The characters were not lovable. I wouldn’t say at all, because I did finish the book, but they were quite annoying.

The heroine has gone through some very tough and unfortunate situations. The first 6 or so hours of this book are rough due to that. Considering how she was brought up I can understand how naive and trusting she is with the hero. I still disagree with the end her brother had. I'd also like to know what happened to the place she lived in and how her mother is doing. Meet Estrella. She's conscientious. She's protective. And she's angry at how life has constantly given her the short end All in all, this probably should be a 3 star read, but the truth is that I still really enjoyed reading it!I like my intestines in my stomach and not shoved into my lungs. You just keep that thing away from me." Estrella: “And that is the problem. I like my intestines in my stomach and not shoved into my lungs. You just keep that thing away from me,”

I thought I’d do a reread just before book 2 comes out next week! I forgot how much I loved the world building in this book. Estrella is from ultra religious, misogynistic society steeped in poverty that completes yearly human sacrifices. On the day she is supposed to die, the misty veil separating the fae and human realms falls and all hell breaks lose. On her journey to escape, she meets the handsome and dangerous stranger, Caelum, who, like Estrella, is fae marked and destined to a mate with a fae. What Lies Beyond The Veil” was much more than she thought. At first, Estrella’s life story was just terrible. The world she lived in definitely made me cringe. And there are many mysteries about “the veil” that have intrigued me. We are slowly learning more about this world that Harper L. Woods created. I was totally hooked and really wanted to know more. Another element I loved about the world-building is the hierarchy of gods and fae and the Wild Hunt. The concept of the Mating Bond is interesting and it's marked by a unique tattoo on the human and their fae mate. I really hope the author takes advantage of the world she introduced and expands it for the reader, this is what I'm looking forward to the most in the sequel. I had such high hopes. This was an absolute disappointment. It stripped all the good parts of from blood and ash, an ember in the shadow, A court of thrones and roses and made just an absolute mess of a book. Here’s the thing about this book–it’s predictable. The “big reveal” at the end… not so big. It was obvious from the first time the two main characters meet. That predictability, however, I don’t think was altogether accidental.The relationship was all over the place due to shoving other peoples works on them. I hated it. It wasn’t natural, it was messy and forced. The main heroine, Estrella Barlowe of Mistfell, lives in a corrupt society that have such a misyigynstic views of women and are often treated as broodmare. I found her to be a reliable narrator as she does not shy away from viewing the ugliness of her reality. Estrella did not live an easy life and had to endure so much. I liked her but she did eventually follow the mold of the snarky heroine that I felt became a repetitive characteristic in most fantasy romance heroines these days.

I would burn the world to the ground and lay it at your feet if you so much as asked it of me, and yet you give me nothing. You’ve never once told me that you feel the same way I do.”I still have my hopes up for the sequel because this book has the potential to turn out to be a favorite of mine. The plot? Literally what was it?? Why was he pretending to be human? Literally no motivation? Why didn’t he bust up and cut some people like the amazing men he has attempted to emulate? At least make it worth my time! This first book really just set up the heroine. First introduced to the fae world to work on the immediate issue THEN later build-up to the MAJOR plot that the series will be focused on. Overall, I was intrigued by the storyline and worldbuilding, however, the characters and romance fell short for me. Regardless, I am curious as to what happens next, so I may read the next book. Only when it comes to pushy men who seem to think they have the right to touch me," I snapped, leaning further into the knife against his throat.