In Haven, author Ashley Nicole establishes a future that could well have been our own. The Mors Certa Virus, or MCV20, has infected a large segment of the population of Earth. This disease is so dangerous that those without the virus, called the Pure, have erected walls around cities, keeping out the infected. Within the boundary of the city lives Lyric.

Lyric is trapped within multiple walls. She’s not allowed to leave the city, the apartment building she lives in or her room on her own. She’s escorted everywhere by a guard. This protection is all due to the fact that she’s the mayor’s daughter.

Lyric longs for the freedom to explore the outside city and even dares to one day to experience the world beyond the walls. For now, she’s stuck inside with her father who works tirelessly with scientists and doctors on a cure. But she has friends. Her protective guard Miles and a helper in the building, Julia, do their best to make Lyric’s captivity comfortable. Even Clang, the robot dog, brings some joy to her secluded life. Eventually, Lyric is allowed to go on one excursion into the city, and this is when everything changes for her.

Haven is an upbeat novel despite being set in a dystopia. This book is not the oppressive noir you may expect—even the cover is filled with bright colors. In the city, the reader experiences delightful encounters with the technology along with Lyric. Not to say the novel has no darkness, as a place called Lantern Alley holds some truly evil dealings.

Characters have more going on than meets the eye. Miles plays the part of Lyric’s steadfast soldier, but he aspires to be more than a Guard. Another character, Charlie, has a tortured past, and no matter what Lyric says and does, she can’t penetrate his grudges. One character reveals their true intentions in the epilogue, and that confession is an eyebrow-raising twist. The novel starts off seeming like a typical YA dystopia with a standard cast, but the characters’ depth and their motivations elevate it.

The writing is straightforward with an emphasis on sensual detail—this works when seen through Lyric’s eyes. The length is on the shorter side, so the narrative flows well, each chapter advancing the story appropriately. Lyric is a likable hero. That said, this book might have benefitted from Lyric being a bit more dismissive of the people outside the walls at first, perhaps resenting their freedom while she’s in a cage. This would’ve given her a moral quandary for what she wanted (to be free and outside) and what prevents it (the infected). Nevertheless, she grows as a person before the end of the novel.

This novel is subtitled Beyond the Wall – Book One. Though this offering comes to a satisfying conclusion, I hope Lyric’s adventures continue in future installments. The worldbuilding, the tension between the Pure and the infected, and the lessons Lyric still needs to learn would make for a fascinating sequel.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09V89944H

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