I loved Twilight and hoped this would be just as good. In my opinion, it was a letdown. I do think it is difficult to write a good book about vampires. The relationship between Nate and Ember was not engaging for me. Ember’s character made many decisions I didn’t agree with and didn’t feel were believable. I just couldn’t get into this book.

I received this galley from NetGalley.

Many people do not like spin offs or get confused if they have not read the prior series, for those who are new to Mrs. Pryor work, you can get lost in this story without the confusion & frustration other series read. Blackthorn is a great way to get an introduction and shows the other side of the wall this story is based on, either way, you will become emerresed in this world. Mrs. Pryor has this was of bringing her characters to life, allowing readers to enjoy this story without getting lost at any point. You can enjoy this story, ending it with a content smile but anxious to see what is happening next. A must read for new readers to Mrs. Pryor work, yet those of us who have read Blackthorn will be just as satisfied learning a new angle to this world. Loving it!

With how much I have gotten into the latter books of the Blackthorn series, I was hoping that this one would be on par with those. Unfortunately, for me, I just didn't love it. For the most part, I was okay with the main characters but sometimes I really didn't like Ember. She would just do stuff that I thought was really stupid considering her circumstances or that she really didn't seem to think thru. I also did not believe the relationship between Nate and Ember. It really didn't make any sense for the two of them to want to be together, especially that quickly.

Ember has worked hard the past ten years or so to be able to move out of Lowtown and get into Midtown. She has finally passed everything she had to and now has mere days until she finally crosses that border. Unfortunately for her, it's at this time that all sorts of bad seems to come for her. The biggest complication and trouble comes from Nate. This close to getting out, she knows she shouldn't have anything to do with a vampire, but there is something about Nate that she can't stay away from. Especially when he does what he does around her. Nate gets paid very good money to find people and things because he is very good at it and does whatever he has to do without hesitation. He takes one last job from a group that he never wanted to again and by doing so has forced him and Ember into a situation where there is no good outcome to be found. It all comes down to Ember's hidden heritage to get them out. And I did love how everything went down at the end for that. Though I'm not sure how much I loved the very end...

Review goes live on Butterfly-o-Meter Books on Oct 28 and will show up on Goodreads sometime later.

In a Flutter: Well-built world and active storyline
Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: I liked the layered world of the Lowtown, Midtown, Blackthorn society, with gangs and corrupt officials and a general sense of doom and decay that comes with every good dystopian setting. There was a lot of tension in the setting itself, but I might be in a sans-dystopia sort of mood because it didn’t come through as exciting for me, rather gloomy somehow instead.
Characters: I liked Ember, though I won’t say I loved her. She was ambitious and determined, always a plus, and also a closet romantic which was kind of cute. As the story unfolded, her romantic side came through more and more, though it also had this authentic, down-to-earth vibe that should have won my heart but for some odd reason it didn’t.
Nate’s bad-boy-ery and well-guarded soft core were also a good combo, though it didn’t elicit my general fangirlism. I enjoyed his badass moves and mad skills. He acted as more of a tough guy than he was at times, making him a layered and strangely sweet sort of guy in a bit of a twisted sense, I guess.
I didn’t really feel their chemistry or them as characters, so I wasn’t that invested in their romance as a result. I should have liked them, by all accounts. It’s just one of those cases where you can’t say exactly what it was, but it didn’t work as expected for some reason.
Plot: The story has a nice active tempo, though it felt slightly slower in the very beginning and picked up pace soon after. The story of Ember’s life and its tangents were pretty dramatic, and the curse thing added another layer of tension to the combo. Plus the ending was very hot vampire romance action galore for a pretty slow burn romance.
Writing: Third person, past tense narrative, his/her POV.
Curb Appeal: Cool cover, hooking blurb – impulsive buy material for my vampire PNR moods.

All in all, I had fun reading Haven and enjoyed a lot about the story and world, and the characters as a construct. Something about the combo didn’t click all the way for me so I didn’t end up having as much fun as I was hoping for, I think.
I recommend Haven to fans of vampire PNR with a dystopian spin.

Simply put, Haven, Lindsay J. Pryor’s first standalone Lowtown novel is amazing. No surprise considering it’s Lindsay J. Pryor. :)

With Haven, Lindsay has created yet another enthralling dystopian universe that neighbors the brutal world of Blackthorn. Like its neighbor, Lowtown is plagued by corrupt authorities that have allowed groups to selfishly and mercilessly take control of the entire area, leaving the rest of the inhabitants struggling to survive. With the strict restrictions keeping people from migrating into wealthier communities, Lowtown residents are forever facing a bleak future with no way out; and, this future seems to be getting worse at a very fast pace as two rival gangs are forcefully expanding their territories into some of the only locations remaining that seem to provide as close a feeling to safety as can be felt in Lowtown.

Enter our two main characters: Nate and Ember. Where do I even begin with these two?

If Caleb Dehain in Blackthorn had not already stolen my heart, I think Nate would succeed in doing so. This stranger who comes every day to cafe Ember works at has a delicious, irresistible ruggedness to him; and like, Ember, readers are dying to find out more about this quiet vampire with the tough outer exterior. Speaking of Ember, I think she is my favorite heroine yet that Lindsay has written. Ember is the kind of female character that female readers aspire to be. Rather than a damsel in distress, Ember is a woman who knows her own mind. With her bold, tenacious spirit, she is an extremely strong character mentally, emotionally, and physically. In her determination to make things better, she would do any warrior of social justice proud. Like Nate, she’s also ruthless in her loyalty to those she cares about. Together, these two create a gritty story full of determination, passion, sacrifice, redemption, and love.

Overall, Haven presents a darkly enchanting tale that will leave all readers unable to put the book down until it’s reached its end. If this is the first Lindsay J. Pryor book they have read, readers are sure to be desperate to pick up other books set in this same universe. For those who are already her fans, Haven will provide a lovely feeling of familiarity with hints of characters and events from books in the Blackthorn series while also providing a fresh new perspective on this extremely captivating world. Needless to say, I can’t wait to see what the next Lowtown novel brings and very much hope there will be many more books to come.

I really enjoyed this book, it's well writen and the story develops nicely. I really liked the main characters even if the end seemed a bit predictable it was still good! I'll definetly look into the blackthorn series also by Lindsay J. Pryor.

Completely blown away by this book. I knew not to expect anything less as it was Lindsay J. Pryor writing but this was absolutely fantastic.

I can easily predict this new urban fantasy series (a duology currently) from her will be my next favorite thing. Loving the fact these books will be standalone.

Haven was utterly engrossing. It had the usual flare of Lindsay's awesome writing, alluring world-building and her fantastic characters that I have come to associate with her after loving and following her Blackthorn series. In this case, Ember and Nate. I loved them. I loved how honest they were. With each other. And in general.

I couldn't stop reading this book even when I should have. But I just couldn't. Put. This. Book. Down. It was so captivating.

I loved the plot, the contrast it has to Blackthorn, the rawness and the brutalness--the familiar unpredictability that makes you fall in love with Lindsay's writing and the world(s) she has created.

Am I crazy to say I want a series on the Midtown and Summerton districts as well. And can we see this world on TV?

Whilst waiting for the final book in Blackthorn to come out. I'ma go dig around more on Lindsay's website. 😙

Also, check my reviews for her books in the companion series to the Lowtown books.

Psst. You don't really need to read her Blackthorn books to get this one but it will be great if you do as that series is awesome.

Special thanks to Netgalley, Piatkus and especially Lindsay J. Pryor for this reading opportunity.

Haven comes out November 2nd.

Excellent mystery paranormal. Escape from Lowtown is within Embers grasp. 15 years she saved and was the model citizen. Everything is about to come crashing down when she is attacked, and saves a life. Excellent protagonist, worldbuilding, side characters. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

Absolutely spell bound while reading. Nate has an agenda while protecting Ember. The past comes back to haunt them.A must read.