Haven

Winterhaven #1

by Kristi Cook

Violet McKenna thought she was crazy when she had a vivid vision of her dad’s murder—but when her premonition came true, her life fell apart. Then she found a new school: Winterhaven. There, Violet fits right in. All the students have special “gifts” like her own, and she quickly finds a close group of friends. But Violet’s attraction to an alluring boy becomes problematic when intense visions of his death start to haunt her. In her premonitions, the secret he is unwilling to share begins to reveal itself—and the unbelievable becomes reality. To Violet’s horror, she learns that their destinies are intertwined in a crictical—and deadly—way.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Vampires, Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural, Magic

401 pages, Hardcover

First published February 22, 2011

About the author

New York Times bestselling YA author Kristi Cook is a transplanted southern gal who lives in New York City with her husband and two kids. Her YA debut, HAVEN, was released in Feb. 2011 by Simon Pulse. The last two volumes in the Winterhaven series, MIRAGE and ETERNAL, followed in 2012 and 2013. Her first contemporary, southern-set YA, MAGNOLIA, was released in 2014. She's currently working on a contemporary YA with paranormal elements set in Savannah, GA.

Kristi also writes adult romantic fiction as Kristina Cook and Kristi Astor.

Reviews

[Morgan F · Rating 2 out of 5]

Transformer cat will eat you! RAWR

For some reason, My review keeps coming up twice because the "more" is right in the middle of the spoiler, so I'm adding extra characters to see if it helps.

"Eh." That pretty much sums up my assessment of HAVEN. Kristi Cook is a smart cookie (heh, unintentional pun!). She travels some pretty well-worn territory that is guaranteed to get her a solid YA audience. Her book really doesn't have anything original, but is rather something more like a composite of popular YA series. Like Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, some Shiver, and a little bit of Buffy thrown together in a "girl goes to boarding school" tale. The result left me pretty much uninterested.

I could see what Cook was trying to do, but unfortunately she never truly succeeded. I could tell that she wanted to have:

1. A smart, enduring heroine. The main character....Violet (yes, I did forget her name for a second), isn't all that original. Although technically smart, as evidenced by her honors classes, Violet was a bit slow on the uptake. Some readers may be frustrated with Violet's denial and disbelief (I just think she's dense). Cook managed to give Violet some powers of her own, but nonetheless Violet has the Bella-syndrome of fainting constantly and having her boyfriend save her. Violet was also just plain old boring. Her voice was bland and nothing she ever did stood out. I know Cook was trying to make her "relatable", but I hate that. I would rather have a main character who pisses me off than one who is bland as corn flakes.

2. A hot, mysterious love interest. Pshhhh. Adrian's such an Edward wannabe. I don't even like Edward, but he still has more personality than this guy.

3. Powerful, intense love.........Nah. I wasn't feeling it in the least. I didn't feel anything. Not a gut-flutter, or spine-tickler. I didn't have to put down the book and start pacing around the room as I do when I get really involved in a book and need to calm down. I wasn't feeling the attraction. I believe Cook tried to make the romance more believable, by making it a little hot-and-cold. But she went a little overboard. I couldn't even tell that they liked each other. One chapter they were all like "I lurrrve you" then the next Violet is all "Fuck you!". Just back and forth through the whole book, but there wasn't enough emotion behind any of the characters to back it up.

With Twilight (yes I'm comparing this book to Twilight because that's really what it deserves), when I was Twi-tard, I would stay awake at night, unable to sleep because I was so immersed in the Twilight universe. It actually made my chest ache, I loved it so much. Now I think its shit, but that's besides the point. This book, no matter how much it tried to, couldn't immerse me like that. It just wasn't enough. It tried to do a little bit of everything and succeeded in nothing.

But I didn't hate it. Which is both a good and bad thing. Books I hate are memorable in how much I dislike them. This book was just boring and on the great shelf of "meh". It just didn't work up enough emotion in me to warrant an overwhelming response. I didn't like it, but I didn't hate it either.

From looking at the other reviews, there are definitely people who enjoy this book. It definitely tailors to a specific audience, one that will most likely enjoy this book. To me, it was merely inoffensive and generic.

Oh, and I think the cover is fugly.

[~Tina~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven was one of my most anticipation reads for 2011 and I'm thrilled to say that it did not disappoint!
I LOVED it!!

Kristi Cook pens a fantastic debut! It's smoothly paced with a very natural flow to comprehend everything that is going on.
This book as everything I look for in a great read. Likable characters, boarding school setting, supernatural and paranormal elements, romance, mystery, suspense, no mean girls and finally, no love triangles (not that I mind them).

There is so much I want to say, but I know I'll just end up spoiling and I can't do that. I want others to experience this at first hand, so I'll keep this short. Or try to anyways;)

I liked every single one of the characters, everyone felt mature and easy going.
The girls, Kate, Cece, Sophie and Marissa were all awesome with fun talents. I liked the instant friendship connection they shared with Violet, it never felt fake.
Violet is a strong MC that carried the story well. I thought her reactions through out the story was spot on. Her ability is a mystery in it shelf. Very creepy, but in a good way.
Then there's Aidan. He has a very sharp charisma, mysterious, alluring and extremely swoon-worthy. The relationship wasn't rushed in my opinion. In fact, the off-again on-again was frustrating and so were the secrets. Necessary, but still a bit frustrating. Never the less, Violet and Aidan shown great chemistry and spark and I really enjoyed there get to know moments and the complications that they are faced with. A very yummy couple!

The storyline was actually a real big surprise. I knew that it dealt with supernatural gifts and talents but I didn't realize there was a hidden element to the story. I could see it coming, gradually as I was reading, but still, it was a nice surprise and one I very much approve of.

Basically I just loved this book! It was such a fun read. A totally me read, and I loved every minute of this and never wanted it to end.
A brilliant and awesome start to what I'm hoping is the beginning of a series. A series I very much plan on devouring.

Amazing debut! More please!!!!

(Arc provided through S&S galley grab)

[Wendy Darling · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. This isn't a bad book by any means, but there's no new material covered in it. Boarding school, check. Mysterious boy, check. Girl adjusts to new powers, check. Rundown of kids with different psychic abilities, check. Etc, etc...so the relationships, the characters, the way everything gets done better be really pretty interesting. Unfortunately, aside from one lovely scene involving a moon and a first date, there's not much emotional depth or originality here--and the plotting/action isn't very interesting, either. After awhile, the overuse of brand name-dropping also got really old. What is it with this trend in YA lit? She's wealthy. We get it.

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmmmm, please excuse my review. I am not quite what to say about Haven. Have you ever read a book, while reading it enjoyed it but as soon as you finished completely forgotten about it? Well that is Haven for me. It was good but it just lack that something special, there is nothing really to make it stand out from all the other the young adult paranormal romance reads.

The things I enjoyed :

- The mystery and all the hidden secrets. I love trying to figure out every little secret and enjoyed being surprised when I was wrong.

- The writing is a style that reads easily and makes you want to keep turning the pages. I couldn't believe how quickly the 400+ pages flew by.

- Haven had some unique elements to it's story. Cook added some interesting twist to the paranormal element (which I won't say what it is, would hate to ruin the surprise).

- I love interesting chapter names and Haven had plenty with titles like 'Cue the creepy music' and 'Down the Rabbit Hole'. It set a nice tone for what to come.

The not so good for me:

- Alot of scenes for me were too much like other books I have read before. For example- being the new girl and walking into class where the mysterious guy that has ignored every other girl in school can't stop staring at you scene. Authors I think it is time for a different meeting place!

- The character while I liked them they were forgettable. They lacked something special. Aidan was the typical dark brooding mysterious type and Violet was the normal new girl at school.

- Aidan and Violet's romance was that instant, intense, deep can't live without you type of love. It didn't work with the characters going constantly going back and forth. One day they are together the next they are not. I didn't understand how they could love each other so deeply yet not want to be together.

Despite it's flaws I think Haven will have a lot of fans and I think this series has potential. I am certainly up for giving the second book in the series a go

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoilers littered throughout.
“I’m happy to see the true spirit of friendship thrive here at Winterhaven,” Mrs G. continued. “Vampire, lycan, shape-shifter, Sabbat-all coming together as friends, despite their differences, despite their natural instincts. It’s a rare thing, isn’t it? If only the rest of the world could take notice.”

I’m glad I had no clue what this was going to be about before I read it. I would have just pushed it aside and really missed out. I thought I was tired of vampires, but this one was like X-Men crossed with Vampire diaries and I liked it. Yes, I felt like there was some borrowing going on, I was reminded of “Twilight”, aforementioned “Vampire diaries”, etc. but there was enough originality going on elsewhere I could overlook it. The abilities the students had at Winterhaven were so cool to read about. That part felt really fresh. It was at a boarding-type school, but somehow it felt a lot different than say “vampire Academy.” It almost read like the author took all the elements she liked about those books and put them all together, which sounds like a hot-mess, but it really wasn’t. I’d say if you liked any of the above mentioned books, you would like this one. (Especially Vampire Academy and Vampire Diaries)

I’m now wondering if there Is going to be a sequel, I’d like one. I want to know where the relationship between Violet and Aiden is going to go. I’m left wondering, Can you love someone your being is meant to hate and annihilate????


"I fear there is a war brewing amoungst our kind. Perhaps someday...."

I smell more books!!!!!

4 stars

[Damaris (GoodChoiceReading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I don’t even know where to begin…

I am one of those people that judges a book by its cover. The minute I saw the cover for Haven I was pulled right in and I just had to get my hands on a copy. When I was given the chance to read Haven by the author herself, I was ecstatic. It was simply one of those books that you just KNOW is going to be good.

Well, it was good alright, in fact it was more then good! It was AMAZING! I loved everything about it! From the first page to the very end, I was glued to the words. I probably would have finished reading Haven in less than a day if it wasn't for work. The story started off one way, and completely took a turn into another. I actually found myself saying "oh snap!" out loud LOL. Didn't see that coming at all!

Violet arrives at Winterhaven just expecting it to be like any other school. She quickly makes new friends and falls right into place. Not long after her arrival she captures the attention of Aidan Grey. Aidan is a student at Winterhaven who doesn’t really converse much with anyone. He’s a mystery to everyone and this makes him even more intriguing. I quickly fell in love with Aidan and Violet's relationship. The way their feelings developed made me want to fall in love all over again. I found myself in awe throughout most of the story. I feel like I am going to keep repeating myself about how much I loved their relationship. Aidan was just perfect in every single way.

I highly recommend you read Haven by Kristi Cook. From the writing to the characters, and the CRAZY ending, it’s one big emotional roller coaster. And I mean this in a good way. I loved it and I don’t know how many times I can say I LOVED HAVEN! A Definite Must Read!

[♥︎niya ♥︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This beats twilight for all I care

[Isamlq · Rating 2 out of 5]

Haven starts with a girl going to boarding school. Only she isn’t just a girl, and it isn’t just a boarding school. Violet has a secret, and everyone she’d told thought she was crazy (Soul Screamers? ) And the boarding school was no ordinary school either (Balthazar, are you there?) There she meets a hot aloof guy (Me, picturing that scene from that movie, in a science class where the female MC attempts to subtly catch a whiff of herself.) They fall in love only he’s all “I MUST not encourage this foolish mortal's misguided/uniformed attachment of me only I love her so…” (JK!) Then half way through the novel, a group who would kill to have a prophecy come true pops out from his past. So Violet McKenna isn’t just a girl with her secret anymore she’s a girl with a role in said prophecy (Angel? Buffy? Is that you?) Missing was Giles, English accent, tweed coat and all. Oh wait, Dr. Blackwell could very well be the English professor type I’m looking for. Suffice to say, the book reminded me of a lot of things. Haven, on its own? Well, what can I say?

Did I hate it? NO. Did I love it? NO. So, let me settle for a “did I enjoy it?” It had its moments. I hated it because it read like Evernight and host of other books. I liked it because it didn’t take itself as seriously as some other vamp books tend to do. Now, would I recommend it to anyone else? It really depends on what one is after. Vampire lovers will probably get a kick out of it. It’s another of those star crossed teenage couples. One where, not one, but both of them are ‘special.’ People who like Hex hall might(?) like it; particularly, Violet McKenna’s sense of humor. That she mocked his teenage-angst convinced me that she wasn’t the total drip I had thought she was. The chapter titles if not obvious were pretty catchy too.

The other characters were not as well developed as I would have liked. They’re the backdrop against which the two MC’s are emphasized. I mean it. All we know is Cece is a brain; Marissa is kind of creepy/intimidating while Kate is totally in love with her beaux, Jack. They are the support... because against them, we see Aidan’s hotness/awesomeness/etc etc. And then we see just how ordinary (or special?) and out of the loop Violet is.

So (a) vampires (b) star crossed teenage angst love thing was OK.

The thing that had my eyes glazing over was when Aidan would turn scientific explaining this and that then comparing his kind to malaria caring mosquitoes. The first time he did that, I got it; he need not have beat the horse bloody! Then Propagators? Propagators? Seriously? I was hoping for a romp into paranormal romance in the same vein as Hex Hall or at least the Ghost and the Goth. But no, because midway through the book a bunch of anti-vampirism cure vampires pop out of nowhere.

(eARC thanks to Simon & Schuster's galley grab program.)

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't finished it yet. I shouldn't be giving it this rating (2.5) but here I am.

I got about 20% into the book and so far nothing amazing has happened nor nothing incredibly annoying. The prose is nice. The characters are...eh, normal. The book itself is a cliche--girl attends gothic, dark east coast boarding school. Something's weird about it...OH! Everyone has specialabilities? Really? Ohmygod! SO DOES THE MAIN CHARACTER!!!!!1@#$$## Oh? Did you just say there's a hot guy that just seems strangely attracted to the MC? Wow, that's some good shit right there!

>:(

Yea. That's how it's been. Like I said, nothing horrible. Nothing great. It hasn't caught my attention and I rather wait till spring break or summer to finish this up in one night.

[Abida's Book Adventures · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA Paranormal books have a special place in my heart, especially one that takes place in a boarding school. Reading this book made me feel nostalgic; like when I first started becoming an avid reader, I would mainly read these types of books. The book really wasn't that original or different from other YA novel, just a good read. With that being said I really didn't find any issues in this book.

The Romance
The only thing that really bothered me in this book was the relationship between Violet and Aidan, it seemed too cliche and unoriginal. It's like every other high-school romance out there; the new girl just so happens to attract the hottest and wanted boy in the entire school. I hope to read a book one day where the girl meets a normal and boy or vice versa, and they just naturally develop feelings for each other and start a relationship. That's my problem with YA romances I expect too many practical relationships when I should understand that it's fiction and that it's meant to excite girls.
Another thing about their relationship that kept bothering me was how late it took Violet to find out that Adian was a Vampire (eye roll; so original). A vampire really... you might as well named him Edward. Violet took soo long to find this out, like come on she had visions of him with blood on his face, how may hints to did she need.

The Setting/ Plot
The book had a good pacing/ plot going on nothing was rushed or overdone. It started off with Violet going to her new school in a new state. The plot was basically a generic plot that is used in books and movies all the time. Girl gets a fresh start by going to a new school, where no one knows about her deep past. She somehow ends up being the center of attention in the whole school and it just so happens that she attracts the hottest boy in school, oh and did I forgot to mention the part where she saves the world. There's nothing wrong with this format, in fact, I've enjoyed multiple books like these. What stood out in this book than others is the authors writing. I'm a huge sucker for detail and fortunately, this book had a lot of them.

I loved how the book took place in a boarding school, in New York City, I've always wanted to go to one. The author did a really good job in describing the setting, I actually felt like I was really on campus with the characters.

The Characters
I liked all the characters, none of them really stood out to me though. They all seemed like the "typical" paranormal teenagers, the new girl, the supportive friend, the douchebag lover, etc.

Final Thoughts
Honestly, this felt like reading a classic YA novel, and there's a reason why the classics work so well. Most readers start out reading books like these and that's what gets them into reading. For me, it was the completely unrealistic lifestyles that the characters were living that allured me to reading. Reading about other people's drama was soo much better than going through it in real life. Since this book is like so many other books out there, I won't be reading the next book in the series. I have a pretty good feeling what the next book is going to be like.

[Idris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Apparently all YA books now are all the same thing. A girl starts in a new school, normally a boarding school, where she meets some new friends, she will feel accepted, she is not a freak anymore, and she will fall in love with the hottest guy in the school, who is also in love with her, but he is always keeping secrets because he wants to protect her.

In less than a paragraph I just told you what this book is about.

My first impression was good. I liked the way the author starts the story about Violet. Even though this part remembered me Fallen by Lauren Kate. I also liked the part when she discovers what is the main purpose of the school, something that also made me remember Dark Mirror by P.J. Putney, where the main character also has a "gift". Later comes the hottest guy, who is a combination of DanielFromFallen-EdwardFromTwillight. Like you see, this book is a big mix of different books. But hey, until here, I was happy with the story.

What made me change my mind? Well... Too many cliches. After two hundred pages reading about Violet, who is worried why her two days boyfriend don't tell her what is going on, I just got bored. I can accept some similarities, but not a whole book full of them.
Also, no development. Any. The story is about all the time how she met him, how she feels about him, why is he keeping secrets from her, and their amazing connection.

Their romance, even though all the story is about it, it's weak. Not convincing. They meet and the fall immediately. No realistic, not even romantic.

And later, the story turns in something completely different. The main character Aidan is ...a vampire. OMFG! C'mon guys! The story looked really good, and now is catastrophic. Everything was good in a school of kids with special abilities. It was a good idea! What the hell is a vampire doing there? I thought for a moment that I had changed the book without noticing! That I was reading a different story or a really bad joke. I'm so disappointed.

In my opinion, this book doesn't even deserve a rating. I'm giving it just one star, because of the effort of the author, because it is not easy to write a book or create a story.

[Savannah (Books With Bite) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I like most about this book was how easily it flowed. I enjoyed the writing, the plot, and most of all the characters. Violet is joining a new school in which she feel inexplicably drawn to. She also carries a deep secret she has been holding her whole life. With one day on campus, she meets Aiden who has seem to not only catch her eye but she has captured his heart as well.

I loved Violet. She is a character who I can relate to right away. She is strong, beautiful, and took everything in about the school in stride. Violet didn't have a very good life and I was proud of how she was able to move on without anything holding her back. Her reaction to the big secret was one I did enjoy seeing.

Aiden was the hot mysterious guy I could just not get enough of. He loved Violet and did anything and everything for her. He put his life at risk with protecting her and the experiments he is doing.

The ironic twist of the book is a very good surprise. Ms. Cook definitely added some spice to the book with the secret. It added just enough pretense in the book to the buildup and the ending is great. I will admit it did break my heart a little and even made me cry. Nonetheless, Violet is strong and went on to want her destiny called her to.

If you like a new school with some deep secrets read this book. The love between Aiden and Violet will leave you speechless and breathless. Ms. Cook made this book not only enjoyable but easy to read and get into. The debut was absolutely fabulous!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one. I can't deny certain similarities between this and well you know the "book" that seems to be the trademark for paranormal these days but, there were enough surprises that I felt like it delivered a solid and unique story.
Violet finds herself in a new boarding school after the death of her father. She has always been different but little does she know that what makes her different will make her ordinary in her new school. Violet of course garners the attention of the most sought after boy in school and they quickly become more than just friends. What I liked her was that it wasn't all easy. Violet let her true feelings show and she didn't shy away from her fear when she learns the mysterious truth involving Aiden. In previous books I have read there wasn't ever any of the scared factor that should play into these types of books. I also liked how Violet would go days without seeing Aiden. They didn't have to be around each other 24/7. At the end Violet does learn that things are going to become even more complicated than either she or Aiden first thought and I am very curious as to see what will happen next. Will Aiden find his "cure"? Will Violet find her "sisters"? Is Isabel really Violet reincarnated? So many questions were left unanswered and one of the biggest at least as far as this storyline was why was Allison repeating Julius' name?? I thought for sure that would have been answered but nope! So maybe Allison will play a larger role in the next installment. I am assuming there will be a sequel. All in all a good read and I was very surprised by the end. I never saw that coming! I refuse to spoil it so if you want to know you are going to have to read it!

Thanks Simon and Schuster!!

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I started Friday night and finished it Saturday morning and I really enjoyed every page!

Full Review at the Bewitched Bookworms

Ok, what do we need for a good story, a story you enjoy? First of all we need a good story and a nice plotline. Then we need ( which is even more important) characters you can fall in love with. A main character that doesn't annoy you and of course ... a swoon worthy mysterious guy! Oh and of course, the love! *le sigh*

Full Review will come! But put this book on your wish list for 2011, this is the start in a great new series!!!

[Just Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda liked it, kinda didn’t.

It was sweet, but also very predictable.
I do love a good boarding school book, which was why I got it.


Read: 08/09/2011
1st rating: 2.5 stars
Genre/tropes: YA/romance/magic
Cover: 2 stars - It’s simple but bland.
POV’s: Single - 1st person (Violet)
Will I recommend: No.

[Nancy The book junkie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5/5

Review coming soon!

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am definitely a fan of Kristi Cook now! I have not touched a vampire novel since the Twilight Saga, and I happened to stumble upon this one by accident. However, no regrets! Every possible mainstream paranormal creature you could imagine finds its way into this cleverly written story of destined love caught in a twist of fate, karma…call it what you will. The theme of reincarnation has fascinated me once again!

Violet McKenna, a 17-year-old teenager, finds herself entering the halls of Winterhaven, a safe haven for teens with special gifts and talents. Having just lost her father, she moves to New York with her stepmom, Patsy, leaving her Gran and Lupe, her Gran’s maid, behind in Atlanta. Violet’s real mom passed away when she was just a baby.

Violet has had visions since she was a child. Visions foretelling the future, of things yet to come, and these visions are never a good thing—they always come to pass. Everyone whom she has warned has told her she was crazy, psychotic. Even her own father refused to listen to her.

Leaving her best friend Whitney behind, she finds herself quickly surrounded by new friends. Her roommate, Cece, and Cece’s friends, Sophie, Kate and Marissa. All of the girls have special gifts which Violet learns about very quickly on, and the girls soon become close friends of Violet.

Then there’s Aidan Gray—she senses something different about him from their very first encounter. He is handsome, hot and most definitely eye candy. Blonde and blue-gray eyes….pale and perfect. Violet is drawn to him without knowing why or understanding what her connection to him is…until they go on their first date. Slowly but surely, everything starts to fall into place. Violet’s tortured visions of Aidan start to come together as she discloses each detail to Aidan with each occurrence.

I have to say, Violet and Aidan are completely adorable. She’s got it bad for him, and he’s got it bad for her. But, his bloodlust and physical lust cause such tormented angst that he has to back off every time. It is heart wrenching, every single scene they have together, knowing what he is and what she will become. That’s what sucked me in, literally. And I couldn’t wait for more.

And so the plot thickens, and I’m turning each page without realizing the end of the book is drawing near. My my, when the Winterhaven warriors (i.e., precogs, empaths, vampires, lycans, shape-shifters, etc.--just awesome) come forth and battle, Violet’s most crucial vision will be tested. And what she is and has yet to become, will it be enough to destroy her love for Aidan? He is so willing to sacrifice himself for her…and yet, I wonder if she feels the same way.

Mortal enemies, ill-fated love and a destiny that will bind Violet and Aidan together, forever...I hope. Oh the tears…so sad, so sweet, and so tormented. These simple, yet very sentimental words, are what makes Haven’s characters so special to me, and what makes me want to keep reading long after I’ve finished the last page.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5*

In today's YA world there's a lot of paranormal books out there, and while all of them have interesting ideas, very few have the ability to have me completely entranced in their worlds. Luckily enough, Kristi Cook's Haven is one of the few, because not only is it a refreshing and unique paranormal read but it's a book you can't help but read in one very long sitting; a good sign indeed.

Haven begins with Violet's very first day at Winterhaven, an elite boarding school. At Winterhaven, Violet is hoping to officially start over. This time she won't be the girl who has startling and omniscient visions, instead she just be a normal teen girl leaving a normal life. And at first it is that way. She manages to make some great friends and finds her place, because as it turns out this is a school were everyone has "gifts" similar to hers. Though, everything changes the day Aidan walks into her. Aidan is different from all the other guys at her school. He's quiet yet brilliant and completely intriguing and he just may be the guy for Violet, but with his presence comes Violet's strongest visions yet, visions that could mean the end of Violet and Adrian. So, will Violet be able to take control of everything before it all goes awry? And is her relationship with Adrian nearly as great as it seems? Only time and more pages will tell in this amazing story of one girl's path to discovering herself as well as the secrets that lay on her path.

Violet was a character I loved from the start. Like most girls in today's YA, she's trying to find her place in this crazy world, and with that comes the development of the many friendships and relationships I loved reading about. Better yet, Violet's a strong girl; she's someone who while has her moments of weakness like us all, manages to stand up for herself and her friends time and time again. Furthermore, I really liked how her relationship with Adrian wasn't always perfect, because it made it much more real to me than having her in one that never has problems.

One of the first things that made me want to read this book was the premise. I love books about boarding schools, especially when the said boarding school involves students with "gifts." Luckily enough, the execution of that idea proved to be great! I adored all the plot lines and ideas Ms. Cook introduced in this, and how she constantly used the setting of Winterhaven in her favor. Better yet, when tying the plot together with her well-developed characters and writing, this story proved to be made of awesome.

If you're looking for a refreshing and unique paranormal read, well look no further because Haven is the book for you. Filled with interesting plot lines, well-developed, relatable characters, and a swoon-worthy romance, this a book that manages to have it all and more!

Grade: A

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all let me begin by saying I love love love loved this book. I had problems putting this book down. It was that good. And once I finished reading it I couldn't wait to share my thoughts with Damaris. And we spent a good half hour just talking about it. We're such nerds. LOL.


So in this book you have Violet, a sweet teenager who moved to New York with hopes of leaving her secrets behind. But little did she know that everyone at Winter Haven had secrets of their own. As she settled in and made new friends, they revealed to her that everyone their had talents and gifts. Working hard on settling down and keeping up with her classes, she caught the eyes of the most cutest, most quietest and mysterious boy in school Aidan Gray.


Soon after they start dating, new dilemma's came into play. Which tested their bond and affection for another. Their relationship was being tested and so was their faith. Together they had to overcome their biggest obstacles of both their lives.


I love this book. I was hooked from page one. With this book, you didn't have to read too far to get drawned in. You get sucked in from Chapter 1. I've had the privilege of meeting Kristi Cook after reading "Haven" and might I add she was such a sweet and down to earth person. If I have to give this book a rating I'd give it 6 out of 5 stars!

[Zemira Warner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh... finally done with this one. First of all I gotta say that I've been dying to read Haven since October last year. And now that I've read it I am disappointed.
It was all about Aidan and who he really was and nothing other where their (Violet and Aidan) relationship is going. Well,maybe something happens on the last 20 pages but other than that is the whole deal of this book.
And this girl-Violet she is like some kind of a freak. She would rather sit in her room alone than face her friends and have a great time. What's up with that?! :/

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions)]

Chapters read: 4

Because I loved Cook's Magnolia, I wanted to give her debut series a shot. Unfortunately, it's generic paranormal from the post-Twilight wave. I don't feel any attachment to the characters and I've read this basic plot several times over. Ah well. I'll definitely watch for Cook's future endeavors, but I highly doubt I'd enjoy these enough to make them worth the time.

[Jodi Meadows]

There is no butterfly in this book.

(Decent writing, pacing, some nice moments between friends.)

[Pricky · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems to me that the latest "vampire/paranormal" genre just seem to repeat itself over and over again:
1. New girl at school
2. Meets mysterious cold-blooded boy
3. Girl and Boy have some cosmic connection to each other
4. Girl and Boy must resolve some relationship conflict to why they "can't" be together.

Sound familiar?

While I really enjoyed Cook's writing style, there were too many similarities to another well-know Vampire Saga (yes, you know which one). Violet is a girl with some paranormal abilities (she has premonitions about the future) who finds herself at a special boarding school (think X-men) where she meets a mysterious boy. While the initial half of the book drew me in, as soon as the similarities showed up, I had a harder time finishing the book (not because the writing was poor but because I just wanted something more original).

Basically, Violet discovers that Aidan is a....yes, vampire (he has a lower body temp, he can read minds, he was born over a hundred years ago...you see the similarities here?). Their relationship is so hot and cold; one minute they are together, the next broken off...that I got pretty frustrated with their tumultuous relationship and honestly, I just didn't FEEL the need for them to be together at all.

By the way, did I mention that there's also a werewolf in the story who...surprise, surprise is of course the natural enemy of the vampire....hmm...heard that one before?

Basically, if you never read that OTHER vampire book, you probably wouldn't be as perturbed. The premise of the story IS interesting (the idea of a special school for kids with special paranormal abilities) and I wish the story could have focused on that instead of Violet and Aidan's relationship. Also, the fact that Violet is destined to be a vampire slayer seemed a bit unrealistic for me and seemed like just something to add to the story to add more conflict. Also, the addition of Violet having a similar face to Isabel also seemed unnecessary; we don't really find out why just speculations...Why add that if there's no reason. Lastly, the description of one of the side effects of vampirism p. 208 "One of the more unpleasant side effects is that a vampire can't achieve...er...sexual release without simultaneous penetration of the fangs." was just unnecessary and personally, a bit disturbing and doesn't add anything to the story except to tell us that vampires need to be sexual responsive while biting in order to turn a person into a vampire. And the point is?...

Cook does write entertainingly enough and her scientific description of vampirism was interesting, but I am disappointed it sounded like another book I've once read.

And sorry about all the Spoiler Tags...Maybe someone who hasn't read that "OTHER BOOK" might enjoy this one.

CAUTIONS: There are some subtle sexual references aside from the above description and some swear words.

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haven has a great mix of paranormal characters, and I liked how they're all brought together to attend the private Winterhaven school for the "gifted". The secondary characters are fabulous! They're "real", supportive and just fun characters to read about it. I had a really hard time with Violet and Aidan's characters. I couldn't picture them in my mind, like I could for Joshua or Cece, Violet's roommate, and I felt more connected with the supporting characters than I did with main ones. I'm not quite sure what is about Violet that I didn't enjoy. With Aidan, I liked getting to know his past history, but I couldn't get past my bias about him to really like him. The way he acts reminded me of another beloved YA character (leaving out spoilers), and had I been able to separate the two I think I would have enjoyed him more and possibly even felt the "Aidan effect", which sadly didn't happen for me. I was also annoyed with how hot and cold Violet and Aiden's relationship was through out the story. I think part of my problem was hearing all this hype about Aiden, and then not feeling it as I was reading about him.

I really enjoyed the setting, Winterhaven, a private school for truly unique and gifted students. Think X-Man, but for paranormals. I liked the mesh up of talent and the variety of characters there. It wasn't hard to picture the school or the beautiful school grounds in my head. I can't forget Aidan's house. I would love to see his house in person.

Kristi's writing flowed well for me and it did keep my interest. I liked that she threw in minor twists to keep the story exciting. Just as I thought I had something figured out with Aidan or Violet, I liked the other twists that were added to make each character's gifts truly unique. I was pleasantly surprised with the direction Kristi took her story. In the beginning I felt that there were too many similarities to some other YA books, which I felt took away from the book having a unique voice of it's own, but with the second half I felt the book grew into it's own and I was more engaged with the story. The only thing I wanted to see more of in the end was a longer fight scene. I felt it was too built up to have it end so quickly.

Haven is a good read and I can see what the draw is about the book. Do not let the cover fool you, though I think I may have missed what it has to do with the book. I'm looking forward to reading more of Kristi's YA books, and the next ones in the series. I would recommend picking Haven up, as I think a lot of YA fans will really enjoy the story. There is some mild language and a reference to a non graphic sensual scene. I would recommend this to teens 14 & up.

[Pam Pho · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first half of Haven and admittedly thought the book was going nowhere. I disliked the main character and her decisions and her needy behavior. Then I had an epiphany. Pam you are thirty-one years old. How did you act around boys when you were sixteen? Immediately my outlook on this book changed.

I still am not enamored by the first half of the book, the school at Winterhaven is interesting enough but I wanted to hear more about Violet’s friends and her life at Winterhaven. I felt that important events in the book were glossed over. Why make a big deal about Violet going to Atlanta to never have one scene with her in Atlanta, or talk more than once about her old BFF who is in Atlanta but coming to NY and never have the two meet?

That being said the second half of the book picks up shedding some of my original trepidation’s about Haven. The lore was tight and I appreciated getting a better view of what Violet’s purpose was and why she and Aiden were able to communicate telepathically. The danger element was fun too and the character that double-crossed the pair was one I wouldn’t have expected. I will be reading book two to see how the story progresses now that the new lore has been introduced.

I think teenagers will love this novel, my book club teens have. Sure you can say it is cliche, cliche, cliche but let’s be honest here, it’s full of all my favorites. I recommend this book to fans of Wings, Twilight, and House of Night.

[Cindee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book it has been a while since I read a good YA paranormal romance it was written if a bit slow to really get started. I really liked the characters especially Violet and Aidan I really liked their romance it was not too slow or too fast I really like how it developed. I also liked the other characters they were well fleshed out and really interesting characters to read about. I liked the plot of the story I liked the concept of the idea of there being a school for for people that are different. I lied how the story developed even if it took a while for anything to happen I liked how everything turned out it was a good read for sure.

[Meagan Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun book! I can't wait to start the next one!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

When her stepmother gets a job in New York City, sixteen-year-old Violet McKenna is forced to choose whether to to go with her or stay with her Grandmother. Although Atlanta is her home, and her Gran her only real family, Violet is inexplicably drawn to Winterhaven, an elite boarding school in Tarrytown, New York.

For the first time since her father’s death she feels like just maybe things will be okay. Winterhaven is a place where she can start over, where no one knows about her premonitions, and she will be able to fit in and shed her freak status once and for all.

If she had only listened to her gut she would have realized right away that Winterhaven was not a normal school and that her flashes of the future were only one of the many types of “gifts” that the students possessed – telekinesis, clairsentience and astral projection to name just a few others. Only shape-shifting labeled you an outcast at Winterhaven.

Even in a school filled with the psychically gifted, there was something different about Aidan Gray. Something that made him stand apart from all the other students. Something that drew Violet to him. Her friends called it the “Aidan effect,” but it wasn’t just attraction. Even with the intensity of his gaze, from eyes that were more blue than grey, eyes that captivated her, there was something about him that scared her.

But when her nightmarish visions, visions that foretold of her father’s death, become about him, she knows that she must do whatever she can to change the course of that future. Even if it means turning her back on her destiny.

***

Haven is an enchanting first book in this new series and a story that readers will instantly fall in love with. It has such a wonderful, easygoing flow, making this an uncomplicated and totally entertaining read.

There is a nice mix of personalities among the characters that the author has created, even though the focus is on the two main characters – Violet and Aidan. While Haven doesn’t fully delve into each character’s abilities or background, more than enough information is given to get a clear picture of who these secondary characters are. And as this is a series, there is likely to be much more revealed in books to come.

There is also a good span of time in which the book takes place that lets the plot progress naturally. This length of time allows the relationship between Violet and Aidan to have its ups and downs in a much more realistic way, without feeling jam-packed into the typical few weeks that are common in many series books.

It is easy to just relax into this book and let the story take you on its journey. There are no extreme highs or lows, no love triangle and no cliffhanger ending, but there is mystery, suspense and a climactic conclusion that will keep you engrossed.

Author Kristi Cook does a wonderful job of setting up the world and characters for this series. And notwithstanding some similarities with other books in this genre, this is a book that has its own identity.

With a number of unanswered questions and directions that the story can go in future books, there is also still much to learn about Violet and her abilities, Aidan and his past, Violet’s friends and the one thing that all the students at Winterhaven have in common, except Jack.

On a personal note:

It was just so easy to love this book. It flowed so well I didn’t even realize I was reading, I was so immersed in this story. Even though it is just over four hundred pages, I blinked and was practically finished reading it. The story just flew by.

Of course I would have loved to see some of the spaces in the timeline filled in with more of everything, like Violet’s fencing matches, Aidan’s experiments and disappearances, and stories about Violet’s friends – even the trip to St. Bart’s and the unfortunate sunburn. But then it would have been a six hundred plus page story and nothing would be saved for the sequel.

Even though I like Violet, I still don’t know enough about her yet to promote her to my favorite character in this series. Currently, Kate is my favorite female character in this book. (And it’s not just because she’s with a guy named Jack and I’m a Lost fan.) I just think telekinesis is cool. And the fact that she uses it for the most trivial of reasons makes her all the more likable.

And although many may think that Aidan is a bit of a jerk, I’m on the fence, but leaning toward “good guy.” Most of his behavior is completely understandable, except for the picture. (And I won’t say more for fear of revealing too much.)

I will definitely be reading all future books in this series. No doubt about it. And I am a new Kristi Cook fan.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A list of things I love in books:
-Boarding schools
-Teenagers with psychic powers
-Cute boys
-Awesome protagonists
-Romance that's not too perfect to be believable
-Funny and lovable groups of friends

Guess what? This book has ALL OF THE THINGS. ALL OF THEM.

And guess what it also has? Vampires. And guess what I'm generally not a huge fan of? Vampires. And guess what was done really well in this book so that even a non-vampire fan like me could enjoy it immensely? YOU GUESSED IT, VAMPIRES.

But hold on. Lemme back up a bit.

So this book has a lovely main character named Violet who I really love because she is really normal and easy to relate to. She's not all OH LOOK HOW BADASS I AM I'M GOING TO SHOOT ARROWS AND KILL THINGS GRRR, but she's also not all Um hi I'm really shy and quiet and kind of plain and unremarkable and I'll just let the hot guys swoop in and save me, thanks. Violet is a very healthy balance between those two levels, a balance that I think is what most girls are actually like. So I love her, obviously.

The book starts with Violet's first day at a new boarding school. She's the new kid who's never really been anywhere outside the town she lived in her whole life, and on top of that, she's still reeling from the death of her father. So that's pretty stressful, right?


Well, things get even more stressful. NO SPOILERS NO SPOILERS, but yeah, things happen and let me just say again how much I love Violet. She handles everything in a really normal way. She's not too strong, but not too weak. HEALTHY BALANCE, PEOPLE. I LOVE IT.


And so then there's a plot and stuff, with people and things. DON'T ROLL YOUR EYES. I'M JUST TRYING TO REMAIN SPOILER-FREE. FOR YOUR BENEFIT OF COURSE. Also because I have no idea how to sum up all the awesomeness that happens.

Anyway, one of my FAVORITE things about this book is THE GROUP OF FRIENDS. Because you know what's missing in a lot of YA books? A lovely little group of really close girlfriends who are funny and nice and loyal and who the main character can have fun with and also share their secrets with. Why don't we have more friendships like this in books? Violet grows close to four girls, and instead of just being there for comic relief or whatever, these friends are important characters who are helpful in situations and really add to the story. AND I LOVE IT. *hugs ALL THE CHARACTERS*

And vampires. There are teenagers with psychic powers, which is weird enough, BUT THERE ARE ALSO VAMPIRES. It's just so epic. And to be honest, there are very few vampire books that I actually like. But the vampire mythology and stuff was done really well in Haven, and I am seriously impressed.
Also, it's me, so obviously I'm going to talk about THE BOY. I'm a big fan of THE BOY. His name is Aidan. He's kinda mysterious. And hot. I like him a lot.

The relationship between Violet and Aidan has a whole lot of issues, but it's still believable and realistic. They fight and break up and kiss and make up and fight some more and kiss some more and they're always up and down and back and forth and it's not perfect but that makes it even better.

I mean, I think I'd be a better match for Aidan than Violet but WHATEVER IT'S NOT LIKE IT BOTHERS ME OR ANYTHING. I'LL BE FINE DON'T WORRY.

*clears throat* So yeah. I pretty much love everything about this book. And I would not have read this if I had not gone to Books of Wonder a few days or weeks ago (I don't know how long ago it was. Don't judge. I STILL THINK IT'S NOVEMBER, OKAY?!) and met Kristi Cook, along with Amy Plum and Jocelyn Davies.

I'm really glad I went to that event because it was really fun and now I have pretty signed books. Also I discovered Haven and fell in love with it and chatted with amazing authors and ate yummy food, so yeah.

Wow. This ramble is ridiculously long and CAPSLOCK-y and just so crazy and unprofessional, even by my standards. I'm sorry I'm not sorry.

MY POINT is that you should read this book, because I really like it, and so you should too. Also I would like the sequel now, please. Thank you.

More insane rambling like this over at readwriteramble.blogspot.com

[Jessica (a GREAT read) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this E-ARC from Simon & Schuster.

Well I can honestly say that this was an okay read. Haven is Kristi Cook's debut in the YA genre and I had heard about it through the blogging world and it sounded interesting. And it was, mildly so.

I hate having to talk bad about books, it's really hard and I know everyone's opinions differ. So let me just state that this is my opinion. Others may find that they like the sound of the story, read and love it still and that's cool.

The book started off a little slow, I mean it did start with Violet going to the new school, but it took her awhile to figure out this big secret about the school. As the BOC says, everyone there has gifts, and for some reason it takes Violet a little while to realize this. A day really, and there were all these subtle hints at it too. I don't know sometimes I felt she was a little slow on the uptake.

The mystery elements were built up sort of well. Like the mysterious guy she has visions about, Aidan. It soon becomes apparent, to me at least, what his "gifts" are. But it takes Violet a little longer, again, to realize it, and then she doesn't really believe him right away. I mean that part was a little much in my opinion. That here she is at a school with kids with psychic talents and some are shapeshifters--not necessarily animal ones, but still. There are subtle hints to Aidan's identity that I was surprised it took her so long to figure it out and then to be in denial? After everything she's learned? That was a bit much too.

The book also jumped from point to point a little fast at times. In one paragraph Violet would be saying Spring Break is in two weeks...then blah blah. The next paragraph jumps to her coming BACK from spring break. While it wasn't hard to follow it was just some serious time jumping in my opinion.

There were a few other surprises towards the end as well that were somewhat shocking. But also felt forced in some ways. I just don't know what to think of it really.

Violet was an okay character as well. Sure I thought she was a little dense at times, like she should have realized something was off here and there. But I can understand in some ways why she wanted to cling to the reality that she knew. But since that reality was already challenged and forfeited earlier on I thought she would be more accepting of other surprises.

And there is a romance between Violet and a certain character, but it definitely rings too much of another novel that kind of irritated me a bit. I mean in some ways it is just the standard paranormal YA love thing, but still it was too much like said other book in my mind.

Overall I have to give the book 2.5/5 stars. It wasn't horribly dreadful. I just got annoyed a little too often with certain things. I really hate having to talk bad about books, especially new ones, but Haven really just wasn't my style. It did have its good parts occasionally but nearly enough for my liking.