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The Violet Theory
Secrets lurk in the shadows of a kingdom where the queen has never shown her face. Raiona once had a democracy, but after an uprising forced the president out of power, a monarchy was formed. The kingdom is home to legends and corruption, and 17-year-old Mavis Caverly finds herself in the midst of a conspiracy. An odd purple question mark tattooed on her wrist has served as proof that she is different. She has spent her whole life looking for answers about the origin and meaning of the mark, and when a mysterious stranger arrives in her city, the truth seems to be on the horizon. Mavis embarks on a journey across the kingdom uncovering the dark history of Raiona, and the crimes that the unseen Queen has committed. Along the way she realizes just how different she is, how important she truly is to the future of her kingdom, and that the Queen will do whatever it takes to find her.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 27, 2018
5 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Elodie Iver
2 books47 followers Elodie Iver is the award-winning author of The Violet Theory and When the Blackbird Sings. Elodie has always been an avid reader and writer, and published her first book at the age of 17 when she was a senior in high school.
Attempting to venture into the Southern Gothic and Thriller genres, Elodie is currently veering from her Young Adult start and is drafting a story taking place in a small town in East Texas titled Between County Lines.
Now currently residing in Colorado, Elodie enjoys adventuring in the Rockies and wandering around beautiful places. You can keep up with her writing progress and new book updates on her Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok
Attempting to venture into the Southern Gothic and Thriller genres, Elodie is currently veering from her Young Adult start and is drafting a story taking place in a small town in East Texas titled Between County Lines.
Now currently residing in Colorado, Elodie enjoys adventuring in the Rockies and wandering around beautiful places. You can keep up with her writing progress and new book updates on her Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 22, 2023
There is a reason why The Violet Theory is one of my favorite books. Elodie will take you on a wild ride from the first sentence to the last, and you are going to wish you could turn the pages faster. You will be introduced to the most perfect band of characters that you will be rooting for long after you have finished the book.... and I can't wait for you to meet the charming pirate :)
February 18, 2019
This book has jumped to one of my favorite stories of all time! I loved both the characters of Mavis and Beck. They kept me hooked in the story from the very beginning and I couldn’t put it down! Elodie gives you a wild ride that doesn’t stop until the very end. If you love adventure, pirates, and strong female characters you will want to pick up this book!
Booktalk review link will be posted once video is uploaded!
Booktalk review link will be posted once video is uploaded!
February 17, 2019
- Thanks to the author for providing me a free e-copy of her book -
Αctual rating: 4,5 ⭐️
Okay...that was unexpected, however, in a great way. Someone could expect a cliche "chosen one, needs to fight evil and save everyone, falls in love et cetera" story but that's pretty far from that. It is a unique tale with some typical aspects of the YA theme but portrayed in a way that fit the story and characters; and all the elements of fantasy (mermaids, pirates...) ..what a treat!!
Captivating from start to finish! Recommended to anyone who would like to go to a fantastic adventure!
A hidden gem from a promising young author
Longing for the second one 🌠
Αctual rating: 4,5 ⭐️
Okay...that was unexpected, however, in a great way. Someone could expect a cliche "chosen one, needs to fight evil and save everyone, falls in love et cetera" story but that's pretty far from that. It is a unique tale with some typical aspects of the YA theme but portrayed in a way that fit the story and characters; and all the elements of fantasy (mermaids, pirates...) ..what a treat!!
Captivating from start to finish! Recommended to anyone who would like to go to a fantastic adventure!
A hidden gem from a promising young author
Longing for the second one 🌠
February 20, 2019
A unique adventure story with awesome characters and some beautiful prose!
I was sent a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. I requested this book because the snippets sounded intriguing--pirates, experiments gone wrong, unseen queens and black cats--and it didn't disappoint! I will say, I had a hard time figuring out what the genre of this book was until well into it. For anyone else wondering, I'd classify it as a YA SciFi adventure story with fantastical elements. It's a unique combination that sets it apart from others and makes the reading experience feel new.
I was immediately drawn in to Iver's writing style, her prose reading beautifully throughout the book. There were some great quotable lines that I felt myself annotating all over the story. I admit there are quite a few grammatical errors that stand out, but all in all I think Iver weaves some beautiful prose.
I also fell in love with many of the characters in this book. Our main character Mavis is a great blend of passive and active, and even though she is along for the ride she learns to take action and drive her own narrative. The star of the show is Beck Pyper, though, a pirate ship captain and rebel leader who whisks Mavis away on her adventure. He has some great lines and an interesting character arc. They stand out in a cast of pirates, rebels, scientists, mermaids, and corrupt political leaders.
The story is an adventure that takes the characters through dystopian cities, a pirate ship, wild west-esque scenery, a castle, and even an atlantis-style colony. These elements blended together really interestingly and kept the plot feeling fresh. There were a few times when I felt things slowing down, but overall I think the book was an easy, well-paced read.
read this if you like: adventures, quirky pirate crews, quotable lines, betrayal, intrigue, cliffhangers.
don't read this if you: are picky about grammar, want more science behind your scifi, or need a romantic subplot in your stories.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who wants a unique SciFi adventure story!
I was sent a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. I requested this book because the snippets sounded intriguing--pirates, experiments gone wrong, unseen queens and black cats--and it didn't disappoint! I will say, I had a hard time figuring out what the genre of this book was until well into it. For anyone else wondering, I'd classify it as a YA SciFi adventure story with fantastical elements. It's a unique combination that sets it apart from others and makes the reading experience feel new.
I was immediately drawn in to Iver's writing style, her prose reading beautifully throughout the book. There were some great quotable lines that I felt myself annotating all over the story. I admit there are quite a few grammatical errors that stand out, but all in all I think Iver weaves some beautiful prose.
I also fell in love with many of the characters in this book. Our main character Mavis is a great blend of passive and active, and even though she is along for the ride she learns to take action and drive her own narrative. The star of the show is Beck Pyper, though, a pirate ship captain and rebel leader who whisks Mavis away on her adventure. He has some great lines and an interesting character arc. They stand out in a cast of pirates, rebels, scientists, mermaids, and corrupt political leaders.
The story is an adventure that takes the characters through dystopian cities, a pirate ship, wild west-esque scenery, a castle, and even an atlantis-style colony. These elements blended together really interestingly and kept the plot feeling fresh. There were a few times when I felt things slowing down, but overall I think the book was an easy, well-paced read.
read this if you like: adventures, quirky pirate crews, quotable lines, betrayal, intrigue, cliffhangers.
don't read this if you: are picky about grammar, want more science behind your scifi, or need a romantic subplot in your stories.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who wants a unique SciFi adventure story!
July 17, 2022
I don't think I will ever get over this book. The characters, the stories they survive, the place they evolve in I will always remember them. Elodie Iver makes you believe that you are right at Mavis' side as she goes on her journey and you are left feeling honored that you got to be a witness. I am ecstatic and ready for their story to continue and also overcome with emotion at what lies ahead.
December 14, 2019
The Violet Theory is the first novel by teen author Elodie Iver, depicting an adventure in a post apocalyptic world with a cruel Queen that’s never been seen in her 17 year reign. While the world, main characters and story held me interested, the writing style made this a struggle to finish.
Mavis, the main protagonist was easy to connect to despite having a bit of a cliche of the protagonist of a YA dystopian/post apocalyptic book. She’s been sheltered away with her one friend, Kit, moving away, and early on, discovers that she’s special and soon after teams up with Beck and go on an adventure to recover four important books before the Queen does. I enjoyed her journey of self discovery and finding out a lot about herself and the people around her as she continued on her adventure. Beck’s story was interesting as well as we find out about his past and the baggage he has to carry, as well as Kit and what happens to him. A lot of the rest of the cast felt like a blur; so many names came at us left and right and while they had decent characterization, I couldn’t connect with them as they sorta just came and went and a few of the plot twists felt a lot less than they should have been due to this.
The story itself had interesting parts, mostly at the start, middle and end, and it felt like a grand adventure to an extent. But I found myself skimming through whole sections in order to push myself to get through the story. The writing felt choppy, with a lot of grammatical and syntax errors, forcing me to struggle with reading throughout with the poor flow. At points, Mavis knew things in the prose before it was mentioned in story. For example, . I wasn’t a fan of the pacing; many chapters dragged on for quite a long time, and would have probably been much better if some of them were split and left off on a more hooky cliffhanger. I think there was only two chapters that ended like that. Some parts felt like padding, and this book could have been 5-10% shorter without losing much. The world itself was interesting and thought out, as we see it’s cruelty, however, while parts were vivid, others were not (I felt the pirate ship and prison parts were among the worst). While most of my questions about the setting were answered in the story, some felt like it was either being saved for the next installment or not addressed at all. This could have benefited from more editing.
Though I liked it in its current form, this could have a great and immersive adventure into a unique world, but falls back due to the prose issues. Though I am interested to see how the saga continues.
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Mavis, the main protagonist was easy to connect to despite having a bit of a cliche of the protagonist of a YA dystopian/post apocalyptic book. She’s been sheltered away with her one friend, Kit, moving away, and early on, discovers that she’s special and soon after teams up with Beck and go on an adventure to recover four important books before the Queen does. I enjoyed her journey of self discovery and finding out a lot about herself and the people around her as she continued on her adventure. Beck’s story was interesting as well as we find out about his past and the baggage he has to carry, as well as Kit and what happens to him. A lot of the rest of the cast felt like a blur; so many names came at us left and right and while they had decent characterization, I couldn’t connect with them as they sorta just came and went and a few of the plot twists felt a lot less than they should have been due to this.
The story itself had interesting parts, mostly at the start, middle and end, and it felt like a grand adventure to an extent. But I found myself skimming through whole sections in order to push myself to get through the story. The writing felt choppy, with a lot of grammatical and syntax errors, forcing me to struggle with reading throughout with the poor flow. At points, Mavis knew things in the prose before it was mentioned in story. For example, . I wasn’t a fan of the pacing; many chapters dragged on for quite a long time, and would have probably been much better if some of them were split and left off on a more hooky cliffhanger. I think there was only two chapters that ended like that. Some parts felt like padding, and this book could have been 5-10% shorter without losing much. The world itself was interesting and thought out, as we see it’s cruelty, however, while parts were vivid, others were not (I felt the pirate ship and prison parts were among the worst). While most of my questions about the setting were answered in the story, some felt like it was either being saved for the next installment or not addressed at all. This could have benefited from more editing.
Though I liked it in its current form, this could have a great and immersive adventure into a unique world, but falls back due to the prose issues. Though I am interested to see how the saga continues.
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*
January 31, 2019
This book was an interesting one, unlike anything I’ve ever read. It was so unique, and I think that was the biggest reason why I couldn’t put this book down.
Basically you follow along as Mavis, our MC, meets friends and fiends alike, travels the country that she’s never seen before, all in the hope of finding out what the purple question mark on her wrist means.
I thought Elodie Iver threw together a well written story, her writing style is beautiful and flows perfectly. She really did bring her world to life for me.
I liked all the elements she added to the story, from cowboys to pirates, rebellion groups to a unseen corrupted Queen. This is an adventure story if anything.
She developed a history for her country, a history that plays into the events that lead to present day Raoina, the name of Mavis’ country. And it adds to the suspense, actually. Because, as the reader, you don’t know the history all at once. You hear what the nation knows, what the Queen tells everyone, and then the view of history suddenly changes when you talk to older citizens. A little bit is revealed at a time, and it all ties together beautifully.
The ending ruined me. That’s all I’m going to say.
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Basically you follow along as Mavis, our MC, meets friends and fiends alike, travels the country that she’s never seen before, all in the hope of finding out what the purple question mark on her wrist means.
I thought Elodie Iver threw together a well written story, her writing style is beautiful and flows perfectly. She really did bring her world to life for me.
I liked all the elements she added to the story, from cowboys to pirates, rebellion groups to a unseen corrupted Queen. This is an adventure story if anything.
She developed a history for her country, a history that plays into the events that lead to present day Raoina, the name of Mavis’ country. And it adds to the suspense, actually. Because, as the reader, you don’t know the history all at once. You hear what the nation knows, what the Queen tells everyone, and then the view of history suddenly changes when you talk to older citizens. A little bit is revealed at a time, and it all ties together beautifully.
The ending ruined me. That’s all I’m going to say.
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November 2, 2020
This book has got to be one of my favorites. It tells such a unique story and was impossible to put down! I got very attached to the main characters, and both cried and laughed. Elodie's descriptions are always beautiful. Can't wait to read the second book in this series!
January 31, 2019
Absolutely adored this story, I was so engrossed in the characters and can not wait to read the second book when it’s out! Such a fantastic book would 100% recommend it
January 10, 2020
Thank you to Elodie Iver for giving me an e-copy of the book in exchange for a review!
In The Violet Theory we meet Mavis Caverly; a teenager restricted by the rule of her parents, living in a kingdom restricted by the rule of a queen with a face unknown. When a mysterious stranger shows up claiming to know the secret to the strange mark on Mavis' wrist and offers the opportunity to unlock the secrets of who she really is, the two embark on a quest to search for the truth. A journey through many lands and seas, with fear in the hearts of many, and dark secrets being brought to light.
A major theme that stood out to me in this book is that true strength rises from turmoil, which is what we see in the main characters. Before escaping her former life, Mavis claimed she had never had an adventure. This next chapter of Mavis' life will test everything she knows about the world around her, and about herself. A true heroine arises from a timid, tall, grey-eyed 17-year-old girl.
With a storyline so carefully and thoughtfully crafted, and characters that will remain in your heart, The Violet Theory should definitely be next on your to-read list.
In The Violet Theory we meet Mavis Caverly; a teenager restricted by the rule of her parents, living in a kingdom restricted by the rule of a queen with a face unknown. When a mysterious stranger shows up claiming to know the secret to the strange mark on Mavis' wrist and offers the opportunity to unlock the secrets of who she really is, the two embark on a quest to search for the truth. A journey through many lands and seas, with fear in the hearts of many, and dark secrets being brought to light.
A major theme that stood out to me in this book is that true strength rises from turmoil, which is what we see in the main characters. Before escaping her former life, Mavis claimed she had never had an adventure. This next chapter of Mavis' life will test everything she knows about the world around her, and about herself. A true heroine arises from a timid, tall, grey-eyed 17-year-old girl.
With a storyline so carefully and thoughtfully crafted, and characters that will remain in your heart, The Violet Theory should definitely be next on your to-read list.
February 16, 2019
I absolutely love this book!! It was very entertaining and mesmerizing the whole time. It brings the reader to another world of fantasy and mystery. I could not put this book down and recommend it to everyone. I cannot wait to read the second book!
dnf
June 29, 2021The Violet Theory follows our main character, Mavis, as she embarks on a journey to solve the mystery behind her life and to save her country.
The author kindly sent me a copy of this book to review, and I wish I could say I loved it, but this was not the book for me.
While the characters were lovable, there were many “info-dumps” where rather than showing the reader over time, things were just told bluntly in large paragraphs.
I really enjoyed the world building and the characters, and the plot was interesting. I am also not a fan of the chosen one trope, which this heavily centers around.
Overall, just not the book for me. Super grateful for the opportunity to read it, and I know many readers will love this intense story!
The author kindly sent me a copy of this book to review, and I wish I could say I loved it, but this was not the book for me.
While the characters were lovable, there were many “info-dumps” where rather than showing the reader over time, things were just told bluntly in large paragraphs.
I really enjoyed the world building and the characters, and the plot was interesting. I am also not a fan of the chosen one trope, which this heavily centers around.
Overall, just not the book for me. Super grateful for the opportunity to read it, and I know many readers will love this intense story!
August 31, 2018
I am not a big reader. The book has to get my attention from the beginning in order for me to finish it. This book was great from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down. It has characters you can relate to and I couldn't wait to find out what happened to each of them throughout the book. The author does a great job describing each character and making you either like or hate them. The story is thrilling and suspenseful. The end of the book has a cliffhanger which has me counting down the days until the second book comes out to find out what happens next. Highly recommend reading this book.
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July 6, 2022What a fun story! I absolutely loved the characters and world in The Violet Theory. Who doesn’t love a motley pirate crew, after all! This book was incredibly imaginative, with such a fun variety of settings and people, and I definitely enjoyed the journey it portrayed and the mystery in the story. There were a few little writing/stylistic choices that weren’t for me, but I did appreciate the news clips and similar things throughout the novel. But as stories go, this one is incredible. If you’re looking for a fun world with unique characters and a particularly interesting dilemma, check it out!
June 24, 2018
Elodie Iver has created a wonderful world of mystery and adventure with twists and turns with every flip of the page. It is the story of Mavis Cavelry and her quest to find out the meaning behind the purple tattooed question mark on her wrist. The story introduces Mavis to friends and foes as she learns about the world outside the city she was raised in. The Violet Theory is a well written story with a writing style that flows seamlessly and brings the words to life. Thank you Elodie for sharing your mystical world with us!
August 16, 2018
This book was an excellent adventure! There's pirates, cowboys, mermaids (ish), corrupted royals....this book has everything and it truly feels like an adventure when you read it. Not to mention Beck, our brave pirate captain, is absolutely swoon worthy. If Mavis doesn't want to fall in love with him, I gladly will. The writing is excellent with vivid imagery and a thrilling plot! I'm looking forward to following the rest of this young writer's promising career because dang this debut was an excellent experience.
July 23, 2018
WOW! This book took me on such an unexpected adventure I loved it. The characters are so relatable which makes the whole book so emotional and genuine. Not only that, but Elodie Iver organized her words in such a way to make you believe that you were right there alongside Mavis on her journey. This author is so talented and I can't wait to hear the rest of the story. Ya done good Elodie, real good!
February 6, 2019
This was an amazing read that was beautifully written and caused the reader to fall in love with all of the characters. Plot twists and action propelled the book forward and kept the reader guessing until the very last sentence. Plus with pirates, spies, and underground causes, what is there to not love? This book caused me to forget where I was and say, "Just one more chapter" until 2 in the morning multiple times.
For my full review, please visit my blog (link in profile).
For my full review, please visit my blog (link in profile).
August 11, 2018
I found this book very entertaining and unique. The author was very talented in the way she structured her story. I feel that the book shows there is always hope in something good.
March 28, 2019
My review is up on my blog! P.s. there’s a playlist!
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https://laurenbodiford123.wordpress.c...
July 21, 2021
Elodie Iver sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have so many mixed feelings surrounding this book. The biggest bummer for me is that I didn't read this book sooner in my life. While the main character Mavis is 17, and I assume this book is marketed as YA, I definitely think it would be enjoyed more by younger teen. I know if I had read this book while I was in middle school it probably would've been my favorite book ever because Mavis's character is curious and has desire to see the world-- something I think a lot of young girls resonate with. That desire is satisfied in this book.
If you're looking for a story with loads of adventure, pirates, mystery, beautiful world building, and quotable writing look no further! I was blown away by Elodie's poetic prose. There are so many beautiful lines interspersed within the vivid imagery of the scenes in this book. On top of that, the plot is so unique and unlike anything I've ever read before!
All of that being said, I just couldn't connect with the characters. They all felt flat and unrealistic to me. I constantly found myself questioning how Mavis could be so naive yet also the smartest of all the side characters there. I felt like Beck's wits and strength was talked about a lot, but not really proven though his actions. It also bothered me that for all of their talk about "you can't trust anyone" everyone was just willing to share information with each other and blindly trust one another. As a reader I'm super critical of the characters, and whether I like them or not makes or breaks a story for me. I really wanted to be able love these characters, but I just couldn't seem to get past these critiques.
Despite the fact that I couldn't make an emotional connection with this book, I can acknowledge that Elodie wrote a wonderful novel that someone who's more interested in a plot driven novel would enjoy, which is why I rated this book 4 stars. For a debut novel written at 17 years old, I think this shows Elodie has the potential for a wonderful career ahead of her.
I have so many mixed feelings surrounding this book. The biggest bummer for me is that I didn't read this book sooner in my life. While the main character Mavis is 17, and I assume this book is marketed as YA, I definitely think it would be enjoyed more by younger teen. I know if I had read this book while I was in middle school it probably would've been my favorite book ever because Mavis's character is curious and has desire to see the world-- something I think a lot of young girls resonate with. That desire is satisfied in this book.
If you're looking for a story with loads of adventure, pirates, mystery, beautiful world building, and quotable writing look no further! I was blown away by Elodie's poetic prose. There are so many beautiful lines interspersed within the vivid imagery of the scenes in this book. On top of that, the plot is so unique and unlike anything I've ever read before!
All of that being said, I just couldn't connect with the characters. They all felt flat and unrealistic to me. I constantly found myself questioning how Mavis could be so naive yet also the smartest of all the side characters there. I felt like Beck's wits and strength was talked about a lot, but not really proven though his actions. It also bothered me that for all of their talk about "you can't trust anyone" everyone was just willing to share information with each other and blindly trust one another. As a reader I'm super critical of the characters, and whether I like them or not makes or breaks a story for me. I really wanted to be able love these characters, but I just couldn't seem to get past these critiques.
Despite the fact that I couldn't make an emotional connection with this book, I can acknowledge that Elodie wrote a wonderful novel that someone who's more interested in a plot driven novel would enjoy, which is why I rated this book 4 stars. For a debut novel written at 17 years old, I think this shows Elodie has the potential for a wonderful career ahead of her.
May 15, 2020
4.5 stars - This book was a page-turner filled to the brim with details that intertwine and point you ahead and then back and then ahead again. Each of the characters are developed in ways that make you feel like you know them but then question if you really do at the next turn of the plot. It was so thoroughly thought through that I sometimes had trouble remembering details that were originally brought up in the beginning of the book and then referenced near the end, but this just caused me to flip back and enjoy those details further. I definitely finished the book wishing the second was ready for me to crack open and find out what happens next!
The plot reminded me of a mixture of many of the fan-favorite young adult books, but also had dialogue and plot lines that made it unique. I would definitely recommend it!
The plot reminded me of a mixture of many of the fan-favorite young adult books, but also had dialogue and plot lines that made it unique. I would definitely recommend it!
February 6, 2022
This book was absolutely tremendous! The author's lyrical style enhances the storyline and immerses you in the environment of the book. The Violet Theory captivates the reader within the first two pages. Elodie's keeps the reader intrigued with the turn of each page. I absolutely loved each part of TVT and I'm so excited to read it again! Well done, Elodie.
November 10, 2019
Elodie Iver is an amazing author and it was a pleasure getting to read her first book. I could tell you that this author has a future and I can’t wait to read the other ones. The Violet Theory helped me rekindle my passion to read and I wish I could rate it more than 5 stars, it was such a good book! You have a God given talent Elodie, I suggest you should keep using it.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews