What do you think?
Rate this book
Ravensong #1
Ravensong
A demi-god who refuses to cohabitate with humans accidentally falls in love with one in the first book of a pulse-pounding teen duology that’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Celtic mythology.
Neve has spent lifetimes defending the mortal world against the legions of hell with her two sisters.
Unfortunately for Neve, in this lifetime, she is the only one of the Morrigan—a triad of Irish war gods—still stuck in high school and still without her full power. She’s been counting down the days until her eighteenth birthday, when she finally gets to shed the pretenses of humanity and grow into her divine power.
But then she meets Alexandria. And Alexandria is as determined to force Neve into some semblance of teenage normalcy as she is haunted by her own demons—both figurative and literal.
As they grow closer, Neve decides that humanity—and, perhaps, love—isn’t so detestable after all. Which makes it all the more dangerous when she realizes that something in Hell wants Alexandria, and it’s be up to Neve and her sisters to save her before Alexandria’s past catches up to all of them.
Neve has spent lifetimes defending the mortal world against the legions of hell with her two sisters.
Unfortunately for Neve, in this lifetime, she is the only one of the Morrigan—a triad of Irish war gods—still stuck in high school and still without her full power. She’s been counting down the days until her eighteenth birthday, when she finally gets to shed the pretenses of humanity and grow into her divine power.
But then she meets Alexandria. And Alexandria is as determined to force Neve into some semblance of teenage normalcy as she is haunted by her own demons—both figurative and literal.
As they grow closer, Neve decides that humanity—and, perhaps, love—isn’t so detestable after all. Which makes it all the more dangerous when she realizes that something in Hell wants Alexandria, and it’s be up to Neve and her sisters to save her before Alexandria’s past catches up to all of them.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published March 14, 2023
42 people are currently reading
5413 people want to read
About the author
Cayla Fay
4 books74 followersCayla (they/she) is a coastal New England local, D&D enthusiast, and believer in the power of black lipstick. They have a J.D from Suffolk University and B.A from Fordham University. When not writing, she spends her days walking her shih tzu, Charlie, listening to way too many podcasts, and exploring the defiantly tangled streets of Boston.
Cayla is the author of RAVENSONG—the first in a YA contemporary fantasy duology with Northeastern Gothic vibes—out in Spring 2023 from Simon & Schuster BFYR.
Cayla is the author of RAVENSONG—the first in a YA contemporary fantasy duology with Northeastern Gothic vibes—out in Spring 2023 from Simon & Schuster BFYR.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
unreleased
December 4, 2020
July 3, 2024
3.5/5
Want to read
May 20, 2021Irish mythology and sapphic war goddesses is all I needed to know to slam that tbr button
February 16, 2024
Content warnings: homophobia, violence & serious physical injuries (from fighting demons), PTSD, panic attacks (reference to past occurrences plus multiple on-page occurrences).
Rep: Neve (MC) is sapphic, Alexandria (love interest) is 'gay', Mercy is sapphic. Several side queer characters. One Black side character, one Muslim side character.
Edit: 16/02/24: idk, I'm calling them all lesbian.
Holy shit this book was phenomenal. I was hooked from the very first page, right until the very end
Neve and her sisters were so amazingly written. I loved the banter, their friendship, the teenage angst from Neve.
The plot was captivating, fast paced, and had me desperate to know what was going to happen next. I flew through this one and I can't wait for the next book to see what happens next.
Neve's little grumpy self was so perfectly paired with ray of sunshine Alexandria - they were so sweet together and it was such a cute way they finally got together. I love these two so much.
They are the grumpy/sunshine duo everyone needs.
I am hoping for more friendship shenanigans in book 2 as well.
First read through: 28-29/10/2022
Second read through: 13-15/02/2024
I talk about books at these places: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
Rep: Neve (MC) is sapphic, Alexandria (love interest) is 'gay', Mercy is sapphic. Several side queer characters. One Black side character, one Muslim side character.
Edit: 16/02/24: idk, I'm calling them all lesbian.
Holy shit this book was phenomenal. I was hooked from the very first page, right until the very end
Neve and her sisters were so amazingly written. I loved the banter, their friendship, the teenage angst from Neve.
The plot was captivating, fast paced, and had me desperate to know what was going to happen next. I flew through this one and I can't wait for the next book to see what happens next.
Neve's little grumpy self was so perfectly paired with ray of sunshine Alexandria - they were so sweet together and it was such a cute way they finally got together. I love these two so much.
They are the grumpy/sunshine duo everyone needs.
I am hoping for more friendship shenanigans in book 2 as well.
First read through: 28-29/10/2022
Second read through: 13-15/02/2024
I talk about books at these places: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
September 14, 2022
Review to come as soon as my brain stops screaming
Finally catching up on old reviews I meant to write, whoops
I got an arc of this for blurbing purposes and I LOVED IT! Just a bunch of neurodivergents stumbling through balancing magic and mundane and it was GREAT! I thought I had this figured out as we got closer to the and and then SURPRISE WE’RE DOING THIS. That twist didn’t feel jarring or unearned, If anything it made me want to go back and look for things I missed! This is a feral scream of a book fueled by teenage girl rage and I enjoyed every second of it.
Finally catching up on old reviews I meant to write, whoops
I got an arc of this for blurbing purposes and I LOVED IT! Just a bunch of neurodivergents stumbling through balancing magic and mundane and it was GREAT! I thought I had this figured out as we got closer to the and and then SURPRISE WE’RE DOING THIS. That twist didn’t feel jarring or unearned, If anything it made me want to go back and look for things I missed! This is a feral scream of a book fueled by teenage girl rage and I enjoyed every second of it.
Want to read
June 24, 2022trying desperately not to pre-judge this book based on being yet another book refusing to spell "Niamh" correctly
March 6, 2024
4 Stars for Ravensong: Ravensong, Book 1 (audiobook) by Cayla Fay read by Amy Melissa Bentley.
For Neve, life is hard for her as a reincarnated war god that is stuck in high school just waiting to turn eighteen, then she can finally inherit her powers. But then she meets Alexandria who helps Neve settle down and accept high school. But Alexandria has her own problems including demons from hell are after her.
For Neve, life is hard for her as a reincarnated war god that is stuck in high school just waiting to turn eighteen, then she can finally inherit her powers. But then she meets Alexandria who helps Neve settle down and accept high school. But Alexandria has her own problems including demons from hell are after her.
December 6, 2020
I have read RAVENSONG probably a million times, in a million different iterations, and as one of Neve and Alexandria's first stans, I am so honored and proud to finally get to leave this review.
RAVENSONG is a story full of heart. It has sisters who love each other fiercely, sunshine/grump girls who can't stay away from each other, a coastal gothic little town seething with hidden darkness, and a rich lore that spans back generations. Neve is angry, impatient, and hopelessly loyal to her family and her friends, even when it seems impossible to be both. I am so excited for you all to arrive in New Grange Harbor, and watch out for 2023. No one is ready.
RAVENSONG is a story full of heart. It has sisters who love each other fiercely, sunshine/grump girls who can't stay away from each other, a coastal gothic little town seething with hidden darkness, and a rich lore that spans back generations. Neve is angry, impatient, and hopelessly loyal to her family and her friends, even when it seems impossible to be both. I am so excited for you all to arrive in New Grange Harbor, and watch out for 2023. No one is ready.
April 11, 2023
I need to read more fantasy sapphic books, mainly with demons. This was good enough and the ending was a cliffhanger of sort.
April 26, 2023
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
More like a 4.5
What I love about Ravensong has to be Neve. The ways in which she is haunted by the visions of her sisters dying, of the lives she lived before. Combined with the responsibility she feels to protect the mortal realm, why should she care about high school? She lives a life which is largely isolated. I guess that is what comes from only being able to tell your sisters and the nuns about who you are. But when she meets Alexandria her world explodes in sparks.
Alexandria doesn't allow Neve to escape. She shows her the 'mundane' joys, the comforts we can have in friends, and the ways in which connection may mean more to lose, but also more to gain. We love a sunshine grumpy pair and Neve and Alexandria are that to a T.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
More like a 4.5
What I love about Ravensong has to be Neve. The ways in which she is haunted by the visions of her sisters dying, of the lives she lived before. Combined with the responsibility she feels to protect the mortal realm, why should she care about high school? She lives a life which is largely isolated. I guess that is what comes from only being able to tell your sisters and the nuns about who you are. But when she meets Alexandria her world explodes in sparks.
Alexandria doesn't allow Neve to escape. She shows her the 'mundane' joys, the comforts we can have in friends, and the ways in which connection may mean more to lose, but also more to gain. We love a sunshine grumpy pair and Neve and Alexandria are that to a T.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
July 3, 2024
Star deducted for the cliffhanger ending. I don’t appreciate those. The story however, was captivating, the characters excellent, and the audio narration very well done.
July 12, 2022
Ravensong is a page-turning fantasy with a loveable queer-led cast, immersive worldbuilding, and a main character I'd follow anywhere. Watching the haughty war goddess learn to navigate friendship and first love was just as compelling as the sea-soaked coastal setting and epic demon battles. I can't wait to read the sequel!
Want to read
August 25, 2022"Sapphic war goddess" say less and take all of my money
Read
July 8, 2023I want to start my review by saying that if you enjoyed Gideon the Ninth you're going to like this one. While it is a very different book from Gideon, it does have a 6 ft tall, emotionally stunted, sword-wielding sapphic with red hair who has a love interest with short black hair. I was dying over some of the similarities and for the first half of this book I really felt like it was a less convoluted version of Gideon if it was fantasy instead of sci-fi. I stand by that but this book holds its own in a completely unique way as well.
I loved the take on it being these Irish gods and all of the queer representation and neurodivergence and that twist at the end will just have you on the edge of your seat. I am so ready for the next book.
I loved the take on it being these Irish gods and all of the queer representation and neurodivergence and that twist at the end will just have you on the edge of your seat. I am so ready for the next book.
July 18, 2023
I didn't hate it. After a rough start, I ended up enjoying the storyline even though some of it didn't make sense. My main problem was that I found Neve, the main character, hard to like. She's got a massive superiority complex, she's stubborn, selfish, and honestly? Just plain stupid sometimes. I frankly couldn't understand what her group of friends saw in her (although I did love her group of friends).
My other issue was with some of the plot elements: some of them just didn't make sense. Neve's sisters try to keep her protected (because reasons) and constantly get angry with her for not being more careful...yet they take her out with them when the demons come through the gate? That's a huge contradiction right there. Also, the ending fell a little flat for me, mostly because Neve and Alexandria didn't have much chemistry and I didn't buy into their relationship. And is it just me, or was there a character thrown in at the end that we're supposed to know? It's written as if this character was mentioned at some point earlier in the book and is supposed to mean something to reader, but I don't think she was. This left me scratching my head and pulled me right out of the story.
Overall, it wasn't bad. I may listen to book two when it's released. But it needed work. The writing was repetitive, especially in the beginning, and the characters need a little more fleshing out.
My other issue was with some of the plot elements: some of them just didn't make sense. Neve's sisters try to keep her protected (because reasons) and constantly get angry with her for not being more careful...yet they take her out with them when the demons come through the gate? That's a huge contradiction right there. Also, the ending fell a little flat for me, mostly because Neve and Alexandria didn't have much chemistry and I didn't buy into their relationship. And is it just me, or was there a character thrown in at the end that we're supposed to know? It's written as if this character was mentioned at some point earlier in the book and is supposed to mean something to reader, but I don't think she was. This left me scratching my head and pulled me right out of the story.
Overall, it wasn't bad. I may listen to book two when it's released. But it needed work. The writing was repetitive, especially in the beginning, and the characters need a little more fleshing out.
March 19, 2023
A queer Celtic Mythology retelling that’s one half Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the other Lucifer.
What if demons fought their way out of hell via a giant hell mouth? That’s exactly what’s happening in Ravensong. Never and her sisters spend every night hunting them and keeping the humans that live there safe. All while keeping all of it secret.
They are the Morrigan. As long as one of the three of them stays alive, they can reincarnate. And they do. It’s been a thousand years and in each new incarnation, they lose their memories until their 18th Birthday. Mercy and Bay (her sisters) are older than Neve and they’ve manifested. They have all of their powers and memories…
Neve doesn’t remember, but she knows that in all of that time, she’s never felt love for someone. Then she meets Alexandria… and that all changes.
My only experience reading about the Morrigan is from the Image Comics series The Wicked & the Divine. This was definitely something new and I really enjoyed that.
My only complaint is the cliffhanger ending!!! Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy????? Im dying! How long do I need to wait for the next book to know what happens?!?😭
What if demons fought their way out of hell via a giant hell mouth? That’s exactly what’s happening in Ravensong. Never and her sisters spend every night hunting them and keeping the humans that live there safe. All while keeping all of it secret.
They are the Morrigan. As long as one of the three of them stays alive, they can reincarnate. And they do. It’s been a thousand years and in each new incarnation, they lose their memories until their 18th Birthday. Mercy and Bay (her sisters) are older than Neve and they’ve manifested. They have all of their powers and memories…
Neve doesn’t remember, but she knows that in all of that time, she’s never felt love for someone. Then she meets Alexandria… and that all changes.
My only experience reading about the Morrigan is from the Image Comics series The Wicked & the Divine. This was definitely something new and I really enjoyed that.
My only complaint is the cliffhanger ending!!! Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy????? Im dying! How long do I need to wait for the next book to know what happens?!?😭
February 8, 2023
I received an EArc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. I love how it took Irish Gods and used it as a basis for this modern demon hunting story. I loved Neve as a main character. She's very headstrong and stubborn which are two qualities that I love in a bad ass main character. I loved getting to see her open up more and more as the story continued. I also loved seeing her make friends and have a love interest even though she is such a loner. The ending was insane and it was something that I did not see coming. I love it and I'm intrigued to see what happens in the next book!
I really enjoyed this book. I love how it took Irish Gods and used it as a basis for this modern demon hunting story. I loved Neve as a main character. She's very headstrong and stubborn which are two qualities that I love in a bad ass main character. I loved getting to see her open up more and more as the story continued. I also loved seeing her make friends and have a love interest even though she is such a loner. The ending was insane and it was something that I did not see coming. I love it and I'm intrigued to see what happens in the next book!
February 1, 2025
This was absolutely fantastic. It was like an old CW show where the supernatural god has to learn to connect with humans. The other great bit was that the drama was not centered around the lead, and the love interest trying to confess their feelings. Instead, the girlfriends work with one another, or at least start to.
The romance was sweet, with many cute interactions and silly banter.
Highly recommend if you want a young adult urban fantasy. Just enough cheesy tropes to keep me interested.
The romance was sweet, with many cute interactions and silly banter.
Highly recommend if you want a young adult urban fantasy. Just enough cheesy tropes to keep me interested.
March 17, 2024
The pacing felt a bit off that’s why I can’t give it 5 stars but once it started to take off I needed to know everything.
I loved following these sisters and Neve group of friends who decided that she was one of them now no negotiation possible and the romance was cute.
The ending and revelation about their true nature was interesting too and I’ll definitely read the sequel
I loved following these sisters and Neve group of friends who decided that she was one of them now no negotiation possible and the romance was cute.
The ending and revelation about their true nature was interesting too and I’ll definitely read the sequel
April 26, 2025
3,5⭐️
It was quite enjoyable, but sometimes I struggled to continue. The dialogue is fun, the idea behind it all is really really cool, the diversity of characters is decent. It’s that the complete picture (writing-wise) just didn’t work for me somehow -there’s depth missing where we need it (characters) and things are dragged out when they don’t need to be.
It was quite enjoyable, but sometimes I struggled to continue. The dialogue is fun, the idea behind it all is really really cool, the diversity of characters is decent. It’s that the complete picture (writing-wise) just didn’t work for me somehow -there’s depth missing where we need it (characters) and things are dragged out when they don’t need to be.
July 10, 2023
I very much enjoyed this book about Neve and Alexandria along with Neve’s sisters Bae and Maeve. The story ended in a cliffhanger that won’t continue unt the next book, “Clarion Call” which doesn’t come out until February 2024.
May 21, 2025
A cute little coming of age tale with epic battles and teenage drama. I like the take on ancient gods living in modern society. There was a HUGE twist at the end that left me wanting to read the second one ASAP.
March 15, 2023
quite literally did not want it to end
March 26, 2023
I don’t like a surprise duology when I think I’ve selected a standalone! Lost a whole star for that alone.
April 25, 2023
4.5 this slapped
June 6, 2023
Quick read, nice little fantasy book
February 27, 2024
I think I'm just too old for this and not the right target demographic. Maybe I would like it more if I read this when I was younger. Some YA books transcend the genre and this wasn't one of them, but I think it still works as a YA book.
April 13, 2023
The middle of this book was really strong, I enjoyed the bits of character growth which helped me become invested in the plot. However the beginning and the end of the book both left much to be desired. The book opens with a very unlikeable character who slowly starts to grow on you, but took about 54 pages before I could bring myself to care about them at all. The ending was abrupt and did not feel complete. None of the supporting characters were really developed and the amount of cursing was honestly fairly distracting. Only hand to patient readers.
July 10, 2024
This was a book that I randomly stumbled upon and man it was a gem! A good fantasy book about a trio of sisters who live above a cave that is the entrance to hell. The first 18 year of their life they are essentially human with no powers and can die easily so they train and have to be very careful... but Neve got a bit careless shortly before her birthday and put herself and a human at risk. A human who shouldn't be able to see any of it. And so our story begins...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews