Review: The Beyond - Chloe Neill

Sensitive Claire Connolly must journey to another world in the electrifying fourth installment of Chloe Neill's post-apocalyptic urban fantasy series.

It's been a year since the Veil between the human world and the world Beyond was torn apart, and war began again. Sensitive Claire Connolly and bounty hunter Liam Quinn have been helping their human and paranormal allies fight back against the ravaging invaders and save what's left of New Orleans.

But a new enemy has arisen, more powerful than any they've seen before, and even Devil's Isle cannot hold her. . .

When Claire learns of a new magical weapon—one built by paranormals themselves—she knows it could turn the tide of war. But to reach it, she and Liam will have to cross into the Beyond itself. In a world full of hostile magic and dangerous foes, she'll have to channel the powers she once kept hidden in order to survive. New Orleans hangs in the balance, and the storm is growing closer...

Devil's Isle Series:
The Veil
The Sight
The Hunt
The Beyond

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
It's been a year since the veil fell and New Orleans has completely changed, many of the survivors have left but those who remain are stubborn and determined to protect what's left of their city. The war has taken it's toll though and when a dangerous new enemy comes looking for revenge Claire and her friends are going to have to take huge risks to save the home that they love.

I'm really sad that The Beyond is the final book in this series, I've really enjoyed spending time in this world and getting to know the characters so I was honestly hoping that we'd get a few more books. Having said that I'm glad that it ended on a high note. Claire has grown a lot since the first book, she's much more confident now and has better control of her abilities. In fact she's no longer scared of her magic and instead has learnt to wield it with precision. She's also learnt to appreciate life, she celebrates the small things like spending time with friends and family and is very focused on protecting the people she loves. Her relationship with Liam is also going well, they've had their problems in the past but they're now much more secure in their love and are working really well together as a team.

I don't want to give away much of the plot but I will tell you that this is the first book that lets us take a peek at what is on the other side of the Veil which I really loved. There was a lot of action and we get to see all of our favourites fighting together for an excellent cause. I may be sad that the series has come to an end but I'm happy with the way things wrapped up, especially for Claire and Liam. I'm still going to hope that Chloe Neill decides to revisit this world in the future but in the meantime I'll look forward to more from the Heirs of Chicagoland!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Hunt - Chloe Neill

The hunter becomes the hunted in this thrilling novel set in a New Orleans devastated by a Paranormal war . . .

When bounty hunter Liam Quinn discovered that Claire Connolly was a Sensitive and infected with magic, he should have turned her in to be locked up in the prison district known as Devil's Isle. Instead, he helped her learn to control her power and introduced her to an underground group of Paranormals and humans who know the truth about the war and those who fought it.

Now the weight of Liam's own secrets has forced him into hiding. When a government agent is killed and Claire discovers that Liam is the prime suspect, she races to find him before the government can. But she'll discover proving his innocence is no simple matter. Their enemies are drawing closer, and time is running out . . .

Devil's Isle Series:
The Veil
The Sight
The Hunt
The Beyond

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
After being outed as a Sensitive during the last big battle Claire is having to keep a very low profile to avoid Containment catching her and imprisoning her in Devil's Isle. She's no longer able to run her store so she's focusing her energies on scavenging for useful supplies for people who aren't as lucky as she is. Liam's life was changed forever when he was hit with a blast of magic during the battle, Claire knows it gave him new abilities but he's kept his distance from her ever since it happened so she doesn't know what form his powers have taken. She understands his need to come to terms with what happened but it hurts her that he was able to walk away from her so easily and it's been several months since she even heard from him.

When Claire finds out that Liam has been accused of murder she knows she has to warn him. He wasn't even in the city so it's obviously a set up but what does anyone have to gain in blaming him and why has he suddenly become a target? With all Containment's energies focused on finding and arresting Liam it's up to Claire and her friends and allies to prove his innocence and figure out what's really going on.

I have to admit I was a little disappointed at the beginning of the book when I found out that Claire and Liam have been apart for the last few months. I was annoyed with Liam for pushing Claire away, especially when she was one of the few people who would be able to understand what he was going through. I didn't like how unsure she had become of herself and their relationship in his absence so it was a disappointing change of direction for them as a couple. I did enjoy seeing Claire and Gavin go searching for him though and I was really pleased that Claire showed a backbone and told Liam that she wouldn't sit around waiting forever for him. The beginning of the book felt a little on the slow side because of the relationship angst but luckily the pace really picked up when they were working alongside each other again.

There are some really interesting revelations in this book, both about Claire's background and her family and about what is happening in the world by the groups working against the paranormals. It's so frustrating that Containment will happily work with Claire and other Sensitives or Paranormals when they need their help but that they immediately start to treat them badly again the minute the current crisis is over. Unfortunately it's also incredibly easy to believe and very true to life, humanity has a horrible track record when it comes to showing prejudice against any kind of difference - either real or perceived - and Chloe Neill has done a brilliant job of showing that in her stories.

I can't say much in this review for fear of spoilers but there are some MAJOR changes at the end of the book that are going to have a huge impact on where the series goes from here onwards and I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us next. I'm really enjoying this series and have a feeling things are only going to get more intense in book 4!

Source: Received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Sight - Chloe Neill

The paranormal war that engulfed New Orleans seven years ago is over. But the battle for the city is just beginning . . .

Claire Connolly is a Sensitive, infected with magic when the Veil that divides humanity from the world beyond fell. Magic can easily consume and destroy a Sensitive, and if Claire's secret is discovered she'll be locked into the walled district of Devil's Isle along with every other Paranormal left in the city.

Bounty hunter Liam Quinn discovered Claire's secret, but refused to turn her in. Together they saved New Orleans from the resurgence of magic that nearly destroyed it. But now a dangerous cult is on the rise, and it will take both Claire and Liam - and magical allies within Devil's Isle's towering walls - to defeat the occult threat before magic corrupts them both . . .

Devil's Isle Series:
The Veil
The Sight
The Hunt
The Beyond

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
Claire and Liam may have already saved New Orleans from disaster once but that doesn't mean things are about to calm down, in fact they've now got an even bigger battle on their hands as an evil cult sets out to destroy Devil's Isle and all it's Paranormal inhabitants. The terrorists will stop at nothing to achieve their goal and they don't care how many civilian casualties get caught in the crossfire which makes them even more dangerous. Claire is still trying to come to terms with the fact that she's a Sensitive and what that could mean for her future but she's not going to sit idly by while a group of madmen try to destroy what's left of her city.

The Sight jumps into Claire's story right where The Veil left off, Claire is juggling running her store with her new role as a trainee Bounty Hunter working alongside Liam and the chemistry between them is just as intense as ever. Liam is one of the only people who knows Claire's secret but instead of turning her into the authorities and destroying her life he's actually trying to help her learn to deal with her abilities so they don't end up turning her into a monster. As much as they are attracted to each other there are a million reasons why they shouldn't be a couple, Claire is willing to take the risk but Liam is more gunshy because he knows exactly what he'd have to do if Claire's powers get the better of her. The tension between them ratchets up nicely throughout the story but you're going to have to read the book for yourself to find out whether they actually give in to temptation.

There is so much going on in this series that I don't ever want the books to end. First you have the ongoing struggles of the Paranormal population on Devil's Isle, most of them didn't ask to be here and just want to be able to live their lives in peace but they're treated like animals and imprisoned on the Isle. Then you have the cult who are determined to wipe the Paranormals off the face of the planet, they think that by banning magic and destroying anything to do with it they can reverse the damage that was done when the Veil first opened and they'll fight to the death to achieve their goals. Finally you have the group that are trying to reopen the Veil so they can finish the war they started seven years ago.

Claire and Liam are stuck in the middle trying to do what's best for everyone involved. Claire is forced to face up to what her future could be like if she doesn't learn to control her magic, Liam is forced to decide whether he can walk away from her for good or whether she is worth taking a risk on, Claire's friends and allies also have decisions of their own to make and whatever they decide Claire is the one with the most to lose. Chloe Neill has created another fantastic series and I'm really excited to see where it goes from here, I just wish we didn't have to wait a whole year for the next instalment. I'm a greedy reader like that though and I'm incredibly pleased that we have a new Chicagoland Vampires book (& novella!) to look forward to in the meantime!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Veil - Chloe Neill

Seven years ago, the Veil that separates humanity from what lies beyond was torn apart, and New Orleans was engulfed in a supernatural war. Now, those with paranormal powers have been confined in a walled community that humans call the District. Those who live there call it Devil's Isle.

Claire Connolly is a good girl with a dangerous secret: she’s a Sensitive, a human endowed with magic that seeped through the Veil. Claire knows that revealing her skills would mean being confined to Devil’s Isle. Unfortunately, hiding her power has left her untrained and unfocused.

Liam Quinn knows from experience that magic makes monsters of the weak, and he has no time for a Sensitive with no control of her own strength. But when he sees Claire using her powers to save a human under attack—in full view of the French Quarter—Liam decides to bring her to Devil’s Isle and the teacher she needs, even though getting her out of his way isn’t the same as keeping her out of his head.

But when the Veil threatens to shatter completely, Claire and Liam must work together to stop it, or else New Orleans will burn . . .

Devil's Isle Series:
The Veil
The Sight
The Hunt
The Beyond

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
It's been seven years since the Veil between the worlds was opened and New Orleans was nearly destroyed by a war with the supernatural creatures that came through before the it was resealed. Now life is very different, the supernatural creatures who were left behind have all been confined to a walled community known as Devil's Isle to protect the humans who remain but food and resources are scarce and it's like living in a war zone. Magic is forbidden and the few humans who can wield it, known as Sensitives, are exiled to Devil's Isle if they are caught. Claire Connolly is just trying to keep her head down and survive, she took over the running of her family's store after the death of her father and all she wants to do is live in peace. She works hard in her shop and does her best to provide her local community with everything they need. Unfortunately Claire has a secret, one that could get her sent to Devil's Isle if she is caught. Several months ago Claire discovered she was a Sensitive but she is too scared to practise using her abilities in case someone finds out what she is. Liam Quinn knows the price of not using magic and he sees it has his responsibility to make sure Sensitives don't step off the straight and narrow. When Claire is forced to use her ability to protect herself in public Liam agrees to keep her secret but there is a price she must pay for his silence.

I love Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series so of course I was incredibly excited to find out about her brand new series. I had high expectations for The Veil and although it is completely different to her other series I found myself just as hooked. Claire is such a fantastic heroine, she has a lot of power but she hasn't had much of an opportunity to use it so she really has no idea quite what she is capable of. She's smart, loyal and caring, the kind of woman who goes out of her way to help others even when it costs her. Claire isn't afraid to make difficult choices and she has learnt to trust her instincts and go with her gut.

I loved her little group of friends and the way they all looked out for each other but I have to admit that Liam pretty much stole the show from the moment he stepped onto the page. He is still quite a mystery, it's obvious he is keeping secrets and I'm sure we've got some exciting revelations to come about his character, but he is honourable and very protective. I love the fact that even though he had good reasons to mistrust all supernaturals he doesn't have a bias against them, in fact he is the one to show Claire just how wrong some of her assumptions are. There is definitely a huge amount of potential for them as a couple but I'm glad that the author hasn't rushed into anything, they are slowly becoming friends and learning to trust each other but neither of them is quite willing to jump into things without thinking through the consequences.

As with any first book in a series there is a lot to learn about this new world but I never felt overwhelmed or bored by the information we were given. Chloe Neill has created a richly detailed setting that was very easy to picture and there is definitely a lot of scope for where future books in the series could take us. We get some great character development in this instalment and there was enough action and intrigue to keep me turning the pages as fast as I could to find out what would happen next. This series has definitely been added to my auto-buy list and I can't wait to find out what happens next for Claire and Liam.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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