Don't get me wrong, I love weird. Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves is a welcome relief from the swooning damsels, vampires, and werewolves plaguing the paranormal YA world.
Hanna talks to her dad everyday, even though he's been dead a year. Hanna is bi-polar and has the stash of pharmaceuticals to prove it. When threatened with hospitalization, Hanna beats her Aunt over the head with a rolling pin and flees to find her long lost mother.
When Hanna shows up on her mom's door step in Portrero, Texas, Rosalee is anything but happy to see her. Hanna is determined to stay in Rosalee's house and make Portrero her home, no matter how many times Rosalee say she doesn't want her.
They strike a deal. If Hanna can survive two weeks in Portrero--a town stranger and more dangerous than any of Hanna's hallucinations--then Hanna can stay.
Hanna encounters monsters lurking in the windows of her school, flying leeches on a walk home, and a man possessed by a serial-killing ghost while on a date. Instead of running and screaming, Hanna decides she needs to hunt down a monster to prove her worth to Rosalee. Hanna enlists the help of Wyatt, the cute boy sworn to protect the town and who is even freakier than Hanna.
I love Hanna's character in this book. Her wild mood swings are fun and she's not easily rejected, no matter how many times her mother tells her she doesn't love her.
Hanna narrates the story through her girlish voice and overly simple view of the world. And that's where it got weird. These characters curse, have sex, and rip people's arms off, and it's all narrated in this childish tone.
The amount of blood in this book became so surreal that I stopped being concerned each time a character opened a vein.
But that didn't stop this from being a really fun read. I whipped through the pages. I enjoyed losing myself in Hanna's warped head and I stopped guessing what would come next.
Bleeding Violet is a great summer read.
This is THE BEST review for this book - OMG - I have yet to read it, I own it, but have been scared all the reviews sorta pussy foot around what it's about, even the synopsis leaves me wondering, but OMG this sounds crazy good...WOW thank you!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenn! I felt the same way about some other reviews. I would have read it sooner if I knew there were monsters. :)
ReplyDeleteI really hate to give spoilers, but I don't think I gave away too much.
Let me know what you think after you've read it.
I think I definitely HAVE to read this book. sounds intriguing and wild and different. Awesome review :)
ReplyDeleteyep, this review just pushed it further up my TBR list!
ReplyDeleteGreat... now I have *another* book on my list.
ReplyDelete:] Really nice review!
Alyson your blog is so cute! I love the creativity at the top, the blog title name, the thought that went into it! Brilliant!! I'm definitely adding you to my lovely blog roll!
ReplyDeleteGreat book choices, it's on my list and I've heard wonderful things about it. My latest obsession has been Firelight by Sophie Jordan, it's an amazing story with a very awesome MC (Jacinda).
It was awesome to meet you!!! *waves* Hi! Hope you stop by my neck of the woods to say hello!