Maynard Trigg and The Creature Beneath The Veil

by D.C. McNeill

IN THE SKIES ABOVE A LOST WORLD...

Maynard Trigg lives carefree in the muddied slums of Carthage Skyport making mischief at the expense of his loving father, his friends, and teachers.

But when a pirate appears, claiming to have been sent to protect Maynard from a murderous creature, he is thrust into a life of magic, theft, and deceit.

A life, he promised himself, he would never pursue.

277 pages, Paperback

Published June 17, 2018

About the author

David McNeill is an Australian author. He writes science fantasy, best known for the critically acclaimed dying earth / fantasy series Maynard Trigg.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I love most about Maynard Trigg and The Creature Beneath The Veil is the feeling of adventure. That and the way the places were described. It made me feel as if I was right there in the story. And Moony had me intrigued. Who was he to Maynard's father? What was he? Is he a good guy or a bad guy pretending to be good? There was so much that the protagonist, Maynard, had been thrust into after his father's disappearance. It was one puzzling, harrowing instance after the next. I actually had sympathy for the boy. Imagine everything familiar taken away from you. Add to that some things you need to see done just so you could survive and solve the mystery.

There was so much lies and deceit in this story and Maynard had little to no choice but to go through those tough, confusing times. I'd rather not get into the details so as not to give spoilers, but I really enjoyed this book. Maynard Trigg and The Creature Beneath The Veil is definitely a book that packs a punch. You'll enjoy it, too, if you like adventure and mystery.

[Cátia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given to me to read in exchange of an honest review. I enjoyed reading this book a lot, it was a really interesting reading, I Ioved the plot and Maynard's adventures that are also full of mysteries. As the main character I like the way he's portraited, I mean we have a young man, an adolescent that is really cunning and resourceful, but at the same time he's a bit lost because of all that has happened.

I did felt that the book had some faults, at least for me, I felt that I needed a little bit more context regarding, for example, Moony's life as a pirate and his transition into helping Maynard and his father, even Maynard's parents and their work, about the Veilmakers, the Crucible, as well as the white law and how it works (and not just needed, I wanted to know more about it all). I also think that this is the type of book that would go great with a map so that we could understand how many regions are we talking about besides the Veil, Carthage and Dusthaven. There were some twists and turns I didn't expected which made me have some wrong theories as the story developed, but I feel that it's always nice when that happens, when you keep being suprised.

Also I felt the ending was somewhat bittersweet, because I didn't noticed that it was ending until I turned the last page to find the next chapter and there was none, it still had more pages so I thought there was going to be more, but it was sort of an epilogue the author made about the circumstances of how and when he wrote the book, it's a great epilogue or as the author calls it "Afterward: on being sixteen" so I was a bit disappointed because I really wanted the story to continue, I can only hope that one day he'll come back to it.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

About 3.5 stars which is a high rating for me. I loved this book. I could tell it was in part inspired by Stephen King’s the Gunslinger - captures the feel of that series while being a unique story in its own right. I’m looking forward to book two.

[Kez Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall an very enjoyable read. I found the main character intelligent and relatable who adapts as best he can to the situations in the book. The pacing was good so the story didn't slow down. I thought it was a good mix of fantasy, horror and action with a pirate thrown in too. This is only the first book so looking forward to more!

[Laura Berger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great first novel with a lot of heart. An interesting setting with a lot of potential for future exploration.

[Christopher Jenerette · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s pretty good the pacing isn’t too slow nor too fast. The wide cast of unique characters makes sure that the story never gets stale nor repetitive and the main character acts how we would act if placed in their situation but they slowly become accustomed to the reality of the situation at hand.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review in English and Spanish / Reseña en Inglés y Español
____________________________________
[ENGLISH]


Thank you to Booktasters and the author for the copy of this book for an honest review!

I loved this book! From the beginning, with a few pages read you can see that the story starring our young Maynard Trigg will be full of intrigues, adventures, and mysteries, which make you want to enter this world and learn more and more about how it works and about each character. The descriptions, although at the beginning they do not place you very well since it is something new, later will help you a lot to imagine each scenario, the creatures that appear, and understand a little more of the rules that govern it.

Maynard is one of those characters who, although at the beginning they seem simple due to his age, as the story progresses, his evolution is seen, showing a young boy full of doubts, conflicting feelings, loyalty and search for the truth through the decisions that our protagonist must make while trying to survive the chaos that his life became from one moment to the next.

As for the other characters presented, the vast majority were a pleasant surprise, the way they were presented and developed made the story more intriguing since not all are what they appear and you even manage to doubt who is who on many occasions. My only problem with them is that many ends were left loose compared to many and I would have loved to know a little more about them as in the case of the past of Maynard's parents and Moony.

One of the things I liked the most about the book is that the story is more complex than it appears and many of the events are unpredictable until almost the moment they happen. The mysteries, the stories of the past, the loyalties questioned as well as the search for information and dangers are just around the corner. The rhythm of the story is frenetic and makes you want to read everything at once to know what will happen next, but at the same time it makes you read carefully so as not to lose any clues in sight since there are many doubts to solve.

The world that the author created makes me curious and it sounds very ingenious, I would have loved it if had an illustration or map to help when recreating the story. This is one of those books that catch you from beginning to end and leaves you wanting to know more about our protagonist, his allies, and this new world. I hope that the author decides to continue with Maynard's adventures since the outcome leaves many questions and a path to follow to delve into it with another book.

Recommended for lovers of mystery and adventure stories.
____________________________________
[ESPAÑOL]

¡Gracias a Booktasters y al autor por la copia de este libro para darle una reseña honesta!

¡Me encantó este libro! Desde el comienzo, con pocas páginas leídas se puede ver que la historia protagonizada por nuestro joven Maynard Trigg estará llena de intrigas, aventuras y misterios, que te hacen querer adentrarte en este mundo y aprender más y más sobre cómo funciona y sobre cada personaje. Las descripciones si bien al comienzo no te ubican muy bien ya que se trata de algo nuevo, luego te ayudan bastante a imaginar cada escenario, las criaturas que aparecen y entender un poco más de las reglas que lo rigen.

Maynard es de esos personajes que si bien al comienzo aparentan sencillez debido a su edad, a medida que la historia avanza, se ve su evolución, mostrando a un joven lleno de dudas, sentimientos conflictivos, lealtad y búsqueda de la verdad por medio de las decisiones que nuestro protagonista debe tomar mientras trata de sobrevivir al caos que en que se convirtió su vida de un momento a otro.

En cuanto a los otros personajes presentados, la gran mayoría fueron una grata sorpresa, la forma en que fueron presentados y desarrollados hizo que la historia fuera más intrigante, ya que no todos son lo que aparentan e incluso logras dudar de quien es quien en muchas ocasiones. Mi único problema con ellos es que muchos cabos quedaron sueltos respecto a muchos y me hubiera encantado conocer un poco más de ellos como en el caso del pasado de los padres de Maynard y de Moony.

Una de las cosas que más me gustó del libro, es que la historia es más compleja de lo que aparenta y muchos de los acontecimientos son impredecibles hasta casi el momento en que suceden. Los misterios, las historias del pasado, las lealtades puestas en duda así como la búsqueda de información y peligros están a la vuelta de página. El ritmo de la historia es trepidante y hace que quieras leer todo de una vez para saber que sucederá después, pero a la vez te hace leer con cuidado para no perder ninguna pista a la vista ya que hay muchas dudas que resolver.

El mundo que el autor creó me da curiosidad y suena muy ingenioso, me hubiera encantado que tuviera alguna ilustración o mapa para ayudar al momento de recrear la historia. Este es uno de esos libros que te atrapan de principio a fin y te deja con ganas de saber más de nuestro protagonista, sus aliados y de este nuevo mundo. Espero que el autor decida continuar con las aventuras de Maynard ya que el desenlace deja muchas preguntas y un camino que seguir para profundizar en ello con otro libro.

Recomendado para los amantes de las historias de misterio y aventuras.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story starts with Maynard and Nell’s class go on a learning activity about Stone Fifth. For me it’s a peculiar setting, since the story kicks right off the bat. I was trying to visualize where the characters are at first. That would have contextualized things for me.

Madam Isobel sounds condescending, which I feel bad about. For a teacher, I think she dealt with Maynard harshly. Since she is in a position of authority, I think she should have shown constraint in dealing with our main character, despite being a problematic student. She reminds me of mentors who miss out on teaching their students out of spite. Not that this would discounts Maynard’s apparent raucousness.

The first few pages of the book also introduce us to Kar’ Madra or Moony, the cloaked figure observing him from afar. I was actually surprised that he came into the story early on. I was hoping there is more buildup to his introduction. The first chapter also went directly to the root of the story, which I am torn about. It felt like I was dumped with a lot of information right away without knowing the context it pertains to. Anyhow, I find Moony’s way of speaking peculiar. I read his dialogues with a distinct voice in my head.

After the preliminary chapters, the story quickly picks up to the adventure that Maynard undergoes as he finds answers to his father’s disappearance and as he saves himself while under Moony’s protection. I actually thought Moony was a magical figure, but he apparently isn’t.

Abbey enters the picture as Maynard sneaks into The Homage. She didn’t exactly stand out for me until she helped Maynard fix Mooney’s injuries during a fight with one of the Seekers in the story. I find her quick on her feet and sensible, a good contrast to the Maynard’s naivete and Mooney’s cryptic self. I didn’t think that she would be involved in the grander scheme of things, which is a surprise for me. She is my favorite among all the characters.

As we move along the story, it slowly occurred to me how The Homage is a representation of the society by itself. The Hand, with their Robin Hood-esque tendencies. The Veilmakers, or the upper echelon of the society. We see Maynard’s character grow as he tries to save Moony’s life while keeping himself safe. He’s resourceful and willful, when the situation calls for it.

I think the character that amused me the most is Spiggot. He’s crass. He’s funny. He’s daring. The Hand definitely wouldn’t be anywhere without him. He knows his objective, and sticks to it. He’s everything Maynard isn’t, and I’m drawn to how their clashing views are showcased throughout the story. And of course, what’s a good story without a good traitor, eh?

Lady Sterling is quite the character. She has this Effie Trinket vibes that initially, I couldn’t decide whether to like her or be suspicious of her. My senses tell me that I shouldn’t trust her, and my gut feel is actually right.

The same sentiment goes for Edward von Bloom, one of her acquaintances. I was surprised that he actually helped Maynard (with a few coins, of course.) But in his case, I was actually wrong. Just when I thought that he is just a secondary or tertiary character in the story, he surprises me by his affiliations. Who would have expected that, right?

I think the most interesting part of the story is the tale of Deverill and the “Creature under the Veil”. It is also fitting to find it in the middle of the book, literally at the heart of the story. Because of that tale, the Creature sounded more mystical and dangerous, giving weight to what this tale is all about. Another thing I appreciate is the use of “medical supplies” that are unique to the story. I am quite impressed.

And Maynard. What can I say? Maynard may be innocent, but he has the smarts to maneuver himself into situations he’s brought into. He wasn’t exactly a character that will be my favorite in such a story—that’s between Abbey and Edward von Bloom—but he’s someone I’ve grown fond of. The child deserve it.

Another thing is, upon reaching the end of the story, I felt like Moony had been somehow wasted as a character. He is another plot device but this time to Maynard’s advantage.

I still have questions about the story, but overall, I think Maynard Trigg and the Creature Under the Veil is interesting, fun, and engaging enough. My younger self would have enjoyed it, I am sure. If you’re on the lookout for the next adventure story, I suggest checking out this book. 😊

[Kiara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maynard Trigg and The Creature Beneath The Veil by D.C. McNeill is an interesting story in a new world.
Maynard, our main character, is a young boy of some undisclosed aged, who like most boys causes trouble in school and idolizes his father’s every word. He has a friend named Nell and lives in the lower parts of the city, the part that is feed sludge-like excess from the machines above them. As foul as his native home is, he has the good fortune in comparison to others as his father is a politician. That is until he is confronted by a pirate – a pirate he apparently knew when he was younger - who has come to warn him that a murderous creature is after him. It is very possible that his father is gone. The only safe route now is to board a sky ferry to a safer location with the pirate, Mooney. From there we are treated to an eventful, adventure/fantasy with intriguing characters and thought-out settings.
I will say that the plotline is enjoyable, it is the sort of thing I could see being a film or series.
Maynard is a boy of strong values as evidence in his reluctance to commit crimes, but he is slow to ask for help or admit when he is incapable. As a result, he routinely gets himself into dangerous situations. For example, not to give away any spoilers, but there comes a time when he is put in a position where something or someone is more important than his morality. He still hears his father’s wisdom in his head even then but proceeds to steal in the name of friendship, however young it is. This is only a mere example of the wonderous relationships explored within Maynard Trigg and The Creature Beneath The Veil. Maynard connects positively and negatively with many characters like a wealthy woman named, Lady Sterling and the head thief named, Spiggots.

The environment is also promising; quickly we move from a filthy low-class city to a multilevel ferry separated by socioeconomic class. It reminds me of the film, Snowpieacer, and I do have a soft spot for those kinds of stories. Oddly, this tightly compacted mental box is more complex than the environment in the first city. We met more people and those we met are as interesting as our lead. Like, The Hand, a group of “official lost-and-finders” who retrieves anything anyone wants for the right price. Maynard of course sees them as thieves and has no interest in mingling with them. But with little money and big problems, anyone can understand the pressure to bend. The only thing I disapprove of is the writing style. It is so completely simple in syntax it can be difficult to lose myself into the rhythm – it's monotonous. It's descriptive but stated, not woven.

I do believe it is a good story told blandly, yet there is no doubt on to whom I would recommend it to. YA may find the story inviting but the method of execution may understandable not hold their attention. So, a slightly younger mature audience may find something between the pages. Any readers should know this book does contain bloody descriptions and character death. At the very least, it makes for good social commentary.

[Sally Raz · Rating 4 out of 5]

 Imagine wishing for your day to be more thrilling than the norm. Something better than just studying about soil and its chemical elements; however you regrets it when a mysterious man appears out of nowhere and tells you that your father got murdered. And you are now haunted for something he secretly discovered. Can you survive this twist of fate? Or, will it destroy you for life? Written by D.C McNeil, this story speaks of a boy escaping his homeland only to struggle with who he should trust in order to secure his safety from the creature that killed his father.

It is a well-written science fiction novel that introduces us to the captivating world of skyships, mesmerizing tales and different types of chemical formulas that leaves one wanting to know more about it. The title, Maynard Trigg And The Creature Beneath The Veil represent the mysterious connection between the protagonist’s father and the people he meets on his long journey. An interesting theme that combines the world of the advanced pirates and the different types of social class he believed he knew as we come to learn about it along its pages.

The structure is quite interesting as well. Introducing a pirate, along with a legendary pirate fork tale; one is lead to expect that this story is another treasure hunting adventure and the boy is expected to either choose to support the law or join the piracy lifestyle.  However, in the most intriguing manner; the truth unfolds, leaving one with more questions but in a good sense. Its balanced pace also allows the reader to grasp everything that is going on, all the while leaving them eager enough to turn its pages quickly.

It is a cleverly written narrative that challenges the decision each character takes repeatedly; gives quite an interesting character development. Something the author perfectly delivered by revolving his story around the obvious element, trust. It wasn’t clear to me what had befallen to some of the characters - despite a strong influence on the story -by the end of it. And this left an unsatisfied feeling to the ending since some arcs felt unresolved.  Also, it was not clear how old the protagonist is, making it a bit difficult in fully engrossing myself in the story as a reader.

Overall, the book was pleasant to read and I rate it as 4 out of 5 due to some unresolved character arcs and age reference. The dialogue is well written and flows flawlessly, allowing the reader to live within its storyline. The pleasant yet unpredicted twist of the story hooks the reader all the way to the end, which provides a complete satisfaction regarding each character’s arcs. It’s a promising YA story of wisdom, trust, and loyalty. And I recommend Maynard Trigg and the creature beneath The Veil to those who deeply enjoys adventure and mysteries stories that dig deeper into layers of day-to-day life decisions.

I would like to thank Book Taster and the Author for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing story.

[Elma · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Maynard Trigg and The Creature Beneath The Veil” is a captivating, fast-paced adventure with an interesting young protagonist, a curious fantasy world, and plenty of exciting plot twists. I picked up the book mainly because, hey, who doesn’t enjoy a book with pirates in it?

Often when reading I take a while to get into the book – books with slow beginnings are not my thing, and I was glad to see this book dive straight to action. We barely get to know our main character Maynard before he is shoved into an unfamiliar environment filled with new friends and enemies, new hardships and challenges to be tackled. The swiftly evolving plot has the protagonist facing conflict after conflict, with tension quickly built and quickly released.

Although Maynard doesn’t initially know most places and most characters any better than the reader does, I would have wished for more detail and more backstory in the worldbuilding. There are brilliant concepts in the story, such as the Veil, the white law, and the whole ships-in-the-sky part, and I would have gotten much more out of the story if the backstory had been explained further. All I remember about Maynard’s father is that he has an important job and he’s inadvertently put Maynard in danger; I cannot recall Maynard’s mother at all; and the protagonist’s supposedly best friend Nell seems to leave Maynard’s mind (as well as my own) right when she isn’t relevant to the plot anymore. I would’ve liked to see Maynard miss or at least think about his family and friends left behind: it would have made me sympathise with the main character more, as well as perhaps clarify how his situation came to be as it is.

Perhaps that is why my absolute favourite part of the book was chapter 13, recounting the story of Deverill The Brink and The Lost Voyage. A character telling a tale of the past is a fantastic way of immersing the reader into the world where the story takes place, especially when as well written as in McNeill’s debut novel. I loved the attention to detail in the tale, and finally got some context about the pirates and the magic of the book’s world.

That being said, I really enjoyed reading the novel, and I hope to see the author explore more of this thrilling fantasy world in the future!

[Sandry A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cornering a debut novel into "surprising" or "stand-out" is difficult, because it pre-supposes a lot about the way a writer ends up published. However, Maynard Trigg is exactly that - a stand-out novel, but it's hard to describe a work of this maturity as debut.

The story follows Maynard, a trouble-making, sharp witted youngster as his life falls apart, and he's forced from his home on a skyport, and into the frying-pan, as it were. The story is an adventure and mystery, wrapped up comfortably in a low science fiction/steampunk aesthetic that is rendered with beautiful minimalism.

The story is an adventure through a dangerous ferry on a world that may be a far future earth, it may not. Everything is old, decaying. If you enjoy The Gunslinger, Harry Potter and The Edge Chronicles, you should stop reading this review and pick up a copy of this novel.

Maynard's world is vibrant, lived-in. Subtly realised. McNeill's prose propels you through the story, and drags you through the hairpin revelations and array of strange, complex characters. A second reading reveals how layered the story really is, and the careful reader will uncover all kinds of nestled world-building, hidden hints at what's to come, and all kinds of secrets (eleven, eleven, eleven).

I recommend this novel for the story alone, and implore review and re-read to unpack the layers at work - to understand the secrets hidden beneath the surface.

[Domik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Final rating: 3,5 stars
“Maynard Trigg and The Creature Beneath The Veil” is a debut novel by an Australian author D.C McNeil. It dances on the edge of adventure and gives the reader a taste of steampunk pirates with elements of mystery.

My biggest problem at the beginning was, without a doubt, the pacing. The book starts of absurdly fast and doesn’t stop for the entire time until Maynard gets on the ferry where most of the action takes place. It felt rushed, I didn’t have a chance to become attached to the main characters and they were already put in life-or-death situations way too many times. It almost made me put down the book and DNF it, but I’m glad I didn’t. Speaking of which, the characters were sadly another weak point of this book - they fell flat against the rest of the book, which is a shame.

The plot is simple, but it doesn’t mean that the story is bad. Sometimes all you want to do is relax with a book that doesn’t expect you to analyse every line, and that’s alright. The strongest point for me was the world building. The world “Maynard Trigg and The Creature Beneath The Veil” takes place in is intriguing, interesting, unashamedly steampunk, and I would love to read a short story set in it. Maybe not about Maynard, but maybe someone who’s a pirate, perhaps. The setting has a lot of potential for more stories.

Overall, I found this book to be an enjoyable read. Probably wouldn’t reread it, but it kept me entertained, so I’m counting this as a win.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Maynard Trigg and The Creature Beneath The Veil" is fantastical, fast-paced, and just fun!! It was a easy read and a really enjoyable one!

Basically, Maynard finds himself in a difficult situation when his father is most likely assassinated by people who want an information from him. And now Maynard has to flee with this pirate who apparently is an old family friend. Most unfortunately, the pirate in question ends up hurt leaving it to Maynard to try and navigate this hard situation by himself, only not quite "by himself" once Maynard ability to make new friends is freaking impressive.

What I liked the most about this story was the fantastical world, and the sense of adventure it has! There is always something happening. Funny enough, I'll say that it reminded me a bit of video game plots, because the pacing was so fast! Maynard was always doing something for someone, it was like he was going from one mission to the other. The kid couldn't spend 5 minutes alone that some useful person would just go and talk to him (His level of charisma is surely higher than mine).

I'll say that this book also left me wanting for more explanations. There were a lot of things that were vaguely explained. Like, what exactly is the "white law" or the "crucible"? But again, you only learn by continuing reading.


Now. What annoyed me a bit about this book was the lack of logic in some parts. Like, Maynard just simply decides: "You know what? Instead of going to talk to my mother about this in the tent over there, I'm going with this friend of mine play detective" And then... "instead of searching for my mother and asking her about Moony (who lightly suggested that she was a pirate, but apparently I'm not the least intrigued by it) I'm going to run away with this pirate that I hardly know, and not even write a note to my family and friends, because why not!?"

(Also, did he really let Moony spend 3 days in bed without water and food? I know he was unconscious but like.... Water anyone?)


In the end, "Maynard Trigg and The Creature Beneath The Veil" left me wanting for more! The last chapter made it feel like the adventure was just beginning. There are some mysteries left to be unsolved. And the prospective of new exciting characters - still waiting to meet the crucible - What makes this book a great start for a series. Specially considering the present time of quarantine, is just the thing to read, enjoy, and forget about it all!

[Immortal Writings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maynard Trigg and The Creature Beneath the Veil can be described as a adventures and thrilling tale with a perfect blend of suspense, fantasy and horror.

The story was about a schoolboy Maynard l, whose life takes a dramatic turn after he meets Mooney, a pirate with a veil. Together they set out to unknown adventure to find his father and some answers but then he is left to fend for himself.

D.C. McNeil has done a great job of narrating a fast paced and yet very intriguing storyline. There was never a dull moment, though sometimes it was hard to keep up with the pace but once you get the wider picture, it's fun to get along all the action and drama.

Initially I had doubts about the the writing, the world and characters the author was trying to project, they were not clear enough to connect with them from the first chapter but the story compensated it and now I am glad to complete the book and looking forward for the next big adventure.

Overall I enjoyed the book with all its adventure, suspense, fantasy and the sense of pending doom !!

[Romila · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stories and books always have a reflection of our life, and why not the authors can't bring everything from the air. Though the book, Maynard Trigg and The Creature Beneath The Veil is and mix of little fiction, adventure and full of mystery you can find yourself somewhere in Maynard or Moony.
This is the story of a boy who struggles with his life that he never imagine. He meets people he never saw but they know him and most of them want to hurt him. The narration is good, it will be better if the author slows down at the beginning and let the characters evolved. Still, it's a wonderful read and when you reach to the main story the book sticks to your hand and you can't keep it down. Looking forward to the second part of this story as the story was not complete and I like to know more.

[Azca Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maynard Trigg is a pretty enjoyable read. I fancy Maynard's character, who seems too wise for his age, but still retain the naivety of a child. It's a bit difficult to get the imagery of the world, but once I do, the story is much more fascinating to navigate through.

It's a bit confusing because I never understand Maynard's train of action. He is almost emotionless, and sometimes it makes me wonder how one scene turned into another. There's also a sense of too much clues being spread out only for them to be swept away.

Even so, the bigger part of the story is very enjoyable. I especially liked the story-slash-urban legend about the Suffolk treasure. It really was a perfect setting for the stories onwards. Would love to read about Maynard's next adventure.

[naga · Rating 4 out of 5]

actual rating: 3.5 stars

it was very fast paced, i had to make sure this isn't a part of series. in the first few chapters, i feel very confused and tried really hard to catch up with the stories. they don't talk much about Maynard's father, like there is no detailed explanation about what he did to the point Maynard's life was at stake. only a glimpse, which i found still very confusing. it was pretty enjoyable though, the characters are really fun and interesting. Maynard, as a main character, is quite interesting as well. i found it surprising because most books with this kind of theme usually have pretty unlikeable and bland characters. but Maynard, with his wits and loud mouth, charmed me. i wish there's a sequel or something, the ending didn't really satisfy me.

[Radzzyyy J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maynard, the main character of the story is a little boy living a normal life but his world is turned upside down when his father goes missing and a scary creature starts chasing him. Though the beginning is a bit confusing, once you get an idea of the plot, you won't be able to put the book down. It's fast paced and action-packed right from the beginning. The story is well written and unpredictable which keeps you hooked. Maynard is very clever, his character development throughout the story is something I loved the most. The only regret I have is that I wanted to know more about the world that the author had created, how it works and a little sneak-peak into the past of Moony and Maynard's parents.
If you're looking for some action and adventure, this book is a must read!

[Kerstin Vollbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maynard Trigg is a schoolboy whose life changes dramatically when a strange ma'am appears in his life, Mooney, who happens to be under his father's orders to protect him from something sinister that's after his family. And so they go aboard a ship to leave Carthage, Maynard's hometown, where he has to learn the hard way how to manage himself in an environment full of manipulation, power and abuse of his innocence.
This is a book that was really hard to put down, because the thread is full of tension and suspense, the characters are well developed and the storyline keeps the reader's attention. A really enjoyable read.

[Sam Holston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5 Stars.

It was a great, fun read the speeds you along at breakneck pace. I was turning pages and chewed through this in no time. The vividness and imagery is transportative - you do feel like you're IN the journey at many points in the book. Lot's of fun.

I will say the first few chapters were a bit disorienting because of the speed, but it settled in nicely to a good gallop and finished the race at least for a few lengths in front. And yes, I did just use a horseracing analogy. It's an archaic sport and the book is nothing like it. Try reading it instead of reading my review, you might just love it.

[F86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not what I expected, but I look forward to see the next stories in this universe.

It's the story of a kid suddenly thrown in the world of adults, and who must guess at who to trust, who is good or bad. He also must deal with the consequences of his choices.

Doing the right thing becomes complicated in a world full of sheme and risks. It's easy to get attached to Maynard.
All the others are harder to figure out, and it works well.

The world is interesting, even if it's mostly narrowed to the society in this book. The places described looks beautiful.

[Aline Frediani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maynard Trigg and The Creature Beneath The Veil is one of those books that you can't stop reading. Seriously, no kidding. Full of adventures, mysteries and with well-built and intelligent characters. The rhythm of the book is perfect: the story does not run over itself, it has its own rhythm and ... I have to admit: it is easy to get hooked.
The created world is fantastic and full of adventures, believe me there is not a minute of boredom, sometimes I thought: "oh, leave Maynard alone for 5 minutes". But it was a lot of fun to read! Perfect reading for summer!

[Jene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The author does an amazing job painting a picture of his story with words. I was able to visualize all the areas and people in this book from the descriptions used. There is a lot of adventures, mysteries, friendships, plots and more that go on throughout the story. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a good read. I can't wait to see what other books this author has out there as well. Happy reading.

[Daffola · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you find yourself in the middle of a chaos you've been trying to avoid? Who is a friend? Who is a foe? An adventurous story with great plot and characterization, even though a bit confusing at first as i read i became more familiar the atmosphere.

I recommend this book to those who would love to get some adrenaline rush cause honestly reading this was like riding a roller coaster which is a good thing.

[Chrissy Potter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't say I quite enjoyed this book. It was a good premise for a story but it wasn't strung together very well. It felt, to me, like the author was trying to cram as many facets of fantasy as he could into the book, but he wasn't able to do that in a cohesive way. I ended up feeling confused most of the time while reading it because of how poorly it was written

[Lotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I often don’t read a lot of pdfs or digital books but this one has a solid 3.5 stars from me! Absolutely loved how the adventure turns out and depicted in this book. The story is very light, although the character introduction is a bit off (not easy to be understood internationally for the differences of age and culture). Some choice of wordings had me struggling, but it’s all good from me. :)

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this was a pretty good read. I found the first few chapters confusing and had to try to keep up with what was happening because it starts in a headlong pace. Despite that the characters were interesting and the action was non stop. Didn't expect such a sudden ending, but worth the read.

[Daisy Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This adventure is different from the others. I always was thrilled with Maynard what will happen to him. This adventure full of myteries but 30 page since homepage a littpe bit boring. By the way, i f you pass it, you will find an excited adventure.

[ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

i didn’t finish this book bc i Was Not Vibing with it but i didn’t dislike it! the writing was great and the plot seemed interesting but it just isn’t the kind of book i would like. i would still recommend it though!