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Most people think the fae are gone. Most people are wrong.
Owen Williams wakes after a horrific car accident to find his wife is dead-and somehow turned into a gryphon-and his kids gone after a home invasion turned horribly wrong. Shattered and reeling, he vows to do whatever it takes to find them.
When a fae scout appears and promises to reunite him with his kids, he doesn't hesitate before joining her. But she warns him that if he wants to protect his family, he must follow the fae to their city, the hidden haven of Tearmann.
With enemies on the horizon, Owen needs to set aside his fears and take up arms to defend their new home alongside the people he's always been taught were monsters-or he'll lose everyone he's trying to protect.
Owen Williams wakes after a horrific car accident to find his wife is dead-and somehow turned into a gryphon-and his kids gone after a home invasion turned horribly wrong. Shattered and reeling, he vows to do whatever it takes to find them.
When a fae scout appears and promises to reunite him with his kids, he doesn't hesitate before joining her. But she warns him that if he wants to protect his family, he must follow the fae to their city, the hidden haven of Tearmann.
With enemies on the horizon, Owen needs to set aside his fears and take up arms to defend their new home alongside the people he's always been taught were monsters-or he'll lose everyone he's trying to protect.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2021
3 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Ceril N. Domace
15 books29 followersCeril N Domace is an accountant, animal lover, and dedicated dungeon master.
As a lover of fiction works great and small, Ceril has been reading age-inappropriate stories since her father failed to pull The Silmarillion from her grubby little fingers at age five. As a grown-up accountant, her spreadsheet compiling gives her plenty of time to make plans for a fantastic world that isn't plagued by balance sheets . . . and also has dragons.
On the rare occasions she manages to free herself from an ever-growing and complex web of TTRPG, Ceril enjoys taking walks and griping that all her hobbies are work in disguise.
As a lover of fiction works great and small, Ceril has been reading age-inappropriate stories since her father failed to pull The Silmarillion from her grubby little fingers at age five. As a grown-up accountant, her spreadsheet compiling gives her plenty of time to make plans for a fantastic world that isn't plagued by balance sheets . . . and also has dragons.
On the rare occasions she manages to free herself from an ever-growing and complex web of TTRPG, Ceril enjoys taking walks and griping that all her hobbies are work in disguise.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 25, 2022
Domace has created a world in which the Fae--well, they don't exactly live among us but they walk the same world. here, there is a clash between what we recognize as modern and current, and the ancient lore of dragons and faeries and werebeasts and the like. the mish-mash sets itself up as a powerful commentary on extremism of every stripe, but grounds its story in the intimate lives of one family at the center of what will soon be a global conflict.
Owen just wants to raise his kids after the death of his wife, but his wife wasn't who he thought she was (and neither are his children). At once a fish-out-of-water story as much as a thriller, Domace balances the epic portions of the storyline with nice moments of domestic family interaction. It's not usual that you see young children caught up in massive fantasy brawls, and Owen as the single "un-magical" being in a colony of otherworldliness is as turns charming and terrifying.
this book does a lot of heavy-lifting to set the stage of this unique clash, and suffers for being a bit heavy on the exposition at times, but hopefully with the world well-established, the series can now soar!
Owen just wants to raise his kids after the death of his wife, but his wife wasn't who he thought she was (and neither are his children). At once a fish-out-of-water story as much as a thriller, Domace balances the epic portions of the storyline with nice moments of domestic family interaction. It's not usual that you see young children caught up in massive fantasy brawls, and Owen as the single "un-magical" being in a colony of otherworldliness is as turns charming and terrifying.
this book does a lot of heavy-lifting to set the stage of this unique clash, and suffers for being a bit heavy on the exposition at times, but hopefully with the world well-established, the series can now soar!
May 8, 2023
Whew, this is a tough book to discuss without spoilers. All I’ll say is I’m very invested in what happens next.
First chapter of this book is perfect. It sets the tone, settings, and hook in a very short amount of time. There is a whimsical aspect as we get introduced to the various fae characters, but there is always an ominous tone lurking that gets heavier as the story progresses. Best way I can describe it is “fake-comfy” if that makes any sense lol. For a short book the cast of characters is very large, but I’ll admit having many of them named after Wizard of Oz characters made it easier to follow (and very clever considering the similar themes)
Owen is a great protagonist who is easy to root for. The story is very emotional and dark at times. I’m cautiously optimistic Owen will find his happiness, but the ominous cover of book 2 makes me think it’s going to be a rough ride.
First chapter of this book is perfect. It sets the tone, settings, and hook in a very short amount of time. There is a whimsical aspect as we get introduced to the various fae characters, but there is always an ominous tone lurking that gets heavier as the story progresses. Best way I can describe it is “fake-comfy” if that makes any sense lol. For a short book the cast of characters is very large, but I’ll admit having many of them named after Wizard of Oz characters made it easier to follow (and very clever considering the similar themes)
Owen is a great protagonist who is easy to root for. The story is very emotional and dark at times. I’m cautiously optimistic Owen will find his happiness, but the ominous cover of book 2 makes me think it’s going to be a rough ride.
May 3, 2021
It took me a while to really get into this story, but once I did, I was hooked.
It’s a treat to read a fantasy main character who’s slightly older with multiple kids—usually in SFF you either get large families where everyone is consumed by politics and backstabbing, or a parent with a single child they spend most of the book trying to get back to, so this was definitely a nice change of pace. The whole story feels very much like what you’d find in a family-oriented contemporary, but place smack dab into a fantasy setting with a slice of war thrown in toward the end. While it’s a fun and sweet story, it also doesn’t shy away from tragedy! (I teared up a little at the end ;_;)
Some likes and dislikes:
- I loved how many fun and interesting (and downright genuine) characters we get to meet over the course of the story, but because there are so many new characters, I did end up losing track and feeling a little overwhelmed at times.
- The world building is incredibly detailed and fascinating, but while everything finally made sense after a certain point, there were things that did feel contradictory for a while. I kind of had to hang in there and connect some dots based on what was being implied through various conversations.
- This is a conversation-heavy book that often trades tension for realism. I enjoy the first far more than the second, but that’s person preference so if you like both of those things, then this will be a fantastic book for you!
CW for child death. There’s also the passing implication that being bipolar or suicidal is a reason not to give someone power, which I felt should have been handled with more care.
It’s a treat to read a fantasy main character who’s slightly older with multiple kids—usually in SFF you either get large families where everyone is consumed by politics and backstabbing, or a parent with a single child they spend most of the book trying to get back to, so this was definitely a nice change of pace. The whole story feels very much like what you’d find in a family-oriented contemporary, but place smack dab into a fantasy setting with a slice of war thrown in toward the end. While it’s a fun and sweet story, it also doesn’t shy away from tragedy! (I teared up a little at the end ;_;)
Some likes and dislikes:
- I loved how many fun and interesting (and downright genuine) characters we get to meet over the course of the story, but because there are so many new characters, I did end up losing track and feeling a little overwhelmed at times.
- The world building is incredibly detailed and fascinating, but while everything finally made sense after a certain point, there were things that did feel contradictory for a while. I kind of had to hang in there and connect some dots based on what was being implied through various conversations.
- This is a conversation-heavy book that often trades tension for realism. I enjoy the first far more than the second, but that’s person preference so if you like both of those things, then this will be a fantastic book for you!
CW for child death. There’s also the passing implication that being bipolar or suicidal is a reason not to give someone power, which I felt should have been handled with more care.
November 18, 2022
Just finished this book and it fits in perfectly with some other authors I have read/enjoyed recently (Themis Files, Take Them to the Stars by Sylvain Neuvel. TSIASOS by Paolini). Like most books I enjoy, the book gets harder to put down as you go! Lots of interesting twists. REALLY sets up the sequel well at the end - can't wait to start it! Happy to find that there's already a sequel for me to sink my hands into and not have to wait a year or two to go pick up. Highly recommend. Will keep my eyes out for this author to get new releases out as well!
March 12, 2022
Haven focuses on building a world filled with people of varying experiences and backgrounds. It is refreshing in its focus on family and found family, and building relationships and community amidst war, persecution, and violence.
The characters are loveable and believable - you can tell the author aimed to bring as realistic as possible to events - even if they are as fantastical as riding on the belly of a dragon through the sky.
Highly recommend!
The characters are loveable and believable - you can tell the author aimed to bring as realistic as possible to events - even if they are as fantastical as riding on the belly of a dragon through the sky.
Highly recommend!
February 14, 2022
This was a magical adventure story. It took me a bit to get into it, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Domance's world building is original and well-done. Owen is devoted to his family and you really do feel for him. (He has some tough choices to make.) Family-oriented stories with children aren't always for me, but I did like this one! A great weekend read!
July 4, 2021
I immensely enjoyed this story! Fey culture collides with modern society in a very believable way, creating a brand new niche for readers to snuggle up in. Instead of trying to keep the magical world secret from the mundane, it's all out there and it's INTENSE. Can't wait for the next volume!!
May 24, 2023
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S HAVEN ABOUT?
Let's start with a little background: In a slightly future US, a scientist triggers a sudden mutation in people all over the world matching a certain genetic profile—these people developed certain abilities and displayed physical changes to match. Think X-Men like Beast, Nightcrawler, and Angel. For various reasons, these people take on the generic name of Fae and adopt the names of mythical/fantasy species that line up with their appearances/abilities.
Like every movie and comic book—and common sense—tells us, humans don't react well to this. In fact, they try to exterminate the Fae. The Fae prefer to live and fight back. Eventually, the war ends and two "reservations" are set up for the Fae to live in. One in northern Canada and one in England. In Europe, tensions ease and the Fae are able to integrate pretty well with humans. In North America, the United States particularly, it gets worse and worse, with vigilantes hunting those newly Changed.
The novel starts fifty or so years after the war on the worst day of Owen Williams' life. He's out for a nice evening with his family when everything goes wrong—his wife dies in a traffic accident as he was speeding her to the ER. It turns out that she was in pain because she was beginning to change into a Gryphon. What's worse—his children have been taken from his home, apparently kidnapped.
Reeling, he's approached by a Fae who offers Owen a choice. Come along as they smuggle his children to their hidden city for their own safety (it's likely some or all of his children will Change now) or never see them again. He throws in his lot with the Fae at a time the Cold War between them and the US is starting to heat up.
THE WORLDBUILDING
This is a great piece of worldbuilding—yes, there's an element to it that feels like The X-Men or Alien Nation or other fantasy series about people thought to be fictional revealing themselves to humanity. But while Domace's take is familiar, there's a freshness to it, too.
Also, there's a reason so many stories are told with a similar framework—it works really well. I'm not criticizing anything by saying it's familiar, I'm simply describing it.
The differences between the two settlements (we don't see the UK version, but we hear about it) is a very nice touch. Our focus is on settlement in Canada, Tearmann. It was very well thought out and executed. My favorite thing is that other than what's required due to physiology (dragons need more space than dwarves, etc.) the city and society is integrated—dwarves live alongside shades and elves. Sure the wolves tend to pack together, but they also are good neighbors.
QUIBBLES
Please see what I called this section—quibbles. Not "systemic problems" or critiques.
I think this world's concept of Fae could've been introduced better. I hear "Fae," I think races/species, not mutation. When it was said that Owen's wife was Changing it threw me—had this been a secret she'd been keeping from him? Could she change back and forth?
His children could've been better developed and differentiated earlier—for most of the book, my investment in them was solely based on them being "Owen's children." For most of them, that changes by the end. But it takes too long for that (also, I had a hard time keeping them straight because we didn't get to know them as people). This is fine when it comes to Tiffany, his wife—I'm okay with caring about her solely because she's his dead wife—she dies so early I don't need to know much about her (see: Uncle Ben Parker, Scout Finch's mother, etc.)
One of the quirks of this series is that your fantasy creatures (largely) have everyday names—Jason, Peter, Betty, etc. They're 0-3 generations away from humans and largely stick with the names they grew up with. This goes down as a plus in my book except for in the beginning—I'm still struggling to figure out what name goes with which of the five Wilson children and I get a Fae team named Jason, Nathan, Tony, Abey, etc. Just so many names flying around without a lot to associate them with. My quibble is only with this being unnecessarily not-easy for the reader.
Lastly, the events of the novel that come after the Wilsons are smuggled out of the country happen too quickly. We're told the family adapted and fell into a routine after X happens—and then learn that it'd be three days? That's not time for a comfortable routine for a family of 6. Deep friendships develop far too quickly, etc. (particularly between Owen and the Queen). Change the specifics about days and weeks in this part of the novel, and I wouldn't have noticed. But they call attention to themselves when they become too difficult to believe.
To sort of take back what I said at the beginning of this section—I guess I have a systemic quibble—Domace needed to give everything more space, let it breathe a little, let the reader as well as the characters, be in the moments a little more so things can develop. I loved the platonic friendship between Owen and the Queen, but it happened too quickly, for example.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT HAVEN?
I want to stress here that I enjoyed this—but the things I liked are either too specific for a brief post like this or involve spoilers. I spent a lot of space on quibbles because it takes space to explain them. But something like "I loved the platonic friendship between Owen and the Queen," is just ten words—to say more would ruin the experience for a reader.
Here's another vague compliment—each Change that happens to a Wilson child is done perfectly—the child's reaction, the family's reactions, and the community's are so great that I wanted to read them again just to see.
There's a gentle humor shown throughout the book—adding just the right amount of flavor to some descriptions and keeping some dire scenes from being too gloomy. Domace's descriptions of the people and city of Tearmann are vivid enough to prompt the reader's imagination to fully see them.
Do I think this book could've been better? Sure—most things can. This is book is so close to being very good that its stumbles seem more obvious than others, though.
At the end of the day, I liked this book—and am curious about the sequel, because I think the choices that Domace makes are interesting and I want to see how things get resolved. I recommend this to readers of Mike Chen—it's a similar mix of SF/F story with family drama (the ratio favors the SF/F than Chen's typical ratio) as well as all readers who want to see a new and fresh twist on familiar ideas.
---
WHAT'S HAVEN ABOUT?
Let's start with a little background: In a slightly future US, a scientist triggers a sudden mutation in people all over the world matching a certain genetic profile—these people developed certain abilities and displayed physical changes to match. Think X-Men like Beast, Nightcrawler, and Angel. For various reasons, these people take on the generic name of Fae and adopt the names of mythical/fantasy species that line up with their appearances/abilities.
Like every movie and comic book—and common sense—tells us, humans don't react well to this. In fact, they try to exterminate the Fae. The Fae prefer to live and fight back. Eventually, the war ends and two "reservations" are set up for the Fae to live in. One in northern Canada and one in England. In Europe, tensions ease and the Fae are able to integrate pretty well with humans. In North America, the United States particularly, it gets worse and worse, with vigilantes hunting those newly Changed.
The novel starts fifty or so years after the war on the worst day of Owen Williams' life. He's out for a nice evening with his family when everything goes wrong—his wife dies in a traffic accident as he was speeding her to the ER. It turns out that she was in pain because she was beginning to change into a Gryphon. What's worse—his children have been taken from his home, apparently kidnapped.
Reeling, he's approached by a Fae who offers Owen a choice. Come along as they smuggle his children to their hidden city for their own safety (it's likely some or all of his children will Change now) or never see them again. He throws in his lot with the Fae at a time the Cold War between them and the US is starting to heat up.
THE WORLDBUILDING
This is a great piece of worldbuilding—yes, there's an element to it that feels like The X-Men or Alien Nation or other fantasy series about people thought to be fictional revealing themselves to humanity. But while Domace's take is familiar, there's a freshness to it, too.
Also, there's a reason so many stories are told with a similar framework—it works really well. I'm not criticizing anything by saying it's familiar, I'm simply describing it.
The differences between the two settlements (we don't see the UK version, but we hear about it) is a very nice touch. Our focus is on settlement in Canada, Tearmann. It was very well thought out and executed. My favorite thing is that other than what's required due to physiology (dragons need more space than dwarves, etc.) the city and society is integrated—dwarves live alongside shades and elves. Sure the wolves tend to pack together, but they also are good neighbors.
QUIBBLES
Please see what I called this section—quibbles. Not "systemic problems" or critiques.
I think this world's concept of Fae could've been introduced better. I hear "Fae," I think races/species, not mutation. When it was said that Owen's wife was Changing it threw me—had this been a secret she'd been keeping from him? Could she change back and forth?
His children could've been better developed and differentiated earlier—for most of the book, my investment in them was solely based on them being "Owen's children." For most of them, that changes by the end. But it takes too long for that (also, I had a hard time keeping them straight because we didn't get to know them as people). This is fine when it comes to Tiffany, his wife—I'm okay with caring about her solely because she's his dead wife—she dies so early I don't need to know much about her (see: Uncle Ben Parker, Scout Finch's mother, etc.)
One of the quirks of this series is that your fantasy creatures (largely) have everyday names—Jason, Peter, Betty, etc. They're 0-3 generations away from humans and largely stick with the names they grew up with. This goes down as a plus in my book except for in the beginning—I'm still struggling to figure out what name goes with which of the five Wilson children and I get a Fae team named Jason, Nathan, Tony, Abey, etc. Just so many names flying around without a lot to associate them with. My quibble is only with this being unnecessarily not-easy for the reader.
Lastly, the events of the novel that come after the Wilsons are smuggled out of the country happen too quickly. We're told the family adapted and fell into a routine after X happens—and then learn that it'd be three days? That's not time for a comfortable routine for a family of 6. Deep friendships develop far too quickly, etc. (particularly between Owen and the Queen). Change the specifics about days and weeks in this part of the novel, and I wouldn't have noticed. But they call attention to themselves when they become too difficult to believe.
To sort of take back what I said at the beginning of this section—I guess I have a systemic quibble—Domace needed to give everything more space, let it breathe a little, let the reader as well as the characters, be in the moments a little more so things can develop. I loved the platonic friendship between Owen and the Queen, but it happened too quickly, for example.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT HAVEN?
I want to stress here that I enjoyed this—but the things I liked are either too specific for a brief post like this or involve spoilers. I spent a lot of space on quibbles because it takes space to explain them. But something like "I loved the platonic friendship between Owen and the Queen," is just ten words—to say more would ruin the experience for a reader.
Here's another vague compliment—each Change that happens to a Wilson child is done perfectly—the child's reaction, the family's reactions, and the community's are so great that I wanted to read them again just to see.
There's a gentle humor shown throughout the book—adding just the right amount of flavor to some descriptions and keeping some dire scenes from being too gloomy. Domace's descriptions of the people and city of Tearmann are vivid enough to prompt the reader's imagination to fully see them.
Do I think this book could've been better? Sure—most things can. This is book is so close to being very good that its stumbles seem more obvious than others, though.
At the end of the day, I liked this book—and am curious about the sequel, because I think the choices that Domace makes are interesting and I want to see how things get resolved. I recommend this to readers of Mike Chen—it's a similar mix of SF/F story with family drama (the ratio favors the SF/F than Chen's typical ratio) as well as all readers who want to see a new and fresh twist on familiar ideas.
February 19, 2023
What an inventive take on fae lore this is! Even the most original story will have areas of overlap with other books in the same genre. But the stories that stick with me look at the familiar from a different angle. The author of Haven does this exceptionally well. As someone in my mid-thirties, I loved that this fantasy novel follows a middle-aged stay-at-home dad.
The world-building is fantastic. Various mythological beings are united under the umbrella term “fae”. The position of fae in wider society reminded me strongly of mutants in the X-Men franchise. Human beings unexpectedly change into gryphons, werewolves, sirens etc. Those who aren't captured and experimented on try to make it to the fae havens that will offer them refuge. Their changed forms grant them abilities that have the potential to harm ordinary human beings, earning them the suspicion of those outside.
Owen's family members endure extraordinary changes, inside and out, but his love for them remains rock solid. This man has a level of perseverance I can scarcely imagine.
We are taken to breathtaking locations and meet a massive cast of unique characters. Much like the Tearmann haven, this world is a bustling community that ropes newcomers into its festivals and tragedies. Few scenes feature Owen having an inner monologue or a quiet moment talking to one person. And yet we never lose the sense of being in his mind, whether he's surrounded by his rowdy children or in a meeting with fae adults. It is a testament to how well Domace handles the chaos of group scenes and her deep understanding of her protagonist.
If you enjoy sci-fi and fantasy in a contemporary setting or need a hero you can root for, you simply have to read this book.
The world-building is fantastic. Various mythological beings are united under the umbrella term “fae”. The position of fae in wider society reminded me strongly of mutants in the X-Men franchise. Human beings unexpectedly change into gryphons, werewolves, sirens etc. Those who aren't captured and experimented on try to make it to the fae havens that will offer them refuge. Their changed forms grant them abilities that have the potential to harm ordinary human beings, earning them the suspicion of those outside.
Owen's family members endure extraordinary changes, inside and out, but his love for them remains rock solid. This man has a level of perseverance I can scarcely imagine.
We are taken to breathtaking locations and meet a massive cast of unique characters. Much like the Tearmann haven, this world is a bustling community that ropes newcomers into its festivals and tragedies. Few scenes feature Owen having an inner monologue or a quiet moment talking to one person. And yet we never lose the sense of being in his mind, whether he's surrounded by his rowdy children or in a meeting with fae adults. It is a testament to how well Domace handles the chaos of group scenes and her deep understanding of her protagonist.
If you enjoy sci-fi and fantasy in a contemporary setting or need a hero you can root for, you simply have to read this book.
February 22, 2023
Any book that involves the Fae is a book for me most of the time. Haven did not disappoint! It’s full of nail biting action, twists and turns and fabulous creatures from elves to vampires! It’s also a story of family bonds and the love a parent has for their children. However, it’s also a story that contains violence, war and prejudice. I really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to reading the next instalment.
February 24, 2023
***Thank you to BBNYA for providing a copy of the book. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***
My thoughts on this one are mixed. I enjoyed learning about the world the author created, and the characters really tugged at my heart. However, the pace of the story was just dreadfully slow at times, and the writing wasn't always the best. For example, I had trouble tracking what was going on in some of the action scenes.
I liked the world-building. I found the struggles of the fae to be realistic, and I was fascinated, and a bit horrified, by the process of changing that turned humans into fae. There were so many different types of fae, and I enjoyed learning about each of them. My only problem with the world-building was the delivery. It was really slow and primarily delivered via lengthy dialogue. There was so much telling happening that it felt like I was reading the slowest lecture in history. I found the information on the history of the fae in this world fascinating, but it was a huge drag on the story.
The characters and the family dynamic were the things I loved most about this story. These children grasped hold of my heart and would not let go. The entire family went through so much trauma in this story, and I was in my feelings right along with them. I also liked seeing a story about a father and his kids because it is not something I read nearly often enough. Although, the father, Owen, did get on my nerves sometimes because his characterization was really inconsistent. The text kept saying he was so worried about his kids and would never leave their sight again, and then he'd be off to some new meeting by himself in the very next scene. He made quite a few choices that left me shaking my head.
The themes related to 'othering' were timely and important. The story illustrated how important it is to get to know people rather than demonizing entire groups based on preconceived notions and baseless propaganda. The transition of the fae and the persecution they faced afterward reminded me of the challenges facing trans people, who are often demeaned and attacked for transitioning into their true selves. I'm not sure if it was the intention of the author, but that's what I took away from it.
Was this book perfect? No, but I still enjoyed it. The world-building was clever despite being a bit clunky in its execution, and I would die for the children in this book. I came to love them that much. Therefore, I rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.
See more of my reviews and other bookish content on my blog.
My thoughts on this one are mixed. I enjoyed learning about the world the author created, and the characters really tugged at my heart. However, the pace of the story was just dreadfully slow at times, and the writing wasn't always the best. For example, I had trouble tracking what was going on in some of the action scenes.
I liked the world-building. I found the struggles of the fae to be realistic, and I was fascinated, and a bit horrified, by the process of changing that turned humans into fae. There were so many different types of fae, and I enjoyed learning about each of them. My only problem with the world-building was the delivery. It was really slow and primarily delivered via lengthy dialogue. There was so much telling happening that it felt like I was reading the slowest lecture in history. I found the information on the history of the fae in this world fascinating, but it was a huge drag on the story.
The characters and the family dynamic were the things I loved most about this story. These children grasped hold of my heart and would not let go. The entire family went through so much trauma in this story, and I was in my feelings right along with them. I also liked seeing a story about a father and his kids because it is not something I read nearly often enough. Although, the father, Owen, did get on my nerves sometimes because his characterization was really inconsistent. The text kept saying he was so worried about his kids and would never leave their sight again, and then he'd be off to some new meeting by himself in the very next scene. He made quite a few choices that left me shaking my head.
The themes related to 'othering' were timely and important. The story illustrated how important it is to get to know people rather than demonizing entire groups based on preconceived notions and baseless propaganda. The transition of the fae and the persecution they faced afterward reminded me of the challenges facing trans people, who are often demeaned and attacked for transitioning into their true selves. I'm not sure if it was the intention of the author, but that's what I took away from it.
Was this book perfect? No, but I still enjoyed it. The world-building was clever despite being a bit clunky in its execution, and I would die for the children in this book. I came to love them that much. Therefore, I rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.
See more of my reviews and other bookish content on my blog.
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June 2, 2023If you like the adventure of typical contemporary fantasy but wish it included more authentic family dynamics, Haven features a tense intro and conclusion around a story about a large family very realistically dealing with the effects of a series of magical transformations. (This is also one of those series where book two levels up so hard, so definitely make room to continue reading.)
EDIT: I've since finished the trilogy and all the best things about book one continue through the final book, then end with a satisfactory bang!
EDIT: I've since finished the trilogy and all the best things about book one continue through the final book, then end with a satisfactory bang!
March 7, 2022
Haven was an interesting book, partially due to the author's choice of an adult male with children being the main character. Not super common in fantasy series that I've read. I enjoyed the world the author built, and part of the story made me super sad. Looking forward to reading more of this world when the next book comes out.
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December 22, 2022Congratulations for placing 13th in the 2022 BBNYA Competition!
February 22, 2023
Thank you to BBNYA, The Write Reads, and the author for providing me with a free e-book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions contained within are my own.
I had to sit by myself staring at a wall for a second before I could even think about writing this review because this book made me feel things. To the point that my son was a bit concerned 😅 But if that isn’t the mark of a great read, I don’t know what is!
Haven is a story that follows a family man named Owen Williams. Owen and his family are living an ordinary life when his world is turned completely upside down. Waking up after a car accident, he is told that his wife is dead and his children have been disappeared. When a representative of the fae appears telling him she can take him to his children, he doesn’t hesitate to follow. From there, he and his family are thrown into a world that they know very little about and comes with a lot of danger.
Where do I start with this one? Probably with the aspect of it that stuck with me the most: the characters. Owen, his kids, and all the major players in this book are so well-written that they come to life on the page! I will say, there are a lot of characters to keep up with, but I never felt confused or overwhelmed. I think the author did a great job of making all the key characters feel and sound unique so you didn’t get them mixed up with all the new names flying at you. I also loved how we delved into the various different species of the fae. If you like mythical beings, you’re gonna love this one! From angels to vampires, pretty any mythological creature you can think of is represented within this story. The whole concept behind the fae and their relationship with the human world is told in such a unique fashion in this novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Another thing I liked was the worldbuilding. As I said, each fae species is unique and the author does a great job of weaving in teaching us about the species with the storytelling. It doesn’t feel info-dumpy, which makes it easy to just sit back and enjoy it. The fantastic worldbuilding combined with the incredible characters had me so keyed into this story that a certain part left me a sobbing mess. A book that can legitimately make me cry is always going to be a winner in my book. If you can make me care enough about fictional people in a fictional world that real tears come out? There’s no way I’m giving you less than four stars. That being said, there were bits that kept me from giving it the full five, like plot points being very predictable to the point where not a single twist surprised me, but this was still a fantastic read.
Overall, I got a lot of enjoyment from this novel, even when I was crying *cough*. The worldbuilding is very well done and the characters are crafted in a way that makes them incredibly compelling. There were quite a few plot points that felt like they were supposed to be a surprised but weren’t, yet I still found myself engaged in the story from beginning to end. If you like fantasy with high stakes and tons of interesting characters, both fae and human, I think you would really enjoy this one!
I had to sit by myself staring at a wall for a second before I could even think about writing this review because this book made me feel things. To the point that my son was a bit concerned 😅 But if that isn’t the mark of a great read, I don’t know what is!
Haven is a story that follows a family man named Owen Williams. Owen and his family are living an ordinary life when his world is turned completely upside down. Waking up after a car accident, he is told that his wife is dead and his children have been disappeared. When a representative of the fae appears telling him she can take him to his children, he doesn’t hesitate to follow. From there, he and his family are thrown into a world that they know very little about and comes with a lot of danger.
Where do I start with this one? Probably with the aspect of it that stuck with me the most: the characters. Owen, his kids, and all the major players in this book are so well-written that they come to life on the page! I will say, there are a lot of characters to keep up with, but I never felt confused or overwhelmed. I think the author did a great job of making all the key characters feel and sound unique so you didn’t get them mixed up with all the new names flying at you. I also loved how we delved into the various different species of the fae. If you like mythical beings, you’re gonna love this one! From angels to vampires, pretty any mythological creature you can think of is represented within this story. The whole concept behind the fae and their relationship with the human world is told in such a unique fashion in this novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Another thing I liked was the worldbuilding. As I said, each fae species is unique and the author does a great job of weaving in teaching us about the species with the storytelling. It doesn’t feel info-dumpy, which makes it easy to just sit back and enjoy it. The fantastic worldbuilding combined with the incredible characters had me so keyed into this story that a certain part left me a sobbing mess. A book that can legitimately make me cry is always going to be a winner in my book. If you can make me care enough about fictional people in a fictional world that real tears come out? There’s no way I’m giving you less than four stars. That being said, there were bits that kept me from giving it the full five, like plot points being very predictable to the point where not a single twist surprised me, but this was still a fantastic read.
Overall, I got a lot of enjoyment from this novel, even when I was crying *cough*. The worldbuilding is very well done and the characters are crafted in a way that makes them incredibly compelling. There were quite a few plot points that felt like they were supposed to be a surprised but weren’t, yet I still found myself engaged in the story from beginning to end. If you like fantasy with high stakes and tons of interesting characters, both fae and human, I think you would really enjoy this one!
August 30, 2025
I loved how we were thrown immediately into the story, no build up, no fae revealed through the course of the story. That alone made it feel refreshing, like we were going to experience something far bigger than realising there's a world within and beside our world.
That in itself felt refreshing compared to others in its subgenre, especially when the world is revealed following a trauma or tragedy.
What's revealed is a rich world full of complex and interesting characters. I second what others say about it taking a while to get into, however.
Interesting stuff!
That in itself felt refreshing compared to others in its subgenre, especially when the world is revealed following a trauma or tragedy.
What's revealed is a rich world full of complex and interesting characters. I second what others say about it taking a while to get into, however.
Interesting stuff!
December 26, 2022
3.75 rounded up. This book took a bit to grow on me, but it did, and I'm definitely intrigued for the continuation of the series. The worldbuilding is lush and interesting, and Owen's family as the heart and center of the really holds up. I loved all of them, and you can see how much they love each other, but Domace also doesn't pull punches when it comes to the STRAIN that all of this trauma has had on them.
In his attempts to protect his family no matter the cost, Owen sometimes finds himself being pulled away from them, and that has consequences. It was painful to read sometimes, because I could understand his perspective and that of his kids, but it felt very real and added some rich conflict to the story. I will also say that I didn't predict ANY of the Changes that happened over the course of this book. I had theories and all of them were wrong, so that was well done.
As another reader pointed out, there are a couple content warnings to be mindful of. The biggest one is an on-page, pretty brutal child death. That's NOT a trigger for me, and even I felt the wind kind of knocked out of my sails by it. I didn't see it coming. So if that is a trigger for you, be mindful. This book deals HEAVILY with grief, especially in a family setting, and I think it does so with a lot of care and heart. There's also a brief line in the last chapter from one of the characters that felt a bit ableist, implying that someone was unfit to rule because they had bipolar disorder.
Overall, the characters would have me coming back, but I'm very interested to see what comes of the world, too.
In his attempts to protect his family no matter the cost, Owen sometimes finds himself being pulled away from them, and that has consequences. It was painful to read sometimes, because I could understand his perspective and that of his kids, but it felt very real and added some rich conflict to the story. I will also say that I didn't predict ANY of the Changes that happened over the course of this book. I had theories and all of them were wrong, so that was well done.
As another reader pointed out, there are a couple content warnings to be mindful of. The biggest one is an on-page, pretty brutal child death. That's NOT a trigger for me, and even I felt the wind kind of knocked out of my sails by it. I didn't see it coming. So if that is a trigger for you, be mindful. This book deals HEAVILY with grief, especially in a family setting, and I think it does so with a lot of care and heart. There's also a brief line in the last chapter from one of the characters that felt a bit ableist, implying that someone was unfit to rule because they had bipolar disorder.
Overall, the characters would have me coming back, but I'm very interested to see what comes of the world, too.
June 16, 2022
If you're looking for an adventure fantasy mixed with just a touch of slice of life, this is the novel for you. The main character is a father just trying to look out for his family while dealing with the grief of losing a loved one. Overall, a great read that will leave you feeling all kinds of emotions.
December 27, 2024
This is an interesting story with a lot of world building involved. Owen and his family have just enjoyed his daughter’s piano recital and decide to celebrate by having ice cream across town. But while Owen and his wife Tiffany’s five kids enjoy their time at the Dairy Queen, Tiffany is suffering from the beginnings of a migraine. The longer the evening goes on, the more Tiffany is suffering and she soon collapses in pain. Owen rushes her to the hospital, unsure what is happening to his wife, but they soon end up in a car accident with only Owen waking up in the hospital.
This is an interesting book that in the beginning was so exciting for me. When Owen wakes up in hospital he’s told that something happened to his wife and his children are in danger. He’s soon wondering what has happened to his kids and when he leaves the hospital he’s soon contacted by a fae creature, a shade, who can take him to them, after he passes some tests. This book is interesting as it places all sorts of fae creatures in our modern world. I like what happens in this story and the unique way these fae creatures are portrayed, with many being humans for a long part of their lives before later transforming into fae creatures. I like how there’s a whole host of different fae creatures in this story from shades, harpies and dwarves to griffins and even dragons! Each creatures is different but they all exist in the modern world in what we later discover is a difficult political climate.
Owen and his children soon end up fearing for their lives as they rush north to safety, towards a haven in the hopes of being safe away from those that would harm them. This story is really gripping from the start, but unfortunately, after some time is spent getting to know Owen and his children’s situation, I felt like once they are heading towards the haven and actually get there the action slowed down a lot for me. The story is filled with a lot of detail, particularly the world building, describing the political climate between fae and humans, the world the fae live in including housing issues, jobs, etc. And while everything is interesting to know, there is a lot of this world building going on and I feel as though some of the excitement of the story was lost because of so much of the descriptions of what life is like in the haven. The story is fascinating and it’s a unique and very different story idea, but for me I just felt like this book became harder to read the more I read on and I think it’s because there’s just so much detail to explain that some of it just wasn’t necessary in certain chapters or could have been presented in more exciting or condensed ways.
Owen and his children go through a lot in this book, and while I don’t want to reveal what happens, there were interesting and exciting moments later when we learn more about the fae transformation and see some of it in the story too. I love some of the twists in the tale too, particularly one interesting twist with a certain character Owen is later speaking with, it’s a brilliant twist I didn’t see coming, and overall what happens to him and all of the characters is interesting and builds up to a dramatic ending too. There aren’t any descriptions that are too disturbing or dark although there are some deaths mentioned including deaths of children.
Overall this story is an interesting read and is a unique and clever story featuring fae creatures in a modern world that is afraid of them. While the overall story is very good and the beginning and a few parts here and there are definitely good and exciting, I just felt like certain parts of the story were too long, dragged on a bit and this led to certain parts in the middle becoming less exciting than probably intended. Overall it’s a good idea, and I am curious to see what happens next in the sequel, but it is a story that takes a long time to read and feels at times more ‘tell’ than ‘show’ making it feel less interesting in parts too, unfortunately, hence my rating, however it’s still a good read with that brilliant twist and some interesting things happening at the end and it has piqued my interest enough to want to read the sequel. 🙂
-Thanks to BBNYa and The Write Reads for a free copy.
This is an interesting book that in the beginning was so exciting for me. When Owen wakes up in hospital he’s told that something happened to his wife and his children are in danger. He’s soon wondering what has happened to his kids and when he leaves the hospital he’s soon contacted by a fae creature, a shade, who can take him to them, after he passes some tests. This book is interesting as it places all sorts of fae creatures in our modern world. I like what happens in this story and the unique way these fae creatures are portrayed, with many being humans for a long part of their lives before later transforming into fae creatures. I like how there’s a whole host of different fae creatures in this story from shades, harpies and dwarves to griffins and even dragons! Each creatures is different but they all exist in the modern world in what we later discover is a difficult political climate.
Owen and his children soon end up fearing for their lives as they rush north to safety, towards a haven in the hopes of being safe away from those that would harm them. This story is really gripping from the start, but unfortunately, after some time is spent getting to know Owen and his children’s situation, I felt like once they are heading towards the haven and actually get there the action slowed down a lot for me. The story is filled with a lot of detail, particularly the world building, describing the political climate between fae and humans, the world the fae live in including housing issues, jobs, etc. And while everything is interesting to know, there is a lot of this world building going on and I feel as though some of the excitement of the story was lost because of so much of the descriptions of what life is like in the haven. The story is fascinating and it’s a unique and very different story idea, but for me I just felt like this book became harder to read the more I read on and I think it’s because there’s just so much detail to explain that some of it just wasn’t necessary in certain chapters or could have been presented in more exciting or condensed ways.
Owen and his children go through a lot in this book, and while I don’t want to reveal what happens, there were interesting and exciting moments later when we learn more about the fae transformation and see some of it in the story too. I love some of the twists in the tale too, particularly one interesting twist with a certain character Owen is later speaking with, it’s a brilliant twist I didn’t see coming, and overall what happens to him and all of the characters is interesting and builds up to a dramatic ending too. There aren’t any descriptions that are too disturbing or dark although there are some deaths mentioned including deaths of children.
Overall this story is an interesting read and is a unique and clever story featuring fae creatures in a modern world that is afraid of them. While the overall story is very good and the beginning and a few parts here and there are definitely good and exciting, I just felt like certain parts of the story were too long, dragged on a bit and this led to certain parts in the middle becoming less exciting than probably intended. Overall it’s a good idea, and I am curious to see what happens next in the sequel, but it is a story that takes a long time to read and feels at times more ‘tell’ than ‘show’ making it feel less interesting in parts too, unfortunately, hence my rating, however it’s still a good read with that brilliant twist and some interesting things happening at the end and it has piqued my interest enough to want to read the sequel. 🙂
-Thanks to BBNYa and The Write Reads for a free copy.
February 27, 2023
Haven is a contemporary fantasy which takes place in a version of our world where humans occasionally turn into fae – an umbrella term used to refer to gryphons, dragons, vampires and all manner of other fantastical creatures.
The action revolves around the Williams family; five children ranging in age from four to sixteen, and their parents, Owen and Tiffany.
One evening a car crash results in Tiffany’s death – but not before she unexpectedly and painfully changes into a gryphon. The remaining Williams family members are then found and taken by a fae guide to one of two Havens, the city of Tearmann located inside a Canadian mountain, where the queen of the fae promises they will be safe, should any of the children subsequently change into fae.
There is a bigoted organization called SAFE out in the human world which is set on wiping out all of the fae, following a war 50 years ago between humans and fae. In this way the theme of hatred of those who are different, the over-arching theme of the book, is explored, with the Fae Queen determined to keep all of her wards safe from SAFE.
“…they say history is written by the victors, but that’s not true. History is written by those who are left. We won the war but withdrew afterward. With no one to say otherwise, we became the bad guys. After we settled, I decided to fix that.”
Once inside the mountain there is a huge amount of worldbuilding – done mostly through conversations which slow down the pace of the novel quite a bit. Politics, education, history of the fae are all covered, as the Williams family finds its place in this new world. After an action-packed start there isn’t really a major event until over halfway through the book, due to the large amount of world-building going on, which meant my attention started to drift – but when the action ramps up it brings quite a few unexpected and exciting twists and turns!
A large cast of characters and species is introduced, along with their specific magical abilities and I found myself getting somewhat lost among them. I loved how harmonious and utopian life between the very different species within the Haven was, compared to that on the outside. The Williams family characters were delightful, each with a believable personality of their own, each learning how to mourn their mother in their own way. I did feel like their grief was dealt with in a shallow way that really didn’t ring true to me – they were laughing and distracted too soon after their mother passed away. They were not shocked and horrified by her horrific change into a gryphon enough for my liking. I felt that the level of emotion surrounding this event was somewhat lacking and it made the novel as a whole feel less adult and more YA to me.
When one of the children follows in her mother’s footsteps and becomes a werewolf, this event is considered a tragedy by Owen, whose family is slipping away, one by one:
“She could never go back home now, would never live a normal life. He grieved because they would never know if she would look like her mother or what she would have grown up to do. So many opportunities were gone, her options were so limited now, and his heart broke at the thought—but she needed him. He couldn’t linger on what could have been.”
When war breaks out once more, tragedy strikes the Williams all over again and you may need a box of tissues at hand! This poor family really can’t seem to catch a break!
To sum up I enjoyed Haven with its themes of diversity and acceptance, and the strength of unconditional familial love! The family dynamics were well done and the dialogue was believable and I especially enjoyed the main character being a middle aged single dad – a choice of main character not often seen in fantasy! If you enjoy deep dives into world building, particularly the history and politics of a world this could be a book for you.
I was given a complimentary copy of Haven in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to BBNYA, The Write Reads and the author. My opinions are my own.
The action revolves around the Williams family; five children ranging in age from four to sixteen, and their parents, Owen and Tiffany.
One evening a car crash results in Tiffany’s death – but not before she unexpectedly and painfully changes into a gryphon. The remaining Williams family members are then found and taken by a fae guide to one of two Havens, the city of Tearmann located inside a Canadian mountain, where the queen of the fae promises they will be safe, should any of the children subsequently change into fae.
There is a bigoted organization called SAFE out in the human world which is set on wiping out all of the fae, following a war 50 years ago between humans and fae. In this way the theme of hatred of those who are different, the over-arching theme of the book, is explored, with the Fae Queen determined to keep all of her wards safe from SAFE.
“…they say history is written by the victors, but that’s not true. History is written by those who are left. We won the war but withdrew afterward. With no one to say otherwise, we became the bad guys. After we settled, I decided to fix that.”
Once inside the mountain there is a huge amount of worldbuilding – done mostly through conversations which slow down the pace of the novel quite a bit. Politics, education, history of the fae are all covered, as the Williams family finds its place in this new world. After an action-packed start there isn’t really a major event until over halfway through the book, due to the large amount of world-building going on, which meant my attention started to drift – but when the action ramps up it brings quite a few unexpected and exciting twists and turns!
A large cast of characters and species is introduced, along with their specific magical abilities and I found myself getting somewhat lost among them. I loved how harmonious and utopian life between the very different species within the Haven was, compared to that on the outside. The Williams family characters were delightful, each with a believable personality of their own, each learning how to mourn their mother in their own way. I did feel like their grief was dealt with in a shallow way that really didn’t ring true to me – they were laughing and distracted too soon after their mother passed away. They were not shocked and horrified by her horrific change into a gryphon enough for my liking. I felt that the level of emotion surrounding this event was somewhat lacking and it made the novel as a whole feel less adult and more YA to me.
When one of the children follows in her mother’s footsteps and becomes a werewolf, this event is considered a tragedy by Owen, whose family is slipping away, one by one:
“She could never go back home now, would never live a normal life. He grieved because they would never know if she would look like her mother or what she would have grown up to do. So many opportunities were gone, her options were so limited now, and his heart broke at the thought—but she needed him. He couldn’t linger on what could have been.”
When war breaks out once more, tragedy strikes the Williams all over again and you may need a box of tissues at hand! This poor family really can’t seem to catch a break!
To sum up I enjoyed Haven with its themes of diversity and acceptance, and the strength of unconditional familial love! The family dynamics were well done and the dialogue was believable and I especially enjoyed the main character being a middle aged single dad – a choice of main character not often seen in fantasy! If you enjoy deep dives into world building, particularly the history and politics of a world this could be a book for you.
I was given a complimentary copy of Haven in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to BBNYA, The Write Reads and the author. My opinions are my own.
August 8, 2023
Owen is a father of five children who, after a tragic incident with his wife, is forced into hiding as members of SAFE(a radical organization) try and track down his children. When members of the fae court bring them to the fae's haven, Owen works on readjusting his view on the beings that have long been vilified in the eyes of the USA and humans in general.
This book had an interesting take on the fae, reminding me a bit of elements from the X-men and mutants. I liked learning about the various types of fae and their generations, and it really felt like the different species were really fleshed out by the author. I also liked the character of Beira and found myself with many questions about her that will no doubt be explored in other books of the trilogy. There were short journal entries and letters that began each chapter and gave us little insights into the fae and their relationship with humans, and I found that to be a little bit of fun lore that piqued my curiosity.
I did struggle for a while with all of the children, and for a while I wasn't exactly sure how many there were. I will say though that by the end of the book they definitely each had pretty distinct personalities, and I'm optimistic this will shine more in the coming books, I just think I would have liked to have seen some more of what made them unique earlier on. But Arthur is my favorite for many reasons! Even if Jen is a close second.
Owen was also a bit of a conundrum at first, and I wondered at first why Beira took such an interest in trying to get to know this random human. That being said, by the end of the book I think that may have been purposeful and I have a theory. So I think that bit does now make sense and is satisfying for me.
I think where this book really shines is in the general aura of the fae's home. Once we reached the haven I was completely hooked on learning more and watching Owen and his family adapt. I liked the characters we got to know, including the werewolf daycare teacher. There were also a lot of quick glimpses at the other founders, and even the very short moment we see of Gabriel left me intrigued to learn more about him.
I definitely expect the next two books to be very heavy and fast-paced, based on the way this one left off, and I look forward to reading the other two books in the series.
I found this book through Twitter and snippets from the books the author posted.
This book had an interesting take on the fae, reminding me a bit of elements from the X-men and mutants. I liked learning about the various types of fae and their generations, and it really felt like the different species were really fleshed out by the author. I also liked the character of Beira and found myself with many questions about her that will no doubt be explored in other books of the trilogy. There were short journal entries and letters that began each chapter and gave us little insights into the fae and their relationship with humans, and I found that to be a little bit of fun lore that piqued my curiosity.
I did struggle for a while with all of the children, and for a while I wasn't exactly sure how many there were. I will say though that by the end of the book they definitely each had pretty distinct personalities, and I'm optimistic this will shine more in the coming books, I just think I would have liked to have seen some more of what made them unique earlier on. But Arthur is my favorite for many reasons! Even if Jen is a close second.
Owen was also a bit of a conundrum at first, and I wondered at first why Beira took such an interest in trying to get to know this random human. That being said, by the end of the book I think that may have been purposeful and I have a theory. So I think that bit does now make sense and is satisfying for me.
I think where this book really shines is in the general aura of the fae's home. Once we reached the haven I was completely hooked on learning more and watching Owen and his family adapt. I liked the characters we got to know, including the werewolf daycare teacher. There were also a lot of quick glimpses at the other founders, and even the very short moment we see of Gabriel left me intrigued to learn more about him.
I definitely expect the next two books to be very heavy and fast-paced, based on the way this one left off, and I look forward to reading the other two books in the series.
I found this book through Twitter and snippets from the books the author posted.
February 20, 2023
I'm reviewing Haven, book one of the Fae Queen's Court by Ceril N Domace for the 2022 BBNYA winner's tour. Haven finished in 13th place out of the hundreds of entries. Congratulations to Ceril for such an outstanding accomplishment.
Themes:
If I had to pick just one theme that stuck with me the most throughout this story, it would be the love of family. You never know what you are capable of until your family is at risk. Owen makes many difficult decisions, all made to keep his family together and safe.
Characters:
Each character in Haven serves a purpose. They are well-written and engaging. And trust me, there are many characters. Some even have more than one name. I resorted to notes to ensure I kept everyone straight at the beginning of the book.
World-Building:
The Fae world is complex and full of intrigue. They battle daily to reclaim their territorial rights and prove that they are not evil insentient creatures. I found the descriptions of their hidden homeland to be a fascinating bit of writing. Kudos to the author for creating a believable world for this book to take place.
Plot/Storyline:
You can enjoy this tale as a foray into a fantasy world at war or relate it to our lives today. Neighbors turn against neighbors. People perpetuate atrocious crimes against others for simply being different. You can find threads of real-life running through Haven.
Engagement:
I was a little slow to connect with the story. That is not a reflection on the work, but I think it was due to reading the book in sections for the competition. Once I had the world straight in my head and the full book in my hand, I could not put it down. The tale was gripping, exciting, heartbreaking, and uplifting.
Content Warnings:
You know what you are getting with an epic fantasy thriller. There will be blood and death. I was brought to tears by the death of children and innocents. As in life, children often pay the price for the wars of adults.
Recommendations:
I highly recommend Haven to fans of the Fae, fantasy, and unique characters such as elves, gryphons, and werebeasts. Read and enjoy it as an epic fantasy or a treatise on the world.'s atrocities toward each other. Either way, this is a compelling story.
Rating: 4.7 of 5
Themes:
If I had to pick just one theme that stuck with me the most throughout this story, it would be the love of family. You never know what you are capable of until your family is at risk. Owen makes many difficult decisions, all made to keep his family together and safe.
Characters:
Each character in Haven serves a purpose. They are well-written and engaging. And trust me, there are many characters. Some even have more than one name. I resorted to notes to ensure I kept everyone straight at the beginning of the book.
World-Building:
The Fae world is complex and full of intrigue. They battle daily to reclaim their territorial rights and prove that they are not evil insentient creatures. I found the descriptions of their hidden homeland to be a fascinating bit of writing. Kudos to the author for creating a believable world for this book to take place.
Plot/Storyline:
You can enjoy this tale as a foray into a fantasy world at war or relate it to our lives today. Neighbors turn against neighbors. People perpetuate atrocious crimes against others for simply being different. You can find threads of real-life running through Haven.
Engagement:
I was a little slow to connect with the story. That is not a reflection on the work, but I think it was due to reading the book in sections for the competition. Once I had the world straight in my head and the full book in my hand, I could not put it down. The tale was gripping, exciting, heartbreaking, and uplifting.
Content Warnings:
You know what you are getting with an epic fantasy thriller. There will be blood and death. I was brought to tears by the death of children and innocents. As in life, children often pay the price for the wars of adults.
Recommendations:
I highly recommend Haven to fans of the Fae, fantasy, and unique characters such as elves, gryphons, and werebeasts. Read and enjoy it as an epic fantasy or a treatise on the world.'s atrocities toward each other. Either way, this is a compelling story.
Rating: 4.7 of 5
May 8, 2021
A very interesting fantasy novel! I think what I liked the most about this book was that it doesn't just introduce a land of fae and leave it at that: the author really took time to develop the book, think about the infrastructure, the political system, the foreign policies, healthcare, housing, the relationships between the various fae species, education, and how it fits within our world. There's a HUGE worldbuilding work done that usually never appears in other books and I really loved that about the book. It did make the book feel rather slow-paced to me because of the amount of exposition necessary, although the fact that a lot of characters are curious children asking questions about their new home is an excellent exposition vector. There is a lot of dialogue and exposition in this book, though, more than plot - I'd say the world is more worldbuilding and character-based than plot-based. It did make me wish more things happened and it took me longer to read because of that, but I also understood it wasn't an action packed book and enjoyed it plenty as it was.
It can be sometimes complicated to keep track of every character because there are many, but I liked them a lot (Beira is super cool!). The whole family is adorable , I loved their close relationship and Owen's struggle between trying to keep things "as it was before" and moving on in his and his family's new life, trying to be a good father (and he is!!) while messing up sometimes because he's only human and he has to act as the family's pillar. I also really liked his friendship with Beira!
Overall, Haven is a great book with very detailed and thought-through worldbuilding, an adorable family relationship, and very interesting themes. I wish it'd been more plot-focused because most of the book is about Owen discovering Tearmann and learning about it, and that was a bit long for me, but I liked it a lot regardless and look forward to future books!
It can be sometimes complicated to keep track of every character because there are many, but I liked them a lot (Beira is super cool!). The whole family is adorable , I loved their close relationship and Owen's struggle between trying to keep things "as it was before" and moving on in his and his family's new life, trying to be a good father (and he is!!) while messing up sometimes because he's only human and he has to act as the family's pillar. I also really liked his friendship with Beira!
Overall, Haven is a great book with very detailed and thought-through worldbuilding, an adorable family relationship, and very interesting themes. I wish it'd been more plot-focused because most of the book is about Owen discovering Tearmann and learning about it, and that was a bit long for me, but I liked it a lot regardless and look forward to future books!
February 21, 2023
One of the main reasons I love being a BBNYA panelist is that I discover so many books that I may never have come across otherwise. It encourages me to read outside of my comfort zone and try genres/themes I may have passed over in a bookstore or online.
Haven is such a fun and unique book to read and I really enjoyed it.
The biggest thing for me throughout this book was familial love between Owen and his family and how much he was willing to do to protect them and keep them safe. He is completely out of his depth and in deeper than he wants to be but his children are the most important thing in his life so he does whatever is necessary. I love how this book revolves around a make caregiver and shows such a tender father/children relationship.
The world building is so clever. The merging of the fae with humans is done so realistically that it wouldn’t be too hard to believe this wasn’t real. There’s this whole war going on with a variety of fantastic fantasy creatures hiding amongst humans and it just works so well together. The descriptions of the creatures and their personalities is vivid and detailed and really brings them to life. The characters become so reflective of the traits we see in humans and as a reader, I became really invested in them – often forgetting they were supernatural. As a first in a series, a lot of time is spent laying the world and characters’ foundations in order to set things up for future books.
If you like fantasy that is mixed with a dose of reality then this book will definitely be right up your street. Great characters and a really interesting concept make Have a great book to add to your reading list.
Haven is such a fun and unique book to read and I really enjoyed it.
The biggest thing for me throughout this book was familial love between Owen and his family and how much he was willing to do to protect them and keep them safe. He is completely out of his depth and in deeper than he wants to be but his children are the most important thing in his life so he does whatever is necessary. I love how this book revolves around a make caregiver and shows such a tender father/children relationship.
The world building is so clever. The merging of the fae with humans is done so realistically that it wouldn’t be too hard to believe this wasn’t real. There’s this whole war going on with a variety of fantastic fantasy creatures hiding amongst humans and it just works so well together. The descriptions of the creatures and their personalities is vivid and detailed and really brings them to life. The characters become so reflective of the traits we see in humans and as a reader, I became really invested in them – often forgetting they were supernatural. As a first in a series, a lot of time is spent laying the world and characters’ foundations in order to set things up for future books.
If you like fantasy that is mixed with a dose of reality then this book will definitely be right up your street. Great characters and a really interesting concept make Have a great book to add to your reading list.
February 22, 2023
Haven by Ceril N. Domace is an intriguing first book in a series that is sure to leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment. One of the most compelling aspects of the book is the exploration of familial love, specifically how far Owen is willing to go to protect his children. The reader is quickly drawn into Owen’s world, feeling the depth of his love for his family and the lengths he will go to keep them safe, even when it means stepping into dangerous territory.
The world-building in Haven is equally impressive. The blending of the fae with humans is seamlessly executed, and the variety of fantastical creatures is vividly described, making it easy for readers to visualize and immerse themselves in the story. The characters are multifaceted and their personalities are intricately woven with the supernatural elements of the story, making them both relatable and intriguing. The reader will find themselves invested in the characters, often forgetting they are not human.
The only downside of the world-building is that it can feel contradictory in places, leaving the reader struggling to connect the dots. This is compensated by the strong focus on character interaction and dialogue, which adds a level of realism to the book, even in its fantastical elements.
The book is well-paced, balancing moments of domesticity with epic fantasy battles. The contrast of young children caught up in massive fantasy brawls is both charming and terrifying, adding to the overall sense of tension and danger.
Read more: https://www.summonfantasy.com/reviews...
The world-building in Haven is equally impressive. The blending of the fae with humans is seamlessly executed, and the variety of fantastical creatures is vividly described, making it easy for readers to visualize and immerse themselves in the story. The characters are multifaceted and their personalities are intricately woven with the supernatural elements of the story, making them both relatable and intriguing. The reader will find themselves invested in the characters, often forgetting they are not human.
The only downside of the world-building is that it can feel contradictory in places, leaving the reader struggling to connect the dots. This is compensated by the strong focus on character interaction and dialogue, which adds a level of realism to the book, even in its fantastical elements.
The book is well-paced, balancing moments of domesticity with epic fantasy battles. The contrast of young children caught up in massive fantasy brawls is both charming and terrifying, adding to the overall sense of tension and danger.
Read more: https://www.summonfantasy.com/reviews...
May 14, 2023
I enjoyed this read a little too much and by the end, found myself ready to jump right into the next book. The writing was engaging and, if I wasn’t so busy or too sleepy to continue, I probably could have finished this book in a single go. I loved all of the characters, especially Owen, the main character. I’ve read a lot of books that star father, but usually there aren’t so many people in the family: a wife and many a son/daughter with a single sibling. Owen’s family is huge compared to that. He’s got him and his wife, their dog Toto, an older son (Arthur) and daughter (Ashley), a pair of twins (Jen and David), and a younger toddler (Dorothy). Right away, I loved the engagement and interaction between this family. We start the book with the family going to grab ice cream together after Ashley’s violin recital and the bickering and warmth made me fall in love immediately with the Williams family.
And then immediately, having known the summary of the story already, my heart already shatters knowing this is probably the last happy night they’re all safe, happy, and together. As they get ready to leave the ice cream shop, Tiffany collapses in agony with a splitting headache and Owen instructs his oldest son to grab the kids and head home first while he tries to get his wife to the hospital. On the way there, Tiffany undergoes a change, in which a human becomes a fae, and then Owen crashes the car. It’s the last thing he remembers until he wakes in the hospital, his wife declared dead, and when he gets home there’s blood and his children are missing. In a single night, Owen’s life is changed forever and he immediately sets out to look for his missing children.
The story is really interesting and I really enjoyed the twist of history and lore. The world is much like our own with the exception that the fae showed up fifty years prior, went to war with the U.S. after realizing they were being experimented on, and then isolated themselves in havens post-war. There hasn’t been a change, like Tiffany’s, in the last five years and Owen can barely believe it when the nurse tells him that his wife was in the process of this change when she died due to injuries during this vulnerable state.
The world-building here was great and the fae is such an interesting concept. When I think of the fae, I think of fairy-like creatures. Here, they’re not fairies, but rather the collective name for a number of mythological or folklore creatures including shades, werewolves, centaurs, gryphons, harpies, trolls, harpies, vampires, dragons, and so on. A werewolf is a fae but so is a vampire. Usually, they’re just called supernatural creatures, but here that given name would be the fae and that was a neat twist. When Owen eventually lives amongst the fae in their havens, he becomes a sort of audience surrogate and as he learns all about the fae, so do the readers. I really enjoyed reading every little small detail (which says a lot because I generally don’t care for supernatural/mythological plots).
Character-wise, we eventually see the children again and a lot of the story revolves around Owen’s struggle with not just trying to raise his children while the entire family is still hurting and going through grief and loss, but that it’s a whole new world out there and within his family. His wife being fae meant that his children have a chance to go through the change as well and are all partially fae by birth. The fear of knowing one of his kids may die in the process, much like his wife did, weighs heavily on his mind daily. But, they all eventually settle and attempt to adapt to their new life. You can see how caring and doting of a father Owen is. We constantly see Owen worrying over them or going into full papa bear mode, doing whatever it takes if it means his kids can be safe.
Owen is the character that we get to know the most through the book since we only get his perspective of events, but there are occasionally diary entries of different characters as well including a fae queen. The rest of the Williams aren’t forgotten either by the author. Everyone is unique, although some have stronger and bolder personalities than the others in the family; their “stage presence” is just that much brighter. Besides the Williams, the others in the haven are very interesting as well: the queen, the lords, the daycare werewolf, the guides, and even the neighbors.
Another aspect of this book I really enjoyed was that this was a bit of a slice-of-life read. Sure, the fae and the U.S. are getting closer and closer to war almost every day and throughout the story, the air is heavy with anticipation of this inevitable event. However, much of the book focuses on the every day for the family. Getting to know the new place, learning about the new cultures and new things about each other, making friends, Owen heading off to work or attending meetings, the kids going off to school or hanging with friends, walking through town, celebrating in the cafeteria, and so on. I guess, after all these casual sim games with small towns and farm life, getting to read it as a story makes me kind of giddy.
All in all, Haven was a very enjoyable read. I loved the characters, I adored Owen’s protectiveness, the world-building was top notch and the writing is engrossing. Chapters always felt short and I was just flying through the book. Seeing a larger family in a fantasy book, even if it’s more of an urban fantasy, is refreshing. Family is a major theme here and so are grief and loss. The family grows apart at times and then comes back together again. Many have incredible personal growth and they change physically and mentally by the end. The concept was neat and it was interesting to see how it built and added on the traditional supernatural creatures of lore A great read and I can’t wait to get into the second book.
=====
Cross posted from my blog, Cozy with Books, where you can find more reviews!
Disclaimer: Thank you to the author and BBNYA for an e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review! All opinions are my own.
And then immediately, having known the summary of the story already, my heart already shatters knowing this is probably the last happy night they’re all safe, happy, and together. As they get ready to leave the ice cream shop, Tiffany collapses in agony with a splitting headache and Owen instructs his oldest son to grab the kids and head home first while he tries to get his wife to the hospital. On the way there, Tiffany undergoes a change, in which a human becomes a fae, and then Owen crashes the car. It’s the last thing he remembers until he wakes in the hospital, his wife declared dead, and when he gets home there’s blood and his children are missing. In a single night, Owen’s life is changed forever and he immediately sets out to look for his missing children.
The story is really interesting and I really enjoyed the twist of history and lore. The world is much like our own with the exception that the fae showed up fifty years prior, went to war with the U.S. after realizing they were being experimented on, and then isolated themselves in havens post-war. There hasn’t been a change, like Tiffany’s, in the last five years and Owen can barely believe it when the nurse tells him that his wife was in the process of this change when she died due to injuries during this vulnerable state.
The world-building here was great and the fae is such an interesting concept. When I think of the fae, I think of fairy-like creatures. Here, they’re not fairies, but rather the collective name for a number of mythological or folklore creatures including shades, werewolves, centaurs, gryphons, harpies, trolls, harpies, vampires, dragons, and so on. A werewolf is a fae but so is a vampire. Usually, they’re just called supernatural creatures, but here that given name would be the fae and that was a neat twist. When Owen eventually lives amongst the fae in their havens, he becomes a sort of audience surrogate and as he learns all about the fae, so do the readers. I really enjoyed reading every little small detail (which says a lot because I generally don’t care for supernatural/mythological plots).
Character-wise, we eventually see the children again and a lot of the story revolves around Owen’s struggle with not just trying to raise his children while the entire family is still hurting and going through grief and loss, but that it’s a whole new world out there and within his family. His wife being fae meant that his children have a chance to go through the change as well and are all partially fae by birth. The fear of knowing one of his kids may die in the process, much like his wife did, weighs heavily on his mind daily. But, they all eventually settle and attempt to adapt to their new life. You can see how caring and doting of a father Owen is. We constantly see Owen worrying over them or going into full papa bear mode, doing whatever it takes if it means his kids can be safe.
Owen is the character that we get to know the most through the book since we only get his perspective of events, but there are occasionally diary entries of different characters as well including a fae queen. The rest of the Williams aren’t forgotten either by the author. Everyone is unique, although some have stronger and bolder personalities than the others in the family; their “stage presence” is just that much brighter. Besides the Williams, the others in the haven are very interesting as well: the queen, the lords, the daycare werewolf, the guides, and even the neighbors.
Another aspect of this book I really enjoyed was that this was a bit of a slice-of-life read. Sure, the fae and the U.S. are getting closer and closer to war almost every day and throughout the story, the air is heavy with anticipation of this inevitable event. However, much of the book focuses on the every day for the family. Getting to know the new place, learning about the new cultures and new things about each other, making friends, Owen heading off to work or attending meetings, the kids going off to school or hanging with friends, walking through town, celebrating in the cafeteria, and so on. I guess, after all these casual sim games with small towns and farm life, getting to read it as a story makes me kind of giddy.
All in all, Haven was a very enjoyable read. I loved the characters, I adored Owen’s protectiveness, the world-building was top notch and the writing is engrossing. Chapters always felt short and I was just flying through the book. Seeing a larger family in a fantasy book, even if it’s more of an urban fantasy, is refreshing. Family is a major theme here and so are grief and loss. The family grows apart at times and then comes back together again. Many have incredible personal growth and they change physically and mentally by the end. The concept was neat and it was interesting to see how it built and added on the traditional supernatural creatures of lore A great read and I can’t wait to get into the second book.
=====
Cross posted from my blog, Cozy with Books, where you can find more reviews!
Disclaimer: Thank you to the author and BBNYA for an e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review! All opinions are my own.
June 6, 2022
One of the hardest tropes to go wrong with is the unconditional love of a parent, and yet people manage to mess that up all the time. Ceril did not. Owen is an emotionally well-adjusted father who undergoes grief, fear, and transformation without ever intentionally placing the burden on his children. It's refreshing to see a father with such adoration for his family who isn't inherently badass from the start. He did, however, achieve that state of being at the most action-driven section of the story. The discrimination the fae face is heartbreaking and real, and stands to challenge others of it's genre such as Bright and Carnival Row. I can't wait to read the newly released Avalon!
March 2, 2023
I don’t read a lot of contemporary fantasy, so this was a real treat for me. The politics / history between the fae and the humans was interesting and not unrealistic given our world’s actual history and the way we tend to handle things we’re afraid of or simply don’t understand. Definitely not a lighthearted read (cw: family deaths), but certainly fascinating. I really liked Owen, and totally picture him as Liam Neeson attempting to defy all odds as he tries to protect his children.
May 15, 2023
Title: Haven
Author: Ceril N Domace
Release Date: April 30th, 2021
Page Count: 280
Format: Paperback
Start Date: June 25th, 2022
Finish Date: July 13th, 2022
Rating: 5 Stars
Review:
I found myself struggling to get into this book at first. I felt like I was just kind of dumped into the world. I think it was possible that I was in a reading slump. I put the book down for a bit and came back to it. It helped out a lot. I want to state that I have ADHD. I think that played a big part of not being able to get into it. Sometimes books just don't catch me right away. This has nothing to do with the writing itself or the story. Now that I have that out of the way, I loved how unique this book was. There's a mix of humans and fae. I don't want to get into the details because I want everybody to read these books, but it's not your average human and fae type story. It has such a unique twist that I was in awe. I also loved all of the characters. The main character is a male. He's a pretty great character though. I loved seeing the character growth in him throughout this book. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes!
Author: Ceril N Domace
Release Date: April 30th, 2021
Page Count: 280
Format: Paperback
Start Date: June 25th, 2022
Finish Date: July 13th, 2022
Rating: 5 Stars
Review:
I found myself struggling to get into this book at first. I felt like I was just kind of dumped into the world. I think it was possible that I was in a reading slump. I put the book down for a bit and came back to it. It helped out a lot. I want to state that I have ADHD. I think that played a big part of not being able to get into it. Sometimes books just don't catch me right away. This has nothing to do with the writing itself or the story. Now that I have that out of the way, I loved how unique this book was. There's a mix of humans and fae. I don't want to get into the details because I want everybody to read these books, but it's not your average human and fae type story. It has such a unique twist that I was in awe. I also loved all of the characters. The main character is a male. He's a pretty great character though. I loved seeing the character growth in him throughout this book. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes!
April 30, 2021
Haven . . .
Owen Williams wakes after a car accident and his whole world is shattered. His wife is dead, but maybe she’s a gryphon now? His kids are missing. So he is ready to turn to anyone who offers the slightest hope. A Fae scout appears and claims they can find the kids, but he has to follow her to the haven of Tearmann. And he is expected to fight for them or everything he is fighting for will be lost.
Fast-paced and tense, follow this story line to its end to see whether Owen can meet his destiny or whether it will crush him.
Owen Williams wakes after a car accident and his whole world is shattered. His wife is dead, but maybe she’s a gryphon now? His kids are missing. So he is ready to turn to anyone who offers the slightest hope. A Fae scout appears and claims they can find the kids, but he has to follow her to the haven of Tearmann. And he is expected to fight for them or everything he is fighting for will be lost.
Fast-paced and tense, follow this story line to its end to see whether Owen can meet his destiny or whether it will crush him.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews