The Ravens

Gr 9 Up–The first in a new fantasy series, this book focuses on Scarlett, a knowledgeable brown-skinned witch with aspirations of being sorority president, and Vivi, as she gets introduced to the world of magic. The pair end up meeting at the sorority Kappu Rho Nu, a modern-day coven, during rush week. Told in alternating chapters, Scarlett is a legacy and has been raised with magic and taught by her nanny, while Vivi, who is white, has been raised by a spiritual mother she believes is a charlatan, and is shocked to find magic is real and that she has powers. The concept of dark magic is brought up in connection with the mysterious death of former sorority member Harper, as her friend Gwen continually shows up despite having magic erased from her mind. The two main characters initially get off on the wrong foot, no thanks to a love triangle, but find that being sorority sisters and witches matter more than petty differences. The girls must come together with the rest of their coven to find out who is harassing their sorority and trying to call them out as witches. Light world-building provides a history to magic while the focus of the plot remains on the mysteries of the past. Every girl is said to have her own magic based on tarot and the elements, and together the girls are stronger.