Iron Hearted Violet
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 Journalα(c) Copyright 2011.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.