Veil Walker starts with an almost The Holiday-esque feel, with a woman spending time with an older man, but quickly develops into something entirely its own.

One of the strongest aspects for me was the impressive attention to Celtic lore and mythology. Details such as the Tree of Life gave the world a sense of authenticity and made it clear that a lot of thought and research had gone into its foundations.

The experience of reading this felt almost like being transported into a video game. There was a Jumanji-style quality to the adventure throughout, with the world continually unfolding around the characters as they moved through it.

I liked the characters, although initially I didn't feel particularly emotionally attached to them. That changed as Charles became more prominent in the story, and I found myself becoming increasingly invested in his character.

The ending was lovely and brought everything together in a satisfying way. Overall, an imaginative and immersive fantasy with fascinating mythology at its heart.

Veil Walker was one of those books where I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting into at first, but once the fantasy side of the story really opened up, I was hooked.

Kira is coming out of a toxic relationship when she forms an unlikely friendship with her older neighbor, Charles, whose stories of archaeological adventures offer her a much-needed escape. Then Charles disappears through a portal, and suddenly Kira is teaming up with his grandson Owen to find him. From there, the story goes full fantasy adventure with another world, druids, tree spirits, wraiths, hidden powers, and quite a bit of danger.

I really enjoyed the world-building and the quest aspect of this one. There was enough mystery surrounding Kira and her abilities to keep me curious, and I liked watching her go from someone trying to put her life back together to someone realizing she may be capable of far more than she ever imagined.

And then there's Owen. Soldier-turned-bodyguard, protective, scarred, and conveniently around whenever Kira needs him. Obviously, we know where that's going. Their romance added a nice amount of tension and spice without completely taking over the fantasy plot, which I appreciated.

At 424 pages, there were a few places where I thought the story could have moved a little faster, and some parts worked better for me than others. But overall, the combination of adventure, magic, romance, found family, and Celtic-inspired fantasy kept me entertained.

This is the first book in The Druid Chronicles, but Kira and Owen's story is written as a standalone, with future books following different couples in the same world. I'm definitely curious to see where the series goes next.

Four stars for a fun fantasy romance with a little bit of everything: magic, danger, portals, adventure, romance, and a heroine discovering exactly what she's capable of.

Thank you for having me as an arc reader for Veil Walker.
Rating rounded from 4.5 stars.
This was a gorgeous and tender, character driven urban fantasy. I loved the Druid elemental magic and how heavily the natural world featured, especially Scotland, England and Canada.
The love story felt beautifully flawed and grounded. The MCs both support each other and hold the other’s trauma with grace. Their journey to loving each other felt authentic and earned. I also really enjoyed the portrayal of the different friendships, they each brought a unique dynamic that felt treasured.
I managed to predict each of the twists but it didn’t take away from the satisfaction as they unfolded.
Overall a delicious urban fantasy with emotional character journeys.

Veil Walker is one of the best romantasy books I’ve ever read. There are multiple parts that make it fascinating: a bodyguard romance, with elemental magic, tree spirits, and high stakes. Kira feels like someone I could actually know. Her anxiety, her humor, and her awkward moments make her so human. Owen is such a compelling mix of guarded and vulnerable. The shift from a contemporary drama to supernatural tension is seamless. It feels like the world is widening in the best way. The prose is also clean and immersive. I forgot I was reading and I was just in the story. Highly recommended! Looking forward to the sequel.

Wow. What a beautiful book! I am so grateful to have had Veil Walker as my first official ARC read. Thank you, Brenda, for the opportunity! Kira and Owen’s story is one of mutual, all-consuming devotion—their love one for the ages. I loved the involvement of elemental magic within both druids and monsters alike, as well as the discourse of “light” vs “dark” magic (with assurances that INTENT is paramount). While Veil Walker features heavy themes such as grief, loss, and trauma, the story as a whole feels lighthearted. The spice presented is never excessive - a breath of fresh air when compared to many top contenders in the romantasy genre. There were several instances I found myself laughing, crying, and raging alongside passionate characters. Upon completion, I genuinely feel this read served as a much-needed emotional and perspective reset. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the Druid Chronicles!

** I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **

I ate this up. Every time I had to put it down, I felt myself wanting to reach for it again. I adored the characters (especially Shae!) and I felt myself rooting for them for their entire journey. The author did so well with setting descriptions - so rich and beautiful, I could easily visualize what was happening.

I really admired the mythology in this as well. It felt so real and well researched, but not contrived, which can be a very difficult balance to walk!

The ending was gorgeously woven as well, it sat so perfectly in my heart. I can't wait to see what this author does next!

This book is a was a heartwarming magical escape , cozy contemporary meets portal fantasy full of healthy respectful relationships.

Kira is such a sweet, pure-hearted introvert that you instantly root for her. It was so refreshing to read a story where both leads are total green flags.

What begins as a quiet contemporary story quickly shifts into an exciting fantasy. Living peacefully away from her past trauma, Kira forms a heartwarming bond with a grieving widower. When he invites her to his late wife’s celebration of life, he promises to introduce her to his grandson, Owen, an ex-army veteran bearing both physical and emotional scars. Owen proves to be the ultimate green flag in every way. But when strange men attack Kira and magic suddenly wakes, her quiet life flips upside down, leaving Owen with a new mission: protect Kira at all costs.

As they embark on a journey into an unfamiliar realm to rescue a friend, their bond deepens into a relationship grounded in mutual devotion, respect, and deep care. Even though the story handles heavy themes like grief, loss, and trauma, it keeps a lighthearted, comforting tone that had me completely hooked. A heartwarming, magical read I couldn’t put down!

**Thank you for the advanced reader copy**

Veil Walker brings magic alive in a way I have not experienced. The Celtic mythology and Druids were new to me and I absolutely loved it. This book has found family, a strong heroine, and unexpected reveals.

Kira and Owen are both very likable characters who learn more about themselves than I think they expected. I certainly didn't predict that Kira was going to be the child of two powerful entities and that the key to defeating the enemy was her own darkness.

I think the way everything came together was perfect and provided a great happy ending. Some might say it was too perfect, but I think sometimes in life things do come together perfectly.