Emma Donoghue has written a very different novel from her first and most famous novel, Room. I was an early fan of that book and have looked forward to her work ever since. Haven is set in 7th century Ireland. A monk recruits two other brothers to sail with him to a distant island as a fulfillment of a dream he believes God gave him.

I was very excited to read this book, and I'm a lover of books set in medieval times, but I could not get interested in the plight of these three hapless travelers. I am sure there is an audience who will appreciate this book as the writing is undeniably fine. The story moved too slowly to intrigue me, however.

Read if you like: books about the history of the Catholic Church.
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I love Emma Donoghue as a writer of books that I usually love, and I was really hoping I would love this one but I am sad to say that I didn't. The book takes place in medieval Ireland during the early years of the Catholic Church. Three monks embark on a journey to an island in order to lead a pious life.
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The writing and research that would have gone into this book was superb. I just didn't care about these characters and was sometimes bored, and there is a lot of discussion of theology. Which I get you are probably thinking, obviously Alexis this is a book about monks, but it was still boring.
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CW: religion, sickness, injuries, death, war, and violence.

Emma Donoghue is brilliant when it comes to creating believable and consuming characters and setting them in unique landscapes that resonate with truth. What a character study this novel is and what an exploration in the meaning of holiness, tolerance and "God's will". Reminded me of The Poisonwood Bible. Readers of Donoghue's other novels may find this one slower, but that's a feature and not a bug: it's a slow and satisfying burn.

Wow! This one was so different than what I was expecting!

Artt, a seventh-century Irish monk, feels a special calling (he receives in a dream) to go away from society and spend the rest of his life in isolation worshipping God. So, as in the dream, he takes two monks along with him, young Trian, and older Cormac. The three set off in a small boat with very little provisions (“God will provide”), and eventually come upon a big “rock” (but a “small” island). Though nearly uninhabitable, Father Artt decides that this is where God has led them. And together they work to make this “rock” livable. And therein lies the story.

However….. though I thought “Is this the whole story?!” It Is Not. Just keep reading!

The monks’ stories are so interesting, and their day-to-day lives are amazing. But in the end, the author throws in an unexpected twist, and for me, that just made the book!

As I read, I came to love Trian and Cormac; I also had an opinion of Father Artt!
I highly recommend this book.

I'd like to thank NetGalley, Emma Donoghue, and Little, Brown and Company for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

This is a dark, heavy, book, about a dark, heavy time, but its atmosphere and characters have lingered long with me. Seventh-century Ireland is a fascinating time and place to set a book. Ireland was between worlds at this point- straddling paganism and Christianity, the passing of the old world order for the new. Emma Donoghue brings to life the magnitude of the challenges faced by its monastic protagonists, and the many threats that faced them. Rich in historical detail and worldbuilding, I will not forget this one.

I tried and I tried but I just never could get in to this book. It started too slowly and I had better things to read that kept my attention. My apologies. I am fairly sure this is a "it's not you, it's me" situation. The first few chapters didn't give me enough of a story to pull me in. I was intrigued by the beautiful cover and the author, but in the end, this book just wasn't for me.

This book was simply not for me. Too dark and depressing and I just wasn't in the mood for that.

While I do think there is something interesting about the way man can pervert religion to manipulate people to their strange wills, this book just didn't do it for me. I think I can enjoy reading darker heavier books if there is still a sense of connection and finding the good in humanity but I just didn't find that here. Cormac came close but just wasn't enough to save the book for me.

This is an interesting g historical fiction novel that follows three monks who are working to establish a monetary on Skellig Michael (many know this as a Star Wars filming location), off the Western coast of Ireland. It takes place in the 6th century and on its surface is a straightforward story, but also focuses on an extreme religious leader and the dynamics that develop internally with him, and with his followers.

I love how Emma Donoghue is such a versatile writer. Each of her books is vastly different and well written. I have loved many of them. I think the challenge with that gift, is not every book is going to be a hit with each of your readers. Because the books are so different, some are going to miss the mark with some of the fans. Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me personally. I can see the value in it and the writing is strong as usual. I just didn't feel swept away with the story. That said, I will continue to read the author as I have loved so many of her books.

This book may not be for everyone. It is slow paced and cerebral. In the seventh century three monks head off to find a remote island of the coast the coast of Ireland to found a monastery where the "real world" cannot intrude.
The inner thoughts and motive of the men are explored as they struggle to survive on their remote island. Some universal themes are addressed here. I think this book would spark good discussions.
This is a review of an eGalley provided by NetGalley.

A very rare DNF for me. Read about half, but just never really felt engaged. I know that Emma Donoghue is a wonderful writer, and I will keep an eye out for her next book, but this one was just not a fit for me.
I put a star rating on this only because it is mandatory. I am presuming that the book is quite good and that other readers will be better able than I to tell you why.

Haven is unlike other historical fiction I have read in its setting, 7th century Ireland monastic life, and it’s specific direction-monks seeking isolated life away from monasteries in sites apart from other people such as offshore, unpopulated islands.

A guest arrives at an Irish monastery. His name is Artt and he is known as a blessed man and scholar. While visiting, he has a dream that he leaves this place with two of the brothers, one young one old, and they row on the river out to the sea and on south until they find an island, the right island, to found their community. He is granted his wish to follow this dream, ask these two brothers to pledge obedience to him and receives needed supplies. Artt will be the Prior with Cormac and Trian as the brothers who pledge fealty.

Some of my favorite parts are those sections which reflect the three men’s thoughts and internal struggles, especially once they are on the island. Artt’s thoughts are concerned with God and his wishes but also with Artt’s legacy. Cormac reflects on his pagan wife and family lost to plague before his conversion to Christianity and also he thinks constantly about practical steps he must carry out for their success and survival. Trian speculates about man’s place in the world as opposed to the birds and fish he seeks for dinner and how God separates all. Trian, as the youngest, is the food gatherer, a position he takes seriously.

The author provides some history in a note at the end which relates that the island of Greater Skellig of this novel has been known as Skellig Michael since before 1044.

I recommend this book for those who want a “quieter” book that does deal in basics of human life: belonging, faith, society, brotherhood and what these can truly mean when three people are on their own, separated from the rest of society.

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Although slow-paced, Emma Donoghue’s Haven is an excellent character-driven historic novel inspired by ancient ruins on the island now known as Skellig Michael. No written records exist of this most isolated of Ireland’s Early Christian monastic sites. Setting her latest novel in the 7th century when Ireland was mostly pagan, Donoghue imagines the lives of three monks who first set foot on the barren island previously inhabited only by birds.

Artt, a visitor to Cluain Mhic Nois , a Irish monastery, is held in awe by resident monks. With the bearing of a warrior king, this multilingual scholar and hermit has had a dream—a religious vision in which he, along with an elderly monk and a young monk, fulfills God’s plan to establish a remote island monastery. Although Artt does not know the island’s location, he believes God will guide him there. At Cluain Mhic Nois, Artt meets Cormac and Trian, the two monks Artt believes were his companions in the vision, and he persuades them to accompany him in a small boat.

Much of the novel chronicles their travels, their discovery of the island they call Greater Skellig, their landing, religious devotion and scribe work, construction, food gathering, and general day-to-day lives. However, more important by far is Donoghue’s focus on the men—their different backgrounds, priorities, relationships, and gradually increasing tensions. The discerning reader realizes early that trouble is brewing.
Woven into the story are a variety of legends, such as that of Brigit’s cloak, that add to the story. The final chapter may leave many readers’ mouths agape, but, given the isolation and the characters of Artt, Cormac, and Trian, the perfectly suits the novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the advance reader copy.

I just couldn’t get into this book. I tried both reading it and listening to the audiobook, but ultimately I was just bored with the story. I’ve loved everything else Donoghue has written and this was true to her writing style and included beautiful descriptions of settings and great character development. I do think that if the story speaks to you, you’ll enjoy this. It just didn’t speak to me.

Haven is a story about 7th century monks in Ireland deciding to relocate to a remote island and set up a new monastery. This is my third book by the author and I really enjoyed the other two that I read. I am also a big fan of historical fiction and thought this was a unique time period and setting for the book!

While this was an interesting set up, I had such a hard time with this book. DO NOT read it if you are at all upset by violence towards animals or humans. 90% of this book was graphic depictions of killing and eating birds and other animals on the island. I ended up skipping over anything that involved killing for food about halfway through and I sped through the rest of the book. The story is really just descriptions of killing/surviving interspersed with religious fanaticism.

I feel like I was made to enjoy this book because I'm interested in early Medieval Ireland, I have been known to like a good survival book and particularly like reading about food preparation and storage (like the Valley of the Horses by Jean M. Auel), AND I also like a good historical religious torment story (like Silence by Shūsaku Endō). However, I thought that Haven was the worst parts of both genres and the ends did not justify the means. One of the characters is keeping a personal secret that is revealed without his consent. I thought the treatment of him was cruel and terrible to read. I'm assuming that the graphic descriptions of literally needless suffering is to have us reflect on what we can and should willingly put ourselves through in the name of religion but man do I not care AT ALL! For me, the payoff was not worth the pages and pages and pages of killing baby puffins and the horrible treatment of the other two characters. I'm very glad that I'm not a 7th century month because I would not have survived one day on that island.

Overall, I did not like this book and don't recommend it unless you feel like sentencing yourself to penance for some wrongdoing. You might as well cut out the middle man and cook some birds instead. 2 stars from me. Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Artt is a priest who lures two other monks into leaving the sinful world behind and creating a new monastery on a small, uninhabited island. The island is really nothing more than an arid pile of rocks. Trian and Cormac are ensnared by Artt’s insane zealotry. Somehow it is God’s will that the 3 men live without reasonable food, water and shelter.

This book is slow, boring and (blessedly) short. Maybe there is some parable here that I am missing because I am not religious, but I really didn’t get the point. This was not the right book for me. The men spent their time praying, building things to honor God (but not to live in), fishing, lugging stones and killing birds for food and oil. I was rooting for the birds.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

This book was very very unique. This was complex, puzzling, and yet inspiring. It lost me a bit in the middle, but by the end, I was SO glad I read this book.

An interesting commentary on organized religion led by men. A bit strange with an unsurprising ending. Not for me, but others who enjoy religious drama may be interested in this one.

I had a difficult time getting into this book. I should have known by the synopsis but I am a big fan of this author. This was a DNF for me at 20% where it still hadn’t grabbed my interest in the story.

Dear Haven,
I love Emma Donoghue. She has such deep and introspective characters. I wasn't sure how well I would resonate with three monks in the 17th century, and I was a bit hesitant to even start listening to you. The first part, before the monks head out to sea felt dry and way too filled with religious overtones for me. But once their journey took off, I was pulled into the depth of all three monks. Trian is so innocent and eager and Cormack is so entertaining and likeable. Art honestly scares me, with his religious fervor and fallible logic. I loved the interactions between the three of them as they struggled for survival against all odds. The eventual twist was such an interesting and shocking. Emma Donoghue writes so lyrically and beautifully and I can't help but fall in love with her characters.