3.5 Stars

Let me tell you about some things I love in fiction.

- Vampires
- Dystopian Worlds
- Strong Female Characters


A Violet Fire has all three. Set in a world where vampires are at the top of the food chain and humans are left to be used as feeders and breeders, Quick tells a tale of one woman's refusal to submit.

As a young girl Wavorly was saved by a vampire when her family was murdered, she was taken to be raised as a future feeder of vampires. A blood supply unit until she's older, then she's destined for breeding future feeders. No more, no less. Knowing freedom once makes it difficult for her to accept those terms.

Vampires are an oppressive evil. No more, no less.

When the one who saved her, the one who currently survives off her blood, begins to show signs that he could be more - everything Wave has believed becomes a question.

But things in his world aren't really all they seem and the past comes to knock it all out of balance leaving Wavorly to fight harder than ever before.

It's a gothic tale with action, betrayals, and lies existing in a well created world that I'm looking forward to more of!

It was a tad wordy at times and drug the pace down, but that got better as it went. I still found it to be a good start to what has the potential to be a great series.

A girl lives in France with her family, but when she is eight vampires attack. Her entire family is murdered and eaten by the monsters, but one vampire named Anton Zein saves her life, and she is sent off to "vampire slave boarding school." Her name is Wavorly Sterling, and she hates vampires and longs for her freedom with every waking breath. The other humans, well, all they've ever known is being food to the vampires, so they think Wavorly is rather strange for desiring freedom from their benevolent blood-sucking vampire masters.

A Violet Fire, written by Kelsey Quick, is Wavorly's story, and I really enjoyed the way she and Anton Zein interacted with each other. Wavorly is full of fire and sass, and Zein is no pushover either. This book is primarily focused on its characters, which is great in the sense that the characters are very interesting. Yet because of this, the book is perhaps weaker on plot than some would like, however it's possible that as the series progresses the focus will shift more toward advancing the plot now that the characters have been established. A Violet Fire is disturbingly dystopian, but at least we have Wavorly as a light in the darkness of humanity's slavery to bloodthirst. If you're looking for something dark with a dash of hope, A Violet Fire might be just what your inner vampire is thirsty for!

Human blood is a scarce resource in Cain, a place ruled by vampires for centuries. To try to fill the shortage, humans are bred and blood is collected for the rich and powerful vampires. Wavorly is officially one of those service units, meant to donate her blood to her master for the rest of her life. She wasn't bred in Cain and is willing to do just about anything to escape its clutches, even though that carries a death penalty.

When we open the novel, we're with Wavorly at her third escape attempt. Told from the first-person point of view, we hear the vampires that collect her talk about how humans are an endangered species and should be grateful that the vampires are willing to take care of them. At the same time, they're forced as slaves to give blood and reproduce, and will never get to know the children that are born. This is very much the way we treat cattle and other farm animals, and the way slaves were treated years ago. It's a bleak world, and one with little pleasantries aside from primping themselves to look pretty for one of the five main vampires. If they're rejected for any of a number of minor offenses, including the noble vampire not being in the mood for their blood, they are then sent to the fallen, remnants of what once had been humans fed to vampires and transformed into bloodthirsty and mindless monsters kept around to be foot soldiers in war.

Usually, I'm a sucker for vampire novels. They're one of my favorite supernatural creatures, and these with a courtly system of operations over humans seemed like the kind of story that had a lot of potential. I'm as dismayed as Wavorly that humans are raised to believe their only existence is to feed vampires and they have no other purpose so that the people are pretty much trafficked for whatever purpose the vampires want and humans will cry and wail that they're not good enough if rejected. As the novel progresses, Wavorly continues to be given preferential treatment, has visions, and her "owner" behaves unnaturally around her. For a book that involves the paranormal, the novel's conclusion feels far fetched. It's too much of a deus ex machina to suddenly have a lot of the facts from the first two-thirds of the novel turned on its head at the end. This is clearly meant to be the first in a series of novels, but I didn't feel enough of an emotional build-up to be interested in how it continues.

I heard the mention of vampires and I was sold on this book, and it did not disappoint!

This was a fun and flirty read, perfect for anyone looking to get their vampire fix! I liked that the vampires were bold and loud, ruling instead of hiding. It was such a fresh take and I really loved it.

This book was provided as an e-arc by NetGalley
3.5stars,,
I love books with vampires so when I found a debut with vampires and strong MC, I decided to give it a go. Overall, I enjoyed the experience. I was a little afraid of the writing in the beginning . It was more descriptive than I liked but that didn't continue to annoy me.

I liked how the story began and how Wave was strong through it and in the whole book. I loved the vampires' side of the world as normal=D.I loved Gemini a lot.He needed to be mentioned more. His conversations with Wave put a smile on my face all the time. Also, I liked the few friendships that Wave had.

Needless to say, I ship Zein and Wave =D. I like the brooding strong handsome character aka Zein and all the conflicting feelings that will come with his love.

What I didn't like :
The first part of the story felt a little aimless until she arrived at Zein's place. Also, I could see how charming Zein could be but we didn't spend enough time with him :( . I really wanted to see more of their relation. I needed also to know this world a little more but I respect the author's choice in that.

So I am intrigued to see where the story will go. I am just afraid of the tropes coming so I really hope the author add her unique touch.

TW: Abuse and talking of suicide

A well written, well plotted paranormal romance. Good storyline in a genre that can be overdone but this author handles the characters and plot masterfully.

This book was a really good and interesting read. I really enjoyed the fresh take on vampires. In this story, vampires are a separate race from humans, and if they bite a human, they don't turn into vampires, but rather something called the fallen; rabid, half dead things. You wouldn't think after how many stories there have been about vampires, that someone could come up with something new, but this author did just that. The whole story of the vampire race is fascinating, and the purebloods are capable of magic as well. I feel like the complex race of vampires could have been a little more explained, but I was able to understand the story anyways. I also really liked the main character, she is tough and fights for those she loves, regardless of the price to herself. I really enjoyed Zein's character and the relationship that forms between the two. There is a nice bit of a twist at the end that really sets up the sequel nicely, and I can't wait to see where this story goes next.

Wavorly is a supply unit. She is kept alive, fed and cared for simply to supply her rare human blood to her master Anton Zein at his request. But Wavorly knows freedom from her early years of life and is determined to reclaim that freedom in any way possible, even if it means her death. As she gets to know her master, her feelings start to change until she learns of her prophecy.

I love a good vampire story and this is an intriguing one! Incredibly suspenseful and creative, A Violet Fire is not your normal vampire falls in love with a human girl drama, but more a fight for your life drama like the Hunger Games. Wavorly is brave, strong and heroic. Zein is charismatic, interesting and patient. The beginning was a bit slow, which is the only reason I gave it 4 versus 5 stars, but the intense story more than made up for it by the end. It’s a thrilling, engaging ride I can’t wait to continue in the next book in the series.

I typically do not have high expectations for self-published books, but this one surprised me. I found it to be an easy read, and I enjoyed the concept of living vampires. I also enjoyed that humans could not be simply be turned into vampires. They could in theory make offspring with vampires, but they were genetically different enough that a human could not become one.

In some ways this book follows the typical tropes of paranormal romances, but it was different enough that the story kept me engaged. I felt that the weakest aspect of the story was the development of the central romance. It's not insta-love, but not a lot of dialogue is shown between the two characters to help the reader understand the relationship. The reader is aware that time is passing, but aside from a first interaction and a final interaction, there isn't much substance in between to make the relationship feel real. In fact, when the final twist is revealed, I was not at all affected because I was not made to be invested in the relationship in the first place.

I will say, however, that I liked the direction the story was moving in, and I would most certainly continue reading the series if it were to become available to me.

4 1/2 Stars!

Bring on the Vampires!!

I am thrilled with this book. I confess that I went into it with caution. I was afraid to expect too much but I quickly realized that I had a winner on my hands and I relished every word!

In this dystopian society, known as Cain, vampires are in charge and humans are basically only kept to be servants and a blood supply. The heroine of the book, Wavorly was rescued years before when the area she lived in was attacked by vampires. She was the only survivor. Wavorly has recently been chosen to be a "supply unit" which means she is to be available to serve her master blood upon command,

Zein is the vampire who rescued Wavorly from the massacre when she was younger. He is also the vampire who she has been selected to serve. There is something about her that has him intrigued. Part of it is her unusual looks with her red hair and green eyes. It is also definitely because of her resistant attitude and the fact that she says what's on her mind no matter what. Either way, Zein is drawn to Wavorly and the could be deadly for both of them.

A Violet Fire successfully created a world of vampires where power reigns supreme. We also find out there is definitely more to Wavorly than we initially realized. The stage is set for more of this story to be told and I am ready for that book anytime Ms. Quick decides to release it....the sooner the better.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was given this ARC for review by Netgalley and D&B Management (thank you). This book ended up being predictable for me. I knew the main character was going to start developing feeling for the 'villian' and visa versa. The story was entertaining of a bit dull at times. All in all this was not the vampire story I was looking for.

A Violent Fire is a wonderful, dark and incredibly rich dystopian/fantasy novel, so well built and fast paced that I wasn't able to put it down till I reached the end. I was absolutely captivated by the atmosphere and character.

This novel submerges the reader in a landscape so imaginative and detailed that the information of the world building, as complex as it is, never feels forced, and is never difficult to understand or picture in one's mind.

I love vampires, unless they’re total jerks like in this book and then they can all burn. A Violet Fire brings us into a world where vampires rule and humans are nothing more than a food source that should be strictly controlled and regulated.
Wavorly, lucky enough to remember a life outside the walls of the compound she now lives in as a supply unit for vampires, is tired of being treated as an object. With a carefully crafted plan to escape, she nearly succeeds before being captured and taken to Distribution where her future as a supply unit or a meal for the fallen, blood thirsty deranged humans suffering from the bite of vampires.
After standing up for herself and in turn, insulting her future owner Lord Zein, Wavorly is sent to the fallen where she finds two of her friends suffering from the same fate. But our book can’t end that quickly! Saved at the last minute from their terrible fate, all three are taken to Lord Zein castle where they care literally stamped with a tracker and begin their life as supply units, providing their blood at Lord Zein’s will.
Lord Zein and Wavorly have a unique past. When a blood thirsty fallen rampages through her village, killing her mother and neighbors, Wavorly is saved by Lord Zein. Believing her to be special, Wavorly spends her first years at the compound waiting for Lord Zein to save her. Instead, she becomes his favorite meal and is called frequently to feed him. Wavorly has some odd experiences within the castle and sees a violet glow from a doorway that when she approaches it, she is transported to another time and place. As Lord Zein begins to profess feelings for Wavorly, she learns that her past is not as she remembers it.
With the help of unlikely alliances and a person from her past, Wavorly begins to learn of her true past and her future as part of a powerful prophecy.
I really loved the world building Kelsey Quick created for Wavorly and her fellow humans. It’s dark, twisted, and feels really old but the tech makes it seem like it takes place in the future? It’s kind of left in the air so maybe the next book will give us even more backstory on them. I love castles with winding passageways and secret doorways. There’s so much mystery and tension you can create with dark, stone-lined walls. I’m very curious to see where the next book will take us and what’s in store for Wavorly and hopefully, her friends.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions, and mistakes, are my own.

I had started to believe I was over the vampire tales but then I read AVF. And I read like there is no tomorrow
Three nights of sleeping so very late and I finished it. It's brilliant though I do not have much love for Wavorly ! But other casts and the plot was too good. Loved the story and writing

I really did try to enjoy this novel, but it felt a little too Atwater-Rhodes to me. I had high hopes for the vampire novel to come back, but this one fell a bit flat for me. I did greatly enjoy Gemini, though.

A Violet Fire is set in an alternate reality where humans are primarily referred to as ‘supply units’ and are slaves to the vampires who use them for nourishment. The caste system and geography are quite an interesting take. It reminded me of A Brave New World meets a YA vampire novel with medieval flair. I liked the juxtaposition of such a strong willed protagonist with a cast of characters almost exclusively accepting of the status quo. I thought there was some quite interesting commentary on factory farming as well as power dynamics within relationships. However, parts of the text were quite flat for me and I felt some things came too easily to the protagonist- I felt that she fell into the trope of a Mary Sue. I didn’t dislike the book, but I doubt I will pick up the next in the series.

“I want to be summoned. I want to be wanted.”


What if vampires are really as bad as they say?



Most writers go the opposite way, “the scary vamps can kill you but here are some nice ones.” This is not that book.



Vampires have eaten humans almost to extinction. Humans are now mostly raised in group homes to keep them happy and healthy and docile. Only the very rich can afford real blood, most vamps must settle for synthetic.



Wavorly is one of the few humans left who was caught and not bred. Her entire family was murdered in front of her and she was “saved” by Zein and put into a cush prison where she is raised to be a blood slave. But unlike her cohorts, she has tasted freedom and cannot go back.



Let’s start with the protagonist. If Wavorly weren’t selfish and petty, she would feel sorry for the other girls instead of being angry with them. She should be trying to help Anaya (her enemy) instead of hating her. She should want to help the others. She doesn’t.



Now. I’ve got a real problem with Zein and Wavorly. It’s the exact cycle of an abusive relationship. He abuses her, isolates her so that her only human contact is him, forcing her to desire his company even in abuse, and then he apologizes and puts space between them to make her want to be with him. “It upsets me at times because it isn’t what I am accustomed to...,” he clarifies. “I am unused to being regarded in such a way from anyone, let alone a human.” (This is his apology after one of many instances of abuse.) I was disgusted and frustrated by their relationship, and it gave me flashbacks to everything I hated about Tamlin and Feyre in ACOTAR.



I remember reading A Court of Thorns and Roses and hating Tamlin, hating Feyre for being so weak, and hating the book because of that. Though I didn’t put it down. I was glad I didn’t, because then Rhysand showed up and it all made sense. Feyre was still weaker than I wished her to be, but I’m pinning my hopes on Nesta in the next book. I digress, but the feeling is the same here. I HATE Zein. But I feel like the writer wants me to feel for him, to forgive him. Wavorly is whiny and selfish, and while she is not weak in the beginning, she lets a man make her so, and it’s honestly disgusting to me. The pattern of abuse and manipulation makes me hope for a slow and painful death for Zein, but for his sake, not hers. I hope Wavorly grows a backbone and maybe some empathy in the next book.



3 stars. I want there to be a reckoning for Zein, and I’m willing to continue reading the series to get it.

What a pleasant surprise in a not-so-typical vampire YA book!! Eek!! Ok. First things first. I thought this book, like so many others would be out there to copy the whole Twilight theme of vamps and werewolves, etc, etc. While A Violet Fire does have vamps (duh, it's in the description), the similaririties basically stop there. And thank the gods for that!! A Violet Fire is set in a world where vamps rule, there's blood slaves and the entire setting of the book is dark and sexy. This is a must read for anyone who wants to read a good vamp book that doesn't follow the norm! I have so much love for this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

ebook ARC provided by Netgalley.

While A Violet Fire had a fairly slow and confusing start, I really enjoyed the story in the end. The world building got progressively better as the story progressed, the characters (especially the protagonist, Wave/Wavorly) are interesting and multi-dimensional, and I’m excited for the sequel.

A Violet Fire was great! I loved it. Wavorly is smart, sassy and brave. I loved this character. Lord Anton Zein is Scary, powerful and caring. I loved the story, full of excitement, angst and intrigue. One of my favorite scenes is when Wavorly fights with Anaya. I loved the ending and I'm looking forward to reading A Crimson Truth, the next book in the Vampires in Avignon.
#AVioletFire #NetGalley

I give A Violet Fire 5 stars for its great read.
I would recommend this book to Paranormal Fantasy Fans.