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Winterhaven #3
Eternal
True love and destiny collide in the conclusion to the Haven trilogy, which Booklist called “a blend of the Gemma Doyle trilogy, the Twilight saga, and Lois Duncan’s thrillers.�
Forced to endure the violent punishment of the Tribunal for murders he has no recollection of committing, Aidan is slowly rotting away in a Paris dungeon. Violet is all but an unreachable dream to him now.
But unlike Aidan, Violet has not given up hope as she works tirelessly with Matthew, her guardian and protector, to prove Aidan’s innocence and unravel the haunting vision that plagues her thoughts—the death of someone closest to her.
Determined to set Aidan free, Violet discovers that a dangerous vampire war is brewing—and that Aidan may be at the center of it all. It’s only when the war reaches the doors of Winterhaven and tragedy strikes the school that Violet has to finally accept her fate. But that could mean losing Aidan—forever.
With no other option, Violet must choose between true love and fulfilling her destiny…unless she can find a way to have them both.
Forced to endure the violent punishment of the Tribunal for murders he has no recollection of committing, Aidan is slowly rotting away in a Paris dungeon. Violet is all but an unreachable dream to him now.
But unlike Aidan, Violet has not given up hope as she works tirelessly with Matthew, her guardian and protector, to prove Aidan’s innocence and unravel the haunting vision that plagues her thoughts—the death of someone closest to her.
Determined to set Aidan free, Violet discovers that a dangerous vampire war is brewing—and that Aidan may be at the center of it all. It’s only when the war reaches the doors of Winterhaven and tragedy strikes the school that Violet has to finally accept her fate. But that could mean losing Aidan—forever.
With no other option, Violet must choose between true love and fulfilling her destiny…unless she can find a way to have them both.
410 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2013
27 people are currently reading
3291 people want to read
About the author
Kristi Cook
6books954followersNew York Times bestselling YA author Kristi Cook is a transplanted southern gal who lives in New York City with her husband and two kids. Her YA debut, HAVEN, was released in Feb. 2011 by Simon Pulse. The last two volumes in the Winterhaven series, MIRAGE and ETERNAL, followed in 2012 and 2013. Her first contemporary, southern-set YA, MAGNOLIA, was released in 2014. She's currently working on a contemporary YA with paranormal elements set in Savannah, GA.
Kristi also writes adult romantic fiction as Kristina Cook and Kristi Astor.
Kristi also writes adult romantic fiction as Kristina Cook and Kristi Astor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
September 13, 2013
Spoilers
HATED it. One of the worst YA books I've read this year, it was fucking awful. The plot, the characters, the action, the relationships � all of it was rubbish.
-Most of Eternal consisted of Violet moaning about her missing paedo-vampire-boyfriend, Aiden� And when he finally turned up she still kept moaning about him. She claimed to care about her friends, her family, and her education but that was utter bullshit � her one and only priority was her boyfriend. A book should be more than just the heroine obsessing about the hero. Ugh, I was so sick of Violet banging on about her love for Aiden� There was just chapter after chapter of non stop Aiden angst � where the fuckitty fuck was the plot?
-Violet, the Mary-Sue-judgmental-dumb-fucker of a heroine pissed me off from the get go when she made excuses for Aiden hurting half a dozen women and murdering another one. In Violet's eyes it was okay that Aiden killed a woman because said woman was addicted to drugs and apparently killing drug addicts is fair game. Ugh, I don't like calling female characters bitches but Violet was a fucking bitch.
She had so many bitchy moments, the silly cow had the nerve to judge Matthew (her mentor) for having feelings for her because he was too old� Even though 1. His feelings were only ever platonic and 2. He was only actually a few years older than her. So yea, it was sleazy for Matthew to care about her in a brotherly way but it wasn't sleazy for her centuries old boyfriend to be horny for an inexperienced child-like teenage girl. Yea, that makes sense.
It didn't stop there, when Violet found out that her friend, Jack, chose to poison Aiden so he could save his brother's life she acted like he did something unforgivable. What was he meant to do let his little brother die just so a centuries old homicidal vampire he barely knew could be safe? Jack did the right thing in saving his brother but that dumb cow didn't care about that. She acted like Jack was the most awful person in the world for not putting her loser boyfriend before his own fucking family. Ugh, stupid cow.
Then there was Violet's attitude towards Matthew's girlfriend, Charlie. She hadn't even met Charlie yet she was still bitching about her and acting like Charlie was some evul undeserving whore. Also, she was jealous of Charlie and Matthew's relationship even though she didn't actually want Matthew for herself� So yea, it was okay for Violet to have a boyfriend and a life but it wasn't okay for Matthew to date and have a life, she wanted all the boys to herself. The greedy cow.
-Aiden was such a whiny fucking douche. He'd lived for centuries, had been in love loads, and had a great life but he still felt sorry for himself because he couldn't have another chance at a human life. He'd already lived a longer than normal life yet he still acted like he'd been short changed.
Also, he treated Violet like utter crap � when one of her best friends died he ignored her instead of comforting her, and when she hugged another guy because she was grieving, he acted like she was a lying-cheating-whore, and wasn't able to forgive her (even though she didn't do anything wrong). Ugh, she wasn't even allowed to hug another guy in grief without him having a hissy fit. But it was perfectly fine for him to spend time alone with a flirty naked girl that Violet hated. He was such a hypocrite � it was obvious that he didn't care about Violet's feelings, he just wanted to hurt her as much as possible because he was a petty fuck, everything was about him and his feelings. Fucker.
He didn't even seem to love Violet. The only reason he wanted her was because she looked exactly like Isabel, the dead love of his life. If she didn't look like her then he wouldn't have given Violet the time of day. There's nothing less romantic than a hero only wanting a heroine because she looks like his dead love. Oh and then there was all the passionate poetry he wrote for all his other girlfriends, which he admitted he'd never done for Violet because he wasn't all that passionate about her.
They had such a lame romance, Violet was obsessed with Aiden whereas he had mild feelings for her � he mostly ignored her or abandoned her or tried to hurt her. It was obvious that Isabel was the love of Aiden's life, and Violet was just someone that reminded him of her.
If a YA book is all about the romance then it should at least be epic and it definitely shouldn't be one sided. It should be clear that the hero and heroine love each other equally and that no-one else compares. Otherwise, its just not romantic.
-The thing that pissed me off most was that Matthew gave up his life so Aiden could become human. WTF?! That was utter bullshit. Why the fuck would Matthew who was in his twenties, and had a family, and a woman that loved him, and his whole life ahead of him give up all that just so that Aiden (who'd already had a longer than normal life, and travelled the world, and had adventures and loved loads) could get another chance at life?! It made no sense.
Yea, I didn't buy the whole Matthew giving up his life just so Violet could be happy with her boyfriend. As fucking if. Why would Matthew let his friends, family and the woman he loved suffer so Violet could keep her murderous boyfriend? Ugh, it was so fucking ridiculous. No-one would give up their whole life for some centuries old vampire they barely knew.
All in all, it was fucking rubbish. I HATED Violet, I HATED Aiden, I HATED the boring, nonsensical plot, I HATED all the teenage angst, and I HATED the romance.
HATED it. One of the worst YA books I've read this year, it was fucking awful. The plot, the characters, the action, the relationships � all of it was rubbish.
-Most of Eternal consisted of Violet moaning about her missing paedo-vampire-boyfriend, Aiden� And when he finally turned up she still kept moaning about him. She claimed to care about her friends, her family, and her education but that was utter bullshit � her one and only priority was her boyfriend. A book should be more than just the heroine obsessing about the hero. Ugh, I was so sick of Violet banging on about her love for Aiden� There was just chapter after chapter of non stop Aiden angst � where the fuckitty fuck was the plot?
-Violet, the Mary-Sue-judgmental-dumb-fucker of a heroine pissed me off from the get go when she made excuses for Aiden hurting half a dozen women and murdering another one. In Violet's eyes it was okay that Aiden killed a woman because said woman was addicted to drugs and apparently killing drug addicts is fair game. Ugh, I don't like calling female characters bitches but Violet was a fucking bitch.
She had so many bitchy moments, the silly cow had the nerve to judge Matthew (her mentor) for having feelings for her because he was too old� Even though 1. His feelings were only ever platonic and 2. He was only actually a few years older than her. So yea, it was sleazy for Matthew to care about her in a brotherly way but it wasn't sleazy for her centuries old boyfriend to be horny for an inexperienced child-like teenage girl. Yea, that makes sense.
It didn't stop there, when Violet found out that her friend, Jack, chose to poison Aiden so he could save his brother's life she acted like he did something unforgivable. What was he meant to do let his little brother die just so a centuries old homicidal vampire he barely knew could be safe? Jack did the right thing in saving his brother but that dumb cow didn't care about that. She acted like Jack was the most awful person in the world for not putting her loser boyfriend before his own fucking family. Ugh, stupid cow.
Then there was Violet's attitude towards Matthew's girlfriend, Charlie. She hadn't even met Charlie yet she was still bitching about her and acting like Charlie was some evul undeserving whore. Also, she was jealous of Charlie and Matthew's relationship even though she didn't actually want Matthew for herself� So yea, it was okay for Violet to have a boyfriend and a life but it wasn't okay for Matthew to date and have a life, she wanted all the boys to herself. The greedy cow.
-Aiden was such a whiny fucking douche. He'd lived for centuries, had been in love loads, and had a great life but he still felt sorry for himself because he couldn't have another chance at a human life. He'd already lived a longer than normal life yet he still acted like he'd been short changed.
Also, he treated Violet like utter crap � when one of her best friends died he ignored her instead of comforting her, and when she hugged another guy because she was grieving, he acted like she was a lying-cheating-whore, and wasn't able to forgive her (even though she didn't do anything wrong). Ugh, she wasn't even allowed to hug another guy in grief without him having a hissy fit. But it was perfectly fine for him to spend time alone with a flirty naked girl that Violet hated. He was such a hypocrite � it was obvious that he didn't care about Violet's feelings, he just wanted to hurt her as much as possible because he was a petty fuck, everything was about him and his feelings. Fucker.
He didn't even seem to love Violet. The only reason he wanted her was because she looked exactly like Isabel, the dead love of his life. If she didn't look like her then he wouldn't have given Violet the time of day. There's nothing less romantic than a hero only wanting a heroine because she looks like his dead love. Oh and then there was all the passionate poetry he wrote for all his other girlfriends, which he admitted he'd never done for Violet because he wasn't all that passionate about her.
They had such a lame romance, Violet was obsessed with Aiden whereas he had mild feelings for her � he mostly ignored her or abandoned her or tried to hurt her. It was obvious that Isabel was the love of Aiden's life, and Violet was just someone that reminded him of her.
If a YA book is all about the romance then it should at least be epic and it definitely shouldn't be one sided. It should be clear that the hero and heroine love each other equally and that no-one else compares. Otherwise, its just not romantic.
-The thing that pissed me off most was that Matthew gave up his life so Aiden could become human. WTF?! That was utter bullshit. Why the fuck would Matthew who was in his twenties, and had a family, and a woman that loved him, and his whole life ahead of him give up all that just so that Aiden (who'd already had a longer than normal life, and travelled the world, and had adventures and loved loads) could get another chance at life?! It made no sense.
Yea, I didn't buy the whole Matthew giving up his life just so Violet could be happy with her boyfriend. As fucking if. Why would Matthew let his friends, family and the woman he loved suffer so Violet could keep her murderous boyfriend? Ugh, it was so fucking ridiculous. No-one would give up their whole life for some centuries old vampire they barely knew.
All in all, it was fucking rubbish. I HATED Violet, I HATED Aiden, I HATED the boring, nonsensical plot, I HATED all the teenage angst, and I HATED the romance.
September 12, 2013
11/09/13
Oh God this book was wonderful. Absolutely love it.
And again Kristi Cook made me wish that I had special abilities and that I am learning in some kind of supernatural school. That would be awesome. Eternal picks up right after mirage, Aidan being taken away and all. I am really sad to know that Aidan was somewhere in Paris being tortured, but I am also thrilled to know more about Matthew. I love those guys, and the other guys, Tyler and Joshua. SO MANY CUTE GUYS... CAN'T STAND.... ok stop. So what I meant is that I loved the characters. Like all of them, even Mrs. Girard. They all grow through the trilogy. Violet is even more bad-ass now, and I love her. Yes, at some point she got really scared, but that's normal, you can't expect someone to be bad-ass 24/7 right? it's hard work. And those tiny frights actually made Violet humane and alive, so POINTS! We were also introduced to Violet's Sabbat sisters and they sounds awesome. I just wished that they were introduced more.
The writing, like the other two books before, was really neat. Everything was explained at the end. The plot was also really satisfying, my only problem though, is the conflict. A few chapters on the front told us about how Vi misses Aidan like hell (I miss him too) and how is she going to get him back, and I am really curious about how she's going to accomplish it. What I didn't expect was how it turns out. I don't know but it felt too easy for a solution. And at some point they (not telling who) are going face-to-face with lots of vampires, yes, there is action but I don't know. It doesn't felt enough for me.
Overall, I still loved this book, despite it's flaws. I can't believe it's the end. God, I'm going to miss them.
P.S. Really, Kristi Cook? Did you really have to do that to Matthew? To me? :"-| (I'm still your biggest fan though)
15/07/13
Oh God... Aidan.....
I can't believe Kristi Cook left me like this. I need this book now.
Oh God this book was wonderful. Absolutely love it.
And again Kristi Cook made me wish that I had special abilities and that I am learning in some kind of supernatural school. That would be awesome. Eternal picks up right after mirage, Aidan being taken away and all. I am really sad to know that Aidan was somewhere in Paris being tortured, but I am also thrilled to know more about Matthew. I love those guys, and the other guys, Tyler and Joshua. SO MANY CUTE GUYS... CAN'T STAND.... ok stop. So what I meant is that I loved the characters. Like all of them, even Mrs. Girard. They all grow through the trilogy. Violet is even more bad-ass now, and I love her. Yes, at some point she got really scared, but that's normal, you can't expect someone to be bad-ass 24/7 right? it's hard work. And those tiny frights actually made Violet humane and alive, so POINTS! We were also introduced to Violet's Sabbat sisters and they sounds awesome. I just wished that they were introduced more.
The writing, like the other two books before, was really neat. Everything was explained at the end. The plot was also really satisfying, my only problem though, is the conflict. A few chapters on the front told us about how Vi misses Aidan like hell (I miss him too) and how is she going to get him back, and I am really curious about how she's going to accomplish it. What I didn't expect was how it turns out. I don't know but it felt too easy for a solution. And at some point they (not telling who) are going face-to-face with lots of vampires, yes, there is action but I don't know. It doesn't felt enough for me.
Overall, I still loved this book, despite it's flaws. I can't believe it's the end. God, I'm going to miss them.
P.S. Really, Kristi Cook? Did you really have to do that to Matthew? To me? :"-| (I'm still your biggest fan though)
15/07/13
"Forced to endure the violent punishment of the Tribunal for murders he has no recollection of committing, Aidan is slowly rotting away in a Paris dungeon. Violet is all but an unreachable dream to him now."
Oh God... Aidan.....
I can't believe Kristi Cook left me like this. I need this book now.
September 16, 2013
Eternal was the most satisfying conclusion to a trilogy that I have read� ever. Period. End of discussion. It was so good, I don’t even know if I can put it into words � minus spoilers � but I’m going to try!(I’m also going to apologize right now for babbling and fangirling, because it might happen� I can’t promise that it won’t).
I picked up Haven (the first book in the Winterhaven trilogy � although I didn’t know at the time it was a trilogy) when it first came out and I devoured it. It was an interesting, original, and refreshing read. The characters, the plot, and the twists at the end of Haven made it one of the most original young adult novels I had read in a long time. Next came book two, Mirage, and it definitely didn’t disappoint! Again, in a market saturated with, at the time, vampire novels and “she goes away to boarding school and discovers she’s not alone!� stories, Mirage proved, once again, why this was one of the most original YA series I’d read in a long time. I could tell right away that the end of Mirage set up for a third book, and I was really excited for it!
And then I read Eternal� And first of all, I was honored to be selected as one of only two or three bloggers who got an eARC from Kristi Cook herself. I’ve loved this series and these characters from the beginning, so I was just.. completely fangirling!
Eternal picks up right where Mirage left off and it jumps right into the important stuff, the action scenes. Almost immediately, something major is revealed to Violet and it set me on edge � I had a bad feeling that I couldn’t shake the entire time I was reading the book.
I absolutely love Matthew. He’s an amazing character and he takes his Megved duties seriously. He has more of a brotherly/protector relationship with Violet and though I can’t see them together � Because, duh, Aidan!!! � I still sort of want them to end up together because of their shared destiny. Something about it just always felt right. Matthew kind of reminds me of Alaric from The Vampire Diaries (the show, not the books). He’s that authority figure, the big brother, the protector.
Tyler was really annoying in Mirage. Like, I really wanted to slap him a few times. But I liked him a lot more in Eternal. He was.. tolerable, I’ll say. And a few times, I actually felt really bad for him!
We learn about several betrayals in Eternal and who was behind these betrayals. It’s a big shock, and despite the reasoning behind the betrayals, I didn’t trust the characters involved for the rest of the book. My heart was just in my throat the whole time I was reading and I kept waiting for more betrayals from these characters.
There were about three scenes that absolutely killed me � I mean, the whole book killed me, but three scenes stand out in particular. Like, I was just a complete mess!!! I still haven’t gotten over them and I’m DYING to talk to someone about them! (So� if/when you read Eternal, CONTACT ME SO WE CAN FANGIRL OVER THIS!!!!!). I’m just� I kind of had a bad feeling about one scene. I sensed it pretty much from the very beginning, but I still wasn’t prepared for it. At all. And I really, really wanted to be wrong� But, I was right *sobs.* There was another scene, as well, that I had hunch about. I felt like it just wasn’t what it seemed. And again, I was right. But it was still startling and incredible to read � I kept wondering if my hunch was wrong, what was going to happen, etc. Bottom line, this book just had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Finally, just gotta put it out there, I love that this series is set in the Hudson Valley. Hometown love for the win! Now, I’m not from the EXACT area the book is set in, but close enough and I know a lot of the places and landmarks mentioned. I’ve even been to/on some of them!
All in all, I loved this book so, so much. I can’t wait till it releases so everyone can join me in my fangirling and so I can hug and pet the hardcover and read it again!
You can also find more from me on my blog:
I picked up Haven (the first book in the Winterhaven trilogy � although I didn’t know at the time it was a trilogy) when it first came out and I devoured it. It was an interesting, original, and refreshing read. The characters, the plot, and the twists at the end of Haven made it one of the most original young adult novels I had read in a long time. Next came book two, Mirage, and it definitely didn’t disappoint! Again, in a market saturated with, at the time, vampire novels and “she goes away to boarding school and discovers she’s not alone!� stories, Mirage proved, once again, why this was one of the most original YA series I’d read in a long time. I could tell right away that the end of Mirage set up for a third book, and I was really excited for it!
And then I read Eternal� And first of all, I was honored to be selected as one of only two or three bloggers who got an eARC from Kristi Cook herself. I’ve loved this series and these characters from the beginning, so I was just.. completely fangirling!
Eternal picks up right where Mirage left off and it jumps right into the important stuff, the action scenes. Almost immediately, something major is revealed to Violet and it set me on edge � I had a bad feeling that I couldn’t shake the entire time I was reading the book.
I absolutely love Matthew. He’s an amazing character and he takes his Megved duties seriously. He has more of a brotherly/protector relationship with Violet and though I can’t see them together � Because, duh, Aidan!!! � I still sort of want them to end up together because of their shared destiny. Something about it just always felt right. Matthew kind of reminds me of Alaric from The Vampire Diaries (the show, not the books). He’s that authority figure, the big brother, the protector.
Tyler was really annoying in Mirage. Like, I really wanted to slap him a few times. But I liked him a lot more in Eternal. He was.. tolerable, I’ll say. And a few times, I actually felt really bad for him!
We learn about several betrayals in Eternal and who was behind these betrayals. It’s a big shock, and despite the reasoning behind the betrayals, I didn’t trust the characters involved for the rest of the book. My heart was just in my throat the whole time I was reading and I kept waiting for more betrayals from these characters.
There were about three scenes that absolutely killed me � I mean, the whole book killed me, but three scenes stand out in particular. Like, I was just a complete mess!!! I still haven’t gotten over them and I’m DYING to talk to someone about them! (So� if/when you read Eternal, CONTACT ME SO WE CAN FANGIRL OVER THIS!!!!!). I’m just� I kind of had a bad feeling about one scene. I sensed it pretty much from the very beginning, but I still wasn’t prepared for it. At all. And I really, really wanted to be wrong� But, I was right *sobs.* There was another scene, as well, that I had hunch about. I felt like it just wasn’t what it seemed. And again, I was right. But it was still startling and incredible to read � I kept wondering if my hunch was wrong, what was going to happen, etc. Bottom line, this book just had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Finally, just gotta put it out there, I love that this series is set in the Hudson Valley. Hometown love for the win! Now, I’m not from the EXACT area the book is set in, but close enough and I know a lot of the places and landmarks mentioned. I’ve even been to/on some of them!
All in all, I loved this book so, so much. I can’t wait till it releases so everyone can join me in my fangirling and so I can hug and pet the hardcover and read it again!
You can also find more from me on my blog:
Read
March 26, 2013Waiting for this book for a year!!
November 18, 2013
I want this book. NOW!! SERIOUSLY!! AIDAN!! NOO!!
I finished it. This was soo good and I loved it!! More to come later!
I finished it. This was soo good and I loved it!! More to come later!
February 8, 2016
Well this ending screwed me up
Winterhaven was definitely an interesting series. Sometimes I hated it, sometimes I loved it. This series and I have a very complicated relationship :/ :D All in all, Kristi Cook wrote a great conclusion inciting both pain and love. :)
Winterhaven was definitely an interesting series. Sometimes I hated it, sometimes I loved it. This series and I have a very complicated relationship :/ :D All in all, Kristi Cook wrote a great conclusion inciting both pain and love. :)
July 29, 2016
Review coming soon!
January 6, 2014
OMG , hated Mathew dying!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2016
FABULOUS!!!! LIKE ALL HER OTHER BOOKS. FULL REVIEW WILL BE UP SOON ON
bebebookreviews.wordpress.com
So sad to see it end. I really enjoyed the characters and it was sad at times but I enjoyed it so much.
xoxo,
Bebe
bebebookreviews.wordpress.com
So sad to see it end. I really enjoyed the characters and it was sad at times but I enjoyed it so much.
xoxo,
Bebe
February 4, 2021
El 90% de la historia ocurrió en la escuela, cuando se supone que hay una guerra entre vampiros, en el cuál los últimos 3 capítulos se arreglo todo, demasiado fácil diría yo.
August 28, 2013
An eARC copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Eternal is the highly anticipated conclusion to the Haven trilogy. After reading the first two books and loving them, I admit I had built up a lot of expectations for the book. Since it’s the conclusion and all, I imagined lots of twists and surprises and definitely higher stakes for the characters � most especially to Violet. Unfortunately, the book fell short of my expectations and I didn’t quite feel the excitement and love I felt for the first two books.
First of all, you have to know just how much I love Aidan. I love how secretive and mysterious he is yet at the same time protective. He always puts people’s sake and safety before his own and he’s constantly thinking and worrying about Violet being in danger and saving her even if it costs him his life. He has an admirable determination and my heart just broke for him. One of the few things really that you’d hold your breath for in the book is whether or not Aidan would find the cure for vampirism. But whether or not he did, is one thing you should find out for yourself when you read Eternal.
I like how the story just flowed. There are some draggy parts for my taste but it would pick up its pace and bam, Kristi Cook would throw you something you wouldn’t expect.
And the ending? That was a big revelation I never would guess. I honestly didn’t understand what happened at first (so I read the part again� and I still had no clue) so good thing that the epilogue explained that one although I’d say in a very vague way. It would have been nice to know exactly why that happened and how they figured it out. I am trying really hard here to not give away any spoilers and it’s proving to be really difficult so forgive me if you have no idea what I’m talking about. But anyhow, lastly, I just adore the characters � Cece, Sophie, Kate, Marissa but most especially Tyler. I love how he played a big part in helping Violet (and the gang) even if he’s a newly introduced character in Mirage. He fit in so well with them and I just have a soft spot for him. He’s fun, cocky, and humorous but definitely a loyal friend.
So why the three point five stars you ask? I just felt completely detached from the story. There were a lot of twists (and some really did surprise me) but I just didn’t feel connected with it, you know? Something terrible would happen and I’m just like, “Oh dang�, and something good would happen and I’d be just, “Oh good for you.� I didn’t exactly feel the danger � the excitement of it all. Violet, Aidan and their friends are supposed to be in even more danger what with all the war brewing and such, but I just didn’t care. I just felt disconnected from the characters and from the story in general. This is actually the main reason why it took me this long to finish the book (aside from all the schoolwork that is). Also, I didn’t feel involved as a reader in any way. I felt out of the loop from everything. That twisty, shocker ending I was talking about? It came as a huge surprise partly because we weren’t given any bit of clues throughout the story. Having said that though, I enjoyed Eternal with all its unforeseen twists and revelations. And well, Aidan. So there’s that.
Overall, I recommend that you start this series if you haven’t still. And to those who have been patiently and anxiously waiting for Eternal, I say give it a go ‘cause it’s worth the wait.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Eternal is the highly anticipated conclusion to the Haven trilogy. After reading the first two books and loving them, I admit I had built up a lot of expectations for the book. Since it’s the conclusion and all, I imagined lots of twists and surprises and definitely higher stakes for the characters � most especially to Violet. Unfortunately, the book fell short of my expectations and I didn’t quite feel the excitement and love I felt for the first two books.
First of all, you have to know just how much I love Aidan. I love how secretive and mysterious he is yet at the same time protective. He always puts people’s sake and safety before his own and he’s constantly thinking and worrying about Violet being in danger and saving her even if it costs him his life. He has an admirable determination and my heart just broke for him. One of the few things really that you’d hold your breath for in the book is whether or not Aidan would find the cure for vampirism. But whether or not he did, is one thing you should find out for yourself when you read Eternal.
I like how the story just flowed. There are some draggy parts for my taste but it would pick up its pace and bam, Kristi Cook would throw you something you wouldn’t expect.
And the ending? That was a big revelation I never would guess. I honestly didn’t understand what happened at first (so I read the part again� and I still had no clue) so good thing that the epilogue explained that one although I’d say in a very vague way. It would have been nice to know exactly why that happened and how they figured it out. I am trying really hard here to not give away any spoilers and it’s proving to be really difficult so forgive me if you have no idea what I’m talking about. But anyhow, lastly, I just adore the characters � Cece, Sophie, Kate, Marissa but most especially Tyler. I love how he played a big part in helping Violet (and the gang) even if he’s a newly introduced character in Mirage. He fit in so well with them and I just have a soft spot for him. He’s fun, cocky, and humorous but definitely a loyal friend.
So why the three point five stars you ask? I just felt completely detached from the story. There were a lot of twists (and some really did surprise me) but I just didn’t feel connected with it, you know? Something terrible would happen and I’m just like, “Oh dang�, and something good would happen and I’d be just, “Oh good for you.� I didn’t exactly feel the danger � the excitement of it all. Violet, Aidan and their friends are supposed to be in even more danger what with all the war brewing and such, but I just didn’t care. I just felt disconnected from the characters and from the story in general. This is actually the main reason why it took me this long to finish the book (aside from all the schoolwork that is). Also, I didn’t feel involved as a reader in any way. I felt out of the loop from everything. That twisty, shocker ending I was talking about? It came as a huge surprise partly because we weren’t given any bit of clues throughout the story. Having said that though, I enjoyed Eternal with all its unforeseen twists and revelations. And well, Aidan. So there’s that.
Overall, I recommend that you start this series if you haven’t still. And to those who have been patiently and anxiously waiting for Eternal, I say give it a go ‘cause it’s worth the wait.
December 30, 2013
Wow. I couldn't believe everything that happened in this book. But it was an amazing end to an amazing series and I couldn't imagine anything different.
I was in love with Violet. She has come so far and she doesn't give up hope. She will do whatever it takes to protect the ones she loves most, and to save the boy she loves. So many things get thrown her way and she pushes her way through and still looks forward to what happens next. She gets knocked around and still gets up she is an amazing character that I have grown to love. So many obstacles to get over, losses I can't imagine, and heartache. She is a strong, independent fierce girl who will overcome it all.
Aiden swooning. So sad to see his character go but god could he be more amazing?!? The answer is YES! Even he has grown throughout these books. And the guilt he lives with reaches through to us. I just want to reach through and cuddle him. He is also going through a lot in this book, he is on trial, there isad war starting, he doesn't know what is happening to him but he has his hope. Him and violet are perfect for each other in every way. But what will this cost him and Violet in the end?
Everything is coming to head, we will be there through it all. The love, loss, betrayal, action and adventure. My heart broke in many places in this book but in the end I was still so in love with each and every character.
I was in love with Violet. She has come so far and she doesn't give up hope. She will do whatever it takes to protect the ones she loves most, and to save the boy she loves. So many things get thrown her way and she pushes her way through and still looks forward to what happens next. She gets knocked around and still gets up she is an amazing character that I have grown to love. So many obstacles to get over, losses I can't imagine, and heartache. She is a strong, independent fierce girl who will overcome it all.
Aiden swooning. So sad to see his character go but god could he be more amazing?!? The answer is YES! Even he has grown throughout these books. And the guilt he lives with reaches through to us. I just want to reach through and cuddle him. He is also going through a lot in this book, he is on trial, there isad war starting, he doesn't know what is happening to him but he has his hope. Him and violet are perfect for each other in every way. But what will this cost him and Violet in the end?
Everything is coming to head, we will be there through it all. The love, loss, betrayal, action and adventure. My heart broke in many places in this book but in the end I was still so in love with each and every character.
February 3, 2019
Finally done with this book.
I've never come across a novel that was such a colossal WASTE OF MY TIME. I can't even imagine the number of times this trilogy has made me cringe so hard I almost got whiplash. The whole book read like the author was a hormonal 14 year old trying to get fame on Wattpad. Utterly boring, poorly written and overall long winded.
Action scenes were so anticlimactic it hurt my eyes to read. Main character was a horny, whiny little girl who generally pissed me off - when she wasn't making out with her boyfriend, she was thinking about him. That's the whole plot. Her life seemed to revolve around that one boy that honestly, wasn't all that interesting either.
I can see how the author was trying to be interesting, but I guess the only thing I could say is: STOP TRYING. Utterly disappointing - action scenes were shit, character development was shit, plot was shit, ending was shit. This whole book was just one badly written chapter after another.
Stuck with the trilogy because it was interesting to see how much worse the book could get with each page. Suffice to say, if i could give this book -5 stars, I would. PLEASE PLEASE do not read it.
Better alternatives if you want a good novel:
anything by Marie Lu, Leigh Bardugo, Tahereh Mafi, or my cat's vomit. Seriously.
I've never come across a novel that was such a colossal WASTE OF MY TIME. I can't even imagine the number of times this trilogy has made me cringe so hard I almost got whiplash. The whole book read like the author was a hormonal 14 year old trying to get fame on Wattpad. Utterly boring, poorly written and overall long winded.
Action scenes were so anticlimactic it hurt my eyes to read. Main character was a horny, whiny little girl who generally pissed me off - when she wasn't making out with her boyfriend, she was thinking about him. That's the whole plot. Her life seemed to revolve around that one boy that honestly, wasn't all that interesting either.
I can see how the author was trying to be interesting, but I guess the only thing I could say is: STOP TRYING. Utterly disappointing - action scenes were shit, character development was shit, plot was shit, ending was shit. This whole book was just one badly written chapter after another.
Stuck with the trilogy because it was interesting to see how much worse the book could get with each page. Suffice to say, if i could give this book -5 stars, I would. PLEASE PLEASE do not read it.
Better alternatives if you want a good novel:
anything by Marie Lu, Leigh Bardugo, Tahereh Mafi, or my cat's vomit. Seriously.
October 12, 2013
I had trouble with most of this book until the very end. In the beginning, Violet is getting visions of Aidan being tortured, yet her main strategy for finding him is wishful thinking based on wanting everything in life to stick to a prescribed routine (i.e. Maybe we'll get into the same college together). Even when he is found and plainly traumatized, she is all about routine and normalcy (i.e. I can't skip sixth period class). And when Aidan is clearly having a difficult emotional time with what he's been through, Violet just chatters away about mundane high school girly things. Granted, during times of great stress, it is expected that children strive for normalcy and routine as a coping mechanism, but I expect more of heroines. The conflicts resolve too easily as they just seem to go away. And it is pretty unbelievable that Violet and Matthew, who could barely kill a duo of vampires, suddenly prevail effortlessly over a horde of them. None of the outcomes are really earned by the characters with one exception which comes at the very end, and that is both tragic and beautiful at the same time. I really wished for more with this book but I am glad that the ending gave me some emotional payback.
October 1, 2014
The ending to the series, I admit I spoiled it to myself. However it was obvious what was coming. A whole three books with the same love interest doesn't usually change, I'm saying this because I really truly did ship Violet and Matthew together, no matter how weird that is.
But that man did everything for her, and he got allllll her shit in the end. Bruises, dying, ditching his girlfriend, weird intimate feelings that aren't his o.O The only thing Violet ever did was throw him a surprise party. And in the end Matthew couldn't even end up with the girl he loved.
I'm sad he died, and I reallllly believe that Matthew in the end did have some sort of feelings for Violet, and vice versa. I wish there was Matthew Violet drama with Aidan then Violet Tyler drama to be honest.
But in the end it was always meant to be Aidan as hers, but still it would've been nice to know that Matthew got his happy ending too.
What no funeral? Nothing else mentioned about Charlie in the ending? What are those other vampire slayers and who are those other female sabbats, and are they cool?
Leave it to a book to give you a cliff hanger...when it's finished.
Still I enjoyed this series, but right now I'm in sort of a sad state due to the ending :/
Matthew <3 Forevers
Luv, ya.
-Kim
But that man did everything for her, and he got allllll her shit in the end. Bruises, dying, ditching his girlfriend, weird intimate feelings that aren't his o.O The only thing Violet ever did was throw him a surprise party. And in the end Matthew couldn't even end up with the girl he loved.
I'm sad he died, and I reallllly believe that Matthew in the end did have some sort of feelings for Violet, and vice versa. I wish there was Matthew Violet drama with Aidan then Violet Tyler drama to be honest.
But in the end it was always meant to be Aidan as hers, but still it would've been nice to know that Matthew got his happy ending too.
What no funeral? Nothing else mentioned about Charlie in the ending? What are those other vampire slayers and who are those other female sabbats, and are they cool?
Leave it to a book to give you a cliff hanger...when it's finished.
Still I enjoyed this series, but right now I'm in sort of a sad state due to the ending :/
Matthew <3 Forevers
Luv, ya.
-Kim
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2015
I loved this last installment in this trilogy. Everything was wrapped up nice and neat and to be honest, more than 3/4 of the way through the book, I was wondering if there was going to be another book in the future because I couldn't see how it was going to be ended in such little time. But it was and it was good!
So, in the beginning of this installment, Violet is a nervous wreck, since Aidan is gone, having turned himself into the tribunal for being the Manhattan stalker. She knows he was manipulated into it, but the headmistress is gone as well, (probably w/ Aidan since she's a vampire too) and she doesn't know how he is. We do though. As the reader we see Aidan in a torture chamber and it's not good.
All of our favorite characters are back and everyone is graduating and moving on to different colleges. Violet is sad to see everyone going in different directions, (even Patsy is getting remarried and moving away).
But once Aidan comes back, things start to make sense and there are some huge changes in the vampire community to come, with Aidan being right in the middle of it all.
Lots of action and twists and turns and a few very solemn moments in this story, but it ended very well. Liked this trilogy, I have to look for more books from this author.
So, in the beginning of this installment, Violet is a nervous wreck, since Aidan is gone, having turned himself into the tribunal for being the Manhattan stalker. She knows he was manipulated into it, but the headmistress is gone as well, (probably w/ Aidan since she's a vampire too) and she doesn't know how he is. We do though. As the reader we see Aidan in a torture chamber and it's not good.
All of our favorite characters are back and everyone is graduating and moving on to different colleges. Violet is sad to see everyone going in different directions, (even Patsy is getting remarried and moving away).
But once Aidan comes back, things start to make sense and there are some huge changes in the vampire community to come, with Aidan being right in the middle of it all.
Lots of action and twists and turns and a few very solemn moments in this story, but it ended very well. Liked this trilogy, I have to look for more books from this author.
February 6, 2014
I wanted to like this book. I enjoyed the first two and, although neither of them wowed me, I thought they were enjoyable enough to continue the series.
Eternal's greatest fault may be in just how boring it was. Nothing happened. The characters spent all their time talking about what was to come and then when it finally did? The action lasted about 3 pages. I thought it was also overpopulated with characters I just didn't care about. I read the second book so long ago and I could not remember who anyone was. And it didn't really matter. Violet's list of friends really could have been combined into about 3 better rounded characters. I guess that's the main problem with Eternal...none of it really mattered. I think it could have been condensed into 100 pages. The ending struck me as a little ridiculous as well.
Eternal's greatest fault may be in just how boring it was. Nothing happened. The characters spent all their time talking about what was to come and then when it finally did? The action lasted about 3 pages. I thought it was also overpopulated with characters I just didn't care about. I read the second book so long ago and I could not remember who anyone was. And it didn't really matter. Violet's list of friends really could have been combined into about 3 better rounded characters. I guess that's the main problem with Eternal...none of it really mattered. I think it could have been condensed into 100 pages. The ending struck me as a little ridiculous as well.
September 23, 2014
This was a pretty good conclusion to the series, and overall, it ended well. Some of the supporting characters died, and another one completely dropped out of the book after one of the deaths. The "final battle" was a little underwhelming, though.
I enjoyed the pop culture references (to things like Buffy, Harry Potter, and such).
In case you want a big spoiler, .
Note: Some swearing, including a few f words (all used by Tyler). Innuendos and teen sensuality.
I enjoyed the pop culture references (to things like Buffy, Harry Potter, and such).
In case you want a big spoiler, .
Note: Some swearing, including a few f words (all used by Tyler). Innuendos and teen sensuality.
Want to read
June 17, 2013I could have sworn I held this book in my hands just weeks ago at my local library and now it can't be found... am i loosing my mind... maybe i am a precog and saw myself picking it up off the shelf after it is on shelves in Sept... Going crazy to see how it ends!
Want to read
August 3, 2013Thank god I didn't read what the third book would be about before finishing Mirage or it definitely would have ruined EVERYTHING. Lol
September 14, 2014
This is really nice, can't believe that this is already the end
January 6, 2016
*Spoiler Alert*
I can't believe Matthew died! I almost cried on that part!
I can't believe Matthew died! I almost cried on that part!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2014
rating: 2.5/5
review to come.
review to come.
June 19, 2024
𖥻 ꜝꜝ┊★★★★☆┊꒷꒥꒷ ‧₊˚
� 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆𝒔 !! ˎˊ˗
� ya
� fantasy
� romance
� paranormal
� vampires
� supernatural
� 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 !! ˎˊ˗
� fallen
� twilight
� ⋆˚₊⋆────ʚ � ɞ────⋆˚₊� �
🧚🏻♀� ⁀� 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 � 4.5/5 �
okay so starting off there's violet, i like her personality but i do wish she doesn't question things as much! and sometimes it's like she couldn't see through some of the most obvious things! aiden is so sweet, i love vi and him together, they're so perfect for each other! although aiden is a vamp, he'd try so hard to be close to vi and comfort her every time she faces smth difficult! he is kinda centuries old, but he's still a 17 y/o boy so he gets jealous, he's sooo cutee! <3 there's also matthew (dr hottie), who turns out to be vi's protector/destined mate. at first, i didn't really like him but as the story continued he were there for violet anytime she needed it, and violet for sure couldn't have done it without help from him!! he turned out to be so sweet <3 then there's tyler, who usually gets in the way between vi and aiden, i also didn't really like his character at the beginning but he turned out to be a really supportive friend. is it just me, or is ty really attractive and hot? i want him so baddd for some reason...
anyways, time for violet's amazing friends! gosh, i ADORE cece so muchhh! she is such a good friend to vi and she is so sweet, i love her personality and i wish she was real!! she is always there for violet, she is so caring <3 Sophie is also one of violet's lovely friend, she helps make everything better!! marissa isn't in the book as much as Cece or Sophie, but I love her so much, she makes an wonderful friend! there's also kate :( she might or might not have survived till the end of the series, but she will always be there with vi and the others, we love her too!!
🦢 ⁀� 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 � 5/5 �
as the name of the series is winterhaven, this trilogy mostly takes place in winterhaven! it's a boarding school for people like violet who have gifts (aka a sixth sense)! i really love the setting of this series, it's just like a magical place for violet and her friends. sometimes i wish i could be there!
🐰 ⁀� 𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐓 � 4/5 �
i love how the story developed and this book was for sure the perfect ending!! although I seriously can't believe Matthew died, like WHAT?? i loved him, but it's so sweet how he sacrificed himself to let violet have the best happily ever after! i just wish there was a better way! otherwise, in the end there's now nothing in between violet and aiden and it's amazingg, love this book series!
� ⋆˚₊⋆────ʚ � ɞ────⋆˚₊� �
🤍 ⁀� 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒 � 🏹 �
₊˚꒰ i think it’s just the opposite, that soul mates are more like two sides of a coin; if you're heads then i'm tails � -you're so right, aiden <33
₊˚꒰ i might be an asshole sometimes, but i take friendships seriously, it's all i have � - omgg, i love ty!
₊˚꒰ you have no idea what it's like trying to pretend I'm normal, when deep inside I know I'm completely screwed up �
₊˚꒰ there was nothing worse than hearing your own fears spoken aloud �
� ⋆˚₊⋆────ʚ � ɞ────⋆˚₊� �
kk! i know this is kinda a long review, i'll stop now but i have just one more thing to say :) this trilogy might not be famous, but i promise you it's worth it!
₊˚🌹꒱ pages :: 410
˚₊❏� reading time :: 3 hours 45 mins
₊˚🌷꒱ days read :: june 18 - june 19, 2024 (2 days)
thank you so much for reading till here!! i really appreciated it!
love, lilian <33
� 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆𝒔 !! ˎˊ˗
� ya
� fantasy
� romance
� paranormal
� vampires
� supernatural
� 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 !! ˎˊ˗
� fallen
� twilight
� ⋆˚₊⋆────ʚ � ɞ────⋆˚₊� �
🧚🏻♀� ⁀� 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 � 4.5/5 �
okay so starting off there's violet, i like her personality but i do wish she doesn't question things as much! and sometimes it's like she couldn't see through some of the most obvious things! aiden is so sweet, i love vi and him together, they're so perfect for each other! although aiden is a vamp, he'd try so hard to be close to vi and comfort her every time she faces smth difficult! he is kinda centuries old, but he's still a 17 y/o boy so he gets jealous, he's sooo cutee! <3 there's also matthew (dr hottie), who turns out to be vi's protector/destined mate. at first, i didn't really like him but as the story continued he were there for violet anytime she needed it, and violet for sure couldn't have done it without help from him!! he turned out to be so sweet <3 then there's tyler, who usually gets in the way between vi and aiden, i also didn't really like his character at the beginning but he turned out to be a really supportive friend. is it just me, or is ty really attractive and hot? i want him so baddd for some reason...
anyways, time for violet's amazing friends! gosh, i ADORE cece so muchhh! she is such a good friend to vi and she is so sweet, i love her personality and i wish she was real!! she is always there for violet, she is so caring <3 Sophie is also one of violet's lovely friend, she helps make everything better!! marissa isn't in the book as much as Cece or Sophie, but I love her so much, she makes an wonderful friend! there's also kate :( she might or might not have survived till the end of the series, but she will always be there with vi and the others, we love her too!!
🦢 ⁀� 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 � 5/5 �
as the name of the series is winterhaven, this trilogy mostly takes place in winterhaven! it's a boarding school for people like violet who have gifts (aka a sixth sense)! i really love the setting of this series, it's just like a magical place for violet and her friends. sometimes i wish i could be there!
🐰 ⁀� 𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐓 � 4/5 �
i love how the story developed and this book was for sure the perfect ending!! although I seriously can't believe Matthew died, like WHAT?? i loved him, but it's so sweet how he sacrificed himself to let violet have the best happily ever after! i just wish there was a better way! otherwise, in the end there's now nothing in between violet and aiden and it's amazingg, love this book series!
� ⋆˚₊⋆────ʚ � ɞ────⋆˚₊� �
🤍 ⁀� 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒 � 🏹 �
₊˚꒰ i think it’s just the opposite, that soul mates are more like two sides of a coin; if you're heads then i'm tails � -you're so right, aiden <33
₊˚꒰ i might be an asshole sometimes, but i take friendships seriously, it's all i have � - omgg, i love ty!
₊˚꒰ you have no idea what it's like trying to pretend I'm normal, when deep inside I know I'm completely screwed up �
₊˚꒰ there was nothing worse than hearing your own fears spoken aloud �
� ⋆˚₊⋆────ʚ � ɞ────⋆˚₊� �
kk! i know this is kinda a long review, i'll stop now but i have just one more thing to say :) this trilogy might not be famous, but i promise you it's worth it!
₊˚🌹꒱ pages :: 410
˚₊❏� reading time :: 3 hours 45 mins
₊˚🌷꒱ days read :: june 18 - june 19, 2024 (2 days)
thank you so much for reading till here!! i really appreciated it!
love, lilian <33
April 5, 2022
For the past 2 books it’s been 2 star quality and this book really isn’t any different except that I gave it an extra 1 star for a fairly satisfying conclusion that I’ve sort of wasted my time for thoughout this trilogy
It continues right after Mirage - Aidan hands himself over to the Tribunal, Violet’s worried and sad that she will never see him again. Props to her for trying to move forward with her life, studies and friends. Well of course, Aidan comes back - by the guise of Ms. Girard (erm..his turner and Tribunal member) bringing him back, calling him a saviour and needing him in some type of vampire ‘war� that was to happen. She was only forced to hand him in to be punished by the Tribunal because she needed to gain their trust or wtv.
Aidan is then determined never to leave Violet again and thankfully doesn’t pull any emotional I’m going to leave you for your own good stints. Instead, he spends time being jealous of her relationship with Tyler :D
Then she has a surprise birthday party in PARIS but she immediately grows wary as she saw a vision of Jack being attacked and he was missing ! She asks Kate where he is! (Because they got back tgt after learning that Jack only broke up with her from guilt for accidentally turning Aidan into a murderer at the threat of Ms. Girard hurting his brother lol what a mouthful) Violet tells Kate not to go outside but ofc Kate is very worried about Jack.
Then we find Jack okay but Kate’s neck bleeding profusely from a vampire’s fang. Violet kills this said vampire with her Megved’s help. But Kate’s dead. Wtf Kristi Cook. That was shitty of you.
They mourne her death and Violet feels very sorry and guilty for not being able to stop it and also the fact that it happened on her bloody birthday. They had to hide the fact it was a vampire’s doing, even from Kate’s family which broke MY heart. Buuuut they carried on pretty easily after this very tragic death�.
Violet’s still more concerned with this vampire war and how she was going to be with Aidan, and being jealous over her Megved’s not-really girlfriend, Charlie. Everyone else (ie Matt, TYLER even and CHARLIE!) work on Aidan’s cure because they apparently are selfless with their time and energy�.
Violet prepares for the war, her and Matt work in sync to kill more vampires (all too easily imo..) and at the final battle, Violet and Matt go on some easy killing spree that actually made the remaining vampires scared. Aidan then talks some bullshit about him being the king and leader and they must pledge allegiance to the order of the Tribunal or wtv or die rn. Just like that yay it’s over.
Then Aidan drinks the cure given by Matt who claims that it has been perfected now. This is great because Aidan doesn’t really want to be some vampire pawn/leader under Ms fucking Girard. He wants to be fully 17 and hormonal with Violet :) So he drinks it selfishly and Violet feels the searing pain of Matt’s severed ties with her. Because he dead.
The answer to Aidan’s cure to vapirism was Violet’s ‘special� blood, and because Aidan DID drink Violet’s blood, her Megved was destroyed as per the flimsy prophecy warning. Conveniently, Aidan is nowww a Human AND Violet’s new Megved. And they live bloody happily ever after.
Knowing Kristi Cook’s style -this book was full of studying for exams, fencing, trivial high school stuff which maybe I shouldn’t really fault her for..this book IS YA/teen� The real action comes in Kate’s death and very quick vampire slayings. The ending is also wrapped up in a haste, resolving quickly because there was actually no real complication or intellect behind it.
Xoxo glad I’m done with this.
It continues right after Mirage - Aidan hands himself over to the Tribunal, Violet’s worried and sad that she will never see him again. Props to her for trying to move forward with her life, studies and friends. Well of course, Aidan comes back - by the guise of Ms. Girard (erm..his turner and Tribunal member) bringing him back, calling him a saviour and needing him in some type of vampire ‘war� that was to happen. She was only forced to hand him in to be punished by the Tribunal because she needed to gain their trust or wtv.
Aidan is then determined never to leave Violet again and thankfully doesn’t pull any emotional I’m going to leave you for your own good stints. Instead, he spends time being jealous of her relationship with Tyler :D
Then she has a surprise birthday party in PARIS but she immediately grows wary as she saw a vision of Jack being attacked and he was missing ! She asks Kate where he is! (Because they got back tgt after learning that Jack only broke up with her from guilt for accidentally turning Aidan into a murderer at the threat of Ms. Girard hurting his brother lol what a mouthful) Violet tells Kate not to go outside but ofc Kate is very worried about Jack.
Then we find Jack okay but Kate’s neck bleeding profusely from a vampire’s fang. Violet kills this said vampire with her Megved’s help. But Kate’s dead. Wtf Kristi Cook. That was shitty of you.
They mourne her death and Violet feels very sorry and guilty for not being able to stop it and also the fact that it happened on her bloody birthday. They had to hide the fact it was a vampire’s doing, even from Kate’s family which broke MY heart. Buuuut they carried on pretty easily after this very tragic death�.
Violet’s still more concerned with this vampire war and how she was going to be with Aidan, and being jealous over her Megved’s not-really girlfriend, Charlie. Everyone else (ie Matt, TYLER even and CHARLIE!) work on Aidan’s cure because they apparently are selfless with their time and energy�.
Violet prepares for the war, her and Matt work in sync to kill more vampires (all too easily imo..) and at the final battle, Violet and Matt go on some easy killing spree that actually made the remaining vampires scared. Aidan then talks some bullshit about him being the king and leader and they must pledge allegiance to the order of the Tribunal or wtv or die rn. Just like that yay it’s over.
Then Aidan drinks the cure given by Matt who claims that it has been perfected now. This is great because Aidan doesn’t really want to be some vampire pawn/leader under Ms fucking Girard. He wants to be fully 17 and hormonal with Violet :) So he drinks it selfishly and Violet feels the searing pain of Matt’s severed ties with her. Because he dead.
The answer to Aidan’s cure to vapirism was Violet’s ‘special� blood, and because Aidan DID drink Violet’s blood, her Megved was destroyed as per the flimsy prophecy warning. Conveniently, Aidan is nowww a Human AND Violet’s new Megved. And they live bloody happily ever after.
Knowing Kristi Cook’s style -this book was full of studying for exams, fencing, trivial high school stuff which maybe I shouldn’t really fault her for..this book IS YA/teen� The real action comes in Kate’s death and very quick vampire slayings. The ending is also wrapped up in a haste, resolving quickly because there was actually no real complication or intellect behind it.
Xoxo glad I’m done with this.
May 25, 2015
Rating: 3.5 stars
It was what I expected, and totally not, at the same time.
Cons?
Eternal made a decent conclusion to the Haven trilogy. And I do mean just decent. The story picked up where its predecessor, Mirage, left off, with Aidan missing somewhere with the Tribunal. How Violet works to get him back really wasn't...all that exciting. It didn't even really feel like she had to do anything, as it was the circumstances that dictated his return into her life. So there went one major plot twist that held a lot of potential.
There was also the threat of some vampire war, and the hinted importance that Aidan might play in that (thus making it also Violet and the rest of her Winterhaven Warrior gang's business). That sounded potentially great and full of action, right? It's WAR, after all. Violence apparently equates to excitement factor according to all the action movies out there. Was it, though? Guess I was wrong at that too. It really didn't build up very well, and the actual process that dealt directly with the war was maybe 40 pages maximum? Couldn't a 400+ page book at least make the "war" plotline a little longer? It definitely had me on the edge of my seat while it lasted.
And her visions? The ones that potentially held possible death for some of her loved ones? Some of them never really come to pass or even remotely come close to happening because of her precautions. Makes the vision seem anticlimactic doesn't it?
BUT, I'm not gonna continue to semi-rant the rest of this review. It was NOT all bad.
Pros?
The majority of the novel did focus on the impossibility of Aidan having a future with Violet, and his ever-present quest for the cure to his vampirism. There was also that new aspect of Violet finding her male counterpart and protector, her Megved, Matthew. Aka Dr. "Hottie" Byrne. That was intriguing indeed.
Why, you may ask? It says he's supposed to be his Sabbat's mate in every way?
Although it may sound like the potential for a horrible love triangle at the end of the series, it never does come to that. And weirdly enough, although I have a horrible annoyance/disgust towards these romantic entanglements, I felt quite badly for Matthew. He had a girlfriend, or I supposed was a girlfriend, until he found Violet and now he was dedicated to her and her only. Too bad, old girlfriend. The Sabbat comes first. And it was obvious that he cared for her, possibly in a romantic way (which isn't creepy 'cause he's a teacher....well, not too creepy. Come on, he was a hot YOUNG teacher, right?) But he never pursued anything, letting Violet be with Aidan although I'm assuming that went against all HIS early teachings as a Megved. I oddly found myself wishing there was some way he'd get a happy ending of his own somehow.
Let us just pause for a sec and really think of what a great guy Matthew seems to be.
Okay, now that's out of the way, I really did enjoy Matthew and Violet's dynamic. They made a great fighting pair when it came to vampire slaying. Even if Violet only felt a strong brotherly love towards Matthew, they too had some understanding and psychic connection that was unlike any other relationship she could have, even the one with Aidan. I think it was great seeing this other kind of relationship at this point in time of the story.
Her friends made a bigger impact in this story comparatively to Mirage. And unlike some novels, not everyone gets a happy ending. I can't say I was surprised about certain twists of fate that occurred (mostly because I saw a review that ruined the surprise), but I was actually glad to see Cook adding this element. Because visions can't always be prevented, even with forewarning. This just adds layers to Violet's character having to deal with possible failure.
One thing I do wish was that the ending answered a few more questions. For example, for the life of me, I felt Tyler's introduction in the last book as rather...suspicious? Maybe that's not the right word, 'cause I do like him, but I always thought there had to be some ulterior motive for his presence and joining the gang's efforts in helping Aidan. Did Cook ever answer that? No. Still waiting here. Am thinking I'll be left hanging. And what the heck was Dr. Blackwell's plan in the first place way back in Haven?
All in all, the ending was definitely the highlight of the story for me, maybe even in the series. It was possibly the best way it could've concluded, in my opinion. Sure, most of the story wasn't terribly exciting, but this nearly redeemed all of that. For all the lack of action, Cook did do a good job of creating her characters and the dynamics between everyone in the group. They really were like an eclectic family. A family that by the end of it, felt like I wished I had a group of people like that myself. I'd say that's a job well done in my books for characterization.
Overall Recommendation:
Although it lacked the ability to expand potentially exciting plot elements set up from the previous novels, Eternal did do an amazing job at continually making the friendship dynamics between Violet and the rest of her gang of friends at Winterhaven really believable and enjoyable. They tackled every problem together. With the added element of discovering she had a protector and vampire slayer partner in Dr. Byrne, all while Aidan was either AWOL or irritated with finding his cure against the ticking deadline till graduation, things definitely heated up in the romance department. The series' ending made it worth the slow pace, and for the most part, wrapped it up in the most heartfelt way possible that left me touched at the depth love goes.
It was what I expected, and totally not, at the same time.
Cons?
Eternal made a decent conclusion to the Haven trilogy. And I do mean just decent. The story picked up where its predecessor, Mirage, left off, with Aidan missing somewhere with the Tribunal. How Violet works to get him back really wasn't...all that exciting. It didn't even really feel like she had to do anything, as it was the circumstances that dictated his return into her life. So there went one major plot twist that held a lot of potential.
There was also the threat of some vampire war, and the hinted importance that Aidan might play in that (thus making it also Violet and the rest of her Winterhaven Warrior gang's business). That sounded potentially great and full of action, right? It's WAR, after all. Violence apparently equates to excitement factor according to all the action movies out there. Was it, though? Guess I was wrong at that too. It really didn't build up very well, and the actual process that dealt directly with the war was maybe 40 pages maximum? Couldn't a 400+ page book at least make the "war" plotline a little longer? It definitely had me on the edge of my seat while it lasted.
And her visions? The ones that potentially held possible death for some of her loved ones? Some of them never really come to pass or even remotely come close to happening because of her precautions. Makes the vision seem anticlimactic doesn't it?
BUT, I'm not gonna continue to semi-rant the rest of this review. It was NOT all bad.
Pros?
The majority of the novel did focus on the impossibility of Aidan having a future with Violet, and his ever-present quest for the cure to his vampirism. There was also that new aspect of Violet finding her male counterpart and protector, her Megved, Matthew. Aka Dr. "Hottie" Byrne. That was intriguing indeed.
Why, you may ask? It says he's supposed to be his Sabbat's mate in every way?
Although it may sound like the potential for a horrible love triangle at the end of the series, it never does come to that. And weirdly enough, although I have a horrible annoyance/disgust towards these romantic entanglements, I felt quite badly for Matthew. He had a girlfriend, or I supposed was a girlfriend, until he found Violet and now he was dedicated to her and her only. Too bad, old girlfriend. The Sabbat comes first. And it was obvious that he cared for her, possibly in a romantic way (which isn't creepy 'cause he's a teacher....well, not too creepy. Come on, he was a hot YOUNG teacher, right?) But he never pursued anything, letting Violet be with Aidan although I'm assuming that went against all HIS early teachings as a Megved. I oddly found myself wishing there was some way he'd get a happy ending of his own somehow.
Let us just pause for a sec and really think of what a great guy Matthew seems to be.
Okay, now that's out of the way, I really did enjoy Matthew and Violet's dynamic. They made a great fighting pair when it came to vampire slaying. Even if Violet only felt a strong brotherly love towards Matthew, they too had some understanding and psychic connection that was unlike any other relationship she could have, even the one with Aidan. I think it was great seeing this other kind of relationship at this point in time of the story.
Her friends made a bigger impact in this story comparatively to Mirage. And unlike some novels, not everyone gets a happy ending. I can't say I was surprised about certain twists of fate that occurred (mostly because I saw a review that ruined the surprise), but I was actually glad to see Cook adding this element. Because visions can't always be prevented, even with forewarning. This just adds layers to Violet's character having to deal with possible failure.
One thing I do wish was that the ending answered a few more questions. For example, for the life of me, I felt Tyler's introduction in the last book as rather...suspicious? Maybe that's not the right word, 'cause I do like him, but I always thought there had to be some ulterior motive for his presence and joining the gang's efforts in helping Aidan. Did Cook ever answer that? No. Still waiting here. Am thinking I'll be left hanging. And what the heck was Dr. Blackwell's plan in the first place way back in Haven?
All in all, the ending was definitely the highlight of the story for me, maybe even in the series. It was possibly the best way it could've concluded, in my opinion. Sure, most of the story wasn't terribly exciting, but this nearly redeemed all of that. For all the lack of action, Cook did do a good job of creating her characters and the dynamics between everyone in the group. They really were like an eclectic family. A family that by the end of it, felt like I wished I had a group of people like that myself. I'd say that's a job well done in my books for characterization.
Overall Recommendation:
Although it lacked the ability to expand potentially exciting plot elements set up from the previous novels, Eternal did do an amazing job at continually making the friendship dynamics between Violet and the rest of her gang of friends at Winterhaven really believable and enjoyable. They tackled every problem together. With the added element of discovering she had a protector and vampire slayer partner in Dr. Byrne, all while Aidan was either AWOL or irritated with finding his cure against the ticking deadline till graduation, things definitely heated up in the romance department. The series' ending made it worth the slow pace, and for the most part, wrapped it up in the most heartfelt way possible that left me touched at the depth love goes.
March 22, 2025
Well, well, well, didn’t we all see the reunion and the happily-ever-after coming? But, before that, there will be times when we have to shed some tears for the fallen comrades.
The second demise, I suppose, serves a purpose, however painful that may be. But the first one? I'm not entirely sure what its purpose is. I’ve grown attached to all the supporting characters, and losing them leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I wish it didn’t have to end that way.
Needless to say, Winterhaven is a great series featuring friendships, loyalty, hope, and love. The supporting characters are fantastic. However, the lack of action prevented me from giving it five stars. Had there been more action-packed moments, especially with a super team like them, the outcome might be different.
The second demise, I suppose, serves a purpose, however painful that may be. But the first one? I'm not entirely sure what its purpose is. I’ve grown attached to all the supporting characters, and losing them leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I wish it didn’t have to end that way.
Needless to say, Winterhaven is a great series featuring friendships, loyalty, hope, and love. The supporting characters are fantastic. However, the lack of action prevented me from giving it five stars. Had there been more action-packed moments, especially with a super team like them, the outcome might be different.
April 23, 2019
I can't believe Matthew died! I wanted to cry too. He gave up his life so she could be happy, though he didn't become happy himself. He never got to love, have a family, or even say a good goodbye. And how did Aiden become her Megved? Was Matthew even meant to die? I wish he could've lived to see that he was right. He had every right to see it because she was HIS Sabbat. The only way for me not to cry is that I have to think that he is sleeping or reminding myself that it is a book.
January 1, 2019
This was a good ending to the series. I was a little confused in terms of the worldbuilding that came into play at the end, and it left me with some questions as to how that would all be possible, but I liked the rest of it. Overall, I'm glad I read the whole series, but it's probably not one that I would go back and reread in the future.
September 23, 2017
I enjoyed this book. It was a little surprising how anti-climatic the face-off with the vampires was. A lot of things worked out very conveniently. So if that is the case, why not have everyone live happily ever after?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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