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Become a part of the magic

Haven's Deceit by Fi Phillips and the words Become a part of the magic

There’s only one week to go – that’s seven sleeps – until Haven’s Deceit is published by Burning Chair on 21st November. This past month has gone by in an exciting blur. My author copies have come in. ARC reader copies have gone out. I’ve been talking about Haven’s Deceit all over the online world to anyone who’ll listen. All I need now is a little support from you, dear reader.

Here’s how you can help me spread the word about Haven’s Deceit and become part of the magic.

Blog about Haven’s Deceit

Some of my readers are bloggers too. If that’s you, please help spread the news about Haven’s Deceit by writing about it. You could blog about the book launch, interview me, or post a book review on your blog. Any mention of Haven’s Deceit would be really appreciated.

Tell your friends about my novels

If you’re reading this blog post, it’s a fair assumption that you like to read fantasy novels. What about your friends? If they, your family, or members of your book club enjoy reading fantasy too, please share the love and tell them about Haven Wakes, Magic Bound, and Haven’s Deceit. Thank you.

Shout about Haven’s Deceit on social media

Everyone and their auntie are on social media these days. Whether it’s on BlueSky, X, Threads, Tumblr, Kofi, Facebook, Instagram, or somewhere else in the social media universe, a like, comment, or share of my posts means that a wider audience will find out about Haven’s Deceit. Even better, a post by you about my novels will massively impact my social media reach. Thank you.

Leave an honest book review of Haven’s Deceit

If you enjoy reading Haven’s Deceit, an honest book review on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever you bought my book would be fantastic. It spreads the word, tells other readers what to expect, and provides that much needed evidence that Haven’s Deceit is an excellent read.

Your book review doesn’t have to be long, just honest. Thank you.

Haven’s Deceit: All the details

If you want to spread the word about Haven’s Deceit and get the book launch off to a great start, here’s all the information you need.

The blurb

The magic continues…

As Steve Haven and his friends mourn the loss of a companion, they think things can’t get any worse.

But then the gates linking Darkacre to the outside world are sealed shut by the Council. And to make matters worse, Hartley Keg’s magical travelling powers are cruelly taken away, leaving him as trapped as the rest of them.

Steve is determined to find his missing parents, and maybe the mystery of where they have been all this time will be the key to freeing them and Steve’s friends from the Council’s traps.

And so Steve and his friends must embark on their most difficult and perilous journey yet. As they do so, they find themselves drawn into a world much more dangerous than they ever imagined, ending in a place where no-one can be trusted, everyone is controlled, and there can be no secrets.

Will Steve find his parents and the truth behind who he really is?

And who will save him this time, when his friends are powerless, trapped, or both?

The links

Website

Facebook

Instagram

X

BlueSky

Kofi

Goodreads

Amazon author page

Burning Chair Publishing

My newsletter

Email me

Other details

Haven’s Deceit is published on 21st November 2024 by Burning Chair Publishing. It’s the third novel of a YA futuristic fantasy series called the Haven Chronicles. There will be two more books in this series.

If you’d like more information or a range of bookish images, want to interview me for your blog, or just want to say ‘hi’ or ‘good luck’, drop me an email.

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All that’s left to say now is thank you for all your support and roll on book launch day.

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Say Hello to Haven’s Deceit

Haven's Deceit by Fi Phillips and the words The magic continues in Haven's Deceit

It’s not long until Haven’s Deceit joins the Haven Chronicles family as the third instalment in Steve Haven’s journey into magic. Here’s what to expect:

***

The magic continues…

As Steve Haven and his friends mourn the loss of a companion, they think things can’t get any worse.

But then the gates linking Darkacre to the outside world are sealed shut by the Council. And to make matters worse, Hartley Keg’s magical travelling powers are cruelly taken away, leaving him as trapped as the rest of them.

Steve is determined to find his missing parents, and maybe the mystery of where they have gone will be the key to freeing them and their friends from the Council’s traps.

And so Steve and his friends must embark on their most difficult and perilous journey yet. As they do so, they find themselves drawn into a world much more dangerous than they ever imagined, ending in a place where no-one can be trusted, everyone is controlled, and there can be no secrets.

Will Steve find his parents and the truth behind who he really is?

And who will save him this time, when his friends are powerless, trapped, or both?

***

Haven’s Deceit will be published by Burning Chair on 21st November 2024. It’s already available for pre-order:

E-book

Paperback

In the meantime, you can find out a little bit more about Haven’s Deceit in The Inspiration Behind Book 3 of the Haven Chronicles.

Want a reminder of what happened in the first two books? Read Reintroducing the Haven Chronicles Series.

book cover of Haven's Deceit by Fi Phillips and the words Book Giveaway

And if you’d like to win a paperback copy of Haven’s Deceit, enter my competition giveaway by answering the following questions from my previous novels.

Question 1: What is the name of Hartley Keg’s shop in Darkacre? Hint: You can find the answer in Haven Wakes.

Question 2: What are the names of Jem Mott’s robots in Keeltown? Hint: You can find the answer in Magic Bound.

Email your answers to me at fiona@fiphillipswriter.com to be entered into the competition. There’s only one winner so if lots of people get the answers right, I’ll randomly choose one of you to receive a copy of Haven’s Deceit.

The closing date is midnight 20th November 2024. The winner will be announced on 21st November.

This competition is open to readers across the globe. I’ll happily post Haven’s Deceit to the winner, wherever you live, with a couple of goodies too.

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Preorder your copy of Haven’s Deceit today from Amazon or Burning Chair Publishing.

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The inspiration behind book three of the Haven Chronicles

an open book with magical sparkles and a blue light and the words The inspiration behind book 3 of the Haven Chronicles

With the next instalment of my YA futuristic fantasy series about to be launched, I thought it was time to tell you what inspired me to write this third novel. While it’s a continuation of Steve’s adventure in Haven Wakes and Magic Bound, there’s a whole range of other factors that have shaped this book. Let me explain.

Finding Steve’s parents

Since Haven Wakes was published, readers have been asking where Steve’s parents are. I wanted to answer that question in this third novel. The location of Mary and Elijah Haven is instrumental to Steve’s journey in this instalment and the next. More than that, their involvement in the world of magicals and mystical devices is even more revealing of what they’ve been hiding from Steve.

Venice

If you haven’t guessed by now, Venice is one of my favourite cities in the world. It’s unique in its history and atmosphere. I keep returning (four times now) and on each visit, I find something new to adore.

I always wanted to include Venice in this series and finally, in book three, it makes an appearance. But it’s not necessarily the Venice we all know.

More consequences

Magic Bound is shaped by the consequences of what happened at the end of Haven Wakes. This third novel continues to be impacted by those effects. Two of Steve’s friends bear the brunt of these consequences: Hartley Keg and the darkling. But there are other rumblings in the world of magicals too.

Who is Steve Haven?

Without throwing in any spoilers, book three sees Steve learning more about himself. And that’s a discovery that will continue in each book up to the end of the series.

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Want a reminder of the books that led to this point? Read The inspiration behind Haven Wakes and The inspiration behind Magic Bound.

P.S. I’ll be revealing the title of book three very soon, along with the book cover and blurb. Watch this space.

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Why I’m fascinated by magical doors and mysterious thresholds

a magical doorway and the words Magical doors and mysterious thresholds

I’ve always been captivated by doors, staircases, and any kind of threshold. To me, they signify a beginning, the unknown, and taking a chance. They’re the moment when we grip our courage tight and step out into something altogether different.

***

“What do we do?” said Steve.

“Well, we can’t go back. Can’t go forward. So it’ll have to be down,” said Hartley as he dropped to his knees.

“Down?” said Steve. The Hidden were almost within reaching distance now.

Hartley levered up the heavy manhole lid that sat in the middle of the cobbled road. “Down!” he shouted.

“But—”

“No time to argue,” said Hartley. “Trust me on this. There’s no other way.”

Taking a last look at the Hidden, Steve mentally crossed his fingers that he wasn’t about to end up in the Darkacre drains, and then he jumped into the manhole.

Steve landed on a threadbare carpet that did nothing helpful to break his fall. The darkling dropped lightly onto her feet at his side, then she reached to catch Blessing as she too fell from a square hatch in the ceiling.

Hartley came last, knees buckling so he landed heavily on his face. The hatch in the ceiling snapped shut and Hartley moaned something into the carpet.

*** 

In the Haven Chronicles, Hartley Keg has the magical ability to join distant doorways together, like a manhole in a cobbled street to the ceiling hatch between an attic and a bedroom. But Hartley’s doorways aren’t the only significant thresholds you’ll find in my novels. There are plenty of hidden and misleading doorways too.

***

“But just this once,” said Frobisher as he opened a door beside the main gateway. “I’ll let you use the official door.”

“Was that…?” Steve was convinced that the door hadn’t been there before. “What do you mean ‘official’?”

“The Council installed it so they can come and go at ease,” said Frobisher. “It opens into the Confluence. Of course, we’ll have to get you through Security.”

“No bother,” said James. “I’ve done it. Even got workadays in there before now.” He elbowed Steve.

“Just behave,” said Frobisher as he led the way through the open door. “Button your lip. Stay calm. That way they’re less likely to detain you.”

“Detain?” said Steve as the darkling pushed him through the door. “What do you mean, detain?”

***

And I’m not the only author to include magical entrances in their novels. There’s also:

  • the wardrobe in C S Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe that leads to the magical world of Narnia
  • the doors in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, cut using the subtle knife to travel between parallel universes
  • the doors in Stephen King’s Dark Tower series that lead to different times and realities
  • the rabbit hole in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and the mirror in Alice Through the Looking Glass

Storytellers seem to have always been entranced by magical doorways and mysterious thresholds. And it’s not just storytellers.

Magical doors also intrigue readers. They represent a divide between the known and unknown, appealing to our curiosity and longing for adventure. They offer an escape from the mundane, embodying our wish for a more exciting reality just beyond our reach. They symbolize choice and transformation, feeding into our desire for personal growth and the power to shape our own destinies.

Magical doorways suggest hidden worlds and secret knowledge. They reconnect us with childhood wonder and imagination, while also reassuring us that there are more possibilities and adventures to be had.

I’m sure my fascination with magical and hidden thresholds won’t end with the Haven Chronicles. In the next book series after that… But that’s another tale – and threshold – altogether.

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Reintroducing the Haven Chronicles series

Haven Wakes and Magic Bound by Fi Phillips on a table against a muted countryside backdrop with the words Reintroducing the Haven Chronicles

With the third instalment of the Haven Chronicles YA fantasy series well on the way, I thought it was time to reintroduce the books so far. Oh, and drop a couple of hints about what you’ll discover in book three too.

Book One: Haven Wakes

Buy Haven Wakes here.

Let’s start off with the blurb:

When his uncle dies, Steve Haven finds himself the guardian of a strange artefact known only as the Reactor. But there are people out there who want the Reactor: dangerous and powerful people who will stop at nothing to get it.

Steve is dragged into a race against time to save two worlds from an evil he could never have imagined, and is forced to rely on people he would never have believed could exist.

If you enjoy fantastical settings, magical powers, and futuristic devices, you’ll love Haven Wakes.

The inspiration behind Haven Wakes.

Book Two: Magic Bound

Buy Magic Bound here.

Here’s the blurb:

When Hartley Keg and Blessing go missing, Steve Haven finds himself dragged back into a world of hidden magic. Teaming up with the darkling, he finds himself on the run from the Council and their enforcers, the Hidden, as he seeks to keep his friends safe.

Things are complicated further when a new player emerges: Parity, the covert organisation that is far too interested in the Haven Robotics Corporation and the magical device which nearly led to its destruction.

What follows is a race against time through a series of futuristic and fantastical settings, each more dangerous than the last, as Steve and his friends try to keep one step ahead of their pursuers.

The inspiration behind Magic Bound.

Book Three

The third book in the series finds Steve in… Well, I can’t tell you that. But I can share what I researched for book three in Lost down a rabbit hole.

The Series

What can I tell you about the series so far? Hm. Well, there’s:

Steve has a long way to go yet, with more discoveries about himself, his family, and his friends. Watch this space for the next instalment of his fantastical adventure.

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Killing my darlings: deleted scene from the third instalment of the Haven Chronicles

purple flowers on a vine and the words Deleted scene: book 3

One devastating element of editing my novels is having to cut scenes out. Don’t get me wrong: this is no Draconian order from my publisher. Instead, it’s a realisation (by me) that removing that scene or character will improve my novel. It happened with Magic Bound where I had to divert my characters to a different destination. Thankfully, that scene and set of characters were a wonderful fit for my third novel. Phew!

So as my post-publisher-feedback edited draft of book three sits in the hands of Burning Chair, I think it’s time to share one of my deleted scenes. Pearl Meadow appears in my short story, The Hidden Knowing, which subscribers to my newsletter receive for free. While we don’t meet her in this extract, we do come across her garden inhabitants. Read on to find out more.

The Vine

“A word of warning,” said Hartley as they stopped outside a woven-willow gateway that was interspersed with slim green leaves.

“What shouldn’t I say?” said Steve. “Or do? Will they zap me or try to sacrifice me?”

“No, no, none of that. Pearl Meadow is the kindest person I know. She’ll take no nonsense, mind you, and she absolutely speaks her mind. There’s no doubt about that. But she’s a wonderful woman. No, what I wanted to warn you about is the vine.”

“The vine?” said Steve. “You mean a plant?”

“Spot on. The vine is, well, rather particular about whom it speaks to.”

“A talking plant?”

“On occasion,” said Hartley. “Although it would be more accurate to say, ‘a singing plant’. Anyway, if it doesn’t like you, it can be a tad snappy.” He moved the fingers and thumb of one hand like a crab claw. “Best keep your distance until it’s made up its mind.”

That’s a new one, thought Steve, not fully convinced that his friend wasn’t Joking.

Hartley pushed the willow gate open and before Steve had a chance to see what lay beyond, a squealing, mewling alarm filled the air.

“Only me, only me,” said Hartley as he rushed into the backyard. “No need for that fuss.” The alarm dropped to a dry rattle as Hartley beckoned Steve to follow him.

Pearl Meadow’s yard was less of a yard and more of a field. On either side of a gravel path, lush, ankle-brushing grass was dotted with buttercups and bluebells. Where brick walls should have marked either side of the space and the back of the house, intertwining vines, roses, and hanging baskets that overflowed with more floral abundance travelled from the grass to the level of the first floor windows. 

The flowers of the vines, ranging from purple to the brightest blue, nodded and gaped their petals open and shut. Even though they had no visible eyes, Steve got the distinct impression that each flower was watching him.

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The vine has been in my head since I first came up with the storyline for the Haven Chronicles, so you may well see it appear in future short stories, or maybe book five?

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The one where I answer reader questions

a woman's hand holding a cup of coffee and an open book with the words answering reader questions

One of the lovely things about seeing my books in the hands of readers is that the conversation doesn’t end when they turn the last page. So many readers ask me questions about my books and writing process. That might be as part of a book review, in an email, or as a comment on social media. So I thought I’d take the time to answer the most frequently asked questions here on my blog.

Are Haven Wakes and Magic Bound set in our world?

While the setting of the Haven Chronicles is similar to what our future may look like, there are definite differences. For a start, there are place names like Caercester and the Black Strait that are versions of places in our world.

The technology in the world of the Haven Chronicles, such as the vast number of robots, suggests that the world of the novels is on a slightly different and sometimes more advanced scientific path to our own.

So no, Haven Wakes and Magic Bound aren’t set in our world. Instead, they take place in a twin (but not identical) world to the one we know.

Do you already know what will happen at the end of the series?

Absolutely, but I can’t say I’ve known about it from the start. The idea developed as I wrote Magic Bound and then book three. Something happens at the end of Magic Bound that starts a series of events and sets one of the characters on a completely new path. Not even my publisher knows about it.

So yes, I know how the series will end.

Where do you get your character names from?

Some characters, like Hartley Keg, turn up ready named. I have no explanation for how my imagination does that. Other characters take a little more thought. I’ll generally start with a name search based on the meaning of that name. Does it match the personality and other details of the character? The sound of the name and its rhythm matters too, especially when adding a surname to the mix.

I sometimes use names that I already know; some are even from my family tree. Or they might be completely new to me and found by searching for a name that means ‘river’ or ‘warrior’.

Do you have to read the Haven Chronicles series in order?

You can find the answer to this in my March blog post.

What inspired you to write Haven Wakes and Magic Bound?

I’ve blogged about what inspired me to write my novels, Haven Wakes and Magic Bound, in the run up to the release of each book. Here are the links to those blog posts:

Haven Wakes

Magic Bound

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If you have any more questions about my novels, please do ask. You can drop me an email or contact me through Instagram, Facebook, or X/Twitter.

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A catch up in May

a table laid with pretty cups and saucers and other crockery, flowers, against a pretty countryside setting, and the words A catch up in May

It’s been over a year since I’ve written a catch up post, so I thought it was time to do another. So grab a cup of what you fancy and find a comfy seat. Here’s what’s been happening in the life of Fi.

Book 3 of the Haven Chronicles

The second instalment of the Haven Chronicles, Magic Bound, was released in 2022. Since then I’ve been planning and writing the third novel. A couple of months ago, I emailed off the first draft to Burning Chair. I always find this stage rather nerve-fraying, but thankfully they loved it. Phew!

Right now, I’m editing that version. Nothing major. Just a tweak here and a jiggle around there. The target is to finish those edits by the middle of June and have it back in the hands of Burning Chair for the next stage. Wish me luck.

Books 4 and 5

While I waited for Burning Chair to get back to me, I got on with planning book 4. I made my characters suffer plenty in book 3, but book 4 takes that to the next level and over the horizon. More travels, more peril, and much more heartbreak.

Book 5 will be the last instalment of the Haven Chronicles. I’ve always known how I want to end the series so large chunks of the final book are already planned out. It’s going to be an emotional one, both for the characters and me, but I feel that it’s a fitting and deserved end(?) to Steve’s journey.

Something completely different

Once I’d finished planning out book 4 and was waiting to hear back from Burning Chair, I started on a fresh writing project. It’s a fantasy novel, this time for grown-ups, and the first of two. I already know what I want to call it but I’m not going to share that just yet.

There are links in the novel to a couple of characters who appear in the Haven Chronicles, but other than that it’s a story of its own. What can you expect? Well, there’s:

  • an almost new main character (you met her once in the Haven Chronicles)
  • a brand new, powerful villain unlike anything I’ve written about before
  • an old hotel in a wild, rural setting
  • family ties and romantic challenges
  • long hidden secrets laid bare

Short stories

Or rather two collections of short stories. I’ve already written two short stories set in the same world as my novels, and plenty more fantasy short tales too. The plan is to create two collections: one of stories that relate to the Haven Chronicles, and another of fantasy stories that don’t tie into the series.

The first collection will be a companion book to the Haven Chronicles that reveals more about many of the side characters, their back stories, and adventures.

Who knows what will make it into the second? I’ve lots of tales to choose from. The title of the collection? It has to be Magical Possibilities.

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My 2024 reading challenge: progress and what to read next

a pair of glasses and an open book on a bed with the words My 2024 reading challenge progress and what to read next

Back in January, I set myself a challenge of reading 12 books in 2024. That may not seem like a lot to many readers, but it’s a realistic figure for me. I do struggle to fit in daily reading time around my copywriting business, working on my novels, doing family stuff, and sleeping. So reading one book every month seems do-able.

To date, I’ve finished:

  • The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett
  • Perfect Day Pocus by Bella Colby
  • Back From The Dead by André Spiteri
  • Sandcastles by Lily Lawson
  • Blackbirch The Beginning by K M Allan
  • Master and Apprentice by Susan Mansbridge

You can find all of the related book reviews over on my Instagram account.

That’s six down, six to go.

My current read is All The White Spaces by Ally Wilkes. Here’s the blurb:

book cover of All the White Spaces by Ally Wilkes

In the wake of the First World War, Jonathan Morgan stows away on an Antarctic expedition, determined to find his rightful place in the world of men. Aboard the expeditionary ship of his hero, the world-famous explorer James “Australis” Randall, Jonathan may live as his true self―and true gender―and have the adventures he has always been denied. But not all is smooth sailing: the war casts its long shadow over them all, and grief, guilt, and mistrust skulk among the explorers.

When disaster strikes in Antarctica’s frozen Weddell Sea, the men must take to the land and overwinter somewhere which immediately seems both eerie and wrong; a place not marked on any of their part-drawn maps of the vast white continent. Now completely isolated, Randall’s expedition has no ability to contact the outside world. And no one is coming to rescue them.

In the freezing darkness of the Polar night, where the aurora creeps across the sky, something terrible has been waiting to lure them out into its deadly landscape…

As the harsh Antarctic winter descends, this supernatural force will prey on their deepest desires and deepest fears to pick them off one by one. It is up to Jonathan to overcome his own ghosts before he and the expedition are utterly destroyed.

After I’ve finished reading this brilliant novel, the remaining five (of 12) will be:

  • The Great Big Demon of Flint Hall by Peter Oxley (hands up, I’ve already started reading this on my phone when I’m out and about)
  • The Supper Club Murders by Victoria Dowd
  • Shockwaves by Suzanna Williams
  • The Gaia Effect by Claire Buss
  • The Year Before The End by Vidar Hokstad

That’ll be my 12. I’m a little ahead so who knows, I might even exceed my challenge. Fingers crossed.

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Do you need to read the Haven Chronicles in order?

Quite a lot of readers have asked me this question, so I thought I’d answer it here on my blog. Just in case you’re new to my writing, the Haven Chronicles series is made up (so far) of two books, Haven Wakes and Magic Bound. The third book is currently with my publisher, Burning Chair. There’ll be two more books in the series after that.

I think the reason that many fiction series can be dipped into wherever you want is that they’re so well known by the reading public, from the characters, to the world where the story takes place, and the overall feel of the books. There’s an element of familiarity that bridges any gaps lost by not reading earlier books in the series.

When it comes to the Haven Chronicles though, I think the greatest reading experience will be gained by starting at book one, Haven Wakes. Here’s why:

Getting to know the characters

In Haven Wakes, the characters are new to the reader and to each other. We get a first impression of them all. For instance, the first time you see Hartley Keg, he’s dressed in an apron and offering breakfast to Steve. That initial impression (if I’ve done my job right) is of someone who is easy to get along with, welcoming, a little comical, and nearly always thinking about food. The reader gets to know Hartley and the other characters as Steve does. And of course, we get to know Steve too.

By the end of Haven Wakes, we know the characters a little better, and we’ve seen a subtle change in Steve too. We know what he’s capable of and how he may act in the future.

In Magic Bound, we learn more about the characters’ back stories, see their interactions evolve, and watch them grow and develop with each new challenge they face. The Steve we know by the end of Magic Bound is more confident, braver, and more decisive than the boy we first meet in Haven Wakes.

World building

Haven Wakes provides a snapshot of Steve’s high-tech world – where most people own a robot (or two) – and the hidden magical underbelly that Steve discovers. We get the chance to run around the city of Caercester and delve into the magical community of Darkacre.

In Magic Bound, that knowledge is the starting point for an adventure that takes Steve and his friends beyond the city limits. We also learn more about the magical community and their history.

In the third novel, our characters venture even further and discover so much more.

Haven Wakes provides the foundation of your understanding of the world, rules, and culture of the Haven Chronicles.

Story arcs

Each novel in the Haven Chronicles has its own individual story, but there’s also an overarching storyline that runs throughout the series. While dipping into the Haven Chronicles at any point will provide you with a treat of an (individual) adventure, you may miss out on the storyline of the entire series. Each novel provides a basis for the next novel and a step further along the overall story arc.

Breadcrumbs

When I say ‘breadcrumbs’, I mean clues. I know how the series will end. There’ll be a massive reveal in the final novel and so far, I’ve scattered a number of breadcrumbs through Haven Wakes, Magic Bound, and book three. There’ll be more in book four too.

So if you jump in at books two or three, you might miss some of those lovely breadcrumbs and the chance to carry out a little deduction.

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You are, dear reader, free to read the Haven Chronicles in whatever order you like but I hope I’ve proved my point that starting at Haven Wakes is a good idea before moving on to the second book and beyond.