A fun YA witchy book. Great atmosphere and a story you want to keep reading because you want to know what happens next.

2.5 stars
The premise was intriguing and I loved the idea of a sorority being a front to hide a witches' coven. But the execution and plot were disappointing and lackluster. It wasn’t bad per se, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Sisterhood was a central theme throughout the novel and I liked how everyone supported each other. It’s gratifying to see all the Kappa sisters stand up for each other and kick butt.

In terms of the plot, it was rather predictable and I figured out who the culprit was pretty early on. The rest of the story was enjoyable despite this.

Diversity was handled rather strangely in the novel. As soon as a character was introduced on-page, they were only described by their skin color and nothing else. The only thing I knew about that character was that they were POC or white. This felt like it was bordering on tokenism.

Scarlett: Wow, I loved her! She was ambitious, determined and had all her priorities sorted out. Initially, she was really catty but that is to be expected when you have so much pressure resting on your shoulders. Scarlett had to deal with pressure from her family to become Kappa’s president, overlooking the sorority’s initiations, as well as balance her relationship with Mason. Girl’s got a lot on her plate.
I loved Scarlett’s character growth. By the end of the book, she had so many terrible things thrown at her yet she still continued to stand tall.

Vivi: She was just so bland. If it weren’t for Scarlett, I would have stopped reading because Vivi’s chapters were so dry. Vivi, unfortunately, suffered from a case of the “I’m not like other girls” trope. She’s described as awkward and not Kappa material. Vivi’s lived her whole life without knowing she’s a witch, and of course we find out her magic is powerful.

The romance was unnecessary. The two love interests were interchangeable and had no personality. What I did not like was that Scarlett and Vivi’s dislike for each other stemmed from a guy. The book would’ve been so much better without the boy drama.

I am so disappointed because I really wanted to love this book. The premise was everything I wanted but unfortunately, everything else fell flat.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc to read!

I ended up really loving this new YA fantasy series by authors I already knew I liked. I went into this book with no expectations other than I really like the cover but ended up being blown away by this! The setting really drew me in and I found myself scrolling for hours, when normally I can only read a few pages at a time. I am eagerly anticipating more from this seriously amazing series and I highly recommend that people pick this up! It might just be their new favourite YA read of the year!

Thanks to Netgalley for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I did enjoy The Ravens - some parts were amazing, and others were just your run of the mill witchy novel plots. Vivi and Scarlett were both interesting characters with differeing backgrounds and a small rivalry that Vivi often didn't even know was a thing. Sometimes the character development felt a little flat for me, though, and some of the story didn't feel believable within the realms of the plot.

The bitchiness and pettiness between the girls I felt was captured very well. It brought to mind some of the behaviour I witnessed at university myself, in fact!

Overall, I did enjoy the book, the plot twist was not what I was expecting at all, and I would pick up the next book in the series.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. That's completely my fault as I didn't do enough research into the book before requesting. The subject matter and execution was just a little too young for me. It didn't go as far or get as dark as I normally like my books! Although I imagine this will be great for younger YA readers.

I love a good witch coven story. You say witches, and I’m all in.! But this book didn’t work for me. It felt like a cliche 90’s or early 2000’s kind of witch movie. You have a girl (Vick) who doesn’t know she is a witch. Her mom who’s trying to hide some dark secret and the fact that she is a witch, to save her 😒
Then she joins a sorority, which is basically a coven, that helps her find her true identity. Throughout you find some mean bitches (some mean girls who aren’t so mean), and a cute handsome boy (who is extraordinarily handsome and yet a nerd and all for cute, nice & naive girls - like seriously.! ) The coven is in an unseen unknown danger which they all fight as ‘sisters’ whilst trying to hide their identity and the fact that magic exists from the real world.! The villain will turn out to be some you never have imagined (who did it for the right purpose) and everything is good at the end (almost).
It’s basically a witchy chick flick for me. I wouldn’t say I absolutely hated it, but there wasn’t much surprise element and I would rather watch a 3-hour movie like this than read it.

The Ravens is a fantasy book set on a college campus and focused on a sorority of witches.

I liked this book. It was pretty good, the characters were interesting and there was a mystery element that was pretty cool. However, I found it pretty predictable, especially romantic-wise. But, despite having guessed who the villain was early on, I enjoyed this and still had loads of surprises along the way.
I especially loved the sorority of witches setting, it was pretty awesome.
Anyway, I'll definitely be reading the sequel.

An exciting and interesting new series that grabbed my attention and hooked my from the very first page! The main characters are a work in progress, they slowly grow and adapt to the events unfolding in the story. Magic, friendship and revenge are at the heart of this spellbinding tale with deception and secrets rounding it out from all sides. Well written and captivating enough that I am very eager for the next one!

I was pretty much hooked from the first couple of chapters. I was really interested in the story and the background of magic. The mystery was intriguing and I did not guess the ending! A fab read!

Fun YA romp about a bunch of witches posing as sorority sisters in College. It focuses on 2 characters - Vivi (the young ingenue freshman) and Scarlett (the cool sophisticated soon to tbe president of the Kappa Society) as they battle evil forces looking to destroy their society.

This was such a fun enjoyable read. I didnt realise it was a series but I'm definitely here for it. It definitely slants as YA and has some "dark" elements (but not really if you get what I mean). Vivi comes across as naive and eager to please but also has a lot of power and we get to explore the world building through her eyes, as she's introduced to witchcraft for the first time. Scarlett is the rich sophisticated legacy witch who comes from a long line of witches. She's under a lot of pressure to be perfect in everything and battles that with boyfriend issues and her instant dislike of Vivi.

There's elements of teen angst, boy drama (dare I say some insta-love), sibling rivalry and general bitchy/snobby attitudes. It reminds me of the girls in the Ryan Murphy show - scream queens - but with less of the acerbic wit. The dark forces angle is a little convoluted and left some loose threads, which makes sense now I know its a series. The conclusion was predictable but no less enjoyable. Will recommend if you like teen dramas.

I loved every single moment of this story and felt drawn in and addicted until I finished. Scarlett and Liv were both gorgeous characters - I really enjoyed their separate PoVs and the world of secret sororities/ contemporary covens.
This story felt real, felt magical and mesmerising! It’s possibly one of the best books I’ve read this year!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

The Ravens by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige took me by the heart from the moment I heard the words ‘Sorority Witches.’
And it seemed to hold on to its synopsis - there is magic, and sisterhood and an eerie atmosphere that threatens the sweetness of this imagined Savannah campus.

I enjoyed both Vivi and Scarlett and loved the opportunity to see both the newness and the experience of the magic, however! It felt like we only just skirted the depths of both of these girls.
Vivi’s background especially, was one I was very excited to learn more off, and I felt like we barely got a glimpse of who Scarlett might have been and what was going on in her head.
Im not sure the need for romance was exactly what I was expecting from this book and I could have been without the almost love triangle going on. I wanted more sisterhood, less teenage angst.

The use of Tarot and other Wiccan ceremonies I felt were held up well and researched - even though it at time felt a little cliche.

However, the twists and turns held me close as we leapt into this world of girls and boys and harrowing pasts that slowly catch up with the present. The plot held out well, and the writing is good and easy to pick up.

Over all I felt like it was a solid young adult book - one which held my attention, and left me with a need for my own kind of magic.

Wow.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘴 is a fantastic novel that blends college life and magic together perfectly.

This dark YA fantasy novel was everything I could have hoped for and boy, do elements of it tueb our emotions every which way possible.

I loved Vivi, she's innocent of so much in the world due to her Mother’s insistence of never living anywhere too long and her frustration is tangible that she's always the 'new girl' until she finds herself as a freshman at Waverley. Everything she's ever known will be tested when she finds herself becoming part of the Greeks on campus and you as the reader will find yourself sometimes telling her to run as fast as she can, whilst at other times encouraging her to grab life and all that the Ravens offer her with both hands.

You won't be disappointed and you certainly won't see the twists and turns coming, I for one was left amazed by what transpires so I'm not going to ruin it.

(I never will intentionally ruin a story - guides honour.)

The story switches smoothly between Vivi and Scarlet who is sorority royalty and she knows it, Scarlet comes from a legacy of Winter women who have attended Waverley and been President of Kappa Rho Nu and she plans on continuing that history. The girls are vastly different and Scarlet especially goes on a path of learning from her first encounter with the quiet freshman and it is that journey that truly gives life to this story.

I really hope there is more from 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘴, because damn it - these girls have stories aplenty hidden in the corners of their beautiful sorority house. If you are looking for a dark, original fantasy novel that will grab a hold of you from the get go, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘴 is that book.

Please.. Let there be more as the side characters were equally fascinating and often quiet and I need and want to hear their stories.

Uhm...WOW! I really enjoyed this! As soon as I heard the description for it I just knew I had to read it. Witches and sororities? I could not pass this up!

The overall story was really enjoyable and had me completely shook in so many places! I also loved following both Scarlett and Vivi’s POVs.

I don’t want to say too much and spoil the book but it was truly amazing and had some plot twists I certainly didn’t expect. Some parts sent such chills down my spine and completely creeped me out but I loved it! I also loved the idea of sisterhood and magic being big themes. It truly felt like it carried a message of community and I really appreciated it. The different types of magic was also a really interesting touch to read about that I felt really added to the story.

I also really appreciated the characters, I really want to know even more about them and live with them in Kappa! I also may be quite a bit in love with Mei??! Maybe super in love...I just think this was such an amazing read and I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking to read about a sorority of witches! Really it was FABULOUS!!

Author: Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige
Genre: YA Paranormal
Format: Hardcover
Published: 5th January 2021 (UK)
Pages: 389
Rating: 4 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Kappa Rho Nu isn’t your average sorority. Their parties are notorious. Their fundraisers are known for being Westerly College’s most elaborate affairs. But beneath the veil of Greek life and prestige, the sisters of Kappu Rho Nu share a secret: they’re a coven of witches. For Vivi Deveraux, being one of Kappa Rho Nu’s Ravens means getting a chance to redefine herself. For Scarlett Winters, a bonafide Raven and daughter of a legacy Raven, pledge this year means living up to her mother’s impossible expectations of becoming Kappa Rho Nu’s next president. Scarlett knows she’d be the perfect candidate — that is, if she didn’t have one human-sized skeleton in her closet…. When Vivi and Scarlett are paired as big and little for initiation, they find themselves sinking into the sinister world of blood oaths and betrayals.

CAWPILE

Characters – 7
Atmosphere – 7
Writing Style – 6
Plot – 8
Intrigue – 9
Logic – 8
Enjoyment – 9

Overall: 7.7 = 4 Stars

Review

Trigger Warnings: Murder, Blood, Parent with a terminal illness (cancer), Death of an Animal, and Death.

This review contains spoilers

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Hodder and Stoughton, however, this in no way influenced my opinion. Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with a copy.

As soon as I found out about this book I was eager to pick it up since it involves witches, so when I received an ARC I was thrilled. This was a fun, quick, and thrilling read that I thoroughly enjoyed. As soon as I read the prologue I was instantly drawn into the story. The world-building was great, I was completely fascinated by the magic system. I really liked the aspect that certain suits get on better with each other and work well together. One of our main characters, Vivi is a freshman who joins Kappa Rho Nu and discovers that she is a witch. I thoroughly enjoyed reading from Vivi’s perspective since she knows little about magic. I loved Vivi, I thought she was an interesting character and I loved seeing her open up and become more confident, it was great to see her find some friends as she moved around a lot as a child and didn’t have a chance to make friends. Our other main character is Scarlett, a Junior and is aiming to become President of the sorority. I will admit that I wasn’t a huge fan of her at the beginning because of how she acted towards Vivi, however as the story developed I started to enjoy her character more, and I felt so bad for her as her family put a lot of pressure on her and the way they speak to her is just horrible. Throughout the novel, Scarlett and Vivi grow closer as Scarlett becomes Vivis ‘big’ meaning she looks after and trains her. I thoroughly enjoyed their friendship and seeing them open up to one another. This novel explores the themes of friendship and sisterhood, I especially enjoyed the exploration of sisterhood within the sorority. The plot twists involving Tiffany was really shocking to me, while I found it a bit strange that she kept shooting down all of Scarlett’s concerns I really didn’t expect her to be the one using dark magic. Her reasoning was truly heartbreaking, and seeing Scarlett feel guilty after it about not noticing something was off with her was so upsetting. One aspect I wasn’t a huge fan of was the relationship drama throughout the book, as it was a little annoying at times, and Mason moved on so quickly from Scarlett.

Overall this was an exciting YA Paranormal novel, with intriguing characters and a devastating plot twist that you won’t see coming. I’m really looking forward to picking up the sequel.

Since I read the synopsis of this book, I was really curious about this story, because the mix of witches and reality setting sounded really good. That means my expectations for this book were high, and honestly, I wasn't disappointed. Some plot twists and the ending surprised me a lot, and I cannot say that it happens often!

The story follows Viv, the new girl who is finally arriving at university, and Scarlet, a witch who is already in the sorority and learning all about magic. These two couldn't be more different, they are like ice and fire even when they meet for the first time. Yet their paths will inevitably cross soon after that. Viv will have the opportunity to join Kappa Rho Nu sorority, where she discovers everything that she missed her whole life. Her magic. As it seems, Viv is a very powerful witch, who is necessary for her coven. Something dark and dangerous is coming for witches from Kappa Rho Nu sorority. And they can only defeat it if they fight it, together.

Viv is a great character that I liked from the beginning. Her personality is really simple, yet I liked the little development she had in this story. From shy and a bit scared girl to mighty and confident witch. It was different with Scarlet, though. As I wrote before, they are complete opposites, so Scarlet's personality is really complicated. I didn't know what I think about her. I didn't like her at the beginning, I almost hated her in one part of the story, but then, I slowly found a way to her character. I started to quite like her, and even though Viv was still my favorite one, at the end of the book, I found out how brilliant she actually is. And I am smitten with her development because it was something I didn't expect at all.

The plot of this book seemed so simple at the beginning and I was bored soon. Everything seemed predictable, maybe even cliché, because I saw it many times in other books. Everything just seemed so flat. But then, after the first half of the book, it just changed suddenly. The plot had a darker atmosphere, the dynamics of the story became a bit faster and there were a few scenes, that just made the book a hundred times better. And the ending? Honestly, it blew me away. I haven't expected that at all, I had no clue what would happen or who is the real villain in this book. For this, I just have to admire the authors, they did a really good job with it.

Overall, if you like good witchy reads, interesting characters, and a bit of mystery in your books, you shouldn't miss this one. Even though it isn't one of my favorite books, I still liked it a lot, and cannot wait to read the sequel. I think that fans of YA books will love this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

“A thrilling, dark contemporary fantasy about a prestigious sorority of witches and two girls caught up in its world of sinister magic and betrayals.”

With a synopsis like that how could I refuse?

The Ravens is book one in a new fantasy series by Kass Morgan and Danielle Page.

Before I talk about the book itself, I think special mention needs to be given to the stunning cover. This really is a beauty and would probably have been added to my shelves on looks alone (yes I am one of those booknerds haha) but in this case the story was great as well.

When a book is written by two authors, it can sometimes be a little disjointed or easy to spot when they change over but I didn’t experience that at all. To be honest most of the time, I forgot it was co-written which is testament to how well both authors did working as a team.

The world building was just the right mix of exclusive sorority and creepy as hell witchcraft which created an darkly enchanting atmosphere. The main characters were engaging and multifaceted, whilst being surrounded by a brilliant cast of supporting characters such as Mason, Mei and Sonali. Although I was drawn more to Vivi and found her endearing, Scarlett’s story was one that is familiar in YA and stems from external pressures to act a certain way and do what is expected of her. The plot was well thought out and although I saw the main plot twist coming, there were a couple of smaller twists I didn’t expect.

If you are a fan of witches, dark magic and sororities then pick this one up as I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. I’ll definitely be picking up book two when it’s released!

The Ravens is a thrilling, dark and complex mystery about the dangerous allure of power, combined with an empowering ode to sisterhood.

At the heart of this book lie our two protagonists: Scarlett and Vivi. I thought the use of dual narratives, which are reflected by the co-creation of the story, really enriched the book and made it stand out from other fantasy-mystery hybrids. Their voices are so strong and really pulled me into the story. Vivi allows you to learn all about the coven and its history, while Scarlett suffers under the weight of her family history and certain skeletons in her closet. They’re surrounded by a great ensemble cast, who are nuanced and given room to grow beyond their first impressions.

I really enjoyed the magic system used in the book and was fascinated by its basis in the tarot deck. All of this added to this brilliantly modern and fresh take on witches. As someone who adored American Horror Story: Coven, this perfectly matched its essence. The way that sorority life (something which has always interested me, albeit from a distance) and the more supernatural elements combined made for a fascinating tale. Both authors wove a thrilling tale, where there are shades of grey and plenty of secrets to uncover. The twists and turns gradually ramped up the tension, though you’re on uneasy footing right from the start.

This is a celebration and embracing of the inherent power within women, making it a fierce rallying cry. I’m really excited to see where the story goes next, with the ending promising plenty more mischief to come.

The Ravens is a bold reminder of the strength we get from being united and leaves enough tantalising plot threads that I’m excited to see where this coven is heading next.

This novel had a lot of great aspects to it. It was a very imaginative story that followed a coven of witches within a sorority, primarily focusing on Vivi and Scarlett. Both of these characters were very fleshed out and had distinct and interesting personalities that added so much to the story. The way in which they interacted together was engaging and felt very authentic to their personality types. The overall atmosphere of the novel was very well done as well, with it being spooky, mysterious, and distressing, just like you would expect from this type of novel. Overall, it was very magical and well constructed, which made it feel very authentic to the type of novel that Morgan and Paige were trying to create.

My issue was that the story was quite predictable, especially towards the end, and while I was intrigued to find out more I knew what was going to happen so there was no shock factor and ultimately I was left unsatisfied. Furthermore, whilst Vivi and Scarlet were well developed, the supporting characters felt half baked, with them not having much personality themselves. Their interactions with each other was also a bit odd, and I think more development could have been made in order to create distinguished and interesting character arches - I just personally don’t think enough time was spent on the character development of the supporting cast. However, I was very intrigued by the overall plot and the atmosphere it provided, I just felt it was lacking in certain areas.

I was really excited to read this book since I first heard about it many months ago. A story about witches set in a Southern college with sorority girls, spells, and mystery. I couldn’t wait to start reading it, but it took me a while to really get into the story and the characters. The first half of the story was a bit slow and I found the two protagonists, Vivi and Scarlett, at times annoying. In the second half of the book, the story picks up, there are a few twists (some of which I saw coming) and the two protagonists start to develop and get more interesting. It is a story about magic, but it’s also a story about friendship, sisterhood, and there is also a bit of romance. All in all, I’d say it’s an enjoyable and fun read and I would probably read the sequel to see what happens next, but, to be honest, I expected something more. 3,5 stars.