Review: Veil of Shadows (Veil #2) by Shiloh Walker

Veil of Shadows
Shiloh Walker
Published: Sept. 7, 2010
Purchase at: The Book Depository or Amazon

Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars

One of the things I love about Shiloh Walker is she creates full characters. You will never find a shell of a person in her books, nor will you have an ancillary character who is a flat voice speaking a single line.

This is incredibly striking as you read Veil of Shadows, because instead of a standard hero/heroine dual point-of-view Walker has brought in multiple voices. Shifting among hero, heroine, outcast, enemy, rebel, leader and friend could be chaotic. It could be confusing, but when Walker does it we find ourselves in a robust world with a greater understanding of its struggles.

Most of the story focuses on rebel captain Syn and new rebel soldier Xan. Despite the fall of the gates linking their world to the demon realm, the rebel fighters still have to contend with demons attacking their people and the remaining demon leaders trying to kidnap women with magical skills. The novel gives us glimpses of Kalen and Lee from the first Veil book (read our review), but the main focus of Veil of Shadows is Syn, her attempts to reconnect with the magic left unstable after the fall of the gates and her overwhelming desire for Xan.

In the first Veil book, Through the Veil, we enjoyed the experience of love at first sight (with a good reason for them being immediately enamored). This time, though, we get a more traditional romance building out of need to connect. Both Xan and Syn are hesitant to start anything. They have other goals and don’t need the distraction, but feel so strongly for one another it’s hard to avoid. Plus, what’s life without a little distraction? Or a lot. In the bedroom.

In Veil of Shadows we find people trying to reclaim their lives. Syn, who has long avoided relationships and focused solely on her captain’s duties, finds herself accepting her need for love and for a true connection with Xan. Other women at the rebel base try to reconnect with the magic that makes them feel whole. The exiled demons, left in Ishtan after the gate fell, seek to find a way back home. There are even those who begin this novel with less than favorable intentions only to discover what they really want is something entirely different.

Also, it’s a pretty excellent romance.

Veil of Shadows’ romance had me flying through the pages and the character development made me invest in the outcome. A nice blend of paranormal romance and fantasy. This second book in the Veil series was a cut above its predecessor.