(353,000 words long)Time is life’s most valuable commodity, and love life’s most precious gift.Master swordslinger and last Soothsayer Banzu Greenlief discovers the harsh reality of both these fragile truths when a beautiful stranger whirls into his hunted life of solitude then whisks him away by the lonely heart into the turbulent world he has spent the past eleven years hiding from.Where he joins the burgeoning conflict opposing an ancient demonic cult determined to restart the genocidal Thousand Years War against all those born gifted with magic, as well their lightning-wielding messiah obsessed with achieving godhood, and the resurrected necromaster enslaved to the Enclave’s nefarious ambitions of supremacy.Veilfall is the story of a tortured young man verging the cusp of his bloodlust curse . . . then riding the roaring tides of slaughter thereafter once his enemies compel him to vengeance.May the gods have mercy, because Banzu won’t.
An exciting book with a detailed description of events
One of the things I cherish about this book is the author’s narrative power. Adron Smitley did impressive work with his writing style in Veilfall. The entire story is well described and easy to understand. Adron is one author I term as a good wordsmith and an interesting author. His poetic style of writing is also evident in his play of words in this book. Veilfall by Adron contains elements of magic. Adron introduces the main character, the last Soothsayer Banzu Greenlief, who must face a demonic cult on a fierce clash to stop their evil plot to end the world. Banzu was never a public figure but one who enjoys a life of solitude. As we read further, we see Banzu’s transformation from a solitude lover to a fighter defending his world. Banzu was drawn into a battle to defend the world against the ancient demonic cult who are determined to restart the bloody genocide against special people who are born gifted with magic. Veilfall is an elaborate book and also not a fast-paced book. You will love this book if you don’t have a problem with spending a lot of time in one book. I enjoyed reading this book.
This is a very long book that is very descriptive but rather slow moving. The author's world-building is excellent, but I fear Adron has succumbed to falling for it and it is overly descriptive, which may suit those who love long books and wish something to read to fill in a lot of time, but even here I fear they will be displeased. Progress is very slow. As an example, an evil entity enters a room. A paragraph or so to show how the others respond would be fine, but three to four pages? The main character is persuaded to go somewhere and do something. Getting there is through teleportation, and that is well described, although why is another matter, but then, having got there, guess how many chapters are required to focus on taking the first step towards doing it? At one stage, main character desperately wants to know something, and pleads for pages to have it explained. When it is, we follow his mind wander off elsewhere. He isn't listening, and consequently neither are we. Really? If it were that important (and it is) wouldn't he listen? Overall, my feeling is this book really needs firm structural editing. Minor characters are distinctive and well-drawn. Major characters are reasonably drawn, but the main character, Banzu, is really not fit for purpose. He promises to do something, doesn't do it for some pig-headed reason, then may spend pages, or chapters whining about how what went wrong is his entire fault. He is about a third a hero, a third an inattentive dreamer and a third a whiner. There is a lot of magic, but it is unbalanced and there are prolonged descriptions of gore for the sake of describing gore. The writing is florid and the action extremely well-spaced. Introducing irrelevant characters can be good. Think of Tolkein's Tom Bombadil. His purpose is to relieve tension and explain a little more of what is going on, but a key aspect is when the party leave him, it is clear that Tom's role is over. Here we have "hanging characters". For me, the ending was inadequate, a little of the deus ex machina. However, the story, when cleared of dross, is one of the most powerful I have seen. This could have been a masterpiece, but it isn't, nevertheless most others don't come remotely close.
Master Banzu Greenlief is a Swordslinger and the last Soothsayer. We are thrown into a familiar scene: Banzu is facing his Elder Jericho in training. A great opening as it cements the idea of Banzu the Master Swordslinger. He is whisked into a dangerous world by the beautiful stranger Melora and sets himself up along the forces fighting against evil forces hell bent on beginning a thousand year war. On top of this fight, Banzu has to struggle to contain his own secret powers, the bloodlust can bring him unimaginable powers, but no one is safe if he loses himself to it. Very long sentences and poor punctuation plagued the book. Also, some editing for more conciseness would go a long way. However, the Author did a fantastic job on the world and character building and I thoroughly enjoyed the story once I looked past the issues. A diamond in the rough, to be sure.
A stupendous volume packed with sorcery, action, and intrigue.
Lovers of fantasy will really enjoy this large compendium which is actually several books in one volume. This is a complicated and colorful world with an interesting protagonist called Banzu Greenlief. This name alone should suggest that this is a heavy fantasy with a well-developed world and a long and complicated plot. However, the writing style is lengthy and includes a plethora of details that many readers may find tiresome. Readers who enjoy the writings of classical fantasy authors such as Clark Ashton Smith will enjoy this work. New readers of fantasy may feel overwhelmed by the detail and the vividness of the scenes described. This is a hauntingly vivid fantasy filled with tons of action, sorcery, entertaining villains, and heroes. It is somewhat overwritten in many scenes, in my opinion, and this may irritate some readers, particularly those used to more modern and crisper writing. I also picked up some editing faults but these did not distract from the overall reading experience. My rating of this book applies for lovers of epic fantasy as readers not used to this genre may find the truly immersive reading experience encountered here, a bit overwhelming.
Adron J. Smitley is an experienced writer, dedicated to writing fantasy books. And With this book, Veilfall, he really shines. The master and final wizard Banzu Greenlief must fight an ancient demonic cult determined to restart the Thousand Year War against all born gifted with magic. With this little synopsis I knew it was the right book for me. The novel begins with a fairly fast pace; despite having more than 500 pages, it is not a long or heavy reading at all. It is a book that does not decay. It progresses little by little and builds an exciting atmosphere. The characters are deep and above all, very credible given the context of the tale. The prose of the novel is fluid and rich in details. Adron immerses us fully in a different world, where magic, fantasy and terror exist. I was fascinated with the complexity of that world; the author's imagination is infinite. But above all, I was surprised by the end. The last few chapters have made me want to read more. It is a totally recommended novel, not only for lovers of pure fantasy literature, but also for anyone who enjoys a book full of adventures.
A fictional, strange new world Veilfall by Adron Smitley is the perfect read for those who want to escape from reality and travel to a different world while reading. This intriguing story is full of magic, passion, love and fantasy. Though the setting might be quite different from our real world, the characters face the same problems that hunt humanity: evil, ambition, vengeance are only some of the main topics developed in this wonderful novel. Adron Smitlet is the person behind this fiction. He is a creative, young writer that can reach our hearts and touch our minds with his captivating writing, entertaining plots and simple words. Throughout 70 chapters divided in three parts, the author easily immerses us into this completely new world. He includes practical details that make our imagination run widely. I strongly recommend this book for teenagers and young adults. The novel could be read in a week or so, because there are around 500 pages that should not be missed!
Amazing read! The first thing that called my attention of this book was the title because it makes you want to find out what it really means. “Veilfall” is the name of this novel written by Adron Smitley. Part fantasy thriller and part drama this story hooked me up as soon as I started reading it. This action packed tale is written for a general audience.
The story is gripping. It is about Soothsayer Banzu Greenlief who has to fight against an ancient demonic cult. One of the strongest things about the book is the plot, which is exciting and unusual.
This book would make a really good film, because it is such an exciting story that everybody would like that. In fact, it is great down to the last page. It's easy to read and difficult to forget.
All in all, I especially liked the original idea of this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone. It is well worth reading. Don’t miss it.
“Veilfall” is a fantasy and love novel skillfully written by Andron J. Smitley. It can be the beginning of a series, and I really hope so, because I have been captivated by this story and I cannot wait to continue reading more of Banzu and Melora. Banzu Greenlief is a master swordlinger and the last Soothsayer. He has lived a life of solitude for a long time. His life will change when he encounters a beautiful stranger. Now, Banzu, has to decide whether to fight against an ancient demonic cult determined to restart the persecution of all those born gifted with magic or to return to his isolated life. In this original, imaginative and absorving book, the author has built through powerful and detailed descriptions a chaotic world of blood, fantasy, magic, horror and love. You will find yourself on the edge of your sit from the very beginning and until the last page. I really liked this story and I highly recommend it. Don’t miss it.
A fusion of thriller and fantasy. Highly recommended The story attracted me from the very beginning. “Veilfall” is a compelling book written by Adron J. Smitley. The author made a great piece of work with this fantasy novel. I enjoyed it very much. The plot revolves around Banzu Greenlief who figures out that his and other people´s life is full of serious dangers. He finds himself fighting against a curse, a dangerous one. What a perilous adventure he is about to have! Will he be able to succeed? This is a great plot with vivid descriptions and a wide range of vocabulary. The author´s writing style is very engaging and I felt part of the story. While I was reading, I pictured every place and every detail in my mind. It was an adventure for me too! I was hooked throughout the reading and for sure avid readers of this genre will experience the same. I thoroughly recommend this fantasy novel with touches of thriller!
There are a couple of reasons why Veilfall by Adron Smitley is a must-read. First, the premise was very interesting and when I got to finally delve into it, I was not disappointed. The author has a way of putting words together and take a reader into his epic fictional world. I loved the character and the world building in this story. Banzu Greenlief, a swordslinger and last Soothsayerm, is the kind of character one would really be interested to read about. I loved how his character developed all throughout the book and how he was able to battle against the demonic cult. It was very well-done.
The reason why it only got 4 stars from me is because at times I felt like the story was overly done. Not that it was badly executed but I wish that some unnecessary scenes, for example, were not included. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the book and ended up admiring how the story all turned out in the end. Kudos to the writer for an excellent job!
Let me start by saying I really did enjoy this book. Lately, I have been reading a lot of fantasy novels, and this in particular called my attention. In my opinion, this novel has it all: love, sword sorcery, amazing characters and lots of killing. If you are looking for a novel that completely drags you in, this is the novel you are looking for. Veilfall was written by the American writer, Adron J. Smitley. It is an exquisite fantasy novel, which tells the story of Banzu Greenlief, a lonely heart who meets a stranger, and joins the burgeoning conflict opposing an ancient demonic cult determined to restart the genocidal Thousand Years War against all those born gifted with magic. What will Banzu have to face? Will he stop this genocide? Adron J. Smitley takes us to a magical world, where horror and fantasy intertwine to create an extraordinary novel. I recommend this story to all of you who want to read a book which makes you travel through a fantastic world.
What an amazing story! This action-packed tale has it all, but the main ingredients are horror, fantasy and drama and its plot is able to hook any type of reader right from the first chapter. The book is organized in three parts and it is written with simple grammar but colorful vocabulary and expressions. Each chapter is more captivating than the last one but if I have to choose one, my favorite is the second one where drama is present all through since, after all, isn’t drama one of the main themes in our lives? Drama is a familiar topic for any type of reader, what would help them get involved in it and enjoy it from page 1 to the last one. Fans of fantasy and horror would really enjoy what this tale has to offer. I absolutely recommend it to all of them or to any other assiduous reader.
“Veilfall” is a book written by Adron Smitley, American author. It is quite a long book; having more than five hundred pages, it is a read that took me a couple of weeks to finish. This novel, although long, is only divided into three parts and each of them are divided into chapters. This is the first book that I read from this author and I was gladly surprised by his writing style. He uses plenty of descriptions that help readers make a mental picture of what is happening. Moreover, characters are well described and developed. The plot is well developed too; ideas unfold smoothly from beginning to end. Lovers of fantasy will certainly enjoy this book as much as I did. Although this may be aimed at teenagers or young adults, I advise all fans of this genre to give this a try as it will surprise them. I recommend reading Veilfall because it was a very good read.
I was blown away with the richness in the language, I think that’s my favorite part of the book. It is a fantasy-fiction mixed with poetry. It is true that the author gives a lot of details and descriptions in the story, but that’s what makes this novel so unique and vivid.
Banzu is a very strong-minded wizard that has to face an ancient demonic cult to restart a war against all born gifted with magic. Veilfall is a must read for everyone to enjoy some adventures mixed with magic, villains and heroes.
Let me conclude by saying that Adron Smitley did a tremendous job in this novel, it is the perfect choice for a long trip, for vacay or to relax and read it laying in nature (PS: that’s what I did. I really enjoyed it!) All in all, I liked it very much and this is why I'm giving five stars.
Author AdronSmitley did a great job choosing this cover because it was the first thing that called my attention. This novel called Veilfall is a book that attracted me from beginning to end. Once I started reading it, I almost did not stop until the end; and it is quite long, but a read that is very captivating. The language used is very complete and the author’s writing style is very good. It doesn’t feel as a heavy read although it has more than five hundred pages. The author used a very descriptive narration that help the reader’s imagination. If I have to make one slight criticism of the book it would be its pacing; I would have enjoyed it more if it were a bit faster. It is a book that I would recommend especially to lovers of the genre as me.
This story is a fantasy experience from the first page. Banzu has lived a solo life away from the volatile world, enjoying the privacy and solitude until a beautiful woman comes into his life and pulls him back to the place he has been hiding from for many years. Banzu finds himself in the thousand year war and he begins to enjoy the slaughter. This story is very compelling and told in a great style with developed characters and great descriptions of the scene developing in front of your eyes. If you are a fan of the fantasy genre, this extra long book will hit the spot. Check this one out folks it is a good read.
The story is interesting, as are the character concepts and the worldbuilding. Quite interesting, in fact! However, the crazy amounts of description bogs down the story tremendously. Also, run-on sentences abound and it gets quite frustrating after only a few pages. There are several awkwardly-worded phrases like "nostril breath" used, which also detract from the work.
Great fast paced storyline full of characters you will love to love and love to hate. Its got a touch of not even a bit graphic sex, lots of sword fights, magic, monsters, and violence. You can't go wrong with this book!
Author Adron Smitley takes readers on a thrilling journey in his book Veilfall. Protagonist Soothsayer Banzu Greenlief has lived in solitude for a few years, but comes out of it once he meets an intriguing stranger. After this meeting, he decides to join a group of people who are trying to fight against an evil cult determined to restart the Thousand Years War. However, he soon finds himself questioning whether what he’s doing is right.
Smitley includes numerous well-developed characters that add their own interesting touch to the story. The book also features a great plot that will make putting this novel down difficult to do. There’s also beautiful imagery that instantly transports you to the book’s setting. Keep in mind that some portions are a bit lengthy in their descriptions. This novel is also somewhat long (544 pages) but if you want a well-written dark fantasy read, definitely consider this one.
Veilfall by Adron Smitley will seize your attention from the first chapter as Banzu Greenlief is training with the man who had hidden and instructed him these last eleven years, Jericho. Sword training is a must as Banzu knows one day it will kill or be killed because of the bloodlust curse. When Banzu leave his haven, he realizes his love and jealousy for Melora could bring about the greatest thing he fears.
Adron Smitley is a very gifted and descriptive author. His portrayal of situations, scenic events, and vivid characters makes the reader’s fantasy run wild. Veilfall features dark fantasy and battle for more than leadership. This novel becomes too explanatory. The tension was there. Then the script became too wordy, and it lost some of its momentum. Overall, the author has a great story, it just needs some tweaking to maximize an already remarkable novel.