Beyond the Blood Veil

Blood Veil #1

by Nicholas Woode-Smith

They warned me this case could get me killed. No one said it would make me a vampire.

My name is Kali Black. Stubborn reporter. Conspiracy chaser. And owner of a fat, Taylor Swift-obsessed cat.

Last night I was hunting a child trafficking ring nobody else believed existed. This morning I woke in a blood-soaked alley with no pulse, no phone, and a stranger insisting I was dead.

Now I can’t stomach food, sunlight makes me shiver, and silver scorches my skin. Worst of all, the case that defined my life just became far more complicated.

If I don’t master this world fast - bloodlines, enforcers, paranormal police - I’ll be ash before I can finish my story. My sire is missing, my best lead has gone cold, and the only ally I can trust is Fredward, a shapeshifting demon cat with far too many opinions about music.

But hunger gnaws at me, enemies circle closer, and one wrong move could get me staked before I uncover the truth.

Fans of The Dresden Files and True Blood will love Beyond the Blood Veil - a dark, witty urban fantasy where sharp-tongued heroines don’t just chase the truth…they bite back.

Sink your fangs in today.

Genres: Vampires, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 4, 2025

About the author

Nicholas Woode-Smith is a fantasy and science fiction author from Cape Town, South Africa. He has been writing since the age of twelve, writing short stories, novels, and RPG campaigns. In 2013, he published his first book, Fall of Zona Nox. Five years later, he published it again after greatly improving his skills.

Since then, he’s written dozens of books in the urban fantasy and sci-fi genre. Notably, the best-selling urban fantasy series, Kat Drummond.

Nicholas has a degree majoring in economic history and philosophy, and minors in political science, international relations, and English literature from the University of Cape Town. He has been involved in politics, civic activism, and political analysis since 2014.

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vampire Journalist

Kali is just a struggling journalist trying to make ends meet in Cape Town, South Africa. She lives in a tiny apartment with her closest friend Fredward, her cat.

One night while working on a story, Kali is turned into a vampire. Her sire stays long enough to inform her of her change and that she needed to be sheltered by dawn. She makes it home in time to find out that her cat can talk.

This was an imaginative story that I confess to mostly enjoying. The problem with fantasy stories is that you go into them expecting Anne Rice or J.R.R. Tolkien and get a comic book. If you want a story that is kind of fun and not to be taken too seriously, this book just might do it. I always avoid books that make demons sound like they’re really okay beings that are just misunderstood, and this story does that. It is the first in a series that really leaves you thinking about the next installment. Solid three and a half star read.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

l very much enjoyed the author's Kat Drummond series and naturally picked this up. The thing is l'm not so much a fan of "cozy" stories and this very much strikes me as cozy urban fantasy.

Kali Black wakes in a dark alley feeling quite under the weather. A dark figure tells her she's now a vampire. Kali is probably the worst vampire in any story l've ever read that featured one. She's just really bad at it.

I will try other books by this author if he writes another series, but this one is not for me. You probably will if you're into this style

[Nicholas Woode-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm very proud of this one!

[L & J Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this the day I received the ARC and devoured it in one sitting! Thrilling paranormal fiction the revolves around a female journalist who has been searching for her best friend who went missing when he was 12. She wakes up after a night of binge drinking to discover she is now a vampire, and her beloved Siamese cat is actually a shape shifting demon and that there are paranormals existing alongside humans.

[FionaH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to beta-read this book, the first in a new series by one of my favourite authors. As ever, Nicholas has created a world that is compelling and believable, populated by characters that you want to meet in real life and have round for pizza and beers.

Kali is an investigative journalist, who has spent a decade trying to expose the child trafficking ring that she believes is operating with impunity on the streets of Cape Town. Her interest is personal; her best friend, Nigel, disappeared without a trace and no-one else seems to care. The story opens with Kali waking up in an alleyway, with a strange man standing over her. He tells her she is now a vampire, and to get out of the sun. Then he leaves.

Naturally, Kali doubts this tale. However, her favourite foods make her sick, the sight of blood makes her drool, and sunlight has become anathema. Still, she refuses to become a monster - and what else would she be if she succumbed to the bloodlust? As she tries to navigate her new reality, she is drawn into a dark underworld she never knew existed; one which may hold the answers she’s been looking for.

Beyond the Blood Veil takes an intriguing approach to imagining a vampire society, with different castes of vampire having different talents and limitations. And there are more than vampires beyond the veil – including shape-shifting demons, one of whom has been living with her for years in the guise of her pet cat, Fredward.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Yael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great read, an exciting beginning to a new series! Great cast of well written characters that drive this UF; I loved so many of the characters, Kali determined to avenge her friend that disappeared, Thalia mysterious with a heart, Fredward that’s adorable, and I can’t wait to see how Theo’s story develops, to name a few.
Woode-Smith creates a gripping world where the paranormal is hidden from the normal, with a different take on vampires that we get to discover the hard way together with Kali, our FMC. With outstanding narrative, mystery, twists, determination, and heart, this book delivers a compelling beginning to a new series I can’t wait to devour!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Darin Roodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

**BETA/ARC Reader - All opinions are my own!**

Enter Cape Town, South Africa. A city, rife with crime, corruption, dizzying wealth, abject poverty, and places where ye must not tread, for there be monsters! Kali Black is a born-and-raised Cape Towner and has lived there all her life. Unlike most, she’s not turned a blind eye to the danger, misfortune, and corruption that permeates her city, instead, she’s spent the past 12 years trying to fight it any way she can while trying to find out what happened to one of her childhood best-friends and fight the corruption that’s deep-rooted in her home town.

12 years ago, Kali’s best friend Nigel disappeared. He’d been at school that day but then was gone that evening. Attempts to find him have been unsuccessful. The police, though their efforts have been minimal at best, are stumped, and not even his remains have turned up. Kali’s spent the last 10 years digging metaphorically and literally into the trash and back alleys of Cape Town, trying to find out what happened to her friend. His disappearance changed her life forever, driving her to enter a career in journalism eventually.

Kali’s circle of trust is nearly microscopic, especially since most people who know her think she’s a crazy conspiracy theorist. Why is that? Oh, because Kali is convinced that Nigel didn’t run away, but that he was taken by a secretive child-trafficking organization, even though no one believes her. One evening though, after waking up with the worst hangover she’s ever had in a ditch she doesn’t remember stumbling into, she’s informed by some tall, dark, mysterious stranger that she’s now a vampire and to get somewhere safe, the sun’s about to rise.

Vampires?! There’s no way. Vampires, werewolves, magic, it’s all kids’ stuff, from storybooks. Right? But her silver necklace suddenly burns to the touch, and she’s SO hungry…even though her favorite foods make her puke. She’s so pale, too. What the hell is happening?!

“Beyond the Blood Veil” is the first book in Nicholas Woode-Smith’s brand new, soon-to-be-published “Blood Veil” series. It’s dark, it’s gritty, it’s funny, it’s surprising, and trust me, you’re going to LOVE Fredward! Kali is fun, determined, never backs down, and refuses to give up on the people who matter. So what if she’s a blood-sucking fiend? There’s sure to be a cure for this…right? I think you’ll love everything going into this series and understand when I say that I can’t wait for the next one!

I received a free copy of this e-book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vannessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this first book in this new series as an ARC and loved it!

Kali Black is a struggling journalist in Cape Town, when she wakes up to find herself in a dank, dirty alley, being hovered over by a strange man, who tells her she is now a vampire and to get to some shelter before the sun rises. Yeah, right! Because vampires exist of course! Even when her silver necklace burns her hand, she is still very reluctant to believe it. Even when she pukes blood after taking a couple of bites of her favourite food, she's still not ready to believe it. She finally does believe it, sort of, when her pet cat Fredward introduces himself as a talking, shape-shifting demon.

Kali, however, is determined to not be a blood sucking vampire. Even if the smell of blood makes her drool, the thought of ingesting it makes her feel nauseous! She fights against the hunger pains and urges, but still has no clue how to be a vampire, what the rules are or what she can do, so she goes in search of someone, anyone who can help her. She comes across a few vampires, who while they don't hurt her as such, they definitely don't really help at first.

Kali eventually stumbles across someone from her past who can help her and along with her new vampire ally Thalia and her very human best friend, Amber, she starts to discover more about this dangerous new world she has been thrust into. She also stumbles across a crime that has been haunting her for years, that no one else would believe her about and now she is a vampire, maybe she can finally do something about it!

I loved Kali and how she constantly stuck by what she believed in and how determined she was not to become a blood sucking fiend like the other vampires she had met or seen. The ending for her was awesome and I can't wait to see what she does now she has her full vampire powers and how her friends will react once they find out the truth! Fredward was the best though with all his Taylor Swift song lyrics!

Thank you to Nicholas for an ARC copy of this book. I can't wait to read the next one!

[Sarah Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to beta read this new series and I am already excited for the rest of it! This series will come out next year when he will be able to do a rapid release. It focuses on Kali Black, a journalist turned vampire. After waking up in an alley and being told “you’re a vampire now, hurry home” she must learn to not only function as a vampire, but first she will need to learn to believe it!
She has been searching for the kidnappers of her friend Nigel for over 10 years and it has become an obsession. Now that she is a vampire, she is learning there is more to the story than she originally believed.
This book has a completely relatable FMC in Kali. She has to go through several stages of acceptance before finally realizing she is no longer human. She also retains her humanity and is not an instantly evil bloodsucker. She has to learn to navigate a new world within the one she knew. And she finds out that her cat can talk (and quote Taylor Swift)! And not only can he talk, but he is a demon in cat form! She also has her best friend Amber to help her along the way. She meets many more vampires, most of which are either indifferent to her or just plain evil. She never knows who she can trust.
I like the way the vampire species is separated into different “subspecies” of vampires as well. The different types all have different abilities. There are vampires that can shift, turn into shadows, have strength and more. There is also a lot of humor in this book with references to a popular TV show and I giggled when a vampire had the ability to turn into a honey badger!
And the ending!! I was totally surprised by the cliffhanger! (A good cliffhanger!) It absolutely left me wanting to know more!

[Gary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started great. a journalist in Cape Town awakens in an alley, a mystery person says she has become a vampire and gives her some of her possessions back and flees. On the way home she is attacked by robbers and easily defeats them and avoids biting them, learns some more about vampires from a group she encounters, and at home learns her rescue cat is secretly a demon who speaks and really likes Taylor Swift.

Great start. It is also where the book ends being great and becomes bad on the verge of terrible. We learn the main character dropped out of law school because her friend disappeared and she wanted to be a cop, failed, and became a journalist. She sucks at that, too.

Any rules she is told, she violates immediately. Her life long plan to find the missing friend is so stupid it feels like a parody. She places her still living friend in extreme danger by knowingly violating the rules. She refuses to feed so we get this constant "I am starving for blood and can't even think" garbage.

Oh, and at the halfway point of the book we find out the friend is alive and allowed her to ruin her life in her search. Great friend.

As you would expect at this point in the book, there is a huge plot with lots of danger and all her friends are in dire danger because the hot but evil bad guy wants to sire her--- blah--- she acts more and more stupidly until she is forced to feed from her friend and--- it turns out she is so special and so ultra special that the whole time she was secretly an ancient power, almost a super cop of vampires and all the monsters.

She didn't know it until the secret super power took over at the lowest point of the book. Come on.

[Susan1566 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I have read some of the Kat Drummond series (I must finish it one of these days but keep getting distracted), I figured I’d enjoy this book. Boy did I ever.
Kali Black is a journalist with a bit of a wild side so when she wakes up feeling like she has a hangover she is confused when a strange man tells her she is now a vampire and then disappears. Not really believing him she heads home to her cat who then proceeds to talk to her! It seems Fredward is actually a demon, shapeshifted into a Siamese cat, but to my mind there is one problem with him – he's a Swifty, constantly quoting her songs and albums.
For the past 12 years, Kali has been investigating the disappearance of her childhood friend, Nigel, who just disappeared. Kali is sure there is some sort of child trafficking going on.
As she tries to adapt to being a vampire, she does not want to drink blood – especially from a human, she keeps trying to find answers. One of the rules she does learn is not to let regular humans know about the supernatural world. Kali breaks that rule almost immediately, telling her best friend, Amber. Most vampires basically tell her to get lost except for one. Thalia originally blackmails Kali to help with a job she’s doing and they gradually become friendly. And so the adventure really begins.
This book has action, mystery, suspense, surprises and humour. The ending is a surprise and leaves a bunch of questions unanswered. I’ll be starting the second book right away.
A great read.

[Emma Bain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series from Nicholas Woode-Smith set in modern day urban Cape Town, with a feisty female reporter Kali as our main character who along with her frankly FABULOUS cat Fredward, begin to navigate the change from human to vampire.

I really enjoyed this book which given the amount I read in this genre is a huge compliment. The world N W-S has built while familiar is also pretty unique as the genre goes with a variety of supernatural races and types of vampires, this leaves a mountain of potential for future exploration!

The story itself is an origin story which sets up a bucket load of intrigue leading in to the Finale and tempting future books. The central story comes to a resolution with a very small and manageable cliffhanger to whet your appetite for thr coming sequal.

Lots of culture references throughout the story from music to TV characters made this a funny enjoyable read and I look forward to the next one's release already!

[Kris Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kali, Amber, and Nigel were inseparable growing up - until Nigel disappesred. Kali has spent the intervening years searching for him, becoming an investigative reporter, and wondering where all the missing children have gone. She has a few clues, but not enough to prove anything.

Then, late one night, her world changes. She wakes up, not knowing how she passed out, feeling as though she had died and come back to life, with nobody willing to answer her questions or explain her situation to her except one enigmatic vampire, Thalia, who mainly adds to her list of questions.

The biggest question I had while reading this book was, "What happens next?" Many of the questions raised by Kali are answered; some remain for the next book in the series.

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very interesting take on the vampire lore. I love the fact that the author incorporates known facts but also invents new. When Kali goes out to sniff out new information on a child trafficking ring that she suspects is the reason he best friend disappeared years before. Now, she wakes up a vampire. Only she doesn't believe in them and isn't willing to turn into a monster. With no one to show her the ropes, she slinks home. Only to find that she has been living with a demon this whole time. So she fights, and she learns. But the more she learns, the more she gets confused. Will she find info that will help her find her friend? Will she find out how to deal with her new life?
An amazing beginning to this series!

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible urban fantasy read. A gripping and exciting adventure as we meet Kali journalist turned vampire! It’s a bit of a shock discovering a supernatural world you never knew existed and now you are part of it. With a shapeshifting Taylor swift obsessed cat by her side, Kali continues to track down the missing children whilst still learning the ropes regarding this new world. Kali is a great character, sassy, strong and determined and even when the going gets tough, Kali doesn’t let it knock her down. Incredible world building, strong side characters and a captivating and enthralling storyline with twists and turns to keep you hooked and on the edge of your seat. I cannot wait to read the next book!

[Kathy Brenzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

After apparently being shot and dying, Kali woke in a dirty back alley to find a stranger who tells her she is a vampire. Then he disappears. Although she didn't believe it at first, it quickly became obvious that he wasn't lying. Now she finds that not only is she a vampire, but her cat Fredward is a shape changing demon who is crazy about Taylor Swift. Kali now finds that the world is full of many different creatures living unnoticed under the noses of humans. As a reporter, she still wants to solve the case that probably started this whole thing. She just has to change her working hours.

[Linda Collister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kali wakens in an alley undead. Her sire has left her to fend for herself. Her fight to unmask the child abductors, who kidnapped Nigel must continue, so she is determined to keep going with the help of her cat and her friend Amber. Corruption is rampant in the police and the only way she'll ever drink blood is never! Searching for answers she'll make some startling discoveries and maybe find out who her sire is and why he chose her. Revealing her condition to Amber puts her at risk and now Kali must do the one thing she swore she would never do to free her. This is a gripping tale, one you won't want to put down.

[LizJ. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Blood Veil Book 1 in the Blood Veil series by Nicholas Woode-Smith is a really great start to a new series! Kali Black a journalist turned vampire who has been working on a child trafficking ring for the last decade is thrust into the supernatural world complete with a talking, shapeshifting, Taylor Swift-obsessed cat. She has to lear to navigate this world without guidance from her "sire" and without screwing up because you know "people are watching." This is an excellent start to the series and I can't wait to see where it goes!!

I received an ARC from StoryOrigin and am leaving my review freely.

[Roberta Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kali's new "life" begins when she wakes up covered in blood in a dank dark alley! You're a vampire now, a shadowy man tells her and flees. Unbelievable, she thinks, then meets a real Vampire. She finally gets home (before sunrise), and Fredward, her fluffy, chunky, Flame Point Siamese talks! Hes a demon and he adores Taylor Swift Together they search for her sire, her missing friend Nigel, bad guys kidnapping kids, and hopefully a cure for Vampirism. Thats a lot to pack into a story, but it works!! Id give it 5 stars ~ or 5 blood drops!

[Steve Filson · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a good read. Kali is a reporter that lost a friend when they were younger,to who she believes was a child trafficking ring. He was the 3rd musketeer in their triad. Out to see one of her favorite bands she ends up in a dark alley with no idea how she got there,with this strange guy telling her she's now a vampire. And it just goes down hill from there. Making it home was a challenge to her cat ?? no spoilers you will like this adultish read I am an Honest ARC reviewer

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beyond the Blood Veil: A Vampire Urban Fantasy Novel, my nineth read from author Nicholas Woode-Smith, the first book in the Blood Veil series. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading Beyond the Shallow Grave: A Vampire Urban Fantasy Novel (Blood Veil). (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Ken Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've become a real fan of Nicholas Woode-Smith's stories. This is a great start to a new series with an interesting twist to vampires. The main character, Kali, wakes up in an alley and is told by a stranger that she's a vampire. The rest of the book has Kali mainly trying to figure how she became a vampire. There's lots action and interesting supporting characters. I'm really looking for to the next book in the series.

[Cari Elliot · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNFed at 79%. I just couldn't bring myself to keep reading a book that I was emphatically not enjoying. This should be good, but it's bland somehow. I think that the proportion of action to dialogue to description and explanation is off, maybe. I'm almost 80% of the way into this book and I just can't find it in me to care. I also think that the main character is kind of flat and unrealistically naive, considering that she's been working in journalism and crime reporting specifically for years.

[Kristan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad refused to read any book written by a woman. When I saw this was written by someone with a male name, I almost decided not to read it. Then I thought, "Pffft, don't be like dad." I'm glad I read it. While the entire premise is not exactly original material, the story and the characters within make the story worth reading. And that cliffhanger? Let's just say I'm rushing to read the next book in this series.

[Laurie Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A totally different take on vampirism. Lots of twists and a quest keep the storyline moving along nicely. I made quite a few assumptions along the way and was correct in only one of them. So, expect to be kept guessing as the secrets are revealed in this engaging tale. Better yet there is more to come.

[Terry M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written with good characters and storyline. I enjoy this authors style of writing. Although Kali is now part of the undead underworld, she takes it in her stride. There is plenty of humour throughout and I look forward to continuing Kali's journey. Loved it and highly recommended. I received an ARC copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cleocutie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kali is turned into a vampire and the one who turned her doesn’t even stay to help her figure out her new life. But she is determined to not let it interfere with her life and especially not her job. I loved her personality and how she won’t let anything keep her from her from being as human as possible given the circumstances.

[Carla Zanghellini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never give up! I really enjoyed reading the story. I liked how Kali always tried to understand and got all herself into making the world around her better. The story got all my attention until the end, so much I lost myself and almost forgot about what I was doing. I highly recommend this book to all of you who like fantasy, vampires and their worlds.

[Janice Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

So what do you do when you wake up and find you're a vampire? Kali has a lot of strange things happen and a talking cat is the least of them. Poor Kali can't catch a break and her world is crashing around her. There's lots of excitement and action in this one. Woode-Smith has created another fantasy series and it seems to be a good one. It's going to be a wild ride.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, and wow again. Move over Kat Drummond, it’s time to meet Kali Black. This is a cracking book, different than the above mentioned series but just as good. I’m thinking it’s going to be even better in the next one. I loved it, kept stopping as I got closer to the end so it would not finish yet. Highly recommended.