Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Haunting Violet (Haunting Violet, #1)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Haunting Violet

(Haunting Violet #1)

Alyxandra Harvey (Goodreads Author)

3.90 · Rating details · 6,746 ratings · 720 reviews

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She ...more

Get A Copy

Hardcover, 342 pages

Published June 21st 2011 by Walker Childrens (first published May 24th 2011)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Haunting Violet, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Beautiful Book Covers of 2011

728 books — 4,318 voters

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

YA Novels of 2011

1,114 books — 7,105 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.90 ·

Rating details

· 6,746 ratings · 720 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Haunting Violet (Haunting Violet, #1)

Jul 31, 2011 Jessica rated it it was ok

Shelves: paranormal-romance, ya

Recently I read a writer's blog challenge about stakes. The stakes in a novel must be high to encourage a reader to want to finish the novel. Obviously, low stakes make for a boring novel. Most of the stakes presented were in the following format: so-and-so must do ______ OR ELSE ______ happens. Well, let me tell you about the "stakes" in this novel. Violet must find out who murdered Rowena or else... Well, I'm not really sure what will happen if she doesn't. Obviously, a murderer walks free, bu Recently I read a writer's blog challenge about stakes. The stakes in a novel must be high to encourage a reader to want to finish the novel. Obviously, low stakes make for a boring novel. Most of the stakes presented were in the following format: so-and-so must do ______ OR ELSE ______ happens. Well, let me tell you about the "stakes" in this novel. Violet must find out who murdered Rowena or else... Well, I'm not really sure what will happen if she doesn't. Obviously, a murderer walks free, but this doesn't really affect Violet. So who cares? I guess maybe you could say she's investigating because it's the right thing to do, but she's not. She just wants a ghost to leave her alone. The whole book fell flat for me. I found little calling to finish this book except for the fact that I rarely leave books half-read.

Violet's mother is a fake medium in the late 1800's, and she uses Violet and a boy she found on the streets, Colin, to help her scam people. They are fairly successful and are invited to a spiritualist house party. At this house party, Violet begins to see spirits of her own. Mainly, she sees a young girl that was murdered a year before on the property. Violet decides to try to find out who murdered Rowena (this is about three chapters). There are parties. There is a lukewarm romance. There is a semi-love triangle that was really forced. Her mother is scandalous. Violet might find out who her father is. (But who really cares, why was this even in the book?)

That summary probably even makes the book seem more interesting than it is. I genuinely think that in the hands of a better writer, the book would have been not-half-bad. Maybe still not good, as the plotting left much to be desired, but at least not terrible. In fact, I'm surprised to hear that Harvey has other books. The editing was very poor in the novel as well. How in the world can an adult writer or an editor confuse "past" and "passed." There were several errors in the book, but this was the most egregious. More than once, a character "swept passed" another. Ugh.

Finally, the characters were poorly done. What little characterization was present was akin to the old adage "telling not showing." Not to mention I found little to like about most of the characters.

Oh, and the mystery is obvious. ...more

flag 19 likes · Like · see review

Aug 27, 2019 Briar's Reviews rated it it was amazing

Shelves: crime-mystery-suspense, drama, fiction, guilty-pleasure, historical, one-hit-wonders, top-books, fantasy-supernatural, gothic, ya-obsessions

I originally bought Haunting Violet when it first came out (way back in 2011... my gosh, it has been a long time). It ended up on my shelf and floated around for years, and I mean YEARS. I've been staring at this book for most of 2019 knowing full well I wanted to read it. Buuuuut... I know Alyxandra Harvey is one of my favourite authors, so I figured I'd have to find a time to sit down and binge read the whole darn book. And I did!

I finally picked this book up, knowing full well I'd love it. I I originally bought Haunting Violet when it first came out (way back in 2011... my gosh, it has been a long time). It ended up on my shelf and floated around for years, and I mean YEARS. I've been staring at this book for most of 2019 knowing full well I wanted to read it. Buuuuut... I know Alyxandra Harvey is one of my favourite authors, so I figured I'd have to find a time to sit down and binge read the whole darn book. And I did!

I finally picked this book up, knowing full well I'd love it. I have a special place in my heart for Alyxandra Harvey. Her Drake chronicles/series was one of the original series that got me into my crazy reading habit. I fell in love with Quinn and Solange and all of their wacky family and friends. So, it's only fitting that I continue to fall in love with Alyxandra's books (they are just a little harder to come across now - there's too many books to read). It's especially harder since the book store that introduced me to her (and pimped her books out BIG TIME) went out of business around 2012. So, there's that.

Anywho - Haunting Violet. This book is a lovely stand alone novel that really should be a series. Violet lives in the past (I want to say Renaissance-esque era. Back when ladies wore corsets, gloves and had to be married off) and with a Mother who fakes seances. Then, suddenly, one day Violet starts seeing ghosts! A lovely, young, ghost lady appears out of nowhere and leads Violet to become a sleuth. Someone has murdered this girl, and Violet will find out too! Along the way we meet her friend Elizabeth, her love interest Collin, her other love interest Xavier, the dead girl's living twin and many other suspicious characters. Xavier chases after Violet's hand in marriage, Collin also tries to woo her despite not being from an esteemed family and it's your typical 2011/2012 young adult novel (in my humble opinion).

Side note: Violet's mother is a complete psychopath. I've seen other reviewers relate her to Mother Gothel and OMG yes. She's absolutely evil and nuts. I absolutely hate books with mothers like that, but I'm sure women like that exist. She infuriated me! Yet there's no epic payoff for her (there kind of is, but not enough if you ask me!).

These sort of books are my FAVOURITES. There's lots of tropes - love triangle, best friend turned romance, murder mystery, and exciting descriptions of locations and outfits. The book was a little predictable, but I also read WAY to many murder mysteries and young adult novels for my own good.

The writing style is what kept me hooked. Alyxandra's writing style is fast paced, descriptive and enchanting. I felt myself getting lost and addicted to her words, and I hardly noticed the time flying by. Suddenly a 300+ page book was done! It was slightly annoying since I do love a good Alyxandra Harvey book.

My biggest negative for this book is how it was presented on the web. Everywhere says this book is apart of a series, but I have never seen a sequel. I'm assuming it has something to do with the publishers, which is a real shame. I'd love to see this book turn into a series because it was enchanting! I'd like to see more crazy heists and murder mysteries set in the past. Collin and Violet are also too darn cute to not continue!

Overall, this is another lovely YA to add to your shelf. Necromancy, ghosts, paranormal, romance and drama flood the pages (pun intended... there's a drowning in the book, FYI). The book is light, easy to read, fast paced and marvelous! It's also a PG rated book, so if you're looking for a good novel to start your pre-teens or teens in, this book could be it!

Five out of five stars! Give me more Alyxandra Harvey STAT!
...more

flag 19 likes · Like · see review

Sep 01, 2011 Tomoe Hotaru rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery, young-adult, coulda-been-worse, supernatural

There is this thick culture in my home country that places deep respect and almost blind obedience upon members of family - especially one's parents.

I lived next door to a girl and her younger brother. Every day, she was made to do all the household chores, help her mother with the cooking and tend to their little shop. One breath out of line and she was beaten by her father. Her younger brother, on the other hand, spent his days running about God knows where from morning 'til night, never made ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Jul 30, 2010 ~Tina~ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, own-copy, favorites, supernatural, cover-crazz, historical

Already a huge fan of Alyxandra Harvey's Drake Chronicles, I was eager to see how she tackles something totally different. I'm happy to say that she doesn't disappoint.
Haunting Violet was everything I was hoping for and more.

I loved this book! Yes, it's a historical, which most of you know I don't particular like, but the way Harvey writes feels like I've been swept off my feet and transported. I love how vivid her setting is. It's rich and lavish, right down to the fashion and the food, the ele ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Oct 14, 2017 Jay G rated it liked it · review of another edition

Want to see more from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...

For as long as Violet can remember, her mother has been pretending to be a spiritual medium. She enlisted the help of Violet at a very young age to help fake the seances she performs for her clients. While attending a spiritual party of a wealthy lord, Violet begins to see ghosts. The ghost of a young girl who was murdered on the property a year earlier appears and Violet decides that she is going to ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Oct 24, 2011 Stacia (the 2010 club) rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, paranormal-romance, historical-romance, hybrid-multiple-genre, ghosts, reapers-necromancers-death-agents

I've had great luck with my Halloween picks this year. This book was a great little find. I haven't read this author's Drake Chronicles series yet, but I'm now interested in checking it out after reading Haunting Violet.

Normally I don't like to write summaries for book reviews, but since the actual summary doesn't really clue you in to what's going on, I'm going to break it down for you.

1. It's a historical. I was surprised, but in a good way. The setting was perfect for adding to the creepy vib ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Sep 04, 2019 MaryannC. Book Freak rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, mystery, romance, historical-fiction, fantasy, the-supernatural, books-about-ghosts

I rather enjoyed this charming read. Once again I was meant to peruse this and get to it in a day or two but once I read the opening pages I couldn't stop reading it.
Violet Willoughby is a young woman going along for the ride with her mother's plans of being a renowned "Spiritualist" to the gentry of London. Despite the fact that Violet doesn't believe in ghosts or cares to be part of her mother's convoluted schemes, she goes along with it because the money her mother pockets will allow them to ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Dec 07, 2017 Alysa H. rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Entertaining enough, but quite silly and unremittingly shallow. Random pratfalls, for example, do not equal character depth. And for a book that seems to revel in anachronistic language and behaviors on the part of its teenage females, the author sure is fond of the word "missish" -- a word which I find supremely sexist. It's used disparagingly at least 4 times. ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

May 06, 2012 Kelly rated it really liked it

(3.5 stars) It’s Victorian England, and Spiritualism is all the rage. Violet Willoughby’s mother Celeste is a phony medium, using parlor tricks to scam her way up the social ladder. Now, the Willoughbys have been invited to the palatial estate of Rosefield for a grand house party. On this trip, Violet learns something shocking: she is a medium. A real one. And the ghost of a girl from the next estate over, who drowned mysteriously the previous year, is haunting Violet and demanding she solve her (3.5 stars) It’s Victorian England, and Spiritualism is all the rage. Violet Willoughby’s mother Celeste is a phony medium, using parlor tricks to scam her way up the social ladder. Now, the Willoughbys have been invited to the palatial estate of Rosefield for a grand house party. On this trip, Violet learns something shocking: she is a medium. A real one. And the ghost of a girl from the next estate over, who drowned mysteriously the previous year, is haunting Violet and demanding she solve her murder.

Haunting Violet is both a spooky mystery and a coming-of-age tale for Violet. She is constrained both by her cruel mother and by the strict rules of Victorian society, where even if you save the day, you’d better not be inappropriately dressed while doing it. Violet’s development is compelling as she tries to determine who she wants to be and what kind of life she will live, in a time when young women were not supposed to decide these things for themselves.

There’s a romantic element, too. Violet’s mother is pushing her to marry the wealthy but boring Xavier, but Violet is falling for her childhood friend, Colin, an Irish-born orphan. The choice between Mr. Wrong-but-rich and Mr. Right-but-poor is not new, really, but it works — and Colin makes a great match for Violet. They’ve got loads of chemistry, and he always has her back and wants her to be happy.

Alyxandra Harvey creates a cast of characters who come alive on the page. In addition to Violet and Colin, some good examples are Celeste, who’s fascinating to read about even though she’s a horrible person; Violet’s friend Elizabeth, who’s simply fun; and the ghost characters, who provide many moments of warmth and comic relief in addition to chills. Seriously, I love the ghosts. The lady with the blackberries. The pirate, with his comment about his own death. Lord Marshall’s wife! The schnauzer!

I do wish Violet had solved the murder before I did. The mystery in Haunting Violet bears a resemblance to a very famous story, and once I saw that story’s ghost beneath the surface of this one — pardon the pun — I knew who had done it, and I was right. But even setting that aside, there are a couple of major clues that readers will probably catch but that Violet misses. It’s actually another character who correctly interprets the most significant clue. It would have been much more satisfying if Violet had been the one to figure this out.

These issues with the mystery brought Haunting Violet down a bit in my eyes, as did a distracting error that was repeated several times: “passed” used in place of “past.” On the whole, though, I found it charming, and I enjoyed reading it. Sometimes you just need some goosebumps and a sweet love story on a dark and stormy night.

written for www.fantasyliterature.com ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Sep 17, 2010 Rebecca rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, arc, fantasy, 2011-ya-hist-fic-challenge

Sixteen-year-old Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in the supernatural after being forced to assist her mother, a fradulent medium, since she was a little girl. Violet resents her mother for forcing her to participate in tricking many grieving people out of their money. Invited to the estate of Lord Jasper, a wealthy and prominent Spiritualist, Violet is angry that she must once again help perpetuate her mother's fraud. At the same time, Violet's mother is trying to push her into marriage with a Sixteen-year-old Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in the supernatural after being forced to assist her mother, a fradulent medium, since she was a little girl. Violet resents her mother for forcing her to participate in tricking many grieving people out of their money. Invited to the estate of Lord Jasper, a wealthy and prominent Spiritualist, Violet is angry that she must once again help perpetuate her mother's fraud. At the same time, Violet's mother is trying to push her into marriage with a wealthy young man, Xavier, who has been courting Violet. Xavier is kind and handsome, and marriage to him would mean she could finally escape her mother, but she can't seem to feel the same way about him that she does about Colin, the boy she grew up with after her mother took him in to work as her assistant.

Soon after arriving at Lord Jasper's estate, however, Violet learns that her romantic troubles are not her biggest problem. While her mother may be a fraud, ghosts are real - and Violet can suddenly see them. One ghost in particular will not leave her alone - the ghost of Rowena, a young girl Violet's age who died last year in what was apparently an accidental drowning. Rowena was actually murdered, and she will not rest until her murderer is brought to justice. Despite the danger, Violet is determined to solve the mystery so Rowena can finally rest in peace.

Haunting Violet is an enjoyable historical fantasy full of mystery and romance. Though it was rather predictable which of her two love interests Violet would choose, I enjoyed the mystery which kept me guessing until the end. At times the narration and dialogue did seem rather modern for a book set in 1872, but since I don't think it was supposed to be perfectly historically accurate it didn't bother me too much. Overall it was a fun read and I really liked that it was a standalone novel with a satisfying conclusion, which is something I'd like to see more of in young adult fiction, since these days it seems like almost every book is either part of a series or setting up for the possibility of one.
...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Feb 21, 2012 Delilah V rated it it was amazing

Review for Haunting Violet By Alyxandra Harvey

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey is one of my all time favorite books! I loved it! It had such descriptive language in it at some parts you thought you were actually in the story. It on the edge of your seat wondering what would happen next. Haunting Violet pleasantly surprised me by being so good because I usually do not read thrilling books like this but I would recommend this book to anyone.

The book Haunting Violet takes place in the 1800's ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Jun 28, 2011 Angelc rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: already-own-read, keepers

4.5 Stars

This is a great YA historical with a spooky, supernatural element, not to mention a sweet romance!

I've always been fascinated by the seances in the Victorian era, including all the tricks that mediums and con artists used to make people think they were communicating with ghosts. The book really portrays Violet's mother as taking advantage of people at their worst. We get to see all of the ways she tricked them in detail.

Sometimes, I wanted Violet's mother to be just little more of a sym ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Jun 28, 2012 Josie rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction

Interesting concept, but not particularly well executed. A murder mystery needs to be tightly plotted, and this one wasn't. The pace dragged, and the ghost of the murdered girl seemed remarkably coy in revealing who her murderer was. (Seriously, just TELL VIOLET WHO IT WAS.)

Also -- and this is one of my biggest pet peeves -- even though this was set in the Victorian era, none of the characters acted or sounded like they were from that period. Violet, the main character, wouldn't shut up about he ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

May 04, 2012 Inge rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, historical

3.5 stars

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Dec 16, 2010 Ruby rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical, teen

This review was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com.

I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed the Drake Chronicles. It's a period piece, which tends to bring out the nitpicker in me. I'm one of those people who is irritated when an author gets titles wrong. It's not that I consider myself a history buff--quite the opposite, in fact--but that's my point, really. If an ignoramus like me knows that the Earl of Bladiblah generally has several lesser titles in addition to the one This review was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com.

I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed the Drake Chronicles. It's a period piece, which tends to bring out the nitpicker in me. I'm one of those people who is irritated when an author gets titles wrong. It's not that I consider myself a history buff--quite the opposite, in fact--but that's my point, really. If an ignoramus like me knows that the Earl of Bladiblah generally has several lesser titles in addition to the one he's known by, so should others. Here's your mini-lesson for the day: In addition to being the Earl of Bladiblah, Lord Bladiblah is also Viscount Hmmuna and Baron Xyz. If the earl is lucky enough to have a son (it's a joke, you guys), that son gets to use his father's next highest title as a courtesy. So, the Earl of Bladiblah's son would be known as the Viscount Hmmuna. And the earl's brother would be known as The Honorable Mr. Adam Smith, not Sir Smith. There have practically been treatises written about correct forms of address for the peerage. Online treatises. My point is: the knowledge is easy to come by. If an author doesn't know about it, then by gad, the editor should. I'm just saying.
Though this irritates me, it's not the only basis on which I judge a book. It's true that historical inaccuracies can make it or break it--that's the danger of writing a historical novel. I've read far too many books that are simply modern stories in Regency clothing. I like it when the characters of historical novels act in accordance to the mores of their time. Spunky heroines who gad about town without chaperons or who stride about spouting post-feminist theories don't generally work for me. I don't say it can't be done, but for my coin historical heroines should liberal minded for their own time, not ours.
Alyx avoids this trap by creating a heroine who is an outsider. Though she moves among the elite members of society (the oft mentioned peerage), she isn't one of them. She's illegitimate and she knows it. She also knows that her mother--far from being a respectable widow--was once a maid in a wealthy household. Violet is only masquerading as a lady, and therefore her unconventional behavior makes sense.
Also, I wish I knew more about Victorian times, because I kept wondering about how easily Violet and her mother were able to become part of high class society. Certainly it was an age of great upheaval. The members of the peerage grew increasingly poor as the merchant and industrial classes grew wealthy. But it was also the age named for Queen Victoria--a monarch who was famous for rigidity. I expected Violet's illegitimacy to have a greater impact than her mother's fraud as a spiritualist.
I liked Violet, but I didn't love her. Her mother, sadly, doesn't have any depth. She's bad through and through. I think this novel suffers from too many characters. There's Lord Jasper, Elizabeth, Marjorie, Xavier, Tabitha, Peter, Caroline, Frederick...I was never really clear on who, exactly, was at the house party. It became a mass of faceless people, which doesn't work for what is, essentially, a mystery novel. Also, because there are no characters that we really get to know very well, character development takes a backseat to the love story and the plot. I've admitted (repeatedly), that I like my fiction sprinkled with romance. What I haven't said (and probably should) is that character development is a major necessary for me, too. If a book doesn't have that, it won't work for me. And this story doesn't have it. Violet doesn't have to make any choices; she never takes control of her life. All the changes that lead to her happy ending are the result of other people's actions and/or decisions. Especially the change that has the greatest effect on her life.
As I closed the back cover of Haunting Violet, I was left with a sense of dissatisfaction. Not because there isn't a happy ending--there is--but because I wanted more from Violet's story. I'm sorry to have not enjoyed this book, as I've enjoyed Alyx's other work. I'll still be looking out for the rest of the Drake Chronicles. ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jun 16, 2011 Donna rated it really liked it

Shelves: best-bitten, young-adult, supernatural, historical-fiction, ghosts

I find the Spiritualist movement absolutely fascinating simply because so many people were hoodwinked so rampantly, and publicly, for so many years and it took a decent amount of time for them to catch on. This higher level of society, too hoity toity for their own good, bamboozled into thinking that women with wooden planks bound to their knees were their dead relatives come back to contact them. So smart they were.

What I loved most about HAUNTING VIOLET was that it didn't take itself too serio I find the Spiritualist movement absolutely fascinating simply because so many people were hoodwinked so rampantly, and publicly, for so many years and it took a decent amount of time for them to catch on. This higher level of society, too hoity toity for their own good, bamboozled into thinking that women with wooden planks bound to their knees were their dead relatives come back to contact them. So smart they were.

What I loved most about HAUNTING VIOLET was that it didn't take itself too seriously, just like Violet didn't take herself too seriously. Here she was, having grown up in a world of trickery and lies, and she was nominally undaunted by it. She didn't get suckered into the life like her mother did. She held her own ground and kept being her own person. The book overall was a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of "street people" working their way into the first class cabins, the games they played and how duped they made the people above them who thought they were just that, above it all.

Violet is a strong, well-intentioned character that doesn't take any shit, not from ghosts or Colin or her "better off" suitor. Her mother she puts up with a little more but, well, I can relate with her there. The breaking point comes a little later when it comes to the parental figures. But she does reach it, just not in the way you might think. Or someone as strong as Violet, you'd think her set on one path but she really ends up wandering down another. It's shocking and at the same time relatively expected, but she doesn't curl in on herself. Violet stands tall, regardless of what she faces.

The main plot, Violet solving the murder mystery of the ghost's death, is compelling and at times frightening. The ghost shows up at the most inopportune times and does things to Violet that not only frighten her but aggravate her as well. It doesn't take Violet long to desensitize to the ghost and start throwing the sass right back. How else is she supposed to solve the murder when the victim won't even cooperate?

Violet just has so much sass and spice about her, it's hard not to like her. Not that I went in going "I'm not going to like Violet." She's just such a dynamic, resilient character that you can't help but root for her. Even when it comes to Colin, things aren't simple with her and she lets it be known that she's pulled in multiple directions about it. Subtlety isn't really her thing, as evidenced a few times throughout the book. And while she gets embarrassed at first, she gets over it. Quickly. You can't help but love someone that springs back to their feet as often as Violet does.

The voice is fantastic. The second I started reading HAUNTING VIOLET the voice had me. It has just enough pomp about it to showcase the Victorian times but it's not so convoluted that that's all it becomes. It sounds just like what a "lower class" person pretending to be an upperclass one would sound like. It's compelling and riveting and it had me turning the pages. Seriously, I zoomed through this one in about a day. I didn't want to put it down.

Harvey's ability to capture the time yet keeping it relevant and interesting is great. Not only are you sucked into the plot of trying to find this killer hiding in plain sight but you're immersed in this beautiful world that's nothing but lies. You can't help but feel guilty for Violet and want to hit her mother with a stage coach (did they have stage coaches in England or just carriages?). Violet's mother is the type of pseudo-villain that you just love to hate. She's such a rich character that her nastiness just oozes off of her and you try to keep away lest you get some on you but you stay close enough so that you can get all her dirt.

Overall, HAUNTING VIOLET is a fantastic historical fiction steeped in accuracies and riddled with compelling characters that'll drive you through straight until the end. You'll get sucked in in no time and as you read, you'll find yourself trying to work out who dunnit, competing with Violet to see who can come to the right conclusion first. You don't want to miss this one. ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jun 03, 2011 Kristi rated it really liked it

Shelves: ghosts

The Faery’s View

Haunting Violet is such an apropos name for Alyxandra Harvey’s break –away from The Drake Chronicles! It is full of ghosts, thrills, romance but it’s also a murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. The most surprising aspect of Haunting Violet is that it is not only a paranormal romance but it is also, in my opinion, a very accurate historical paranormal romance set in the year of 1872.

Violet, the illegitimate daughter of a charlatan Spiritualist, has known The Faery’s View

Haunting Violet is such an apropos name for Alyxandra Harvey’s break –away from The Drake Chronicles! It is full of ghosts, thrills, romance but it’s also a murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. The most surprising aspect of Haunting Violet is that it is not only a paranormal romance but it is also, in my opinion, a very accurate historical paranormal romance set in the year of 1872.

Violet, the illegitimate daughter of a charlatan Spiritualist, has known very little love from her mother and along with Colin, an Irish orphan her mother allowed to live with them purely for the labor he provides, they all play a part in her mother’s scheming séances of those that are grieving and wanting to get in touch with those that have passed on. Violet and Colin have always looked out for each other and as they’ve gotten older Violet has started having different ‘feelings’ for Colin. Like the way her heart flutters when his hair falls over his brow or when she notices the muscles he’s developed as he’s gotten older. Colin has made living with her mother tolerable. Over the years her mother has made quite the name for herself in the Spiritualist circles because of her ‘successful’ yet deceitful séances. When an invitation arrives to visit the wealthy Lord Jasper, a known Spiritualist, at his country estate, she sees this as an opportunity that not only furthers her success but also to marry off Violet to the wealthiest bidder.

Upon arrival at Lord Jasper’s exquisite estate, Violet is presented as a lady and the gentlemen are taken in by her beauty and sweet nature. The other young ladies are immediately jealous and catty-particularly a beautiful girl named Tabitha. One girl, Elizabeth, quickly becomes a fast friend and makes Violet feel terrible about lying to her about who she really is. One thing that is extremely pleasant from Violets normal life: she has never seen so much food before, slept in a bed that was so soft nor has she ever had so much free time to read. The free time doesn’t last long though, eventually Violet starts to actually see a ghost, which is impossible because Violet doesn’t believe in ghosts! Violet can’t ignore it though; the ghost is identical to Tabitha, if fact it’s her identical twin that drowned a year ago despite the fact that she was an excellent swimmer. Foul play is afoot and it’s up to Violet, Colin and Elizabeth to find out before the murder kills Violet next.

Haunting Violet surprised me; I must confess that I’m not really big on ‘ghost’ books! Alyxandra Harvey did such an excellent job in her portrayal of the times that I almost felt as if I were transported to the late 1800’s. The descriptive was such that it was interesting and at times, humorous-I was never bored, in fact, I was fascinated. Violets character was so very likable! She is courageous, determined to do what’s right and cares deeply for others. The plot was amazing and unlike anything I’ve read before, it held so many elements while holding true to story. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a great ghost story but also to those who enjoy romance, intrigue and mystery.
...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Aug 09, 2010 Emma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Brilliant detail on spiritualism. Fab protagonist and brilliant romance *swoon.

I am a huge fan of Alyxandra Harvey's vampire series The Drake Chronicles, so I was very excited to read anything else by her, more so after reading the synopsis. I have to say that Haunting Violet has tipped the scales sending me into super fan girl mode. The book is superbly well written with dramatic atmospheric tension from the beginning.

I do not want to go into too much detail about the plot as you really NEED to Brilliant detail on spiritualism. Fab protagonist and brilliant romance *swoon.

I am a huge fan of Alyxandra Harvey's vampire series The Drake Chronicles, so I was very excited to read anything else by her, more so after reading the synopsis. I have to say that Haunting Violet has tipped the scales sending me into super fan girl mode. The book is superbly well written with dramatic atmospheric tension from the beginning.

I do not want to go into too much detail about the plot as you really NEED to read it for yourself. What I will say is that the story is heart pounding, compelling and utterly fascinating.

Written in first person narrative from Violet's perspective. The illegitimate daughter of a cruel, selfish woman; Violet is forced to help her mother deceive people while her mother pretends to be psychic, charging for her elaborate duplicity. Violet, in complete contrast to her mother, not only does she really communicate with spirits, she is caring, open and honest. The deceit she has to participate in with her mother, weighs heavy on her conscious. She is a very relateable character with her love of reading and escaping from the turmoil of her life into a book.

The setting of Victorian London is richly descriptive with beautiful use of simile and metaphor, creating a very realistic world. The historical details and portrayal of the divide in society added to the world building. The story had an air of Jane Austen in the narrative with the need to marry well, alongside the details of the parties on the country estate and the divide in classes. All extremely well portrayed. The feeling of women having no control over their own future without independent wealth really shone through. However, I did wonder how Violet was able to read given her standing in society. It may have been explained and I was too busy delving into the story to appreciate the details.

At one point I was a little worried that there was going to be a love triangle - thank goodness this didn't happen as I think it would have really spoilt the feeling of the romance within the book. I am not going to say anything about Colin apart from Wow and I want one. How Violet didn't have her eyes opened before I have no idea.

The portrayal of Spiritualism within the plot was superbly well researched and realistic. I give Alyxandra Harvey credit for the amount of research she put into it to make it so realistic. I would, if I had to be truly picky, like a little more detail about the circumstances that triggered Violet's abilities and more background detail about Lord Jasper's background especially regarding his knowledge of spiritualism.

I have surprised myself with being completely un-rambley today. I normally gush profusely when I like a book. This book contains the perfect balance of chilling ghostly tension, murder mystery and heart warming romance including some very hot kisses. So what are you waiting for- go read it [ : D ] ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Apr 30, 2011 Eden rated it it was ok

The cover:

Lilies and water are a bit cliché, but both have to do with the book, so it can be forgiven. The colours are also an iffy choice: the shades of purple and white complement each other, but it ends up looking like a monotone cover. What bothers me most is the girl -- is she Violet or Rowena? I suppose it doesn't matter, but it seems like a weird positioning of the model for either of them.

The book:

Haunting Violet reminded me very much of Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn. And let me tell you ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jun 26, 2011 ♥Rachel♥ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, favorites, historical, young-adult

Set in Victorian England, Haunting Violet is fun, suspense, mystery, and romance all wrapped into one amazing book!

Violet's mother is a "Medium" who fools people out of money by holding phony seances and readings. Violet and her mother's assistant, Colin, must participate in the charades to earn a living.

They are invited out to the country estate of Lord Jasper and suddenly Violet starts seeing ghosts. Mostly the ghost of a girl who drowned the summer before at a neighboring estate. Her death wa ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

May 15, 2011 Charlie rated it really liked it

Shelves: teen-ya, october-halloween, paranormal

4.5 Stars
Behind the Victorian curtain lurks a secret fascination with the after-life. The science and seance of mediums, performance, magic and paranormal are invited into the drawing rooms of elite society and pray on the grief stricken and bored. The Gothic darkness paired with the proper etiquette of the era makes for a scandalised mixture that is both historically interesting as well as mesmerizing. The macabre halls, hauntings and visual images are authentic and remind me of The Castle of O ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 07, 2011 Jessica rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, youngadult, fantasy

This is a fascinating look at the mania for Spiritualism and seances in Victorian England. Violet's mother is a medium, and a total fraud. All her life, Violet has assisted her mother in swindled the bereaved by faking ghostly messages and visitations. But what if a real ghost wanted to make contact?

This book was wonderfully done, with plenty of detail about fashions, etiquette, and Spiritualism (real and fake). Violet was a great character, and so was everyone else, from her theatrical mother t ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jun 22, 2011 TheBookSmugglers rated it liked it

Shelves: notable-reads-of-2011

Originally reviewed: http://thebooksmugglers.com/2011/06/b...

REVIEW

First Impressions:

Ana: I love ghost stories (even if I am scared of them) and I love novels set in Victorian times, so reading Haunting Violet was pretty much a given. The potential was even greater considering that the heroine and narrator is a con artist who finds herself having to solve a very real murder with the added bonus of a sweet romance between childhood friends. And you know… I really enjoyed reading Haunting ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 19, 2010 Rachel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc

Rowena Wentworth didn’t drown. She was murdered. And until her killer is revealed and admits their guilt, her spirit will not rest. And as a restless spirit she is angry and she fears for her sister Tabitha’s safety. She wants justice.

So when she sees someone who possesses the gift of sight, she is determined to make them solve her murder and she will not leave them alone until they do.

Violet Willoughby never wanted to follow in her mother Celeste’s footsteps – someone who claimed to have the ab ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 19, 2010 Lauren rated it really liked it

Shelves: own

Ever since I saw the beautiful cover and the intriguing synopsis for Alyxandra Harvey’s Haunting Violet, I have been dying to read it, as if there is one thing I love its well-written historical fiction, especially if it involves something supernatural as well. Thankfully, this book perfectly fit the bill!

For Violet Willoughby, she is starting to become sick of the life she has been given. She cannot stand watching her mother constantly trick people into giving their money over for her so-called Ever since I saw the beautiful cover and the intriguing synopsis for Alyxandra Harvey’s Haunting Violet, I have been dying to read it, as if there is one thing I love its well-written historical fiction, especially if it involves something supernatural as well. Thankfully, this book perfectly fit the bill!

For Violet Willoughby, she is starting to become sick of the life she has been given. She cannot stand watching her mother constantly trick people into giving their money over for her so-called séances, which are the definition of fake, as well as dragging poor Violet and Colin, her mother’s young assistant, along for the ride. Better yet, she is also tired of her mother constantly telling her to marry a rich man when all Violet really wants to do is find someone she truly loves, someone who will let Violet be Violet. However, everything changes when Violet and her family are called to Lord Jasper’s house to help conduct séances for his guests’s entertainment. Soon enough Violet is involved in a murder mystery involving a snobby, elitist society girl and her dead twin sister who Violet is actually able to see. Will Violet be able to save the day before someone else is killed? Or will Violet soon become shark’s bait herself? And will Violet ever be able to get out of her mother’s plans for the future? Only time and more pages can tell in this mystery that will have nearly any reader thinking, “Who did it?”

From start to finish, I adored and rooted for several characters in Haunting Violet including Violet, of course. Strong yet sweet, Violet is a girl who has her head on her shoulders but yet isn’t afraid of letting her heart lead her way sometimes. It was always fun to see Violet interact with the different society people, and for Violet to allow for her talents in spiritualism grow also, as this portion especially allowed for Violet’s coming of age. I also adored the addition of Colin, Violet’s adorable Irish love interest, as well as Elizabeth, Violet’s hilarious and headstrong best friend.

The plot of Haunting Violet was also intricate. Not only because of the complex murder mystery subplot, but also because of the sprit powers Violet possessed. The murder mystery especially kept me turning the pages, and even though I had a basic gist of who the murder was for a portion of the book, I still managed to be a little surprised at how everything turned out in the end. I also loved Violet’s romance subplot. Not only because it developed in a realistic speed but also because it wasn’t a main focus of the story.

Lastly, Alyxandra’s writing was great in this. I had only read one book by Alyxandra prior to this (Hearts at Stake, the first in the Drake chronicles), and while I enjoyed her writing in that one, it took an even better turn in this book. I always felt like I was right there with the characters in the 1870s because of her descriptions, and her characters never failed to jump of the page and come to life. The only aspect I was a little shaky on was how I felt she modernized some of the dialogue between the characters at times.

Full of adventure, mystery, and romance, Haunting Violet is the perfect summer read. Best of all, it contains a solid, standalone ending, and what’s not to love about that?

Grade: B+

Haunting Violet is now out! ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 22, 2015 Kariny 'Books of Fandom' rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I think i'm becoming a HUMONGOUS fan of Alyxandra Harvey!

In this tale she enchants us with yet another story based in the victorian society. Violet and her mother are not very wealthy so they pretend to be mediums that can see the dead. Along with them is Collin, a boy her mother had taken care of since he's mother had died. This trio has conned their way into the elite society. Until one day. they receive an invitation to Lord Jasper's manner house. Violet and her mother put on a well elaborate ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 21, 2011 Krystal rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, young-adult, fantasy, historical-romance

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. She's sat through one two many of her mothers fake séances to believe in the spirits. But, on a trip to great country house where her mother is trying to pull off her greatest con, ghosts all of the sudden start appearing to Violet. One ghost in particular is quite insistent that Violet help her catch her murderer before he has a chance to kill her sister. Violet reluctantly starts to investigate the death along with her eager friend and childhood par ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 29, 2013 Kirsty (Amethyst Bookwyrm) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: review, paranormal, favorites

This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/

Violet has never believed in ghosts and people who can see them because of helping and living with her charlatan spiritualist mother. However, when Violet, her mother and Colin, an Irish orphan who helps out her mother and Violet has been getting strange feeling for him, visit Lord Jasper’s country estate, Violet keeps seeing a drowned girl everywhere she goes. Now with the help of Colin and her friend Elizabeth hav ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 24, 2011 Jan rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal-young-adult, young-adult, paranormal, historical-fiction, ghosts, historical-paranormal, friendship, cool-cover, ghosts-mystery

4 1/2 stars. In Victorian London, Violet has been helping her mother stage fake seances for years. She does not enjoy it, but she has no where to go so she does it, despite guilty feelings. So there really is no bigger skeptic than Violet. But on a trip to a country house for a set of seances at a country house, Violet starts feeling and seeing creepy things. Once at the estate, it only gets worse as Violet starts seeing ghosts all around her and one in particular, the desperate ghost of a young ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 02, 2011 Serenity rated it really liked it

Violet is playing along in her mothers world. Her mum claims to be a medium, but she isn't. As for Violet, she just goes along on these trips, but doesn't believe in any of this. At first things are as normal as they can be for her. But what can she do when the one thing she doesn't believe in, believes in her? Well she'll need Colin's help. Colin is a great guy and you can tell they are close. After all, they did grow up together and know each other well. But can Violet take care of this ghost ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Looking for a YA book about a young girl who's step mother is a false ghost whisperer? set in the 1800's maybe? Spoilers ahead. [s]	2	22	Sep 15, 2018 12:23PM
Stand Alone?	3	31	Aug 18, 2012 03:35AM
Book Boyfriends: Haunting Violet	11	13	Mar 26, 2012 02:51PM
Book Boyfriends: Colin Lennox	1	27	Feb 22, 2012 05:06PM
does anyone know	2	54	May 01, 2011 01:25PM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Young Adult

265 users

Fantasy > Paranormal

193 users

Paranormal > Ghosts

150 users

Fantasy

137 users

Historical > Historical Fiction

136 users

Mystery

110 users

Romance

85 users

Historical

82 users

Fantasy > Supernatural

56 users

Fiction

30 users

See top shelves…

About Alyxandra Harvey

Alyxandra Harvey

3,089 followers

www.alyxandraharvey.com

Alyxandra Harvey is the author of The Drake Chronicles, The Witches of London, Haunting Violet, City of Seeds and Thorns, Red.
She likes chai lattes, tattoos, and books.
Sometimes fueled by literary rage.

...more

Books by Alyxandra Harvey

My Love Lies Bleeding (Drake Chronicles, #1)

More…

News & Interviews

Stranger Than Fact: 40 Alternate History Fiction Books from the Past Six Years

Alternate history is one of the most reliably interesting subgenres in the book game. As a kind of subset of speculative fiction, alternate...

Trivia About Haunting Violet (...

1 trivia question

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Haunting Violet

“Tucking my nose into a book makes me completely oblivious to my surroundings. I would have made a terrible spy in the army--the first person to hand me a novel would have been able to shoot my head clean off without me noticing.” — 116 likes

“I was secretly entranced with the idea of a lady novelist. I should dearly love to be one. Or maybe a goblin-fighting-pirate-queen. It was difficult to choose sometimes.” — 47 likes

More quotes…