This is a spoiler-free review!
I was in desperate need for a gothic horror read, and this was very much giving dark Beauty and the Beast meets Phantom of the Opera in terms of setting and vibes. Violetta Graceling is such a great name, and totally fits the theme of the book.
Violetta's mother reminds me of Carrie White's mother, and her presence for the beginning of the story was something attune to nails on a chalkboard. The complexity of Violetta, her brother, Arien, and their mother's relationship was strained and clearly not mutually beneficial. Their mother really encapsulates this over-bearing figure in their lives that does not take anyone else into consideration.
To be completely truthful, I was not in it for the long haul with Arien, and frankly did not care what happened to that boy. While he provides familial support to Violetta and plays a decent part through the story, he tended to cause me more annoyance than interest, and I found myself waiting for scenes where he was not present. The other side characters were fun for a bit, but they did not grab my attention compared to the way Violetta, Rowan, and the Lord Under were able to draw me in.
I loved the characterization and build up of "the monster" of this story, also known as Rowan, the prince who drowned his family in the lake. It was utterly intriguing and reminded me so much of the descriptions given of the Beast from La Belle et La Bête regarding his presence, not that he is an actual beast. Even more so, I absolutely fell in love with Rowan as the book progressed, he is definitely up there in the best male lead rankings.
The budding romance throughout this book had me hooked, and I was really drawn into Violetta and Rowan's relationship as they continued to open up to one another as they grew closer. With complicated histories and current inner conflicts, they both complicated each other very well, and surprised themselves as they spent more time together and uncovered truths to the mysteries that plagued them.
The Lord Under is the death god that lives beneath the lake and I just have to say... I stan him a little bit. He is incredibly compelling and he has an aura about him that draws people in, especially Violetta. There is something so mystical about him, and the way he plays such an important role in Violetta's self discovery really had me hooked from his introduction. He seems so chill on the surface and honestly everyone is just slandering this misunderstood death god!! Let us give him some grace before jumping to harsh judgement.
Clipstone does an excellent job in luring the reader in to one of the most interesting stories I have read, and with a main character resembling the likes of Jude Duarte, I knew I would be in for a treat. The complex relationships that Violetta has to navigate as she comes to learn more about the magic in her world cause increasingly difficult decisions to be made.
For fans of A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer and The Moonfire Bride by Sylvia Mercedes, this fantasy is the perfect read for you. I will certainly be seeing this story to its end, and recommend this book for anyone looking for an introduction to gothic horror in combination with romance.
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