Book View: Haven

Posted October 7th, 2011 by Kate & filed under Book Views.

Haven by Kristi Cook

Series: Winterhaven #1

Published by Simon Pulse on February 22nd 2011
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 400

Goodreads

One month into her junior year, sixteen-year-old Violet McKenna transfers to the Winterhaven School in New York’s Hudson Valley, inexplicably drawn to the boarding school with high hopes. Leaving Atlanta behind, she’s looking forward to a fresh start--a new school, and new classmates who will not know her deepest, darkest secret, the one she’s tried to hide all her life: strange, foreboding visions of the future.

But Winterhaven has secrets of its own, secrets that run far deeper than Violet’s. Everyone there--every student, every teacher--has psychic abilities, 'gifts and talents,' they like to call them. Once the initial shock of discovery wears off, Violet realizes that the school is a safe haven for people like her. Soon, Violet has a new circle of friends, a new life, and maybe even a boyfriend--Aidan Gray, perhaps the smartest, hottest guy at Winterhaven.

Only there’s more to Aidan than meets the eye--much, much more. And once she learns the horrible truth, there’s no turning back from her destiny. Their destiny. Together, Violet and Aidan must face a common enemy--if only they can do so without destroying each other first.

Short and Sweet: Haven… oh Haven. I picked you up on a whim. You had so much promise. Hex Hall with a mix of X-Men?! You sounded so heavenly. But you broke my heart. Well, not really. But my frustration mixed with your promise… it was all that I could do to finish you. And it is all due to one thing… and one thing only. Highlight for spoiler: (VAMPIRES!!!) . Grrr.

Final Verdict: I hate when I fall for a book only to be disappointed. Haven, in all honesty, was not a complete disappointment. But it was pretty close. Do I hate vampires (spoiler again)? No. But I hate the stereotypes. And Haven had a bunch of them. I think that if that one little thing had been something different, my whole opinion would be changed. So.. bottom line.. Haven was a good read. Loved the premise and the characters. And even the science behind Aiden… it was just too much angst for me. Would I recommend it? To the right person, yes. For everyone else, maybe.

Kate

Kate is the co-blog owner of The Book Monsters. I am a twenty-something year old who is passionate about reading. I currently hold a B.A. in English and am married to my high school sweetheart. We have two (cat) children, Gracie and Kit, who are total divas. I have an insane and possibly unhealthy passion for reading. You can usually find me with my nose buried in a book.