A Violet Fire holds a tale that captured me right from the first page. As we begin the story through Wavorly's eyes and the escape attempt of her current circumstances, I ended up being taken in and engrossed into the story only a few pages in and before I knew it, I had finished the entire thing! When a book does that to me, which is actually quite rare, I know that it is one I truly have enjoyed.

And it's not just because I have a love for any vampire-related fiction, although that certainly can help, I generally just loved the writing style and how we were introduced to each character and plot point movements in just perfect timing to keep your interest flowing with the book itself. The information given was never overbearing or too much and the description of the world was beautifully done, which made me enjoy the story a whole lot more as I know how hard it can be to truly get the idea of your world written in the right balance without being too much or little, this was perfect.

I loved the dynamics of the plot and it never felt cliche or too cringy which even I as a vampire fiction fan admit a lot of these types of books can be. I never felt that at all and loved Wavorly's strength and persistence throughout the book. I generally don't read books as fast as I did this because it takes me a while to really get into them. However, this really did hook me from the beginning till the end and would not let me sleep till I had read it all.

I really enjoyed this a lot and for sure I will be reading it again soon!

This book is not a vampire love story, it is an epic tale in a vast and detailed world of fantasy. The depth and intensity of the story, the thorough character development and fantasy, that still has elements of reality, make this a fantastic read.

The story develops at a steady pace. Since A Violet Fire is set in a fictional reality, much of the early part of the story is focused on setting the scene, this was done in a way that was entertaining rather than tiresome. It is filled with suspense, twists and turns that kept me on my toes and guessing to the end. This story is very complex, but not confusing in the slightest.

This novel has my head spinning, in a good way! I need the next instalment. I can't predict how this story will end, and I love that!

What an engrossing read! I had a hard time putting it down. In a world where humans are scarce and vampires rule, humans are raised as living blood bags and bred to continue the race. Wavorly, raised on the outside, is sent to train to become a slave to her vampire master, Lord Anton Zein. Wavorly is headstrong, fierce, and longs for freedom. In this book we follow them as they become closer and secrets from the past come to light.
I’m heavily invested in this series and really really want to know what happens next. That ending left me speechless 😶. If you like vampires, forbidden romance, and secret societies this one is for you. I loved it.

**I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. As it is an indie, the author has full control over the work. She's stated that she will take ARC feedback into consideration.**

I'm dividing my review into two parts. <b>Skip to "Enemies to Lovers Deliciousness" if you just want the usual format. The general review may contain spoilers, while the quick categories do not.</b>

<b>General review</b>
I requested this ARC because the premise intrigued me. I never got tired of the vampire trend and the synopsis promised a hate-to-love romance. That's all you need to get my attention, really. Plus, it was compared to The Cruel Prince so I was doubly encouraged.

(Confession: I didn't finish reading TCP. But that's for another time. I understand perfectly why A Violet Fire was comped to it)

Let me say though that <b>the prose is beautiful and the concept is promising. The author just stumbled with the execution.</b> There are some scenes that captivated me entirely... while others left me skipping forward. I'd rate this <b>3.5/5 stars for that inconsistency. I have so many mixed feelings.</b>

<b>WORLDBUILDING</b>

<b>I LOVED the worldbuilding.</b> It's very original, and the author even included the universe's history and politics at play. Plus, you know that the novel only takes place in a small part of the world--and that's why Wavorly is itching to escape to a better, freer country. I'm very interested in learning more about the places outside Cain.

I also want to reiterate that <b>the prose is beautiful.</b> The author offers lavish descriptions of places, clothing, and characters. I could imagine it all perfectly in my head. At one point, I just kept reading on because of her prose.

<b>RELATIONSHIPS</b>

<b>Wavorly and Zein's romance hooked me in because I am a sucker for the hate-to-love trope.</b> Wavorly is the only human who hasn't been brainwashed to worship Zein, so he's fascinated by her. (Also, she's the last human with red hair and green eyes, so she's "genetically important") Even if she pisses him off, and she does that a lot, he admits it's refreshing. Nobody else dares to argue with him, so his immortal life is really boring.

Meanwhile, Zein is very hot and cold. His attempts to punish Wavorly are just for show, really, and he never means to hurt her seriously (no matter how many evil threats he makes). He makes sure she's comfortable, cares for her, and respects her boundaries. He even guarantees her and her friends' safety (albeit on his own terms). So Zein learns to be more compassionate towards her.

Honestly, I was clutching my e-reader to my face whenever they shared a scene. <b>I was so into their dark, flirty, half-hate-half-love banter.</b> And when he bites her... <i>oof.</i>

<b>BUT Wavorly's opinion of Zein is inconsistent.</b> Once they get to know each other more, she hates him one moment, and then loves him the next, and then remembers that she hates him... I understand what the author was doing; Waverly is conflicted since she's hated vampires all her life. But <b>sometimes it just gave me whiplash. I wish we were more gently eased into her romantic struggles.</b>

<b>EXCESSIVE INFO-DUMPS</b>

<b>The worldbuilding is fascinating and complex, I give it that! But I think there was too much info-dumping in this novel.</b> I prefer discovering the world through its plot rather than having it directly explained by the characters. The constant exposition was present throughout the novel... it was happening even near the end. I know it's done for our benefit, but I think constant info-dumping just makes the world feel cold and impersonal.

And yet, when there wasn't an info-dump, when there were hints of a plot twist... it felt <b>predictable.</b> I think it's because the author revealed the details at awkward times. Rather than seeming organic (if they were mentioned from the start), they seemed too much like <b>conspicuous plot devices.</b> Yes, she suddenly starts getting flashbacks about her <i>dead</i> best friend. The moment she name-dropped him, I knew he was alive and coming for her.

<b>PACING</b>

A Violet Fire starts off really great. We're thrown into the action with some minor backstory, Wavorly is really driving her own destiny, and it's easy to root for her. Even after she and her friends are transferred to Zein's castle, there's enough drama to keep you reading. There's her relationship with Zein, her blooming friendships (and enemy-ships) with the other girls, and the mystery of that ~violet room which honestly, I did not care for. I'm sorry. It was mysterious, yes, but I didn't know why we should care for it other than <i>oh it's only visible to Wavorly and it reveals her past and there's a secret prophecy...</i>

I think the novel waffles a bit at this midpoint. Once Wavorly reluctantly falls for Zein (and after he threatens the safety of her friends) she has no more reason to escape. She goes from an active protagonist to a very passive one, only reacting to the events and characters around her. Like, I get that she had no choice, but this lack of drive (aside from wanting to examine the violet room which, like I said, I didn't care for) made the novel seem so slow. I think I devoured close to a hundred pages in one day, and then after that, it became an effort to read too many pages at once.

Near the end, there's a Chosen One plot twist that I didn't personally enjoy (though that's only because I am personally not into the Chosen One trope). It made a lot of sense, and it put everything in the story into perspective... but I was disappointed. I expected A Violet Fire to be much more unique (considering its worldbuilding). The fact that the Chosen One trope was only revealed at the last... 80% or so of the novel is also the issue, I think. <b>Maybe it's my fault; I was expecting this novel to subvert all the usual vampire fantasy tropes. But it didn't.</b>

<b>BONUS: Other Reviewers' Issues</b>

I've read other reviews and I noticed that other readers think Wavorly slut shames the other female characters. <b>I disagree.</b> It might seem like it because she's disgusted by their hero worship of the vampires, but Wavorly understands that they were brainwashed into it. It isn't their fault. And the things that are their fault (like attacking her out of jealousy) warrants anger, I think. More than anything, Wavorly was angry that the other girls were praising <i>vampires.</i> It had nothing to do with them being <i>men</i> they were attracted to. It's the <i>object of attraction</i> that she hates, not the <i>attraction itself</i>. Remember when her best friend Savvy revealed she was in love with Gemini? Wavorly was supportive because she knew it would make her friend happy.

Wavorly is the only person who doesn't hero worship her captors. I understand why she's so upset and disgusted.

<b>Enemies to Lovers Deliciousness</b>
<b>Quick categories</b>

<i>Steamy hatef*ck scale: 4/5</i>
The steamy hatef*ck is good. God, Wavorly hates Zein with such a burning passion. When Zein gets pissed off, he gets really aggressive. She's still supposed to feed him her blood, so there's a lot of tension when he gets angry enough to bite :)

<i>Secret softness scale: 4/5</i>
Zein really does care for her, even if he's an evil vampire warlord. He gives her special treatment, always makes sure she's okay after a feeding, and saves her time and time again. Wavorly softens up to him once she realizes he's kinder than she thought.

<i>Go female friendships! scale: 5/5</i>
I actually really enjoyed Wavorly's friendship with Savvy. That girl is precious, and it's sweet how Wavorly sacrifices a lot just to save her best friend. Even if they fight, they don't stay enemies for long. And even if they're jealous of each other at times, it doesn't break their friendship, and they always make-up.

<b>TL;DR I have mixed feelings about this novel. If you're a fan of vampire romances and traditional fantasy tropes, then I recommend it. But if you're looking for something new and subversive, then maybe skip it. Still, I look forward to seeing what the author will write next.</b>

Engaging, passionate, dangerous, fascinating.

Like a vampire needs blood I needed to read this outstanding novel. Fast paced, unique storyline keeps the readers interest. It delves into and crosses over the line of brain washing and what it's like to be in an abusive relationship. The emotional depth transcends into reality for this science fiction thriller.

The story begins when the main character gets kidnapped and her family killed by vampires. This world of blood sucking vampires use humans in the worst way, making them think they are giving to a good cause "their blood."

Wavorly the main character told from her point of view remains resistant but similar to real life kidnapping's she starts to sympathize with her captor. I think the author did an excellent job with keeping the psychological hardship of captivity realistic.

Definitely a must read. This is a book I like to have in hardcover to read when times get tuff and when I need a good vampire story, that's currently hard to find.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC Kindle eread.

What do I want to say about this book? First off, I really liked it. I stayed up a little too late reading it and then immediately picked it up again when I woke up. I was fascinated by the story because I had no idea where it was going and honestly, that's a satisfying trait in a book. It can be nice to know how a book is going to end, but it's much more fun to be surprised.

The writing style was also highly enjoyable. I liked the sarcastic tone of the main character, and that bled into the description of people and surroundings. The main character also had a relatable internal conflict: the fear that one's friends are going to abandon you. Painfully annoying as such a problem is, I could understand exactly what Wavorly was feeling when she expressed that fear, and that drew me to the character.

The vampires themselves? Awesome and terrifying. This isn't some Twilight wannabe. This is a "vampires are predators you need to be constantly on your guard" type book and that is far more fun to read about. Wavorly's conflict about caring for a vampire is real and perfect, because again--PREDATOR.

I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who's read other vampire novels, and even to those who don't think they like vampire books. The conflicts within are real and complex, and you won't be disappointed.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

2.5 stars.

A violet fire follows the story of our main character - wavorly she tried to escape from a vampire school where the humans are taught to serve the vampires. I struggled to get through this book there were some parts I enjoyed.
It was an interesting take on vampires turning humans in that it was different to other books, changing them into savage beasts that have insatiable hunger called the fallen. However turns out there’s an antidote for this so the vampires can still bite the humans.
I liked the vampire Gemini much needed comic relief.
I also enjoyed the way the author wrote the characters emotions. There were excellent descriptions of panic, anger etc.

I didn’t really like Zein he seems to be a bit flat missing a personality. After a while Waverlys attitude also started to annoy me.

I gave it 2 and a half stars, had some interesting ideas for the overall world and some good writing but the characters just didn’t do it for me at all.

Thank you to netgalley for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.

6+Stars. Can you say HELL YES!!!

Kelsey Quick is a new-to-me author and she made one heck of an impression on me with A Violet Fire!

Set in a time where humans are scarce and thus, so is the blood supply for vampires, humans are now serving at their whim. From breeding farms to brainwashing and sustenance for vampires, humans are completely dominated and oppressed.

Wavorly, however, has known freedom and the outside world. She bucks convention and all demands. She has a huge hate for vampires. Especially one who saved her from death by another vampire then left her and promised to come back when he never did.

Being headstrong, passionate and courageous she defies convention and that sets her apart from her peers who shun her because they cannot understand her willfulness and defiance. This has left her alone for too many years.

When once again she meets Zein, the vampire who saved her, she has more hatred and distrust for vampires than ever. When she is chosen to follow Zein to his home after the Distribution Ceremony, she cannot wait to escape.

As the days go by, however, her mindset starts to waver. She starts to believe that not all vampires are evil and that includes her master, Zein. Can she trust him? Or, is everything just a ruse?

Holy smokes! This book blew me away! It’s excruciating knowing that I have to wait for the next book. There are breath-stealing moments that left me at the edge of my seat. It is exciting, gripping and full of danger. It consumed me. Around every corner there was a new development. Twists and turns abound. This series is going to be my newest addiction.

My anxiety during the selection was raging alongside Wavorly’s. I needed to know what her fate was going to be.

Wavorly is strong, defiant and courageous. She left me slack-jawed. She is such a ballsy little thing!

Zein is a tough one to crack. We do not get to see much of him but he keeps everything so close to the chest. He is powerful, demanding and somewhat of a bully which befits his station. It was hard to categorize if he is good or bad and what his intentions are toward Wavorly. I have a feeling that in the long-run even he doesn’t really know.

This is one book you don’t want to miss!

I received an ARC via NetGalley of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5ish? I'm so torn on this book. It definitely turns the vampire genre on it's head with it's all powerful, nearly human hating vampires. I didn't mind the fresh take on that and thought that it was pretty interesting. I found the main character a touch irritating sometimes. Like she was incapable of acknowledging her own emotions, which I guess, if this is a YA/teen character is pretty par for the course. What really irritated me was the "vampire romance," or lack thereof. If you're going to shill a book as a partial romance, you have to really bring those feelings, and this fell so far short it might as well have been a hop off the grand canyon. There's no real chemistry between Wavorly and Zein. He hasn't redeemed himself enough from being one of the literal world full of bad vampires for me to ever buy off on him being a "good" guy with really poor decision making skills. Maybe there wasn't enough backstory? I don't know, I just didn't like this whole (non) romance thing. It didn't fit, and given that it was such a huge part of the plot, that really needed to work for me. There was also no hope for a future for them. What kind of vampire romance doesn't at least offer the human part a chance at eternal life? Otherwise, what is the point? Maybe 40 years before she's so old it makes it laughable? Meh. Interesting new plot, terrible take on romance.

I received a complimentary copy of A Violet Fire from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What an original take on the vampire genre! I loved the tragedy of the human condition and the 'Violet Heir' who may be able to avenge some of what has been lost. Angry and powerful, Wavorly is a character to envy. (Sounds like there will be a great sequel as well!)
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

A Violet Fire by Kelsey Quick. First, I must say I LOVE LOVE LOVED this book! I could not put it down! I started it and kept finding excuses to stop everything that I was doing to read! I was intrigued at the very beginning and I SO did not expect the first book to leave me wanting to find the sequel and buy it! I will probably buy a hard cover to keep in my classroom for the dystopian section of the common core unit.

Wavorly is not the typical teenage girl in most dystopian books. Her character is strong and very cynical to the point of getting her in trouble. Zein IS the typical vampire character—but just when you think you have he plot and ending figured out, you are wrong. This is am adventure that I was thrilled to go along for the ride with. Can’t say again how much I loved this book.

I looove this book. I'm so happy that vampires are officially back in the YA genre. The plot was engaging and had some twists I didn’t see coming but thoroughly enjoyed, the writing was easy to follow and the characters were relatable and full of life. I had so many emotions while reading this, and for me, that’s the element that makes a book a good one.

A Violet Fire is a dystopian novel in which vampires rule the world and use humans as their blood supplies. Men and women born in the territory of Cain are learning from an early age that their only purpose in life is offering their blood to their masters and serving them as best as they can. Wavorly Sterling is tossed into this life at the age of eight, and ten years later hates everything that has to do with vampires and her enslavement. Anton Zein is an enigmatic vampire who saved her life when she was little and is now responsible for her fate. What will happen when their paths collide?

Wavorly is the type of character that either you love or hate. I liked her a lot! I think she is strong, opinionated and just, but she is equally immature, impulsive and has a big mouth on her. She is a very realistic character as all the other cast members. Zein is mysterious and magnetic. He won me over from the second time we get to meet him. He has his scary moments but, most of the time, he is kind and understanding. Their interactions are addicting and their chemistry is tangible. Also, the relationships and the dynamics between the supply units are very interesting to read due to their hard competition with each other.

The only issue I have to point out is the pacing. I think there are many unnecessary descriptions that slow the story down and makes you want to skip them and get to the juicy parts. Still, I don’t think it’s something that will spoil your reading experience.

The ending is absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to read the next one! If you like YA paranormal stories, I’d say to give this one a try.

I received this e-arc from NetGalley for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Anyone who's enjoyed Holly Black's The Cruel Prince needs to read Kelsey Quick's A Violet Fire. It takes the same basic concept of being a rare human in world of magical, powerful creatures, and turns it into a kind of psychological drama with a fantasy backdrop. It's beautifully crafted, and the character development is top-notch. This book exemplifies what an active protagonist should look like--not jumping from one big, exciting event to another but pushing the plot forward with her decisions.

When the book begins, Wavorly (or Wave, as her few friends call her), has every reason not to have agency. She's enslaved as a young child, raised in a world where her only purpose is feeding a vampire master, and pretty much spends all her time locked in one cage or another. Yet her fierce goal to escape and find freedom permeates her every action. She gives herself agency. Her choices matter, and she reflects back on them and adjusts future actions accordingly. Wave never just walks anywhere. She surveys her surroundings, looking for openings she can use later.

The core of the book is the war going on in Wave's head. She has always hated vampires, but when her master Zein starts showing her small moments of kindness, it throws her off, and she finds her resolve weakening. The reader is left constantly trying to figure Zein out as much as Wave is. I could still see readers having mixed feelings about him even after the book is over.

Throughout the book, Wave gets visions of a sort by stepping into a room of violet flames that only she seems to be able to see. These build up to an excellent twist at the end that I don't believe any reader is going to see coming, simply because the hints Wave gets from her moments past the wall are too disjointed. But I don't believe this is one of those books where the aim is to figure the twist out. The big question becomes, once all is revealed, what does Wave ultimately do with this final piece of information? Does she give Zein her full trust or not? There are surprisingly stiff consequences if her assessment about him is wrong.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I hope I get to read more of the author's work in the future.

Rating: 5 out of 5

**Disclaimer: I was given an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

DNF 21%

I really tried to like this book as I was interested by the synopsis given, but the writing confused me, and the protagonist seemed all over the place. She was easily trusting of men (even though they were usually cruel), and more critical of women (when it would seem the women should have teamed together to overtake their captors).

I am seeing a resurgence in vampire books again, and I'm looking forward to seeing what new series pops up, but unfortunately I do not think I'm going to continue "A Violet Fire" at this time - maybe down the road.


*Recommended if you enjoy vampires, insta-love, villains-to-lovers or hate-to-love-to-hate tropes.

I was in a constant state of confusion while reading this. Where was the plot headed? What is going on with the world building? Is this supposed to be a sub-plot of the plot I can't yet define? Great premise, it just didn't come together.

Thank you Netgalley and D&B Management for sending me a digital copy of A Violet Fire.

This book is quite different from typical vampire stories. In a world ruled by vampires, Wavorly is a mere human, trained to become a supply unit - humans who provides blood to the vampires - for the dark brooding Lord Anton Zein, one of the five rulers of the vampire nation, who rescued her years ago from an attack of rogue vampires. But just because Wavorly owes her life to him does not mean she is willing to serve as his slave and live to feed his blood lust. She loathes him and chooses to defy him in every way she can but as she spends more time with him, she starts to question whether he really is the monster she thought him to be. But in this ruthless world ruled by bloodsucking monsters, things are not the way they seem. Soon her life takes an unexpected and dangerous turn as she learns about sinister plots and hidden prophecies.

* SPOILERS AHEAD *
I was quite torn on whether to give it a 4 star or 5 star, so i guess I am settling for 4.5 stars. This book gave me everything I needed - dark and forbidden romance, chosen one, cool prophecies - everything. It is perfect for all the Darkling and Alina (from Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo) shippers including me. I loved the main character - but while she starts off as a badass heroine, her character kind of becomes more of a lovesick damsel in distress in the middle of the book until she regains her awesome stature in the end. The love interest/ villain is extremely well written - he is manipulative and evil but he also has this soft vulnerable side, especially, in the end of the book you see his conflicts and realize that no matter what his original intentions were, to his own dismay, he IS in love with Wavorly. I still hate him for all the heinous things he has done, but I also ship him with Wavorly so hard and hope to see him redeem himself eventually (though I don't know if anyone can ever excuse this level of atrocity). This book is set in a dark and semi dystopian vampire world which I haven't seen in books before and enjoyed very much. The starting of this book, however, was very slow. I was almost 20% in when I was seriously considering not finishing - but once you get past it, the plot (atleast romance wise) starts getting interesting. I also felt like the author was unnecessarily too descriptive. The book would have worked just fine without those details and I skimmed through most of them.

Overall, it was a really good book - a bit slow paced but swoon worthy. I can't wait to see more of Wavorly and Zein. Prophecies and chosen ones are my favorite fantasy tropes and I am very excited to see how this one plays out. I look forward to reading the next installment of this series.

I was given an eARC of this book by Netgally in exchange for an honest review.

So, this book was a really pleasant surprise and a great take on the usual vampire stories which I am not a huge fan of. I started it this book with little to no expectations and found myself little by little drawning in the world that was presented to me. I thought the world-building was done very well and I was very interested in the rules and the system.

Overall, I did like like this book but I found it boring at times.

I'm really excited to read the next book in the series to see how things will pick up.

3.5/5

**Disclaimer: I was given an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

Title A Violet Fire

Author Kelsey Quick

Release Date December 9, 2019

Description from Amazon

In the Vampire Stratocracy of Cain, human blood is scarce. For centuries, councils have sought to assuage the blood shortage by enslaving and breeding humans, turning them into profitable supply units for the rich and the abled.

Today, eighteen-year-old Wavorly Sterling is officially a supply unit, bound to serve her blood willingly to her master for the rest of her life. One of only few humans that was not bred in Cain, Wavorly knows freedom better than anyone, and she is determined to escape the clutches of her oppressors, even if by the hands of death.

But surprises lay beyond every certainty, and within every doubt. Where Wavorly’s hatred for both vampires and her enslavement once flowed free as blood, it merely trickles as she grows to admire her reserved, yet receptive master and savior, Anton Zein.

Although warmed by comforts never felt before, danger still lurks in the castle, and a prophecy calls from beyond the walls of a lavender gate–concealing the horrific secrets lodged between handsome smirks and cinereous eyes. It will take everything within Wavorly to face her fears and her doubts; to harness the truth of her past despite what that means for her future. The only question is, will she?

Initial Thoughts

Please see my hype post for my official initial thoughts but, overall, I was excited to start this book. It was different from anything else I was working on and I wanted a change of pace.

Favorite Character

Gemini — I want more of Gemini. I love that he called Wavorly “Dimwit” and I thought there was so much more to him than we got to see. I love his story with Savvy and I hope to see more of them in future books in this series.

Series Value

I didn’t realize this book was the first in a potential series when I started reading it. That being said, I was initially very critical of the fact that I made it through almost 80% of the book and didn’t understand what the central plot was. At just 50% I was starting to worry but by the time I was in the 80s, I was like what is going on here? After finishing the book and seeing that there is at least one more book planned, I can understand why it took so long.

I think this book sets up the series well and is rich with background information and world building. However, I think some hints about the overarching plot are needed earlier on in the story.

Some Things I Liked

The setting — I liked the mysterious, semi-dystopian setting. I’m not totally clear on what year this book takes place in but I like the mystery of it all. It works and I think it gives Kelsey Quick a lot of room for interesting elements to work with in future books.
Wavorly’s attitude — I thought her no-nonsense sass was a welcome change for a main character. She did what she wanted the had almost no regard for consequences. I liked that.
A likeable villain — It’s been a while since I read a book with a truly likeable villain and I loved the twist and the big reveal of the villain in this story.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About

I felt the story was lacking a plot for a huge portion. I understood the setting and the characters but I didn’t have that sense of caring. What I mean is that things were happening, but there was no pressure or driving force. I missed that sense of urgency and connection to the story. I think the larger plot needed to be revealed a bit sooner.
Final Thoughts

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the world building in this book. I thought the concepts and setting were fascinating and left me hooked on this as a series. I didn’t like that I was unaware of its status as a series until the end of the book and I think that played into my final judgement. I could have been more open-minded about the lack of plot if I knew there was definitely more to the story.

I would definitely read the next book in this series.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommendations for Further Reading

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo — talk about likeable villains! I practically rooted for the Darkling in this series. Definitely give it a try if you liked the villain and the hero/villain relationship in A Violet Fire.
The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer — not to be cliché, but this is probably one of the most popular YA vampire series out there. If you liked the vampire element, and you haven’t read this series, give it a try.
Before the Broken Star by Emily R. King — while this book is not dystopian or about vampires, the main characters are quite similar. Both Everley and Wavorly (see, similar already), are headstrong, revenge-bent, and fearless. They both have little regard for their own safety when it comes to getting what they want. If you enjoyed Wavorly’s attitude and overall personality, give this series by Emily R. King a try.

Interesting take on the typical vampire story line. Wavorly is a human whose family is killed and she is taken by a vampire to be raised as a blood source for the leaders. However, she is everything a good blood source is not. Despite her attitude and disrespect to the leaders, she becomes the favorite of her Zein. As she learn more about him she begins to accept her new life and begins to care for Zein. However, once Wavorly finds out who she really is her whole life changes. Everything she thought she new is now uncertain.

The beginning of A VIOLET FIRE was promising. Unlike other arcs typically found here on NetGalley, it was fast-paced with an exciting plot and excellent world-building. It was straight and to the point and there was never a dull moment. Somewhere along the 50% mark, however, Wavorly's selfish and reckless personality got the better of me and I began to hate every word she uttered. The way she treated other female characters like crap while always seeing the kindness in the males drove me insane. The repetitiveness of Zein and Wavorly's meetings as a way to advance the romance subplot became overbearing and took over other aspects of the book I had enjoyed at the start of the novel. The plot twists toward the end were unsurprising but set up a nice segue toward a possible sequel.