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Violet e il libro proibito
Nelle fiabe, tutte le principesse sono bellissime, i draghi orrende e spietate creature e le storie... semplici e innocue storie. Ma questa non è affatto una fiaba come le altre. Nel regno di Andulan, la figlia del re si chiama Violet. È una ragazzina solitaria, con gli occhi di colore diverso e una massa di ricci che le nasconde la faccia. Si vede brutta, e questo la rende insicura. C'è solo un momento in cui non si sente sbagliata: quando racconta storie. Perché Violet è una lettrice voracissima e una voracissima narratrice di favole. Se apre bocca rapisce tutti, dalle dame di corte al più umile dei servitori. Quando insieme al suo migliore amico, Demetrius, trova nei sotterranei del castello un misterioso libro, è convinta di aver scoperto una miniera di storie che cambierà la sua vita. E la sua vita cambia, ma non come aveva immaginato... Dal polveroso tomo si leva la voce spaventosa di una divinità dimenticata, che inizia a sussurrare ai servitori, alle ancelle, al popolo, ammaliando l'intero reame. Ammalia il re, offrendogli l'opportunità di catturare l'ultimo drago sopravvissuto. E ammalia la principessa Violet, con l'illusione di renderla bellissima. Ma ogni parola sussurrata dal libro proibito ha un prezzo, e tremende conseguenze. E Violet, per salvare il regno, dovrà trovare il modo di ascoltare solo le voci amiche, e di raccontare l'unica storia che potrà guarire il suo mondo.
362 pages, Paperback
First published October 9, 2012
197 people are currently reading
6633 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Barnhill
54 books4,224 followersKelly Barnhill is an author and teacher. She won the World Fantasy Award for her novella The Unlicensed Magician, a Parents Choice Gold Award for Iron Hearted Violet, the Charlotte Huck Honor for The Girl Who Drank the Moon, and has been a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award, the Andre Norton award, and the PEN/USA literary prize. She was also a McKnight Artist's Fellowship recipient in Children's Literature. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her three children and husband. You can chat with her on her blog at www.kellybarnhill.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 562 reviews
December 21, 2025
"There's no such thing as complete when it comes to stories. Stories are infinite. They are as infinite as worlds."When the whole world is trying to hide something, what would you do to discover what that is?
Demetris and Violet are two peas in a pod - only she's the princess of the castle and he's a peasant son - but that never mattered to them.
They are too busy having adventures, raising a ruckus and exploring the unfathomable castle.
And one such adventure will set them on a pathway neither of them would ever have anticipated.
There is a hidden room, deep within the castle.
Within that room there's a malevolent...thing...intent on bringing itself back into their world.
It is the source of the nameless terror that swept across Princess Violet's kingdom centuries ago and after centuries of waiting, it is ready to come back.
BUT - when no one around Violet and Demetris will even speak of the thing (for fear of making it stronger), how will they ever defeat it and reclaim their world?
"There is no hope without risk."
I LOVED this one - Barnhill was able to take a tried trope (princess saving her kingdom) and create a wildly fresh and exciting tale. This adventure is one for the ages!
"All stories are lies until someone believes in them."
One way that Barnhill gave a little twist to her princess tale is through Violet.
For example, Violet may be many things - brave, strong, loving and clever - but there is one thing she is certainly not, and that is beautiful. I really appreciated how that played into the story but did not dominate it.
I adored the story-telling aspect - both Violet and her friends constantly tell wild and whimsical stories which entertain the entire castle.
In addition, world that Barnhill created was truly amazing.
It was wild and whimsical - the mirrored sky, the legends of the dragons and the hidden passageways and monsters - all absolutely awesome!
Honestly, there is just SO much about this one that I loved - you should totally check it out!!
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"Love transforms our fragile, cowardly hearts into hearts of stone, hearts of blade, hearts of hardest iron. Because love makes heroes of us all."
August 5, 2017
Princess Violet and her best friend, Demetrius, discover a hidden room in the castle. Inside the room is a strange book that tells of a wicked creature – the Nybbas – who was imprisoned in their world. Violet has no reason to believe the story is true, until she starts hearing a voice in her head telling her to release the Nybbas.
Iron Hearted Violet touts the power of storytelling. In Princess Violet’s world, telling and believing in stories is a way of life.
Violet’s story, fittingly, is conveyed in a first-person narrative by the court storyteller, Cassian. He’s a self-important yet self-deprecating character. Despite his honesty, Cassian sometimes feels like an intrusive narrator, often hitting an invisible pause button to break the fourth wall and interject his personal thoughts and opinions amidst the narrative.
The heart of the story is Violet, who proves a capable female protagonist. More importantly, Violet is not a conventionally beautiful princess. In fact, she is described as having mismatched eyes, coarse auburn hair, a pug nose, tall forehead, and “when she was just a baby, her skin was freckled and blotched, and no number of milk baths or lemon rubs could unmark her.” She even speaks with a lisp.
One night amidst a hushed crowd, Violet tells the story of a dragon who falls in love with an ugly princess. She is immediately reprimanded:
“You have made a beginner’s mistake! You have forgotten the beauty! A princess is never ugly. Everyone knows that a real princess is always beautiful.”
Throughout the book, Violet’s struggles to accept herself the way she is. Despite being learned, smart, capable and brave, Violet’s physical appearance is a continuous point of conflict.
The fundamental message of Violet’s story is that beauty is found within. However, the strength and importance of this message is undermined by the illustrations, which depict Violet as a doe-eyed beauty with an oval face and cascades of dark hair.
While the writing is not as floral as Barnhill’s Newberry Medal winner, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, this book offers occasional flourishes of striking prose:
It was a beautiful creature, though quite old. Its skin was as luminous and deep as the night sky, with a spangle of glinting flecks like stars cascading across its back.
[The fire] was too bright, too . . . strange. It didn’t spread or flash or roar the way a wildfire is supposed to do. There were no columns, no plumes of ash, no tornadic twists of flame. Indeed, her eyes should have been watering from the smoke. She should have had to tie her kerchief over her face to ease her breathing. But no. The air was clear. The flames bulged and wobbled like a living thing – a many-tentacled monster with a multitude of hard, bright eyes flashing in the dark.
Much like The Girl Who Drank the Moon, this book also has an extensive list of characters; however, in the case of Iron Hearted Violet, it’s quite clear who is the book’s protagonist. Nonetheless, the excessive number of characters convolute and slow the story.
Finally, character emotions feel rushed and unfounded, often making swift and sudden changes without sufficient reason.
With deities and dragons, mythical folk, and a strong-willed female protagonist, Iron Hearted Violet has much to offer, but it’s strengths barely balance its weaknesses.
Iron Hearted Violet touts the power of storytelling. In Princess Violet’s world, telling and believing in stories is a way of life.
Violet’s story, fittingly, is conveyed in a first-person narrative by the court storyteller, Cassian. He’s a self-important yet self-deprecating character. Despite his honesty, Cassian sometimes feels like an intrusive narrator, often hitting an invisible pause button to break the fourth wall and interject his personal thoughts and opinions amidst the narrative.
The heart of the story is Violet, who proves a capable female protagonist. More importantly, Violet is not a conventionally beautiful princess. In fact, she is described as having mismatched eyes, coarse auburn hair, a pug nose, tall forehead, and “when she was just a baby, her skin was freckled and blotched, and no number of milk baths or lemon rubs could unmark her.” She even speaks with a lisp.
One night amidst a hushed crowd, Violet tells the story of a dragon who falls in love with an ugly princess. She is immediately reprimanded:
“You have made a beginner’s mistake! You have forgotten the beauty! A princess is never ugly. Everyone knows that a real princess is always beautiful.”
Throughout the book, Violet’s struggles to accept herself the way she is. Despite being learned, smart, capable and brave, Violet’s physical appearance is a continuous point of conflict.
The fundamental message of Violet’s story is that beauty is found within. However, the strength and importance of this message is undermined by the illustrations, which depict Violet as a doe-eyed beauty with an oval face and cascades of dark hair.
While the writing is not as floral as Barnhill’s Newberry Medal winner, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, this book offers occasional flourishes of striking prose:
It was a beautiful creature, though quite old. Its skin was as luminous and deep as the night sky, with a spangle of glinting flecks like stars cascading across its back.
[The fire] was too bright, too . . . strange. It didn’t spread or flash or roar the way a wildfire is supposed to do. There were no columns, no plumes of ash, no tornadic twists of flame. Indeed, her eyes should have been watering from the smoke. She should have had to tie her kerchief over her face to ease her breathing. But no. The air was clear. The flames bulged and wobbled like a living thing – a many-tentacled monster with a multitude of hard, bright eyes flashing in the dark.
Much like The Girl Who Drank the Moon, this book also has an extensive list of characters; however, in the case of Iron Hearted Violet, it’s quite clear who is the book’s protagonist. Nonetheless, the excessive number of characters convolute and slow the story.
Finally, character emotions feel rushed and unfounded, often making swift and sudden changes without sufficient reason.
With deities and dragons, mythical folk, and a strong-willed female protagonist, Iron Hearted Violet has much to offer, but it’s strengths barely balance its weaknesses.
January 9, 2013
Ana’s Take:
The end of their world begins with a story – and with a birth. Princess Violet was born to supportive parents and a loving kingdom. She is smart, loves telling stories and enjoys adventures with her one friend Demetrius.
But, as it just so happens, Violet is not a True Fairytale Princess (TFP) because as we all know, TFP are impossibly beautiful and Violet is no such thing. With her mismatched eyes, lopsided face, blotchy skin and unruly hair, she is far from perfection. Still, nobody cares about Violet’s looks because everybody loves her so much.
Until that is, darkness starts to spread around Violet’s world. It all begins with a hidden book and an untold story. A forgotten God, imprisoned by Mirrors, whose diminishing power is reborn. All of a sudden, whispers start and they say ugly things about Violet. That maybe it is her fault that things are going so bad. That maybe she is not a True Princess at all. And she believes it. And makes a wish that might end their world forever.
This is a story about what being a True Princess really means. But also about the power of storytelling and of friendship and about the last dragon in existence.
I am on the fence about Iron Hearted Violet. There are several things that commend it. The strength of its female characters is one of them. In this world, women occupy positions of power (including within the army) very naturally and without it being an issue. Violet herself is a worthy protagonist and I loved her arc and her learning journey about what it takes to be a real princess and how to assume responsibility for one’s kingdom. I loved the importance given to loyalty and friendship as well as the thematic core of the novel and the importance of stories and storytelling. One of the biggest draws for me was the narrator – omniscient and intrusive, self-aggrandising but often self-deprecating (which was super fun to read) – but what was a draw for me personally, might well be a turn off for other readers as it often happens with narrative choices such as these.
That said, I continuously questioned the “truths” portrayed in the novel and some of the internal rules of the story seemed rather…illogical?
For example: even though we are told over and over again how this is a Good Kingdom, and how Violet is loved by everybody, Violet is still completely friendless apart from her friendship with Demetrius. That doesn’t make sense within the confines of the book – unless you consider how for the story to actually work, Violet needed be a lonely girl which just means that her loneliness is an extremely contrived plot point.
Another point that confused me is the story behind the creation of the world and the forgotten God, The Nybbas. On the one hand, nobody could talk about the The Nybbas because the story has established that merely speaking about it means giving it power. On the other hand, the other Gods who imprisoned him (they couldn’t kill the God for good for…reasons) seemed to be counting on the fact that The Nybbas would make a comeback which can only mean that people would talk about it. It is a nonsensical conundrum if I have ever seen one.
One of the main themes of the story is how the idea that a Princess must always be Impossibly Beautiful (i.e. too long, heavy hair, tiny feet which makes walking properly impossible, etc) is made fun of and is often criticized. The book pokes fun at classical stories where Beauty is the sole defining characteristic of princesses and it makes a point of showing that Violet, despite not being classically beautiful (quite the contrary) was in fact, a True Princess because of her actions. This is all well and good and definitely a good message to impart. But I wished that the book had been a little bit clearer about the fact that being beautiful does not necessarily translate into being evil either.
Finally, the biggest flaw of Iron Hearted Violet stems from the very thing that the story is criticising and how its illustrations failure to conform with the story that this book is telling. The illustrations here are important and a part of the storytelling and yet….all of its illustrations of Violet as well as its cover do NOT show her as she is described. The fact that the entire book is illustrated with Violet as a beautiful girl basically undermines the very thematic core of the book. It drove me to distraction to be honest and made me so mad that this book is being sold with these illustrations that do not match the character. This to me, despite its strengths, effectively derailed the story.
Thea’s Take:
I’m of a very similar mind when it comes to Iron Heated Violet. On the one hand, as Ana says, I love the idea and core conceit behind this book. I mean, you have a princess that is loved no matter WHAT she looks like, who discovers that being a true princess has nothing to do with her appearance and everything to do with her heart and strength and character! That is an amazing message! There’s also a cool (in theory) fantasy element with multiple universes, multiple gods, dragons without hearts, and mischief aplenty. All of this (again, in theory) is fantastic.
BUT.
There is a big BUT. There are a number of issues with regard to execution. I agree with basically everything Ana has outlined above, and won’t rehash anything (except when it comes to the illustrations, but more on that in a bit). From a pure story and writing perspective, there were a couple of significant stumbling blocks, from the awkward narration to the stunted pacing, and some of the writing and stylistic choices.
Let’s start with the narration, shall we? Iron Hearted Violet is narrated by the court storyteller, who frequently interjects with his opinions, with some foreshadowing (as he’s telling the story after the fact), and his own touches at wit and humor. Unfortunately, the result is a bit strange and uneven, as the storyteller’s actual importance and presence in the story wavers. There were times in the book where the storyteller would disappear and I would forget altogether that we had a character narrator – only to be jarred out of that experience when the storyteller would appear again suddenly, breaking the fourth wall. (This is to say nothing of the fact that the storyteller cannot possibly have seen/known everything that he did, so there’s an authenticity problem, too.)
Compounding this narrative shakiness is the problem of pacing, the actual writing style and execution. From a pacing perspective, while the majority of the story is told in longer direct chapters, the middle portion of the book was filled with shorter, choppier chapters often ending with different characters muttering ominously about signs before vanishing or dramatically leaving. For example:
“Come, Moth,” she said briskly. “We have work to do.” And they turned their faces into the sighing wind and vanished in the gloom.
“Demetrius? Where are you going?” But it was too late. Demetrius ran past the stables and disappeared from sight.
Help me, Cassian, mouthed her lips. And Violet vanished from sight.
“THREE!” Moth shouted, and with the three small creatures clinging to his clothing, Demetrius launched into the darkness and fell into the pit.
Meanwhile, at the end of other chapters, some characters grin evilly in the dark:
And in the darkness, a single eye – bright and hot like an ember – blinked once, twice, and glowed open.
And from its prison, the Nybbas grinned its yellow grin. NOW, it crowed. NOW, NOW, NOW.
Needless to say, when every chapter ends this way for chapters on end, these dramatic gestures kind of lose their impact.
Stylistically (and perhaps this is a nitpick but it was confusing and jarring for me so I think worth mentioning), a subset of special characters were defined by their speech reflected in ALL CAPS. The frustrating thing about this choice is that these are all very different characters – one is The Nybbas, one is a Dragon, and one is another God. Perhaps a different font choice would have been a better way to differentiate between these varied characters? Your mileage may vary.
Finally, I cannot, cannot end this review without reiterating everything Ana has already said regarding the illustrations. Violet is very pointedly, very importantly NOT a perfect, pretty princess. She, in fact, is repeatedly described as being very unattractive and growing uglier by the day, with mismatched and mis-sized eyes, coarse and unruly hair, with freckles and moles, a chipped tooth, and a pug nose. Her appearance and her obsession with becoming a beautiful “real” princess is a huge, central point of this book.
You see the problem? What kind of bizarre, contradictory message is this sending by drawing Violet as a perky, pretty princess?! It baffles the mind as to why anyone would allow this representation of Violet in the final book as it is so blatantly contrary to on of the core themes of the story (essentially saying, to me, maybe we can WRITE about ugly princesses but no one really wants to SEE anyone that isn’t beautiful in the accompanying illustrations.).I should add that Kelly Barnhill is not the illustrator of this book (that would be Iacopo Bruno). We should also say that we have no idea as to whether or not Kelly Barnhill had any input regarding the book’s illustrations.
Needless to say, it was incredibly distracting, disappointing, and deeply disheartening.
The end of their world begins with a story – and with a birth. Princess Violet was born to supportive parents and a loving kingdom. She is smart, loves telling stories and enjoys adventures with her one friend Demetrius.
But, as it just so happens, Violet is not a True Fairytale Princess (TFP) because as we all know, TFP are impossibly beautiful and Violet is no such thing. With her mismatched eyes, lopsided face, blotchy skin and unruly hair, she is far from perfection. Still, nobody cares about Violet’s looks because everybody loves her so much.
Until that is, darkness starts to spread around Violet’s world. It all begins with a hidden book and an untold story. A forgotten God, imprisoned by Mirrors, whose diminishing power is reborn. All of a sudden, whispers start and they say ugly things about Violet. That maybe it is her fault that things are going so bad. That maybe she is not a True Princess at all. And she believes it. And makes a wish that might end their world forever.
This is a story about what being a True Princess really means. But also about the power of storytelling and of friendship and about the last dragon in existence.
I am on the fence about Iron Hearted Violet. There are several things that commend it. The strength of its female characters is one of them. In this world, women occupy positions of power (including within the army) very naturally and without it being an issue. Violet herself is a worthy protagonist and I loved her arc and her learning journey about what it takes to be a real princess and how to assume responsibility for one’s kingdom. I loved the importance given to loyalty and friendship as well as the thematic core of the novel and the importance of stories and storytelling. One of the biggest draws for me was the narrator – omniscient and intrusive, self-aggrandising but often self-deprecating (which was super fun to read) – but what was a draw for me personally, might well be a turn off for other readers as it often happens with narrative choices such as these.
That said, I continuously questioned the “truths” portrayed in the novel and some of the internal rules of the story seemed rather…illogical?
For example: even though we are told over and over again how this is a Good Kingdom, and how Violet is loved by everybody, Violet is still completely friendless apart from her friendship with Demetrius. That doesn’t make sense within the confines of the book – unless you consider how for the story to actually work, Violet needed be a lonely girl which just means that her loneliness is an extremely contrived plot point.
Another point that confused me is the story behind the creation of the world and the forgotten God, The Nybbas. On the one hand, nobody could talk about the The Nybbas because the story has established that merely speaking about it means giving it power. On the other hand, the other Gods who imprisoned him (they couldn’t kill the God for good for…reasons) seemed to be counting on the fact that The Nybbas would make a comeback which can only mean that people would talk about it. It is a nonsensical conundrum if I have ever seen one.
One of the main themes of the story is how the idea that a Princess must always be Impossibly Beautiful (i.e. too long, heavy hair, tiny feet which makes walking properly impossible, etc) is made fun of and is often criticized. The book pokes fun at classical stories where Beauty is the sole defining characteristic of princesses and it makes a point of showing that Violet, despite not being classically beautiful (quite the contrary) was in fact, a True Princess because of her actions. This is all well and good and definitely a good message to impart. But I wished that the book had been a little bit clearer about the fact that being beautiful does not necessarily translate into being evil either.
Finally, the biggest flaw of Iron Hearted Violet stems from the very thing that the story is criticising and how its illustrations failure to conform with the story that this book is telling. The illustrations here are important and a part of the storytelling and yet….all of its illustrations of Violet as well as its cover do NOT show her as she is described. The fact that the entire book is illustrated with Violet as a beautiful girl basically undermines the very thematic core of the book. It drove me to distraction to be honest and made me so mad that this book is being sold with these illustrations that do not match the character. This to me, despite its strengths, effectively derailed the story.
Thea’s Take:
I’m of a very similar mind when it comes to Iron Heated Violet. On the one hand, as Ana says, I love the idea and core conceit behind this book. I mean, you have a princess that is loved no matter WHAT she looks like, who discovers that being a true princess has nothing to do with her appearance and everything to do with her heart and strength and character! That is an amazing message! There’s also a cool (in theory) fantasy element with multiple universes, multiple gods, dragons without hearts, and mischief aplenty. All of this (again, in theory) is fantastic.
BUT.
There is a big BUT. There are a number of issues with regard to execution. I agree with basically everything Ana has outlined above, and won’t rehash anything (except when it comes to the illustrations, but more on that in a bit). From a pure story and writing perspective, there were a couple of significant stumbling blocks, from the awkward narration to the stunted pacing, and some of the writing and stylistic choices.
Let’s start with the narration, shall we? Iron Hearted Violet is narrated by the court storyteller, who frequently interjects with his opinions, with some foreshadowing (as he’s telling the story after the fact), and his own touches at wit and humor. Unfortunately, the result is a bit strange and uneven, as the storyteller’s actual importance and presence in the story wavers. There were times in the book where the storyteller would disappear and I would forget altogether that we had a character narrator – only to be jarred out of that experience when the storyteller would appear again suddenly, breaking the fourth wall. (This is to say nothing of the fact that the storyteller cannot possibly have seen/known everything that he did, so there’s an authenticity problem, too.)
Compounding this narrative shakiness is the problem of pacing, the actual writing style and execution. From a pacing perspective, while the majority of the story is told in longer direct chapters, the middle portion of the book was filled with shorter, choppier chapters often ending with different characters muttering ominously about signs before vanishing or dramatically leaving. For example:
“Come, Moth,” she said briskly. “We have work to do.” And they turned their faces into the sighing wind and vanished in the gloom.
“Demetrius? Where are you going?” But it was too late. Demetrius ran past the stables and disappeared from sight.
Help me, Cassian, mouthed her lips. And Violet vanished from sight.
“THREE!” Moth shouted, and with the three small creatures clinging to his clothing, Demetrius launched into the darkness and fell into the pit.
Meanwhile, at the end of other chapters, some characters grin evilly in the dark:
And in the darkness, a single eye – bright and hot like an ember – blinked once, twice, and glowed open.
And from its prison, the Nybbas grinned its yellow grin. NOW, it crowed. NOW, NOW, NOW.
Needless to say, when every chapter ends this way for chapters on end, these dramatic gestures kind of lose their impact.
Stylistically (and perhaps this is a nitpick but it was confusing and jarring for me so I think worth mentioning), a subset of special characters were defined by their speech reflected in ALL CAPS. The frustrating thing about this choice is that these are all very different characters – one is The Nybbas, one is a Dragon, and one is another God. Perhaps a different font choice would have been a better way to differentiate between these varied characters? Your mileage may vary.
Finally, I cannot, cannot end this review without reiterating everything Ana has already said regarding the illustrations. Violet is very pointedly, very importantly NOT a perfect, pretty princess. She, in fact, is repeatedly described as being very unattractive and growing uglier by the day, with mismatched and mis-sized eyes, coarse and unruly hair, with freckles and moles, a chipped tooth, and a pug nose. Her appearance and her obsession with becoming a beautiful “real” princess is a huge, central point of this book.
You see the problem? What kind of bizarre, contradictory message is this sending by drawing Violet as a perky, pretty princess?! It baffles the mind as to why anyone would allow this representation of Violet in the final book as it is so blatantly contrary to on of the core themes of the story (essentially saying, to me, maybe we can WRITE about ugly princesses but no one really wants to SEE anyone that isn’t beautiful in the accompanying illustrations.).I should add that Kelly Barnhill is not the illustrator of this book (that would be Iacopo Bruno). We should also say that we have no idea as to whether or not Kelly Barnhill had any input regarding the book’s illustrations.
Needless to say, it was incredibly distracting, disappointing, and deeply disheartening.
April 4, 2021
2,5 Sterne von einer verwirrten Kadda
Eigentlich war es ein gutes Buch, der Schreibstil hat mir jedenfalls sehr gut gefallen und die Figuren waren auch sympathisch.
Ab der Mitte ging es aber leider etwas bergab, es gab Längen und außerdem hab ich vieles einfach nicht gerafft😅 die Pläne des Nybbas waren mir total schleierhaft, ich hab sie zwar zur Kenntnis genommen aber den Sinn dahinter überhaupt nicht begriffen🙈
Außerdem kam es mir total spanisch vor, warum Drache und Violet plötzlich von Liebe sprechen (Häääääääh?) dann hieß es, der König würde nie mehr zurückkehren, aber er war nachher wieder da? Und was hat Violets aussehen überhaupt mit der ganzen Sache zu tun?
Vielleicht verstehen das ja alle außer mir🤔
Bis zur Hälfte war das Buch jedenfalls super, dann ging es leider irgendwie daneben. Schade.
Eigentlich war es ein gutes Buch, der Schreibstil hat mir jedenfalls sehr gut gefallen und die Figuren waren auch sympathisch.
Ab der Mitte ging es aber leider etwas bergab, es gab Längen und außerdem hab ich vieles einfach nicht gerafft😅 die Pläne des Nybbas waren mir total schleierhaft, ich hab sie zwar zur Kenntnis genommen aber den Sinn dahinter überhaupt nicht begriffen🙈
Außerdem kam es mir total spanisch vor, warum Drache und Violet plötzlich von Liebe sprechen (Häääääääh?) dann hieß es, der König würde nie mehr zurückkehren, aber er war nachher wieder da? Und was hat Violets aussehen überhaupt mit der ganzen Sache zu tun?
Vielleicht verstehen das ja alle außer mir🤔
Bis zur Hälfte war das Buch jedenfalls super, dann ging es leider irgendwie daneben. Schade.
August 9, 2014
How did I not know this book existed until a month ago? It's been out two years! It has a dragon and a little red haired girl on the cover! And it's wonderful! A fascinating and unusual fantasy, like a fairy tale, or a story by E. Nesbit, with strange and wonderful dragon lore. A must read for fans of dragons, magic, and adventure!
December 24, 2017
3.5 stars. Lacking some of the charm of Barnhill's more recent "The Girl who Drank the Moon", this story took longer to engage me but I did find about a third of the way in I did want to know how things would turn out for Violet.
Interesting points raised by Kelly Barnhill about the damage stories prioritizing beauty of the girl/princess over sense and intelligence, cause incredible harm to Violet and countless others in her land. Violet does grow terrifically over the course of this story, and I also really liked how there are women in a variety of martial and other positions in the kingdom and it's no big deal. And it was refreshing to read a story where the heroine isn't pretty, in fact, is pfairly plain, and succeeds because she uses her brain and decides to be brave and finds a way to deal with a dangerous being.
Interesting points raised by Kelly Barnhill about the damage stories prioritizing beauty of the girl/princess over sense and intelligence, cause incredible harm to Violet and countless others in her land. Violet does grow terrifically over the course of this story, and I also really liked how there are women in a variety of martial and other positions in the kingdom and it's no big deal. And it was refreshing to read a story where the heroine isn't pretty, in fact, is pfairly plain, and succeeds because she uses her brain and decides to be brave and finds a way to deal with a dangerous being.
June 8, 2015
3 stars for me
4 stars for the age group it's intended for...
4 stars for the age group it's intended for...
April 16, 2019
This book is what I would like to call a bait and switch. The book jacket promises me a friendship between Princess Violet and Demetrius, and it also promises me a dragon. There are a few chapters in the beginning that show their friendship, but for most of the book the two main characters aren’t speaking. Furthermore, dragon has no significant involvement for at least 330 pages. In fact, we should say that very little happens for
Other items promised on the book jacket:
Iron Hearted Violet is a story of a princess unlike any other.
For a book that came out in 2012, this is a dated trope. I don’t know that many people anymore who expect a princess to fit a mold. In this book, this means the princess is ugly.
This book specifically focuses on the looks of two characters, and unsurprisingly, they’re both female. The other character is Violet’s mother, a Queen, with the emphasis placed on needing to be attractive in order to rule a country. Strangely enough, there is no focus on the King’s looks, or Demetrius’ looks, or the looks of anyone else. There is so much focus on Violet’s looks in this book, and this turns out to be a major plot focus as well. She’s also like…10 years old, which makes this even more discomforting.
While this book is middle grade, I can’t see a middle grade reader enjoying this book, since it takes so very long for anything to happen. I would expect an unconventional princess to be figuring out plans to take out the villain and befriending a dangerous dragon. Instead, Violet spends a lot of time pining over her looks and snapping at people. The last fourth finally gave us some much-needed action, but it felt too little, too late after 300 slow pages.
Other items promised on the book jacket:
Iron Hearted Violet is a story of a princess unlike any other.
For a book that came out in 2012, this is a dated trope. I don’t know that many people anymore who expect a princess to fit a mold. In this book, this means the princess is ugly.
This book specifically focuses on the looks of two characters, and unsurprisingly, they’re both female. The other character is Violet’s mother, a Queen, with the emphasis placed on needing to be attractive in order to rule a country. Strangely enough, there is no focus on the King’s looks, or Demetrius’ looks, or the looks of anyone else. There is so much focus on Violet’s looks in this book, and this turns out to be a major plot focus as well. She’s also like…10 years old, which makes this even more discomforting.
While this book is middle grade, I can’t see a middle grade reader enjoying this book, since it takes so very long for anything to happen. I would expect an unconventional princess to be figuring out plans to take out the villain and befriending a dangerous dragon. Instead, Violet spends a lot of time pining over her looks and snapping at people. The last fourth finally gave us some much-needed action, but it felt too little, too late after 300 slow pages.
October 9, 2019
Hach meine Lieben,
dieses Buch war ein Genuss! Es bekommt von mir 4,5 von 5 Sternen. Ein wunderschönes Märchen, mit dem perfekten Schreibstil zum wegträumen. Ich hätte mir zwischendrin ein wenig mehr Tiefe bzgl allen Charakteren gewünscht und eventuell ein wenig detaillierteres world building, aber letztendlich dennoch absolut verdiente 4,5 Sterne. Das Buch hat mich Träumen lassen, ich habe mich absolut wohl gefühlt und bin durch die Seiten geflogen.
Empfehlenswert ☺️☺️👍
dieses Buch war ein Genuss! Es bekommt von mir 4,5 von 5 Sternen. Ein wunderschönes Märchen, mit dem perfekten Schreibstil zum wegträumen. Ich hätte mir zwischendrin ein wenig mehr Tiefe bzgl allen Charakteren gewünscht und eventuell ein wenig detaillierteres world building, aber letztendlich dennoch absolut verdiente 4,5 Sterne. Das Buch hat mich Träumen lassen, ich habe mich absolut wohl gefühlt und bin durch die Seiten geflogen.
Empfehlenswert ☺️☺️👍
September 2, 2023
Pradžioje atrodžiusi kaip gana tiesmukai vaikiška, vėliau knyga ir vėl tapo tokia, kokias rašo #KellyBarnhill , viena puikiausių vaikiškų rašytojų. Šviesa puslapiuose. Pasauliu, kuriame noriu gyventi aš pats ir noriu, kad gyventų mano vaikai. Istorija, kurią įdomu patirti, kad ir kokia baisi ir žiauri ji būtų. #Recom #LEBooks #IronHeartedViolet
January 3, 2023
DNF at 30%
Definitely not on the same level as the author's latest works.
Better suited for a way younger reader.
Definitely not on the same level as the author's latest works.
Better suited for a way younger reader.
February 8, 2016
A few things...this is not a traditional fairy tale, does not have a traditional princess, and does not have a happily ever after ending. Sweet, bring it on, right? Wrong. All of these things are premises that this story stands on, however the actual story doesn't live up to the premise.
I found the characters annoying, whiny, and selfish. The grass is greener on the other side could have been the subtitle to this book. All the typical stereotypes of fairy tales were used as downfalls, but it wasn't clear that any of the characters learned from all the craziness instead it was blamed on the evil god...someone made me do it. There was a too quick, too unsatisfying wrap-up that only pleased me because I was tired of the whining and ready for the book to end.
I found the characters annoying, whiny, and selfish. The grass is greener on the other side could have been the subtitle to this book. All the typical stereotypes of fairy tales were used as downfalls, but it wasn't clear that any of the characters learned from all the craziness instead it was blamed on the evil god...someone made me do it. There was a too quick, too unsatisfying wrap-up that only pleased me because I was tired of the whining and ready for the book to end.
April 6, 2017
Enjoyable read overal, but I did find that the story fell flat in multiple places.
Actual Ratings: 2.75
Actual Ratings: 2.75
January 24, 2023
Augindama dukrą nori nenori savo dideles simpatijas skiriu kūriniams, kurių superherojės - mergaitės. Gana tu supermenų, spaidermenų ir kitų menų. Noriu skaityti ir skleisti žinią savo dukrai, kad mergaitės gali viską. Taigi, pirmas pliusiukas šiai knygai jau yra.
Kas toliau? O toliau jūsų laukia dauuug nuotykių. Autorė nukelia mus į nuotykingą Violetos karalystę. Oi kiek daug visko čia laukia. Šiek tiek buvo momentų, kurie asociavosi su Hariu Poteriu, bet bendrai, tikiu, kad autorei pavyko sukurti puikią istoriją. Tai duodam dar vieną pliusą.
Ir dar vienas momentas. Jeigu įprastai princesės gražios, nerealios ir tobulos, tai Violeta nuostabi kitaip - ji savita. Jos plaukai netobuli, veidas irgi, ji klysta ir mokosi, bet visi ją myli. Taip, aš manau, autorė siunčia dar vieną labai svarbią žinutę - tobulu būti nereikia. Būkite savimi ir būsite mylimi bei priimti.
Labai graži ir prasminga, šiek tiek Hario Poterio nuotykius primenanti knygelė, kuri savyje talpina daug puikių žinučių ir didelę dozę skaitymo malonumo. Rekomenduoju vaikams nuo 11 metų.
Kas toliau? O toliau jūsų laukia dauuug nuotykių. Autorė nukelia mus į nuotykingą Violetos karalystę. Oi kiek daug visko čia laukia. Šiek tiek buvo momentų, kurie asociavosi su Hariu Poteriu, bet bendrai, tikiu, kad autorei pavyko sukurti puikią istoriją. Tai duodam dar vieną pliusą.
Ir dar vienas momentas. Jeigu įprastai princesės gražios, nerealios ir tobulos, tai Violeta nuostabi kitaip - ji savita. Jos plaukai netobuli, veidas irgi, ji klysta ir mokosi, bet visi ją myli. Taip, aš manau, autorė siunčia dar vieną labai svarbią žinutę - tobulu būti nereikia. Būkite savimi ir būsite mylimi bei priimti.
Labai graži ir prasminga, šiek tiek Hario Poterio nuotykius primenanti knygelė, kuri savyje talpina daug puikių žinučių ir didelę dozę skaitymo malonumo. Rekomenduoju vaikams nuo 11 metų.
January 15, 2013
Pug nose, blotchy skin, mismatched eyes... meet the ugly princess. Now that's an interesting premise. Ignore the illustrations that make ugly Princess Violet look cute. Obviously, the artist didn't get the theme in this enjoyable fantasy. Violet has a strong personality, quick mind, and mouth. She's likable and strong-willed with a best friend, Demetrius, whom she explores the castle with on a daily basis. The castle is alive and has corridors that grow, shrink, and move making their adventures exciting. When the two stumble upon an ominous painting they release an evil into the world that threatens to destroy humankind. They must look within themselves to save the world.
I couldn't put this book down. Kelly Barnhill writes with a lot of action and tension. Her plot points aren't always clear, but overall I find her stories quite different and entertaining. The narrator tells the story in first person omniscient and then there is a switch to 3rd person with other characters. The narrator is the court storyteller and he weaves the story with humor, self-deprecation, and foreshadowing. He disappears in the middle of the story but he's a coward and it takes him longer to find courage than Violet and Demetrius so it didn't bother me. Some might find it jarring when he jumps back into the mix after an absence.
Themes of friendship, loyalty, heroism, love, internal strength versus looks, kindness, importance of stories and more are sprinkled throughout this novel. There is plenty to discuss and the creation story is unique. The dragon steals the show with its wisdom and humor and I wanted him to whisper in the king's mind the wrongness of enslaving him. I understood that the Nybbas used mirrors to control people but I didn't quite understand why the queen got sick and how she knew the future. There was no mirror involved with her so it wasn't clear how the Nybbas was working his magic. I also wanted more of an explanation of the creatures that came out of the Mountain King's mirror and their history with the Nybbas. The story with the old gods and the Nybbas needed more hashing out, but it didn't keep me from reading the entire book in one sitting. A fun fantasy.
Reading Level 6.5
I couldn't put this book down. Kelly Barnhill writes with a lot of action and tension. Her plot points aren't always clear, but overall I find her stories quite different and entertaining. The narrator tells the story in first person omniscient and then there is a switch to 3rd person with other characters. The narrator is the court storyteller and he weaves the story with humor, self-deprecation, and foreshadowing. He disappears in the middle of the story but he's a coward and it takes him longer to find courage than Violet and Demetrius so it didn't bother me. Some might find it jarring when he jumps back into the mix after an absence.
Themes of friendship, loyalty, heroism, love, internal strength versus looks, kindness, importance of stories and more are sprinkled throughout this novel. There is plenty to discuss and the creation story is unique. The dragon steals the show with its wisdom and humor and I wanted him to whisper in the king's mind the wrongness of enslaving him. I understood that the Nybbas used mirrors to control people but I didn't quite understand why the queen got sick and how she knew the future. There was no mirror involved with her so it wasn't clear how the Nybbas was working his magic. I also wanted more of an explanation of the creatures that came out of the Mountain King's mirror and their history with the Nybbas. The story with the old gods and the Nybbas needed more hashing out, but it didn't keep me from reading the entire book in one sitting. A fun fantasy.
Reading Level 6.5
May 31, 2016
Well, I won't be heartless and give Iron Heart Violet any star less. A full 5 it is.
Who am I to search for a flaw in such flawless storytelling? This story could go many places, but it kept being simple and to the point. It showed friendship, family bond, ruthless god, treachery, dragons, love, hope and many more. Written in a magical way this story became enhanced furthermore.
When all fairy tale stars with a beautiful princess, prosperous or in trouble kingdom and so on, this particular story told a different turn. It started with an ugly princess, with her ability to make stories and being elegant at the same time. Then she made a friend, her only friend. Slowly the darkness came upon. Their world crumbled and things must then be done to save everyone. The princess needs to stand her ground.
Overall growth of Princess Violet and her lone friend Demetrius was so down to earth. The narrator also had important parts to play within the story. The king and the queen each had their role, but of course they could have done more (specially the queen).
Many quotes captured my heart easily. I will mention one at least ...
Anyways, enough chit chat, and zit-zat, just go already and read this book. My words won't do justice to it. Just remember, Kelly Barnhilll is a phenomenal storyteller. And this is indeed a great story.
Who am I to search for a flaw in such flawless storytelling? This story could go many places, but it kept being simple and to the point. It showed friendship, family bond, ruthless god, treachery, dragons, love, hope and many more. Written in a magical way this story became enhanced furthermore.
When all fairy tale stars with a beautiful princess, prosperous or in trouble kingdom and so on, this particular story told a different turn. It started with an ugly princess, with her ability to make stories and being elegant at the same time. Then she made a friend, her only friend. Slowly the darkness came upon. Their world crumbled and things must then be done to save everyone. The princess needs to stand her ground.
Overall growth of Princess Violet and her lone friend Demetrius was so down to earth. The narrator also had important parts to play within the story. The king and the queen each had their role, but of course they could have done more (specially the queen).
Many quotes captured my heart easily. I will mention one at least ...
Even the most intelligent designer relies upon trial and error to discover the best solution. Intelligence does not mean infallibility, nor does it mean immobility. Intelligence means the ability to learn.
Anyways, enough chit chat, and zit-zat, just go already and read this book. My words won't do justice to it. Just remember, Kelly Barnhilll is a phenomenal storyteller. And this is indeed a great story.
Read
July 10, 2020It took me a month and a half to get through Iron Hearted Violet, not because it's a bad book, but because it's not the right sort of book for me. I'd recommend this fantasy to readers who enjoy a high concept and unique storytelling. The characterization was on the weaker side, however, so I never fully invested, despite admiring the world building and writing.
One other note: it bothered me that the illustrations (which are lovely) depict Violet, who is described as ugly or, at best, plain, as this absolutely gorgeous, perfect girl. I expected the illustrations to add to the story for me, but they ended up detracting and adding to my feeling that the character development was insufficient.
One other note: it bothered me that the illustrations (which are lovely) depict Violet, who is described as ugly or, at best, plain, as this absolutely gorgeous, perfect girl. I expected the illustrations to add to the story for me, but they ended up detracting and adding to my feeling that the character development was insufficient.
April 2, 2020
This was lovely, so I've rounded up 3.5 stars, even though it became very... proclamation-y, towards the end, and I found that a bit jarring. The actual ending was also an odd choice, but I think it worked. On the dark side for the age range it's aimed at (lots of death) but still, admirable depictions of parenting, friendships, responsibilities. And there's a dragon, so 👍🏻
May 13, 2020
I read this with my 10 year old daughter. It was a fun, unexpected princess and dragon story.
September 9, 2019
🌚👸🏼Rezensionsexemplar👸🏼🌚
(unbezahlte Werbung)
-Fischer / SAUERLÄNDER-
👸🏼💫🌚Das Mädchen mit dem Herz aus Gold🌚💫👸🏼
Autorin: Kelly Barnhill
Übersetzerin: Ilse Layer
Verlag: Fischer Sauerlaender
Preis: 16€, Gebundenes Buch mit Schutzumschlag
Seiten: 384 Seiten
ISBN: 978-3737356800
Alter: ab 10 Jahren
Erscheinungsdatum: 28. August 2019
5 Von 5 Sternen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Absolutes Herzensbuch!"
💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼
Inhaltsangabe:
Entnommen von: www.fischerverlage.de
Die allerwichtigste Eigenschaft von Märchenprinzessinnen ist es, schön zu sein (was für ein Unsinn!). In dieser Geschichte jedoch ist alles anders. Prinzessin Violet ist vieles: großherzig, mutig und gerecht. Nur schön ist sie nicht. Böse Zungen streuen Zweifel: Kann ein solches Mädchen die rechtmäßige Prinzessin sein? Eines Tages entdeckt Violet im Schloss eine geheime Kammer. Seit ewigen Zeiten schlummert hier ein verbotenes Buch. Wer es liest, weckt ein böses Wesen auf: den Nybbas. Violet kann der Magie des Buches nicht widerstehen und befreit den Nybbas aus seinem Gefängnis. Er bietet der Prinzessin einen Handel an: ewige Schönheit gegen einen klitzekleinen Gefallen. Als ob so etwas jemals gut gegangen wäre …
💫
Ein spannendes Abenteuer über die Macht von Geschichten, die Sehnsucht nach einfachen Antworten – und die heilsame Botschaft, dass am Ende trotzdem das Gute triumphiert.
Nach »Das Mädchen, das den Mond trank« ein weiteres brillantes Werk von Kelly Barnhill
💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼
Weitere Informationen:
https://www.fischerverlage.de/buch/ke...
💫
https://www.fischerverlage.de/autor/k...
💫
https://instagram.com/sfischerverlage...
💫
https://instagram.com/fischertorverla...
💫
https://www.facebook.com/FISCHERTORVE...
💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼
Hallo ihr Süßen💕
Ich durfte schon das erste Buch von Kelly Barnhill "Das Mädchen, das den Mond trank" lesen und war dort schon absolut begeistert. Denn Kelly Barnhill hat eine aussergewöhnliche Art Geschichten zu erzählen. Sie schreibt voller Poesie und es gleicht einem Märchen und doch ist in ihren Erzählungen immer so viel wichtiges und man sollte öfters zwischen den Zeilen lesen, denn dort entdeckt man noch so einiges mehr. Aber auch schon die eigentlichen Handlungen, sind einfach nur der Wahnsinn. Bei beiden Büchern war und bin ich absolut begeistert und würde vollkommen in die Geschichten gesogen und in ihrem Bann gefangen. *Das Mädchen mit dem Herz aus Gold*, schon alleine dieser Titel macht dieses Buch zu etwas ganz besonderem. Er enthält nämlich alles was in diesem Buch Thematisiert wird.Dazu das atemberaubende Fantastische und Märchenhafte Cover und das Buch ist nahezu Perfekt. Es ist eine Märchenhafte Fantastische Geschichte ab 10 Jahre und doch enthält sie so viele wichtige Botschaften. Denn hier geht es um nichts geringeres als ein "Herz aus Gold". Es geht um ein junges Mädchen, um ein Mädchen das der Etikette und der Vorstellung der Menschen in dieser Welt nicht entspricht. Denn alle aus diesem Buch denken, daß eine wahre Prinzessin und später Königin, nur ein junges Mädchen sein kann was Bildschöne und atemberaubend aussieht. Aber ist dies wirklich so? Macht Schönheit, auch gleichzeitig eine Prinzessin aus dir? Dazu braucht man sich nur unendlich viele Märchen anzusehen und Filme anzuschauen. Entspricht nicht immer nur Schönheit dem Ideal Bild einer Prinzessin? Leider Ja! In den meisten Legenden und Märchen ist dem so, auch in diesem Buch, jedoch sehen das nur die Menschen um Violet so. Denn für die Menschen in diesem Buch ist die Protagonistin Violet, keine wahre Prinzessin, nein sie beschimpfen sie zugleich als Hässlich und unwürdig. Aber was macht eine wahre Prinzessin aus?.. Ein Herz aus Gold! Denn nicht die äußerliche Schönheit zählt, nein viel mehr was im Herzen jeder einzelnen Person steckt und genau das versucht die Autorin Kelly Barnhill uns in ihrem neuen Buch mitzuteilen! Manchmal sieht ein Blinder mehr als ein Sehender. Und manchmal kann ein kleines Mädchen, zu einer wahren Prinzessin werden, ganz egal wie sie auch aussehen mag! Einfach ein wahres Highlight und neues Herzensbuch von mir! Lieben Gruß Sonja/Shaaniel
(unbezahlte Werbung)
-Fischer / SAUERLÄNDER-
👸🏼💫🌚Das Mädchen mit dem Herz aus Gold🌚💫👸🏼
Autorin: Kelly Barnhill
Übersetzerin: Ilse Layer
Verlag: Fischer Sauerlaender
Preis: 16€, Gebundenes Buch mit Schutzumschlag
Seiten: 384 Seiten
ISBN: 978-3737356800
Alter: ab 10 Jahren
Erscheinungsdatum: 28. August 2019
5 Von 5 Sternen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Absolutes Herzensbuch!"
💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼
Inhaltsangabe:
Entnommen von: www.fischerverlage.de
Die allerwichtigste Eigenschaft von Märchenprinzessinnen ist es, schön zu sein (was für ein Unsinn!). In dieser Geschichte jedoch ist alles anders. Prinzessin Violet ist vieles: großherzig, mutig und gerecht. Nur schön ist sie nicht. Böse Zungen streuen Zweifel: Kann ein solches Mädchen die rechtmäßige Prinzessin sein? Eines Tages entdeckt Violet im Schloss eine geheime Kammer. Seit ewigen Zeiten schlummert hier ein verbotenes Buch. Wer es liest, weckt ein böses Wesen auf: den Nybbas. Violet kann der Magie des Buches nicht widerstehen und befreit den Nybbas aus seinem Gefängnis. Er bietet der Prinzessin einen Handel an: ewige Schönheit gegen einen klitzekleinen Gefallen. Als ob so etwas jemals gut gegangen wäre …
💫
Ein spannendes Abenteuer über die Macht von Geschichten, die Sehnsucht nach einfachen Antworten – und die heilsame Botschaft, dass am Ende trotzdem das Gute triumphiert.
Nach »Das Mädchen, das den Mond trank« ein weiteres brillantes Werk von Kelly Barnhill
💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼
Weitere Informationen:
https://www.fischerverlage.de/buch/ke...
💫
https://www.fischerverlage.de/autor/k...
💫
https://instagram.com/sfischerverlage...
💫
https://instagram.com/fischertorverla...
💫
https://www.facebook.com/FISCHERTORVE...
💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼🌚💫👸🏼
Hallo ihr Süßen💕
Ich durfte schon das erste Buch von Kelly Barnhill "Das Mädchen, das den Mond trank" lesen und war dort schon absolut begeistert. Denn Kelly Barnhill hat eine aussergewöhnliche Art Geschichten zu erzählen. Sie schreibt voller Poesie und es gleicht einem Märchen und doch ist in ihren Erzählungen immer so viel wichtiges und man sollte öfters zwischen den Zeilen lesen, denn dort entdeckt man noch so einiges mehr. Aber auch schon die eigentlichen Handlungen, sind einfach nur der Wahnsinn. Bei beiden Büchern war und bin ich absolut begeistert und würde vollkommen in die Geschichten gesogen und in ihrem Bann gefangen. *Das Mädchen mit dem Herz aus Gold*, schon alleine dieser Titel macht dieses Buch zu etwas ganz besonderem. Er enthält nämlich alles was in diesem Buch Thematisiert wird.Dazu das atemberaubende Fantastische und Märchenhafte Cover und das Buch ist nahezu Perfekt. Es ist eine Märchenhafte Fantastische Geschichte ab 10 Jahre und doch enthält sie so viele wichtige Botschaften. Denn hier geht es um nichts geringeres als ein "Herz aus Gold". Es geht um ein junges Mädchen, um ein Mädchen das der Etikette und der Vorstellung der Menschen in dieser Welt nicht entspricht. Denn alle aus diesem Buch denken, daß eine wahre Prinzessin und später Königin, nur ein junges Mädchen sein kann was Bildschöne und atemberaubend aussieht. Aber ist dies wirklich so? Macht Schönheit, auch gleichzeitig eine Prinzessin aus dir? Dazu braucht man sich nur unendlich viele Märchen anzusehen und Filme anzuschauen. Entspricht nicht immer nur Schönheit dem Ideal Bild einer Prinzessin? Leider Ja! In den meisten Legenden und Märchen ist dem so, auch in diesem Buch, jedoch sehen das nur die Menschen um Violet so. Denn für die Menschen in diesem Buch ist die Protagonistin Violet, keine wahre Prinzessin, nein sie beschimpfen sie zugleich als Hässlich und unwürdig. Aber was macht eine wahre Prinzessin aus?.. Ein Herz aus Gold! Denn nicht die äußerliche Schönheit zählt, nein viel mehr was im Herzen jeder einzelnen Person steckt und genau das versucht die Autorin Kelly Barnhill uns in ihrem neuen Buch mitzuteilen! Manchmal sieht ein Blinder mehr als ein Sehender. Und manchmal kann ein kleines Mädchen, zu einer wahren Prinzessin werden, ganz egal wie sie auch aussehen mag! Einfach ein wahres Highlight und neues Herzensbuch von mir! Lieben Gruß Sonja/Shaaniel
August 1, 2017
*CONTAINS SPOILERS*
****TURN BACK NOW****
I was prepared to love this book. I ordered it a week after I discovered it here on GR. I counted the days until it arrived and quickly sunk my teeth into it. But alas, 'twas not meant to be.
IHV containes elements of Tad William's Shadowmarch series and the movie Dragonheart; but this book is not nearly as intriguing as either.
It resembles Shadowmarch in that there are also small human-like fae (for lack of a better word), and IHV has a god who lives deep underground, under the castle while Shadowmarch has a god under Funderling town; both have live-in storytellers. Shadowmarch also has evil beings in mirrors (though not exclusive to Shadowmarch, it adds up with the other elements). It doesn't bear a resemblence to Snow White because the mirror was not inherintly evil; this one is.
It is like Dragonheart for it's mumbo jumbo concerning dragons...and hearts. I won't go into depth, just watch the movie.
The danger presented by the Nybbas is vague; everyone acts crabby or unhappy, and that's about it; the war was not directly caused by the Nybbas. It was a result of Violet's father crossing the border of the Mountain King's kingdom, and things snowballed from there. The Nybbas played a part, but that was after the fact. And just what was in those stories Violet spent so much time reading?
And the children (13 years old or so) are so easily inclined to violence against the narrator, threatening his life with knives for telling his fanciful stories and not living up to their own expectations. Speaking of the narrator, what little we get to know about the narrator, at first, is that he is a powerful storyteller, loved by the court, and especially the princess; she seeks to spend every spare moment with him, and he is loyal to her in turn. BAM! He's a coward, the children (Violet and her friend) take turns menacing him, then the court turns on him and wants to send him to the dungeon. This is to illustrate how quickly emotions change. You COULD call him an unreliable narrator up to that point, saying that maybe he was lying about how much he was liked, but he didn't seem all that petulant or show other characteristics of someone trying to paint themselves in the best light; I think he was honest all along. Violet also hates the dragon and blames it, irrationally, for her mother's death and insults it to its face. They don't see each other for a while...then they love each other when they are reunited. Huh?
And calling everyone 'beloved' because it's 'proper' just gets on my nerves. They call everyone that! They don't use names, they say 'beloved'; and these citizens can talk to animals while those of other kingdoms can't. The kingdom of Andulan is just so perfect I want to vomit. La-dee-fricken'-da.
I could go on, but I'm writing on a smartphone, and writing this much has been a slow process compared to a laptop. Overall, this really amounts to a story written in the simple style of the Brothers Grimm, but stretched beyond the bounds of neccessity. Seriously, 300 pages, tops, would have been sufficient; my copy has 423 pages. Yeah. The novel is too long for the style it's written in, so who exactly is the target audience here? Whatever. Meh, I say!
****TURN BACK NOW****
I was prepared to love this book. I ordered it a week after I discovered it here on GR. I counted the days until it arrived and quickly sunk my teeth into it. But alas, 'twas not meant to be.
IHV containes elements of Tad William's Shadowmarch series and the movie Dragonheart; but this book is not nearly as intriguing as either.
It resembles Shadowmarch in that there are also small human-like fae (for lack of a better word), and IHV has a god who lives deep underground, under the castle while Shadowmarch has a god under Funderling town; both have live-in storytellers. Shadowmarch also has evil beings in mirrors (though not exclusive to Shadowmarch, it adds up with the other elements). It doesn't bear a resemblence to Snow White because the mirror was not inherintly evil; this one is.
It is like Dragonheart for it's mumbo jumbo concerning dragons...and hearts. I won't go into depth, just watch the movie.
The danger presented by the Nybbas is vague; everyone acts crabby or unhappy, and that's about it; the war was not directly caused by the Nybbas. It was a result of Violet's father crossing the border of the Mountain King's kingdom, and things snowballed from there. The Nybbas played a part, but that was after the fact. And just what was in those stories Violet spent so much time reading?
And the children (13 years old or so) are so easily inclined to violence against the narrator, threatening his life with knives for telling his fanciful stories and not living up to their own expectations. Speaking of the narrator, what little we get to know about the narrator, at first, is that he is a powerful storyteller, loved by the court, and especially the princess; she seeks to spend every spare moment with him, and he is loyal to her in turn. BAM! He's a coward, the children (Violet and her friend) take turns menacing him, then the court turns on him and wants to send him to the dungeon. This is to illustrate how quickly emotions change. You COULD call him an unreliable narrator up to that point, saying that maybe he was lying about how much he was liked, but he didn't seem all that petulant or show other characteristics of someone trying to paint themselves in the best light; I think he was honest all along. Violet also hates the dragon and blames it, irrationally, for her mother's death and insults it to its face. They don't see each other for a while...then they love each other when they are reunited. Huh?
And calling everyone 'beloved' because it's 'proper' just gets on my nerves. They call everyone that! They don't use names, they say 'beloved'; and these citizens can talk to animals while those of other kingdoms can't. The kingdom of Andulan is just so perfect I want to vomit. La-dee-fricken'-da.
I could go on, but I'm writing on a smartphone, and writing this much has been a slow process compared to a laptop. Overall, this really amounts to a story written in the simple style of the Brothers Grimm, but stretched beyond the bounds of neccessity. Seriously, 300 pages, tops, would have been sufficient; my copy has 423 pages. Yeah. The novel is too long for the style it's written in, so who exactly is the target audience here? Whatever. Meh, I say!
flipped-to-the-end
October 11, 2012This story is told via the device of a court storyteller (one who keeps addressing the reader as "my dears"), and has a strong fairytale air, mixed with an epic fantasy plot. It is the tale of both Violet and Demetrius, as well as the storyteller.
Violet is an intelligent, lively, curious, mischievous princess, born to loving parents after many miscarriages, who happens to have very curly hair, uneven skin, an average sized body, mismatched eyes and a not precisely symmetrical face. She's not exactly ugly (certainly not in the illustrations throughout the book), but she doesn't meet the incredibly high standards of fairytale princesses, and though she's apparently loved by her family and the land's people, occasional slips of the tongue have served to make her keenly aware of failing to live up to impossible standards of beauty, and thus she feels deep-down that she's not a "real" princess. [Note: this kingdom has men and women serving in the military, and Violet is its only heir, but she's never shown learning how to run the kingdom other than when she's worried about her mother and keeping close to her, and there's no actual reason why she needs to be beautiful beyond that in stories princesses are beautiful.]
Demetrius is the head groom's son, shy, assured, loving. He becomes Violet's only friend (given that the people of the kingdom theoretically adore her, I have no idea why she has no other friends). They get up to mischief until they find a hidden library and a book which allows the Nybbas - an exiled god whose history is verbotim - to worm its way into Violet's heart, play on her belief that she's not a real princess, and try to escape its prison, taking advantage of the Demetrius' absence on a dragon hunt led by a king (who has grown obsessed with that dying race).
The Nybbas is evil because it's evil. Demetrius is impossibly good. The Queen is fridged. Violet gets to be taught a lesson that beauty is not what real princesses are made of.
I really didn't connect to this book. The storyteller's voice definitely didn't work for me, and I didn't warm to any of the characters.
Violet is an intelligent, lively, curious, mischievous princess, born to loving parents after many miscarriages, who happens to have very curly hair, uneven skin, an average sized body, mismatched eyes and a not precisely symmetrical face. She's not exactly ugly (certainly not in the illustrations throughout the book), but she doesn't meet the incredibly high standards of fairytale princesses, and though she's apparently loved by her family and the land's people, occasional slips of the tongue have served to make her keenly aware of failing to live up to impossible standards of beauty, and thus she feels deep-down that she's not a "real" princess. [Note: this kingdom has men and women serving in the military, and Violet is its only heir, but she's never shown learning how to run the kingdom other than when she's worried about her mother and keeping close to her, and there's no actual reason why she needs to be beautiful beyond that in stories princesses are beautiful.]
Demetrius is the head groom's son, shy, assured, loving. He becomes Violet's only friend (given that the people of the kingdom theoretically adore her, I have no idea why she has no other friends). They get up to mischief until they find a hidden library and a book which allows the Nybbas - an exiled god whose history is verbotim - to worm its way into Violet's heart, play on her belief that she's not a real princess, and try to escape its prison, taking advantage of the Demetrius' absence on a dragon hunt led by a king (who has grown obsessed with that dying race).
The Nybbas is evil because it's evil. Demetrius is impossibly good. The Queen is fridged. Violet gets to be taught a lesson that beauty is not what real princesses are made of.
I really didn't connect to this book. The storyteller's voice definitely didn't work for me, and I didn't warm to any of the characters.
November 21, 2019
Dieses Buch gehört zu denen, das mich erstens wegen dem Cover angesprochen hat und zweitens wurde es empfohlen. Da kann ich nicht wirklich widerstehen. Und was soll ich sagen, außer: Es hat sich gelohnt.
Die Autorin hat eine düstere Geschichte erschaffen, die mich mit einem absolut tollen Schreibstil über die Seiten geführt hat. Dazu kommt, dass dem Leser die Story vom königlichen Geschichtenerzähler Cassian persönlich vorgetragen wird. Ich fand diese Umsetzung richtig bezaubernd und märchenhaft. Dieses Märchen ist aber auch düster und hat nicht nur rosa Wölkchen. Denn im Märchen gibt es auch immer das Böse. So auch hier und es geht auch nicht Alles gut aus. Genau das machte es aber auch besonders für mich.
Der Verlauf der Handlung ist aufregend, aber traurig und tragisch. Violet ist nämlich auch anders als Prinzessinnen, die man sonst so aus Geschichten und Märchen kennt. Normalerweise sind die Prinzessinen immer schön und brav. Unsere Prinzessin ist ein waschechter abenteuerlustiger Wildfang und anscheinend Alles andere als schön. Wobei Schönheit ja immer im Auge des Betrachters liegt. Ihre Art anders zu sein fand ich richtig toll und genau das macht sie wahnsinnig sympathisch.
Cassian versteht es einen nach Andulanien zu entführen und die Geheimnisse der Spiegelwelt mit einem zu teilen. Wir lernen Drachen, Götter und Wesen eines verborgenen Volkes kennen. Das Alles treibt in Schloss sein Unwesen und ist so rätselhaft, wie das Schloss stellenweise selbst. Wie man sieht hätte wahrscheinlich nicht nur ein Kind ab 10 seinen Spaß daran, sondern auch ältere. Ich zum Beispiel.
Fazit
Dieses Buch ist nicht nur einen tolles Kinderbuch, sondern, meiner Meinung nach, auch für ältere Leser geeignet. Die Autorin hat ein tolles düsteres Märchen erschaffen mit vielen Wesen und sympathischen Charakteren. Ein mega Setting setzt der Geschichte noch das Krönchen auf und führt zu einem wahren Lesevergnügen. Richtig toll war die außergewöhnliche Prinzessin und die im Buch vermittelte Botschaft über das, was wirklich wichtig ist. 4 Sterne
Die Autorin hat eine düstere Geschichte erschaffen, die mich mit einem absolut tollen Schreibstil über die Seiten geführt hat. Dazu kommt, dass dem Leser die Story vom königlichen Geschichtenerzähler Cassian persönlich vorgetragen wird. Ich fand diese Umsetzung richtig bezaubernd und märchenhaft. Dieses Märchen ist aber auch düster und hat nicht nur rosa Wölkchen. Denn im Märchen gibt es auch immer das Böse. So auch hier und es geht auch nicht Alles gut aus. Genau das machte es aber auch besonders für mich.
Der Verlauf der Handlung ist aufregend, aber traurig und tragisch. Violet ist nämlich auch anders als Prinzessinnen, die man sonst so aus Geschichten und Märchen kennt. Normalerweise sind die Prinzessinen immer schön und brav. Unsere Prinzessin ist ein waschechter abenteuerlustiger Wildfang und anscheinend Alles andere als schön. Wobei Schönheit ja immer im Auge des Betrachters liegt. Ihre Art anders zu sein fand ich richtig toll und genau das macht sie wahnsinnig sympathisch.
Cassian versteht es einen nach Andulanien zu entführen und die Geheimnisse der Spiegelwelt mit einem zu teilen. Wir lernen Drachen, Götter und Wesen eines verborgenen Volkes kennen. Das Alles treibt in Schloss sein Unwesen und ist so rätselhaft, wie das Schloss stellenweise selbst. Wie man sieht hätte wahrscheinlich nicht nur ein Kind ab 10 seinen Spaß daran, sondern auch ältere. Ich zum Beispiel.
Fazit
Dieses Buch ist nicht nur einen tolles Kinderbuch, sondern, meiner Meinung nach, auch für ältere Leser geeignet. Die Autorin hat ein tolles düsteres Märchen erschaffen mit vielen Wesen und sympathischen Charakteren. Ein mega Setting setzt der Geschichte noch das Krönchen auf und führt zu einem wahren Lesevergnügen. Richtig toll war die außergewöhnliche Prinzessin und die im Buch vermittelte Botschaft über das, was wirklich wichtig ist. 4 Sterne
June 26, 2012
Sometimes, you just need something simple. Something somewhat predictable, charming and just downright classic. That's what I needed when it came Iron-Hearted Violet, and it fit the bill perfectly. Simple. Charming, and just adorable.
Violet isn't like most princesses -the storybook kind, that is. She isn't pretty. She isn't fragile. And she isn't anywhere near graceful. And in the stories that Violet enjoys telling so much, the princesses are always beautiful and the dragons are always evil. But Violet may have found the answer when she finds a forbidden book -and begins communicating with a mysterious creature on the other side of the mirror who claims that he can solve all of her problems. But all things come at a price.
Told through the eyes of the court storyteller, Iron-Hearted Violet tells a tale of beauty, dragons, and the power of the heart -no matter who that heart belongs to. Even though I don't read much Middle Grade fiction, it's sometimes a nice change from everything else out there, and I can really appreciate the simplicity of these types of fairy tale-esque novels. And Iron-Hearted Violet does an excellent job of sticking with the "theme" but giving it a little something different.
Author Kelly Barnhill's writing is completely engrossing and downright enchanting. I enjoyed how the story had something of an edge to it, and the enemies were truly frightening -which is a nice change from most MG novels, which seem to prefer to skirt the villain issue entirely. Violet captured the spirit of the genre perfectly while still adding something new to it.
While I wouldn't expect anything amazing or unique from this novel, it's an inspiring and charming story that's perfect for young readers.
Violet isn't like most princesses -the storybook kind, that is. She isn't pretty. She isn't fragile. And she isn't anywhere near graceful. And in the stories that Violet enjoys telling so much, the princesses are always beautiful and the dragons are always evil. But Violet may have found the answer when she finds a forbidden book -and begins communicating with a mysterious creature on the other side of the mirror who claims that he can solve all of her problems. But all things come at a price.
Told through the eyes of the court storyteller, Iron-Hearted Violet tells a tale of beauty, dragons, and the power of the heart -no matter who that heart belongs to. Even though I don't read much Middle Grade fiction, it's sometimes a nice change from everything else out there, and I can really appreciate the simplicity of these types of fairy tale-esque novels. And Iron-Hearted Violet does an excellent job of sticking with the "theme" but giving it a little something different.
Author Kelly Barnhill's writing is completely engrossing and downright enchanting. I enjoyed how the story had something of an edge to it, and the enemies were truly frightening -which is a nice change from most MG novels, which seem to prefer to skirt the villain issue entirely. Violet captured the spirit of the genre perfectly while still adding something new to it.
While I wouldn't expect anything amazing or unique from this novel, it's an inspiring and charming story that's perfect for young readers.
March 16, 2013
This book started out fine, and the premise of an unpretty princess who knows that all the princesses in stories ARE pretty was enough to keep me reading. And the more I read the more interesting and sad and wonderful the story got. But it didn't totally win me over until the ending. Violet won me over at the ending.
I think kids will enjoy the story and the adventure and the way fairytale elements get presented, but as an adult this book had an unexpected effect on me. Part of this story is about being a girl that people love (a smart girl, a funny girl, an adventurous girl) even as they acknowledge that she's not pretty or beautiful (and probably won't ever be). It's a story about what happens to a girl who thinks that when things go wrong it's because she doesn't look the way she's supposed to.
This might be a middle grade book, but this part of the story absolutely tore me apart. I couldn't help but compare Violet's story to contemporary girls confronted with a host of media telling them that if they lose that 10 pounds, dye their hair the right color, wear the right outfit, etc. etc. etc. their life will be perfect. The idea that your appearance will affect your happiness is so huge, and it's pushed so hard at girls. This book hit all the right notes for me on this issue. It explores stress, grieving, and growing and how appearance, and your perception of your own appearance, play into all those issues. Also, it's an adventure about dragons and gods and kingdoms.
It may start a little bit slow, but this book is absolutely worth the read.
I think kids will enjoy the story and the adventure and the way fairytale elements get presented, but as an adult this book had an unexpected effect on me. Part of this story is about being a girl that people love (a smart girl, a funny girl, an adventurous girl) even as they acknowledge that she's not pretty or beautiful (and probably won't ever be). It's a story about what happens to a girl who thinks that when things go wrong it's because she doesn't look the way she's supposed to.
This might be a middle grade book, but this part of the story absolutely tore me apart. I couldn't help but compare Violet's story to contemporary girls confronted with a host of media telling them that if they lose that 10 pounds, dye their hair the right color, wear the right outfit, etc. etc. etc. their life will be perfect. The idea that your appearance will affect your happiness is so huge, and it's pushed so hard at girls. This book hit all the right notes for me on this issue. It explores stress, grieving, and growing and how appearance, and your perception of your own appearance, play into all those issues. Also, it's an adventure about dragons and gods and kingdoms.
It may start a little bit slow, but this book is absolutely worth the read.
January 29, 2018
My first thought: This book was written in 2012, by a woman, and red hair & freckles are still markers for ugliness. As someone who has red hair & freckles, may I kindly say, it's f***ing time to give it a rest!
"It was ok" sums this YA book up. I wouldn't recommend it, but I'm not going to prevent my kids from reading it, either. I'm always on the lookout for great books that feature strong female characters. This wasn't one. Violet, the princess, wasn't the typical damsel in distress, but she wasn't exactly inspiring, either. Barnhill also needs to employ a better editor. If one of your characters is introduced as being 'toothless', you do NOT describe on the opposite page how he 'clamped his pipe in his teeth.' Or when Violet, the princess, is dragged away in a huge fit of howling and screaming, she cannot in the middle of it "share a quick and meaningful grin" with anyone. At one point, a neighboring kingdom attacks the castle. This apparently doesn't impede any of the characters from coming or going, yet the war is described as being so extreme after a little over a week that "We thought war, spoke war, ate and drank and dreamed war. Soon we couldn't imagine a world without it." Also, there's only so many times I can read different characters addressing one another as 'beloved.' Honestly, I don't know how they came up with the title.
Meh. I don't even want to bother describing the plot. As an adult, skip it. If your kid comes home with it, ...whatever.
"It was ok" sums this YA book up. I wouldn't recommend it, but I'm not going to prevent my kids from reading it, either. I'm always on the lookout for great books that feature strong female characters. This wasn't one. Violet, the princess, wasn't the typical damsel in distress, but she wasn't exactly inspiring, either. Barnhill also needs to employ a better editor. If one of your characters is introduced as being 'toothless', you do NOT describe on the opposite page how he 'clamped his pipe in his teeth.' Or when Violet, the princess, is dragged away in a huge fit of howling and screaming, she cannot in the middle of it "share a quick and meaningful grin" with anyone. At one point, a neighboring kingdom attacks the castle. This apparently doesn't impede any of the characters from coming or going, yet the war is described as being so extreme after a little over a week that "We thought war, spoke war, ate and drank and dreamed war. Soon we couldn't imagine a world without it." Also, there's only so many times I can read different characters addressing one another as 'beloved.' Honestly, I don't know how they came up with the title.
Meh. I don't even want to bother describing the plot. As an adult, skip it. If your kid comes home with it, ...whatever.
March 7, 2018
Violet is a princess with a storytelling mentor, a best friend (far below her station), and a wondrous castle to explore. But there are secrets that shouldn't have been uncovered ... and terrible consequences when she listens to the whispers coming from the castle mirrors.
Creation lore and multiple worlds. True stories and twisting lies. Captive dragons and captivating stories. Fears and ensnare and grief that snatches away large portions of happiness. I liked this story better than The Girl Who Drank the Moon, if only because it has a firmer sense of purpose. I'm getting a sense of what Barnhill likes in a story. (A reprise of certain themes.) Still lyrical and mythical and wise. But I don't really enjoy the tone of wistful desperation and brokenness that creeps through her storytelling. Well done, but not to my tastes.
Creation lore and multiple worlds. True stories and twisting lies. Captive dragons and captivating stories. Fears and ensnare and grief that snatches away large portions of happiness. I liked this story better than The Girl Who Drank the Moon, if only because it has a firmer sense of purpose. I'm getting a sense of what Barnhill likes in a story. (A reprise of certain themes.) Still lyrical and mythical and wise. But I don't really enjoy the tone of wistful desperation and brokenness that creeps through her storytelling. Well done, but not to my tastes.
December 7, 2019
Meine Meinung zum Buch
Gestaltung: Die Autorin Kelly Barnhill hat mich im vergangenen Jahr mit ihrem Debüt "Das Mädchen, das den Mond trank" mehr als nur begeistern können. Ihrer poetischen Schreibkunst war ich vom ersten Moment an verfallen. So führte quasi kein Weg daran vorbei auch das neuste Buch "Das Mädchen mit dem Herz aus Gold" zu lesen. Optisch sprach mich dieses neue Werk direkt an und versprach eine Geschichte mit einer düsteren Atmosphäre. Umso gespannter war ich, wie mich die Autorin hier begeistern kann. Im Nachhein muss ich jedoch zugeben, dass das Cover aus meiner Sicht ein Tick zu viel verspricht, bzw. etwas ganz anderes.
Einstieg: Kelly Barnhill beginnt hier augenblicklich mit der Geschichte. Auffällig ist hierbei die Art und Weise, denn der Leser wird von Beginn an direkt angesprochen. So hatte ich gleich eine besondere Verbindung zum Buch, da ich quasi durchweg in die Geschichte integriert wurde. Das ganze Buch ist wie eine Art Märchen aufgebaut, so wird der Leser nicht direkt in die Handlung geworfen, sondern erfährt zeitlgeich die Vorgeschichte der eigentlichen Geschichte. Insbesondere von unserer Protagonisten Violet. Dies gefiel mir sehr gut, denn so hatte ich gleich zu Beginn einen wunderbaren Überblick. Jedoch konnte ich die Figuren gerade im ersten Drittel sehr schwer greifen, da alle beinahe zur selben Zeit vorgestellt wurden.
Charaktere: Wie eingangs bereits erwähnt wird dem Leser eine Art Vorgeschichte dargelegt. Dadurch konnte ich vor allem gewisse Umstände und Verhaltensweisen der einzelnen Figuren gut verstehen und nachvollziehen. Ähnlich einem Zeitraffer lernt der Leser die Prinzessin Violet von der Geburt bis zum 13. Lebensjahr kennen. Sie ist ein wissbegieriges, neugieriges und aufgewecktes Mädchen. Am liebsten spielt sie mit ihrem besten Freund seit Kindertagen Demetrius, tobt durch das Schloss, entdeckt geheime Orte und lauscht am liebsten den Geschichten von Cassian dem Geschichtenerzähler. Bis sie eines Tages aus der geheimen Bibliothek ein Buch entwendet und dabei ungeahnte Kräfte freisetzt. Ich brauchte tatsächlich eine ganze Weile, ehe ich wirklich einen Bezug zu ihr erlangen konnte. Leider ging es mir mit den anderen Figuren nicht anders. Eine Vielzahl an Figuren haben hier ihren Auftritt, jedoch verschwammen mir gerade die Nebenfiguren zu einer Masse. Nur sehr schwer konnte ich diese Figuren auseinanderhalten, geschweige denn einschätzen, wie bedeutend sie für den weiteren Verlauf der Geschichte sein könnten. Bei der Menge der Figuren, wäre eine Art Glossar nicht schlecht gewesen. Durch den fehlenden Bezug zu den Figuren, wurde meine Lesefreude an manchen Stellen sehr gehemmt, was ich sehr schade fand.
Handlung: Von der Grundidee war ich bereits im ersten Moment angetan. Eine verbotene Geschichte, die durch die Hände von zwei Kindern ungeahnte Kräfte freisetzt, klang definitiv vielversprehcend. So freute ich mich ungemein, was Kelly Barnhill hier gezaubert hat. Durch die Vorgeschichte erlangte ich einen guten Überblick über das Leben der Figuren. Wie ich es bereits kannte, war auch hier eine unterschwellige Spannung im gesamten Buch zu spüren. Gerade die ersten Kapitel begannen sehr vielversprechend, auch wenn es bedingt durch die Erzählart nicht immer einfach war, der Geschichte gänzlich zu folgen. Kelly Barnhill bringt hier viele Elemente in die Handlung mit ein, die die Spannung teils auch voranbringt, leider war mir das an manchen Stellen zu viel, so dass mir allmählich der Überblick verloren ging. Generell sprang der Funke nie ganz über, was ich unglaublich schade fand. Denn das Potenzial war definitiv vorhanden und es hätte eine so schöne Geschichte werden können. Leider konnte dieses sich aus meiner Sicht nicht komplett entfalten. Das Ende kam mir leider auch ein wenig gehetzt rüber und ich tat mich recht schwer, alle Ereignisse einzuordnen. Die unterschwelligen Botschaften verliehen dem Buch wiederum das ganz besondere, was ich bereits aus ihrem Debüt kannte und liebte.
Schreibstil: Kelly Barnhill hat eine poetische Schreibader, was ich an ihren Geschichten immer ganz besonders mag. Auch hier kommt dies immer mal wieder zum tragen. Zudem verpackt sie ganz wichtige Botschaften wie Selbstliebe, Freundschaft und Zusammenhalt wunderbar in ihre Geschichte, so dass mir hin und wieder ein Seufzer entwich, wie schön es doch wäre, wenn wir diese Werte in unserer Gesellschaft hätten. An die Erzählart musste ich mich zunächst gewöhnen, dadurch, dass der Leser fast durchweg Teil der Geschichte war, in dem er direkt angesprochen wurde, hatte mich "Das Mädchen mit dem Herz aus Gold" immer an ein Märchen erinnert. Hin und wieder werden einzelne Szenen besonders hervorgehoben. Oft kam es auch vor, das der Erzähler in den Ereignissen hin und herspringt. Gerade für jüngere Leser stelle ich mir dies sehr schwer vor, so der Geschichte zu folgen.
Mein Urteil
Kelly Barnhill hat mit "Das Mädchen mit dem Herz aus Gold" einen soliden Roman geschrieben. Die Grundidee ist ganz wunderbar, und auch der Schreibstil ist hier wieder sehr besonders. Durch die poetische Schreibkunst sowie den versteckten Botschaften, verlieh die Autorin dem Buch genau dieses Besondere, was ich so sehr liebe. Auch kam hin und wieder eine mystische und düstere Atmosphäre auf. Leider bekam ich hier nicht gänzlich das Gefühl bzw. den Flair, den ich aus "Das Mädchen, das den Mond trank" kannte. Der Bezug zu den Figuren fehlte an manchen Stellen fast gänzlich, was oftmals meine Lesefreude hemmte. Die vielen Ereignisse, die der Geschichte Spannung verliehen, waren für mich an manchen Stellen zu viel, so dass die Autorin nicht das gewünschte Ziel erreichte die Handlung voranzutreiben. Meine Erwartungen waren hier vielleicht etwas zu hoch gesteckt. Ich vergebe gute 3 von 5 Welten.
Gestaltung: Die Autorin Kelly Barnhill hat mich im vergangenen Jahr mit ihrem Debüt "Das Mädchen, das den Mond trank" mehr als nur begeistern können. Ihrer poetischen Schreibkunst war ich vom ersten Moment an verfallen. So führte quasi kein Weg daran vorbei auch das neuste Buch "Das Mädchen mit dem Herz aus Gold" zu lesen. Optisch sprach mich dieses neue Werk direkt an und versprach eine Geschichte mit einer düsteren Atmosphäre. Umso gespannter war ich, wie mich die Autorin hier begeistern kann. Im Nachhein muss ich jedoch zugeben, dass das Cover aus meiner Sicht ein Tick zu viel verspricht, bzw. etwas ganz anderes.
Einstieg: Kelly Barnhill beginnt hier augenblicklich mit der Geschichte. Auffällig ist hierbei die Art und Weise, denn der Leser wird von Beginn an direkt angesprochen. So hatte ich gleich eine besondere Verbindung zum Buch, da ich quasi durchweg in die Geschichte integriert wurde. Das ganze Buch ist wie eine Art Märchen aufgebaut, so wird der Leser nicht direkt in die Handlung geworfen, sondern erfährt zeitlgeich die Vorgeschichte der eigentlichen Geschichte. Insbesondere von unserer Protagonisten Violet. Dies gefiel mir sehr gut, denn so hatte ich gleich zu Beginn einen wunderbaren Überblick. Jedoch konnte ich die Figuren gerade im ersten Drittel sehr schwer greifen, da alle beinahe zur selben Zeit vorgestellt wurden.
Charaktere: Wie eingangs bereits erwähnt wird dem Leser eine Art Vorgeschichte dargelegt. Dadurch konnte ich vor allem gewisse Umstände und Verhaltensweisen der einzelnen Figuren gut verstehen und nachvollziehen. Ähnlich einem Zeitraffer lernt der Leser die Prinzessin Violet von der Geburt bis zum 13. Lebensjahr kennen. Sie ist ein wissbegieriges, neugieriges und aufgewecktes Mädchen. Am liebsten spielt sie mit ihrem besten Freund seit Kindertagen Demetrius, tobt durch das Schloss, entdeckt geheime Orte und lauscht am liebsten den Geschichten von Cassian dem Geschichtenerzähler. Bis sie eines Tages aus der geheimen Bibliothek ein Buch entwendet und dabei ungeahnte Kräfte freisetzt. Ich brauchte tatsächlich eine ganze Weile, ehe ich wirklich einen Bezug zu ihr erlangen konnte. Leider ging es mir mit den anderen Figuren nicht anders. Eine Vielzahl an Figuren haben hier ihren Auftritt, jedoch verschwammen mir gerade die Nebenfiguren zu einer Masse. Nur sehr schwer konnte ich diese Figuren auseinanderhalten, geschweige denn einschätzen, wie bedeutend sie für den weiteren Verlauf der Geschichte sein könnten. Bei der Menge der Figuren, wäre eine Art Glossar nicht schlecht gewesen. Durch den fehlenden Bezug zu den Figuren, wurde meine Lesefreude an manchen Stellen sehr gehemmt, was ich sehr schade fand.
Handlung: Von der Grundidee war ich bereits im ersten Moment angetan. Eine verbotene Geschichte, die durch die Hände von zwei Kindern ungeahnte Kräfte freisetzt, klang definitiv vielversprehcend. So freute ich mich ungemein, was Kelly Barnhill hier gezaubert hat. Durch die Vorgeschichte erlangte ich einen guten Überblick über das Leben der Figuren. Wie ich es bereits kannte, war auch hier eine unterschwellige Spannung im gesamten Buch zu spüren. Gerade die ersten Kapitel begannen sehr vielversprechend, auch wenn es bedingt durch die Erzählart nicht immer einfach war, der Geschichte gänzlich zu folgen. Kelly Barnhill bringt hier viele Elemente in die Handlung mit ein, die die Spannung teils auch voranbringt, leider war mir das an manchen Stellen zu viel, so dass mir allmählich der Überblick verloren ging. Generell sprang der Funke nie ganz über, was ich unglaublich schade fand. Denn das Potenzial war definitiv vorhanden und es hätte eine so schöne Geschichte werden können. Leider konnte dieses sich aus meiner Sicht nicht komplett entfalten. Das Ende kam mir leider auch ein wenig gehetzt rüber und ich tat mich recht schwer, alle Ereignisse einzuordnen. Die unterschwelligen Botschaften verliehen dem Buch wiederum das ganz besondere, was ich bereits aus ihrem Debüt kannte und liebte.
Schreibstil: Kelly Barnhill hat eine poetische Schreibader, was ich an ihren Geschichten immer ganz besonders mag. Auch hier kommt dies immer mal wieder zum tragen. Zudem verpackt sie ganz wichtige Botschaften wie Selbstliebe, Freundschaft und Zusammenhalt wunderbar in ihre Geschichte, so dass mir hin und wieder ein Seufzer entwich, wie schön es doch wäre, wenn wir diese Werte in unserer Gesellschaft hätten. An die Erzählart musste ich mich zunächst gewöhnen, dadurch, dass der Leser fast durchweg Teil der Geschichte war, in dem er direkt angesprochen wurde, hatte mich "Das Mädchen mit dem Herz aus Gold" immer an ein Märchen erinnert. Hin und wieder werden einzelne Szenen besonders hervorgehoben. Oft kam es auch vor, das der Erzähler in den Ereignissen hin und herspringt. Gerade für jüngere Leser stelle ich mir dies sehr schwer vor, so der Geschichte zu folgen.
Mein Urteil
Kelly Barnhill hat mit "Das Mädchen mit dem Herz aus Gold" einen soliden Roman geschrieben. Die Grundidee ist ganz wunderbar, und auch der Schreibstil ist hier wieder sehr besonders. Durch die poetische Schreibkunst sowie den versteckten Botschaften, verlieh die Autorin dem Buch genau dieses Besondere, was ich so sehr liebe. Auch kam hin und wieder eine mystische und düstere Atmosphäre auf. Leider bekam ich hier nicht gänzlich das Gefühl bzw. den Flair, den ich aus "Das Mädchen, das den Mond trank" kannte. Der Bezug zu den Figuren fehlte an manchen Stellen fast gänzlich, was oftmals meine Lesefreude hemmte. Die vielen Ereignisse, die der Geschichte Spannung verliehen, waren für mich an manchen Stellen zu viel, so dass die Autorin nicht das gewünschte Ziel erreichte die Handlung voranzutreiben. Meine Erwartungen waren hier vielleicht etwas zu hoch gesteckt. Ich vergebe gute 3 von 5 Welten.
September 26, 2019
Not as special as Barnhill's "The Girl Who Drank The Moon," but very little is. A sometimes sweet, sometimes scary novel about the magic of stories, decency, and appreciating what really matters about other people and particularly ourselves. An unsubtle extended metaphor for the artificial, impossible and cruel beauty standards girls are held to.
January 24, 2021
Read this to my kids. It was kind of long so it took us a while but we love Kelly Barnhill and the way she unrolls a story! There is always a nice lesson at the end and the kids were happy with it all ♥
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