Bestselling author Sara Holland continues her blockbuster contemporary fantasy series about the Inn at Havenfall with this unforgettable sequel.
Maddie thought her problems were over. She saved the Inn at Havenfall—a sanctuary between magical worlds—from the evil Silver Prince. Her uncle the Innkeeper is recovering from a mysterious spell that left him not quite human. And there are still a few weeks of summer left to spend with her more-than-friend Brekken.
But there’s more work to be done to protect the Inn—Maddie must put an end to the black-market trading of magical objects and open the Inn’s doors to the once feared land of shapeshifters.
As she tries to accomplish both seemingly impossible tasks, Maddie uncovers secrets that could change everything. What if saving everyone means destroying the only home she’s known?
This next breathtaking fantasy from the bestselling author of Everless is perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and Holly Black.
This duology has two of the most stunning covers I’ve come across in the past couple years. Both of them deserve extra scrutiny because they convey images you may not initially notice.
The premise of Havenfall is intriguing – a neutral territory that hosts annual summits for citizens of different magical worlds. It reminds me a little of The Continental Hotel from the John Wick movies. I looked forward to being back in that setting and continuing the adventure with these very likeable characters. After finishing the first book I had mixed feelings, but had an idea where the sequel might go and wanted to continue with it. When it headed in the direction I’d hoped – exploration of one of the other magical worlds – I was excited. For maybe fifteen minutes. Because that’s about the length of time spent there.
Phoenix Flame is a relatively short novel, coming in under three hundred pages, and that’s probably why the story feels so rushed. Without revealing spoilers, I’ll say a few relatively important plot points are glossed over and barely touched on. Surprising developments are dealt with and dismissed in a few paragraphs or pages. I was left with lots of questions, but had to shrug and move on. When I finished the book, I honestly thought there must be a third in the series because a major plot thread was left dangling in the wind. After checking on Goodreads, I learned that wasn’t the case.
This series held my interest and contains fascinating world-building and diverse characters I enjoyed spending time with, but left me with too many questions at the conclusion. If both books, or even the second book, had been longer or the series expanded to a third novel, I think it would have offered a more complete story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Books and Such 
Sorry about the open threads. Sounds like it could have gone one more book. The cover is gorgeous, though.
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The covers are outstanding and give hints about the story. One more book would have been best, or even making the duology a little longer.
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It sounds like this one had a lot of potential, but didn’t quite get there. An insightful review, Teri.
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Thanks, Mae! I wondered if maybe it was me, that I’d missed something, but several other reviewers mentioned some of the same issues.
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Sorry it felt so rushed Teri! I read her first book but had the same feeling and didn’t bother to read more.
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I like a fast pace, but not at the expense of leaving plot threads dangling, Sophie. I was on the fence about requesting this one, but was hoping for exploration of the other worlds mentioned in the first book.
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I prefer shorter books but not when they leave things out or don’t feel complete. I do not like loose ends. I *do* like leaving the reader with questions but only if that’s the intention, as in leaving the reader with something to think about/ponder not when they’re wondering what happened. (Amazing cover, as an aside.)
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Almost exactly what I said above, lol.
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The cover or the “huh, that’s…what is that…there must be a 3rd book”? Or both? 😉
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Leaving things out and loose ends mostly.
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Dude. Tie. Those. Things. Up. !!!
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Being left with questions can be frustrating. Thank you for your honest review, Teri.
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I’ll just pretend everyone had a happily ever after, Jill. Thanks for visiting!
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I would hate finishing a series with still so many questions left unanswered but I LOVE the covers. I might even buy the books just for the covers. lol.
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Both covers are absolute works of art, Tessa. They’d make gorgeous framed prints.
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I agree with Tessa, love the covers but not enough to be left hanging.
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Exactly, Jacquie!
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Sometimes the connecting dots just aren’t there. Thanks for sharing, Teri!
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And I hate it when that happens – grrr. Have a great weekend, Jan!
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Oh my. The premise of this does sound wonderful, and the cover is indeed fabulous! But the second book sounds rushed. I wonder why? Thanks for the thoughtful review, Teri.
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I wondered the same thing, Diana. There was so much to explore, but the book came in at under 300 pages. It was surprising.
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