Friday, November 3, 2017

Friday #Review - Haven by Mary Lindsey #YALit #Paranormal @MaryL_MarissaC ‏@EntangledTeen

Series: Standalone?
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
Release Date: November 7, 2017
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult \ Paranormal


We all hold a beast inside. The only difference is what form it takes.
Rain Ryland has lived on the streets his entire life, bouncing from one homeless shelter to another, so when his mother dies and a court orders him to move to a tiny town in the Texas Hill Country to live with an aunt he’s never met, he knows his life is about to change—he just has no idea how much.
Seventeen-year-old Friederike Burkhart has a legacy to protect. She also has a pack of wolf shifters to lead, a coven of spell weavers to guard, a murder to solve, and a boatload of homework on top of it all. The last thing she needs is a nosy human in the mix. But when another dead body turns up, Freddy realizes she can trust no one and is in over her head. Maybe the hot human boy could be the key to finding the killer.
As Freddy and Rain team up to solve the murders and stop more deaths before her pack is exposed, they find themselves the next targets. Can they uncover the killer before losing their lives…or their hearts?



Author Mary Lindsey's Haven is a young adult paranormal story with suspense, action, and plenty of romance. The author turns Beauty and the Beast on its head, and creates her own version where the female lead doesn't need anyone to take care of her. She can do just fine thank you very much. Narrator Aaron "Rain" Ryland is a 17-year old who has lived on the streets for most of his life along with his mother. After his mother dies, Rain discovers that he has an Aunt he never new about. 

After a judge grants Abby custodianship, Rain finds himself in New Wurzburg. Aunt Ruby is a police officer in the town as well as her mothers twin. New Wurzburg is a community that is masking a struggle between Watchers and Weavers. At the center of that struggle is none other than Friederike Burkhart the presumptive Alpha to be now that her father has died. No spoilers here folks. Freddie isn’t like normal teen girls. She's actually a Watcher aka Werewolf who is supposed to protect Weavers and it appears as though someone wants her dead. She's also got huge issues that have impacted her life. Issues that are ripe for someone to come along and take over. 

Rain is fascinated with Freddie while Freddie warns Rain to stay away if he knows what's best for him. Rain has never felt safe anywhere. He's always been on the outside looking in. This is his time to actually make a difference and nobody, not even Freddie and her issues, and those who live in this new town, are going to scare him away. Rain has finally found someone worth fighting and perhaps dying for. But will Rain change his mind after meeting some of the most deadly people he's every met? Will his urge to protect the innocent from the bullies finally be thwarted sending Rain scurrying off with his tail between his leg? 

There are some secondary characters I must mention. First, let's give the author props for actually having an actual human in the book without deciding that she needs to become a werewolf or a Watcher (Witch) suddenly and without explanation. I adored Abby. She has no idea what the hell is going on in her town, but she isn't going to turn her back on Rain, or leave him like his father and mother did. Living with Abby gives him something he hasn't had in a long time. Confidence that someone really loves him. I also loved Petra. Petra is a key character in this book whether you want to admit it or not. She has some unique abilities, and she genuinely lights up when Rain calls her friend.  

When I was gazing at this title via Edelweiss, it said, and I quote, "The start of a thrilling and sexy new werewolf series perfect for fans of the Lux series or Maggie Stiefvater." I'm hoping the author or publisher will enlighten me as to if this is true or not. Maybe the author intends to one of the secondary characters? The reason I say anything at all is that the story actually feels like a standalone. Even at 400 pages, it was a very quick read. Without several unavoidable offline issues, this book only took me about 8 hours to read. Definitely recommended.





1 comment:

  1. Great review, thanks for sharing! I'm just added Haven to my tbr list! Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete