afraid of large bodies of water – and, if the summary from Goodreads is anything to go by, I think Taya will play a larger role in the story than expected. Also….. is that a love triangle I’m sensing?



I loved the dark and gloomy setting of Havenfall. Again, while there wasn’t enough time to get sucked into the world, I feel like Havenfall has that potential, and that with a setting of this type, Havenfall as a novel would make a great winter’s evening read. The book releases in March, and knowing England’s classically bad weather, I get the feeling that’s what we’ll be getting when this book releases next year… perfect for cosying up reading by the fire…. or in my case, sitting on a beanbag by your radiator. Having read Holland’s debut novel, Everless, however, I have no doubt that I will grow to love Havenfall and the other settings Maddie and co. visit, just as other Everless fans will.

This book was a good read that is perfect for a rainy day. I really liked this authors writing style and will be looking out for more books from this author.

This is definitely my type.of book. cannt wait to read it in full.

It has so much potential, im sure it wont disappoint

I really enjoyed everless so was very excited when I saw Sara Holland name! The initial pages were a bit vague and I really felt unsure about where the story was heading. But once I hit the official first chapter I felt drawn in completely. I am however a little disappointed that Marcus wasn't actually the main character. It would be so refreshing (and useful for my profession) to have a male protagonist in some YA, especially YA fantasy as most is either too realistic or too young. I will look forward to reading but I don't feel like I can give a full review off so little of the book. Either way a strong start, I'm intrigued.

As a former reader of YA fiction, I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book. I believe it must be difficult to create a new magic world nowadays, and I would like to see where the story leads to. The setting of the novel and the mystery mentioned worked pretty well for leaving me wanting more. I also liked the writing style, not having read any books from Sara Holland before.

I loved Holland's first series and I really enjoyed this extract. So, I'd definitely pick it up when available.

Thanks a lot for this extract.

Havenfall is a doorway to different worlds/realms and the Haven Inn is a safe haven for all. Maddie, the niece of Haven’s keeper is hoping to inherit the inn and take care of the gateways to other worlds that come with it. An interesting start to a magical tale and I’d be keen to finish the story.

Based upon the extract I have seen of the first book in Sara Holland's Havenfall series, I think it's pretty good; it's simple prose, easy world building and a comfortable pace. That's not to say it has the magic and whimsy I would hope to find from a book promising mystery and ancient magic, but it strikes me as the kind of book you'd quickly lose yourself in.

If you enjoyed Sara Holland's approach to storytelling in her Everless books then I think you'll very easily fall into this series too. The writing style is very much the same, just with a slightly more "real-world" feel to it. The premise is simple: Havenfall is quite literally a safe haven for Maddie Marrow. After a difficult loss and a dysfunctional family situation unfolds, Maddie finds herself needing the quiet beauty of a place like Havenfall. Except it seems that quiet solitude is about to be shattered, as Maddie realises bodies are turning up on the grounds of Havenfall, and maybe Maddie's friend is responsible.

I like the concept of hidden worlds separated and sealed by what are essentially magical portals; this is awesome. I do feel like the world building has been oversimplified to the point of potentially becoming a bit bland, which ostensibly ruins such a cool idea, but its hard to really say for sure based upon two chapters.

Nevertheless, at the very least this will be quick and addictive read for young adult and middle grade readers.

This was an extract of the full book and I'm intrigued. There isn't enough story for me to be excited for the full book buy to say that it doesn't try to grab you within the first three chapters would not be fair to say. Maddie has a lot going on and you're curious to know how and why.

My biggest issue with this short read is it is slightly all over the place. The timeline of things and the information doesn't match up well to me and left me a bit confused. Shocking that all of this took place in a short amount of time but it caught my attention enough that if the book comes up on my radar when its release, I will more than likely read it.

I would read this book based on this first chapter. I've never read anything by this author but it seems like it would be good.

This was a very interesting sampler of the first few chapters that definitely had me wanting more.

I found the world to be incredibly interesting - our world with a magical realm hidden in the mountains. Such an interesting and original concept and I look forward to reading more about it when the book releases next year.

The blurb to Havenfall sounds really promising and this teaser left me so intrigued, i can't wait to pick up the whole book.

I was lucky enough to be able to preview a teaser excerpt of this exciting new YA book!

As this is only a teaser, I'll leave the synopsis from Bloomsbury (UK & ANZ) below for those who are interested:

"Summers at Havenfall’s famous Inn are Maddie Marrow's only solace from her dysfunctional existence. But the Inn is much more than a hotel, and life in Havenfall isn't without its secrets. Beneath the beautiful, sprawling manor in Colorado lie hidden gateways to other worlds, some long-sealed by ancient magic.

When a body is found on the grounds, the volatile peace brokered between these worlds is irrevocably compromised. What’s worse is that Maddie’s friend Brekken stands accused of the murder. With everything she loves at stake, Maddie must confront shocking truths about the dangers lurking beneath Havenfall – and discover who she really is."

I definitely felt like this book in the first couple of chapters had a mystery-murder feel to it, and the characters felt gritty and real from the get go!

I also 100% feel like the worldbuilding so early on is a great set-up and really got me hooked straight away! I loved how there is a subtle magic system so far, and not overly in-your-face. I felt that the chapters I read were fast-paced, and I hope that it is a sign of what is to come!

Based off what I have read so far, I'll give it a rating of 4/5 stars so far!

(This review will be shared as an 'upcoming release' post on my blog on Feb 18, 2020!)

The extract I reviewed was definitely too short :) - I wanted to learn more about Havenfall, it's Inn who's managed by Maddie's uncle, and Maddie herself. Being the daughter of a mother on death row, convicted for killing Maddie's older brother, is not easy and she looks forward to escaping to the bridge of three worlds. On her way there, Maddie's filled with unease, meeting two strangers who may impact the plot more than we're led to believe in the first chapter. I look forward to reading the entire book.

Ugh, only an excerpt! But a cracking one nonetheless. I’ve read Everless, and was less than impressed, but this book sounds fantastic. Maddie is an intriguing character, and so is Taya, the little we see of her. The setup of the inn at the ends of many worlds is one that feels immediately familiar and right. I can’t wait to read the rest of this book.

Thanks for the excerpt, NetGalley.

I REALLY look forward to reading this.

While it was just an excerpt, Havenfall looks like it might be one of the promising YA releases of next Spring. I loved so many things in the short pages of this opening: character development, world-building, the ease of which the writing flowed.

I can't wait to read the rest of this.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing this excerpt.