Helpful Score: 1
Not since I read Holly Black's TITHE five years ago have I encountered a story as unique and fascinatingly compelling as Dia Reeve's debut novel, BLEEDING VIOLET. Indeed, BLEEDING VIOLET defies adequate description and categorization, blending snark, relationship issues, and the supernatural into a sexy paranormal read that will be hard to forget.
From page one, Dia unapologetically yanks readers into a dark and twisted world where monsters and mental illness are simply Hanna and Portero's way of life, confused people be damned. While this total immersion in the world of Portero may be initially jarring, once I began figuring things out, I felt like I had been let in on a terrific secret, and I LOVED being in Hanna's world. It's brutal and shocking, and not for one second can you look away.
Hanna is a protagonist like no other, with her crazy thoughts and her way of looking at the world. She's slightly disturbing yet inexplicably alluring, the kind of girl you know you should stay away from but who part of you almost wants to be. Hanna is fearlessly original in her interactions with the Porterenes: the awkwardness of her developing relationship with her mother is well drawn, and I found Hanna's budding romance with Wyatt, a local boy with an important job in monster-policing, to be one of the most well-developed romances I've read in recent YA literature. From beginning to end it's no fairy-tale relationship: there's no immediate rush of physical and soul-mate attraction, but rather the blossoming of it through witty repartees.
BLEEDING VIOLET is not for those who like their reading fluffy. It's dark, unapologetic in its occasional gory and weird scenes. Some may disapprove of Hanna and Wyatt's physical relationship (though personally I found it sexy and well done). Others may be too hopelessly confused by the first couple of chapters or the occasional vagueness of the plot to connect with it. But if you're looking for a one-of-a-kind dark read, I will find it hard to resist thrusting this book into your hands. Read it, and maybe you will savor it like I did!
From page one, Dia unapologetically yanks readers into a dark and twisted world where monsters and mental illness are simply Hanna and Portero's way of life, confused people be damned. While this total immersion in the world of Portero may be initially jarring, once I began figuring things out, I felt like I had been let in on a terrific secret, and I LOVED being in Hanna's world. It's brutal and shocking, and not for one second can you look away.
Hanna is a protagonist like no other, with her crazy thoughts and her way of looking at the world. She's slightly disturbing yet inexplicably alluring, the kind of girl you know you should stay away from but who part of you almost wants to be. Hanna is fearlessly original in her interactions with the Porterenes: the awkwardness of her developing relationship with her mother is well drawn, and I found Hanna's budding romance with Wyatt, a local boy with an important job in monster-policing, to be one of the most well-developed romances I've read in recent YA literature. From beginning to end it's no fairy-tale relationship: there's no immediate rush of physical and soul-mate attraction, but rather the blossoming of it through witty repartees.
BLEEDING VIOLET is not for those who like their reading fluffy. It's dark, unapologetic in its occasional gory and weird scenes. Some may disapprove of Hanna and Wyatt's physical relationship (though personally I found it sexy and well done). Others may be too hopelessly confused by the first couple of chapters or the occasional vagueness of the plot to connect with it. But if you're looking for a one-of-a-kind dark read, I will find it hard to resist thrusting this book into your hands. Read it, and maybe you will savor it like I did!
I truly enjoyed this book as this is not the usual type of book I read... Although I dont think it should classified as a YA Novel ..its gruesome & really violent to say the least at times but over all a excellent read.
I loved this book. Dark, funny, macabre, and so well written, this book is a treat for anyone brave enough to pick it up. I love Reeves' gothic sensibility and how she takes the reader places you don't expect to go in a YA novel. If you have read Yancey's Monstrumologist series or even Cornish's Lamplighter, you will LOVE Bleeding Violet.
Reviewed by McKenzie Tritt for TeensReadToo.com
Hanna is what some people would call insane. After bashing her aunt on the head with a rolling pin, she runs away to Portero, hoping to find her mom. Once there, she quickly learns that dark things are everywhere. Mysterious events continually occur, with people vanishing and dying. Sometimes, even more mysterious than the events, are Portero's residents. Hanna must earn her place in this twisted town and prove her worthiness.
Dia Reeves has unabashedly created a world of complete insanity and oddness, sucking the reader in from the start. Her storytelling and characterization will hook readers and have them flipping pages. I devoured this 464-page story in a single day, unable to put it down.
Hanna is clinically crazy, but compared to the rest of Portero, she's fairly normal. When first introduced to the story, it may seem hard to grasp and confusing. That, however, was what drew me in. I was utterly confused as to what was going on, but I had to find out more. Hanna's insane antics added excitement to the plot and kept me guessing. I literally never knew what to expect. Living wooden swans, glass people, what next?! This book could have been terribly off in many ways, but because Ms. Reeves presented it in such a convincing, laid-back manner, the oddness became cool.
The characters in Hanna's life were each individual and had some of the best characterization I've seen yet. Her mother was harsh, depriving Hanna of a real relationship. Even so, Rosalee is a compelling character who has her motives for being cold. Wyatt, Hanna's love interest, was totally bad ass but not a bad boy. He had a sweet job of taking down the evil entities in Portero, but he still had a fun personality. Wyatt is definitely one of the most enjoyable love interests in Young Adult fiction these days.
I loved almost every aspect of this book. The oddities, the real characters, all of it was amazing. I was slightly turned off by the casual approach to sex and nudity, however. For some characters, mainly Rosalee, this laid-back approach was almost a defensive mechanism. It added to her persona in some ways. With Hanna, though, I was irked about her casual manner. I really can't place why I felt differently towards her. It was just off. Sorry, but there's really no way to explain why I was bothered by it. For those who have read it, the lake scene with the nerdy boy? Birthday suits were not necessary, in my humble opinion. Another part of this book was its gruesomeness. I've got a sturdy stomach and am never affected by books' descriptions of blood and gore, but there was one particular scene that really got to me. I actually got woozy and a little nauseous. I caution those with weak stomachs.
Regardless, though, this is one of the best books of 2010 - a must-read. It was insane, but enjoyably so. I recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Hanna is what some people would call insane. After bashing her aunt on the head with a rolling pin, she runs away to Portero, hoping to find her mom. Once there, she quickly learns that dark things are everywhere. Mysterious events continually occur, with people vanishing and dying. Sometimes, even more mysterious than the events, are Portero's residents. Hanna must earn her place in this twisted town and prove her worthiness.
Dia Reeves has unabashedly created a world of complete insanity and oddness, sucking the reader in from the start. Her storytelling and characterization will hook readers and have them flipping pages. I devoured this 464-page story in a single day, unable to put it down.
Hanna is clinically crazy, but compared to the rest of Portero, she's fairly normal. When first introduced to the story, it may seem hard to grasp and confusing. That, however, was what drew me in. I was utterly confused as to what was going on, but I had to find out more. Hanna's insane antics added excitement to the plot and kept me guessing. I literally never knew what to expect. Living wooden swans, glass people, what next?! This book could have been terribly off in many ways, but because Ms. Reeves presented it in such a convincing, laid-back manner, the oddness became cool.
The characters in Hanna's life were each individual and had some of the best characterization I've seen yet. Her mother was harsh, depriving Hanna of a real relationship. Even so, Rosalee is a compelling character who has her motives for being cold. Wyatt, Hanna's love interest, was totally bad ass but not a bad boy. He had a sweet job of taking down the evil entities in Portero, but he still had a fun personality. Wyatt is definitely one of the most enjoyable love interests in Young Adult fiction these days.
I loved almost every aspect of this book. The oddities, the real characters, all of it was amazing. I was slightly turned off by the casual approach to sex and nudity, however. For some characters, mainly Rosalee, this laid-back approach was almost a defensive mechanism. It added to her persona in some ways. With Hanna, though, I was irked about her casual manner. I really can't place why I felt differently towards her. It was just off. Sorry, but there's really no way to explain why I was bothered by it. For those who have read it, the lake scene with the nerdy boy? Birthday suits were not necessary, in my humble opinion. Another part of this book was its gruesomeness. I've got a sturdy stomach and am never affected by books' descriptions of blood and gore, but there was one particular scene that really got to me. I actually got woozy and a little nauseous. I caution those with weak stomachs.
Regardless, though, this is one of the best books of 2010 - a must-read. It was insane, but enjoyably so. I recommend it to anyone and everyone.
wow, this was really violent and bloody. I liked it,but,can't see it as a YA book.
