Lord Valadon, CEO of ValCorp and leader of New York’s vampires, has become fascinated with Miranda Crescent, a human woman with powers only Elementals possess. As his enemies conspire against him, he becomes drawn to her, but knows any involvement with Miranda will only endanger her life because within the human population exists the Human Order of Light, a powerful hate group, who would see the eradication of the vampires.
Miranda Crescent is an authenticator of rare works of art who isn’t afraid of danger. Her best friend is the Were Queen and her mentor is a vampire ancient. At first, resistive to Valadon’s charms, she will risk her life to bring him the information he needs to thwart his enemies.
But Valadon’s second, the sexy and sarcastic Remare, believes Miranda is a member of the HOL working to destroy his lord. The chemistry between them quickly escalates as they search for those plotting against Valadon. Putting aside their distrust of each other, Remare and Miranda work hard to discover who is trying to murder the high lord. But Remare’s first loyalty is to his lord. He can’t allow himself to care for someone Valadon has marked as his own…or can he?
Diana Marik is the award-winning author of the romantic urban fantasy series, The Seven Deadly Veils. She grew up in New York City and has her MA in English literature from Hofstra University. A history buff, Diana loves discovering museums in whatever city she happens to be visiting. Her favorite spots to visit are in the American Southwest, but she considers New Orleans her home away from home.
What an action packed adventure you have in store when you grab this book to read. The characters are all very well developed and have such strong personalities. You just have to love the good guys and really hate the bad guys. There's always something happening as the story progresses. You get to meet the Vampires and Were in New York City and follow along as the plots against them unfold. This is the first book in the series and I can see lots more action to come. I can't wait for the next book in the series to be released.
This book is part of a series and although it can be read as a standalone it leaves the reader salivating for more. Miranda Crescent has a lot of friends of a lot of different races, may that be human, were, or vampire she doesn't really care. She loves them and they love her so they would do anything for one another. But now that Lord Valadron has taken a shine to her Miranda's whole life is being turned upside down. Lord Valadron has been careful when it comes to his people. But the recent increase in assassination attempts are beginning to get on his nerves. Especially when the most recent one has ended up harming the human women, Miranda. Now she is on his mind on repeat. And she also seems to be on his "son's" mind and his second in command's mind. Gabriel has been most resistant to being a vampire, due to the fact that he never wanted to be turned. But now that he has met Miranda he can not get her off his mind. Even though he knows his "maker" has her marked for him. In this story Gabriel showed quite a bit of transformation that was astounding for the short amount of time that he was in the story. Remare is Lord Valdaron's second in command, and he is one of the best assassins to ever grace the Earth. Most likely due to the fact of how long he has been on Earth. But lately he has been becoming increasingly agitated, and as a result of that agitation many in the court are becoming wary. And in walks Miranda. A women he will not trust because Remare believes she is behind the assassination attempts. Or maybe its because of how she makes him feel. Overall this was a great read and I can not wait to see where the series goes next. I am absolutely in love with Remare and I can not wait to see how he progresses in the next books. This book is not a romance, yes there is some romantic components but this book and this series is more a series about finding the traitors, and solving the many mysteries that surround Valcorp and its people. This was a great read that had happiness, despair, gain and loss. It was an excellently written 300+ page story that any paranormal/mystery readers will not want to miss out on. ~A Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team Selection
Veil of Shadows is a smart, sexy and highly imaginative novel that fans of both Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance MUST read. Diana Marik brilliantly creates a world of powerful, memorable vampires and smoldering weres. I was captured from page one and ran back to it every chance I got. The story is told through many different characters but is woven together beautifully with a satisfying conclusion. The passion on the page is intense. My heart was pounding reading her masterfully crafted romance scenes. LOVED THIS BOOK. And I am so thrilled there are more to come. Also bought The Blue Veil, and reading that now.
This was an interesting read. The relationships are quite complex between races and clans, even individuals. Miranda is a human who is involved in both the were and vampire communities and has her own secrets. She protects the vampire lord Valadon and enters dangerous territory. She is unaware of everything that is happening around her but she goes farther than ever when protecting those around her as the needs arise. I look forward to the next installment.
I received a copy of this book as part of the Book Obsessed Chicks Star Review Team selection.
All I can say is WOWZA!! WOWZA!! I absolutely LOVED IT!! Definitely 5+ stars in my book. Vamps and Weres, such a great combo and right up my ally. With so many awesome characters, can't decide who I love the most!!! I was in a little bit of a book slump when I picked this one up (I know shouldn't be possible!) but this book knocked it out of the ballpark for me. Refreshing story that completely captivated me. I simply couldn't put it down until the last page.
Tapping out at 37%. I don't care for this writing...too many characters and too much jumping around in POVs with no clear plot line. It's still unclear about who the romantic couple will be plus the h and the potential H have both been in bed with other people. Not to my taste.
Veil of Shadows by new to me author, Diane Marik, has been an incredible surprise. Never having read her before I was pleasantly surprised to find a mixture of JR Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Laurell K Hamilton, and Charlene Harris. I’m going to assume she’s a fan of these authors because she encompasses all of them in her writing. As a fan of paranormal romance, I'm delighted to share that VOS is filled with longing, intrigue, and the chaos that only the high courts of vampires can provide. I’m excited to begin this nine-book journey. It’s gonna take me a while to catch up, but I am eager for the challenge. ~Tanja
Wow, this is the first book I have read by Diana Marik and it was so addictive. Love that the main fmc Miranda is a human with elemental abilities and is best friends with the werewolf queen Lizandra. I like that she was a professor who likes people for who they are and not what species they are.
Valadon was a very intriguing character and loved that he was always looking out for her and even opened a chocolate shop for her.
I like that Nick (Valadons nephew) helps her catalogue all of his uncles antique books and paintings.
Gabriel and Remare were both interesting characters. Gabriel wanting to cure vampireism and Remare is a really mysterious character who I can't wait to read more about him.
Mulciber and Brandon were both equally horrible and can't wait for Valadon to get justice for what his brother did.
I've stayed away from vampire stories because honestly I got tired of them. When I read the synopsis and saw the reviews I became interested. I liked that it wasn't the typical - vampires are the baddies and We're going to slaughter them all. The paranormals are "out" In this book and they have laws and a culture. Miranda is a well rounded character. She's intelligent, assertive and sometimes reckless. I liked her right away. I was surprised who she ended up with - another plus. I'm usually not surprised at the outcome of vampire novels. The hot vampires and weres.......yum! Nice she has so many to choose from lol.... Definitely moving on to the next book....
"Not interested," was my response when a friend recommended Veil of Shadows to me. Vampires are not my thing -- or, so I thought. Ms. Marik changed all that. She brought me into the world of the Elementals and I became fascinated! The characters in Veil of Shadows, Remare, Miranda and Valadon are extraordinary. I was drawn in by the dangerous plot.
I'm hooked, addicted. Perfect material for a series. More please!!!
It has been a very long time since I discovered an author whose writing I enjoyed as much as I did Diana Marik’s. I absolutely loved this book, from the characters to the world building and pace of the story, I savoured every bit of it. I really don't know why I've only stumbled upon this treasure now and feel like not enough people know about it.
This is not your run-of-the-mill (insta-love, mates forever, I can't live without you) urban fantasy romance, but rather what I think vampires, werewolves etc. would be like if they really existed - if that makes any sense. It was just very believable. The main characters are not perfect, they have flaws, but they grow organically throughout the book. The relationships didn't seem forced either and I really enjoyed the variety of interactions. The only thing that seemed a bit overwhelming to begin with was the number of characters - for the first quarter of the book I felt like I should be writing down names and relationships so I don't forget who's who. However, it all becomes clearer and easier to understand as the book progresses.
We have quite a few interesting characters here - not just an h and H. Miranda (or should I say Mirrranda), the h, is the beautiful and courageous art professor, who gets caught up in vampire business and is always surrounded by smoking hot men who fall for her charms (even if some of them want to kill her first): Valadon - the yummy, cultured, even-tempered, vampire king; Remare - his equally yummy, bad boy type, right hand man and best friend; Gabriel - the (turned) vampire doctor tormented by his past; and a few hot werewolves on the side.
This was a fast-paced, steamy read that I enjoyed immensely. So much so that I have already started on book 1.5 in the series.
Lord Valadon, CEO of ValCorp and leader of New York’s vampires, is attracted to Professor Miranda Crescent, a human woman with powers only Elementals possess. She works for him as an authenticator of rare works of art in his collection, and she is fearless. When she came to his office to get her purse which she had forgotten, an assassination attempt was made on him using a silent helicopter shattering his office window and shooting a dart which struck Miranda as she shoved him out of the way.
After the attack on Valadon, Miranda is ready to find pertinent information he needs against his enemies. But Valadon’s second, sexy and sarcastic Remare, the deadliest of Lord Valadon’s Torian Guard, believes Miranda is a member of the Human Order of Light, a powerful hate group against the vampires. He thinks she may be working to destroy Valadon. But he puts his distrust aside to work with her in uncovering information on who is trying to murder Valadon, and he grows more attracted to her. However, Remare is loyal to Valadon and shouldn’t care for the woman Valadon has marked as his own. But how does Miranda feel about that?
This is a captivating story line that truly holds the reader’s full attention as the intrigue builds from all sides. We learn of the assassination attempt first-hand; we see tension between Valadon and his son, Gabriel, a research doctor in the medical room; and Remare is determined to investigate Miranda for her possible involvement. This was so exciting and well-written. I wholeheartedly recommend this one, and intend to eagerly read each book in the series. You won’t want to miss this one!
Trigger Warnings: scenes of violence, murder, scenes of sexual content, paranormal conflict
“Veil of Shadows” is a captivating and richly layered start to Diana Marik’s Seven Deadly Veils series. From the very first page, I was drawn into a world brimming with mystery, magic, and emotional depth. Marik’s storytelling is immersive and well-paced, weaving together compelling plotlines that kept me engaged throughout. One of the standout strengths of this novel is its character development. The growth and evolution of the characters felt authentic and earned, adding emotional weight to the story. I especially connected with Miranda, whose journey is both powerful and poignant. Remare and Valadon were equally compelling—complex, charismatic, and unforgettable. Their interactions added tension, warmth, and intrigue, making them some of my favorite characters in recent fantasy fiction. The storylines are well-crafted, with twists and turns that never feel forced. Marik balances action, romance, and suspense beautifully, creating a narrative that’s both thrilling and emotionally resonant. The world-building is lush and imaginative, and the themes of identity, power, and redemption are explored with nuance. If you’re looking for a fantasy novel that combines strong character arcs with an engaging plot and a touch of the arcane, Veil of Shadows is a must-read. I’m already looking forward to continuing the journey in the next installment. #bookloungereviewteam
Yummmy!! I love a good hot vampire read, and Diana Marik has given us a very good one.
Miranda never wanted to be involved with politics (human or inhuman) of any kind, but especially vampire politics. However, after she is accidentally struck during a possible assassination attempt on Valadon, the king vampire, all that begins to change. Valadon is the most powerful vampire in New York, and attempts on his life are nothing new. However, after Miranda is caught in the crossfire, he is more bound than ever to seek out those who wish to end him. Valadon has grown very attached to Miranda and wishes to grow closer to her. However, some in his world might want Miranda for themselves. That includes his second in command, Remare, and his son Gabrielle. Can Valadon win Miranda's affections? Or will Remare or Gabrielle win her heart and bed?
This was a really great read. I loved all the characters, especially Remare and Miranda's best friend Lizandra (I want to be her when I grow up, lol). The writing was very well done, and the characters were written so well. The only drawback for me was the story kind of slowed down in the middle. But the beginning and ending were great!! If you like hot and steamy vampires, fabulous Were Queens, and a kick ass human, then this book is for you!!
VEIL OF SHADOWS is the first book in the Seven Deadly Veils series and we are introduced to a world that accepts paranormals... sort of. There is the usual hate group that wants to eradicate them from the face of the Earth, but most people accept them. Miranda is one who accepts. Her best friend is the Were Queen. Her roommate is a Were. Her lover is a Were. She is currently working for a vampire and is in the right place at the right time to take a poisoned dart for him. This brings her to the attention of the vampires, for good or for bad.
This is a twisted and intriguing story with romantic elements. But don't expect the MCs to immediately fall in love with each other, because you'll be disappointed. Miranda is free to be with anyone she chooses, and she does what she wants.
The biggest thing for me with this book was the multiple POVs. There were loads!!! And it wasn't announced in any way, so it was unclear who was talking and when it was. This made it quite confusing in places, even when I was enjoying it.
If you like Saga-type books with plenty of action and intrigue, then I definitely recommend this one.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books! Jan 8, 2024
Miranda Crescent is already involved with the were community. They’re her friends and family. Then she also gets involved with the vampire community. Lord Valadon, CEO of ValCorp and the leader of the vampires in New York, is attracted to Mirande. He knows it will endanger Miranda if he gets involved with her. Together with Gabriel and Remare, two vampires, and others, Miranda tries to find out who is after Valadon.
The story has romance, tension and spice. I loved it. Along the book you’ll search for who the traitors are and solve mysteries surrounding Valadon/ValCorp. The story progresses quickly and there’s always something happening. The characters have strong personalities and are well developed. I’m curious to read the other books in the series.
Vampires, betrayal, and a strong FMC. Veil of Shadows is the perfect modern day vampire book. Miranda is tangled up in a catastrophe that targets the elusive vampire Valadon. As she grows closer to him and his team to find the attacker, they realize that the person might be closer than they think. Easy to love characters and a gripping story drew me in from the start. I enjoyed seeing how the characters interacted and relationships grew over the time of the story. The writing felt a little silly at times as if some things needed to be over explained when that wasn’t the case. I think if the writing flowed better it would help make this book much better! However if you’re looking for a good vampire book check this one out!
I loved each second from start to end. It was very hard to put down.
I like that the MFC has both weaknesses and strengths. And is not always the damsel in distress. All the characters are so well written. And there are a lot of them if your memory isn't always the best. Keep good notes.
If you like fantasy set in a modern world with supernatural creatures, an intriguing mystery with lots of spice. Like an underlying mystery that keeps you interested in reading more while the main mystery of the book is revealed, this book is for you.
Diane Mark's "Veil of Shadows" is a mesmerizing blend of mystery and fantasy. The story captivates with its rich world-building and dynamic characters, each grappling with their own secrets. Mark's lyrical prose draws readers in, creating a vivid tapestry of emotions and unexpected twists. The themes of friendship and sacrifice resonate deeply, making this a compelling read. "Veil of Shadows" is a beautifully crafted novel that will linger in your mind long after the last page. Highly recommended to friends and family!!
I loved this book! Miranda is a fantastic protagonist-smart, independent, and strong. I loved being immersed in this paranormal world where vampires, werewolves, and humans strive to co-exist with one another. Rich, engrossing settings, sexy heroes (male & female), and an intricate plot that holds your attention and keeps you guessing. An imaginative fantasy written for adults. Starting on the next ASAP!
This is the premiere title for this author. I have to say that I have had the pleasure of meeting. Ms. Marik has made this new Paranormal World come alive and leave me begging for more. Forget a love triangle, this is a love square! Who will Miranda pick? Are you on Team Valadon, Team Remare or Team Gabriel.
Enjoyed Veil of Shadows. Good storyline, multiple plots to set up the series and a likeable lead character, Miranda Crescent. Supporting characters fill their roles well. Sex scenes a little more than I felt necessary, but not enough to stop reading. Will definitely continue series.
This is a wonderfully intelligent and exciting series! The characters are extremely likable and well developed. There's romance, mystery, murder, and very nasty villains (my kind of book). I would highly recommend this series to all my Paranormal book-loving friends! I can't wait for the next two books to come out!
This book is absolutely enthralling. I had seen this author on Facebook and liked the sound of her writing , especially female leads. There are so many cookie cutter , same old characters in these type of books. "Kick ass" or "meek inexperienced virgin" - but Miranda Crescent is neither. And the tale is the better for it!
Somehow I missed this series even though it's been around for awhile. I am so happy that I found it! A bit of a new take on the vampire/were theme with characters you care about. I really enjoyed the book and I'm looking forward to reading the next title. If you are a PNR fan, this is a good series for you to try.
This was an intriguing read and a new spin on modern day vampires. Lord Valadon certainly captured my attention with his nobility and heroism, but his second in command, Remare, was the most compelling. This vampire is fire in every scene and loved the banter he had with Miranda, a complex and likeable heroine. Can't wait to see where Marik takes this wonderful series.
This is a page turner that kept me engrossed throughout this suspenseful read. Filled with action, mystery, romance and betrayal! The author captures the complex relationships and evolving personalities between the humans, vampires & weres brilliantly. Can’t wait to read the second book and see what’s next since this first book leaves you wanting more answers…