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Violet Eyes
"ONCE UPON A TIME" IS TIMELESS
When a storm brings the dashing Prince Richard to her family's farm, Violet falls in love at first sight. Richard also gives Violet his heart, but he knows his marriage is destined to be an affair of state, not of passion. For the king and queen have devised a contest to determine who will win their son's hand in marriage.
To be reunited with her prince, Violet must compete against princesses from across the land. It will take all of her wits - and a little help from an unexpected source - if Violet is to demonstrate the depth of her character and become Richard's bride.
When a storm brings the dashing Prince Richard to her family's farm, Violet falls in love at first sight. Richard also gives Violet his heart, but he knows his marriage is destined to be an affair of state, not of passion. For the king and queen have devised a contest to determine who will win their son's hand in marriage.
To be reunited with her prince, Violet must compete against princesses from across the land. It will take all of her wits - and a little help from an unexpected source - if Violet is to demonstrate the depth of her character and become Richard's bride.
195 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 2, 2010
24 people are currently reading
8062 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Viguié
97 books1,043 followersDebbie Viguié is the New York Times Bestselling author of more than three dozen novels including the Wicked series co-authored with Nancy Holder. In addition to her epic dark fantasy work Debbie also writes thrillers including The Psalm 23 Mysteries, the Kiss trilogy, and the Witch Hunt trilogy. Debbie also plays a recurring character on the audio drama, Doctor Geek’s Laboratory. When Debbie isn’t busy writing or acting she enjoys spending time with her husband, Scott, visiting theme parks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 426 reviews
August 11, 2016
Out of all the fairy tales the story of the Princess and the Pea doesn't get too much limelight and I was curious to see what the retellings could make of it.
Violet is a farmgirl through and through. She is happy but lately she's been feeling unsettled. Especially this time since another storm is coming. The coming of a storm has always brought a dramatic change in her life and this last one will be no different.
Violet and Prince Richard will have their fateful meeting in one of these storms. Richard is injured during the storm and Violet and her family will nurse him back to health. The chemistry between them is instant, but she might have to lose him forever. But what can she do? She is just a farmgirl, but like always people are far more than what meets the eye. This farmgirl will have to outwit everybody to win her prince back.
I'm really pleased with how they handled it because I always thought the original story was bit stupid to tell you the truth. A whole plot about a little pea under a bunch of mattresses? Really? Not enticing to say the least. The retelling worked because Violet had to fight to be with Richard and all the competitions that were set forth actually have some meaning behind them. I actually thought the length of this book was right, unlike others books in the series when you feel a bit robbed. I did feel though it was missing.... I don't know something. But I won't harp on that because really I can't complain too much. I could sense the magic of how people make their way back to each other someway, somehow.
This is the book to pick up if you want to get lost in a fairy tale.
Violet is a farmgirl through and through. She is happy but lately she's been feeling unsettled. Especially this time since another storm is coming. The coming of a storm has always brought a dramatic change in her life and this last one will be no different.
Violet and Prince Richard will have their fateful meeting in one of these storms. Richard is injured during the storm and Violet and her family will nurse him back to health. The chemistry between them is instant, but she might have to lose him forever. But what can she do? She is just a farmgirl, but like always people are far more than what meets the eye. This farmgirl will have to outwit everybody to win her prince back.
I'm really pleased with how they handled it because I always thought the original story was bit stupid to tell you the truth. A whole plot about a little pea under a bunch of mattresses? Really? Not enticing to say the least. The retelling worked because Violet had to fight to be with Richard and all the competitions that were set forth actually have some meaning behind them. I actually thought the length of this book was right, unlike others books in the series when you feel a bit robbed. I did feel though it was missing.... I don't know something. But I won't harp on that because really I can't complain too much. I could sense the magic of how people make their way back to each other someway, somehow.
This is the book to pick up if you want to get lost in a fairy tale.
September 18, 2010
Violet is a farm girl. With callused hands and a knack for pie baking. Not exactly your prime candidate for the Most Sensitive Princess Award. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what it’s going to take to marry Prince Richard, with whom she happens to have fallen in love. And Violet can’t allow him to become entrapped by the beautifully evil princess of the neighboring kingdom.
Even if that means—sigh—Violet will have to pretend to be in absolute agony over losing a single hair torn from her hard head.
Really quite fun. One of my favorite “Once Upon a Time” books.
Even if that means—sigh—Violet will have to pretend to be in absolute agony over losing a single hair torn from her hard head.
Really quite fun. One of my favorite “Once Upon a Time” books.
August 26, 2016
I never really thought much of the Princess and the Pea but I thought this was a great take on the tale. I finished it in one night which is partly because it's short but partly because I liked reading it so much.
The romance in the story starts almost right way, I would say it starts too fast but it is a short read so it fits in just fine. I thought some of the lines Violet and Prince Richard said were a bit cheesy like, "You have bewitched me," and "I would move heaven and earth for you," (can you tell it's the guy talking). But really it didn't bother me so much. I liked that the prince was present more often than in some of the others in this series.
What I liked were the tests, and how there were tests within tests. They really weren't as dumb as first thought. It was interesting and the final test of course was the one I was most looking forward to.
A great retelling of an otherwise overlooked tale.
The romance in the story starts almost right way, I would say it starts too fast but it is a short read so it fits in just fine. I thought some of the lines Violet and Prince Richard said were a bit cheesy like, "You have bewitched me," and "I would move heaven and earth for you," (can you tell it's the guy talking). But really it didn't bother me so much. I liked that the prince was present more often than in some of the others in this series.
What I liked were the tests, and how there were tests within tests. They really weren't as dumb as first thought. It was interesting and the final test of course was the one I was most looking forward to.
A great retelling of an otherwise overlooked tale.
August 31, 2016
This is a story from the Once Upon a Time collection of revisionist fairy tales which is significantly simpler and more juvenile than some of the others (I'm thinking in particular of the more sophisticated works by Cameron Dokey). It's very loosely based on The Princess and the Pea, and features a number of princesses competing in a series of "sensitivity tests" to win the hand of Prince Richard -- who is already in love with one particular girl, Violet, who has entered the contest, determined to win even if she has to fake all the test results.
I don't fault the book for being light and fluffy, though I will say it's a little bit annoying as a reader new to the series to have one volume such as The Storyteller's Daughter establish a set of expectations about tone and quality, and then have a book like Violet Eyes have nothing in common with it other than the fact that it's a revisionist fairy tale. I do, however, fault the book for some of its content.
As a writer, my complaint is that this book is filled with deus ex machina type events and solutions to problems. Not just one, but many. You have to go beyond a willing suspension of disbelief to a place of really, really determined indifference to plotting in order to feel satisfied by how events unfold in this story... aside, of course, from the fact that they end Happily Ever After, which you presumably knew they would (and wanted) when you picked up this book.
And as a person, I feel that I should also acknowledge one other concern that I've noticed another reviewer had, as well: she referred to the book promoting bad behaviors -- especially cheating (as in cheating on a test, not infidelity) and self harm. I can see her point, and I will say I was bothered by the pertinent events when they took place in the story.... and upon further reflection, they are bothering me more and more.
The cheating (i.e finding out about the tests in advance and faking the results) initially seems justifiable because the reader shares Violet's and Richard's belief that the tests are stupid and shouldn't determine their fate. But eventually another character comes right out and says that she won't participate in (much less cheat on) the tests because they're stupid -- which makes Violet's reasoning about cheating look especially bad in comparison.
And then comes the most potentially objectionable act -- Violet has realized that there are tests within the tests, meant to discover whether the girls have the strength of character that is required to be a good queen. I'm sure we all agree that a Queen has to put others before herself, sacrifice for her country, and so forth. Okay. But Violet decides that in order to prove to herself that she is willing to sacrifice and suffer, she needs to hold her hand in a candle flame. To put it mildly, I don't think that was a logical conclusion to draw. I suppose in medieval type times when someone might be burned at the stake for heresy or "witchcraft," a willingness to burn for your ideals can actually be tested... but I suspect the kind of sacrifice or suffering Violet would actually have experienced as Richard's queen has nothing to do with the physical pain of burning, and this was a pretty dumb thing for her to do.
So clearly I think it was a pretty weak choice for the writer to make for Violet in the plot... yet I would really like to stop short of believing it's dangerous for younger readers to encounter this story. I can guarantee that 12 year old me would never have read this book and thought, "Oh! Clearly what I must to to test my eternal love for [my secret crush] is hold my hand in a candle flame!" and I really, really hope most other young readers have a comparable level of discernment. But I do understand that there might be some readers who are dealing with their own problematic instincts for self harming behaviors, and this book could become entangled with that in a negative way.
All in all, this seems to add up to a case for giving Violet Eyes a pass. Honestly, I can't think of anyone who would love it, and if you're just looking for a light and fluffy fairy tale, you can find better, easily. But don't write off the whole Once Upon a Time Series! I already reviewed The Storyteller's Daughter, and I'm about to review Belle, both of which are definitely worth a look if you like fairy tale stories.
I don't fault the book for being light and fluffy, though I will say it's a little bit annoying as a reader new to the series to have one volume such as The Storyteller's Daughter establish a set of expectations about tone and quality, and then have a book like Violet Eyes have nothing in common with it other than the fact that it's a revisionist fairy tale. I do, however, fault the book for some of its content.
As a writer, my complaint is that this book is filled with deus ex machina type events and solutions to problems. Not just one, but many. You have to go beyond a willing suspension of disbelief to a place of really, really determined indifference to plotting in order to feel satisfied by how events unfold in this story... aside, of course, from the fact that they end Happily Ever After, which you presumably knew they would (and wanted) when you picked up this book.
And as a person, I feel that I should also acknowledge one other concern that I've noticed another reviewer had, as well: she referred to the book promoting bad behaviors -- especially cheating (as in cheating on a test, not infidelity) and self harm. I can see her point, and I will say I was bothered by the pertinent events when they took place in the story.... and upon further reflection, they are bothering me more and more.
The cheating (i.e finding out about the tests in advance and faking the results) initially seems justifiable because the reader shares Violet's and Richard's belief that the tests are stupid and shouldn't determine their fate. But eventually another character comes right out and says that she won't participate in (much less cheat on) the tests because they're stupid -- which makes Violet's reasoning about cheating look especially bad in comparison.
And then comes the most potentially objectionable act -- Violet has realized that there are tests within the tests, meant to discover whether the girls have the strength of character that is required to be a good queen. I'm sure we all agree that a Queen has to put others before herself, sacrifice for her country, and so forth. Okay. But Violet decides that in order to prove to herself that she is willing to sacrifice and suffer, she needs to hold her hand in a candle flame. To put it mildly, I don't think that was a logical conclusion to draw. I suppose in medieval type times when someone might be burned at the stake for heresy or "witchcraft," a willingness to burn for your ideals can actually be tested... but I suspect the kind of sacrifice or suffering Violet would actually have experienced as Richard's queen has nothing to do with the physical pain of burning, and this was a pretty dumb thing for her to do.
So clearly I think it was a pretty weak choice for the writer to make for Violet in the plot... yet I would really like to stop short of believing it's dangerous for younger readers to encounter this story. I can guarantee that 12 year old me would never have read this book and thought, "Oh! Clearly what I must to to test my eternal love for [my secret crush] is hold my hand in a candle flame!" and I really, really hope most other young readers have a comparable level of discernment. But I do understand that there might be some readers who are dealing with their own problematic instincts for self harming behaviors, and this book could become entangled with that in a negative way.
All in all, this seems to add up to a case for giving Violet Eyes a pass. Honestly, I can't think of anyone who would love it, and if you're just looking for a light and fluffy fairy tale, you can find better, easily. But don't write off the whole Once Upon a Time Series! I already reviewed The Storyteller's Daughter, and I'm about to review Belle, both of which are definitely worth a look if you like fairy tale stories.
March 13, 2016
Without a doubt this is one of my favorite 'Once Upon a Time' books in a long time. This isn't to say I haven't enjoyed the more recent books (The Diamond Secret or The Rose Bride), but they didn't grab me quite as much as some of the earlier books (The Storyteller's Daughter or The Midnight Dance). Often I think the problem rested on the fact that the novel didn't stay as true to the original tale as I perhaps wanted it to.
Violet Eyes more than makes up for those that strayed. Viguie managed to weave the original tale--of the bedraggled, thoroughly un-Princess like Princess arriving at the castle and being forced through numerous tests to prove herself--into a well-rounded and enchanting read. My problem with the original tale had always been that it seemed so ridiculous and cock-eyed that the King and Queen would act in such a way, but also that the so-called Princess would put up with it.
I think they had the right idea, but just want about things the wrong way. I won't argue that the King and Queen, Richard's parents, weren't screwy to put some of the Princesses gathered through their paces, and that their methods weren't a little too...extreme at times, but there was something very endearing about them. Or maybe amusing is a better term? Poor Richard would try to get them to answer his questions and instead be given these half-answers that were obviously cryptic and frustrating.
Richard, for his part, was a truly decent fellow and I believed in his feelings for Violet, as well as hers for him. Considering she lived for portents and he was sick of being fawned over and treated like a prized stallion, its really no wonder they both had an instant attraction. I think however the fact it deepened, and they both saw each other in their respective environments, it what sold it for me.
The other Princesses were by and large glossed over with simplistic and superficial identifiers. The few who stood out in any great significance--Goldie, Arianna, Genevieve, and Celeste--were important to the story to prove this or that point. I appreciated that instead of making fast friends with the Princesses and forcing a fake almost martyrdom on each to withdraw, Viguie had each continue (or not) as befit who they were and their personalities. No one quit the competition because of their friendship with Violet. In fact Violet makes as much a statement late in the book to another Princess stating "We were competitors first, friends second" (pg 147).
Some of the book took a little bit of a stretch to pass muster, but its a fairy tale first, novel second so these things are forgivable.
Violet Eyes more than makes up for those that strayed. Viguie managed to weave the original tale--of the bedraggled, thoroughly un-Princess like Princess arriving at the castle and being forced through numerous tests to prove herself--into a well-rounded and enchanting read. My problem with the original tale had always been that it seemed so ridiculous and cock-eyed that the King and Queen would act in such a way, but also that the so-called Princess would put up with it.
I think they had the right idea, but just want about things the wrong way. I won't argue that the King and Queen, Richard's parents, weren't screwy to put some of the Princesses gathered through their paces, and that their methods weren't a little too...extreme at times, but there was something very endearing about them. Or maybe amusing is a better term? Poor Richard would try to get them to answer his questions and instead be given these half-answers that were obviously cryptic and frustrating.
Richard, for his part, was a truly decent fellow and I believed in his feelings for Violet, as well as hers for him. Considering she lived for portents and he was sick of being fawned over and treated like a prized stallion, its really no wonder they both had an instant attraction. I think however the fact it deepened, and they both saw each other in their respective environments, it what sold it for me.
The other Princesses were by and large glossed over with simplistic and superficial identifiers. The few who stood out in any great significance--Goldie, Arianna, Genevieve, and Celeste--were important to the story to prove this or that point. I appreciated that instead of making fast friends with the Princesses and forcing a fake almost martyrdom on each to withdraw, Viguie had each continue (or not) as befit who they were and their personalities. No one quit the competition because of their friendship with Violet. In fact Violet makes as much a statement late in the book to another Princess stating "We were competitors first, friends second" (pg 147).
Some of the book took a little bit of a stretch to pass muster, but its a fairy tale first, novel second so these things are forgivable.
May 15, 2013
Such a bummer, really. I was really looking forward to reading a re-telling of my favorite fairy tale, but it wasn't...good. The characters were inch deep, their drama predictable, and the story itself not fleshed out well at all. I mean, what kind of daughter leaves a dying mother because the woman tells her she MIGHT be a princess to go moon after a guy she's known for like a day? And what's with said guy being able and strong to do all that after a fever that nearly killed him? And the wild, random kissing all the time? And the other contestants being so freaking nice? And the cheating on tests...quite badly as it turns out. Geesh. Why....why....why?
Major disappointment!
Major disappointment!
November 8, 2025
“My dear, we owe a debt of gratitude to your family for caring for our
son while he was ill. We would like to reward you. However, only a
princess can enter the competition,” the king said, his voice still gentle.
“And a princess stands before you,” Violet said, raising her chin.”
5.02 ⭐14+
THOUGHTS:
OH. MY. FLUFFYMUFFINS … WHAT DID I JUST READ… I’ll tell you what I read.. I READ SOMETHING AM-A-ZING!But seriously though AHHH I love the Robert and Violet Troupe
*swoons*
Ahhh I CAN’T DESCRIBE MY LOVE RIGHT NOW.
First OF ALL Like ahh Violets family is so cute and I love how supportive they are of her ! *squeals* And how she met the prince… OKAY OKAY OKAY WHAT LIKE I GET she’s not supposed to know he’s the prince at first (classic retell) BUT LIKE That was so cute
SECOND
THE ENDING… AHHHH LIKE WOAH soo adorable. And GASP at the same time And yes Notice the 5.02 stars it bumped up .02 because I JUST LOVE VIOLET SO MUCH
THIRD
THE TESTS (No this isnt a spoil cause we all know that the Princess and the Pea story has TESTS) LIKE OMGOSH AND THE Second to last test *SHOCK*
Now that those rambling thoughts are aside… I will continue… (EKKKK)
THINGS I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK:
Basically none except Goldie could’ve been better but she made up at the end and I STILL LOVE Her soo much..
PLOT:
When a storm brings the dashing Prince Richard to her family's farm, Violet falls in love at first sight. Richard also gives Violet his heart, but he knows his marriage is destined to be an affair of state, not of passion. For the king and queen have devised a contest to determine who will win their son's hand in marriage.
To be reunited with her prince, Violet must compete against princesses from across the land. It will take all of her wits - and a little help from an unexpected source - if Violet is to demonstrate the depth of her character and become Richard's bride.
ROMANCE: 4/10
Mentions of being kissed, 3 Semi-detailed kiss, thoughts of a kiss, a kiss that went up the neck and then on to her lips, 2 non-detailed kisses, and a kiss on the cheek, Mentions of wanting to elope, love and it’s emotions, falling in love. Note* in the beginning of the book when Violet first meets Robert he’s sick and cold so Violet and her father try to do their best to warm him up, It’s night time and he’s still cold so Violet remembers how when she was sick and cold her parents would let her sleep with them because of the heat coming of their bodies, So violet gets in the bed he’s in to warm him up with her heat.
VIOLENCE: 1/10
Fighting, mentions of killing the royal family, and I think a kidnapping.
CUSSING: N/A (I don’t remember any)
Other: N/A
CHARACTERS:
(heheh)
Violet:
Oh my gosh… She has got to be one of the most selfless main protagonists I’ve come across in a fairy retelling book, and she’s also just soo cute like aww, like her and Robert are just *sigh* so perfect for each another
Robert:
OKAY MY MAN YOU ARE AMAZING Like at first I didn’t know what I thought about you like we all have are flaws then boom I LOVE YOU.
THE REST OF THE PRINCESSES (I forgot their names okay)
Their all amazing except Celeste, and Goldie even grows on you.
.-.-.-IN CONCLUSION-.-.-.
I LOVE IT SO MUCH Y’ALL LIKE MY HEART FEELS WARM AND FUSSY ALL OVER .. JUST GO READ IT, also it’s a great book to get you out of a reading slump..!
“Richard stepped closer, and for a moment Violet forgot to breathe. He
put a finger under her chin and tilted her head up toward his face. “There’s
a question I asked you that you’ve never answered.”
He pinned her with his stare, and Violet felt the rest of the world melt
away. It was as if only the two of them existed. Softly, he asked, “Is it me?”
“Yes,” she breathed.”
son while he was ill. We would like to reward you. However, only a
princess can enter the competition,” the king said, his voice still gentle.
“And a princess stands before you,” Violet said, raising her chin.”
5.02 ⭐14+
THOUGHTS:
OH. MY. FLUFFYMUFFINS … WHAT DID I JUST READ… I’ll tell you what I read.. I READ SOMETHING AM-A-ZING!But seriously though AHHH I love the Robert and Violet Troupe
*swoons*
Ahhh I CAN’T DESCRIBE MY LOVE RIGHT NOW.
First OF ALL Like ahh Violets family is so cute and I love how supportive they are of her ! *squeals* And how she met the prince… OKAY OKAY OKAY WHAT LIKE I GET she’s not supposed to know he’s the prince at first (classic retell) BUT LIKE That was so cute
SECOND
THE ENDING… AHHHH LIKE WOAH soo adorable. And GASP at the same time And yes Notice the 5.02 stars it bumped up .02 because I JUST LOVE VIOLET SO MUCH
THIRD
THE TESTS (No this isnt a spoil cause we all know that the Princess and the Pea story has TESTS) LIKE OMGOSH AND THE Second to last test *SHOCK*
Now that those rambling thoughts are aside… I will continue… (EKKKK)
THINGS I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK:
Basically none except Goldie could’ve been better but she made up at the end and I STILL LOVE Her soo much..
PLOT:
When a storm brings the dashing Prince Richard to her family's farm, Violet falls in love at first sight. Richard also gives Violet his heart, but he knows his marriage is destined to be an affair of state, not of passion. For the king and queen have devised a contest to determine who will win their son's hand in marriage.
To be reunited with her prince, Violet must compete against princesses from across the land. It will take all of her wits - and a little help from an unexpected source - if Violet is to demonstrate the depth of her character and become Richard's bride.
ROMANCE: 4/10
Mentions of being kissed, 3 Semi-detailed kiss, thoughts of a kiss, a kiss that went up the neck and then on to her lips, 2 non-detailed kisses, and a kiss on the cheek, Mentions of wanting to elope, love and it’s emotions, falling in love. Note* in the beginning of the book when Violet first meets Robert he’s sick and cold so Violet and her father try to do their best to warm him up, It’s night time and he’s still cold so Violet remembers how when she was sick and cold her parents would let her sleep with them because of the heat coming of their bodies, So violet gets in the bed he’s in to warm him up with her heat.
VIOLENCE: 1/10
Fighting, mentions of killing the royal family, and I think a kidnapping.
CUSSING: N/A (I don’t remember any)
Other: N/A
CHARACTERS:
(heheh)
Violet:
Oh my gosh… She has got to be one of the most selfless main protagonists I’ve come across in a fairy retelling book, and she’s also just soo cute like aww, like her and Robert are just *sigh* so perfect for each another
Robert:
OKAY MY MAN YOU ARE AMAZING Like at first I didn’t know what I thought about you like we all have are flaws then boom I LOVE YOU.
THE REST OF THE PRINCESSES (I forgot their names okay)
Their all amazing except Celeste, and Goldie even grows on you.
.-.-.-IN CONCLUSION-.-.-.
I LOVE IT SO MUCH Y’ALL LIKE MY HEART FEELS WARM AND FUSSY ALL OVER .. JUST GO READ IT, also it’s a great book to get you out of a reading slump..!
“Richard stepped closer, and for a moment Violet forgot to breathe. He
put a finger under her chin and tilted her head up toward his face. “There’s
a question I asked you that you’ve never answered.”
He pinned her with his stare, and Violet felt the rest of the world melt
away. It was as if only the two of them existed. Softly, he asked, “Is it me?”
“Yes,” she breathed.”
July 26, 2010
This volume in the Once Upon A Time series is a retelling of the "Princess and the Pea" tale and as such gives a more plausible twist to the story, which makes the characters more interesting and sympathetic.
Nonetheless, it was chockfull of cliche phrases and descriptions, the plot was easily seen, and overly mushy. I liked the other princesses that Violet got to know, but I thought the story could have been handled with more finesse, making it a better retelling, as well as a stronger story in its own right. (Arianna and her werewolf frankly sounded more interesting.)
Okay, but there have been better installments in the series. However, I do not know of any other retellings of this particular tale, though I would love to read some if anyone knows of one.
Nonetheless, it was chockfull of cliche phrases and descriptions, the plot was easily seen, and overly mushy. I liked the other princesses that Violet got to know, but I thought the story could have been handled with more finesse, making it a better retelling, as well as a stronger story in its own right. (Arianna and her werewolf frankly sounded more interesting.)
Okay, but there have been better installments in the series. However, I do not know of any other retellings of this particular tale, though I would love to read some if anyone knows of one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2012
It was enjoyable to read but nothing stellar. The characters were under developed. Side characters were far more interesting than the main ones. The romance felt rushed. Love at first sight
and then on to the palace and the tests and then the end where love conquers all. I liked that she wasn't actually a princess but it did annoy me that they were willing to cheat on the tests. That never fit into the version of the story in my head. Overall, it was a okay retelling of a classic fairytale.
and then on to the palace and the tests and then the end where love conquers all. I liked that she wasn't actually a princess but it did annoy me that they were willing to cheat on the tests. That never fit into the version of the story in my head. Overall, it was a okay retelling of a classic fairytale.
March 2, 2010
I loved this book, based on The Princess and the Pea, though I'm partial to fairy tale retellings. I liked how the tests weren't really about physical sensitivity, but more important good qualities to possess.
June 28, 2016
I like this 'series,' particularly the ones by Cameron Dokey. But this particular one is ridiculous. Some concepts are interesting, and I won't say that the author spoiled one of my very favorite fairy tales. But the working out of the ideas and the writing style are atrocious. Sorry, but they are. Read Amy's review for details: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
February 17, 2023
During this reread, the “beloveds” and the “dearests” where a little eye-rolling for me, and the physicality is greater than the other books in the series, I actually really enjoyed this retelling. It’s not a fairytale very often reimagined and I really enjoyed it much more than my 13 years old 2 star review could have thought possible. Hahaha. I think I just read it before I could appreciate it.
(I should clarify, the physicality is not inappropriately so..just to be clear. :D)
(I should clarify, the physicality is not inappropriately so..just to be clear. :D)
April 30, 2015
This was a really cute story! I loved all the tests the princesses had to go through and the characters. The romance happened a little quickly, but it is a fairytale and that happens a lot in the genre. A very fun read!
January 29, 2021
Simply adorable. A beautiful retelling of the Princess & the Pea that has me yearning for more fairytale retellings.
November 29, 2023
3.5 ⭐️’s
January 1, 2025
Truly a classic. Yes the timeline is extremely short and the book should’ve been another 150 pages. But I love it anyway. These books are so bad they’re good.
June 12, 2015
There aren't that many retellings of The Princess and the Pea, so I was very interested when I saw this one. When I read the blurb however, my interest sagged. C'mon, this is about a princess who is doubted to be real and so put to a test involving a bunch of mattresses and a pea, not some prince's love affair with a peasant girl!
But, whatever, it's a fairytale retelling so I read it. Wow. I was happily surprised! Now, first off, once Violet came to the castle I was very much reminded of The Selection by Kiera Cass (they even had same name for that one girl you just hate, Celeste) but I really can't say that this is a rip-off because this was written about six years earlier. Nor can I say that The Selection was a rip-off of this because I know that sometimes I come up with ideas and then I find out that they're already taken. People can have pretty much the same ideas, people! Anyway, I shall stop my review bashing and instead continue with mine :P
I loved the story and loved how the tests seemed the most ridiculous and dumb, but then they were only covers for the true tests. (Only thing I have against them is that even though the king and queen were looking for the best and purest princess, they still thought cheating was ok? But, hey, whatever. *shrugs*) I knew first off that when the king asked Violet to determine which man was lying, that that was the true test.
And, at first, I really didn't like the king and queen. They seemed very annoying (scratch that, they were annoying) and I'm still not fans of the fact that they didn't let Richard choose his bride. Of course, in the end, Violet and him ended up together. (This is a Once Upon A Time Fairytale book; they always have a happy ending.) Arranged marriages usually don't end up being happy, people, try to remember that! But, of course, politics always end up taking the place of happiness. Stupid politics.
The few twists in the story were neat as well, however predictable they were. Of course Violet turned out to be the real princess of the land! But it was still a nice plot line and background there as well.
As far as the characters, I thought the prince was very flat. He just seemed there for the girls to swoon over because he was a prince, kiss scenes and romantic moments with Violet, and then to be frustrated at not being able to marry her right away. It would have been better if he was a stronger character, but I guess he did well enough for the story.
Honestly, the characters that I felt were the best written of all, were the side characters of the three princesses that became Violet's friends. I laughed at how ridiculously dainty they were physically, but mentally and emotionally they were amazing characters. I also liked how the author tied her two other books in this same series into this one in that Arianna was the daughter of a mermaid and in love with a werewolf's son (since the same author wrote both Midnight Pearls: A Retelling of "The Little Mermaid" & Scarlet Moon ) so that was a neat addition there that made me go "hey, cool!" at.
As far as the whole "pea" thing, I was very curious to see how that would turn out. Because that's what the original story is all about, right? All those mattresses and then that tiny pea that the princess somehow felt through all of those mattresses. And so when that part of the story came about, I laughed because it was done so well.
When Violet confesses that she had the terrible dreams, I was like "But what about the pea??" And then in comes Celeste, claiming to be bruised all over and unable to sleep a wink as she holds up the pea that she found under her mattress. The king (or queen, I forgot which one of them) says then that Violet is the winner, because the pea is a magic pea that gives nightmares to those with pure intentions (oh, really now? That's nice) and then that only Celeste would have found the pea because she was suspicious. Because otherwise no one would have felt a little pea through all of those mattresses. When I read that part, I was like "yes, exactly!!!"
So I was very satisfied with this retelling and happy to see that one of the lesser known and retold fairytales got attention. Thoroughly enjoyed this read.
But, whatever, it's a fairytale retelling so I read it. Wow. I was happily surprised! Now, first off, once Violet came to the castle I was very much reminded of The Selection by Kiera Cass (they even had same name for that one girl you just hate, Celeste) but I really can't say that this is a rip-off because this was written about six years earlier. Nor can I say that The Selection was a rip-off of this because I know that sometimes I come up with ideas and then I find out that they're already taken. People can have pretty much the same ideas, people! Anyway, I shall stop my review bashing and instead continue with mine :P
I loved the story and loved how the tests seemed the most ridiculous and dumb, but then they were only covers for the true tests. (Only thing I have against them is that even though the king and queen were looking for the best and purest princess, they still thought cheating was ok? But, hey, whatever. *shrugs*) I knew first off that when the king asked Violet to determine which man was lying, that that was the true test.
And, at first, I really didn't like the king and queen. They seemed very annoying (scratch that, they were annoying) and I'm still not fans of the fact that they didn't let Richard choose his bride. Of course, in the end, Violet and him ended up together. (This is a Once Upon A Time Fairytale book; they always have a happy ending.) Arranged marriages usually don't end up being happy, people, try to remember that! But, of course, politics always end up taking the place of happiness. Stupid politics.
The few twists in the story were neat as well, however predictable they were. Of course Violet turned out to be the real princess of the land! But it was still a nice plot line and background there as well.
As far as the characters, I thought the prince was very flat. He just seemed there for the girls to swoon over because he was a prince, kiss scenes and romantic moments with Violet, and then to be frustrated at not being able to marry her right away. It would have been better if he was a stronger character, but I guess he did well enough for the story.
Honestly, the characters that I felt were the best written of all, were the side characters of the three princesses that became Violet's friends. I laughed at how ridiculously dainty they were physically, but mentally and emotionally they were amazing characters. I also liked how the author tied her two other books in this same series into this one in that Arianna was the daughter of a mermaid and in love with a werewolf's son (since the same author wrote both Midnight Pearls: A Retelling of "The Little Mermaid" & Scarlet Moon ) so that was a neat addition there that made me go "hey, cool!" at.
As far as the whole "pea" thing, I was very curious to see how that would turn out. Because that's what the original story is all about, right? All those mattresses and then that tiny pea that the princess somehow felt through all of those mattresses. And so when that part of the story came about, I laughed because it was done so well.
When Violet confesses that she had the terrible dreams, I was like "But what about the pea??" And then in comes Celeste, claiming to be bruised all over and unable to sleep a wink as she holds up the pea that she found under her mattress. The king (or queen, I forgot which one of them) says then that Violet is the winner, because the pea is a magic pea that gives nightmares to those with pure intentions (oh, really now? That's nice) and then that only Celeste would have found the pea because she was suspicious. Because otherwise no one would have felt a little pea through all of those mattresses. When I read that part, I was like "yes, exactly!!!"
So I was very satisfied with this retelling and happy to see that one of the lesser known and retold fairytales got attention. Thoroughly enjoyed this read.
July 22, 2012
I knew as soon as I read the opening sentence that something was wrong with the writing. I don't often come across books like this, but then I try to read high-quality books. I'm a fan of the "Once Upon Time" series, but I've learned that different authors write them, so you have to be careful of which retelling you choose.
I kept thinking as I was reading, this is printed? The writing seemed more like a fluffy fanfiction then a novel.
I had to force myself to keep reading awhile, mostly to see if it got any better as it went on. But no, it got worse. I'm sorry to say it, but the main character, Violet, is totally a Mary Sue. She is perfect, and beautiful, and has the most sensitive, sweet, humble, clever,caring, etc. etc. character. The kind of perfection that makes you hate her.
The worst part was at the beginning when the prince ends up in her cottage after *tragically* hitting his head during a thunderstorm. Then came the sappy cliche "instantly attracted to each other" scene. I groaned at the part where the prince is poking fun at Violet by saying that since she was still at home he supposed that no-one wished to marry her (actually that was kindof funny), and she became all offended and "shaking with rage" at him. And the prince thought she was going to strike him, but her eyes flayed him alive instead, and he knew that if he wasn't a prince, she would have struck him. Please. I mean,really, she's that sensitive to her single status? And you're telling me she was really considering punching someone she knew was a prince?
I stopped reading before he recovered to leave the cottage. I just couldn't get into it. I flipped around the pages a little since I couldn't read straight through, not interesting enough, then I went to the end, but not even that was interesting enough.
I must admit that the climax was more interesting than the beginning.Maybe I just can't stand sappy, too-perfect romances. But this book is still not one I have an interest in reading all the way through. It was just too overly dramatic, and too many over-the-top verbs and actions.
I hate to give any book such a harsh review, maybe it just my taste, but there you have it.
I kept thinking as I was reading, this is printed? The writing seemed more like a fluffy fanfiction then a novel.
I had to force myself to keep reading awhile, mostly to see if it got any better as it went on. But no, it got worse. I'm sorry to say it, but the main character, Violet, is totally a Mary Sue. She is perfect, and beautiful, and has the most sensitive, sweet, humble, clever,caring, etc. etc. character. The kind of perfection that makes you hate her.
The worst part was at the beginning when the prince ends up in her cottage after *tragically* hitting his head during a thunderstorm. Then came the sappy cliche "instantly attracted to each other" scene. I groaned at the part where the prince is poking fun at Violet by saying that since she was still at home he supposed that no-one wished to marry her (actually that was kindof funny), and she became all offended and "shaking with rage" at him. And the prince thought she was going to strike him, but her eyes flayed him alive instead, and he knew that if he wasn't a prince, she would have struck him. Please. I mean,really, she's that sensitive to her single status? And you're telling me she was really considering punching someone she knew was a prince?
I stopped reading before he recovered to leave the cottage. I just couldn't get into it. I flipped around the pages a little since I couldn't read straight through, not interesting enough, then I went to the end, but not even that was interesting enough.
I must admit that the climax was more interesting than the beginning.Maybe I just can't stand sappy, too-perfect romances. But this book is still not one I have an interest in reading all the way through. It was just too overly dramatic, and too many over-the-top verbs and actions.
I hate to give any book such a harsh review, maybe it just my taste, but there you have it.
November 22, 2013
This is a re-telling of 'The Princess and the Pea'... which I hadn't realized was a 'May the odds be ever in your favor' story, but apparently it's THE ORIGINAL odds-in-your-favor story. Princesses competing for the hand of the prince. This is what 'The Elite' was stolen from (that, and the dystopian part was from Hunger Games, natch.).
Violet grew up on a farm, had a simple life until a prince's horse slips in a storm and the prince hits his head and has a little layover at her house. There she hears all the details of the competition... and falls in love with him. But only a princess can compete to be his bride.
So isn't it lucky for Violet that the true royal family (that was assasinated 17 years ago) happened to have a baby child that was smuggled away and left with an honest farmer? Yup, Violet is the rightful heir to Princey's throne, and his parents know it... so they allow her to compete with the other 19 princesses... because after all, she'd make an even twenty, r'something.
The kewl thing about this is that she's an admirable hero, unlike 'The Elite's America, who was a belligerent brat. Violet is humble and freaked out and willing to befriend just about anyone. And while she's sweet and admirable, she's also human - both she AND the prince are willing to cheat to be together.
There were two things I have to say about this this: the first being that I couldn't figure out the TRUE tests behind the challenges. I like it when I have to work at the puzzle. And the second thing is that while the story was well-written... I didn't care for Richard. He was as lackluster to me as the prince on 'The Elite'. He wasn't interested in running his kingdom, in the affairs of the nation, he was all about himself. And the villain girl? EXACTLY like the villain girl in 'The Elite' - down to the same name (Celeste). So that means Kiera Cass *REALLY* stole her whole dang book, since this one came first. That sucks.
But still. Looking at THIS book...? It's a four star read. :)
Violet grew up on a farm, had a simple life until a prince's horse slips in a storm and the prince hits his head and has a little layover at her house. There she hears all the details of the competition... and falls in love with him. But only a princess can compete to be his bride.
So isn't it lucky for Violet that the true royal family (that was assasinated 17 years ago) happened to have a baby child that was smuggled away and left with an honest farmer? Yup, Violet is the rightful heir to Princey's throne, and his parents know it... so they allow her to compete with the other 19 princesses... because after all, she'd make an even twenty, r'something.
The kewl thing about this is that she's an admirable hero, unlike 'The Elite's America, who was a belligerent brat. Violet is humble and freaked out and willing to befriend just about anyone. And while she's sweet and admirable, she's also human - both she AND the prince are willing to cheat to be together.
There were two things I have to say about this this: the first being that I couldn't figure out the TRUE tests behind the challenges. I like it when I have to work at the puzzle. And the second thing is that while the story was well-written... I didn't care for Richard. He was as lackluster to me as the prince on 'The Elite'. He wasn't interested in running his kingdom, in the affairs of the nation, he was all about himself. And the villain girl? EXACTLY like the villain girl in 'The Elite' - down to the same name (Celeste). So that means Kiera Cass *REALLY* stole her whole dang book, since this one came first. That sucks.
But still. Looking at THIS book...? It's a four star read. :)
February 6, 2015
This is a re-imagining of the fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea. Only with twists. There is indeed a competition of princesses vying to see who gets to marry a prince, and a pea is involved, but that's about as much resemblance as this story has to the tale.
The heroine is a farm girl whose family takes the prince in after he has a horse riding accident on their farm. In a short span of time, they fall in love. (I found their supposed love to be the shallowest, most unbelievable part of the story. If I could change a part of the story to change, this would be it.) He's released to return to his castle and the start of the competition. The heroine's mother is on her deathbed (all at the same time, as you do) and reveals that the heroine may be the lost heir to the throne. So she heads off and enters the competition.
The clever bit about the competition is that it has both fake and real tasks. Fake tasks to make the princesses think that they've been tested, and real tests hidden behind those. The heroine cheats on the fake tests, with the help of the prince, and does well on the real tests (of course). And, SPOILER, she ends up with the prince. The fight scene at the end was a nice bit of drama, but ultimately pointless, as what's the point of trying to kill someone who doesn't have a throne yet and, therefore, even if you manage to kill her, all you're going to end up with is enmity from that kingdom. It's a lose-lose proposition and makes no sense whatsoever.
The characters were charming and they and the tests are what save this book.
The heroine is a farm girl whose family takes the prince in after he has a horse riding accident on their farm. In a short span of time, they fall in love. (I found their supposed love to be the shallowest, most unbelievable part of the story. If I could change a part of the story to change, this would be it.) He's released to return to his castle and the start of the competition. The heroine's mother is on her deathbed (all at the same time, as you do) and reveals that the heroine may be the lost heir to the throne. So she heads off and enters the competition.
The clever bit about the competition is that it has both fake and real tasks. Fake tasks to make the princesses think that they've been tested, and real tests hidden behind those. The heroine cheats on the fake tests, with the help of the prince, and does well on the real tests (of course). And, SPOILER, she ends up with the prince. The fight scene at the end was a nice bit of drama, but ultimately pointless, as what's the point of trying to kill someone who doesn't have a throne yet and, therefore, even if you manage to kill her, all you're going to end up with is enmity from that kingdom. It's a lose-lose proposition and makes no sense whatsoever.
The characters were charming and they and the tests are what save this book.
October 20, 2011
I'm really falling out of love with the Once Upon a Time series. None of the books that have come out recently have been very good, and nothing nearly as great as Beauty Sleep: A Retelling of "Sleeping Beauty", which was what got me hooked on this series in the first place.
Pros: I don't think I've read another Princess and the Pea retelling, so points for taking such a minor fairy tale and turning it into a book. It was WAY better than the Cheesy Monster Movie It's So Bad It's Hilarious feel of Scarlet Moon: A Retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood", Viguie's other entry in the series that I've read. Also, I liked that there was a reasonable explanation of why a frickin’ pea was used as a test of princess-hood.
Cons: Everything else. This was one of those infuriating instances of Insta Love! Just add water! The prince appears, he's cute, girl falls instantly in love and goes through all the princess tests just for him. Urgh. Everyone had paper-thin personalities. The story was flimsy, etc., etc.
If you're in love with this series or really want to read a Princess and the Pea retelling, then go ahead. Otherwise, read a better fairy tale retelling.
Pros: I don't think I've read another Princess and the Pea retelling, so points for taking such a minor fairy tale and turning it into a book. It was WAY better than the Cheesy Monster Movie It's So Bad It's Hilarious feel of Scarlet Moon: A Retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood", Viguie's other entry in the series that I've read. Also, I liked that there was a reasonable explanation of why a frickin’ pea was used as a test of princess-hood.
Cons: Everything else. This was one of those infuriating instances of Insta Love! Just add water! The prince appears, he's cute, girl falls instantly in love and goes through all the princess tests just for him. Urgh. Everyone had paper-thin personalities. The story was flimsy, etc., etc.
If you're in love with this series or really want to read a Princess and the Pea retelling, then go ahead. Otherwise, read a better fairy tale retelling.
December 6, 2024
In my forty-one years on this planet, I only know of three adaptations of the fairy tale The Princess and The Pea.
There is an awful animated musical version, the one from the late Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theater with Liza Minnelli as the Princess and the musical Once Upon A Mattress.
Most of the time the main heroine is spunky or unconventional in a manic pixie dream girl sort of way which does not sit well with the always serious to down right evil mother of the prince. The prince in most versions is either a milksop momma's boy or a completely boring person hence why he needs the exact opposite in a wife.
A few have no king and the ones that do paint him as not involved in the plot at all or more understanding...the exact opposite of his wife.
Violet Eyes is the one I can absolutely get behind.
The night that a storm hits, the prince of Cambria is supposed to be coming back from inviting as many princesses from other lands to his castle. His parents believe it is time for him to have a wife but they need to see if any of these young woman are perfect to be the future queen.
It is to be part of a tradition that involves a feast and celebrations where the local peasant folk can enter contests for pie baking, horseback riding and all of that fun medieval carnival stuff. The daughter of farmer William and his wife Sarah is a kind and feisty girl poised to win and her name is Violet, so named for her eye color.
The next morning, the thirteen year old farm hand Thomas alerts the couple that he has found a man injured out in their field and his horse won't let him get near. Violet goes with her father and is able to get the horse to their barn while William and Thomas get the young man to the house.
Sarah makes the young man comfortable in Violet's bed in her husband's dry clothes and has Violet going to clean the wound about his scalp. As she is tending him, the young man wakes up and their eyes meet.
It is a love at first sight thing and the young man tells Violet his name is Richard. William talks to the young man and finds that Richard slipped on the muddy bank near the river and was thrown from his horse, hitting his head on a rock. The cut is long but not deep though they have sent for Father Paul to provide a more experienced hand since he is both a priest and a doctor.
All of them get a surprise to find that he is actually Prince Richard. He tells Father Paul not to inform anyone that he is home yet and it is soon found out that he has a fever and chills from being laid out in the rain all night. Violet's mother takes care of him but since she is already a frail woman, soon Sarah is put on bedrest and Violet must tend Richard.
Violet does so and the two fall in love but Richard knows what is expected of him: to choose a wife from a royal house to make an alliance between kingdoms. Violet understands as well but isn't thrilled to learn that one princess is from the country of Lore, their ancient enemy who slaughtered the royal family.
Richard's parents were of the highest noble house and made king and queen with no heir so as they really had no say over ruling a whole kingdom, Richard doesn't really have a choice in his own wife.
When it is announced he is well to travel, Richard leaves in the night while Violet is asleep as not to break her heart anymore since it is discovered that her mother is getting sicker...and not believed to live for much longer. Believing she is dying, Sarah tells Violet a long kept secret: she and William are not Violet's birth parents.
Seventeen years ago during the War with Lore, a woman named Eve came to their doorstep and handed them an infant girl begging to keep her safe before she vanished. The woman never returned and when Lorian soldiers came to the door, they passed the baby off as their own child to spare them from killing her and named her Violet after her eyes.
Sarah tells this to Violet because she and her husband could both see that Violet and Richard are in love but if only a princess can marry him...Violet may just be the true princess of Cambria. The body of the royal family's infant child was never found so why can't she try to win the chance to marry the young man she loves?
Overwhelmed by all of this, Violet soon goes to the castle at her mother's blessing despite her grave illness. This is done on another stormy night and Violet arrives at the castle with her best farm dress and her golden hair soaked from the rain. She asks to meet with the king and the queen and in front of them and the court and Richard, she tells them her mother's story.
Until they can see if any of this may be true, both of Richard's parents tell Violet she can stay and show her to a room that she must share with another princess. Given a dress, Violet joins all of the other young women, princesses from distant kingdoms, at dinner where the king and queen make an announcement.
To choose the right wife for Richard, all of the girls will be put through tests to see if they have the sensitivity, wit and character of a true princess...
We get some of the story told from Richard's point of view but done in third person just as we get Violet's so that kept me more intrigued. Richard is more active in this story and he even tries his best to help Violet sort of cheat by using his dog, Duke, to send her messages to her room.
The other princesses aren't all fleshed out but the ones that are...it is done perfectly. Some of the princesses are there because their parents told them to do and not just because they want to marry handsome Prince Richard. One is there even though she is in love with another man and another princess is using this contest to try and escape from being murdered by her uncle who rules her kingdom because her parents are dead...yikes!
The only real villain so to speak is that the princess of Lore is not a very nice person. Richard's parents aren't really made out to be the villains and at times, you are even questioning if they aren't a few cards short of a deck at the inane tests these girls have to go through.
However, as the story progresses, you wonder if there is method behind the madness...
Violet Eyes has laughter and romance and royal intrigue and some crazy methods of testing a girl to see if she is a princess but has charming characters as well. The Princess and The Pea doesn't get as much love as it should and this book is a good place to start.
There is an awful animated musical version, the one from the late Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theater with Liza Minnelli as the Princess and the musical Once Upon A Mattress.
Most of the time the main heroine is spunky or unconventional in a manic pixie dream girl sort of way which does not sit well with the always serious to down right evil mother of the prince. The prince in most versions is either a milksop momma's boy or a completely boring person hence why he needs the exact opposite in a wife.
A few have no king and the ones that do paint him as not involved in the plot at all or more understanding...the exact opposite of his wife.
Violet Eyes is the one I can absolutely get behind.
The night that a storm hits, the prince of Cambria is supposed to be coming back from inviting as many princesses from other lands to his castle. His parents believe it is time for him to have a wife but they need to see if any of these young woman are perfect to be the future queen.
It is to be part of a tradition that involves a feast and celebrations where the local peasant folk can enter contests for pie baking, horseback riding and all of that fun medieval carnival stuff. The daughter of farmer William and his wife Sarah is a kind and feisty girl poised to win and her name is Violet, so named for her eye color.
The next morning, the thirteen year old farm hand Thomas alerts the couple that he has found a man injured out in their field and his horse won't let him get near. Violet goes with her father and is able to get the horse to their barn while William and Thomas get the young man to the house.
Sarah makes the young man comfortable in Violet's bed in her husband's dry clothes and has Violet going to clean the wound about his scalp. As she is tending him, the young man wakes up and their eyes meet.
It is a love at first sight thing and the young man tells Violet his name is Richard. William talks to the young man and finds that Richard slipped on the muddy bank near the river and was thrown from his horse, hitting his head on a rock. The cut is long but not deep though they have sent for Father Paul to provide a more experienced hand since he is both a priest and a doctor.
All of them get a surprise to find that he is actually Prince Richard. He tells Father Paul not to inform anyone that he is home yet and it is soon found out that he has a fever and chills from being laid out in the rain all night. Violet's mother takes care of him but since she is already a frail woman, soon Sarah is put on bedrest and Violet must tend Richard.
Violet does so and the two fall in love but Richard knows what is expected of him: to choose a wife from a royal house to make an alliance between kingdoms. Violet understands as well but isn't thrilled to learn that one princess is from the country of Lore, their ancient enemy who slaughtered the royal family.
Richard's parents were of the highest noble house and made king and queen with no heir so as they really had no say over ruling a whole kingdom, Richard doesn't really have a choice in his own wife.
When it is announced he is well to travel, Richard leaves in the night while Violet is asleep as not to break her heart anymore since it is discovered that her mother is getting sicker...and not believed to live for much longer. Believing she is dying, Sarah tells Violet a long kept secret: she and William are not Violet's birth parents.
Seventeen years ago during the War with Lore, a woman named Eve came to their doorstep and handed them an infant girl begging to keep her safe before she vanished. The woman never returned and when Lorian soldiers came to the door, they passed the baby off as their own child to spare them from killing her and named her Violet after her eyes.
Sarah tells this to Violet because she and her husband could both see that Violet and Richard are in love but if only a princess can marry him...Violet may just be the true princess of Cambria. The body of the royal family's infant child was never found so why can't she try to win the chance to marry the young man she loves?
Overwhelmed by all of this, Violet soon goes to the castle at her mother's blessing despite her grave illness. This is done on another stormy night and Violet arrives at the castle with her best farm dress and her golden hair soaked from the rain. She asks to meet with the king and the queen and in front of them and the court and Richard, she tells them her mother's story.
Until they can see if any of this may be true, both of Richard's parents tell Violet she can stay and show her to a room that she must share with another princess. Given a dress, Violet joins all of the other young women, princesses from distant kingdoms, at dinner where the king and queen make an announcement.
To choose the right wife for Richard, all of the girls will be put through tests to see if they have the sensitivity, wit and character of a true princess...
We get some of the story told from Richard's point of view but done in third person just as we get Violet's so that kept me more intrigued. Richard is more active in this story and he even tries his best to help Violet sort of cheat by using his dog, Duke, to send her messages to her room.
The other princesses aren't all fleshed out but the ones that are...it is done perfectly. Some of the princesses are there because their parents told them to do and not just because they want to marry handsome Prince Richard. One is there even though she is in love with another man and another princess is using this contest to try and escape from being murdered by her uncle who rules her kingdom because her parents are dead...yikes!
The only real villain so to speak is that the princess of Lore is not a very nice person. Richard's parents aren't really made out to be the villains and at times, you are even questioning if they aren't a few cards short of a deck at the inane tests these girls have to go through.
However, as the story progresses, you wonder if there is method behind the madness...
Violet Eyes has laughter and romance and royal intrigue and some crazy methods of testing a girl to see if she is a princess but has charming characters as well. The Princess and The Pea doesn't get as much love as it should and this book is a good place to start.
February 13, 2011
Eh. I love fairy tales and retellings, but I would've liked this more five years ago. The plot (as far as the "retelling" goes) is ok, the characters are alright, and the writing was nothing special. It's pretty cliche and a tad predictable, but it was still cute. If nothing else, it was entertaining to read. Every now and then everyone needs to read an easy book with a princess and a prince and a happily ever after. So I'd say go ahead and read it if you need a book and have some time to kill. My only big complaint: I HATE when characters have "purple" eyes. Please show me an actual person with genuine, truly purple eyes and I'll never say another word about it, but I've never heard of anyone actually having violet eyes. Ugh.
July 30, 2015
So here we go with another generic romance and another annoying couple I want to punch in the face. There really isn't that much to say about Violet and Robert, was it? But I do have a few things to say about the morals of this story. We have a heroine who cheats at tests, burns herself, and hates other girls, and then it turns out that's what she was SUPPOSED TO DO? NO. I DO NOT FOLLOW THAT, DEBBIE VIGUIÉ. WHAT THE HECK. And then it's supposed to all be okay because she was the lost heir in the first place. A thing which I guessed on the very first page. Look, I just . . . Arrg. Forget it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2015
This book is a wonderful retelling of the Princess and the Pea. It's one of the less commonly retold stories, and I loved this one. It reminded me of the Selection because of how the princesses had to pass a series of tests in order to win. I loved the idea of a test behind a test. A lot of the princesses were pathetic and delicate, and it frustrated me at times. I really liked Violet and Arianne. They're awesome.
June 27, 2023
I loved this book! It was a great re-telling of "The Princess and the Pea" and I did not want to put it down. The character were all really fun and I loved watching the relationship between the Prince and Violet as it developed. This book was really fun and entertaining with a wonderful story about love, friendship, and a little bit of mystery thrown in to keep you guessing.
June 1, 2016
Probably one of the worst written Once Upon a Time series books I've read. The author wrote another one called Midnight Pearls, a retelling of the Little Mermaid, but I don't remember much of it; but this one was very badly written. The only thing that was good about it was that I wanted to keep reading simply to see what the tests would be...
April 26, 2010
I really enjoyed this re-telling of "the Princess and The Pea"...quite a fun read. I really like this Debbie Viguie...must find more by her.
January 30, 2019
Still making my way through this series. Some are fantastic and some are just okay. I enjoy them all but some definitely stand out more than others. This was was one of the better ones.
*Some spoilers ahead*
So I’m not sure where one review got cheating from? It was never mentioned in the book nor was there an epilogue to show what happened after the events. However, the same review mentioned self mutilating and how the book promotes it’s okay. Actually it did quite the opposite. When Violet literally burns her hand, not only do her Princess friends but even her Love, the Prince worry and say you really shouldn’t go that far just to win a contest or really just hurt yourself at all. They make it a huge point to let her know that self mutilating is NOT okay.
Besides that, the writing was a little fast paced and dull at times. But most of it was nicely written. I love Violet and this new interpretation of “The Princess and the Pea.” It makes it a little more serious and less ridiculous than the original fairytale. I feel readers could relate to Violet and not fitting in. I love how she is just herself and the sappy tale of love conquering all. I like that she isn’t the damsel but the one who fights for true love instead with help from her actual Love.
Definitely one of the better books in the series and a great day read.
*Some spoilers ahead*
So I’m not sure where one review got cheating from? It was never mentioned in the book nor was there an epilogue to show what happened after the events. However, the same review mentioned self mutilating and how the book promotes it’s okay. Actually it did quite the opposite. When Violet literally burns her hand, not only do her Princess friends but even her Love, the Prince worry and say you really shouldn’t go that far just to win a contest or really just hurt yourself at all. They make it a huge point to let her know that self mutilating is NOT okay.
Besides that, the writing was a little fast paced and dull at times. But most of it was nicely written. I love Violet and this new interpretation of “The Princess and the Pea.” It makes it a little more serious and less ridiculous than the original fairytale. I feel readers could relate to Violet and not fitting in. I love how she is just herself and the sappy tale of love conquering all. I like that she isn’t the damsel but the one who fights for true love instead with help from her actual Love.
Definitely one of the better books in the series and a great day read.
September 14, 2020
I wanted so badly to like this book. I hate to rate it so low, because there were many things I really liked about it. However, the way characters behave and think is inconsistent throughout most of the book and really annoyed me. Considering this book is more or less a romance novel, the fact that I sometimes believe the romance and sometimes I do not makes it hard for this book to be enjoyable for me.
Violet Eyes is a retelling of the story The Princess and the Pea. The novel follows Violet, a farmer’s daughter who falls in love with the Prince of Cambria. After a terrible storm, Violet and her father find Prince Richard unconscious in their fields after a fall from his horse. Violet nurses Richard back to health, and they fall in love. However, Richard’s parents have decreed that he will marry the most sensitive princess and have created a series of six challenges to test potential brides. Violet travels to the castle to compete against princesses from other kingdoms in order to win the right the marry her prince.
Violet is a seventeen-year-old peasant woman, tanned and roughened from years of working under the sun. I do not know how to describe Violet’s personality, because it is not consistent. Sometimes she is headstrong and brave and self-confident. Other times she turns into a shrinking violet. These changes are so drastic that it feels like there are several Violets, as these personalities do not mesh into one person simply expressing different emotions. As a result, I cannot decide whether I like Violet as a character or not. She can be so fun, yet so aggravating.
Prince Richard is also seventeen, and I appreciate that there is not an enormous age gap between him and Violet like in other novels that mimic the medieval period. I want so badly to like Richard, but he just feels too one-dimensional. Like Violet, his personality fluctuates dramatically from scene to scene. Sometimes Richard is the perfect gentlemanly prince, and sometimes he is described in terms that border on violent. I try not to judge him for these moments, as they happen from Violet’s point-of-view when she is acting “delicate”. The strong version of Violet never perceives Richard’s actions in a violent way, even when his actions are similar to other times when she does almost fear him. Honestly, Richard never felt real to me; he is more like a cardboard cutout of a fairytale prince that does the traditional princely things.
Violet befriends three princesses during the competition, and these women are my favorite characters in the novel. First is Genevieve who Violet shares a room with in the palace. Genevieve is incredibly brave, despite the fact that her parents refuse to let her do anything more strenuous than embroidery, shelter her from anything that could mar her beauty, and ensure she is as fragile and sensitive as possible. Genevieve helps Violet during the challenges and with dressing and acting like a princess. The two of them befriend Goldie who they find crying in the gardens and comfort her. Goldie is competing to marry Richard as a way to ensure she is more powerful than her uncle who is acting as regent until she comes of age (and rumored to be secretly plotting to kill Goldie). As a character, Goldie is not fully fleshed out until the end of the novel, but she became my favorite character the moment she does. Finally is Arianna, a silvery haired princess from a palace by the sea. Arianna is more traditionally brave and is willing to stand up to those in power. She is the only one of Violet’s friends who came to the palace intending to lose. Her parents promised Arianna that if she lost, she could marry the man she loves when she returns home. The friendship that blossoms between these four women is my favorite part of the novel. They all acknowledge that they are competitors first and friends second, but that once they are no longer competitors they hope the friendship will continue.
Celeste is the princess of Lore, the enemy kingdom of Cambria, and one of the competitors in the contest to marry Richard. Seventeen years ago, Lorian assassins murdered the entire royal family of Cambria to try and win an ongoing war. The plan backfired as Cambrians rallied behind the new royals (Richard’s family) and defeated Lore. There is still extreme animosity between the two kingdoms, as Violet believes that all Lorians are inherently treacherous. This belief leads to her hating Celeste on sight, rather than after meeting Celeste and realizing she is an awful person. Celeste is an incredibly boring villain whose worst actions during the contest are throwing insults at everyone and treating Violet with contempt. The degree to which Violet hates Celeste feels unwarranted and somewhat weird.
The romance between Violet and Richard is not always believable. They fall in love after maybe three days of knowing one another. Three days during which they do not have any deep or personal conversations. I was startled when Richard suddenly said he was in love and Violet reciprocated. There is no romantic buildup; they are just suddenly in love. The romance became more believable when Violet is at the castle. There are even a few moments that felt heart-flutteringly romantic. But there are also interactions that are supposed to be romantic and just feel flat to me.
Overall, this book is a quick and fun read, as long as you are willing to just go with the flow and overlook some of the story issues. There is a clear effort on the part of the author to create a fairytale quality to the novel. The fairytale quality is the root of everything I love and hate about the novel. The quick pace and sudden progressions into love and friendship are very reminiscent of fairytales. But the construction of fairytales rarely leaves space for complex characters or character growth; they generally focus more on plot. Violet Eyes is not a bad novel, it just is not my cup of tea.
If you want to check out the spoiler's section of my review, head to my website at https://theartistryofreading.com/viol...
Violet Eyes is a retelling of the story The Princess and the Pea. The novel follows Violet, a farmer’s daughter who falls in love with the Prince of Cambria. After a terrible storm, Violet and her father find Prince Richard unconscious in their fields after a fall from his horse. Violet nurses Richard back to health, and they fall in love. However, Richard’s parents have decreed that he will marry the most sensitive princess and have created a series of six challenges to test potential brides. Violet travels to the castle to compete against princesses from other kingdoms in order to win the right the marry her prince.
Violet is a seventeen-year-old peasant woman, tanned and roughened from years of working under the sun. I do not know how to describe Violet’s personality, because it is not consistent. Sometimes she is headstrong and brave and self-confident. Other times she turns into a shrinking violet. These changes are so drastic that it feels like there are several Violets, as these personalities do not mesh into one person simply expressing different emotions. As a result, I cannot decide whether I like Violet as a character or not. She can be so fun, yet so aggravating.
Prince Richard is also seventeen, and I appreciate that there is not an enormous age gap between him and Violet like in other novels that mimic the medieval period. I want so badly to like Richard, but he just feels too one-dimensional. Like Violet, his personality fluctuates dramatically from scene to scene. Sometimes Richard is the perfect gentlemanly prince, and sometimes he is described in terms that border on violent. I try not to judge him for these moments, as they happen from Violet’s point-of-view when she is acting “delicate”. The strong version of Violet never perceives Richard’s actions in a violent way, even when his actions are similar to other times when she does almost fear him. Honestly, Richard never felt real to me; he is more like a cardboard cutout of a fairytale prince that does the traditional princely things.
Violet befriends three princesses during the competition, and these women are my favorite characters in the novel. First is Genevieve who Violet shares a room with in the palace. Genevieve is incredibly brave, despite the fact that her parents refuse to let her do anything more strenuous than embroidery, shelter her from anything that could mar her beauty, and ensure she is as fragile and sensitive as possible. Genevieve helps Violet during the challenges and with dressing and acting like a princess. The two of them befriend Goldie who they find crying in the gardens and comfort her. Goldie is competing to marry Richard as a way to ensure she is more powerful than her uncle who is acting as regent until she comes of age (and rumored to be secretly plotting to kill Goldie). As a character, Goldie is not fully fleshed out until the end of the novel, but she became my favorite character the moment she does. Finally is Arianna, a silvery haired princess from a palace by the sea. Arianna is more traditionally brave and is willing to stand up to those in power. She is the only one of Violet’s friends who came to the palace intending to lose. Her parents promised Arianna that if she lost, she could marry the man she loves when she returns home. The friendship that blossoms between these four women is my favorite part of the novel. They all acknowledge that they are competitors first and friends second, but that once they are no longer competitors they hope the friendship will continue.
Celeste is the princess of Lore, the enemy kingdom of Cambria, and one of the competitors in the contest to marry Richard. Seventeen years ago, Lorian assassins murdered the entire royal family of Cambria to try and win an ongoing war. The plan backfired as Cambrians rallied behind the new royals (Richard’s family) and defeated Lore. There is still extreme animosity between the two kingdoms, as Violet believes that all Lorians are inherently treacherous. This belief leads to her hating Celeste on sight, rather than after meeting Celeste and realizing she is an awful person. Celeste is an incredibly boring villain whose worst actions during the contest are throwing insults at everyone and treating Violet with contempt. The degree to which Violet hates Celeste feels unwarranted and somewhat weird.
The romance between Violet and Richard is not always believable. They fall in love after maybe three days of knowing one another. Three days during which they do not have any deep or personal conversations. I was startled when Richard suddenly said he was in love and Violet reciprocated. There is no romantic buildup; they are just suddenly in love. The romance became more believable when Violet is at the castle. There are even a few moments that felt heart-flutteringly romantic. But there are also interactions that are supposed to be romantic and just feel flat to me.
Overall, this book is a quick and fun read, as long as you are willing to just go with the flow and overlook some of the story issues. There is a clear effort on the part of the author to create a fairytale quality to the novel. The fairytale quality is the root of everything I love and hate about the novel. The quick pace and sudden progressions into love and friendship are very reminiscent of fairytales. But the construction of fairytales rarely leaves space for complex characters or character growth; they generally focus more on plot. Violet Eyes is not a bad novel, it just is not my cup of tea.
If you want to check out the spoiler's section of my review, head to my website at https://theartistryofreading.com/viol...
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