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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Down to the wire, but I finished it just in time for book club. Looking forward to discussing this with the other members to get their thoughts.
Officially I’ve never read Chloe Neill before, I’ve had Some Girls Bite sitting on my Goodreads wishlist for a while and I just never got round to getting it. Since being offered a copy of The Veil and The Sight I’ll be getting SGB quick time.
The Veil follows Claire Connolly- a twenty-something, red-headed shop owner and secret sensitive – as she struggles to hide her secret powers from Containment seven years after the Veil split the sky and Paranormals or Paras pored out in droves and started a war.
The aftermath of the split ended up with Paras being placed in the aptly named Devil’s Isle where they live like prisoners. Sensitives – like Claire – have various different powers (Claire’s is telekinesis) but if they don’t ground themselves and release the magic that lives within them it consumes them and they become wraiths – a being that hunts for other magic users for their magic.
This book follows the story of Claire and her friends who are each unique in their own way and her meeting with Liam Quinn the bounty hunter. Oddly enough with Liam although his name certainly sounds Irish he’s actually Cajun and he lives in Devil’s Isle with the Paras though he’s totally human.
Liam’s main job in life is to find wraiths and get them help in Devil’s Isle- due to an unfortunate incident with his sister. When he meets Claire he is understandably rather off put by her being a Sensitive because of the possibility of her turning wraith.
Their paths cross after Claire interrupts a wraith attack and their relationship builds from there. I liked how they were originally opposites and you know how they say opposites attract? Yeah I can feel the tension and see their relationship getting more and more heated.
The writing style to this book was a little different to what I’m used to- I find myself edging towards third person point of view for hardiness- the first person point of view was written well and there was a nice balance between drama and humour.
The character dynamics were incredibly good and the only thing that really put me off was the token gay best friend – I’m not really a fan of that – but it was still good.
I really enjoyed the pacing to this book – not too fast but not too slow – and the story developed at a good pace for me. My favourite part has got to be when Liam and Claire almost kissed.
That’s it. There is no massively romantic scenes in this book which was great! I can’t wait to see where the next book The Sight takes the story.
The Veil follows Claire Connolly- a twenty-something, red-headed shop owner and secret sensitive – as she struggles to hide her secret powers from Containment seven years after the Veil split the sky and Paranormals or Paras pored out in droves and started a war.
The aftermath of the split ended up with Paras being placed in the aptly named Devil’s Isle where they live like prisoners. Sensitives – like Claire – have various different powers (Claire’s is telekinesis) but if they don’t ground themselves and release the magic that lives within them it consumes them and they become wraiths – a being that hunts for other magic users for their magic.
This book follows the story of Claire and her friends who are each unique in their own way and her meeting with Liam Quinn the bounty hunter. Oddly enough with Liam although his name certainly sounds Irish he’s actually Cajun and he lives in Devil’s Isle with the Paras though he’s totally human.
Liam’s main job in life is to find wraiths and get them help in Devil’s Isle- due to an unfortunate incident with his sister. When he meets Claire he is understandably rather off put by her being a Sensitive because of the possibility of her turning wraith.
Their paths cross after Claire interrupts a wraith attack and their relationship builds from there. I liked how they were originally opposites and you know how they say opposites attract? Yeah I can feel the tension and see their relationship getting more and more heated.
The writing style to this book was a little different to what I’m used to- I find myself edging towards third person point of view for hardiness- the first person point of view was written well and there was a nice balance between drama and humour.
The character dynamics were incredibly good and the only thing that really put me off was the token gay best friend – I’m not really a fan of that – but it was still good.
I really enjoyed the pacing to this book – not too fast but not too slow – and the story developed at a good pace for me. My favourite part has got to be when Liam and Claire almost kissed.
He shook his head, but not quite steadily. “I’m sorry, but this can’t happen. I just can’t afford you. But if things had been different…”
That’s it. There is no massively romantic scenes in this book which was great! I can’t wait to see where the next book The Sight takes the story.
This book wasn't bad as such. It was just dull. I'm not sure what I expected but it wasn't this. The story was interesting if not completely original but then it was really let down by the fact I couldn't have cared less about our main characters. They failed to make any impact on me as characters so I can barely tell you a thing about them. I was hoping together they might hold enough spark to keep me interested but they didn't. You might as well have had cardboard cutouts, that was how bland they were to me.
Anyway, enough about dull characters. In the end this was just a bland read which left me disappointed. I actually ended up skimming to the end of the book because I wanted to know how it ended without wasting too much time actually reading.
Anyway, enough about dull characters. In the end this was just a bland read which left me disappointed. I actually ended up skimming to the end of the book because I wanted to know how it ended without wasting too much time actually reading.
2.5 stars... this book took a really long time to get into, and once it got going I just still didn't really care? It was ok, but I don't think I'll bother finishing the series
"Seven years ago, the Veil that separates humanity from what lies beyond was torn apart, and New Orleans was engulfed in a supernatural war."
This is where I pause the summary to tell the readers humanity won the war (yay us!)
"Now, those with paranormal powers have been confined in a walled community that humans call the District. Those who live there call it Devil's Isle."
Pretty solid description, though I am still a little hazy on HOW EXACTLY humanity won against an onslaught of supernatural beings. I am guessing more on that will be explained in the sequel?
I almost feel like I should rate PARTS of the book with different ratings.
The first part of the book, in which Claire goes out to have fun with friends, gets attacked, and meets dazzlingly-ruggish Liam I would rate with 5 stars all out. It is by far the most action pact part of the story in terms that it keeps you at the edge of your seat. The first part of the story all happens in a day's time so it is a lot to cram into 100 or so pages but it is written well so it doesn't really bother.
The second half of the story is kind of like coming down from a high and you have to acclimate yourself to the normal world. This is the point where you are supposed to chill out and get to know the characters a little better (let the obvious yet delicious romance unfold). I gave this part of the story a solid 3.5-4 stars because little by little you began to reveal the secrets buried deep into the New Orleans soil and there is quite a little bit of chasing around.
The third and last part of the story is where everything is "going down". Bad guys get discovered, heroes go to the rescue, etc. Only, this is by far The Veil's weakest point. I felt like the magic itself started to make less sense and it wasn't explained too well (from the beginning it made little sense to me but I rolled with the punches, by the end it became a solid issue that detracted me from enjoying the grand finale), I felt like the "battle" scene was a bit too chaotic and the reader gets lost, and also it didn't help that the strong bond that Claire was trying to build with Liam was partially ignored. 2 1/5 to 3 stars.
I didn't have an issue with liking the characters (natural redheads for the win!) but my main issue is with the magic, and the whole "binding" of said magic in order not to be turned into a wraith if you are a sensitive.
Sidenote: Wraith is what you become in this world if you let the magic TAKE OVER you. It seems to be really bad, I definitely would not recommend it.
I understand that humans bodies weren't meant for magic, even though they seem like they were a little meant to hold it since they CAN be turned into sensitives, but to me it seems like sensitives would be better off USING their magic proactively instead of hiding away and letting it build up inside them (magic can be absorbed like a sponge; too much magic makes humans go cray cray).
Also how in the world they keep the sensitives from leaving New Orleans? They do not seem to have much man power to keep everybody confined, even though I understand why Claire stays (she runs her families' business; left to her when her father died fighting in the war).
Verdict: Would recommend, even though I like my heroines to be more sassy.
I am interested in reading the next books, and I really hope our Supernatural brethren characters in the book become more important and that we get to see their story play out (I am also interested in a particular avenging Angel who happened to be in an attic at the right time).
I have hopes for the sequel, meanwhile I am going to go enjoy Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires.
PS; In the future the best way to make a happy reader out of me is to throw even a COUPLE of swoon worthy romance scenes; we ALMOST got one and then it was nipped in the bud.
This is where I pause the summary to tell the readers humanity won the war (yay us!)
"Now, those with paranormal powers have been confined in a walled community that humans call the District. Those who live there call it Devil's Isle."
Pretty solid description, though I am still a little hazy on HOW EXACTLY humanity won against an onslaught of supernatural beings. I am guessing more on that will be explained in the sequel?
I almost feel like I should rate PARTS of the book with different ratings.
The first part of the book, in which Claire goes out to have fun with friends, gets attacked, and meets dazzlingly-ruggish Liam I would rate with 5 stars all out. It is by far the most action pact part of the story in terms that it keeps you at the edge of your seat. The first part of the story all happens in a day's time so it is a lot to cram into 100 or so pages but it is written well so it doesn't really bother.
The second half of the story is kind of like coming down from a high and you have to acclimate yourself to the normal world. This is the point where you are supposed to chill out and get to know the characters a little better (let the obvious yet delicious romance unfold). I gave this part of the story a solid 3.5-4 stars because little by little you began to reveal the secrets buried deep into the New Orleans soil and there is quite a little bit of chasing around.
The third and last part of the story is where everything is "going down". Bad guys get discovered, heroes go to the rescue, etc. Only, this is by far The Veil's weakest point. I felt like the magic itself started to make less sense and it wasn't explained too well (from the beginning it made little sense to me but I rolled with the punches, by the end it became a solid issue that detracted me from enjoying the grand finale), I felt like the "battle" scene was a bit too chaotic and the reader gets lost, and also it didn't help that the strong bond that Claire was trying to build with Liam was partially ignored. 2 1/5 to 3 stars.
I didn't have an issue with liking the characters (natural redheads for the win!) but my main issue is with the magic, and the whole "binding" of said magic in order not to be turned into a wraith if you are a sensitive.
Sidenote: Wraith is what you become in this world if you let the magic TAKE OVER you. It seems to be really bad, I definitely would not recommend it.
I understand that humans bodies weren't meant for magic, even though they seem like they were a little meant to hold it since they CAN be turned into sensitives, but to me it seems like sensitives would be better off USING their magic proactively instead of hiding away and letting it build up inside them (magic can be absorbed like a sponge; too much magic makes humans go cray cray).
Also how in the world they keep the sensitives from leaving New Orleans? They do not seem to have much man power to keep everybody confined, even though I understand why Claire stays (she runs her families' business; left to her when her father died fighting in the war).
Verdict: Would recommend, even though I like my heroines to be more sassy.
I am interested in reading the next books, and I really hope our Supernatural brethren characters in the book become more important and that we get to see their story play out (I am also interested in a particular avenging Angel who happened to be in an attic at the right time).
I have hopes for the sequel, meanwhile I am going to go enjoy Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires.
PS; In the future the best way to make a happy reader out of me is to throw even a COUPLE of swoon worthy romance scenes; we ALMOST got one and then it was nipped in the bud.
I liked the world this book builds. I am not a big fan of Claire. I guess I like main characters who are more sure of themselves. Tadji is fabulous. Gunnar is awesome. Maybe Claire needs to grow more on me.
Anyway, this is a fantasy/dystopian. Paranormals broke through the fabric between worlds and invaded New Orleans and decimated the South. The paranormals were ultimately "defeated", the rip fixed and now called the Veil, and here we are, seven years later, and all paranormals or anyone with magic are forced to live in Devil's Isle. It's an interesting premise and could really be expanded in a long-lasting series or spin-offs. We'll see how it goes.
Anyway, this is a fantasy/dystopian. Paranormals broke through the fabric between worlds and invaded New Orleans and decimated the South. The paranormals were ultimately "defeated", the rip fixed and now called the Veil, and here we are, seven years later, and all paranormals or anyone with magic are forced to live in Devil's Isle. It's an interesting premise and could really be expanded in a long-lasting series or spin-offs. We'll see how it goes.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I did this on audio and it took a little while to get going for me. But once all the characters were introduced and Claire starts working with Liam to research and maintain her magic it got much better for me and the second half was pretty strong. It has some of the same humor of the Chicagoland Vampire books, but the characters aren't as snarky as Merit and the gang. It's more somber in tone and set in a post-war New Orleans, where supplies and electricity are scarce so that makes sense. I'm looking forward to the next one.
I have to say, it was an ok read, but over all I am bit underwhelmed. I think the narrator of the audiobook is partly at fault but there were part of it where I really felt like I don't want to read/listen to it anymore. I'm not sure if I want to continue with the series...
I love Chloe Neill as an author! She did an amazing job with Chicagoland Vampire series and it will forever be one of my favorite series so when I found this book I got excited! This book is the first one in her new Devils isle Series. This book takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana after a post paranormal war that reminds me of life in districts in the hunger games. You follow the Main Character Claire as she has to adjust to being a sensitive which is a human who absorbs magic. Sensitives are considered fugitives and wrapped into being like a para (paranormal) which means you have any ounce of magic you're in big trouble. Anyways Claire finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time which starts a string of events to happen in this book. I will say the beginning is eventful but also a lot of information. I liked this book and I am interested in the world Chloe Neill is creating with this series but I didn't give this 5 stars because it is a lot of information and remembering the different government groups and what they do was a little difficult for me. I am planning to read the second one because I love the characters! Claire I feel is going to become more badass as she understands the world that is now normal for her and I love Liam! He is an honorable person with loyalty to people not what they are. I also love the group of friends they are forming so definitely excited for the next one to come in the mail.
Happy Reading everyone!
Happy Reading everyone!