Review: Haven by Mary Lindsey

Synopsis/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Rain Ryland has never belonged anywhere. He’s used to people judging him for his rough background, his intimidating size, and now, his orphan status. He’s always been on the outside, looking in, and he’s fine with that. Until he moves to New Wurzburg and meets Friederike Burkhart.

Freddie isn’t like normal teen girls, though. And someone wants her dead for it. Freddie warns he’d better stay far away if he wants to stay alive, but Rain’s never been good at running from trouble. For the first time, Rain has something worth fighting for, worth living for. Worth dying for.

Review: 

For the past few months I've been hearing non-stop good things about Mary Lindsey's Haven, and even though I had a copy I was hesitant to start it. I was worried that I wouldn't like it as much as everyone else.

As it turns out, I shouldn't have had a worry in the world, because Haven is AMAZING! Seriously, I should've listened to the everyone and read it sooner! 

Haven is told through Rain's POV. I tend to have a love-hate relationship with male POVs; however, in this situation I really enjoyed it. I thought Mary did a fantastic job of capturing the voice of a teenage boy. It seemed realistic as well as authentic. 

It also didn't hurt that I loved Rain from the moment he was introduced. Rain is confident as well as tough and maybe just a tad bit arrogant. He's never had the easiest life; however, with Aunt Ruby he's been given a second chance, one he hopes he won't screw up. His relationship with Aunt Ruby warmed my heart. They had such a natural, easy-going aunt-nephew relationship, and I loved seeing them form their own makeshift family. Additionally, I loved Rain but I think I loved Freddie even more. Freddie is 100% her own person - she does want she wants, says what she wants, and doesn't worry about the consequences. Her sarcastic tone won me over. I especially loved how FINALLY we have the girl calling the boy a ridiculous nickname. In this case, she called Rain "sprinkles" and it made me laugh every single time. I liked the variety of other side characters introduced as well. Also just throwing this out there: I would do almost anything for a book about Petra. I feel like she has a lot of good stories to tell. 

Haven contains one of my favorite things: a mysterious small town. Mary did such a great job of setting the scene. I found it easy to picture New Wurzburg. I also liked how it was a town with a lot of secrets. Everyone seemed like they had something to hide. Additionally, the town itself gave a creepy feel. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, dying to know what was lurking in the shadows. 

The plot in Haven is fast-paced and twisty. I especially enjoyed the supernatural edge to it. I won't say what supernatural beings are involved; however, I will say that their world is incredibly well developed. Additionally, I liked how nicely everything came together. There were so many times at which I chalked up a weird event to be nothing, but later on I realized it was essential to what was happening. It blew my mind time and time again and kept me coming back for more. There were so many times at which Mary completely threw me for a loop. 

Last but not least: the romance. Freddie and Rain had such great chemistry. I loved how they pushed and pulled at each other's buttons, especially at the beginning. Rain was determined to win Freddie over. There was also no insta-love feel to it, which is always a major win in my opinion. 

Reminiscent of Beautiful Creatures, Mary Lindsay's Haven weaves together an enthralling supernatural mystery. I can't wait to see what Havoc (book #2) brings! 

4.5 stars!!

Haven is now out!

Source: Hardcover provided by publisher for review - thanks EntangledTeen!

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Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

Review:

When Shattered Souls showed up in my mailbox this past week, I could not have been happier. Not only because I adored the cover to pieces but also because the premise sounded fascinating. Thankfully, Shattered Souls turned out to be a marvelous book!

Lenzi has not been having the greatest of years. Not only because she is still reeling from the sudden loss  of her dad a few months earlier but also she’s hearing voices…ones that won’t seem to go away. Hearing voices is a big problem on its own, but for Lenzi it is extra scary because voices are the reason behind her dad’s death, and she cannot be like him…she will be not like him. However, just as things are turning for the worse, a new mysterious guy shows up in her life. Alden isn’t like anyone she’s meant before. He’s sweet, stunning, and he says he can explain the voices- that they aren’t the evil things she thinks they are. Lenzi doesn’t know what to think…should she trust him or not? More importantly, she can’t deny the feelings she has for him, but there’s one tiny problem she already has a boyfriend...What will Lenzi do? Only time and more pages can tell in this sexy and exciting new paranormal debut!

I have to admit that when I first started this book I wasn’t too sure if I was going to like it. The start was a bit too slow for my liking and everything just seemed a bit too jumbled for my taste. However, as the novel progressed, it got better and better due to several reasons.

One of those reasons was the characters. I really enjoyed Lenzi’s character in particular. I felt Mary did a great job of presenting Lenzi’s problem with the voices as well as her confusion over the stories Alden told her of the past as well as her future. Alden was another great addition, and I especially enjoyed seeing his romance with Lenzi bloomed, because it was sweet as well as sexy and its development had a decent pace for a YA novel.

The plot of Shattered Souls was also fabulous. The idea of Speakers and Protectors was creative as well as well executed, which made it an A+ in my eyes. Better yet, I loved all the tension as well as twists and turns that came with it. I was never sure what was going to occur next especially towards the end. Moreover, seeing Alden and Lenzi interact and help the ghosts was definitely fun!

Full of romance, mystery, and thrill, Shattered Souls is one of the most promising debuts of the year. So, my words of advice: if you read one book this upcoming December let it be Shattered Souls. You won’t be disappointed…that’s for sure! 

Grade: A-

Shattered Souls (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads) will be released December 8, 2011!

Source: Teen Book Scene ARC tour