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Violet Ghosts
From William C. Morris and Edgar Award finalist Leah Thomas comes an ethereal, thought-provoking YA tale about a teen who can see ghosts . . . and helps them avenge their deaths.
Dani's best friend, Sarah, is a ghost. But maybe that's normal when you've spent your childhood running from an abusive parent.
Dani and Sarah might be more than friends, though Dani dares not say so. Dani is afraid that if he tells Sarah he's trans, she won't bother haunting him anymore. Sarah's got good reason to distrust boys, having been strangled by one.
After Sarah and Dani come across another ghost haunted by her own brutal murder, they set out to bring peace and safety to spirits like her. But when an old rival reenters Dani's life, their unexpected friendship gives Dani a strange new feeling of belonging. As Dani starts to find his place in the living world, he'll need to let go of his ghosts.
Equal parts chilling, raw, and emotionally resonant, acclaimed author Leah Thomas's ghost story for the #MeToo era is about reclaiming trauma and finding peace among true friends.
Dani's best friend, Sarah, is a ghost. But maybe that's normal when you've spent your childhood running from an abusive parent.
Dani and Sarah might be more than friends, though Dani dares not say so. Dani is afraid that if he tells Sarah he's trans, she won't bother haunting him anymore. Sarah's got good reason to distrust boys, having been strangled by one.
After Sarah and Dani come across another ghost haunted by her own brutal murder, they set out to bring peace and safety to spirits like her. But when an old rival reenters Dani's life, their unexpected friendship gives Dani a strange new feeling of belonging. As Dani starts to find his place in the living world, he'll need to let go of his ghosts.
Equal parts chilling, raw, and emotionally resonant, acclaimed author Leah Thomas's ghost story for the #MeToo era is about reclaiming trauma and finding peace among true friends.
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 22, 2021
16 people are currently reading
1298 people want to read
About the author
Leah Thomas
42 books593 followersLeah Thomas once wrote from a house in the woods, and now an apartment more or less by the sea (well, less). Her debut novel BECAUSE YOU'LL NEVER MEET ME was a 2016 Morris Award finalist, and its sequel, NOWHERE NEAR YOU, is out now from Bloomsbury. Her third YA science fiction novel, WHEN LIGHT LEFT US, hit shelves this February.
A graduate of Clarion 2010, her short fiction has appeared in Asimov’s, Black Static, Ideomancer, and Three-Lobed Burning Eye, among others. She's mostly a dork and always feels uncomfortable about author bios. If she's not writing, she's likely teaching or cosplaying. Follow her on instagram (@fellowhermit), or on tumblr (cuttoothom).
A graduate of Clarion 2010, her short fiction has appeared in Asimov’s, Black Static, Ideomancer, and Three-Lobed Burning Eye, among others. She's mostly a dork and always feels uncomfortable about author bios. If she's not writing, she's likely teaching or cosplaying. Follow her on instagram (@fellowhermit), or on tumblr (cuttoothom).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
July 2, 2021
I cannot deal with a book that is sad and soulless.
A book that is filled with trauma, starring a protagonist undergoing unrelenting suffering, featuring a plotline that just seems to bring on more and more unbearable pain is bad enough.
But when the characters feel half-baked and the story doesn't feel real and even what may be a moment's hope at the end feels cheap?
That's the worst.
The synopsis of this book will make you think it's about a trans main character who loves his pretty best friend who he's known his whole life.
It is not.
It is about a character's realization that he is trans (he is deadnamed more often than notand addressed with the wrong pronouns more than the right ones) while he is sexually harassed by the aforementioned best friend, who he is not into romantically.
It's just very painful and difficult. There is another romance that feels similarly cheap and shoehorned in.
I don't want to say this is a bad book. But it did not work for me at all.
Bottom line: Whatever is happening with book marketing lately needs to STOP.
---------------
pre-review
more books about ghosts, i say
i mean...not books like this one, maybe. but others.
review to come / 2 stars (thanks to the publisher for the ARC)
---------------
reading all books with LGBTQ+ rep for pride this month!
book 1: the gravity of us
book 2: the great american whatever
book 3: wild beauty
book 4: the affair of the mysterious letter
book 5: how we fight for our lives
book 6: blue lily, lily blue
book 7: the times i knew i was gay
book 8: conventionally yours
book 9: the hollow inside
book 10: nimona
book 11: dark and deepest red
book 12: the house in the cerulean sea
book 13: the raven king
book 14: violet ghosts
A book that is filled with trauma, starring a protagonist undergoing unrelenting suffering, featuring a plotline that just seems to bring on more and more unbearable pain is bad enough.
But when the characters feel half-baked and the story doesn't feel real and even what may be a moment's hope at the end feels cheap?
That's the worst.
The synopsis of this book will make you think it's about a trans main character who loves his pretty best friend who he's known his whole life.
It is not.
It is about a character's realization that he is trans (he is deadnamed more often than notand addressed with the wrong pronouns more than the right ones) while he is sexually harassed by the aforementioned best friend, who he is not into romantically.
It's just very painful and difficult. There is another romance that feels similarly cheap and shoehorned in.
I don't want to say this is a bad book. But it did not work for me at all.
Bottom line: Whatever is happening with book marketing lately needs to STOP.
---------------
pre-review
more books about ghosts, i say
i mean...not books like this one, maybe. but others.
review to come / 2 stars (thanks to the publisher for the ARC)
---------------
reading all books with LGBTQ+ rep for pride this month!
book 1: the gravity of us
book 2: the great american whatever
book 3: wild beauty
book 4: the affair of the mysterious letter
book 5: how we fight for our lives
book 6: blue lily, lily blue
book 7: the times i knew i was gay
book 8: conventionally yours
book 9: the hollow inside
book 10: nimona
book 11: dark and deepest red
book 12: the house in the cerulean sea
book 13: the raven king
book 14: violet ghosts
July 8, 2021
This book was really hard to read as it is to review. First of all, take the trigger warnings here seriously in this book- they happen on and off page. This is an intense book about serious issues.
This book follows Dani who can see and communicate with ghosts. After meeting and bonding with a ghost named Sarah over mutual trauma, they become very close. But Dani has a secret, and that he is trans, and knows this won't go over well with Sarah. When Dani and Sarah discover more ghosts, they get the idea of avenging and saving other ghosts haunted by trauma, but their efforts drive Dani and Sarah apart more and more.
I started this book over a month ago, but wasn't really enjoying it for several reasons- so I put it down. But I couldn't really get it out of my head so I decided finish it and get my thoughts out.
Not all books are supposed to be fun and likable. This book is about trauma, and how to effectively overcome trauma. If someone is going to take trauma seriously in fiction and make it a happy story, I have no idea what that would look like. And I feel it's incredibly important to tell those uncomfortable stories- but to say I had a good reading experience with this book wouldn't be true. I didn't enjoy it.
I'll start with the good. Dani was a fascinating and nuanced character. I liked him a lot. He wasn't perfect at all but he really did have a big heart and was just trying to figure his shit out- and has so much going up against him. Rooting for Dani was probably my favorite part of this book.
I also really liked the metaphor with the ghosts and trauma. I feel like making the "dealing with your ghosts and demons" metaphor into something real worked very well and was powerful. And the message of this book is truly important and good.
The romance of this book started a little annoying to me and it took me a while to warm up to it, but by the end of the book I did start to like Seiji and Dani together, and they could compliment each other well.
As for what I didn't like. I didn't like the trans part of this storyline really at all. And that sounds strange coming from me as I'm usually dying for more trans stories in fiction (as a whole, 2021 has actually been pretty great for that). And a lot of this book is about Dani's identity as a transman, dealing with that, and figuring out how to tell Sarah.
But to me it really seemed that a major part of Dani being trans in the story is so we could see Sarah cast as the villain to be both a "man hating lesbian" and expose terf talking points. And the book pretty clearly tells you both of those points are wrong and gross, there isn't ambiguity there. And those are important things to say! But a lot of Sarah's storyline is about how some close bonds change into toxic relationships. Dani's being trans arc felt to me like more of a way to discuss other narratives through Sarah than to explicitly tell a trans based story.
I tried to find information on the author but I couldn't see anything indicating she is trans or nonbinary. So this whole part of the book really gave me a weird vibe. I could very well be off base and misinterpreting everything. I'm trying to be very careful with how I am phrasing this criticism, but this was the impression the book left on me.
This book has important things to say about trauma and an interesting story to tell it. But some parts of this book just didn't sit well with me. 2.5/5
Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows Dani who can see and communicate with ghosts. After meeting and bonding with a ghost named Sarah over mutual trauma, they become very close. But Dani has a secret, and that he is trans, and knows this won't go over well with Sarah. When Dani and Sarah discover more ghosts, they get the idea of avenging and saving other ghosts haunted by trauma, but their efforts drive Dani and Sarah apart more and more.
I started this book over a month ago, but wasn't really enjoying it for several reasons- so I put it down. But I couldn't really get it out of my head so I decided finish it and get my thoughts out.
Not all books are supposed to be fun and likable. This book is about trauma, and how to effectively overcome trauma. If someone is going to take trauma seriously in fiction and make it a happy story, I have no idea what that would look like. And I feel it's incredibly important to tell those uncomfortable stories- but to say I had a good reading experience with this book wouldn't be true. I didn't enjoy it.
I'll start with the good. Dani was a fascinating and nuanced character. I liked him a lot. He wasn't perfect at all but he really did have a big heart and was just trying to figure his shit out- and has so much going up against him. Rooting for Dani was probably my favorite part of this book.
I also really liked the metaphor with the ghosts and trauma. I feel like making the "dealing with your ghosts and demons" metaphor into something real worked very well and was powerful. And the message of this book is truly important and good.
The romance of this book started a little annoying to me and it took me a while to warm up to it, but by the end of the book I did start to like Seiji and Dani together, and they could compliment each other well.
As for what I didn't like. I didn't like the trans part of this storyline really at all. And that sounds strange coming from me as I'm usually dying for more trans stories in fiction (as a whole, 2021 has actually been pretty great for that). And a lot of this book is about Dani's identity as a transman, dealing with that, and figuring out how to tell Sarah.
But to me it really seemed that a major part of Dani being trans in the story is so we could see Sarah cast as the villain to be both a "man hating lesbian" and expose terf talking points. And the book pretty clearly tells you both of those points are wrong and gross, there isn't ambiguity there. And those are important things to say! But a lot of Sarah's storyline is about how some close bonds change into toxic relationships. Dani's being trans arc felt to me like more of a way to discuss other narratives through Sarah than to explicitly tell a trans based story.
I tried to find information on the author but I couldn't see anything indicating she is trans or nonbinary. So this whole part of the book really gave me a weird vibe. I could very well be off base and misinterpreting everything. I'm trying to be very careful with how I am phrasing this criticism, but this was the impression the book left on me.
This book has important things to say about trauma and an interesting story to tell it. But some parts of this book just didn't sit well with me. 2.5/5
Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for the eARC for review!
____
When Dani discovers the ghost of Sarah under his bed, he's not scared. In fact, she becomes his best friend. But Sarah hates men, having been murdered at the hands of one, and Dani is scared to tell her he's trans. When the pair discover another ghost in the woods years later, the new trio decide to convert the old lobby of Dani's apartment into a ghost sanctuary. But seeking out ghosts of violent deaths means running into a few more dangerous beings, too.
TW: sexual assault, rape, murder, toxic relationship, sexual abuse, physical abuse, suicide, transphobia, homophobia, dead-naming
This book was nothing like what I was expecting. The blurb made it seem a bit more mysterious, a bit more high energy. But Thomas has written an expressive, impactful story about a trans boy who can never seem to escape his own ghosts, literally and figuratively.
Violet Ghosts was a quick read! It had a handful of complicated characters, characters who have all been traumatized by something, either in life or death. Readers get the wisps of a thrill, a darkness to the book, but unfortunately, it never feels too fully formed. I can't speak on it too much, as I am not a victim of trauma in the ways that Sarah, Patricia, and Dani are, and everyone processes their past in their own ways, but the book felt almost.... passive on the atrocities that these characters face. It focuses more on trying to exorcise evil ghosts than to make any sort of commentary about what our characters are going through. Perhaps this was the point. All I know, is I was left for wanting.
I think this could have made a really great thriller if Thomas had chosen to take it in that direction. As it stands, it felt a bit lacklustre for me.
____
When Dani discovers the ghost of Sarah under his bed, he's not scared. In fact, she becomes his best friend. But Sarah hates men, having been murdered at the hands of one, and Dani is scared to tell her he's trans. When the pair discover another ghost in the woods years later, the new trio decide to convert the old lobby of Dani's apartment into a ghost sanctuary. But seeking out ghosts of violent deaths means running into a few more dangerous beings, too.
TW: sexual assault, rape, murder, toxic relationship, sexual abuse, physical abuse, suicide, transphobia, homophobia, dead-naming
This book was nothing like what I was expecting. The blurb made it seem a bit more mysterious, a bit more high energy. But Thomas has written an expressive, impactful story about a trans boy who can never seem to escape his own ghosts, literally and figuratively.
Violet Ghosts was a quick read! It had a handful of complicated characters, characters who have all been traumatized by something, either in life or death. Readers get the wisps of a thrill, a darkness to the book, but unfortunately, it never feels too fully formed. I can't speak on it too much, as I am not a victim of trauma in the ways that Sarah, Patricia, and Dani are, and everyone processes their past in their own ways, but the book felt almost.... passive on the atrocities that these characters face. It focuses more on trying to exorcise evil ghosts than to make any sort of commentary about what our characters are going through. Perhaps this was the point. All I know, is I was left for wanting.
I think this could have made a really great thriller if Thomas had chosen to take it in that direction. As it stands, it felt a bit lacklustre for me.
June 12, 2021
I received this book in exchange for an honest review courtesy of Bloomsbury YA and NetGalley.
First off, as a trans person I find it very distasteful to learn a trans characters birth name in general when reading. It just feels like such a disservice to the character and is just slightly offensive. Possibly instead just say “they called me by my birth name or dead name” instead of straight up telling the audience what it is.
Also for a book that is describing itself as a trans book, the trans elements are somewhat strange. Like not thoroughly explored or only used to create tension? I’m not discounting Dani’s trans identity I just wish we saw more of their struggle with it instead of it just being used as a plot device to come between Dani and Sarah.
I had a hard time grasping the world building of this book, specifically in reference to the ghost characters. It seems that they can basically do anything and had no limits. No rules were ever set up or explained to us and it kind of felt like the author was pushing how much the reader was just supposed to blindly accept.
Both the main characters were just so unlikable. I had a hard time reading the book because I hated them both and didn’t care what happened to them. Dani is slightly more likable than Sarah but also I didn’t understand why the entire plot could have been resolved if Dani and Sarah actually were honest with each other. The whole ghost climax was a little rushed and felt thrown in at the last minute.
Please for the love of god never include a Harry Potter reference in a queer and especially in a trans book.
I enjoyed the writing style, and the book was pretty fast paced, but the plot was just so hard to understand and the tone was everywhere. One moment it’s a light hearted coming of age story, the next it’s basically hardcore horror, I just don’t understand who the audience is?
The amount of triggers in this book is astounding and it would have helped if there was a warning for readers in the beginning. I honestly wish this book had both a sensitivity reader and another round of edits because it feels more like a first draft.
Aa
First off, as a trans person I find it very distasteful to learn a trans characters birth name in general when reading. It just feels like such a disservice to the character and is just slightly offensive. Possibly instead just say “they called me by my birth name or dead name” instead of straight up telling the audience what it is.
Also for a book that is describing itself as a trans book, the trans elements are somewhat strange. Like not thoroughly explored or only used to create tension? I’m not discounting Dani’s trans identity I just wish we saw more of their struggle with it instead of it just being used as a plot device to come between Dani and Sarah.
I had a hard time grasping the world building of this book, specifically in reference to the ghost characters. It seems that they can basically do anything and had no limits. No rules were ever set up or explained to us and it kind of felt like the author was pushing how much the reader was just supposed to blindly accept.
Both the main characters were just so unlikable. I had a hard time reading the book because I hated them both and didn’t care what happened to them. Dani is slightly more likable than Sarah but also I didn’t understand why the entire plot could have been resolved if Dani and Sarah actually were honest with each other. The whole ghost climax was a little rushed and felt thrown in at the last minute.
Please for the love of god never include a Harry Potter reference in a queer and especially in a trans book.
I enjoyed the writing style, and the book was pretty fast paced, but the plot was just so hard to understand and the tone was everywhere. One moment it’s a light hearted coming of age story, the next it’s basically hardcore horror, I just don’t understand who the audience is?
The amount of triggers in this book is astounding and it would have helped if there was a warning for readers in the beginning. I honestly wish this book had both a sensitivity reader and another round of edits because it feels more like a first draft.
Aa
November 8, 2021
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: domestic abuse, molestation, rape, suicide, mentioned strangulation, mentioned violence against a sex worker, death of a toddler via cancer, transphobia/TERF ideology
4.2
By the time Dani met their best friend, Sarah, she'd already been dead for 20 years. Living with an out of touch mother, hiding from an abusive father, disliked at school, Sarah is the one thing that gets Dani through it, protecting them against terrible men. But Dani's starting to think that maybe "man" isn't a bad thing... and maybe they might even be one. As Sarah desperately tries to figure out revenge for every battered female ghost out there, and Dani tries to feel like things could ever be as simple as they once were, they both throw themselves into a dream of safety that may never be real.
"Don't ever let someone else, especially someone you love, decide who you are."
This is a super heavy book. I mean, look at the trigger warnings- it's not a light hearted romp, it's all about abuse, trauma, and identity. But if that's something you're willing to jump into, it's definitely worth it.
The idea of identity is such a strong thread throughout this whole story. Obviously so in Dani's case, where he struggles to reconcile his own gender identity with what he's experienced, and been taught, about men and their monstrousness. You get to see Dani take apart the web of fear and accept himself and look beyond that in the case of men in general as well. You also get to see Dani move beyond the identity of Sarah's support, which is excellent growth and frees him up to change and explore.
Beyond Dani, there's the idea of Victim being someone's identity and them reclaiming it, like in the case of Patricia, and you even get some moments of that with Seiji as well as the other ghosts. All in all, honestly, I just think it's an extremely well done point.
Trauma is also a huge part of this narrative. The ghosts, the ghost torturers, it gives a feeling of something sticking along long after the act is done. While its not something that defines the entire person- in most cases- it is still a part of them, and the way its dealt with varies with the person and the act. I like how varied these characters' reactions are, and the different ways that trauma is portrayed.
Dani himself is great. He's clearly been a victim of abuse, and has been shaped into something small by Sarah, whether or not that was intentional in their friendship, and the way he acts rings true. But what's truly great, is the anger and explosiveness that bursts out of all that. Dani has cracks that create both a really realistic person and a dynamic character. I love the messiness of his growth and the nonlinear feeling of it.
In a book like this I definitely wasn't expecting a romance, and certainly didn't think I'd like one if it showed up. But I was wrong! Seiji is excellent, and a great added perspective in the whole story. He's coming from an entirely different place than Dani and the ghosts, and yet understands the struggle as a struggle anyway, and brings both a lightness to the narrative while also keeping his story serious enough to not be jarring. I loved him as a character, and the possibility of a romance there got cute fast, and was sometimes a relief to be able to focus on at times where everything else was dark and heavy without overshadowing anything.
Not everything in this book is done perfectly. I wish the Sarah stuff by the end had gotten looked at with a bit more of an appraising eye, instead of Dani brushing it off as Sarah needing someone and being in a bad place, because the rising toxicity of her actions was upsetting. But, mostly, I think this book had a lot of important moments in it and characters that worked really well with the story.
Pre-review comments below
Wait wait wait stop the presses IS THIS FANTASY WITH A NONBINARY LEAD AND A GHOST BEST FRIEND??? IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING??????
Update 11/16 The new synopsis cleared things up, and I am still excited about a ghost book with a trans lead!
TW: domestic abuse, molestation, rape, suicide, mentioned strangulation, mentioned violence against a sex worker, death of a toddler via cancer, transphobia/TERF ideology
4.2
By the time Dani met their best friend, Sarah, she'd already been dead for 20 years. Living with an out of touch mother, hiding from an abusive father, disliked at school, Sarah is the one thing that gets Dani through it, protecting them against terrible men. But Dani's starting to think that maybe "man" isn't a bad thing... and maybe they might even be one. As Sarah desperately tries to figure out revenge for every battered female ghost out there, and Dani tries to feel like things could ever be as simple as they once were, they both throw themselves into a dream of safety that may never be real.
"Don't ever let someone else, especially someone you love, decide who you are."
This is a super heavy book. I mean, look at the trigger warnings- it's not a light hearted romp, it's all about abuse, trauma, and identity. But if that's something you're willing to jump into, it's definitely worth it.
The idea of identity is such a strong thread throughout this whole story. Obviously so in Dani's case, where he struggles to reconcile his own gender identity with what he's experienced, and been taught, about men and their monstrousness. You get to see Dani take apart the web of fear and accept himself and look beyond that in the case of men in general as well. You also get to see Dani move beyond the identity of Sarah's support, which is excellent growth and frees him up to change and explore.
Beyond Dani, there's the idea of Victim being someone's identity and them reclaiming it, like in the case of Patricia, and you even get some moments of that with Seiji as well as the other ghosts. All in all, honestly, I just think it's an extremely well done point.
Trauma is also a huge part of this narrative. The ghosts, the ghost torturers, it gives a feeling of something sticking along long after the act is done. While its not something that defines the entire person- in most cases- it is still a part of them, and the way its dealt with varies with the person and the act. I like how varied these characters' reactions are, and the different ways that trauma is portrayed.
Dani himself is great. He's clearly been a victim of abuse, and has been shaped into something small by Sarah, whether or not that was intentional in their friendship, and the way he acts rings true. But what's truly great, is the anger and explosiveness that bursts out of all that. Dani has cracks that create both a really realistic person and a dynamic character. I love the messiness of his growth and the nonlinear feeling of it.
In a book like this I definitely wasn't expecting a romance, and certainly didn't think I'd like one if it showed up. But I was wrong! Seiji is excellent, and a great added perspective in the whole story. He's coming from an entirely different place than Dani and the ghosts, and yet understands the struggle as a struggle anyway, and brings both a lightness to the narrative while also keeping his story serious enough to not be jarring. I loved him as a character, and the possibility of a romance there got cute fast, and was sometimes a relief to be able to focus on at times where everything else was dark and heavy without overshadowing anything.
Not everything in this book is done perfectly. I wish the Sarah stuff by the end had gotten looked at with a bit more of an appraising eye, instead of Dani brushing it off as Sarah needing someone and being in a bad place, because the rising toxicity of her actions was upsetting. But, mostly, I think this book had a lot of important moments in it and characters that worked really well with the story.
Pre-review comments below
Wait wait wait stop the presses IS THIS FANTASY WITH A NONBINARY LEAD AND A GHOST BEST FRIEND??? IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING??????
Update 11/16 The new synopsis cleared things up, and I am still excited about a ghost book with a trans lead!
August 19, 2024
Dani can see dead people. Her only friend is a ghost, who becomes more real the more they interact. It's not a ghost romance, regardless of how the blurb sounds. I was expecting some ghost besties wanting to be together type angst, but what actually happens is a lot darker and creepier. There are some real atmospheric sections past the initial introduction (I think part three?) where a whole other side to the story gets going, but it's a somewhat twisted tail.
This book was more a social commentary than anything else. There's statistics and figures given for domestic violence and abuse against women, and the story paints the picture if an ongoing constant problem that has remained the same throughout history. Men hurt women, women blame themselves and get stuck in a vicious cycle and remained trapped, losing the will to even try to leave. This is not a light hearted book about saving and freeing ghosts at all. Be forewarned: it's dark and depressing in a lot of places (not overly so, but enough to drain you), and is not what I would consider a HEA. More of a 'they survive and keep on going on with life'. Everything is resolved, though some is a little abrupt and just a one line type deal.
This book was more a social commentary than anything else. There's statistics and figures given for domestic violence and abuse against women, and the story paints the picture if an ongoing constant problem that has remained the same throughout history. Men hurt women, women blame themselves and get stuck in a vicious cycle and remained trapped, losing the will to even try to leave. This is not a light hearted book about saving and freeing ghosts at all. Be forewarned: it's dark and depressing in a lot of places (not overly so, but enough to drain you), and is not what I would consider a HEA. More of a 'they survive and keep on going on with life'. Everything is resolved, though some is a little abrupt and just a one line type deal.
August 15, 2021
This is the second Leah Thomas book I haven't really liked, but her other three books are so good I plan to keep reading her. This book made me uncomfortable, not because the main character is a trans male, but because we go so deeply into the head, thoughts, and feelings of the main character, that I wished the author were a trans male. I'm sure Thomas did tons of research and most likely had sensitivity readers and everything, but still, for that kind of insight I really ought to go directly to the source, right? Also, the ending felt like somewhat of a cheat to me, though I can't really defend that feeling with any hard evidence.
June 28, 2021
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: transphobia, suicide, pedophilia and incest, panic attack, deadnaming, self harm, domestic abuse, sexual assault
Violet Ghosts is a book about the past, trauma, and friendships. It is a very intense book and I had to not only take breaks, but I also was kept awake at night by some of the imagery. Yes I am a big scaredy cat, but I also felt like there are some harrowing scenes and I wish I had spread the book out across more days than I did. My favorite element has to be the ways Thomas uses the ghosts as metaphors for dealing with our trauma. Trauma, and dealing with it, making peace with the past, and forgiveness are huge issues in Violet Ghosts. And just based on that, you can see how a lot of our language surrounding death, grief, and loss lend themselves to excellent metaphors with ghosts.
I immediately empathized with Dani's character not only because of the ways he has to deal with a friendship that turns toxic, but also his romance storyline. Nothing is simple in Violet Ghosts and even days later I'm not sure how I feel about a few aspects. At multiple points in the book I thought I had a handle on how the book would progress and I was so wrong each time. From the synopsis, this seems like a book that is very focused on dealing with the ghosts, but it's more about Dani. About his own ghosts and trauma and future.
The ghosts are a large part of the story, but they're more an avenue of how Dani processes his life. While they have their own stories, I always felt that this story is rooted in Dani's experiences. Because of that, some of the messages that are told through the ghosts stories, felt a little shallow compared to the book and Dani's story.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
TW: transphobia, suicide, pedophilia and incest, panic attack, deadnaming, self harm, domestic abuse, sexual assault
Violet Ghosts is a book about the past, trauma, and friendships. It is a very intense book and I had to not only take breaks, but I also was kept awake at night by some of the imagery. Yes I am a big scaredy cat, but I also felt like there are some harrowing scenes and I wish I had spread the book out across more days than I did. My favorite element has to be the ways Thomas uses the ghosts as metaphors for dealing with our trauma. Trauma, and dealing with it, making peace with the past, and forgiveness are huge issues in Violet Ghosts. And just based on that, you can see how a lot of our language surrounding death, grief, and loss lend themselves to excellent metaphors with ghosts.
I immediately empathized with Dani's character not only because of the ways he has to deal with a friendship that turns toxic, but also his romance storyline. Nothing is simple in Violet Ghosts and even days later I'm not sure how I feel about a few aspects. At multiple points in the book I thought I had a handle on how the book would progress and I was so wrong each time. From the synopsis, this seems like a book that is very focused on dealing with the ghosts, but it's more about Dani. About his own ghosts and trauma and future.
The ghosts are a large part of the story, but they're more an avenue of how Dani processes his life. While they have their own stories, I always felt that this story is rooted in Dani's experiences. Because of that, some of the messages that are told through the ghosts stories, felt a little shallow compared to the book and Dani's story.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
March 30, 2023
3.5 rounded to 3✨️
I feel like this book is hard to review as there was a lot to it.
I wish it had trigger warnings, but I definitely didn't see any in my copy.
(IMO) Writing about abuse, & sexual assault should always come with a warning
It was a fairly fast-paced book, and like I mentioned, there is a lot to unpack. I think the author did a good job touching a lot of serious content, and wished she would have gone further into the character development.
I feel like this book is hard to review as there was a lot to it.
I wish it had trigger warnings, but I definitely didn't see any in my copy.
(IMO) Writing about abuse, & sexual assault should always come with a warning
It was a fairly fast-paced book, and like I mentioned, there is a lot to unpack. I think the author did a good job touching a lot of serious content, and wished she would have gone further into the character development.
October 12, 2023
Hello everyone, I'm Mr. C Reviewer, and tonight we're discussing (She/Her) Leah Thomas's book, Violet Ghosts. I first read this book in October in 2023. Taking me two days to finish reading the whole book. This was my first experience with Leah's work. In my personal collection, I possess one of her other books titled 'When Light Left Us', which I will be reading some day in the future.
'Violet Ghosts' reading age is 14 years to 17. It was first published on the 22nd of June in 2021. It was told using first person with it being in Danny's point of view. Which spans 11 chapters and 354 pages.
Summary: Danny's closest confidant, Sarah, exists in the realm of the supernatural as a ghostly presence. However, this peculiar companionship may not be as unusual as it seems, considering Danny's tumultuous upbringing marked by evading an abusive parent. While Danny and Sarah share a bond that surpasses mere friendship, Danny hesitates to acknowledge their connection openly. Deep down, Danny fears that disclosing his transgender identity to Sarah might result in her ceasing to haunt him altogether. Sarah, having endured the harrowing experience of being strangled by a boy, possesses valid reasons for harbouring mistrust towards males. When Sarah and Danny stumble upon another tormented spirit haunted by her own brutal murder, they embark on a mission to restore tranquillity and security to souls like hers. Nevertheless, when an old adversary resurfaces in Danny's life, their unexpected camaraderie grants Danny an unfamiliar sense of belonging. As Danny gradually finds his place in the world of the living, he must learn to release the grip of his lingering ghosts.
Review:
-The author's skill in crafting the narrative is evident through their meticulous attention to detail, particularly when it comes to character and setting descriptions. This attention to detail allowed me to effortlessly immerse myself in the story, vividly imagining each scene as it unfolds. In my opinion, the absence of content warnings in this particular book is a notable aspect that warrants discussion. Given the extensive range of topics covered within its pages, I believe that including content warnings would have been beneficial for readers, especially those who may be sensitive to certain themes or subject matter. In the author's note at the conclusion of the story, I do appreciate the inclusion a few lifeline phone numbers. This thoughtful addition provides readers with valuable resources to reach out to in times of need. It is commendable that the book acknowledges the importance of mental health and offers practical support through these lifelines.
When I initially picked up this book, I went into it with limited knowledge, only aware that it had queer characters and ghosts. Intrigued by the idea of a spooky read for the month, I eagerly delved into its pages. However, I must admit that my expectations were slightly disappointed as I had hoped for a more uplifting and joyous queer narrative. It saddened me to see yet another young adult book where the transgender protagonist endures significant hardships throughout the story. Consequently, I find myself unlikely to revisit this particular book in the future. I did liked that the story seamlessly transported me to a bygone era, specifically the late 19th century, as it commences with the introduction of Danny's eerie encounters with apparitions. As the story unfolds, the author guides us through a gradual progression in time, gradually propelling us forward into the early 20th century.
In my opinion, the inclusion of a map within the book would have greatly enhanced the reading experience of this story. As the story takes place in various locations, and having a visual representation of these settings would have provided us with a valuable reference point. Personally, I have always found maps to be a delightful addition to books, as they not only aid in understanding the geographical context but also add an extra layer of enjoyment to the overall reading journey. One particular aspect stood out to me was the clever use of distinct typography. A noteworthy moment occurred when the protagonist delved into a letter, which was presented in a different font style compared to the rest of the story. This book reminded me of two other books that explored similar themes as this one. The first being, Imaginary by Alexandra Killworth, and the second, Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas.
I was delighted to discover that the book had its own audiobook version, allowing me to simultaneously read along with my physical copy while immersing myself in the captivating experience of having the story read aloud to me. Despite encountering initial difficulties in fully immersing myself in this book last year, I found satisfaction in completing it during this spooky month. In my experience of listening to the audiobook, I couldn't help but notice a slight oversight in chapter 4 where a sentence was inadvertently repeated and not edited out. This small hiccup did not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the book, but it is worth mentioning for the sake of accuracy and attention to detail.
-I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the well-developed characters in this book. One of my favourites was Seiji, who demonstrated admirable courage and compassion by standing up for others. I was impressed by the growth of his and Danny's relationship, and I appreciated seeing it unfold throughout the story. While I found myself wanting to know more about Seiji, I think the book could have benefited from being told from his perspective or with alternating viewpoints. One of the most captivating and endearing spectral figures in the narrative undoubtedly belongs to Patricia, a character who quickly became one of my personal favourites. Patricia exuded an aura of warmth and kindness throughout the majority of the story, making her an incredibly likable presence. Her deep passion for literature added an extra layer of charm to her character for me. I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the scenes that featured Patricia alongside Danny, as their interactions showcased a beautiful mother-son bond that was both heart-warming and poignant.
It is worth mentioning that as the story progresses, Daniel adopts the name Daniel or Danny. After analysing the content of the book, I personally found it disappointing that the author chose to include Daniel's deadname. In my opinion, this information was unnecessary and could have been omitted without affecting the overall message of the story. Instead of explicitly stating Daniel's deadname, the author could have conveyed the same idea by indicating that someone referred to him by his previous name. This would have made it clear that there are negative consequences associated with using his deadname. One such consequence is that some readers, without much consideration, might inadvertently use a shortened version of his birth name when discussing the book.
-I found myself wishing for a more in-depth exploration of the reason behind Danny's unique ability to see the unliving. Throughout the story, if i remember correctly there is a fleeting moment where we was given a glimpse into the potential explanation behind Danny's unique gift. Surprisingly, this intriguing thread remains largely unexplored, even as the story reaches its climactic conclusion. In my personal opinion, I believe that there is room for improvement in the writing style of this book. The plot was quite intricate and had a lot of events taking place, which made it slightly challenging to follow at times. Additionally, the pacing of the book was a bit slow for my taste, resulting in occasional moments of boredom. However, I must admit that the ending was satisfying and provided a sense of closure, although it did feel slightly rushed.
For each story that I read, I rate it out of 10 so for this am going to give it a 7. Remember this was what I thought about the book personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself
'Violet Ghosts' reading age is 14 years to 17. It was first published on the 22nd of June in 2021. It was told using first person with it being in Danny's point of view. Which spans 11 chapters and 354 pages.
Summary: Danny's closest confidant, Sarah, exists in the realm of the supernatural as a ghostly presence. However, this peculiar companionship may not be as unusual as it seems, considering Danny's tumultuous upbringing marked by evading an abusive parent. While Danny and Sarah share a bond that surpasses mere friendship, Danny hesitates to acknowledge their connection openly. Deep down, Danny fears that disclosing his transgender identity to Sarah might result in her ceasing to haunt him altogether. Sarah, having endured the harrowing experience of being strangled by a boy, possesses valid reasons for harbouring mistrust towards males. When Sarah and Danny stumble upon another tormented spirit haunted by her own brutal murder, they embark on a mission to restore tranquillity and security to souls like hers. Nevertheless, when an old adversary resurfaces in Danny's life, their unexpected camaraderie grants Danny an unfamiliar sense of belonging. As Danny gradually finds his place in the world of the living, he must learn to release the grip of his lingering ghosts.
Review:
-The author's skill in crafting the narrative is evident through their meticulous attention to detail, particularly when it comes to character and setting descriptions. This attention to detail allowed me to effortlessly immerse myself in the story, vividly imagining each scene as it unfolds. In my opinion, the absence of content warnings in this particular book is a notable aspect that warrants discussion. Given the extensive range of topics covered within its pages, I believe that including content warnings would have been beneficial for readers, especially those who may be sensitive to certain themes or subject matter. In the author's note at the conclusion of the story, I do appreciate the inclusion a few lifeline phone numbers. This thoughtful addition provides readers with valuable resources to reach out to in times of need. It is commendable that the book acknowledges the importance of mental health and offers practical support through these lifelines.
When I initially picked up this book, I went into it with limited knowledge, only aware that it had queer characters and ghosts. Intrigued by the idea of a spooky read for the month, I eagerly delved into its pages. However, I must admit that my expectations were slightly disappointed as I had hoped for a more uplifting and joyous queer narrative. It saddened me to see yet another young adult book where the transgender protagonist endures significant hardships throughout the story. Consequently, I find myself unlikely to revisit this particular book in the future. I did liked that the story seamlessly transported me to a bygone era, specifically the late 19th century, as it commences with the introduction of Danny's eerie encounters with apparitions. As the story unfolds, the author guides us through a gradual progression in time, gradually propelling us forward into the early 20th century.
In my opinion, the inclusion of a map within the book would have greatly enhanced the reading experience of this story. As the story takes place in various locations, and having a visual representation of these settings would have provided us with a valuable reference point. Personally, I have always found maps to be a delightful addition to books, as they not only aid in understanding the geographical context but also add an extra layer of enjoyment to the overall reading journey. One particular aspect stood out to me was the clever use of distinct typography. A noteworthy moment occurred when the protagonist delved into a letter, which was presented in a different font style compared to the rest of the story. This book reminded me of two other books that explored similar themes as this one. The first being, Imaginary by Alexandra Killworth, and the second, Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas.
I was delighted to discover that the book had its own audiobook version, allowing me to simultaneously read along with my physical copy while immersing myself in the captivating experience of having the story read aloud to me. Despite encountering initial difficulties in fully immersing myself in this book last year, I found satisfaction in completing it during this spooky month. In my experience of listening to the audiobook, I couldn't help but notice a slight oversight in chapter 4 where a sentence was inadvertently repeated and not edited out. This small hiccup did not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the book, but it is worth mentioning for the sake of accuracy and attention to detail.
-I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the well-developed characters in this book. One of my favourites was Seiji, who demonstrated admirable courage and compassion by standing up for others. I was impressed by the growth of his and Danny's relationship, and I appreciated seeing it unfold throughout the story. While I found myself wanting to know more about Seiji, I think the book could have benefited from being told from his perspective or with alternating viewpoints. One of the most captivating and endearing spectral figures in the narrative undoubtedly belongs to Patricia, a character who quickly became one of my personal favourites. Patricia exuded an aura of warmth and kindness throughout the majority of the story, making her an incredibly likable presence. Her deep passion for literature added an extra layer of charm to her character for me. I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the scenes that featured Patricia alongside Danny, as their interactions showcased a beautiful mother-son bond that was both heart-warming and poignant.
It is worth mentioning that as the story progresses, Daniel adopts the name Daniel or Danny. After analysing the content of the book, I personally found it disappointing that the author chose to include Daniel's deadname. In my opinion, this information was unnecessary and could have been omitted without affecting the overall message of the story. Instead of explicitly stating Daniel's deadname, the author could have conveyed the same idea by indicating that someone referred to him by his previous name. This would have made it clear that there are negative consequences associated with using his deadname. One such consequence is that some readers, without much consideration, might inadvertently use a shortened version of his birth name when discussing the book.
-I found myself wishing for a more in-depth exploration of the reason behind Danny's unique ability to see the unliving. Throughout the story, if i remember correctly there is a fleeting moment where we was given a glimpse into the potential explanation behind Danny's unique gift. Surprisingly, this intriguing thread remains largely unexplored, even as the story reaches its climactic conclusion. In my personal opinion, I believe that there is room for improvement in the writing style of this book. The plot was quite intricate and had a lot of events taking place, which made it slightly challenging to follow at times. Additionally, the pacing of the book was a bit slow for my taste, resulting in occasional moments of boredom. However, I must admit that the ending was satisfying and provided a sense of closure, although it did feel slightly rushed.
For each story that I read, I rate it out of 10 so for this am going to give it a 7. Remember this was what I thought about the book personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself
August 17, 2024
I think this book was written just for me. I’m seeing many 1-2 star reviews saying that this book is too sad, soulless even, trauma for trauma’s sake, and that they feel uncomfortable with the MC being a transman for one reason or another. Someone pointed out that the author isn’t a transman, so she shouldn’t have written it in the first place.
Which, as a general concept, is something I agree with. Straight men shouldn’t write women, cishet people shouldn’t try to write queer stories, straight actors shouldn’t play gay characters, etc. Eddie Redmayne should have never played a transwoman in The Danish Girl. You get the idea. But sometimes, if someone does their homework, you get a true piece of art even if you’re not necessarily a part of that community you’re writing about in the first place.
This is the story of a transman experiencing a toxic friendship. Dani is suffering through the trauma of a domestic violence situation. As many trauma survivors, he struggles to connect socially with his peers, and winds up becoming best friends with a ghost, Sarah. Sarah starts out being a true friend that Dani needed, but as time progresses, Sarah becomes more and more of Dani’s bully than his friend. I found this relationship to be very engaging and complex. Dani feels that he can only rely on her, but once he starts opening himself up to new people and new experiences, he starts to realize how toxic his friendship with her is. That alone is such a strong powerful message that teens need to hear. People who strongarm you into putting yourself in unsafe situations are not your friends. 10/10.
But then.
Leah Thomas raises the stakes my writing Dani’s gender experience and. Wow. It felt so real and believable. I don’t know a whole lot of transmen and I haven’t been able to read many stories about transmascs in general. Aiden Thomas and Andrew Joseph White are so very Gen Z queer, I have trouble relating to them. Sometimes, the transmascs I know can be very arrogant and toxic, because they are still trying to prove themselves to themselves. They can be combative and defensive and write characters who reflect that.
Dani, on the other hand, feels so real to me. He has never heard of transgender people before and is flying blind. He wasn’t aware that was something a person could do, to quote the meme.
< img src=“https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...” / >
Once he tries on those thoughts for size and figures things out for himself, he discovers that being a transman feels right, feels correct for him. Once he discovers that, he feels like he is able to embrace, but is very timid about it because he wants Sarah’s approval.
GOD WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BOOK, I LOVE IT SO MUCH AND EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT. ITS SO GOOD, SO STRONG, SO PAINFUL, SO GOOD.
Quotes I liked:
Pg.87 “i’m a girl. Im on my stupid period, and I’m starting to get boobs and..”
“Those are body parts, not who you are….”
“But everyone knows im a girl.”
“Everyone but You,” she amended, “and you’re the only one that gets to say.”
Pg.198 “believe it or not, not everything that happens is about wether or not you’re queer.”
Pg.298 “is this about the panda folder? That collection of boys you kept under your bed? I used to think you were in love with them.”
“I wasn’t in love with them. I wanted to be them.”
Pg.314 “you don’t have to be broken to need rescuing, and you don’t have to be a girl. Don’t be sexist.”
Pg.347 “Imagine if I had learned long ago that people could out distance between themselves and trauma.”
Which, as a general concept, is something I agree with. Straight men shouldn’t write women, cishet people shouldn’t try to write queer stories, straight actors shouldn’t play gay characters, etc. Eddie Redmayne should have never played a transwoman in The Danish Girl. You get the idea. But sometimes, if someone does their homework, you get a true piece of art even if you’re not necessarily a part of that community you’re writing about in the first place.
This is the story of a transman experiencing a toxic friendship. Dani is suffering through the trauma of a domestic violence situation. As many trauma survivors, he struggles to connect socially with his peers, and winds up becoming best friends with a ghost, Sarah. Sarah starts out being a true friend that Dani needed, but as time progresses, Sarah becomes more and more of Dani’s bully than his friend. I found this relationship to be very engaging and complex. Dani feels that he can only rely on her, but once he starts opening himself up to new people and new experiences, he starts to realize how toxic his friendship with her is. That alone is such a strong powerful message that teens need to hear. People who strongarm you into putting yourself in unsafe situations are not your friends. 10/10.
But then.
Leah Thomas raises the stakes my writing Dani’s gender experience and. Wow. It felt so real and believable. I don’t know a whole lot of transmen and I haven’t been able to read many stories about transmascs in general. Aiden Thomas and Andrew Joseph White are so very Gen Z queer, I have trouble relating to them. Sometimes, the transmascs I know can be very arrogant and toxic, because they are still trying to prove themselves to themselves. They can be combative and defensive and write characters who reflect that.
Dani, on the other hand, feels so real to me. He has never heard of transgender people before and is flying blind. He wasn’t aware that was something a person could do, to quote the meme.
< img src=“https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...” / >
Once he tries on those thoughts for size and figures things out for himself, he discovers that being a transman feels right, feels correct for him. Once he discovers that, he feels like he is able to embrace, but is very timid about it because he wants Sarah’s approval.
GOD WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BOOK, I LOVE IT SO MUCH AND EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT. ITS SO GOOD, SO STRONG, SO PAINFUL, SO GOOD.
Quotes I liked:
Pg.87 “i’m a girl. Im on my stupid period, and I’m starting to get boobs and..”
“Those are body parts, not who you are….”
“But everyone knows im a girl.”
“Everyone but You,” she amended, “and you’re the only one that gets to say.”
Pg.198 “believe it or not, not everything that happens is about wether or not you’re queer.”
Pg.298 “is this about the panda folder? That collection of boys you kept under your bed? I used to think you were in love with them.”
“I wasn’t in love with them. I wanted to be them.”
Pg.314 “you don’t have to be broken to need rescuing, and you don’t have to be a girl. Don’t be sexist.”
Pg.347 “Imagine if I had learned long ago that people could out distance between themselves and trauma.”
dnf-ed
June 25, 2021thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review! this has not affected my review in any way, all opinions are mine.
No Rating If Possible — Did Not Finish
i was really really excited to read this book!! the cover was really eye-catching, and the description even moreso. a trans protagonist? ghosts? murder and mystery? that sounds super fun! and at first, i was genuinely enjoying the character interactions and writing. however, i was only a few pages in when i went to add this book on goodreads and saw many many reviews listing trigger warnings and to take them seriously. after reading the many trigger warning lists and spoiler-free reviews, i decided to dnf this book for my own mental health.
i see absolutely nothing wrong with writing about these topics, however, a trigger warning at the beginning of this book would be greatly appreciated because they are so heavy and serious, and the blurb made me believe i was signing onto a book that, while still was a little weighty, was a lot more fun.
trigger warning list (although i believe some may be missing according to reviews i've looked at)
No Rating If Possible — Did Not Finish
i was really really excited to read this book!! the cover was really eye-catching, and the description even moreso. a trans protagonist? ghosts? murder and mystery? that sounds super fun! and at first, i was genuinely enjoying the character interactions and writing. however, i was only a few pages in when i went to add this book on goodreads and saw many many reviews listing trigger warnings and to take them seriously. after reading the many trigger warning lists and spoiler-free reviews, i decided to dnf this book for my own mental health.
i see absolutely nothing wrong with writing about these topics, however, a trigger warning at the beginning of this book would be greatly appreciated because they are so heavy and serious, and the blurb made me believe i was signing onto a book that, while still was a little weighty, was a lot more fun.
trigger warning list (although i believe some may be missing according to reviews i've looked at)
April 9, 2022
I don't usually rate books that aren't ARCs but.
This book tried to do a lot of things and it fell flat. Not all books need to be written by someone who shares life experiences with the main characters, but this was one that really did. I think the conversations that Thomas brings up in the book are important, but I think the extremely superficial way in which she handled Danny's gender and sexuality killed it. Not every book with a trans character has to be about being transgender, but you can't set a book in the early 2000s in "Podunk, Michigan" (as it's described in the book) and then just kind of gloss over the realities of being out and queer at that point in time and instead use it as the thing to hinge your overall point on. If the setting had been in 2020 or even like, 2015 or something - it would have worked much better.
Thomas also did the thing I hate, which is jumping to "and then the underage trans character gets HRT and everything is lovely la la la the end" when that's just...not how that works. And especially not in the early 2000s.
I hate to one-star this because the actual topics and discussions in the book are important ones to have, and there has been so much Discourse around the term "own voices" because of people policing who gets to write what, but I think in this case the author needed to stay in her lane.
This book tried to do a lot of things and it fell flat. Not all books need to be written by someone who shares life experiences with the main characters, but this was one that really did. I think the conversations that Thomas brings up in the book are important, but I think the extremely superficial way in which she handled Danny's gender and sexuality killed it. Not every book with a trans character has to be about being transgender, but you can't set a book in the early 2000s in "Podunk, Michigan" (as it's described in the book) and then just kind of gloss over the realities of being out and queer at that point in time and instead use it as the thing to hinge your overall point on. If the setting had been in 2020 or even like, 2015 or something - it would have worked much better.
Thomas also did the thing I hate, which is jumping to "and then the underage trans character gets HRT and everything is lovely la la la the end" when that's just...not how that works. And especially not in the early 2000s.
I hate to one-star this because the actual topics and discussions in the book are important ones to have, and there has been so much Discourse around the term "own voices" because of people policing who gets to write what, but I think in this case the author needed to stay in her lane.
August 15, 2021
This book has so much going on that it at times feels like too much. Especially with the trigger warnings, I’ll list the ones I remember below. It all felt a bit much especially with some of it seeming to come out of nowhere, or it’s brought up, discussed a little and then that’s it. There were so many things that the characters had to go through that you lose focus on the main point of the book. Even though I do think there was a little to many issues going on the story was impactful. Especially since we see multiple POV’s of how people react to trauma differently, because not everyone will have the same reaction. But with that I also felt like some of the trauma the characters faced were down played a bit, and I would have liked more serious conversations about them. As for the characters, for the most part I really enjoyed, especially Dani I loved him. There is also a slight romance in this book mostly in the second half, and I liked how Dani handled them. As for the plot line, I enjoyed it the more I got into the story because the ghost hunting isn’t the main element of the story because the ghosts we meet reflect on the trauma the characters face. So for that I really liked, but it did take a while for that to start. Overall, the discussions this book brings are great but it needed more of a focus on them.
TW: transphobia, abuse, suicide, pedophilia, incest, domestic violence, violence, sexual assault, homophobia, murder
TW: transphobia, abuse, suicide, pedophilia, incest, domestic violence, violence, sexual assault, homophobia, murder
July 20, 2021
“It was enough. It was enough to make me realize that most people enjoyed horror because it was far removed from their reality, while I enjoyed it because it showed me I didn’t have it so bad, not really. “
I was once again drawn by the cover! Look how beautiful it is!!!
This sounded like something along the lines of Cemetery Boys which I liked so I was keeping an eye on it. I have to say I didn’t even notice the author until I got it and imagine my surprise it’s by Leah Thomas. I read Because You’ll Never Meet Me few years back and I absolutely loved it so I expected no less of this book.
The story sets place in period of late 90’s to early 2000’s and it focuses on Dani who is coming to terms with the fact that he is trans while also being able to see ghosts. Dani’s only friend is a ghost named Sarah who doesn’t want to speak about her death. The main plot kicks in when Sarah convinces Dani to help some ghosts they run into which turns out to be a lot more dangerous than they expected.
I do have to say I think that the synopsis of this book is somewhat misleading. That did not affect my rating or enjoyment of this book but I think for some people it might. The synopsis literally says:
“Dani and Sarah might be more than friends, though Dani dares not say so. Dani is afraid that if he tells Sarah he’s trans, she won’t bother haunting him anymore.“
So I totally expected some ghostly romance between Dani and Sarah. However it turns out Sarah has feelings for Dani, but Dani pretty much rejects her for the whole book and it in fact makes him quite uncomfortable. There is actually a different love interest for Dani and I really liked how that relationship developed and even preferred it, I was just totally expecting something else.
This is a pretty heavy and dark book. It deals with trauma, murder, assault, sexual abuse, suicide and so on. There is a lot of emphasis on women who have been wronged by men. I thought that was handled really well. There is no sugarcoating, the pain they felt was portrayed as brutal and sick as it really is. However because it deals with such topics it might not be a book for everyone.
Personally I loved the characters and the way Leah Thomas writes. All of the side characters were very intriguing. The story was well paced even though there was a lot happening. Some thing were left with an open ending but I feel like it works better that way instead of giving them closure.
There are some minor things I take issue with which is why this is a 4 star read for me. Overall I really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to Leah Thomas’s books in the future.
I was once again drawn by the cover! Look how beautiful it is!!!
This sounded like something along the lines of Cemetery Boys which I liked so I was keeping an eye on it. I have to say I didn’t even notice the author until I got it and imagine my surprise it’s by Leah Thomas. I read Because You’ll Never Meet Me few years back and I absolutely loved it so I expected no less of this book.
The story sets place in period of late 90’s to early 2000’s and it focuses on Dani who is coming to terms with the fact that he is trans while also being able to see ghosts. Dani’s only friend is a ghost named Sarah who doesn’t want to speak about her death. The main plot kicks in when Sarah convinces Dani to help some ghosts they run into which turns out to be a lot more dangerous than they expected.
I do have to say I think that the synopsis of this book is somewhat misleading. That did not affect my rating or enjoyment of this book but I think for some people it might. The synopsis literally says:
“Dani and Sarah might be more than friends, though Dani dares not say so. Dani is afraid that if he tells Sarah he’s trans, she won’t bother haunting him anymore.“
So I totally expected some ghostly romance between Dani and Sarah. However it turns out Sarah has feelings for Dani, but Dani pretty much rejects her for the whole book and it in fact makes him quite uncomfortable. There is actually a different love interest for Dani and I really liked how that relationship developed and even preferred it, I was just totally expecting something else.
This is a pretty heavy and dark book. It deals with trauma, murder, assault, sexual abuse, suicide and so on. There is a lot of emphasis on women who have been wronged by men. I thought that was handled really well. There is no sugarcoating, the pain they felt was portrayed as brutal and sick as it really is. However because it deals with such topics it might not be a book for everyone.
Personally I loved the characters and the way Leah Thomas writes. All of the side characters were very intriguing. The story was well paced even though there was a lot happening. Some thing were left with an open ending but I feel like it works better that way instead of giving them closure.
There are some minor things I take issue with which is why this is a 4 star read for me. Overall I really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to Leah Thomas’s books in the future.
June 6, 2021
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Violet Ghosts by Leah Thomas sounded like it was going to be right up my alley. The description had so much potential to become one of my favorites, but unfortunately it didn't end up working for me. Based on the description, I was expecting something just different from the final product. The reading experience wasn't an enjoyable one. I will say that I appreciated getting to know Dani and that his character is well written. Overall, though, the story as a whole wasn't quite for me.
Violet Ghosts by Leah Thomas sounded like it was going to be right up my alley. The description had so much potential to become one of my favorites, but unfortunately it didn't end up working for me. Based on the description, I was expecting something just different from the final product. The reading experience wasn't an enjoyable one. I will say that I appreciated getting to know Dani and that his character is well written. Overall, though, the story as a whole wasn't quite for me.
January 1, 2022
Very good. This was hard to stomach. Abuse and Sexual abuse.
Patricia I love her character. Even she is a ghost. I picturing her as caring mother. The way she gives advices to Danny.
I learned the word Santa Not talking bad about or calling a devil. If you arrange the letters you get Satan.
This came my favorite of this new year. Even though I read some in 2021. Its a long way til the year
Lastly I recommend this you are fan of the movie Ghost. And Casper the friendly ghost
There was some friendly ghost in this as well. And I want to buy the movie Ghost and Casper.
Patricia I love her character. Even she is a ghost. I picturing her as caring mother. The way she gives advices to Danny.
I learned the word Santa Not talking bad about or calling a devil. If you arrange the letters you get Satan.
This came my favorite of this new year. Even though I read some in 2021. Its a long way til the year
Lastly I recommend this you are fan of the movie Ghost. And Casper the friendly ghost
There was some friendly ghost in this as well. And I want to buy the movie Ghost and Casper.
January 11, 2023
I liked this book more and more with each chapter. This is my fourth book I’ve read by Leah Thomas and at first I thought it would disappoint me, but by the end I think this one will sit with me longer than any other. The story tackles love and toxic relationships and how everything can be grey.
A lesson I’ve learned in life as I’ve gotten older is that everyone is trying their best. As a child, I thought all adults knew the right decisions and that when they weren’t perfect, they were wrong. Definitely something I had wrong. We’re all trying and struggling and failing and succeeding. This book really touches on this and shows it expertly.
The book is an amazing representation of being a queer teen and what it’s like to be a minority in a not very accepting environment. I loved the balance of that struggle along with the empathy shown to characters who didn’t necessarily understand LGBT+ things.
A prevalence of how sexism and queerness can interact carried this plot. The discussions of how many men hurt women, yet they’re not all bad and often victims too were fascinating and well executed.
Definitely a great book with complex and real characters, a beautiful and thoughtful plot, and lots of good discussions that made me think!
As always, Leah, I loved it.
A lesson I’ve learned in life as I’ve gotten older is that everyone is trying their best. As a child, I thought all adults knew the right decisions and that when they weren’t perfect, they were wrong. Definitely something I had wrong. We’re all trying and struggling and failing and succeeding. This book really touches on this and shows it expertly.
The book is an amazing representation of being a queer teen and what it’s like to be a minority in a not very accepting environment. I loved the balance of that struggle along with the empathy shown to characters who didn’t necessarily understand LGBT+ things.
A prevalence of how sexism and queerness can interact carried this plot. The discussions of how many men hurt women, yet they’re not all bad and often victims too were fascinating and well executed.
Definitely a great book with complex and real characters, a beautiful and thoughtful plot, and lots of good discussions that made me think!
As always, Leah, I loved it.
June 29, 2021
This is a difficult book to review. There is so much happening in the book so make sure that you check the trigger warnings because there is a lot of dark stuff in this book. It's difficult to summarize what happens in the story, because there is so much going on, but the gist of it is that is Dani, a trans teen, is able to communicate with ghosts, and by the time he meets his best friend Sarah, she's been long dead. He is scared to tell he he is trans because he thinks she'll stop haunting him if he does. This was a really difficult read for me and despite the fun cover, turned out to be something other than what I expected. It does explore gender in a unique was and for that I give it 3.5 stars.
**ARC received form NetGalley for an honest review**
**ARC received form NetGalley for an honest review**
December 27, 2021
#sotybutforbooks
#boty
#boty
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June 22, 2021I actually haven't read the book yet and will write another review once I have. But, for anyone reading reviews and considering adding this book to their list, I've been a fan of Thomas's work since she published Because You'll Never Meet Me in 2015. Because You'll Never Meet Me takes the form of two boys writing letters back and forth to one another but they can never meet due to one having a heart condition that requires a pacemaker and the other having an allergy to electricity. It's my favorite YA book of all time. As reviewers have mentioned, Thomas does a beautiful job using elements of fiction to tangibly describe somewhat unspeakable aspects of humanity. The main characters, Ollie and Moritz, use the complications in their relationship as a jumping-off point to explore the ways in which they repel and attract the people around them as a result of their shared trauma.
Another one of her novels is When Light Left Us, centered around a family of three children and a single mother who are dealing with the aftermath of their father/husband leaving suddenly. It uses the strange unreality of alien possession to describe the way that their father's absence exists as a physical truth in the bodies of these children. It's a beautiful novel about the somatic effects left in us by people and events.
All of which is to say that Thomas is really skilled in this particular blended genre and a novel about ghosts as a manifestation of severe trauma is exactly where her expertise in writing lies. I can't wait to read this book and would encourage anyone to give it a shot. If the trigger-warnings turn you off but the plot interests you, I would really recommend her other books which all include queer characters and elements of sci-fi/fantasy blended with realistic fiction. I'm obviously partial to Because You'll Never Meet Me and it's sequel Nowhere Near You, but for a book that might be thematically closer to this one, I'd recommend When Light Left Us. You won't regret it.
Another one of her novels is When Light Left Us, centered around a family of three children and a single mother who are dealing with the aftermath of their father/husband leaving suddenly. It uses the strange unreality of alien possession to describe the way that their father's absence exists as a physical truth in the bodies of these children. It's a beautiful novel about the somatic effects left in us by people and events.
All of which is to say that Thomas is really skilled in this particular blended genre and a novel about ghosts as a manifestation of severe trauma is exactly where her expertise in writing lies. I can't wait to read this book and would encourage anyone to give it a shot. If the trigger-warnings turn you off but the plot interests you, I would really recommend her other books which all include queer characters and elements of sci-fi/fantasy blended with realistic fiction. I'm obviously partial to Because You'll Never Meet Me and it's sequel Nowhere Near You, but for a book that might be thematically closer to this one, I'd recommend When Light Left Us. You won't regret it.
July 7, 2021
I received this ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review:
I was hesitant to read "Violet Ghosts" based on other reviews claiming it is "joyless" and "soulless." And after reading the very jarring first chapter, I nearly threw in the towel myself.
But by the end of the book, my opinion has changed completely.
This book deals with incredibly difficult subject matter, from domestic abuse to molestation, and the trigger warnings provided certainly should not be taken lightly.
But to call the work "soulless" is a disservice to this incredible story.
I found joy in the way that Danny learns that first impressions are often incorrect, or at the very least incomplete. I found joy in the way that Patricia and Seiji accept Danny without hesitation, and support his transition unconditionally.
And I absolutely found joy in getting to know these characters. And I fell in love with each and every one of them.
Was this a difficult read? Definitely. But it was also one that I found rewarding, especially regarding its discussion of important trans and woman's issues.
And the fact that the writing is engaging and highly consumable is just the icing on the cake.
I was hesitant to read "Violet Ghosts" based on other reviews claiming it is "joyless" and "soulless." And after reading the very jarring first chapter, I nearly threw in the towel myself.
But by the end of the book, my opinion has changed completely.
This book deals with incredibly difficult subject matter, from domestic abuse to molestation, and the trigger warnings provided certainly should not be taken lightly.
But to call the work "soulless" is a disservice to this incredible story.
I found joy in the way that Danny learns that first impressions are often incorrect, or at the very least incomplete. I found joy in the way that Patricia and Seiji accept Danny without hesitation, and support his transition unconditionally.
And I absolutely found joy in getting to know these characters. And I fell in love with each and every one of them.
Was this a difficult read? Definitely. But it was also one that I found rewarding, especially regarding its discussion of important trans and woman's issues.
And the fact that the writing is engaging and highly consumable is just the icing on the cake.
July 3, 2021
I'm a huge fan of Leah Thomas (and will never be over the third book of the Because You'll Never Meet Me series not getting published) so I read everything she writes. Leah has explored trauma in her books before, but I would say this is more intense. It's very interesting to see how different people (ghost people, mostly) react to violent trauma, and how their recoveries takes such different paths. I love the exploration of a toxic friendship. It reminded me so much of a few friendships I had in my youth. Sometimes people grow and change and get better and it doesn't mean the friendship will become healthy. Sometimes it just means you grow out of the friendship. I wish I had more interesting things to say about this book, but I will just say that it was very good and I recommend it, but suggest reading with caution because of the heavy topics that are explored.
September 23, 2021
I don't think I've ever read a book like this one. Not in a good or bad way but it definitely stands out. Definitely read the trigger warnings for this book, it contains very heavy material. I loved reading about the dynamics between the characters, and I never really anticipated what the next plot point was, though it wasn't overly complicated. When I first started reading, I thought it would be a story about a kid who grows up and meets ghosts and how he interacts with them as he grows older. And that is what the book is about- kind of. It definitely has to do with the ghosts relationships with Dani and how they develop but there's more to it than that. There's innerturmoil, adventure, morality conflict. It's a bit all over the place and it's a bit much but I was into it from beginning to end.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2021
Leah Thomas has done it again in this supernatural contemporary story that seems to define intersectionality. Dani has just moved to a new town to escape their abusive father. And living under their bed....is a ghost. Sarah the ghost becomes Dani's best, and only, friend. Sarah died over 20 years ago and Dani is afraid if he tells her that he's trans, she won't like him anymore. Violet Ghosts tackle many hard topics, all while being a fantastic story.
April 13, 2021
I absolutely adored this story. I may have nearly cried at a few points. Danny is so incredibly relatable for anyone who was assigned female at birth, but identifies as something else. My heart absolutely ached for him, because I've felt those feelings too. I recommend this story for anyone who likes feel-good fantasy. It also could be used to help cis-women understand what its like for trans-masc and nonbinary folk like myself and Danny.
May 10, 2021
So my friends and I often discuss how awesome it would be to have books that center trans characters without centering their trans-ness, and this one comes closer than most of the others I've read, so bonus points are activated.
Also, it's just a really good book that's well written and explores the ways positive relationships can become toxic in a really interesting way.
CW: Lots. Physical Abuse, Suicide, Child Death (off "screen"), Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, Gore, Sexual Abuse
Also, it's just a really good book that's well written and explores the ways positive relationships can become toxic in a really interesting way.
CW: Lots. Physical Abuse, Suicide, Child Death (off "screen"), Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, Gore, Sexual Abuse
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May 2, 2021Trigger & Content Warnings:
Transmisia
Misgendering
Child sexual abuse
Rape
Violence against a sex worker
Domestic abuse
Suicide
Strangulation recounted
Murder
Death of an infant to cancer
Bullying
Transmisia
Misgendering
Child sexual abuse
Rape
Violence against a sex worker
Domestic abuse
Suicide
Strangulation recounted
Murder
Death of an infant to cancer
Bullying
September 20, 2021
Excellent and unique.
October 15, 2024
One review called this book sad and soulless. It is sad, but it's a mistake to call it soulless. Leah Thomas writes in the language of relationships, in particular in the language of those things that are in between. The relationships that are neither precisely romantic nor precisely platonic, which reach inside of you and fuck you up and leave you without the vocabulary to explain what happened. She, more than any contemporary author of which I'm aware (YA or otherwise) gives attention and language to the impact which a friendship can have.
Violet Ghosts is a heavy read. But it isn't soulless, and it certainly isn't hopeless, unless we want to say the same of people whose lives resemble that of Sarah, and Dani, and Patricia. What Violet Ghosts is, is honest. And it does what Thomas does best, which is to package stories that are raw, painful, and unpleasant, inside of a supernatural container. And that concoction might seem strange to people, but I would say that those people aren't looking closely enough. Being in pain, living in a traumatized body is strange, isolating, and otherworldly. Especially when these things intersect with queer identity, which with Thomas, they always do. Leah Thomas is right. Being young, and queer, and afraid, feels like you're alone in the woods and deathly allergic to the world outside. It feels like an alien presence loved you, made its way into your body, and then left you empty. It feels like you're surrounded by violent ghosts, which are too "ugly" and too sad to see the light.
I won't claim that her writing is perfect (she writes for a very young audience), but her concepts, for me, never miss. Not when I was eleven and read Because You'll Never Meet Me, and not now, over a decade later. The only difference is that I realize that these stories are no longer for me. But if my eleven year old self could have gotten their trans, victimized hands on a book like Violet Ghosts, I think they would have felt seen. I think they would have been relieved that someone was willing to paint the world they lived in with a full pallet of color. Even if it was ugly and sad. Some kids experience horrible things every day. What a gift to read a book that affirms their reality, when so many of the stories they have access to only tell them that what they are is strange, unspeakable, otherworldly.
I hope Thomas never stops writing. I hope her books get stranger and scarier, and her characters get more and more busted up so that I can watch them find and rescue each other. To Leah Thomas: Thank you for keeping me up last night. I haven't read a book that I couldn't sleep without finishing since Wild and Crooked. Your books find people who need them.
Violet Ghosts is a heavy read. But it isn't soulless, and it certainly isn't hopeless, unless we want to say the same of people whose lives resemble that of Sarah, and Dani, and Patricia. What Violet Ghosts is, is honest. And it does what Thomas does best, which is to package stories that are raw, painful, and unpleasant, inside of a supernatural container. And that concoction might seem strange to people, but I would say that those people aren't looking closely enough. Being in pain, living in a traumatized body is strange, isolating, and otherworldly. Especially when these things intersect with queer identity, which with Thomas, they always do. Leah Thomas is right. Being young, and queer, and afraid, feels like you're alone in the woods and deathly allergic to the world outside. It feels like an alien presence loved you, made its way into your body, and then left you empty. It feels like you're surrounded by violent ghosts, which are too "ugly" and too sad to see the light.
I won't claim that her writing is perfect (she writes for a very young audience), but her concepts, for me, never miss. Not when I was eleven and read Because You'll Never Meet Me, and not now, over a decade later. The only difference is that I realize that these stories are no longer for me. But if my eleven year old self could have gotten their trans, victimized hands on a book like Violet Ghosts, I think they would have felt seen. I think they would have been relieved that someone was willing to paint the world they lived in with a full pallet of color. Even if it was ugly and sad. Some kids experience horrible things every day. What a gift to read a book that affirms their reality, when so many of the stories they have access to only tell them that what they are is strange, unspeakable, otherworldly.
I hope Thomas never stops writing. I hope her books get stranger and scarier, and her characters get more and more busted up so that I can watch them find and rescue each other. To Leah Thomas: Thank you for keeping me up last night. I haven't read a book that I couldn't sleep without finishing since Wild and Crooked. Your books find people who need them.
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