Welcome to the official Blog Tour for Stacey Rourke's Veiled, the first book in the Veiled series! Of the various posts on this tour, we have an excerpt AND review to share!! So... Take a look at what I thought about this book! And... Don't forget to grab your copy, too!
Genre:
New Adult
Urban Fantasy
Urban Fantasy
Paranormal Romance
Series:
Veiled, #1
Publish Date:
November 6, 2017
Publisher:
Synopsis:
Political propaganda would have us believe vampires are our friends. Fanged teddy bears misunderstood thanks to archaic lore. Activists picket for them to be welcomed into our society.
They claim vamps don't kill.
They preach we are safe.
They ... are dead wrong.
One year ago a hive slaughtered my family and left me for dead. Found by a team of scientists with their own agenda, I was forged into an unstoppable weapon.
I possess their strength, with none of their weaknesses.
I can move among them free from their crippling hunger.
I am their greatest threat.
Armed with this arsenal, vengeance will feed my desire to penetrate the seedy underbelly of their fetishized lifestyle and expose them for the monsters they truly are.
They claim vamps don't kill.
They preach we are safe.
They ... are dead wrong.
One year ago a hive slaughtered my family and left me for dead. Found by a team of scientists with their own agenda, I was forged into an unstoppable weapon.
I possess their strength, with none of their weaknesses.
I can move among them free from their crippling hunger.
I am their greatest threat.
Armed with this arsenal, vengeance will feed my desire to penetrate the seedy underbelly of their fetishized lifestyle and expose them for the monsters they truly are.
*FREE on Kindle Unlimited*
*Excerpt*
“Comparing us to aberrant criminals? How do you justify making such a bold leap?”
“With centuries of murders, torture, and feedings!” he exploded, hopping in his seat as if suppressing the urge to leap onto the tabletop and douse me with holy water. “All of these vile acts have been committed under the teachings of your demonic demi-god, Vlad Draculesti. Your immortal Lord Impaler.”
One corner of my mouth tugged back in a knowing smirk. “And no one has ever killed, maimed, or committed genocide in the name of Christ?”
“It’s a sorry argument to use our history against us!”
“Yes, it is!” I vehemently agreed. “And yet that is exactly what humans subject us to. You fault us for the mistakes our kind has made in the past, mocking our deity without truly understanding his teachings. Meanwhile, you fetishize our culture and use it in your foreplay. Statistically speaking, human on human deaths outweigh vampire-on-human deaths twenty-three hundred to one. And why is that? Because humans take their passions too far, while when we pair with a human we focus on building a lasting relationship built on trust, safety, and security.”
“Humans you keep around for feeding and screwing!” my opponent hollered, spittle bubbling in the corners of his mouth. “You’re vicious killers!”
“My apologies to our viewers for that use of inappropriate language,” the prim and poised moderator stated into the camera before fixing her critical gaze on the frothing conservative. “Mayor Donaldson, I again ask you to control these outbursts or we will have no choice but to conclude our debate.”
Before his mouth could open to protest further, I leaned in and caught him with my narrowed gaze. “Show me proof. Where is the recorded documentation of these crimes you’re accusing us of? I tell you what, while you hunt to find that, I will wander into any costume shop or Halloween store and snag a set of fangs and a gothic cape that misrepresent us as night prowling fiends. The so-called facts you are basing your viewpoint on are myths formulated by your own kind to make us these legendary creatures that go bump in the night. Thank you, for granting me more power than I can fathom. That said, you should know I can’t turn into a bat, I spend as much time in front of the mirror as the next gal, and I enjoy a few extra shakes of garlic on my pasta. I’m not a monster, Mayor Donaldson. I am a vampire citizen who wants the same rights you take for granted.”
Copyright© Stacey Rourke
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**About the Author**
RONE Award Winner for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012 for Embrace, a Gryphon series Novel
Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012
Turning Pages Magazine Winner for Best YA book of 2013 & Best Teen Book of 2013
Readers' Favorite Silver Medal Winner for Crane 2015
Stacey Rourke is the author of the award winning YA Gryphon series, the chillingly suspenseful Legends Saga, and the romantic comedy Reel Romance Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.
Turning Pages Magazine Winner for Best YA book of 2013 & Best Teen Book of 2013
Readers' Favorite Silver Medal Winner for Crane 2015
Stacey Rourke is the author of the award winning YA Gryphon series, the chillingly suspenseful Legends Saga, and the romantic comedy Reel Romance Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.
Stay connected with Stacey Rourke
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*My Thoughts*
Note: This review contains NO spoilers
Why am I not surprised that I enjoyed this read by Stacey Rourke!?! Hmmm... Maybe because I love how she thinks "outside the box" and creates with her own creative and historical twists to it. Ha! I think that's it! Well, it is no different with this latest story on vampires. Right!?! Vampires!?! Anyways, this isn't any ordinary vampire story. That's right! Vincenza (the main character) is no ordinary vampire. So... Where do I being without spoiling anything?
So... I absolutely love Stacey's writing. The way she creates these complex characters with unique and individual personalities. And, her world building...!!! Stacey can thrust readers into the worlds she creates in just a few chapters, and then, readers are hooked! Well, I know I was...haha!!!
Anyways, Veiled is absolutely a different take on vampires. Stacey took very real issues and gave it a paranormal twist to it. And, we all know how politics can be a touchy issue... Haha! Moreover, the story takes Vincenza's tragedy and made it into a driving force to uncover secrets and the truth behind all the vampire political propaganda. This first book in this new series introduces readers to this world where vampires exists and the dark and dangerous line that humans walk either glamorizing them or exposing them for what they really are.
The flow and pace of the story takes readers to the past and present of Vincenza's journey of becoming an unstoppable weapon. Although moving back and forth from past and present can be confusing, Stacey cleverly writes it in a way that isn't too difficult... That is if you are paying attention. Sometimes, I had to go back and forth with the chapters to get my bearing on the story. Yup! Veiled is an engrossing read in which once can't just breeze through it. This is a thought-provoking and a gripping read. Of course, although Stacey incorporates some history, this is definitely not a retelling in any way. I do enjoy reading tidbits of history thrown in.
All in all, Veiled is no ordinary vampire story. It is anything but ordinary! There are complexities to the characters and settings that make this a captivating read with a splash of history and realism. This is an incredibly thrilling introduction to Stacey's world of vampires...haha!!! Can't wait til the next book! So... Stacey, when can we expect the next book?!?! 😊
My rating:
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