Veena’s review of The Veil (Devil’s Isle, Book 1) by Chloe Neill
Urban Fantasy published by NAL 04 Aug 15
This book is the first for me by Chloe Neill. I enjoyed the post-apocalyptic dystopian New Orleans that is the setting of the story and the closed-in Devil’s Isle. I also enjoyed the slow, sweet beginning, but somewhere along the middle, the story seemed to get derailed and confusing. I guess it’s always hard in the first book in a series when an author is trying to give context and background and yet deliver a story that will hook the reader for the upcoming series.
Clair Connolly has learned to survive and to uphold the family tradition of keeping the store that several generations of her family has run in NOLA. She’s learned to adapt from selling antiques to selling the necessities that folks need in what’s been left after a magical attack devastated her city and killed her father.
Liam Quinn is also a survivor. He comes to Clair’s help when she singlehandedly takes on wraiths (homeless beings devoid of magic) to protect a young woman. In order to protect herself, Claire choses to use magic that is forbidden, but, with Liam’s help, she’s able to cover it up and also learn how to control and defend herself. Which is a good thing, because she soon gets sucked into a world on the brink of an emerging war and she’s going to have to team up with her friends to help save her world.
I really like the slow warming of the romance and sweetly romantic gifts that Liam brings her. Who would’ve thought that tea, coffee, or meat would be romantic, but I am sorry that the sweet and slow takes a backseat as she and Liam, with their team of friends, need to focus on saving the world.
I am not sure that this series is for me, but I will wait and watch and see if I warm up to it in the next couple of books before making the final call.
Grade: C
Summary:
A brand new series from New York Times bestselling author Chloe Neill.
Seven years ago, the Veil that separates humanity from what lies beyond was torn apart, and New Orleans was engulfed in a supernatural war. 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.Claire Connolly is a good girl with a dangerous secret: she’s a Sensitive, a human endowed with magic that seeped through the Veil. Claire knows that revealing her skills would mean being confined to Devil’s Isle. Unfortunately, hiding her power has left her untrained and unfocused.
Liam Quinn knows from experience that magic makes monsters of the weak, and he has no time for a Sensitive with no control of her own strength. But when he sees Claire using her powers to save a human under attack—in full view of the French Quarter—Liam decides to bring her to Devil’s Isle and the teacher she needs, even though getting her out of his way isn’t the same as keeping her out of his head.
As more and more Sensitives fall prey to their magic, and unleash their hunger on the city, Claire and Liam must work together to save New Orleans, or else the city will burn…
No excerpt available.
