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Veiled Mist
On the Caribbean island of Maurray, spoiled-rotten, fifteen-year-old Hanna wakes up to a nightmare. She is not the daughter of an aristocrat but the orphan of a Gypsy. She is the descendant to a mystical Gypsy tribe. Their magic is strong and has lasted six hundred years. Ornella, the tribe's guardian, arrives at the island with her mutt, Count Dracula, to guide Hanna. Hanna is told she must embrace her heritage or die at the ripe age of seventeen. But Hanna does the unthinkable, she chooses death. She hates Gypsies and would rather die. What she doesn't know is that her death will destroy the entire tribe. What she also doesn't know is how persuasive Ornella can be. The nightmare begins.
- GenresParanormal
260 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2012
313 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor T. Beaty
6 books51 followersEleanor T. Beaty is a Young Adult Paranormal author, her most recent novel "Veiled Mist" released on July 9, 2012.
A worldly person, Eleanor was born in beautiful Brazil and spent much of her childhood in several places (Argentina, Switzerland, and the US to name a few). She holds a BA in English Literature and is published in both Brazil and Turkey.
Eleanor loves spirituality and magic – both have allowed her to gain a strong grip on life and enjoy what it has to offer. She believes that everything has a reason and understanding those reasons help us deal with the difficult moments. Eleanor currently enjoys life with her husband in Brazil.
A worldly person, Eleanor was born in beautiful Brazil and spent much of her childhood in several places (Argentina, Switzerland, and the US to name a few). She holds a BA in English Literature and is published in both Brazil and Turkey.
Eleanor loves spirituality and magic – both have allowed her to gain a strong grip on life and enjoy what it has to offer. She believes that everything has a reason and understanding those reasons help us deal with the difficult moments. Eleanor currently enjoys life with her husband in Brazil.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 27, 2012
Witches, Gypsies and Evil Wizards, Oh My!
Veiled Mists is about Hanna who lives a very privileged life and loves every minute of it. She is your spoiled, shallow typical teenager who thinks that her mother was this beautiful princess. She finds out, however that her overbearing grandmother has been lying to her about who she is and who her mother was her entire life. Hanna also finds out that, she is a gypsy and that if she doesn’t accept her destiny by her sixteenth birthday she will die by the time she is seventeen.
First, I have to say that this book has your typical teenage stuff going on. You have your snobby shallow leading lady which is Hanna in this book. You then have her cronies, which aren’t that bad but her “friend” Susan needs an attitude adjustment and then of course you have your hunky man candy Alistair who Hanna just happens to be in love with but he doesn’t want anything to do with the shallow Hanna.
I really enjoyed Veiled Mists because it was different from the other books I had been reading and Gypsies have not been in my typical reading repertoire. The characters were well written and had great personality, which made the story even better. I have to say though the best character in the book had to be Count Dracula, which is Ornella’s companion, and yes, he is a dog. Nevertheless, he is totally his own dog that can communicate and is seriously funny especially when Ornella is threatening to turn him into a poodle. lol I also love Hanna’s grandfather because he is who keeps Hanna focused and seems to have been the only one that ever really looked after Hanna, loved her and did his best to keep her best interest at heart. Unlike her grandmother that really only gave a darn about herself and how things would look if there were a gypsy in the family. Anyway, the story is one of those that I couldn’t put it down when I started reading it. It was easy to get lost in what was going on and what you thought was about to happen. I hated when the book ended though because I wanted more and still want more. Maybe there will be more to this story, I know I am hoping for it.
*Disclosure Notice*
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my personal and honest review. I was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.
Veiled Mists is about Hanna who lives a very privileged life and loves every minute of it. She is your spoiled, shallow typical teenager who thinks that her mother was this beautiful princess. She finds out, however that her overbearing grandmother has been lying to her about who she is and who her mother was her entire life. Hanna also finds out that, she is a gypsy and that if she doesn’t accept her destiny by her sixteenth birthday she will die by the time she is seventeen.
First, I have to say that this book has your typical teenage stuff going on. You have your snobby shallow leading lady which is Hanna in this book. You then have her cronies, which aren’t that bad but her “friend” Susan needs an attitude adjustment and then of course you have your hunky man candy Alistair who Hanna just happens to be in love with but he doesn’t want anything to do with the shallow Hanna.
I really enjoyed Veiled Mists because it was different from the other books I had been reading and Gypsies have not been in my typical reading repertoire. The characters were well written and had great personality, which made the story even better. I have to say though the best character in the book had to be Count Dracula, which is Ornella’s companion, and yes, he is a dog. Nevertheless, he is totally his own dog that can communicate and is seriously funny especially when Ornella is threatening to turn him into a poodle. lol I also love Hanna’s grandfather because he is who keeps Hanna focused and seems to have been the only one that ever really looked after Hanna, loved her and did his best to keep her best interest at heart. Unlike her grandmother that really only gave a darn about herself and how things would look if there were a gypsy in the family. Anyway, the story is one of those that I couldn’t put it down when I started reading it. It was easy to get lost in what was going on and what you thought was about to happen. I hated when the book ended though because I wanted more and still want more. Maybe there will be more to this story, I know I am hoping for it.
*Disclosure Notice*
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my personal and honest review. I was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.
February 23, 2013
This book was part of a blog tour, I was provided with a copy of the book for my honest review.
Hanna is a spoiled rotten fifteen year old girl; she likes a boy and does not understand why he doesn't like her back. She has nightmares, when she wakes up one morning her prized doll is broken so she goes to have it fixed. She meets Ornella a gypsy, Hanna finds out she is next to join this gypsy tribe. I loved the premise of this book and was really looking forward to reading it, however when I did start it I had a hard time finishing it. My first impression of Hanna with her sense of entitlement and disregard for other peoples feeling ruined the story for me. The rest of the characters in the book were not very enjoyable either, the only one I really liked was Count Dracula. The storyline was well thought out, original and very creative. The writing was done very well and there were certain parts in the book that held my interest. While the book is good and other people are sure to enjoy it, I personally could not get past my dislike of the characters. I have started the second book because I did like the premise of the book I want to see if the characters can be redeemed.
Hanna is a spoiled rotten fifteen year old girl; she likes a boy and does not understand why he doesn't like her back. She has nightmares, when she wakes up one morning her prized doll is broken so she goes to have it fixed. She meets Ornella a gypsy, Hanna finds out she is next to join this gypsy tribe. I loved the premise of this book and was really looking forward to reading it, however when I did start it I had a hard time finishing it. My first impression of Hanna with her sense of entitlement and disregard for other peoples feeling ruined the story for me. The rest of the characters in the book were not very enjoyable either, the only one I really liked was Count Dracula. The storyline was well thought out, original and very creative. The writing was done very well and there were certain parts in the book that held my interest. While the book is good and other people are sure to enjoy it, I personally could not get past my dislike of the characters. I have started the second book because I did like the premise of the book I want to see if the characters can be redeemed.
November 20, 2012
Mix together a mystery, with a good dash of humor. Throw in gypsies, and romance and you
have Veiled Mist.
Eleanor Beaty is a master at character development! And this book is packed full of action and
drama.
This book will actually make you laugh right out loud.
I strongly recommend this as your holiday break read. Really I am serious, go out now and buy a copy or better yet click the link above. I love this book and recommend it to anyone, adults young and not so young!
have Veiled Mist.
Eleanor Beaty is a master at character development! And this book is packed full of action and
drama.
This book will actually make you laugh right out loud.
I strongly recommend this as your holiday break read. Really I am serious, go out now and buy a copy or better yet click the link above. I love this book and recommend it to anyone, adults young and not so young!
February 13, 2013
As part of a 3 book tour with Novel Publicity, I decided to read Veiled Mist by Eleanor T. Beaty. I expected light and Young Adult, Sci-fi/fantasy, myth based something. . . I got all of those, but I got something else very interesting out of the deal. I'm going to reveal to you, or perhaps elude you as to what I think destiny, or my destiny is. Maybe.
Have I mentioned I'm a cynic, and possibly and elusive gypsy/witch in disguise of something else...
I didn't expect greatness, but it was a pleasant surprise. Sort of. This is the book you end up reading at the 'right time' for no apparent reason what-so-ever. (But not really, it's a tricky book like that.)
Veiled Mist was all those good things. It's totally Young Adult and probably middle aged adult enjoyable. (Am I middle aged? I'm not sure...I feel old most of the time....but not senile?)
It created a mystical world in my head, and was quite vivid. I had a lot of fun following around Hanna, and I had even more fun following Ornella's story. I was completely charmed and won over by Count Dracula (not a vampire). It also created a world that traveled all over the globe, and made me reminiscent of the days that Carmen Sandiego was somewhere.
Years ago, I would have said my destiny was to be a globe-trotting spy/explorer, or that I could be a space explorer 'for real'.
Unfortunately, and perhaps because of wonderful campaigning skills, the book also made me ponder.
What is my Destiny? What is Destiny? Does it matter? If it matters, who does it matter to? Does it matter to me even if it doesn't really matter?
Clearly this could have taken a dive for the depths of despair, but fear not, there is a silver/gold lining to this tale.
MmmmWAHaaaaHaaaaHaaaa
Statistically speaking, whether I have a destiny or not is probably not all that cosmically important in the grand scheme of the universe. That said, what I perceive to be my destiny may or may not be very important to me at any given time (subjectively of course).
I feel like I sound like Spock.
Am I Spock?!
I am probably not Spock. If this were a Cracked article you would now see a picture of something with a sad face and the words. "Why can't I choose my own destiny?" *pout*. But, it's not, it's a very serious book review. I swear I'm not on cracked...yet.
There's a point to this. At a time when perhaps I'd like to have chosen a slightly less shall we say 'bumpy' path in life, I end up reading a book about destiny. Yes, it's young adult and I'm supposed to be mature, but I don't think that means I can't get something out of a book.
I did read it with my own bias and cynicisms in tact of course, and as a result, some of the dialogue was ANNOYING. In a very, hilarious, made me identify with the chronological age and audience the book is aimed at. I probably reacted to the book the same way I would have reacted if I read it as a young adult. I am a character in that book, I can identify with one or more of the characters who are like and not like me.
It made me remember my own experiences, and it made me think about the path I took or didn't really get to choose to take, all the what-ifs, and maybe, could have, should have, never in a million years, would have been.
There was a point to all that destiny 'crap' (it's a cynical kind of day, can you tell :P ). It's simply this, I think we lose the child's sense of destiny much to early in life. This might book helped bring a little bit back into mine, even if it was just to remind me that once I believed I had a grand destiny to roam the universe in a spaceship with . . . well you know.
It probably doesn't matter whether or not I have a grandiose destiny as much anymore, as long as I'm happy doing what I do. Read the book, there's hope there in the mist. There's also a crazy amount of darkness and amusement and really well written story telling.
About the Book, Author and more!
On the Caribbean island of Maurray, spoiled-rotten, fifteen-year-old Hanna wakes up to a nightmare. She is not the daughter of an aristocrat but the orphan of a Gypsy. She is the descendant to a mystical Gypsy tribe. Their magic is strong and has lasted six hundred years. Ornella, the tribe's guardian, arrives at the island with her mutt, Count Dracula, to guide Hanna. Hanna is told she must embrace her heritage or die at the ripe age of seventeen. But Hanna does the unthinkable, she chooses death. She hates Gypsies and would rather die. What she doesn't know is that her death will destroy the entire tribe. What she also doesn't know is how persuasive Ornella can be. The nightmare begins.
That is just one of three books that I've just started reading. I like reading YA novels, and Beaty's books are such a pleasure just to look at. The covers themselves have me intrigued and very excited to read.
Eleanor T. Beaty is a Young Adult Paranormal author, her most recent novel "Veiled Mist" released on July 9, 2012.
A worldly person, Eleanor was born in beautiful Brazil and spent much of her childhood in several places (Argentina, Switzerland, and the US to name a few). She holds a BA in English Literature and is published in both Brazil and Turkey.
Eleanor loves spirituality and magic – both have allowed her to gain a strong grip on life and enjoy what it has to offer. She believes that everything has a reason and understanding those reasons help us deal with the difficult moments. Eleanor currently enjoys life with her husband in Brazil. You can find out more about her and her other books on her website.
(All synapses and bio authors from Goodreads.)
Wanna know how you can choose your reading destiny for the next month?
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="542"]
Click this Image, or this link to sign up now![/caption]You can purchase Veiled Mist by Eleanor T Beaty on Amazon for ebook, and in paperback. You can also find a list of her other works here.
Related articles
What is Destiny, Really? (naimeless.wordpress.com)
In Defense of Young-Adult Books (miriamjoywrites.com)
Don't Let Your Past Determine Your Destiny (bloggingforwisdom.wordpress.com)
Probably not Spock
So you always wanted to be a crazy composer/artist living in a perfect climate on some fabulous island with mean temperature of 20-26 degrees and no hurricanes? We have one, but you have to fly to Kronos
_
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for review from the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
February 2, 2013
Hidden Secrets
In a respect of being honest, I feel that it is important to start this review explaining that it took me a while to actually get into the story. By the time I was quarter of the way through the book, I had to resist the urge to put the book down and start reading something else. However, I persevered as I really don’t like incomplete books, and as the story continued, I soon found myself liking it more. I cannot pinpoint the exact moment that my feelings towards the book changed but I soon found myself engaging with the words on the page and couldn’t wait to continue the story and find out how it all ended up. So, if you find yourself in that position with this book, I strongly urge you to keep reading because this book does get better.
Always Find
This book is full of magic and intrigue and has some very interesting elements within it. From healing powers, to talking dogs, this book had a lot of unique moments that were quite interesting to read about. I enjoyed the different aspects that this plot had to offer me and eventually found myself curious about the journey that the main protagonist had to take and where it would eventually lead. There was a plot twist thrown in there that I truly didn’t see coming but that I really liked and helped to make the book more entertaining. By the end, I found myself laughing at the last few moments, happy that the book had ended in such a good and light way.
A Unique Way
There were a lot of different characters in this story, some I was able to enjoy reading about but a few got on my nerves. The first character that we are introduced to properly is Ornella and she is a character that I struggled to get to grips with throughout the entire novel. I just disliked the way she was and how she acted and while I could see why she was that why, it didn’t stop her from being a really irritating character in my eyes. Hanna, our main protagonist, was also a character that I struggled with. She was annoyingly shallow, and well, just annoying for a large part of the novel and I found myself rolling my eyes at her for a lot of the book. Fortunately, she is also a character who redeems herself at the end and I found that somewhere along the way I had started to like her without even realising it.
On the other side of things, her grandpapa was a character I loved from the instant we met him. He was so lovely and full of life. He was calm, an important character in Hanna’s life and simply was a character that you would struggle not to love. Her little brother, John, was also a character that I admired from the start. He had brains, he’s willing to connect with his sister, and while he does have his little brother annoyances, he always cares a lot and is very protective and he definitely stole my heart away. Alistair was another character that I liked, he was a complicated fellow but he was also nice, protective and conflicted and I just really felt that I could understand him a lot.
To Unravel
The one thing that, for me, made this book harder to read was the writing style. In my personal opinion it often felt a little stilted and forced and didn’t flow very easily in my head. This occurred a lot more at the beginning of the book where I was just trying to get myself into the story but it did also happen a few times towards the end. At the beginning of the story you were thrown into the middle of something that you had no clue about, and as a reader you were left to fill in the blanks, something that I wasn’t in the mood to do, and this made the story difficult to grasp straight away. Once everything became a bit clearer, the book definitely became a lot more enjoyable and I found myself really liking the rest of the story. I liked the way that it all unfolded, and I was especially glad for the personality change that occurred due to the journey that was taken. Everything fell together at the end and it wrapped up into a nice book that left you with a good feeling.
And Change Everything
Overall, this was a book that is difficult to get into, has a few characters that are irritating and a writing style that takes a little while to get used to, but once you get passed all of that, the story itself is a really interesting one that piqued my curiosity and kept me turning the page. It is full of magical things, and a lovely sense of happiness and well-being in general that reaches you by the conclusion. It hasn’t made it into my favourite books ever written but it is not a book I regret reading. I would recommend this book to people who like books full of adventures, mystery, magic, mayhem, and a little bit of fun too. I would definitely feel that this book would be brilliant for those who won’t take the book seriously and will allow it to just be a great piece of entertainment. I feel that those readers will get the maximum benefit from this book.
In a respect of being honest, I feel that it is important to start this review explaining that it took me a while to actually get into the story. By the time I was quarter of the way through the book, I had to resist the urge to put the book down and start reading something else. However, I persevered as I really don’t like incomplete books, and as the story continued, I soon found myself liking it more. I cannot pinpoint the exact moment that my feelings towards the book changed but I soon found myself engaging with the words on the page and couldn’t wait to continue the story and find out how it all ended up. So, if you find yourself in that position with this book, I strongly urge you to keep reading because this book does get better.
Always Find
This book is full of magic and intrigue and has some very interesting elements within it. From healing powers, to talking dogs, this book had a lot of unique moments that were quite interesting to read about. I enjoyed the different aspects that this plot had to offer me and eventually found myself curious about the journey that the main protagonist had to take and where it would eventually lead. There was a plot twist thrown in there that I truly didn’t see coming but that I really liked and helped to make the book more entertaining. By the end, I found myself laughing at the last few moments, happy that the book had ended in such a good and light way.
A Unique Way
There were a lot of different characters in this story, some I was able to enjoy reading about but a few got on my nerves. The first character that we are introduced to properly is Ornella and she is a character that I struggled to get to grips with throughout the entire novel. I just disliked the way she was and how she acted and while I could see why she was that why, it didn’t stop her from being a really irritating character in my eyes. Hanna, our main protagonist, was also a character that I struggled with. She was annoyingly shallow, and well, just annoying for a large part of the novel and I found myself rolling my eyes at her for a lot of the book. Fortunately, she is also a character who redeems herself at the end and I found that somewhere along the way I had started to like her without even realising it.
On the other side of things, her grandpapa was a character I loved from the instant we met him. He was so lovely and full of life. He was calm, an important character in Hanna’s life and simply was a character that you would struggle not to love. Her little brother, John, was also a character that I admired from the start. He had brains, he’s willing to connect with his sister, and while he does have his little brother annoyances, he always cares a lot and is very protective and he definitely stole my heart away. Alistair was another character that I liked, he was a complicated fellow but he was also nice, protective and conflicted and I just really felt that I could understand him a lot.
To Unravel
The one thing that, for me, made this book harder to read was the writing style. In my personal opinion it often felt a little stilted and forced and didn’t flow very easily in my head. This occurred a lot more at the beginning of the book where I was just trying to get myself into the story but it did also happen a few times towards the end. At the beginning of the story you were thrown into the middle of something that you had no clue about, and as a reader you were left to fill in the blanks, something that I wasn’t in the mood to do, and this made the story difficult to grasp straight away. Once everything became a bit clearer, the book definitely became a lot more enjoyable and I found myself really liking the rest of the story. I liked the way that it all unfolded, and I was especially glad for the personality change that occurred due to the journey that was taken. Everything fell together at the end and it wrapped up into a nice book that left you with a good feeling.
And Change Everything
Overall, this was a book that is difficult to get into, has a few characters that are irritating and a writing style that takes a little while to get used to, but once you get passed all of that, the story itself is a really interesting one that piqued my curiosity and kept me turning the page. It is full of magical things, and a lovely sense of happiness and well-being in general that reaches you by the conclusion. It hasn’t made it into my favourite books ever written but it is not a book I regret reading. I would recommend this book to people who like books full of adventures, mystery, magic, mayhem, and a little bit of fun too. I would definitely feel that this book would be brilliant for those who won’t take the book seriously and will allow it to just be a great piece of entertainment. I feel that those readers will get the maximum benefit from this book.
February 15, 2013
Veiled Mist
By Eleanor T. Beaty
ISBN 13: 978-0615649481, $11.04; Kindle ASIN B008J72TGO, $2.99
Veiled Mist by Eleanor Beaty is an almost perfect YA read that adults can enjoy too. Hanna is a spoiled rotten, fifteen-year-old socialite whose biggest concern is how good she looks and keeping her little clique together. She has it all: looks, money, and a dead Princess for a mother. She is on top of her little world and nothing can move her – she thinks.
Enter Mummy Man; the tormentor of Hanna’s dreams who she is convinced is just a fantasy. Till one morning after dreaming about him she awakens to find her prize possession, a princess doll, with both of its arms having fallen off. Hanna is devastated and tries her best to find out who has ruined her doll, but no one in the house was in her room after she went and so Hanna has to leave the destroyed doll as a mystery – until a new doll store opens on the island.
Enter Ornella. Ornella is everything Hanna has been taught to fear. She is strange, a gypsy and she tells Hanna she has two days less until sixteenth birthday than Hanna knows. However, Hanna is convinced she is correct – after all, it is her birthday she’s been celebrating all her life. What can a weird gypsy woman know about it, or her destiny? Why should she believe that she has some great destiny that if she doesn’t accept by her birthday, she will die exactly one year later? But for some reason, even though she doesn’t believe anything else she believes this. So Hanna makes up her mind she is going to refuse her destiny, returns home and begins to try to write her eulogy.
So Ornella sets out to reveal Hanna to herself. Bit-by-bit Ornella starts to reveal Hanna to herself. Some of the changes are hard for Hanna to adjust to, sometimes facing the type of person, she is really hard, but it is never done judgmentally on her part. Instead, as Hanna starts to act better and the people around her start to react, she begins to see exactly how self-centered and haughty she really was. Oh, and of course, finally catching the attention of the boy of her dreams helps Hanna too. She’d give anything to have him quit looking at her as if she was one-step removed from pond scum. Can she make him see the good in her?
I really enjoyed Veiled Mist. From the first pages, it caught my attention and kept it. When I had to put it down the first night to go to sleep, I was disappointed because I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. The tension is well developed and the characters are interesting and perfect for the roles they play in the story. The magical element is just right, not too heavy-handed, and there are great moments of comic relief. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone from middle grades on up to adults. It is a neat fantasy, taking place in the modern world that almost anyone can enjoy
By Eleanor T. Beaty
ISBN 13: 978-0615649481, $11.04; Kindle ASIN B008J72TGO, $2.99
Veiled Mist by Eleanor Beaty is an almost perfect YA read that adults can enjoy too. Hanna is a spoiled rotten, fifteen-year-old socialite whose biggest concern is how good she looks and keeping her little clique together. She has it all: looks, money, and a dead Princess for a mother. She is on top of her little world and nothing can move her – she thinks.
Enter Mummy Man; the tormentor of Hanna’s dreams who she is convinced is just a fantasy. Till one morning after dreaming about him she awakens to find her prize possession, a princess doll, with both of its arms having fallen off. Hanna is devastated and tries her best to find out who has ruined her doll, but no one in the house was in her room after she went and so Hanna has to leave the destroyed doll as a mystery – until a new doll store opens on the island.
Enter Ornella. Ornella is everything Hanna has been taught to fear. She is strange, a gypsy and she tells Hanna she has two days less until sixteenth birthday than Hanna knows. However, Hanna is convinced she is correct – after all, it is her birthday she’s been celebrating all her life. What can a weird gypsy woman know about it, or her destiny? Why should she believe that she has some great destiny that if she doesn’t accept by her birthday, she will die exactly one year later? But for some reason, even though she doesn’t believe anything else she believes this. So Hanna makes up her mind she is going to refuse her destiny, returns home and begins to try to write her eulogy.
So Ornella sets out to reveal Hanna to herself. Bit-by-bit Ornella starts to reveal Hanna to herself. Some of the changes are hard for Hanna to adjust to, sometimes facing the type of person, she is really hard, but it is never done judgmentally on her part. Instead, as Hanna starts to act better and the people around her start to react, she begins to see exactly how self-centered and haughty she really was. Oh, and of course, finally catching the attention of the boy of her dreams helps Hanna too. She’d give anything to have him quit looking at her as if she was one-step removed from pond scum. Can she make him see the good in her?
I really enjoyed Veiled Mist. From the first pages, it caught my attention and kept it. When I had to put it down the first night to go to sleep, I was disappointed because I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. The tension is well developed and the characters are interesting and perfect for the roles they play in the story. The magical element is just right, not too heavy-handed, and there are great moments of comic relief. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone from middle grades on up to adults. It is a neat fantasy, taking place in the modern world that almost anyone can enjoy
December 21, 2012
This is a very different book from the long list of books I have read. I have never read any stories about gypsies, but the paranormal and magical element of this caught my attention. I am glad that I read it too! Hannah is a spoiled rich brat living on the island of Maurray. She comes from a weird family situation. She was told her mother died upon her birth, which resulted in her being given to her father to be raised. Her family has married another woman and they have a son named John. Since they are rich, there is also a maid/cook by the name of Vani in the house. Her grandparents (father's parents) are both very much involved in the family and also live on the island. What is so weird about the family is that her parents seem to be like good friends and never appear to be in love. Actually they seem miserable with each other as far as love is concerned, but for some reason will not even consider a divorce. Both are pretty much absent from their children's lives leaving the real raising to be done by the grandparents.
In raising Hannah, her grandmother Elizabeth has put so many stories in her head about how terrible gypsies are that you have to wonder where this prejudice comes from. Her grandfather has never contradicted the stories other than to say that Elizabeth is going a little overboard. All of this is about to come back to haunt everyone though. A week before Hannah's 16th birthday she starts having weird dreams about being a gypsy and even finds herself dressed/smelling like one at random intervals of the day. To top it off, her mother's doll, which she has loved and cared for her entire life, has been broken. The doll becomes priority number one as she prepares for the day. Luckily for her a new antique doll store literally was constructed and opened over night. This is where Hannah's life will change forever. She meets Ornella, a "good" gypsy who's only goal in life is to find gypsy descendants and help them through their changes to become a member of the tribe. She really has a lot of work for her to change a spoiled brat into a caring and selfless person. She also has to undo 16 years of prejudice while breaking a spell put on her by an evil warlock set to destroy the tribe. What will become of Hannah? Will Ornella succeed in showing her that not all gypsies are smelly, dirty, evil, children stealers? Will Ornella succeed before the evil spell on Hannah literally kills her on her 16th birthday? And what will happen to the doll? You'll have to read to find out more.
Read more reviews at Identity Discovery Blog.
In raising Hannah, her grandmother Elizabeth has put so many stories in her head about how terrible gypsies are that you have to wonder where this prejudice comes from. Her grandfather has never contradicted the stories other than to say that Elizabeth is going a little overboard. All of this is about to come back to haunt everyone though. A week before Hannah's 16th birthday she starts having weird dreams about being a gypsy and even finds herself dressed/smelling like one at random intervals of the day. To top it off, her mother's doll, which she has loved and cared for her entire life, has been broken. The doll becomes priority number one as she prepares for the day. Luckily for her a new antique doll store literally was constructed and opened over night. This is where Hannah's life will change forever. She meets Ornella, a "good" gypsy who's only goal in life is to find gypsy descendants and help them through their changes to become a member of the tribe. She really has a lot of work for her to change a spoiled brat into a caring and selfless person. She also has to undo 16 years of prejudice while breaking a spell put on her by an evil warlock set to destroy the tribe. What will become of Hannah? Will Ornella succeed in showing her that not all gypsies are smelly, dirty, evil, children stealers? Will Ornella succeed before the evil spell on Hannah literally kills her on her 16th birthday? And what will happen to the doll? You'll have to read to find out more.
Read more reviews at Identity Discovery Blog.
December 27, 2012
Hanna has lived her entire life as a spoiled little princess. Whatever she wants, she gets, no questions asked. Her sixteenth birthday is right around the corner and she's looking forward to that day with gusto. She has plans to make her birthday the best it can be, an occasion no one will ever forget.
Within the blink of an eye, her life takes a sordid turn. Her hair and clothes are changing and she's seeing things that aren't quite there. The unexpected occurrences are questionable and Hanna soon wonders if she's losing her mind. She's sure there's a suitable explanation for what's going, but it's one she hasn't quite discovered yet.
When her favorite doll is broken, she takes it to a new doll shop to get it repaired. In doing so, her life is further turned upside-down. The old woman assures her that the doll can be mended, but there's a price that must be met in order for her to make the doll as good as new. With no other choice but to concede to the woman's demands, Hanna agrees, never once imagining that her world will be knocked further askew.
Eager, yet apprehensive to learn about her family's history, Hanna dives head in to the task the woman has given her. Never once does she think about the consequences of her actions. Time is growing short and there's a lot she needs to know and learn. Unfortunately, she's not quite willing to dive into the secrets of her past. Never-the-less, she knows she'll need to make the effort in fulfilling the woman's wishes if she's to set all wrongs to right, before her live and that of her bloodline are forfeit.
The storyline for this book is delightfully original. Chock full of intrigue and the paranormal, we dive head first into the life and times of dearest Hanna. She's like any other little girl who's been given her hearts desire - spoiled, holier-than-thou, and always eager to get her way.
I found the gypsy aspect of the story very endearing. I think Eleanor used that to her advantage. It was like Hanna's lineage was a character in itself that blossomed and bloomed the more I turned the page. Hanna's turning into a completely different person by the time the book ended was heart-warming. I enjoyed every minute of the story and think you will, too.
Within the blink of an eye, her life takes a sordid turn. Her hair and clothes are changing and she's seeing things that aren't quite there. The unexpected occurrences are questionable and Hanna soon wonders if she's losing her mind. She's sure there's a suitable explanation for what's going, but it's one she hasn't quite discovered yet.
When her favorite doll is broken, she takes it to a new doll shop to get it repaired. In doing so, her life is further turned upside-down. The old woman assures her that the doll can be mended, but there's a price that must be met in order for her to make the doll as good as new. With no other choice but to concede to the woman's demands, Hanna agrees, never once imagining that her world will be knocked further askew.
Eager, yet apprehensive to learn about her family's history, Hanna dives head in to the task the woman has given her. Never once does she think about the consequences of her actions. Time is growing short and there's a lot she needs to know and learn. Unfortunately, she's not quite willing to dive into the secrets of her past. Never-the-less, she knows she'll need to make the effort in fulfilling the woman's wishes if she's to set all wrongs to right, before her live and that of her bloodline are forfeit.
The storyline for this book is delightfully original. Chock full of intrigue and the paranormal, we dive head first into the life and times of dearest Hanna. She's like any other little girl who's been given her hearts desire - spoiled, holier-than-thou, and always eager to get her way.
I found the gypsy aspect of the story very endearing. I think Eleanor used that to her advantage. It was like Hanna's lineage was a character in itself that blossomed and bloomed the more I turned the page. Hanna's turning into a completely different person by the time the book ended was heart-warming. I enjoyed every minute of the story and think you will, too.
March 13, 2013
3.5 stars
When I started to read this book, my heart wasn't into it. Initially, I didn't like the main character Hanna, she was a spoilt teenager who looked down her nose at people and thought she was better than everyone else. The old Gypsy, Ornella was a bit of a pain, but was able to wield some great magic. But the longer I read the book, I was able to learn more about the characters and they both grew on me. They end up building a great relationship and work together to fulfil Hanna's destiny. Secrets are unlocked, enemies are exposed and friendships, old and new are formed.
The magic aspect of this book was awesome. Ornella uses lots of unusual ingredients to perform spells and rituals, even down to various types of pee. The author has put a great deal of thought into the different spells and it was definitely entertaining. The use of the dolls throughout the book was unusual too, but also intriguing. The dolls are not only important to the people that Hanna gives them to, but they help Hanna discover the true person that she is.
Hanna is a typical teenager and in the beginning, appearances and reputation play a major role in how she acts. Once she gets past this, she becomes a better person who I really liked. A lot of her immediate family have big roles in her development as well and I enjoyed getting to know them too. Veiled Mist is a beautiful story of self discovery and I enjoyed Hanna's journey.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
When I started to read this book, my heart wasn't into it. Initially, I didn't like the main character Hanna, she was a spoilt teenager who looked down her nose at people and thought she was better than everyone else. The old Gypsy, Ornella was a bit of a pain, but was able to wield some great magic. But the longer I read the book, I was able to learn more about the characters and they both grew on me. They end up building a great relationship and work together to fulfil Hanna's destiny. Secrets are unlocked, enemies are exposed and friendships, old and new are formed.
The magic aspect of this book was awesome. Ornella uses lots of unusual ingredients to perform spells and rituals, even down to various types of pee. The author has put a great deal of thought into the different spells and it was definitely entertaining. The use of the dolls throughout the book was unusual too, but also intriguing. The dolls are not only important to the people that Hanna gives them to, but they help Hanna discover the true person that she is.
Hanna is a typical teenager and in the beginning, appearances and reputation play a major role in how she acts. Once she gets past this, she becomes a better person who I really liked. A lot of her immediate family have big roles in her development as well and I enjoyed getting to know them too. Veiled Mist is a beautiful story of self discovery and I enjoyed Hanna's journey.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2012
Veiled Mist is a book that by just looking at the cover you'd never guess what it's about. Which isn't a bad thing. This is the kind of book that has a little bit of mystery mixed it. I loved it. It is awesome to see the main character, Hanna, develop and grow. I want a Ornella in my life! And the dolls! What an awesome concept!
Eleanor does a great job at crafting this tale. Her character arcs are amazing and the reader can relate to them- something SO important when writing YA, something that sometimes gets forgotten! I love the magic elements that she's thrown in there. Her use of Gypsies is original- I've never heard of the Tribe. My family comes from Old Europe- yes, there is Gypsy blood in me, and I'm proud of that heritage! Eleanor nailed the rich teenager too, as well as the Knight in Shining Armor protecting his friend!
In short, I loved this book! I read it quickly- I read fast. I'd recommend it for a lot of different people- it doesn't just sit stagnant in one genre preference. I think anyone that likes paranormal aspects would like it, anyone that likes teen love, witches, dark fantasy, fantasy, the list goes on. In short, you should just give it a try and find out if you like it! I think you will!
Eleanor does a great job at crafting this tale. Her character arcs are amazing and the reader can relate to them- something SO important when writing YA, something that sometimes gets forgotten! I love the magic elements that she's thrown in there. Her use of Gypsies is original- I've never heard of the Tribe. My family comes from Old Europe- yes, there is Gypsy blood in me, and I'm proud of that heritage! Eleanor nailed the rich teenager too, as well as the Knight in Shining Armor protecting his friend!
In short, I loved this book! I read it quickly- I read fast. I'd recommend it for a lot of different people- it doesn't just sit stagnant in one genre preference. I think anyone that likes paranormal aspects would like it, anyone that likes teen love, witches, dark fantasy, fantasy, the list goes on. In short, you should just give it a try and find out if you like it! I think you will!
January 2, 2013
This was the first Gypsy related book that I've read.
Hanna is a spoiled brat, raised to believe her dead mother was from Royal blood. She treats everyone with snobbery and doesn't even realize how she acts. Little does she know how much her life is about to change!! Her eyes are finally opened by both Ornella & Alistair (the hunky jock who loathes the very look of her, yet Hanna has a crush on).
Immediately upon introduction, I absolutely loved Ornella! She can be very demanding but is always there saving the day. She tries to act tough but has a big heart ! The real star of the show was Count Dracula, Ornella's mutt. There are so many times that Count stole my heart by making me laugh at his antics! We should all be so lucky to have a dog like Count !! I was truly impressed to watch Hanna grow and change into a much better person as the story progressed! I loved some of the lessons taught in this book! I'll definitely be passing it on to my teenagers as well! :) If you enjoy YA paranormal books, check this one out !
*Disclosure- I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
Hanna is a spoiled brat, raised to believe her dead mother was from Royal blood. She treats everyone with snobbery and doesn't even realize how she acts. Little does she know how much her life is about to change!! Her eyes are finally opened by both Ornella & Alistair (the hunky jock who loathes the very look of her, yet Hanna has a crush on).
Immediately upon introduction, I absolutely loved Ornella! She can be very demanding but is always there saving the day. She tries to act tough but has a big heart ! The real star of the show was Count Dracula, Ornella's mutt. There are so many times that Count stole my heart by making me laugh at his antics! We should all be so lucky to have a dog like Count !! I was truly impressed to watch Hanna grow and change into a much better person as the story progressed! I loved some of the lessons taught in this book! I'll definitely be passing it on to my teenagers as well! :) If you enjoy YA paranormal books, check this one out !
*Disclosure- I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
December 15, 2012
I was a little nervous to read Veiled Mist after reading the blurb about the book. I'm not a big fan of horror, and the line "The nightmare begins." seemed a bit of an omen. So I was pleasantly surprised that the book is much more empowering than scary.
Hanna is definitely a spoiled brat. She reminded me of some of the more stuck-up girls in high school. I found it hard to feel sorry for her when her life was turned upside down. I mean her answer to her nightmare was to have her seamstress make her sequined nightgowns. Seriously?
Ornella is my favorite character. She is not anything like a stereotypical gypsy. She is beautiful, smart and sassy, even if she is over 600 years old. She guides Hanna through some important lessons on how to think outside of herself and to show love and concern for others.
Hanna is definitely a spoiled brat. She reminded me of some of the more stuck-up girls in high school. I found it hard to feel sorry for her when her life was turned upside down. I mean her answer to her nightmare was to have her seamstress make her sequined nightgowns. Seriously?
Ornella is my favorite character. She is not anything like a stereotypical gypsy. She is beautiful, smart and sassy, even if she is over 600 years old. She guides Hanna through some important lessons on how to think outside of herself and to show love and concern for others.
January 11, 2013
Veiled Mist is a great book for a young adult. Eleanor does a great job creating her main character - Hannah. Hannah actually reminds me of many teens who just see the world from their own little space and may not always see the bigger picture. This story is fun and insightful and very different from what I expected - pleasantly. Although this book is paranormal in nature it shows through its plot just how any person's life can literally change in the blink of an eye. I have only ever read one gypsy related story before and this was very entertaining. I love fun stories and this was definitely fun yet insightful. 4 star story.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2013
Veiled Mist is a great book for a young adult. Eleanor does a great job creating her main character - Hannah. Hannah actually reminds me of many teens who just see the world from their own little space and may not always see the bigger picture. This story is fun and insightful and very different from what I expected - pleasantly. Although this book is paranormal in nature it shows through its plot just how any person's life can literally change in the blink of an eye. I have only ever read one gypsy related story before and this was very entertaining. I love fun stories and this was definitely fun yet insightful. 4 star story.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2013
This book was a blast and I'm glad to have had the chance to read it. The characters were well thought out and likable- the book well written- funny and had a unique plot line. This is a book I would recommend to my friends who love paranormal, or may be the ones with some bratty kids: lol jk :) A good lesson to be found from reading this book- love the message. This was a kindle button presser for me and a joy to read makes a great addition to my kindle books. I was provided a free copy in exchange for my honest review as part of a blog tour.
December 10, 2013
I rate this 4.5 stars.
I will admit that the beginning didn't really catch my interest. It was just not great...I put the book down many times without bothering to pick it up again for a while. Plus, Hanna's character is just horrible & I hated her at first. She was terrible.
But after the first quarter of the book, the plot caught my attention. The character's started growing to me, and I couldn't seem to put the book down.
And I am not ashamed to admit that at the ending, I was so full of emotions, I cried such a good book has come to an end:((
I LOVED IT<3
I will admit that the beginning didn't really catch my interest. It was just not great...I put the book down many times without bothering to pick it up again for a while. Plus, Hanna's character is just horrible & I hated her at first. She was terrible.
But after the first quarter of the book, the plot caught my attention. The character's started growing to me, and I couldn't seem to put the book down.
And I am not ashamed to admit that at the ending, I was so full of emotions, I cried such a good book has come to an end:((
I LOVED IT<3
May 4, 2013
I should say that I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. As I writer,I keep my reviews honest.
Veiled Mist was a fun read.
The characters were well developed and individual.
The pacing allowed both the story and the characters time to develop.
The events were interesting and enticing.
There was some referencing characters and things that didn't make sense at first. As you read on though, these issues are addressed.
Veiled Mist was a fun read.
The characters were well developed and individual.
The pacing allowed both the story and the characters time to develop.
The events were interesting and enticing.
There was some referencing characters and things that didn't make sense at first. As you read on though, these issues are addressed.
June 24, 2014
I received/won this book through Goodreads.
I loved this book. I have never read anything about gypsies so I found it to be a very refreshing change! I found it very interesting and well written. It kept my attention riveted every second, so it read very quickly. I look forward to what comes next from Beaty!
I loved this book. I have never read anything about gypsies so I found it to be a very refreshing change! I found it very interesting and well written. It kept my attention riveted every second, so it read very quickly. I look forward to what comes next from Beaty!
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