Fin Varra in Ravenfall: Character Analysis

Overview of Fin Varra in Ravenfall

Fin Varra is the primary antagonist of Kalyn Josephson's Ravenfall (2022), an ancient Irish god known as the King of the Dead. He is the leader of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a faerie folk who were driven underground—or into another realm, depending on the source—centuries ago. The novel reveals that Fin and his people crossed into the Otherworld alive, but their bodies withered and their spirits became trapped there, turning dark over millennia. Fin's central goal is to destroy the Shield, a magical barrier that separates the three realms (creation, preservation, destruction), so that he and his people can escape. To do this, he systematically kills members of the Raven family—the descendants of those who condemned his people—to weaken the Shield. He also reveals a shocking familial link to the protagonist Colin Pierce, as Colin inherits a sliver of Fin's power and is a direct descendant of the King of the Dead. Fin's plan culminates on Samhain, when the Shield is at its weakest, but he is ultimately defeated not by force alone but by Colin's act of empathy and release.

Plot Role

Fin Varra functions as the driving force behind the novel's conflict. Though he does not appear in person until the later chapters, his influence is felt from the beginning. He orchestrates the murder of Colin's parents, sends wraiths to attack the Ravenfall Inn, and manipulates events to lure Colin out of the safety of the house. His primary goal is to weaken the Shield enough to destroy it on Samhain, and he uses the deaths of Ravens to achieve this. The narrative reveals that Fin's plan is twofold: first, to absorb the life forces of his wraiths to heal himself, and second, to possess Colin's body as a new vessel, since his own body is decaying. This possession attempt fails when Colin's brother Liam intervenes, and Fin is ultimately confronted in a final battle.

Fin's role is also symbolic: he represents the destructive consequences of unresolved grief and the cycle of revenge. His refusal to let go of the past—both his people's suffering and his desire for vengeance—leads to his own downfall. In the end, Colin offers him a chance to move on, and Fin, though initially resistant, eventually disperses into light, freeing his people and allowing the Shield to fade.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Fin's primary motivation is to free his people from the Otherworld, a place he describes as dark and cold. He tells Anna, “My people have suffered long in the darkness and cold of the Otherworld. I will see them freed, and I will see revenge upon those who condemned us to that place.” This dual motivation—liberation and vengeance—drives every action he takes. He is willing to kill innocent descendants of the Ravens, absorb life forces, and even sacrifice his own people's spirits to achieve his goal.

His actions reveal several key traits:

Ruthlessness: Fin kills without hesitation, including Colin's parents and other Ravens. He also uses his telekinesis to attack Anna and attempts to possess Colin.
Cunning and patience: He spends centuries planning, waiting for the right moment when the Shield is weakest. He uses wraiths to infiltrate and manipulate events, such as planting false memories in Colin's mind.
Pride and a sense of entitlement: Fin sees himself as a king wronged by history. He refers to the Ravens as “descendants of our enemies” and believes his cause justifies any means.
Tragic vulnerability: Beneath his power, Fin is afraid of what comes next. When Colin offers him a way to let go, Fin admits, “I am scared of what comes next.” This moment humanizes him and reveals that his anger stems from fear and loss.
Manipulativeness: He uses glamour to disguise his decaying body and to control others, as seen when he tries to possess Colin. He also uses Kaden as a lieutenant to carry out his plans.

Chronological Arc

Fin's arc is revealed gradually through the novel. The backstory is pieced together from Kara's research, Gran's séance, and Anna's visions.

Ancient past: Fin and his people, the Tuatha Dé Danann, were driven from Ireland into the Otherworld. They crossed over alive, but their bodies withered, and their spirits became trapped and corrupted.
Centuries of planning: Fin seeks to free his people by destroying the Shield. He begins killing Ravens to weaken it, targeting the descendants of those who condemned his people.
The murder of Colin's parents: Fin kills Colin's parents, absorbing their life forces to sustain himself. This act sets Colin on his journey to Ravenfall.
The attack on the motel: Fin's attempt to kill Colin's brother Liam fails; Liam wounds Fin, forcing him to retreat to the Otherworld to recover. This event is revealed through Anna's vision.
The present timeline: Fin sends wraiths, including Kaden, to continue weakening the Shield and to capture Colin. He uses a false memory to make Colin believe he killed Max's friend, driving a wedge between Colin and the Ravens.
Samhain confrontation: Fin appears at the Ravenfall party, disguised by glamour. He attempts to possess Colin but is thwarted by Liam's return. In the final battle, Colin draws on the Shield's power and, instead of killing Fin, offers him a path to release. Fin ultimately disperses into light, and the Shield disappears.

Relationships

Fin's relationships are defined by his role as a king and his connection to the Raven family.

With Colin: Fin is Colin's ancestor, and Colin inherits a sliver of Fin's power. This link allows Fin to sense Colin and eventually attempt to possess him. Fin sees Colin as a vessel and a threat, but also as a descendant who might understand his plight. In the end, Colin's empathy breaks the cycle.
With Anna: Anna is a Raven and a psychic. Fin views her as an enemy, but she also becomes a tool for him to locate Colin. He attacks her during the party, but she survives. Their interactions highlight Fin's disregard for individual lives.
With his people: Fin is devoted to freeing the Tuatha, but his methods have corrupted them. The spirits that would cross over are no longer who they were; they have become dark and dangerous. Fin's refusal to accept this reality is his tragic flaw.
With Liam: Liam is the one who wounded Fin, forcing him to retreat. This act of defiance sets up the final confrontation, where Liam returns to help Colin defeat Fin.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Fin's decisions drive the plot and lead to his downfall.

Decision to kill Ravens: This choice weakens the Shield but also brings Colin to Ravenfall, where he learns about his heritage and gains the power to oppose Fin.
Decision to use wraiths and deception: Fin's manipulation of Colin's memories and his use of Kaden create distrust but ultimately fail because the Ravens unite against him.
Decision to attempt possession of Colin: This is his most direct attempt to achieve his goal, but it fails when Liam intervenes. The attempt also reveals Fin's decaying state, making him vulnerable.
Decision to refuse Colin's offer to let go: Initially, Fin rejects the idea of moving on, but Colin's empathy and the link between them allow Fin to see the truth. His final decision to release his people and himself is a consequence of Colin's compassion.

Themes and Symbol Connections

Fin Varra embodies several central themes of the novel.

Grief and letting go: Fin's inability to let go of the past—his people's suffering and his desire for revenge—mirrors Colin's own grief over his parents. Colin's arc involves learning to release his anger, and he offers Fin the same chance. Fin's dispersal into light symbolizes the possibility of healing.
Sacrifice and inherited responsibility: Fin's actions force Colin to confront the legacy of his bloodline. Colin must decide whether to continue the cycle of violence or break it. Fin's sacrifice of his own people's spirits for his goal shows the cost of inherited responsibility.
Secrecy and deception: Fin uses glamour and false memories to deceive others. His hidden identity and his manipulation of Colin's perception highlight the theme of secrecy.
Self-worth beyond magical power: Fin's power is immense, but it does not bring him peace. His downfall comes from his inability to see beyond his own strength. Colin, by contrast, finds worth in connection and community.
Found family and belonging: Fin's isolation contrasts with the found family Colin finds at Ravenfall. Fin's refusal to belong to the present leads to his destruction, while Colin's acceptance of a new family allows him to move forward.

The Shield itself is a symbol of the barrier between worlds and the cost of breaking it. Fin's desire to destroy it represents his rejection of boundaries and his refusal to accept the natural order.

Five Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Fin Varra want to destroy the Shield?

Fin wants to destroy the Shield to free his people, the Tuatha Dé Danann, who are trapped in the Otherworld. He believes that breaking the Shield will allow their spirits to escape and find new bodies, but doing so would also release every dangerous spirit and creature, causing disaster for all three realms.

2. What is Fin's connection to Colin Pierce?

Fin is Colin's ancestor. Colin inherits a sliver of Fin's power, making him a direct descendant of the King of the Dead. This connection allows Fin to sense Colin and ultimately attempt to possess him as a new vessel.

3. How does Fin sustain himself while in the mortal world?

Fin absorbs the life forces of others, as he did when he killed Colin's parents. He also plans to absorb the life forces of his wraiths when they possess host bodies, allowing him to heal and regain strength.

4. What is Fin's ultimate fate?

Fin is defeated when Colin, instead of killing him, offers him a chance to let go and move on. Fin, seeing the truth of his actions, disperses into golden light along with his people, and the Shield fades away.

5. How does Fin's plan to possess Colin fail?

Fin's plan fails because Colin's brother Liam, who had followed Fin into the Otherworld and survived, returns at the critical moment. Liam breaks Fin's hold on Colin, and together the brothers fight Fin, ultimately leading to his defeat.

For further exploration of the novel's themes, see the themes on found family and belonging, grief and letting go, and sacrifice and inherited responsibility. You can also read the ending explained or browse common questions.