In the Vampire Stratocracy of Cain, human blood is scarce. For centuries, councils have sought to assuage the blood shortage by enslaving and breeding humans like cattle, turning them into profitable supply units for the rich and the abled. Today, eighteen-year-old Wavorly Sterling is officially a supply unit, bound to serve her blood willingly to her master for the rest of her life. One of only … One of only few humans that was not bred in Cain, Wavorly knows freedom better than anyone, and she is determined to escape the clutches of her oppressors, even if by the hands of death.
But surprises lay beyond every certainty, and within every doubt. Where Wavorly’s hatred for both vampires and her enslavement once flowed free as blood, it merely trickles as she grows to admire her reserved, yet receptive master and savior, Zein.
Although warmed by comforts never felt before, danger still lurks in the castle, and a prophecy calls from beyond the walls of a lavender gate—concealing the horrific secrets still lodged between handsome smirks and cinereous eyes. It will take everything within Wavorly to face her fears and her doubts; to harness the truth of her past despite what that means for her future. The only question is, will she?
Set in a richly detailed world of fantasy, A Violet Fire is a gripping journey filled with passion, betrayal, lies, and the encouragement we all need to take a stand for our freedom—no matter the cost.
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Do I read vampire books as a rule? Nope, but good writing is good writing and Kelsey Quick can write.
It takes a little longer to pull me into a genre that isn’t “straight up stabby” but if an author can do that? Then I am willingly and happily along for the ride. Quick achieved this on page one and after that it was just fantastic storytelling. It’s amazing to me that this is her debut novel.
The subplots were seamlessly woven through the main story, the character names were fun and even by the end you’re not sure who to pull for, but you know you want to read the rest!
Thank you to the author for nervously providing me with a review copy.*
*I made no promises and she’s read my snarky reviews, so even though I gave no stars for her bravery I am going to mention it!
Whoa! What an incredible Journey!
I like Vampire books, but have tended to stay away from books where the main character is a blood slave because that storyline just didn’t appeal to me. However, I requested this book from Netgalley for some reason and I ended up loving every minute of it. I have been reading it straight since I started and haven’t even stopped to eat dinner. It is now after midnight, so that tells you how much I liked it. My son even offered to make dinner But I was too engrossed to stop and eat.
The story is fully developed, all the characters are well rounded and described perfectly, there are a bunch of supporting characters in this story and you get to know all of them very well. The story surrounds an eighteen year old human girl named Wavorly Sterling who used to live in a town called Avignon, France. Until it was overrun with rogue vampires and her family was killed when she was eight. One of the five Pureblood Militarily leaders of Cain, the Vampire Stratocracy, was nearby and came to check what was going on and saved Wavorly.
He was one of the most feared in all of Cain and after that, he owned her. His name was Lord Anton Zein. After “rescuing” her he put her in Nightengale school of infantry supply, basically a training center to be blood supply for one of the five Leaders of Cain. Almost all of the “supply” in Nightengale came from Saya which is a breeding center where they get sent if their blood isn’t good enough or after they are done being used by the Lords of Cain. Once they get to Saya, they have baby after baby until their bodies give out.
Wavorly is different from everyone else in that she was once free, so she knows she is a slave and she longs to be free again. Whereas the rest have been bred to serve their masters and brainwashed since they were born to think that it is their duty and the best they can attain. They don’t understand why she wants to escape.
The pace really picks up once the day comes that the Lords arrive to choose their supply. Each Lord already owns a bunch of humans, but they test the blood of each to decide who goes with them to the castle, who goes to Saya, and who is fed to the rogue vampires in the cells under the school. The rogue vampires tear them to pieces.
Wavorly meets Lord Anton Zein again for the first time in ten years. I won’t give away spoilers but it is a good story. There are so many unexpected surprises and Wavorly never does what you think she will. She is a pretty great heroine and though there is a huge cliffhanger, I will be reading book 2 as soon as I can.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I totally enjoyed this book. I found there were Little pieces of Shadow and Bone and some resemblance with the main character of Shatter Me. I’ve been looking for a Good vampire book for a while and I think I found one that I really like and it comes with his own “world” and a really intriging story. So yeah, it was really Good.
(also find in Goodreads) [
If you love Vampires or Dystopian Fiction, you will thoroughly enjoy this new Young Adult read. It is entertaining, original, and fast paced. The characters are multi-faceted and keep you guessing. It is one of those books that stay with you after you finish it, and as it’s a cliffhanger, we will fortunately get to read more about Zein and Wavorly. I look forward to seeing where this story goes in future books. 5 Fantastic Stars!
6~ Stars!. Can you say HELL YES!!!
Kelsey Quick is a new-to-me author and she made one heck of an impression on me with A Violet Fire!
Set in a time where humans are scarce and thus, so is the blood supply for vampires, humans are now serving at their whim. From breeding farms to brainwashing and sustenance for vampires, humans are completely dominated and oppressed.
Wavorly, however, has known freedom and the outside world. She bucks convention and all demands. She has a huge hate for vampires. Especially one who saved her from death by another vampire then left her and promised to come back when he never did.
Being headstrong, passionate and courageous she defies convention and that sets her apart from her peers who shun her because they cannot understand her willfulness and defiance. This has left her alone for too many years.
When once again she meets Zein, the vampire who saved her, she has more hatred and distrust for vampires than ever. When she is chosen to follow Zein to his home after the Distribution Ceremony, she cannot wait to escape.
As the days go by, however, her mindset starts to waver. She starts to believe that not all vampires are evil and that includes her master, Zein. Can she trust him? Or, is everything just a ruse?
Holy smokes! This book blew me away! It’s excruciating knowing that I have to wait for the next book. There are breath-stealing moments that left me at the edge of my seat. It is exciting, gripping and full of danger. It consumed me. Around every corner there was a new development. Twists and turns abound. This series is going to be my newest addiction.
My anxiety during the selection was raging alongside Wavorly’s. I needed to know what her fate was going to be.
Wavorly is strong, defiant and courageous. She left me slack-jawed. She is such a ballsy little thing!
Zein is a tough one to crack. We do not get to see much of him but he keeps everything so close to the chest. He is powerful, demanding and somewhat of a bully which befits his station. It was hard to categorize if he is good or bad and what his intentions are toward Wavorly. I have a feeling that in the long-run even he doesn’t really know.
This is one book you don’t want to miss!
I received an ARC via NetGalley of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is not a vampire love story, it is an epic tale in a vast and detailed world of fantasy. The depth and intensity of the story, the thorough character development and fantasy, that still has elements of reality, make this a fantastic read.
The story develops at a steady pace. Since A Violet Fire is set in a fictional reality, much of the early part of the story is focused on setting the scene, this was done in a way that was entertaining rather than tiresome. It is filled with suspense, twists and turns that kept me on my toes and guessing to the end. This story is very complex, but not confusing in the slightest.
This novel has my head spinning, in a good way! I need the next instalment. I can’t predict how this story will end, and I love that!
Favorite Character: Wavorly Sterling.
This was a hard category to decide for this book because my feelings about characters changed as the story progressed, but Wavorly is the one constant. She is fiery (and she has the red hair to back it up), intelligent, and fiercely determined. She’s a fighter. And, as a reader, I was happy to go with her on her emotional journey through this supernatural world.
What I Like About A Violet Fire
The main character is NOT angsty. Too many YA Fantasy novels fall back on the angsty reluctant hero. Still, there isn’t a single feeling of angst among the characters in A Violet Fire, which I appreciated very much. The main characters are well developed, and I quickly followed their inner and outer journeys. The support characters were less sympathetic and less developed. Still, the story is led by the Wavorly, who is also the narrator, so it is her version of those characters I saw.
I became emotionally invested. The story is written in the first person, and the narrator is sympathetic, so it is easy for me to make that leap of walking in her shoes. And what shoes they are. She took me on a fast-paced adventure full of love and a fighter’s determination. I didn’t want to put the book down until I knew she was okay, or the book ended, whichever came first.
It has a bit of a different spin on the vampire story. There are many vampire stories out there, and I never shy away from a good one. A Violet Fire offered a different take on these creatures of the night, as they are not created by other vampires. Instead, they are born, making it an actual race that exists alongside humans rather than created from humans. They also are not immortal, though their lifespan is much longer than humans, and they are hard to kill. This difference gives the story dystopian qualities that others do not have, which is interesting to me as a reader.
What I Wish About A Violet Fire
The ending felt a bit rushed, and a lot of essential details about Wavorly and her family were thrown at me at one time. It was hard to process it all. I hope that it is made clearer in the second book, but it was a bit disconcerting in this one.
To Read or Not to Read
It is definitely a good read and what better way to fill the long cold nights than with a good read that you won’t be able to put down.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.