Iron Hearted Violet

September 17, 2012
Barnhill (The Mostly True Story of Jack) creates a splendid fantasy around a story’s power to change the world. Princess Violet deeply loves reading and telling tales of all sorts, even ones about beautiful and graceful princesses—which she is not. She is fascinated when a strange book and magical painting discovered
in a hidden room of the castle reveal the forbidden story of a banished god, the Nybbas. Left to her own devices, 13-year-old Violet doesn’t realize the danger: the book is true, she has become part of its unfinished story, and the big question is whether Violet will be the villain or the heroine. Layered and complex, Barnhill’s story brings a modern feel to age-old fairy tale tropes while recognizing that an offhand remark can cause deep and lasting damage. Messages about self-esteem, acceptance, and the power of the heart may feel heavy to seasoned readers, but those same positive themes, the trim chapter lengths, and Barnhill’s nimble prose make this a winning choice for before-bedtime readalouds. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

September 1, 2012
Although she uses the standard set of ingredients (spunky princess, stable boy, two-dimensional villain, dragon, small helpful magical creatures, etc.), Barnhill's latest never quite lives up to its potential. Violet is not an attractive princess in the least, but that's A-OK with her parents, her people and her best friend, Demetrius the stable boy. Violet's fine with it too, until she and Demetrius stumble across a hidden room in her castle containing a terrifying painting and a malignant book. When Violet mistakenly releases an evil god of hidden legend in an attempt to become beautiful, she must sacrifice everything in order to rectify her mistake. Alas, it takes at least 90 pages to begin to feel any kind of proper sympathy for Violet since a key spell causes her to become unpleasant and obsessive early on. Though a prominent theme is of the power of storytelling, it is unclear what Barnhill is trying to say about it. On the face of it, it appears that she's saying that some stories, even dangerous ones, need to be told. Yet as the tale continues and characters rail against storytelling, the opposite seems to be true, and the lesson--surely unintended--is that all stories are lies and falsehoods. Though infinitely readable from the first page onward, this is one tale that never quite finds its footing. Art not seen. (Fiction. 9-12)

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December 1, 2012

Gr 5-9-With her pug nose, mismatched eyes, and untamable hair, Princess Violet is not beautiful, but she is much beloved by her doting parents, friend Demetrius, and the Andulan people. Intelligent, imaginative, and often reckless, she is "a girl of her own ideas," mesmerizing audiences with her storytelling and shirking her studies to explore the castle. When she and Demetrius happen upon a mysterious book in a hidden-away room, they begin to unearth a forbidden tale about the Nybbas, an evil god that tried to take over all the worlds in the multiverse eons ago and was defeated and imprisoned by the other 12 gods. Fascinated, Violet yearns to know more. When tragedy strikes and she is left feeling isolated, she turns to the Nybbas, embracing its insidiously whispered promises of beauty and inadvertently unleashing its power. It will take much self-realization, sacrifice, and stoutheartedness to set things right. Fortunately, Violet is helped by steadfast Demetrius and an ancient dragon-the last of its kind. Filled with themes about the power of story, the book is appropriately narrated by Cassian, the cowardly court storyteller. The action unfolds at a leisurely pace, with complex subplots and mysteries gradually revealed. Violet's realm is richly imagined; mirror-related imagery is effectively employed throughout, encouraging readers to reflect upon the importance of exterior appearances and the many ways that truth can be refracted. Black-and-white sketches depict dramatic moments. This satisfying fantasy combines adventure with food for thought.-Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2012
Grades 4-7 The end of my world began with a story. So says royal bard Cassian as he recounts the passing of the Andulan kingdom, where the evil thirteenth god (who had been imprisoned for 2,000 years) was destroyed by an ugly princess, a stable boy, and the very last dragon. Barnhill has created a traditional fairy tale with wonderful read-aloud potential. The language has a faint Lemony Snicket tang, which works well for this story about the loss of illusions and the acceptance of self. Other than Violet (the unattractive princess), the characters are largely one-dimensional, but this is consistent with the genre, and Barnhill does a fine job of keeping readers' attention with a likable hero and heroine, a well-paced plot, and a daunting villain. Bruno's illustrations are scattered throughout. (The final art was unavailable for review.)(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2013
Princess Violet and her best friend (the stable master's son) discover a hidden room in the castle, with murals hinting at the forbidden story of "the thirteenth god." They unwittingly set into motion events leading to that evil god. Barnhill is willing to show even her most sympathetic characters governed by the worst in their natures, making the triumphant conclusion all the more satisfying.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

November 1, 2012
Princess Violet and her best friend Demetrius (the stable master's son) discover a hidden room in the castle, decorated in murals hinting at the forbidden story of the thirteenth god. They unwittingly set into motion a series of events that lead to that evil god, called the Nybbas, awakening and attempting to escape captivity. Violet is not an attractive child (though she's pretty cute in the black-and-white anime-like illustrations), and when her father and Demetrius embark on a quest to find the last dragon and her mother goes into early labor, Violet is vulnerable to the Nybbas's manipulative whispers about beauty, power, and revenge. Castle storyteller Cassian narrates the tale, slipping between a dispassionate omniscient account and a more personal, emotional commentary on events. Storytelling plays a key role in the book, intriguingly blurring the line between what is real and what is imaginary in Violet's world. With the author's willingness to show even her most sympathetic characters governed by the worst in their natures (the Nybbas's whispers infect the whole castle with selfishness and vanity), the bonds of love that arise between Violet and the dragon, the friendship between Violet and Demetrius, and the trust between Violet and her subjects become all the more satisfying at the triumphant conclusion. anita l. burkam

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)