Review: Chaos Falls - Pippa DaCosta

"There are no other demons like me."

Restaurant owner, Hollywood socialite, Prince of Pride: Li'el is one of few demons left this side of the veil, and he has every intention of reveling in his new-found freedom.

But being the last demon in LA means that when mauled and shredded bodies are found within a few blocks of Li'el's popular Decadent-i restaurant, the list of suspects is a short one.

Add to that the suspicious death of a well-known reporter during one of Li'el's infamous after-parties, and he soon finds himself wanted for all the wrong reasons.

With the Dark Court gone and his powers waning, his reign at the top of the demon food chain could be over.

The Prince of Pride is about to discover there are worse creatures than demons in LA...

The demons are back in Chaos Falls, the third and final installment in the Chaos Rises series.

The Veil Series:
Wings of Hope (Novella)
Beyond the Veil
Devil May Care
Darkest Before Dawn
Drowning in the Dark
Ties That Bind
One for Sorrow (Novella)

Chaos Rises Series:
(Spin off from the Veil series)
Chaos Rises
Chaos Unleashed
Chaos Falls

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
It's no secret that I'm a huge Pippa DaCosta fangirl, I've loved every book she's ever written but the Veil books have a special place in my heart because it's the first of her series that I ever read & it's what got me hooked on her writing to start with. The Chaos Rises spin off series has been just as fantastic, if not better, than the original one and when Pippa announced that the book would be told from Li'el (Prince of Pride)'s point of view I was over the moon. His character has fascinated me from the first time we met him and throw in a guest appearance from Akil and you pretty much have the demon dream team right there.

I really don't want to say too much about this story but I will tell you that it was even better than I could ever have imagined. Li'el is such an incredibly complex character, he's lived for thousands of years, most of them on the other side of the Veil in the demon realm, but his time amongst humans has changed him. He definitely isn't a reformed man but he isn't pure evil anymore either, it takes time to dig deep into his motives and figure out what he really wants and I think half of the time he's not too sure of the answer to that question himself. Life should be much easier for him now that the tear in the Veil is closed but typically humans just don't know when to leave well alone and it shouldn't surprise anyone to hear they find a way to make an even bigger mess of things. Li'el is facing an impossible enemy and the only people he has to work with are just as likely to turn on him as they are to have his back.

Chaos Falls is full of twists, totally action packed and an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you breathless and smiling at the end. I loved getting the chance to see some familiar faces from the previous books and meeting some new ones but it was Li'el who totally stole the limelight, not that you could expect anything else from a Prince of Pride! This was a fitting end to a fantastic series, I'm sad it's over but it definitely went out with a bang and I'm looking forward to the next adventure Pippa is sure to take us on.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Review: Chaos Unleashed - Pippa DaCosta

From the ashes of the fallen demon court, a new threat rises...

Raised in a lab and trained to kill, I might not know much about being human, but I do know demons, and they don’t come more dangerous than the Prince of Pride—the devil.

My brother is trapped at the heart of Fairhaven—a demon stronghold. To get him back, I need Pride’s help. Trained to kill princes, I know I can’t trust this one. He’ll lie, cheat, and manipulate to get what he wants: a new Dark Court so that he can rise again as its leader. His pretty words and burned wings don’t fool me. I’ll use him and any means necessary to save my brother. I don’t have a choice. If I fail, if I can’t control the elemental forces gathering inside Fairhaven, chaos will be unleashed, creating a new Hell on Earth.

My makers tell me I’m too demon to love, too demon to care. But they made me this way. Now it’s time to show them all how demon I can be.

The Veil Series:
Wings of Hope (Novella)
Beyond the Veil
Devil May Care
Darkest Before Dawn
Drowning in the Dark
Ties That Bind
One for Sorrow (Novella)

Chaos Rises Series:
(Spin off from the Veil series)
Chaos Rises
Chaos Unleashed
Chaos Falls

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
I've been a huge fan of Pippa DaCosta ever since I discovered her Veil series, I love all of her books but this world will always have a special place in my heart so this final book is a little bitter sweet for me. Chaos Unleashed was absolutely fantastic but I'm a little heartbroken that the series has come to an end and I'm still kind of hoping that we'll get to see more of these characters in the future! This was a fitting end to Gem's story though and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I don't want to go into detail about the plot because this is one of those stories that you just need to dive right into and hold on for dear life as you're taken on a rollercoaster ride full of shocking twists and turns. Every time you think you have a character worked out something will happen that will change your opinion completely, characters you were wary of will show a nicer side but you'll never know if they've turned over a new leaf or if they're just trying to trick you, while characters you've loved from the beginning will reveal secrets that make you question whether you ever really knew them at all. Nothing is what it seems. Absolutely nothing! And boy does that make this a fun journey to be on.

All of the main characters are deliciously messed up in completely different ways, Gem wants so desperately to be human that she never realised that the Institute are only interested in her demon side, Del is fighting to control chaos and it's a battle he might not be able to win, Torrent makes some discoveries about his past that change everything he thought he knew about himself and Li'el, Prince of Pride, is a shadow of himself after events in the previous books. All of these characters are wonderfully complex with their own motives and plans for the future. Some may choose to embrace their demon sides while others will fight for humanity but none of them are prepared to be used by the Institute anymore and they're all going to make a stand for what they believe in.

I don't think I need to say anything else, if you're already a fan of this series then I know you'll be buying this book immediately but if you're not then I can't recommend it highly enough. I'd suggest starting with the Veil series because it's absolutely amazing and events in this spin off build up from where the previous story took us but you can't go wrong with anything by this author, she's at the top of my auto-buy list and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Chaos Rises - Pippa DaCosta

'When the veil fell, any half-bloods not strong enough to withstand Chaos were torn apart. Some, like me and my brother, survived The Fall. Most did not.

That's the good news. The bad news saw a whole other world try and devour ours. Demons, we call them. They came in countless waves. Destroying. Killing. Many people thought it was the end...

The Fall lasted a week.

Tens of thousands died.

Hell almost claimed our world as its own.

And then, from one day to the next, it was over. The veil came back, stronger than ever. I'm not sure if anyone knows how it was put right. But I do know it's been six months since The Fall, me and my brother are on the run, and the leftover demons aren't the most dangerous things in LA.

We are.' ~ Gem

~~~

This heart-pounding new urban fantasy series promises to bring action, suspense, and a hint of romance to the demon-torn streets of Los Angeles.

The Veil Series:
Wings of Hope (Novella)
Beyond the Veil
Devil May Care
Darkest Before Dawn
Drowning in the Dark
Ties That Bind
One for Sorrow (Novella)

Chaos Rises Series:
(Spin off from the Veil series)
Chaos Rises
Chaos Unleashed
Chaos Falls

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
I absolutely love Pippa DaCosta's Veil series so of course I was desperate to get my hands on the spin off and have the chance to revisit the world again. You know what? Even though I had incredibly high expectations for Chaos Rises I think it managed to surpass them and I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up loving the new characters even more than the original ones! And let me just tell you that is saying something because Muse, Stefan and Akil are right up there with my favourite characters EVER.

Anyway, we have a new cast for Chaos Rises, I did wonder if our previous favourites would make an appearance but I'm actually kind of glad that they didn't. I wouldn't mind catching a glimpse of them in the future but this book is all about Gem, her brother Delta, Torrent (another half-blood of questionable loyalty) and Gem's demon boss (aka the pain in the butt that she can't quite get away from) Allard. It's hard to know how much to say about the plot of this book because I really don't want to give anything away so I think I'm going to keep this deliberately vague and focus more on the new characters.

Let's start with Gem (short for Gamma), she is one kickass half-demon who is fiercely protective of her brother. The two of them have been to hell (literally) and back but their worst enemy by far is the very human Institute who made life so difficult for Muse in the previous series. You may even remember Gem and Del being mentioned briefly in the earlier books as the half-bloods that Akil rescued from the Institute just before things went completely crazy when the Veil fell. Gem and Del have very little experience of the human world since the Institute kept them so isolated so they were easy prey for Allard and he now keeps them on a tight reign. Gem definitely isn't a pushover though and she fights back at every possible opportunity. We don't get to know Del as well in this book but I'm very intrigued about him and definitely want to know more about his powers.

Torrent is another brilliant character, it's hard to tell whether he's completely trustworthy (Pippa DaCosta is excellent at writing morally ambiguous characters!) but I'm already half in love with him. I thoroughly enjoyed the interaction between him and Gem and the way he constantly puts her on edge. She's never had anyone but Del show her even a small amount of kindness before so she's not quite sure how to react when Torrent helps her and she's definitely not sure if he can be trusted in the long run. Allard is the kind of character I love to hate, he's everything you'd expect from a powerful demon in this world and he uses every trick in the book to get the things he wants.

I'm not going to say anything more because I want readers to go in with no idea what to expect, I want you to experience the book the way I did so that you can appreciate the edge of your seat action, the brilliant characters and the fantastic world building for yourselves. I guess people who are new to Pippa DaCosta's writing (Who are you crazy people? You need to fix that issue IMMEDIATELY!) are probably wondering if they can pick up Chaos Rises without reading the Veil series. I guess my answer to that would technically be yes, this series is all about new characters that we know practically nothing about beforehand and it's the start of a definite new story arc, but the world building does continue closely from the previous story. Although you can start here personally I think you'd be crazy to skip the Veil books, purely because they are so fantastic! It is one of my favourite urban fantasy series and considering that I've read a lot of UF that's very high praise.

It's no secret that I'm a fan girl when it comes to this author, I've loved everything that she's written and Chaos Rises is no exception so I can't wait to see where she takes these characters next. It's going to feel like a very long wait for the next book but I'll be first in the queue to read it when it's published!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review (but I also purchased a copy since I love it so much and wanted to support the author)

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Review: One for Sorrow - Pippa DaCosta

‘Routine call,’ Ryder had said. But when Muse arrives at the abandoned house, there’s nothing routine about the demon waiting inside. His trap is set, and he knows the Mother of Destruction has one weakness:

Akil.

(A collection of bonus scenes from the Veil Series, including the all-new short story, One For Sorrow) Should be read after Ties That Bind #5 The Veil Series to avoid major series spoilers.

Includes stories:
One For Sorrow
Alone Time
In conversation with Akil
She Burns

The Veil Series:
Wings of Hope (Novella)
Beyond the Veil
Devil May Care
Darkest Before Dawn
Drowning in the Dark
Ties That Bind
One for Sorrow (Novella)

Chaos Rises Series:
(Spin off from the Veil series)
Chaos Rises
Chaos Unleashed
Chaos Falls

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
I'm absolutely heartbroken that the Veil series has finished so of course I was thrilled that Pippa DaCosta released this extra collection of short stories and snippets featuring our favourite characters. This novella will contain spoilers for Ties That Bind though so please don't read until you've finished the rest of the series.

This anthology includes four different stories:

1. One for Sorrow - A really fun little story about Muse and Ryder going demon hunting together, it's a nice little addition to the series although it did leave me hoping we'd get to see more of Stefan and Akil since they were absent in this one.

2. Alone Time - Another Muse and Ryder short, this one set around the holidays, I love the banter between these two and it's so nice to see how strong their friendship is.

3. She Burns - finally, FINALLY we get to see a bit of Stefan's point of view. It definitely wasn't long enough (well it wasn't the length of a whole book so of course that's not enough Stefan!) but it was fantastic & I loved every minute of it.

4. In Conversation With Akil - This was a really cleverly done interview between Pippa DaCosta and Akil that was really amusing.

I loved this novella and my only complaint: I wanted more! I guess that's not much of a complaint though, more of a compliment about how much I love this author and this series.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Reivew: Ties That Bind - Pippa DaCosta

“I am fire. I am destruction. I will be their nightmare.”

The veil fell. Demons are here. Muse knows she can stop the slaughter, but to do so, she must return to the battle-scarred streets of Boston and face the cold, hard, truth. Her old life is ashes. Her love, turned to dust. But all is not lost; a spark of hope remains. A spark from which an inferno can blaze.

To stop the demons claiming Earth as their own, Muse must unite those capable of repairing the veil. The Dark Court, led by her Prince of Lust father, seek to recruit her to their cause. They want the veil destroyed for good; for chaos to reign for eternity. She will need to manoeuvre around their deadly intentions, and enlist the King of Hell’s help, before it’s too late.

For Muse to succeed, she must survive her father, save her soul, resurrect her love, forgive her enemies, and betray a trust. She must be everything she can be—demon and human. She must be their nightmare.

***

In this, the fifth and final Veil Series book, we return to where it all began. To the netherworld, where once a wretched half-blood girl surprised the Prince of Greed. To a world where ‘hope’ is fantasy, and ‘love’ a disease.

Muse is ready to take the fight to the demons. Are you?

The Veil Series:
Wings of Hope (Novella)
Beyond the Veil
Devil May Care
Darkest Before Dawn
Drowning in the Dark
Ties That Bind
One for Sorrow (Novella)

Chaos Rises Series:
(Spin off from the Veil series)
Chaos Rises
Chaos Unleashed
Chaos Falls

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
You know that feeling when you love a book so much you can't get your thoughts organised enough to write a proper review? Well, that's the problem I'm having with Ties That Bind so you're just going to have to forgive me. I fell in love with Pippa DaCosta's Veil series when I read the prequel novella and that love has only grown with each and every instalment. The series really does have it all: fantastic complex and three dimensional characters, jaw dropping action and a plot that is full of more twists than a bowl full of noodles. You honestly never know what you're going to get and I love that about it.

Ties That Bind is completely packed with action, so much so that I devoured it in one sitting. Muse will be forced to betray someone she loves while she protects one of her enemies, she'll have to face off against her father and the remaining princes, she'll meet an exciting new character (please oh please someone tell me that Li'el is going to be the star of the spin off series because I'm already half in love with him!) but never be quite sure which side he is on and she'll finally have to pick where her future lies - with demon Akil or half-demon Stefan.

This series doesn't shy away from the dark, in fact it welcomes it in with open arms. Muse has been through so much and it's changed the way she sees things but she has never lost hope that the world can be saved. She may think she doesn't deserve her own happily ever after but she is determined to put a stop to the princes and to close the veil so humanity can be saved. She's the kind of character you root for from the beginning, she's strong, smart and completely badass and I love her for it. I've also enjoyed seeing the pull the two men in her life have on her, don't panic and think this is another of those series with a terrible love triangle because it really isn't but both Stefan and Akil have a piece of her heart and it hurts to see her have to choose between them.

I don't really know what else to say about this book other than to say how gutted I am that the series has come to an end. I'm excited that there will be a spin off but I'm going to miss Muse and her crew so I'm hoping we'll at least see a few cameo appearances. Either way I'm looking forward to spending more time in this world, I'm sure there is a lot more story for Pippa DaCosta to tell and if it's half as good as this series then it's going to be awesome. If you haven't started this series yet then I honestly don't know what the hell you're waiting for - it's one of the best new urban fantasy series I've discovered in a long time & I think everyone should read it!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Drowning in the Dark - Pippa DaCosta

“I wasn’t demon enough to defeat my brother before. Things have changed.”

As the veil begins to fall, and the demons bleed through onto the streets of Boston, Muse knows the battle is lost before it’s even begun.

To make matters worse, Adam and the Institute have captured Akil at a time when the city has never needed him more. Muse believes Akil’s incarceration is a ruse, because if he truly is at the mercy of the Institute, she must choose which side she’ll fight for. Human or demon?

The princes are coming. Valenti, Muse’s immortal half-brother, leads the charge. The Institute is not ready, the people of Boston are not prepared, but one man is. Stefan knows what it will take to beat back the netherworld. Will his demon allow him the freedom to right his wrongs?

Muse’s loyalty will be tested. To save those she loves, she must give up that which she cherishes most. Her humanity.

The Mother of Destruction is about to go nuclear.

The Veil Series:
Wings of Hope (Novella)
Beyond the Veil
Devil May Care
Darkest Before Dawn
Drowning in the Dark
Ties That Bind
One for Sorrow (Novella)

Chaos Rises Series:
(Spin off from the Veil series)
Chaos Rises
Chaos Unleashed
Chaos Falls

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
Just when Muse thinks things can't get worse the Veil between our world and the Netherwold starts to fail allowing more and more demons to get through. Muse knows that the Princes of Hell are on their way and she has no hope of surviving if she has to stand against them alone. Akil seems to be on her side but when he is taken captive by the Institute she isn't sure where to turn. Stefan is back but his demon side is more in control than his human one and Muse can never be quite sure whether he loves her or hates her and Ryder has already betrayed her more than once. With her brother Val determined to open the veil once and for all Muse is going to need every little bit of power she can get her hands on to keep the princes at bay and she needs to figure out who she can trust to help her - fast.

I think Pippa DaCosta is trying to kill me, she keeps throwing my favourite characters into these incredibly stressful situations and making them work against impossible odds. She isn't afraid to hurt them and I can never quite be sure if she's going to murder them or somehow get them through by the skin of their teeth. In fact, this series should probably come with ulcer warnings because my stomach is always in knots when I'm reading it! I honestly never know what is going to come next and that's one of the reasons I love these books so much. They're dark and they can be uncomfortable but the characters are fantastic, multifaceted creations who are never simply good or evil. There are so many shades of grey and sometimes the bad guys are the only ones you can trust because at least they'll warn you before they stab you in the back unlike the supposedly good guys who will string you along with lies until they find the perfect moment to betray you.

I absolutely love Muse, after everything she has been through I think it would be easy to forgive her if she just gave up but she keeps on fighting for what she believes in. She's sure there can be no happily ever after in her cards but she keeps hoping that things can be better for other half bloods, she wants to keep humanity safe from the demons and she is so determined to do the right thing no matter what any prophecy may say about her. I love the way she sees the good in people, even those who have hurt her the most, but there are times when I kind of wish she had a bit more of a nasty streak because there are some characters who really deserve to get their arses handed to them. I only have one book left in the series now and I'm kind of terrified to pick up Ties That Bind, I honestly have no clue how Pippa DaCosta is going to tie everything up but I have absolutely no doubt that if Muse is going to get a happy ending she's probably going to have to face a lot more trouble before she earns it. I just really, really hope things turn out well for her. No matter what happens in the final book this series is absolutely fantastic and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Review: Darkest Before Dawn - Pippa DaCosta

“It’s too late to save myself, but I’ll save her, even if it kills me.”

When Akil leaves a nine year old half-blood girl on Muse’s doorstep, it’s not long before the demons come hunting, but this time Muse isn’t the target. The Institute, Muse’s immortal brother, and the Princes of Hell, all want a piece of the little half-blood. What’s so special about Dawn, and why has Akil conveniently disappeared just as Muse needs answers?

To save the half-blood girl, Muse must first save herself, but is it already too late? Muse’s humanity is failing. Her demon hungers. The darkness coiled around her heart lures her toward madness. And all that stands between Muse and her demon’s lust for destruction, is the hope that some half-bloods do get happy endings.

The veil weakens. Titles will fall. A new prince rises. And if Muse can’t stop them, the demons will have their day.

The Veil Series:
Wings of Hope (Novella)
Beyond the Veil
Devil May Care
Darkest Before Dawn
Drowning in the Dark
Ties That Bind
One for Sorrow (Novella)

Chaos Rises Series:
(Spin off from the Veil series)
Chaos Rises
Chaos Unleashed
Chaos Falls

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
I was already a huge fan of this series but it honestly gets better and better with every instalment! I was on the edge of my seat for pretty much the entire book, never quite sure who to trust, never quite sure what would happen next and regularly shocked by the turn of events. Darkest Before Dawn is a gritty read, I think it's actually the darkest book in the series so far and it isn't always the most comfortable story to read but it's totally gripping and hooked me in from the very first page.

Muse is such a fantastic character, she has suffered more than anyone should have to endure and we're definitely seeing the effect things have had on her here. Her human side is losing the battle and the demon is starting to take over but she still has a deep sense of honour and integrity. She is faced with challenge after challenge but she always does what she thinks is best and regularly puts herself in danger to protect others. I have to admire her for the way she cares about others, even people she doesn't know very well.

In this instalment Akil rescues a young half-demon child and tasks Muse with protecting her. Muse knows exactly what it is like to be so powerless and in the hands of the demons so Dawn's story resonates with her deeply and she will do anything to save the child from a fate worse than death. I have to admit Dawn just about broke my heart, she's only nine years old but she's literally been to hell and back. Dawn's half-blood powers are incredibly rare and particularly terrifying but she still has a childlike innocence to her and she definitely brings out Muse's protective instincts. The scenes between the two of them were really touching and incredibly bitter sweet, especially when you think about the reasons why they bonded so quickly.

All the characters we love (or love to hate!) are back in full force. Akil gets harder and harder to read the more we see of him, sometimes I actually find myself liking him but I still wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him. Stefan has been going through some interesting changes of his own and I have to say I'm loving his storyline. I enjoyed getting to see more of his demon side here and I'm still rooting for him and Muse to find happiness together in the future. Adam and the institute are still doing terrible things supposedly for the "greater good". Akil may be a demon but Adam proves once more that humans can be just as bad, if not worse. I was disappointed in Ryder for remaining so loyal to the institute when he knows what goes on in the background and I really hope we get to see him come to his senses in the future.

Darkest Before Dawn was my favourite book in the series so far and this series is definitely proving that Pippa DaCosta is an author to watch out for. I'm relieved that the entire series has already been published so that I can dive right in and continue my series binge.

Source: Purchased

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If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

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Review: Devil May Care - Pippa DaCosta

“He should be dead. I thought I’d killed him. I was wrong.”

Three dead enforcers in three weeks, their bodies butchered. Muse has seen it before, and when she reads the metal memories in the murder weapon, she sees it all again. Her owner, Damien, is back, and he wants what is rightfully his.

Muse escaped him and the netherworld, once before. This time, she’s stronger, smarter. This time she knows she has the fires of hell at her fingertips, but so does Damien, and he’s not the only one. Akil is weak. No longer a Prince of Hell, he needs Muse’s limitless power to regain his title. How fortuitous then, that Akil’s fate is tied to the one man she cares the most for.

As Muse, Stefan, and Akil battle their own demons, not all will come away victorious. Some choices can never be forgiven. Some lies are never forgotten. Some wounds will never heal.

The Veil Series:
Wings of Hope (Novella)
Beyond the Veil
Devil May Care
Darkest Before Dawn
Drowning in the Dark
Ties That Bind
One for Sorrow (Novella)

Chaos Rises Series:
(Spin off from the Veil series)
Chaos Rises
Chaos Unleashed
Chaos Falls

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
Devil May Care picks up Muse's story about six months after the end of Beyond the Veil. Stefan and Akil are still trapped in the netherworld and although Muse is determined to get Stefan out she knows she can't do anything without her demon side so she is trying to win the trust of the Institute so that they'll give her the antidote to the drug that has locked her demon deep inside her. As if that wasn't bad enough when she is asked to investigate a spate of murders she realises that her demon owner Damien is actually still alive and he's very determined to recapture her as his slave. Without her demon side Muse is defenceless against him so she's going to have to take desperate measures if she wants to survive and keep her freedom.

After loving the first book I couldn't wait to see how things would play out in this one and I was completely hooked from the beginning. Devil May Care is a darker story than Beyond the Veil, Muse is really up against it and Damien is a particularly terrifying enemy to face. Muse is at a distinct disadvantage because she is paralysed by terror when he even looks at her and it takes her a great deal of courage to try and fight back after everything he has done to her. Some scenes with Damien made me feel quite uncomfortable but that just shows how good the writing is, Pippa DaCosta has me so invested in Muse's story that I feel everything that she goes through right alongside her and I desperately wanted to see her find a way out of the horrible situation she finds herself in.

I'm going to admit that I missed the connection between her and Stefan and even the interactions between her and Akil at the beginning of the book. There wasn't as much romance or humour in this instalment and both characters were missing for most of the beginning of the story. When Akil does make a reappearance he is just as untrustworthy as ever, I still have no idea what to make of him but his character is definitely an interesting one. One minute he'll do something that makes me think he genuinely cares about Muse but the next he'll be back to his usual self-serving ways and I definitely don't trust him to have her best interests at heart. Stefan has been changed by his ordeal in the netherworld, what may have only been six months to Muse has felt like years to him and even though his demon half has protected him life definitely hasn't been easy. I missed the easy banter between Stefan and Muse, I loved the connection that had built between them in the first book and that's all fallen apart here thanks to the circumstances they find themselves in. I really hope they'll get things back on track eventually but I think it's going to take a lot of work on both sides before we see their relationship improve.

There is a lot going on in this book and it definitely had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. We meet some great new characters and get to know some familiar faces a little better. The actions of some characters definitely surprised me and it's going to be interesting to see the fallout for certain events in the next book. I'm thoroughly enjoying this series so I'm going to end this review here so I can continue my reading binge!

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

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

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Review: Beyond the Veil - Pippa DaCosta

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

Charlie Henderson is living a lie. Her real name is Muse and her attempt at a normal life is about to go up in smoke.

When a half-demon assassin walks into her life, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake, Muse must return to the one man she hoped never to see again and ask for help. The Prince of Greed isn’t known for his charity. The price is high, and the cost could tear her apart.

Trapped between the malevolent intentions of a Prince of Hell and an assassin with ulterior motives, Muse must embrace the lure of chaos at her core; the demon inside her, in order to survive.

When your ex is the Prince of Greed, you'd better be ready to raise hell.

The Veil Series:
Wings of Hope (Novella)
Beyond the Veil
Devil May Care
Darkest Before Dawn
Drowning in the Dark
Ties That Bind
One for Sorrow (Novella)

Chaos Rises Series:
(Spin off from the Veil series)
Chaos Rises
Chaos Unleashed
Chaos Falls

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
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!

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

Other Reviews:
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Review: Wings of Hope - Pippa DaCosta

"I am his muse. But not for long..."

When Mammon, the Prince of Greed, 'acquires' a half-blood slave known as 'Muse' for three nights, and bespells her with tales of a world where people live like kings and queens among towers of steel and glass, the seed of hope takes root in Muse's soul. But hope, for a half-human half-demon creature like her, is a dangerous thing. Especially when that tentative hope springs from the honeyed words of a Prince of Hell. What is Mammon's price for freedom?

Meanwhile Da'mean, her ruthless owner, would rather see her dead, than free. She belongs to him. She is his muse. And no beast will take her from him.

The netherworld is harsh and violent. Muse's demon kin are merciless, blood-hungry beasts, but little do they know, Muse has something far more dangerous coiled inside her, desperate for a taste of freedom.

Her humanity.

The Veil Series:
Wings of Hope (Novella)
Beyond the Veil
Devil May Care
Darkest Before Dawn
Drowning in the Dark
Ties That Bind
One for Sorrow (Novella)

Chaos Rises Series:
(Spin off from the Veil series)
Chaos Rises
Chaos Unleashed
Chaos Falls

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
Wings of Hope is a short prequel to the Veil series and you can actually get a free copy by signing up for Pippa DaCosta's newsletter here. I've not read any of the other books in this series so can confirm that this definitely worked as an introduction to main character Muse and the world she lives in and it was more than enough to make me want to dive into the next book as soon as possible.

Muse is half-demon and half-human and has been raised in hell where she is a basically a slave. Her master Da'mean treats her like a possession and he is determined to break her will so life definitely hasn't been easy for her. She is used to being treated as nothing and considered lesser by the full demons that surround her and she knows that death is in the cards for her. Especially when the Prince of Greed Mannon takes a sudden interest. Da'mean does not like to share his toys but he's unable to refuse a prince and Muse knows she will be the one to suffer his wrath.

Although Wings of Hope is a relatively short story Pippa DaCosta does a fantastic job of introducing this world, she paints a vivid, if dark, picture of what life has been like for Muse and it isn't always easy reading. Muse herself is a fascinating character and I can't wait to get to know her better. She has always tried to keep her human side hidden because she considers it her weakness but Mannon makes her begin to hope for things that she never even thought of before. She longs for freedom but that isn't something that is going to come easily for her.

I don't really want to say much more in this review but I definitely think this is going to be an interesting series and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens to Muse next.

Source: Received a free copy for signing up for the Pippa DaCosta's newsletter

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle: