bexsbookshelves1's review against another edition
5.0
This review and more can be found at:
Reading Under the Covers
This book isn’t my typical kind of book. I am not into crime books but this book has been sat on my shelf since the day it came out. After tidying up my bookshelves I came across this book again, the cover drew me in and the blurb got me. It didn’t sound like a typical crime book and I thought why not give it a go and I am so glad I did.
If that thing called sleep didn’t exist I would have read this book in a day. I was just so captivated and intoxicated by this book. I dug it’s claws in and wouldn’t let me go.
The story was amazing and kept me wanting to know who was killing the Violets themselves. Every twist and turn, every break in the case just kept me reading. I wanted to know who was murdering these violets.
The characters themselves we’re amazing. They weren’t you stereotypical characters, or well stereotypical characters that I imagined them to be before I read the first page. These characters are complicated and just human. Vulnerable and very human. And that is what I just came to love about them.
I think one of the elements that drew me to actually read this book was the slight hint of the supernatural abilities that the Violets posses. The one in which they are able to summon dead people and that is what got me intrigued.
Although I was shocked by some things and really annoyed by other things (not in bad ways) I actually really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to dig into the next one.
Reading Under the Covers
This book isn’t my typical kind of book. I am not into crime books but this book has been sat on my shelf since the day it came out. After tidying up my bookshelves I came across this book again, the cover drew me in and the blurb got me. It didn’t sound like a typical crime book and I thought why not give it a go and I am so glad I did.
If that thing called sleep didn’t exist I would have read this book in a day. I was just so captivated and intoxicated by this book. I dug it’s claws in and wouldn’t let me go.
The story was amazing and kept me wanting to know who was killing the Violets themselves. Every twist and turn, every break in the case just kept me reading. I wanted to know who was murdering these violets.
The characters themselves we’re amazing. They weren’t you stereotypical characters, or well stereotypical characters that I imagined them to be before I read the first page. These characters are complicated and just human. Vulnerable and very human. And that is what I just came to love about them.
I think one of the elements that drew me to actually read this book was the slight hint of the supernatural abilities that the Violets posses. The one in which they are able to summon dead people and that is what got me intrigued.
Although I was shocked by some things and really annoyed by other things (not in bad ways) I actually really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to dig into the next one.
booklvrkat's review against another edition
4.0
Great read! Can't believe I've missed this series. Looking forward to the next
hoosgracie's review against another edition
4.0
Violets are people with violet eyes who are conduits for the dead – meaning a murder victim can testify at their killer’s trial. In this very intriguing thriller, someone wants Violets dead and FBI agent Dan Atwater must team up with Violet Natalie Lindstrom to catch the killer. One of the better thrillers I’ve read.
jazzcone's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my all time favorite books that I have ever read, it’s very fast paced and the characters are very well done and seem to come alive as you go, you will find yourself feeling for the characters as the book goes on. It has a little bit of everything. Paranormal/Sci-Fi/fantasy: Now it isn't totally paranormal all the time, but it still has some of the paranormal in it, with bringing in the psychic. Mystery: Your trying to figure out who the killer is. Romance: There is love between the Psychic and lead investigator. And maybe just a little dash of horror/creeps: Because you get the point of view as the killer.
As I said before it’s a fast read and very fast paced. It keeps you guessing to the very end and then there is a twist that will leave speechless. I would always recommend this book!
desert_mar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
An intriguing concept lies in the Violets and their abilities that bridge the boundaries between the living and the dead, as well as their government exploitation. That was what led me to buying this book in the first place. The fusion between supernatural and crime-thriller elements worked excellently here; both genres seamlessly played off each other. Normally I would've been unable to take the "violet eyes" aspect seriously -- I remember the "Alexandria's Genesis" Internet myth from the past decade more vividly than I should -- but it was so hugely important to the story that I couldn't laugh about it.
Admittedly, I haven't read a lot of FBI thriller-type stories, but I felt like the plot here progressed naturally, and generally had even pacing throughout. Tension developed organically as the stakes increased and protagonists Dan Atwater and Natalie Lindstrom grew closer to stopping the "Violet killer."
Speaking of Dan and Natalie! One of my least favorite aspects of this book was the romance that budded between them. Their romance was unnecessary and painful, and if it was written out, the plot would've remained largely unchanged. Dan in general was not a great (or even likeable) character either. He's a jerk whose "acts of kindness" are bare minimum at best, and the "redemption arc" he eventually gets for his checkered past isn't well done. Natalie deserved better.
I'm glad that Stephen Woodworth included a diverse cast of supporting characters in this book, but the way he describes his BIPOC characters in particular was something with which I took issue. He describes one character as simply "looking Chinese-American" and uses something adjacent to "chocolate-colored skin" to elaborate on a Black character. The White cast are described with more creativity and detail, and that bugged me the entire time I read this book. There were also a couple of times when negative connotations were applied to things that were described as "autistic" or "Down syndrome." I'm sure this all could be fixed if it was rewritten today, but that won't bump up the rating I'm giving this book.
The dialogue is decent. Nothing too awkward or cliché, but nothing that struck me. Some of Dan's dialogue, especially when talking to Natalie, was a little cringe-y, though.
Overall Through Violet Eyes is a book with an interesting concept and themes, and though its plot and how it progresses are executed well, the same cannot be said for the romance and how some characters are written. I must also add that the violence here isn't too extreme, but I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone who is easily frightened by blood, eye gore, or corpses. Readers who like odd and mysterious crime thrillers may enjoy this.
Admittedly, I haven't read a lot of FBI thriller-type stories, but I felt like the plot here progressed naturally, and generally had even pacing throughout. Tension developed organically as the stakes increased and protagonists Dan Atwater and Natalie Lindstrom grew closer to stopping the "Violet killer."
Speaking of Dan and Natalie! One of my least favorite aspects of this book was the romance that budded between them. Their romance was unnecessary and painful, and if it was written out, the plot would've remained largely unchanged. Dan in general was not a great (or even likeable) character either. He's a jerk whose "acts of kindness" are bare minimum at best, and the "redemption arc" he eventually gets for his checkered past isn't well done. Natalie deserved better.
I'm glad that Stephen Woodworth included a diverse cast of supporting characters in this book, but the way he describes his BIPOC characters in particular was something with which I took issue. He describes one character as simply "looking Chinese-American" and uses something adjacent to "chocolate-colored skin" to elaborate on a Black character. The White cast are described with more creativity and detail, and that bugged me the entire time I read this book. There were also a couple of times when negative connotations were applied to things that were described as "autistic" or "Down syndrome." I'm sure this all could be fixed if it was rewritten today, but that won't bump up the rating I'm giving this book.
The dialogue is decent. Nothing too awkward or cliché, but nothing that struck me. Some of Dan's dialogue, especially when talking to Natalie, was a little cringe-y, though.
Overall Through Violet Eyes is a book with an interesting concept and themes, and though its plot and how it progresses are executed well, the same cannot be said for the romance and how some characters are written. I must also add that the violence here isn't too extreme, but I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone who is easily frightened by blood, eye gore, or corpses. Readers who like odd and mysterious crime thrillers may enjoy this.
kristaaquinn's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bexsbookshelves's review against another edition
5.0
This review and more can be found at:
Reading Under the Covers
This book isn’t my typical kind of book. I am not into crime books but this book has been sat on my shelf since the day it came out. After tidying up my bookshelves I came across this book again, the cover drew me in and the blurb got me. It didn’t sound like a typical crime book and I thought why not give it a go and I am so glad I did.
If that thing called sleep didn’t exist I would have read this book in a day. I was just so captivated and intoxicated by this book. I dug it’s claws in and wouldn’t let me go.
The story was amazing and kept me wanting to know who was killing the Violets themselves. Every twist and turn, every break in the case just kept me reading. I wanted to know who was murdering these violets.
The characters themselves we’re amazing. They weren’t you stereotypical characters, or well stereotypical characters that I imagined them to be before I read the first page. These characters are complicated and just human. Vulnerable and very human. And that is what I just came to love about them.
I think one of the elements that drew me to actually read this book was the slight hint of the supernatural abilities that the Violets posses. The one in which they are able to summon dead people and that is what got me intrigued.
Although I was shocked by some things and really annoyed by other things (not in bad ways) I actually really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to dig into the next one.
Reading Under the Covers
This book isn’t my typical kind of book. I am not into crime books but this book has been sat on my shelf since the day it came out. After tidying up my bookshelves I came across this book again, the cover drew me in and the blurb got me. It didn’t sound like a typical crime book and I thought why not give it a go and I am so glad I did.
If that thing called sleep didn’t exist I would have read this book in a day. I was just so captivated and intoxicated by this book. I dug it’s claws in and wouldn’t let me go.
The story was amazing and kept me wanting to know who was killing the Violets themselves. Every twist and turn, every break in the case just kept me reading. I wanted to know who was murdering these violets.
The characters themselves we’re amazing. They weren’t you stereotypical characters, or well stereotypical characters that I imagined them to be before I read the first page. These characters are complicated and just human. Vulnerable and very human. And that is what I just came to love about them.
I think one of the elements that drew me to actually read this book was the slight hint of the supernatural abilities that the Violets posses. The one in which they are able to summon dead people and that is what got me intrigued.
Although I was shocked by some things and really annoyed by other things (not in bad ways) I actually really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to dig into the next one.
wenturner's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this thriller. The concept is that there are people (reminiscent of Minority Report) who can talk to the dead, and because of this, are hired to solve murders by allowing victims to occupy their bodies. The plot really carries the book, and there are some great suspenseful moments. The writing isn't all that great, but it's definitely an enjoyable read. I like the two sequels as well.