Title: Masters of the Veil
Series: The Veil Trilogy #1
Author: Daniel Cohen
Publisher: Spencer Hills Press
Release Date: March 1, 2012
Facebook│Twitter│Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes and Nobles
Synsopsis:
Life can't get much better for Sam Lock. Popular, good-looking, and with a future as a professional football player. every guy at Stanton High School wishes he were Sam. That is, until his championship football game, when Sam accidentally links with an ancient source of energy known as the Veil and reveals his potential to become a powerful sorcerer.Sam is whisked off to Atlas Crown, a community of sorcerers who utilize the Veil as a part of everyday life. Once there, he trains beside a mute boy who speaks through music, an eternal sage who's the eyes and ears of the Veil, and a beautiful girl who's pretty sure Sam's an idiot.As it becomes clear Sam's meant for power magic-the most feared and misunderstood form of sorcery-people beyond Atlas Crown learn of his dangerous potential. An exiled group of power sorcerers are eager to recruit Sam, believing that he is destined to help them achieve their long-held goal. If they succeed, they could bring about the downfall of not only Atlas Crown. but all humankind.
I absolutely adored Masters of the Veil. It is a unique and creative read in today's sometimes overwhelming YA market. Daniel is taking JK Rowling's lead and putting a whole new twist on fantasy. I love that this book starts in Texas...being a Texas girl myself. When you combine Texas and Football...well, you can't go wrong. Then you throw in a heaping spoonful of magic and POW...you have the makings for an extraordinary novel. Congrats Daniel...you brought your A game. Ok...enough fan-girling. Let me tell you a little about this book.
Sam, the All-American hero - popular, talented, and a bit cocky - finds himself in a whole new world after a disastrous football game. Somehow he managed to freeze time and that, my friend, has consequences. Not to mention, from that point forward, things just continue to get weirder for Sam. He finds himself kidnapped and shuffled off for the Atlas Crown. Here he is expected to learn about his magic and how to control his powers. Hopefully Sam can return to his normal life...sooner, rather than later. At least this is what Sam believes he wants.
Sam is a very real character. He faces doubts, temptations, mistakes, and eventually success. He does so in a very teenagerish way - impulsive, angry, and with the finesse of a...well, football player in a china shop - so to speak. He's not happy with what seems to be his destiny...he wants to return to his hometown, play some football and possibly go pro. He wants to flirt, date, and worry about everything else later. He finds magic difficult and doesn't really have the temperament to work through it patiently. This will be his ultimate downfall. What teenager doesn't get frustrated and temperamental from time-to-time.
Daniel's writing is creative in ways I can only dream about. He invents foods that I'm dying to taste, animals that shouldn't exist (but I love that they do), and characters who make you feel. Daniel did a guest post about a character, Glissandro Thicket, who could only speak by playing his horn. I loved Glissandro. Born without the ability to speak, he was lucky enough to be a part of the magical realm. He acquired a horn...which you can read about HERE...and through sorcery, the horn now speaks for him. He is a strong but shy character who you can't help but fall for. Even the girls have a hard time keeping their hands off him.
Now...for those of you looking for heaps of romance...this isn't one of those books. There is flirtation and hints of relationships to come. Some girls are vying for Sam's attention, others are not so impressed with his cavalier and sometimes downright hostile attitude. With all this said, I highly recommend picking up Masters of the Veil...especially if you are looking for something off the beaten path. I doubt you will be disappointed.
The only problem I had was interpreting the different terminology. This is a high-fantasy book with many author-created terms. Other than that...a perfect diversion from my everyday life.
Masters of the Veil is an action-packed and thrilling ride through a magical land. The twists and turns will hold your attention and keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time.
Other Masters of the Veil related posts:
~Guest Post: Glissandro Thicket
~Interview with Daniel Cohen
*Thank you to Kate Kaynak, Daniel Cohen, and Spencer Hill Press for providing me with a free uncorrected ARC in exchange for my honest review. You guys are wonderful!
Wow. I had seen this book around, but I hadn't really thought twice about it... Then I read this awesome review. I mean, come on: to compare it with Rowling and Potter, it has to have the talent and quality. And I don't mind the lack of heaping romance - it that part goes slow, it'll be a bonus point for originality, I think. So... yes, definitely intrigued now. Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDelete