A review by enchantingreads_rosyreviews
Veiled Skies by Jessica Santi

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

"'Those who hunger for power are never the ones who should have it... Power is a drug, I have seen good men and women succumb to its attraction. To be lusting after it before you’ve even had a true taste would be to put yourself in a situation you could never win.'”

There isn’t enough space to adequately rave about this book. The reluctant heroine, who has to work hard before she accepts her role as a leader while reckoning with her own traumatic past, is someone to fall in love with. Plus, the entire world celebrating the power of women is awe-inspiring (hearing “by the Goddess,” “blessed with first-born daughters,” and “a long line of powerful Queens” make my heart swell). The author’s atmospheric writing is simply magnificent, while her world is rich, yet easy to understand, isn’t overly violent or spicy, but is super entertaining. You will fall in love with her characters, cling to the mystery weaving in and out of the story, and you are guaranteed to swoon. And the last 5-6 chapters will keep you up reading well into the wee hours of the morning in shock.

"The years may have dulled the sharp bite of loss, but grief still swam in their veins, still clouded their senses. Instead of the deaths feeling like daggers sinking into their skin and vices constricting the air from their lungs, they felt like being submerged underwater. Senses and emotions muffled. Smothered under the weight of reality."

I didn't know what to expect when picking up this story, but I knew I was in for a beautiful fantasy story. That is the understatement of the century! The writing in this debut novel is magnificent and the world Jessica creates feels like the royally beautiful fantasy we all had when we were little. The world-building is explained well so you can follow along with ease, but the story is rich in detail and sets up the future series brilliantly. Plus, the female empowerment in this book is well-earned and I love the character development of our main character, Deming. I really liked the world created in this book and I hope everyone who picks it up appreciates Jessica's talent as an author!
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