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dlobby's review against another edition
1.0
Disappointing finish because of heavy religious undertones
I read the whole series because the premise was good and the first book quite good. I was raised in the Mormon church and started to see the religious undertones were Mormon in the second book. It didn’t interfere too much with the story at first but by the book it became so blatant that I could barely read it. I’m sure others with religious inclinations that march Mormonhood would not mind, but as I no longer have a positive relationship with that church this book was insufferable. I don’t plan on reading anymore of this author for my own sake, but I will recommend him to my Mormon friends as it will likely be something they will like.
I read the whole series because the premise was good and the first book quite good. I was raised in the Mormon church and started to see the religious undertones were Mormon in the second book. It didn’t interfere too much with the story at first but by the book it became so blatant that I could barely read it. I’m sure others with religious inclinations that march Mormonhood would not mind, but as I no longer have a positive relationship with that church this book was insufferable. I don’t plan on reading anymore of this author for my own sake, but I will recommend him to my Mormon friends as it will likely be something they will like.
alexandria333's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A good ending to the series with a continuously strong female lead. I've loved the characters and could read many more adventures in this world of mysteries. Love the way the magical system is slowly introduced over the series and the growth in characters and world building. It was all fast paced but that is relative I suppose. Wish they were longer and that i had more books to read!
angelic712's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent ending but don’t expect everything to be resolved. Another series set a bit in the future is necessary.
lostinagoodbook's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this book free from Netgalley.
Epic! This is how a series gets wrapped up in spectacular fashion. Loose ends tied up … favorite characters from past book get a quick cameo … a few unexpected twists and here we are, at the end.
The people we love are happy, the people we hate are … well they will get their comeuppance at some point, I suppose. In other words, it looks as though there will be more books in a new series set in this world and I am here for it.
Ugh, I have to write in such vague terms about this title, but I don’t want to give away a single thing. I need to say it is one of my favorite series written by Mr. Wheeler. He has promised more books are to come, I’ll just have to be patient until they get her.
Bonus link: If you’re interested in reading some of Mr. Wheeler’s books there is a great listing of the reading order for all of his books on his webpage. They are interconnected so I would suggest starting at the beginning!
Song for this book: Ode to Joy – Beethoven – Flash Mob
Epic! This is how a series gets wrapped up in spectacular fashion. Loose ends tied up … favorite characters from past book get a quick cameo … a few unexpected twists and here we are, at the end.
The people we love are happy, the people we hate are … well they will get their comeuppance at some point, I suppose. In other words, it looks as though there will be more books in a new series set in this world and I am here for it.
Ugh, I have to write in such vague terms about this title, but I don’t want to give away a single thing. I need to say it is one of my favorite series written by Mr. Wheeler. He has promised more books are to come, I’ll just have to be patient until they get her.
Bonus link: If you’re interested in reading some of Mr. Wheeler’s books there is a great listing of the reading order for all of his books on his webpage. They are interconnected so I would suggest starting at the beginning!
Song for this book: Ode to Joy – Beethoven – Flash Mob
kaileah22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
michellehenriereads's review against another edition
5.0
In PRISM CLOUD, the world is a mess and there appears to be no hope for our friends Cettie and Sera. How can they even be friends after the betrayal? They’re not even on the brink of war, but in the middle of it. Time, space, and ideals separate them. The world may even be destroyed.
Once I finally had the book in my hands, and before I opened it, I took a deep breath and asked myself: Who is going to die? Am I going to cry through the whole book? Will any of the love interests work out?
These are legitimate questions because we all know, Wheeler loves to throw in twists and turns. In the interest of not spoiling things, I will not answer the questions I posed but will say I was frequently surprised.
I’m going to divert from talking about BROKEN VEIL for a moment to talk about themes in great literature (but if you’ll hang with me, I promise there is a connection).
Two of my favorite books are LES MISERABLES by Victor Hugo and THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO by Alexander Dumas. Some of the themes found in these books are revenge, betrayal, redemption, and forgiveness. These are strong and powerful emotions. If an author sets out to write a story and says my book will be about betrayal, I think this fictitious author would fail because it isn’t that simple. For strong themes to work, they have to be woven through the text in a way that is genuine and believable for the reader to become vested. Hugo’s and Dumas’ books are as much a fantasy to me as the world built by Jeff Wheeler, because I didn’t live through those time periods. (I actually see just about every book as being a fantasy: romance? Totally a fantasy – people never act like they do in those books.)
Getting back on track, all of Wheeler’s series do two things. First, they draw me into a believable world and tell an interesting story. Second, because I believe the world, every moment of revenge, betrayal, redemption, and forgiveness hits me to my core. Yes, sometimes, I cry and laugh through these books. This is why I read.
Once I finished the Harbinger Series, I felt satisfied. Now, satisfaction may seem like an only okay response but that isn’t what I’m trying to say. Some books I hate by the end, others I roll my eyes because I can’t believe in the world anymore because of literary decisions. But to say I am satisfied means so much more; it means that I still believe in the world, that I’ve gone through the journey with the characters, and that I am at peace with both the good and bad in the book. I’ve heard it said that the ending of a story should be ‘surprisingly inevitable’. If that was Wheeler’s goal, he succeeded.
Wheeler is a master storyteller. I hoped that both Cettie and Sera would come into their own power, believe in themselves, and ultimately make choices from their core selves instead of external factors. I hoped for peace in the two kingdoms. And I hoped for love to be fulfilled. But love can take so many turns. Love for country, love for the masses who suffer, family love, and romantic love. I honestly hoped for all of these to be fulfilled.
I know this review says very little about the BROKEN VEIL but that is because I want you to read it and go on the journey yourself. Doesn’t the idea of living revenge, betrayal, redemption, and forgiveness make you want to run out and read this right now?
Here are a couple of quotes to whet your appetite:
“She should just toss the book into a fire and burn it. Adam must hate her now.” p. 16
“She’d had a year to scheme.” p. 70
“She grabbed at the handle, trying to twist it, but she was too late.” p. 123
“They had traded darkness for daylight.” p. 143
“She now had access to memories that weren’t her own.” p.220
“It was treason. But perhaps, in his mind, he’d justified it.” p. 254
“No one was coming. She was alone.” p. 270
“The worth of a soul is its capacity to become something greater.” p. 294
“And you never will.” p. 347
I highly recommend this book, series, and author. I hope you step into a new world and discover more about yourself. You can find more at www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
Once I finally had the book in my hands, and before I opened it, I took a deep breath and asked myself: Who is going to die? Am I going to cry through the whole book? Will any of the love interests work out?
These are legitimate questions because we all know, Wheeler loves to throw in twists and turns. In the interest of not spoiling things, I will not answer the questions I posed but will say I was frequently surprised.
I’m going to divert from talking about BROKEN VEIL for a moment to talk about themes in great literature (but if you’ll hang with me, I promise there is a connection).
Two of my favorite books are LES MISERABLES by Victor Hugo and THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO by Alexander Dumas. Some of the themes found in these books are revenge, betrayal, redemption, and forgiveness. These are strong and powerful emotions. If an author sets out to write a story and says my book will be about betrayal, I think this fictitious author would fail because it isn’t that simple. For strong themes to work, they have to be woven through the text in a way that is genuine and believable for the reader to become vested. Hugo’s and Dumas’ books are as much a fantasy to me as the world built by Jeff Wheeler, because I didn’t live through those time periods. (I actually see just about every book as being a fantasy: romance? Totally a fantasy – people never act like they do in those books.)
Getting back on track, all of Wheeler’s series do two things. First, they draw me into a believable world and tell an interesting story. Second, because I believe the world, every moment of revenge, betrayal, redemption, and forgiveness hits me to my core. Yes, sometimes, I cry and laugh through these books. This is why I read.
Once I finished the Harbinger Series, I felt satisfied. Now, satisfaction may seem like an only okay response but that isn’t what I’m trying to say. Some books I hate by the end, others I roll my eyes because I can’t believe in the world anymore because of literary decisions. But to say I am satisfied means so much more; it means that I still believe in the world, that I’ve gone through the journey with the characters, and that I am at peace with both the good and bad in the book. I’ve heard it said that the ending of a story should be ‘surprisingly inevitable’. If that was Wheeler’s goal, he succeeded.
Wheeler is a master storyteller. I hoped that both Cettie and Sera would come into their own power, believe in themselves, and ultimately make choices from their core selves instead of external factors. I hoped for peace in the two kingdoms. And I hoped for love to be fulfilled. But love can take so many turns. Love for country, love for the masses who suffer, family love, and romantic love. I honestly hoped for all of these to be fulfilled.
I know this review says very little about the BROKEN VEIL but that is because I want you to read it and go on the journey yourself. Doesn’t the idea of living revenge, betrayal, redemption, and forgiveness make you want to run out and read this right now?
Here are a couple of quotes to whet your appetite:
“She should just toss the book into a fire and burn it. Adam must hate her now.” p. 16
“She’d had a year to scheme.” p. 70
“She grabbed at the handle, trying to twist it, but she was too late.” p. 123
“They had traded darkness for daylight.” p. 143
“She now had access to memories that weren’t her own.” p.220
“It was treason. But perhaps, in his mind, he’d justified it.” p. 254
“No one was coming. She was alone.” p. 270
“The worth of a soul is its capacity to become something greater.” p. 294
“And you never will.” p. 347
I highly recommend this book, series, and author. I hope you step into a new world and discover more about yourself. You can find more at www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
deb_is_reading's review against another edition
5.0
this was fantastic! I'm so glad I picked up this series way back when. It was so refreshing and unlike anything I've ever read. It makes me so sad that most people won't even know of this series because Jeff Wheeler and this story isn't from a bigger publisher. I'll absolutely do whatever I can to push this series on other people because I'm that B*tch. I can't wait to pick up his other books.
- I felt like so many obstacles were presented to our protagonists throughout the series however I thought they came fairly organically. This past month I read another book series with about a billion side plots that felt like they were added for the sake of creating drama. It felt really good to see this done a with a little more hindsight.
- Both perspectives (Cettie and Sera) were soooo good. At the start of the series I wasn't totally in love with Sera as a character, I just didn't care.
- This series honestly reminds me why I love a good political fantasy.
- How the story has come from book one to now...wow.
You might like this series if you enjoy these tropes"
- Victorian sensibilities, culture, society
- floating isles/islands as a setting
- rags to riches protagonist
- just/honorable royal
- political fantasy
- destiny
- discourse about classism and elitism
- I felt like so many obstacles were presented to our protagonists throughout the series however I thought they came fairly organically. This past month I read another book series with about a billion side plots that felt like they were added for the sake of creating drama. It felt really good to see this done a with a little more hindsight.
- Both perspectives (Cettie and Sera) were soooo good. At the start of the series I wasn't totally in love with Sera as a character, I just didn't care.
- This series honestly reminds me why I love a good political fantasy.
- How the story has come from book one to now...wow.
You might like this series if you enjoy these tropes"
- Victorian sensibilities, culture, society
- floating isles/islands as a setting
- rags to riches protagonist
- just/honorable royal
- political fantasy
- destiny
- discourse about classism and elitism
jaipal's review against another edition
4.0
I started the Harbinger series and loved it. I did like book 4 although it got dark. However, the plots within plots were revealed and it looked like things were not faring well for our heroes.
Book 5 unravels the plots even more and explains the machinations within machinations, both for the Hetaera and Kishion wanting to release the Goddess Ereshkigal.
Cettie and Sera are front and centre in this book and the choices they make have ramifications, both for themselves and for the Empire of Comoros. I felt the story was rushed at times but it did bring a more or less satisfying end to this cycle in this series.
Since I started reading the series from the Harbinger series, I now need to read the other books to fill in the backstory for both King Fountain and Comoros. I highly recommend the Harbinger series, particularly if you like regency and supernatural steam-punk genre.
Book 5 unravels the plots even more and explains the machinations within machinations, both for the Hetaera and Kishion wanting to release the Goddess Ereshkigal.
Cettie and Sera are front and centre in this book and the choices they make have ramifications, both for themselves and for the Empire of Comoros. I felt the story was rushed at times but it did bring a more or less satisfying end to this cycle in this series.
Since I started reading the series from the Harbinger series, I now need to read the other books to fill in the backstory for both King Fountain and Comoros. I highly recommend the Harbinger series, particularly if you like regency and supernatural steam-punk genre.
ashleynoelle's review against another edition
4.0
I adored this series and was entirely satisfied with the way it concluded.
This was my first series read by Jeff Wheeler and I am honestly so exited to dive into some of his other books from this world.
This was my first series read by Jeff Wheeler and I am honestly so exited to dive into some of his other books from this world.