Slow in pace, but incredibly compelling to read, when one man's conviction that God will provide is the basis of a journey and a new life.
Set in harsh conditions, the three characters battle with themselves as much as each other I think.
An interesting read.

In many ways, Haven feels like a lockdown novel - it's a story of isolation, claustrophobia and survival. It is also, unfortunately, slow moving and a little bit dull.

Emma Donoghue is not afraid to chart new territory in her fiction, and this is another refreshing concept for her. I enjoyed her attention to detail and the way she really tries to get inside the heads of these early-medieval monks. Her prose is captivating as always, and the world she creates is wonderfully atmospheric, but there is never quite enough momentum to build up the tension.

Donoghue is a writer that never writes the same thing twice, whilst this has worked for me in the past it has sadly not worked for Haven.
I tried three times to pick up this book and couldn't make it past 20%, it is too slow paced and is neither character nor plot driven enough to warrant continuing. A real shame but I will continue to try Donoghue's work in the future.

a story of monks told they have to go to a remote island and leave the world of sin behind

a story of survival

Book binding and making candles from bird fat

Raw and atmospheric

The island in the story is the real star of the show

A medieval wildlife survival programme in a way

Every single book Emma Donoghue writes is very different but the thing that stays the same is her amazing way with language and building such a visual world within her story.

This isn’t a book for someone looking for a rollicking adventure or non-stop action. Out of all of her books this is probably the most introspective. This is a study in human nature and what drives some humans to live a life of austerity and deprivation in the name of God.

Set in the 7th century in Ireland, 3 monks leave behind their lives on the mainland and set out in a small row boat to find an isolated island to establish a conclave dedicated to more serious contemplation of the word of God while living in an even more austere style than their brethren. What they find is the wild and rocky island we now know as Skellig Michael. But Artt the leader is a hard and unforgiving man, much like the landscape they find themselves in and soon the two monks who accompanied him start questioning why they followed him in the first place.

Beautifully written and wonderfully atmospheric, this book won’t be for everyone but I found it a fascinating look into what the real lives of these monks might have been like rather than the romanticised version we see on TV and in popular crime/mystery novels.

This book was a real challenge to review because I really disliked the story but I appreciate the author's wonderful writing and world-building. My dislike was because of the sheer bleakness of Artt's faith, the lack of any joy or love and the fact that the depression of the story leaked into my own life making me feel really low whilst I was reading it. Its redeeming feature was definitely Cormac's story-telling which I loved and the feeling of history it evoked.

I've plumped for 3 stars as a middle ground as I feel that this book will appeal to many readers who have an interest in history and survival skills.

My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

It's the 7th century in Ireland and in the monastery of Cluan Mhic Nóis, the monk Artt has a vision: he needs to set sail with two other monks and find an island which hasn't been touched by humanity's sins, and settle there as a beacon of Christianity.
They find the Skellig islands, and their fight for survival commences. Not only do they have to deal with the wildness of the island, the birds, and the struggle to find food and water, but the real challenge turns out to be the isolation and theological disagreements. The reading experience becomes more and more oppressive, in contrast to the romanticised images we have of the monastic sites of the Skellig islands from pop culture (like the Clannad song, or the Loreena McKennitt song, or the Star Wars set).
Emma Donoghue brilliantly describes what life must have been like, and the book made me question things like "how much is life worth when it's all about survival" and "where is the line between faith and madness". Excellent book.

I'm afraid I couldn't finish this book. The description was lovely but I got half way through and was bored. Nothing happened.

Loved 'Room' and really liked 'The Pull of the Stars'. Sadly, I just couldn't get into Haven. I really wanted to like it, as I have read many books about monasteries and Priors and usually really enjoyed it but here I felt the pace was painfully slow and the characters just so uninteresting. As always, Donoghue's writing is beautiful - possibly just the original premise didn't work.