Blue Haven


Fiction - Science Fiction
293 Pages
Reviewed on 05/31/2022
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Sherri Fulmer Moorer for Readers' Favorite

Aloe Malone is in paradise. A winning lottery ticket is her key out of a depressing, humdrum life and into the abundance that she always dreamed of during her difficult life. Everything in Blue Haven is perfect, from the tropical location to the lavish condominium, to her personal assistant, to her four friends who are the only inhabitants on this Heaven on Earth. Days filled with easy fun in the sun, and nights with dinners provided by world-renowned chefs with her perfect neighbors make it well worth the millions she paid to escape her difficult life. Then a maid discovers a journal from a previous inhabitant - who should not exist - and the journal unravels this perfect world. Clearly, this paradise isn't all it seems, and suddenly Aloe doubts everything. When the hallucinations start, then the perfect world frays to expose the ragged edges of her own mind. Is this real? What can she believe? Blue Haven, by Lisa King, is a thrilling adventure that will take you on turns you'll never see coming in an adventure that's literally "out of this world."

I'd give this book ten stars if I could. Lisa King has written an outstanding sci-fi mystery that lovers of both genres won't be able to put down. In fact, the only reason it took me almost a week to read it was time constraints because I could have easily binged this book in a day or two. You can literally feel the suspense as Aloe unravels from reading Eloise's journal, and the intrigue of this "perfect" place is undeniable. I believe readers will relate well to Aloe as she struggles to put her difficulties behind her and adapt to this world, only to find out that her escape is hardly a relief from the problems in her own mind. Blue Haven touches on important themes that will resonate with readers and leave them pondering not only this story, but their own lives as well. A masterful work that I can't recommend highly enough!

Shrabastee Chakraborty

Blue Haven offers its residents a dream place complete with luxurious condos, lush seascapes, and sumptuous gourmet meals prepared by world-famous chefs. When Aloe gets a chance to live at this legendary place, she realizes it is her one chance to forget all unpleasant memories and remake her life. She spends tranquil hours in the company of her charming new neighbors. Yet, the sudden discovery of a diary with disturbing contents shatters Aloe’s peace. Her discomfort intensifies when she spots a stranger lurking around her. Despite the constant assurances of the staff that nothing is amiss, why does she feel that something is terribly wrong? Why are they being monitored? What do her frequent hallucinations mean? You have to read Blue Haven by Lisa King to find out.

This perfect example of a page-turner kept me guessing till the last page. The notion of such a lavish life without the slightest worry seemed too good to be true. Thus, Lisa King incorporated a subtle, nagging sense of unease that kept haunting me. Yet, the bombshell of a twist halfway through the book and the cascade of shocking revelations that soon followed left me reeling. The premise, albeit somewhat futuristic, seemed all too plausible. The ramifications were far-reaching, as King aptly demonstrated in this novel. A place like Blue Haven could be either a boon or a curse, depending on how one intended to utilize it. The chilling end raised many moral questions that would keep readers pondering. I recommend Blue Haven to readers who appreciate psychological and medical thrillers. If you like movies like Shutter Island and Inception, this book is for you.

Steven Robson

Blue Haven by Lisa King is a psychological journey into a realm of abundance, where azure waters caress the pristine perfection of exclusivity only a select few may share. Aloe Malone becomes one of these select few when a recent windfall lands her in this tropical paradise. What could possibly go wrong with a perfect life? Seemingly insignificant discoveries by Aloe may point to something foreboding percolating beneath the surface of Blue Haven, and as time passes, these will erode her sense of security and well-being. For Aloe, the voyage to discovery may be paved with riches, but the arrival at her ultimate discovery will be shattering and explosive; her survival may depend on the outcome, and nothing is certain in this layered world of existence.

Lisa King’s Blue Haven establishes the reader in a world of wonder, filled with exorbitantly rich luxury and lifestyles fit for kings and queens. Through her descriptive prose, you can almost feel the sand snaking between your toes as you walk along majestic beaches in the haze of a dream existence we all hold within. Even more impressive, the underlying layer of something not quite right, which has been weaved in a subtle but clear manner, will form an incredibly powerful hook that propels you to discover its secrets. This cleverly conceived plot is populated by larger-than-life characters who each bring their own strengths and vulnerabilities. I thoroughly recommend Blue Haven for those intrigued by the workings of the mind, and the extent that these machinations can travel, given the right opportunities.

Bernadette Longu

In Blue Haven, author Lisa King has taken an unusual, very personal, and confusing subject and written a book that is both intriguing, soul searching and confusing at times. This story takes place in this century but could also be part of any future century, especially with people always seeing conspiracies in everything governments do and cover-up. Blue Haven has a few main characters - Aloe Malone, Westley Young, Bob and Fanny, and Julian Bilbo - but these characters are not what they seem. The end of the book has more surprises.

Blue Haven brings to light how people could develop something that could affect the way others think and react to situations, especially if they are susceptible to thoughts, words, or actions. It shows how easily a person can be manipulated, especially if one is going through a very upsetting time in their life. Author Lisa King also brings to the forefront how susceptible people can be when they are going through periods of stress and how people can take advantage of this susceptibility. The book is a must-read from cover to cover because the twist toward the end is not what anyone would expect. It just goes to show that there is always a snake in the grass. It was an amazing and thought-provoking story. Thank you, Lisa, for a delightfully unusual read that I very much enjoyed.