Disappointing read – Havenfall review!

Title: Havenfall.

Author: Sara Holland.

Format: Paperback.

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA.

Page count: 305.

Release day: March 3^rd 2020.

Genre: YA, fantasy.

Rating: 2.5 stars.

What is it about? (Summary from GoodReads)

From the New York Times bestselling author of Everless comes a thrilling contemporary fantasy series about the safe haven between worlds – and the girl sworn to protect it.

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.

This sweeping new series, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Melissa Albert and Holly Black, is sure to enthral readers old and new.

Rating:

Characters: 4/10
Atmosphere: 5/10
Writing: 6/10
Plot: 4/10
Intrigue: 4/10
Logic: 5/10
Enjoyment: 4/10
Average: 4.5 (which means 2 stars, but I decided to go with 2.5!)

My thoughts:

To be honest, if I did not read this book in just over 24H because of a readathon, I might have DNF’ed this. Most of the plot, especially the beginning, was quite boring..

This book starts with out main character just leaving prison after visiting her mother, and her travelling to Havenfall. We quickly arrive at Havenfall, and get introduced to this interesting world. But it was introduced so flatly, if that is possible haha. But for some reason it was told in such a not exciting way..

We get introduced to some characters, some of them Maddie has known for a long time and some of them are new to her as well. I feel like most of the characters did not have much substance, so I did not really care for any of them?! I did really like Taya, mainly because I feel like she was one of the only ones thinking straight!

I was so annoyed with Maddie for most of the book. There is a character that she has known her whole life, and there is a new character. Then this new character says something about the other, and she just decides to trust the new one over the one she knows for most her life.

And this was just one instance, but so often she randomly decides to trust people without any reason, on my opinion. I just feel like there was no reason whatsoever to trust certain people, like she doesn’t have to distrust everyone, but maybe think for yourself, and see if it makes sense?

So for the plot, as mentioned I felt like the introduction to this world was a bit boring, I just wanted to learn more about all these other worlds and their magic, and I was just a bit disappointed with that. And so many of the twists and reveals were not so unexpected? I saw most of it coming, so that is another reason why plot did not get a very high rating.. And for the more action scenes, they were quite short and mild, I felt like they could have been expanded upon.

I do enjoy Sara Hollands writing, and I did enjoy her previous duology, so I do want to see what she writes next. But I don’t think I will read the sequel of this one. Since there was just not enough in the book to interest me.

I feel like I’m being a bit harsh.. I just expected a bit more from this, so I was a bit let down.

Have you read this book? What did you think?