Chaos Unleashed

Chaos Rises #2

by Pippa DaCosta

From the ashes of the fallen demon court, a new threat rises… 


Raised in a lab and trained to kill, I might not know much about being human, but I do know demons, and they don’t come more dangerous than the Prince of Pride—the devil. 



My brother is trapped at the heart of Fairhaven—a demon stronghold. To get him back, I need Pride’s help. Trained to kill princes, I know I can’t trust this one. He’ll lie, cheat, and manipulate to get what he wants: a new Dark Court so that he can rise again as its leader. His pretty words and burned wings don’t fool me. I’ll use him and any means necessary to save my brother. I don’t have a choice. If I fail, if I can’t control the elemental forces gathering inside Fairhaven, chaos will be unleashed, creating a new Hell on Earth. 



My makers tell me I’m too demon to love, too demon to care. But they made me this way. Now it’s time to show them all how demon I can be.


Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Demons, Paranormal, Romance, Adult

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 28, 2017

About the author

Two-time DragonCon Finalist & Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award semi-finalist--- "Wait a second. Let's cut to the chase. I write kick-ass urban fantasy & sci-fi novels with conflicted characters, breathless action, and no-holds-barred dialogue. My books may not leave you feeling all fluffy and warm inside, but they will excite you. There will be plot-twists, angst, probably a few dead bodies, and very likely your favorite character will turn out to be the bad guy. Don't say I didn't warn you..."

www.pippadacosta.com

(I review on Goodreads as a reader, not a writer. Reviews here are my personal opinion, not a professional one).

Reviews

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating: 10 stars. Hell yeah. What? Think I'm biased? Think I care if you think I'm biased? Think you see my point? Oh, good.

⚠️ Friendly warning: the "stuff" is strong in this one. You're welcome.

This book. THIS BOOK. Okay, as some of you Little Barnacles know, I slightly like Pippa DaCosta. Not much, mind you, just a little bit. It's not like she is a long-standing member of my Holy Quadrinity of Utter Awesomeness (HQoUA™) or anything. Nah. Anyway, I usually somewhat enjoy her books. But this one? THIS ONE? Bloody shrimpring hell, THIS ONE!!! It probably is Pippa DaCosta Is Awesome (PDCIA™)'s darkest, goriest, mostest twistedest story to date. And this despite the MC being disgustingly youngish. Please don't faint, my Lovely Decapods, I know this is a lot to take, but you have to be strong and stuff. I'm not nearly done with you yet.

Soooooo, THIS BOOK. First of all, it's all about wickedly wicked demons. And, as everyone knows, demons are yummy. Also, demons are not silly, pathetic faes, which is always a good thing. So QED and stuff. Second of all, Fluffy Bunny Lovers (FBL™) yuck yuck yuck should seriously consider not reading this book. Better yet, they should consider staying the shrimp away from it. I'd say putting a couple of hundred thousand kilometers between them and the book would be a good idea. Unless they want to end up in an insane asylum, that is. Because, yes, that is probably the effect Chaos Unleashed will have on their pathetically loathsome innocent, fluff-loving souls. I mean, they are probably not accustomed to the levels of scrumptious rampaging and exquisite slaughtering displayed in this most wondrous story. Seriously, who would have thought there were so many creative ways to gut demons? I love educational books, and let me tell you, there are quite a few new disembowelling techniques to be learned here. It's pretty awesome, if you ask me. Plus, there is enough blood in this story to both feed a whole vampire army (or two) and redecorate the walls of my undersea palace. Okay, so it's demon blood which is kinda sorta repugnant and repulsive, but beggars can't be beggars and stuff.



Just so you know.

Now don't you Silly Arthropods go thinking that this book is only about butchering and exterminating stuff! Oh no. It is also about gripping, exciting and somewhat exhilarating stuff. And about Twisty Twisty Twisty (TTT™) stuff that you don't see coming but keeps, you know, coming. And about beautifully evil stuff, too. And also about Bloody Hell Sucker Punch Me Why Don't You Pippa (BHSPMWDYP™) stuff. And about stuff that makes the little heart that you don't have go all "please give me an hour a minute to recover" and stuff. AND it is also about twisted, hot demon sex stuff *senses a sudden spark of interest from the Kinky Barnacly Bunch (KBB™)*. But you know what is really delectably delectable here? All the above-mentioned stuff is most heavenly, most exquisitely, most appetizingly gritty. Which reminds me: some of my delirious delicious persons of my acquaintance friends thought Senlin Ascends was gritty…Wait, there's something I need to do urgently here, will you please give me a minute? Promise I'll be right back and stuff. Thank thee kindly.



Sorry about that. The mention of both Senlin Ascends and "gritty" in the same sentence always has the weirdest giggling effect on me. It cannot be helped, don't know why.

Having thus so unequivocally proven that this story is Cute Kitty Enthusiasts Paradise (CKEP™), let me tell you a little about some of our mostest awesomest characters here. No, really, it's no bother. It's not like I have a life or anything, you know. I live to entertain you and stuff. Anyway, let's start with Gem, aka Gamma you know, as in alpha, beta, and stuff? You are so cultured, my Little Barnacles, it is most wondrous indeed , aka our cool, kick-ass, half-blood, harem-worthy chick in residence, aka "the pinnacle of human-demon research." Damn, the girl is so beautifully screwed up she should be outlawed. Okay, so after a while she somewhat manages to get her ruthless priorities straight and isn't so screwed up anymore. Meaning she still is. Very much so this is Pippa DaCosta after all. "Abandon all mental health ye who enter here" and stuff . Albeit it in a different, less human, more delightfully demonic, charmingly blood-shedding, cutthroatish way. Which is slightly orgasmic, if you ask me. Because there is indeed something to be said about unleashing the demon inside. I'm kinda sorta jealous, actually. Must be pretty shrimping awesome to set the beast free and mercilessly rule over hundreds of lesser beings. Oh wait, that's what I do everyday.



Don't mind me, I get like that sometimes, when I think of how cool it is to be me.

Now. Time to talk Ever Luscious Harem Business (ELHB™) here. The problem with Pippa DaCosta Is Awesome (PDCIA™) is that she keeps coming up with Yummy Harem Material (YHM™). My shrimpy builders just cannot keep up! I have to build new high security wings every time she writes a book! Have mercy on me, woman! I have tons of stamina and am still super hot and youthful despite my old age and stuff, but I am not entirely super human, you know! Anyway, we have not one but TWO new tasty harem slaves here: Torrent, who is as disgustingly youngish as Gem, but who kinkily happens to spoiler spoiler spoiler, oh my, and also to spoiler spoiler spoiler, oh dear GAWD you have to be joking oh bloody shrimping hell. So Poof! Gone! And stuff. Then we have Li'el, aka the Prince of Pride, aka a Freaking Prince of Hell (FPH™), whom I happen to have been slightly panting over respectfully thinking about since The Veil. He is wicked. He is hot. He is delicious. He is wickedly, hotly delicious. And he is mine. Obviously. So Poof, Gone, Harem. And stuff.



Okay, I know you can't get enough of my understated passion for all things DaCostian, but I am unfortunately going to have to cut this review short. Life sucks, I know, but I have to eat, too, my Bountiful Decapods! Now. To end this most fascinating crappy non review in a blaze of spoilerish glory: THAT. ENDING. Oh my bloody shrimp, that ending! She did it! Pippa bloody shrimping did it it! She spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler, can you believe it??!! I was pretty sure she wouldn't be able to resist it much longer, but dared not hope and stuff. And resist Pippa did not, so I shall now sacrifice a platoon of murderous crustaceans to her greatness. Yeah, that's how shrimping much I luuuurved the ending and stuff.

» And the moral of this What Do You Mean Book This is the Last Instalment in This Series What a Total and Complete Rip Off Crappy Non Review (WDYMTitLIiTSWaTaCROCNR™) is:



DUH.

✉ A very personal, private message to Adam Harper aka the Asshole aka Die Die Die Suffer Suffer Suffer: why aren't you dead yet? Just wondering.

ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

· Book 1: Chaos Rises ★★★★★
· Book 3: Chaos Falls ★★★★★



[Pre review nonsense]

» First I was like:



Just a teensy little bit.

» Then I was like:



» And finally I was like:



►► Full Oh My Bloody Shrimping Hell Pippa Did It She Actually Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh Yeeessssssssss There is a Goddess Her Name is Pippa And She Loves Meeeeeee Crappy Non Review (OMBSHPDISASSSSAYTiaGHNiPASLMCNR™) to come.

P.S. Slightly hysterical? Me? Nah. I am as apathetic and calm and composed and unexcited as can be. More or less.



[Feb. 3, 2017]

➽ Question: You find yourself in the presence of a Most Wondrous Pippa ARC (MWPA™), what do you do?

(Check all that apply)

☑ Slightly squeeeeeee like a maniac
☑ Fangirl like a 15-year old hysterical nitwit on acid a little.
☑ Start hyperventilating a bit because this is so totally, like, exciting and stuff you might, like, die or something.
☑ Lose consciousness for a couple of hours an eighth of a quarter of a half second. Max.
☑ Ruthless crush Lovingly squeeze your murderous shrimps in an deadly lock affectionate embrace.
☑ All of the above. Duh.
☐ None of the above. Because you're not like that. Oh no, certainly not. You are a wise, ancient, responsible, mature, sophisticated woman who controls her emotions and would never be caught dead behaving in such a juvenile, disgraceful way.

I have a Pippa AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC!!!!!!!!

[Choko · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** 4.75 ***

A buddy read with the Wednesday UF Group @ BB&B! Because Pippa can do no wrong!!!

This was soooo goooooooood!!! If you are already a fan of Pippa DaCosta, you would understand. If you are a fan of the UF genre, this book full of action and demon goodness is going to raise the adrenaline levels in your system to unprecedented levels!!! The woman knows how to make you spend the entire reading time on the edge of your seat, wondering who is going to stab the character you love in the back and whom you should or shouldn't trust. As a rule of thumb, trust no one!!!!

"..."Being human isn't something you're born with. It's something you learn."..."

Gem, the half-human half-ice-demon "product" of the Institute and her brother Del, half-human half-chaos-demon, had been raised in a cell in the pits of the humans run Institute, where they were doing experiments and treating these hapless creatures worse then rats, trying to strip them of humanity, keep them away from their potential, and hone them as weapons to be used at their jailers' pleasure. However, they have found themselves "free" after the Veil had fallen and was repaired again and this time they are on the West Coast, trying to figure out how to live. In the previous book their "owner" had some slight difficulties, so this time around they are trying to set up a court on this side of the Veil. For this they have to work in close quarters with a very power-obsessed fire demon, a gorgeous and mysterious water demon, some other lesser demons, and the Prince of Pride. I am completely in love with him, by the way... Just saying:):):)

"..."‘I hate you.’
‘You’re sweet.’
‘I really do. You’re a terrible demon prince and an even worse devil.’
He chuckled a deeply smooth and delicious laugh. ‘Thank you.’"..."

So, there are explosions, fights, chases, intrigues, even some wild demon sexy times:) It is a fluid ab and flow of action and you never know if it is high or low tide. Torrent, the gorgeous water demon, remembers once again where he comes from and things click just right. Humans really drop the ball in this one and I rooted for the Demons all the way through! They are larger than life and all of them leave their mark in this exciting sequel, and I can't wait for the third book to come out! If you enjoy a high-octane Urban Fantasy, the Chaos series and the Veil series before that are perfect for you! I know they always get my blood moving. I recommend them wholeheartedly!!!

Now I wish you all happy reading and many more wonderful books to come!!!

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you’ve grown up in the institute all of your life and are finally out on your own you are bound to make a few mistakes, trust the wrong people and maybe kill a few others. It happens.

Gem is alone. Her brother is with some twisted demons possibly by choice and possibly by force. The one other person she might have cared about she betrayed and doesn’t trust. And just to top it off she is about to make a deal with the Devil. She has had better days, but she has also had worse so this is about par for her life.

Anyone would think you’ve never made a deal with the devil before.”
I gritted my teeth and breathed out through my nose. “Fine. I’d like to amend our deal.”
He set his drink down. “And what would you like to change, little half blood?”
“I want you to help me get my brother back today.”
“No.”
I paused, just a beat. “You can’t say no. You just said …”
His laughter was the sound of something smooth and intoxicating. It reached into the half of me made from demon instincts and stroked her wide awake. “I can do what I like. I’m the devil.”

Li’el you are so much fun. The Prince of Pride does not disappoint again and I LOVED HIM. He plays such a great role as semi-mentor for Gem. I think he might actually have her best interests at heart. It is amazing. I still really miss the Prince of Greed but perhaps there is still hope he will eventually be able to come through to this side especially if there is a chaos demon over here. Also I like some of the new info we have gotten on Le’il that makes me wonder if there is more to the princes than what we might think.

“No, there’s more to it.” He’d told me he wanted me to feel, to live, to love, to hate. But how could a demon know I was missing all those things? How could he even begin to understand such human concepts? Was his act truly an eons-old charade, or was he different from all the other demons. Could a Prince of Hell feel? Everything the Institute had taught me said no, but they’d lied about my brother. What if they were wrong about the demon princes? What if they were princes because they felt in a way most demons couldn’t?

That is a very interesting what if indeed.

I’m sad to say that I hate the humans in this world or at least the ones at The Institute. They are the worst and having Adam explain to Gem what they tried to make her into and how they attempted to do it just makes me furious. Especially knowing what Gem in to Adam. I’d say if was just Adam who is the worst but that isn’t the case. Almost everyone we meet from the institute I want to hit on the head with a heavy object.

I did enjoy both the story and the characters in this book much more than the prior. All the revelations about Torrent were WOW. I mean just when I thought things couldn’t get any weirder or worse for him, well they did. All of the stuff from his past was really harsh and I wanted to kill Val for no other reason than what she did to him.

The ending makes me think that we will definitely be seeing Muse and Co. in the next book. I’m not certain if I’m excited about that as I’m still pining for Akil so if I see that she has totally moved on and in happy half-blood heaven with Stephan I’ll be so upset. Just saying.

[Pippa DaCosta]

The demons are back, and this time they're unleashing chaos in the City of Angels. Who says demons don't have a sense of humor?

Up for pre-order on all your favorite bookstores. Due to launch early to mid March.

[Maria Dimitrova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buddy Read with the Wednesday UF Group.
If there was a way to give this a million stars I would have! But then again I'm a bit biased when it comes to the Veil World. There's something so magical, so enticing about it that no matter what actually happens in the novel.

When I first read this book I mostly saw the rage inducing things like the way the Institute and Adam Harper treated Gem. Their attitude was so infuriating that I not only wanted them all dead but I actually thought that the demons getting the upper hand is a good thing, even if it meant the obliteration of the human species. As another author once wrote (I don't remember which one) some monsters wear human faces and in this series the real monsters are all human. Even Delta's monstrous behaviour is partly the fault of humans. Can you imagine what it's like to be caged with the one person that makes you skin crawl and repels you on a bone deep level and be forced to pretend you adore them? Maybe, just maybe if he had a normal childhood he would have been able to stave off insanity instead of embracing it. Sometimes the ends justify the means but sometimes, like in this case, you look back and see (if you're still capable of that) that you've become worse than the monster you were fighting. Because the demons can't help themselves. Killing is in their nature. Do you blame a wolf for hunting and killing a sheep? No, you don't. I'm not saying that they should be left to slaughter at will. I'm just saying that experimenting on sentient beings is wrong. Breeding them just so you can have a "tool" is so monstrous that I'm still reeling from the things they did and the things that fell from Adam's mouth.

But Gem is resilient. Despite being brought up like a chattel to be nothing more than a weapon, she still has the capacity for humanity the Institute thought they've bred out of her. With Li'el's help she managed the find that inner human with all it's bad parts. Because being human means feeling pain, despair and grief. And love. And she is capable of love as she proves at the end. Not demon obsession as Adam tried to convince her but real, genuine love. And I hope that now she'll have the chance to grow into that humanity with the Institute gone.

Li'el and Torrent are the real stars of this novel. Mostly because they prove that even immortal demons can change. And change for the better. Because they both did. Don't get me wrong, neither of them is a saint and they both have their quirks and more sins than one can list but they did change. Torrent, a son of a Prince of Hell did what many humans would never do - he sacrificed himself (or at least he fully intended to) to save LA. Li'el came to Gem's rescue time and time again and demanded only that she lives in return. No self-respecting demon would do those things. And they did more, acted more human, than the humans of the Institute. Oh the irony!

And now I want to talk a bit about the ending. Something I noticed only now during this reread and would have probably missed had I not reread the Veil series just a few weeks ago. I want to talk about Muse. She shows up for just a few seconds at the end but you can feel how Akil's absence is affecting her. It's just a phrase but it packs so much emotions. And it just proves that he was the one she truly loved and that she needs him and always will. And with the announcement of a new book in the series we'll get to see that need fulfilled.

Original review:
Why is this the end! I just got comfortable with these characters! I need at least two more books! *whines like the spoiled girl she is*

The fact that this is the second and LAST book in the series is my only complaint with Chaos Unleashed. I just assumed it can't be a duology but the storyline was nicely wrapped up by the end with the potential for a spin-off. Maybe there'll be one featuring my favourite demon prince one day. I mean it's about time one of the Princes of Hell to get a HEA. Whatever that would be for an evil creature from Hell.

Gem had to face some hard truths in this one. Knowing how she was raised helped me deal with some of her naivë moments. And there were a lot of those. Usually something like that would drive me nuts but considering her upbringing it's surprising that she has the level of emotional maturity she has. And the capacity for emotion that she has. Because most would have turned up total sociopaths in her place. I loved watching her grow and felt awful when she came to terms with the fact that there's nothing you can really count on. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and just hold her to make the pain go away. But she's a strong one and bravely took her own fate in hands. And it was glorious!

A certain character from the previous series made an appearance and at first I got really mad. How dare he show up and fuck up another half-blood's life! And why, oh why hadn't someone rid the world of his evil??? But I should have known better and trusted that Ms. DaCosta has a good reason to bring that slime back. Still I want him to suffer. I'm a bad person, I know.

I can't really say more without giving too much away. You'll all just have to get around to reading this and soon you'll realize why I adore Ms. DaCosta writing. So if you want to see what quality UF looks like give this series a try!

[Dana aka ♥Belladonna♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a Veil series cameo!!! Don’t worry I won’t spoil it for you, but… YAY!

Picking up where the last book left off, Gem promises her services to Li’el if he will help her find her brother, Del. She will stop at nothing to rescue him from Vanth, even aligning with the Devil himself, Li’el, the Prince of Pride, to get him back.

But as it often is with demons in this series, nothing is black and white... Nor will it be as easy as Gem anticipates.

Still badass as ever, Gem doesn't hold back. Through epic demon fights and mind-games, she is obsessively focused on her brother. Though it takes a bit to get there, the revelations start hitting left and right. And that's when the story picked up for me.

And let me tell you, the revelations I did not see coming!

The end, though... Oh, man.


*Side-eyes and squints at Pippa DaCosta* I’m picturing you gleeful at my emotional torment.

I know this was the final book in this duology, but I was left hoping that there would be more, possibly a little short story to see what happens following right when it ends. It definitely leaves the door open for more and/or a spin-off or two.

Really, though, Torrent. My poor, poor Torrent. I think Demons by Imagine Dragons was written just for this character. *Side-eyes and squints at Pippa DaCosta, again*

*Copy kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a huge fan of Pippa DaCosta ever since I discovered her Veil series, I love all of her books but this world will always have a special place in my heart so this final book is a little bitter sweet for me. Chaos Unleashed was absolutely fantastic but I'm a little heartbroken that the series has come to an end and I'm still kind of hoping that we'll get to see more of these characters in the future! This was a fitting end to Gem's story though and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I don't want to go into detail about the plot because this is one of those stories that you just need to dive right into and hold on for dear life as you're taken on a rollercoaster ride full of shocking twists and turns. Every time you think you have a character worked out something will happen that will change your opinion completely, characters you were wary of will show a nicer side but you'll never know if they've turned over a new leaf or if they're just trying to trick you, while characters you've loved from the beginning will reveal secrets that make you question whether you ever really knew them at all. Nothing is what it seems. Absolutely nothing! And boy does that make this a fun journey to be on.

All of the main characters are deliciously messed up in completely different ways, Gem wants so desperately to be human that she never realised that the Institute are only interested in her demon side, Del is fighting to control chaos and it's a battle he might not be able to win, Torrent makes some discoveries about his past that change everything he thought he knew about himself and Li'el, Prince of Pride, is a shadow of himself after events in the previous books. All of these characters are wonderfully complex with their own motives and plans for the future. Some may choose to embrace their demon sides while others will fight for humanity but none of them are prepared to be used by the Institute anymore and they're all going to make a stand for what they believe in.

I don't think I need to say anything else, if you're already a fan of this series then I know you'll be buying this book immediately but if you're not then I can't recommend it highly enough. I'd suggest starting with the Veil series because it's absolutely amazing and events in this spin off build up from where the previous story took us but you can't go wrong with anything by this author, she's at the top of my auto-buy list and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

[Meigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chaos Unleashed brings us back to the exciting world of The Veil and plops us back in the middle of LA as Gem once again tries to finally reunite with her brother. This time around, she's found herself with an unlikely ally in the form of a demon prince. Li'el, aka the Prince of Pride. Pippa's demons are always fantastic, but her strengths really lie in her Princes. Li'el was everything (and more!) I'd expect from a prince known as Pride and just as I'd expect from any demon, his methods for helping Gem do seem a little on the self-serving side of things.

Gem also encounters several people from the past book, ones that seem far more nefarious than our little Proud Prince. Torrent and Vanth are two of the main obstacles standing between Gem and her brother, along with (of course) The Thing That Never Goes Away, also known as The Institute. Add to that, Delta is a little...different this time around, and others are trying to convince Gem that things are as they should be and Del doesn't need, nor want, her rescuing. But Gem's dedication when it comes to protecting her brother is far stronger than anything else, and nothing will sway her from at least trying to find him.

As I stated before, Pippa's demons and the princes are absolutely phenomenal, and that's certainly the highlight of this series for me. My only grievance this time around was the pacing. It seemed oddly rushed at times, with some rather large chunks of time being glossed over especially in the beginning chapters. But the story still flowed rather smoothly, so I can't really call it a valid complaint. More of a minor personal annoyance.

Chaos Unleashed brings Gem and Del's story to a close, but I'm still hoping that Pippa has something up her sleeve to bring us rabid fans more of her delightful demon princes. Recommended for established Veil fans, as I think it would be more appreciated by starting at the very beginning. 3.5 stars rounded to 4 because - those demon princes!

*Many thanks to Pippa DaCosta for providing a free advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Denisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still disappointing.

[Carrie Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!!! Can Demons love? Can the Prince of Hell actually be a good guy trying to save a city along with a half breed? What happens when half demon Torrent finally remembers just exactly who he is?
What do you do when family becomes your worst enemy? Throw in the Insititute who creates the "perfect weapon" in half breed with not one bit of a moral compass and you have a great book! Full of action packed demon fighting with a lot of angst stirring emotions that our heroes just arent used to feeling as well as deciding to save all the lesser demons and you have Gem's world. I found myself liking the Prince,feeling sorry for Torrent,cheering for Gem as she shed her naïveté for a realistic viewpoint and hating Delta for the pure evilness he spews! A wonderful Demon based fantasy that I can hardly wait for book 3 to be released !!!!

[Elena Linville-Abdo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: 4.5 out of 5.

I liked this book better than the first installment in the series. The story is just tighter, and the characters are more developed. The main themes also resonated more with me this time: self-determination, nature versus nurture, freedom of will, etc.

I rooted for Gem to find her place in the world and her purpose. Too bad that she had to lose so much to do that. It was devastating for her to discover that her whole life had been a lie, and that her family wasn't really her family, or that Del wasn't as good and innocent as she believed. Even then, her final decision about her brother was heartbreaking, because even if they weren't related by blood, in her heart, he was still her brother.

I want to see how this trilogy concludes now that the Veil is secure and there is no more Chaos demon to break through it, so onward to book 3.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Do you ever find yourself unwilling to finish a book? For me, that sums up Chaos Unleashed completely. It's the last book set in Pippa's wonderful Veil world and as such I found it hard to let go of all the characters I've come to love, cherish - and in some cases; despise. It's the end of an era for me, sigh... Can you tell I'm a little melanholic?

Gem's life after her release from the institute has been one action-packed adventure after another. Her journey of self-discovery has been fraught with temporary setbacks and hard truths. Not everyone she loves, seeks redemption. How do you save those who do not want to be saved? Is the correct action sometimes to cut them loose or do you keep fighting for them no matter what?

Over the course of the book, all the characters round out nicely, Sometimes the demons act just the way you expect them to, but sometimes, just sometimes, they surprise you, just like Akil *sigh* did with Muse. Not just one player, but TWO, are something alltogether different than they seem. In fact; all the demonic men in Gem's life carry secrets that have the ability to make or break the world as we know it.

As this is an ARC-review of the final book in a series I'm loath to reveal too much. Believe me when I say that the end result is utterly addictive! ... On second thought; DON'T take my word for it, find out for yourself. Just make sure to start at the very beginning with Beyond The Veil: A Muse Urban Fantasy (The Veil Series Book 1 as Chaos Unleashed comes full circle as it wraps up;-)

So why was this *only* 4.5 stars? Two reasons:

1. There was a certain revelation regarding a missing individual at the end and I would love to see that storyline resolved... Which brings me to the second point...
2. You can't stop writing Veil books now, Pippa. Your readers demand a da capo! (Just call me mrs. Greed! Mwahaha!)

*I was given an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

So Gem isn't the most likeable character, but I did like her more in this book. Though for someone who should have such a major part in a Dark Court I feel like she comes off much less powerful than she should be?

[Louise H's Book Thoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't want to give out any spoilers so some of this won't make sense until you read the book. I felt that there were loose ends in this book, even though Pippa has stated it is just a two book series. However she might have been referring to Gem and Del's story (ok I cried at some of this book- I love a story that makes me FEEL). The ending was very unexpected and a small part of me was sad with how things worked out (or didn't) for some characters. However it was a positive ending and nice to see Muse, if only briefly.

The characters, as usual, are well written and interesting. The plot is fast paced, exciting and has lots of twists and turns to it. The book is written to a very high standard and had me gripped from start to finish. I have never been disappointed or bored by a single word this author has written and this book was no different. If you like a well written book, with wonderfully complex characters and an action packed story line then this book is for you.

[Fangs for the Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gamma, half demon, raised in a lab by humans to hunt down and destroy demons, needs allies to rescue her brother

And there can be no greater ally than the Demon Prince of Pride. If you can trust a Demon Prince. And the irony of the Demon Hunter allying with the Demon Prince isn’t lost on her

Gem has a goal - but does she even know what she wants? Or who she can trust?


This book series has a fun world (and this book overtly links Pippa DaCosta’s two worlds) with demon princes and an array of different demons: from various lesser demons that are animalistic through to a range of elementals. We have half demons, a demonically scarred real world reeling from a major demonic incursion and lots of magic, battles and exploration

It’s an excellent world. The parts of the world lost to demonic power and incursion, demons trying to find their place in the world of humanity or in these little demonic lands. And even the animalistic demons are interesting in their differences and how they are used

But we don’t explore all that much of them. Oh we use a fair bit of it to explore magic and powers and, like the previous book, there is an ongoing sense that there’s a whole lot more to this world than I get to see (I like the merging of the book series because it adds a lot more weight and context to this world building. Argh I like this world but give me more!) but I have to concede that isn’t the point of this book

This book is all about identity - who people are and what they want to be. Oh we have an excellent plot with great conflicts, some interesting relationships and loyalties and some really really really nifty fight and action scenes.

But identity is the core here. Obviously we have Gem herself, the demon, the weapon created by the Institute, the human… something more? She struggles back and forth between human feelings, demonic violence the weapon’s hatred of all things demonic. And this constantly makes her doubt who she is, what she wants and even what feelings are real

There’s her brother Delta, and what is he to her? Can she see him for what he is, what their relationship actually is - can she see past what she wants him to be?

Around her is Torrent, another half demon who has the same demon/human conflict but also his own battle over what he wants to be. How will he grow, which will he preserve - what actually matters to him the most. And can you decide to be something you’re actually not because you value this identity so much?


Then the Demon Prince of Pride - and the conflict over what he is. After all, he is supposed to be the most deceptive, manipulative being on the planet so you can you trust anything he says about what he wants, who he is etc? Can you even trust yourself around something this manipulative?


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[Jenny Whetzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. A couple of big events take place in this story. I cried. A couple times. Pippa's writing is able to latch on to my heart. For me, there is just something about her writing that I become obsessed with and can't put her book down.

[Cheryl La Pa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Wow! What a ride! I am breathless!

This book should come with a health warning and seat belt restrictions because it is not for the faint hearted and you definitely need to be strapped in for this exhilarating roller coaster. There are sudden twists and turns, plenty of adrenaline-filled moments and I never knew what was coming next in this full throttle thrill ride.

Chaos Unleashed is a kick-ass urban fantasy where demons roam Los Angeles after the Veil was temporarily lifted. It is the second book in the Chaos Rises series and I would highly recommend reading Chaos Rises first.

Gem is half demon, half human and needs the help of the demon prince, Pride, to rescue her brother. Gem is learning how to deal with her demon side and questioning everything that she has been told about demons. For the first time in her life, Gem is free to make her own decisions, but having been raised in a lab, realises that there is so much that she does not know and must decide on whom to trust: Torrent – the half human, half demon friend with a forgotten past who is under the control of another demon; Pride – the demon prince who wants his own Dark Court, but keeps coming to Gem’s aid; or her brother Del – who is struggling to control the chaos within him, but has always been by her side until recently.

I connected with Gem straight away and was there with her on her quest to save her brother. She is tough and determined yet vulnerable and naïve. I especially fell for sexy, cheeky Pride and loved the banter between him and Gem. And I also have a huge soft spot for Torrent whose dark past is fast catching up with him.

‘…You could have stopped him, yah know.’
Pride gave me a dry look. ‘No.’ he growled. ‘I couldn’t. He was hell-bent on having you and would have destroyed the building to get to you.’
‘So you let him take me to save your soft furnishings?’
‘A man’s home is his castle.’

‘I hate you.’
‘You’re sweet.’
‘I really do. You’re a terrible demon prince and an even worse devil.’
He chuckled a deeply smooth and delicious laugh. ‘Thank you.’

‘I thought you were air and everywhere?’ I teased.
‘I took a break. Being omnipotent is exhausting.’


Ms DaCosta is fast becoming my favourite author and I am yet to read one of her books that have not kept me enthralled and intrigued from start to finish. She creates fantastic worlds with unforgettable, real characters and weaves them into an unpredictable, fast-paced, action-filled adventure.

My only regret is that I have to wait for the next book to come out. I need more Gem, Torrent, Pride & Del!

[Amy Braun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bittersweet ending for this duology, full of excitement, tension, secrets, and heartache. Seriously, a lot of heartache. Not that I would expect Gem to have an easy finale. The story picks up close to where it left off, with Gem and a demon Prince working together to rescue her brother from demons who want to use his powers. But from there, it takes a new turn that I wasn't expecting and had me turning the next pages to see what happened next. I really liked the characters and the surprises that were revealed. A lot of them I wasn't expecting, which of course is always fun to experience. That said, I feel (and have always felt) that poor Torrent got the short end of the stick––a stick that beat the hell out of him. It made some scenes with Gem a little tricky to get through, but I love the girl's backstory and could sympathize with certain choices she made. The Prince was fabulous in all ways and I was really surprised by his big secret. The ending was longer than I expected, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and liked the teases that connected it to DaCosta's previous Veil series. These have been great books and I will find myself missing them, but the ending brought the catharsis I needed and I would highly recommend it!

[D. Messing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow was this a wild ride of a book!!! Once again she gave us a book that is impossible to put down, transporting you into the story and bringing it alive in a way that few authors can. This series is one of those that sticks in your mind, and leaves you wondering what happens next for the Prince of Pride, Gem, Del, and Torrent. I loved the evolution of Gem throughout the story, and how she finally started to find herself, and who and what she is. I also thank the author wholeheartedly for allowing me to review this ARC, and eagerly await the next installment.

[Hannah (Sakurahan or ForeverBooks18) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi Readers,

I’ve just finished a great book. Chaos Unleashed is the second book in the Chaos Rises series and it definitely held up to its predecessor in how good it was!

Chaos Unleashed continues from where Chaos Rises finishes. Gem, our half human, half ice demon and her brother, Del, our half human, half chaos demon from book 1 continue their adventure in a dystopian LA.

NOTE: This novel shouldn’t be read by anyone below age 17, I don’t think as there’s a sexual scene. It’s not heavily described but you know that it happens. Also there’s war and bloodshed in Chaos Unleashed.

Gem is alone. Her brother is with some evil demons by force or possibly by choice. The one other person she might have cared about she doesn’t 100% trust and she is about to make a deal with a Devil.

The Prince of Pride, Li’el is the devil that Gem doesn’t know whether to trust or not.

“If the Academy Awards handed out Oscars to demons, Pride would win them all”

denotes that Pride is a bit of a schmoozer, used to getting what he wants.

Pride and Gem form an unlikely friendship as they try to work out what’s happening in LA. I really enjoyed reading about this friendship. It’s quite funny reading some of the exchanges between Gemma and Pride.

“I’ve followed you around for a week, and you haven’t done anything.”
“That’s a matter of opinion.” He planted his bare feet on the floor and ran his hands over his shaved head. “It’s too early for half-blood drama.”

This happens after a party Pride has just woken up after. Gem needs to go and find her brother but Pride is more bothered about other things. That’s until he realises Gem is only trying to protect what she thinks is hers.

I don’t really want spoil anymore as it’s a lot better to go into this story quite blind but there’s fighting, romance, and humour throughout Chaos Unleashed!

What did I like about Chaos Unleashed?

I liked how every character had a role in the book. It didn’t seem like any of them weren’t needed.

I liked how Chaos Unleashed is told from first person perspective. It made Gem’s emotions seem real.

I liked how one second I was thinking bad things were going to happen but the next I was laughing.

I liked how the romance was a main point in the story. I hope it continues in the 3rd book!

What didn’t I like about Chaos Unleashed?

I didn’t like how the love interest character wasn’t in much of the story. Hopefully in book 3 there will be more scenes including him.

I really enjoyed Chaos Unleashed. It was a really quick read for me too! That’s why I’m giving it 5 stars!

Have you read Chaos Rises (book 1)?

Will you be reading Chaos Unleashed if you have read Chaos Rises?

📖Belle📖

[Paranormal Books R Us · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chaos Unleashed Review

I felt like this book kept going in circles. I have not read any of this author's other series and I don't know if there is going to be another book to this one or if the authors Veil series ties together with these characters. But by the end I felt like I was missing something and kind of left hanging. That being said I really liked these characters and the world created for them is interesting enough that I plan to read more of DaCosta's work to find out for myself if there is more of a connection.
In my opinion Chaos Unleashed was still worth the read.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I found myself rooting for the demons and hoping Gem would be free of the institute. So many thing go right as well as wrong for Gem. When the Ascension happened, I do not think anyone was prepared for what happened next. The battles were so real I found myself feeling Gem's ice and Pride's torn wings make the breeze. I felt Chaos lose and reign in his demon. I could feel when Torrent discovered the truth about himself and realized he was no one's pet. I can only hope there will be another book in this series.

[Kariny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gamma is a half blood raised in the institute to fulfill one goal only-kill demons, But when her brother is kept in an area swarming with demons, Gem will stop at nothing to get him back. Even making a deal with the Prince Of Pride.

AAAHHHH IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

For those of you who've been here a while, you know i AM OBSESSED with anything Pippa writes! It started off when i got a Netgalley copy of her second series, City Of Fae. I was DAZZLED by it and since book 2 wasn't out yet, i went ahead and got the whole ebook boxed set of The Veil series which i binge read in less than a week. I could not put them down. At all. And then city of fae book 2 came out and i went through another phase of awe. AND THEN WE GOT NEWS THAT THE VEIL SERIES WAS GETTING A SPIN-OFF. Chaos Rises was in literally all of my book tags for my most anticipated book and i read it and it was freaking awesome and now this book (book 2) has me literally considering building a Pippa Dacosta alter. I still need to read her girl from above series!

Below is the City Of Fae series! You can click on the covers to check out my review :) (sorry for the bad formatting those reviews are pretty old )

             

And then we have the almighty Veil Series!!!! I don't have a review for those books since i read the whole boxed set in one go but hopefully the images below will give you an idea of how awesome they are!

If you're looking for one reason to read this books then i have one word for you. Akil. The prince of Greed. 

And we also have Stephan

And not to mention the kickass, badass, awesome, funny, broken, powerful half blood MC, Muse!

Enough said i think.

And then we finally come to the spin-off series-Chaos rises! You can click on the cover for my review of book 1! 

Anyways I cannot recommend her books enough!!!! Amazing writing, badass spunky MC's, hot as hell(pun intended) and sassy male characters and a butt load of action? Yep just pick any of her books up.

Okay rant over. Actual review starts now. Also i was literally beaming with pride every time Li'el's (the prince of pride) restaurant was mentioned. It was called Decadent-I. AND I NAMED IT!!! I was so happy to see it in the book gah my feels were all over the place!

Every single second of this book we got to experience Gem's total kickass character. She will stop at nothing to get her brother back even making a deal with Li'el. She always has her guard on because in these books, a demon is a demon and no amount of hotness will make them anything but beings with ulterior motives. She has her head firmly on her shoulders, she's extremely courageous and she feels this inner conflict about who she is and what her purpose is. You could feel a lot of her turmoil and you really sympathized with her! I think this book was about Gem discovering herself and seperating the lies and truths about what and who she was. Was she too demon to love?



The discrimination against half bloods is something we encountered again and again in the Veil series with Muse and in the Chaos Rises series we still have that same issue that keeps coming back-this time in the form of Torrent who's enslaved by Vanth. My heart was literally breaking for Torrent. Gem was raised in an institute so she doesn't have that same background of enslavement as other half bloods but instead she's been trained to kill demons all her life. She and her brother were lab experiments and she loathes the institute for what they did to her.



We do encounter Delta, Gem's brother, who was one of the most intriguing characters! He's a very dynamic character in the sense that he craves chaos and can't seem to control the power inside him and deep down he doesn't want to control it either.



And gosh were things were happening in this book. Loads of revelations, fights, pure displays of extreme power and if i might say-heart break. Never a dull moment! I did not ever in a million years see that plot twist with Torrent!! Perfect just perfect i can't say more without spoilers!

*Spoiler alert for those who haven't read the COMPLETE Veil series.*

We need to bring the veil down guys. Akil was referring to Dawn when he said the veil could be brought down by Chaos. but we have Del!!! Akil could be back!!!!

THAT ENDING. I CAN'T EVEN. I STARTED SQUEALING BEFORE I WAS EVEN SURE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING. YAS YAS YAS. I WAS HOLDING ON TO SO MUCH HOPE. IT HAS BEEN FULFILLED. Even though this duology is over, there is room for another series because that ending leaves a lot of possibilities! Pippa DaCosta if you're reading this I BEG YOU PLEASE KEEP WRITING IN THIS UNIVERSE. And i won't spoil the veil series but Pippa you know exactly who we are CRAVING right now!!!

Pretty please :P!!!

Gritty, urban setting filled to the brim with action, hot demon princes, plot twists and badass female MC's how could you go wrong? YOU CAN'T. YOU JUST CAN'T.

[Mikky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at:


My Rating: 4 and a half stars

This was such an amazing continuation to the first book in this series. I adored every torturous moment of anxiety this novel produced in me. Until the last 2 chapters this novel could have been renamed 'Uncertainty' due to all of the what-if's that were so present in the story.

Gem was fantastic and as headstrong as ever. Her inner turmoil is just as present in this novel as it was in the first novel. I'm so glad things started getting better for her by the end of this novel.

I absolutely despise the plot twist that happened to Torrent. Can't Gem and him be happy together? That was just heart wrenching. I had to stop reading for a moment to compose myself enough to rationalize not throwing my iPad into the nearest hard surface. I love Torrent. He didn't deserve that, self sacrificing as it may be.

I hate to say it, but that ending was suspiciously too close to a cliffhanger. The big bad villain of the story had been resolved, but there's still 25% of a problem. I need that figured out ASAP. On to a more positive note, we get a glimpse of a Veil Series character! It was exciting seeing them through Gem's eyes.

P.S. Pride was incredible!!

My Favorite Quotes:

"Being human isn't something you're born with. It's something you learn."

"I'd been looking for a home, but what if home wasn't a place? Maybe it was a person."

"You're so afraid of the lies around you that you don't see your own."

[Milena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received free ARC of Chaos Rises from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Chaos Unleashed takes place in the same universe as The Veil series and the story continues pretty much where Chaos Rises left off. Gem and Del are separated and Del is trapped by a vicious fire demon, Vanth. Gem makes a deal with the Prince of Pride to help rescue her brother in exchange for her services to the Prince. There is a lot of action, fighting, double dealing and back-stabbing in Chaos Unlished.
I must say I did not enjoy Chaos Unleashed as much as Pippa's other books. I found it difficult to care about Gem and wasn't that interested in the Prince of Pride. The only character I really liked was Torrent, I loved him in the first book and wanted more of him in Chaos Unleashed. It was nice to be back in The Veil universe but as I read, I kept thinking that I would rather be reading about Muse, Akil and Stefan.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humanity

Excellent book! I think Gem and Pride work well together! The story was well written and Gem, Torrent, Pride and even Adam worked for the good! The ending given where there were was no surprise but a good lead in to another story. Gem learns a lot about Chaos and the institute rears its ugly head. Gem becoming in touch with herself is good. The ending did have some surprises and a twist or two but I recommend you read and enjoy this excellent book!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Suitably Dark Middle Book In This Gripping Urban Fantasy Series.

I bought Chaos Unleashed for my Kindle but also downloaded the Audible version because it was offered at a reduced rate. I alternated between reading the ebook and listening to the narration, which is becoming my favourite way to “read” a book.

I am already a fan of Ms DaCosta’s books; I find her writing style intelligent, engaging and very easy to read. I like how she paces her plots and the balance of tension, mystery and action she uses as well as the sprinkling of humour that she includes. As a narrated book, I was once again impressed with Hollie Jackson's performance; loving the pace at which she read the story and her tonal adjustments for the dialogue – her narration easily transported me into Gem's adventure.

I loved this book, as my rating confirms; it has everything that I look for in a great story. In my opinion, Chaos Unleashed can't be read as a standalone book as too much has happened, however, there are no life or death cliffhangers at the end of the book.

Due to the graphic violence, dark themes and sexual behaviour within this book, I would recommend it to adults who are not offended by content of this nature and enjoy demonic paranormal adventures with a theme of finding ones true self.

Book 3 - Chaos Falls - is waiting (im) patiently on my Kindle. You can read my full review on my WordPress blog Flora's Musings...

[Edeena Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I've been a fan of Ms DaCosta's work since falling into the Veil series, so having the Chaos series develop made my demon-loving heart sing. I am sad that there will only be two books in this smaller series, but gained a glimmer of hope with the ending (which is a big spoiler so I won't include that here).

It wasn't an emotionally easy ride reading this book, especially knowing it's the last of Gem's story. Gem battles her relationship with her brother, the Institute shoves it's sticky beak back into her business, and she goes into business with the Demon Prince, Li'el (a fallen angel to weep for). I did sniffle through parts (I won't admit to any ugly crying) and enjoyed that final twist at the end. I would have LOVED another book to round out Gem's trilogy, but I have faith that the Veil series will rise again.

Whilst I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review, I love Ms DaCosta's stories and bought my own copy, too.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gem is still trying to rescue her brother from a demon stronghold in this second book of the Chaos Rises series. She must enlist the help of the Prince of Pride, a demon she knows she can’t trust. However, she will do whatever she must to keep chaos leashed. Will she rescue Delta before it’s too late? Wow! Every single time I start a book by Ms. DaCosta, I am immediately drawn into the story, and this book was in no way an exception. A well-executed story line, multi-layered characters, non-stop action, and great descriptions are all things found in this book. I feel so much for Gem and Torrent, who are by far my favorite characters. Nothing is easy for them, especially when certain things come to light in this installment. The twists and turns of this book kept me guessing for most of it, and I really like it when a book surprises me. As I don’t want to spoil the book I can’t say too much, but what I can say is the end was not where I was expecting to end up. Some loose ends where tied-up while others were left open. If you like dark, gritty, well-written urban fantasy, you will not go wrong with this book. Highly recommend! Thanks to the author for the e-book which I read voluntarily. This exact review will be posted on both Amazon and Goodreads.

[Greyscotty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite DaCosta book. I think the constant references to "icy little half blood" were well over the top. Add to that the length of time it took to actually read and it became something of a chore. Of course, I've been insanely busy over the past several weeks so I can't blame it all on Pippa. I'll take a break from this series for now and clear my head a bit but I'll come back to it at some point in the future. Hopefully "Chaos Falls" will restore my faith - and my eagerness.