Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - Haven

Emma Donoghue is fast becoming one of my favourite writers: I read and loved 'The Wonder' last year and was excited to pick up 'Haven', which delivered on my high expectations. Donohue is a historical novelist who hops around period-wise (her newest novel is about Anne Lister's childhood, so early c19) - this book is set way back into the medieval past, in 7th century Ireland where three men (Artt, Cormac and Trian) set out to found a monastery on a remote island. Artt is a renowned scholar and Cormac and Trian, both humble monks, are initially honoured to attract his notice: but it doesn't take very long for some doubt to start setting in.

I just loved this book. Donohue has a gift for identifying intriguing situations - she talks in the afterword about visiting the West Coast of Ireland, where medieval monks absolutely did build monasteries in this kind of setting - and I particularly admire her ability to paint a detailed, realistic, but self-contained historical picture. Everything is focused and we stick close to the three monks for the whole book: from their beds in the monastery to the unfriendly, rocky landscape of Great Skellig, where they land their boat. Donoghue has an eye for landscape and I really enjoyed the richness and diversity of the wildlife the three encounter (it made me think a lot about how impoverished we are nowadays when it comes to other species). The birds who inhabit the island alongside them become a central part of the plot, as Trian in particular finds himself drawn to the creatures and Artt remains resolutely firm on the distinctions between the levels of God's creation.

Donoghue lets the story do the talking but the novel is great at demonstrating the strengths - and weaknesses - of its three central characters, the result of which is an understated, almost dry commentary on the nature of faith in a context where it underpins everything the characters do. All three of the men have faith in God (for their own reasons), but what about faith in other humans? Where is the limit to that? Where ought it to be?

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tamara_joy's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

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alylentz's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I've read a handful of Emma Donoghue's books and am always surprised and intrigued by what she'll write next. This one was difficult to read not because it was boring or uninteresting to me, but because it is a sad and brutal story that doesn't pull any punches. Just when you think things can't get worse for the characters, they do, every time. However, I think the character work here is truly expert, as Donoghue's books always are. My investment in them kept me turning the pages, and the familial relationship that forms between Cormac and Trian and leads us to the climax is something that will definitely stick with me. I would recommend this book to readers who like survival stories, books with a slow build, and titles that contemplate religion and its limits.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

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