The Cover Wars: Haunting Violet

Rea of Rea's Reading and Reviews and I decided to get together to do a weekly meme where we would compare covers of the UK editions of books with those of the US editions.

The aim of this is to just have a bit of fun. We put ourselves in the position where we see both of these books side by side in the bookstore. Which would we choose? Why that one and not the other?

This week, we will be comparing the UK and US covers of Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey because we have both read this. I loved the book so much, and I loved how different it was to the other books I was reading before this.

The First book is the US version and the Second one is the UK
version.

Tara says: This is a really hard one, because i like both covers. The US one shows a girl as does the UK one, they both look a little creepy and haunting so that goes well with the title. Both covers have a hint of purple for Violet, and they both tell a little about what the book is about. In the book 'water' is mentioned a lot so that is the only reason why I'm going with the US version.


Rea says: I find that I’m torn about this one. Initially, I was much more attracted to the UK version – there’s something about the purple and black together with the mist coming off the water and the bare trees that gives it a very appealing gothic look. Having read the book, though, I’m not sure Violet ever wears the black dress depicted on the cover so it’s just there for atmospheric effect. The US cover is much more true to the events of the book. The girl depicted is the one who was drowned in the pond. Unfortunately, she doesn’t look drowned. She looks like she’s gone for a float and her hair looks dry, which kind of ruins the effect. After some contemplation, I’m going to go with my initial preference here. UK for me.

Score: 

Week 5:     US: 1    UK: 2    Draw:1



Do you want to join in too? Here’s how:
Step 1: Copy and paste the Cover Wars image.

Step 2: Copy and paste our intro or write your own but it must link back to both of our blogs.

Step 3: Copy and paste the US and UK cover images.

Step 4: Compare the two.

Step 5: Either use our score or keep your own score.

Step 6: Post it and share it!

Thanks and have fun!

Guest Review of Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Who am I?
My name is Rea. I’m a 23-year-student and blogger and a British expat from the Netherlands. I joined the blogging community at the start of the summer. My blog is Rea’s Reading and Reviews I review most of what I read on there and I read a bit of everything depending on my mood at any one time.



Tara and I are part of a Goodreads group called Basically Books! (yes, it was named after this blog!) Our group has been holding an autumn reading challenge where each participant has to read books from their friends’ favourites shelf. My pick from Tara’s shelf was Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey. So when Tara told me that she was looking for guest posters, it was obvious to me that this would be the perfect choice for my guest review.



The book is one that I had been aware of prior to the challenge. In fact, I’d bought it mere days before the challenge started so when I found out that Tara had read and enjoyed it, I knew I would pick this book from her shelves, even though our reading tastes are sometimes very different. I seem to be going through a reading phase where I gobble up books about ghosts so I found myself rather excited about the prospect of reading this book!

What’s it about?

Violet’s mother is a medium in London in the late 19th century. She goes to great lengths to put on the best paranormal show money can buy and Violet has been helping her in these schemes to trick the rich out of their money for years now.

When Lord Jasper invites Violet’s mother and her little entourage to put on a big show for the toast of high society, Violet, her mother, their maid (a former prostitute), and Colin (a jack of all trades who Violet’s mother rescued from the streets some years previously) head out of the city and into the country to the large manor house where this séance will be held. As always, her mother captures the interest of those present with the little tricks to ensure a show to any and all present, including the young man she’s hoping will ask for Violet’s hand, but Violet has bigger problems than their lies. It would seem that she really does have a gift and one ghost in particular is adamant that Violet will help her… or she’ll make her life difficult until she does.

Who is it aimed at?
Young adults. Violet is 16, Colin is 18. It is clean.

What did I think about it?
This book provided an interesting look into séances in that period. They were really quite popular at the time and provided the rich with something interesting and different to distract them. Actually, I’ve read a few books recently that have included séances in this period and it’s interesting to read about what lengths the mediums were willing to go to in order to get the desired effects. A large amount of research must have gone into being able to recreate (if only in a literary sense) these Victorian secrets.



I quite liked Violet herself. As an illegitimate daughter, she can never aspire to the heights of upper class society, and she knows this. She’s pretty much the antithesis of her mother who is conniving, wrapped up in her lie of a life, and always wants to be the centre of attention. Violet is humble and does not like this life they’re living, often feeling remorse for the tricks she has to play, but she understands that they do need to do this in order to stay out of the mills.



The ghosts were interesting, though most of them were ignored because Violet didn’t want to let them in. The provenance of Violet’s abilities is unfortunately completely ignored; they’re just suddenly there, but the descriptions of Rowena make up for it. I adored these. Despite this, as the reader I would still have liked to have come to understand how and why Violet has the third eye.



There were multiple scenes and subplots in the story that didn’t really seem to have any impact on the story as a whole. I think they were there to bulk it up but every scene should add to a final picture. One such scene was when Elizabeth, Violet’s friend and the daughter of a member of the ton, is introduced. That scene just seems to exist and doesn’t add to the story at all. The same thing can be observed with the whole subplot that has Elizabeth drooling over Frederick. Nothing ever comes of this – this is no resolution one way or the other, it just exists and then the book’s finished. Again, it can be seen in the passages when Violet meets her dad. It never evolves past her actually meeting her dad, there is no point to this subplot and had it not been included, the story would not have suffered for it. I have to admit that this tendency bothered me when I was reading.



Words cannot express how relieved I am that Harvey did not try to introduce a love triangle. The courtship with Xavier felt real in how awkward Violet was but how she knew she could not afford to say no to such a potential rise in her status in society. At the same time, the budding romance with Colin was not quite so satisfying. It was cute, yes, but in the scenes prior to Colin kissing Violet, Violet never thinks of him as anything other than the boy she grew up with, but then she’s suddenly thinking about him as the boy she’d rather be with. I would rather have been offered a glimpse into how the feelings evolved, or her surprise at him kissing her and then a re-evaluation of her own feelings for him. That didn’t happen. The chapter just ended and then after that it was accepted as given that she liked him now. Again, this bothered me.



Despite this, the story itself was a fun, quick read and managed to both capture and hold my interest. It frustrated me that so many plot points were never addressed properly when this book appears to be a standalone, but it ended on a note where the main plot was neatly tied up.

Rea

Rating:

I would just like to say.. Thank you to my first ever Guest Blogger :) Rea :D 

xxxx

 

Review of Bleeding Hearts (Drake Chronicles #4) by Alyxandra Harvey

Description 

The Drakes and friends will be tested when an infestation of deadly vampires threatens Violet Hill.

Lucy's cousin Christabel has come to live in Violet Hill, and adjusting to the difference between life in a small mountain town and her home in the city is difficult enough. The strict curfew that Lucy's parents enforce is the worst part. Something really dangerous couldn't possibly happen in this tiny town.

But Christabel has noticed some mysterious happenings, and it seems like Lucy, her boyfriend Nicholas and his brother Connor are all in on a secret that Christabel doesn't understand—one that seems deadly serious. Although she won't admit it, Christabel would love to be in on any secret with Connor Drake. But when she is kidnapped by the ruthless Hel-Blar vampires, Christabel must cause more and more trouble in Violet Hill, Lucy and Connor finally fill Christabel in on all the undead drama. Together, they must find a way to stamp out the Hel-Blar for good.

My Thoughts
Well when my sister came home saying she bought two books I was so excited... and I jumped for joys when I saw this was one of them. After she read it I stopped reading what I was reading and started reading this.. I would say I read it within a day. The cover relates to the book to me, and I love how if you saw it you would be drawn into it.

This book is so well written and well thought out, I didn't really forget the characters though I did get confused at some parts of the book, but that might be because I am one confused girl. The POV changes with each chapter and takes turn. So 1 chapter is Lucy.. the other is Connor and then the next Christabel. This is a great plot and though some characters arent the main ones in this book they still pay an important role. Solange kind of creeps me out in this book.. you will see why, if and when you read this, or if you have already.

The characters in this book are either human, or a vampire, OR maybe a Hel- Bar. Christabel is here because of a certain reason and she is trying to get used to living in violet hill, she doesn't know anything about the vampires but she soon learns about it, she is brave and an interesting character and I loved her love for books and poetry. Lucy was a character in the last 3 books so i don't really need to say much apart from I loved her still and I liked how she is so brave even knowing that danger is out there. Connor is one of the Drakes brothers and how I like is point of view. He is one tough vampire and I love how he risked everything to do a certain thing in the book. (not saying what :) )

My overall opinion on this book is.. its as good as the other 3 before :D .. If you loved the others.. or if you haven't read them yet.. then GET your hands on them.


(PS. WHAT an ending :O )

Tara

Rating: