Scan barcode
storyofmylife90's review
4.0
It was really refreshing reading a novel where the protagonist is crazy, or manic-depressed. I felt the story lacked something at the end, everything was so easily fixed, but I guess novels are the only place where everything works out perfectly. Hanna is funny, violent, weird, and crazy. The whole violent part really adds to her disease and combined with the writing, it's funny and you get used to it.
onceuponabookcase's review
5.0
As soon as I read the first few pages, and saw Hanna talking to her father, who wasn't there, I was hooked. This book is just brilliant, and absolutely mental, but in a really good way!
Portero is crazy, really just so odd! With every new occurance, and each new creature that made an appearance, I was thinking "Are you serious?!" with a huge grin on my face. I've reviewed a fair amount of urban fantasy novels, and so I'm used to reading about strange creatures and happens, but Bleeding Violet is written in a way that makes you stop and think "What?", and it's just so awesome! I think it must be Hanna's narration. Being diagnosed and misdiagnosed with several different mental illnesses, as the story goes on, Hanna is never sure if the things that are happening are real or made up, and it's her surprise and yet easy acceptance of what's going around her that make it a little more surprising for the reader than other urban fantasies. You know, I think I would go as far as saying the creatures and events that happen may more be conventions of a high fantasy, where as the characters, relationships, and just everyday goings on are very normal, or conventional of an urban fantasy. It's the meshing of the two that is just so awesome, yet so bizarre!
Don't read everything I've said so far and assume this novel is a silly little fantasy where crazy things happen. There's nothing silly about it; Bleeding Violet covers some very serious issues. Hanna's mental illness is just written so well. Hanna's off-hand acceptance of the things she know can't be right - the actual things that aren't "real" - is jaring. It's disturbing to read Hanna's thoughts on things such as suicide, and her actions when some things happen. It's so powerful!
Another issue covered in Bleeding Violet is that of identity. Specifically, racial identity. Hanna's mother, Rosalee, is black, and her father, Joosef, is a Fin. Hanna spent the first years of her life in Finland, without her mother, and knows a lot more about Finnish culture, and references are made throughout the book. At one point in the book, Rosalee makes her a meal, and there's something on her plate she doesn't recognise. When Rosalee tells her it's Grits, she asks "Is it a black thing?" There's an underlying, very subtle thread of Hanna feeling like she's only half herself, for not knowing about her black heritage, and for not having her mother around, but also that she's an outsider because of her Finnish background, and the cultural differences between her and her peers.
And then there's the unrelenting, desperate need to be loved. With her father dead, and a mother that doesn't seem to want to know her, Hanna feels quite lost; what is life without a parent to love you? The things Hanna goes through to try and impress her mother, in order to make her love her, or get a passionate reaction out of her is heart wrenching, and it's so sad to watch her get rejected time and again.
It's not all serious and heavy though. There is plenty of action, which is very well thought out, just amazing, but you'll be more surprised by what's happening at the time, and wowed by it after the fact. If I was to criticise this book in any way, it would be that the action scenes were just a little longer. It's not a huge deal, I just like me a bit of danger!
The characters are also brilliant! Hanna herself is strange, as you've probably guessed, but it's hard not to love her and feel for her! She's got such a great voice, and can be really quite amusing at times with her strange way of seeing things. Rosalee is just brilliant! Cold and unfeeling at times, which will knock you for six, but it's great to have such a character that'll make you react and feel so strongly! Wyatt, Hanna's love interest, is pretty sweet, really, but I doubt he'd like to hear that. He's clever, quick, and very powerful though, and a combination of Hanna and Wyatt together, well, it makes great reading!
This really is a very powerful, strange and beautiful book! I absolutely adored Bleeding Violet, it's zany and quirky, but very poignant and touching. Such a great ending! You have to read this book!
Unfortunately, Bleeding Violet isn't being published in the UK so far, but British readers will be able to order a US copy from Amazon UK.
Portero is crazy, really just so odd! With every new occurance, and each new creature that made an appearance, I was thinking "Are you serious?!" with a huge grin on my face. I've reviewed a fair amount of urban fantasy novels, and so I'm used to reading about strange creatures and happens, but Bleeding Violet is written in a way that makes you stop and think "What?", and it's just so awesome! I think it must be Hanna's narration. Being diagnosed and misdiagnosed with several different mental illnesses, as the story goes on, Hanna is never sure if the things that are happening are real or made up, and it's her surprise and yet easy acceptance of what's going around her that make it a little more surprising for the reader than other urban fantasies. You know, I think I would go as far as saying the creatures and events that happen may more be conventions of a high fantasy, where as the characters, relationships, and just everyday goings on are very normal, or conventional of an urban fantasy. It's the meshing of the two that is just so awesome, yet so bizarre!
Don't read everything I've said so far and assume this novel is a silly little fantasy where crazy things happen. There's nothing silly about it; Bleeding Violet covers some very serious issues. Hanna's mental illness is just written so well. Hanna's off-hand acceptance of the things she know can't be right - the actual things that aren't "real" - is jaring. It's disturbing to read Hanna's thoughts on things such as suicide, and her actions when some things happen. It's so powerful!
Another issue covered in Bleeding Violet is that of identity. Specifically, racial identity. Hanna's mother, Rosalee, is black, and her father, Joosef, is a Fin. Hanna spent the first years of her life in Finland, without her mother, and knows a lot more about Finnish culture, and references are made throughout the book. At one point in the book, Rosalee makes her a meal, and there's something on her plate she doesn't recognise. When Rosalee tells her it's Grits, she asks "Is it a black thing?" There's an underlying, very subtle thread of Hanna feeling like she's only half herself, for not knowing about her black heritage, and for not having her mother around, but also that she's an outsider because of her Finnish background, and the cultural differences between her and her peers.
And then there's the unrelenting, desperate need to be loved. With her father dead, and a mother that doesn't seem to want to know her, Hanna feels quite lost; what is life without a parent to love you? The things Hanna goes through to try and impress her mother, in order to make her love her, or get a passionate reaction out of her is heart wrenching, and it's so sad to watch her get rejected time and again.
It's not all serious and heavy though. There is plenty of action, which is very well thought out, just amazing, but you'll be more surprised by what's happening at the time, and wowed by it after the fact. If I was to criticise this book in any way, it would be that the action scenes were just a little longer. It's not a huge deal, I just like me a bit of danger!
The characters are also brilliant! Hanna herself is strange, as you've probably guessed, but it's hard not to love her and feel for her! She's got such a great voice, and can be really quite amusing at times with her strange way of seeing things. Rosalee is just brilliant! Cold and unfeeling at times, which will knock you for six, but it's great to have such a character that'll make you react and feel so strongly! Wyatt, Hanna's love interest, is pretty sweet, really, but I doubt he'd like to hear that. He's clever, quick, and very powerful though, and a combination of Hanna and Wyatt together, well, it makes great reading!
This really is a very powerful, strange and beautiful book! I absolutely adored Bleeding Violet, it's zany and quirky, but very poignant and touching. Such a great ending! You have to read this book!
Unfortunately, Bleeding Violet isn't being published in the UK so far, but British readers will be able to order a US copy from Amazon UK.
bookdragon226's review
2.0
This book was well written and it had great characters.However, it was definitley wierd and I had to reread many parts of the book. This book was bizarre and I only recommend this book to people who like appreciate strange books.
sissysue89's review
5.0
Possibly one of the weirdest/greatest books I have every read. I recommend that everyone read this!
ladyofways's review
4.0
Really more of a 3.5, but it was a quick read and I liked it enough to be generous. It reads like a pretty straightforward YA novel in terms of plot: teen girl with a troubled past moves to a strange town, tries to fit in, gets a boyfriend, then realizes how strange the place really is and has to fight evil to save her loved ones.
I was impressed with the depiction and handling of Hanna's mental illness. It's surprisingly not a big deal because the circumstances she finds herself in are so much worse, but it's still never brushed off or irrelevant and ends up being her strength. It is difficult to tell sometimes what's real and what's hallucination, but that is obviously the point since Hanna can't distinguish either.
The other thing that stood out to me were the monsters and magic. For a one-off short book, the world is surprisingly original while still seeming coherent. It wasn't a place I would ever want to live, but it was cool to visit for a brief time. Totally worth checking out!
I was impressed with the depiction and handling of Hanna's mental illness. It's surprisingly not a big deal because the circumstances she finds herself in are so much worse, but it's still never brushed off or irrelevant and ends up being her strength. It is difficult to tell sometimes what's real and what's hallucination, but that is obviously the point since Hanna can't distinguish either.
The other thing that stood out to me were the monsters and magic. For a one-off short book, the world is surprisingly original while still seeming coherent. It wasn't a place I would ever want to live, but it was cool to visit for a brief time. Totally worth checking out!
noraterraluna's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ktay418's review
5.0
I absolutely loved the riveting thrill of Bleeding Violet. Dia Reeves is incredible with her writing and I hope to read more from her!
caitlind's review
2.0
This book was weird as hell, i don't even know what else to say. I would not recommend it to anyone, there are way better books out there to spend your time on.
readundancies's review
4.0
Oh my god...
There's only one way to describe this book. So pardon my language, but it was fucked. In the most amazing, fantastic and unique way.
Hanna and her mother had the most dysfunctional relationship ever, but it worked. They're attitude towards each other andagainst love in general was something I have never read before, and it was great!
Wyatt was absolutely the greatest guy ever. He's a guy you want to kick the crap out of one minute and 2 minutes later, you want to kiss the crap out of him... I loved him!
The whole manic-depressive disorder was a great twist to the plot, coupled with the fact that it made Hanna totally noticeable and unoticeable i that weird town.
All in all, great book!
There's only one way to describe this book. So pardon my language, but it was fucked. In the most amazing, fantastic and unique way.
Hanna and her mother had the most dysfunctional relationship ever, but it worked. They're attitude towards each other andagainst love in general was something I have never read before, and it was great!
Wyatt was absolutely the greatest guy ever. He's a guy you want to kick the crap out of one minute and 2 minutes later, you want to kiss the crap out of him... I loved him!
The whole manic-depressive disorder was a great twist to the plot, coupled with the fact that it made Hanna totally noticeable and unoticeable i that weird town.
All in all, great book!