The Daughter of the Veil

by Brittany Johnston

A Power

In a land divided between Fae and humans, an ancient wickedness threatens to plunge the world into chaos. Only Erissa Nierling—one blessed with the powers of the Creator and able to see the souls fated to pass into the Veil—will tip the balance. But magic is outlawed in the city of Emberhold, and Erissa knows nothing of her birthright after a lifetime of being locked behind the spelled gates of her father’s keep. When she finally escapes and runs into the blacksmith, Rhazien, he helps her flee the city, triggering a prophecy that reignites a long-dead war between the gods.

A Secret

Now hunted by Fae and humans alike, Erissa and Rhazien must avoid those seeking to claim her magic. But the world is much larger than Erissa thought. A disembodied soul keeps appearing with warnings, and Rhazien is hiding something, testing the bond of their relationship.

A Choice

As an ancient wickedness closes in, the Keeper of the Veil will stop at nothing to claim her magic. With Rhazien’s life on the line, dark truths force Erissa to make a damning choice, for what comes next will redefine realms even if it costs her very soul and the freedom she has always desired.

622 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2026

About the author

Brittany Johnston is a college professor by day and a writer by night, crafting dark fantasy romances filled with plot, spice, and everything morally gray. Her stories take readers on a journey through flawed, captivating characters, weaving in magic and unexpected, darker elements. Through her writing, she explores the complexity of human nature, believing that the morally gray areas of life reveal the most fascinating aspects of humanity, herself included. Currently pursuing a doctorate in English Literature, Brittany advocates for the power readers find in exploring lived experiences through darker themes and the acceptance of a broader, more nuanced understanding of love in literature.

When not writing, Brittany can be found living along the North Carolina coast beach bumming, enjoying game nights, watching K-dramas, and reading all hours of the night.

Reviews

[Carys Oldall · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)

I received an ARC version of The Daughter of the Veil in exchange for an honest review. This is an imaginative fantasy with strong world-building and an intriguing story about magic, family secrets, and rebellion. A solid read with lots of potential!

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would likely be better enjoyed as a physical book instead of audio. The narrator felt... Flat? Un-engaging, lacking emotion. Had to listen on 2.5-3x to get thru it. This was very detailed, lots of descriptive world and character building, does a great job painting the picture. However, despite this slower pacing, there were interactions that felt almost random /rushed? Ngl, I had a hard time getting into this but the reviews were so great I wanted to see how it'd shake out. The last ~hour of book is where if finally got interesting. With the cliffhanger set up for the next book I'm thinking we'll be on a faster /more action paced journey!

[Shyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off I read some of the reviews before starting. One had me concerned of a possible love triangle, but I didn’t read it that way at all!

Writing this review is harder than I thought it would be!
The story is world building with a lot of characters that got a little overwhelming and at times confusing. The transitions at the beginning from some characters to different characters got confusing.

The MFC has been trapped unable to leave her home for years. The abuse and trauma is a lot so be prepared. She grows so much throughout the book. The MMC is something unique and OTT protective/ possessive. He does have a patience for the MFC that is beautiful!

The book has some of my favorite troops
Fae
Magic
World building
Fated mates
Dragons
And so much more!

It does end on a cliffhanger you are warned 🤍

[Lex Stan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need the next book now! I cannot say enough good things about this book. Overall, it was incredible! The world building is expansive and there are so many characters you get to know that make me even more excited for the next book(s).

I love our FMC and how we get to watch her grow and overcome her past. She has such potential as a character and with her magic. I genuinely don’t know what to expect next. I love… another character but feel like I can’t say who? Are we picking sides? What is going on? 😂 I’m not sure but I’m 👏🏻 here 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 it 👏🏻

Don’t hesitate to read this! Make this your last read of 2024 and go into 2025 screaming for book 2 with me 🖤

[Nicola Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was lucky to get the arc for this and it’s a great start to a series it’s easy to read great for those who want to step into romantasy the characters and plot were really good the pacing was ok I give this 3.5 I will continue with the series as it definitely kept me intrigued and it will be good to see any character growth I’m loving the found family troupe great book highly recommend

[mrsxtremistsbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a 4.5
The Daughter of the Veil is a captivating debut that weaves a rich tapestry of magic, love, political intrigue, and suspense. Johnston’s world-building, though dense, creates a truly immersive experience. The intricate details of the land, magic system and various key players (Gods, Kings,& lowly blacksmiths) may require some patience to fully grasp, (okay maybe it was just me who struggled to keep everyone straight) but the payoff is a richly detailed and evocative setting.
This novel is largely character-driven. Erissa and Rhazien are complex, flawed, and have many relatable traits. It is an adventure watching them as they navigate a world of magic and ancient prophecies. I enjoyed watching our FMC Erissa learn the world as she finally gets to experience it. At times her actions drove me crazy but when you think of her upbringing it toned my judgements down and I looked at her naivety and implusiveness with more compassion.
“She saw beauty and magic in something everyone called a waste of time. I have never felt more seen.” I defintely love this romance between them.
The story progresses quickly and we get to see a variety of lands and meet many characters. I am excited to learn more about some of the side characters that we meet. Especially someone I think is NOT a side character. Iykyk.
The Daughter of the Veil is a must-read for fans of fantasy, especially those who appreciate strong female characters and intricate world-building. This book ends on one heck of a cliff and I can NOT wait for the next one!
TW: familal DV, SA mentions (FMC but not by the MBMC
Troupes: magic, fae, dragons, found family, hidden identities, magical prophecies
Spice 3/5
Plot 4.5/5
Pace 4/5
Character Personality 4/5
Character Growth 4/5
Writing Style 4/5
World Building 4.5/5

Spoilers below

I am so excited for Shadow Daddy… I mean Novus… very curious where this is going to go and how it will all play out. There is so much at work right now and I am just mind blown.

[Jessie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a romantasy that has equal parts romance and fantasy, this book is for you. I was very impressed with this debut Dark Fantasy Romance. Everything from dragons to elemental magic, Fae and humans, Fated mates and a reluctant Chosen One.

I was honored to be chosen as an ARC reader and this is my honest opinion of this book.

Erissa's character is deep and the emotional journey she goes through is quite breathe taking. And Rhazien, oh boy, this man is amazing. He is incredibly loyal and does not question Erissa as she undergoes her emotional journey through out the story. The intense love they have for each other does not seem rushed or corny. Both characters are strong yet have insecurities that they work through.

I loved the twists and turns of the different character arcs. There are just enough characters to make this story intriguing but nothing over the top where you get confused as to who is who. This book primarily concentrated on Erissa and Rhazien's development but hope to see the next book dive into other characters' back stories as well.

Loved the worldbuilding throughout the book. Information was presented in both conversation between characters as well as through the narrator. It never left me overwhelmed or confused. Important information was repeated but not in a way that became repetitive. I loved the different areas they traveled to, giving you the experience of the characters traveling through different ecosystems.

Lovely romance that left my heart swooning and aching at times. The spice scenes are well done and the hot springs scene, oh boy, If I wasn't scared of being underground, I'd be finding a private hot spring for me and my love.

FWIW,  I have been a fantasy fan since I could start reading. I was incredibly impressed with Brittany Johnston ability to weave the love story into the fantasy plot without making it awkward or unnecessary.

I cannot wait for the next book in this series. Well done Brittany!

[Jennifer Trawick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! The world building and characters were well thought out. I will say though at times the characters and their allegiances and what court (Seelie, Unseelie, Fae) they belonged to could be a tad confusing. The book starts out by introducing us to our FMC Erissa, who has spent most of her life locked in her room and chained to the wall by her parents. Erissa has the ability to see when a person is about to die and she hears a voice telling her that it's not a curse as she believes it to be. Anyone that comes around Erissa is terrified of her and her ability. As her name day approves, Erissa gets fed up with all of the abuse and hatred that she has had to endure her whole life so she plans her escape. The biggest setback to her escape is that her eyes are such an unusual color that she is immediately recognized by any and all that she encounters. The night she escapes she meets Rhazien and they feel an immediate force drawing them towards each other. With his help, she is able to get out of her father's keep and enters into a world that she never knew existed. As their journey unfolds we begin to see that Rhazien is not being completely honest about who and what he is, however, he is whole heartedly determined to keep Erissa safe and to help her figure out who she is and what her powers can do. The magic system in this book is unlike anything I've read before. I found myself rooting for Erissa and Rhazien from their encounter. The found family is immaculate and we see Erissa struggle with their acceptance of her and her "curse". The story end on a huge cliffhanger and I'm so invested in their story that I'm anxiously awaiting book 2 in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tracy Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely and utterly engrossed!

I found it reminiscent of Game of Thrones with the complexity of characters and interwoven plot lines.
Full of all things Romantasy with a little extra thrown in which quite honestly made my day.

My heart broke for Erissa. She suffered unimaginable horrors at the hands of those she holds dearest. Her spark and tenacity make her captivating to follow throughout the chapters.

Rhazien is completely endearing, full of all the swoonworthy qualities I find attractive in an MMC.

I loved the interaction between Erissa and Rhazien, the push and pull between them both made me giggle and blush in equal measure.

There are so many discoveries and the last few chapters were simply mind blowing! I could feel my jaw dropping as I read and I simply can not wait for the next addition.

I feel this is one of those books, where I could read again and again and pick up additional details each time. I found it that compelling.

I can not recommend this enough!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sofie✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free.

This book was just meh for me. I did find it really slow., it wasn't until about 70% things started to happen and the plot started to take off. Before that it was just one long journey for our characters. I really wished we would have gotten more backround on both our maincharacters. Erissa did grow on me a little throughout the book but I still wish there had been a little more charachterdevelopment. The same goes for Rhazien. When we learned what he was I was so excited to get to know more about him and his backround.

I did find the worldbuildning was good and it feels like it was the mainthing to develop in this first book. But I still missed more development of our characters even the sidecharactes had me intrigued and I would love to get to know them a little more. But I felt the book lacked some great development in both in plot and characters in my oppinion. Maybe this series would benefit from some novellas in between to explane all the different races and their worlds.

I did however liked the magicsystem and I would intruiged of where it will go. I felt like we didnt get as much of that since out maincharacter was struggle with it herself. It is the mainthing that might make me continue the series, that, and Rhaziens background! That REALLY intrigues me!

I also really liked the smut between our maincharacters and I wish we would have gotten more! I love the way they explore the love for eachother.

in the end I felt that the book didn't be as long as it was. The travlepart could easily been alot shorter than it was. Which would have left more room for the plot to expand.

I hope we get more of that in the coming books in the series.

[Nichole Halbmaier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily to share my honest opinion.

Trigger warning: if violence, abuse/assault trigger you in anyway this is not the book for you

There is a lot to unpack in this book. So many different angles that all collide to leave you with many many questions and very little answers. Hopefully this will be resolved in the next book.

Erissa has spent most of her life locked in her room. Beaten by her father, ignored by her mother, and told she was loved by her uncle who did nothing to help her. Erissa has a curse, she can see when people are going to die. No one wants anything to do with her. She is fed up with the abuse and the hatred so she plots her escape. As she steps out into the world she is immediately noticed, as her features aren’t easy to hide. As she tries to run and hide so that her fathers soldiers won’t find her she runs into Rhazien. Something about him draws her in and he is drawn to her immediately. He agrees to help her escape and as each strand of her messy tail falls off the web she learns more about who she really is, who Rhazien really is and what it’s like out in the world.

If you like a fae fantasy, the seelie and unseelie court, mate bonds, gods, romance, betrayals, and twists and turns then pick this book up.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to receive a free ARC copy of The Daughter of the Veil and am voluntarily giving my honest review.

When I first began reading, I was instantly transported into the story. I felt as though I was a fly on the wall, seeing, hearing, smelling, all that was happening. The details and explanation s given brought Erissa’s world and feelings to life.

The world building, explanations of who and what were very good, though a bit slower than I wanted. Though that isn’t a bad thing! I like instant gratification, but the author revealed information in well thought out moments.

Further into the story, I did struggle a bit to keep up with who was who, the pronunciation of names, and how different characters mattered. However, the character trees showing ties to each other in between occasional chapters, were very helpful and reminders going into the next chapter.

If you enjoy fantasy, world building, found family, fated mates, and magic, this story is worth reading.

Final note: be prepared! It ends in a cliff hanger.

[Chase Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A prophecy. Secrets. Runaways (with some spice along the way). Fae. The Veil.

From being held in captivity by her own parents (beaten, neglected, scarred…) to being on the run with Rhazien, Erissa is learning and growing but also struggling to reconcile who she is with who she’s been and what she’s known her whole life. Erissa is discovering more and more about herself and the past of a world she only knew a corner of her whole life.

⭐️Overall 4 stars!
I enjoyed the magical world building, the relationships and their complexities, the cultures we meet, and the progression through each character’s arc. There was spice with sweetness. There are shifters. Torture. Revenge. Ugh and so much more!
The POV swapping with all the characters (causing a need to reread) and the immaturity of Erissa are ultimately what knocked it down a Star.

🎶 song vibe: “Run Away With Me” San Fermin
🎶 song vibe: “War of Hearts” Ruelle

I will admit I am going to have to reread because there is SO MUCH detail in this book. The world building and character intros are incredible and widespread.
At first, I found it a little hard to keep up with the various points of view and multitude of characters and their roles on the story.

💛Once all the characters connected, that’s when it started coming together and getting even better!

There were points where Erissa got a little whiny or acted childish, and I had to remind myself that her character didn’t have much human interaction until this point. But sometimes I was like “come on girl… really?”

Overall a great read, and I can’t wait to see where the author takes us next!

[Kate (bookish.kate_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐉✨️Aɾƈ Rҽʋιҽɯ✨️🐉

Title: The Daughter of the Veil
Author: @liter8ure
Pub Date: December 12, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥🔥

"𝓣𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓮 𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬𝓼 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓾𝓷𝓮, 𝓽𝔀𝓲𝓬𝓮 𝓫𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝓮𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓭𝓼..."

Thank you so much, @shootingstar_services and @liter8ure, for the advanced reader copy of The Daughter of the Veil.

This is such an incredible debut novel! It's so immersive & enchanting and extremely well written. I definitely had to go buy a physical copy for my shelf.

Don't sleep on this one. It's so darn good! The world building is top tier! It does leave on a cliffhanger, but such an amazing start to a series!

Tropes:
✨️ High Fantasy / Romantasy
✨️ Dragons
✨️ Secrets / Hidden Identity
✨️ Virgin FMC
✨️ Magic
✨️ Royalty
✨️ Fated Mates
✨️ Multiple POVs
✨️ Rebellion
✨️ Found Family

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook: This was my first experience with this author's work. The book started out really slow for me. It wasn't until after the middle point of the story, that the tale got much more interesting. I was amazed by all the different characters; however, there needed to be a clearer picture of where all the characters fit into the story, especially when the characters have unusual names, as at times, it was a little confusing as to whose point of view was being presented. I liked Erissa and Rhazien, and I enjoyed how their relationship developed. There were some spicy descriptive scenes. I thought Freya Victoria's narration was great, and her performance added to the story's entertainment. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

[T.J. Kash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The book has a well thought out story and barring some grammatical errors quite enjoyable. The world built is complex and dark with some rather dispeakable characters. Erissa's childhood was tragic and honestly don't understand how she's sane.

This is the first book in a series that promises great intrigue and surprising twists. With further editing it will be quite a jem for readers of dark fantasy. However since it seems to be going into either the mfm or love triangle direction (both of which ain't my cup of tea) I will not be reading any other without verification.

[Kayla Chitwood Harned · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review
4.5⭐️
I was lucky to read this as an ARC. This book has good world and character building. With that being said, I was very grateful for the family/lineage trees throughout the book to help me keep track of who and where everyone comes from and how they're all connected. This book has dark topics with very descriptive gore and death, so if that's a trigger for you, beware. If not, enjoy because the author does a good job of writing these things.
The cliffhanger though.....I need to know what happens next. I'm 110% invested in this story and ALL of the characters. I'm excited for the next one. Job well done!

[Janessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dark fantasy romance with plenty of spice! You follow Erissa, blessed with the powers of the creator and able to see the souls of those fated to pass into the veil. Erissa knows nothing of her powers and birthright, locked away and abused.
I resonated with Erissa in certain aspects, her tenacity in the face of all she has endured. I enjoyed following her relationship with Rhazien and her learning all the secrets kept from her.
The ending is a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to read what happens next! Definitely add to this your TBR!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a strong start to the Veiled Throne series, and had that fantasy romance element that I wanted from the overall story being told. The characters worked well overall in the world and thought it had that element that I wanted. I was invested in what was happening and left me wanting to read more in this series and from Brittany Johnston.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sherree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story had me captivated from the 1st page, to the last. The relationships the author forms with all of the characters was genius. I couldn't put this book down! You can feel the emotion of each character, whether it's live, sorrow, evil or kindness. Each character played a part and with every twist, you fell for them or loathed them! Probably the best book I've read all year!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The veil requires blood magic…”

What a delicious dark fantasy romance this is! I don’t normally read fantasy, but the premise intrigued me, and this did not disappoint. I was invested in Erissa’s journey right from the start. Great storyline and beautiful world-building. Keep the dark portal open for me because I’m looking forward to finding Erissa again in the next book of the series.

Thanks to Brittany Johnston and Conquest Publishing for the ARC.

[Stephanie Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! The author created such an amazing world of magic, with creatures, a gripping plot, spice & betrayal that shocked me.

I received an ARC of this book for free, & I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC!

Had a fantastic time reading this book, couldn't put it down. I related to Erissa a lot, so seeing her growth along her journey was lovely. A fast favorite, I can't wait to see what happens next in the series.

[Liliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story! The characters were great, and Erissa was such a strong and compelling character! I cannot wait to read the second book of this series. I feel like, for a first-time author, Brittany did an amazing job!

[Anon Bookgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the ideas and comcept of this fantasy, so many characters and I think it sets up really nicely for the next book!! I'd be interested in the rest of the series as it carrys on!