Scan barcode
caitmarie24's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this story. It's about a princess born all wrong, old gods, and a dragon. It's amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys good literature.
tmleblanc's review against another edition
5.0
Since I started listening to audiobooks more consistently, I've taken up perusing what's in stock each time we visit Half Price Books. This hidden gem, Iron Hearted Violet, was on the shelf after several visits. And since I have a soft spot for books about dragons and it was relatively short (just over 7 hours) I decided to give it a shot.
After only two or three drives, I knew I had to have the physical copy of this book for my collection. There were just TOO many quotes I wanted save. This is a book about STORIES specifically LOST stories and a not-so-pretty princess. I HAD to have it. So I headed over to Amazon, used a gift card and purchased a physical copy of the book to accompany my audio CDs. Much to my surprise, after it arrived, I found the story was studded with line drawings illustrating the happenings in the novel. As I got further and further into the story, like Violet, I felt I had discovered something special.
Iron Hearted Violet is a story about forgotten stories, friends, the sacrifices you make for them and doing what is right. The story is told from the point of view of an older court storyteller. Simon Vance did an excellent job of setting the stage and telling the story. I was always anxious to learn more about the Nybbas and Demetrius and Violet. The adults in the story learn a great deal from the courage of the children in their lives. Everyone learns the power of stories.
Fans of Harry Potter, readers who love dragons and those who love twists on the traditional princess storyline will love Iron Hearted Violet. If you have young children, you might try reading this one aloud to them. This little middle-grade novel caught me by surprise and I'm happy I took a chance to listen to it as well as page through the physical copy. It's sure to stick with me for a long time.
After only two or three drives, I knew I had to have the physical copy of this book for my collection. There were just TOO many quotes I wanted save. This is a book about STORIES specifically LOST stories and a not-so-pretty princess. I HAD to have it. So I headed over to Amazon, used a gift card and purchased a physical copy of the book to accompany my audio CDs. Much to my surprise, after it arrived, I found the story was studded with line drawings illustrating the happenings in the novel. As I got further and further into the story, like Violet, I felt I had discovered something special.
Iron Hearted Violet is a story about forgotten stories, friends, the sacrifices you make for them and doing what is right. The story is told from the point of view of an older court storyteller. Simon Vance did an excellent job of setting the stage and telling the story. I was always anxious to learn more about the Nybbas and Demetrius and Violet. The adults in the story learn a great deal from the courage of the children in their lives. Everyone learns the power of stories.
Fans of Harry Potter, readers who love dragons and those who love twists on the traditional princess storyline will love Iron Hearted Violet. If you have young children, you might try reading this one aloud to them. This little middle-grade novel caught me by surprise and I'm happy I took a chance to listen to it as well as page through the physical copy. It's sure to stick with me for a long time.
meganac's review against another edition
5.0
Well done, Barnhill. I cannot even begin to express just how much I adored this book. From the first paragraph, I knew it would be a favorite, and it didn't disappoint me, all the way through to the end. It drew me in, just like Inkheart, and The Hobbit, and The Hunger Games. This is a simple read, written in classic storytelling format -- appropriately so, since it's narrated by Cassian, the castle storyteller (Sidenote: does anyone else LOVE that name?)
The plot is original and imaginative, the villains real. Through the first half we're forced to observe as all the characters descend into trouble, and in the second half, we cheer them on as they come to their senses. Beautiful and memorable, I will always remember this book. This definitely won't be the last time I read it.
I'd recommend this to anyone and everyone. Simple enough for a child to understand yet deep enough to captivate adults, it's a story everyone should hear. There's a tad bit of violence, but not too much, and not so graphic as to make the weak-stomached queasy. This would also be a great read-aloud to middle-grade children, with an adult to draw attention to the deeper meaning.
ashlee_green's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐️ Imaginative and entertaining with great messages about love and bravery. A wonderful book to start a conversation about the toxic effect of buying into society’s messages about physical beauty.
booksnorkel's review against another edition
5.0
For me this book is very powerful. I love it when books address the reader and this book does it wonderfully. When your culture loves telling fairy tales you are going to grow up hearing a lot of them. Fairy tales usually have a princess, and she is always beautiful, always. What happens when you aren't a beautiful princess? What happens when you have that little bit of worry that you can't be a true princess because you aren't beautiful? Something dark, powerful, imprisoned might hear your heart's worry and it of course wants to help you. For a price, there is always a price.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This book was sweet and sorrowful. I really enjoyed this book, and think it's a great read for fourth grade on up. Girls will be who this is aimed at but boys would also enjoy it, especially if they like fairy tales.
This book is about everything. Dragons, princesses, stories, friendship, forbidden books, EVERYTHING. This is a story about a princess who is not perfect looking like real princesses are in the stories. Her father is obsessed with trying to find dragons, and Cassian who is a story teller who is charged with keeping the origin of their world a secret. For knowledge of something gives it power. Stories are important in this world, as the entire world was created to hide a story. To explain further would give away too much.
Sweet and wonderful with just a taste of sorrow this book is worth reading.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This book was sweet and sorrowful. I really enjoyed this book, and think it's a great read for fourth grade on up. Girls will be who this is aimed at but boys would also enjoy it, especially if they like fairy tales.
This book is about everything. Dragons, princesses, stories, friendship, forbidden books, EVERYTHING. This is a story about a princess who is not perfect looking like real princesses are in the stories. Her father is obsessed with trying to find dragons, and Cassian who is a story teller who is charged with keeping the origin of their world a secret. For knowledge of something gives it power. Stories are important in this world, as the entire world was created to hide a story. To explain further would give away too much.
Sweet and wonderful with just a taste of sorrow this book is worth reading.
lillygabriella's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A wonderfully enchanting world. A most sneaky vile and vicious villain. Brave heroes. Dragons. Curses and prisons. A bold princess. What more can one ask of a story?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Infertility, Slavery, War, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
meganihauck's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mahaliathenerd's review against another edition
5.0
I am a kelly Barnhill fan. Must read everything she writes.