Seventeen-year-old Violet is amazed when a storm brings the dashing Prince Richard to her impoverished family’s farm. The two fall in love at first sight, but although Richard has given his heart to Violet, his parents will only let him marry a princess of their choosing, a lady of the highest nobility and sensitivity. Now on a quest to be reunited with her true love, Violet must rely on her wits—and a little help from an unexpected source—to compete with princesses, pass the king and queen’s tests, and prove herself worthy of being Richard’s bride.
Violet Eyes (Once Upon a Time)
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About the Author
Debbie ViguiÉ holds a degree in creative writing from UC Davis. Her Simon Pulse books include the New York Times bestselling Wicked series and the Once upon a Time novels Violet Eyes, Scarlet Moon, and Midnight Pearls. She lives in Florida with her husband Scott. Visit her at debbieviguie.com or follow her on Twitter at @DebbieViguie.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
CHAPTER ONE
A storm was coming. The air seemed heavy and charged, and the wind had begun blowing from the east with a singular intensity of purpose. It brought with it the smell of distant rain. Violet stood in the middle of her father’s wheat field, closed her eyes, and threw out her arms as if to embrace the storm.
Every great or terrible moment of her life had been presaged by a storm, and Violet had learned to accept and embrace change as part of life. To meet it, not fear it. It had stormed the night before her brother was born, and four years later it stormed the night before he died. It had stormed the day before her cousin Tara’s wedding, where Violet had kissed a boy for the first time. It had stormed just before the beginning of the two-year drought that had nearly destroyed her family’s farm. And when a storm had come to save them from starvation, she had danced in it.
She took a deep breath, feeling the storm as it moved in. It was as though the tempest called to something deep and wild within her. She opened her eyes, and she could see the rain approaching. Violet watched as it hit the tops of the trees in the forest and came on with a steady sweep.
“Child, come inside before the storm arrives,” her father, William, said, approaching from the barn, where he had just put away Bessie and the wagon. It was the first Monday of the month, and he had just returned from his monthly trip into the village. Violet was bursting to ask him what news he had heard, but she knew better. Her father always saved news for telling at the supper table. She gave him a little wave, wanting to linger a few more moments and knowing that she would hear the news soon enough.
She turned aside reluctantly as her father came to stand beside her. He looked out at the rain sweeping in, and a worried look crossed his weather-beaten face. “I hope that storm doesn’t damage the crops,” he said.
Violet smiled. He was always so practical.
“But isn’t there something beautiful about it, Father?”
“Yes, so long as it doesn’t destroy anything.” He turned and headed for the house, clearly expecting her to follow.
Violet lingered another moment and cast one last look at the storm front. “But it always does,” she muttered under her breath before turning and heading after her father.
Just outside of the barn they were met by Thomas, the butcher’s son. Thomas was thirteen and fast growing into a man. He was the youngest of six children, all boys. For the last four years Thomas had worked for Violet’s father. As the farm prospered and William grew older, he had needed more help. With no son and only one daughter William had had to look elsewhere. Thomas was a good lad and worked hard for the few coins William could pay him and the chance to learn a trade other than his father’s. The village was small and would never have need of so many butchers.
William tousled the boy’s hair fondly. “You did well today, lad. You staying for supper?”
Thomas shook his head. “I’d like to get home before the storm hits.”
“There’s a wise lad. Off with you, then, and we’ll see you in the morning less’n the storm hasn’t let up. If it’s still raining, don’t bother coming until the day after.”
Thomas nodded his understanding before taking off toward home at a long, loping run.
“He should just make it before the rain starts,” her father said, as much to himself as to Violet.
Inside the house the smell of stew filled the air. Violet’s mother, Sarah, was already ladling the broth and bits of vegetables out into bowls on the table. Finished, she put down the pot and coughed hard into her apron.
“Storm’s coming,” her father said. “If there’s anything you need from outside, Mother, one of us’ll fetch it. We wouldn’t want you to catch cold. You’ll want to bundle up warm tonight.”
“I’m fine, really,” her mother answered with a weak smile.
Violet wasn’t so sure that was true. For the last three months her mother had been coughing, not hard, but persistently. She knew Father was worried, even though he didn’t say much. No one wanted to talk about the fact that Mother was getting weaker.
Father was usually cheerful and talked a lot during supper. Usually, on the days he went to the village, he was bursting with news, but this time he sat silently. It soon became obvious as they ate, though, that there was something on his mind. He ate in a distracted manner, casting occasional glances outside that grew more frequent once the rain began to fall.
“What’s wrong, William?” Sarah asked at last.
Violet’s father looked up and gave his wife a weak smile. “I’m just hoping the crops weather the storm.”
Sarah looked puzzled. “Why is this storm more troubling to you than others?” she asked.
He sighed and put down the piece of bread he had been eating. “The steward sent word from the castle that they’re going to need twice as much wheat and vegetables for this year’s Feasting than last.”
Violet stared at her father, wide-eyed, as her mother gasped. “Twice! Are they planning to feed the whole kingdom?”
The Feasting was four weeks away. It was an annual event which commemorated the victory of the people of Cambria over the king of Lore in their last great war. The Feasting would last for four days, the height of which was the High Feast on the third day, when no one in Cambria did any work. Rumor had it that during the High Feast the servants in the castle even ate with the lords. For the common people High Feast Day was a day of revelry and a festival. Everyone would sample strange foreign foods, dance, and make music while engaging in contests of skill and strength. Next to Christmas it was Violet’s favorite day of the year.
“More like they’ll be feeding royalty from other kingdoms,” her father answered her mother. “They say it’ll be a very special celebration this year. They say the Prince will marry.”
Violet sat up straighter, eager to hear. Any wedding was special, but a royal wedding! There had not been one in her lifetime. “Who is he to marry?” she asked.
William shook his head. “No one knows. It seems it’s something of a mystery. But they say royal carriages have been arriving at the castle for the last fortnight.”
“But they don’t know who the bride will be?” Sarah asked.
William shook his head. “Some say she was in one of those carriages; others say she hasn’t arrived yet. One thing that is certain is that no one really knows. I did talk to one of the kitchen boys who works in the castle. He told me that the reason nobody knows who the prince will marry is that the prince doesn’t know himself.”
“How can the prince not know?” Violet asked, bewildered.
“The lad said that princesses had been arriving from all over and that there was some sort of contest to be held.”
A contest! The thought seemed outrageous, and yet at the same time it appealed to Violet. Cambria was one of the strongest kingdoms, and it made sense that all of the other kingdoms would prize an alliance such as marriage could bring.
“Well, I never,” Sarah said, shaking her head. “That reminds me, though. Violet, are you still planning to enter one of the contests at the festival this year?”
“I was planning to,” Violet said, turning toward her mother. “I was thinking maybe the maze.”
“You’ve a good sense of direction; you’d stand a fair chance,” her mother said.
“You could try and ride Bessie in the girls’ riding contest,” her father added. “You’re a fair hand with her.”
“You could bake one of your berry pies,” her mother suggested.
“I’ve been thinking of those three,” Violet admitted. “I’m just not sure which to enter.”
“There’s nothing to stop you from entering all three of them,” William said. “And wouldn’t that be a sight if you won them all?” He leaned back in his chair with a grin.
“You’re putting an awful lot of store in my skills,” Violet said, laughing.
They laughed some more about the festival, but they were all tired, so after cleaning up the dinner dishes they headed to bed. Violet drew the curtain she and her mother had hung so she could have some privacy and curled up on her bed to listen to the storm outside. The wind was howling fiercely, as if looking for a way inside the house. She pulled her blanket up under her chin and listened to the sound of the rain as it hit the roof. Violet thought about the conversation at dinner. She couldn’t help but wonder about the prince and the woman he was to marry.
Prince Richard could see the storm clouds gathering and debated what to do. He was less than a day’s journey from home, but it seemed prudent to stop for the night and wait out the storm. If his memory served him, there was a small farming village about an hour’s ride away. They might have an inn. If not, Richard was sure any of his subjects would volunteer their homes for him.
“What do you say, Baron? Rest tonight and ride home after the storm?” Prince Richard asked, stroking his stallion’s gray neck. The horse nickered as if in agreement. “You’re right. We’ve been gone nearly a year; another day more or less won’t matter.”
He pointed Baron’s nose toward the village before giving the horse his head. They trotted along at a slow, comfortable pace for both animal and rider. The truth was, as much as he missed home, Prince Richard was not eager to return.
For as long as he could remember...
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More About the Author
Debbie Viguié has been writing for most of her life and holds a degree in creative writing from U.C. Davis. Debbie loves theme parks and enjoys traveling with her husband, Scott. Debbie grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and now lives in Florida.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Princess and the Pea gets a Makeover,
By
This review is from: Violet Eyes (Once Upon a Time (Simon Pulse)) (Mass Market Paperback)
A Retelling of the Princess and the Pea
I'm not a huge fan of the Princess and the Pea story. And when I saw that they were retelling it, I wonder what can they do with such a weak story. But after finishing, all I can say was "wow." Ms. Debbie Vigiue is an amazing writer. Every time it storms, Violet knew that something good or bad was going to happen. During this particular storm, they found an injured man on her father's farm. The man was Prince Richard and the two felt instant chemistry but they knew it was doomed. So, they separated ways. But soon after, Violet found out a secret about herself and knew she had a chance to be with her prince. With courage and with only the clothes on her back, she plans to enter the competition with twenty other princesses for the prince's hand. This is such a well written improvement on an old and less talk about fairy tale. Ms. Viguie took the original tale and fleshed out the plot, creating an interesting, believable story. There was no lag time in between chapters. The plot kept rolling and I couldn't make myself put this book down. Even as you near the end, the action never stops and you can't help but feel spellbound to see how the pair can overcome the odds to be together. I absolutely loved all the characters, especially Violet and Prince Richard. You can feel the frustration and love for each other as each day brings a new test that could either separate them or bring them closer to being together. The quirks of each of the princesses were funny and I couldn't hate them. To my surprise and pleasure, they weren't selfish. But actually quite charming ladies, just being forced into the situation by their families. And the antagonist was easily recognizable and luckily, the author didn't focus much on her, for the subterfuge would have been a little too much and pulled the focus away from the romance of the prince and Violet. Everyone played their parts well and everyone had their own individuality that makes them stand out. Of course, the plot was predictable and a lil cliche. If you are tired of reading the same old, I wouldn't suggest this for you. But 'Violet Eyes' brings its own charm with great characters and entertainment. Definitely one of my new favorites from the Once Upon a Time series. If you are a fan of fairy tales and romance, this is definitely worth reading.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
thoughtful retelling of "princess and the pea",
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Violet Eyes (Once Upon a Time (Simon Pulse)) (Mass Market Paperback)
Finally, a fairy tale retelling I couldn't put down!
"Violet Eyes" is a new version of the "Princess and the Pea" story. Violet is a simple farm girl who finds her life irrevocably changed when she encounters the injured Cambrian heir, Prince Richard, in her field and nurses him back to health. As Richard recovers, he and Violet fall in love, but Richard is returning home to enter into a political marriage. The catch? He doesn't know who the bride is - his parents are sponsoring a contest among all the neighboring princesses to determine who is worthy of their son's hand. When Violet learns about her secret past, she enters the contest in an attempt to win a future with Richard. Violet is a spunky heroine that readers will definitely cheer on as she endures the contest trials. While her romance with Richard does seem a little false (there's very little development leading to "you're the one I want to marry"), since it's a fairy tale some carelessness with plot development can be overlooked. What's nice about both main characters is that they are very human - Richard feels that, as the man, he should be proving his worthiness for some lady, not the other way around, and Violet, while admirable, is far from perfect. I also applaud the author for poking fun at the whole princess test concept (the characters are well aware that some of the tests are absurd, instead of really being an indicator of true womanliness), which gives the book added depth to a fairy tale that seems rather frivolous. And that added depth is why I'm giving "Violet Eyes" a 5-star rating. I've read every book in the Once Upon a Time series, and they can be hit or miss. The latest offerings (such as "Diamond Secret") have been lackluster, and some ("Snow" or "Spirited") were just downright weird and didn't make sense. If I'm going to read a fairy tale retelling, I want depth, simply because fairy tales in their original form usually lack it. If you're new to the series, definitely a good book to start with. If you've been a little disillusioned lately with the quality of the Once Upon a Time series, "Violet Eyes" will go a long way to restoring your faith in it. Highly recommended.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
That's a Prince?,
This review is from: Violet Eyes (Once Upon a Time (Simon Pulse)) (Mass Market Paperback)
The other reviews have good summaries, so I'll focus on the pros and cons of this book. The supporting characters are what earned it 2 1/2 stars. Left up to the protagonists and their rushed excuse for a relationship, it would be 2. The author did a wonderful job of fleshing out the other princesses in the competition and making them real people. By the end of the story I wished Arianna or Goldie had been the main character instead of Violet. It would definitely have made for a more interesting point of view. The plot was good and the reasoning behind the tests was well-explained and gave logic to the original tale.
Unfortunately, the main characters were a bit of a let down. As seems to be the pattern in Debbie Viguie's Once Upon A Time series books, there is very little development between the main characters meeting and kissing passionately. After literally two conversations, the prince grabs Violet and kisses her vigorously, making me a little worried he might claim his right as a nobleman to take advantage of peasant women. Of course, making-out with near strangers is a little problem easily cleared up by swift declarations of love. Zero conversations and a few flowery notes later, he is vowing to die for her and walk through fire, though he knows nothing more than her face, name, dubious claim to royalty, and kindness to his horse. Even in their brief dialogs he is a weirdo. From the beginning he makes random statements completely unconnected to their conversations, though the reader assumes they are meant to be insulting since the girl always ends up nearly hitting him. This is all explained by "she brings out the devil in me." Um sure, making an enigmatic joke about the girl who saved your life being an old maid (or a prostitute?) is definitely roguish and charming, especially in the middle of a conversation about your wedding. All this, combined with the "dark and inscrutable expressions" always shadowing his face, convinced me that this man was not a prince, and he was not someone I could ever love, no matter how many times the other characters mentioned his kindness and good character. Redeeming qualities were certainly not apparent in anything he said or did until Violet got to the castle, after which he turned into a prating lovesick sap. Violet herself was a very flat character, and it seemed she only existed to be perfect and long for the next time she could kiss the prince. Overall this was an entertaining take on The Princess and the Pea, but the main characters' relationship ruined part of the book for me. For better protagonists and stronger writing, I would definitely recommend reading Cameron Dokey's Storyteller's Daughter.
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