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Having barely escaped the clutches of the undead, the survivors of The Breadwinner are headed into the unknown to continue their search for solace in the post-apocalyptic landscape. Once a paradise for the living, the city of Haven is now crawling with flesh hungry creatures–yet it could be their only hope.
Veronica, Samson and the others take a chance on the promises of Gary, a solitary survivor. Is the light-hearted newcomer all that he seems or are there sinister motives hidden behind his hospitality?
Can Michelle and Lulu, two ordinary women faced with extraordinary horrors and obstacles, make it to safety? Or will they each become just another undead face in the hordes roaming the streets of Haven?
When tragedy strikes, worlds collide, and the survivors must band together against their common enemy. But remember, who you were does not determine what you will become in the face of a catastrophe. The dead may no longer be their greatest threat.
Welcome home. Haven is hell.
Veronica, Samson and the others take a chance on the promises of Gary, a solitary survivor. Is the light-hearted newcomer all that he seems or are there sinister motives hidden behind his hospitality?
Can Michelle and Lulu, two ordinary women faced with extraordinary horrors and obstacles, make it to safety? Or will they each become just another undead face in the hordes roaming the streets of Haven?
When tragedy strikes, worlds collide, and the survivors must band together against their common enemy. But remember, who you were does not determine what you will become in the face of a catastrophe. The dead may no longer be their greatest threat.
Welcome home. Haven is hell.
169 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2015
9 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Stevie Kopas
13 books117 followerstevie Kopas was born and raised in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. She is a gamer, a writer and an apocalypse enthusiast. Stevie will never turn down a good cup of coffee and might even be a bit of a caffeine addict.
Stevie is the author of The Breadwinner Trilogy. Books 1 and 2, The Breadwinner and Haven were originally self-published in 2013 and 2014. The Breadwinner Trilogy was picked up by Permuted Press in May of 2014 and the second editions of both the first books were released in March and April of 2015. The third and final installment in The Breadwinner Trilogy, All Good Things, debuted in May of 2015. In June of 2015 The Breadwinner was the number one bestselling dystopian novel on Amazon.
Her fourth book, Never Say Die: Stories of The Zombie Apocalypse, was released in May 2016 but is currently unavailable pending rerelease by Permuted Press early 2017.
Her fifth novel, co-authored with Stephen Kozeniewski, SLASHVIVOR, was released September 2017.
Kopas also participates in the At Hell's Gates horror anthologies and all profits are donated to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. Her short stories, Nefarious, Patient 63, and Spencer Family Tradition can be found in the first three volumes of At Hell's Gates. Her other short story, Camp Counselors Wanted, can be found in Man Behind The Mask, a charity anthology that donates all proceeds to breast cancer research.
She currently resides in Panama City Beach, Florida and tries to spend as much time as she can soaking up the sun.
Stevie is also the Managing Editor of the website Horror Metal Sounds and a writer for the site. Offline, Stevie is a telecommunications professional.
You can visit the official website at http://someonereadthis.com and connect on Facebook via http://facebook.com/thebreadwinnertri... and also follow Stevie on Twitter @ApacoTaco
Stevie is the author of The Breadwinner Trilogy. Books 1 and 2, The Breadwinner and Haven were originally self-published in 2013 and 2014. The Breadwinner Trilogy was picked up by Permuted Press in May of 2014 and the second editions of both the first books were released in March and April of 2015. The third and final installment in The Breadwinner Trilogy, All Good Things, debuted in May of 2015. In June of 2015 The Breadwinner was the number one bestselling dystopian novel on Amazon.
Her fourth book, Never Say Die: Stories of The Zombie Apocalypse, was released in May 2016 but is currently unavailable pending rerelease by Permuted Press early 2017.
Her fifth novel, co-authored with Stephen Kozeniewski, SLASHVIVOR, was released September 2017.
Kopas also participates in the At Hell's Gates horror anthologies and all profits are donated to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. Her short stories, Nefarious, Patient 63, and Spencer Family Tradition can be found in the first three volumes of At Hell's Gates. Her other short story, Camp Counselors Wanted, can be found in Man Behind The Mask, a charity anthology that donates all proceeds to breast cancer research.
She currently resides in Panama City Beach, Florida and tries to spend as much time as she can soaking up the sun.
Stevie is also the Managing Editor of the website Horror Metal Sounds and a writer for the site. Offline, Stevie is a telecommunications professional.
You can visit the official website at http://someonereadthis.com and connect on Facebook via http://facebook.com/thebreadwinnertri... and also follow Stevie on Twitter @ApacoTaco
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 15, 2014
The Breadwinner was good. But Haven, the second installment of The Breadwinner Trilogy, was excellent. Haven begins with the remaining survivors from the previous book blindly making their way by boat in hopes of finding a safe haven. Samson, Veronica, Ben, Juliet, and brothers, Andrew and Clyde wake in the morning to find they're much closer to land than they realized. As the Emerald City towers come into view, a single figure stands waving from the 24th floor balcony. Gary, a former resident of the towers now lives alone in the ritzy towers with the "eaters". There is something about Gary that never quite earns this reader's trust, and his actions feel like he always has an ulterior motive. Is Gary the goofy Englishman he portrays or is there something more sinister hiding behind the facade?
Haven introduces a second group of characters and follows their experience from the morning of the outbreak. Michelle, her roommate Lulu and Lulu's cousin Zack quickly discover they are out of their league and become sitting ducks as they watch the chaos from their apartment window. Michelle is the clear leader of the group and hatches a plan to head to the mall where she and Lulu work as hairdressers where they find others who survived the ordeal.
Veronica's group follows Gary's plan of going to the mall to convince the others to join forces and, as with any good zombie book, that plan goes sideways and people are lost. Kopas has penned Michelle as the perfect antagonist. The drastic contrast between her and Veronica's personalities creates a well-rounded arc. Quite often zombie tales boast raging marauders, but readers don't usually get to see and feel what spurned their actions. Haven allows readers to watch as a normal woman is driven to madness in the new world. This new reality points Michelle down a dark path to commit acts that earn her the title of sociopath. Not only must survivors contend with flesh eating zombies, but the festering descension among their own ranks they didn't see coming.
Stevie Kopas' talented writing shines bright in her second release. Her ability to give readers the full view of multiple characters and dynamic story lines without drowning in long narratives makes Haven a fast and easy read. The standout winner in Haven is it's character progression. The plot is woven tightly within each character and morphs fluidly throughout the book as personalities change and the group's interactions become strained. The plot twists and character development kept the pace exciting and made it easy to keep my interest piqued to continue reading.
Haven ends with such a bang that readers will scream for more. I know this because I kept trying to urge my eReader to move beyond the last page. What's to come in book 3 is strongly foreshadowed and this reader can't wait to see how it all pans out. Will anyone survive the H ell about to reign down on them? Haven has earned every bit of this five star rating, and then some.
Haven introduces a second group of characters and follows their experience from the morning of the outbreak. Michelle, her roommate Lulu and Lulu's cousin Zack quickly discover they are out of their league and become sitting ducks as they watch the chaos from their apartment window. Michelle is the clear leader of the group and hatches a plan to head to the mall where she and Lulu work as hairdressers where they find others who survived the ordeal.
Veronica's group follows Gary's plan of going to the mall to convince the others to join forces and, as with any good zombie book, that plan goes sideways and people are lost. Kopas has penned Michelle as the perfect antagonist. The drastic contrast between her and Veronica's personalities creates a well-rounded arc. Quite often zombie tales boast raging marauders, but readers don't usually get to see and feel what spurned their actions. Haven allows readers to watch as a normal woman is driven to madness in the new world. This new reality points Michelle down a dark path to commit acts that earn her the title of sociopath. Not only must survivors contend with flesh eating zombies, but the festering descension among their own ranks they didn't see coming.
Stevie Kopas' talented writing shines bright in her second release. Her ability to give readers the full view of multiple characters and dynamic story lines without drowning in long narratives makes Haven a fast and easy read. The standout winner in Haven is it's character progression. The plot is woven tightly within each character and morphs fluidly throughout the book as personalities change and the group's interactions become strained. The plot twists and character development kept the pace exciting and made it easy to keep my interest piqued to continue reading.
Haven ends with such a bang that readers will scream for more. I know this because I kept trying to urge my eReader to move beyond the last page. What's to come in book 3 is strongly foreshadowed and this reader can't wait to see how it all pans out. Will anyone survive the H ell about to reign down on them? Haven has earned every bit of this five star rating, and then some.
April 15, 2015
Review copy
Book two in The Breadwinner Trilogy is an entertaining sequel to The Breadwinner released a month ago, by Permuted Press.
In Haven, the rag-tag group of survivors get off the boat and take up residence in The Emerald City, a resort located in the fictional town of Haven, Florida.
After clearing out the undead and making their new home defensible, they plan a supply run to a Haven shopping center to hopefully provide for their needs for the foreseeable future.
Of course there are the usual run-ins with the recently deceased and writer, Stevie Kopas, finds new ways to deal with the problem...
"She nodded, watching as Andrew took a slow-moving eater out with his golf club. The hideous thing's jaw went flying off following the upswing. Samson cracked it over the head with his shotgun, bringing it to its knees. Putrid, black blood poured from the eater's face where its jaw had just vacated, painting the once-perfect white sand the color of death. Juliette flinched as Andrew brought the golf club down one more time for good measure."
The writing is suitably gory and visceral at times...
"She straddled his body and raised the garden light with both arms. Zach's eyes shot open and locked with hers once more, but they were not the same eyes she had looked into moments before. His half-eaten face and neck made her stomach turn but she swallowed her bile. He growled demonically and his torso squirmed under her as she plunged the metal garden stake straight through the middle of his forehead. No more sound or movement came from Zach. No more sound or movement would ever come from Zach."
I liked the story in Haven more than the one in book 1 of The Breadwinner Trilogy. It had all the elements of your standard zombie fare, but this one was more about the relationships and by the story's end, there's a greater threat to the group from within that there is from without.
Haven is available now from Permuted Press in a variety of ebook formats and in print from Amazon.com. Book 3 in The Breadwinner Trilogy, All Good Things, will be released on May 12th, 2015.
Recommended, especially if your going through zombie withdrawal with The Walking Dead currently being on hiatus.
Book two in The Breadwinner Trilogy is an entertaining sequel to The Breadwinner released a month ago, by Permuted Press.
In Haven, the rag-tag group of survivors get off the boat and take up residence in The Emerald City, a resort located in the fictional town of Haven, Florida.
After clearing out the undead and making their new home defensible, they plan a supply run to a Haven shopping center to hopefully provide for their needs for the foreseeable future.
Of course there are the usual run-ins with the recently deceased and writer, Stevie Kopas, finds new ways to deal with the problem...
"She nodded, watching as Andrew took a slow-moving eater out with his golf club. The hideous thing's jaw went flying off following the upswing. Samson cracked it over the head with his shotgun, bringing it to its knees. Putrid, black blood poured from the eater's face where its jaw had just vacated, painting the once-perfect white sand the color of death. Juliette flinched as Andrew brought the golf club down one more time for good measure."
The writing is suitably gory and visceral at times...
"She straddled his body and raised the garden light with both arms. Zach's eyes shot open and locked with hers once more, but they were not the same eyes she had looked into moments before. His half-eaten face and neck made her stomach turn but she swallowed her bile. He growled demonically and his torso squirmed under her as she plunged the metal garden stake straight through the middle of his forehead. No more sound or movement came from Zach. No more sound or movement would ever come from Zach."
I liked the story in Haven more than the one in book 1 of The Breadwinner Trilogy. It had all the elements of your standard zombie fare, but this one was more about the relationships and by the story's end, there's a greater threat to the group from within that there is from without.
Haven is available now from Permuted Press in a variety of ebook formats and in print from Amazon.com. Book 3 in The Breadwinner Trilogy, All Good Things, will be released on May 12th, 2015.
Recommended, especially if your going through zombie withdrawal with The Walking Dead currently being on hiatus.
August 6, 2015
While I loved book 1 of this, I found this one to be so much better because we have more character development, which I loved.
This is told from 2 different groups, group one being the group we know and love from book 1 and group two being a new set of characters that have secured a shopping mall and are trying to survive any way they can.
At the end of Breadwinner, we left Veronica, Samson, Ben, Andrew, Clyde and Juliet on a boat and this one starts where the gang wake up one morning to see they are near a holiday village called The Emerald City. This used to be a place for the wealthy to go. When they come within view it's to get a glimpse of life on a balcony. They don't know what to make of it but decide to wait and see. Next thing they hear a ski jet coming and a man pulls up beside them. Enter the ever happy Gary. He tells them his tale and the gang decide to go to the towers since their supplies are low. It seems to be a safe enough haven for them for a while. They have to venture out though to see if there are any other survivors and get a bit of ammunition.
Meanwhile, we get to meet Michelle, Lulu and her cousin Zack, whom Michelle spent the night with. When she wakes up it's to chaos and the realisation that the Undead walk the earth. Michellee decides that in order to survive, they need to leave their apartment and find somewhere safe. They decide that the mall where they work could be the safest place and take the trek, not everyone makes it though!! When they reach the mall, they meet up with Katherine, Desmond and Francis, 2 doctors and mall security. Together they all get the mall into relative safety.
Now I'm not going to get into the plot anymore because I will inadvertently spoil something, but suffice it to say that there is death a plenty, so let's get down to my thoughts.
As I said already, this has so much more character development than book 1 did. We get to really see more of who the characters are and what they are like. Most of them are normal humans, intent on surviving, but needless to say, there is always the one!!! This character was malicious, self absorbed and an all round horrible person. This character causes so much heartache that I can only hope there is things in the future for this character!! (I don't want to spoil it by saying who ;)) It's been a while since I hated a character so much but he/she is so well written that it's hard not to. I'm presuming that it was the author's intention for the readers to hate him/her!!
The plot of this one is fast paced and intense. I found myself on the edge of my seat a lot more than book 1 and I was gripping the arm rest during certain scenes. We also have a lot of weepy scenes!! True to the authors style, she isn't afraid to kill off characters, and some of them broke my heart.
In all this was an amazing second book. With so much happening in the story, it was so hard to stop listening to it. I just had to see what happened next. There are plenty of twists and moments that will leave you gasping and this ends in the mother of all cliff hangers!! I was left reeling. Book 3 can't come quick enough.
Scott Birney did a great job though I found his female voices to become annoying over time. I think that since this is heavy on the female side of things that maybe a female narrator would of worked better. Now don't get me wrong, the narrator was really good at the other voices, just not the female ones. Also I thought he could of made the pacing a little faster in places, especially in the tense parts, just to add that little extra sense of urgency.
*I received this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
This is told from 2 different groups, group one being the group we know and love from book 1 and group two being a new set of characters that have secured a shopping mall and are trying to survive any way they can.
At the end of Breadwinner, we left Veronica, Samson, Ben, Andrew, Clyde and Juliet on a boat and this one starts where the gang wake up one morning to see they are near a holiday village called The Emerald City. This used to be a place for the wealthy to go. When they come within view it's to get a glimpse of life on a balcony. They don't know what to make of it but decide to wait and see. Next thing they hear a ski jet coming and a man pulls up beside them. Enter the ever happy Gary. He tells them his tale and the gang decide to go to the towers since their supplies are low. It seems to be a safe enough haven for them for a while. They have to venture out though to see if there are any other survivors and get a bit of ammunition.
Meanwhile, we get to meet Michelle, Lulu and her cousin Zack, whom Michelle spent the night with. When she wakes up it's to chaos and the realisation that the Undead walk the earth. Michellee decides that in order to survive, they need to leave their apartment and find somewhere safe. They decide that the mall where they work could be the safest place and take the trek, not everyone makes it though!! When they reach the mall, they meet up with Katherine, Desmond and Francis, 2 doctors and mall security. Together they all get the mall into relative safety.
Now I'm not going to get into the plot anymore because I will inadvertently spoil something, but suffice it to say that there is death a plenty, so let's get down to my thoughts.
As I said already, this has so much more character development than book 1 did. We get to really see more of who the characters are and what they are like. Most of them are normal humans, intent on surviving, but needless to say, there is always the one!!! This character was malicious, self absorbed and an all round horrible person. This character causes so much heartache that I can only hope there is things in the future for this character!! (I don't want to spoil it by saying who ;)) It's been a while since I hated a character so much but he/she is so well written that it's hard not to. I'm presuming that it was the author's intention for the readers to hate him/her!!
The plot of this one is fast paced and intense. I found myself on the edge of my seat a lot more than book 1 and I was gripping the arm rest during certain scenes. We also have a lot of weepy scenes!! True to the authors style, she isn't afraid to kill off characters, and some of them broke my heart.
In all this was an amazing second book. With so much happening in the story, it was so hard to stop listening to it. I just had to see what happened next. There are plenty of twists and moments that will leave you gasping and this ends in the mother of all cliff hangers!! I was left reeling. Book 3 can't come quick enough.
Scott Birney did a great job though I found his female voices to become annoying over time. I think that since this is heavy on the female side of things that maybe a female narrator would of worked better. Now don't get me wrong, the narrator was really good at the other voices, just not the female ones. Also I thought he could of made the pacing a little faster in places, especially in the tense parts, just to add that little extra sense of urgency.
*I received this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
January 7, 2017
Downrated my rating to 2 stars. It was a good book, but Michelle and her *insert lots of bad words here* attitude just sickened me and pissed me off. The last part especially was just disgusting. :|
Immediately after reading the first book in this series I went to read the next one. I just had, HAD, to know what happened to our group.
I do have to say that I wasn't all too happy with how quick they ditched the ship/boat. Really, they did all that effort for it, all that pain to get it working, and then they just abandon it the first time they run across someone. Of course, everything is better than a boat, though I just wish the boat part was a bit longer and more fun.
We meet with a new character, Gary, and I have to say that to this day I still don't like him. At all. Or maybe it is not dislike but more that it is distrust. He is just too much + he didn't do anything. He endangered most of them with what he did and what he demanded.
We also meet a few new characters, and boy, I disliked Michelle from the start. The way she treated the man in her bed, but also how she reacted when things went haywire. I know that different people do different things during the apocalypse, some go catatonic, others go violent or psychotic, and yet others just find strength in them. It is really interesting, but that didn't lessen my very big dislike for Michelle. Especially later in the story and all she did there. I won't spoil anything, but all those moments together? I just hope that someone finds out, I just hope that someone is fast enough to save them all. Not from the zombies, but from this girl.
I did like the other new characters we meet. Lulu took a bit to get used to, but she was quite a nice girl. I wasn't sure about Francis, but he did seem like a good guy.
The POV switches, again, got annoying at times. Is it really necessary to just switch all the time? One paragraph would be about x, and then we would move to y. Arghhhh.
At first I was also a bit annoyed with the fact we were in the midst of something exciting and we would move to a new team/new group of survivors. But then I started liking it, and I just adored how, just like in the first book, it all connected in the end! How everything had its purpose.
The world building is great, I could imagine everything our team did. From the building they were in, the threats that happened to them, to the travel to the mall, to the mall itself. It was absolutely brilliant (and of course terrifying as well considering all the zombies).
The ending, well, I won't spoil much, but I was definitely pissed off with it. Also I wonder how no one, NO ONE heard it if they were in the next room. :|
But all in all, with the exception of the ending, Michelle, and also the changing POV at random times, I did really liked this book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
Immediately after reading the first book in this series I went to read the next one. I just had, HAD, to know what happened to our group.
I do have to say that I wasn't all too happy with how quick they ditched the ship/boat. Really, they did all that effort for it, all that pain to get it working, and then they just abandon it the first time they run across someone. Of course, everything is better than a boat, though I just wish the boat part was a bit longer and more fun.
We meet with a new character, Gary, and I have to say that to this day I still don't like him. At all. Or maybe it is not dislike but more that it is distrust. He is just too much + he didn't do anything. He endangered most of them with what he did and what he demanded.
We also meet a few new characters, and boy, I disliked Michelle from the start. The way she treated the man in her bed, but also how she reacted when things went haywire. I know that different people do different things during the apocalypse, some go catatonic, others go violent or psychotic, and yet others just find strength in them. It is really interesting, but that didn't lessen my very big dislike for Michelle. Especially later in the story and all she did there. I won't spoil anything, but all those moments together? I just hope that someone finds out, I just hope that someone is fast enough to save them all. Not from the zombies, but from this girl.
I did like the other new characters we meet. Lulu took a bit to get used to, but she was quite a nice girl. I wasn't sure about Francis, but he did seem like a good guy.
The POV switches, again, got annoying at times. Is it really necessary to just switch all the time? One paragraph would be about x, and then we would move to y. Arghhhh.
At first I was also a bit annoyed with the fact we were in the midst of something exciting and we would move to a new team/new group of survivors. But then I started liking it, and I just adored how, just like in the first book, it all connected in the end! How everything had its purpose.
The world building is great, I could imagine everything our team did. From the building they were in, the threats that happened to them, to the travel to the mall, to the mall itself. It was absolutely brilliant (and of course terrifying as well considering all the zombies).
The ending, well, I won't spoil much, but I was definitely pissed off with it. Also I wonder how no one, NO ONE heard it if they were in the next room. :|
But all in all, with the exception of the ending, Michelle, and also the changing POV at random times, I did really liked this book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
April 6, 2015
This is book two in The Breadwinner Trilogy, a fast paced zombie apocalypse series. Haven is written in three parts. Part one pick up from where The Breadwinner left off and tells us how that group of people get to the town of Haven, where they meet up with another group of survivors. Part two tells the story of that second group of survivors, starting from the beginning of the outbreak to how they all came to be together in Haven. Part three continues the story after the two groups meet each other.
I found this book similar to the first one. It was just as fast paced and also had a mix of characters you liked and ones you hoped the zombies would eat. I engaged with this book a bit more than the first book - probably because it had a character I really hated. Stevie, if you're reading this, she'd better go down in the next book! You know who I'm talking about!
I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book similar to the first one. It was just as fast paced and also had a mix of characters you liked and ones you hoped the zombies would eat. I engaged with this book a bit more than the first book - probably because it had a character I really hated. Stevie, if you're reading this, she'd better go down in the next book! You know who I'm talking about!
I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2014
I have been waiting for the follow up to The Breadwinner since I finished reading it! I bought Haven on the day it came out and finished it in one sitting. If you are one of those people that thinks a series declines in quality as each book comes out, then you will be proven wrong with Haven. I was never disappointed and now I will be tortured until book 3 comes out! This is a must read follow up and if you haven't read the first book, you need to go read that and then read this one back to back for a non stop adventure into the zombie apocalypse. Absolute satisfaction out of Haven. The author has outdone herself.
April 4, 2014
Ok so the first thing to know going into book two of this amazing series is that NO ONE is safe!! The characters you have come to love in book one may not survive to the end of Haven. EEEK!! I enjoyed the transformation of the characters. It follows what I could imagine in a real world scenario. There are no wholly good or bad people, your morality shifts as the world around you changes. You will find yourself loathing or loving characters only to see them evolve and change with the times as needed. I am on pins and needles waiting for the final book!!
August 23, 2015
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Ya know.. I thought book one review was hard to write.. I take that back now. THIS one is hard. I'm honestly trying to figure out a way to put how awesomely amazing this book is into words without giving spoilers!
I devoured the heck out of this book. Everything fell together perfectly. At first it kinda threw me off because it started off right where book one left off then it back tracked to the start, adding more characters. I couldn't help but to kinda go:
"Wait what?"
BUT.. I kept reading and ended up going "oohhhh! That's why!" Which of course lead to:
Because I HAD to know what happened next.
If you thought the first book kept your attention, this one will lock you in for sure... Hella amazing.
...That ending though... Omg...
"Lady, I aint shy. No offence, but you could probably take a lesson or two in modesty."
Ya know.. I thought book one review was hard to write.. I take that back now. THIS one is hard. I'm honestly trying to figure out a way to put how awesomely amazing this book is into words without giving spoilers!
I devoured the heck out of this book. Everything fell together perfectly. At first it kinda threw me off because it started off right where book one left off then it back tracked to the start, adding more characters. I couldn't help but to kinda go:
"Wait what?"
BUT.. I kept reading and ended up going "oohhhh! That's why!" Which of course lead to:
Because I HAD to know what happened next.
If you thought the first book kept your attention, this one will lock you in for sure... Hella amazing.
...That ending though... Omg...
"Lady, I aint shy. No offence, but you could probably take a lesson or two in modesty."
October 17, 2014
The second installment of The Breadwinner Trilogy, Haven, succinctly picks up where the first book leaves off. Subsequently, it doesn’t take author Stevie Kopas much time to do what she does best—allow bad things to happen to good people.
The story begins as the survivors from book one exit their rescue boat, The Dockside, for the Emerald City Resort in Haven. Additionally, it doesn’t take long for book one’s protagonist, Samson Eckhart, and his merry band (brothers Andrew and Clyde Hansen; Andrew’s girlfriend, Juliette; resident beau, Ben; and Samson’s newly “adopted” teenage daughter, Veronica) to become taken in from Gary the Brit, a Jack-of-all-trades businessman holed up on the twenty-fourth floor of one of the resort’s towers. This particular book is segmented into three sections, and author Stevie Kopas compliments part one of Haven by providing several meaningful flashbacks to Franklin Woods and the Dockside Bar & Grill, eliciting connections for all of her previous readers who are familiar with the first book in this series, The Breadwinner.
I found part one of Haven absolutely seamless, as its pacing, dialogue, and action were all well-articulated and organized. Honestly, it was one of the best expositions I’ve read in 2014, as its setting rang true to geographical location and time period, coupled with believable characters and an interesting primary conflict.
As the reader moves into the second phase of the book, I personally feel like some of the conflicts and crises in the rising action occurred a little too quickly for my liking—more time was needed to develop certain cause-and-effect relationships between tensions and characters. Consequently, a little more background information via flashback might have made a few of the new characters introduced per this section more believable. This by no means indicates Ms. Kopas doesn’t bring her characters to life; on the contrary, she has masterfully characterized the majority of both her primary and secondary characters to render quite a colorful cast of would-be survivors. And maybe some of this “needed” background information for a few of the new arrivals was withheld purposely, being reserved for the third installment in this series.
The second two-thirds of this book introduced a strong female character named Michelle, and the reader will be tugged and torn as whether or not to like her. Readers of the first book will also recognize the similarly constructed apartment breakaway, as Michelle and her roommate Lulu exit their apartment in much the same fashion that Andrew, Clyde, and Juliette did from their safe haven in book one. Some may take this reconstruction the wrong way; it is by no means an example of rehashing what has already been done. Instead, it’s establishing a realistic pattern, as more people than not would endure similar fight and flight experiences in the face of a mass panic and urbanized exit strategy.
Are there a few overly sympathetic parts to this apocalyptic tale? Yes, but the author does a nice job of offsetting those with several instances of comic relief which are sprinkled throughout. As I alluded to earlier, the prose in Haven is really solidly written. Readers will not stumble over awkwardly worded sentences as Ms. Kopas uses just the right mix of compound, complex, and compound-complex sentence structure while even leaving a simple sentence in strategic places for stylistic effect. I also feel like her characters’ dialogue rings true, and it’s never stale.
For the zombie enthusiast, brace yourself for less graphic violence but more realistic scares. Haven’s zombies are fast, really fast, and they engage in several examples of group think, which makes them more convincing than other zombie-apocalypse stories out on the market. I believe the aforementioned claim validates the realization that Ms. Kopas is growing as a writer; her choice to infuse this segment with subtle acts of terror, while compounding the primary conflict with secondary twists and turns, will assuredly catch the reader off guard in a good way.
The end was superbly crafted, as a combination of group morals, individual values, and chance circumstance collide. The underlying theme that living humans are by far the most dangerous creatures in the animal kingdom resonates throughout the entire novel, culminating itself in an explosive ending that will undoubtedly leave Breadwinner fans eager for the final book in the trilogy, All Good Things.
The story begins as the survivors from book one exit their rescue boat, The Dockside, for the Emerald City Resort in Haven. Additionally, it doesn’t take long for book one’s protagonist, Samson Eckhart, and his merry band (brothers Andrew and Clyde Hansen; Andrew’s girlfriend, Juliette; resident beau, Ben; and Samson’s newly “adopted” teenage daughter, Veronica) to become taken in from Gary the Brit, a Jack-of-all-trades businessman holed up on the twenty-fourth floor of one of the resort’s towers. This particular book is segmented into three sections, and author Stevie Kopas compliments part one of Haven by providing several meaningful flashbacks to Franklin Woods and the Dockside Bar & Grill, eliciting connections for all of her previous readers who are familiar with the first book in this series, The Breadwinner.
I found part one of Haven absolutely seamless, as its pacing, dialogue, and action were all well-articulated and organized. Honestly, it was one of the best expositions I’ve read in 2014, as its setting rang true to geographical location and time period, coupled with believable characters and an interesting primary conflict.
As the reader moves into the second phase of the book, I personally feel like some of the conflicts and crises in the rising action occurred a little too quickly for my liking—more time was needed to develop certain cause-and-effect relationships between tensions and characters. Consequently, a little more background information via flashback might have made a few of the new characters introduced per this section more believable. This by no means indicates Ms. Kopas doesn’t bring her characters to life; on the contrary, she has masterfully characterized the majority of both her primary and secondary characters to render quite a colorful cast of would-be survivors. And maybe some of this “needed” background information for a few of the new arrivals was withheld purposely, being reserved for the third installment in this series.
The second two-thirds of this book introduced a strong female character named Michelle, and the reader will be tugged and torn as whether or not to like her. Readers of the first book will also recognize the similarly constructed apartment breakaway, as Michelle and her roommate Lulu exit their apartment in much the same fashion that Andrew, Clyde, and Juliette did from their safe haven in book one. Some may take this reconstruction the wrong way; it is by no means an example of rehashing what has already been done. Instead, it’s establishing a realistic pattern, as more people than not would endure similar fight and flight experiences in the face of a mass panic and urbanized exit strategy.
Are there a few overly sympathetic parts to this apocalyptic tale? Yes, but the author does a nice job of offsetting those with several instances of comic relief which are sprinkled throughout. As I alluded to earlier, the prose in Haven is really solidly written. Readers will not stumble over awkwardly worded sentences as Ms. Kopas uses just the right mix of compound, complex, and compound-complex sentence structure while even leaving a simple sentence in strategic places for stylistic effect. I also feel like her characters’ dialogue rings true, and it’s never stale.
For the zombie enthusiast, brace yourself for less graphic violence but more realistic scares. Haven’s zombies are fast, really fast, and they engage in several examples of group think, which makes them more convincing than other zombie-apocalypse stories out on the market. I believe the aforementioned claim validates the realization that Ms. Kopas is growing as a writer; her choice to infuse this segment with subtle acts of terror, while compounding the primary conflict with secondary twists and turns, will assuredly catch the reader off guard in a good way.
The end was superbly crafted, as a combination of group morals, individual values, and chance circumstance collide. The underlying theme that living humans are by far the most dangerous creatures in the animal kingdom resonates throughout the entire novel, culminating itself in an explosive ending that will undoubtedly leave Breadwinner fans eager for the final book in the trilogy, All Good Things.
February 26, 2014
The zombie apocalypse is still burning bright but Samson, Veronica, Ben, Clyde, Andrew and Juliette are burning out. Stuck in a boat with limited supplies and no prospects for the future, this gang of survivors has to find a safe place to hide from the hungry hordes of the undead. Following the reflection from a mirror to another survivor, British expatriate Gary, they find themselves in The Emerald City, luxury condos right on the beautiful beaches of Florida. Of course, not all of the characters will see the end of the book and other survivors will add themselves to this group but I won’t tell you about all that because it would ruin the book for you. Rest assured there’s no shortage of gore or drama and there’s a ton of action to keep your eyes open and your heart racing. Ms. Kopas proves to have a great voice and more than enough story-telling skill to keep us riveted and drooling for another bite of this literary flesh. Do you have what it takes to join Stevie on her journey to survive the end of the world, where the biggest question isn’t where your next meal is coming from, it’s “who can you trust?” That, my friends, is what makes this book so damned exciting. In a world filled with zombie fiction, The Breadwinner Trilogy stands out from the pack, hungrily gnashing its broken teeth. For once, I urge you to let it dig right in. –Jim Dodge, Mass Movement Magazine (http://massmovement.co.uk)
March 22, 2014
If you weren't already feeling emotionally attached by the end of Book 1, The Breadwinner, no worries. Haven completely seals the deal as it draws you in and denies you any possibility you have of not bonding with each and every character. You can relate to them. You love them. You hate them. But after you read this book you will not be able to let them go. I read it in three sittings telling myself I'd make it last this time, but I inevitably killed half the book in one sitting and I couldn't really put it down after that. Again, as with the first book, the flashbacks and movements within the story are seamless as much as they are elegant. The author doesn't leave out any detail of the nitty-gritty reality that is human nature in the face of catastrophe and she spins this tale effortlessly for you as if she was merely telling you "good morning, welcome to the apocalypse." Definitely another fantastic read and an incredible next step in the trilogy. Can't wait for book 3!!!!!!
May 11, 2014
I received a copy of this book for honest review. 'Haven' is the second book in Kopas' trilogy following the survivors of a zombie apocalypse. As the story continues some new characters are introduced and there is a new threat to the group's survival.
The story keeps up the same fast pace and high levels of action and horror as there was in the first book. The characters are well written and believable and they are all different. I enjoyed and was surprised by the introduction of the new group of characters.
The tense atmosphere is kept up well, making for an edge of seat read that will have you turning pages at a rapid pace as you devour this amazing story! The shock twists really amped up the horror and I was worried for the main characters continued survival throughout.
Overall an excellent read for fans of horror and zombie fiction. Highly recommended!
The story keeps up the same fast pace and high levels of action and horror as there was in the first book. The characters are well written and believable and they are all different. I enjoyed and was surprised by the introduction of the new group of characters.
The tense atmosphere is kept up well, making for an edge of seat read that will have you turning pages at a rapid pace as you devour this amazing story! The shock twists really amped up the horror and I was worried for the main characters continued survival throughout.
Overall an excellent read for fans of horror and zombie fiction. Highly recommended!
February 21, 2014
This is the second book I have read by this author. The first one I loved, but if I could rate this book with even more than 5 stars, I would do that. Fortunately for me I purchase both books and read them back to back. I could barely get anything else done while reading The Breadwinner and Haven. Once you start reading, you cannot stop it. You wonder what's next for these characters and some of them you love and the other ones you find yourself screaming "When are you going to die already???" Please please, this series can never end. This book needs to be read by anybody that love The Walking Dead and zombies.
February 24, 2014
I am not a science fiction or horror fan but I enjoyed the Breadwinner so I bought the Haven. First mistake is I downloaded it at work. Second one was to start reading it. I never put it down, don't tell the boss. This was so fantastic although I am mad about some of the people that get killed. I hope Ms. Kopas is almost done with the third book because I cannot wait to read it.
March 14, 2014
One would think a story about the zombie apocalypse would be so streamlined there wouldn't be any room for innovation. Although the apocalypse is laid out in broad stokes, you would be mistaken to think that any of this story is laid out simply. I hardly had any idea of the breadth of detail and character development that lay in this book. But then you start reading it, and just wow.
June 18, 2019
The homonym* and grammar errors continue in The Breadwinner: Haven, the second of Stevie Kopas' Breadwinner trilogy, but there are new characters that are fun. While the women are still irritating stereotypes, there are some enjoyable surprises for the reader. (*One waives a fee, the zombie waves goodbye.)
Veronica, Ben, Juliette, Andrew, and Clyde – in his dramatic glory – have escaped Paradise Bay and found their way to the exclusive condo resort of Emerald City. I feel like there should be a Wizard of Oz reference here; the teenage girl (Veronica) with the cowardly lion (Andrew), the scarecrow (Clyde), tin man (Ben), and a tree that throws apples (Juliette). Psych, she's a witch. The wizard in this case would be Gary, a Brit who has been in the US long enough to not use British vernacular or phrasing, who gets the team of survivors to his isolated building conveniently stashed with weapons of vague origin. After helping Gary to clear the condo building, in which Clyde's yell is described as feminine and I remembered the poor man is but a stereotype, they decide it's time to make a food run and head off to Target.
You can read Karin's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
Veronica, Ben, Juliette, Andrew, and Clyde – in his dramatic glory – have escaped Paradise Bay and found their way to the exclusive condo resort of Emerald City. I feel like there should be a Wizard of Oz reference here; the teenage girl (Veronica) with the cowardly lion (Andrew), the scarecrow (Clyde), tin man (Ben), and a tree that throws apples (Juliette). Psych, she's a witch. The wizard in this case would be Gary, a Brit who has been in the US long enough to not use British vernacular or phrasing, who gets the team of survivors to his isolated building conveniently stashed with weapons of vague origin. After helping Gary to clear the condo building, in which Clyde's yell is described as feminine and I remembered the poor man is but a stereotype, they decide it's time to make a food run and head off to Target.
You can read Karin's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
October 26, 2017
OMG!!! I was on the edge of my seat most of this book and I was just like wow...just wow. Michelle has serious issues and I was having goose bumps as well major fear every time she does anything! I did not care for Juliette at first, but she became more dynamic as the story progressed. I like Gary, but still think something is off about him or he has a secret of some sort. Love Veronica, Clyde, Catherine and Ben and am very much looking forward to learning what happens in the next book with them specifically. Really like Andrew also, but he seems like a character who may or may not develop further. The end of this one is a shocker, but really gives insight about one of them that we kinda knew, but did not quite understand the extent of the crazy. Great trilogy so far and well worth the time and money!
May 16, 2014
"They continued to talk in the humid darkness on the gravel covered roof, inadvertently bonding over shared tragedies."
Haven, the second book in Stevie Kopas' post-apocalyptic trilogy, proves to be just as captivating as the first. After finally making it to the coast, Samson, Veronica, Ben, Juliette, Andrew, and Clyde find themselves out on the ocean in a boat to see what's left of humanity. Their journey leads them to Emerald City, an upper class resort in a land full of condominiums, shopping malls, and death.
The group is greeted by Gary, an upbeat Brit, who has taken up residence in the main tower of Emerald City. The group is invited to move into the tower with Gary and they are finding that out of tragedy they are forming an unconventional family.
Along with continuing on with the journey of the group from The Breadwinner, Haven also introduces us to Michelle, a rough and wild woman who seems to be on a mission to hate the world. Michelle, along with Lulu, her quiet and almost too-innocent friend, sets out to take up residence in the shopping center where the salon she worked at is located. The women set up camp with Francis, a security guard from the shopping center, and Desmond and Catherine, both doctors. It doesn't take long for the group to realize that Michelle isn't exactly a team player or a people person and lots of conflict arises before the new group finally bumps into to the Emerald City gang while out on a supplies mission.
Just as she did in the first book, Kopas has a wonderful ability to create diverse and realistic characters. I absolutely love the people she has developed, even the ones I hate…and there were some that I really, really hated. The inclusion of both characters that you adore and root for and characters that you positively loath is something that really makes a novel complete. Kopas also does a superb job of not only including action, which we all know zombie apocalypse novels have, but also portraying the conflict that can arise when a group of people is forced to depend on strangers for survival. There is plenty of fighting with the eaters, but she also shows us that sometimes the monsters we need to fear aren't the ones wandering around aimlessly and blood thirsty, but the ones in our inner circle.
I definitely enjoyed the second book in the trilogy as much as I did the first. I more or less read it all at once, not wanting to put it down. The general direction that Stevie Kopas took with Haven and the suspenseful ending have me very anxiously awaiting the final book!
*Review also featured as a guest review on A Simple Taste for Reading
http://simpletasteforreading.wordpres...
Haven, the second book in Stevie Kopas' post-apocalyptic trilogy, proves to be just as captivating as the first. After finally making it to the coast, Samson, Veronica, Ben, Juliette, Andrew, and Clyde find themselves out on the ocean in a boat to see what's left of humanity. Their journey leads them to Emerald City, an upper class resort in a land full of condominiums, shopping malls, and death.
The group is greeted by Gary, an upbeat Brit, who has taken up residence in the main tower of Emerald City. The group is invited to move into the tower with Gary and they are finding that out of tragedy they are forming an unconventional family.
Along with continuing on with the journey of the group from The Breadwinner, Haven also introduces us to Michelle, a rough and wild woman who seems to be on a mission to hate the world. Michelle, along with Lulu, her quiet and almost too-innocent friend, sets out to take up residence in the shopping center where the salon she worked at is located. The women set up camp with Francis, a security guard from the shopping center, and Desmond and Catherine, both doctors. It doesn't take long for the group to realize that Michelle isn't exactly a team player or a people person and lots of conflict arises before the new group finally bumps into to the Emerald City gang while out on a supplies mission.
Just as she did in the first book, Kopas has a wonderful ability to create diverse and realistic characters. I absolutely love the people she has developed, even the ones I hate…and there were some that I really, really hated. The inclusion of both characters that you adore and root for and characters that you positively loath is something that really makes a novel complete. Kopas also does a superb job of not only including action, which we all know zombie apocalypse novels have, but also portraying the conflict that can arise when a group of people is forced to depend on strangers for survival. There is plenty of fighting with the eaters, but she also shows us that sometimes the monsters we need to fear aren't the ones wandering around aimlessly and blood thirsty, but the ones in our inner circle.
I definitely enjoyed the second book in the trilogy as much as I did the first. I more or less read it all at once, not wanting to put it down. The general direction that Stevie Kopas took with Haven and the suspenseful ending have me very anxiously awaiting the final book!
*Review also featured as a guest review on A Simple Taste for Reading
http://simpletasteforreading.wordpres...
August 14, 2015
ABR's original Haven audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
“Haven” starts with our survivors on a boat floating down the river.
Waking up from a hangover Sampson sees that they are near a fabulous resort. The Emerald City. From the top of one of the buildings there is a flash of light and a figure is waving to them. Minutes later a man runs across the beach and starts a jet ski. He heads toward them and when close enough he calls out.
Gary, a business man from England, was stranded when the virus hit. His wife died after being bitten and so did all the others who were hiding in his building. He has been living in the Emerald City resort condo units ever since. Using a jet ski he goes out on the river to met them. He invites Sampson, Veronica, Andrew, Clyde, Juliette and Ben to join him on the 24th floor. He has plenty of supplies and safe rooms for everyone. They accept. Is Gary what he seems to be or does he have other plans for his new friends?
Lulu and Michelle worked at the Emerald Park shopping mall as hairdressers. After barely escaping their apartment and being chased by zombies, they make it to Emerald Park and their work place. Lulu is very high strung and can’t seen to keep it together. She knows the zombies are attracted to sound but she just can’t help screaming when scared. Michelle, on the other hand, is just the opposite. She is the strong one and will not hesitated to shoot to kill. The more she kills the more she likes it.
They were joined by the mall security guard, Francis. Lulu liked him but Michelle has never cared for him. They are also joined by Desmond and Catherine. Desmond and his wife Catherine are both Doctors who were trapped by their car until Michelle arrived. The five survivors secured the shop and the two adjoining ones. Searched for supplies and settled in.
Three different stories that will become one. The characters are all developing into someone else. None of them are what they were before the virus hit. Lulu is scared out of her mind most of the time. Michelle is the leader of her group but everything is not well. Gary has taken charge of his band, but he does listen to the others. When they merge in to one there will be conflicts and murder. Some will rise to hero status and others will sink to the black depths.
Scott Bernie is the reader for this series and he does a bang up job of it. I just love his Gary voice. He really nails the English accent. All his voices for this series are well done and he can really get into it. Well done Scott.
Audiobook provided for review by the author.
“Haven” starts with our survivors on a boat floating down the river.
Waking up from a hangover Sampson sees that they are near a fabulous resort. The Emerald City. From the top of one of the buildings there is a flash of light and a figure is waving to them. Minutes later a man runs across the beach and starts a jet ski. He heads toward them and when close enough he calls out.
Gary, a business man from England, was stranded when the virus hit. His wife died after being bitten and so did all the others who were hiding in his building. He has been living in the Emerald City resort condo units ever since. Using a jet ski he goes out on the river to met them. He invites Sampson, Veronica, Andrew, Clyde, Juliette and Ben to join him on the 24th floor. He has plenty of supplies and safe rooms for everyone. They accept. Is Gary what he seems to be or does he have other plans for his new friends?
Lulu and Michelle worked at the Emerald Park shopping mall as hairdressers. After barely escaping their apartment and being chased by zombies, they make it to Emerald Park and their work place. Lulu is very high strung and can’t seen to keep it together. She knows the zombies are attracted to sound but she just can’t help screaming when scared. Michelle, on the other hand, is just the opposite. She is the strong one and will not hesitated to shoot to kill. The more she kills the more she likes it.
They were joined by the mall security guard, Francis. Lulu liked him but Michelle has never cared for him. They are also joined by Desmond and Catherine. Desmond and his wife Catherine are both Doctors who were trapped by their car until Michelle arrived. The five survivors secured the shop and the two adjoining ones. Searched for supplies and settled in.
Three different stories that will become one. The characters are all developing into someone else. None of them are what they were before the virus hit. Lulu is scared out of her mind most of the time. Michelle is the leader of her group but everything is not well. Gary has taken charge of his band, but he does listen to the others. When they merge in to one there will be conflicts and murder. Some will rise to hero status and others will sink to the black depths.
Scott Bernie is the reader for this series and he does a bang up job of it. I just love his Gary voice. He really nails the English accent. All his voices for this series are well done and he can really get into it. Well done Scott.
Audiobook provided for review by the author.
January 18, 2016
The Breadwinner Trilogy is a self-published trilogy of novels which is getting reprinted up by Permuted Press. It's an interesting phenomenon of the indie scene that, increasingly, publishers are picking up proven successes on the self-published market than take a chance on a new series. Here, I'll be reviewing the original version of the second novel sans edits.
The second book starts with Samson, Veronica, and Ben sailing away from their doomed hometown in order to find a new location. Deciding to take refuge in a luxurious high-rise apartment complex, the trio come across another group of survivors and merge their two groups.
Anyone want to guess there will be trouble?
Haven does have one large problem at the start and that is the fact it jumps right into the action, which normally wouldn't be the case but I'd forgotten who was who from the previous volume. I had to get out my copy of The Breadwinner in order to figure out what was going on since Haven resumes immediately thereafter.
Once I managed to get past this stumbling block, though, I applaud Stevie for showing some real courage in throwing wrenches into the story. People talking about The Walking Dead being courageous in killing off characters but Stevie is up there with the comic. When one such death occurred, I was immediately hooked back into the story again.
The majority of the book, like the previous volume of the series, chronicles the adventures of the previous band of survivors. Led by the mysterious and dangerous Michelle, they attempt to live out the apocalypse in their apartment before deciding to try the Dawn of the Dead thing. Take over a shopping mall? What could go wrong!
I really bonded with the character of Michelle and she swiftly became my favorite character in the series. Unfortunately, halfway through, I mentioned this to Stevie Kopas on a website she frequents only to get sniggering from her. You'll find out what I mean later. I must say I'm kind of disappointed but the twist was, nevertheless, shocking.
Then again, I've often liked characters like that.
In conclusion, Haven is a good continuation to the characters' journey of the previous books with a couple of surprise twists. Some of which are truly shocking. The book suffers because Samson was, hands down, the most interesting character in the series and moving away from him is problematic. Likewise, I felt annoyed at the twist with Michelle. Otherwise, it's a fairly straight zombie adventure which succeeds on its merits as a typical example of the genre with the aforementioned surprises livening things up.
Buy it when it's re-released.
7/10
The second book starts with Samson, Veronica, and Ben sailing away from their doomed hometown in order to find a new location. Deciding to take refuge in a luxurious high-rise apartment complex, the trio come across another group of survivors and merge their two groups.
Anyone want to guess there will be trouble?
Haven does have one large problem at the start and that is the fact it jumps right into the action, which normally wouldn't be the case but I'd forgotten who was who from the previous volume. I had to get out my copy of The Breadwinner in order to figure out what was going on since Haven resumes immediately thereafter.
Once I managed to get past this stumbling block, though, I applaud Stevie for showing some real courage in throwing wrenches into the story. People talking about The Walking Dead being courageous in killing off characters but Stevie is up there with the comic. When one such death occurred, I was immediately hooked back into the story again.
The majority of the book, like the previous volume of the series, chronicles the adventures of the previous band of survivors. Led by the mysterious and dangerous Michelle, they attempt to live out the apocalypse in their apartment before deciding to try the Dawn of the Dead thing. Take over a shopping mall? What could go wrong!
I really bonded with the character of Michelle and she swiftly became my favorite character in the series. Unfortunately, halfway through, I mentioned this to Stevie Kopas on a website she frequents only to get sniggering from her. You'll find out what I mean later. I must say I'm kind of disappointed but the twist was, nevertheless, shocking.
Then again, I've often liked characters like that.
In conclusion, Haven is a good continuation to the characters' journey of the previous books with a couple of surprise twists. Some of which are truly shocking. The book suffers because Samson was, hands down, the most interesting character in the series and moving away from him is problematic. Likewise, I felt annoyed at the twist with Michelle. Otherwise, it's a fairly straight zombie adventure which succeeds on its merits as a typical example of the genre with the aforementioned surprises livening things up.
Buy it when it's re-released.
7/10
July 21, 2015
Excellent follow up!
I really enjoyed The Breadwinner, and I absolutely loved Haven. I can't wait to see how this trilogy will end. Stevie Kopas is amazing when it comes to the development of her characters, and she always keeps you guessing until the end, and even after.
Haven picks up right where The Breadwinner leaves off, with the surviving characters of Veronica, Samson, Ben, Andrew, Clyde and Juliet escaping and making the best of the situation on a boat. But with nowhere to go and supplies running dangerously low it isn't looking too good for them. While sleeping they drift close to a high end vacation resort, The Emerald City, in Haven. Here we get to meet the optimistic Brit Gary. Its refreshing to have a character that has gone through hell that still sees the glass as half full. He invites the gang to hang out in his paradise in exchange for their help. After a little crowd control clean up, the group decides to scout for other survivors to add to their numbers. Making a trek to a nearby shopping center to stock up on supplies, we get to meet some new people. Michelle, Lulu, Katherine, Desmond and Francis have fortified the mall and are making the best of it there. You get a great back story on how Michelle and Lulu made it from day one of the outbreak. Even if it is a bit of a sad story.
The two groups merging together really reinforces my idea that if the apocalypse ever hits that I want to be with as few people as possible. There are always going to be those that don't get along. With the addition of Kathrine, who is a doctor, they are able to get Juliet's bipolar disorder under control. So we no longer have a crazy person.. right? Stevie works her magic with characters and gives us an inside view of the breaking point that turns one person into a psychopath. Its a neat point of view that left me surprised at understanding what happened to make them snap, and still feeling sorry for them. There is so much foreshadowing of things that can go wrong, at the end you are left thinking 'what the hell just happened?', and dying to find out what is going to happen next. I can venture a guess and say that I don't think it will be pretty.
Scott Birney does an even better job in Haven than he did in Breadwinner. His narration has really grown on me. He nails every voice for each character, adding real emotion into them and bringing the characters to life. He has a great pace, and is very easy to listen to, and he makes me adore Clyde even more. (Please don't kill Clyde!)
This audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed The Breadwinner, and I absolutely loved Haven. I can't wait to see how this trilogy will end. Stevie Kopas is amazing when it comes to the development of her characters, and she always keeps you guessing until the end, and even after.
Haven picks up right where The Breadwinner leaves off, with the surviving characters of Veronica, Samson, Ben, Andrew, Clyde and Juliet escaping and making the best of the situation on a boat. But with nowhere to go and supplies running dangerously low it isn't looking too good for them. While sleeping they drift close to a high end vacation resort, The Emerald City, in Haven. Here we get to meet the optimistic Brit Gary. Its refreshing to have a character that has gone through hell that still sees the glass as half full. He invites the gang to hang out in his paradise in exchange for their help. After a little crowd control clean up, the group decides to scout for other survivors to add to their numbers. Making a trek to a nearby shopping center to stock up on supplies, we get to meet some new people. Michelle, Lulu, Katherine, Desmond and Francis have fortified the mall and are making the best of it there. You get a great back story on how Michelle and Lulu made it from day one of the outbreak. Even if it is a bit of a sad story.
The two groups merging together really reinforces my idea that if the apocalypse ever hits that I want to be with as few people as possible. There are always going to be those that don't get along. With the addition of Kathrine, who is a doctor, they are able to get Juliet's bipolar disorder under control. So we no longer have a crazy person.. right? Stevie works her magic with characters and gives us an inside view of the breaking point that turns one person into a psychopath. Its a neat point of view that left me surprised at understanding what happened to make them snap, and still feeling sorry for them. There is so much foreshadowing of things that can go wrong, at the end you are left thinking 'what the hell just happened?', and dying to find out what is going to happen next. I can venture a guess and say that I don't think it will be pretty.
Scott Birney does an even better job in Haven than he did in Breadwinner. His narration has really grown on me. He nails every voice for each character, adding real emotion into them and bringing the characters to life. He has a great pace, and is very easy to listen to, and he makes me adore Clyde even more. (Please don't kill Clyde!)
This audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2014
Sometimes with a trilogy the storyline can lose its pace and way when the second instalment comes out, but I’m glad to say this book did not fall victim to that issue. As with its predecessor this is not a long read by any means, coming in at 169 pages, but what this Author manages to pack into those pages just has to be read to be believed.
Not only are the characters from the first book included in this one, the Author introduces a new and interesting second set of characters. When writing the ‘leader’ of this second group, the Author has created the perfect antagonist who is a direct contrast to the lead the reader came to know in book one; together these two make a well-rounded team that, it seems, will be able to take on and triumph over anything that stands in their way. However reading about this new character will have the reader wondering whether they would rather face off against her or the other things that lurk within the books pages, at times I felt I would rather take my chances with them than her. Once again, all the characters are well written and very believable, and the reader will become connected to them; whether it is through love or hate they will connect.
Filled with shocking twists in the tale, and the ability given to the reader to follow one woman’s descent into madness, this book is definitely not for the faint of heart; combine this with the fast pace and high levels of action, this is a book that will keep you hooked to the very end.
If all zombie novels were as well written as this trilogy is turning out to be, I could well become a lover of the genre; as it is I would highly recommend this book to lovers of zombie fiction and also horror stories. I am looking forward to reading the final episode of this trilogy.
Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/05/16...
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Not only are the characters from the first book included in this one, the Author introduces a new and interesting second set of characters. When writing the ‘leader’ of this second group, the Author has created the perfect antagonist who is a direct contrast to the lead the reader came to know in book one; together these two make a well-rounded team that, it seems, will be able to take on and triumph over anything that stands in their way. However reading about this new character will have the reader wondering whether they would rather face off against her or the other things that lurk within the books pages, at times I felt I would rather take my chances with them than her. Once again, all the characters are well written and very believable, and the reader will become connected to them; whether it is through love or hate they will connect.
Filled with shocking twists in the tale, and the ability given to the reader to follow one woman’s descent into madness, this book is definitely not for the faint of heart; combine this with the fast pace and high levels of action, this is a book that will keep you hooked to the very end.
If all zombie novels were as well written as this trilogy is turning out to be, I could well become a lover of the genre; as it is I would highly recommend this book to lovers of zombie fiction and also horror stories. I am looking forward to reading the final episode of this trilogy.
Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/05/16...
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
September 27, 2016
I had a really hard time with this one. While I enjoyed the first book in this series, the second left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. Something about the increasing degeneracy of the characters is just gnawing at me (ha...).
For starters, some of the deaths seemed unnecessary and really difficult to swallow. I feel like they removed some depth from the characters and story rather than increasing it... that first one especially. You all know which one I mean. So I removed a star for that, because what is a book without some profundity?
Second, the weed. I just... I get that people have their vices and that it's the end of the world, but lazy and stupid is the last thing I'd want to be in the middle of the zombie apocalypse, and I'm extremely disappointed that a character as seemingly sensible as Ben would participate in it.
To get to my third problem, I first have to say that I actually enjoyed the story split to the second group of characters, but again, that first unnecessary death rocked my satisfaction, and Michelle... god, I disliked her from the start. By the end, I just could not stand her. She grates on me. There's not a single likeable quality to that one. I removed another star for this, because I think the true art of writing is finding a way to make your readers question their alliances, or at least sympathize with the darker characters. Instead, she's just pointlessly cruel and I find myself constantly wishing for her demise.
The third and final star I subtracted was because of the ending. I'm sorry, but I find it completely, 100% implausible that Ben nor Catherine heard any of those events. No raised voices, no shuffling, no drawn out scream. It's nonsense.
I'm really not excited about the third book, but as it is the last in the series and taking into consideration that I did like the first, I'm going to give it a go. I believe in second chances, so let's have it.
For starters, some of the deaths seemed unnecessary and really difficult to swallow. I feel like they removed some depth from the characters and story rather than increasing it... that first one especially. You all know which one I mean. So I removed a star for that, because what is a book without some profundity?
Second, the weed. I just... I get that people have their vices and that it's the end of the world, but lazy and stupid is the last thing I'd want to be in the middle of the zombie apocalypse, and I'm extremely disappointed that a character as seemingly sensible as Ben would participate in it.
To get to my third problem, I first have to say that I actually enjoyed the story split to the second group of characters, but again, that first unnecessary death rocked my satisfaction, and Michelle... god, I disliked her from the start. By the end, I just could not stand her. She grates on me. There's not a single likeable quality to that one. I removed another star for this, because I think the true art of writing is finding a way to make your readers question their alliances, or at least sympathize with the darker characters. Instead, she's just pointlessly cruel and I find myself constantly wishing for her demise.
The third and final star I subtracted was because of the ending. I'm sorry, but I find it completely, 100% implausible that Ben nor Catherine heard any of those events. No raised voices, no shuffling, no drawn out scream. It's nonsense.
I'm really not excited about the third book, but as it is the last in the series and taking into consideration that I did like the first, I'm going to give it a go. I believe in second chances, so let's have it.
July 20, 2015
I started “Haven” last night around 7pm and promptly finished this morning at 6am. This book was fantastic, I want to say even better than the first one, “Breadwinner“.
Haven opens right up to the group that fled in Breadwinner. They’re still on the boat, and running out of gas and supplies. They’ve found themselves close to the shores of a multimillion dollar community called “Haven”. There’s one survivor in Haven, Gary. He helps bring them ashore and introduces them to the fortress he’s created alone. The group gets settled in, and Gary convinces them to help him with a supply run in town.
This is we are introduced to a new set of living; Michelle, Lulu, Catherine, Desmond and Francis. They’ve been living in the strip mall that Gary’s group planned to pillage. The two connect and things get interesting. There’s a doctor, narcissistic sociopath and a emotionally fragile one.
This book has become so much more than a zombie survival novel, it’s become a story of interpersonal relationships. There’s cohesive survival, but not just against the eaters, but against the fellow living. Will Ben and Gary’s group survive after taking in these new characters?
Stevie Kopas, author of this FANTASTIC series, has found her calling. Her stories are easy to follow, intense, thought provoking, and entertaining. I find myself eating and chewing my way through her written work, much like a zombie to brains. I cannot wait to read the last, and final installment, “All Good Things“.
Do not miss out on this new, up and coming, strong author. You’ll find yourself deep in the middle of a kick ass zombie survival book.
Haven opens right up to the group that fled in Breadwinner. They’re still on the boat, and running out of gas and supplies. They’ve found themselves close to the shores of a multimillion dollar community called “Haven”. There’s one survivor in Haven, Gary. He helps bring them ashore and introduces them to the fortress he’s created alone. The group gets settled in, and Gary convinces them to help him with a supply run in town.
This is we are introduced to a new set of living; Michelle, Lulu, Catherine, Desmond and Francis. They’ve been living in the strip mall that Gary’s group planned to pillage. The two connect and things get interesting. There’s a doctor, narcissistic sociopath and a emotionally fragile one.
This book has become so much more than a zombie survival novel, it’s become a story of interpersonal relationships. There’s cohesive survival, but not just against the eaters, but against the fellow living. Will Ben and Gary’s group survive after taking in these new characters?
Stevie Kopas, author of this FANTASTIC series, has found her calling. Her stories are easy to follow, intense, thought provoking, and entertaining. I find myself eating and chewing my way through her written work, much like a zombie to brains. I cannot wait to read the last, and final installment, “All Good Things“.
Do not miss out on this new, up and coming, strong author. You’ll find yourself deep in the middle of a kick ass zombie survival book.
June 24, 2015
*We received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
We start off with the surviving group finding Haven. A rich resort that promises a place to recoop and revaluate their situation. They also find shelter with newcomer, Gary, who's a bit of a twitchy fellow.
We're eventually led to a new group of survivors. This book didn't necessarily mirror book one, but the new groups introduction did to a point. Though it was less drawn out and I thought there were scenes crucial to the development and understanding of a few of them. The characters were surprisingly relatable. One woman in particular I didn't like but she threw me a couple of times on what kind of person she really was.
The action, mayhem and need for survival continues with rounds of human ingenuity and the frailty within a new, imperfect social order. There are a few new characters and there are moments of doubt for the reader. I found myself believing these characters to be life-like but I didn't trust them, even when given samples of their point of view. Kopas does switch at random, but she does it seamlessly. I didn't find a new viewpoint to be jarring or confusing.
There was also a moment or two of distrust. There were a few characters that I thought were shoe-in-survivors. I wasn't always right.
CONCLUSION:
I still found myself enamoured by the characters. I really enjoyed the writing. It's clean, clear and has the most gruesome imagery in the lowest word count. The story was a quick read and expands on the survivors but they don't stray far from Haven. I think the next book, the conclusion, promises a lot of betrayal and problems and I can't wait to review it.
We start off with the surviving group finding Haven. A rich resort that promises a place to recoop and revaluate their situation. They also find shelter with newcomer, Gary, who's a bit of a twitchy fellow.
We're eventually led to a new group of survivors. This book didn't necessarily mirror book one, but the new groups introduction did to a point. Though it was less drawn out and I thought there were scenes crucial to the development and understanding of a few of them. The characters were surprisingly relatable. One woman in particular I didn't like but she threw me a couple of times on what kind of person she really was.
The action, mayhem and need for survival continues with rounds of human ingenuity and the frailty within a new, imperfect social order. There are a few new characters and there are moments of doubt for the reader. I found myself believing these characters to be life-like but I didn't trust them, even when given samples of their point of view. Kopas does switch at random, but she does it seamlessly. I didn't find a new viewpoint to be jarring or confusing.
There was also a moment or two of distrust. There were a few characters that I thought were shoe-in-survivors. I wasn't always right.
CONCLUSION:
I still found myself enamoured by the characters. I really enjoyed the writing. It's clean, clear and has the most gruesome imagery in the lowest word count. The story was a quick read and expands on the survivors but they don't stray far from Haven. I think the next book, the conclusion, promises a lot of betrayal and problems and I can't wait to review it.
August 16, 2015
Second book in the trilogy and still going strong. Though I did like the first book better as a sequel I thought this was still a very good book and a good addition to the series.
I felt like the first book focused so much more on the undead and running from them. While there was a good portion of that in this one it was slightly less which tends to happen in most zombie books and shows. Again there were some deaths that I was kind of shocked happened in this book too and a new character to hate. I didn't really see the need for Michelle, her character was so not necessary to the story. I guess that had to be a bad guy other than the zombies and Michelle definitely made a good one.
I still liked Veronica's character and I like how strong the author made her. Even though I know Ben is older than her I so wanted them to get together. I thought it was weird that Catherine and Ben got together so soon after Desmond's death. That was a little too fast to me but it wasn't my story. Maybe during the apocalypse you don't have time to mourn the death of your husband so you sleep with someone else instead.
I really didn't see the need for part two of the book. Michelle and Lulu, though strong characters and I'm assuming vital to the story, I don't know why so much of their backstory was told. I was actually kind of confused by the jump back in time like that and I didn't like it. Maybe it didn't have to be so freaking long.
I'm still going to read book three and look forward to this trilogy coming to a close. I can't wait to see how Kopas is going to bring this story to a close.
I felt like the first book focused so much more on the undead and running from them. While there was a good portion of that in this one it was slightly less which tends to happen in most zombie books and shows. Again there were some deaths that I was kind of shocked happened in this book too and a new character to hate. I didn't really see the need for Michelle, her character was so not necessary to the story. I guess that had to be a bad guy other than the zombies and Michelle definitely made a good one.
I still liked Veronica's character and I like how strong the author made her. Even though I know Ben is older than her I so wanted them to get together. I thought it was weird that Catherine and Ben got together so soon after Desmond's death. That was a little too fast to me but it wasn't my story. Maybe during the apocalypse you don't have time to mourn the death of your husband so you sleep with someone else instead.
I really didn't see the need for part two of the book. Michelle and Lulu, though strong characters and I'm assuming vital to the story, I don't know why so much of their backstory was told. I was actually kind of confused by the jump back in time like that and I didn't like it. Maybe it didn't have to be so freaking long.
I'm still going to read book three and look forward to this trilogy coming to a close. I can't wait to see how Kopas is going to bring this story to a close.
August 12, 2015
I received a free copy of the audiobook for an honest review.
I listened to The Breadwinner, the first book in this series, and was looking forward to listening to the next book, Haven. I wasn't disappointed.
The same characters are in the beginning of Haven. They had survived the apocalypse in The Breadwinner and are now on a boat not sure where they're headed until they reach Haven. They meet Gary and he seems to have the perfect set up so they decide to stay.
All of a sudden, Part 2 came along and there were brand new characters and it was the beginning of the apocalypse all over again. I didn't think I was going to like going back but for this story, it worked well.
I didn't care for Michelle or Lulu, the main characters in Part 2. Lulu was sweet, but a doormat. I knew Michelle was a bitch from the first time she opened her mouth. Once the apocalypse hit, she proved to have the skills to keep her and Lulu alive but she lacked social skills.
I haven't decided if I like the ending of Haven or not. I don't believe in spoilers so I'll just leave it at that.
I definitely recommend Haven and I'm looking forward to the third book in the trilogy. I have to find out how it ends!!
I listened to The Breadwinner, the first book in this series, and was looking forward to listening to the next book, Haven. I wasn't disappointed.
The same characters are in the beginning of Haven. They had survived the apocalypse in The Breadwinner and are now on a boat not sure where they're headed until they reach Haven. They meet Gary and he seems to have the perfect set up so they decide to stay.
All of a sudden, Part 2 came along and there were brand new characters and it was the beginning of the apocalypse all over again. I didn't think I was going to like going back but for this story, it worked well.
I didn't care for Michelle or Lulu, the main characters in Part 2. Lulu was sweet, but a doormat. I knew Michelle was a bitch from the first time she opened her mouth. Once the apocalypse hit, she proved to have the skills to keep her and Lulu alive but she lacked social skills.
I haven't decided if I like the ending of Haven or not. I don't believe in spoilers so I'll just leave it at that.
I definitely recommend Haven and I'm looking forward to the third book in the trilogy. I have to find out how it ends!!
July 24, 2014
The end of the world as we know it has come. A sickness has swept over and claimed nearly everyone, turning them into eaters. Samson, Veronica, Ben, and the rest of their group seems to have escaped the madness....or did they? When they awake the next morning drifting on the boat they escaped on, a chance encounter with a lone survivor in a resort off the shore gives them a new safe haven. When they all form a plan to scout a nearby strip mall for supplies and survivors, new encounters change everything. Will these new survivors they meet provide safety and comfort in numbers, or are they just as dangerous as the world outside?
I have enjoyed both of the books that are currently available in this trilogy. We get to see how extreme situations affect and change people. Who are truly good and evil at heart. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know exactly what was going on. What was going to happen next?! We are left with a shocker of a cliffhanger and I can't wait to see how the group reacts to it in the final book. If you haven't already, pick up The Breadwinner so you can get absorbed in it and move on in to Haven!
I have enjoyed both of the books that are currently available in this trilogy. We get to see how extreme situations affect and change people. Who are truly good and evil at heart. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know exactly what was going on. What was going to happen next?! We are left with a shocker of a cliffhanger and I can't wait to see how the group reacts to it in the final book. If you haven't already, pick up The Breadwinner so you can get absorbed in it and move on in to Haven!
June 16, 2015
A higher-quality read than book 1
This series has me hooked by the story and I will now move on to book 3. Book 2 was a vast improvement over the first in that it was better edited; book 1 had so many typos and incorrect wordings that I would be pulled out of the story with a bang, over and over again. (I only stayed with it as a distraction in dealing with a family death.) Still, I wish the author knew the difference between "ruckus" and "raucous." T'aint the same, yo.
Enough about editing! I realize it's becoming a lost art (I admit it, I'm a copy editor by trade). The story is briskly told and throws some new twists into the genre. I like the characters who are defined by their actions instead of their descriptions, and even that characters I get invested in meet grisly deaths.
I look forward to more from Ms. Kopas.
This series has me hooked by the story and I will now move on to book 3. Book 2 was a vast improvement over the first in that it was better edited; book 1 had so many typos and incorrect wordings that I would be pulled out of the story with a bang, over and over again. (I only stayed with it as a distraction in dealing with a family death.) Still, I wish the author knew the difference between "ruckus" and "raucous." T'aint the same, yo.
Enough about editing! I realize it's becoming a lost art (I admit it, I'm a copy editor by trade). The story is briskly told and throws some new twists into the genre. I like the characters who are defined by their actions instead of their descriptions, and even that characters I get invested in meet grisly deaths.
I look forward to more from Ms. Kopas.
September 17, 2015
** I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **
This book picks up where book 1 leaves off, Our group finds themselves at Emerald Isle...a resort island where they meet Gary. Gary had been alone for awhile and welcomes our group....they go out on a supply mission...and run into another group of survivors...where they Meet Michelle who unbeknownst to anyone is a Psycho....and I hope they figure it out soon..because I hate her!! LOL In a zompocalypse its really the living you need to fear! Cant wait for book 3!!
I RECOMMEND ANS CANT WAIT FOR BOOK 3!!!!
Thank You Audiobookblast(dot)com
This book picks up where book 1 leaves off, Our group finds themselves at Emerald Isle...a resort island where they meet Gary. Gary had been alone for awhile and welcomes our group....they go out on a supply mission...and run into another group of survivors...where they Meet Michelle who unbeknownst to anyone is a Psycho....and I hope they figure it out soon..because I hate her!! LOL In a zompocalypse its really the living you need to fear! Cant wait for book 3!!
I RECOMMEND ANS CANT WAIT FOR BOOK 3!!!!
Thank You Audiobookblast(dot)com
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