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Svatura #1
Blue Violet
Ellie Aubrey is a centuries-old gypsy princess whose extraordinary abilities once inspired her Roma ancestors' fairytales (or nightmares). Along with her twin-brother, Griffin, Ellie has spent most of her life hiding from the Vyusher, a rival tribe who destroyed their entire powerful family. But after a mysterious dream, Ellie risks discovery in order to find and watch over the Jenners, another group of similarly gifted people. She refuses to let them suffer the same fate.
Alex Jenner has come home to protect his family. His adopted mother can sense danger coming, but not who or when. Suspicious of the new girl in town, Alex challenges Ellie in ways that will spark one of two possible outcomes: they'll spontaneously combust, or she'll lose control of the one power she's fought so hard to contain.
When the Vyusher once again threaten everything she holds dear, Ellie will have to face her worst fear, and Alex will have to face an impossible decision. In this fairytale, the dragon that the prince must slay is also the princess who holds his heart.
Alex Jenner has come home to protect his family. His adopted mother can sense danger coming, but not who or when. Suspicious of the new girl in town, Alex challenges Ellie in ways that will spark one of two possible outcomes: they'll spontaneously combust, or she'll lose control of the one power she's fought so hard to contain.
When the Vyusher once again threaten everything she holds dear, Ellie will have to face her worst fear, and Alex will have to face an impossible decision. In this fairytale, the dragon that the prince must slay is also the princess who holds his heart.
250 pages, Paperback
First published August 19, 2012
39 people are currently reading
1549 people want to read
About the author
Abigail Owen
51 books4,819 followersAbigail Owen is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and International bestselling author of 30+ books that range from upper YA (18+) epic romantasy to new adult modern mythic romantasy to super spicy adult paranormal romance. She loves magical worlds with plots that move hot and fast, feisty heroines with sass, heroes with heart, a dash of snark, and oodles of HEAs!
Abbie has a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing) from Texas A&M University (gig’em Ags!), and an MBA from California State University-Sacramento. Prior to becoming a published author, she spent 15+ years using the other side of her brain in various tech- and business-related roles.
Other titles include: wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex-competitive skydiver, AuDHD, spreadsheet lover, Jeopardy! fanatic, organizational guru, true classic movie buff, linguaphile, wishful world traveler, and chocoholic.
Abbie currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own swoon-worthy hero, their (mostly) angelic teenagers, and an adorable fur baby.
Abbie has a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing) from Texas A&M University (gig’em Ags!), and an MBA from California State University-Sacramento. Prior to becoming a published author, she spent 15+ years using the other side of her brain in various tech- and business-related roles.
Other titles include: wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex-competitive skydiver, AuDHD, spreadsheet lover, Jeopardy! fanatic, organizational guru, true classic movie buff, linguaphile, wishful world traveler, and chocoholic.
Abbie currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own swoon-worthy hero, their (mostly) angelic teenagers, and an adorable fur baby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
October 6, 2015
Blue Violet by Abigail Owen is a refreshing YA paranormal romance on the light and slightly innocent side. The first book of the Svatura Series, isn’t overly violent or full of tons of angst and tears, perhaps because, while looking like teens, the main characters are actually part of a supernatural race that ages very slowly. Ellie looks like a high school senior, but she and her brother Griffin are over two hundred years old. They are quite possibly among the last surviving Svaturi, so Ellie is determined to find and protect a group she has discovered living in a small town in Colorado. What she didn’t plan on was meeting Alex Jenner, or facing off against the powerful Vyusher clan, who were responsible for the slaughter of so many Svaturi, including her parents.
Abigail Owen has done a remarkable job creating a world that blends myth, magic and fantasy while creating characters that are truly “nice” in spite of their potential to be deadly if needed. Relying on integrity as opposed to might, using intelligence instead of rushing off half-cocked to “save the day,” Ms. Owens gives her readers positive role models for teens and any reader who enjoys urban fantasy. The romance was another well done subplot as there was no rush of passion, but a savoring build up that is meant to stand the test of time. Refreshingly, no triangles, no angsty clinging, no overbearing alpha male stuff, best saved for more adult reading.
This is a wonderful, relaxing read for all ages, with just the right amounts of fantasy, conflict and romance that makes this well-paced novel a joy to read and this series one to watch. I’m even recommending Blue Violet to my grand daughter!
I own this book, but am re-reading it as part of the Abigail Owen Crimson Dahlia Book Tour & International Giveaway stopping at Tome Tender October 4th!
Series: Svaturi, Book 1
Publication Date: August 19, 2012
Publisher: Abigail Owen
ISBN: 1479161942
Page Count: 252
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance/Fantasy
Available to Purchase from: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
Abigail Owen has done a remarkable job creating a world that blends myth, magic and fantasy while creating characters that are truly “nice” in spite of their potential to be deadly if needed. Relying on integrity as opposed to might, using intelligence instead of rushing off half-cocked to “save the day,” Ms. Owens gives her readers positive role models for teens and any reader who enjoys urban fantasy. The romance was another well done subplot as there was no rush of passion, but a savoring build up that is meant to stand the test of time. Refreshingly, no triangles, no angsty clinging, no overbearing alpha male stuff, best saved for more adult reading.
This is a wonderful, relaxing read for all ages, with just the right amounts of fantasy, conflict and romance that makes this well-paced novel a joy to read and this series one to watch. I’m even recommending Blue Violet to my grand daughter!
I own this book, but am re-reading it as part of the Abigail Owen Crimson Dahlia Book Tour & International Giveaway stopping at Tome Tender October 4th!
Series: Svaturi, Book 1
Publication Date: August 19, 2012
Publisher: Abigail Owen
ISBN: 1479161942
Page Count: 252
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance/Fantasy
Available to Purchase from: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
November 19, 2017
Abigail Owen can spin a fantastic tale of the supernatural world and I was quickly drawn in by the characters of Blue Violet, wondering…
Eillie and her twin, Griffin were the only two left from the Darane Svatura tribe. It had been just the two of them for more than a century, but her desire to be a part of a family again was leading her to another group with abilities she had dreamed about.
Ellie is a perpetual student, because she looks so young what else could she do, even though she is more than a century old. Her world titled and she actually swooned when she met Alex on her first day of school. He was there to pick up the kids of the family after school. He had come home, because there is danger afoot, and his family sought safety in numbers.
Ellie is a metamorph. She can shift into different animals, a wolf, a falcon and a dragon. Oh yeah! Griffin is a telepath and they speak mentally to each other.
Her feisty and humorous personality comes through in the verbal banter. She supplied me with plenty of chuckles throughout the story.
When the showdown came and family was on the line, Ellie stood tall against the wolf pack. She would protect the ones she thought would be her new family at all costs.
The characters are to die for and Ellie and Griffin will do just that to protect the others. If I were ever in a battle and I needed someone I trusted and knew would give their all to protect me and mine, I would want this Svatura clan at my side. The world Abigail Owen has created is one I want to continue to follow and I will be doing so in Book II of the Svatura series, Hyacinth.
I read the Shadowcat nation series by Abigail Owen and loved it. The Svatura series is definitely Young Adult, with sweet clean romance. This is Ellie’s story and from the ending, I think Hyacinth may be Griffin’s. So…let’s find out.
If you like clean romance with a supernatural battle for your life, then the Svatura Series is for you and I would highly recommend it.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Blue Violet by Abigail Owen.
To see more visit fundinmental
Eillie and her twin, Griffin were the only two left from the Darane Svatura tribe. It had been just the two of them for more than a century, but her desire to be a part of a family again was leading her to another group with abilities she had dreamed about.
Ellie is a perpetual student, because she looks so young what else could she do, even though she is more than a century old. Her world titled and she actually swooned when she met Alex on her first day of school. He was there to pick up the kids of the family after school. He had come home, because there is danger afoot, and his family sought safety in numbers.
Ellie is a metamorph. She can shift into different animals, a wolf, a falcon and a dragon. Oh yeah! Griffin is a telepath and they speak mentally to each other.
Her feisty and humorous personality comes through in the verbal banter. She supplied me with plenty of chuckles throughout the story.
When the showdown came and family was on the line, Ellie stood tall against the wolf pack. She would protect the ones she thought would be her new family at all costs.
The characters are to die for and Ellie and Griffin will do just that to protect the others. If I were ever in a battle and I needed someone I trusted and knew would give their all to protect me and mine, I would want this Svatura clan at my side. The world Abigail Owen has created is one I want to continue to follow and I will be doing so in Book II of the Svatura series, Hyacinth.
I read the Shadowcat nation series by Abigail Owen and loved it. The Svatura series is definitely Young Adult, with sweet clean romance. This is Ellie’s story and from the ending, I think Hyacinth may be Griffin’s. So…let’s find out.
If you like clean romance with a supernatural battle for your life, then the Svatura Series is for you and I would highly recommend it.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Blue Violet by Abigail Owen.
To see more visit fundinmental
May 26, 2017
3.5/5.0
A very enjoyable twist in the paranormal trope! Ms. Owen has taken all the things we love and combined them in a way that is both creative and exciting. The downside is there was too much telling and not nearly enough showing - especially in the relationship between Ellie and Alex. We are told they are getting to know each other, we are told they are very attracted to each other but we don't actually see or experience that attraction and growth. Then, suddenly - Voilá! They are together and in love... huh? The reader is just as suddenly expected to believe in that deep unending love. BUT, we have nothing to go by!
Since this is the first in a series, and the story, itself, has such promise, I'm definitely going to continue, however, hoping the author will continue to grow in her abilities right along with the characters!
A very enjoyable twist in the paranormal trope! Ms. Owen has taken all the things we love and combined them in a way that is both creative and exciting. The downside is there was too much telling and not nearly enough showing - especially in the relationship between Ellie and Alex. We are told they are getting to know each other, we are told they are very attracted to each other but we don't actually see or experience that attraction and growth. Then, suddenly - Voilá! They are together and in love... huh? The reader is just as suddenly expected to believe in that deep unending love. BUT, we have nothing to go by!
Since this is the first in a series, and the story, itself, has such promise, I'm definitely going to continue, however, hoping the author will continue to grow in her abilities right along with the characters!
October 21, 2012
Article first published as Book Review:Blue Violet by Abigail Owen on Blogcritics.
Walking the razor path between fear and danger is often deadly. If you were the one who witnessed a horrible act, and had to hide from life, what would that look like? Could you find a strength and courage to return to the everyday cycle of life?
In Blue Violet by Abigail Owen, we have the opportunity to meet just such a soul. Ellie Aubrey moves to Colorado, knowing that she has made a move that will put her in a spotlight. When she meets a unique group of friends who too are hiding, they began a slow dance around trust. They too have something to fear.
What Ellie does not expect is the feelings that occur as she meets Alex Jenner. Even as she tried to sort the emotions from the mix, she is smitten. But what of him, he initially seems to care but then cuts himself off.
As Ellie continues to watch over this unusual group, she is interested to see that each has a different type of gift. None of them seem very skilled with what they have, but each is different. When Ellie’s brother tracks her down, they find that her biggest fear is about to come true. They are being hunted with a stealth and cunning that she has seen before. Can she warn her friends and family before it is too late? Will they understand why she has lived a lie, and trust her judgment? How does Alex Jenner fit in the equation?
Owen has given us characters to care about. Their unusual abilities and life cycle are interesting and the history of their being is unique. Known as Svatura, her world is exciting with challenges of both danger and the need to learn what is before them. Blue Violet is the beginning of a series about this clan, and looks to be very enticing.
The protagonists are quite deadly, and yet Elle has the power to keep the worst at bay. As you delve deep into the mystery of this strange and insular group you are mesmerized at the bravado of the last survivors of a brutal massacre. Family is such an important concept and Owen has taken it a step further to absolute acceptance.
This is a fun novel and would be an excellent addition to your teen’s library. Romance, danger and magic are filter around a centuries old pact. Young and old alike will enjoy the magic, and the yearning of a special love shines a light all its own. If you are a believer watch for this series to continue and learn more about the Svatura and their lives and abilities as they find the strength to move forward.
Walking the razor path between fear and danger is often deadly. If you were the one who witnessed a horrible act, and had to hide from life, what would that look like? Could you find a strength and courage to return to the everyday cycle of life?
In Blue Violet by Abigail Owen, we have the opportunity to meet just such a soul. Ellie Aubrey moves to Colorado, knowing that she has made a move that will put her in a spotlight. When she meets a unique group of friends who too are hiding, they began a slow dance around trust. They too have something to fear.
What Ellie does not expect is the feelings that occur as she meets Alex Jenner. Even as she tried to sort the emotions from the mix, she is smitten. But what of him, he initially seems to care but then cuts himself off.
As Ellie continues to watch over this unusual group, she is interested to see that each has a different type of gift. None of them seem very skilled with what they have, but each is different. When Ellie’s brother tracks her down, they find that her biggest fear is about to come true. They are being hunted with a stealth and cunning that she has seen before. Can she warn her friends and family before it is too late? Will they understand why she has lived a lie, and trust her judgment? How does Alex Jenner fit in the equation?
Owen has given us characters to care about. Their unusual abilities and life cycle are interesting and the history of their being is unique. Known as Svatura, her world is exciting with challenges of both danger and the need to learn what is before them. Blue Violet is the beginning of a series about this clan, and looks to be very enticing.
The protagonists are quite deadly, and yet Elle has the power to keep the worst at bay. As you delve deep into the mystery of this strange and insular group you are mesmerized at the bravado of the last survivors of a brutal massacre. Family is such an important concept and Owen has taken it a step further to absolute acceptance.
This is a fun novel and would be an excellent addition to your teen’s library. Romance, danger and magic are filter around a centuries old pact. Young and old alike will enjoy the magic, and the yearning of a special love shines a light all its own. If you are a believer watch for this series to continue and learn more about the Svatura and their lives and abilities as they find the strength to move forward.
January 2, 2014
I wasn't so sure about this book, I mean, I had no idea what it was about when i started reading it, thanks to the kindle app on my phone, and due to downloading it forever ago. Probably before summer. It was surprisingly good, though. Lots of gore, mystery, and romance. I mean, sure, it was high school romance, but that's okay too.
This book was about Ellie, and her twin brother Griffin, and their life in a new town. When they first moved to the town,(the name is escaping me right now) they were nervous about being caught by werewolves. I mean, it's how their whole family died. Little did they know, that they would be able to overthrow the wolves at the end of the book. That's not a spoiler, is it? It's very vague, lol.
This book wasn't what I expected at all. I'm only giving it four stars because I didn't like how even though Ellie was older than Alex, her 'soulmate', she acted younger than anyone in the book. Maybe that's just her personality, but I don't like it. She and Griffin were supposed to be two of the oldest people in the book, and yet they acted like they weren't. I also didn't like that Griffin wasn't really a main character in the book, I would've liked to gotten to know him better, it seemed like at times he was barely even a character.
That's all I have to say for this, Overall, it was a pretty good book. The story was mostly solid, and it kept my attention most of the time. I got it for free on Amazon.ca, and if you can find it, you should check it out.
This book was about Ellie, and her twin brother Griffin, and their life in a new town. When they first moved to the town,(the name is escaping me right now) they were nervous about being caught by werewolves. I mean, it's how their whole family died. Little did they know, that they would be able to overthrow the wolves at the end of the book. That's not a spoiler, is it? It's very vague, lol.
This book wasn't what I expected at all. I'm only giving it four stars because I didn't like how even though Ellie was older than Alex, her 'soulmate', she acted younger than anyone in the book. Maybe that's just her personality, but I don't like it. She and Griffin were supposed to be two of the oldest people in the book, and yet they acted like they weren't. I also didn't like that Griffin wasn't really a main character in the book, I would've liked to gotten to know him better, it seemed like at times he was barely even a character.
That's all I have to say for this, Overall, it was a pretty good book. The story was mostly solid, and it kept my attention most of the time. I got it for free on Amazon.ca, and if you can find it, you should check it out.
October 12, 2018
Contra todo pronóstico me gusto y digo esto porque si le cambiaria varias cosas pero a grandes rasgos fue una lectura super interesante que disfruté.
Realmente si estan cansados de leer lo de "siempre" delen una oportunidad a estos libros podrian ser una grata sorpresa
Realmente si estan cansados de leer lo de "siempre" delen una oportunidad a estos libros podrian ser una grata sorpresa
April 12, 2020
I love Abigail Owen's books and have read most series that she has done so far. The Svatura series was one that I hadn't tried at all, so when I saw that each one was only 99p at the moment, I had to give it a go. I wasn't really sure what it was all about though.
Ellie and Griffin come from people who live for many years and also possess special powers. They have been alone for a long time, but Ellie has dreamt of some people who are the same as they are. Against Griffin's advice, she decides to track them down.
This is a love story, between Ellie and Alex. That said, compared to other books by Owen it is quite a sweet romance storyline, which isn't always my kind of thing. Still, this worked well and I enjoyed it.
The only thing that I struggled with a bit, was that many of the characters are at high school, despite being over a hundred years old. I realise that this was because they wanted to fit into life with normal humans, and this was a way to do it, but it seemed a bit odd. I'm also not all that interested in reading about high school kids, my oldest child is at high school, it's not something I really relate to.
Overall this was a good read. It wasn't as good, for me, as some of Owen's other books, but I still enjoyed it and will read the others in the series.
Ellie and Griffin come from people who live for many years and also possess special powers. They have been alone for a long time, but Ellie has dreamt of some people who are the same as they are. Against Griffin's advice, she decides to track them down.
This is a love story, between Ellie and Alex. That said, compared to other books by Owen it is quite a sweet romance storyline, which isn't always my kind of thing. Still, this worked well and I enjoyed it.
The only thing that I struggled with a bit, was that many of the characters are at high school, despite being over a hundred years old. I realise that this was because they wanted to fit into life with normal humans, and this was a way to do it, but it seemed a bit odd. I'm also not all that interested in reading about high school kids, my oldest child is at high school, it's not something I really relate to.
Overall this was a good read. It wasn't as good, for me, as some of Owen's other books, but I still enjoyed it and will read the others in the series.
August 4, 2018
This is a pretty average PNR novel. Ellie and Griffin are twins and have been in hiding since the Vyusher, evil werewolves, killed their entire community. Ellie has a dream about more of her people, the Svatura, and tracks them down against the will of her brother. She moves to their town and poses as a high school senior so she can scout out the Svatura and make sure they are trustworthy. Ellie effortlessly navigates high school because she's done this many times. Griffin shows up and surveils the Svatura family at night while Ellie spends time with them during the day. Ellie likes high school, but you couldn't pay me to go back.
Every Svatura has a power such as telepathy, morphing into an animal, putting up shields, etc. They usually have just one, but Ellie and Griffin have two each because they are special. Ellie is particularly special since she can tap into everyone's powers and then use that power forever. In fact, she's so awesome and special she can even teach them how to use their own power despite the fact that she's only had it for five minutes.
Alex, Ellie's love interest and fellow Svatura, is very boring. There is absolutely no depth to his character.
Every Svatura has a power such as telepathy, morphing into an animal, putting up shields, etc. They usually have just one, but Ellie and Griffin have two each because they are special. Ellie is particularly special since she can tap into everyone's powers and then use that power forever. In fact, she's so awesome and special she can even teach them how to use their own power despite the fact that she's only had it for five minutes.
Alex, Ellie's love interest and fellow Svatura, is very boring. There is absolutely no depth to his character.
December 6, 2021
I will start by saying that I almost didn’t read this book.
I am NOT a fan of girl centered books.
They always seem to have the girl be a b… so much so that the males in the book seem like total losers. To me, it’s just not even a little bit enjoyable when ONE is the center of the entire books.
I am NOT a fan of high school drama. The books centered around kids seem to be yuck to me.
So given these two strikes. I was bored and picked up this book.
Wow! Just wow!
It was very well written.
No one - even the bad guy seemed to be the loser.
They all had various powers and they all used them.
The characters seemed real. The story seemed believable.
My only problem was the non cliff hanger.
You could just end it there but I want to know.
So the end, was an actual end. But I want to know what happens to Griffin. I’ll keep reading to find out. Even though, it would be perfectly acceptable to just end it there. This story was complete. All the way to the end. The side story however…yep, I’ve gotta read it.
I am NOT a fan of girl centered books.
They always seem to have the girl be a b… so much so that the males in the book seem like total losers. To me, it’s just not even a little bit enjoyable when ONE is the center of the entire books.
I am NOT a fan of high school drama. The books centered around kids seem to be yuck to me.
So given these two strikes. I was bored and picked up this book.
Wow! Just wow!
It was very well written.
No one - even the bad guy seemed to be the loser.
They all had various powers and they all used them.
The characters seemed real. The story seemed believable.
My only problem was the non cliff hanger.
You could just end it there but I want to know.
So the end, was an actual end. But I want to know what happens to Griffin. I’ll keep reading to find out. Even though, it would be perfectly acceptable to just end it there. This story was complete. All the way to the end. The side story however…yep, I’ve gotta read it.
May 15, 2021
I read this because the author, one of my favorite authors out there, got these back and redid the covers and editing and a few things more, so I had to know what she did with her very first published books.
Well, surprise! It's wonderful! I so enjoyed getting to know Ellie and Griffin and the new people that came into their lives, bringing love and aid and a sense of belonging that they hadn't felt for a very long time. They also brought new abilities to the group that helped these two finally confront the wolf shifters that killed their family.
It was such an engrossing and entertaining first book. I just wish I had known about this when I first began reading her books. Excellent job, Abigail Owen! So very well done, indeed! Now, on to book 2, White Hyacinth!
Well, surprise! It's wonderful! I so enjoyed getting to know Ellie and Griffin and the new people that came into their lives, bringing love and aid and a sense of belonging that they hadn't felt for a very long time. They also brought new abilities to the group that helped these two finally confront the wolf shifters that killed their family.
It was such an engrossing and entertaining first book. I just wish I had known about this when I first began reading her books. Excellent job, Abigail Owen! So very well done, indeed! Now, on to book 2, White Hyacinth!
May 29, 2023
Twilight without vampires…just people with varying powers. There were even shapeshifting wolves, a blended family, a father that was a healer, mind readers, mood changers, soul mate imprinting called te'sorthene and a huge battle at the end. About the most unique aspect was one power a "sister" had where she could teleport herself somewhere.
Language and physical situations took this clearly secular novel from three-stars to two-stars.
I didn’t read reviews for this book and I have no idea how this got in my library. But as I started the book it seemed interesting so I read on. When it got a bit weird I kept reading to see how it ended. Exactly like Twilight.
Language and physical situations took this clearly secular novel from three-stars to two-stars.
I didn’t read reviews for this book and I have no idea how this got in my library. But as I started the book it seemed interesting so I read on. When it got a bit weird I kept reading to see how it ended. Exactly like Twilight.
February 29, 2020
The power of us all
The story within these pages is absolutely amazing. I love the relationships that developed and grew between the characters. I can’t say I would ever want to return to high school, but in those halls Ellie found what her and her twin had been missing for so many years. The author did a fantastic job with the story, keeping it exciting and moving. I can’t wait to read the next book.
The story within these pages is absolutely amazing. I love the relationships that developed and grew between the characters. I can’t say I would ever want to return to high school, but in those halls Ellie found what her and her twin had been missing for so many years. The author did a fantastic job with the story, keeping it exciting and moving. I can’t wait to read the next book.
July 11, 2024
It’s pretty good for YA fantasy. A short little read with a fluffy plot that follows the usual paranormal storyline. For a while, I thought Griffin, Ellie’s twin brother, was sketchy and would turn out bad/betraying the adoptive family.
Ellie and Alex are a cute couple and I like how the author justified their very quick romance with them being alive for centuries. Heck, Ellie and Griffin knew President Lincoln!
Ellie and Alex are a cute couple and I like how the author justified their very quick romance with them being alive for centuries. Heck, Ellie and Griffin knew President Lincoln!
March 11, 2018
3.5
This has been sitting on my shelf for YEARS! I just picked it at random and had no idea what it was going to be about. And it was pretty good.
It was interesting to see a teen book with 100+yo high school students acknowledging that it would be weird to date teenagers, even if they did look the same age!
I might give the rest of the series a go. They seem be priced well.
This has been sitting on my shelf for YEARS! I just picked it at random and had no idea what it was going to be about. And it was pretty good.
It was interesting to see a teen book with 100+yo high school students acknowledging that it would be weird to date teenagers, even if they did look the same age!
I might give the rest of the series a go. They seem be priced well.
August 30, 2021
This was a decent read. This paranormal world was unique although some parts dragged on. Ellie was overpowered and able to use all her gifts as well as others which was unrealistic and was a bit too convenient. Gideon should have been introduced earlier, his defeat was too easy. The relationship between Ellie and Alex was also a bit boring and superficial, more depth could’ve been added.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2023
Honestly, the stars I gave are solely for the idea, which was there. But the book just got cringier and cringier the more I read. It felt underdeveloped and rushed. I wish the author would’ve taken more time with details and build an actual world into our imagination. Everything was also so predictable.
January 17, 2013
Abigail Owen’s YA novel BLUE VIOLET is a compelling supernatural romance about a race of beings, called “Svatura,” with both super longevity and super powers. In way, BLUE VIOLET is like a mash-up of the TWILIGHT books and the X-MEN comics. Ellie Aubrey is two centuries old, but she looks like a high school senior. She and her brother Griffin are the sole survivors of their clan of Svatura, and they witnessed the decimation of their people a century earlier by the vicious Vyusher, a tribe of metamorphs that live mainly as wolves. When Ellie begins having dreams about other Svatura living in Estes Park, Colorado, she and Griffin move there to investigate. What Ellie finds is not just a new family, but a soul mate, a man to whom she is connected by a power stronger than fate and more perfect than love. Ellie and Alex are “te’sorthene,” a term loosely defined as “soul mates” or “spirit partners.” Will their love be strong enough to keep them – and all the remaining Svatura – safe from the Vyusher?
There are definitely shades of TWILIGHT here – Ellie is pretending to be a normal high school senior, and her relationship with the mysterious Jenner family seems eerily like Bella’s relationship with the Cullens – parent-figures Lucy and Hugh are very like Esme and Carlisle; Hugh is even a doctor (or “healer,” as he’s called here). As Owen explains, the Svatura are not immortals, but they have very long life spans (hundreds, maybe thousands of years). Like the TWILIGHT vampires, they move frequently and keep to themselves. The Vyusher wolves are not werewolves, but rather beings that have taken on the shape of wolves and have become arch enemies to all the Svatura. They reminded me a bit of the Volturi in the TWILIGHT novels – evil enemies, but not totally different from those they fight against.
What IS different – and most refreshing – about BLUE VIOLET is Ellie Aubrey. Where TWILIGHT’s Bella is weak, clumsy, and insecure, Ellie is strong, confident, and courageous. Bella is the perennial damsel in distress, but Ellie is a heroine, leading her people, teaching them, and risking everything to save them from destruction. I admire Ellie. She is exactly the kind of young woman that can inspire teen readers to be self-confident and brave. Her relationship with Alex, while just as romantic and steamy as Bella’s relationship with Edward, is one of two equals who both love and respect each other. Alex does not spend his time protecting Ellie – she is just as capable of protecting him. Maybe even more so!
Additionally, the fact that Ellie and Alex are not really teenagers is important in BLUE VIOLET. They look young, but they have lived for a very long time (Ellie even says she met Abraham Lincoln!). At one point, Ellie considers dating Brian, a “normal” boy she meets at school, but she realizes that “being over two-hundred years old made dating a real teenager . . . creepy.” And when she and Alex finally realize their connection to one another, their relationship seems more mature than just kids getting all hot and heavy. There’s history in the lives they’ve lived, and their relationship is richer because of it.
Plotwise, there are as many twists and turns and as much excitement as the TWILIGHT novels. Owen has based her mythology on Romani – or Gypsy – stories and culture. The words “Svatura,” “Vyusher,” and “te’sorthene” are all Romani words. Owen suggests that the origins of the Svatura are as old as humanity, and that many of these people were murdered over the centuries as suspected witches and sorcerers. This is a fascinating concept with enough basis in fact to make it seem believable in spite of the supernatural elements. All of the Svatura have “super powers,” much like the various X-Men characters in the comics – one can freeze things in mid-air, another can create balls of fire from his hands, and others can shape-shift, teleport, mind-read, and turn objects into metal (even gold!). This made these characters more interesting, as each is unique (and each plays a pivotal role in the climactic battle at the end of the novel).
Overall, BLUE VIOLET is a well-written and exciting YA novel that has all the passion and thrills of TWILIGHT, while at the same time elevating Ellie Aubrey as a hero worthy of the name. This is a novel that treats women like human beings . . . even when they’re Svatura! I recommend this highly to any readers who enjoy supernatural romances. Without a doubt, it’s better than TWILIGHT! There are, admittedly, a few of the kinds of typos expected in self-published novels (especially toward the end), but that’s a minor point, hardly worth noting. Owen is working on the next book in her Svatura series, HYACINTH, which she hopes to release in 2013. There’s an excerpt from that second book at the end of BLUE VIOLET. Parents, this novel does include some scenes of violence and some descriptions of sexual situations, but there’s nothing here that should be a problem for teenagers. There’s no offensive language, no drug or alcohol use, and no actual sex. It’s a good book. I totally recommend it.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
There are definitely shades of TWILIGHT here – Ellie is pretending to be a normal high school senior, and her relationship with the mysterious Jenner family seems eerily like Bella’s relationship with the Cullens – parent-figures Lucy and Hugh are very like Esme and Carlisle; Hugh is even a doctor (or “healer,” as he’s called here). As Owen explains, the Svatura are not immortals, but they have very long life spans (hundreds, maybe thousands of years). Like the TWILIGHT vampires, they move frequently and keep to themselves. The Vyusher wolves are not werewolves, but rather beings that have taken on the shape of wolves and have become arch enemies to all the Svatura. They reminded me a bit of the Volturi in the TWILIGHT novels – evil enemies, but not totally different from those they fight against.
What IS different – and most refreshing – about BLUE VIOLET is Ellie Aubrey. Where TWILIGHT’s Bella is weak, clumsy, and insecure, Ellie is strong, confident, and courageous. Bella is the perennial damsel in distress, but Ellie is a heroine, leading her people, teaching them, and risking everything to save them from destruction. I admire Ellie. She is exactly the kind of young woman that can inspire teen readers to be self-confident and brave. Her relationship with Alex, while just as romantic and steamy as Bella’s relationship with Edward, is one of two equals who both love and respect each other. Alex does not spend his time protecting Ellie – she is just as capable of protecting him. Maybe even more so!
Additionally, the fact that Ellie and Alex are not really teenagers is important in BLUE VIOLET. They look young, but they have lived for a very long time (Ellie even says she met Abraham Lincoln!). At one point, Ellie considers dating Brian, a “normal” boy she meets at school, but she realizes that “being over two-hundred years old made dating a real teenager . . . creepy.” And when she and Alex finally realize their connection to one another, their relationship seems more mature than just kids getting all hot and heavy. There’s history in the lives they’ve lived, and their relationship is richer because of it.
Plotwise, there are as many twists and turns and as much excitement as the TWILIGHT novels. Owen has based her mythology on Romani – or Gypsy – stories and culture. The words “Svatura,” “Vyusher,” and “te’sorthene” are all Romani words. Owen suggests that the origins of the Svatura are as old as humanity, and that many of these people were murdered over the centuries as suspected witches and sorcerers. This is a fascinating concept with enough basis in fact to make it seem believable in spite of the supernatural elements. All of the Svatura have “super powers,” much like the various X-Men characters in the comics – one can freeze things in mid-air, another can create balls of fire from his hands, and others can shape-shift, teleport, mind-read, and turn objects into metal (even gold!). This made these characters more interesting, as each is unique (and each plays a pivotal role in the climactic battle at the end of the novel).
Overall, BLUE VIOLET is a well-written and exciting YA novel that has all the passion and thrills of TWILIGHT, while at the same time elevating Ellie Aubrey as a hero worthy of the name. This is a novel that treats women like human beings . . . even when they’re Svatura! I recommend this highly to any readers who enjoy supernatural romances. Without a doubt, it’s better than TWILIGHT! There are, admittedly, a few of the kinds of typos expected in self-published novels (especially toward the end), but that’s a minor point, hardly worth noting. Owen is working on the next book in her Svatura series, HYACINTH, which she hopes to release in 2013. There’s an excerpt from that second book at the end of BLUE VIOLET. Parents, this novel does include some scenes of violence and some descriptions of sexual situations, but there’s nothing here that should be a problem for teenagers. There’s no offensive language, no drug or alcohol use, and no actual sex. It’s a good book. I totally recommend it.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
October 11, 2012
http://shesgotbooksonhermind.blogspot...
Flowers were all the rage a while back but I never got to read that many with them so it's nice to have one now. It's a simple but pretty cover. Ellie has been around for a while. She's about 200 years old if I'm correct. She is NOT a vampire. She's not immortal either. She can get hurt and die. She just lives longer than the average person. She's this petite little thing who blends in well with the High School crowd. If it were me I would look at her like she was crazy to endure more of High School but she does so to keep an eye out for three specific people she wishes to get to know. I never got the feeling that she was older. She didn't act immature per say but she didn't act like she was at least a hundred years old. She did have this selfless character to her so I can see the maturity there.
Ellie befriends immediately the three kids she is supposed to watch out for. It's not like she tried to, she isn't a very sociable creature. She's always very vague and pretends to smile because she has to. Her powers are many, unlike most Svatura. She does have one remarkable power which really has to be the greatest power any of them has - she can use the powers of others if she's near that person. Basically... SHE HAS ALL OF THE POWERS! And the powers are pretty awesome like teleporting and creating gold. If I could have that power... it's like having the ability to stop time (the best power ever) but it's more reasonable and less diabolical (kind of).
She catches her love interest's eye right away. There is this sort of intense wave she feels when she meets his stare. He is of course, drop dead gorgeous. Aren't they all? But when I think of drop dead gorgeous guys in books I think of bad boys who are very arrogant. Thankfully, this is not the case. There are some parts of the book that show you his POV which helped me some to decipher his personality and to provide me with some entertainment. From what I can tell, throughout the book, he's very much family-oriented but that's about it. He seemed like a nice guy and he really is. He does the infamous hot guy smirk/smile when he finds something amusing. But I can't really tell you much more. Only that he really liked Ellie and was confused and distant a lot. I know I'm analyzing him too much. I'm saying this only because I really wanted more of his POV's to get to know him more personally.
Griffin, Ellie's twin brother, needs more appearances! And it looks like he's going to get more next book which I must say makes me super happy. He is another dreamy guy who's also very loyal to his sister. He kind of has to be because she's the only one he's got. His personality set off alarm bells for me. I can see him being very abrasive but in a good way as in he's a very strong character that fights for what he believes in. He's also like Ellie's love interest, Alex, very protective of Ellie. It's not like Ellie can't take care of herself. She never once gives in to having others take what she deems as her responsibility away from her. Griffin has the potential to be as stubborn and as great as her which I welcome gladly.
So I must comment on the kissing and if the love was anything but perfect. There was a lot of kissing but I didn't feel like I was attacked with it. Ellie and Alex's love seemed to progress at a steady pace compared to other books and their instaloves. It was very natural and it had me smiling more with every interaction. I could have seen it going fast to annoying if it wasn't written just right. I absolutely loved this book and Ellie! Ellie's strong and you know it. She doesn't hide behind people. She is front and center of the action. She has this cute romance and just really wants that big family again. That's really why she came to check these people out and make sure they were safe to trust - she wanted a family like the clan she once had. I just want to give her a hug for her reasoning. Don't you?
This book utterly surprised me (most books tend do that for me). It was amazing! I couldn't believe this book was indie and self-published no less. How is this book so good!? I can see this in bookstores around the country. It really deserves it especially since Owen paints a supernatural world with one of the strongest heroines I have ever read. It has a great plot, story line, characters, and fantastic writing! I mean who doesn't like reading books with characters that have superpowers? This book will want you to keep on reading. I was sick and finished reading this book late into the morning. I couldn't stop and I don't want to! Owen provided an excerpt that made me positively dizzy with happiness at all that can possibly happen in the next book. With this type of writing, this author's going somewhere.
One last thing. I feel like you don't know how much I love this book so... AAAAHHHH!!!! THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! GO PICK THIS BOOK UP!!! YOU WILL SO TOTALLY NOT REGRET IT!!! Hopefully I did this book some kind of justice with this review because I feel like I could never convey how much I truly enjoyed it.
Flowers were all the rage a while back but I never got to read that many with them so it's nice to have one now. It's a simple but pretty cover. Ellie has been around for a while. She's about 200 years old if I'm correct. She is NOT a vampire. She's not immortal either. She can get hurt and die. She just lives longer than the average person. She's this petite little thing who blends in well with the High School crowd. If it were me I would look at her like she was crazy to endure more of High School but she does so to keep an eye out for three specific people she wishes to get to know. I never got the feeling that she was older. She didn't act immature per say but she didn't act like she was at least a hundred years old. She did have this selfless character to her so I can see the maturity there.
Ellie befriends immediately the three kids she is supposed to watch out for. It's not like she tried to, she isn't a very sociable creature. She's always very vague and pretends to smile because she has to. Her powers are many, unlike most Svatura. She does have one remarkable power which really has to be the greatest power any of them has - she can use the powers of others if she's near that person. Basically... SHE HAS ALL OF THE POWERS! And the powers are pretty awesome like teleporting and creating gold. If I could have that power... it's like having the ability to stop time (the best power ever) but it's more reasonable and less diabolical (kind of).
She catches her love interest's eye right away. There is this sort of intense wave she feels when she meets his stare. He is of course, drop dead gorgeous. Aren't they all? But when I think of drop dead gorgeous guys in books I think of bad boys who are very arrogant. Thankfully, this is not the case. There are some parts of the book that show you his POV which helped me some to decipher his personality and to provide me with some entertainment. From what I can tell, throughout the book, he's very much family-oriented but that's about it. He seemed like a nice guy and he really is. He does the infamous hot guy smirk/smile when he finds something amusing. But I can't really tell you much more. Only that he really liked Ellie and was confused and distant a lot. I know I'm analyzing him too much. I'm saying this only because I really wanted more of his POV's to get to know him more personally.
Griffin, Ellie's twin brother, needs more appearances! And it looks like he's going to get more next book which I must say makes me super happy. He is another dreamy guy who's also very loyal to his sister. He kind of has to be because she's the only one he's got. His personality set off alarm bells for me. I can see him being very abrasive but in a good way as in he's a very strong character that fights for what he believes in. He's also like Ellie's love interest, Alex, very protective of Ellie. It's not like Ellie can't take care of herself. She never once gives in to having others take what she deems as her responsibility away from her. Griffin has the potential to be as stubborn and as great as her which I welcome gladly.
So I must comment on the kissing and if the love was anything but perfect. There was a lot of kissing but I didn't feel like I was attacked with it. Ellie and Alex's love seemed to progress at a steady pace compared to other books and their instaloves. It was very natural and it had me smiling more with every interaction. I could have seen it going fast to annoying if it wasn't written just right. I absolutely loved this book and Ellie! Ellie's strong and you know it. She doesn't hide behind people. She is front and center of the action. She has this cute romance and just really wants that big family again. That's really why she came to check these people out and make sure they were safe to trust - she wanted a family like the clan she once had. I just want to give her a hug for her reasoning. Don't you?
This book utterly surprised me (most books tend do that for me). It was amazing! I couldn't believe this book was indie and self-published no less. How is this book so good!? I can see this in bookstores around the country. It really deserves it especially since Owen paints a supernatural world with one of the strongest heroines I have ever read. It has a great plot, story line, characters, and fantastic writing! I mean who doesn't like reading books with characters that have superpowers? This book will want you to keep on reading. I was sick and finished reading this book late into the morning. I couldn't stop and I don't want to! Owen provided an excerpt that made me positively dizzy with happiness at all that can possibly happen in the next book. With this type of writing, this author's going somewhere.
One last thing. I feel like you don't know how much I love this book so... AAAAHHHH!!!! THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! GO PICK THIS BOOK UP!!! YOU WILL SO TOTALLY NOT REGRET IT!!! Hopefully I did this book some kind of justice with this review because I feel like I could never convey how much I truly enjoyed it.
March 7, 2013
I want to say for the song choice, "I've Got All This Ringing in my ears and none in my fingers" by Fall Out Boy, because i will proudly admit i love Fall Out Boy but i think the better choice is "Dirty Little Secret" by All American Rejects. So there is my song suggestion to give you a better "understanding" of the book...
Okay so this is literally tittering on the edge of 3.5 and 4. And i will explain one of the biggest reasons much later. And some of the reason i can explain right now, sometimes the pacing was slow and i was like, please something happen! And the explanations were a little vague at times - like i still don't think i fully understand the differences and similarities of the Svatura and the Vyusher ....so there is that...
So now onto other stuff. PLOT: I thought that it was very original i liked the idea of the Svatura and what they were. I thought it was a new little twist on what most people would call either "superheroes" or even witches. I really thought it was a new type of paranormal that if you are looking for something new, like getting bored with the classics - which is okay everyone wants a new somethin somethin new right?. Anyways the plot was interesting enough this book was a lot about keeping the past somewhat a mystery, trying to keep a lot of things of a mystery really, but there was romance, and there was action, and there was what every good paranormal needs. Like i mentioned earlier sometimes the pacing was a bit slow but keep with it because its totally worth it. Okay so the POV confused me at first i was thinking it as going to be limited third person but then it seemed to turn into omniscient - and being me i really dislike omniscient most of time, it didn't bother me to much in this book besides it started really late...but i don't think that would be a reason to walk away from this book at all.
Characters!
Ellie: She was interesting. She flatly states or at least i believe that she does that she is not a "fighter" but she most definitely is. She is quite some kickass. She is oddly flirty sometimes, and has these moments of pure awesomeness where she is just super witty and "sassy" they call her sassy a lot. I thought as one of the main characters that she is what a lot of people look for in the paranormal MC which is kickass and awesome. She is loyal and will do anything for her family, literally. Personally i liked her.
Griffin: First off i love that name! but Griffin is the brother, the twin brother. There relationship makes me wish i was a twin...oh wait i am...well makes me wish my twin relationship was like that. They are ridiculously close and don't even have to speak to know what each other is thinking (and i giggle because when you read the book and you should you will get the joke that i am making). But anyways he is super loving and caring about his sister. He is protective but he is reserved and doesn't speak much. I think in the sequel which i checked is more about him we might get more of his internal thoughts and personality.
Alex: The love interest and i know you were waiting patiently for me to start talking about this kid. He's ego is way to big for his own good but that is probably why i love him. He is an interesting character i really liked him. He is hard to really pin down to what he is like, its more in his actions and responses that you see what type of person he is.
I saw someone else mention that they thought was a mix of something and Twilight and i see the Twilight aspect ONLY with the family, there are a lot of them and they kind of are just there for the most part. Three of them take on one entity really but again it think it would have been too over-whelming any other way.
Okay so why its almost a 3.5 vs solid four? Well its sort of a spoiler so i will make sure if you don't want to read it you don't have to ... sorry about this and that was the spoiler sorry again i don't like to do that but it really bothered me, i don't think its really that BIG of a deal really at all. Nothing to concern yourself with.
So my last piece of advice? Is i believe its free on amazon? i got it for free, and i think it is totally worth your time if you like the paranormal stuff and looking for something new.
So did you like my thoughts? no, well okay nothing i can do about that. But if you did and if you are interested in finding other great indie authors that deserve your love you should come check out the blog that i have with a friend and no this isn't our way to stardom its our way of spreading the news of authors who deserve our praise, or our beat-downs or something in the middle ;) so here is the link http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp... enjoy yourselves, we appreciate you
Okay so this is literally tittering on the edge of 3.5 and 4. And i will explain one of the biggest reasons much later. And some of the reason i can explain right now, sometimes the pacing was slow and i was like, please something happen! And the explanations were a little vague at times - like i still don't think i fully understand the differences and similarities of the Svatura and the Vyusher ....so there is that...
So now onto other stuff. PLOT: I thought that it was very original i liked the idea of the Svatura and what they were. I thought it was a new little twist on what most people would call either "superheroes" or even witches. I really thought it was a new type of paranormal that if you are looking for something new, like getting bored with the classics - which is okay everyone wants a new somethin somethin new right?. Anyways the plot was interesting enough this book was a lot about keeping the past somewhat a mystery, trying to keep a lot of things of a mystery really, but there was romance, and there was action, and there was what every good paranormal needs. Like i mentioned earlier sometimes the pacing was a bit slow but keep with it because its totally worth it. Okay so the POV confused me at first i was thinking it as going to be limited third person but then it seemed to turn into omniscient - and being me i really dislike omniscient most of time, it didn't bother me to much in this book besides it started really late...but i don't think that would be a reason to walk away from this book at all.
Characters!
Ellie: She was interesting. She flatly states or at least i believe that she does that she is not a "fighter" but she most definitely is. She is quite some kickass. She is oddly flirty sometimes, and has these moments of pure awesomeness where she is just super witty and "sassy" they call her sassy a lot. I thought as one of the main characters that she is what a lot of people look for in the paranormal MC which is kickass and awesome. She is loyal and will do anything for her family, literally. Personally i liked her.
Griffin: First off i love that name! but Griffin is the brother, the twin brother. There relationship makes me wish i was a twin...oh wait i am...well makes me wish my twin relationship was like that. They are ridiculously close and don't even have to speak to know what each other is thinking (and i giggle because when you read the book and you should you will get the joke that i am making). But anyways he is super loving and caring about his sister. He is protective but he is reserved and doesn't speak much. I think in the sequel which i checked is more about him we might get more of his internal thoughts and personality.
Alex: The love interest and i know you were waiting patiently for me to start talking about this kid. He's ego is way to big for his own good but that is probably why i love him. He is an interesting character i really liked him. He is hard to really pin down to what he is like, its more in his actions and responses that you see what type of person he is.
I saw someone else mention that they thought was a mix of something and Twilight and i see the Twilight aspect ONLY with the family, there are a lot of them and they kind of are just there for the most part. Three of them take on one entity really but again it think it would have been too over-whelming any other way.
Okay so why its almost a 3.5 vs solid four? Well its sort of a spoiler so i will make sure if you don't want to read it you don't have to ... sorry about this and that was the spoiler sorry again i don't like to do that but it really bothered me, i don't think its really that BIG of a deal really at all. Nothing to concern yourself with.
So my last piece of advice? Is i believe its free on amazon? i got it for free, and i think it is totally worth your time if you like the paranormal stuff and looking for something new.
So did you like my thoughts? no, well okay nothing i can do about that. But if you did and if you are interested in finding other great indie authors that deserve your love you should come check out the blog that i have with a friend and no this isn't our way to stardom its our way of spreading the news of authors who deserve our praise, or our beat-downs or something in the middle ;) so here is the link http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp... enjoy yourselves, we appreciate you
November 6, 2018
Pretty bland, but not the worst I've seen.
December 27, 2018
Una historia llena de acción, con algo de romance Pero la sentí muy corta y apresurada en algunas partes (como en la parte romántica ). Si continuaré leyendo la serie
November 4, 2024
I think this little series is addicting, a fast read, a fun story, I think it’s great! Fantasy heavy and a love story, what’s not to like!
Read
June 22, 2023DNF at pg 50
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2025
The book is probably a bit too Cliche but I did enjoy reading it ;D
I don’t even know why I enjoyed it that much.
This is my overall favorite book from the series nothing can change my mind >:}
*Has 0 spice scenes in the book
In the book instead of having soul mates u got another term of it used in the book -which I forgot how to spell - I find that a bit of a breather even if this kind of trope is kinda excessively used in books especially fantasy or Romantasy.
I don’t even know why I enjoyed it that much.
This is my overall favorite book from the series nothing can change my mind >:}
*Has 0 spice scenes in the book
In the book instead of having soul mates u got another term of it used in the book -which I forgot how to spell - I find that a bit of a breather even if this kind of trope is kinda excessively used in books especially fantasy or Romantasy.
December 10, 2012
Terrific YA, urban fantasy, paranormal romance with a dynamic heroine
Ellie Aubrey looks like a teenager, but she and her brother Griffin have been around since the Civil War. Though her paranormal race, the Svatura, live preternaturally long lives, Ellie's family and most of the Svatura on earth have been exterminated by their mortal enemies, the Vyusher. The Svatura need each other to thrive, but when more than two of them are in a particular place, they draw the Vyusher upon them. For that reason, Ellie and Griffin have been living lonely, isolated lives since they were actually in their teens. Then Ellie realizes she has a chance to unite with other Svatura. At great personal risk and over Griffin's strong objections, she moves to Estes Park, Colorado, and enrolls in the local high school in order to find and connect with them.
There are a lot of young-adult novels these days which are labeled "paranormal romance," but as a long-time fan of "traditional" romance (one love interest), I was delighted that the romance plot in this book is undiluted by a romantic triangle. I was also very happy that the heroine is strong (vs weak), dynamic and resourceful (vs passive), and that she and her love interest are equals (vs grossly unequal in personal power).
This urban fantasy has everything that good urban fantasy needs to have--whether for adults or teens: a sacrificial, powerful Warrior protagonist who gets into trouble because of personal integrity (rather than immaturity, narcissism or downright stupidity), a loyal cadre of friends (AKA a family of affiliation) who look out for each other, strong villains who provide plenty of conflict for the protagonist, and excellent fantasy world-building.
The romance plot in this story also has everything a good romance requires--whether for adults or teens: sympathetic romance protagonists who are clearly "made for each other" and are equals with the potential to make a viable mated partnership, a strong conflict keeping them apart that stretches the length of the book, and a well-communicated sense that their lives would be blighted forever if they were unable to be together.
The writing in general in this book is excellent, and I particularly enjoyed the fact that the author employed close-third with multiple points of view (POV) rather than the first-person POV used the vast majority of the time in YA fiction. While first-person has its advantages, in urban fantasy that is not an offshoot of the mystery genre (such as the Harry Dresden and Mercy Thompson series), close-third, multiple POV gives an added depth and breadth that can't be offered by first person. It is also a long-standing tradition in the adult romance genre to offer the male POV as well as the heroine's, and I am always grateful to YA authors who are willing to draw on that tradition to enrich their romance plots.
For those desiring to read the Kindle version of this book, it is well designed and well edited.
All in all, I found this book a pleasure to read, and I highly recommend it. I am very much looking forward to future books in this series.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Fantasy World-Building: 5 stars
Romantic Plot: 5 stars
Action-Adventure Plot: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
Disclosure: The author contacted me to review her book because I am a top reviewer on Amazon. I rarely accept such requests because I don't have a lot of time, but in this particular case I am very glad I did.
Ellie Aubrey looks like a teenager, but she and her brother Griffin have been around since the Civil War. Though her paranormal race, the Svatura, live preternaturally long lives, Ellie's family and most of the Svatura on earth have been exterminated by their mortal enemies, the Vyusher. The Svatura need each other to thrive, but when more than two of them are in a particular place, they draw the Vyusher upon them. For that reason, Ellie and Griffin have been living lonely, isolated lives since they were actually in their teens. Then Ellie realizes she has a chance to unite with other Svatura. At great personal risk and over Griffin's strong objections, she moves to Estes Park, Colorado, and enrolls in the local high school in order to find and connect with them.
There are a lot of young-adult novels these days which are labeled "paranormal romance," but as a long-time fan of "traditional" romance (one love interest), I was delighted that the romance plot in this book is undiluted by a romantic triangle. I was also very happy that the heroine is strong (vs weak), dynamic and resourceful (vs passive), and that she and her love interest are equals (vs grossly unequal in personal power).
This urban fantasy has everything that good urban fantasy needs to have--whether for adults or teens: a sacrificial, powerful Warrior protagonist who gets into trouble because of personal integrity (rather than immaturity, narcissism or downright stupidity), a loyal cadre of friends (AKA a family of affiliation) who look out for each other, strong villains who provide plenty of conflict for the protagonist, and excellent fantasy world-building.
The romance plot in this story also has everything a good romance requires--whether for adults or teens: sympathetic romance protagonists who are clearly "made for each other" and are equals with the potential to make a viable mated partnership, a strong conflict keeping them apart that stretches the length of the book, and a well-communicated sense that their lives would be blighted forever if they were unable to be together.
The writing in general in this book is excellent, and I particularly enjoyed the fact that the author employed close-third with multiple points of view (POV) rather than the first-person POV used the vast majority of the time in YA fiction. While first-person has its advantages, in urban fantasy that is not an offshoot of the mystery genre (such as the Harry Dresden and Mercy Thompson series), close-third, multiple POV gives an added depth and breadth that can't be offered by first person. It is also a long-standing tradition in the adult romance genre to offer the male POV as well as the heroine's, and I am always grateful to YA authors who are willing to draw on that tradition to enrich their romance plots.
For those desiring to read the Kindle version of this book, it is well designed and well edited.
All in all, I found this book a pleasure to read, and I highly recommend it. I am very much looking forward to future books in this series.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Fantasy World-Building: 5 stars
Romantic Plot: 5 stars
Action-Adventure Plot: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
Disclosure: The author contacted me to review her book because I am a top reviewer on Amazon. I rarely accept such requests because I don't have a lot of time, but in this particular case I am very glad I did.
May 8, 2019
Ellie Aubrey es una Svatura, personas que viven más que la gente corriente y que además tienen poderes. Ellie se muda a un pueblo buscando por una familia que es como ella, los Jenner y los Pierce, necesitando encontrar a más Svatura dado que toda su familia ha sido brutalmente asesinada por un grupo de Svatura lobos, llamados Vyusher. Entre los Jenner está Alex, un chico "mayor", guapo e irresistible para Ellie sin tener idea de por qué no puede dejar de pensar en él.
Ellie es todo lo que me gusta en una protagonista: es agradable, buena, divertida, fuerte, sabe cuándo es el momento de arriesgarse, no hace estupideces y, lo mejor de todo, es que no toma decisiones infantiles (ni actúa como tal) ni hace cosas sin sentido. Llegamos a conocer muy bien a Ellie y, sin embargo, el que no me ha dicho nada ha sido Alex. Para mí ha sido un personaje más (ni si quiera de los más interesantes y para ser el interés romántico tiene muy poco protagonismo), que pasa por el libro sin pena ni gloria. De hecho, Adelaide, Lila y Ramsey e incluso Nate me han parecido personajes muchísimo más interesantes que él y me hubiese gustado que la autora se extendiera más en estos personajes.
Creo que el problema que he tenido con Alex ha sido que, a parte de que aparece poco y que cuando lo hace no me ha transmitido mucho, es que su relación con Ellie me ha parecido bastante forzada. Está toda la cosa esa de los te'sorthene, pero es que su relación me ha parecido un gran meh. El caso es que Alex interactúa como tres o cuatro veces con Ellie antes de que descubran que son almas gemelas y cero química, la verdad, y sus conversaciones no son del otro mundo y, bueno, todavía estoy aquí pensando que cuando un hermano de un "amigo" del instituto, al cual solo conoces de tu primer día, se te acerca y te invita a correr juntos, tú accedes como si de mejores amigos se tratase. Vale, las conversaciones durante ir a correr son normales porque al fin y al cabo no se conocen, pero la autora debería haber ahondado mucho más en esta relación y no haber dado un paso tan gigante entre salir a correr y ser almas gemelas que se aman como si no hubiese mañana. Así que eso, que su relación es muy cute pero bastante precipitada y sin ninguna evolución que se aprecie.
Especial mención a Griffin, el hermano de Ellie, porque el muchacho de verdad que es un amor y no puedo esperar a leer su libro y descubrir qué es lo que pasa con Selene, porque creo que estos dos pueden dar mucho juego (y espero de corazón que su relación sea infinitamente mejor que la de estos dos). Ese final me ha dejado totalmente enganchada!
Así que Blue Violet me ha parecido bastante original y, aunque al principio estaba totalmente perdida y no sabía muy bien qué estaba pasando, me ha gustado más de lo que esperaba. Si no fuese por ese pequeño detalle de la relación entre los dos, desde luego que se lleva las cuatro estrellas.
Ellie es todo lo que me gusta en una protagonista: es agradable, buena, divertida, fuerte, sabe cuándo es el momento de arriesgarse, no hace estupideces y, lo mejor de todo, es que no toma decisiones infantiles (ni actúa como tal) ni hace cosas sin sentido. Llegamos a conocer muy bien a Ellie y, sin embargo, el que no me ha dicho nada ha sido Alex. Para mí ha sido un personaje más (ni si quiera de los más interesantes y para ser el interés romántico tiene muy poco protagonismo), que pasa por el libro sin pena ni gloria. De hecho, Adelaide, Lila y Ramsey e incluso Nate me han parecido personajes muchísimo más interesantes que él y me hubiese gustado que la autora se extendiera más en estos personajes.
Creo que el problema que he tenido con Alex ha sido que, a parte de que aparece poco y que cuando lo hace no me ha transmitido mucho, es que su relación con Ellie me ha parecido bastante forzada. Está toda la cosa esa de los te'sorthene, pero es que su relación me ha parecido un gran meh. El caso es que Alex interactúa como tres o cuatro veces con Ellie antes de que descubran que son almas gemelas y cero química, la verdad, y sus conversaciones no son del otro mundo y, bueno, todavía estoy aquí pensando que cuando un hermano de un "amigo" del instituto, al cual solo conoces de tu primer día, se te acerca y te invita a correr juntos, tú accedes como si de mejores amigos se tratase. Vale, las conversaciones durante ir a correr son normales porque al fin y al cabo no se conocen, pero la autora debería haber ahondado mucho más en esta relación y no haber dado un paso tan gigante entre salir a correr y ser almas gemelas que se aman como si no hubiese mañana. Así que eso, que su relación es muy cute pero bastante precipitada y sin ninguna evolución que se aprecie.
Especial mención a Griffin, el hermano de Ellie, porque el muchacho de verdad que es un amor y no puedo esperar a leer su libro y descubrir qué es lo que pasa con Selene, porque creo que estos dos pueden dar mucho juego (y espero de corazón que su relación sea infinitamente mejor que la de estos dos). Ese final me ha dejado totalmente enganchada!
Así que Blue Violet me ha parecido bastante original y, aunque al principio estaba totalmente perdida y no sabía muy bien qué estaba pasando, me ha gustado más de lo que esperaba. Si no fuese por ese pequeño detalle de la relación entre los dos, desde luego que se lleva las cuatro estrellas.
July 20, 2014
[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook copy in conjunction with the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.]
When I signed up for the Black Orchid blog tour I really wasn’t all too sure about whether I’d like the books or not. However, the thing that convinced me was that I had read Andromeda’s Fall by Abigail Owen as well and loved it. Why not give her other series a try? And let me tell you: I’m so glad I did. It’s just as good as Andromeda’s Fall and I am now a huge Abigail Owen fan.
The beginning made me cringe, I’ll admit. New girl in a small town going to yet another new school after moving around lots. Thankfully this trope was not played straight and soon we learn that Ellie really isn’t all that she seems and neither is the insanely attractive Alex. Things get awesome pretty quickly so don’t be fooled by Blue Violet‘s unassuming beginning!
Ellie is now one of my favourite heroines. Yes, she can agonize over Alex but she has the self-awareness to at least realize that he’s a college student and he’s probably not going to be interested in his little sister’s new high school aged friend. When she realizes that the Jenners also have abilities similar to hers, her first instinct is to protect them, no matter how coldly Alex treats her. I think the most interesting part about Ellie’s character was her second ability, the one that terrifies her the most. Abigail Owen really works hard to not only portray her obvious fear of it but also to portray the temptation to use it, especially when the Vyusher come knocking.
I really just loved the world-building in Blue Violet. Not only are the different abilities unique and pretty darn cool, there are believable backstories for even the villains like the Vyusher. Of course there are still a couple of questions about abilities and such but this really is only the first book in the series and all of the most pressing questions are answered. In the beginning we learn pretty quickly of Ellie and Griffin’s abilities, which is refreshing considering writers’ tendencies to drag things out for as long as they can. Not so in Blue Violet!
Now, with a blurb that focuses on the inter-character relationships you’d think this would be more of a slow paced novel. It’s definitely not. While it is character driven to a large extent, you’re never going to get bored as both the personal drama and dangerous outside forces come together to create one heck of an epic climax. And there’s just a little cliffhanger so you’re eager to read the next book.
All in all, this is definitely not your typical urban fantasy novel and I can’t recommend it enough. Seriously, go buy it!
I give this book 5/5 stars.
When I signed up for the Black Orchid blog tour I really wasn’t all too sure about whether I’d like the books or not. However, the thing that convinced me was that I had read Andromeda’s Fall by Abigail Owen as well and loved it. Why not give her other series a try? And let me tell you: I’m so glad I did. It’s just as good as Andromeda’s Fall and I am now a huge Abigail Owen fan.
The beginning made me cringe, I’ll admit. New girl in a small town going to yet another new school after moving around lots. Thankfully this trope was not played straight and soon we learn that Ellie really isn’t all that she seems and neither is the insanely attractive Alex. Things get awesome pretty quickly so don’t be fooled by Blue Violet‘s unassuming beginning!
Ellie is now one of my favourite heroines. Yes, she can agonize over Alex but she has the self-awareness to at least realize that he’s a college student and he’s probably not going to be interested in his little sister’s new high school aged friend. When she realizes that the Jenners also have abilities similar to hers, her first instinct is to protect them, no matter how coldly Alex treats her. I think the most interesting part about Ellie’s character was her second ability, the one that terrifies her the most. Abigail Owen really works hard to not only portray her obvious fear of it but also to portray the temptation to use it, especially when the Vyusher come knocking.
I really just loved the world-building in Blue Violet. Not only are the different abilities unique and pretty darn cool, there are believable backstories for even the villains like the Vyusher. Of course there are still a couple of questions about abilities and such but this really is only the first book in the series and all of the most pressing questions are answered. In the beginning we learn pretty quickly of Ellie and Griffin’s abilities, which is refreshing considering writers’ tendencies to drag things out for as long as they can. Not so in Blue Violet!
Now, with a blurb that focuses on the inter-character relationships you’d think this would be more of a slow paced novel. It’s definitely not. While it is character driven to a large extent, you’re never going to get bored as both the personal drama and dangerous outside forces come together to create one heck of an epic climax. And there’s just a little cliffhanger so you’re eager to read the next book.
All in all, this is definitely not your typical urban fantasy novel and I can’t recommend it enough. Seriously, go buy it!
I give this book 5/5 stars.
October 21, 2012
[FOR MORE REVIEW, CHECK OUT : http://mnkbooklife.blogspot.com/]
[A PDF file was provided by the author for review purpose. Thanks Abigail!]
Enthralling. That's all I have to say for Blue Violet.
Abigail Owen bring us into a new magical urban world that feel truly believable. Simply amazing. So glad that I've found this book.
This book told us about Ellie and Griffin, a pair of twin who had been on constant running since their tribe-The Svatura, people with long lifespan and certain special power- was slaughtered hundreds years ago by their enemy. Being in hideout and moving around for so many years, Ellie finally got sock with loneliness. So when she found another Svatura like her in the new city, she was beyond excited to befriended them. But when the new danger threatened to bring her new family down, it was up to her to stand or to hide once again.
Ever since the first chapter, this book had captured me with its strong character and imaginable surrounding. Ellie Aubrey, being our main character, was very distinct and strong. I love how she was very carefree and tough, yet showed her fragile spot when she was around her twin, Griffin. And vice versa.
Alex, Ellie's counterpart, was well developed too, with him being cold and distant in the early part, but tender and warm by the end of the book.
Another character that stood out was Griffin, Ellie's twin and her only alive related-by-blood family . He was funny and witty and as loving as an ideal brother would be, yet still strict and reasonable when Ellie lost her common sense and made crazy decision. Plus, his soon-to-be-coming love story was totally heart wrenching.
The plot was great as well, with some minor sagging, but overall good. Even though we were told about Ellie's everyday life as a student in the early part, it was still interesting with some twist added here and there. The way the story unfolded was quite great too, cliff hanging yet still satisfying.
Some thing I'm not quite fond of this book was Alex and Ellie's romance. I mean, it's not that so-dumb-oh-I-love-you-for-whatever-reason-forever-after kind of love. It was believable, yes. And sweet. And heartwarming. But in some parts it became a little cheesy and too lovey-dovey.
And the other was that some side-character like Alex's sisters and family was quite two dimensional and not as well developed as the main one.
Overall, if you're urban fantasy lover, and would love to read about a sweet romance and thrilling fantasy, this one is definitely for you.
[A PDF file was provided by the author for review purpose. Thanks Abigail!]
Enthralling. That's all I have to say for Blue Violet.
Abigail Owen bring us into a new magical urban world that feel truly believable. Simply amazing. So glad that I've found this book.
This book told us about Ellie and Griffin, a pair of twin who had been on constant running since their tribe-The Svatura, people with long lifespan and certain special power- was slaughtered hundreds years ago by their enemy. Being in hideout and moving around for so many years, Ellie finally got sock with loneliness. So when she found another Svatura like her in the new city, she was beyond excited to befriended them. But when the new danger threatened to bring her new family down, it was up to her to stand or to hide once again.
Ever since the first chapter, this book had captured me with its strong character and imaginable surrounding. Ellie Aubrey, being our main character, was very distinct and strong. I love how she was very carefree and tough, yet showed her fragile spot when she was around her twin, Griffin. And vice versa.
Alex, Ellie's counterpart, was well developed too, with him being cold and distant in the early part, but tender and warm by the end of the book.
Another character that stood out was Griffin, Ellie's twin and her only alive related-by-blood family . He was funny and witty and as loving as an ideal brother would be, yet still strict and reasonable when Ellie lost her common sense and made crazy decision. Plus, his soon-to-be-coming love story was totally heart wrenching.
The plot was great as well, with some minor sagging, but overall good. Even though we were told about Ellie's everyday life as a student in the early part, it was still interesting with some twist added here and there. The way the story unfolded was quite great too, cliff hanging yet still satisfying.
Some thing I'm not quite fond of this book was Alex and Ellie's romance. I mean, it's not that so-dumb-oh-I-love-you-for-whatever-reason-forever-after kind of love. It was believable, yes. And sweet. And heartwarming. But in some parts it became a little cheesy and too lovey-dovey.
And the other was that some side-character like Alex's sisters and family was quite two dimensional and not as well developed as the main one.
Overall, if you're urban fantasy lover, and would love to read about a sweet romance and thrilling fantasy, this one is definitely for you.
August 26, 2014
Blue Violet (Book #1 of the Svatura Series) 174 (182) Abigail Owen posted 8/26/14
Ellie (Ellinore) Aubrey (HS Sr., aka Artemis; huntress, gypsy princess) goes to school in Estes Park (Carriage Hills) CO. Griffin Aubrey is her twin brother. The 2 had just moved there from Austin Texas.
Ellie was to meet with Ms. Langston (counselor). Ellie 1st class of the day was Mrs. Cavender (AP English).
At lunch Ellie met Adelaide (Delia) Jenner (HS Sr., ability to see relationships between people; past, present, & future) & later her sister Lila Jenner (Lilianna, HS Jr.). Alex Jenner (sophomore, law student) is their brother. Their parents are Lucy Jenner (Lucinda, mother) & Hugh Jenner (father).
Ellie next afternoon class Mr. Kramer (calculus teacher).
Ellie & Griffin possess unique powers (psychic, metamorphism) & were known as Darane Svatura (immortal). The group was constantly having to fight with the enemy Vyusher (wolves).
Ellie (dragon) meets Alex (Darane Svatura) on a regular basis. He likes to run also. Could there be a romance in the making? Or is there something else?
Ellie (Ellinore), Adelaide, Lila, Alex, Dexter & Nate went to school in the morning. Their evenings consisted of training/preparing for the next upcoming battle against Gideon & his Vyusher (wolves) bunch. Lucy, Lila, Aubrey, Adelaide, Charlotte (tele porter), Hugh, Ramsey & Griffin were involved also.
Lila also had a separate encounter with Gideon.
How will the battle turn out?
How will the lives of Ellie, Griffin, Nate, Alex, & Adelaide turn out?
I lived there, Colorado Springs, Loveland, Evergreen & Berthoud Pass all beautiful places.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written YA fantasy (novella) book. It was very easy to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar errors, several typo errors, but no repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great fantasy movie, animated cartoon, or mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free book (free-ebooks.net/ebook)
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Ellie (Ellinore) Aubrey (HS Sr., aka Artemis; huntress, gypsy princess) goes to school in Estes Park (Carriage Hills) CO. Griffin Aubrey is her twin brother. The 2 had just moved there from Austin Texas.
Ellie was to meet with Ms. Langston (counselor). Ellie 1st class of the day was Mrs. Cavender (AP English).
At lunch Ellie met Adelaide (Delia) Jenner (HS Sr., ability to see relationships between people; past, present, & future) & later her sister Lila Jenner (Lilianna, HS Jr.). Alex Jenner (sophomore, law student) is their brother. Their parents are Lucy Jenner (Lucinda, mother) & Hugh Jenner (father).
Ellie next afternoon class Mr. Kramer (calculus teacher).
Ellie & Griffin possess unique powers (psychic, metamorphism) & were known as Darane Svatura (immortal). The group was constantly having to fight with the enemy Vyusher (wolves).
Ellie (dragon) meets Alex (Darane Svatura) on a regular basis. He likes to run also. Could there be a romance in the making? Or is there something else?
Ellie (Ellinore), Adelaide, Lila, Alex, Dexter & Nate went to school in the morning. Their evenings consisted of training/preparing for the next upcoming battle against Gideon & his Vyusher (wolves) bunch. Lucy, Lila, Aubrey, Adelaide, Charlotte (tele porter), Hugh, Ramsey & Griffin were involved also.
Lila also had a separate encounter with Gideon.
How will the battle turn out?
How will the lives of Ellie, Griffin, Nate, Alex, & Adelaide turn out?
I lived there, Colorado Springs, Loveland, Evergreen & Berthoud Pass all beautiful places.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written YA fantasy (novella) book. It was very easy to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar errors, several typo errors, but no repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great fantasy movie, animated cartoon, or mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free book (free-ebooks.net/ebook)
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
January 22, 2013
Ellie and her twin brother Griffin aren’t typical teenagers. They may look like they are, but in fact they’ve been around for over a hundred years. They’re part of the Svatura, a supernatural race who live a prolonged life. But most of the Svatura, at least the tribe Ellie and Griffin belonged to, have been murdered a long time ago by their natural enemies, the Vyusher. The Svatura normally live in tribes, because each other’s presence enhances their powers. Unfortunately the Vyusher have made that impossible since the more Svatura are together, the easier the Vyusher can track them down.
Ellie and Griffin have spent their entire life hiding from the Vyusher, even since they saw their tribe slaughtered by their enemies. But now they have a chance to unite with other Svatura, a chance Ellie is more than willing to take. Griffin on the other hand is wary of the danger, but he’s not about to leave his sister alone on this dangerous quest.
While befriending the new Svatura, Ellie learns a lesson or two about love, friendship and the meaning of family.
I liked Blue Violet mostly because it was different, for a change. It’s YA paranormal romance, but unlike any I’ve read before. The Svatura and their powers were an original concept, and Ellie, who has the power to absorb other’s powers and use them herself, is quite a cool character. She’s resourceful and intelligent, although at times I thought she acted a bit too much like a real teenage girl, especially since she was already over a century old. I also thought the romance could’ve been a bit better. The characters fell in love easily, no real obstacles, and no real attraction. It didn’t take time to build up the romance: it was just there. Right away. I wish there had been more of a build up, rather than love at first sight.
The writing was all right, but sometimes the novel jumped from one scene to the other quite fast, without properly wrapping the previous scene up. That was a bit annoying, and hard to get used to. I feel like the book should’ve been fleshed out more, especially in the beginning.
I liked the plot and characters, and would like to see more of them. I would definitely like to read the second novel, because I was happily surprised with this one.
Ellie and Griffin have spent their entire life hiding from the Vyusher, even since they saw their tribe slaughtered by their enemies. But now they have a chance to unite with other Svatura, a chance Ellie is more than willing to take. Griffin on the other hand is wary of the danger, but he’s not about to leave his sister alone on this dangerous quest.
While befriending the new Svatura, Ellie learns a lesson or two about love, friendship and the meaning of family.
I liked Blue Violet mostly because it was different, for a change. It’s YA paranormal romance, but unlike any I’ve read before. The Svatura and their powers were an original concept, and Ellie, who has the power to absorb other’s powers and use them herself, is quite a cool character. She’s resourceful and intelligent, although at times I thought she acted a bit too much like a real teenage girl, especially since she was already over a century old. I also thought the romance could’ve been a bit better. The characters fell in love easily, no real obstacles, and no real attraction. It didn’t take time to build up the romance: it was just there. Right away. I wish there had been more of a build up, rather than love at first sight.
The writing was all right, but sometimes the novel jumped from one scene to the other quite fast, without properly wrapping the previous scene up. That was a bit annoying, and hard to get used to. I feel like the book should’ve been fleshed out more, especially in the beginning.
I liked the plot and characters, and would like to see more of them. I would definitely like to read the second novel, because I was happily surprised with this one.
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