A review by desert_mar
Through Violet Eyes, by Stephen Woodworth
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.