Haven (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Haven Kate Quealy-Gainer Cook, Kristi . Haven. Simon Pulse, 2011. [416p]. Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-4424-0760-2 $16.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-1-4424-0762-6 $9.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 9-12. Out of the pile of brochures for boarding school that her stepmother unceremoniously dumped in her lap after her father’s death, Violet McKenna chose Winterhaven, not for its elite fencing team or academic integrity, but more out of a strange compulsion, a feeling as supernatural as her occasional premonitory visions. After her first day on campus, however, she realizes that her decision may not have been a fluke: it turns many of the students are, like Violet, teens with strange gifts they can’t explain and must hide from the world. Her roommate, for example, can astrally project her essence, while other classmates routinely move objects with their minds. Then there is Aidan Gray, the hot guy with a seemingly endless set of superpowers, including the ability to read Violet’s mind and her [End Page 274] rather, ahem, inappropriate thoughts regarding his physique. The two strike up a quick romance, although Aidan often swings between hot and cold; we soon learn the reason, which is, of course, that he is a vampire. Readers may think this is heading in the same old sparkly, angsty direction, but Cook throws in a twist: Violet’s ever-expanding powers indicate that she is actually a vampire slayer, and her visions reveal that another nasty vamp will use her to kill Aidan. Although Violet is not quite as kick-butt as Buffy, she’s no shrinking flower either, and her stubborn insistence on determining her own fate and standing up to Aidan will impress readers. The pair’s relationship is seriously sexy, and, in a refreshing change, Aidan seems to be one of the few guys of the supernatural ilk who will actually let his girlfriend take charge every so often. Hand this one to fans of Gray’s similarly themed Evernight (BCCB 7/08) and to all the girls who have broken the bindings on their Twilight books. [End Page 275] Copyright © 2011 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois