Book 1), Haven (The War of Princes

Wow, just wow. I have been looking for a great dystopia ever since Anglefall (Penryn's adventure) and this book may have been even better. Perhaps because this world is entirely created from the author and is so different while also being believable. I absolutely love these characters, I cried and laughed with them. I finished the book in between work and far into the night (4am!!!) The ending (no spoiler) was so emotional and yet left me with hope for a sequel. I dare not say more!!! P.S. This is written by an Amazing author!!!!!!!!

I have been reading a lot of YA recently (like everyone) and that has led me to the works of many new authors. Some have potential and many do not. Ms. Ivanovich has a load of potential. Her first book, Haven, took me a little while to get into (maybe about 50 pages), but after that, I couldn't put it down. Love the characters- they are totally believable and have strong well thought out personalities and the world Ms. Ivanovich has created is wonderfully interesting.

I know that the author has said for her it is difficult to finish a book (I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND), but please, finish the sequel (soon). I will definitely be buying it the first day it's out. I am also very excited to see how her writing has evolved since the first book. Kudos- Haven is a success!

So I first started reading this book right before my college finals thinking I would only read a few pages and get back to studying...but boy was I wrong! I have never written a review on a book before but after reading this I just had to give it the praises it deserved. This is definitely a must read and I haven't been as hooked on the plot and storyline as I was with the hunger games. Now please, if anyone knows when the sequel will be out please tell me so I can start counting down the days!!

I am willing to pay much more for the second if the author releases it. I can't believe this was a debut novel. Great job. If you are hesitating at all... for crying out loud one of the best $.99 books I have purchased on the store.

Wow! A R Ivonovitch has created an incredible world. The characters have depth and intelligence along with some scary flaws. Kaitlyn is definitely going to get into big trouble again soon and I can't wait to read about it.

WOW! What a great read! It made me wanting more, especially at the end....I just kept hoping it wasn't the last page! I was able to feel close to the characters, to feel their emotions!! When I wasn't reading it, I couldn't wait to pick it up and read what was gonna happen next!!! I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book!!!

I don't leave reviews often. So this means I really enjoyed Haven. I hope the author writes a sequel. I Love Rune and hope his life holds more joy in the future.
It's an easy, yet very enjoyable read. ESPECIALLY for the price. Give it a try, you won't regret it.

I'm an avid gamer and usually don't read many book but when my friends told me about this book I picked it up and to my surprised I was hooked. I could vividly see the world that this author has created. Hopefully one day some game developer picks up this book and some how turns it into a game. The adventures I would have in Haven!

I'm going to keep this brief because I don't like writing reviews, but I felt the need to support this new author. The book was awesome. It captured me, pulled me in, and didn't let me put my kindle down. It's a great read for people who like science fiction and fantasy. Give it a try! You won't regret it.

I was very well pleased with this book. Absolutely wonderful! Very easy to follow, hard to put down. Loved the details as well as the suspense. Looking forward to a part two or and other book from this author for that matter.

A perfect book for me and the only one of my SiFi-Fantasy books my wife has ever shown interest in reading. I am really looking forward to the next one now that I can put Haven down. Purchased at the store Kindle store.

For a first time author this book was excellent. The plot line was both well thought out and riveting. The characters were very real, one could easily see them as everyday people. I definitely will be waiting for more books from the series and the author. I highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed Haven. It had the right amount of excitment, fantasy, and romance considering the age. I'm hoping the author chooses to continue the story with a book 2. I'd like to see Rune and Katelyn make a way to be together and overthrow the Princes.

I just finished this book and i really enjoyed it. I saw on one of the reviews that it was a tween story, its not. It is fast paced, well written and i couldnt put it down. The main characters are interesting and well rounded, you feel like you know them. I cant wait for the next one!

I read a lot of books, but not many really catch my interest and stay with me after reading them. THIS book was very well written, and has stayed with me after reading it. I am really looking forward to the next book(s)! Nicely done - especially for a first book! Bravo! :~)

Interesting characters and ideas. Fun to read. This story has everything a YA book should have: adventure, love, scary monsters, and friends and family! This book was hard to put down and everything in the world stopped until I finished it.

I really enjoyed/loved this book! When I started looking for book 2 I was disappointed (because I have to wait to read it since it's not out yet) and so excited (because I can't wait to see what happens next). I love Rune and Katelyn!

The world created within these pages is diverse and well imagined I thoroughly enjoyed spending time in this world and learning of the characters and kingdoms. I eagerly await the second book and will be among the first to wn this for my kindle... am seeking a hardback to add to my favorites collection as well.

I'm reading a lot of YA fiction at present, and really enjoyed "Haven" as it was well written, has a likeable heroine and an imaginitive premise. If you're looking for something interesting that's easy to read, I can highly recommend this novel. I'm hoping the author writes a sequel soon!

With all the new young adult novels out there, I was a bit skeptical about this book. But as I read it, I found it to be refreshing and different. It had a maturity to the dialogue that many of the other young adult novels lack, yet it maintained its focus on the targeted audience. Haven brought a little bit of everything - some comedy, romance, friendship, adventure and a bit of suspense. It was a really great novel by first time author A.R. Ivanovich and she left me wanting more. I can't wait until the sequel!

it isn't often that i get a book and read the entire thing in a few days. Ms. Ivanovich tells such a compelling story that i had a hard hard time putting it down. the world that she creates is simply amazing. hugely entertaining. can't wait for the next in the series!!

When i first started this book i really liked where it was headed. The main charachter is interesting and easily relatable to a teenager but then as the story progressed it started to drag out, moved less quickly through events, and the author moved the story away from the elements in the beginning that i really liked.

I didnt finish this book i just couldnt bring myself to care about the characters or the storyline enough to keep going and with so much to read out there why waste time on something you dont love?

I don't normally write reviews, but with Haven, I just had to! This is one of the best books I'be read in a long time, and for a buck?!? I loved the adventure, romance, and wonderfull storytelling. I only hope that there'll soon be a sequel!

The story was very well written and captivated my imagination. I quickly fell in love with the book and the story. I found myself reading this book every time I had the opportunity. I can't wait for the next book in what I hope will become a series.

Ugh. I had to grit my teeth and force myself but I managed to finish the book. OK, it had a few decent moments. But overall it was pretty bad, at least to my tastes. The plot was pretty weak. I could lay out all the important points of the plot in a few paragraphs and you wouldn't miss much if you read that instead of the book. Why can a whole book be summarized so easily? Because at least 50% of the book (and I am seriously not exaggerating) is going on and on about the main character's emotional angst. She cries. She cries some more. She holds back the tears. She laments her frailty. She worries. She cries some more. And there is a constant monologue about her feelings. Lets not get into the romantic interests. Needless to say her knees feel weak on more than one occasion. And let's not forget her penchant for doing stupid things. She does them frequently. And she knows it! She is frequently criticizing herself with comments such as "This is crazy!", "Why am I doing this?", "I'm such a fool.", "I'm an idiot." Why does she keep doing stupid and foolish things? Well, I supposed it has to do with her being an emotional cripple who can't help herself. Or maybe she is just stupid. Most likely it is the author's poor way of moving the tepid story along. The whole story could be summed up as, naïve girl let's her curiosity get the better of her and ends up in a terrible situation. She cries, and cries some more, has endless emotional angst, has to face lots of really mean bad guys but in the end she summons up that courage and kills the bad guy. (Ooops, is that a spoiler? Well, not really as it was utterly predictable and so cliché.) If you like endless dialogue from an overly emotional heroine about her emotional angst maybe you'll like this. Otherwise, give it a pass.

This book is just amazing!! I'm wating for more!
Characters are very well constructed, and you always want to know more of them. They make you want to be part of the history, feel what they feel. Very recommended.

This novel seems to have bypassed any editorial or peer review. The dialogue is truly cringe worthy, the main characters are wooden and the villains are like bad comic book creations. The plot attempts to be cinematic- but that doesn't mean the action is an any way believable or genuinely suspenseful. Rather, it reads as though the author had lame action movie scenes in mind when writing this, but the execution fails more than even the most trite action movie. The only positive thing I can say is that the opening premise- a young girl discovers her world is not what it seems, and that a wider, hidden world is waiting- is timeless and offers countless ways to tell a great story. Unfortunately, the author in no way delivers on that classic premise.

The number of glowing reviews and the premise convinced me to give it a try, but the book (and author) suffer from self-publishing syndrome. With some more work and some professional editing, this might have made a book worth spending time and money on. As it stands, it's a disappointing hash of interesting ideas and a concerted effort at world building brought down by some really wretched dialogue and melodrama that would have benefitted enormously from a good old-fashioned red pen. (My Kindle version also had quite a few formatting errors and jumped typefaces at several points, once for over half a chapter.)

Ivanovich seems to want Katelyn Kestrel to be an every girl who finds herself thrust into the position of defending her Haven Valley world from the brutal, warring one surrounding it. Comparison to Katniss, Karou or Alina Starkov is inevitable, and Ivanovich isn't close to the same league as these stand-out character's authors. In truth, Katelyn is never much more than a vehicle for the writer, mechanically noting details for later exploitation in the plot when she's not doing the romance heroine dance of being inexplicably drawn to two very different young men, both of whom present a degree of danger to her. It's painfully obvious that the author has a good imagination and enjoys writing, but also that she lacks the breadth of experience and finesse that makes it worth paying for a book rather than feeling like you ought to be editing it for her. Even some extensive peer review could have saved this and moved it to another level. If there are plans to continue the series, I sincerely hope Ivanovich considers her craft and gets some experienced advice. She's selling herself short to put this much time and effort into world-building and ruining the effect with under developed characters and some truly gag-making dialogue. She's acheived a decent set up and some solid villains, but it won't matter if Katelyn's indecision and prattling make us long for them to finish her off. The idea that she must defend her homeland from discovery makes for solid and engaging drama, but the 'look! a chicken!' distraction to Rune and Lord Axton in the middle of every dramatic scene is just heavy-handed and lame. There's room for compelling romance to deepen the reader's involvement in this kind of story. I hope Ivanovich takes herself seriously, respects her craft and her fans and finds it next time out.

I picked up this book about a week ago. I am not a book reader at all, this was recommended to me by a friend, so I thought why not. I have to be honest that the first couple chapters wasn't my style (did not realize the book is a Teen Genre). However, I am really glad i kept reading, the story becomes so addicting it's like a great tv show, I just couldn't put it down. For those who are like me and not into the Teen genre (everytime i see "Teen Genre" I think Twilight...), I just want to point out that This Book Is Better! Yes, it has elements of the whole, self dicovery things mixed in, but this book is more of an epic fantasy adventure than anything.

I Recommend everyone to check out this book, because the ending is fantastic! You can always just wait for the movie version, but you know the book is always better!

If you are a fan of Twilight or the Hunger Games, you may very well enjoy Haven. While I do enjoy the occasional book that is simple to read, has a fun enough plot, and a teenage-romance scenario, I found Haven to be fairly formulaic in its plot structure. The plot seemed interesting when hearing about it, but I just wasn't interested in another Bella Swan in which the main character herself is just not very interesting or well-developed. To the book's credit, it had me wondering until the very end if one character was a protagonist or an antagonist, but overall I was not very impressed.

I hesitate to read indie books because of all the typos and bad formatting. This book is no exception. If you can get over the different type faces, poor formatting, typos and juvenile writing then the rest of the book is just mediocre. The teenage genre books like Hunger Games and indie books like Angelfall are fun to read if you are looking for something light hence my decision to try this book out. The character is above my 'naive' tolerance for any character and I had to stop after finishing 65% of the book. It was starting to become a struggle for me to complete each chapter.

Okay…What just happened? Talk about an incredible read. Its not very often I want to give a book 5 stars but this one is really tugging at me to do so. It has been quite a while that I’ve wanted to not sleep so I can read. Juggling life and reading like a fanatic is a difficult task. This time the book won! I truly was not expecting such a pulling read(pun intended). Haven had it all and more there was plenty of action and there was love and sacrifice also chalk full of wonderful characters. I seriously cannot wait to finish this review so I can dive into the next. My one question is why oh why had I not heard of this author before? There is definitely an influx of steampunk and I didn’t even know it. Goodness gracious this book was a blast I hope the trend continues! I am beyond excited the rest of the series is out and you should be too. Don’t hesitate this one does not disappoint.

The Story, there is this town called Haven the setting is wonderful the people are peaceful and everything is just peachy! Our main gal is very curious and she wants to know what is on the other side of the mountains. Seems okay at first but man oh man that is the very last thing anyone is allowed to do. For the past 700 years this quaint country has been in seclusion the part where things get very interesting is no one knows why and no one is talking. Katelyn has a knack for finding whatever she is looking for and she is positive she will be able to sneak out and sneak back in none the wiser. After a pretty terrible night when she is betrayed by someone she used to trust she makes a dash for it and her life will never be the same. Outside of her mountains she finds battle torn lands and quickly lands herself into some very serious trouble. She never meant for things to happen this way and now all she wants is to return home safely.

The Characters, I guess I’ll start with Katie-bug an affectionate name given to her by her father. At a young age she and her dad where abandoned by her mother and this hurt has carried with her for many years. Kat’s father remarried and had a son the four of them have a great family and all she could ask for, but the pain is difficult to erase. Of course there are two best friends I really enjoyed their carefree personalities and joyful interactions with each other. We get to meet those that are most important to Katelyn right away which was really nice. Now for the slap ya mama fun stuff! Rune, Rune, Rune, and add a dash of Dylan! Sigh. The people she meets are broken and extremely unbalanced. There is something very special about those on the outside and one cant help but fall for them. The bad guys where really nasty and I cant wait to meet more and find out more about them, what lead them to be so vile. This war that is raging has to have a cause and I cant wait to see what it is.

The End, I LOVED the ending because a major plot line is resolved and all seems “well enough” however, the author leaves the reader hungry for more! The balance between resolution and unanswered is exquisite. I don’t want to spoil anything so I will keep this portion of my review short what I will say is people get what they deserve and there is more to be discovered! I hope we get to find out the why in the mother abandoning Kate…there was a reference where it could just be nothing more than selfishness but as a mom myself that is a very difficult concept to wrap my mind around.

My Rating

5.0 Seriously this knocked my socks off the next book has really big shoes to fill I hope it does just that!! Rune Rune Rune Rune…

I started off my reading year with Haven, and I'm so glad I did. I talked about this quite a bit in my end of year survey, but 2015 wasn't the greatest reading year for me as far as fiction goes. Aside from a couple of really great books, most of what I read I seemed to either hate or just find okay. I can think of about three fiction books that I really enjoyed. I wound up enjoying the nonfiction I read much more, and while there's nothing wrong with that, I was really hoping this year would be better as far as fiction goes.

Which is why starting off my year with Haven was such a great idea. I wound up loving it (and the book I read next thankfully), and I'm so glad that I already have the rest of the series. I'm pretty sure I also mentioned in my end of year survey that my goal was to finish some of the million series I'm reading, not start anymore. Clearly, I broke that first thing, but I don't feel too bad about it largely because Haven was excellent and I already have all the books.

Haven was an excellent start to the series. I found all of the characters compelling. The book takes place across two worlds, neither of which is our own. I knew the book was labelled as dystopian going in, but I wasn't expecting to wonder just which world was the dystopia as I was reading. After reading, I'm still not sure about one of the worlds. I have so many questions in the best possible way.

I'm fascinated with the world of this story. All of its rules and how it was laid out and the characters within it. The romance too was a great part of the book. Romance, I think, was one of the areas that really felt blah to me last year, so I was delighted to love the romance in Haven as much as I did. The whole book had me on the edge of my seat as I tried to figure everything out, and I never quite knew what was going to come next.

If you're looking for a great fantasy book, I would recommend this one. I can't wait to get to the next in the series.

(Also, unrelated to the story itself, but I'm in love with the cover. I don't say that all that often, but this happens to be the second book recently where the cover struck me.)

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I finished this book in a matter of hours because I could not stop reading.

What started out as a simplistic story developed into a fast paced action thriller. Truly the author could have drug out this story much more and I suppose some people might have desired that, but she won me over with her head long rush to the very satisfying end.

A young head-strong restless girl disregards her parents and the law to learn what lies beyond the borders of her known world. She's only known love and protection so the savagery of what she discovers renders her helpless to withstand the treatment she receives. She makes lots of mistakes and misjudges many people before she starts to pay attention to the fact that she can't rely on snap decisions in such an unknown environment. She must learn to adapt quickly to survive. She is able to retain her character even amongst dire circumstances, but she knows now what she has sacrificed to satisfy her wanderlust.

It's a great story. I highly recommend it. It is about young people, but seeing as anyone older had to get through their teens to get to where they are now, I think it would appeal to any age group.

Thid book started off okay but it just was'nt very smooth. Some of the characters could have been more interrsting. Even though it was a sci-fi/fantasy type book i thought the characters were somewhat ridiculous with no real depth. It was just too choppy and seemed to leave alot out. I am not interested in a book two.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book. Wow. This is the kind of book that keeps you turning the page, not wanting to put it down, saying ‘just one more chapter!’ only to get to the end and need to dive into the next book ASAP. That is Haven.

Katelyn Kestrel is the heroine of this series. Seventeen years old and a bit of a rebel, Katelyn doesn’t just accept the way things are, she questions them. Growing up in Haven, an isolated kingdom/country nestled in a hidden mountain valley, she knows that to try to find a way out is the greatest law, punishable by imprisonment or worse. However, Katelyn can’t help herself. She’s always had an instinct about finding what she’s looking for, and finding her way out of Haven is no different. She suddenly finds herself in a cave, forced to choose between taking the safe route and going back, or helping a wounded soldier in her path. Katelyn helps the soldier and that’s where the story really begins.

There is a minor-almost-love-triangle in this book. Katelyn has strong feelings for her rescued soldier, Rune, but the other young man she meets, the Common Lord Dylan Axton, has his eye on her as well, showering her with gifts.

Katelyn discovers secrets about herself and her people and soon, Haven’s fate is entirely in her hands.

The world building in this book is captivating. There were little things that drove me a little crazy, like the Haven people’s superstition that name alliteration was good luck (hence our heroine being Katelyn Kestrel, sister to Kevin Kestrel, friend of Kyle Kiteman, etc.) I quickly forgot all that once the plot moved forward. The powers are very cool, and the military and royal hierarchy well thought out.

The best part of this book though? It’s a fantasy novel done right. The reader is not inundated with pages and pages of description, we’re given just enough to set the scene to feel as though we’re there, and then we move on. As I stated before, I could not put this book down. I said ‘just one more chapter’ for a good seven chapters before forcing myself to go to bed. I told myself I would get some work done before starting book 2, however I’m already almost 20% into Paperglass and let me tell you, it’s as good if not better than Haven!

There are plenty of questions left unanswered in this book; for example, if the Haven people have been secluded from the Outside World for over 700 years, why do they still speak the same language, albeit with a strong accent? At least some of these questions are answered later in the series (which I only know because I’ve started the next.)

In my opinion, this is a must read YA title for readers looking for a strong heroine, adventure, magic, and alternate history. I did deduct half a star because there were more than a couple editing errors, perhaps not enough to distract the average reader, but definitely enough for me to catch.

Haven and the rest of the series was originally self-published and now available from Alloy Entertainment.

This book was one big breath-taking adventure. At the start I was not so sure about this steampunk-themed story that had characters with distinct modern mannerisms, but once the part came where she goes to the 'outside', my mind slotted it into fantasy easily and the from then, it was a wild ride. Katelyn is taken prisoner, then tested, tortured - all because she is believed to be first a spy and then later a source of power the Princes need. Most of the book is her planning her escape which somehow gets her in much worse situations. She, however, doesn't break under the foreignness of her surroundings or the intimidation of people who are lethal beyond control. The world-building was so interesting - the mix of steampunk and traditional fantasy elements, the mountains that separated the two, and the order of governance in the Lastlands. Her primary driving force for the book was to keep Haven out of the control of the Lastlands, even when she loses the one she starts to love.

Speaking of love, the romance, while mostly a backstory, didn't do much to convince me. It was insta-love at best, and Rune is honestly not that interesting of a character. And while on the subjects of characters, the villain was stereotypical power-hungry maniac, so expecting something better in the subsequent books. The other secondary characters that were interesting were Leila March and Brendon Axton (I really hope to see more of him), while Dylan was a predictable douchebag. Overall, I think the plot, storytelling and world-building are the highlights of the book. The world in Haven, though, still confuses me a bit with its weird customs, and the romance leaves much to be desired. I am, however, optimistic about future books because the world of it itself interests me.

Received a free galley from Alloy Entertainment via Netgalley; this does not influence my opinions or the review.

*I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion*

I have to start by saying this a really good book. Sure, there is a believable world created here as a backdrop. But what I loved was that it was really well-written in a strong female voice. Katelyn Kestrel is the kind of hero a girl can believe in. She lives in a mountain valley called Haven--and I mean a valley completely surrounded by towering mountains through which there is no way out. Supposedly. No one has been outside of Haven in over 700 years. It's sort of a steam punk meets epic fantasy kind of place. Mechanical carriages to help the horses out. Running water. Weather men. In a land where things are simple. I like true fantasy, where the setting is more medieval, but I have found that I also enjoy the modernized take on the old standby. Ms. Ivanovich pulls it off with vigor...

Read the full review at www.litmamahomeschool.com

I have read a lot of books in the last few months, and I have enjoyed each and every one of them. However, Haven is probably one of my favorites that I have read recently. It is written by author A.R. Ivanovich, and is the first book in the War of Princes series. When I picked this book to review, I was intrigued by the description of the book and was pretty excited to read it. Basically, it is the story of a 17 year old girl named Katelyn Kestrel. She lives in the country of Haven, which has remained isolated from the rest of the world for many years. Katelyn has always found life in Haven quiet and boring, and she finds herself wondering what lies outside of the mountains that protects their sanctuary. Katelyn has always had a special “gift” in that she can always find what she is looking for. Because of this, she has no problem finding the hidden doorway to the outside world. Once outside of Haven, she finds a world that is more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.

I have to say, I really enjoyed this book, and I was so glad that I have the rest of the series to read now too. I loved the story and the pictures that the author created with her writing. I am a book nerd, and I really do enjoy fantasy and science fiction. If a book has magic and fantasy aspects to it, I am bound to love it and this book did not disappoint. I liked the main characters, and the romance aspect of it was nice too. Katelyn was a strong female character, but that did not truly come out until later in the book (and in the other 3 books) because she was adjusting to her newfound identity. She spend most of her life sheltered and living a comfortable life, and it took her a little while to find her strong willed side. I do have to say, that when I read the first few pages, I was not into the book and wanted to stop reading, but I advise you to keep reading. It is so worth ii! All in all, I recommend this book to all lovers of young adult and fantasy.

Note: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review from NetGalley.

I just adored this book. I really enjoyed reading it and I am really excited to move on to book 2.

Most novels, especially in Sci-Fi/Fantasy, move a little slowly in the beginning; especially the first book in a series. You need to get to know the world and the characters. However, A.R. Ivanovich’s first book in the War of Princess series was not slow at all! I didn’t find it dragging on in parts, and I was never bored. She did a great job in world building, character growth, and overall in making me care about what happens.

Katelyn is a girl who has a special gift, and quite frankly it is a gift we could all use. She can find whatever she is looking for. There is nothing she can’t find; lost socks, missing car keys, her best friend in a crowded room, secret entrances to a world her people have been blocked from for 700 years…

Leaving Haven is the first mistake of many, as Katelyn navigates the outside world and unknowingly becomes a pawn in a war that has been waging, and a barbaric world that Haven has been hidden from for decades.

Katelyn is a believable heroine. Rune, the love interest, isn’t in the story as often as I would have liked but he is seriously the only good character in the entirety of Lastland. Seriously every single person; and the ones not quite human anymore, are plain evil! Dylan, oooh…don’t get me started on Dylan! (Spoiler) I know I shouldn’t have trusted, well Katelyn shouldn’t have trusted him, from the beginning but he is so charismatic and charming that even I was fooled, and I know better!

Anyway, seriously good book. I definitely recommend it!

Have you ever had the urge to go places that you were never aloud to visit? Ever thought that the world is bigger than it seems? For Katelyn Kestrel, life in Haven is boring. She has always wondered why they were never aloud to leave the safety of the mountains to see what else was out their. It turns out that there is a very good reason for that.

Katelyn manages to find a way out of the mountains that contain Haven, and she is immediately finds out that the world outside of the mountains is very different from the sheltered life that she lives.

I did quite enjoy Haven, but for some reason i just was not able to get into it as much as i would have liked to. When i was reading it, i was enjoying it; but when i put it down to do other things, i just did not have to motivation to pick it back again.

Ivanovich used plenty of foreshadowing, with it almost bordering on it being used too much. This made the multitude of plot twists not as surprising as i would have liked them to be.

I would recommend Haven to people who like Fantasy reads.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book is a delight of twists & turns and developments. The world building is awesome. At first, I connected Haven to Jeanne DuPrau's City of Ember. But Haven has magical powers, so while the book is as great as City of Ember, magic trumps all!

The book starts off nicely, then turns sour once Katelyn is captured. I thought I would hate the book, that it was too dystopian and depressing. I was pleasantly surprised. There are great characters, the world building is (again) awesome, and the plot twists are wonderfully captivating. The downside was the insta-love. The guy didn't really give her a reason to fall in love with, nor did he encourage a relationship, so Katelyn was kind of stupid for pursuing him. I did, however, find him a more complex character than Katelyn herself. Still, the books were captivating, (especially since the romance didn't take over the plot,) and I ended up desperately searching for the rest of the series immediately after finishing Haven. Having finished the series by now (I couldn't stop!), I definitely recommend it as an excellently written & well developed treasure.

First posted on : https://cupofteaandarmfulofbooks.wordpress.com/

Katelyn Kestrel has always had a knack for finding missing things. All she needs to do is think about what she wants to find, and her gut tells her where to go.When she decides that she wants to check out the forbidden outside world, it’s not difficult to find. A quick look and then she’ll return to the idyllic Haven with a tale of a secret adventure. Unfortunately, Katelyn quickly finds out that there was a reason that access out of Haven was blocked hundreds of years ago. Suddenly thrust into a violent world with warring princes, people with abilities, and the frightening possibility that she’ll never be able to return to Haven, Katelyn has to figure out a way to escape without bringing this violence down on the home she left behind.

HAVEN was a quick read with likable enough characters. But, as a whole, I feel that the story could have used a little more character building because I felt that a lot of their actions were sudden and not thoroughly explained. There wasn’t really any buildup to events; they just occurred in a fly by the seat of your pants way. Which made it very easy to flip through chapters, but not very easy to connect to characters. I understood why they were in danger, but I didn’t feel the danger. Katelyn was a typical teenager who–surprise!–is slightly different than her friends. She’s not incredibly popular, does things that alienates her from her peers, and longs for adventure. It becomes a little bit of a story of how ::special:: she is, which may have been meant as an ::ah ha!:: moment but had been obvious from the start.

She also was a whiner, which is something that can drive me crazy in a protagonist. Her call to adventure was so stupid. She’d had a bad evening, people made fun of her, and when she got home the door was locked. Instead of knocking on the door like a normal person, after saying how much her family–half blood, half step–loved her, she decides to run away because she just wants to be anonymous somewhere. I get the desire to escape, especially when this is meant to be an adventure story. However, running away seemed so extreme after she had literally said the paragraph or so before how much they loved her. It just marked her as very immature, a trend that continued when she had dealings with characters–including a couple cases of instant-love–in the outside world. The other characters in the outside world were interesting. Dylan Axton helped her around the new world and served as a way for her and for readers to learn how the world worked out there, while Rune served as a tragic character who couldn’t control what was happening to him. I liked when they were more involved in the story.

The world building of the outside world was done well. At first I didn’t feel that it went into much detail, but as the story progressed the world was gradually built up with only a few moments where I felt it was slightly info-dumpy. The outside world was more fascinating than Haven; whenever the characters were in Haven, the story slowed because it was the standard teenagers goofing off just before graduation fare. I thought that A.R. Ivanovich did a nice job with building up the world of abilities (and those who use them for both good and bad), Dragoons and their military standing, as well as the motivations of the people in the outside world. I wish that the novel hadn’t moved so quickly through events and places because it would have been fascinating to see how Katelyn reacted to common life there.

HAVEN is one of those books that wraps up with a tidy little bow and if I didn’t have the next three in the series lined up on my kindle, I would assume that HAVEN was the end. As it is, there wasn’t much left in the way of continuing the story other than the vague threat of ::something is out there::, so I am interested in seeing how the series continues. There’s a lot of potential for me to like the outside world and its characters even more, so I’m hoping that they get away from Haven in the next book.

3 stars.

I received a read-to-review copy of HAVEN from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Can you say instant love? Not only do our heroine/hero characters pretty much find it... I found it within these pages, too!

If you are a fan of YA and a mix of supernatural/fantasy, this may be your book. Katelyn is essentially a teenager from a utopia "land." She has always had a knack for finding things... Including the world outside her community when she longs to escape after humilation at the hands of her ex-boyfriend.

What she quickly realizes is that the outside world is a cruel place. She is going to have to make and balance some big decisions in order to keep the people she loves safe.

The very best part... The world building skill here is perfection. Everything is explained, but not in a way that detracts from the story. I enjoyed the discovery of the different Abilities, and the structure it creates in the outside world provided for more depth in the story.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Haven. Katelyn has a great life. She has wonderful friends and family, but life in Rivermarch is s little boring. The inhabitants are warned to never venture out of the valley of Haven, but when Katelyn gets s chance to see what's over the next mountain, she grabs it. What she doesn't expect is that the outside world is worse than she imagined. With a magic, romance, action and mystery, Haven is sure to please. I liked the great plot, interesting characters, and the unexpected twists in the story. It might be a little violent for some, but I still highly recommend it.

I bought this book and didnt read it immediately. But when I started it, I could NOT put it down. I was pulled into Katelyns world.. I really loved this book, it was so full of suspense and action and I didnt know what to expect! I just wanted to find out more with Katelyn. The characters, the story, and the two worlds described by Katelyn are so amazing.
Now im not going to spoil the whole story, just not going to write about the ending, because it has one good end.
It starts off with Katelyn being very curious about the outside world, out of Haven. Haven is a country where she and her family and friends live, and is situated in a valley. With Katelyns curiosity she manages to find her way out of Haven.When she makes it through to the other side she knows she musnt tell anybody about Haven or bring anybody with her.It has to remain hidden. As she makes her way through the caves she finds an injured soldier, Rune Thayer, also called a dragoon. From there the story just gets more interesting. She takes care of him and helps him out of the cave and finds herself in a town called Breakwaters.
Here shes held prisoner, by the common lord Brandon and Dylin Axton. At first she doesnt know what it all means and why, first they think shes a spy because theyve never seen anyone like her before, her accent, eye colour which is silver grey, her clothes etc. and shealso finds out that out of Haven, theres been an ongoing war for years between princes, and that power is gained by draining out the life of a person and their abilities. The princes army is controlled like this: each region has a margrave, and under the margraves rule is the commanders jr and snr and they have platoons of soldiers and the soldiers are called dragoons. Dragoons are also people who have strong abilities. Dragoons are also not allowed to have friends or family.
At first you get to like Dylin, and you think that he and Katelyn might have some connection there but in the end you find out hes true colours and want to hate him.. and the unexpected always happens, I really didnt see it coming, that Rune and Katelyn fall in love, and he teaches her how to use the shadow chasers and to control her abilities. and now she knows her people and Haven needs to be protected from outside and the princes. In the end he helps her get back home to Haven.
This book has action, romance, some science and adventure. I really thought this was a good read, and I cant wait for the second book! It kept me turning pages and wanting to find out the secrets of Haven and there are so many un answered questions.
I was not disappointed, and so totally worth my money. Go ahead and buy it if youre like me and love an awesome story like this..:-)

This is yet another "young girl coming of age" story. I've been reading several of these lately and while this one does follow the formula it was a good read and definitely worth purchasing. The story lacks sometimes, and in unecessary ways. For example the long stretch where she's trying to escape from the bad guys fortress. You know she won't succeed, you know she's going to get caught, but the story just keeps on going. Like we care. But the basic plot line is truly original, I've never read anything like it, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next one in the series.

The formula is: "hot young woman (who does not know she's hot) with mysterious powers meets handsome but unavailable young man and has adventures." In this case the mysterious powers are well justified--and I can't tell you why without ruining the book. The unavailable young man is actually two men, one of them seems untrustworthy and the other one might turn into a monster at any time. The hotness of the heroine? Required in the YGCA framework apparently, at least in this story you can only figure it out because everyone seems to want her.

I am comparing this with Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days) and The Fallen Star (Fallen Star Series Book 1). Compared to Angelfall the execution is worse. The story really does become very predictable at times. While it is easy to read at times it is simply too predictable. Not on a grand scale, the idea at the core is frightening and shocking, but in a page to page sense. Compared to the Fallen Star the story is much better based, given the critical first leap of belief the rest of the story just obviously follows from there. There are no unecessary additions to the plot line, the author had one critical idea and then just carried on from there.

One problem is that the story is circular. It really could stand alone as a stand alone novel. I can't see how the author is going to make this into a series. I especially can't figure out how the following books will be as surprising as this one. But I'm going to get them and read them. This is a good novel by an author who is learning the craft.

While not a teen, I don't think I object to the standard YA fare. For the most part, I enjoyed the story, the world-building, and the characters. I agree with one of the previous reviewers about a bit too much of the "if you'd told be last week I'd be doing... I would've said you were crazy" (or sthg along those lines); and furthermore, I felt somewhat turned off by a girl in the middle of what ought to be a terrifying/unsettling adventure thinking and/or commenting on the attractiveness of her pursuers/jailers/acquaintances. I don't necessarily think that's out of place -- it's possible instead that I just found it too blatant or maybe this is geared for girls looking for a romance read (my apologies in advance for those who find that comment sexist).

It is always hard for me to start a new series and get into a groove with the story and how the new author writes. While it did take me a bit to really get going with this book I was hooked by the end of this book. The characters are interesting and the world they live in is realistic and exciting. I am definitely happy that I found this series! Now on to the next book!

I'd rate it a 3.5 if I could. With all the great reviews out there, I was really expecting to like this book a lot more than I did. There wasn't really anything I disliked per se, I just never fully connected with the characters and because of that it was just an ok read for me. It was about 20% into the book before I felt like I wanted to read without just making myself continue on. Towards the end of the book, I found I was just skimming the paragraphs. The story had a good concept, it was written well, but there was a lack of character development for me that didn't really have me pulling for anyone in the end. I know I am clearly out numbered as far as how I feel about the book and I hate leaving a so-so review, but unfortunately that's all the book was to me... so-so.

Haven by A.R. Ivanovich is a free NetGalley ebook that I read after my first out of two exams during finals week in mid-December. Seeing that 4 books of this newly re-dustjacketed series has released onto NetGalley all at once, I thought I'd take a look at the first book....first.

Only slightly dystopic in nature (i.e. the people of Earth retreating underground to avoid technology and vehicular transportation), the style of writing for Haven is haphazard, bumbling, and involves a heroine who struggles and relies on male characters in power/royalty when things get confusing. Ultimately, too light and formulaic.

I see there were earlier versions of this book. If there were any issues with those versions I certainly don't see them in the version I read, which was released in January 2016.

I found this story imaginative, interesting, well written and well paced.

Haven Valley is a large area of various towns surrounded by "impenetrable mountains". It's a peaceful and crime free society that has been isolated for seven hundred years after, "Our forebears demolished the tunnels out of Haven Valley..."

The inhabitants enjoy some technology, and have electricity and indoor plumbing. But research in flight is forbidden, attempting to leave Haven is a crime.

Katelyn is curious, she's been known to wander and explore, and she wants to know what is outside the walls of their mountainous fortress. "Where did we come from before we colonized Haven, and why can't we go back?" She wonders. Wouldn't you? I know I would.

I was very impressed with Katelyn. I liked her. She's a believable mix of spunk, loyalty, doubt, fear, and naivete. I cared about her, and I rooted for her.

She has "a knack for finding what" she looks for, and what she looks for is a way out of Haven.

Many of us are familiar with Young Adult heroes or heroines who are special in some way, a "chosen one". What I found very refreshing in this story is that while Katelyn has abilities, which are learned about later in the story, she is not unique. And she's not instantly a master, she must learn, she lacks knowledge, experience and confidence. And through it all she remains a seventeen year old girl who's gotten herself into a situation that is over her head.

There is a bit of an appearance this story might develop a love triangle. For those of you who, like me, dislike love triangles I can tell you there is not one here.

I am very glad I picked this one up, and have already purchased the next book in the series.

I was provided a copy of this book by Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. If I hadn't liked it I would have said so with no hesitation. However I am pleased to have discovered another very good story.

I've been an avid reader of fantasy since I was a preteen and this book was recommended to me by a friend and I gave it a go.

If you are a fan of fantasy, you are used to the long-winded expositions setting up the author's world for the characters to interact with which is definitely a strength of A.R. As an adult, I didn't find the intro long but some younger readers may struggle and want to "get to the action" of the plot: Utopian societies are not exactly exciting. She doesn't get lost in her descriptive narratives and they unfold piece-by-piece when the plot calls for it. Especially when A.R gets into the Outside portion, she beautifully tells about the hierarchies and societies which easily immerses you into the book.

As for the protagonist, Katelyn, I am a bit torn like her. I am not usually a fan of the "predestined" protagonist that will be thrown into extraordinary circumstances but you know will always come out okay if a little bruised because well, the book needs to go on. A.R. tries her best to avoid this trope by adding in some romance with Rune which is a rarity for the genre. I think this is more about the "teen love" but it all happens so fast before "stuff happens" and causes problems for the couple. I wish the relationship was more fleshed out to draw more sympathy from the readers when said stuff happens.

I do applaud A.R. for not falling into the trap of many first time fiction writers of "telling" and not "showing". There are times where she does dwell on Katelyn's fancy-free teenage life before entering the Outside while there. On the contrary, Katelyn' moral decisions are a reflection of her personality and not simply plot devices to move the story forward. The actual fight scenes are very well written and couldn't stop reading during them.

The climax seemed very abrupt and is the only real problem I had with the pacing. I felt there should have been more to the story, especially with her friend Sterling, but I know there is now a second book out which I will definitely read and continue on Katelyn's journey.

I should add as an addendum that I read the Kindle version and it had a fair amount of solecisms for a published work. I dunno if the "hard copy" book has similar problems but it didn't detract much from the story.

I am honestly surprised that this series is not much more popular. It's one of the best series I have read (YA or otherwise). Don't let the "steampunk" description throw you off, the storyline is original and very entertaining. Fast paced but extremely well written. Loved it!

I just finished reading Haven and must say I loved it. From the character development to the many descriptive tangents throughout - overall the book was delightful and captivating. Unlike some books of this type which are either too primitive or too esoteric..this story made me feel like I was right in the heart of the worlds I was reading about. The range of emotions ran the gamut with every succeeding chapter. Being a 60 yr old male I may be an anomaly for this genre but I take my hat off to the author on her first work and look forward to more from her in the future. Do yourself a favor and take a trip to Haven yourself now ......

Fast review: Starts out a little slow but soon becomes interesting and mindbogglingly creative relatively quick. It's worth the 2.99 (or however much) to read. Suitable for teens who have enjoyed "Angelfall", "Divergent", and The Hunger Games."

I originally bought this book because it's super cheap on the store and the summary interested me. (I actually bought the second book first and suffered from bouts of confusion and floundering but soon rectified that.) Soon thereafter I began to wonder if I wanted to continue or not because nothing really seemed to happen. Haven, the homeland of our slightly moody and feisty heroine, Katelyn Kestrel, is a really boring place. It's peaceful and harmonic and everyone gets along just grand, for the most part. Wonderful to perhaps retire to, but not good story material. But the plot picks up quickly as Kat discovers an old puzzle to satisfy her (and our) curiousity: the way to the Outside. Everyone says it doesn't exist, but what would our story be without Kat finding it with her lucky hunches? Find it she does, and she soon regrets doing so as she is introduced to the horrors of this Outside, able to trust only herself and a mysterious, taciturn soldier who is the enemy.

While I can't exactly call this full-blown steampunk, it does share some qualities with the genre, which I enjoyed. I was mostly too busy being mesmerized by the stunning world-building. I've never found a story quite like this. The hierarchy of the Dragoons, Commanders, and Princes is brilliant, as well as the concept of morphing into the higher offices; to acquire more power, one must sacrifice something. These guys sacrifice their humanity and in return become something else... It sends shivers down my spine! But the idea of clinging to one's self, wishing to remain human even as one is forced to kill others to gain status, also appeals to me. Rune, a secondary character in the book and Kat's Dragoon friend, quickly became a favorite of mine. He lives in this desolate existence, having to deny who he really is in order to protect his family, until Kat comes along and gives him hope. There is always the choice to do good, the option, and Rune's small rebellions help prove that.

I could probaly ramble forever about this book and the themes and layers of the society -- from the military to the lords; from the historians to the children -- but I've done so enough. I'm very glad I gave this series a chance. I'm waiting here going nuts trying to figure out what will happen to Kat and her friends next.

Haven is a clever little fantasy adventure that hardly starts as such, seeming more like a normal first person POV teen drama. Once the plot really kicks in though, it's apparent that things are far from normal, adding in little fantasy elements like special powers and mystical beasts alongside a faint steampunk theme. Each little part adds more and more inner character development, which I really love to see in the books I read, filled with little triumphs, realizations and even difficult personal growth that many people are forced to experience. And this isn't even getting into the love triangle romance!

While there is plenty to praise, there are also just a few things for criticism; some of it plot, some of it format. I felt like it was a tad bit on the predictable side and some of the foreshadowing was a bit heavyhanded, but it wasn't so much that it made the book unenjoyable. I actually felt a little bit proud when something I noticed or predicted came true more often than not. I also noticed exactly two grammatical errors and a few places where the font randomly changed which I may or may not blame on the kindle... not reslly sure. It was completely readable regardless.

For the very first book I had the pleasure of reading on my brand new kindle fire, I can't say I'm not pleased. I was able to read the entirety of it in about three days of on and off casual reading, so it was a nice length without being too crazy.

The book has a good premise and world building. Characters are well developed so that you feel like you know them, and love or hate them accordingly. I don't usually read books with teenagers as the main characters and honestly, I think the book cover art work enticed me to try it. Silly, right? It's a quick and easy read and I'm glad I bought it. For parents: It doesn't have inappropriate sex or language, does have violence, and would be a good book for a tween and up who are interested in this genre.

I'm a huge fan of dystopian fantasy. I've read the more popular ones and not so popular ones. This book series is becoming one of my favorites. I've the first in the series 'Haven' three times, 'Dragoon' twice, and 'Monarch' once (but only because I just got it). I can't get enough of this the world that A. R. Ivanovich has created. The characters feel real and the rich depiction of the world itself make me feel transported right there beside them. I can't wait to read more! Keep up the good work Ms. Ivanovich!

I don't really remember what made me purchase this book but I absolutely loved it! I read it in less than a day, I couldn't put it down! The way the main character thinks and acts is positively delightful! She is smart and witty and her sense of humor is hilarious! Yet she is real, down to earth and a deep thinker. The main idea is unique and well-developed and I can't wait to see how it ends. It was clean and appropriate. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can hardly wait for the next one!! I am a fan!

I just happened across this book and noticed that I could borrow it for free with my Prime account. I fell in love with and ending up buying it just for that fact and being able to keep it instead of returning it. i was a little disappointed seeing that it didn't have a sequel and the author said they might make a sequel. Goodreads.com sent me an email letting me know that there is now a second book!!! AWESOME! And from the ending of the second a third is on the way! Happy Day!

I found this book by browsing the highest ratings in sci-fi & fiction. The description had an original feel to it, and the cover was intriguing, so I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did, because it was a great read. I always look up the authors I read as well, so when I found out that Miss Ivanovich was a new author I was excited to write a review and help her first book get the attention it deserves!

That being said, I like to start w/ any negative comments I have so that I can finish on a positive note. :D

If there's anything negative I could say about Haven, it's that it's a fairly slow starter. It wasn't a problem for me personally, but less patient readers may get a little, well, impatient. Take that with a grain of salt though - I'm conscious of the fact that this is a teen/young adult novel with a female protagonist, and I'm a guy in my late 20's, so the beginning, which concerns Katelyn's home and school life, will be a lot easier for its primarily intended audience to identify with. And just to reiterate, while I recognized that the beginning was a bit slow, the steam punk influences, the mysterious hints about the outside world and founding of Haven, and the quality of writing, among other things, were more than enough to keep me engaged until the meat of the plot began to unfold.

I also wanted to make a note about the larger than usual number of typos in the kindle version. I worry that people will make a "bush league" sort of attribution to the author. More likely, it's error that occurs in the process of formatting the digital file to be compatible with the store's publishing software (I hope to publish at some point and looked into doing so through the store, and have read that it's difficult to make it turn out perfectly). My point is, it's probably the store's fault and not the author's so keep that in mind!

As far as the positives go, I think Haven has a lot to offer. The basic premise of a cloistered, utopian community isn't unheard of, but the author takes the idea, makes it her own, and executes it masterfully. She did a fantastic job revealing the history of Haven little by little, so that I devoured every nugget of information she provided and was always extremely curious to find out more. The characters were all interesting and realistic, and some (I'm thinking of Katelyn's dad, for instance) featured archetypes/personalities that I don't think I've really seen before. She did a great job with Rune and Dylan in particular, keeping you on your toes, never completely sure that you knew what they were really like until the end. Katelyn, the protagonist, was also great of course - very believable and easy to get invested in.

The last thing I want to comment on is that the story has a "happy" ending. I'm a very, very firm believer in novels having happy endings. Save your poetic or literary or whatever-fancy-word-you-want-to-call-them endings for short stories! If you're going to write a novel and get people emotionally invested in your characters, those characters should be not necessarily be perfectly happy, but realistically content(if you don't understand what I mean by that, read the last few pages of the last book of The Inheritance Cycle...Eragon's cliche "My life sucks but what the unknown future has in store is exciting so I'm happy" contentment is NOT realistic). I'm not going to give spoilers, but suffice it to say that while things aren't exactly the way Katelyn would like them to be at the end of Haven, she is happy and you leave the book feeling content. That, more than anything, is a good reason to read this book.

In case you didn't know Miss Ivanovich is currently writing a sequal to this book! There's a lot I'm still very curious about, so I for one will be excitedly awaiting it's release. :D

Haven: War of the PrincesI really enjoyed this book! I am not a young adult, but the story is strong enough that it kept me wanting to read more and find out where it was going. Ivanovich's prose was excellent, her characters well developed and her main character had backbone and strong morals and ethics. She left you with enough questions that if there is a sequel you'll want to read it, but the book stands alone as a great story without resorting to a cliff hanger ending. I say Bravo!

I really loved Haven! I will admit that the beginning was a little shaky, but once Katelyn found the way to the Outside, the story went at a great pace with a couple good twists. There were two or three small things that weren't exactly mistakes, I just felt like they didn't fit or could have been explained better or earlier, which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.

Katelyn was amazing. I honestly felt like I was reading about myself. She has always wanted a big adventure, to do something that you only read about, but when she actually got what she wanted, she realized it wasn't as fun as she had always imagined it would be. Katelyn has lived inside a "bubble" her whole life without knowing it. She wasn't tough and strong and impossible to beat, she was realistic. She had flaws and was scared, but did the best she could in a world she had accidentally thrown herself into, which is what I think any person would do.

Every character had a good place in the story. The world building was perfect. It was so easy to understand and picture what was happening. I thought Haven was great, and it has become one of my favorites.

Interesting story line. Kept me in suspense the whole time. Hope there is a follow up book for this. Overall very good read.

Girl interested in finding out what is beyond her town and has an act for always finding what she wants. As expected she finds a secret passage and meets an injured stranger in a cave. Helps him find a way out but get captured by his people and discovers she should never have let her curiosity lead her.

The world she entered is full of magic, betrayal, and love.

She realizes she has more powers then anyone and now her home depends on her to keep her captors from finding it. Her life now depends on her harnessing those powers to lead her back home and most importantly....

DO NOT LET THEM IN.

So I just recently moved and didn't have any type of internet connection for a few months, so I decided to start reading again. I asked around to see what people were recommending and this book came up a majority of the time. So I decided to pick it up.

Lets just say the next 2/3 days were a blur of text. I love the character development and the fact that the main character is not a someone who trips over thin air or a blade of grass. She is someone who is able to be a main character, unlike these other writers who have the main character be completely worthless haha. I don't want to read a book where someone sits around waiting for superman to save them, or someone who decides to scream while hiding from a villain "still trying to understand why people enjoy characters like this" cough cough.

Well I better end off here, or I'll just go into a rant on how I hate other books that these female characters who expect a savior instead of carving their own path. So on that note awesomely done A.R. Ivanovich.

Keep on writing please!

When I purchased the book, I initially thought to myself, looks neat and it's only a dollar looked compelling enough (total impulse buy). As I flipped through the pages I immediately felt like I spent 20 dollars on this book. The quality was just that good i convinced myself it was beyond what I spent and i felt like i stole from the author. The story line drew upon an imagination that I could never comprehend personally and it took me on a journey that I can only thank the author for bestowing upon me.

I did another search to look for more titles from the author unfortunately to no avail. If anyone can recommend me any other books from this talented low key author I would most appreciate it.

Great Read!

I am quite steeled against the sadness of losing a handome boy in a fiction novel, but I teared up when Katelyn lost Rune for what she thought was forever. I'm hoping for a sequel, because I can't live with this ending. I will ask: "Why?". a wonderful book that will leave you desperately craving more. Wonderful twists in the plot tht made the book stand apart from the rest. This title is worth more than $0.99! Please write more Miss Ivanowich!

I am writing this review after reading the series, which only took me 4 days (it was that good)! I recommend this series for YA or adults whole like a fast paced fantasy with a belevable plot, characters, and fantasy world. This series will keep you on the edge of your seat and you will be reluctant to put it down.

Don't expect this story to be the typical teen romance that drags flirtation to the point of boredom and has the heroine wavering between the bad boy and the good boy until you want to slap her. There is way too much life-threatening action going on for our heroine, Kat, to stop to think about crushing on anyone. She doesn't even realize it until the end that she has fallen in love. Get comfy, because you're not going to want to put this book down. Cheers to A.R. Ivanovich for a fabulously written first book with substance and grit!

I thoroughly enjoyed the story; it was imaginative & inventive, though predictable at times. It kept me wanting to read more. I do hope she continues the series, as the end left it open for a sequel and left some questions unanswered; although the story in itself was somewhat completed. I look forward to seeing more from this author. In all a great read.

This isn't normally the genre of novel I go for, but i was intrigued by the plot and the world created by AR Ivanovich so I gave it a shot. I was quickly swept away by the characters, their complex emotions and the beautiful imagery created by the author. Right from the beginning I was hooked and couldn't wait to find out what Katelyn would discover next, or what choices she and those around her would make. I found myself thinking about these characters and imagining their lives beyond this novel's ending long after I finished this book, so I can't wait for the second in the series to be published! I highly recommend to readers of all genres.

Praise for the book’s new cover! It suited the world and adventure author A.R. Ivanovich created.

For the full review, go here: https://juliansbookangels.wordpress.com/2016/01/03/haven-by-a-r-ivanovich/

Awesome first book in this series. The story line flowed with ease and there were no dry spots. The editing was done with excellence. I am looking forward to reading the next book! A good clean story for young and more mature alike.

I liked the story very much. it was captivating.
one think I would note here, we have spent a lot of time inside Katelyn's head... perhaps too much. This was my first streamline novel but it will not be my last. I look forward to the next installment.

I did like the book a lot but more time should have been spent on building the background for Kat's talent for finding things. The author gives one big example of how she is good at finding things and we are suppose to believe she set off to find something she just heard about in class and finds it right away. It made more sense later in the book but seemed a bit too much at first. I was groaning to my self and not sure I wanted to read any further. I am glad that I did read read further. The rest of the book was very good. Great imagination! It was hard to put down.

This book takes fresh view using formulaic young adult fiction. The characters are engaging, but a little flat.

It is a quick read with a great setting and some nice plot twists and turns. The storyline could be set for a series since so many things are left unsettled.

A great setting for a very good novel. This might be a kids' book but it's a great adult read in any case.
Even though the protagonist is a teenage girl there was none of this too scared to move stuff.
Very enjoyable!

I downloaded the Kindle version of this book a while back, but didn't get around to reading it until now. WOW! If I had known what I was missing, I would have dug in immediately! The attention paid to detail is mind-boggling. I was able to fully immerse myself into the story, completely forgetting about my household chores ... and my responsibilities ... and my children. But, OH, it was worth it! Amazing, amazing job. I'm impatiently waiting for a sequel. PLEASE??!!

This book is a great start to the War of the Princes series. The story is captivating, characters realistic, and the focus is on something other than some unnatural romantic pull toward someone dangerous (which is kind of nice to see). I can't wait to see what happens in the next book (whenever it is available). I think this rivals the Twilight and Hunger Games series', but we'll have to see when we get further into it. It is a fast read, and leaves you wanting more.

I got this in paperback and kindle too since I couldn't wait for the paperback to arrive. I quickly found myself taken in by the characters, and sharing Katelyn's thoughts about the outside world. The chatter between the friends made me feel like I was part of the conversation, and then the battles had me cheering for my favorite warriors. A.R.'s imagination takes on a life of its own with the creation of the two worlds and the people and creatures within those worlds, but everything fits together, nothing is out of place and it feels as if this world is really out there.
Looking forward to the rest of the series and more from this Author.

A very different story line. Would like to have a sequel. interesting characters. Started a liitle slow but got my attention and I ended up reading this book in one day. a good first book Miss Ivanovich. Lets have more.
v

Enjoyable to all audiences, though the emphasis on teen emotions may or may not be your cup of tea. I felt like there was more than enough of that, but I am of a Dad age. But the pace is good, and the world is quite interesting. The writing is very smooth, much more realistic than most first authors, who tend to write clunky dialogue and create overly contrived situations (even for fantasy; it's relative, right?) A good book for a family to share. I'll definitely buy the next one, too. Thumbs up.

Was pleasantly surprised with this book--it is quite interesting and unique. It starts off a little slow, but soon the pace picks up keeps you turning the pages, wondering what will happen next. The characters are well developed, and the detail of the worlds is rich enough to really bring it to life. I enjoyed the second book in the series just as much as the first, if not a little more. Am eagerly looking forward to the next installment!

*This was a free copy via Netgalley in return for an honest review*
There is a lot to like here - the premise is very interesting and the world creation is good. I can see this book appealing to the YA audience it is intended for, but for me, the prose was just too simplistic and the dialogue was very wooden.

I couldn't put it down, so exciting and the mystery kept me fascinated. The storyline is intriguing and leves u wanting more....the characters are realistic and lovable. The shadow chasers are so cute it's amazing! Even the Lurchers! I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next.
This book was written by someone I went to high school with and I'm proud to know such a great author.
xo

Lana

I stumbled across this gem in my daughter's Kindle and what a joy! Where's the rest of the story?

Love the slightly sarcastic introspection the main character exhibits - it keeps things in balance and injects a hint of reality into a fantasy story. There's enough science to explain the magic, enough "magic" to save it from being purely science fiction. Bravo!

Okay... where's the rest?

Hooked me immediately on the characters. Admittedly, I enjoy books with alternative societies so Haven was right up my alley. I look forward to reading the next book and that typically means I am wrapped up in the new world and need to return. Recommend this book to people young and old who enjoy characters and situations out of the ordinary. Romantic, virtuous, and a tale of testing personal limits.

I liked the premise and some of the plot devices, but the characters were too simplistic, and the main character kept repeating the same tired internal dialogue over and over. I had to skim to finish the book, which I almost never do, but still, in the end, it was an OK book for kids I think, under the age of 12.

I bought this book because I was looking for a cheap summer read and the cover looked cool. I was not expecting to be this blow away. Haven is AWESOME! I love Katelyn so much!! I can't wait for A.R. Ivanovich to write more! The best part is when I noticed it says Book One which means there HAS to be more! YAY! A.R. Ivanovich is my new favorite YA author. I can't believe this is really her first book. CRAZY. Give me more!

Simply, this book was amazing. Well written with vivid imagination and brilliantly put together with a compelling story. I loved it, the only thing I truely hated about this book is that I spent all my time in which I was supposed to be studying for a final exam reading the book...
I recommend this book to any and everyone.

Great fantasy read here. The characters are believable and for a girl who reads this, she can more than relate to the main character here. For a boy who reads this, he will enjoy the "special" gifts and such the characters have.

Its a good book and waiting till the second one comes out.

I can't say enough great things about this book. Haven is the perfect blend of everything. Fantasy, action, romance, adventure, mystery. If you like reading, this is for you. The characters are all thoroughly developed and likeable. On more than one occasion, I found myself trying to guess at what would happen, only to be proven wrong. As soon as I finished reading it, I wanted to pick it up and start again. The most enjoyable read I've had in a long time! Kudos to AR Ivanovich! I can't wait for the rest of the series!

The good reviews that this novel was getting led me to read it just the other day. Though it was not perfect, I'd still recommend it as an enjoyable read. I was able to relate to the characters and the plot was nicely woven that it was hard not to be impressed at Ivanovich's writing.This book is a good choice to pass time.

I had a hard time putting this book down. I kept wondering what was going to happen next, especially with the climax of the book. The universe A. R. Ivanovich created is quite unique - from the steampunk technology to the strange, magical creatures found around the world - and I can't wait to read more books to find out more about it. I also look forward to learn more about the Abilities of the people in the world.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. They should most definitely make a movie of it, although surely it wouldn't be able to match up to the book as is always the case with any great book.Great job on your first novel A.R. Ivanovich! I will be looking out for more of you.

I read this book on my Kindle when it was first released and I LOVED it! Katelyn is so funny and a great main character. I am excited to see that the author released the book in paperback! YAY! This was such a fun book and I love the cover art. Can't wait for book 2!!!!

I absolutely loved this book! The plot was well constructed in my opinion with the only setback being the bittersweet ending. Besides that, I'd say this author has a very bright future in the young adult fiction department.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a fun read. You can relate to the main character easily, and you're often wondering, "what would I do in that situation?" She's also a strong teenage girl - not a, "omg I love you because you're dead/a werewolf/hate me/punch dolphins/act emo" typical girl in young adult novels. The fantasy setting doesn't get in the way of the story or the character interactions. It would make a great miniseries, graphic novel, or movie someday. Can't wait for more from AR Ivanovich!

This is my first book in years and I loved it. If you love fantasies read this book. I couldn't put it down. Everything about this book is great. The more I read the more I couldn't put it down. I really can't wait for the second book.

Haven is a book that keeps you up reading well past the time you had originally allocated to it. The story weaves in and out of mystery, adventure, imagination, and romance. The characters are lively and well-defined and the story is fun! Great read. :)

I didn't get very into this book. I found the main character to be a little unbelievable. I will continue to look for more books by the author because I enjoyed the style, but this character just did not appeal to me.

Im 24 years old and never had a passion for reading until recently. I won a kindle and have bought books based on reviews. Which is why I'm writing this one now! I loved this book. It was a page turner and I stayed up all night to finish it. Cant wait for the sequel!!!!!

The writing is simplistic, and it rips off the Hunger Games in many ways. You'll find Kat and Ru having a conversation early on in the book. Children being harvested, a teenage girl who must save us all, two boys lusting for her attention, etc.

But overall, fairly entertaining mind candy.

This book was so much fun! Read it myself first, then to my 8 year old daughter, who loved it just as much as I did! What a wonderful journey A.R. Ivanovich has taken us on! Can't wait for the next book!