HOLLOWTHORN

Young teens Colin and Anna travel to the Otherworld to thwart an attack on the Tree of Life.

In this sequel to Ravenfall (2022) that’s set during the eight nights of Hanukkah, Josephson dives into the arcana of Jewish mythology. Shortly after Anna’s father returns from an expedition with what he says is the Seal of Solomon, an old acquaintance of his named Salem, who is a Raven, or “guardian of the supernatural world responsible for helping to maintain its balance,” arrives at the inn as if by chance. According to Salem, the demon Ashmedai intends to absorb the magic from the Tree of Life, gathering all its power. The interweaving of (largely Western) folk and mystical traditions with encounters in the magical realm of Sheol is nicely realized. Magical practices—Colin’s use of his Ravenguard journal to hold weapons, and Anna’s ability to “read” artifacts and living beings—are described with authority. Anna struggles to understand her father, while Colin struggles with his desires to master his Raven warrior magic and avoid using the power that he inherited from Fin, the wicked King of the Dead. He sees Salem as a mentor, but Anna has her doubts. Chapters in Anna’s and Colin’s first-person voices alternate, along with several from the perspective of the Ravenfall Inn itself. The amalgam of mythical creatures and traditional beliefs provides context for a fantasy that feels original and is both captivating and convincing. Most characters read white.

A strong, enchanting adventure.