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Veil #1
Through the Veil
A thrilling new sensual paranormal
Found wandering in a field as a child, Lee Ross was given a name by the state and placed in a foster home-without anyone realizing she wasn't entirely human. All her life, she's tried to dismiss the odd dreams that have plagued her, dreams of monsters creeping through the night and a man, fighting demons by her side. But the bruises she wakes up with are all too real to ignore. Then the man from dreams appears in the flesh. His name is Kalen and he insists that her destiny lies in his world, the world of her dreams.
To save their people, he must convince Lee to give everything she knows, follow her heart and cross into the Under Realm, even though once she does, she'll never be able to return.
Found wandering in a field as a child, Lee Ross was given a name by the state and placed in a foster home-without anyone realizing she wasn't entirely human. All her life, she's tried to dismiss the odd dreams that have plagued her, dreams of monsters creeping through the night and a man, fighting demons by her side. But the bruises she wakes up with are all too real to ignore. Then the man from dreams appears in the flesh. His name is Kalen and he insists that her destiny lies in his world, the world of her dreams.
To save their people, he must convince Lee to give everything she knows, follow her heart and cross into the Under Realm, even though once she does, she'll never be able to return.
312 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2008
21 people are currently reading
1404 people want to read
About the author
Shiloh Walker
202 books2,437 followersHello... thanks for swinging by. I don't log into Goodreads much, so if you have questions, please visit my website to email me through my site.
Thank you!
My other me.... J.C. Daniels
And an experimental me that I put to sleep. J. Dallas
Bio...
Shiloh Walker has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more...ah...serious vampire stories. She loves reading and writing anything paranormal, anything fantasy, and nearly every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest.
To contact the author, please visit her website!
Thank you!
My other me.... J.C. Daniels
And an experimental me that I put to sleep. J. Dallas
Bio...
Shiloh Walker has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more...ah...serious vampire stories. She loves reading and writing anything paranormal, anything fantasy, and nearly every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest.
To contact the author, please visit her website!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
June 10, 2008
OK. I really, really liked "Through the Veil" by Shiloh Walker. Apparently, she can make write just about anything and make it hot and believable. This is very different from her 'Hunter' series; it's very science fiction, but still very good!
Lee has known her whole life that she was different. She heals incredibly quickly, and that's a very good thing as she keeps waking up battered and bruised after dreaming of fighting a war in a strange world against nightmare creatures by the side of, first a young boy, then a strong teen, and finally a hard man who makes her blood run hot. Now if she could just be sure she wasn't going insane.
Kalen knows there's something different about Lee. She saved him from the soul-eaters when he was a young boy, then later again as a teen, and even now, when the resistance army he leads faces seemingly insurmountable odds, she shows up and helps turn the tide in their favor. But then she disappears. It's driving him crazy, not to mention the fact that he wants her more than anything he can think of.
Riveting, passionate, well-crafted, and a great HEA. I only hope she writes more about this world of hers.
Lee has known her whole life that she was different. She heals incredibly quickly, and that's a very good thing as she keeps waking up battered and bruised after dreaming of fighting a war in a strange world against nightmare creatures by the side of, first a young boy, then a strong teen, and finally a hard man who makes her blood run hot. Now if she could just be sure she wasn't going insane.
Kalen knows there's something different about Lee. She saved him from the soul-eaters when he was a young boy, then later again as a teen, and even now, when the resistance army he leads faces seemingly insurmountable odds, she shows up and helps turn the tide in their favor. But then she disappears. It's driving him crazy, not to mention the fact that he wants her more than anything he can think of.
Riveting, passionate, well-crafted, and a great HEA. I only hope she writes more about this world of hers.
May 20, 2009
I just couldn't get through this one. I went 100 pages and had to quit. The story line was confusing, the characters were not clear and it was just plain frustrating to try to figure out what the heck the author was trying to do. Did they want a thriller? or a romance? or even a paranormal something? Just gave up on it.
June 7, 2009
Lee Ross has horrible nightmares where she wakes up bruised and beaten. She dreams of war, death and… him. “Him” happens to be Kalen, a warrior in another dimension where Lee really belongs. It seems when Lee was a little girl, she was able to break through the Veil, which is a barrier between the world she was born in and the world she lives in now, which is present day Earth. This other dimension is called Ishtan (I kept wanting to say Ishtar). For hundreds of years, the Warlords of Anqar, who are the enemy of the Ishtanians, have kidnapped their females to make them Warlord slaves and try to impregnate them. Kalen has been leading this resistance against the Warlords for fifteen years. The Warlords have all types of magic and really nasty creatures at their disposal to defeat Kalen and his ragtag army. Kalen is about to have a breakdown because he no longer knows what to do to keep the fight going. The only answer he may have to save his people is Lee.
For some reason, whenever Lee dreams, she is able to go through the Veil and fight along side Kalen. Kalen needs Lee to stay in Ishtan and have her join in the fight. Kalen and Lee have quite a history together because she has popped in and out of his life since she was a girl. Kalen feels she is the preverbal light at the end of the tunnel and also has major feelings for her. Lee is also at her wits end, but for another reason all together. She thinks she is hallucinating because she now sees things outside her dreams. She decides to open her mind and is taken back to Ishtan, like Dorothy who ends up in Oz. And can you guess who is waiting for her there? I expected Kalen to jump and down like a giddy little boy when her finally has Lee in front of him. Instead, he kisses the life out of her, which was a very sweet and hot moment. This gives you a good idea of what is to come between these two.
As Kalen shows Lee the destruction and mayhem the Warlords have placed on the poor people of Ishtan, Lee really wants to go home. Her main complaint is that they don’t have coffee and real bathrooms! Plus, Lee is expected to undergo a harsh training session so she will be able to reach inside herself. She has an extra special power that can possibly save everyone. Lee is not really down with this, after all she is a bit of a girly girl. But Kalen knows that there is just something about Lee because anytime he was in trouble, she would appear and help him. Plus, the lack of women tends to make a man like Kalen horny, so Lee is perfect in so many other ways. Even though these two have only interacted a hand full of times in the past, Lee wants to jum Kalen's bones. The same goes for Kalen. Hey, they both could be dead tomorrow so whenever they have a free moment, Kalen and Lee try to find some peace and tenderness in each other’s arms. As the war rages on, Lee comes to some conclusions and that means sacrificing her own life. See, Lee’s daddy wants her on his side and it is definitely not the side Kalen is on.
Shiloh has written a gritty, dark tale that is a cross between fantasy and science fiction. One minute I felt like I was reading a medieval fantasy where two countries are at a bloody war with each other, then the next I was thrown into a sci-fi urban fantasy. Along with the magic used by the Warlords and fantasy creatures, Kalen’s army uses high tech guns and ammunition that seems a bit out of place. It may just be me, but I would have preferred one over the other. You either pick the magic or stick with bombs and plasma ray guns.
Kalen is portrayed as a wonderful hero. He is strong, intelligent and so very sexy. This is a man who has a perfect tan even though the sun never shines as it is always cloudy and rainy. As for Lee, I found her to be a bit too one-dimensional. If I were Lee, I would have probably acted the same way she did, being thrown into a situation of constant pain and suffering. But after awhile I really couldn’t see how Lee was so very important to the cause. She may have magic that no one else has, but her moaning and groaning tended to grate on my nerves. I almost felt as if Kalen was trying to trick himself into believing that Lee is the savior he was looking for. He tries his hardest to make everyone feel the same way he does. But, the way he treats Lee, is very sweet and endearing as if he was without such loveliness for so long and only Lee can fill that place in his cold heart.
Through the Veil should appeal to fans of fantasy romance, along with that touch of an urban fantasy feel. Most will probably agree that Shiloh can grab a reader and doesn’t let up on the action till the very last page. Perhaps because of this non-stop action, there wasn’t enough time to invest an emotional response with Lee and Kalen. Yes, I found their sex scenes together to be excellent, but as for love and being each other’s soul mates, well that is a bit lacking. At least Kalen has a nice tan and six pack abs that Lee can really appreciate when all is said and done.
For some reason, whenever Lee dreams, she is able to go through the Veil and fight along side Kalen. Kalen needs Lee to stay in Ishtan and have her join in the fight. Kalen and Lee have quite a history together because she has popped in and out of his life since she was a girl. Kalen feels she is the preverbal light at the end of the tunnel and also has major feelings for her. Lee is also at her wits end, but for another reason all together. She thinks she is hallucinating because she now sees things outside her dreams. She decides to open her mind and is taken back to Ishtan, like Dorothy who ends up in Oz. And can you guess who is waiting for her there? I expected Kalen to jump and down like a giddy little boy when her finally has Lee in front of him. Instead, he kisses the life out of her, which was a very sweet and hot moment. This gives you a good idea of what is to come between these two.
As Kalen shows Lee the destruction and mayhem the Warlords have placed on the poor people of Ishtan, Lee really wants to go home. Her main complaint is that they don’t have coffee and real bathrooms! Plus, Lee is expected to undergo a harsh training session so she will be able to reach inside herself. She has an extra special power that can possibly save everyone. Lee is not really down with this, after all she is a bit of a girly girl. But Kalen knows that there is just something about Lee because anytime he was in trouble, she would appear and help him. Plus, the lack of women tends to make a man like Kalen horny, so Lee is perfect in so many other ways. Even though these two have only interacted a hand full of times in the past, Lee wants to jum Kalen's bones. The same goes for Kalen. Hey, they both could be dead tomorrow so whenever they have a free moment, Kalen and Lee try to find some peace and tenderness in each other’s arms. As the war rages on, Lee comes to some conclusions and that means sacrificing her own life. See, Lee’s daddy wants her on his side and it is definitely not the side Kalen is on.
Shiloh has written a gritty, dark tale that is a cross between fantasy and science fiction. One minute I felt like I was reading a medieval fantasy where two countries are at a bloody war with each other, then the next I was thrown into a sci-fi urban fantasy. Along with the magic used by the Warlords and fantasy creatures, Kalen’s army uses high tech guns and ammunition that seems a bit out of place. It may just be me, but I would have preferred one over the other. You either pick the magic or stick with bombs and plasma ray guns.
Kalen is portrayed as a wonderful hero. He is strong, intelligent and so very sexy. This is a man who has a perfect tan even though the sun never shines as it is always cloudy and rainy. As for Lee, I found her to be a bit too one-dimensional. If I were Lee, I would have probably acted the same way she did, being thrown into a situation of constant pain and suffering. But after awhile I really couldn’t see how Lee was so very important to the cause. She may have magic that no one else has, but her moaning and groaning tended to grate on my nerves. I almost felt as if Kalen was trying to trick himself into believing that Lee is the savior he was looking for. He tries his hardest to make everyone feel the same way he does. But, the way he treats Lee, is very sweet and endearing as if he was without such loveliness for so long and only Lee can fill that place in his cold heart.
Through the Veil should appeal to fans of fantasy romance, along with that touch of an urban fantasy feel. Most will probably agree that Shiloh can grab a reader and doesn’t let up on the action till the very last page. Perhaps because of this non-stop action, there wasn’t enough time to invest an emotional response with Lee and Kalen. Yes, I found their sex scenes together to be excellent, but as for love and being each other’s soul mates, well that is a bit lacking. At least Kalen has a nice tan and six pack abs that Lee can really appreciate when all is said and done.
August 30, 2010
I feel that whatever genre Shiloh Walker tackles she delivers a story where great characters can be found. THROUGH THE VEIL introduced me, not only to a new world, but also to a magnetic and attention grabbing pair. Most of the times when I begin a new paranormal series it takes a bit of time for me to make the world my own and get comfortable with the terms. As a reader that makes me thankful when a glossary of terms is included like the one I found in Through The Veil, so I’m not going in completely blind. However, it doesn’t take much to get completely intrigued by the set-up though because the moment I met Lee was the moment secrets and mysteries introduced its self.
Lee is a woman who emanates vulnerability but at the core is a warrior. She is courage meshed with doubts, power wedded to femininity and she needs it all on the road of self discovery. I love the kind of heroine Lee is, she has backbone but at the same time has fears that balance her powerful she-warrior side. The questions she has are the questions I had, and she took me on a journey to another world that was bleak in comparison to Earth. What I think is also exceptionally well done is the gradual understanding of the new world Lee was thrust in opposed to instant acceptance. Doubts along with certain instincts and realizations made her emotions revolving her personal issues all the more believable.
Kalen Brenner is the male lead and from the introduction he had me. He is the weary leader of the resistance against the Warlords and the Sirvani but it is his never wavering passion to save his people that burns bright inside him and first catches the attention. From his looks to his warrior code, everything screams he is a skilled man; in charge, dangerous, feral but it is all encompassed by a compassionate and loyal heart. Add my personal lingual g-spot, a hint of an Irish brogue, and I was more than a little interested in him.
The back story of Lee and Kalen was incredibly woven in to the current storyline and they are two formidable characters. But bring them together and magic happens; the dialogues are bold and crisp, almost a back and forth parry of strong wills and the body chemistry was tantalizing good. The inner monologues are alive with all they feel, totally connecting me with their emotional state and trail of thoughts. What also added to their chemistry as a pair was the craving the felt for each other, it was almost a ravenous attraction humming with an electrifying crackle between them. Though the sensuality wasn’t the focus between them it flared in the cadence of their emotional state, never letting me doubt what they had between them was intense and real.
Shiloh Walker created some dense world building and I needed my time to absorb all details and nuances in her storytelling. The set up where the warlords of Anqar created gates to Ishtan and how they wreaked their devastation there created a grim war-torn setting where little joy was to be found. The gruesome acts of the Warlords upon the Ishtan inhabitants made them not very redeem worthy yet it was necessary for a chain reaction where the spirit and resilience of certain people shined like a beacon that made me root for all of them. The mystery of the gates, of Lee herself, and the ongoing war kept me guessing with certain characters where their loyalties lied. Still, there were one or two plot points that made it very easy to guess where the story was headed.
Kalen and Lee worked very hard to make sense of it all, feeling a pending doom looming over them and they were supported by a range of characters, still the cast still had a very intimate feel. Morne Ramire, the healer. Eira, the witch. Dais, Kalen’s weapon lieutenant, were just some of them. There were more character on their side but these few really added a voice of their own to it. On the other side, in Anqar, I witnessed their way of life which on some issues revolted me. The High Lord and his diabolical deeds got the instant ‘throttle the SOB’ reaction from me, which for a fiend is only a compliment. There was also Raichar Taise who wasn’t completely bad but not completely good either, in the end I felt a bit for him though. With the opposite point of views from the Ishtan and Anqar characters I got a total picture of the why – what and how. All the storylines culminated in the end to a conclusion that baffled me. A few things I suspected but the grand finale had my eyes riveted to the pages. Whatever pace was lacking a bit in the beginning was all made up in the ending.
When everything stands against you there are those few that will arise to the challenge, Kalen and Lee took me on an emotion fraught and challenging journey! THROUGH THE VEIL is a story where chapter by chapter I was drawn further in to a gritty world, led by an amazing romantic pair and a cast of characters that contained a force all on its own. Shiloh Walker added another series to my shelves where I want more of!
4.5 stars
Lee is a woman who emanates vulnerability but at the core is a warrior. She is courage meshed with doubts, power wedded to femininity and she needs it all on the road of self discovery. I love the kind of heroine Lee is, she has backbone but at the same time has fears that balance her powerful she-warrior side. The questions she has are the questions I had, and she took me on a journey to another world that was bleak in comparison to Earth. What I think is also exceptionally well done is the gradual understanding of the new world Lee was thrust in opposed to instant acceptance. Doubts along with certain instincts and realizations made her emotions revolving her personal issues all the more believable.
Kalen Brenner is the male lead and from the introduction he had me. He is the weary leader of the resistance against the Warlords and the Sirvani but it is his never wavering passion to save his people that burns bright inside him and first catches the attention. From his looks to his warrior code, everything screams he is a skilled man; in charge, dangerous, feral but it is all encompassed by a compassionate and loyal heart. Add my personal lingual g-spot, a hint of an Irish brogue, and I was more than a little interested in him.
The back story of Lee and Kalen was incredibly woven in to the current storyline and they are two formidable characters. But bring them together and magic happens; the dialogues are bold and crisp, almost a back and forth parry of strong wills and the body chemistry was tantalizing good. The inner monologues are alive with all they feel, totally connecting me with their emotional state and trail of thoughts. What also added to their chemistry as a pair was the craving the felt for each other, it was almost a ravenous attraction humming with an electrifying crackle between them. Though the sensuality wasn’t the focus between them it flared in the cadence of their emotional state, never letting me doubt what they had between them was intense and real.
Shiloh Walker created some dense world building and I needed my time to absorb all details and nuances in her storytelling. The set up where the warlords of Anqar created gates to Ishtan and how they wreaked their devastation there created a grim war-torn setting where little joy was to be found. The gruesome acts of the Warlords upon the Ishtan inhabitants made them not very redeem worthy yet it was necessary for a chain reaction where the spirit and resilience of certain people shined like a beacon that made me root for all of them. The mystery of the gates, of Lee herself, and the ongoing war kept me guessing with certain characters where their loyalties lied. Still, there were one or two plot points that made it very easy to guess where the story was headed.
Kalen and Lee worked very hard to make sense of it all, feeling a pending doom looming over them and they were supported by a range of characters, still the cast still had a very intimate feel. Morne Ramire, the healer. Eira, the witch. Dais, Kalen’s weapon lieutenant, were just some of them. There were more character on their side but these few really added a voice of their own to it. On the other side, in Anqar, I witnessed their way of life which on some issues revolted me. The High Lord and his diabolical deeds got the instant ‘throttle the SOB’ reaction from me, which for a fiend is only a compliment. There was also Raichar Taise who wasn’t completely bad but not completely good either, in the end I felt a bit for him though. With the opposite point of views from the Ishtan and Anqar characters I got a total picture of the why – what and how. All the storylines culminated in the end to a conclusion that baffled me. A few things I suspected but the grand finale had my eyes riveted to the pages. Whatever pace was lacking a bit in the beginning was all made up in the ending.
When everything stands against you there are those few that will arise to the challenge, Kalen and Lee took me on an emotion fraught and challenging journey! THROUGH THE VEIL is a story where chapter by chapter I was drawn further in to a gritty world, led by an amazing romantic pair and a cast of characters that contained a force all on its own. Shiloh Walker added another series to my shelves where I want more of!
4.5 stars
August 6, 2010
This review was originally posted at Vampire Book Club
I really like the concept of love at first sight. My husband and I were instantly drawn to each other, but years later we can both admit it was lust at first sight that quickly snowballed into love. It ruled (still does), but the romantic in me loves reading about that all-encompassing and immediate overwhelming love. We get some of that, with a solid reasoning for it, in Shiloh Walker’s Through the Veil.
Lee has spent her whole life battling a war in the land between the mortal world and the demon world. The only hitch? She’s only done it in her sleep. She’d awake mornings bruised and swollen with memories of battles and, more clearly, of a man. The thought of falling asleep was both terrifying and alluring for her.
Kalen has led the battle with the demon world for years. He’s been fortunate that Lee always arrives just when she’s needed. She is a powerful mage, able to lift the veil between worlds; able to battle the invading demons with magic. Also, he’s loved her since he was a child. After years of yearning to have Lee stay in his world with him, she crosses over. The protective Kalen is floored when he finds Lee in his world during the daytime. Unfortunately, she’s forgotten all about what this world is, about its war. The only thing she knows is she’s powerfully drawn to Kalen.
Kalen and Lee’s relationship, of course, blossoms and we get to experience her rediscovering power and finally understanding where she comes from. It’s moving and riveting. Walker has always been able to craft intense scenes, Through the Veil is no exception. She throws plenty of plot curves at us to keep things unexpected, and to keep our fated couple somewhat grounded in reality.
While the ending was a little too tidy for me, with a sudden pulling together, I still loved it. Lee, even as she’s relearning how to control her magic, remains a strong woman doing as much for herself as possible. Kalen is protective, but still acutely aware of her independence. Knowing she’ll make her own path whether he agrees.
With a strong heroine aiding a considerate and oh-so-handsome leader in a quest to save her world, how could we not get into Through the Veil? This paranormal romance is beautifully wrought and incrementally intense.
I’m looking forward to reading the sequel Veil of Shadows, which releases Sept. 7, 2010. Keep an eye out for our early review at Vampire Book Club.
I really like the concept of love at first sight. My husband and I were instantly drawn to each other, but years later we can both admit it was lust at first sight that quickly snowballed into love. It ruled (still does), but the romantic in me loves reading about that all-encompassing and immediate overwhelming love. We get some of that, with a solid reasoning for it, in Shiloh Walker’s Through the Veil.
Lee has spent her whole life battling a war in the land between the mortal world and the demon world. The only hitch? She’s only done it in her sleep. She’d awake mornings bruised and swollen with memories of battles and, more clearly, of a man. The thought of falling asleep was both terrifying and alluring for her.
Kalen has led the battle with the demon world for years. He’s been fortunate that Lee always arrives just when she’s needed. She is a powerful mage, able to lift the veil between worlds; able to battle the invading demons with magic. Also, he’s loved her since he was a child. After years of yearning to have Lee stay in his world with him, she crosses over. The protective Kalen is floored when he finds Lee in his world during the daytime. Unfortunately, she’s forgotten all about what this world is, about its war. The only thing she knows is she’s powerfully drawn to Kalen.
Kalen and Lee’s relationship, of course, blossoms and we get to experience her rediscovering power and finally understanding where she comes from. It’s moving and riveting. Walker has always been able to craft intense scenes, Through the Veil is no exception. She throws plenty of plot curves at us to keep things unexpected, and to keep our fated couple somewhat grounded in reality.
While the ending was a little too tidy for me, with a sudden pulling together, I still loved it. Lee, even as she’s relearning how to control her magic, remains a strong woman doing as much for herself as possible. Kalen is protective, but still acutely aware of her independence. Knowing she’ll make her own path whether he agrees.
With a strong heroine aiding a considerate and oh-so-handsome leader in a quest to save her world, how could we not get into Through the Veil? This paranormal romance is beautifully wrought and incrementally intense.
I’m looking forward to reading the sequel Veil of Shadows, which releases Sept. 7, 2010. Keep an eye out for our early review at Vampire Book Club.
June 14, 2010
I presume you know what the book is about. I'm letting you know what I like or dislike about it.
In a word - VERBOSE. I'm almost 50% through this book and the heroine still doesn't know what world she's in or what power/skills she has to aid in winning the war.
Today I'm a discouraged reader. I'm no longer immune to tireless repetition - as tired as I am, authors (most likely editors and publishers?) seem to have had a renewed relentless viscous push to increase useless repetition. Is anyone reading these books before they hit the shelves? ACK!!!!!!
Again, with all due respect to the author this reader knows that criticism is easy - creation is hard. How I wish the talented individuals with their creative minds, souls, and hearts had equal talent in helping them deliver a novel that reflects their creative efforts.
Perhaps tomorrow I'll delete the notes above and give a review of the story itself or write something more positive. But who the hell can even tell you it's a good or bad book when 50% of the books words are unnecessary? At best - trying to find a storyline and plot can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. yeah, the one I want to find so I can poke my eye out!
In a word - VERBOSE. I'm almost 50% through this book and the heroine still doesn't know what world she's in or what power/skills she has to aid in winning the war.
Today I'm a discouraged reader. I'm no longer immune to tireless repetition - as tired as I am, authors (most likely editors and publishers?) seem to have had a renewed relentless viscous push to increase useless repetition. Is anyone reading these books before they hit the shelves? ACK!!!!!!
Again, with all due respect to the author this reader knows that criticism is easy - creation is hard. How I wish the talented individuals with their creative minds, souls, and hearts had equal talent in helping them deliver a novel that reflects their creative efforts.
Perhaps tomorrow I'll delete the notes above and give a review of the story itself or write something more positive. But who the hell can even tell you it's a good or bad book when 50% of the books words are unnecessary? At best - trying to find a storyline and plot can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. yeah, the one I want to find so I can poke my eye out!
March 1, 2011
As always, in the first book of a series, the reader has a lot to take in. It is the author's job to make this task entertaining and not overwhelming. Ms. Walker has accomplished this task very nicely. The heroine, Lee aka Lelia is sent to our realm as an infant. She is unknowing of her other world, magical background and thinks perhaps the vivid dreams she has are a sign of oncoming insanity. Kelen, the hero and leader of the resistance in Lee's home realm, has been aware of Lee's dream appearance's since he was 10 years old and knew she was vitally important to ending the war that has been waged for decades with the Warlords.
There are many elements and terms for the reader to absorb, but one is so swept up in the story and the chemistry of the main characters, the book reads incredibly fast. There is a lot of action and the heroine is strong and not afraid of a fight. As always, Shiloh's handling of the romantic aspects of the story are sizzling. This book is not overly graphic, but I would not recommend this book for a 15 year old. There are some scrumptious secondary characters that I became very fond of (he's a blond), so I will most definitely follow this series. Very good read.
There are many elements and terms for the reader to absorb, but one is so swept up in the story and the chemistry of the main characters, the book reads incredibly fast. There is a lot of action and the heroine is strong and not afraid of a fight. As always, Shiloh's handling of the romantic aspects of the story are sizzling. This book is not overly graphic, but I would not recommend this book for a 15 year old. There are some scrumptious secondary characters that I became very fond of (he's a blond), so I will most definitely follow this series. Very good read.
March 29, 2015
The book would have gotten one more star perhaps if the only interesting villain were still around...it's a pet peeve of mine when an author kills those off. Interesting, unique story made this one enjoyable. The pacing was swift and easy to fall into and want to keep going. It's Paranormal romance, so there are a few out of place sex scenes there just for it to be so. Thankfully it doesn't start until after page 100 and the plot is first and foremost. Like some other romances and PAs before it, Through the Veil suffers from overuse of names in dialogue. It's unnatural and I'm not sure why it's mainly this genre that does that particular writing sin. While the last few pages feel a bit abrupt and anticlimactic, it was an enjoyable book.
September 10, 2009
I thought this was a weird book. I read the glossary at the beginning, but as it didn't have a context yet it didn't make sense. I found myself having to go back after 60 or so pages and read through it again. Even then I just couldn't get into the book. I did finish it which rarely happens if I can't get into the book. In the end it did fill my day, but I wouldn't recommend it. It was just eh.
March 11, 2012
A woman who is confused by her dreams, and the mysterious injuries she receives during them, finds herself drawn into another world - the dangerous one of her dreams. She is also faced by the two men she has seen in her dreams - both who want to protect her but for different reasons. I enjoyed the book overall, but the erotica seemed forced and out of place in comparison to the rest of the plot, even with the main objective of the antagonists being stealing women to use as sex slaves.
January 30, 2011
Me and this book we just could not make it. It was not bad or anything I personally could not bring myself to care so by page 65 I called it quits.
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August 25, 2025This was my very first Urban Fantasy so I wasn't sure what to expect. Add in the fact that it's mixed with paranormal ... well, generally that's not my style. But, I'd been wanting to try UF for a while, and when Shiloh offered the ARC, I snapped it up. Why? Because I love her writing. LOVE IT. So I figured the fact that I always enjoy her writing would be a great way to ease into the UF genre. I was right.
I have to admit that the beginning, the world building, was a little slow going for me, but in some ways I think the route Shiloh took was necessary because there is A LOT of stuff going on in this book. So many different creatures... some of them just way creepy. Shiloh sure has a GREAT imagination. Anyway, I'm not going to rehash the book and what happens in it except to say... expect the unexpected.
In Through The Veil Shiloh took me on a journey to another world. One that was bleak and dark and, frankly, scary. I mean I sure as heck wouldn't want to meet up with one of those Sirvani or Ikacado demons. *shudder* I loved Lee. I loved how Shiloh didn't make Lee one of those tough-as-nails women who ends up in a different dimension/world and doesn't get freaked about it but instead kicks ass without hesitation. I like how Lee was "humanized"... how she did get freaked and how she did wonder what she was doing there and just what the hell was going on.
Enter Kalen. Oh, hunky Kalen. He is no pushover. He gives Lee the what-for more than once and I like that about him. He doesn't push her farther than he knows she can go, but he does give her the shove she needs to be what she needs to be and helps her down the path in finding it.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book, creatures from your worst nightmares, a lovely romance in spite of the chaos and war, and the occasional surprise in the story that will keep you turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed Through The Veil and I hope that Shiloh will continue this as a series. It certainly would be interesting to see where Kalen, Lee, and their people go from here. (Hint, hint *G*)
I have to admit that the beginning, the world building, was a little slow going for me, but in some ways I think the route Shiloh took was necessary because there is A LOT of stuff going on in this book. So many different creatures... some of them just way creepy. Shiloh sure has a GREAT imagination. Anyway, I'm not going to rehash the book and what happens in it except to say... expect the unexpected.
In Through The Veil Shiloh took me on a journey to another world. One that was bleak and dark and, frankly, scary. I mean I sure as heck wouldn't want to meet up with one of those Sirvani or Ikacado demons. *shudder* I loved Lee. I loved how Shiloh didn't make Lee one of those tough-as-nails women who ends up in a different dimension/world and doesn't get freaked about it but instead kicks ass without hesitation. I like how Lee was "humanized"... how she did get freaked and how she did wonder what she was doing there and just what the hell was going on.
Enter Kalen. Oh, hunky Kalen. He is no pushover. He gives Lee the what-for more than once and I like that about him. He doesn't push her farther than he knows she can go, but he does give her the shove she needs to be what she needs to be and helps her down the path in finding it.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book, creatures from your worst nightmares, a lovely romance in spite of the chaos and war, and the occasional surprise in the story that will keep you turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed Through The Veil and I hope that Shiloh will continue this as a series. It certainly would be interesting to see where Kalen, Lee, and their people go from here. (Hint, hint *G*)
December 8, 2017
Lee has nightmarish dreams from which she awakes bruised and sore. But she can't remember exactly what happens. Then the man in her dreams calls her to return through the Veil and take her rightful place. All blurs and she finds her nightmare world her daytime life. Kalen, leader of the resistance, begs her to accept her life and that it is important for her to be there, but he doesn't know why. Lee has to learn who she is and her powers. Slowly she stumbles her way as battles intensifies and monsters threaten. And behind another Veil is an even bigger threat to her personally. Great adventure and world. It will be interesting to see where things go.
One oddity that maybe shows the cover artist didn't read or get a good synopsis of the book is the depiction of the heroine with bow and arrows on the cover. Only a couple of times did she carry any weapons and it wasn't a bow. Curious.
One oddity that maybe shows the cover artist didn't read or get a good synopsis of the book is the depiction of the heroine with bow and arrows on the cover. Only a couple of times did she carry any weapons and it wasn't a bow. Curious.
April 16, 2018
Lee grew up as an orphan who didn't know anything about her past. Now she is an artist just trying to get by, and trying to understand why she keeps having vivid dreams of a beautiful man, and why she wakes up with mysterious injuries.
Kalen is a rebel leader fighting for the survival of his people against an alien race who has been stealing their females for decades. Kalen knows that Lee is a critical player in this game. She has been fighting by his side for almost 20 years.....only when she is asleep on her home world.
Lee must realize the truth about herself to be any help to Kalen, and for her sanity. Kalen's people are losing the war, and Lee is the only one who has the power to turn the tide.
Kalen is a rebel leader fighting for the survival of his people against an alien race who has been stealing their females for decades. Kalen knows that Lee is a critical player in this game. She has been fighting by his side for almost 20 years.....only when she is asleep on her home world.
Lee must realize the truth about herself to be any help to Kalen, and for her sanity. Kalen's people are losing the war, and Lee is the only one who has the power to turn the tide.
May 23, 2024
This one really missed the mark for me, mostly because of the heroine. I like kick-ass women and people who get back on their feet fast after they have a shock and she certainly wasn't. I got tired of her inner whining. Also, the entire war with demons thing was really confusing and depressing.
This review might be affected by my state of mind right now - I am in a happy mood so it could be that it was just the wrong time for this book. I might try the next in the series when I want something gritty.
This review might be affected by my state of mind right now - I am in a happy mood so it could be that it was just the wrong time for this book. I might try the next in the series when I want something gritty.
January 13, 2019
I've read an reread this book so many times, such an amazing story
Read
February 23, 20214 stars great new series
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September 22, 2025This was my very first Urban Fantasy so I wasn't sure what to expect. Add in the fact that it's mixed with paranormal ... well, generally that's not my style. But, I'd been wanting to try UF for a while, and when Shiloh offered the ARC, I snapped it up. Why? Because I love her writing. LOVE IT. So I figured the fact that I always enjoy her writing would be a great way to ease into the UF genre. I was right.
I have to admit that the beginning, the world building, was a little slow going for me, but in some ways I think the route Shiloh took was necessary because there is A LOT of stuff going on in this book. So many different creatures... some of them just way creepy. Shiloh sure has a GREAT imagination. Anyway, I'm not going to rehash the book and what happens in it except to say... expect the unexpected.
In Through The Veil Shiloh took me on a journey to another world. One that was bleak and dark and, frankly, scary. I mean I sure as heck wouldn't want to meet up with one of those Sirvani or Ikacado demons. *shudder* I loved Lee. I loved how Shiloh didn't make Lee one of those tough-as-nails women who ends up in a different dimension/world and doesn't get freaked about it but instead kicks ass without hesitation. I like how Lee was "humanized"... how she did get freaked and how she did wonder what she was doing there and just what the hell was going on.
Enter Kalen. Oh, hunky Kalen. He is no pushover. He gives Lee the what-for more than once and I like that about him. He doesn't push her farther than he knows she can go, but he does give her the shove she needs to be what she needs to be and helps her down the path in finding it.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book, creatures from your worst nightmares, a lovely romance in spite of the chaos and war, and the occasional surprise in the story that will keep you turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed Through The Veil and I hope that Shiloh will continue this as a series. It certainly would be interesting to see where Kalen, Lee, and their people go from here. (Hint, hint *G*)
I have to admit that the beginning, the world building, was a little slow going for me, but in some ways I think the route Shiloh took was necessary because there is A LOT of stuff going on in this book. So many different creatures... some of them just way creepy. Shiloh sure has a GREAT imagination. Anyway, I'm not going to rehash the book and what happens in it except to say... expect the unexpected.
In Through The Veil Shiloh took me on a journey to another world. One that was bleak and dark and, frankly, scary. I mean I sure as heck wouldn't want to meet up with one of those Sirvani or Ikacado demons. *shudder* I loved Lee. I loved how Shiloh didn't make Lee one of those tough-as-nails women who ends up in a different dimension/world and doesn't get freaked about it but instead kicks ass without hesitation. I like how Lee was "humanized"... how she did get freaked and how she did wonder what she was doing there and just what the hell was going on.
Enter Kalen. Oh, hunky Kalen. He is no pushover. He gives Lee the what-for more than once and I like that about him. He doesn't push her farther than he knows she can go, but he does give her the shove she needs to be what she needs to be and helps her down the path in finding it.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book, creatures from your worst nightmares, a lovely romance in spite of the chaos and war, and the occasional surprise in the story that will keep you turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed Through The Veil and I hope that Shiloh will continue this as a series. It certainly would be interesting to see where Kalen, Lee, and their people go from here. (Hint, hint *G*)
August 31, 2015
Lee wakes up every morning, battered, bruised with no idea what happened to her while she slept. Haunted by half-remembered dreams, maybe even memories, she's tried everything to find out what's happening to her. The truth is more than she expected. Born of another world, a world at war, Lee somehow manages to travel there, to fight on the battlefront in her sleep, though she can't get there when awake. Until the call of Kalen, a fellow warrior desperate for her help and her magick, pushes her through the veil between worlds during the day.
Ishtan is a buffer world, sitting between the demon realm of Anqar and our world. The demons of Anqar have nearly laid waste to Ishtan. Desperate to continue their race they kidnap women and children for use as breeders and body slaves. Women who breed powerful children with the Anqar Warlords are highly prized and well treated, but still prisoners.
Kalen is a battle leader on the front lines of the war, trying to defend the women of his world against the Anqar raids. He's worked with (and loved) Lee for years, never having an opportunity to tell her how he felt. But now she's reappeared, in the flesh, and his biggest priority is keeping her safe.
Through the Veil is mesh of a book. It's a romantic fantasy that reads like an urban fantasy, but these character also wield plasma charges and cold-firing guns (and cannons). The world setting is excellent, intriguing and reminiscent of Anne Bishop's Black Jewels books (which are a favorite of mine).
The book, however, is not without its flaws. Lee is set up to be very powerful, almost infinitely powerful, special and an all around bad-ass. However nearly the entire book she's shown as a shaken, obtuse woman. Some of this is understandable, since she's not the same person awake in Ishtan as she has been dreaming in Ishtan. It's her refusal to believe in herself, combined with everyone else's blind faith in her specialness that wears the patience thin.
Kalen is a drool-worthy, sizzling hero and had my vote of most awesome character until about halfway in, when Lee repeatedly tells him to stop touching her and instead they have sex. Set in a frame of Kalen being the hero fighting against a race that's kidnapping and raping women, keeping them as sex slaves and breeders, the multiple times Lee said no and Kalen kept going anyway until Lee finally loosened up and gave in to her own lust killed off the like I had for him. (Note: I don't consider the scene to be rape per say, but it was too close to non-consensual for m tastes.) I'm afraid I just couldn't simultaneously accept that the Anqar demons are evil for what they do to women, but when the hero does it it's supposed to be hot.
As stellar as the world building is the description gets repetitive and there's a lot of time spent repeating that could have been spent on other things, namely the missing battle scenes. After all Kalen and Lee and everyone else are in the middle of a huge war for their world, yet there aren't any battles shown “on screen” and the darker aspects of the tale are glanced over and described as little as possible. Lee and Kalen might be watching a pyre of the teen soldier that just died in a fight with the giant wyrms that the Anqar demons put on Ishtan to take out the natives, but the emotion of these moments is glanced over.
Given the power of the lust between Kalen and Lee, the vividness of the world setting and story concept, and the depths of the emotion Lee feels between what she's supposed to be and what she thinks she is, the lack of power to the darker parts makes the story feel like Walker is pulling her punches. The combination of how very much I loved the fantasy setting, Kalen in the beginning and Walker's style versus the things I was dissatisfied with leaves me feeling very conflicted about this book. Certainly it will appeal to romantic fantasy fans, and probably also to Anne Bishop fans. The uniqueness of the world and its conflict is engaging (and that's why I bought the book), I just feel unsure that this is the tale Through the Veil wanted to be.
One thing I do know is that if Ms. Walker ever turned her pen toward a true dark fantasy or urban fantasy I would be all over it.
Ishtan is a buffer world, sitting between the demon realm of Anqar and our world. The demons of Anqar have nearly laid waste to Ishtan. Desperate to continue their race they kidnap women and children for use as breeders and body slaves. Women who breed powerful children with the Anqar Warlords are highly prized and well treated, but still prisoners.
Kalen is a battle leader on the front lines of the war, trying to defend the women of his world against the Anqar raids. He's worked with (and loved) Lee for years, never having an opportunity to tell her how he felt. But now she's reappeared, in the flesh, and his biggest priority is keeping her safe.
Through the Veil is mesh of a book. It's a romantic fantasy that reads like an urban fantasy, but these character also wield plasma charges and cold-firing guns (and cannons). The world setting is excellent, intriguing and reminiscent of Anne Bishop's Black Jewels books (which are a favorite of mine).
The book, however, is not without its flaws. Lee is set up to be very powerful, almost infinitely powerful, special and an all around bad-ass. However nearly the entire book she's shown as a shaken, obtuse woman. Some of this is understandable, since she's not the same person awake in Ishtan as she has been dreaming in Ishtan. It's her refusal to believe in herself, combined with everyone else's blind faith in her specialness that wears the patience thin.
Kalen is a drool-worthy, sizzling hero and had my vote of most awesome character until about halfway in, when Lee repeatedly tells him to stop touching her and instead they have sex. Set in a frame of Kalen being the hero fighting against a race that's kidnapping and raping women, keeping them as sex slaves and breeders, the multiple times Lee said no and Kalen kept going anyway until Lee finally loosened up and gave in to her own lust killed off the like I had for him. (Note: I don't consider the scene to be rape per say, but it was too close to non-consensual for m tastes.) I'm afraid I just couldn't simultaneously accept that the Anqar demons are evil for what they do to women, but when the hero does it it's supposed to be hot.
As stellar as the world building is the description gets repetitive and there's a lot of time spent repeating that could have been spent on other things, namely the missing battle scenes. After all Kalen and Lee and everyone else are in the middle of a huge war for their world, yet there aren't any battles shown “on screen” and the darker aspects of the tale are glanced over and described as little as possible. Lee and Kalen might be watching a pyre of the teen soldier that just died in a fight with the giant wyrms that the Anqar demons put on Ishtan to take out the natives, but the emotion of these moments is glanced over.
Given the power of the lust between Kalen and Lee, the vividness of the world setting and story concept, and the depths of the emotion Lee feels between what she's supposed to be and what she thinks she is, the lack of power to the darker parts makes the story feel like Walker is pulling her punches. The combination of how very much I loved the fantasy setting, Kalen in the beginning and Walker's style versus the things I was dissatisfied with leaves me feeling very conflicted about this book. Certainly it will appeal to romantic fantasy fans, and probably also to Anne Bishop fans. The uniqueness of the world and its conflict is engaging (and that's why I bought the book), I just feel unsure that this is the tale Through the Veil wanted to be.
One thing I do know is that if Ms. Walker ever turned her pen toward a true dark fantasy or urban fantasy I would be all over it.
January 22, 2022
Old title on my shelf and read it for nostalgia. Lots of sex. Magic. Portals. Demons. Not as impressed as late 2000s me. Going to sell or donate. 👎
December 28, 2011
This is my first book by Ms Walker. I came across it while perusing the digital titles my library had available in ebook format. I liked Through the Veil. I plan to checkout the next book in the series from the library.
Fantasy/romance is my favorite genre and Ms Walker did a pretty good job. If I could, I would give TTV 3.5 stars... Anyhow, what was missing for me??? I don't quite know, to be honest. It's several little things that I wish were a bit better. The character development was just lukewarm. Ms. Walker wasn't able to help me fully connect emotionally with any of her characters, save two, and those two had minimal stage time. They were all just flat, not 3-dimensional. She described their inner thoughts enough to where I could hang with the story and follow along with their journey. They just never fully came to life like characters in a book can do when written just right. That's not to say the characters didn't have emotion or struggles, Ms. Walker just wasn't able to write them in a way that allowed my humanity to relate with their humanity inspite of the fact it's all just fantasy and fiction.
The worlds (Ishtar and Anqar) and peoples were intriguing, I just wish Walker had gone deeper. I wish the 2nd book in the series was about Morne or one of Lee's brothers. Instead of leaving the world of Anqar and its people irredeemable I would have liked to have seen a salvation for them. Ms Walker did do a great job of conveying Lee's father, Char and his emotions. I was able to see him as a complex and redeemable person because of his conflicting traits and deep anguish at Lee being left unprotected at his death... but that's the thing, Walker killed him!! He had a plan for Anqar that included the cessation of raiding and raping and violence against Ishtar. He was disgusted by the state of his world and was waiting for the opportunity to make a change. Walker also completely left the issue with whatever message he sent to Lee's brothers unanswered, uncompleted. Maybe she intended Char and Anqar to be a side note and for the reader to just move on but if that's the case then this is the the problem I am talking about... Walker's writing is such that I'm at a loss as to what her intentions, as a story-teller, are and not in a 'good' way. And What about Morne?!?! After all he has sacrificed he deserves a HEA!
Because I was so frustrated with the lack of depth in the story, I resented all of the space the love scenes took up! They didn't fit either, really. I get that Kalen had waited so long to finally have a chance at a relationship with Lee and that he had desired her for years... but beyond those emotions the relationship was shallow. Ms Walker used their long history, the details of which were only alluded to, as a basis for this deep, longstanding connection. This was the foundation she used for their relationship and in theory it is more than enough. However, since she didn't tell that story and I therefor didn't read that part of their story it wasn't enough for me to believe their connection was all that powerful.
I know I want way more detail and story-telling than is possible out of a 260 page book. I don't know what kind of author Ms Walker is. I'm sure I'll know more after I read the next book. Maybe my questions will be answered and I will have rambled here needlessly. Maybe I am expecting epic story-telling from a cotton candy author???
All of the above sounds terrible but the book was good overall. My verdict is still out on the author, Shiloh Walker.
Fantasy/romance is my favorite genre and Ms Walker did a pretty good job. If I could, I would give TTV 3.5 stars... Anyhow, what was missing for me??? I don't quite know, to be honest. It's several little things that I wish were a bit better. The character development was just lukewarm. Ms. Walker wasn't able to help me fully connect emotionally with any of her characters, save two, and those two had minimal stage time. They were all just flat, not 3-dimensional. She described their inner thoughts enough to where I could hang with the story and follow along with their journey. They just never fully came to life like characters in a book can do when written just right. That's not to say the characters didn't have emotion or struggles, Ms. Walker just wasn't able to write them in a way that allowed my humanity to relate with their humanity inspite of the fact it's all just fantasy and fiction.
The worlds (Ishtar and Anqar) and peoples were intriguing, I just wish Walker had gone deeper. I wish the 2nd book in the series was about Morne or one of Lee's brothers. Instead of leaving the world of Anqar and its people irredeemable I would have liked to have seen a salvation for them. Ms Walker did do a great job of conveying Lee's father, Char and his emotions. I was able to see him as a complex and redeemable person because of his conflicting traits and deep anguish at Lee being left unprotected at his death... but that's the thing, Walker killed him!! He had a plan for Anqar that included the cessation of raiding and raping and violence against Ishtar. He was disgusted by the state of his world and was waiting for the opportunity to make a change. Walker also completely left the issue with whatever message he sent to Lee's brothers unanswered, uncompleted. Maybe she intended Char and Anqar to be a side note and for the reader to just move on but if that's the case then this is the the problem I am talking about... Walker's writing is such that I'm at a loss as to what her intentions, as a story-teller, are and not in a 'good' way. And What about Morne?!?! After all he has sacrificed he deserves a HEA!
Because I was so frustrated with the lack of depth in the story, I resented all of the space the love scenes took up! They didn't fit either, really. I get that Kalen had waited so long to finally have a chance at a relationship with Lee and that he had desired her for years... but beyond those emotions the relationship was shallow. Ms Walker used their long history, the details of which were only alluded to, as a basis for this deep, longstanding connection. This was the foundation she used for their relationship and in theory it is more than enough. However, since she didn't tell that story and I therefor didn't read that part of their story it wasn't enough for me to believe their connection was all that powerful.
I know I want way more detail and story-telling than is possible out of a 260 page book. I don't know what kind of author Ms Walker is. I'm sure I'll know more after I read the next book. Maybe my questions will be answered and I will have rambled here needlessly. Maybe I am expecting epic story-telling from a cotton candy author???
All of the above sounds terrible but the book was good overall. My verdict is still out on the author, Shiloh Walker.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2017
Tried to read this on a recommendation from someone. I had the expectation it was a sci-fi book, but it ends up being more romance than sci-fi. To each their own, but not my thing... made it about 1/3 of the way through and I just couldn't finish. I think for those that like paranormal romance (?), you might like this?
Probably my fault for not reading more of the reviews and having different expectations for the genre of the book.
Probably my fault for not reading more of the reviews and having different expectations for the genre of the book.
May 29, 2010
I got this for Christmas. I had no idea this was a romance novel until I started reading it. The cover didn't have a half naked couple on it and the description on Goodreads made it sound like a science fiction/adventure type novel. Ugh. I decided to try it anyway and I couldn't even get halfway through it.
UPDATE: I looked and Goodreads has changed the description of the book to: "A thrilling new sensual paranormal from the author of Hunter’s Salvation." So, now I look like an idiot. It used to have the synopsis from the back of the book on it:
"Found wandering in a field as a child, Lee Ross was given a name by the state and placed in a foster home-- without anyone realizing she wasn't entirely human. All her life, she's tried to dismiss the odd dreams that have plagued her, dreams of monsters creeping through the night and a man fighting demons by her side. But the bruises she wakes up with are all too real to ignore...
Then the man from her dreams appears--in the flesh. His name is Kalen, and he insists that her destiny lies in his world, the world of her dreams. To save their people, he must convince Lee to give up everything she knows, follow her heart, and cross over into the Under Realm--even though once she does, she'll never be able to return...".
So, yeah. Thank you Goodreads for taking the old description away and replacing it with a more accurate description of the book.
UPDATE: I looked and Goodreads has changed the description of the book to: "A thrilling new sensual paranormal from the author of Hunter’s Salvation." So, now I look like an idiot. It used to have the synopsis from the back of the book on it:
"Found wandering in a field as a child, Lee Ross was given a name by the state and placed in a foster home-- without anyone realizing she wasn't entirely human. All her life, she's tried to dismiss the odd dreams that have plagued her, dreams of monsters creeping through the night and a man fighting demons by her side. But the bruises she wakes up with are all too real to ignore...
Then the man from her dreams appears--in the flesh. His name is Kalen, and he insists that her destiny lies in his world, the world of her dreams. To save their people, he must convince Lee to give up everything she knows, follow her heart, and cross over into the Under Realm--even though once she does, she'll never be able to return...".
So, yeah. Thank you Goodreads for taking the old description away and replacing it with a more accurate description of the book.
June 21, 2008
I thought this book was okay. Perhaps it should have been several books long in order to expand on the characters and situations as much as I would have liked. We find out only the basics of Lee's family before her father is killed. We hear about brothers that never materialize. We never find out what happened to to old guy in charge of the demons. We never find out what happens to Dais. We never see anything more of Lee's old life and her making more of a transition. I'm sure I'm not supposed to think about it, but Lee had friends and a job and suddenly she just disappears from her apartment that is cracked to hell and covered in blood.
I didn't really believe Kalen much. Maybe it's because he seemed to fade into the background for the last half of the book, only to appear at sex scenes.
There were also several words that were incredibly overused in the first 1/3 of the book- "belly," "fisted," and "her sex" amongst others. They then continued to annoy me the rest of the book even though they did not appear as often.
I didn't really believe Kalen much. Maybe it's because he seemed to fade into the background for the last half of the book, only to appear at sex scenes.
There were also several words that were incredibly overused in the first 1/3 of the book- "belly," "fisted," and "her sex" amongst others. They then continued to annoy me the rest of the book even though they did not appear as often.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2009
this may turn out to be more fantasy than sci-fi. not sure. the glossary of definitions that precede the story make me think sci-fi...
when the author feels duty bound to define things like weapons and names of a caste system for a remote race of magickal (yeah, "ck" magick) people then ... i dunno. feels like sci-fi.
i'll let you know.
*******************************
one week later, give or take, and here's what i think:
sci-fi. definitely.
also, it was sexy in spots. war can produce sexual tension like nothing else and the whole story was about a war, so there was a perfect backdrop built in that the soft porn lover in me thrilled to.
however. the pragmatic side of me could not help but notice the ridiculousness of an experienced warrior getting it on out in the open (OUTSIDE) during wartime. it didn't ring true. it flipped my switch a little, sure. but it didn't ring true.
in conclusion, this was total sci-fi cheese. wee.
when the author feels duty bound to define things like weapons and names of a caste system for a remote race of magickal (yeah, "ck" magick) people then ... i dunno. feels like sci-fi.
i'll let you know.
*******************************
one week later, give or take, and here's what i think:
sci-fi. definitely.
also, it was sexy in spots. war can produce sexual tension like nothing else and the whole story was about a war, so there was a perfect backdrop built in that the soft porn lover in me thrilled to.
however. the pragmatic side of me could not help but notice the ridiculousness of an experienced warrior getting it on out in the open (OUTSIDE) during wartime. it didn't ring true. it flipped my switch a little, sure. but it didn't ring true.
in conclusion, this was total sci-fi cheese. wee.
August 18, 2010
I am a big Shiloh Walker fan so giving this book only one star seems harsh but it's the truth, I didn't like this book.
Where do I start? First, it was hard to get into. It wasn't until about 100 pages into the book did I get a sense of this world she created and what the Veil was all about. Second, once I did get into the story it was hard to stay interested in it.
I did however like the relationship she built between Kalen and Lee. Shiloh Walker I feel writes best when it comes to relationships among the hero and heroine. They are always strong, believable and emotional. This is what I love about her books. But sadly, the strongest part of the book was more of a side story than the main plot.
I would still recommend reading this book to others that like UF/PNR because her writing is good and the characters are likable. Personal, I just didn't like the book but that doesn't mean wont.
Where do I start? First, it was hard to get into. It wasn't until about 100 pages into the book did I get a sense of this world she created and what the Veil was all about. Second, once I did get into the story it was hard to stay interested in it.
I did however like the relationship she built between Kalen and Lee. Shiloh Walker I feel writes best when it comes to relationships among the hero and heroine. They are always strong, believable and emotional. This is what I love about her books. But sadly, the strongest part of the book was more of a side story than the main plot.
I would still recommend reading this book to others that like UF/PNR because her writing is good and the characters are likable. Personal, I just didn't like the book but that doesn't mean wont.
June 28, 2008
This book was a little better than I thought it was at first glance. It's not really urban fantasy - more real fantasy - and it's a little bare. I like my books a little more epic.
However, the book kept my interest throughout and the author created an interesting world. I do think that world could have been a little more detailed as well.
Finally, I have no issue with sex in novels (graphic sex or sex-light), however, the graphic sex in this book seemed completely out of place and didn't fit the tone of the rest of the book. It seemed a bit like the author was trying a bit too hard to make this a flavor of the month urban fantasy, and the book has definite genre identification issues!
All in all, though, a fun read with some interesting characters. If the author chooses to develop this world further in future novels, I'd try her again to see what she does with it!
However, the book kept my interest throughout and the author created an interesting world. I do think that world could have been a little more detailed as well.
Finally, I have no issue with sex in novels (graphic sex or sex-light), however, the graphic sex in this book seemed completely out of place and didn't fit the tone of the rest of the book. It seemed a bit like the author was trying a bit too hard to make this a flavor of the month urban fantasy, and the book has definite genre identification issues!
All in all, though, a fun read with some interesting characters. If the author chooses to develop this world further in future novels, I'd try her again to see what she does with it!
October 14, 2008
The heroine keeps dreaming about this strange, post-apocalyptic looking world where she hangs out with this hot guy and slays demons and other bad guys. Her dreams are getting worse, and she keeps waking up with bruises and other injuries. Then she discovers that this other world is real, and crosses "through the veil" when she's not asleep. She meets the hot guy, who's real as well, and they almost have hot sex, but demons show up which kills the mood. This book moves so, so slowly for so much of the story, it was hard for me to get through it. Then when the revelations and action finally started coming, they came so fast, it was hard to keep up. This story had some real pacing issues. That said, I did read the whole book. It just left me a little flat when I was done.
June 21, 2015
I really enjoyed this novel and I’m hoping there is a sequel following Through the Veil. The world building is so spectacular that you feel like you’ve seen it before or that you’ve walked the trails with either Lee or Kalen. The chemistry between all of the characters is so intrinsic that you know they’ve been together for awhile and even though you’re new, you don’t feel left out. For anyone who likes a little romance with their science fiction or fantasy, then I would definitely check out this novel. I know I’m going to be waiting for a sequel (if there is one and it sounds like there will be) and I going to check out some other novels by Shiloh Walker.
For my full review, click here.
For my full review, click here.
July 27, 2008
This book disappointed me. The first two books I read by this author were fantastic. I usually enjoy magic with a futuristic beat. But for some reason this book was a difficult read. It took me almost 5 days to trudge through, when I usually finish a book in hours. I liked the characters and the idea of the story. I can't exactly pinpoint what it was that threw me with this book. I guess it was because I was expecting a continuation of the Hunters series and this is obviously something different. But based on the greatness of the other books I still can't wait to get back to the old series for the Hunters.
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