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Blue Haven
Welcome to Blue Haven, the world’s most lucrative condo corporation—so exclusive that only five lucky residents live in this lush, tropical paradise, housed in a top-secret location.
Among them is twenty-five-year-old Aloe Malone, an introvert and former waitress who traded bussing tables for lengthy sleep-ins, ocean dips, Michelin-star restaurants, spectacular sunsets, and unlikely new friends—all thanks to a spurious lottery win.
Life’s good.
Damn good.
That is, until Aloe discovers a journal.
Seemingly left by a past resident named Eloise whose entries are both sad and evoking, Aloe quickly suspects there’s more to Blue Haven than meets the eye.
Her suspicions are confirmed when visions arise, gruesome hallucinations she can’t understand, followed by a strange yet familiar man lurking in places he shouldn’t. Something’s wrong. Or maybe it’s all in her head. Regardless, she vows to uncover the truth.
Except someone wants to keep her quiet, and it’s the last person she ever suspected.
Blue Haven is a science-fiction thriller that explores what innovation can achieve—and destroy—despite the best intentions. King’s imaginative world building and use of moral ambiguity make this page-turning novel a thought-provoking thrill that’s impossible to put down
Among them is twenty-five-year-old Aloe Malone, an introvert and former waitress who traded bussing tables for lengthy sleep-ins, ocean dips, Michelin-star restaurants, spectacular sunsets, and unlikely new friends—all thanks to a spurious lottery win.
Life’s good.
Damn good.
That is, until Aloe discovers a journal.
Seemingly left by a past resident named Eloise whose entries are both sad and evoking, Aloe quickly suspects there’s more to Blue Haven than meets the eye.
Her suspicions are confirmed when visions arise, gruesome hallucinations she can’t understand, followed by a strange yet familiar man lurking in places he shouldn’t. Something’s wrong. Or maybe it’s all in her head. Regardless, she vows to uncover the truth.
Except someone wants to keep her quiet, and it’s the last person she ever suspected.
Blue Haven is a science-fiction thriller that explores what innovation can achieve—and destroy—despite the best intentions. King’s imaginative world building and use of moral ambiguity make this page-turning novel a thought-provoking thrill that’s impossible to put down
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 31, 2022
11 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Lisa King
2 books41 followersLisa King grew up on a farm in rural Ontario where she developed an overzealous imagination and appreciation for open spaces. She has degrees in psychology and neuroscience and is prone to overthinking.
King is the author of Vanishing Hour, an apocalyptic fiction that ironically released March 2020, and Blue Haven, a psychological sci-fi thriller that was named one of Kirkus Reviews Best Indie Books of 2022.
She currently lives in London, Ontario with her growing family.
King is the author of Vanishing Hour, an apocalyptic fiction that ironically released March 2020, and Blue Haven, a psychological sci-fi thriller that was named one of Kirkus Reviews Best Indie Books of 2022.
She currently lives in London, Ontario with her growing family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
July 23, 2022
Blue Haven by Lisa King is one of my top books of 2022!
Blue Haven is the world's most luxurious and exclusive condo on the market. It only has five residents, and one of them is our main character: Aloe Malone. She is 25-year old introvert who won the lottery and now gets to live in one of the best and most interesting places in the world! This condo complex only gets the best of best - the best food from the most famous of chefs, their own personal stylist who has every expensive designer in house and on speed dial, and the greatest one on one assistant who can get them anything their heart desires. It's too good to be true... right?
Then thing start getting might weird - man's hanging around, and he's clearly not supposed to be there. A mystery pops up about the first woman who was on the island who suddenly left. And why is her journal under Aloe's bed? The stories on that journal spook Aloe and make her stay anxiety indicuding. As things get more suspicious, the story begins to unwind and present itself as a fantastic mystery with an extensive backstory.
This sci-fi thriller is so incredible! It kept me on my toes the whole time and I could not put it down. The interesting themes and motives behind this book made it so much cooler than I initially thought of it. What happens with new technology? Will it be used for good and evil? How can we benefit the world? And how do we take care of ourselves? This book will blow you mind! It definitely blew mine.
The positives of this book:
- It's well paced and the thrills come at just the right time.
- There is the perfect mix of character development and story telling
- There is a pinch of horror, which Lisa does oh so well
- The cast of characters are all lovable. From the staff, to our lead, and the collection of residents in the condo. Learning their back stories will make you ache a little, but these people are so darn delightful, I wish they were all my friends!
- Sci-fi is present, but not in a crazy large amount. I'm not a big fan of sci-fi, and honestly I could barely tell it was there. Lisa did such a great job weaving it into the story that I was able to enjoy it.
- The ending is... Wow! I ended up guessing the ending, but only because I had a feeling of where it might go. I don't think everyone will be able to see it coming.
Lisa King is easily becoming one of my favourite authors. I am ready and waiting for every book she cranks out and I will be sure to set some time aside for her next book. I am truly a loyal and devoted fan. Her work is majestic!
If you like mystery. suspense and thriller books, pick this one up! It's the perfect bingable read that will exceed your expectations. If you want to pick up an indie author or a Canadian author, this book is also great to add to your TBR or book club!
Overall, I highly recommend this book. It's a thrilling ride with the perfect pinch of sci-fi and drama.
Five out of five stars!
I receive this book for free from the author, Lisa King, in exchange of an honest review.
Blue Haven is the world's most luxurious and exclusive condo on the market. It only has five residents, and one of them is our main character: Aloe Malone. She is 25-year old introvert who won the lottery and now gets to live in one of the best and most interesting places in the world! This condo complex only gets the best of best - the best food from the most famous of chefs, their own personal stylist who has every expensive designer in house and on speed dial, and the greatest one on one assistant who can get them anything their heart desires. It's too good to be true... right?
Then thing start getting might weird - man's hanging around, and he's clearly not supposed to be there. A mystery pops up about the first woman who was on the island who suddenly left. And why is her journal under Aloe's bed? The stories on that journal spook Aloe and make her stay anxiety indicuding. As things get more suspicious, the story begins to unwind and present itself as a fantastic mystery with an extensive backstory.
This sci-fi thriller is so incredible! It kept me on my toes the whole time and I could not put it down. The interesting themes and motives behind this book made it so much cooler than I initially thought of it. What happens with new technology? Will it be used for good and evil? How can we benefit the world? And how do we take care of ourselves? This book will blow you mind! It definitely blew mine.
The positives of this book:
- It's well paced and the thrills come at just the right time.
- There is the perfect mix of character development and story telling
- There is a pinch of horror, which Lisa does oh so well
- The cast of characters are all lovable. From the staff, to our lead, and the collection of residents in the condo. Learning their back stories will make you ache a little, but these people are so darn delightful, I wish they were all my friends!
- Sci-fi is present, but not in a crazy large amount. I'm not a big fan of sci-fi, and honestly I could barely tell it was there. Lisa did such a great job weaving it into the story that I was able to enjoy it.
- The ending is... Wow! I ended up guessing the ending, but only because I had a feeling of where it might go. I don't think everyone will be able to see it coming.
Lisa King is easily becoming one of my favourite authors. I am ready and waiting for every book she cranks out and I will be sure to set some time aside for her next book. I am truly a loyal and devoted fan. Her work is majestic!
If you like mystery. suspense and thriller books, pick this one up! It's the perfect bingable read that will exceed your expectations. If you want to pick up an indie author or a Canadian author, this book is also great to add to your TBR or book club!
Overall, I highly recommend this book. It's a thrilling ride with the perfect pinch of sci-fi and drama.
Five out of five stars!
I receive this book for free from the author, Lisa King, in exchange of an honest review.
September 19, 2022
Have you ever wanted to live your life in a perfect world? Could you live on a climate controlled tropical paradise in a plush condo with wait staff at your beck and call, five-star restaurants with celebrity chefs, and you only have to share this world with four other residents? That’s where former waitress Aloe Malone finds herself after winning the lottery. She had to pay millions of dollars, but she is now living the perfect life away from the rest of the world…until she finds a journal written by a former tenant named Eloise. Suddenly, this world is not so perfect anymore.
Blue Haven by Lisa King is a science fiction, mystery and intrigue novel that will have you reading on the edge of your set. You won’t be able to put this book down. The world building in this novel is fabulous. The characters are well-developed and realistic even in this rather unrealistic world. The story itself will keep you enthralled with all the twists and turns embedded in the plot. There is also a psychological aspect to this narrative that adds to the seriousness and darkness of the story.
You can’t go wrong choosing to read this novel. Just make sure you give yourself enough time. Otherwise, you will be losing a lot of sleep since you won’t be able to put it down.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
Blue Haven by Lisa King is a science fiction, mystery and intrigue novel that will have you reading on the edge of your set. You won’t be able to put this book down. The world building in this novel is fabulous. The characters are well-developed and realistic even in this rather unrealistic world. The story itself will keep you enthralled with all the twists and turns embedded in the plot. There is also a psychological aspect to this narrative that adds to the seriousness and darkness of the story.
You can’t go wrong choosing to read this novel. Just make sure you give yourself enough time. Otherwise, you will be losing a lot of sleep since you won’t be able to put it down.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
July 26, 2022
I was immediately pulled into this book. It has such a cool concept of being in this secluded paradise and then having things become suspicious. I’m big on the paranoia trope where characters start to doubt everything around them. And this book delivered with the paranoia!
It reminded me a lot of Fantasy Island. They didn’t have fantasies that came true or anything but they had every whim catered to and could pretty much have whatever they asked fo be provided to them. By this I mean, drinks, food, accommodations, clothes etc.
I was really invested in Aloe’s journey at Blue Haven and the different relationships she was building with the other residents. There weren’t many people at Blue Haven since it was a very private and exclusive place to be that costs millions.
The book definitely had the thriller part down because you constantly have this feeling of unease for Aloe. Everything seems too perfect and you just know something is creeping around the corner that will come into the light soon.
The author did a great job with blending the thriller/scifi genres together. I had a hard time putting this book down.I will definitely be picking up more of Lisa’s books!
It reminded me a lot of Fantasy Island. They didn’t have fantasies that came true or anything but they had every whim catered to and could pretty much have whatever they asked fo be provided to them. By this I mean, drinks, food, accommodations, clothes etc.
I was really invested in Aloe’s journey at Blue Haven and the different relationships she was building with the other residents. There weren’t many people at Blue Haven since it was a very private and exclusive place to be that costs millions.
The book definitely had the thriller part down because you constantly have this feeling of unease for Aloe. Everything seems too perfect and you just know something is creeping around the corner that will come into the light soon.
The author did a great job with blending the thriller/scifi genres together. I had a hard time putting this book down.I will definitely be picking up more of Lisa’s books!
March 15, 2022
When I read that this was a thriller-sci-fi I had no idea what to expect, but I'm pleased to say that this book was so good! I was given an ARC via netgalley but my opinions are my own.
Aloe has just moved to an exclusive island with only five other residents. The place (which comes with a $200 million price tag) seems like paradise, but she starts to suspect that things aren't quite what they seem...
The thriller elements of this book are perfectly done in my opinion, I had no idea where the plot was going but couldn't wait for the mystery to unwrap. Each little clue we got was so interesting and I could not stop reading. There were some genuinely scary horror moments too which I thought King wrote really well, they were very effective and freaky.
Once the sci-fi elements come into play, I was even more intrigued and I loved everything that came next. Obviously I am being very vague because I don't want to spoil anything but I will just say that this book is captivating, well written and a fun ride. Any questions I had at the start were answered in a satisfying way and I really liked the ending.
Aloe has just moved to an exclusive island with only five other residents. The place (which comes with a $200 million price tag) seems like paradise, but she starts to suspect that things aren't quite what they seem...
The thriller elements of this book are perfectly done in my opinion, I had no idea where the plot was going but couldn't wait for the mystery to unwrap. Each little clue we got was so interesting and I could not stop reading. There were some genuinely scary horror moments too which I thought King wrote really well, they were very effective and freaky.
Once the sci-fi elements come into play, I was even more intrigued and I loved everything that came next. Obviously I am being very vague because I don't want to spoil anything but I will just say that this book is captivating, well written and a fun ride. Any questions I had at the start were answered in a satisfying way and I really liked the ending.
May 21, 2023
Stars: 3 out of 5
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I really liked the first 60% of it when Aloe is in Blue Haven and strange things are happening. On the other, I didn't like the explanation that comes in the later part of the book.
The first part in Blue Haven is very well written and slowly revs up the creep factor as the book progresses. We are never truly sure if strange things are happening, or if Aloe is having a mental breakdown. And that uncertainty adds to the general unease that slowly creeps on the reader. Yes, Aloe is clearly mentally unstable, but she is also right - something is wrong with Blue Haven. Because we all know that if something is too good to be true, it probably isn't real.
The big reveal that comes once Aloe, or should I say Eloise, is pulled out of Blue Haven is expected and welcome, at first. Until you start thinking about it. That's where this whole experiment starts to unravel. So we are using a neural net and augmented reality to make mentally ill patients happy. Interesting idea, but I don't understand this one size fits all approach. Are you telling me that you are treating a clinically depressed person the same way as you treat a man with severe PTSD and physical disability, and the same way as a couple in the late stages of dementia? I'm not psychologist, but even to me the science of this doesn't add up.
Also, when you are creating a utopia, you have to make it believable. No phones, TV or internet I can agree on, but what about other types of entertainment? What about concerts, movies, books, live performances? Are you telling me that the only things these people can do for fun is lounge on the beach and eat at fancy restaurants? Oh, and talk to each other? What about those who would rather accept the emotional support of a pet animal, like a cat or a dog, than try to socialize with other human beings? I'm not sure about you, but I would be climbing up the proverbial wall after a week of this.
This one size fits all approach doesn't work, because happiness doesn't mean the same thing to everyone. Some people would be perfectly content to spend their life laying on the beach. Others will need a lot more intellectual simulation to be truly happy.
Also, the big reveal that this doesn't work and only makes people worse isn't really that shocking, because you can see early on that they had no protocol for how to pull people back out and integrate them back into society. How long do they stay in Blue Haven before they care considered cured? How do you reintegrate their real memories afterwards?
Imagine the shock when you discover that instead of being a retired opera singer, you discover that you are an Applebee's manager and your wife and daughters are still dead. Or that you get the memories back from your time in Iraq and the horrors that lead to your injury. No matter how I look at it, I don't think there is a good solution to integrate these people back into society and keep them happy and cured. The only solution is to keep them in Blue Haven forever. And if that's the case, this is not a treatment at all, even without the harmful effects of the neural net on the brain...
I honestly don't know who they received the funding to even start this experiment to begin with. Any serious backers would have asked the same questions I asked above, and wouldn't have liked the answers.
So all in all, this was an exciting story for at least half of it length, but the explanation behind the scenes were rather lacking. Hence only 3 stars.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I really liked the first 60% of it when Aloe is in Blue Haven and strange things are happening. On the other, I didn't like the explanation that comes in the later part of the book.
The first part in Blue Haven is very well written and slowly revs up the creep factor as the book progresses. We are never truly sure if strange things are happening, or if Aloe is having a mental breakdown. And that uncertainty adds to the general unease that slowly creeps on the reader. Yes, Aloe is clearly mentally unstable, but she is also right - something is wrong with Blue Haven. Because we all know that if something is too good to be true, it probably isn't real.
The big reveal that comes once Aloe, or should I say Eloise, is pulled out of Blue Haven is expected and welcome, at first. Until you start thinking about it. That's where this whole experiment starts to unravel. So we are using a neural net and augmented reality to make mentally ill patients happy. Interesting idea, but I don't understand this one size fits all approach. Are you telling me that you are treating a clinically depressed person the same way as you treat a man with severe PTSD and physical disability, and the same way as a couple in the late stages of dementia? I'm not psychologist, but even to me the science of this doesn't add up.
Also, when you are creating a utopia, you have to make it believable. No phones, TV or internet I can agree on, but what about other types of entertainment? What about concerts, movies, books, live performances? Are you telling me that the only things these people can do for fun is lounge on the beach and eat at fancy restaurants? Oh, and talk to each other? What about those who would rather accept the emotional support of a pet animal, like a cat or a dog, than try to socialize with other human beings? I'm not sure about you, but I would be climbing up the proverbial wall after a week of this.
This one size fits all approach doesn't work, because happiness doesn't mean the same thing to everyone. Some people would be perfectly content to spend their life laying on the beach. Others will need a lot more intellectual simulation to be truly happy.
Also, the big reveal that this doesn't work and only makes people worse isn't really that shocking, because you can see early on that they had no protocol for how to pull people back out and integrate them back into society. How long do they stay in Blue Haven before they care considered cured? How do you reintegrate their real memories afterwards?
Imagine the shock when you discover that instead of being a retired opera singer, you discover that you are an Applebee's manager and your wife and daughters are still dead. Or that you get the memories back from your time in Iraq and the horrors that lead to your injury. No matter how I look at it, I don't think there is a good solution to integrate these people back into society and keep them happy and cured. The only solution is to keep them in Blue Haven forever. And if that's the case, this is not a treatment at all, even without the harmful effects of the neural net on the brain...
I honestly don't know who they received the funding to even start this experiment to begin with. Any serious backers would have asked the same questions I asked above, and wouldn't have liked the answers.
So all in all, this was an exciting story for at least half of it length, but the explanation behind the scenes were rather lacking. Hence only 3 stars.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2022
I was in a Summer reading mood when I picked up Blue Haven. I had just finished working for the school year and was eager to start my summer with a book that would give me the “summer feels”. This book was the perfect read for that and so much more. It is very atmospheric, when I opened the book, I was immediately transported to Blue Haven, experiencing what Aloe was experiencing.
This story exceeded my expectations and is my favorite read of 2022. There were several jaw dropping twists and things that I was shocked by in a good way. I am still thinking about the story a week after I have finished it.
I highly recommend this book but urge readers to go into it knowing as little as possible about it, it’s so much fun! It does have some bad language but overall the content is pretty clean.
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This story exceeded my expectations and is my favorite read of 2022. There were several jaw dropping twists and things that I was shocked by in a good way. I am still thinking about the story a week after I have finished it.
I highly recommend this book but urge readers to go into it knowing as little as possible about it, it’s so much fun! It does have some bad language but overall the content is pretty clean.
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 13, 2022
Oooh okay. I really enjoyed this sci-fi thriller. We’re following Aloe as she enters an exclusive, expensive retreat away from the trials of the world. She’ll live there for the rest of her life in peace…only doing what makes her happy. Except that’s not really what is going on.
It’s a little more complicated.
This built beautifully and didn’t disappoint. Loved the climax, loved the resolution…and the ending was almost eerie in a social way. Definitely a win as far as thrillers go. I’m really looking forward to more from this author.
It’s a little more complicated.
This built beautifully and didn’t disappoint. Loved the climax, loved the resolution…and the ending was almost eerie in a social way. Definitely a win as far as thrillers go. I’m really looking forward to more from this author.
July 15, 2022
Wow! I feel like this book isn't talked about enough. It was so good. I was memorized by the description of Blue Haven and sucked into the suspense of the story. That last twist was amazing! Loved it so much.
July 19, 2022
Sci fi thriller with a touch of horror. Wow! Review coming soon
May 29, 2022
After paying a large sum of money, five strangers are escorted into heaven.
It is a story of suspense with the author changing genres so cleverly and smoothly. One should definitely read this type of sci-fi thriller. The protagonist who is one of the inmates is all set to find the mystery behind what this place carries.
She begins to see a strange man and also got one journal of a former person living there.
The author really has tried to write a wonderful story. The characters, writing style, and the changing genres are what I liked the most. These were very detailed and up to the mark.
The plot is well built and I would strongly recommend the book to everyone who enjoys thrillers!
It is a story of suspense with the author changing genres so cleverly and smoothly. One should definitely read this type of sci-fi thriller. The protagonist who is one of the inmates is all set to find the mystery behind what this place carries.
She begins to see a strange man and also got one journal of a former person living there.
The author really has tried to write a wonderful story. The characters, writing style, and the changing genres are what I liked the most. These were very detailed and up to the mark.
The plot is well built and I would strongly recommend the book to everyone who enjoys thrillers!
March 21, 2022
Heaven or hell? What kind of paradise is Blue Haven?
This novel makes you wonder for the first half where this will go. Is it a crime thriller? Is it sci-fi? Conspiracy? When things clear up a bit you just can't stop reading and the psychological side is pulling at your heart and you know that you really don't live in this kind of paradise.
This novel makes you wonder for the first half where this will go. Is it a crime thriller? Is it sci-fi? Conspiracy? When things clear up a bit you just can't stop reading and the psychological side is pulling at your heart and you know that you really don't live in this kind of paradise.
July 2, 2022
was given an ARC via netgalley but my opinions are my own.
For such a short book, I took a long time to read this. Story didn’t really do it for me. Although I liked the idea of Blue Haven.
Some moments I found that a quickly scanned over the pages as that particular chapter was not working for me.
Aloe, a newly very rich person, finds herself on an island resort were only 5 other people live, that is no surprise as the price for staying on the island is a staggering 200 million dollar. Live there seems like a paradise, but soon she realizes that not everything is what it looks like. When she finds a diary from a previous resident she starts to get more suspicious, because she was told there had never left someone from that place. She is determined to find out the truth. When she finally finds out things come to a end.
For such a short book, I took a long time to read this. Story didn’t really do it for me. Although I liked the idea of Blue Haven.
Some moments I found that a quickly scanned over the pages as that particular chapter was not working for me.
Aloe, a newly very rich person, finds herself on an island resort were only 5 other people live, that is no surprise as the price for staying on the island is a staggering 200 million dollar. Live there seems like a paradise, but soon she realizes that not everything is what it looks like. When she finds a diary from a previous resident she starts to get more suspicious, because she was told there had never left someone from that place. She is determined to find out the truth. When she finally finds out things come to a end.
July 25, 2022
Video Review Here: https://youtu.be/gllMJEKzP-k
Blue Haven is the second novel from Canadian author Lisa King.
Published on May 31, 2022, but 13 years in development, the book starts by focusing on Aloe Malone who is the newest resident at the most luxurious condo ever built. Blue Haven. completely secluded, so much so no one there knows where it is but the strange thing isn’t the high price tag or the unlimited opulence and decadence, it is that the complex is nearly empty with only a handful of residents. We unravel small details about Aloe and the mysterious group running the complex while also taking in 5-star meals (food comes up at least a dozen times in the book) and gorgeous views of the beaches or night sky from the entirely glass mega-structure.
Aloe finds a journal that was hidden in her bed frame and begins to question what the true intentions of the people running Blue Haven are. This is followed by panic attacks and the world around her begins to unravel.
The book is tagged as a sci-fi thriller but for the first half, there is not much in terms of sci-fi. It does come so keep holding out and you will get your reward.
This was a great summer read. The front half reads like a vacation. Lavish and decadent. The back half was then like an episode of Black Mirror.
A specific Black Mirror episode comes to mind, San Junipero from Season 3 (2016) which focuses on a simulation of a beach resort town that allows deceased, elderly, or suffering people to inhabit a younger optimized version of themselves, and then they can choose if they want to live on in the simulation as their time in their Earthly vessel has come to an end.
Lisa King has essentially written something that serves as a bigger and more complex version of this same concept from Black Mirror. Basically, imagine a story that gets into the early days of creating a simulated reality to help deal with mental health. Can a simulation be used to prevent/cope with severe trauma? It's a complex question and we are still studying and learning about simulations as a tool to help deal with the complexities of the brain. Mainstream acceptance is still a little ways away but fictional stories that send the right message are a step in the right direction.
If you are a fan of video games like Second Life or the Sims, or if you are a fan of the San Junipero episode of Black Mirror I referenced above, Blue Haven is a must-read.
5 Stars
Thank you to Breakeven Books for organizing the tour and including me!
Blue Haven is the second novel from Canadian author Lisa King.
Published on May 31, 2022, but 13 years in development, the book starts by focusing on Aloe Malone who is the newest resident at the most luxurious condo ever built. Blue Haven. completely secluded, so much so no one there knows where it is but the strange thing isn’t the high price tag or the unlimited opulence and decadence, it is that the complex is nearly empty with only a handful of residents. We unravel small details about Aloe and the mysterious group running the complex while also taking in 5-star meals (food comes up at least a dozen times in the book) and gorgeous views of the beaches or night sky from the entirely glass mega-structure.
Aloe finds a journal that was hidden in her bed frame and begins to question what the true intentions of the people running Blue Haven are. This is followed by panic attacks and the world around her begins to unravel.
The book is tagged as a sci-fi thriller but for the first half, there is not much in terms of sci-fi. It does come so keep holding out and you will get your reward.
This was a great summer read. The front half reads like a vacation. Lavish and decadent. The back half was then like an episode of Black Mirror.
A specific Black Mirror episode comes to mind, San Junipero from Season 3 (2016) which focuses on a simulation of a beach resort town that allows deceased, elderly, or suffering people to inhabit a younger optimized version of themselves, and then they can choose if they want to live on in the simulation as their time in their Earthly vessel has come to an end.
Lisa King has essentially written something that serves as a bigger and more complex version of this same concept from Black Mirror. Basically, imagine a story that gets into the early days of creating a simulated reality to help deal with mental health. Can a simulation be used to prevent/cope with severe trauma? It's a complex question and we are still studying and learning about simulations as a tool to help deal with the complexities of the brain. Mainstream acceptance is still a little ways away but fictional stories that send the right message are a step in the right direction.
If you are a fan of video games like Second Life or the Sims, or if you are a fan of the San Junipero episode of Black Mirror I referenced above, Blue Haven is a must-read.
5 Stars
Thank you to Breakeven Books for organizing the tour and including me!
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June 27, 2022
I found your new summer read! This book is mind-blowing! Grab your sunglasses and pack your travel bag, let's check out the scoop.
🍨 The Scoop 🍨
The story starts by introducing us to 25-year-old Aloe Malone, a lonely introvert waitress with an inadequate upbringing. She won the lottery and pays a high price to start a new life at the world's most lucrative exclusive condo corporation, Blue Haven. Housed in a top-secret location where even the four other residents are clueless as to the location. Blue Haven harbors picture-perfect beaches, ocean water that is always the perfect temperature, sunshine without the sunburn, unlimited Michelin-star restaurants to choose from, high-tech condos, and more.
The four other tenants are welcoming to Aloe and friendship bonds are instantaneously created. Life is perfect until Aloe discovers a journal with disturbing entries left by a previous tenant. She then starts to have visions and scary hallucinations. As she is experiencing this terror she starts to have suspicions that Blue Haven may not be what it seems.
💁♀️ My Thoughts 💁♀️
Although I'm not a reader of the sci-fi genre, the blurb, gorgeous cover, and the psychological thriller description pulled me in. Lisa's writing style is descriptive in nature and transports you into an intricate tropical paradise. The concept of this novel is fascinating and has a sense of both genres throughout the entirety of the book. The plot twists were mind-blowing and will certainly keep you on your toes. The characters are well developed which I can imagine would be difficult considering the plot. However, the development of the characters was executed flawlessly! The emotions you feel at the ending of the story could be contentment or even frustration ultimately depending on the reader. I highly recommend you read Blue Haven this summer. You will enjoy it if you are into either thrillers or sci-fi or both.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Thank you Pump Up Your Book Tours and Author Lisa King for the review copy.
🍨 The Scoop 🍨
The story starts by introducing us to 25-year-old Aloe Malone, a lonely introvert waitress with an inadequate upbringing. She won the lottery and pays a high price to start a new life at the world's most lucrative exclusive condo corporation, Blue Haven. Housed in a top-secret location where even the four other residents are clueless as to the location. Blue Haven harbors picture-perfect beaches, ocean water that is always the perfect temperature, sunshine without the sunburn, unlimited Michelin-star restaurants to choose from, high-tech condos, and more.
The four other tenants are welcoming to Aloe and friendship bonds are instantaneously created. Life is perfect until Aloe discovers a journal with disturbing entries left by a previous tenant. She then starts to have visions and scary hallucinations. As she is experiencing this terror she starts to have suspicions that Blue Haven may not be what it seems.
💁♀️ My Thoughts 💁♀️
Although I'm not a reader of the sci-fi genre, the blurb, gorgeous cover, and the psychological thriller description pulled me in. Lisa's writing style is descriptive in nature and transports you into an intricate tropical paradise. The concept of this novel is fascinating and has a sense of both genres throughout the entirety of the book. The plot twists were mind-blowing and will certainly keep you on your toes. The characters are well developed which I can imagine would be difficult considering the plot. However, the development of the characters was executed flawlessly! The emotions you feel at the ending of the story could be contentment or even frustration ultimately depending on the reader. I highly recommend you read Blue Haven this summer. You will enjoy it if you are into either thrillers or sci-fi or both.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Thank you Pump Up Your Book Tours and Author Lisa King for the review copy.
January 9, 2023
Two and Half Stars
The book is readable mainly because is it a short book composed of three page chapters. It kept me reading, hoping that something interesting would occur. It was clear from the start that Blue Haven could not possibly be real, with the main question being what exactly was going on. I did not find any of the characters compelling, and the endless descriptions of luxury living soon grew stale. Fortunately, by that point, Aloe - having found Eloise's journal, has begun to grow suspicious of her surroundings and the story starts to take off. But then, just as things were getting really interesting, the great reveal happens while there are still a hundred pages left in a two hundred and fifty page book.
The rest is sadly a snoozefest as the author explains in detail what was already obvious from the reveal. The heart of the story is intended for the reader to connect with Aloe and Eloise's plight, but the book falls short. The author simply lacks the skill to create that emotional connection with the reader, despite her background in psychology and neuroscience. It did not help that King isn't much of a wordsmith. (Some unfortunate examples: "He physically shook", "escalated to a new low", "vivacious hips", "The words fluttered like moths, just out of reach.")
Another glaring problem with the book is that King simply ignores the implications of the fantastical technology that she invents for the purpose of creating her story. That can work when the story is so engaging that the reader doesn't take the time to contemplate how ridiculous the whole thing is until the book is finished. But it most certainly doesn't work when it undercuts the final twist. Spoiler:
Have to say that I am surprised by the deep cynicism of King on the potential for true psychological healing, given her background. But props for the book's title paying homage to "The Matrix".
Note: The physical hardcover copy of this book is 246 pages (excluding acknowledgements and author's bio) not 336 pages.
The book is readable mainly because is it a short book composed of three page chapters. It kept me reading, hoping that something interesting would occur. It was clear from the start that Blue Haven could not possibly be real, with the main question being what exactly was going on. I did not find any of the characters compelling, and the endless descriptions of luxury living soon grew stale. Fortunately, by that point, Aloe - having found Eloise's journal, has begun to grow suspicious of her surroundings and the story starts to take off. But then, just as things were getting really interesting, the great reveal happens while there are still a hundred pages left in a two hundred and fifty page book.
The rest is sadly a snoozefest as the author explains in detail what was already obvious from the reveal. The heart of the story is intended for the reader to connect with Aloe and Eloise's plight, but the book falls short. The author simply lacks the skill to create that emotional connection with the reader, despite her background in psychology and neuroscience. It did not help that King isn't much of a wordsmith. (Some unfortunate examples: "He physically shook", "escalated to a new low", "vivacious hips", "The words fluttered like moths, just out of reach.")
Another glaring problem with the book is that King simply ignores the implications of the fantastical technology that she invents for the purpose of creating her story. That can work when the story is so engaging that the reader doesn't take the time to contemplate how ridiculous the whole thing is until the book is finished. But it most certainly doesn't work when it undercuts the final twist. Spoiler:
Have to say that I am surprised by the deep cynicism of King on the potential for true psychological healing, given her background. But props for the book's title paying homage to "The Matrix".
Note: The physical hardcover copy of this book is 246 pages (excluding acknowledgements and author's bio) not 336 pages.
August 18, 2022
**5/5 Stars**
I happened upon this book on Amazon and thought it sounded interesting, so I purchased it because it was not available through my local library. I was surprised to find that the book has very few reviews on Goodreads, but the ones that are there are really positive. I am so glad I took a chance on this book!
This book is similar in many ways to John Rector's The Ridge , which is one of my favorite reads and thrillers. I haven't quite found any books similar to Rector's book, so I was really excited to find a book with a similar premise. Blue Haven begins with a woman - Aloe - winning the lottery, and then opting to use her fortune to buy a condo in a new development - Blue Haven - that promises the utmost privacy and comfort for the wealthy. The condo sits on a beautiful white sand beach that seems to travel for miles on end. Aloe has built in friends - her neighbors - the minute she moves in. She has a personal assistant who will respond to any of her wants and needs 24/7. She has personal shoppers, personal chefs, and even round the clock medical care if need be.
But then Aloe, the main character, discovers there is something deeply wrong with her new residence. There is a mysterious man following her. The residents seem to be hiding something. And her personal assistant, Amir, has lied to her about a woman who once lived at the complex but has now disappeared. Aloe wants out, but she may be stuck in Blue Haven for the rest of her life. What's wrong with being stuck in paradise, after all?
Nothing is as it seems in Blue Haven, and nearly all the fun in this book is spent trying to figure out what is going on. This constitutes about 65% of the book. The rest of the book is spent diving a bit deeper into the character, Aloe, and her backstory. This book is perfect for readers who love sci-fi, thrillers, and technology. I highly recommend it!
For more of my book reviews visit me here:
Book Review Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
I happened upon this book on Amazon and thought it sounded interesting, so I purchased it because it was not available through my local library. I was surprised to find that the book has very few reviews on Goodreads, but the ones that are there are really positive. I am so glad I took a chance on this book!
This book is similar in many ways to John Rector's The Ridge , which is one of my favorite reads and thrillers. I haven't quite found any books similar to Rector's book, so I was really excited to find a book with a similar premise. Blue Haven begins with a woman - Aloe - winning the lottery, and then opting to use her fortune to buy a condo in a new development - Blue Haven - that promises the utmost privacy and comfort for the wealthy. The condo sits on a beautiful white sand beach that seems to travel for miles on end. Aloe has built in friends - her neighbors - the minute she moves in. She has a personal assistant who will respond to any of her wants and needs 24/7. She has personal shoppers, personal chefs, and even round the clock medical care if need be.
But then Aloe, the main character, discovers there is something deeply wrong with her new residence. There is a mysterious man following her. The residents seem to be hiding something. And her personal assistant, Amir, has lied to her about a woman who once lived at the complex but has now disappeared. Aloe wants out, but she may be stuck in Blue Haven for the rest of her life. What's wrong with being stuck in paradise, after all?
Nothing is as it seems in Blue Haven, and nearly all the fun in this book is spent trying to figure out what is going on. This constitutes about 65% of the book. The rest of the book is spent diving a bit deeper into the character, Aloe, and her backstory. This book is perfect for readers who love sci-fi, thrillers, and technology. I highly recommend it!
For more of my book reviews visit me here:
Book Review Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
May 31, 2022
📚Book Name - Blue Haven: A Novel
📚Author - Lisa King
📚My rating - 4.6/5
📚As the title of the book suggests, the story revolves around blue haven, an exclusive condo, where only five residents are living in a lush, located at a top secret place.
📚Thriller and suspense mystery is one of my favourite genres. It was after a long time, that I read such captivating book. I adore the way the author wrote,
📚A unique and impressive storyline, well developed characters, unexpected twist and turns made the book interesting.King has written a fantastic novel with sci-fi themes.
The plot centres around the residents of a top-secret location nestled between lush and tropical paradise.
📚She begins to feel something wrong, regardless she is determined to learn the truth. It is real or occuring only in Aloe's head?
What is the mystery of Blue heaven? Who is the man she is seeing regularly?
📚Aloe's life is going good, first major twist occurs when aloe discovere a journal. Aloe suspects there's so much more to blue haven than we know. Her suspcions are confirmed when she sees some hallucinations followed by unknown man hiding in the bushes.
📚Among those five, one is Aloe Malone, a twenty five year old girl. She starts seeing a mysterious man and finds the journal of a formar resident in blue heaven. She begins to
feel something wrong, regardless she is determined to learn the truth.
📚It is real or occuring only in Aloe's head?
What is the mystery of Blue heaven? Who is the man she is seeing regularly? She begins to feel something's wrong but at the same time she feels all this is not real and is occuring only in her head.
📚This book will keep you on edge of your seat till the last minute. I finished it in one go, so many suprises, so many twists and turns, a must read.
📚Author - Lisa King
📚My rating - 4.6/5
📚As the title of the book suggests, the story revolves around blue haven, an exclusive condo, where only five residents are living in a lush, located at a top secret place.
📚Thriller and suspense mystery is one of my favourite genres. It was after a long time, that I read such captivating book. I adore the way the author wrote,
📚A unique and impressive storyline, well developed characters, unexpected twist and turns made the book interesting.King has written a fantastic novel with sci-fi themes.
The plot centres around the residents of a top-secret location nestled between lush and tropical paradise.
📚She begins to feel something wrong, regardless she is determined to learn the truth. It is real or occuring only in Aloe's head?
What is the mystery of Blue heaven? Who is the man she is seeing regularly?
📚Aloe's life is going good, first major twist occurs when aloe discovere a journal. Aloe suspects there's so much more to blue haven than we know. Her suspcions are confirmed when she sees some hallucinations followed by unknown man hiding in the bushes.
📚Among those five, one is Aloe Malone, a twenty five year old girl. She starts seeing a mysterious man and finds the journal of a formar resident in blue heaven. She begins to
feel something wrong, regardless she is determined to learn the truth.
📚It is real or occuring only in Aloe's head?
What is the mystery of Blue heaven? Who is the man she is seeing regularly? She begins to feel something's wrong but at the same time she feels all this is not real and is occuring only in her head.
📚This book will keep you on edge of your seat till the last minute. I finished it in one go, so many suprises, so many twists and turns, a must read.
June 3, 2022
Book Review: Soooo good! Not the twist you were expecting.
Blue Haven
By Lisa King
Meet Aloe Malone, a 25-year-old recent lottery winner and former waitress. She’s now living in exclusive Blue Haven. A luxury condo destination in a secret location. There are only 5 residents with staff at their beck and call, all for the $200 million price tag. It’s privacy and exclusivity at its heavenly best. Pristine beaches with temperature controlled oceans just perfect for taking anytime swims. A luxury tower complete with exquisite restaurants with celebrity chefs, boutiques with exclusive designer apparel and spa treatments to die-for.
That’s exactly what Aloe is afraid of.
Author Lisa King has done an exceptional job of keeping the reader turning pages to see how this story ends. Chapter by chapter she keeps the mystery going and the stakes high, where you find yourself reading until the morning light. It’s that good! You don’t want to put it down until you’re at the last page.
It is a science-fiction thriller and lives up to that description. The story is captivating with enough clues to keep the reader fascinated and more importantly, turning pages. A little more than half-way through the science fiction is revealed and the heartbreaking reasons are exposed. Around every turn is a new twist with more Intrigue and more suspense. Culminating in more than a satisfactory ending where the reader is given hope for the characters in Blue Haven.
Lisa King should be proud for creating this story and all of its twists, truly a really good read!
Blue Haven
By Lisa King
Meet Aloe Malone, a 25-year-old recent lottery winner and former waitress. She’s now living in exclusive Blue Haven. A luxury condo destination in a secret location. There are only 5 residents with staff at their beck and call, all for the $200 million price tag. It’s privacy and exclusivity at its heavenly best. Pristine beaches with temperature controlled oceans just perfect for taking anytime swims. A luxury tower complete with exquisite restaurants with celebrity chefs, boutiques with exclusive designer apparel and spa treatments to die-for.
That’s exactly what Aloe is afraid of.
Author Lisa King has done an exceptional job of keeping the reader turning pages to see how this story ends. Chapter by chapter she keeps the mystery going and the stakes high, where you find yourself reading until the morning light. It’s that good! You don’t want to put it down until you’re at the last page.
It is a science-fiction thriller and lives up to that description. The story is captivating with enough clues to keep the reader fascinated and more importantly, turning pages. A little more than half-way through the science fiction is revealed and the heartbreaking reasons are exposed. Around every turn is a new twist with more Intrigue and more suspense. Culminating in more than a satisfactory ending where the reader is given hope for the characters in Blue Haven.
Lisa King should be proud for creating this story and all of its twists, truly a really good read!
May 23, 2022
📕Book Name - Blue Haven: A Novel
📕Author - Lisa King
📕My rating - 4.6/5
📕 As the title of the book suggests, the story revolves around blue haven, an exclusive condo, where only five residents are living in a lush, located at a top secret place.
📕Among those five, one is Aloe Malone, a twenty five year old girl, former waitress and introvert by nature who has traded bussing tables for lengthy sleep-ins, and her fortunes are changed thanks to lottery win.
📕Aloe's life is going good, first major twist occurs when aloe discovere a journal. Left by a resident named Eloise whose entry is simply evoking. Aloe suspects there's so much more to blue haven than we know.
📕Her suspcions are confirmed when she sees some hallucinations followed by unknown man hiding in the bushes. She begins to feel something's wrong but at the same time she feels all this is not real and is occuring only in her head.
📕The book is of sci - fi genre, Its main tag is no matter what intention is, what innovations can achieve and destroy and what will be after math.
📕A imaginative storyline, unique and one of a kind, unique storyline by author Lisa King, narration of the tale is outstanding, writing is explicit.
📕This book will keep you on edge of your seat till the last minute. I finished it in one go, so many suprises, so many twists and turns, a must read.
📕Author - Lisa King
📕My rating - 4.6/5
📕 As the title of the book suggests, the story revolves around blue haven, an exclusive condo, where only five residents are living in a lush, located at a top secret place.
📕Among those five, one is Aloe Malone, a twenty five year old girl, former waitress and introvert by nature who has traded bussing tables for lengthy sleep-ins, and her fortunes are changed thanks to lottery win.
📕Aloe's life is going good, first major twist occurs when aloe discovere a journal. Left by a resident named Eloise whose entry is simply evoking. Aloe suspects there's so much more to blue haven than we know.
📕Her suspcions are confirmed when she sees some hallucinations followed by unknown man hiding in the bushes. She begins to feel something's wrong but at the same time she feels all this is not real and is occuring only in her head.
📕The book is of sci - fi genre, Its main tag is no matter what intention is, what innovations can achieve and destroy and what will be after math.
📕A imaginative storyline, unique and one of a kind, unique storyline by author Lisa King, narration of the tale is outstanding, writing is explicit.
📕This book will keep you on edge of your seat till the last minute. I finished it in one go, so many suprises, so many twists and turns, a must read.
January 14, 2024
I had a lot of problems with this book, and it took me ages to get through it.
The second half of the book after the reveal is so slow that it killed any pacing it had for me.
The protagonist was also very unlikable, and even more so in the second half. You're not given a good reason to care for the character and just reading about her is exhausting which made it a very slow read to me.
But what really bothered me about this book is the weird word choice that kept showing up over and over. It felt like the author is using a thesaurus and chose words that aren't interchangeable synonyms, or that she's looking up the 15th definition of a word in a dictionary and using it in that way in her writings.
You could've fooled me if you told me this book was co-written by an alien or a machine. The author's collocation appears to be off so many times that it became a game in itself to see when the next oddly-phrased expression would appear, to the point I felt afraid that it would affect my own vocabulary.
There are also numerous spelling and grammatical mistakes that kept coming back, more than you'd like to see in a published book.
1.5 stars rounded up.
The second half of the book after the reveal is so slow that it killed any pacing it had for me.
The protagonist was also very unlikable, and even more so in the second half. You're not given a good reason to care for the character and just reading about her is exhausting which made it a very slow read to me.
But what really bothered me about this book is the weird word choice that kept showing up over and over. It felt like the author is using a thesaurus and chose words that aren't interchangeable synonyms, or that she's looking up the 15th definition of a word in a dictionary and using it in that way in her writings.
You could've fooled me if you told me this book was co-written by an alien or a machine. The author's collocation appears to be off so many times that it became a game in itself to see when the next oddly-phrased expression would appear, to the point I felt afraid that it would affect my own vocabulary.
There are also numerous spelling and grammatical mistakes that kept coming back, more than you'd like to see in a published book.
1.5 stars rounded up.
June 11, 2022
POSSIBLE SPOILERS .... A solid strong read (3.5 stars) that kept me up many late nights trying to figure of whats going on. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Ms. King hit me with a direction, with twists and turns I didn't see coming. Overall, this story was a psychological mind meld. It definitely put me in the mindset of a BLACK MIRROR episode .... I won't say which one as to possible spoilers.
I was attracted to the story thinking it was science fiction, and while the overall story stayed in that genre, it ventured off into other other groups. Most of the characters were fleshed out and could stand on their own.
I have to be honest, somewhere around the halfway mark, I started to dislike where the story was going, some decisions made and scenarios experienced wasn't making sense compared to the beginning. I had questions that made me wonder if and how would it be tied up in the end. However, I'm happy to say that Ms. King was able to turn everything around, leaving me with an ending I was expecting. While I may agree with the outcome, I truly wonder if the ppl who could benefit will still be able to.
Thanks to netgalley for an advance copy for an honest review.
#netgalley #bluehaven #thriller #lisaking
I was attracted to the story thinking it was science fiction, and while the overall story stayed in that genre, it ventured off into other other groups. Most of the characters were fleshed out and could stand on their own.
I have to be honest, somewhere around the halfway mark, I started to dislike where the story was going, some decisions made and scenarios experienced wasn't making sense compared to the beginning. I had questions that made me wonder if and how would it be tied up in the end. However, I'm happy to say that Ms. King was able to turn everything around, leaving me with an ending I was expecting. While I may agree with the outcome, I truly wonder if the ppl who could benefit will still be able to.
Thanks to netgalley for an advance copy for an honest review.
#netgalley #bluehaven #thriller #lisaking
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 24, 2022Lisa Kings' most exquisite science fiction thriller is Blue Haven. The plot centres around the residents of a top-secret location nestled between lush and tropical paradise. Only five people resided in that house, and they paid a lot of money to live there.
The main character, Aloe Malone, a twenty-five-year-old, was given the option to live there, and he would be the fifth person in that exquisite spot among strangers.
As the story progresses,Aloe quickly feels there's more about Blue Haven than meets the eye, as evidenced by a prior resident named Eloise's entries, which are both sorrowful and evocative. Regardless, she is determined to learn the truth.
King has written a fantastic novel with sci-fi themes. Who wouldn't want to live a life surrounded by nature, luxury, and calm, I thought?
Nobody thinks about it because the author wrote it entirely. I'd never read a book like this before.
I adore the way the author wrote, and as the narrative unfolds, we will encounter several genres such as terrifying, horror, sci-fi, and thriller, which would be the ideal combo. In reality, there is no lag in the plot; everything flows smoothly till the final page.
The main character, Aloe Malone, a twenty-five-year-old, was given the option to live there, and he would be the fifth person in that exquisite spot among strangers.
As the story progresses,Aloe quickly feels there's more about Blue Haven than meets the eye, as evidenced by a prior resident named Eloise's entries, which are both sorrowful and evocative. Regardless, she is determined to learn the truth.
King has written a fantastic novel with sci-fi themes. Who wouldn't want to live a life surrounded by nature, luxury, and calm, I thought?
Nobody thinks about it because the author wrote it entirely. I'd never read a book like this before.
I adore the way the author wrote, and as the narrative unfolds, we will encounter several genres such as terrifying, horror, sci-fi, and thriller, which would be the ideal combo. In reality, there is no lag in the plot; everything flows smoothly till the final page.
May 25, 2022
Thriller and suspense mystery is one of my top most favorite genre and every other genre comes after, so I end up reading more of crime thriller books than anything else, and when thriller comes with a blend of science fiction, the whole storyline instantly brightens up with nothing less than a rip roaring adventurous experience.
The book Blue Haven by Lisa King is an extraordinary adventurous read which unfolds in an extravagant and world's most lured and exotic mansion or residence of which location is top secret and unrevealed where only five lucky individuals get the chance to live in.
But the luxurious life there starts to get little hazy when one of the character starts developing suspicion over the things happening there and got found an old lost journal dairy of one of the old residents of the mansion.
Who is the strange yet familiar man she is seeing regularly?
It was after a really long time, that I have read such captivating and jaw dropping read which was filled with goosebumps giving scenes. I personally liked how the book concluded and the storytelling by the author which was splendid.
The book Blue Haven by Lisa King is an extraordinary adventurous read which unfolds in an extravagant and world's most lured and exotic mansion or residence of which location is top secret and unrevealed where only five lucky individuals get the chance to live in.
But the luxurious life there starts to get little hazy when one of the character starts developing suspicion over the things happening there and got found an old lost journal dairy of one of the old residents of the mansion.
Who is the strange yet familiar man she is seeing regularly?
It was after a really long time, that I have read such captivating and jaw dropping read which was filled with goosebumps giving scenes. I personally liked how the book concluded and the storytelling by the author which was splendid.
June 27, 2022
Blue Haven is a psychological, sci-fi mystery in which a struggling young woman’s existence spins from rags-to-riches in a tranquil, luscious nirvana. Aloe, the main character, soon questions whether, in fact, this wonderful world she now inhabits is so good that it is too-good-to-be-true. Cracks in the veneer of her new dreamy life quickly lead down the rabbit trail that no one ever wants to go on. Her story builds in pace and contorts in surprising ways, revealing shocking connections and futuristic-type situations that quite honestly seem pretty plausible in the here and now—frighteningly so.
Author Lisa King is keenly tuned in to how the circumstances of injustice, illness, social barriers, and personal history impacts people’s lives in all ways. Her characters exemplify this, with each of their stories weaving into a really good tale—it is beautiful, horrifying, and hard to put down. King is obviously a deep thinker who masterfully puts forth profound philosophical conundrums, the implications of which evoke moral questions that stick with you. We might all benefit from contemplating them further. Blue Haven--I highly recommend it!
Author Lisa King is keenly tuned in to how the circumstances of injustice, illness, social barriers, and personal history impacts people’s lives in all ways. Her characters exemplify this, with each of their stories weaving into a really good tale—it is beautiful, horrifying, and hard to put down. King is obviously a deep thinker who masterfully puts forth profound philosophical conundrums, the implications of which evoke moral questions that stick with you. We might all benefit from contemplating them further. Blue Haven--I highly recommend it!
May 27, 2022
📒Book review tour
📒 Title- Blue Haven
📒 Author- Lisa King
📒My rating- 4.9/5
📒My review: Blue Haven is a science fiction thriller that will keep you engaged till the very end. In the first half, you will keep guessing whether it's a crime thriller, sci fi thriller etc. etc. This book will keep you hooked.
📒 The story is based on a girl named Aloe who just moved to an amazing island with only five other residents. The place is very costly. It comes with a price tag of $200. But the place is a paradise in itself.
📒 She is enjoying her life on the island but she suspects something very different. She starts to develop suspicion over the things happening there and found a long lost journal of one of the old residents of the island. She is seeing a very strange yet familiar man.
📒 The book gets scary in between but Aloe is determined to find the truth. The book has lots of mystery and suspense and I love such books.
Love how the author has put some scary elements to it along with some mystery and suspense.
📒 Title- Blue Haven
📒 Author- Lisa King
📒My rating- 4.9/5
📒My review: Blue Haven is a science fiction thriller that will keep you engaged till the very end. In the first half, you will keep guessing whether it's a crime thriller, sci fi thriller etc. etc. This book will keep you hooked.
📒 The story is based on a girl named Aloe who just moved to an amazing island with only five other residents. The place is very costly. It comes with a price tag of $200. But the place is a paradise in itself.
📒 She is enjoying her life on the island but she suspects something very different. She starts to develop suspicion over the things happening there and found a long lost journal of one of the old residents of the island. She is seeing a very strange yet familiar man.
📒 The book gets scary in between but Aloe is determined to find the truth. The book has lots of mystery and suspense and I love such books.
Love how the author has put some scary elements to it along with some mystery and suspense.
April 19, 2022
What if you could leave behind a terrible loss or a miserable life - a life without a bright future? What if you could leave it behind and start a new one in paradise?
This is the main question that came up when reading Lisa Kings Blue Haven. Five strangers are led into paradise after paying an enormous amount of money. What starts of as a thriller when the main character Aloe starts seeing a mysterious man and finds the journal of a former resident in Blue Haven, turns into a whole different genre, switching pace, while ending on another plot twist. I really enjoyed reading the novel since it touched upon so many different questions about humanity, psychology or future life.
Another highlight for me was the combination of many different genres that made reading that much more entertaining. I liked the characters that King created, they seemed thoughtfully crafted and fit well into the story.
I would definitely recommend the book to anyone enjoying thriller type books!
This is the main question that came up when reading Lisa Kings Blue Haven. Five strangers are led into paradise after paying an enormous amount of money. What starts of as a thriller when the main character Aloe starts seeing a mysterious man and finds the journal of a former resident in Blue Haven, turns into a whole different genre, switching pace, while ending on another plot twist. I really enjoyed reading the novel since it touched upon so many different questions about humanity, psychology or future life.
Another highlight for me was the combination of many different genres that made reading that much more entertaining. I liked the characters that King created, they seemed thoughtfully crafted and fit well into the story.
I would definitely recommend the book to anyone enjoying thriller type books!
May 25, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Lisa King for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Publication date: 31st May 2022
*Trigger Warnings* Suicide, Depression, Addiction, Cancer, Death of a child, gore, sexual assault, trauma. Fantastic combination of thriller and science fiction with an intriguing premise and plot twists that I really wasn't expecting. A definite page-turner and beautifully written scenes drew you in even when you desperately wanted them not to. The experience of the main character is fascinating and despite initially not knowing much about her I found myself intrigued from the outset. The characters are all very interesting and are all fully fleshed out and not just supporting the main character. The book touched on many topics including psychology and what makes a person themselves. The ending was also not what I was expecting and I loved the cliffhanger nature of it. Overall this was a great thriller and I can't wait to read more by Lisa King
Publication date: 31st May 2022
*Trigger Warnings* Suicide, Depression, Addiction, Cancer, Death of a child, gore, sexual assault, trauma. Fantastic combination of thriller and science fiction with an intriguing premise and plot twists that I really wasn't expecting. A definite page-turner and beautifully written scenes drew you in even when you desperately wanted them not to. The experience of the main character is fascinating and despite initially not knowing much about her I found myself intrigued from the outset. The characters are all very interesting and are all fully fleshed out and not just supporting the main character. The book touched on many topics including psychology and what makes a person themselves. The ending was also not what I was expecting and I loved the cliffhanger nature of it. Overall this was a great thriller and I can't wait to read more by Lisa King
May 26, 2022
This book is a science fiction thriller. The story revolves around blue heaven, the residents of a top-secret location nestled between lush and tropical paradise. Only five people resided in the house who paid a lot of money to live there.
Among those five, one is Aloe Malone, a twenty five year old girl. She starts seeing a mysterious man and finds the journal of a formar resident in blue heaven. She begins to feel something wrong, regardless she is determined to learn the truth. It is real or occurring only in Aloe's head? What is the mystery of Blue heaven? Who is the man she is seeing regularly?
Thriller and suspense mystery is one of my favorite genres. It was after a long time, that I read such a captivating book. I adore the way the author wrote, A unique and impressive storyline, well developed characters, unexpected twist and turns made the book interesting. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat till the last minute. Overall, it's a must read.
Among those five, one is Aloe Malone, a twenty five year old girl. She starts seeing a mysterious man and finds the journal of a formar resident in blue heaven. She begins to feel something wrong, regardless she is determined to learn the truth. It is real or occurring only in Aloe's head? What is the mystery of Blue heaven? Who is the man she is seeing regularly?
Thriller and suspense mystery is one of my favorite genres. It was after a long time, that I read such a captivating book. I adore the way the author wrote, A unique and impressive storyline, well developed characters, unexpected twist and turns made the book interesting. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat till the last minute. Overall, it's a must read.
May 29, 2022
The plot centers on the people of blue heaven, a secret luxurious place. Only five individuals lived in the house. They all have paid a very hefty amount to enjoy that paradise.
Aloe Malone, a twenty-five-year-old girl, is one of the five. She also came here to chill until she discovers the journal of a former Blue Heaven resident.
She started to suspect something is awry and then she decides to solve the mystery.
I love to read mystery novels and this one is a sci-fi mystery which I really enjoyed reading the most. Once you start reading the novel, it will really consume you. I really liked the author's writing style. The way the author gave the pinch of everything to make this novel interesting to readers is commendable.
The novel is fabulous with great suspense, thriller, and horror. The characters are well built and there are surprising twists and turns which will not let you leave your seat.
Aloe Malone, a twenty-five-year-old girl, is one of the five. She also came here to chill until she discovers the journal of a former Blue Heaven resident.
She started to suspect something is awry and then she decides to solve the mystery.
I love to read mystery novels and this one is a sci-fi mystery which I really enjoyed reading the most. Once you start reading the novel, it will really consume you. I really liked the author's writing style. The way the author gave the pinch of everything to make this novel interesting to readers is commendable.
The novel is fabulous with great suspense, thriller, and horror. The characters are well built and there are surprising twists and turns which will not let you leave your seat.
May 29, 2022
The thriller's twists and turns keep our adrenaline pumping while also stimulating a section of our brain that isn't regularly active. This causes chemicals to be released that make us feel euphoric, which can be quite addicting. And yes, once you start this novel then it’s hard to put it down.
Thriller and suspense mystery is one of my favorite genres.
Blue Haven by Lisa King is an outstanding adventure read that takes place in an exquisite and world's most enticing and exotic home or property, the location of which is top secret and unrevealed, and where only five lucky individuals have the opportunity to live.
As the story progresses, the protagonist sees a strange man and gets a journal which led to an adventurous journey of her own with horror, thrill, and suspense. Highly recommended to read!!!
Thriller and suspense mystery is one of my favorite genres.
Blue Haven by Lisa King is an outstanding adventure read that takes place in an exquisite and world's most enticing and exotic home or property, the location of which is top secret and unrevealed, and where only five lucky individuals have the opportunity to live.
As the story progresses, the protagonist sees a strange man and gets a journal which led to an adventurous journey of her own with horror, thrill, and suspense. Highly recommended to read!!!
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