![Haven by [Lindsey, Mary]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/617Wr71F0fL._SY346_.jpg)
"Haven" was a really fantastic YA fantasy that follows Rain (Aaron Ryland) from right around the time his mother dies. Rain and his mother have lived on the streets of Houston for a long time, and he has grown up believing that it is all his fault. When his mother overdoses, he is scared for his future. A judge sends him to live with his aunt out in the middle of nowhere- an aunt he didn't even know existed. She is so unlike his mother that it's hard to believe they are twins. Rain slowly untangles the mystery of his past and family as well as the secrets the town is desperate to keep hidden.
To add to the intrigue, Rain finds himself attracted to Freddie, a beautiful young woman who seems to be trouble and is hiding a bunch of secrets of her own. As the mysteries heat up, so does their attraction. Between the romance and the mysteries, this book was impossible to put down! The writing flows so beautifully, and the pace is really perfect. Rain gets to piece together what he knows (not only about the secret lives of the townspeople but also about some recent murders) and learns tidbits from others in town that really keep the pace intense and steady throughout.
Overall, it was a really great story. I liked Rain a lot as a main character- although he had a bit of a rough side, he's really just a very lonely and isolated boy and experiences a lot of growth during the story. Although the story is wrapped up by the end of the book, I would love to see more books with these characters. There were a few side characters that I wish we could have learned even more about (like Petra- she was awesome!), and I will keep my fingers crossed that we can spend more time in this world and with other characters in future books. I don't want to say too much about what the fantasy elements are as they are slowly described in the book (and would be spoilery), but it has so much potential for a really fantastic series! I highly recommend this to all YA fantasy lovers!
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Review
"An exquisitely written tale featuring a noble, hopeful protagonist who finds his true love." - Kirkus Reviews
"Dangerous, dark, and a definite page-turner. And the romance... Swoon!" -- C.C. Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of the Shadow Falls series
"A smoking-hot hero and spine-chilling mystery = total win." -- Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"This electrifying tale will take you on an unexpected journey into a secret world of witchcraft and shape-shifters. Romance, adventure, and magic! Lindsey leaves you breathless and wanting more." -- Adriana Mather, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Hang a Witch
"This is not your mama's paranormal! Sexy, dark, and intense. Unputdownable!" -- Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author of Firelight
"Gripping and gritty, Haven had me glued to the pages from beginning to end! Rain is the best kind of hero--tough, sexy, sweet, loyal. He charges through this action-packed tale that had me tearing up more than once, and I was perfectly happy to follow!" -- Pintip Dunn, New York Times bestselling author of Forget Tomorrow
"An utterly gritty and satisfying resurrection of the monster genre. Rain is an intense narrator and you won't know whether to scream or swoon. Haven is an instant classic!" -- Courtney Allison Moulton, author of Angelfire
"Darkly compelling and deliciously chilling, Haven hooks you from the first line and never lets up. Gritty, spine-tingling, and full of nail-biting tension." -- Amalie Howard, bestselling author of Bloodspell
"Lindsey writes a hero with fire and gasoline. Then she lights a match with breakneck pacing and scorches a path to readers' hearts. Don't blink for a moment." -- Victoria Scott, bestselling author of Fire & Flood
"Dark, different, sexy, and edge-of-your-seat intense." -- Shawna Stringer, bookseller
Book Description
We all hold a beast inside. The only difference is what form it takes.
