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The Veil Chronicles #1
Tempest
To unearth the truth, she must embrace the legend within. For eighteen-year-old Lexi, freedom is a luxury. She's spent her life evading capture for a genetic gift that feels more like a curse. Her bulletproof immunity and monstrous disfigurement is of great interest to a secret organization, but they aren't the only ones. A cryptic tip alerts Lexi that something else hunts her--something darker. Desperate to enjoy her life before it's too late, Lexi leaves the protective cocoon her parents created for her and signs up for art classes at her local college. There she meets Conner, who is confined to a wheelchair, and they become friends who are willing to share each other's secrets. But a chance encounter with Connor's foster brother Killian changes everything. Killian shares the same mysterious secret within his blood as Lexi. Their fateful meeting sets off a chain reaction of catastrophic events that exposes the terrifying truth--Lexi is a celestial queen of a bygone race. Connor is their last royal heir, and Killian is a half-breed abomination hated for his very existence. With Connor kidnapped by an ancient god determined to rid the world of the stain of humanity, Lexi and Killian find themselves under the protection of the secretive Order of Kings. Lexi believes she's been thrown into a world of myths and legends, but things are not as they seem. Lexi becomes convinced the Order is keeping dangerous secrets that threaten not just her but all of mankind.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
14 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Campbell
1 book29 followersCJ-born Clare Jennifer-Campbell is a native Northern Irish woman and award winning author. She has won several awards in the fantasy, inspirational, and short story genres. Her flash fiction, Refuge won a spot in the anthology Faith and Freedom. Growing up on her grandfather's centuries-old farm, filled with mysterious stories and curious woodland, Clare's imagination was forever inspired by the fantastical and the unseen. Her love of fantasy books, fairy-tales, and the hand-me-down folklore tales from generations before became the foundations for her story-building craft. She graduated from the University of Ulster with a BSC Hons in Occupational Therapy. But it was during her first few years of work in her field and her ongoing life experiences with illness and disability that have helped her develop a sharp eye for memorable personalities and gripping plots. By early 2014 Clare had joined the world of fanfiction and started to post an alternative universe, retelling of one of JRR Tolkien's most memorable characters. Her serial fanfiction, The ElvenKing, is a popular hit on websites such as FanFiction.net and Wattpad, with over 2 million reads, thousands of reviews, and hosts of fans. Clare has continued to thrill internet audiences with her quirky retellings and alternative worlds. Her fanfic has won popular awards across all platforms and she is internationally known as the No. 1 fanfic author in her genre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 7, 2021
I enjoyed reading this book. I loved the storyline and the characters.
August 29, 2021
This was a DNF because there is an incredibly damaging message within this story - I will note it for those curious. Things do improve, but there's no build up pushing against the quotes noted below - they just kind of hit you hard.
The book is getting 2 stars because the author has good things going - the action, friendships, and Irish connections are interesting.
Now, I received an ARC (in exchange for an honest review, which this is), so the quotes may change, and I hope they do. If they do and the overall problematic theme of disability and disfigurement being punishments or making people "less than", then I will be more than happy to give this another read, but the message is there throughout and it is so harmful.
One section really showcases this message and it's found in Chapter 10: Seeds of Truth.
(Again this is from the ARC and may not be the same in the published version)
...I squeeze my eyes shut and inhale. "Connor was crippled and in a wheelchair, and I was an ugly, deformed, blind girl. We are not angels or gods. It's absurd."
"Your kind placed a curse on themselves so that none would venture back into mortal lands without suffering." Professor Donoghue answered me with a completely straight and serious face. "If they did, their bodies would fail them, and they would become like the weakest of men. Their beauty would be lost in the eyes of mortals, their powers diminished..."
That is the end of what I'm sharing from the ARC. To say these things about people who look different and whose bodies function differently really is irresponsible. Teens are the target audience and it literally says that the curse made them have bodies that "would fail them" - being in a wheelchair isn't having a body that has failed you. Being blind doesn't mean your body failed you. Having limited use out of your hands isn't having your body fail you. And none of these things make a person weak. Not one.
If this is how the original tale of these Irish-based mythological beings was originally told, it should have been modified. There is no reason to have characters with disabilities suddenly be "cured" and "all better" and they're suddenly beautiful. That is such a harmful message. Without spoilers, not all of the bodies keep their transformation, so there are good messages, but readers have to make it past that really rough scene.
The book is getting 2 stars because the author has good things going - the action, friendships, and Irish connections are interesting.
Now, I received an ARC (in exchange for an honest review, which this is), so the quotes may change, and I hope they do. If they do and the overall problematic theme of disability and disfigurement being punishments or making people "less than", then I will be more than happy to give this another read, but the message is there throughout and it is so harmful.
One section really showcases this message and it's found in Chapter 10: Seeds of Truth.
(Again this is from the ARC and may not be the same in the published version)
...I squeeze my eyes shut and inhale. "Connor was crippled and in a wheelchair, and I was an ugly, deformed, blind girl. We are not angels or gods. It's absurd."
"Your kind placed a curse on themselves so that none would venture back into mortal lands without suffering." Professor Donoghue answered me with a completely straight and serious face. "If they did, their bodies would fail them, and they would become like the weakest of men. Their beauty would be lost in the eyes of mortals, their powers diminished..."
That is the end of what I'm sharing from the ARC. To say these things about people who look different and whose bodies function differently really is irresponsible. Teens are the target audience and it literally says that the curse made them have bodies that "would fail them" - being in a wheelchair isn't having a body that has failed you. Being blind doesn't mean your body failed you. Having limited use out of your hands isn't having your body fail you. And none of these things make a person weak. Not one.
If this is how the original tale of these Irish-based mythological beings was originally told, it should have been modified. There is no reason to have characters with disabilities suddenly be "cured" and "all better" and they're suddenly beautiful. That is such a harmful message. Without spoilers, not all of the bodies keep their transformation, so there are good messages, but readers have to make it past that really rough scene.
August 13, 2021
Holy Other World, Batman!
This is NOT my usual kind of read . . . but please! This was one good book! I could not put it down.
Seems every time I turned a page, a new bit of the adventure awaited. I fell in love with Killian (and I'm nearly too old for that!) and kept whimpering, "But what about Connor?"
And then . . . WHAT ABOUT CONNOR! NO!!!
Lexi is my new hero. Ireland my new home. Water and earth and fire. And twists and turns! It simply cannot get any better ...
Until we get to Book II.
This is NOT my usual kind of read . . . but please! This was one good book! I could not put it down.
Seems every time I turned a page, a new bit of the adventure awaited. I fell in love with Killian (and I'm nearly too old for that!) and kept whimpering, "But what about Connor?"
And then . . . WHAT ABOUT CONNOR! NO!!!
Lexi is my new hero. Ireland my new home. Water and earth and fire. And twists and turns! It simply cannot get any better ...
Until we get to Book II.
July 18, 2021
Tempest immersed me into a world of hidden identities, facades, alternate dimensions, special giftings, forbidden love—and a secret rendezvous that includes brownies. Campbell’s characters feel tangible. They are relatable and endearing but also slap-worthy at times. I loved watching Lexi grow comfortable in her own skin, bucking some of the stereotypical heroine tropes and embracing who she was made to be. Dear reader, be warned: you will be begging for book two!
August 31, 2021
Loved this book! Such an amazing story, with many great scenes and themes that kept me flipping pages as fast as I could. Lexi is a sassy, smart, strong leading lady balanced with the perfect male counterpart, Killian. Oh Killian! I won't say anymore so I don't give too much away. Highly recommend this book!
September 8, 2021
4 Cranky Stars
This book kept me guessing from the beginning. It kept rolling smoothly along. I liked it. I would recommend it to others.
Imagine thinking all of your life you are just a normal person, well as normal as can be with disabilities, and then one day all that comes crashing down. You are “beyond normal”. For Lexi, that’s exactly how it was and how it happened. The parents that Lexi thought where her parents really aren’t, they are just charged with keeping her safe until the time comes for Lexi to know who she truly is.
Lexi started College in a new town because her “parents” figured it would be safe. She meets a boy named Connor and Connors dad is a Professor, Professor Donoghue and Killian who helps at the college and helps Connors family. Lexi is visually impaired and Connor is in a wheelchair and Killian has a speech impediment. All are of something else.
This was a good book. Can’t wait for the next one. I would recommend this to people.
This book kept me guessing from the beginning. It kept rolling smoothly along. I liked it. I would recommend it to others.
Imagine thinking all of your life you are just a normal person, well as normal as can be with disabilities, and then one day all that comes crashing down. You are “beyond normal”. For Lexi, that’s exactly how it was and how it happened. The parents that Lexi thought where her parents really aren’t, they are just charged with keeping her safe until the time comes for Lexi to know who she truly is.
Lexi started College in a new town because her “parents” figured it would be safe. She meets a boy named Connor and Connors dad is a Professor, Professor Donoghue and Killian who helps at the college and helps Connors family. Lexi is visually impaired and Connor is in a wheelchair and Killian has a speech impediment. All are of something else.
This was a good book. Can’t wait for the next one. I would recommend this to people.
August 30, 2021
With a very quick pace, this read pulls into an unseen world where the aftermath of war has left intrigue and a huge battle for a young girl.
Lexi is constantly on the run with her parents thanks to a birth defect, which makes her 'bullet-proof'. The fact that her injuries heal almost immediately and her blood is strange as made her the target of more than a couple groups. Plus, her deformities never really let her fit in. When their next hiding spot gives her the chance to attend her first semester of college, she's thrilled, but then, she runs across the impossible...another person with deformities, who has the same blood as her. Realizing there's so much more to the story than her parents have been telling her, she begins to ask questions. But when her parents die in front of her eyes at the hands of monsters, she's swished away by unknown people only to discover her life isn't what it seems. Instead, she's one of the few remaining of her powerful race, and everything rests on her shoulders.
This book definitely grabs at the beginning and makes Lexi very hard not to like. She does come across as someone younger than her supposed age in these first chapters, but that changes as the tale goes on. The family love is very inspiring, and I was hooked right away. The author keeps up the pace as the story progresses and lets unexpected twists and turns drive it forward. There's a lot of intrigue and secrets, which makes this a great beginning for a new series.
The world of mythical creatures and an entire realm behind a hidden veil, invite to a rich surrounding. The author establishes a great base in reality before drawing into the fantastical side, which I did appreciate. There's a lot going on and most of it runs smoothly, although there were some jumps and logic hiccups at times, which did leave a tiny bit of confusion. But all in all, this is an exciting read which draws in. I received an ARC and found this to be a very engaging read.
Lexi is constantly on the run with her parents thanks to a birth defect, which makes her 'bullet-proof'. The fact that her injuries heal almost immediately and her blood is strange as made her the target of more than a couple groups. Plus, her deformities never really let her fit in. When their next hiding spot gives her the chance to attend her first semester of college, she's thrilled, but then, she runs across the impossible...another person with deformities, who has the same blood as her. Realizing there's so much more to the story than her parents have been telling her, she begins to ask questions. But when her parents die in front of her eyes at the hands of monsters, she's swished away by unknown people only to discover her life isn't what it seems. Instead, she's one of the few remaining of her powerful race, and everything rests on her shoulders.
This book definitely grabs at the beginning and makes Lexi very hard not to like. She does come across as someone younger than her supposed age in these first chapters, but that changes as the tale goes on. The family love is very inspiring, and I was hooked right away. The author keeps up the pace as the story progresses and lets unexpected twists and turns drive it forward. There's a lot of intrigue and secrets, which makes this a great beginning for a new series.
The world of mythical creatures and an entire realm behind a hidden veil, invite to a rich surrounding. The author establishes a great base in reality before drawing into the fantastical side, which I did appreciate. There's a lot going on and most of it runs smoothly, although there were some jumps and logic hiccups at times, which did leave a tiny bit of confusion. But all in all, this is an exciting read which draws in. I received an ARC and found this to be a very engaging read.
August 29, 2021
This is a young adult fantasy with celestials, a secret organisation, 🐴kelpies, kidnapped friends, 😍forbidden love, who to trust, baddies and 🍫chocolate brownies 🥰… I’m away to cook some chocolate brownies… nom nom nom.
I have given this book 5 stars as although I struggled with the first couple of chapters there was a point I hit that I couldn’t put it down. Thankfully I was hooked on a Saturday as I was up all night reading. There were so many twists and turns throughout the book that I didn’t want to stop. I was so emotionally invested that there were a few outloud gasps.
Although Lexi appears confident enough with herself given the disability she struggles with, as the story progresses it is obvious that this is a childlike confidence and she grows so much as she finds out more about herself and is forced to take responsibility for who she is and deals with the grief she has faced.
Killian is such a protective sweetheart 🥰 with a love for chocolate brownies. The relationship between Lexi and Killian has a lot of ups and downs with definitely a few cringy moments as they get to know each other.
I love how this novel links to Gaelic folklore that links into the Irish history and theme of the book but I related through the Scottish faerie tales that I grew up with. I was absorbed with the description of the world and the rich layers woven throughout the novel.
One thing that stuck with me that I didn’t like was the description of some of the accents. There was mention of a British accent, there is no such thing as a British accent as our dialects/accents changes at least every 20 miles. I just assumed that this was meant to be a posh London accent.
The next novel in the series cannot come soon enough.
What happened to Connor? Who is the witch? Do find Lexi and Killian find each other again? Are there more brownie moments?
I have given this book 5 stars as although I struggled with the first couple of chapters there was a point I hit that I couldn’t put it down. Thankfully I was hooked on a Saturday as I was up all night reading. There were so many twists and turns throughout the book that I didn’t want to stop. I was so emotionally invested that there were a few outloud gasps.
Although Lexi appears confident enough with herself given the disability she struggles with, as the story progresses it is obvious that this is a childlike confidence and she grows so much as she finds out more about herself and is forced to take responsibility for who she is and deals with the grief she has faced.
Killian is such a protective sweetheart 🥰 with a love for chocolate brownies. The relationship between Lexi and Killian has a lot of ups and downs with definitely a few cringy moments as they get to know each other.
I love how this novel links to Gaelic folklore that links into the Irish history and theme of the book but I related through the Scottish faerie tales that I grew up with. I was absorbed with the description of the world and the rich layers woven throughout the novel.
One thing that stuck with me that I didn’t like was the description of some of the accents. There was mention of a British accent, there is no such thing as a British accent as our dialects/accents changes at least every 20 miles. I just assumed that this was meant to be a posh London accent.
The next novel in the series cannot come soon enough.
What happened to Connor? Who is the witch? Do find Lexi and Killian find each other again? Are there more brownie moments?
September 12, 2021
I found it so interesting to see this take on Celtic/Irish mythology! As a person who loves Celtic mythology and magic, it was an absolute joy to read this! It was nice to see how other writers interpret the Celtic world and make it their own- while still intertwining that traditional sense and objects, like the sacred treasures of the Tuatha De Danann.
I do have to admit that although I have rated it four stars, I was going to rate it 3 stars. The first and second parts of the book were so slow to me, it was tedious to get through. If it wasn’t for the last 100 pages or so of the book, I don’t think I would have rated it as I did. I found that the storytelling was more telling than showing, when it should have been the opposite. I felt like I was being told everything that was happening- their motivations and emotions- rather then showed through their expressions and actions.
I do have to say that because it seems like we spent so much time in the mist of a bunch of ‘fluff’, the characters grew on me. It was much more easier to understand the world and the characters because everything was explained in such grand detail. Although that sounds good, that it was released so gradually, it actually led the story to be more predictable. It was a sort of win-lose situation.
However, the writing was beautiful when we were being showed instead of told- which is why I liked the end of the book more, because of the action. The author does write beautifully, regardless of my opinion about the pacing. Since I have grown to like the world, I cannot wait for the sequel: especially because of the ending, I hope the next flows like that was as well.
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ebook advance reader copy for free- in exchange of me leaving a review both honestly and voluntarily.
I do have to admit that although I have rated it four stars, I was going to rate it 3 stars. The first and second parts of the book were so slow to me, it was tedious to get through. If it wasn’t for the last 100 pages or so of the book, I don’t think I would have rated it as I did. I found that the storytelling was more telling than showing, when it should have been the opposite. I felt like I was being told everything that was happening- their motivations and emotions- rather then showed through their expressions and actions.
I do have to say that because it seems like we spent so much time in the mist of a bunch of ‘fluff’, the characters grew on me. It was much more easier to understand the world and the characters because everything was explained in such grand detail. Although that sounds good, that it was released so gradually, it actually led the story to be more predictable. It was a sort of win-lose situation.
However, the writing was beautiful when we were being showed instead of told- which is why I liked the end of the book more, because of the action. The author does write beautifully, regardless of my opinion about the pacing. Since I have grown to like the world, I cannot wait for the sequel: especially because of the ending, I hope the next flows like that was as well.
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ebook advance reader copy for free- in exchange of me leaving a review both honestly and voluntarily.
October 1, 2021
First off it was pretty surreal holding a physical copy of this! I kept having to stop for a second and just get excited about the fact that I was holding a tangible book filled with this familiar writing style. The cover is SO PRETTY by the way. It's honestly probably one of the prettiest looking books I own.
Typically this kind of story isn't my thing A) I typically don't like first person and B) I was kinda scarred from Divergent so I dropped the genre a long time ago... but CJ has always been an exception and of course I HAD to read this since I've been a fan of the author's fan fiction work for years. Fast paced and never dull, Tempest was a very exciting read. The plot is interesting enough to keep you invested, but it was mostly just setup for bigger thing... plus that freaking MEAN cliffhanger at the end. While I'm really mad about that, I was also expecting it since she has a notoriously bad habit (Wundy, I know you're reading this and going >:] )
The best part was the characters. Lexi is a great lead and her inner monologue flows well and is believable. And Killian... was definitely my second favorite and I really loved his relationship with Lexi. He cares for her a lot but he also doesn't take her shit when she acts like a crazy person (side note: I love how flawed the characters are, that's something I don't see a lot in the genre). Some of you may ask 'Who is your first favorite?'
It's Sebastian.
Enough said.
As a side note: another surprising favorite for me was Thomas (is it weird that I pictured him as Tom Hiddleston?), I got far more invested in him than I planned on.
All in all a solid recommend to anybody who enjoys secret governments, cool elemental powers, Irish mythos, gardeners that make you swoon, and cliffhangers that give you the distinct feeling that the author is pointing at you and cackling.
Time to go reread To Live Again!
August 31, 2021
If you asked the grandfather in The Princess Bride about this book, he’d tell you all about magic, fights, monsters, intrigue, a hidden world, forbidden true love, and a mischievous kelpie named Sebastian.
If you asked the grandson, he’d say it was a kissing book.
As a fantasy-romance Tempest delivers on both counts. If you like fantasy, you’ll probably enjoy it. If you like romance, you’ll really enjoy it. If you like both, this is definitely the book for you.
I liked the secrets, the mystery, how you never know who to trust, and how Lexi’s relationships change over time.
The romance is bold enough that I wouldn’t want my 11-year-old to read it, but it’s tasteful enough that I’d let my 15-year-old read it. (If he wanted to. Romance isn’t his thing.)
The violence isn’t too bad. Death happens, and some characters get severely beat up, but it’s not gratuitous. Considering only the violence, I’d let either of my kids read it.
All in all, Campbell has a strong book here, and I look forward to the sequel.
Favorite scene: When Lexi goes swimming.
Favorite line: Who needs therapy when you can drink coffee?
P.S. Another reviewer found the book's messages about people with disabilities to be negative. With respect, I thought the messages were decidedly positive: people with disabilities are real people with thoughts, feelings, and personalities. They are worthy of love and respect. The book shows how it is entirely too easy for others to look at someone with a disability and only see the disability, not the person behind it. It even explores the possibility that people with disabilities may have power and strength that others, or even they themselves, may not see.
If you asked the grandson, he’d say it was a kissing book.
As a fantasy-romance Tempest delivers on both counts. If you like fantasy, you’ll probably enjoy it. If you like romance, you’ll really enjoy it. If you like both, this is definitely the book for you.
I liked the secrets, the mystery, how you never know who to trust, and how Lexi’s relationships change over time.
The romance is bold enough that I wouldn’t want my 11-year-old to read it, but it’s tasteful enough that I’d let my 15-year-old read it. (If he wanted to. Romance isn’t his thing.)
The violence isn’t too bad. Death happens, and some characters get severely beat up, but it’s not gratuitous. Considering only the violence, I’d let either of my kids read it.
All in all, Campbell has a strong book here, and I look forward to the sequel.
Favorite scene: When Lexi goes swimming.
Favorite line: Who needs therapy when you can drink coffee?
P.S. Another reviewer found the book's messages about people with disabilities to be negative. With respect, I thought the messages were decidedly positive: people with disabilities are real people with thoughts, feelings, and personalities. They are worthy of love and respect. The book shows how it is entirely too easy for others to look at someone with a disability and only see the disability, not the person behind it. It even explores the possibility that people with disabilities may have power and strength that others, or even they themselves, may not see.
September 2, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story begins with an interesting view, where Lexi is on the run with her parents. Her parents let her believe that the government would do anything to lay hands on her special bulletproof blood. Lexi is not an ordinary girl and not because of her scarring around her face. When moved again, with approval from her parents she attends school and meets Killian and Connor. She suspects that they are the same as her. But things go horrible wrong on Connor's birthday party and Lexi is on the run, taking in by this mysterious order. What do they want from her? Who is she? And who is Killian? And what happened to Connor?
I am a more of no nonsense kind of person, meaning I don't really like the romantic and steamy portions of this fantasy story. On the other hand there is a lot of intrigue going on when Lexi is trying to find out who are the bad guys and the good guys. But nothing is what it seems, not even Lexi can have a hold of what is happening to her. This tale is a mix of fantasy, magic, action , horror and romance. The world of Lexi is build around myth , fairies and Irish folklore. Would you believe in fairies? It is entertaining with lots of unpredicted twists, even the end of the book leaves you wonder. It is a must read!
The story begins with an interesting view, where Lexi is on the run with her parents. Her parents let her believe that the government would do anything to lay hands on her special bulletproof blood. Lexi is not an ordinary girl and not because of her scarring around her face. When moved again, with approval from her parents she attends school and meets Killian and Connor. She suspects that they are the same as her. But things go horrible wrong on Connor's birthday party and Lexi is on the run, taking in by this mysterious order. What do they want from her? Who is she? And who is Killian? And what happened to Connor?
I am a more of no nonsense kind of person, meaning I don't really like the romantic and steamy portions of this fantasy story. On the other hand there is a lot of intrigue going on when Lexi is trying to find out who are the bad guys and the good guys. But nothing is what it seems, not even Lexi can have a hold of what is happening to her. This tale is a mix of fantasy, magic, action , horror and romance. The world of Lexi is build around myth , fairies and Irish folklore. Would you believe in fairies? It is entertaining with lots of unpredicted twists, even the end of the book leaves you wonder. It is a must read!
August 11, 2021
Tempest pulled me into a world full of deceit, secret identities, alternate dimensions, forbidden love, and magic. I really felt like I was a part of the story that was unfolding before me. The details of the world, the emotional and passionate scenes, the relatable and real characters were all amazing. The personal journey we saw Lexi take on when learning to deal with tragedy, fear, love, and revelations was so compelling. I felt those things right beside her. The story-telling was done so well that whatever Lexi was seeing, hearing, and feeling – I was experiencing it all the same.
Overall this debut from CJ Campbell is an amazing, compelling read that will 100% keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. And then you’ll be looking for the next book because you’ll just be dying to know what happens next. There is still much more to come, and I cannot wait to see what happens to these characters next!
Overall this debut from CJ Campbell is an amazing, compelling read that will 100% keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. And then you’ll be looking for the next book because you’ll just be dying to know what happens next. There is still much more to come, and I cannot wait to see what happens to these characters next!
September 1, 2021
Tempest by C.J. Campbell is a quick paced read that pulls the reader into an intriguing world with complex characters.
I really like Lexi. She has a disability, which was really nice to see in a fantasy novel. I enjoyed the way her birth defect played a part in her abilities. While she struggles to fit in, she presses forward in life. I enjoyed how well rounded she was. She felt really and she is hard not to like.
The twists and turns are plenty in this world of mythical creatures. This author is very good at building a world, because I was able to see everything, clearly. It’s really intriguing how based in reality this feels, despite the fantastical.
Overall, this was an engaging read that I very much enjoyed. Give it a shot.
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for the review copy and the opportunity to honestly review this book on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
I really like Lexi. She has a disability, which was really nice to see in a fantasy novel. I enjoyed the way her birth defect played a part in her abilities. While she struggles to fit in, she presses forward in life. I enjoyed how well rounded she was. She felt really and she is hard not to like.
The twists and turns are plenty in this world of mythical creatures. This author is very good at building a world, because I was able to see everything, clearly. It’s really intriguing how based in reality this feels, despite the fantastical.
Overall, this was an engaging read that I very much enjoyed. Give it a shot.
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for the review copy and the opportunity to honestly review this book on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
August 20, 2021
Tempest is a great fantasy read. I really enjoyed the world building, the characters and all the twists and turns! I highly recommend this to someone looking for their next fantasy read. There were a few parts of the book that struck me a bit oddly.
*Spoilers*
I didn’t love the trope of a disability going away magically, but I did appreciate the author addressing how Lexi felt about it. I also struggled a bit with the pacing- it felt pretty slow at the beginning. However, overall the book was very enjoyable, and I will definitely being trying to get Book 2 because I NEED to know how that cliffhanger is resolved.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
*Spoilers*
I didn’t love the trope of a disability going away magically, but I did appreciate the author addressing how Lexi felt about it. I also struggled a bit with the pacing- it felt pretty slow at the beginning. However, overall the book was very enjoyable, and I will definitely being trying to get Book 2 because I NEED to know how that cliffhanger is resolved.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2021
Okay. So I’m kinda in love with this author and her debut book. I’ve been in a reading slump this summer, and Tempest was the perfect choice to pull me out. Campbell’s characters were rich and beautifully flawed. While the plot was intricate with fantasy details, I never felt bogged down by information and world-building. The author did a fantastic job weaving it all together. The tension between Lexi and Killian is all the things. As my eyes read over the last few words of Tempest, all I could think about was when book two of The Veiled Chronicles would be out. I know I will be thinking about this lovely novel for weeks to come.
August 9, 2021
C. J. Campbell's debut novel has it all: fantasy, suspense, romance, epic battles between good and evil, real and mythical. Her characters jump off the page in a tangible, relatable way, yet amaze you with gifts that stretch the imagination. The heroine's personal journey through fear, tragedy, love, and revelation was especially compelling. I found myself cheering her on, from the beginning until the jaw-dropping conclusion. This is edge-of-your-seat drama that will have you turning pages long into the night and finding the sequel can't come soon enough.
November 1, 2021
The tension and drama in CJ Campbell's Tempest pushed me onward from the first page and kept me wanting more.
I am deeply connected now to Lexi and Killian. I can't wait for Book II in The Veil Chronicles!
Depth, action, tenderness and meaning abound in Tempest!
I am deeply connected now to Lexi and Killian. I can't wait for Book II in The Veil Chronicles!
Depth, action, tenderness and meaning abound in Tempest!
September 4, 2021
Hands down Killian is easily one of my favorite characters of all time. I loved the descriptions, the magical world, and of course all the beautiful characters. Can’t wait to continue the story!
October 4, 2021
One of the most unique story lines and truly well written books I have ever read. I am looking forward to the next book in this story. I can't wait to find out what happens next.
September 17, 2021
Tempest by C.J. Campbell is the first book in The Veil Chronicles, and the very first line opening the novel immediately intrigued me: “My life depends on how fast I can pack.”
This contemporary fantasy novel includes magic, mystery, suspense, and just enough romance to keep readers wanting more. The story starts off with Lexi traveling with her parents, running once more from being caught by a secret world-government agency that has been after her since she was born. This beginning falls neatly into the trope of the main character being special, but then that is immediately turned on its head when you find out she is disabled and the general population never knows how to react to her, sometimes treating her negatively—a scenario that resonates with anyone who lives an atypical lifestyle.
As the plot unfolds and Lexi begins to learn about the secret world-government agency, she has to deal with heartbreak while falling in love and learning what it means to trust others. A full cast of characters layers in complexity to the storyline at the same time that an entire magical world not only unfolds for Lexi but also for the reader.
Throughout the story, I connected with Lexi on many levels, from her losses to finding romantic love for the first time. Campbell does a great job with drawing on the reader's empathy to the point that I could even empathize for Lexi's love interest as he is a well-drawn three-dimensional character.
This book ends on a cliffhanger which draws me into wanting the next book right now. However, if you are not a fan of cliffhangers this book may not be for you at this time until the second book arrives. Either way, I don't think anyone will be disappointed by Tempest!
This contemporary fantasy novel includes magic, mystery, suspense, and just enough romance to keep readers wanting more. The story starts off with Lexi traveling with her parents, running once more from being caught by a secret world-government agency that has been after her since she was born. This beginning falls neatly into the trope of the main character being special, but then that is immediately turned on its head when you find out she is disabled and the general population never knows how to react to her, sometimes treating her negatively—a scenario that resonates with anyone who lives an atypical lifestyle.
As the plot unfolds and Lexi begins to learn about the secret world-government agency, she has to deal with heartbreak while falling in love and learning what it means to trust others. A full cast of characters layers in complexity to the storyline at the same time that an entire magical world not only unfolds for Lexi but also for the reader.
Throughout the story, I connected with Lexi on many levels, from her losses to finding romantic love for the first time. Campbell does a great job with drawing on the reader's empathy to the point that I could even empathize for Lexi's love interest as he is a well-drawn three-dimensional character.
This book ends on a cliffhanger which draws me into wanting the next book right now. However, if you are not a fan of cliffhangers this book may not be for you at this time until the second book arrives. Either way, I don't think anyone will be disappointed by Tempest!
July 11, 2021
Campbell’s debut novel is brilliant. Emotional and passionate, scenes played out like a movie across my mind as I devoured every page. Themes of brokenness, discovery, and identity weave around epic battles between good and evil, mortals and myths. I loved every minute of this book- except the cliffhanger at the end! I’m eagerly anticipating Book 2!
September 3, 2021
Good
3.75- 4 star read arc read this. It is a bit of a slow burn book but once it gets started and into the story it is really intriguing. Definitely recommend reading this book.
3.75- 4 star read arc read this. It is a bit of a slow burn book but once it gets started and into the story it is really intriguing. Definitely recommend reading this book.
September 3, 2021
Eighteen-year-old Lexi’s world was turned upside down when the very things that have been chasing her all her life finally catch up to her. Her parents are taken from her and she is whisked away by the very people whom her parents have been running from. Lexi learns that her life has been a lie and that she is not the person she was lead to believe she was.
Tempest had many, many twists that kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to for each one to be revealed page after page. There were so many twists that after each twist I was like phew, made it through that, whoa, but then the next thing I knew I was being slammed with another one. Oh man, they just kept rolling out one after another.
All the characters were so amazing. Lexi, Killian, and Connor all held special places in my heart. I wanted to get to know Connor more but how could I after he was taken away. Poor, poor Connor. Is he safe? Is he still alive? Where did they take him? Who took him? Why did they take him? So many questions.
Tempest has plenty of suspense, mystery, magic, and wonderful characters to keep you hooked from beginning to end with never a dull moment in between. I am looking forward to the next book in The Veil Chronicles.
I would recommend Tempest to all fans of magic! One-click your copy of Tempest today for a great adventure with plenty of twists!
Tempest had many, many twists that kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to for each one to be revealed page after page. There were so many twists that after each twist I was like phew, made it through that, whoa, but then the next thing I knew I was being slammed with another one. Oh man, they just kept rolling out one after another.
All the characters were so amazing. Lexi, Killian, and Connor all held special places in my heart. I wanted to get to know Connor more but how could I after he was taken away. Poor, poor Connor. Is he safe? Is he still alive? Where did they take him? Who took him? Why did they take him? So many questions.
Tempest has plenty of suspense, mystery, magic, and wonderful characters to keep you hooked from beginning to end with never a dull moment in between. I am looking forward to the next book in The Veil Chronicles.
I would recommend Tempest to all fans of magic! One-click your copy of Tempest today for a great adventure with plenty of twists!
June 30, 2022
Intriguing Irish Fantasy With Likeable Characters, A Rich World, and Troubling Disability Representation
Lexi Danu, an 18-year-old girl who is scarred and blind in one eye, has spent her life on the run from a mysterious government organization. When she finally settles down to start college, she meets two other disabled young adults--Connor, a bouncy goofball in a wheelchair who becomes her fast friend, and Killian, a quiet young man who loves nature and takes an intense interest in her. Connor, Killian, and Lexi, it turns out, share a magical secret: they are the last of the Tuatha de Danaan or Celestials, a race of superhumans out of Celtic mythology. When forces of evil invade and kidnap Connor, Lexi is spirited away to Domnaill castle in Ireland, where she learns about her magic heritage, falls in love with Killian, and becomes embroiled in a war between good and evil with the fate of humanity in the balance.
The characters here are actually quite good, with distinctive personalities, good dialogue, and high likeability, even if they do follow some of the basic YA tropes. Lexi is a feisty, bright young lady with a snarky narrative voice, and Killian is a sweetheart with a tragic backstory and a kind, protective nature. Their relationship is healthy, passionate but sweet (and with a lot more *tension* than is typical in Christian YA), and there is no love triangle (yay!). I actually ... really enjoyed the romance parts, which is a bit unusual for me. (there is a scene involving chocolate brownies that is priceless. If you know, you know). Connor, while he is onscreen, is an absolute joy, and a loyal bird-shifter and a kelpie with attitude round out the cast.
(Speaking of romance and tension...the tension is great. There is one pretty intense kissing scene that, while certainly not offending me in any way--there's much worse in secular YA, believe me--it pushed the boundaries of what is acceptable in Christian YA fantasy. Lexi wraps her legs around Killian's waist, they kiss A LOT, Lexi thinks vaguely about wanting to be closer and go further, and they make a specific remark about not going further as it's just a first date. So, self-control prevails, but it is a bit intense. Just putting it out there for the more sensitive as I've found some Christian readers are *really* sensitive about this kind of thing).
The Irish mythological element is also absolutely fascinating. I don't think I've seen Irish folklore explored in a YA fantasy before, or at least, not this thoroughly. The Celestials possess elemental powers--water for Lexi, earth for Killian, and you'll have to find out for Connor...which are beautifully done--and actually tie in nicely to the romance too. The Tuatha de Danaan myths are intriguing. Killian's past ties in with the myths, and it is mysterious and lovely. The Irish setting is gorgeous. The kelpie...that kelpie...he's great :) Honestly one of the biggest draws of this novel, for me, was the unique Irish element. I do feel the author's attempt to integrate her mythology into the Christian worldview felt a bit awkward--she could have left out references to the Creator and Eden and it would have been just fine as a clean, non-Christian fantasy. But on the whole, I am definitely curious to learn more about the world, its myth, and its magic.
So, here's what I didn't like about this novel. There are a few grammar and spelling errors. Connor needed more screentime and his character transformation at the end felt very...drastic with little explanation. I'd have liked to see Connors or Killian's POV. But those are small beans.
The big one...The disability representation. Lexi and her friends, as I mentioned, are disabled at the beginning of the novel. I signed on to ARC-read this based on a blurb about this being an Irish-inspired story with disabled characters...but as soon as Lexi reached the castle, she was magically disability-free and beautiful, so I felt a bit cheated. Apparently, the Celestials are only disabled in the human world. What? And the explanation does. not. help. Celestials are "cursed" to be like the "weakest mortals" when in the mortal realm...which apparently means disabled people are cursed and weak? Huh? Yeah, as a self-identified disabled person (Autism/Anxiety/Depression) with several physically disabled, mentally ill, and/or Autistic friends, I didn't care for that. And that explanation comes from a character who is literally a FATHER FIGURE to two of the disabled characters...like couldn't he at least have thrown in a remark about how the beings who cursed the Celestials were totally wrong in their thinking because disabled people are actually crazy strong? I'm really surprised that an editor or sensitivity reader didn't catch that. I guess this is what happens with small Christian presses...no requirement for sensitivity reads. The author herself identifies as disabled, so I'm willing to forgive this, but, I'm honestly kinda shocked. Look...I'm not trying to be some kind of super-woke warrior here. I'm not saying it's a bad book and should be cancelled. It's a pretty good book and I'd actually recommend it if it sounds like your thing. It's just a me-thing, okay? It rubbed me the wrong way, but that's only my opinion and I certainly don't expect anyone else to share it.
For me, what it comes down to is, are there better books I could be reading? And my answer is, yes, yes there are, even within the Christian/clean/indie scene. Sara Ella's Coral has some lovely mental health representation (she used a professional psychiatrist and sensitivity readers. It shows). Mary Weber also does good work with disability and racial representation. Hannah Heath, a disabled author, writes Christian adventure fantasy and ALL of her characters have disabilities, both physical and psychological, that are significant but don't define them. So...I could preorder the sequel to Tempest. And I've half a mind to do so, to be perfectly honest. There was a lot to like here. But there are authors who are just as good who do their disability representation better, and I'd honestly rather read them.
In spite of all that criticism, though, I will freely admit that I am of half a mind to go ahead and preorder the sequel. I really loved the Irish element, and that ending was quite the cliffhanger. My feelings about this book are definitely...complicated.
Lexi Danu, an 18-year-old girl who is scarred and blind in one eye, has spent her life on the run from a mysterious government organization. When she finally settles down to start college, she meets two other disabled young adults--Connor, a bouncy goofball in a wheelchair who becomes her fast friend, and Killian, a quiet young man who loves nature and takes an intense interest in her. Connor, Killian, and Lexi, it turns out, share a magical secret: they are the last of the Tuatha de Danaan or Celestials, a race of superhumans out of Celtic mythology. When forces of evil invade and kidnap Connor, Lexi is spirited away to Domnaill castle in Ireland, where she learns about her magic heritage, falls in love with Killian, and becomes embroiled in a war between good and evil with the fate of humanity in the balance.
The characters here are actually quite good, with distinctive personalities, good dialogue, and high likeability, even if they do follow some of the basic YA tropes. Lexi is a feisty, bright young lady with a snarky narrative voice, and Killian is a sweetheart with a tragic backstory and a kind, protective nature. Their relationship is healthy, passionate but sweet (and with a lot more *tension* than is typical in Christian YA), and there is no love triangle (yay!). I actually ... really enjoyed the romance parts, which is a bit unusual for me. (there is a scene involving chocolate brownies that is priceless. If you know, you know). Connor, while he is onscreen, is an absolute joy, and a loyal bird-shifter and a kelpie with attitude round out the cast.
(Speaking of romance and tension...the tension is great. There is one pretty intense kissing scene that, while certainly not offending me in any way--there's much worse in secular YA, believe me--it pushed the boundaries of what is acceptable in Christian YA fantasy. Lexi wraps her legs around Killian's waist, they kiss A LOT, Lexi thinks vaguely about wanting to be closer and go further, and they make a specific remark about not going further as it's just a first date. So, self-control prevails, but it is a bit intense. Just putting it out there for the more sensitive as I've found some Christian readers are *really* sensitive about this kind of thing).
The Irish mythological element is also absolutely fascinating. I don't think I've seen Irish folklore explored in a YA fantasy before, or at least, not this thoroughly. The Celestials possess elemental powers--water for Lexi, earth for Killian, and you'll have to find out for Connor...which are beautifully done--and actually tie in nicely to the romance too. The Tuatha de Danaan myths are intriguing. Killian's past ties in with the myths, and it is mysterious and lovely. The Irish setting is gorgeous. The kelpie...that kelpie...he's great :) Honestly one of the biggest draws of this novel, for me, was the unique Irish element. I do feel the author's attempt to integrate her mythology into the Christian worldview felt a bit awkward--she could have left out references to the Creator and Eden and it would have been just fine as a clean, non-Christian fantasy. But on the whole, I am definitely curious to learn more about the world, its myth, and its magic.
So, here's what I didn't like about this novel. There are a few grammar and spelling errors. Connor needed more screentime and his character transformation at the end felt very...drastic with little explanation. I'd have liked to see Connors or Killian's POV. But those are small beans.
The big one...The disability representation. Lexi and her friends, as I mentioned, are disabled at the beginning of the novel. I signed on to ARC-read this based on a blurb about this being an Irish-inspired story with disabled characters...but as soon as Lexi reached the castle, she was magically disability-free and beautiful, so I felt a bit cheated. Apparently, the Celestials are only disabled in the human world. What? And the explanation does. not. help. Celestials are "cursed" to be like the "weakest mortals" when in the mortal realm...which apparently means disabled people are cursed and weak? Huh? Yeah, as a self-identified disabled person (Autism/Anxiety/Depression) with several physically disabled, mentally ill, and/or Autistic friends, I didn't care for that. And that explanation comes from a character who is literally a FATHER FIGURE to two of the disabled characters...like couldn't he at least have thrown in a remark about how the beings who cursed the Celestials were totally wrong in their thinking because disabled people are actually crazy strong? I'm really surprised that an editor or sensitivity reader didn't catch that. I guess this is what happens with small Christian presses...no requirement for sensitivity reads. The author herself identifies as disabled, so I'm willing to forgive this, but, I'm honestly kinda shocked. Look...I'm not trying to be some kind of super-woke warrior here. I'm not saying it's a bad book and should be cancelled. It's a pretty good book and I'd actually recommend it if it sounds like your thing. It's just a me-thing, okay? It rubbed me the wrong way, but that's only my opinion and I certainly don't expect anyone else to share it.
For me, what it comes down to is, are there better books I could be reading? And my answer is, yes, yes there are, even within the Christian/clean/indie scene. Sara Ella's Coral has some lovely mental health representation (she used a professional psychiatrist and sensitivity readers. It shows). Mary Weber also does good work with disability and racial representation. Hannah Heath, a disabled author, writes Christian adventure fantasy and ALL of her characters have disabilities, both physical and psychological, that are significant but don't define them. So...I could preorder the sequel to Tempest. And I've half a mind to do so, to be perfectly honest. There was a lot to like here. But there are authors who are just as good who do their disability representation better, and I'd honestly rather read them.
In spite of all that criticism, though, I will freely admit that I am of half a mind to go ahead and preorder the sequel. I really loved the Irish element, and that ending was quite the cliffhanger. My feelings about this book are definitely...complicated.
September 1, 2021
My Recommendation: 7.5 - 8 Stars
( I received this book free in exchange for my honest review )
I had a run of mixed feelings with this book. At the start of the book, I thought was well-paced. I like the storyline and I loved the characters. But then there were a few things that I have issues with, and as I was reading more of the story, those issues started to bother me a little more.
Unfortunately, this book does play into the whole setup book troupe. You know what I'm talking about. It starts good, really fast, and all of a sudden, it slows down to a snail's pace up until the 75% mark, where it picks up again, and suddenly we're back on track with the main plot. But I'm not going to talk about that because this is going to be a series.
The one thing that bothered me was the notion that the celestial creatures were cursed to be as weak as mortals. And I don't mean strength-wise; I mean physically. The author's way of doing that is making them disfigured or disabled. As somebody with a hidden disability, it was insulting to insinuate that somebody with a disability, no matter what the severity, was somehow weaker than somebody who wasn't. Which, as we all know, is not true at all. You cannot equate something that is out of our control to weakness.
Later on, it was stated, that even though their good looks were taken (because essentially that's what the author meant by weakness). They still had their celestial powers, so they were not weaker than mortals, to begin with. That was contradictory to the original statement when the whole premise of the celestials being cursed when entering the mortal realm was to be as weak as the weakest human. If that were the case, they would be physically weak. It would have nothing to do with their physical appearance. Or they could've just been made average-looking. They didn't have to be indescribably beautiful, as beauty is subjective. So yeah, I do have problems with that part of the story and that hurtful messaging that not being of society's beauty standard is, ugly, weak, and generally lesser than human.
As the story moved forward, more things were aggravating me. Our main protagonist, for one. For somebody that's being painted is an 18-year-old young woman. She was acting more like a 14-year-old brat. And I say that in maturity, not so much that she lost her parents, and her whole life got flipped upside down. But then there were times when she acted almost like she was in her 30s in regards to maturity and decision-making, which honestly doesn't match. That inconsistency in her character made me not like her a whole lot
There was this odd feeling I would get at times as well. Call it what you want, but I felt like it was indirectly suggested that women were over-emotional and men were more rational. This was written in a subtle way and was more notable when Lexi had her "outbursts" and Killian "clam" her down. That and, it felt like the author was implanting drama for there to be drama; and for the romance part of the story to fully blossom before you know, the dreaded... crumbling, as most romances do in these stories.
Then there's poor Connor, who I felt like got left to the wind.
I feel like this book would've benefited from a split point of view between Connor, Lexi and Killian. To give the story a little bit more depth, so we're not constantly in Lexi's head. I think breaking apart from her and understanding what was going through the other two celestial heads, would've broken up the dreaded monotony of the middle of the book and displayed some of that unnecessary drama.
After that 75% mark, the story does pick back up, and things started to get quite exciting. I was able to finish the book on a high note.
I am looking forward to the second book as the plot seemed to be finally underway. But at the same time, regarding the messaging, honestly, I would say I didn't like it. I would've been delighted with the character staying in the state they were in when they were first introduced. Because I think that would've made the story phenomenal and drove home the fact that beauty is truly subjective and skin deep. The author missed the mark there in my opinion.
On a collective, and in my opinion, the book could use some work. The drastic drop in pacing after the big event in the book's first half made it hard to get to the ending. It almost felt like the author was trying to get to the conclusion and was filling up space.
I don't want to say anymore because I could spoil the book, so I'm going to leave you with my recommendation that you should give this book a chance. Maybe you will think what I just said was atrocious, and I don't know what I'm talking about. But I do believe this series has potential, and I will be continuing on
Happy Reading
-E.A. Walsh
( I received this book free in exchange for my honest review )
I had a run of mixed feelings with this book. At the start of the book, I thought was well-paced. I like the storyline and I loved the characters. But then there were a few things that I have issues with, and as I was reading more of the story, those issues started to bother me a little more.
Unfortunately, this book does play into the whole setup book troupe. You know what I'm talking about. It starts good, really fast, and all of a sudden, it slows down to a snail's pace up until the 75% mark, where it picks up again, and suddenly we're back on track with the main plot. But I'm not going to talk about that because this is going to be a series.
The one thing that bothered me was the notion that the celestial creatures were cursed to be as weak as mortals. And I don't mean strength-wise; I mean physically. The author's way of doing that is making them disfigured or disabled. As somebody with a hidden disability, it was insulting to insinuate that somebody with a disability, no matter what the severity, was somehow weaker than somebody who wasn't. Which, as we all know, is not true at all. You cannot equate something that is out of our control to weakness.
Later on, it was stated, that even though their good looks were taken (because essentially that's what the author meant by weakness). They still had their celestial powers, so they were not weaker than mortals, to begin with. That was contradictory to the original statement when the whole premise of the celestials being cursed when entering the mortal realm was to be as weak as the weakest human. If that were the case, they would be physically weak. It would have nothing to do with their physical appearance. Or they could've just been made average-looking. They didn't have to be indescribably beautiful, as beauty is subjective. So yeah, I do have problems with that part of the story and that hurtful messaging that not being of society's beauty standard is, ugly, weak, and generally lesser than human.
As the story moved forward, more things were aggravating me. Our main protagonist, for one. For somebody that's being painted is an 18-year-old young woman. She was acting more like a 14-year-old brat. And I say that in maturity, not so much that she lost her parents, and her whole life got flipped upside down. But then there were times when she acted almost like she was in her 30s in regards to maturity and decision-making, which honestly doesn't match. That inconsistency in her character made me not like her a whole lot
There was this odd feeling I would get at times as well. Call it what you want, but I felt like it was indirectly suggested that women were over-emotional and men were more rational. This was written in a subtle way and was more notable when Lexi had her "outbursts" and Killian "clam" her down. That and, it felt like the author was implanting drama for there to be drama; and for the romance part of the story to fully blossom before you know, the dreaded... crumbling, as most romances do in these stories.
Then there's poor Connor, who I felt like got left to the wind.
I feel like this book would've benefited from a split point of view between Connor, Lexi and Killian. To give the story a little bit more depth, so we're not constantly in Lexi's head. I think breaking apart from her and understanding what was going through the other two celestial heads, would've broken up the dreaded monotony of the middle of the book and displayed some of that unnecessary drama.
After that 75% mark, the story does pick back up, and things started to get quite exciting. I was able to finish the book on a high note.
I am looking forward to the second book as the plot seemed to be finally underway. But at the same time, regarding the messaging, honestly, I would say I didn't like it. I would've been delighted with the character staying in the state they were in when they were first introduced. Because I think that would've made the story phenomenal and drove home the fact that beauty is truly subjective and skin deep. The author missed the mark there in my opinion.
On a collective, and in my opinion, the book could use some work. The drastic drop in pacing after the big event in the book's first half made it hard to get to the ending. It almost felt like the author was trying to get to the conclusion and was filling up space.
I don't want to say anymore because I could spoil the book, so I'm going to leave you with my recommendation that you should give this book a chance. Maybe you will think what I just said was atrocious, and I don't know what I'm talking about. But I do believe this series has potential, and I will be continuing on
Happy Reading
-E.A. Walsh
August 19, 2021
🌊 Tempest - Clare Campbell 🌊
👑 A celestial queen
🌱 A half human, half celestial outcast
💕 A forbidden love
🤔 A suspicious secret order
😱 A friend kidnapped
😈 An unspeakable evil that threatens them all
Lexi has never had what would be called a normal life - disfigured, partially blind, bulletproof and of course the sparkly blood. Her family are always on the run trying to keep her safe from secret organisations and something darker 🗺
When Lexi is finally allowed to go to art school she finds a friend in wheelchair bound Connor. But she's drawn to his foster brother Killian and a chance occurance tells her why - his blood. It's the same as hers 🔮
Prepared to take his secret to the grave Lexi's world implodes as the evil that's been chasing her family finally catches up exposing the terrifying truth - Lexi is a celestial queen of an ancient, near extinct race. Connor is their last royal heir, and Killian is a half-breed hated for his very existence 🤐
With her world ripped apart, her parents killed, secrets uncovered and Connor kidnapped Lexi and Killian are forced into the protection of the secret society her parents kept her from - apparently the lesser of two evils.... or is it? 🤔
Oh my goodness I loved, loved, loved Tempest. The world was so richly detailed and I was quickly sucked into the layers of mystery, secrect identities, lies, revelations, forbidden love, awesome magic and a world beyond the veil 🙌
I found all the characters to be really enjoyable - even if I wanted to shake them a few times! I LOVE Killian, Kes and Lexi - they're my faves 😍
Lexi's journey through her grief to growing into her celestial skin and powers was moving and believable. I also loved her determination to protect her friends and the fact that she wasn't infallible - she was scared, confused but also brave and powerful 💪
I adored the development of Killian and Lexi's romantic relationship - it was a bit of a rollercoaster at times with both of them lashing out and making mistakes but ultimately coming together in deliciously forbidden, chocolate brownie fuelled love 💖
I am DESPERATE for the next book I have to know what happens to my precious Killexi!!! 🙏🔮
👑 A celestial queen
🌱 A half human, half celestial outcast
💕 A forbidden love
🤔 A suspicious secret order
😱 A friend kidnapped
😈 An unspeakable evil that threatens them all
Lexi has never had what would be called a normal life - disfigured, partially blind, bulletproof and of course the sparkly blood. Her family are always on the run trying to keep her safe from secret organisations and something darker 🗺
When Lexi is finally allowed to go to art school she finds a friend in wheelchair bound Connor. But she's drawn to his foster brother Killian and a chance occurance tells her why - his blood. It's the same as hers 🔮
Prepared to take his secret to the grave Lexi's world implodes as the evil that's been chasing her family finally catches up exposing the terrifying truth - Lexi is a celestial queen of an ancient, near extinct race. Connor is their last royal heir, and Killian is a half-breed hated for his very existence 🤐
With her world ripped apart, her parents killed, secrets uncovered and Connor kidnapped Lexi and Killian are forced into the protection of the secret society her parents kept her from - apparently the lesser of two evils.... or is it? 🤔
Oh my goodness I loved, loved, loved Tempest. The world was so richly detailed and I was quickly sucked into the layers of mystery, secrect identities, lies, revelations, forbidden love, awesome magic and a world beyond the veil 🙌
I found all the characters to be really enjoyable - even if I wanted to shake them a few times! I LOVE Killian, Kes and Lexi - they're my faves 😍
Lexi's journey through her grief to growing into her celestial skin and powers was moving and believable. I also loved her determination to protect her friends and the fact that she wasn't infallible - she was scared, confused but also brave and powerful 💪
I adored the development of Killian and Lexi's romantic relationship - it was a bit of a rollercoaster at times with both of them lashing out and making mistakes but ultimately coming together in deliciously forbidden, chocolate brownie fuelled love 💖
I am DESPERATE for the next book I have to know what happens to my precious Killexi!!! 🙏🔮
September 2, 2021
Tempest is the first book in the Veil Chronicles by author C.J. Campbell. The Veil Chronicles is a young adult fantasy romance series, and I really enjoyed the first book. There is a lot going on and packed into this 300 page book, and it was a wild ride! There are some really cool characters and creatures present in the world that C.J. created and I can't wait to see what is in store for our main character, Lexi in the next book. I think this book is good for even younger readers of YA, because the main character starts out feeling very young. I think she matures as the book goes on, but that is something I wanted to point out.
In Tempest, we meet Lexi, who has basically been on the run with her parents for her whole life. Lexi was born with a genetic gift that made her basically impervious to physical wounds but her gift is also accompanied with physical disfigurements that she hates. Lexi is tired of hiding, and in an attempt to live a more "normal" life she enrolls in classes at her local college, where she meet Connor who has plenty of secrets of his own. From there things get even stranger, in the magical sense. Lexi, Connor and his brother Killian discover a new magical world, full of secret identities, magical creatures and danger galore. I really enjoyed the world that C.J. Campbell created. I was initially confused a bit, but after the first several chapters, I gained my bearings with the world and characters and then everything flowed smoothly from there.
Overall, this was a fun and interesting read. Lexi and Connor both have impressive character arcs and growth. I loved the self acceptance that I was starting to see from them. Lexi is a really easy character to root for. I also loved the celestial creatures concept and the celestial powers were cool. I can't wait to see more about on that front in the next book. I can't wait for book 2 so I can see what is going to happen next!
In Tempest, we meet Lexi, who has basically been on the run with her parents for her whole life. Lexi was born with a genetic gift that made her basically impervious to physical wounds but her gift is also accompanied with physical disfigurements that she hates. Lexi is tired of hiding, and in an attempt to live a more "normal" life she enrolls in classes at her local college, where she meet Connor who has plenty of secrets of his own. From there things get even stranger, in the magical sense. Lexi, Connor and his brother Killian discover a new magical world, full of secret identities, magical creatures and danger galore. I really enjoyed the world that C.J. Campbell created. I was initially confused a bit, but after the first several chapters, I gained my bearings with the world and characters and then everything flowed smoothly from there.
Overall, this was a fun and interesting read. Lexi and Connor both have impressive character arcs and growth. I loved the self acceptance that I was starting to see from them. Lexi is a really easy character to root for. I also loved the celestial creatures concept and the celestial powers were cool. I can't wait to see more about on that front in the next book. I can't wait for book 2 so I can see what is going to happen next!
September 3, 2021
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So, I absolutely adore all of CJ's fanfics on Wattpad! I was so looking forward to this book, but to be honest, I have no idea what my feelings are about it.
One thing I did really love was the fact that most of a the main characters had disabilities. I appreciated the struggle inside Lexi's head when she had to deal with people staring and how her thick skin from that came in to play later.
Personally, I really wish Lexi and Killian would have shown more interest in each other before their disabilities disappeared. Lexi did show some interest, but it would have been really cool to see them fall for each other BEFORE they both became hot.
Now for this part I need to add a disclaimer: I'm not a huge fan of romance in general. But in this book, I felt like the timing of the relationship felt odd. Killian supposedly sees Connor as his brother, but instead of him and Lexi freaking out about trying to get him back, they tended to spend their time deciding if they wanted to defy the Order and be together. Unfortunately that rubbed me the wrong way. Honestly though, I've seen this happen is a lot of YA books so maybe it's more of a style/gene thing? Idk
Overall, I gave this 4 stars. I really feel the series overall has promise! I really liked the Irish lore and the worldbuilding! And the ending was so good! I will definitely be picking up the second book just to see what happens next!
So, I absolutely adore all of CJ's fanfics on Wattpad! I was so looking forward to this book, but to be honest, I have no idea what my feelings are about it.
One thing I did really love was the fact that most of a the main characters had disabilities. I appreciated the struggle inside Lexi's head when she had to deal with people staring and how her thick skin from that came in to play later.
Personally, I really wish Lexi and Killian would have shown more interest in each other before their disabilities disappeared. Lexi did show some interest, but it would have been really cool to see them fall for each other BEFORE they both became hot.
Now for this part I need to add a disclaimer: I'm not a huge fan of romance in general. But in this book, I felt like the timing of the relationship felt odd. Killian supposedly sees Connor as his brother, but instead of him and Lexi freaking out about trying to get him back, they tended to spend their time deciding if they wanted to defy the Order and be together. Unfortunately that rubbed me the wrong way. Honestly though, I've seen this happen is a lot of YA books so maybe it's more of a style/gene thing? Idk
Overall, I gave this 4 stars. I really feel the series overall has promise! I really liked the Irish lore and the worldbuilding! And the ending was so good! I will definitely be picking up the second book just to see what happens next!
February 3, 2023
Too much contradiction
Lexi, Killian and Conner are celestiales, well, Killian is only half celestial. Since he is only half, he’s basically a slave to the people who are supposed to care for celestiales. That doesn’t make sense to me. He should still be cared for even if he’s only half a “god”. These people even treat Lexi, a 100% celestial, poorly. It just make sense. In the meantime, Conner has been captured by bad guys. Lexi has a continually love/hate relationship with Killian. She reaches out to him and then runs from him - over and over. And all this happens half way through the book. I’ve given up reading more. Last I left Lexi, she was running away from Killian yet again. Meanwhile, Conner is captured and expected to be killed, while Lexi plays her love games with Killian. Really? It’s just not for me. I suspect the author is setting up the characters for the long run of the book series, but I’m done with it.
Lexi, Killian and Conner are celestiales, well, Killian is only half celestial. Since he is only half, he’s basically a slave to the people who are supposed to care for celestiales. That doesn’t make sense to me. He should still be cared for even if he’s only half a “god”. These people even treat Lexi, a 100% celestial, poorly. It just make sense. In the meantime, Conner has been captured by bad guys. Lexi has a continually love/hate relationship with Killian. She reaches out to him and then runs from him - over and over. And all this happens half way through the book. I’ve given up reading more. Last I left Lexi, she was running away from Killian yet again. Meanwhile, Conner is captured and expected to be killed, while Lexi plays her love games with Killian. Really? It’s just not for me. I suspect the author is setting up the characters for the long run of the book series, but I’m done with it.
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