Le voile de la Nouvelle-Orléans

Devil's Isle #1

by Chloe Neill, Steven Cuvelliez (Translator)

Si le Voile se déchire, La Nouvelle-Orléans brûlera.

Il y a sept ans, le Voile qui séparait le monde de l’Au-Delà a été déchiré et La Nouvelle-Orléans a été plongée dans une guerre surnaturelle. Aujourd’hui, les personnes dotées de pouvoirs sont confinées dans une enclave murée qu’ils surnomment l’Île du Diable.

Claire Connolly est une jeune femme qui cache un dangereux secret : c’est une Sensible, une humaine imprégnée de la magie ayant filtré à travers le Voile. Et révéler ses capacités signerait son enfermement à vie sur l’Île du Diable.

Liam Quinn sait par expérience que la magie transforme les faibles en monstres et il n’a pas de temps à perdre avec une Sensible qui ne contrôle pas sa propre force. Mais lorsqu’il voit Claire utiliser son don pour sauver une humaine, il décide de la conduire à l’Île du Diable, où elle pourra trouver l’enseignement nécessaire.

Mais quand le Voile menace de se rompre entièrement, Claire et Liam doivent collaborer pour l’en empêcher, sous peine de regarder La Nouvelle-Orléans partir en flammes...

#NouvelleOrléans #Magie #Anges #Démons #Télékinésie

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Angels

387 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 4, 2015

About the author

Chloe Neill is the New York Times bestselling author of the Heirs of Chicagoland, Chicagoland Vampires Novels, Devil's Isle Novels, and Dark Elite novels. Chloe was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest. When she's not writing, she bakes, works, and scours the Internet for good recipes and great graphic design. Chloe also maintains her sanity by spending time with her boys--her husband and their dogs, Baxter and Scout.

Connect with Chloe at www.chloeneill.com.

Reviews

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

On an equally sweltering day in October seven years ago, the Veil-the barrier that separated humans from a world of magic we hadn't known existed-was shattered by the Paranormals who'd lived in what we now call the Beyond.

New Orleans was ground zero for this war.

When the war was done, Containment-the military unit that managed the war and the Paranormals-had tried to scrub New Orleans not only of magic but of voodoo, Marie Laveau, ghost tours, and even literary vampires.

*cough* I don't see a problem with getting rid of those vampires.


Claire Connolly loves New Orleans, she fought in the war with her shop owner dad and now that he has passed away she runs the antique/merchandise store. Then one day she realizes that she has a touch of magic.



Humans with a touch of magic are called sensitives, they are sent to Devil's Isle with all the other paranormals to live. They can not leave there so Claire hides her talents to avoid a trip there.
Until she has to save a girl being attacked by two "wraiths"


(Wraiths are some baddies that sensitives can turn into if they don't expel their magic correctly)

Enter our supposedly hot guy...Liam Quinn is a bounty hunter, he catches wraiths and paranormals and escorts them to the Isle to be contained. But he wants to help Claire. (Of course he does)
Liam Quinn clearly enjoyed a good fight-and battle looked pretty good on him. I made a really bad face when I read that line.

They find out that someone or something is trying to break the Veil that protects our world from the magic critters taking over.


There is a bunch of world building going on in this book and I did expect it since it's going to be the first book of a series. Will I continue the series? Probably not. I didn't care for any of the characters. In my view they were just cardboardish and boring.

Maybe the series will redeem itself later on. I'll peek at my friends reviews as it goes on and decide then. Let them be the guinea pigs.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a pretty decent start to a new urban fantasy series.
I can't say I'm chomping at the bit to read the next book, but a lot of the first books in series are sort of iffy, so I'm not particularly upset.
Claire, as a character, was a bit meh to me. I certainly didn't hate her or find her annoying, but nothing about her personality made me sit up and take notice. Same with her friends. They were likable, but if they had disappeared off of the pages, I wouldn't have cared.
Liam? He was ok, but (again) I didn't really get attached to him.
I can't say I was really feeling the Liam/Claire relationship, either, but maybe it will heat up as the series goes on?
Basically, my plan is to just wait for the next book, and see if it gets better...



So. Plot?
Fairies (or the equivalent) ripped apart the Veil that separates our dimension from theirs. A Great War ensued, but at long last (10ish years) we won. Our forces managed to push them back, seal the torn Veil, and imprison any fairies still on our side.
Humanity, FTW!



But, unfortunately, there are some leftover complications from the Veil being torn apart.
The biggest problem is the residual magic that has seeped into our world has caused some humans to become Sensitives, giving them different magical powers. Which in and of itself, wouldn't be such a big deal, but they all eventually go into magic overload and turn into wraiths.
Wraiths are like zombies. They run around mindlessly killing folks in an attempt to get more magic.
Or maybe it's just because they like killing? I'm still a bit confused about their reasoning.
At any rate, they're dangerous!



Liam is a bounty hunter who tracks 'em down. And Claire first comes to his attention when she goes after a couple of wraiths with a stick while trying to protect a stranger who was being attacked.



Thing is, Claire didn't just save the woman with a tree branch. Claire is a Sensitive, and she uses her powers (albeit badly) to throw a sign at the wraiths, which allowed her to make a hasty getaway.
Or so she thought.
When Liam shows up at her shop a few hours later, she's sure he's going to turn her into the authorities. Luckily, as she soon finds out, nothing in their world is what she originally thought...

The end result was (to me) a decent story with somewhat forgettable characters. But then, I thought the same thing about Kate Daniels & Co. when I started, so I'll definitely give the next book in the Devil's Isle series a shot.

[Patrycja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: The Veil
Series: A Devil’s Isle #1
Author: Chloe Neill
Release Date: 4 August, 2015
Rating: 3 stars
Cliffhanger:. No
HEA: not yet





It’s been ages since I’ve read a great Urban Fantasy series. I’ve been a fan of this genre for years and after getting through so many of fantastic and kickass novels I’m in desperate need of something new, refreshing - something that would get my blood pumping. Unfortunately, I am not able to find it anywhere. Most of the UF books I’ve been reading lately are just mediocre. The Veil was a great opportunity to change my bad luck, but sadly it did not happen. It was good, but nothing that grabbed a hold of my heart.

The story has very interesting premise. It is set in a dystopian New Orleans; a world after the war with fae where The Veil separates human world from the paranormal one. Now, years after the war, humans still try to learn how to live in a completely changed universe, where there is magic and many dangers coming from it. They especially fear the wraiths – humans who possessed some magic which turned them rouge (something zombie like). To her misfortune, Claire is a Sensitive - a person with magic, and she needs to hide or she’ll be sent into The Devil’s Isle. When she uses her powers to help someone, she’s one step closer to being sent there, but meeting with Liam Quinn, a bounty hunter is her chance to blend in the crowd.

I found that the characters, although likeable were forgettable. In my opinion, Claire and Liam don’t have the intense chemistry or the power to lead the story. There was some sexual tension between them, but in reality the romance was barely there. I just didn’t feel it. I do hope however, that as the story progresses we’ll get more in that department and that this couple will grow and develop into something more passionate.

I was very delighted to see that Chloe Neill is publishing something completely new and had high hopes that The Veil would be the ’IT’ book for me. As it turned out, The Veil was just okay read for me. I liked it, enjoyed it but it was nowhere near enough. I craved more…

I will give the sequel a chance, because I certainly believe that this is just a story with slow build up and that in the next installments I will get much more of ass kicking, banter and sexy times. If you are on the lookout for a next UF read, I would say give it a go.

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[Denisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 65%


This is exactly how a book written by me would be: a great idea but awfully written.
The world was really interesting and it had a lot of potential, but I just don't have the patience for it. The characters were flat and annoying most of the times and the plot was really slow, it took ages for something to actually happen and when it did, well, that was boring too. There was nothing here to make me want to read any further.

I dunno why I even bothered reading so much of it, guess I kept expecting everything to get better and for the characters to actually do something interesting but it all seemed to go from bad to worse so I decided not to wait for the last nail in the coffin.


I feel a bit bad, it might have gotten fun (or at least decent) at one point, but I wanted more PNR, more fighting, more blood, more everything.

[Chelsea ✨Arielle’s Nebular Ally and Team Acrux✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review*


Ah. Well.....I was so honored to receive this from the publisher since I am SUCH A HUGE FAN of Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series. There isn't one book in that series that I haven't devoured, destroyed, annihilated-you name it-because I just HAVE to see what happens next with my beloved Ethan and Merit. But where I instantly lusted for Ethan's quirked eyebrow (literally-the minute we met him it was insta-lust for me) and Merit's badass and snarky attitude, I had trouble immersing myself into this new and not-yet-explored world.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with this book-I'll say that right up front. But, then again, nothing really jumped out at me, quite yet. The setting was absolutely fantastic and our female lead was fun and quirky (though considerably less so than Merit, if you are looking for the same type of chick), but these two weren't strong enough factors to really get me excited about this series. I think it's all going to come back to one thing, as it always does-The romance. The boy. Where all that is going.

In this first installment I feel as though Neill did a fabulous job setting everything up for a thrilling and not-often-seen direction for the series, but that's where I kind of lost myself...it almost felt like the whole story was setting things up. Almost as if, I hate to even think this hideous word, every little bit was info-dumping.

And I can't say that's bad-how could I? Many fantasies begin their series setting up in the first story so that all the rest can be action-packed and helping to move forward to the grand finale. But that's why I don't read a ton of fantasies, so you must see my dilemma here. I don't have a ton of time, so I really like to get right into the story-which is rarely the book's fault (unless it really is just a boring book). So...this one is really a matter of what you're looking for.

One thing kept my interest from the beginning, though. Can anyone guess what that was? Hmmm? Oh, yeah, that's Mr. Tall, Dark, and Sexy-Liam. I am so curious to see where Liam's story leads. He had a thing for our girl, but it's almost, dare I say, forbidden because of what Claire is and what he is-which you can find out if you read this book ;).

I definitely had higher hopes for this story, but I'm guessing I had set my bar too high because of a certain insta-love for a wonderful Vampire series I've mentioned a couple (or 100) times. So, if a story wrapped in mystery, Wraiths, Sensitives, and a forbidden love in the making interests you, then I would certainly give this first book a shot. It's centered in New Orleans, so anything can happen-I personally hope we get to see a lot more of Mr. Liam, but that's no surprise ;).


For more of my reviews, please visit:

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The urban fantasy genre is really the one genre that I can never get enough of and while I adore it, I'm always on the lookout for something that stands out. For something that hasn't already been done time and time again.

Immediately I fell into the easy writing that Neil is so known for. She has a way of painting a setting and it's characters that seems almost effortless. You are transported right into the heart of the story and into the characters lives from the very first chapter and it only gets better and better after that.

Admittedly, it didn't take me long to be completely wrapped up in the story, invested, and hooked.

This was absolutely enthralling, entertaining, and completely original. Once again, Neil shows that she knows how to take an existing setting, shake it up and create something completely new and unique and most of all, fun.

With a whole cast of interesting characters, both human and supernatural, magic, danger, war, and mystery all thrown in with just a hint of a romance to be, and this truly was a wonderful start to what promises to be a stand out series.


*An ARC Copy of this was provide by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having enjoyed this author’s Chicagoland Vampires Series, I was looking forward to her new dystopian series.

Set in New Orleans, destroyed after the war between humans and supernaturals, humans live very harsh and scary lives…..

I liked the idea of the story but there were a few things that just didn’t do it for me in The Veil, 1st book in the Devil’s Isle Series.

I know that this being the first book, it would have a load of world-building but jeez……after a bit…I kept having to stop and think about all the characters and places so I could keep up with the plot. Really slow going.

I didn’t totally engage with the characters….okay, Claire Connoly I kind of like in some way but I didn’t buy into the connection and chemistry between her and Liam Quinn. Something was missing between these two.

Didn’t exactly hate this book….just didn’t love it. Hopefully as the series progresses I will get more into this new world that Chloe Neill is creating.

I am looking forward to the next book, which I am hoping will get me into the groove!!!!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wondrous imagination of Chloe Neill strikes again in this exciting new series, Devil's Isle. After reading The Veil, I am convinced Ms. Neill will have the same success she's seen with The Chicagoland Vampire series.

Neill takes us to a modern day dystopian New Orleans. It is a hot spot for the Veil that was constructed to protect man kind from the fey and magic. When the Veil initially went up a lot of magical beings where trapped on earth side. Magic is forbidden, Devil's Isle was built as a short of prison for the all things magical. Many precautions to catch magic use were inacted.

Claire Connelly is a magic sensitive. If anyone discovers she has abilities she could be killed or sent to live on Devil's Isle.

Claire is attacked by a human magic user that has gone mad. In an attempt to protect herself, she uses her powers and is outed. Running from persecution, Claire meets Liam who agrees to help Claire.

The same mad magic user, sensitives that have turned into wrath like creatures from magically overload, start showing up all over the city. Claire is enlisted by Liam to help find out the cause. The deeper they dig the deadlier the tables turn.

All I can say is WOW! Ok, I'm going to say more but I finished this story with a deep breath...

Of course, I was left wanting MORE. There are so many what ifs that left me pondering the path this story will take and kept me pondering long after I turned the last page.

Neill's ability to write real people that pop off the pages and into your imagination is definitely what pulled me in and glued me to The Veil.

You are unsure where Liam's loyalties lie and are kept guessing for quite a while but man does he Ooze (with a capital O) that sexiness we love in a an awesome alpha hero.

Claire is someone you'd want as a friend. Loyal and deeply concerned for all around her but especially with those she calls friends.

I flat out loved it!

Absolutely a must read for any urban fantasy fan, The Veil is a superb start to a marvelous new series.

I received this ARC copy of The Veil from PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW - NAL in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication August 4, 2015.

My Rating: 5 Stars

[Carmel (Rabid Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads.

I’m usually one of the first in line whenever a new Urban Fantasy series is announced, and if it’s by an author I love, better make that front-and-center. So, THE VEIL + Chloe Neill = I’m there. I’ve read ALL eleven CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES installments, and as much as I love Merit & co., I was excited to break bread with the inhabitants of DEVIL’S ISLE. I liked the Dystopian elements, and NOLA is a rock solid setting for any Paranormal title, but the characters, and story are definitely a work-in-progress.

The nitty-gritty wasn’t especially cutting-edge; fae with ulterior motives trying to gain a foothold in the human realm has been done, however the addition of the Magic Act, Paranormal Combatant Command, Sensitives, the Counsularis, etc made sure that this novel wasn’t your average bear. Granted, some of the logistics didn’t exactly add up (I’ll get to that in a minute), but as a whole it was a good introduction—not too over the top, yet sufficiently intricate to keep me turning the pages.

The characters were all right, although I can’t say that I was particularly attached to any of them when the conclusion rolled around. Now, that most likely falls under the “book 1’s are never perfect” umbrella, however there were a couple of things about Claire that simply didn’t sit right with me. Exhibit A: Connolly came in to her powers eight months ago, and yet by the wrap-up she’s single-handedly doing the job of seven tenured Sensitives after only a couple of weeks of training. Not buying it.

The romance was one of the more enjoyable aspects of this story, that is up until worlds collided, and certain priorities shifted as a result. It was a bit of a one-step-forward-two-steps-back type of scenario that gave off a mild Merit / Ethan vibe which I wasn’t overly thrilled about, but it would take a lot more than that to turn me off of this series completely, so for the time being I’m calling dibs on the #1 spot in the book 2 queue, and then I’ll revisit my standing reservation shortly afterwards.

THE VEIL wasn’t a gutter ball, although it wasn’t a strike either. Best out of two? I’m in. ~ 3.5 Stars

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.

3.5 Stars!

This was a good start to a new series. I have only read one other book by Chloe Neill so I thought that this would be a great chance to jump into a new series just as it is beginning. The book was good but it lacked the something extra that makes a book great. Every time I start reading a book, I always hope that it will be one of those books that I can't get out of my mind and have a difficult time putting it down. This wasn't that kind of book. I liked this book but I didn't fall in love with it.

I liked the overall premise of this story. I found the world to unique and interesting. I think that this book may have fallen victim to the first book syndrome that often occurs with the start of a new Urban Fiction or Paranormal series. I did actually find that the second half of the book moved a lot faster for me after a lot of the background information for the world had been covered.

I like the fact that the main characters, Claire and Liam, are for the most part "normal." Okay, Claire is not completely normal but she was such a likable character. I really liked all of the characters in this story. Liam knows how to handle himself and I liked how he shared everything with Claire. Moses was great - I really hope that we get to see more of him in future installments in the series. Liam's family and Claire's friends all seemed to add to the story.

This book did a great job of laying the foundation for a really exciting series. The cast of characters are colorful and very likable. The story is set in New Orleans which is such a vibrant and exciting city which adds an interesting element. The world is a little different than other books that I have read but it includes so many elements that I found familiar. This book didn't really have a lot of romance but I really liked the sexual tension between Liam and Claire and hope to see that explored as the series progresses.

I would recommend this book to fans of Urban Fiction and paranormal stories. I really like Chloe Neill's style of writing and think that this is a solid start to a new series. I am really looking forward to continuing with this series.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Penguin Publishing Group via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Veil is the first installment in Chloe Neill's urban fantasy series titled: Devil's Isle. This was a promising first book to a series that will surely grow in popularity. Overall, I liked it. The premise was complicated enough to keep me thinking, the characters were interesting enough to keep me reading, and for the most part, the story was pretty fast paced. Although, I liked it, I didn't love it and I'm sad to have to admit that. There was a portion of this story that had me zoning out a bit and I even considered skipping over whole chapters. The thing is, I can't identify what it was that kept me from feeling completely engaged and invested. I also want to note that while there may be some romantic tension, any actual romance in this book is understated to the point of being almost nonexistent. On the plus side, the potential for romance is enough to keep me interested in reading the next book. I think the characters have some pretty good chemistry.

Ms. Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series completely sold me on her as a writer, and I was very excited to read The Veil. While Chicagoland Vampires is Ms. Neill's love letter to the city of Chicago, The Veil looks to be the start of a love letter to the city of New Orleans. One of Ms. Neill's many talents include drawing the reader into the setting and giving you a reason to want to stay there. The smells, the tastes, the sounds, the visuals...let's just say I want to visit New Orleans now :) Urban fantasy is one of my favorite genres so I for sure will be continuing the series. I have faith in Ms. Neill, and I'm interested to see what she does with this story.

My favorite quote:
"You could take the people out of New Orleans, but you’d never get all the crazy."

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was just okay. It’s the start of a series so I’m being generous with my stars. Certainly not up to the level of Patricia Briggs or Ilona Andrews. My husband liked it more (listened on a road trip).

[Mogsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/08/03/b...

Total newcomer to Chloe Neill here, so I had no idea what to expect when I started the first installment of her new Devil’s Isle series. Being peripherally aware of her Chicagoland Vampires books though, I knew enough to prepare myself for a fun urban fantasy story, and I was right. Leaving aside a shaky start and a couple rough edges, The Veil is a pretty solid introduction to a brand new post-apocalyptic world featuring an intriguing protagonist.

Her name is Claire Connolly, just another young woman trying to survive in post-war New Orleans running her late father’s antique shop (which sells more emergency batteries and MREs than furniture these days). She’s also a Sensitive, someone endowed with the magic which seeped through the Veil when the Paranormals came through seven years ago to wage war on humanity. It’s a secret she guards closely, for if anyone discovers her powers she could end up in Devil’s Isle, a prison for Sensitives and other stray Paras trapped in this world after the fighting was done.

However, keeping her secret also left Claire untrained and unable to control her magic. When bounty hunter Liam Quinn discovers the truth about her, he wastes no time finding her a mentor before the magic can consume Claire and turn her into a wraith like the one that killed his sister. But then strange things start happening to the Veil, which has remained closed for many years now, and Claire and Liam stumble upon a plot to plunge what is left of NOLA back into conflict with the Paranormals, a threat they and their friends must stop in order to prevent more death and destruction on all sides.

I confess, this book and I didn’t exactly start off on the right foot. If things like large swaths of infodumps bother you, then you might experience some of the same difficulties I had with the introduction. Claire’s story about how she discovered her powers, along with the entire history of the war with the Paras following the opening of the Veil were unceremoniously crammed into the first handful of pages, without much effort to make the deluge of details less awkward or obtrusive.

However, the book also started with a party, with the characters celebrating the not-so-imaginatively named War Night, a day which commemorates the survival of New Orleans after one of the biggest battles towards the end of the war. New Orleans is a city that ranks high among my favorite urban fantasy book settings, so it was really hard to resist the boisterous and frenetic atmosphere where everyone just wants to have fun and forget the hardships of everyday life. Even though the city is a shadow of what it once was, the spirit of its people is alive and well.

My impressions of the story also improved a lot as it progressed, once we were through with laying down the groundwork. I wouldn’t say the premise is anything unprecedented and there are admittedly a few kinks in the world-building that need ironing out or expanding, but on the whole I had a good time with this book. I enjoyed Claire as a protagonist, even if she is still feeling rather generic at this point, but I do look forward to seeing her develop more of a personality as the series progresses. The character of Liam Quinn, on the other hand, I really loved; when we first met him I immediately pegged him for a cookie-cutter UF love interest, one of those mysterious and smoldering tall, dark, handsome (and boring!) types — but turns out, I couldn’t be more wrong. He’s the character I found most likely to surprise me by going against my expectations, which immediately made him the most interesting in my eyes.

I was also astonished (but not entire unhappy) to see that the romance is relatively understated. The priority here is the overall story, and Chloe Neill really takes a no-nonsense approach to pacing by limiting the superfluous drama, instead focusing on driving the plot forward so that I never lost interest.

All told, The Veil may not be breaking any new ground, but I found it satisfying and entertaining. I’m curious to see where the author will go with the world-building, but what I’m most interested in is the potential in these characters. I’m definitely on board for the next book.

[Yodamom · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
New Orleans after a great battle between our world and a magical realm. New Orleans was ground zero and is now littered with the ugly residue from an unfinished battle. It is ruled by a kind of Marshal Law with a prison Devil’s Isle, for magical beings in the middle. Corruption and greed never far from the heart of man play dangerous games of life, death and possibly the end of humanity. A small group of magical and human residents stand and fight for what is left of this world. Two very different people are at the center of this movement without even knowing it.
Claire is a young woman left alone with her memories and general store filled with ghosts of past generations. She has had moments of magic, unwanted and untrained that if used or discovered would send her to Devils Isle. She is a smart mechanically gifted woman, who only wants to maintain her family’s heritage and honor their memory. She doesn’t want the future predicted by her magical status. Her world starts to unravel when a hunk of man walks into her world.
Liam, scared inside and out, a bounty hunter has one goal, centered and focused he works all avenues to reach that goal. He circulates the city, networks and fights for his right to live and search for answers. Answers to his sisters death, the increased attacks and the evolution happening. He is the thunder to Claire’s lightening and together they make one wreck of a storm.
There was a plethora of interesting side characters with magical abilities just lightly touched on books and a few friends. The villains were double sided evilness with a side of stinky. One guy, oh boy, I wanted to rip him into pieces when he searched and destroyed. He had way to little of a part. I think this first book built a strong future for the series with a large cast to pull from.
I thought the beginning was very slow, it was difficult to stay focused with the lack of action. It was a slow easy build with pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place. I was frustrated and had to restart it several times when I just drifted from the story into a day dream. I am not a fan of a slow daily grind type of story and that was how it started. As I got move into the book I grew more interested, started to see a picture of possibilities. Oh there could be some serious fun with the bits she threw in. Here was part of the problem she threw out the interesting bits but centered 95% on one matter. She had these interesting “paras” magical ones that just kind of came out of the woods with little explanation. It was a wonderful moment but baffling. The history was was too brief, the others motivations too brief, the betrayals to obvious. I wanted some of the magical bits to bite me where it would hurt and I only got a little nibble and no love bites. Love, no romance, no it is more of an unhealthy teasing and I was cheering for any other match. I didn’t love it, wouldn’t re-read it, but I would read book 2 in hope that this was just a case of first book in a series meh.

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe Neill introduces readers to a very different New Orleans than we’re used to seeing in this first installment of her new Urban Fantasy series, Devil’s Isle. It’s been seven years since paranormal beings tore through the veil into this world, kicking off a bloody war with humanity. The veil is closed and the war is over, but the aftermath lingers on. The earth is scorched. Resources are scarce. And magic has bled over into some unsuspecting humans, turning them into Sensitives. They are hunted and interned on a nearby island unless they hide their magic. And hiding has become Claire’s specialty.

Claire is a Sensitive who runs her late father’s mercantile store. She keeps her life small intentionally, with even her good friends Tadji and Gunnar unaware of what she can do. Everything is going ok until she chooses to use her telekinesis to save a woman under attack by wraiths… sensitives who have lost control of their magic. She quickly meets Liam, a wraith bounty hunter, who recognizes what she is –and offers to help her learn to control her magic before it can control her. From there, things get only more complicated, as Claire learns new truths about the so-called enemy; deals with a maybe-romance with Liam; and squares off with the group making new wraiths in the commission of an even more devastating plan.

I liked the world-building here. Born and raised in the New Orleans area, I always appreciate being able to picture the area in context of a book. (Even if I did blink twice at Liam saying he went to Xavier, an HBCU.) Neill did a good job setting the stage for the current condition of the city and if there is anywhere on earth that people would stick it out and stay in their communities despite the wreckage, it would definitely be NOLA.

The characters were ok. I felt like I knew and understood Claire pretty well, but I didn’t feel super-connected to her. Liam… even a little less so. Maybe that will change as more of their history and whatnot is revealed in future books. But here, they were just alright. And their almost-romance was pretty lackluster. The secondary characters were almost totally flat, which is a shame because there was potential there; it was just never realized.

The book ends with some unanswered questions: specifically about how the wraiths were becoming more sentient. And while there is no cliffhanger, Neill sets up an easy path to follow for future stories.

While I didn’t love this book, I did like it ok. I think I will give book two a try. I hope it will grab me more than this one.

Rating: B-


*ARC provided by publisher

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com

I started out not really sure I was going to like this book. The book is kind of slow in the beginning. That being said, I don't have to have an action book right off the bat. I just felt like I couldn't get into the characters, but that soon changed :)

I started to really like Claire after getting to know her, her background and I loved her store. I also loved her friends Gunner and Tadji. But.... what really got me was Liam Quinn. He is an awesome bounty hunter "hunk" that helps Claire with her abilities as a Sensitive. If you don't learn how to stabilized them then you turn into a Wraith. Oh joy!!

As you can read in the blurb of the book, the Veil fell a few years ago and a large number of paranormals escaped into our world creating a war. There is more to that story but not giving you a spoiler. Anyway, the Veil was sealed, but there were still paras stuck here. Some were good, but the humans were having none of that and put them all in a prison containment area called Devil's Isle. It's just an area of old homes, etc they sealed off and called it their prison.

There are some wraiths loose around the city that are attacking people so Claire and Liam team up with some other paras to try to find them and get them taken care of and at the same time keep the Veil closed. Yep... some peeps are trying to get it open again. One of the paras they team up with is Malachi, the angel. I really like him. He's just too cool.

There are a lot of characters in the book that are really good and you have the bad guys of course.

I ultimately liked how the book turned out. I hope the next one is good as well. Oh and I just love the cover of the book as well! I just had to mention that!

*I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC*

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chloe Neill is most known for her long-standing Chicagoland Vampire series but with this brand new series, I think she’ll have even more success.

Set in a dystopian New Orleans, the Veil has changed the fate of many, including Claire Connelly, a Sensitive hiding from being found out. The possession of her powers could get her killed. Or worse, get her sent to Devil’s Isle, the place where other people like her are sent.

When Claire is forced to protect herself with her powers one night, her secret is out and she is forced to run and hide. A stranger by the name of Liam Quinn agrees to help but Claire isn’t quite sure what to think about him. He’s a enigma and someone like that could possibly be a greater threat to her than help.

In this past-faced novel filled with excellent worldbuilding and character development, Chloe Neill will undoubtedly impress her loyal fans and likely gain some new readers as well.

Claire is a fantastic heroine. She’s smart, innovative and isn’t afraid of doing whatever it takes to survive. I like how personable she was. She felt very real, even in a world as complex and complicated as this one is.

Liam Quinn is…wow. Just wow. I think he might be a real contender of one of my favorite new heroes of the year. There’s just something so sexy about him and I still can’t pinpoint what it is. He’s the whole package and I cannot wait to see what Neill has in store for his character.

THE VEIL is a kickass start to the Devil’s Isle series. And before anyone else can claim him, I’m taking Liam as my own. I can already tell he’s going to be a major heartthrob in the genre.

[AH · Rating 3 out of 5]

About 3.5 stars...

A solid start to author Chloe Neill's new series Devil's Isle. The book is set in New Orleans seven years after a war with the Beyond. New Orleans is in the Zone and the city is suffering from a lack of resources. Food is scarce, electricity is spotty, and anyone exhibiting any magical tendencies is isolated at Devil's Isle. I loved the choice of New Orleans for this series. The city has a colorful past full of magic and voodoo making it a perfect setting.

The main character Claire Connolly is a Sensitive and must hide her magical abilities from the authorities. Her biggest fear is that her magic will consume her and cause her to turn into a Wraith. Claire meets bounty hunter Liam Quinn after a brush with a pair of wraiths. Liam is not only good looking, he has fantastic contacts all over the place, even at Devil's Isle. Liam helps Claire get a handle on her magic and they work together to find out what is causing the wraiths to attack.

I enjoyed this story and I feel that this will become a wonderful series. There were a few inconsistencies such as availability of electricity, but they could be overlooked. I loved the secondary characters, especially Gunnar. I can't wait to read more books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Berkeley for a review copy of this book.

Update 8/3/15
Angie and I discuss The Veil on Badass Book Reviews. Check it out!

[Alicia Batista (Addicted Readers)]

This book was EPIC!!!! Positively AMAZING!!! I NEED book two so bad I can taste it!! THE VEIL had everything I love: Action, adventure, murder, betrayals, fierce magic, epic paranormal beings, war, an alternate world, and a undying start of a swoony romance that I just adored!!

Yup, I think it's safe to say I found one of my new favorite series.... Now, if I just had book two, I may just be able to calm my racing, needing heart!!!

COME ON BOOK TWO, I NEED YOU!!!




Rating & Review To Come...

[Fafa's Book Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fafa's Book Corner (Wordpress)
Fafa's Book Corner (Blogger)

Beware spoilers ahead!

When I first heard about this book I wasn't excited. I was kind of bitter of the fact that The Dark Elites (the author's other series) didn't have a fourth book. At some point I decided to stop being better and try this. I remembered how much I enjoyed The Dark Elites. I am happy to say that I was not disappointed!

This book is written in first person. Focusing on Claire's point of view. It takes place New Orleans which was pretty cool! Her other series took place in Chicago so it was nice to read about something new.

The book begins with Claire who is trying to fix a mechanical owl. She hears fireworks in the background and jumps back. Much to her surprise the owl levitates in the air. She checks the magic monitor to make sure she didn't tip off Containment. She is relived to see that it didn't go off.

Seven years prior to the book humans found out that magic was real. There was apparently a veil that blocked the paras (angels, vampires, werewolves, fairies, etc.) from coming into our world. Once it was opened the paras leaked through and started attacking and killing humans. Claire at the time was sixteen. Her father ran this shop and they had to move a lot to avoid the fight. Claire's father was not comfortable with getting involved with the paras so they kept their heads down. At some point the veil was closed and the government created Containment. An organization that round up paras and send them to The Devil's Isle.

In a way magic was like a disease. Some humans found that they were developing magic. They were called Sensitives. Sensitives absorbed magic, kind of like when a sponge absorbs water. If they absorbed too much magic they would become Wraiths. Monster like beings that needed magic to survive.

Some time prior to the book Claire discovered that she was a Sensitive . Her father had this thing for old signs and decided to get one. As she was setting it up it started to tip over. She didn't have time to think or roll over. She shut her eyes and when it didn't fall on her she opened them. She was surprised to find that the sign was floating inches above her face.

Since that day she has avoided using her powers. She has no desire to be sent to The Devil's Isle. She lets go of the owl and goes back to fixing it. It's War Night in New Orleans and the residents are celebrating. Her friend Gunnar comes in and the two join the party. They meet up with their other friend Tadji.

Some time into the party Claire decides to leave so she can get some sleep. On her way back a girl literally runs her over. Claire tries getting the girls attention but she continues to run. Then two male wraiths emerge and Claire realizes that they are chasing the girl. After some thought she intervenes and tells the girl to run. During the fight she has no choice but to use her powers to defend herself.

After the fight she runs home and gets her to-go back to run away. There were cameras when she used magic and sooner or later Containment will take her and send her to The Devil's Isle. When she is downstairs she finds a man in her store. The man reveals that he knows she is a sensitive and that if she wants to stay out of The Devil's Isle he is willing to help her. Claire does not know whether she should trust this man but she has no choice.

Containment arrive at the store and ask her some questions about the wraith attack. Much to her relief they have not seen the tape in which she displayed her powers. The man turns out to be Liam Quinn a bounty hunter. Once Containment leave Liam take's Claire with him to have the tape erased. After that she takes her to his grandmother's so that they can decide who will train her.

I was really surprised to read that Liam was very nice. It didn't sound that way when I read the synopsis. I thought that he would be a jerk. But he surprised me. He was a genuinely nice person who really cared for people. I ended up liking him!

Claire was also an awesome character! I really loved her whole outlook on life and everything that she did. It surprised me whenever she pushed her emotions away and instead focused on what needed to be done. Her friends were also pretty cool (no love triangle)!

I liked reading about Claire and Liam's interactions. They made a good team. While they do like each other there really isn't a lot of romance in this book. The romance did not take away from the plot.

The world was very interesting! All the sensitives had different powers and it was interesting to read about some of the paras. As well as the team that some of the characters formed to stop the veil from opening. There was no black and white just grey in this world. I also found it surprising that after the war the characters didn't have that much access to things like sugar.

Now for the characters backstories. I'll start with Liam. Liam is twenty-seven. When his house got attacked he went searching for a job and got contracted to work for the government. During which he found out that not all sensitives are bad. His contract got terminated and he instead he became a bounty hunter. Sometime before the book his sister was murdered by wraiths. He has made it his mission to find out what's happening with the wraiths.

Claire is twenty-four years old. Her father was killed during the war and since then she has taken over his shop. For the longest time she didn't interact with anybody because she missed her father too much. But then she meet Gunnar and Tadji and they became friends.

While I was reading this I got confused on the amount of government sects there were. Some of the plot was a bit confusing. But aside from that I had no problems with this book.

Overall this was a really good book! I will definitely be reading the sequel The Sight! I recommend it to fans of the author and fans of fantasy.

[JAIME LOUISE · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC via Netgalley.

There are problems that come with reading a lot of a single author's work. Especially when those works are all the same series. You get familiar with the world, with the characters. You get, expectations.

As a result, I spent a good part of this book searching for the Merit in Clair and disappointed that Liam wasn't Ethan.

Then I pulled my head in.

Because, The Veil is a different story, and Clair will never be Merit, and that's okay. There is none of the light hearted banter we see in the Chicagoland Vampire series. Instead, this is a much darker story, where the characters are deeply scarred by loss, and smiles are few and far between.

Once I got this, I got this.

Truly, I think The Veil was a perfectly readable first book in a new series. I mentioned in one of my GR updates that I was finding the story a little 'dull', which I stand by. But, when I finished, I realised the 'dull' was because this book was more of a 'set up' book - the kind you often see as the second or third book in other series'. And when all is said and done, I am looking forward to reading on with this one.

Bit of background; The Veil that separates the human world from the Paranormal world was closed years ago, and the war between humans and paranormals is over. But, there are forces at work who want to bring open the Veil again for their own nefarious reasons. Then there are the wraiths - which I really liked the idea of, as I really liked the idea of the Paranormal Prison - Devil's Isle.

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

It was much better than I thought it would be, but I admittedly went into it with low expectations. After becoming disillusioned with the Chicagoland Vampires series, I was hesitant to read this. This series is nothing like that one, which is a good thing. It's not as fun and has less dynamic characters, but this is truly for adults. CLV was labeled as an adult read but read like YA.

The veil separated the fae and human worlds. The fae broke through 7 years earlier and attacked humans. The veil was closed and some of the fae were left behind. People thought they were evil and locked them away in Devil's Isle. When the veil broke down, some people realized they were able to absorb magic. They are called sensitives. The downfall of this is that magic eventually destroys them and turns them into mindless wraiths.

Claire was a sensitive. She hid her barely used ability from everyone. Being locked away on Devil's Isle was her greatest fear. One night she was forced to use her magic in public to defend herself. The bounty hunter, Liam, noticed. He was sympathetic to sensitives although it was his job to turn them in.

Claire was an alright MC. A little reckless at times but not TSTL. By the end of the book I was getting the vibe that she was special but not annoyingly so. Hopefully that doesn't change as the series goes on. She was oblivious to the world around her in many ways, blind to many truths that would have been revealed with some thought of her own instead of believing propaganda.

Liam was serious minded and mysterious. He seems honorable but might not be completely trustworthy. The guy does have secrets. He and Claire made a good couple. There is an obstacle keeping them apart, but it's a minor one.

There were weak points in the world building. I liked the world that was created with the war torn New Orleans. Devil's Isle was fascinating until it was revealed what it was really like. Yes it was a prison but not the dismal, cruel place it was initially portrayed to be. All the people there were treated fairly well. Most of it was a normal neighborhood. The paranormals weren't allowed to leave but anyone else could come and go. It didn't seem like much of a threat. It's quite shocking that more people hadn't escaped.

Magical monitors were placed all over the city. How they worked wasn't clear but that's irrelevant. It was mentioned over and over again that anyone who could use magic needed to be careful because of the constant observation. The monitors never seemed to pick up anything. Magic was used often, and not once did an alarm go off. What's the point of having them if they are useless? They wouldn't be a threat because anyone with magic would know they are worthless.

Wraiths were made by sensitives being consumed by too much magic. There was no solid defense against becoming a wraith. Initially it appeared to be an unavoidable fate worse than death. There were two instances where Claire being special annoyed me. She was consumed by magic not once but twice. Twice. Yet somehow the woman inexperienced with magic managed to release the magic and save herself when sensitives well practiced with magic had not been capable of doing that. It didn't make sense. I'm definitely getting the feeling that there is more to her story.

It was a decent start to the series. I didn't love it. It definitely was not a page turner, but I do plan on reading the rest of the series. I'm curious to see where it goes.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off I love southern paranormal books. And I especially love those based in Nola. I live in Baton Rouge and am a frequent visitor of that amazing city. When I saw Chloe Neill wrote a book about it I was thrilled.

For me- the best part of this book was the creepy dystopian setting. For instance, reading about the post-apocalyptic versions of the Marigny neighborhood was so interesting. You can tell Chloe must have spent a good bit of time in the city researching her book. I loved how the author so perfectly represented the loyalty that true New Orleanians have for their city.

The first part of the book was intriguing but somewhere near the middle a lot of holes in the plot started to appear. Way too much happenstance. Too much convenient reveals that didn't make sense. The main heroine went from being magically dumb to some kind of master of magic within a few days of being trained for maybe a few hours. Really?

My other big issue is I wasn't that into the love story. I didn't feel ANYTHING for the two MCs. And for me- this isn't an issue of comparing them to Chloe's other famous couple (Merrit and Ethan). I'm actually kind of over that series to be honest. There was no real interesting build up of tension between The Veils MCs. And their excuses for not being together are eye roll worthy. The spark was missing.

Overall I loved the idea of the book more than the execution.

[Angie Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC from Netgalley

The Veil is the first book in Chloe Neill’s Devil’s Isle series,and what a kick off this was! I enjoyed this story so much. It takes place in a sort of post-apocalyptic New Orleans, and what a wonderful setting. As sad as it is to say, placing this story in an area that has seen devastation in real life brought the imagery to another level - a more devastating level, and it really impacted the story for me. Pair that with a great cast of supporting characters, and this book was a huge win for me.

Claire was a fabulous main character. I like that she’s only borderline badass at this point (she’s  just coming into it,) and that unlike a lot of other heroines, she’s more of a joiner. Not in an exuberant way, but just enough to make her a little different. She takes pride in being from New Orleans, and she likes to be a part of all the festivities to show the city is marching on, and also the events that are in remembrance of those lost in the war. It really speaks about those parts of her that are determined and compassionate. While she’s just learning about her magic, she takes it very seriously, and she’s spooked about where it could take her. And Liam - where do I start with Liam? I like a hero who is shrouded in mystery, and he was for a lot of this one. He is fiercely loyal to those he loves, and the way he adores his grandmother is so precious. It’s interesting, because he’s an open book about his life, but his emotions are off limits, and you can tell there’s so much going on inside of this guy. It makes him so intriguing, for me and for Claire. Liam’s a bounty hunter who has a job to do, but he’s not so blinded by that that he can’t see when things need to go differently; he’s open-minded and tries to be fair, and at this point, where he’s the only person Claire can be honest with, it’s something she desperately needs. There is an obvious attraction here, but it was more a light thread throughout this book, which was perfect. Claire is learning a lot about herself right now, and I think a full-blown romance could have overshadowed that important part of the story. But now that she’s there...I’d love to see things develop brought to a more solid level in the next installment.

There’s a clear line in this book between humans and paras, the creatures who came through the veil when it was open, so I’ll draw the line here in my review. For the humans, I loved Claire’s friends Tadji and Gunnar. They were so supportive, and it was clear they all love each other to pieces. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that Gunnar works for a government agency that could be a lot of help to Claire and Liam. But for Claire’s part, she doesn’t put her friends in unnecessary danger or take advantage of them. She’s very selective on what she shares or asks of them, and I really liked that she was so protective of them. As for Liam, the appearance his brother, Gavin, was awesome. There’s also a bit of mystery surrounding him, but Gavin is much more easygoing and open that Liam - at least, I think he is. It will be interesting to find out for sure. And Liam’s grandmother, Eleanor, has a very interesting story in the grand scheme of things. I am interested to find out even more about her. For the paras, I am so intrigued by Moses, Malachi, and Lizzie. Lizzie is a caretaker with a heart of gold, Malachi is an angel with a huge...wingspan, and Moses is an odd creature who hoards electronics. They are all so interesting, and I really want to know more about them.

So while Claire and Liam’s relationship may be slow build, the pacing of this book wasn’t. It did feel a smidge slow to start, but once it got going, I was hooked and could not stop listening. I loved this book as much upon my reread as I did when I originally read it, and I can’t recommend it enough. The Veil was a solid start to a series, and once again, I'm so hooked that I'm already halfway through the next book.

This review was originally posted on Books & Beauty Are My Bag.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's no vampires here . . . Chicagoland fans should not go into The Veil thinking they will get a repeat performance from Chloe Neill. The Veil is a different animal and that's not a bad thing. The Veil did everything the first book of an urban fantasy series should do, it builds the world, sets the tone and establishes the characters in a phenomenal way.

The veil is the barrier that separates the human world from the magic world where all the paras live. But eight years ago the veil was broken and the human world and magical world collided letting the humans know that magic and paranormals were real. After the veil was put back up, magic was banded and anyone using magic, human or the few paras still on this side of the veil were corralled into a small area in NOLA called Devils Isle.

There are Sensitives (humans with magic abilities) and Wraiths (Sensitives that have become over come by their magic). Claire Connell found out about eight months ago that she is a Sensitive. She's doing her best to not use any magic so that she's not found out by the Paranormal Combatant Command (PCC). Or she will be imprisoned into Devil's Isle.

There's a budding romance between Claire and Liam. I believe like many urban fantasies their will be a slow build to their HEA and I look forward to seeing where Neill takes them. And what looks like another war in NOLA between magics and non-magics will be a wild ride and I'm requesting my ticket for that crazy train.

Every author has their own voice and in many cases when they write more than one series you can hear that voice carry over into another world this is not the case with The Veil by Chloe Neill. Neill re-created her voice with this world and these characters and I felt like I was reading a different author and it just blew me away I really enjoyed The Veil and can not wait for the next installment in the Devil Isle series.

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING C+

Favorite Quote: “There are monsters in both worlds…and friends of neither.”

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 Donnelly has a secret. In a world where magic is forbidden and those caught using it are punished by incarceration in a prison called the Devil’s Isle; Claire is known as a sensitive. One in a few who developed magic after the Veil between humanity and the fae opened; spilling war, death, destruction into the world. As store owner in the recovering war torn New Orleans, Claire keeps her head down and hopes no one ever suspects what she is. When she is forced to use her magic to defend a young woman and herself from an attack, Claire is caught by a young man and forced to confide in him or face arrest.

Liam Quinn is a bounty hunter who hunts sensitives and other supernatural beings and takes them to Devil’s Isle. Having lost most of his family during the war and its consequences afterwards, he has good reasons for having issues with sensitives. He knows what Claire is and worst, what she can become if she doesn’t learn to control her powers. He offers to help her find a teacher to train her, though he warns her the minute she becomes dangerous, he will not hesitate to take her in.

When it becomes clear that the Veil is attempting to reopen, Clare and Liam will have to learn to trust one another if they want to keep New Orleans from being destroyed altogether.

Though Chloe Neill is best known for her best-selling PNR Chicagoland Vampire series, I see potential for this newest UF endeavor. Set in modern day New Orleans, Neill starts this series off by building a strong foundation, mixing fact and fiction to create a new world to explore and an engaging character ensemble. Steady pacing engages the reader through the beginning is a little slow moving as Neill gives us the necessary facts needed to understand the past in order to go forward in the story. Bigotry, deception, fear, and betrayal play a large part in helping to amp up the action as it increases and the story picks up speed, racing to the finale. Even with the multiple story lines; you never feel overwhelmed or confusion.

Claire is a likable mixture of vulnerability, loyalty, and bravery. Scared of what she is and could eventually become, she doesn’t hide herself away. Raised by her father, she continues to run their family store after his death during the war. Her love for New Orleans and it’s inhabitants remains steadfast as even she struggles to find her place in a world that doesn’t want her kind. She goes into enemy territory multiple times, knowing if caught it could mean the end of her freedom, to try to save lives and discover the truth about what is happening. She is the perfect affordable UF heroine-one you know will continue to evolve and grow as time goes by.

Liam is one of my favorite types of heroes. Gorgeous and built, this alpha/beta mix has a sweet and considerate nature that mixes well with the reluctant heroic vibe that generates from him. Some low key angst and internal baggage explains his general weariness towards Claire without making him come off as a jerk. Not one to keep things hidden, he is as honest as he can be with Claire from the start, wanting to gain her trust without promising her all will be fine because he knows he may eventually fail in that promise.

Chemistry wise, Liam and Claire click almost instantaneously. Neill chooses to build a friendship between them with a ‘possibility’ but no assurances as neither is in any position to pursue anything remotely romantic at this time.The storyline and subplots take up the majority, leaving the potential for romance a nice side dish to complement the story.

Heavy characterization is what gives this story the push it needs to keep from becoming run of the mill. A multitude of personable characters add depth, cohesiveness, and some light moments to the story; allowing readers to view what has happened from different viewpoints. I enjoyed meeting the various paranormals; learning that brought them through the Veil and why. Neill makes a heavy point in that there is a gray area to the war and subsequent imprisonment and these people hold the answers. There is a youthful feel to the characters and their actions. For most of them, the war started when they were in their late teens and their dialogue and attitudes in the face of opposition reflects that.

Overall I enjoyed Neill’s newest release overall though I wasn’t blown away by it. There was a curious lack of excitement, anticipation, and tension. Our hero and heroine are perfect…almost too perfect. Liam is nice. Claire is nice. Almost everyone we meet is in essence…nice. There isn’t much antagonism between anyone and any that appears is quickly dealt with. Same with the conflicts. There was never any doubt in my mind that Claire could and would handle anything thrown her way because the story foreshadows that using Claire’s personality and willingness to help and learn. I think I would have enjoyed more if we had seen any of the characters face true adversity with the possibility of losing.

Regardless of my issues, I will read book two as I am curious to learn more about Claire, Liam, and this new brave world.

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A bit slow to start but overall it was an entertaining read.

Opening Sentence: The French Quarter was thinking about war again.

The Review:

The Veil is the newest title by Chloe Neill. It is set in a world where a dimensional tear brought magic and paranormal creatures through a veil into our world. The Veil is a great start to a new and different urban fantasy world. I am looking forward to all the things this world could bring in the coming books. (Side note: This is my first Chloe Neill book.)

Seven years have passed since the Veil was officially opened between our world and the magical one. When it ripped apart, the war to fight off the supernatural creatures tore the southern states apart leaving them as disaster areas. New Orleans is in bad shape but the remaining residents have done what they can to survive and help restore New Orleans. Magic has really done a toll on the land making it hard to grow crops and magic also knocks out electricity on a daily basis. The one new fixture in New Orleans is Devil’s Isle, the prison which hold supernatural prisoners of war and Sensitives, humans who have gained magical abilities because of the Veil.

Claire Connelly is a Sensitive. She withholds the information from her friends because it could get her sent to Devil’s Isle. In the meantime, she operates her father’s general store that passed to her when he died during the war. Claire is afraid of anyone finding out about her abilities because Devil’s Isle frightens her. There are camera’s mounted everywhere that are activated whenever magical abilities are manifested so chances are that she could be found out. When a girl is attacked by wraiths (sensitives who have basically turned into zombie-like creatures by magical drain or too much magic, I’m still a little confused by that one) Claire steps in to help save her. Only Claire uses her telepathy and it is caught on tape and witnessed by Liam.

Liam Quinn is a bounty hunter. He captures Sensitives, wraiths and Paras. He is intrigued by Claire and how she used her ability to save someone. He introduces Claire into a world that she thought was only one sided and teaches her how Paras aren’t all bad. He also helps her try to get her abilities under control so that they don’t take her over one day.

The Veil does start off a little slow with setting up the world before getting into the mystery of why there are so many wraith attacks. I felt like she was setting up the nuances of the world before getting into the meat of the story. There is some action interspersed throughout the story.

I like Claire in the fact that she cared about her community and was doing what she could to keep her business going and help out the people who stayed in New Orleans. She had a bit of immaturity about her but I think that the war made her grow up faster then she may have wanted. She has adapted to her new world without too many complaints.

I thought Liam was a bit hot but incredibly frustrating. He kept giving Claire signals then shutting them down. I could sense a bit of chemistry there but I hope the fire gets burning in the next book in this series. Although, I was secretly hoping there might be something between Claire and the Angel.

Overall, The Veil could be a great new series with its dystopian like setting. I was really fascinated by something that happened in the end and I can’t wait to see if that plays out anytime soon.

Notable Scene:

“I used to walk the houses,” he said.

I glanced at him. His gaze was on a small carriage house lined against the sidewalk, its door yawning open. “Walk them?”

“The empty ones. I’d let myself in—”

“As you like to do.”

He snorted. “The store’s door was unlocked. As for the houses, I never went through a locked door. Didn’t want anyone looting be­hind me. But if I had time to kill, and a door was unlocked, I’d walk through. Take a look. See how they lived. What their lives were like.”

That was a side of Liam Quinn I wouldn’t have expected to see. “And what were they like?”

He frowned, considered. “Some of the houses were completely empty. They’d taken everything they could. In others, it was like, I don’t know, spying on someone’s life. There were still clothes in the closets. Magazines on the coffee table. Toys in the kids’ rooms. The beds were made up. Lot more mildew, sometimes mold, because of the humidity, but otherwise— they were just houses. I wondered where the people went.”

“Did you ever take anything?”

“No, but I’ve thought about it. Closest I’ve come was a house in Gentilly. I’d been tracking a wraith, lost him, but saw this house and went inside. Most of it was packed up— you could tell they’d left— but they’d left behind a few things. Big furniture. Mirrors. Some toys and sports equipment. And in one room— looked like the dad’s office— there were model airplanes hanging from the ceiling, proba­bly a dozen of them. Lot of work went into them. I thought about liberating one. Seemed a shame all that work was going to waste.”

“So why didn’t you take it?”

He shrugged. “Because maybe they’ll come back one day. Or maybe the kids will. And those memories should be there for them. Should belong to them. Not to me.”

I could practically feel my heart melting. “You know, you play the tough guy, but I think you’ve got a pretty gooey heart in there, Quinn.”

FTC Advisory: NAL/Penguin provided me with a copy of The Veil. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wohoo! The Veil was a fabulous start to a new UF series, that is bound to become even more epic and romantic in the future. I've read a few books in Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampire series and really enjoyed them, but my TBR got the best of me and I haven't been able to catch up on the series. Reading The Veil reminded me of just how much I'm missing out.

The world building in The Veil was one of my favorite things about this book. It was extremely well-developed and the author built it up from the scratch throughout the book. As a reader, you really get to experience the start of it and it was fascinating. In the middle of New Orleans lies a magical barrier that separates the human and Paranormal worlds. A war a few years ago allowed supernatural creatures of all kinds to enter the human world, nearly leading it to its destruction in a brutal war. Now completely locked down, the wall has completely changed the face of New Orleans, bringing magic into it. Some humans like our protagonist, Claire, have absorbed some of this magic and are known as Sensitives, but some humans cannot handle it and are turned into wraiths, mindless killer creatures. I loved reading about the history of the world and how magic came about to be in the human world. Chloe Neill did a fantastic job at helping readers visualize this history and you could tell that she put a lot of thought to it while writing the book. I loved all the the intricacies that went into crafting this world and I couldn't get enough of it. Most of The Veil felt like an introduction to the world, the plot only picking up towards the second half of the book. While some readers might be put off by the slower pace of the first half of the book, trust me when I say that it's important because you're actually learning about how the world came to be. I'd much rather have detailed world building than a weak world. I certainly wasn't bored by the first half of the book, but I have to say that I was more invested in the book during the second half. I loved how action-packed the story got and I was dying to know who was attempting to open up the magic barrier and was attacking Sensitives. All in all, the plot was thrilling and I'm looking forward to seeing how it expands as the series progresses.

An UF series can't really succeed without engaging characters though and thankfully, The Veil had some interesting ones that I enjoyed getting to know. Claire, our protagonist and a Sensitive, was someone I instantly bonded with. Feisty, smart, strong and independent are words I would use to describe her. She had recently lost her father and had only recently learned about her magical abilities and dealing with all of that. I loved watching her become more confident with her magic and willing to work to become comfortable with it. Claire also had the help of Liam a sexy bounty hunter who she meets one night after wraiths attack her. Liam was a hard character for me to gauge at times. He was mysterious and enigmatic and I basically wanted to get to know everything about him. He opened up to Claire and the readers slowly throughout the book and it was glorious! He and Claire had some smoking chemistry together and while there wasn't much of a romance in The Veil, which is typical for the first book in an UF series, I enjoyed the banter and dynamics between the two. I can tell already that their relationship, when it progresses, is going to be deep, honest and passionate. I'm already shipping them like crazy and I NEED them to be together. As with many UF books, there is a vast cast of secondary characters, each of them interesting in their own ways. I especially took a liking to Liam's brother, Gavin, who I think will turn out to be one of the most engaging characters in the series. Besides that, I enjoyed all of the old and new friendships and I also can't wait to see how the villains in this series will create further barriers for the characters.

The Veil was a great start to the Devil's Isle series. If this is just a promise of what's to come in the subsequent books, then I honestly can't wait to see where the author takes us next. UF fans, you don't want to miss out on this one!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This was very good! I enjoyed the post war world building where resources are scarce and electricity unreliable and the main characters were more mature than you averagely find in the UF genre. Will definitely be continuing with this series.

[Meigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe Neill is one of my favorite authors, her Chicagoland Vampires series is one I devour with each new installment. When I heard she was going to be writing a new series, I knew that it was going to be good because hey, it's Chloe Neill. There was also a bit of trepidation involved; would this new one be as good as Chicagoland? Will The Veil series pale in comparison? Turns out, my fears were for naught. Neill has created an exciting, interesting new world that's not like her other series. It does, however, have the elements I expect from her -- an alternate, realistic world that she twists and bends to make her own, and a cast of characters that all have potential to grow and change.

Seven years ago, the thin barrier that separates our world from the Beyond broke, bringing war and bloodshed to the state of Louisiana. The majority of the battle took place in New Orleans with paranormals and humans fighting to either take over, or keep what's theirs. The new New Orleans is now the Zone, where things are decidedly different. What was once taken for granted is now scarce -- food, toiletries, electricity, plants and working soil, the list goes on. An organization called Containment has set up shop, becoming NOLA's own governing body, erecting a wall around part of the city to keep any Paras who weren't killed in battle contained in a makeshift prison. Anything paranormal is automatically sent to this city within a city, called Devil's Isle. Humans thought themselves safe from Devil's Isle. Until they realized that the magic brought about by the fracturing of the veil can infect a small population. Sensitives are humans that are are susceptible to magic infection and without any sort of training to regulate it, they eventually turn into wraiths. Claire Connolly is one such human and she's waging her own war to try to keep it a secret, lest she end up with the rest of the paranormals.

The world Neill created was one that immediately drew me in. I'm such a fan of post-apocalyptic urban fantasy and while this new world was certainly right up my alley, there were certain elements I didn't fully understand. Most of the residents of NOLA stayed in their homes out of a deep-rooted sense of loyalty that is a trait of true southerners. Being a Yankee, I didn't fully get why they would stay. Take away my coffee, take away my soap, I'm moving on to greener pastures. The world outside the Zone still exists and it wasn't really clear on whether or not residents could choose to leave. I want to say they could, and this just adds an extra element of strength to Neill's characters. They are willing to endure to protect what's theirs.

I also like that within this new world, humans and Para's alike are facing adversity. Both races are enemies because of the war, but that doesn't mean they have to be. The majority of both sides are now fighting for the same thing -- their home, their old lives, and their freedom. All Paras aren't bad and all humans aren't good. This leads to another sort of war, for both sides to weed out the good from the bad, compounding an already tumultuous and confusing relationship among the two.

All told, The Veil was a fairly solid first installment in Neill's new Devil's Isle series. There's plenty of room for growth, plenty of room to give the world even more depth. The only thing missing is romance, but the seeds have been planted. I like a slow progression and I'm fairly certain that the romantic relationship will be further explored in future books of this series, which I undoubtedly plan to read.

**eARC received on behalf of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.