A Muse Urban Fantasy (The Veil Series Book 1) - Beyond The Veil

I can,nth describe how good a book this is .this ranks in the top five sci-fi book,series I have ever read,and I have read hundreds, from Simon green to Steven king and more,please keep writing, you have a new fan.

Disappointed in the main character, Muse, she's weak willed. Very little character growth throughout this book. I hope she grows some backbone in the later series and learn how to save herself. She falls in love easily with anyone who shows her a hint of kindness.

I was a little disappointed that this book didn't pick up where the last one left off. Rather it picks up about 10yrs later and we know nothing of what happened to Muse after Akil took her from Hell. There are cryptic mentions of that time throughout the book but never really going into the depth of Akil's and Muse's relationship, which is complicated at best (but then we don't really know just how complicated).

As for Muse's love triangle, I'm not really sure whether I'm rooting for team Akil or team Stefan but at this time I'm probably leaning more towards the former than the latter. Guess I'm going to have to read the next book in the series to make my final decision.

Muse is a demon halfbreed and as such, she lives in hiding because she has apparently been badly abused by demons. Unfortunately, someone from her demon past has put out a hit on her and now she has to go on the run.

I had been eyeing this book forever and was really excited when it finally became free on kindle. I really wanted to like it (it's a series and there's already a couple bks out) but unfortunately, I found it almost painful to get through...The author relies way too much telling and doesn't do enough showing when it comes to her characters and their pasts. As a result, their reactions and behavior always seemed confusing and over the top to me. For instance, Muse falls in love within like DAYS and she is constantly talking about how great her life in hiding was--only there seems to be very little evidence to support any of these things! It's all just talk. She has what sounds like a horrendous past yet she barely divulges any of the details and hardly ever seems affected by it. I need my books to have more substance than this.

The plot, what little there is, is supposed to be that someone's trying to kill this chick and she's trying to find out who, but it mostly seems like a collection of long drawn-out make out/sex scenes between Muse and her 2 suitors. One second Muse is telling us she needs to stay away from Akill; he's dangerous and cannot be trusted, but like a paragraph later she's "quivering" with lust and completely lost in a descriptive flood of sensation, desire, and elemental power. I don't mind sex or romance (in fact, I like it) but I also require a story to go along with them...and by "story" I mean a story about something other than a girl losing all focus and being overcome with hormones at the drop of a hat.

Another unfortunate thing (to me at least) is that the magic in this book is metaphysical. This means that the "power" is constantly rising to the surface which allows the author to fall into long, overly descriptive passages of the power doing this or that (or at least that's what it felt like to me). I seem to be in the minority here, but I can't stand it when authors do this! I don't need, nor do I want all these repetitive intangible metaphysical descriptions; just get to the freaking point already...going on and on about what the "power" feels like does not make it anymore convincing or less lame to me (it's an abuse of the thesaurus is what it is). Another thing is, every time Muse lets the power "flood" her she is basically invincible and I can think of nothing more boring than that.

I guess I am going to have to go back to the printed word to actually be able to read a book. The majority of these "books" on this medium are nothing more than serials that never end. There is never a resolution.. Even the tv serials have a resolution during each episode. So I guess I am saying screw this medium. I will go back to the printed word!!!!!

Wonderfully written fantasy! I was captivated from the first chapter, the characters are awesome. The plot was superb, it continued to build in intensity and substance through out. I can't wait to read the next book! Five stars isn't enough.....Read this NOW.....

I loved this book, I could not and did not want to put it down.
Pippa can write a kick a** ( please excuse my French) book.
Never a dull moment, it caught me at the first page.

Thank you Pippa, I can't wait to read more of your books.

I really enjoyed this story and I'll be reading book 2 . I liked the complexity of the characters and the food different motivations driving the actions and decisions made by the characters. This is a good example of why I enjoy reading it urban fantasy.

Reading through this book was really painful. There were just too many words describing the same crap over and over. Muse, the heroine, was so unlikeable and sometimes she appeared down right dumb. Neither of the characters seemed very developed and the relationships between Muse and her suitors often left me rolling my eyes.
Another issue I had was how many times Muse was stabbed in the back and it was such chaos that in the end I really had no clue if Stefan was on here side or not or what the heck was going on, but neither did I care. I mean come on, he is on her side, he is not on her side, he is back on her side and then he is on Akil's side to save his sister. Don't even get me started on Akil, a prince of hell....for a prince of hell he didn't have a whole lot of powers going on, other than being able to change into some ugly demon and cause some mayhem. Well, my toddler can do that too, especially when she is tired.
To tell you the truth I am surprised I finished it, but I can't count how often I jumped forward on my kindle, skipping pages. Nothing about this book is great, not even the smut was smutty enough. So, I will not be buying anymore of these books in the series and consider myself lucky that I got this thing for free on bookbub.com.

Reading and now getting the veil two already looks like a series I
can't get enough of.
The characters are explained so well that you really can imagine what they experienced going through the veil.

I was really excited when it came to this book. Hopeful, once I finished my last book, I jumped right into this on. I was extremely disappointed.
To me, when I read a book where the main character is a woman, I want to read about her overcoming her fears and becoming a stronger person. Yet the main character of this book was just... depressing. It just seemed like whatever life threw at her, she sulked and whined and cried over how much her life sucked. The only time she seemed strong was when her inner demon took control. She bounced between both men, and couldn't make her mind over what she wanted.
I found this book to be boring and reading it was like pulling teeth. Maybe it gets better in other books, and some day I might pick it up.

I do like Urban Fantasy, especially with kick-ass female protagonists that are independent and rely on themselves. It makes my head explode to start reading a book with potential and then get slapped in the face when said protagonist fawns over men (male demons or whatever) and completely changes in character. Male authors do this to their female characters enough. Come on women! Write the bad-ass, problem-solving, independent women that we all deserve!

The problem with so many ebooks these days is the way the authors seem to expect the reader's to pay for what is obviously a series when the subject does not really earn that kind of loyalty. I refuse to buy a "book" that is actually a chapter in thin disguise!

The subject matter: A half demon female trying to survive on her own in a hostile environment of pure demon hatred for hybrids could be great, but the book constantly takes me out of the mythos by mentioning over and over, stuff that happened in another book! I am reading this one thank you, stick to the story your telling now!

I would call this a solid 3, maybe a 3.5. It was a pleasant distraction. I enjoyed reading it, but it left me wanting in a lot of aspects.

First, there is very little character development. The book jumps right into the action. While this is fun, it didn't give me any time to get to know Muse or anyone else. Plus, a lot of Muse's history is referenced as the book progresses. I mean, like, a whole book's worth is hinted at—major drama. This left me feeling like I couldn't possibly be reading the first book in the series or that this is actually the first in a spin off series. It isn't, as far as I know, but it sure felt like it. So much is skimmed over or the reader is just told it happened. I was duly informed that Muse had a tragic past, but that wasn't enough to make me feel for her or that history.

This was all complicated by her tendency to have whiplash changes of opinion with no evidence of an impetus of change. As an example, she spent much of the beginning of the book telling herself she can't/won't go back to Akil, that he's dangerous and she has to keep her distance because he can get under skin easily. She's very adamant about this. Then he shows up and says, 'come to a party with me' and she not only goes, she tells herself she deserves to have fun and relax. It was a very abrupt change of attitude toward him and nothing seemed to have happened to give her a reason to suddenly be less wary around him.

The same tendency toward thinness could be claimed for the world building. There isn't much. We're told demon's exist and live on the other side of a 'veil,' that's about it. I'm assuming the universe is otherwise the same as ours, but I don't know. Nor do I know the time frame. It could be years in the future or today. I'm not sure.

I also thought the sex was out of place. It wasn't at all graphic. It just popped up regularly, at inopportune moments. It left me feeling like Muse had no control over herself. It didn't matter whom she was with, she was lusting after him. As she's a woman with a history of slavery, including sexual slavery, I developed the, surely erroneous, impression that her body responded to any powerful man available with no regard for her own wishes. I'm afraid she felt a little like a whore in this respect (and I've purposefully used the more inflammatory word here), as if she was so accustomed to servicing men that she did it without conscious effort or even apparent knowledge that she was following an established pattern. I'm fairly sure this wasn't the author's intent, but it's still the impression I garnered.

Lastly, it had a bit of a deus ex machina ending (pet peeve, grrr) and a lot of important information was skipped over between the final chapter and the epilogue. I needed more details to believe it...actually that's true of the whole book, but especially the ending.

All-in-all, the author has a really interesting idea here. A lot could be made out of Muse's slavery, subsequent strengths and appreciation of the mundane. But I think the book felt rushed. Too much was only sketched out or simply leapt over. I was never able to get enough of a feel for the characters to understand their motives and actions, leaving everything feeling random and unpredictable.

It is well written and, other than a few missing words, well edited. Plus, (and I know this is a strange thing to mention) I like the size of the book. At 8x5 inches it's bigger than a mass market paperback, but not as big as the ~9x6 I've come to associate with self-published books. While it wasn't a faultless read it's worth picking up. As I said, I had complaints but I also enjoyed the ride.

This has got to be one of the dumbest main characters ever. She is so whiny, it gets old fast. And the plot is just stupid. Apparently there are at least five books in this series. I will not make it pass this first book. Horrible. You just knocked out the bad guy, but he will be back any moment now, and these two idiots are fussing instead of just getting in the car and driving away to safety. How many time can one person say the words "I Can't" First Name: " Muse " Middle Name: " I " Last Name: "Can't " Jeez. Done with this mess of a book.

Let me catch my breath here for a minute.

Wings Of Hope (book 0.5 in the series) was dark and mesmerizing. Beyond the Veil is fantastic. No it's not fantastic, it's simply amazing. I have a lump in my throat, my stomach is in knots, my heart is beating much too fast for my own good. I'm exhausted. This is how brilliant this book was.

Let's take this from the start. This story is about Muse, a half-human half-demon once enslaved in the netherworld, who managed to escape with the help of the Prince of Greed (aka Mammon, aka Akil Vitalis in is human form). As the book begins she has been living in Boston for five years, trying to live a normal life in the human world, making a living as a blacksmith under the assumed name of Charlie Henderson. But you can never run away from the past and when a stranger enters Muse's workshop and calls her by her demon name she knows she can no longer escape from her former life. I won't go into more details as it wouldn't do the book justice. Also, I think that in order to better understand the complexity of the story, anyone wanting to give this book a try should read Wings Of Hope first. Although written by the author after the first two instalments in the series, it tells of Muse's life in the nertherworld, before her escape. It helps understand her character, motivations and complex relationship with Mammon. I don't think Beyond the Veil would have had such an impact on me had I not read Wings of Hope first.

When I started reading Beyond the Veil I must admit I was a bit taken aback. Having read Wings of Hope first, I had only seen Muse in a demon realm setting and it was hard for me to adjust to her living in the human world. It seemed mundane somehow and the atmosphere wasn’t nearly as dark as it was in the prequel. But adjust I did, and how! DaCosta draws you into the story from the very first pages. Her writing is fantastic, the plot is very fast-paced and the chapters flow seamlessly. The tension and angst keep building up and you never know what to expect. Bad guys turned good guys turned bad guys turned good guys (you get the idea), twists and turns, revelations, lies, half-truths… I was a nervous wreck by the time I finished reading the book! Still, I have to say that what I liked most about this book is the world DaCosta created: it's certainly one of the most original and exciting ones I have come across in a long time. My only regret here is that this instalment is set in the human world and I really hope DaCosta explores the demon realm again in books to come.

The characters here are fantastic. Muse has fast become one of my favourite UF heroines. She has been enslaved, used, abused and considered as a weakling and an object for most of her life. But weak she is not. She will stop at nothing to stay away from the netherworld she once escaped. She has put her demon self aside, not wanting to embrace the chaos residing within herself but in order to survive she will have to call on her darker self and learn to use the full extent of her power. And let me tell you, Muse in demon form is a sight to behold! I loved Muse's internal conflict and her constant struggle to keep her demon at aby. She is a complex, fascinating and very engaging character.

Ah men. So we have Akil, the Prince of Greed, aka the hot, swoon-worthy demon everyone loves to hate. Does he love Muse? Does he not? Does he only want to use her? Does he want to protec her? He saved her from a life of slavery and helped her kill her owner but you can never trust one of the seven princes of Hell now can you? 'Ulterior motives' is his middle name and when you ask for his help (or when he gives it to you willingly, which is worse), there will literally be hell to pay.

Then we have Stefan. When he first made an appearance at the very beginning of the story I can't say I was too impressed. Strangely enough I thought he was only a minor character and I wasn't expecting to see much more of him. How wrong I was! Stefan is yet another complex, ambiguous character: he comes into the story as a hired assassin but is he really? Besides, it seems like his middle name might be 'ulterior motives' too! ;) Poor Muse, she really has a handful with these guys! And don't even get me started about Val, her demon brother, whose sole purpose in life is to have her killed!

Beyond the Veil is an action-packed, brilliantly woven story with fantastic characterization and very original world-building. Read it!

Beyond the Veil is the first book in ‘The Veil’ series and what an introduction it was!
We are introduced to a world where Demons exist and live on Earth is various guises/skins. Demons don’t really value humans but something they deem even worse than that are half-demons which are classed as lower than the low and most are killed at birth. Charlie Henderson just so happens to be a half demon who was once named Muse but for the last five years has successfully lived the ‘human’ life she so craved, leaving everything and everyone she knew in the past including her ex boyfriend Akil who also happens to be one of the Princes of Hell.
It’s only after an assassin pays her a visit and then her place of business explodes that she is forced to ask for help from the one person she said she never wanted to see again – Akil. He welcomes her with open arms but at what cost? Why has he always been there for her? Protecting her, Loving her? He is more than willing to provide her with information on the assassin so she can work out why and who wants her dead…..but should she start looking a little closer to home? With more than one suspect and multiple attempts at her life….just who can she trust?
I really enjoyed this book, I thought it was original, engaging and action packed. I liked Muse’s character, she had a vulnerability to her that appeals and makes you take up her plight. She does go through a change throughout the book and comes into her own quite a bit that sheds the victim image she has for the most part. I really liked the connection she had to Akil, I thought they shared a good chemistry and it was easy to get caught up in their need for each other. Akil seemed like the doting, patient suitor who was happy to wait in the wings for Muse to do her thing and happily brought her back into the fold when she needed him, giving her a home. She gets other male attention from the assassin – but you’ll have to guess at how that plays out.
The storyline was fab! There is a lot of action in the story especially when multiple attempts are made on Muse’s life, when there are things exploding around you, other things chasing you, people trying to rob you of the air you breathe and extinguish your fire…. There are going to be fights aplenty, car chases and decimation. There’s also the fact that Muse has to embrace her demon and learn control throughout the story and through this we find out a lot more about demons, half demons and the veil. The story is also filled with lots of misdirection, twists and turns which truly keep you on your toes whilst never quite working the whole story out but keeping you engrossed throughout. The world building and the characters are really well done, it opens up a really interesting premise with Princes of Hell ruling the sins, the limitations of demons, the Veil and what it’s for, why half demons are hated and how they live in our world but I really wanted to go through the Veil and see the other side. I am satisfied with the ending, it is left open for much more growth but showing great potential and I will look out for the sequel.

Where did this author come from and how come I just learned about her? Ms. DaCosta is a new to me author who hit my wow list. Fans of urban fantasy will want to pick this book up. Ms. DaCosta is a mix between Nalini Singh and Keri Arthur. If Ms. Singh is light and Ms. Arthur is dark, Ms. DaCosta fits in the middle where it is just right.

Charlie Henderson is the main character and she is in hiding. She is a half-demon who used to go by the name of Muse. In this world, half-demons are scorned and targeted for death. They are a pawn which both demons and humans use and abuse. Charlie wants to be normal and live life as a human. When this is all ripped away from her, she returns to her Muse persona. When her demon half comes out, there is no easy way to force her back in. Muse wants a life where she can trust others and not have to always be on guard. It is an unfortunate necessity which she seems to have to learn over and over again.

The world building is intriguing. Half demons and a demon world are common in urban fantasies. Ms. DaCosta makes it her own with little flourishes and twists. This makes it memorable and I want to learn more about it. I want to learn more about how Muse may be more powerful than what she's been brought up to believe.

Frankly, I'm a little horrified by the callousness of humans in this book. I want a specific sect of "godly warriors" to die. They are not the good guys. I am disgusted with their psychopathic behaviour. It is irony they feel they are better than the half-demons. So far, the two half-demons in this series have the moral high grounds compared to the humans. Even the demons are better because they are true to themselves. The hypocrisy perpetuated by the humans make my blood boil. I digress in my fuming outrage.

The twists in this story may make a reader wonder what really is the real story. There are so many double crosses that at one point, who knows what is fact and what is fiction. It seems there is no one to be trusted in this world. Muse is still quite weak and naïve. With some of the hard lessons she is experiencing, I anticipate a growth in maturity. It will be nice to see her change from a victim mentality to survivor with a grudge. It shall be interesting to see if she brings vengeance as her demon thirsts for or if she is a milquetoast who needs a white knight to save her. This urban fantasy is recommended to those who root for the underdog and realize there are no good guys. Everyone has their own agenda.

*provided by NetGalley

After loving the prequel, Wings of Hope, I couldn't wait to see what would happen to Muse now that she had escaped from hell and her demon owner. Beyond the Veil picks up the story about five years later, Muse is now living in the human realm and working as a blacksmith using the fake name Charlie. She has completely suppressed her demon half and does her best to just blend in with the human population and live her life completely under the radar. Things change when an assassin turns up at her workshop and calls her by her demon name. With her cover literally blowing up around her Muse has no other choice but to turn to Mannon, the demon who helped her escape captivity, for assistance once more. Mannon is also living in the human realm and under the assumed name of Akil he is a rich and powerful businessman. He promises Muse protection but when you're dealing with the Prince of Greed you have to be very careful about the price you might have to pay.

Beyond the Veil was one of those stories that completely sucked me in from the beginning. The Muse we meet at the beginning of this book is very different to the one we saw in the prequel. Her demon half saved her in the past but now she is determined to keep that side of herself hidden and live as a normal human. All she wants is to stay off the radar of the demons who want to see her dead. She was grateful to Mannon for the help he gave her but even though they have great chemistry she doesn't want to be tied to him forever and would rather stand on her own two feet. Muse may be trying to live a quiet life but when she's backed into a corner she is more than capable of standing up for herself.

I really don't want to say too much about the plot because it would be far to easy to give spoilers but what I will say is that nothing is ever quite what it seems. Everyone is keeping secrets and with characters who go from bad to good and right back to bad again at the drop of a hat, it really is impossible to tell who is on Muse's side and who has their own agenda. I absolutely loved the way the story took so many twists and turns and I could never guess what would happen next. I honestly don't know what to make of Mannon, one minute you think he really cares for Muse and the next you'll be convinced that he's the root of all evil but I guess you never can completely trust a demon. Alongside Mannon we have another hottie Stefan to deal with, he's another complex character with completely different motives and it's very hard to tell which of the two Muse might end up with. I have to admit I'm usually incredibly anti any kind of hint at a love triangle but things are so well done here that I actually found myself really enjoying the pull they both have on Muse.

Beyond the Veil is an action packed story that is full of shocking twists and it'll really keep you on your toes while you read it. The way things ended left me desperate to read the next book and I'm incredibly glad that the whole series is already published because I can feel a binge read coming on!

Well Ive been on a bit of an urban fantasy kick recently and came across this book. It's the first in the series but there is now a prequel available Wings of Hope but the action in this book takes place five years later when Muse has escaped Hell. She has built a life for herself but can never forget her painful past. Muse has spent years as a lowly half Demon, beaten, abused and as she only has one wing cruelly vilified. The Prince of Greed helped her but at a cost and right now it seems like it might be payback time!
Oh yes Muse believed that Akil saved her and when a fellow half Demon Stefan tries to kill her it's back to him she runs but is she right to? Can a Prince of Hell truly love? Muse has spent the past few years hiding from the other Demons who only want to see her dead as she's considered an abomination . All Muse craves is to be left in peace to live a human life but as more and more Demons start to appear in her life she's constantly confused about just who she can trust. Akil was always there for her but now the man hired to kill her starts to confuse her with talk of secrets and a hidden agenda that could see the world Muse lives in come crashing down. Who can she really trust?
This was quite fast paced and the writing flowed very well. It's action right from the start although I admit without the prequel it does feel as if the reader has missed vital information. Muse is trying to control both her life and her inner Demon but for most of the book she is lied to and led into situations that she has no real knowledge of. I liked Muse and the flashback to her past only had be cheering for her more but the dreaded love triangle? Oh no please don't do that to us! I was a bit disappointed in Akil as hello Prince of Greed! He just felt like any old Demon to this reader. Stefan? Now he's written as a gorgeous cool drink of water but wait! Didn't I say trust no one ? Also there's some sexual content that just felt wrong as I wanted the tension to keep building. So we are plunged into a world that whilst interesting did tend to rely on previous events to help flesh it out. It's easy to get sucked in though as Muse is such a complex character. The author has really set the cat amongst the pigeons though as there's so many collusions and machinations going on that it's really impossible to guess on the outcome of this series. Bottom line this book is a complex action packed story that will appeal to urban fantasy lovers and yes I'm definitely onboard to read more! As I write this it's currently available free on Kindle.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review

Charlie Henderson is a seemingly normal woman who lives in an apartment alone with her cat Jonesy and spends a lot of time in a workshop she has doing metal works as a blacksmith. Only Charlie is far from being normal. She’s a half-human/half-demon hybrid named Muse who has spent the last 5 years trying to lead that normal life after walking out on the demon world and more specifically a Prince of Hell demon Mammon who just so happens to be the one who saved her from a life of misery, abuse and humiliation from her former demon owner in the netherworld.

After 5 years and a mysterious visit from an equally mysterious stranger, Muse finds out that you can’t really just walk away from the demon world as easily as you think. After narrowly avoiding blowing up in her workshop Muse learns that a would-be assassin has been hired to kill her...but by whom? After the assassin, Stefan, shows up at her apartment and she loses control of her demon side; she decides that maybe trying to have a normal life was a mistake and turns back to Akil, Mammon’s human vessel, to try and discover exactly what is going on. From there the intrigue, twists, turns and betrayal begins.

Pippa DaCosta spins an incredible tale in the first installment of The Veil Series. She builds a world where demons are part of our existence and then fills that world with some pretty incredible and believable characters. Muse is a great main character. She wants to live a normal life, to escape her painful past but when that doesn’t seem possible she tries her best to step up and be that bad ass heroine that exist in most other novels. The problem is, she did lead a painful life. She was the pet of a full blooded demon who tortured her literally to the brink of death only to bring her back to do it again. She suffered many humiliations. She lives with that pain and although she tries to be strong, the emotional scars are still there and they play havoc with her ability to exist on her own. She’s damaged and she acts damaged. She’s got trust issues but longs to be able to trust someone. Her characterization in this book by DaCosta fits perfectly with these issues. I would expect a person to act as Muse does. It makes her more real and relatable.

The book flows at a great pace and has a good mix of action and reflection. You’ll be on the edge of your seat trying to decide who the real good guys and bad guys are all the way up to the end of the story but it works…..works really well. Do the demons win? Does Akil help Muse? Does she find out what is really behind the assassination attempts? Just who is Stefan? Who and what is the Institute? (yeah, I didn’t mention them...on purpose)? Most importantly...does Muse survive and come out on top? You have to read it to find out!!!!! And trust me, you won’t regret it.

TL;DR Great book, a lot of fun with some exciting characters. A MUST READ!!!!!

4 Stars for Beyond the Veil by Pippa DaCosta

I received this book as a gift from the author and from Paranormal Romance & Authors That Rock for an honest review.

We are introduced to Muse, a half-demon-half-human blacksmith in her workshop. She is trying to live a normal, boring human life, with a job, an apartment and Jonsey-her cat, when a blue eyed man walks into her life. And he’s not human. At least, not totally. Little does she know that her life is about to become “complicated”. And as readers, we are just along for the ride!

I really liked this story. It is book one in the Veil Series (book two, Devil May Care, being edited now, and book three being written). We get a sense of who Muse is, and see a glimpse of her past life-enough to know that she’s been around the block a few times, and doesn’t trust anyone but herself. This book seems to jump into the middle of Muse’s story, but the author gives us insights into why she thinks as she does. I hope that in book two we get more of a back story-and not just about Muse. There are other characters that need some light shined on them. Stephen, for one, Akil (what a fabulous name for a demon!) for another. I will concede that at times Muse seems unable to control her sexual urges where the men are concerned…maybe that’s just the demon in her? And her emotions seem to be at one end of the spectrum or the other; not much in the way of control there either. But, when you share your body with a demon, who knows what normal is?

I gave this book 4 fangs because the story is continued in the next book. I was surprised at how the book ended—I didn’t think Stephen would do what he did, or that Muse would end up where she did. I hope everything works out, and that in book two we get more into why Muse is the way she is, why she did what she did, and how Stephen and Akil make out. Read the book. I’m glad I did!

Independent reviewer
Jackie Huntington

I love reading books that are action packed and have me on the edge of my seat the whole time while reading and Beyond the Veil did not disappoint me at all.

Muse is trying to lead a normal life but when you’re a half demon and the demons want you dead that so called normal life goes out the window when a demon assassin walks into Muse’s life leaving a live of destruction in his way. Now Muse is forced to ask the one man she never wants to see again for help. The Prince of Greed also known as Muse’s ex-boyfriend. But the price is high for his help and if Muse has any chance of survival she will have to depend on her demon half if she has any chance of coming out of this alive.

I absolutely loved Muse. She has become one of my favorite heroines this year and I can not wait to read more about her in the next books. My only complaint is I would have loved to know more about Muse’s tragic past. Hopefully in the books to come the author will delve deeper into so we get to know more about Muse.

I loved this whole world filled with Demons as it got my attention from the very first page. I can’t wait for the next book to see more of Muse and the demons in her world. 4/5 Bloody Fangs

I was drawn into this book from the start. I have always loved suspenseful, thrilling, action packed, fantasy books. This book did not disappoint. From the beginning you are drawn into the struggle of a half demon/human woman named Muse. She just wants a normal life after killing her owner and walking away from her demon ex Akil, who still wants her by his side. She had a tragic past and while the author explains it throughout the book, you should read Wings of hope first because that tells about Muses past in the netherworld. I loved the book and the pace is steady and action packed so you won't get bored by it. I read this first one in a day and proceeded to read the next two books in the series in the following 3 days. Looking forward to finishing the rest of them. This book was definitely given thought and the characters were developed nicely. Thanks Pippa for an awesome read.

"I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.”

“Beyond the Veil” was a well written story with likeable, alluring, and despicable characters. It has an intriguing plot and in likeness to the characters in the story, their being half-human and half-demon, the book also leans on a half fantasy and half real-like world with a strong, identifiable leading female character named Muse.

Charlie Henderson, aka, Muse is a half-blood. Half human and half elemental or demon. While in her workshop working on her sword, a demon assassin or so she thought, appeared and lured her out. He had addressed her as Muse, which she hadn’t heard in a long time and he wanted her to read the inscription on a sword. Then someone unleashes hell hounds on her. But who? Possibly her brother Val…

Akil is her mentor or guardian and ‘Muse’ feels somewhat obligated to him since he freed her from her previous abusive owner Damien. A lot of drama plays out between these characters and Muse quickly becomes seduced by the good looks and mystique of her supposed assassin whose name is Stefan. Plus a little warm and tasteful love-making goes a long way in this story. I want to see where the story goes from here because at the end of the day it leaves you wanting more.

Overall, I enjoyed the audiobook and found it to be a good contemporary fantasy trope and I’ll look forward to more in the series.

About the narrator: Hollie Jackson has a nice cadence to her voice that becomes apparent right away. It was the first thing I noticed when I began listening to this audiobook. She made me believe the story and kept me listening. Along with that, she was perfect as the protagonist and she gave the male voices awesome flair as well. She’s a wonderful voice actor.

I will sy that it is somewhat

Charlie Henderson, aka Muse, is half demon, half human who escaped from a life of servitude in the demon netherworld with the help of Akil Vitalis known in the demon netherworld as the Prince of Greed. Since then, she has been living a life as a human for the last five years, trying to leave her past behind. When an unknown demon walks into her shop, she knows her life is again in danger from the netherworld where hybrids are considered filth. Will she turn to ex-boyfriend Akil once again to help her, or will the unknown demon be her salvation?

This book was a wild ride of twists and turns, betrayals on top of betrayals, and lots of action. I really enjoyed the characters, the original world-building, and the action. However, there were a couple of things I wish were explored more. For example, Muse is able to “read” metal. That ability was only used as a plot device and I feel this should have been explored more. Next was both Akil’s and Stefan’s motivations to do what they did, especially Stefan’s because his just seemed to come out of left field. However, don’t let these things deter you from getting this book. It was great and I look forward to reading more!

This review was made possible through an advanced copy by NetGalley and was posted on Goodreads as well.

Fantastic series. I loved watching Muse and Akil as their characters grew and changed throughout the story. Akil is hands down the sexiest male lead and the relationship between him and Muse was so hot!!! The scene where Muse finds him laying in front of his fireplace as Mammon mourning her was so beautiful, as were his many sacrifices for her throughout the series. The other supporting characters were great as well.

*spoilers below

My only gripe is that she ended up with the wrong guy!! Stefan didn't do it for me. He just didn't compare to Akil in my opinion. I never felt the passion between him and Muse. I was devastated by the end, but happy at the same time because Muse was free. Not sure if I think it will last.

I'm sure it's a split for fans as I see that there are probably as many people that were rooting for Stefan as there were for Akil. However, even Muse admitted in the last book that the choice was taken from her and that she would have always continued to go back to Akil. I think my feelings on the subject of Muse living out her HEA with Stefan can be summed up like this; if you can't be with the one you love, then love the one you're with.

I really hope Akil gets his own book or two. Whether it's resurrecting the series and having him end up with Muse (like he should - just saying...), or branching out and giving him his own book or two where he finds someone else he loves even more. I want him to get his HEA too!!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so many twists and turns that even at the end, I'm not quite sure how I feel. It certainly had me second guessing myself along the way.

Charlie (aka Muse) has been on the run for 5 years. She's been playing at being normal when really she is a human that houses a demon inside. She had a rich and sexy boyfriend (who also happened to be a prince of hell) and was taken care of, but that didn't give her the independence that she wanted. Her attempt to be normal ends abruptly when another half demon shows up at her workshop door (and then blows it up).

That explosion leads to a non-stop action-packed story that has poor Charlie running from one disaster to the next. Just when I got used to trusting a character, they ended up being a surprise bad guy, or a secret spy, or someone lying to everyone. It had me exhausted, so I felt super bad for the girl who just wanted a normal life. The ending delivered something that I was completely not expecting and made the story feel... unfinished. Does that count as a cliffhanger? I'm not sure, but I certainly don't know what's next for Charlie/Muse.

First she loves Akil, then she loves Sam. Then she loves Akil again and then she hates Akil and loves Stephan.
If every woman treated that word so cavalierly then men would never get complexes about it. Obviously it doesn't imply any kind of commitment or deep connection. At least, noit here.

Other thn that though, it was ... passable. Nothing exceptional about the book but not exceptionally bad either. Characters do things that don't make sense but you read on hoping it'll be explained later. It never is, but by the time you realize this you don't really care anymore.

The ending was good enough. ...mostly.
It's part of a series so there's room to continue on, but by the end the big bad is dealt with and the immediate danger is gone. The way he gets dealt with is a bit impenetrable but the book as a whole doesn't seem to be meant for people who care about logical consistency anyway.

On the whole -- it's a time-waster. It's not gonna change your life but theres enough action to keep ya reading and it's free so why not?

Wow!! I must say I haven't read a book like that in a while actually the last time I started a series that gave me a Wow like this was Sherrilyn Kenyon. It's very rare I find a series that I just want to devour, I most definitely want to continue this journey through the world Pippa has created. This is also the most unique world building and story outline I have come across. Souly focusing on demons it is very new and refreshing. It's dark, this book isn't for the light hearted.
Muse the MC has been running for the last five years trying to escape the wrath of demons everywhere. She has been used, mistreated, and beaten into submission but finally have enough she takes these Aholes head on. She is spunky, and full of fire quite literally. Staying hidden for five years wasn't easy but the moment the red coat shows up her life is flippe upside down. She is now being hunted but by who, she doesn't truly know. You must read to find out. I highly recommend this book, it's a must read.

Holy ever loving ****. Whew! This is a fecking roller coaster ride and just when you think the ride is going to end and even out...it throws you upside down and rattles your insides. This book is dark, deadly and just plain fecking sexy. I had no idea I had a demon fetish. My inner hellion just shivered. Wings, tails and hooves, oh my! Isn't this a judgement free zone?

This heroine is written brilliantly. She is broken and you know it because you can FEEL it. It's just that palpable. And yet every day she chooses to get up, time and time until she is free. She won't give up. I found her unbearably sad and utterly courageous. Even though her life is seriously messed up you somehow admire her rather than pity her.

Trust me...snag this book, grab a bottle of Jameson, sit down, and get comfortable because you won't be moving unless absolutely necessary for a few hours.

What a great read!! This book caught my attention immediately and I was riveted until the final page.

Muse is a half human/demon hiding in the human world after having survived years of horrific abuse at the hands of her demon owner. She is betrayed and lied to by those closest to her. She has everything she holds dear destroyed yet she doesn't break. She had to bend really, really far though.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was different from most of the other Urban Fantasy novels I've read recently in a fresh way. The back story for Muse wasn't spoon fed - it was mostly inferred through dialog or memory. The H/h interaction was heartrendingly brutal and the "villain" was truly a demon from the depths of Hell. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

I received a free copy of "Beyond the Veil" in return for an honest review. I would give this book a high rating but I would have liked to know more about the main characters before we got to the gory parts of the story. I was glued to the story when Muse's "gift" came to light. The author brought her characters alive in such a way that I couldn't help but start to take sides. Half way through the book I was afraid I had been rooting for the wrong hero but I still found the story interesting. There were some surprises in the book but I am really looking forward to reading Book #2. I want to know whether or not Stefan and Akil come back. I am still rooting for Charley (Muse) because she is not afraid to face her enemies.

There was so many great things about this book, and some disappointments.

First of all, the world of the story is good and unusual. The idea of a world with demons and humans separated by a Veil, where there are no angels to balance out the demons, is solid. I appreciate that there is no Heaven/Hell morality laid over the world. Our main characters are half human and half demon, and their differing views on their identity in the world were interesting. I do love a good misfit tale. The Institute is a great concept and makes a nice foil to the demons as villains. They offer Muse and Stefan a way to improve their skills and while keeping them safe from the demons while doing it. I liked the demon magic system being based on elemental forces (fire/heat, ice/cold) and look forward to meeting characters in future books with powers in other elements.

Muse/Charlie is a good protagonist. She was imprisoned and abused, and is coming into her own now. We want her to find her power and to find her place in her world. She has a metalworking aptitude, which I'd love to see her work more with. She has fire elemental magic. She gets thrown into and situation after situation without much ability to do more than react, but by the end of the book we see her getting her feet under her and starting to plan her own destiny finally. She waffles a bit too much about who to trust and love, but her abusive backstory makes that believable (for now). Now that she is getting some clarity and training, I expect her to be much stronger in the second book.

Some things were frustrating to me. The sex scenes in this book seemed awkwardly thrown in. There is a "love triangle" of sorts, but poor Muse is choosing between two men that have treated her badly and broken her trust, and with all the twists and turns of the plot, I was left thinking she should have thrown them both away and went on with her life.

I felt that the demons were a little underwritten (thought that may be rectified more in coming books). We are told there are seven Princes in Hell, and that Akil is the Prince of Greed (so I assume they are the seven Deadly Sins), but that is not explored in any way that I could see. I'd like to know more about the origin of the demons and what their world and motivations are. I am very intrigued about the role/powers of the half-demons and look forward to more revelations about them. How did they come to be? How many are there? What role will they have in defeating the demons or bolstering the humans?

There seemed to be some continuity errors (Muse refers to something a character told her or taught her, but we never saw that scene, etc.), which made Muse seem a little unreliable as a narrator. The pacing shifts rapidly, and felt too much of action action action without time for the character to react or reflect, which keeps the reader from bonding with Muse. Similarly, I am unsure how to feel about some of the secondary characters (Mika, Ryder) because we're never given enough time with them to see what their true natures are. Everyone seems to be a double agent in this book. I'd like to see a bigger scope in the next book - make me care about the world and what the greater stakes are. If it's just Akil versus Muse because she dared to leave him, that's pretty shallow and uninteresting.

All in all the book was interesting, fast-paced, and a good start to a series. I am eager to see the world fleshed out more, Muse come into her own, and the scope of the struggle between demons and humans to be revealed.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. After reading this book, I would have bought it! I was soooo good! Started out a little slow but I think that was to get all the details you needed in understanding what was going on. The female lead was strong but with some weaknesses. The male leads were very strong and one minute you liked them and the next you didn't. A lot of twists and turns.The author's putting in a lot of detail makes the book more enjoyable. Makes you sure you know what's going on and then you don't know what the heck is going on. I will be getting the next book of this series. This was an appetizer. Makes me want the whole course. Lol. Thanks Pippa!

I bought this as part of a nine-novel free teaser: Strange: Not Your Normal Paranormal. It was the only one of included books that led me to buy the next in the series.

Beyond the Veil tells of a half-demon, half-human woman with hidden talents. The struggles between her human and demon halves are intriguing. She has issues, deeply rooted in her past in the demon realm. She learns that neither the demons nor the humans around her are always as they appear to be, adding another layer of interest to the story. These themes give the story greater depth than merely a human-demon battle action story.

Whiplash emotional changes occur during the story, of the keep-him-away—no wait—let's-share-hot-lust variety. I saw these as manifestations of the internal conflict and frankly screwed up emotions of the characters, and not just the main character.

The story is well written. My main complaint with the book is that it doesn't stand alone. The story reaches an action climax, but I didn't feel like there was a satisfying conclusion to the main themes of the book. The last pages instead are focused on setting hooks for the next book. That is all too common, these days. But please, give me an ending that resolves one or more major themes. Don't carry them all over into the next book.

Beyond the Veil is an exceptionally well written urban fantasy tale with a perfectly paced plot, and a unique story to tell. The characters are imaginative and vivid, with unusual traits and quirks. The author has genuine talent in storytelling, and in making it appear effortless. This is a fantastic book, and one of my new favorites!

For the last five years, Muse has been living in Boston under a different name, building up her business in metalwork, and finding joy in her routine. She believes she has successfully put the past behind her. Of course, you can't run away from who you are, and even though Muse is half human, she is also half demon. So, when a handsome stranger walks into her shop, and calls her by her demon name, she knows things are about to change.

An explosion destroys the world around her--the only anchor to a life amongst the humans--leaving her with few options. She must seek out her old love, the Prince of Greed, who she left behind all those years ago, if she is to survive. But it will not come without risks.

A beautiful and fearsome full demon, the Prince of Greed goes by many names, and changes his disguises like a man changes a suit. But in his human form--tall, dark, and handsome--he is hard to resist, even for Muse, who knows his old tricks better than anyone. He and Muse have a history, after all. Still, there is much more beneath the surface... more than Muse could have imagined.

Stefan, a hired assassin, has his own substantial role in the world of demons. He and Muse may have more in common than meets the eye. But behind his fair hair, handsome features, and charm lies an agenda and unfathomable secrets... secrets Muse is about to discover, whether she likes it or not. Trapped between the assassin's plot and her old lover's spite, Muse must find out who she can trust, who wants her dead, and how to survive... easier said than done!

The passages flow seamlessly, and I was swept away into the fantasy. This is a brilliant and original tale, entwined with a fascinating element of romance. I am eager to dive into the next book in the series to see what happens with these fantastic characters!

Note: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Beyond the Veil gets you right into action! Right from the start you are hooked into wanting to find out more about the main character, Muse. You also get intrigued on who is this Mr. A and on what side he is on. This is a well written, non-stop action filled fantasy story about a half demon trying to live among the human race to forget about her past. There are many unexpected twists and turns, you will not want to put the book down! This book is definitely worth reading! I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through GoodReads.

I received a ARC of Beyond The Veil from NetGalley for an honest review.

Muse is her Demon name, Charolle Henderson is her human name, she is a half breed demon.

Full blooded Demons hate her and want to enslave or kill her, humans are no better.

5 years ago she turned her back on her Demon boyfriend, the Prince of Greed and hid amongst the humans, avoiding all contact with demons.

Until one fateful night a half breed demon walks in her work shop and demands she read his swords history. Everything she holds dear is ripped from her and she has to once again seek help from the last person she should....her ex demon boyfriend, the Prince of Greed

I cannot wait to read the next book, Beyond the Veil had me hook from the first page.

For the most part, I liked this story. There were a couple inconsistencies and I had a couple issues with Muse's relationship with Stefan at times, but I really liked the main character's inner turmoil, growth, and abilities. The action scenes were intense, the creatures unique, the twists very good, and the villain complex. By the end, I found myself attached to everyone and am excited to continue the series. I honestly don't have many complaints, and can't wait to see what happens next!

Beyond the veil is the first in an exciting new series; a conglomeration of enchanting paranormal romance within a gritty urban/ contemporary backdrop. Impressive scope, substance and world building - -Pippa DaCosta has produced a character-driven story of multilayered delights and fantastical wonders.

"They say I'm half demon, but I like to think of myself as half human, especially as the demons want me dead."

Charlie {aka. Muse} is shrouded in secrets and ambiguity, especially so when faced with half-demon and dark assassin. Trapped in a headlock between `The prince of Greed' and `the prince of hell' she must differentiate between their ulterior motives and genuine consideration.

Plunging strait into the midst of nail-biting drama and action from the very first page did detract from any detailed history, or background info on the characters. However, I was sucked strait into the most exciting and hugely original story that kept my interest firmly glued to the pages throughout. Muse was a fascinatingly complex and complicated character, {with a tragic past} whom I would have liked to have known even more about...
The universe and the Demons beyond the veil were two elements of this extraordinary world that captured my imagination instantly, as was the main protagonist's past as a slave.

As a first novel `Beyond the veil' is incredibly strong and so I am eagerly looking forward to what is to come in this series! I do feel in places that the author could have gone into even more depth and detail; in regards to the background history, the characterisation {in understanding their motives and why they act in situations the way they do etc.} and generally just MORE.

Seamless storytelling combined with a perfect balance of action and dialogue, make this story very readable and compelling. In fact, after several pages I knew instinctively that this was something different and quite out-of-the-ordinary! Steamy and sensual in places whilst heartrending and profoundly poignant & deep in others, the well-written narrative insinuates great premise.

If you love modern paranormal fiction then the veil series is a must-read.

4. 5 STARS!!

Are you team Stephan or team Akil?!

* I would like to thank Pippa for sending me a paperback copy of her book to read & review *

Well-written and action-packed paranormal urban fantasy with swoon-worthy guys. What's not to like?

I shared Muse's roller-coaster ride with the many twists and turns as she tries to take control of her life. She has to decide who she can trust - her demon ex Akil or mysterious, not-all-that-he-seems, assassin Stefan.

Exciting read with an unpredictable, well paced plot. Can't wait to see how it all plays out in the next book.

Muse is treated like a freak by her family, and a child by the very dangerous man who protects her. While she thinks she has found a niche in which she can lead a life of her own choosing, circumstances are about to blow that false sense of security all to…Hell.
I enjoyed this tale. Fast-paced and full of surprises, it will keep you turning the pages with heart-pounding tension/angst/drama/delight. The characters and situations are well drawn, and the story itself imaginative and unpredictable.
Well done.
A complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was a little concerned as this is not a book I would usually read, but I loved the story. It started off strong with action, building the story right away and not just the characters. I felt so bad for Muse, she wanted so bad to just be loved. She learned a lot about what she wanted and accepting herself as a whole. I will definitely buy the remaining books to see the story to the end.

Heroine Muse should have had VICTIM tattooed on her forehead. She was manipulated by pretty much everyone who came into her life and she dropped her panties a little too readily. So she was a bit of a tramp and kinda pathetic. How can you react to a protagonist like that except with pity and a smidgen of contempt? Not the kind of character I like to spend my time with.

I would say 4.5. The book needs finish editing one of my pet peeves. Sometimes the tone is almost British and then I'm reminded it takes place in Boston. The characters develop as we read and it moves along quite rapidly. I got the book as part of an omnibus "Strange" and was expecting mediocre and I was wrong. Bought the second book and will probably end up with the whole series.

Muse has been used and abused by everyone she has known, sold as a plaything by her father She killed Damien with the help of The Prince but she was his playtoy too, then along came Stefan who was working for The Prince, following this? What's a half demon to do?
Can Muse break the cycle and save herself?
I was given this book for a honest review and would highly recommend it.

A ok read but I found the story line a bit too wishy- washy. I found the lead female character Muse to be a fearful, lust driven character with a chameleon like attitude, one minute she's fearful of Akil and in the next minute she's ready to sex him, one minute she's adamant about not needing him and not going back with him she survived for five years without him after all and in the next minute she's following him home because after all she feels safer with him, not really sure how anyone can feel safer being with someone they allegedly fear. And Akil who is supposedly one of the seven princes of hell with lots of power never showing any of his prowess instead we have him lusting and acting weak for the half-demon Muse and acting like a jilted lover telling her you left me after all I did for you, yeah that really sounds like something a full bloodied demon would say. Stefan the supposed assassin/ enforcer i was not really sure who's side he was on, one minute he's with muse the next he seem's to have betrayed her to save his sister then he's back on her side what the hell can't this guy make up his mind as where his loyalties lie? Not a very good storyline however I purchased the three box set for 99cents so I will be reading the second and third book's in the series and I am really hoping that the story gets better or at least more stable.

What a great read. Action packed, full of twists and turns, sizzling chemistry between the heroine, Charlie and not one but two super-hot demon types. It's difficult to write a comprehensive review without spoilers, so I'll just add the author does a fabulous job of creating her paranormal fantasy world in enough of contemporary setting that it seamlessly integrates with reality as the rest of us know it.

I am now a Pippa DaCosta fan! Picked this up one afternoon and couldn't put it down. I stayed up late to finish it and immediately bought the second book in the series. I had taken a break from sci-fi/fantasy novels but this has been great summer reading...just the right amount of action and romance.

* An eARC was provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.

This is a solid 4 star read. I'm actually surprised by how much I liked this book. I love reading about half demons in a fictional earth in the present day and this book just hit the spot. Don't even get my started on the plots twists.

In the beginning, with Muse running back to her so called demon kind-of-not-boyfriend-king-dude was very annoying. The one thing the got me irritated with it was that she KNEW he was dangerous and probably wanted her head on a stick and yet she kept trusting him. She should have HUGE trust issues with the type of life she's been dealt. Every time she even thought about Akil it was like all rational thought flew out the metaphorical window. Backbone, where are you?!

I've decided that I'm Switzerland when it comes to picking a team in this book/series. Sure, Stefan is the obvious choice, but I just can't get over the fact that he f***ed Muse over the WHOLE book. He misled the heroine and the reader by default. To say the least, that hurts. On the other hand, I would never, in my right mind, pick Akil. If you've read the book, do you even have to ask? He's King evil incarnate (literally) with no redeeming qualities, period.

That ending cuts very deeply. I almost cried. It was THAT heart wrenching. After getting slapped upside the head with plot twists every five pages during the WHOLE book I still didn't see that ending coming. Really, Stefan? You just had to go and protect her like that?

Favorite Quotes:

"Stefan was right when he said you don't want to make an enemy of me. If I can kill my demon owner, I can certainly kill you."

"You were leading me right into the lion's den."

"The convenient 'gentleman's agreement between demons' excuse."

good Book! Really like the book. Thought it was interesting and you get to know and like the characters. The second book was good also. Ready to see where the third book takes the series. Thought it was a unique plot line.

This was an interesting read that I enjoyed reading. It moved along at a great pace, has interesting characters and a story that will keep you interested. I would gladly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read.

I read this as part of a boxed set of stories by different authors. It was great. I went on to read the rest of the series, and enjoyed every one of them! Characters, storyline, and continuity were great. They could all use better editing, and grammar checks, but overall a really entertaining series.

I found myself caught up in Muse character and all the pain she's been through. A stuff lady not given a chance at life. Born unwanted and enslaved her whole life. I can't wait to see if she will ever truly be free

It's rare enough to find a character that surprises you. In Beyond the Veil, ALL the main characters surprised me. Just when I thought I had the good guys/bad guys sorted out, they would act in a way I totally didn't expect. By the end, I still wasn't sure who to trust. But I will definitely be reading book 2 to find out!

"Beyond The Veil" kept my interest from the beginning to the end. I really enjoyed the suspenseful way that Pippa DaCosta wrote this first episode. I am already looking forward to reading the next episode of this series.

Absolutely brilliant and I could not put it down, in fact I read it in one sitting from 4 in the afternoon until well into the small hours. To say the lead female character is strong is an understatement and I loved Akil, the rogue-ish demon who protects her. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

I received this book through the first reads giveaway on GR.

First off, the cover is absolutely beautiful and fits Muse perfectly. Everything on the cover has significance in the story.

I fell in love with this book from the beginning. You jump right into Muses life as soon as you start reading, it's extremely easy to follow. Mrs.DaCosta provides info and gives tons of details as each scene unfolds so there isn't any info dumping:). The characters themselves are incredible, there is a ton of detail as to what they look like, both in human and demon form to really give you a good sense of them. Her characters are anything but flat. Muse is a perfectly imperfect character, there is no illusions of her perfection, strength or beauty in this book. She's definitely relateable and has so many dimensions to her, she grows and develops as the story moves along. The insanely attractive and playful leading men are both alphas, but couldn't be more polar opposite of each other.

Beyond The Veil is very well written and balanced. There aren't any inconsistencies in the story, or info dumping, and the plot is very strong. All of Muses relationships develop naturally, we aren't rushed into believing she suddenly falls in love with some guy! The ending has left me wanting more, I'm thrilled the next installment will be out soon:D!

I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys any type of fantasy or is just looking for a different type of story. It's definitely worth reading.

I really wanted to like this book but I had to push myself to finish reading it. Even though the ending is a bit of a cliff hanger I have no desire to continue reading this series. This book just went up and down way too much. Throughout the book Muse changes her feelings on Akil and Stefan it's either I hate him, I love him, he's bad for me, he betrayed me, he loves me. Not only that but she hates herself (or her demon self if you want to be specific) and changes from I'm so powerful to I'm so weak, etc. The characters could use some more development and while plot twists are good they should be well thought out and not rushed.

Call me naive if you wish, but when I agreed to read and review this book I actually thought, based upon the title, that it was a Christian book concerning biblical spiritual truths that had been revealed to the author regarding the joy and wonder of living "beyond the veil". The veil, by the way, in Bible terminology, has reference to the partitioning curtain that separated the Holy place in the Old Testament tabernacle from the Most Holy place where man could communicate with the Lord God. I had no idea that the book would, in fact, focus on demons. It didn't take more than a page or two of reading to realize that you can't judge a book by its title. I quit reading shortly after the author began to put foul language in the mouths of the characters - a true indication, as far as I am concerned, that he is sadly lacking in his ability to communicate without resorting to a base, degrading form of speech “I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review”. That said, the two or three pages that I read were enough for me to write this brief review.