What do you think?
Rate this book
The Stars Forgotten #1
The Veiling of the Moon Kingdom
Born of lost magic, where darkness reigns—she is the forgotten soul whose destiny burns with starlight and blood.
Magic has been lost for centuries and the kingdoms cling to fading legends. On the storm-battered shores of Samarok, a child washes ashore—alone, memoryless, and silent, save for a single word: Elodae.
Raised by the king as his own blood, Elodae Kenton grows up in the shadow of royalty, never knowing who—or what—she truly is. But when a darkness older than the kingdom itself falls upon Samarok, Elodae begins to hear the echo of a forgotten past calling her home. Across tumultuous waters lies Lunala, a crescent-shaped island veiled in myth and moonlight. Hidden for millennia, its gates sealed to all outsiders, the Moon Kingdom has awakened—and it claims to hold the key to Samarok’s salvation. But not all secrets are so willing to be unearthed. Not without a bargain.
And the price? Elodae's hand in marriage.
As Elodae tumbles feet first into the unknown, she must navigate a world of ancient powers, treacherous politics, and a growing bond with a castle guard who sees beyond her carefully built walls. But when a ruthless lord brings her greatest nightmares to life, Elodae must choose whether or not to let the darkness consume her.
The fate of Samarok rests in the hands of a girl with no past—and the darkness that follows in her wake.
Magic has been lost for centuries and the kingdoms cling to fading legends. On the storm-battered shores of Samarok, a child washes ashore—alone, memoryless, and silent, save for a single word: Elodae.
Raised by the king as his own blood, Elodae Kenton grows up in the shadow of royalty, never knowing who—or what—she truly is. But when a darkness older than the kingdom itself falls upon Samarok, Elodae begins to hear the echo of a forgotten past calling her home. Across tumultuous waters lies Lunala, a crescent-shaped island veiled in myth and moonlight. Hidden for millennia, its gates sealed to all outsiders, the Moon Kingdom has awakened—and it claims to hold the key to Samarok’s salvation. But not all secrets are so willing to be unearthed. Not without a bargain.
And the price? Elodae's hand in marriage.
As Elodae tumbles feet first into the unknown, she must navigate a world of ancient powers, treacherous politics, and a growing bond with a castle guard who sees beyond her carefully built walls. But when a ruthless lord brings her greatest nightmares to life, Elodae must choose whether or not to let the darkness consume her.
The fate of Samarok rests in the hands of a girl with no past—and the darkness that follows in her wake.
510 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2023
178 people are currently reading
8491 people want to read
About the author
Caitlin Zura
2 books229 followersCaitlin Zura was born in Richmond, VA, but currently lives outside of Dallas, TX with her family. She studied at the University of Alabama. Being an avid reader herself, Caitlin decided to take a leap of faith and write the book she had always wanted to read. And The Veiling of the Moon Kingdom was born. When she's not reading or writing, you can find her with a coffee in hand (or Dr. Pepper), and hanging out poolside with her corgi, Boone.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
March 24, 2023
Ok so this book had amazing potential. Will begin with non spoiler thoughts. The writing is wonderful and that means a lot. I can't stand when we get someone's first book and it's filled with spelling errors and terrible grammar. The world building was great as well. Caitlin has super potential, I think she can be a real person to look out for in the fantasy world as she continues writing. Issues were mainly with all the points of view. It took me a few chapters to ease into the shifting of narrators. I have no issue with this but there were a great many of them. The problem I had was that I really would have rather focused on other characters instead of the true mains. If it had just been their points of view I probably would have been more engaged. There was also some redundancy. I feel like we had the same scene several times. It was definitely to build the story but at certain points it frustrated me because I knew exactly how it would play out.
Ok spoilers now. These are obviously going to be my own personal preferences so definitely feel free to skip over.
I got frustrated with the stubbornness and amnesia trope as it relates to Elodae. It's very clear she comes from somewhere else, she doesn't look like anyone. The girl showed up on a ship wreck for heaven's sake. She's constantly feeling like she doesn't fit in and it's not home but then makes no real effort to figure out who she is. I would have been fine if this was for a bit but it was a significant chunk of the book. Within the first 25% I had guessed her origins. This is definitely my personal preference but Alden was way too goody goody for me. I felt like he was one dimensional. I really REALLY love morally gray characters and he was just such a nice guy. I hated him for her and that was hard because he was so flipping nice so I felt terrible for hating him. All I wanted for most of the book was Irelia and Fornax's story because they were more interesting. I wanted a whole book for them. It also bothered me that every time Elodae had some sort of trauma or was part of some kind of violent act that Warren was always the one to understand and help her. I loved him. But if Alden was meant to be with her, wouldn't he be the one to listen? It just furthered the fact that he didn't work at all for her.
The ending of the book really got going and I was very into it because we were away from Alden (I know I'm terrible) so I am really excited for the next book in the series. Cannot wait to meet the people from Lunala and get more of Warren, Irelia and Fornax.
Long review, long - I did enjoy this and I'm excited for Caitlin's next book. Hoping that as she finds her groove they get better and better!
Ok spoilers now. These are obviously going to be my own personal preferences so definitely feel free to skip over.
I got frustrated with the stubbornness and amnesia trope as it relates to Elodae. It's very clear she comes from somewhere else, she doesn't look like anyone. The girl showed up on a ship wreck for heaven's sake. She's constantly feeling like she doesn't fit in and it's not home but then makes no real effort to figure out who she is. I would have been fine if this was for a bit but it was a significant chunk of the book. Within the first 25% I had guessed her origins. This is definitely my personal preference but Alden was way too goody goody for me. I felt like he was one dimensional. I really REALLY love morally gray characters and he was just such a nice guy. I hated him for her and that was hard because he was so flipping nice so I felt terrible for hating him. All I wanted for most of the book was Irelia and Fornax's story because they were more interesting. I wanted a whole book for them. It also bothered me that every time Elodae had some sort of trauma or was part of some kind of violent act that Warren was always the one to understand and help her. I loved him. But if Alden was meant to be with her, wouldn't he be the one to listen? It just furthered the fact that he didn't work at all for her.
The ending of the book really got going and I was very into it because we were away from Alden (I know I'm terrible) so I am really excited for the next book in the series. Cannot wait to meet the people from Lunala and get more of Warren, Irelia and Fornax.
Long review, long - I did enjoy this and I'm excited for Caitlin's next book. Hoping that as she finds her groove they get better and better!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2023
I am going to start this review with a disclaimer.
It is no secret that the author of this book is one of my best friends, whom I love very much. This review and my thoughts are drawn solely from the book and not impacted by the friendship I have with the author.
4.75 STARS
I gave this book 4.75 stars (rounded to 5) because I have only read the working draft as a beta reader. Once I have read the published draft, it will be 5+ Stars! I seriously cannot wait to read the final version.
This book is a whirlwind of emotions, drama, action, and mystery. I would be lying if I did not say at some point, you will want to throw it across the room or yell into the void. This story is not for the faint of heart, and YOU WILL FEEL EVERY EMOTION. That being said, you will also not want to put this down. You will lose sleep because you are either reading late into the night or theorizing about what will happen next, even after you complete the last page.
Something that really stuck out to me in this book is the importance of family. When I say family, I mean more than blood, the people whom you choose to have in your life, and they choose to have you in theirs—people who accept you for who you truly are with unconditional love and support. This theme is extremely strong throughout the book and is something all readers could learn to value.
Another thing that really stuck out to me in this book that other books do not have is the importance of every named character. Many times, in books, there are so many filler characters it is hard to keep everyone straight. It was refreshing in this book that every named character was arguably equally important to the story and was something that seemed to be intentionally done. This was beyond refreshing.
Overall, I could not be prouder of Caitlin and this journey she is going on. I cannot wait for the world to read this and become just as in love with it as I am. If you are still reading this review and not going right now to buy and read this book, then what are you waiting on?! Mark my words; you will see this book EVERYWHERE!
NOW, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHERE IS BOOK 2!!!! I NEED IT!
It is no secret that the author of this book is one of my best friends, whom I love very much. This review and my thoughts are drawn solely from the book and not impacted by the friendship I have with the author.
4.75 STARS
I gave this book 4.75 stars (rounded to 5) because I have only read the working draft as a beta reader. Once I have read the published draft, it will be 5+ Stars! I seriously cannot wait to read the final version.
This book is a whirlwind of emotions, drama, action, and mystery. I would be lying if I did not say at some point, you will want to throw it across the room or yell into the void. This story is not for the faint of heart, and YOU WILL FEEL EVERY EMOTION. That being said, you will also not want to put this down. You will lose sleep because you are either reading late into the night or theorizing about what will happen next, even after you complete the last page.
Something that really stuck out to me in this book is the importance of family. When I say family, I mean more than blood, the people whom you choose to have in your life, and they choose to have you in theirs—people who accept you for who you truly are with unconditional love and support. This theme is extremely strong throughout the book and is something all readers could learn to value.
Another thing that really stuck out to me in this book that other books do not have is the importance of every named character. Many times, in books, there are so many filler characters it is hard to keep everyone straight. It was refreshing in this book that every named character was arguably equally important to the story and was something that seemed to be intentionally done. This was beyond refreshing.
Overall, I could not be prouder of Caitlin and this journey she is going on. I cannot wait for the world to read this and become just as in love with it as I am. If you are still reading this review and not going right now to buy and read this book, then what are you waiting on?! Mark my words; you will see this book EVERYWHERE!
NOW, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHERE IS BOOK 2!!!! I NEED IT!
April 24, 2023
As soon as I saw snippets of this world/ book I knew it was one I’d fall into head over heels. The aesthetic and world Caitlin has created is just stunning!! The world building felt so balanced against the plot and character development, I feel like I truly escaped into Eldonia.
I absolutely adored the characters and the relationships that have been built and I’m sad to leave them. Elodae is just so relatable and her love for the night sky is something that gripped me,as I am such a “look at the moon” person. Her character has so much development from start to finish, I just love her. Elodae and Irelia are such a contrast to one another yet compliment each other so perfectly. Alden, Alden, Alden… friends to lovers was done so well! Our guards - I love them all oh and of course Fornass! I love that they are all found family and it really touched me how much they all care and would do anything for one another.
I enjoyed the multiple POV’s as well - although this is Elodae’s story I loved getting to know how all of our main characters were feeling and seeing things from their perspective.
Cait sure knows how to write in a way that keeps you thoroughly gripped - The mystery within this book. Wow. I was constantly wanting to know more, and I still do. Who exactly is Elodae!? What does the necklace say and what is it!? and WHO, WHAT & WHERE IS ORION!? oh and THAT ENDING!!! I honestly felt every emotion possible throughout. The plot only thickens… and I feel like the we are just starting to scrape the surface of an amazing series… I NEED more. Cait we need book two ASAP!!
Finally I’d just like to say thank you to Caitlin for choosing me as one of her eARC readers - I truly enjoyed every word you wrote. You should be so proud! 🌙✨
I absolutely adored the characters and the relationships that have been built and I’m sad to leave them. Elodae is just so relatable and her love for the night sky is something that gripped me,as I am such a “look at the moon” person. Her character has so much development from start to finish, I just love her. Elodae and Irelia are such a contrast to one another yet compliment each other so perfectly. Alden, Alden, Alden… friends to lovers was done so well! Our guards - I love them all oh and of course Fornass! I love that they are all found family and it really touched me how much they all care and would do anything for one another.
I enjoyed the multiple POV’s as well - although this is Elodae’s story I loved getting to know how all of our main characters were feeling and seeing things from their perspective.
Cait sure knows how to write in a way that keeps you thoroughly gripped - The mystery within this book. Wow. I was constantly wanting to know more, and I still do. Who exactly is Elodae!? What does the necklace say and what is it!? and WHO, WHAT & WHERE IS ORION!? oh and THAT ENDING!!! I honestly felt every emotion possible throughout. The plot only thickens… and I feel like the we are just starting to scrape the surface of an amazing series… I NEED more. Cait we need book two ASAP!!
Finally I’d just like to say thank you to Caitlin for choosing me as one of her eARC readers - I truly enjoyed every word you wrote. You should be so proud! 🌙✨
March 11, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 3.25 stars
First of all, I was chosen to be an ARC reader for this book, which is so cool! This is the first “ARC” I’ve ever read and the process of talking with the author and getting a book before it’s been released to the public is honestly amazing. I also want to mention right upfront how incredible it is that an author like Zura wrote a book like this and got it published for readers to enjoy. I always love supporting first time authors, and I’ve been mutuals with Zura for quite some time on TikTok, watching her writing and publishing process evolve so it’s awesome to get the book in print to read for myself.
This book is certainly very character heavy, so if you love character work, relations and development, this fantasy romance is for you. I love a good royal world and royal romance, and I loved the inclusion of the guards as fully fleshed out characters because I am so interested in that dynamic. Elodae was absolutely a heroine to root for and she was absolutely the most developed character, being the mc. She was fully dynamic and didn’t necessary have “one problem” or “one fault” that I think we often see in other fantasy books in the subgenre. She was fully fleshed out. I thought her sister, Irelia, was also really fleshed out, and I honestly wished we could have gotten more. While I did enjoy the altering POVs throughout the story, it might have benefitted that development to only focus on 1-3 characters as opposed to 5+.
The one character I think is most intriguing is Finn. HIs backstory in particular left me wanting more and I’m super excited to see where his character will go in a possible second or third book! And that ending…with his past possibly mirroring his future…I don’t want to go into too much detail but that was great work by the author.
The ending is my favorite part of the book. There’s a complete tone shift and it allows the reader to see the characters in a completely different which was just great. It also felt pretty unexpected to me - I really had no idea where the book was going and where the characters were going until hat last page that set up the rest of the story. I read this book in just a couple days, so it definitely kept me intrigued and wanting to read more and more (I did, in fact, stay up until the early hours of the morning to finish certain chapters and parts). The plot did drag a little especially after the exposition, and I do wish there was more action throughout the book to build that plot a little more. Even though the ending did feel completely action packed, there could have been a little more build up and tension to get to that moment in the book (or even expanding the ending to fill more of the book's plot, because there's definitely more to explore there). There was a lot of character interactions and inner dialogue, which did work, but a lot of those scenes didn't exactly move the plot forward and progress the story - for example, I though that too many of the character interactions were left with one character storming out, which didn't really resolve issues or bring up new ones.
There were moments that certain bits of information were repeated to most likely remind the reader of their importance (which some might like, but for me it felt quite repetitive, particularly in the beginning. I also found that when we were being introduced to these characters (again in the beginning of the story), there was a lot of telling us point blank certain pieces of information about the characters (for example, Elodae kept her heart locked in a cage), even though the author did quite a good job of showing us the characters personalities through their actions and inner monologue. I also think some motifs (again, Elodae’s heart being locked in a cage) that came up too much in the story. As a reader, I understood what was happening without needing to be told that the cage was unlocked or locked again.
All in all, I thought that this was a really good book from a first time author. It's obvious that she's a reader of fantasy romance and this is a great story within that genre. The ending truly sets up a great story for the reader to continue with and I'm so intrigued to see what Elodae is going to do next. This novel built up a great world and great characters and really set up a great series, so I cannot wait to read the rest!
First of all, I was chosen to be an ARC reader for this book, which is so cool! This is the first “ARC” I’ve ever read and the process of talking with the author and getting a book before it’s been released to the public is honestly amazing. I also want to mention right upfront how incredible it is that an author like Zura wrote a book like this and got it published for readers to enjoy. I always love supporting first time authors, and I’ve been mutuals with Zura for quite some time on TikTok, watching her writing and publishing process evolve so it’s awesome to get the book in print to read for myself.
This book is certainly very character heavy, so if you love character work, relations and development, this fantasy romance is for you. I love a good royal world and royal romance, and I loved the inclusion of the guards as fully fleshed out characters because I am so interested in that dynamic. Elodae was absolutely a heroine to root for and she was absolutely the most developed character, being the mc. She was fully dynamic and didn’t necessary have “one problem” or “one fault” that I think we often see in other fantasy books in the subgenre. She was fully fleshed out. I thought her sister, Irelia, was also really fleshed out, and I honestly wished we could have gotten more. While I did enjoy the altering POVs throughout the story, it might have benefitted that development to only focus on 1-3 characters as opposed to 5+.
The one character I think is most intriguing is Finn. HIs backstory in particular left me wanting more and I’m super excited to see where his character will go in a possible second or third book! And that ending…with his past possibly mirroring his future…I don’t want to go into too much detail but that was great work by the author.
The ending is my favorite part of the book. There’s a complete tone shift and it allows the reader to see the characters in a completely different which was just great. It also felt pretty unexpected to me - I really had no idea where the book was going and where the characters were going until hat last page that set up the rest of the story. I read this book in just a couple days, so it definitely kept me intrigued and wanting to read more and more (I did, in fact, stay up until the early hours of the morning to finish certain chapters and parts). The plot did drag a little especially after the exposition, and I do wish there was more action throughout the book to build that plot a little more. Even though the ending did feel completely action packed, there could have been a little more build up and tension to get to that moment in the book (or even expanding the ending to fill more of the book's plot, because there's definitely more to explore there). There was a lot of character interactions and inner dialogue, which did work, but a lot of those scenes didn't exactly move the plot forward and progress the story - for example, I though that too many of the character interactions were left with one character storming out, which didn't really resolve issues or bring up new ones.
There were moments that certain bits of information were repeated to most likely remind the reader of their importance (which some might like, but for me it felt quite repetitive, particularly in the beginning. I also found that when we were being introduced to these characters (again in the beginning of the story), there was a lot of telling us point blank certain pieces of information about the characters (for example, Elodae kept her heart locked in a cage), even though the author did quite a good job of showing us the characters personalities through their actions and inner monologue. I also think some motifs (again, Elodae’s heart being locked in a cage) that came up too much in the story. As a reader, I understood what was happening without needing to be told that the cage was unlocked or locked again.
All in all, I thought that this was a really good book from a first time author. It's obvious that she's a reader of fantasy romance and this is a great story within that genre. The ending truly sets up a great story for the reader to continue with and I'm so intrigued to see what Elodae is going to do next. This novel built up a great world and great characters and really set up a great series, so I cannot wait to read the rest!
March 22, 2023
I remember hearing this book name months ago and I immediately knew I needed it. The name, the cover, the POVs, the ending… I absolutely recommend this book. This is my kind of romantasy!!! I was so happy to receive an ARC and I devoured it.. now I can’t wait to tell everyone about it until the next one is out!
July 3, 2023
2.5 ⭐
Wooooo! This was a really long book. Overall I liked the story, I really enjoyed the set-up, but the middle had me waiting and waiting and waiting for an ending that was a bit of a letdown.
Half of this book could have been a prequel. The middle of this book felt like background information and filler.
Things started to take a turn for me around 40% when nothing was happening. And still, at 50% and 60%, nothing was happening. The middle of the book described every little detail about the elaborately decorated rooms and buildings they all walked into while giving each other side-eye glances and wry smiles. That was it. For the entire middle section of this book.
It wasn't until about 70% that things actually started to happen. When things finally did start to happen, I was able to get back into it; however, the book does slow down again, and then it wraps up really quickly at the end. Whiplash fast.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if we had gotten to the meat of the story a little sooner OR if the same amount of detail that was given to the first 25% of the book had been given to the last 25% of the book.
I can tell you what the MC's room looked like because it was overly explained, but I can't tell you what it looks like when the MC literally fades into the shadows. It was frustrating.
I thought the characters were relatable and dynamic, and I really enjoyed the relationship between the MC, Elodae, and her sister, Irelia. I LOVED that the author showed us their similarities via their relationship while serving up their vast differences (and beliefs) via their interests (the Astronomers and the Magicks).
With that being said, each character is dealing with their own trauma, and at some points, it felt like those traumas were more of an accessory. For example, Elodae hates the water (this is not a spoiler). At the beginning of the book, she has a hard time getting into the bath. She literally has to coax herself to get into the bath water. But later she's sitting in the bathtub, lost in her thoughts, unbothered. And then, at one point, she's sitting in the bath, pleasuring herself. What!? But then later she's found crying because she's terrified of taking a bath?!? It was incredibly inconsistent and made the trauma seem like it was only there when we needed a convenient plot point.
Also, Irelia's sudden hatred of the prince... what? She was sort of into him, then he literally saved her life, and then she hated him. Why? Enemies to lovers? It felt forced.
The story is incredibly interesting, and the mystery of figuring out what's happening is definitely there.
Wooooo! This was a really long book. Overall I liked the story, I really enjoyed the set-up, but the middle had me waiting and waiting and waiting for an ending that was a bit of a letdown.
Half of this book could have been a prequel. The middle of this book felt like background information and filler.
Things started to take a turn for me around 40% when nothing was happening. And still, at 50% and 60%, nothing was happening. The middle of the book described every little detail about the elaborately decorated rooms and buildings they all walked into while giving each other side-eye glances and wry smiles. That was it. For the entire middle section of this book.
It wasn't until about 70% that things actually started to happen. When things finally did start to happen, I was able to get back into it; however, the book does slow down again, and then it wraps up really quickly at the end. Whiplash fast.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if we had gotten to the meat of the story a little sooner OR if the same amount of detail that was given to the first 25% of the book had been given to the last 25% of the book.
I can tell you what the MC's room looked like because it was overly explained, but I can't tell you what it looks like when the MC literally fades into the shadows. It was frustrating.
I thought the characters were relatable and dynamic, and I really enjoyed the relationship between the MC, Elodae, and her sister, Irelia. I LOVED that the author showed us their similarities via their relationship while serving up their vast differences (and beliefs) via their interests (the Astronomers and the Magicks).
With that being said, each character is dealing with their own trauma, and at some points, it felt like those traumas were more of an accessory. For example, Elodae hates the water (this is not a spoiler). At the beginning of the book, she has a hard time getting into the bath. She literally has to coax herself to get into the bath water. But later she's sitting in the bathtub, lost in her thoughts, unbothered. And then, at one point, she's sitting in the bath, pleasuring herself. What!? But then later she's found crying because she's terrified of taking a bath?!? It was incredibly inconsistent and made the trauma seem like it was only there when we needed a convenient plot point.
Also, Irelia's sudden hatred of the prince... what? She was sort of into him, then he literally saved her life, and then she hated him. Why? Enemies to lovers? It felt forced.
The story is incredibly interesting, and the mystery of figuring out what's happening is definitely there.
July 30, 2025
This book had me HOOKED. Took a second but then I was IN IT. Ended on a cliff hanger, looked up next book, and lo and behold, no book 2 and no release date. I have so many questions and want to know so much more. I do recommend this book, but maybe wait until there’s a second book on the horizon so you don’t end up in my position.
April 2, 2023
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT IMMEDIATELY
THAT ENDING HAS ME SHOOK!
I NEED BOOK 2 IMMEDIATELY
THAT ENDING HAS ME SHOOK!
I NEED BOOK 2 IMMEDIATELY
March 16, 2023
Review: TVOTMK 📖
I’m going to start this by saying that I need book 2 NOW! This debut book by Caitlin Zura DELIVERS 👏🏼👏🏼 It has a strong fantasy realm, a castle full of protective and jealous men who will do anything to protect the women they love, and a very intriguing plot full of twists and turns. Which means I am already chomping at the bit to get the sequel! This book forges strong characters and takes you through their journey of loss, friendship, finding love, and finding themselves within it all. It has wonderfully written morally grey characters, lots of mystery, and excellent plot twists! I kept trying to figure out who I could trust and it kept me guessing throughout. My heart also went on a little roller coaster ride 💞
“𝑰𝒇 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒕,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒍𝒚, “𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆.”
Synopsis in my own words:
Elodae’s childhood memories are all but lost. After tragedy strikes, she’s taken in by the royal family as one of their own and raised as the Kings niece, but her dreams and the title she was given haunt her everyday. Magic has also long since disappeared. But when mysterious people, prophecies, symbols and demons all begin to close in around her, Elodaes life is thrown into chaos once more. The terrifying Veiling has begun consuming the castle in utter darkness. Has magic returned? As fragments of her lost memory begin piecing themselves together, she must wage an internal battle over her past and now a very uncertain future.
“𝑰𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏 - 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏”.
This book has:
🌙✨ Found Family
🌙✨ Touch her and die ⚔️
🌙✨ Prophecies
🌙✨ Enemies to Lovers
🌙✨ Friends to Lovers
🌙✨“Once I start I won’t be able to stop”😍
🌙✨ Multiple POVs
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I also want to note that I love a good chunky book (its almost 600 pages) 🙌🏼 Thank you so much Caitlin for this advanced copy!! 🫶🏼
I’m going to start this by saying that I need book 2 NOW! This debut book by Caitlin Zura DELIVERS 👏🏼👏🏼 It has a strong fantasy realm, a castle full of protective and jealous men who will do anything to protect the women they love, and a very intriguing plot full of twists and turns. Which means I am already chomping at the bit to get the sequel! This book forges strong characters and takes you through their journey of loss, friendship, finding love, and finding themselves within it all. It has wonderfully written morally grey characters, lots of mystery, and excellent plot twists! I kept trying to figure out who I could trust and it kept me guessing throughout. My heart also went on a little roller coaster ride 💞
“𝑰𝒇 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒕,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒍𝒚, “𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆.”
Synopsis in my own words:
Elodae’s childhood memories are all but lost. After tragedy strikes, she’s taken in by the royal family as one of their own and raised as the Kings niece, but her dreams and the title she was given haunt her everyday. Magic has also long since disappeared. But when mysterious people, prophecies, symbols and demons all begin to close in around her, Elodaes life is thrown into chaos once more. The terrifying Veiling has begun consuming the castle in utter darkness. Has magic returned? As fragments of her lost memory begin piecing themselves together, she must wage an internal battle over her past and now a very uncertain future.
“𝑰𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏 - 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏”.
This book has:
🌙✨ Found Family
🌙✨ Touch her and die ⚔️
🌙✨ Prophecies
🌙✨ Enemies to Lovers
🌙✨ Friends to Lovers
🌙✨“Once I start I won’t be able to stop”😍
🌙✨ Multiple POVs
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I also want to note that I love a good chunky book (its almost 600 pages) 🙌🏼 Thank you so much Caitlin for this advanced copy!! 🫶🏼
April 1, 2023
Fast Paced, Exciting, & Fresh
OK wow I reaf this in ONE sitting because it hooked me in immediately. It was so good and heartbreaking and heartwarming and all the things. But it was unpredictable which I really appreciate with fantasy.
Both Elodae and Irelia are very relatable characters and I immediately was rooting fir them. Their friendship is so beautiful and I really loved Warren and Finn as well.
I can't wait for book 2.
OK wow I reaf this in ONE sitting because it hooked me in immediately. It was so good and heartbreaking and heartwarming and all the things. But it was unpredictable which I really appreciate with fantasy.
Both Elodae and Irelia are very relatable characters and I immediately was rooting fir them. Their friendship is so beautiful and I really loved Warren and Finn as well.
I can't wait for book 2.
March 19, 2023
I want to start this with the disclaimer that I have received an ARC for this book from the lovely author. I've been dying to get my hands on this book for months, having followed the author's snippets on social media. I knew I'd fall in love with the characters from those tiny bits on socials, and I wasn't wrong.
I absolutely loved the sisterly dynamic between Irelia and Elodae, really well developed characters with their own agencies and complexities. They both get their own PoV's, so you can get different perspectives, sometimes in the same scene.
Romance is beyoooond cute. Friends to lovers + enemies to lovers in the same book! Spice is on the lower end, but it gives the slow burn so good. The love interests get their own PoV too, so brace yourself for some angst and pinning! Overall, the book is very character driven, which I love.
My gripe with the book was the PoV switching, it could get a bit confusing, since they weren't named. Another thing is the pacing, some parts were a bit dragging or redundant, but overall, they culminated into an amazing 50 last pages I couldn't put down.
Very excited for book 2!
I absolutely loved the sisterly dynamic between Irelia and Elodae, really well developed characters with their own agencies and complexities. They both get their own PoV's, so you can get different perspectives, sometimes in the same scene.
Romance is beyoooond cute. Friends to lovers + enemies to lovers in the same book! Spice is on the lower end, but it gives the slow burn so good. The love interests get their own PoV too, so brace yourself for some angst and pinning! Overall, the book is very character driven, which I love.
My gripe with the book was the PoV switching, it could get a bit confusing, since they weren't named. Another thing is the pacing, some parts were a bit dragging or redundant, but overall, they culminated into an amazing 50 last pages I couldn't put down.
Very excited for book 2!
March 12, 2023
I want to start by saying that I loved this book! I thought the writing was excellent and am so impressed that this the authors first book. The pacing of the book was also beautifully done.
The story revolves around our main character Elodae who basically doesn’t have memories from the first half of her life. I tend to usually not pick up books with an underlying amnesia trope, however this book gave me just enough information to not only keep interested but also form my own wild theories as the story progressed. There is underlying mental health struggles that Elodae is trying to come to terms with and overcome throughout the book. I really love Elodae as an FMC and seeing her growth as the book progressed.
We also get a couple different POVs from side characters that I absolutely adored too and made me better appreciate them as characters in their own right. I enjoyed being given a glimpse into their minds.
The ending sets us up for a sequel but gave enough closure for events that happened throughout this first book. I am extremely excited for this series as a whole and again want to say how impressed I was with the writing style of this book! I truly cannot believe this is the authors first book!
The story revolves around our main character Elodae who basically doesn’t have memories from the first half of her life. I tend to usually not pick up books with an underlying amnesia trope, however this book gave me just enough information to not only keep interested but also form my own wild theories as the story progressed. There is underlying mental health struggles that Elodae is trying to come to terms with and overcome throughout the book. I really love Elodae as an FMC and seeing her growth as the book progressed.
We also get a couple different POVs from side characters that I absolutely adored too and made me better appreciate them as characters in their own right. I enjoyed being given a glimpse into their minds.
The ending sets us up for a sequel but gave enough closure for events that happened throughout this first book. I am extremely excited for this series as a whole and again want to say how impressed I was with the writing style of this book! I truly cannot believe this is the authors first book!
March 12, 2023
When I saw this book for the first time I judged a book by its cover IN THE BEST WAY! I saw this and I instantly knew I needed to read this book!
I highly believe in spoiler free reviews but let me tell you are going to want to read this book! The story the author created was like no other! Aesthetically beautiful and painted a picture in my mind clear as day!
Amazing characters and character relationships to the point that I’m sad the story ended but excited to see if they return if and when a second book may happen!
Elodae is super relatable especially with her love for the night sky because I LOVE stars (I have a tattoo of the Big Dipper) and I always love looking up at the moon.
Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and this did not disappoint!
Caitlin is such an amazing writer and this was so well written that it just kept my attention! I can’t wait and hope for more from her! The intricate story and mystery in this was just so captivating I wanted more!
I can’t wait for my signed hardback book to come and I can’t wait for this book to be released for all you to read and experience!
Thank you so much @authorcaitlinzura for my arc copy of this !
I highly believe in spoiler free reviews but let me tell you are going to want to read this book! The story the author created was like no other! Aesthetically beautiful and painted a picture in my mind clear as day!
Amazing characters and character relationships to the point that I’m sad the story ended but excited to see if they return if and when a second book may happen!
Elodae is super relatable especially with her love for the night sky because I LOVE stars (I have a tattoo of the Big Dipper) and I always love looking up at the moon.
Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and this did not disappoint!
Caitlin is such an amazing writer and this was so well written that it just kept my attention! I can’t wait and hope for more from her! The intricate story and mystery in this was just so captivating I wanted more!
I can’t wait for my signed hardback book to come and I can’t wait for this book to be released for all you to read and experience!
Thank you so much @authorcaitlinzura for my arc copy of this !
February 26, 2023
This is the story I needed to start off my 2023 with a bang! I do not know where to begin but with this story overall, overtakes you bringing you deep into the vast world Caitlin as blissfully gifted to us. I’m impatiently waiting for book 2.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
The dynamic between Elodae and Irelia is a sisterhood I very much share with my best friend. One sharp one kind. Elodae is very relatable and such a complex character that I could talk about her for days and never cease to be amazed. Irelia gives off this sweet ‘I don’t know anything but really I know everything’ persona and I think everyone has felt that way in some ways in their lives. These two are by far one of my favorite siblings in a series that I’ll ever have the privilege of reading about.
The men of this series have been, breathtakingly, overbearing in the best way, protective, like Warren please steal my heart, Alden baby we need to have a one on one, and Fornax, Fornax. I thought I would dislike Finn, but I understand where this anger and disdain comes from. I get it my boy I get it. Also ORION!! Enough said.
As an ARC I am overly thankful at the opportunity to read this unforgettable first novel. I know how hard Caitlin had put in the work to bring her vision to light for all of us to enjoy and I applaud you darling. Thank you for being an inspiration to us all who aspire to tell our own tales. ❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
The dynamic between Elodae and Irelia is a sisterhood I very much share with my best friend. One sharp one kind. Elodae is very relatable and such a complex character that I could talk about her for days and never cease to be amazed. Irelia gives off this sweet ‘I don’t know anything but really I know everything’ persona and I think everyone has felt that way in some ways in their lives. These two are by far one of my favorite siblings in a series that I’ll ever have the privilege of reading about.
The men of this series have been, breathtakingly, overbearing in the best way, protective, like Warren please steal my heart, Alden baby we need to have a one on one, and Fornax, Fornax. I thought I would dislike Finn, but I understand where this anger and disdain comes from. I get it my boy I get it. Also ORION!! Enough said.
As an ARC I am overly thankful at the opportunity to read this unforgettable first novel. I know how hard Caitlin had put in the work to bring her vision to light for all of us to enjoy and I applaud you darling. Thank you for being an inspiration to us all who aspire to tell our own tales. ❤️
February 22, 2023
Could not put this book down! I do not know where to start with this review. Overall, I received the ARC, finished it in two days, and need the next book like YESTERDAY.
I absolutely loved the characters of this story. Elodae and Irelia's sister bond is amazing. The contrast and compliments of their personalities makes for a dynamic read. The men of this series? Wow. Fornax - love, Alden - sign me up, Warren - need more of him asap, Orion - WHERE IS HE? They are my book friends now and I am so invested in seeing what is next for them. If you like the found family trope, sisterly love, brotherly love, etc. you will love this story. I am all about character development driven plots and this story definitely checks that box.
Additionally, it feels like we are just scratching the surface of the magic system in this initial book. I cannot wait to see what's next and learn more about how magic works in this world.
Lastly, the world building is beautiful. It does not hit you over the head but has enough details to really bring imagery to mind. I am excited for the next books to hopefully explore different lands and areas because the ones described sound breathtaking.
The only reason I might give this a 4.5/5 is because sometimes the multiple POVs were hard to keep track of who is talking but I appreciated getting multiple characters perspectives.
Simply put if you love high fantasy with some romance and emotionally complex characters, you gotta pick up this book!
I absolutely loved the characters of this story. Elodae and Irelia's sister bond is amazing. The contrast and compliments of their personalities makes for a dynamic read. The men of this series? Wow. Fornax - love, Alden - sign me up, Warren - need more of him asap, Orion - WHERE IS HE? They are my book friends now and I am so invested in seeing what is next for them. If you like the found family trope, sisterly love, brotherly love, etc. you will love this story. I am all about character development driven plots and this story definitely checks that box.
Additionally, it feels like we are just scratching the surface of the magic system in this initial book. I cannot wait to see what's next and learn more about how magic works in this world.
Lastly, the world building is beautiful. It does not hit you over the head but has enough details to really bring imagery to mind. I am excited for the next books to hopefully explore different lands and areas because the ones described sound breathtaking.
The only reason I might give this a 4.5/5 is because sometimes the multiple POVs were hard to keep track of who is talking but I appreciated getting multiple characters perspectives.
Simply put if you love high fantasy with some romance and emotionally complex characters, you gotta pick up this book!
January 16, 2023
I’m going to start this review with a caveat that I was an Alpha reader for this book and am indeed friends with the author. However I will still be providing full honesty in this review!
This book, though not yet in its polished final form when I read it, is thoroughly obsess-able and a solid 4.5/5 stars.
The story elements are familiar and comforting (loss of magic magic, character with a mysterious past, arranged marriage, etc.) yet they are woven together in a way that is new and refreshing and still interesting. None of the characters, scenes, or settings are cliches or annoyingly overdone, and you can tell the author has a style and tone in mind that permeates the whole of the novel. The flow of the book is well laid out, with no info dumping or fluff, and I think the beginning does a great job of showing the character and world dynamics before it takes off, which makes it to where you care about the characters almost right away.
Overall, I think it is a solid foundation for a fantasy series and gives the perfect balance of character/plot/worldbuilding for a first book that will be appealing to many readers!
This book, though not yet in its polished final form when I read it, is thoroughly obsess-able and a solid 4.5/5 stars.
The story elements are familiar and comforting (loss of magic magic, character with a mysterious past, arranged marriage, etc.) yet they are woven together in a way that is new and refreshing and still interesting. None of the characters, scenes, or settings are cliches or annoyingly overdone, and you can tell the author has a style and tone in mind that permeates the whole of the novel. The flow of the book is well laid out, with no info dumping or fluff, and I think the beginning does a great job of showing the character and world dynamics before it takes off, which makes it to where you care about the characters almost right away.
Overall, I think it is a solid foundation for a fantasy series and gives the perfect balance of character/plot/worldbuilding for a first book that will be appealing to many readers!
April 1, 2024
i lived for the romance between irelia and the prince (arranged marriage) but to be completely honest, my favourite thing about this book was the sister bond - i devoured that shit right away.
April 29, 2023
4.5⭐️ Okay, so I will start by saying I NEED THE NEXT BOOK!!! I got this book the day it released, but with finals and starting new jobs, I didn’t have time to read it. But you know why, it was worth waiting for. I really enjoyed how well we got to know the characters, that even though Elodae is the fmc, it doesn’t pull the importance from the other characters. Oh wow, I am so glad to get to know them, I want to know more about Warren and Finn and Orion!! How is Astrid involved? The way the Irelia slowly grew into her confidence, the way the Fornax is still a mystery to us, but he cares for his betrothed. The way the Elodae feels so broken, but is still loved beyond measure and learning that those around her can actually love her.
I don’t think I can even talk about Alden. I want to believe that it’s not true, I think I need to believe that’s it’s not.
The world building in this book is there, but there’s still so much trust we don’t know. I think that this is because we are absorbing everything the way that Elodae and the other characters are.
Also there was definitely what seemed the a 10 things I hate about you reference, and I literally squealed.
This book pulled me in and I hated when I had to put it down. And now I hate being done with it because waiting for the next one is gonna be excruciating.
I don’t think I can even talk about Alden. I want to believe that it’s not true, I think I need to believe that’s it’s not.
The world building in this book is there, but there’s still so much trust we don’t know. I think that this is because we are absorbing everything the way that Elodae and the other characters are.
Also there was definitely what seemed the a 10 things I hate about you reference, and I literally squealed.
This book pulled me in and I hated when I had to put it down. And now I hate being done with it because waiting for the next one is gonna be excruciating.
March 30, 2024
how dare you rip out my heart and tear it to pieces. this was a beautifully written book, and the suspense absolutely killed me. The plot twist threw me, and it was done so perfectly. I have my theories (especially about Elodaes past and The Warrior), and am eagerly awaiting book 2! The pacing was brilliant, and the writing style made it super easy to empathise with Elodae. I loved that the POV bounced around a big - this worked so well with the third person style, as it made it super easy to figure out who we were reading from. I adored the artwork of the book, and can't wait to order a physical copy (I used KU to read it). The chapter art was stunning, and matched the vibe of the book well. I'm also a sucker for a pronunciation guide, so THANK YOU to the author for including it. I really want to include my favourite quote from the book to really incentivise others to read it: "if tonight is all we get," he repeated softly, "then I will welcome the darkness with open arms and a smile on my face."
February 11, 2024
wow. i had zero expectations for this book and now im jn pain. i was always expecting the plot to go another way but the en it didn’t but i still liked the take on it. the ending reminds me of assassins blade. im like actually really upset. i really liked all the characters and now they are in a pickle and i have no idea when the next one will come out. i do like how this has turned into a villain arc but still im so sad for the characters. anyways i was gonna give ut a 4 but the amount of emotional pull it has on me i bumped it ti a 5.
April 1, 2023
I loved the book, except for the last 20%. It felt like the author took her time with the world building and character development throughout the book, sometimes it was too slow or repetitive, but rushed very quickly through things at the end. Some things seemed somewhat out of character at the end of the book and left me slightly disappointed and confused.
The storyline was nice, I was hooked into the story right away and I finished the book in a day. Some minor things didn’t make much sense or weren’t explained properly, but for a young first time author, it’s ok. The writing is promising and I’m looking forward to the next book(s).
The storyline was nice, I was hooked into the story right away and I finished the book in a day. Some minor things didn’t make much sense or weren’t explained properly, but for a young first time author, it’s ok. The writing is promising and I’m looking forward to the next book(s).
July 24, 2025
This book was very enjoyable. I liked the world building and the overall mystery. I also liked the romance between Aldrin and Elodae. When the plot of this book decided to twist, it twisted so far over I could not tell where it ended up (in a good way.) I am just not over that ending. Like what just happened? I am still in shock by it. I need book 2 ASAP.
March 29, 2023
This book was so very good. Once I started reading it I put all other books on hold and couldn’t stop. Caitlin is an amazing writer that has a rare power to grab the reader’s attention and hang on to it. I’ve been following her social media outlets for quite some time, and knew that she loves many of the same books I do. For that reason I knew her book was going to be a good one for me, and I wasn’t wrong.
If you love romance in the Royal form and found families, make sure to start reading this one. The character relationships are super, and the mystery leaves you wanting more.
I thought there would be something earth shattering at the end, so was actually surprised when there wasn’t. You are left with a whole bunch of questions though. Who is Orion? What is this dark bringer? What the heck is going on with Elodae’s history?
If you love romance in the Royal form and found families, make sure to start reading this one. The character relationships are super, and the mystery leaves you wanting more.
I thought there would be something earth shattering at the end, so was actually surprised when there wasn’t. You are left with a whole bunch of questions though. Who is Orion? What is this dark bringer? What the heck is going on with Elodae’s history?
June 28, 2025
I loved the plot and the characters but the ending broke my heart.
March 23, 2023
AMAZING
This book… wow. I absolutely DEVOURED it! I love the third person POVs of multiple characters at once. Having insight into each characters emotions made the story that much better.
The main characters are so well written, in depth, but not too deep to where you drown in one and completely forget the others.
I really enjoyed the routes this author took with the story, it could’ve gone so many different ways at so many point but always felt like my the opposite of what I’d expect at detrimental moments.
I was not expecting the twists— they were not your typical, see it from a mile away twists, which was a breath of fresh air!
This book was so good, so different. 10/10 recommend!
This book… wow. I absolutely DEVOURED it! I love the third person POVs of multiple characters at once. Having insight into each characters emotions made the story that much better.
The main characters are so well written, in depth, but not too deep to where you drown in one and completely forget the others.
I really enjoyed the routes this author took with the story, it could’ve gone so many different ways at so many point but always felt like my the opposite of what I’d expect at detrimental moments.
I was not expecting the twists— they were not your typical, see it from a mile away twists, which was a breath of fresh air!
This book was so good, so different. 10/10 recommend!
March 17, 2023
this book was one of my most anticipated reads of the year! I was really interested because from the aesthetics of it, there was lots of astrology and astronomy related content ::: I really like when an author has a passion and personal interest and is able to incorporate it in their stories, it’s such a gift and in this book it really flowed perfectly with the characters ::: I really vibed with Irelia, she’s such a good character, but my absolute favourite was Finn and HE DESERVES MORE SCREEN TIME (PAGE TIME? Just more time)
This book is full of threads and some of them stay unresolved at the end, but that makes me very very excited for book 2! Also, as TVOTMK was the first book of a long series, it makes complete sense to give the reader just some crumbs and keep the actual plot twists/reveals for future books! I would have ::loved:: to get more answers on some topics (AND CHARACTERS), but I’ll be patient and write down my theories as I wait for the sequel :::
The writing is absolutely beautiful, graceful, it makes reading so pleasant ::: This book has multiple POV and we get some perspective of the same situation from several characters, which I think is the perfect way to evaluate their development in the future books of the series.
A lovely read 🫶
This book is full of threads and some of them stay unresolved at the end, but that makes me very very excited for book 2! Also, as TVOTMK was the first book of a long series, it makes complete sense to give the reader just some crumbs and keep the actual plot twists/reveals for future books! I would have ::loved:: to get more answers on some topics (AND CHARACTERS), but I’ll be patient and write down my theories as I wait for the sequel :::
The writing is absolutely beautiful, graceful, it makes reading so pleasant ::: This book has multiple POV and we get some perspective of the same situation from several characters, which I think is the perfect way to evaluate their development in the future books of the series.
A lovely read 🫶
March 3, 2023
I received a copy of The Veiling of the Moon Kingdom as an ARC, and I do want to let it be known that I am very close with the author, although I’ll do my best to be honest in this review.
I tend to rate books on a scale of if I’d read them again. If I DNF a book, I give it zero stars and move on. Based on this scale that I personally use, I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars, especially on re-readability. It is written well, the story is compelling, the characters are well developed and have more than enough dimension to be able to bond with.
Irelia and Elodae have such human components to them, it absolutely made me feel seen as a reader, and it’s purely about the little habits they have. Small details like this make the book feel more real, the characters more approachable. You can definitely feel the love Caitlin has for these two women in particular, they are the most well fleshed out characters in the book. The other characters are by no means boring, but Irelia and Elodae are clearly special to the author.
Knowing that this book is the first in a series, I’m willing to hold my (many) questions about the ending until the next book comes out.
I can definitely see some similarities to the Throne of Glass series, some things that were perhaps inspired by elements in that series, but again, I’m ready and waiting to see how the next book travels before saying anything more on that.
I would also like to note that during my reading of the Veiling of the Moon Kingdom, Caitlin was EXTREMELY receptive to any feedback I had, and without giving any spoilers, answered any questions I had. Not many people are gracious enough to receive feedback on a labour of love like this, but Caitlin was fantastic and took the feedback as it was intended.
For a first time author, the worldbuilding, the characters, the story, I’m incredibly impressed. The ending wrecked my soul, but I’m hopeful that there will be a twist or something to undo what’s happened. I can’t wait to see what Caitlin gives us next!
I tend to rate books on a scale of if I’d read them again. If I DNF a book, I give it zero stars and move on. Based on this scale that I personally use, I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars, especially on re-readability. It is written well, the story is compelling, the characters are well developed and have more than enough dimension to be able to bond with.
Irelia and Elodae have such human components to them, it absolutely made me feel seen as a reader, and it’s purely about the little habits they have. Small details like this make the book feel more real, the characters more approachable. You can definitely feel the love Caitlin has for these two women in particular, they are the most well fleshed out characters in the book. The other characters are by no means boring, but Irelia and Elodae are clearly special to the author.
Knowing that this book is the first in a series, I’m willing to hold my (many) questions about the ending until the next book comes out.
I can definitely see some similarities to the Throne of Glass series, some things that were perhaps inspired by elements in that series, but again, I’m ready and waiting to see how the next book travels before saying anything more on that.
I would also like to note that during my reading of the Veiling of the Moon Kingdom, Caitlin was EXTREMELY receptive to any feedback I had, and without giving any spoilers, answered any questions I had. Not many people are gracious enough to receive feedback on a labour of love like this, but Caitlin was fantastic and took the feedback as it was intended.
For a first time author, the worldbuilding, the characters, the story, I’m incredibly impressed. The ending wrecked my soul, but I’m hopeful that there will be a twist or something to undo what’s happened. I can’t wait to see what Caitlin gives us next!
March 13, 2023
First of all, thank you for the ARC 🤍 I finished reading about a week ago and I STILL have not stopped thinking about it.
The Veiling of the Moon Kingdom was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and it did not disappoint! This book drew me in immediately and once I started I couldn’t put it down.
The world building is phenomenal. The author painted a gorgeous picture of the world of Eldonia and all of its Kingdoms. From the sand dunes of Asiva to the mountain ranges of Samarok and the mysterious island of Lunala, I was entirely invested and can’t wait to explore more of this world in book 2.
I absolutely fell in love with the characters and their relationships with each other. I also really enjoyed reading and seeing this story told through each of their POV’s. A lot of times too many perspectives can be confusing, but the multiple POV’s in this book were done extremely well. The found family in TVOTMK is something so special and the love each of the characters have for one another is beautiful.
This book kept me on my toes with all of its mysteries, and even though I was guessing and theorizing from the first page I 100% did not expect the twist at the end. I felt EVERY emotion while reading, and I mean every one. The Veiling of the Moon Kingdom was a pleasure to read and I cannot wait for the next book.
The Veiling of the Moon Kingdom was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and it did not disappoint! This book drew me in immediately and once I started I couldn’t put it down.
The world building is phenomenal. The author painted a gorgeous picture of the world of Eldonia and all of its Kingdoms. From the sand dunes of Asiva to the mountain ranges of Samarok and the mysterious island of Lunala, I was entirely invested and can’t wait to explore more of this world in book 2.
I absolutely fell in love with the characters and their relationships with each other. I also really enjoyed reading and seeing this story told through each of their POV’s. A lot of times too many perspectives can be confusing, but the multiple POV’s in this book were done extremely well. The found family in TVOTMK is something so special and the love each of the characters have for one another is beautiful.
This book kept me on my toes with all of its mysteries, and even though I was guessing and theorizing from the first page I 100% did not expect the twist at the end. I felt EVERY emotion while reading, and I mean every one. The Veiling of the Moon Kingdom was a pleasure to read and I cannot wait for the next book.
December 30, 2023
OBSESSED. FULLY, UNEQUIVOCALLY, UNWAVERINGLY OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK.
—————————UPDATE—————————
*clears throat* Okay. Now that I have calmed down.
I can confidently say that I love TVOTMK like 56 times more than ACOTAR. Obvi SJM created a multiverse which is neat and everything, BUT I was NOT as involved in her series as I was in this singular book.
I cried, I yelled, I threw my fist in the air (breakfast club style); I went through all of the emotions, but never once felt a disappointment.
With SJM, her characters are great or the world wouldn’t be obsessed with them; however, there was lack of development in several of them.
I love every single one of Caitlin’s characters and never for a second felt that they were under developed. She wrote a strong FMC, Elodae, who maintains that strength even when she falters. She also has a MMC, Alden, who doesn’t disappoint anyone but El. (But no spoilers here, so I’m leaving it at that.)
The supporting characters had me just as attached.
I’ve read very few books where I am fully invested in not just the MCs but also the supporting characters.
Up until I read Of Gods & Monsters, I thought ACOTAR was my favorite series. But Zavi James and now Caitlin, have risen to be my top authors. To a point where I will literally read anything they write. TVOTMK has completely captured me.
To The Author:
When people start putting their 2 cents in on Goodreads and Amazon, I want to make sure that you know how incredibly talented you are. This story is important and it rivals any Barnes & Noble author. Truly. I mean that whole heartedly. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but not everyone can understand the importance of what you’ve done here and appreciate it.
You showed that a strong female can still be broken, not have all of the answers, and still maintain her feminine strength. Too many authors build up a strong female lead, just to break down all her quality at the first sign of struggle. Not Elodae.
You have shown that people can go through hard things and SURVIVE them. That people can THRIVE while simultaneously overcoming their trauma. That is an incredibly important message to convey in this messed up world ensnared by chaos. As someone who has been overcoming childhood trauma even now as a 30 year old, I am incredibly appreciative of the story that you have told; At the strength you will give both women and men alike.
This story is incredible, and I am a stranger. But I am unbelievably proud of what you have done here. I don’t think enough people hear those words and you have earned every last letter of them.
Congratulations, love, you have accomplished something that few have. I cannot wait to see where you take us next in El’s journey 🖤
—————————UPDATE—————————
*clears throat* Okay. Now that I have calmed down.
I can confidently say that I love TVOTMK like 56 times more than ACOTAR. Obvi SJM created a multiverse which is neat and everything, BUT I was NOT as involved in her series as I was in this singular book.
I cried, I yelled, I threw my fist in the air (breakfast club style); I went through all of the emotions, but never once felt a disappointment.
With SJM, her characters are great or the world wouldn’t be obsessed with them; however, there was lack of development in several of them.
I love every single one of Caitlin’s characters and never for a second felt that they were under developed. She wrote a strong FMC, Elodae, who maintains that strength even when she falters. She also has a MMC, Alden, who doesn’t disappoint anyone but El. (But no spoilers here, so I’m leaving it at that.)
The supporting characters had me just as attached.
I’ve read very few books where I am fully invested in not just the MCs but also the supporting characters.
Up until I read Of Gods & Monsters, I thought ACOTAR was my favorite series. But Zavi James and now Caitlin, have risen to be my top authors. To a point where I will literally read anything they write. TVOTMK has completely captured me.
To The Author:
When people start putting their 2 cents in on Goodreads and Amazon, I want to make sure that you know how incredibly talented you are. This story is important and it rivals any Barnes & Noble author. Truly. I mean that whole heartedly. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but not everyone can understand the importance of what you’ve done here and appreciate it.
You showed that a strong female can still be broken, not have all of the answers, and still maintain her feminine strength. Too many authors build up a strong female lead, just to break down all her quality at the first sign of struggle. Not Elodae.
You have shown that people can go through hard things and SURVIVE them. That people can THRIVE while simultaneously overcoming their trauma. That is an incredibly important message to convey in this messed up world ensnared by chaos. As someone who has been overcoming childhood trauma even now as a 30 year old, I am incredibly appreciative of the story that you have told; At the strength you will give both women and men alike.
This story is incredible, and I am a stranger. But I am unbelievably proud of what you have done here. I don’t think enough people hear those words and you have earned every last letter of them.
Congratulations, love, you have accomplished something that few have. I cannot wait to see where you take us next in El’s journey 🖤
January 5, 2023
"Live a little with me, El."
“Even the moon has scars. And yet, it still shows up. Every night. Even if you can’t see it, it's there. Is it any less enchanting because of its scars? Does it not still command the waters? Does it not still light up the black of the night?”
“But you will find that some people are worth giving a key to.”
She found that reading not only cleared her mind, but also gave her an escape in a world that offered none of its own.
And her soul faded from the light of the stars to the endless void between.
~
If I could tattoo this whole book on my body – I would.
It’s not only beautifully written, but it keeps you on edge constantly. It grips you from the very beginning to the very last page.
Being an Alpha reader was such an honorable experience. I was so surprised with her writing and being so close to the process. But reading the final product was absolutely mind blowing. And it exceeded my expectations even though I was so close to the writing process and knew where the story was going.
I’m so ready to reread this book once it’s published and I’m sure there will be more surprises after it is finished. She’s THAT good.
One of the best books I’ve ever read.
As soon as you open the book the characters, storyline – pulls you into this whole new world and amazing tropes and relationships. In today’s world it's very hard to be completely enveloped in a story. But she managed to give a fresh view of all the tropes and stories that we love so much. It’s just an amazing adventure with these new characters in a new world. I think she’s a perfect example for an amazing first book of a series. She wraps it up perfectly and doesn’t leave you guessing too much, but still wondering what happens next. It allows you to dive right in with the avalanche of the story. It just keeps going and you don’t even realize it's ended until you turn the page and it’s over.
I haven’t read books with so much emotion and pain that makes me sit down and envelop myself completely since SJM. I am so bonded with these characters. And not only the main character but the side characters as well. You can truly find a little piece of your soul in each of them.
I fell in love with all of their bonds. Elodae and Alden. Irelia and Fornax. Irelia and Elodae.
I can’t wait for people to fall in love with these characters, their bonds, and the story as much as I did.
Great job, Bestie!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews