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Veilmarch: A Gothic Fantasy Romance
To stray from the Veil is treason. To desire Death is a sin.
In the theocratic kingdom of Annon, the Veilwalker serves both the divine and the crown, chosen as executioner and guide of souls. Since childhood, Ilys has been raised for this fate, trained to kneel without hesitation and spill blood without doubt. She believes her obedience holy, until Death himself takes too much. When his reach extends beyond the sacred, Ilys vows to ruin the god who made her.
Forced into a journey at Death's side, she expects a figure beyond mortal grasp. Instead, she finds a man, fragile, fading, and dangerously human. What begins in resentment twists into curiosity, and soon into a desire as ruinous as it is undeniable.
As the kingdom fractures, Ilys is forced to confront her purpose and her power, but the answers demand sacrifice. To claim choice for herself, she may have to bring Annon to its knees.
Veilmarch is a gothic fantasy of blood, devotion, and dangerous love, perfect for readers of Katherine Arden and Leigh Bardugo.
In the theocratic kingdom of Annon, the Veilwalker serves both the divine and the crown, chosen as executioner and guide of souls. Since childhood, Ilys has been raised for this fate, trained to kneel without hesitation and spill blood without doubt. She believes her obedience holy, until Death himself takes too much. When his reach extends beyond the sacred, Ilys vows to ruin the god who made her.
Forced into a journey at Death's side, she expects a figure beyond mortal grasp. Instead, she finds a man, fragile, fading, and dangerously human. What begins in resentment twists into curiosity, and soon into a desire as ruinous as it is undeniable.
As the kingdom fractures, Ilys is forced to confront her purpose and her power, but the answers demand sacrifice. To claim choice for herself, she may have to bring Annon to its knees.
Veilmarch is a gothic fantasy of blood, devotion, and dangerous love, perfect for readers of Katherine Arden and Leigh Bardugo.
439 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2026
22 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Hallie Pursel
1 book22 followersHallie Pursel is a fantasy author with a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s in communication. Her debut novel, Veilmarch, combines gothic worldbuilding, lyrical prose, and themes of faith, mortality, and forbidden love. Her academic work informs the layered mythology and emotional depth woven through her stories.
Hallie lives in Utah with her husband, her beloved pets, and an ever-growing library, writing most days with a cup of matcha by her side.
Hallie lives in Utah with her husband, her beloved pets, and an ever-growing library, writing most days with a cup of matcha by her side.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
February 18, 2026
Gothic fantasy of blood and devotion. Hauntingly beautiful, poetically written. If you’re a fan of Wild Reverence, you will find similar elements here as well. This is one of those books that will stay with you a while.
Full RTF!!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Cariad Publishing House and the author, Hallie Pursei for sending me this eARC.
Publication date: February 10, 2026
Full RTF!!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Cariad Publishing House and the author, Hallie Pursei for sending me this eARC.
Publication date: February 10, 2026
January 4, 2026
Thank you to the publisher Cariad Publishing House for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This book was a very haunting gothic tale and there was a certain part that made me sob my heart out, Ilys’s journey from a young girl in training to be the Veilwalker to a fully grown adult who is the Veilwalker is the main part plot of the story and the romance I would describe as a side plot. I enjoyed reading this book, it was very dark but it’s one of those stories that although it is hard to read it stays with you long after you’ve read the last page. I liked Ilys, I loved her bonds with Baron and Grim, they were like her found family. Poor Baron and Grim my heart broke for them, they both deserved better. I enjoyed the romance between Death and Ilys, it was bittersweet like two tortured souls being drawn together. Overall a really good book.
This book was a very haunting gothic tale and there was a certain part that made me sob my heart out, Ilys’s journey from a young girl in training to be the Veilwalker to a fully grown adult who is the Veilwalker is the main part plot of the story and the romance I would describe as a side plot. I enjoyed reading this book, it was very dark but it’s one of those stories that although it is hard to read it stays with you long after you’ve read the last page. I liked Ilys, I loved her bonds with Baron and Grim, they were like her found family. Poor Baron and Grim my heart broke for them, they both deserved better. I enjoyed the romance between Death and Ilys, it was bittersweet like two tortured souls being drawn together. Overall a really good book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I liked the concept, but the pacing was very slow, and I found myself losing interest and the main characters lacked depth, I was seeking for more tension and yearning. .
December 20, 2025
✨Veilmarch✨
This wasn’t just a story. It was a walk through the life of a character brought so viscerally to life that I felt it in my heart and bones. It wasn’t a high stakes, action packed thriller… no, it was an aching trek through a heart full of feminine rage and empathy for justice, life, and love. It was an existence where love and connection were forbidden and replaced with duty, death, and blood.
Hallie takes us through the life of Ilys, our rising Veilwalker, as she is raised and trained to be the hand of death where the god cannot be. Allowing the god of death to remain a collector, Veilwalkers take the lives of those who have unnaturally extended their own, while it also keeps the king alive and his kingdom protected from plagues and other causes of death. But, of course, this goodness oozes easily into corruption… and it is here we begin Ilys’ journey.
Using beautiful, poetic prose and imagery to spin a tale that walks you INSIDE the pages not just alongside, Hallie makes you feel every moment, emotion, and grievance. The first 30% is living Ilys’ life with her as she is raised by her mentor, Grim, and other father figure, Baron. Ilys experiences much hardship and hard won joy within this time that makes her who she is when she finally takes over and endures the Veilmarch with Death. And once we meet Death… that’s when our delicious slow burn truly begins.
The time we spend with Ilys and Death was so magnetic even in its simplicity and gentility. They relate in ways that spur Ilys’ hatred for what he has made her do but they also slowly become the “more” they’ve been yearning for as true death bears down on them. I cried so many times throughout this book, feeling that love and loss, and I equally felt a mourning peace and joy at the end. (That ending got me. So. Precious.)
Tropes you may find in Veilmarch are one bed, enemies to lovers vibes, gothic setting, morally grey characters, feminine rage, necromancers and meddling fates, chosen family, slow burn to low spice (lightly descriptive), forced proximity, comfort & wound tending, and low but HEART WRENCHING stakes.
Thank you, Hallie, Netgalley, and Cariad Pub, for this gifted arc. It was devastatingly lovely.
This wasn’t just a story. It was a walk through the life of a character brought so viscerally to life that I felt it in my heart and bones. It wasn’t a high stakes, action packed thriller… no, it was an aching trek through a heart full of feminine rage and empathy for justice, life, and love. It was an existence where love and connection were forbidden and replaced with duty, death, and blood.
Hallie takes us through the life of Ilys, our rising Veilwalker, as she is raised and trained to be the hand of death where the god cannot be. Allowing the god of death to remain a collector, Veilwalkers take the lives of those who have unnaturally extended their own, while it also keeps the king alive and his kingdom protected from plagues and other causes of death. But, of course, this goodness oozes easily into corruption… and it is here we begin Ilys’ journey.
Using beautiful, poetic prose and imagery to spin a tale that walks you INSIDE the pages not just alongside, Hallie makes you feel every moment, emotion, and grievance. The first 30% is living Ilys’ life with her as she is raised by her mentor, Grim, and other father figure, Baron. Ilys experiences much hardship and hard won joy within this time that makes her who she is when she finally takes over and endures the Veilmarch with Death. And once we meet Death… that’s when our delicious slow burn truly begins.
The time we spend with Ilys and Death was so magnetic even in its simplicity and gentility. They relate in ways that spur Ilys’ hatred for what he has made her do but they also slowly become the “more” they’ve been yearning for as true death bears down on them. I cried so many times throughout this book, feeling that love and loss, and I equally felt a mourning peace and joy at the end. (That ending got me. So. Precious.)
Tropes you may find in Veilmarch are one bed, enemies to lovers vibes, gothic setting, morally grey characters, feminine rage, necromancers and meddling fates, chosen family, slow burn to low spice (lightly descriptive), forced proximity, comfort & wound tending, and low but HEART WRENCHING stakes.
Thank you, Hallie, Netgalley, and Cariad Pub, for this gifted arc. It was devastatingly lovely.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2 ⭐️
Veilmarch had a strong premise and genuinely compelling early emotional beats, but the execution completely lost me. The first third spends a lot of time building Grim and Baron as paternal anchors in Ilys’s life, - which should have been devastating, but the emotional follow-through never fully landed. From there, the story becomes a cycle of things happening to Ilys rather than because of her choices, leaving her reactive, impulsive, and increasingly frustrating to read.
The romance was the biggest letdown. What should’ve been a tragic, weighty connection with Death felt lukewarm at best, built more on loneliness and self-loathing than genuine chemistry. Repeated back-and-forths of wanting him, hating him for things he couldn’t control, and blaming others for the consequences of her own actions drained any emotional investment I had. By the end, the supposed female rage climax felt anticlimactic and unsatisfying, the ending left far too many unanswered questions, and Death fading out only to pop back in sealed the deal on my confusion. Ambitious ideas, grim atmosphere - but ultimately an underwhelming, emotionally uneven read that never delivered on its promise.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Veilmarch had a strong premise and genuinely compelling early emotional beats, but the execution completely lost me. The first third spends a lot of time building Grim and Baron as paternal anchors in Ilys’s life, - which should have been devastating, but the emotional follow-through never fully landed. From there, the story becomes a cycle of things happening to Ilys rather than because of her choices, leaving her reactive, impulsive, and increasingly frustrating to read.
The romance was the biggest letdown. What should’ve been a tragic, weighty connection with Death felt lukewarm at best, built more on loneliness and self-loathing than genuine chemistry. Repeated back-and-forths of wanting him, hating him for things he couldn’t control, and blaming others for the consequences of her own actions drained any emotional investment I had. By the end, the supposed female rage climax felt anticlimactic and unsatisfying, the ending left far too many unanswered questions, and Death fading out only to pop back in sealed the deal on my confusion. Ambitious ideas, grim atmosphere - but ultimately an underwhelming, emotionally uneven read that never delivered on its promise.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Huge thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc!!
Veilmarch had a very gripping and addictive start. We follow Ilys from a young age, at the start of her tutelage with Grim to become Death’s executioner. The fact that we follow her from a young age really gives you insight on her character.
The writing was compelling and flowed easily. My favourite part of this book was the first 30% because the world building was uniquely interesting.
I will admit the stakes felt higher in the first 40% of the book and then quickly waned, to a point I wondered what the actual plot was. I had an inkling as to where it was going and was proven right, but I think the direction it went in took too long to be shown. The plot is lost between 40-80% because the romance takes the spotlight… and that’s where my interest waned. I got whiplash from how fast it went from hatred to being married for love… I went back a few pages because I felt like I had skipped entire chapters of romance - but it wasn’t the case. Veilmarch definitely could’ve went without romance.
The pacing was slow and there’s a lot of travelling here and there. With the spotlight on the romance for the longest time, it left little place for the plot and thus made the ending very rushed.
Overall, I think this was a decent debut and I do recommend it. I think it has very unique aspects and I’m intrigued to see what the author writes next.
Veilmarch had a very gripping and addictive start. We follow Ilys from a young age, at the start of her tutelage with Grim to become Death’s executioner. The fact that we follow her from a young age really gives you insight on her character.
The writing was compelling and flowed easily. My favourite part of this book was the first 30% because the world building was uniquely interesting.
I will admit the stakes felt higher in the first 40% of the book and then quickly waned, to a point I wondered what the actual plot was. I had an inkling as to where it was going and was proven right, but I think the direction it went in took too long to be shown. The plot is lost between 40-80% because the romance takes the spotlight… and that’s where my interest waned. I got whiplash from how fast it went from hatred to being married for love… I went back a few pages because I felt like I had skipped entire chapters of romance - but it wasn’t the case. Veilmarch definitely could’ve went without romance.
The pacing was slow and there’s a lot of travelling here and there. With the spotlight on the romance for the longest time, it left little place for the plot and thus made the ending very rushed.
Overall, I think this was a decent debut and I do recommend it. I think it has very unique aspects and I’m intrigued to see what the author writes next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book wrecked me, and all I can say is thank you 😭 💕
It’s not a super fast-paced or flashy story, and it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it takes its time, filled with duty, grief, and love, and somehow that makes everything hit harder
The story moves with intention, especially when it comes to the relationships. Nothing feels instant or forced. The connection between Ilys and Death builds slowly, starting with tension, resentment, and obligation, and evolving into something softer, deeper, and genuinely meaningful. It felt earned every step of the way
The pacing does speed up near the end, especially compared to the slower, more deliberate build earlier in the book. But it genuinely fit the story! And the ending itself isn’t a traditional HEA, but it’s exactly the ending this story needed. It felt complete, bittersweet, and oddly peaceful
I finished the book feeling heartbroken yet satisfied, and I can assure you this story has been ingrained in my soul forever 💕 it made me cry, made me anxious, made me smile through tears, and I will absolutely be recommending it to anyone who enjoys poetic, emotional stories that aren’t afraid to hurt you a little (or a lot 😭)
Thank you so very much to Netgelly for the opportunity to read this ARC!! 💕
It’s not a super fast-paced or flashy story, and it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it takes its time, filled with duty, grief, and love, and somehow that makes everything hit harder
The story moves with intention, especially when it comes to the relationships. Nothing feels instant or forced. The connection between Ilys and Death builds slowly, starting with tension, resentment, and obligation, and evolving into something softer, deeper, and genuinely meaningful. It felt earned every step of the way
The pacing does speed up near the end, especially compared to the slower, more deliberate build earlier in the book. But it genuinely fit the story! And the ending itself isn’t a traditional HEA, but it’s exactly the ending this story needed. It felt complete, bittersweet, and oddly peaceful
I finished the book feeling heartbroken yet satisfied, and I can assure you this story has been ingrained in my soul forever 💕 it made me cry, made me anxious, made me smile through tears, and I will absolutely be recommending it to anyone who enjoys poetic, emotional stories that aren’t afraid to hurt you a little (or a lot 😭)
Thank you so very much to Netgelly for the opportunity to read this ARC!! 💕
January 14, 2026
4,5 ⭐
Poetic and atmospheric. Gut wrenching and hopeful at the same time. Haunting.
Full of love where love shouldn’t be.
Don’t expect this book to be a romance book, it is not - but it has such a beautiful and well thought love story in it that will stay with you for a long time.
This is a character driven story with a slower pace that depicts the life of our main character, Ilys, from childhood when she is training to become a Veilewalker to her adulthood when she is performing her duties alongside Death.
Ilys’s life story is full of opposites. Love and loneliness. Compliance and rage. Grief and hopefulness.
Even though she shouldn’t form any relations due to the nature of her role as a Veilwalker, Ilys, even though lonely, she manages to form such beautiful relationships throughout her life and I think, for me, this was the best part of it and it brought me so much joy to see that even in the darkest situations one can find itself in, friendship, trust and pure love can still exists.
Even though slow paced, I was really enthralled with this story, its characters and the evolution of Ilys.
The ending was so bittersweet but at the same time very suited for Ilys’s character. I really loved so much how the story wrapped up and I feel it will be sticking with me for a very long time.
Strong debut for Hallie Pursell. I can’t wait to read her next works.
Favourite quotes:
✨“They don’t want people thinking beyond the bounds. Books make things louder. Questions. Doubt. Desire.”
✨“Let us both abandon these cloaks of obedience. Let us play at being men, loud, sure, untouchable. Let us ravage the world and call it ambition. Let our desire be a shield, wrapping us like a woolen quilt against cold expectations. Let us make our own names feared so none may speak over us, none may say what we are or what we must become.”
✨“Perhaps the struggle of a woman would always be too quiet.”
✨“The stars made no sound, yet he listened still, for even in silence there is song.”
✨“I love how age hardens you and softens you in the same breath. I love your appetite for whimsy and your refusal to stomach injustice. I love your laugh when you forget to guard it and your smile when you choose to be merciful with it.”
✨“Horses did not raze villages to prove dominion. They did not invent cruelty and call it order.”
✨“The men who preached from gilded pulpits, who raised their hands as if the Fates themselves spoke through them, they were not divine. They were fallible.”
Thank you Cariad Publishing House for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Poetic and atmospheric. Gut wrenching and hopeful at the same time. Haunting.
Full of love where love shouldn’t be.
Don’t expect this book to be a romance book, it is not - but it has such a beautiful and well thought love story in it that will stay with you for a long time.
This is a character driven story with a slower pace that depicts the life of our main character, Ilys, from childhood when she is training to become a Veilewalker to her adulthood when she is performing her duties alongside Death.
Ilys’s life story is full of opposites. Love and loneliness. Compliance and rage. Grief and hopefulness.
Even though she shouldn’t form any relations due to the nature of her role as a Veilwalker, Ilys, even though lonely, she manages to form such beautiful relationships throughout her life and I think, for me, this was the best part of it and it brought me so much joy to see that even in the darkest situations one can find itself in, friendship, trust and pure love can still exists.
Even though slow paced, I was really enthralled with this story, its characters and the evolution of Ilys.
The ending was so bittersweet but at the same time very suited for Ilys’s character. I really loved so much how the story wrapped up and I feel it will be sticking with me for a very long time.
Strong debut for Hallie Pursell. I can’t wait to read her next works.
Favourite quotes:
✨“They don’t want people thinking beyond the bounds. Books make things louder. Questions. Doubt. Desire.”
✨“Let us both abandon these cloaks of obedience. Let us play at being men, loud, sure, untouchable. Let us ravage the world and call it ambition. Let our desire be a shield, wrapping us like a woolen quilt against cold expectations. Let us make our own names feared so none may speak over us, none may say what we are or what we must become.”
✨“Perhaps the struggle of a woman would always be too quiet.”
✨“The stars made no sound, yet he listened still, for even in silence there is song.”
✨“I love how age hardens you and softens you in the same breath. I love your appetite for whimsy and your refusal to stomach injustice. I love your laugh when you forget to guard it and your smile when you choose to be merciful with it.”
✨“Horses did not raze villages to prove dominion. They did not invent cruelty and call it order.”
✨“The men who preached from gilded pulpits, who raised their hands as if the Fates themselves spoke through them, they were not divine. They were fallible.”
Thank you Cariad Publishing House for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
February 10, 2026
*I received an ARC for free via NetGalley and am reviewing voluntarily*
4 stars for a very interesting read.
Veilmarch tells the story of Ilys, who is a Veilwalker. In centuries past, a king made a bargain with Death, which necessitated the provision of Veilwalkers to assist Death in hunting down those who throw off the natural order of things ('the Veil') on regular journeys known as the Veilmarch. Chosen as an infant, Ilys has been raised by her predecessor, the Veilwalker Grim, and groomed by the king to fulfil this duty. We follow Ilys from childhood as she grapples with her place in the world until eventually taking on the responsibilities of the Veilwalker.
I really enjoyed this story. Ilys is an interesting and realistic main character, and spending time with her as a child and into adolescence means we get to see her faith and devotion being shaped, changed, and at times eroded as she grows up. She becomes increasingly cutting and sardonic which is also amusing. Her relationships with her friend Rowenna and Grim are also well-fleshed out, and work as great foils between the life Ilys could have led as a normal girl compared to the life she is destined to live as a Veilwalker.
The storytelling in Veilmarch is very atmospheric and broody. This is a light-fantasy novel but it is not lighthearted, and that is a good thing if you're looking for a gothic read. The setting where Ilys spends most of her time is the Sanctum, which seems akin to a monastery/convent, and the descriptions of the setting are very compelling. Themes of duty, faith and grief are woven in to make this a quiet but powerful read.
My only gripe would be the pacing. I LOVED the first 40% or so of this book, but when Ilys begins travelling with Death I feel like things slowed down when they should have felt more gripping. Then on the flip side, the author writes a very poignant ending that unfortunately feels a bit rushed. I could almost see this being better as two books, giving more time for development of Ilys and Death's relationship (which was a bit flat for me) and some more time spent at the Sanctum with Ilys as an adult so that more of the political/religious themes and potential hints about some later revelations could be explored.
That being said, for a debut novel this is incredibly solid and I love the world the author is creating. I feel like there is a lot that could still be explored in this setting, as there are bordering territories and mentions of political tensions and the ending of this book will almost certainly have an effect on those. Although this is a standalone book with a complete ending, I hope the author returns to this world.
4 stars for a very interesting read.
Veilmarch tells the story of Ilys, who is a Veilwalker. In centuries past, a king made a bargain with Death, which necessitated the provision of Veilwalkers to assist Death in hunting down those who throw off the natural order of things ('the Veil') on regular journeys known as the Veilmarch. Chosen as an infant, Ilys has been raised by her predecessor, the Veilwalker Grim, and groomed by the king to fulfil this duty. We follow Ilys from childhood as she grapples with her place in the world until eventually taking on the responsibilities of the Veilwalker.
I really enjoyed this story. Ilys is an interesting and realistic main character, and spending time with her as a child and into adolescence means we get to see her faith and devotion being shaped, changed, and at times eroded as she grows up. She becomes increasingly cutting and sardonic which is also amusing. Her relationships with her friend Rowenna and Grim are also well-fleshed out, and work as great foils between the life Ilys could have led as a normal girl compared to the life she is destined to live as a Veilwalker.
The storytelling in Veilmarch is very atmospheric and broody. This is a light-fantasy novel but it is not lighthearted, and that is a good thing if you're looking for a gothic read. The setting where Ilys spends most of her time is the Sanctum, which seems akin to a monastery/convent, and the descriptions of the setting are very compelling. Themes of duty, faith and grief are woven in to make this a quiet but powerful read.
My only gripe would be the pacing. I LOVED the first 40% or so of this book, but when Ilys begins travelling with Death I feel like things slowed down when they should have felt more gripping. Then on the flip side, the author writes a very poignant ending that unfortunately feels a bit rushed. I could almost see this being better as two books, giving more time for development of Ilys and Death's relationship (which was a bit flat for me) and some more time spent at the Sanctum with Ilys as an adult so that more of the political/religious themes and potential hints about some later revelations could be explored.
That being said, for a debut novel this is incredibly solid and I love the world the author is creating. I feel like there is a lot that could still be explored in this setting, as there are bordering territories and mentions of political tensions and the ending of this book will almost certainly have an effect on those. Although this is a standalone book with a complete ending, I hope the author returns to this world.
December 21, 2025
I loved this story so much. It is a thoughtfully paced story that takes its time to unfold the emotional journey that explores duty, love, loss, and identity. The writing is beautiful and immersive, with a gripping plot and characters I became emotionally invested in.
Following Ilys as she grows into her role as a Veilwalker was powerful and heartbreaking, and the relationships she forms along the way add so much depth to the story. The slow burn connection with Death was especially well done—quiet, aching, and incredibly moving.
I often found myself rereading lines and moments I loved, just to sit with them a little longer. The ending was tender and meaningful, and it stayed with me long after I finished the book. A beautiful, thoughtful story I truly loved.
Following Ilys as she grows into her role as a Veilwalker was powerful and heartbreaking, and the relationships she forms along the way add so much depth to the story. The slow burn connection with Death was especially well done—quiet, aching, and incredibly moving.
I often found myself rereading lines and moments I loved, just to sit with them a little longer. The ending was tender and meaningful, and it stayed with me long after I finished the book. A beautiful, thoughtful story I truly loved.
January 12, 2026
Rating: 4 stars
“I am a Veilwalker. I have loved Death well, and I do not fear him.”
Follow the life of Ilys of the Veil, a girl chosen to become a Veilwalker, servant and companion of Death. Raised in her faith, Ilys was taught to have no bonds, to kill without hesitation. Yet, when she meets with Death to partake in the Veilmarch her world is tipped on its head.
This is a rich, gothic novel full of vivid imagery and emotion. Rather than a fast paced, action packed story, it is a life with moments that are exciting, peaceful, violent, loving, and even tragic.
It’s such an interesting concept, that Death looks away as long as the veilwalker kills people who magically try to defy the natural order. There wasn’t a TON of worldbuilding outside of the vague religious aspect, but that in itself made the story super interesting.
I really felt for the characters and their journeys. There were even points where I teared up during certain interactions. Ilys, to me, really just wanted to be seen—seen as Ilys, not the Veilwalker—and that’s what drove the familial, platonic, and romantic relationships we see. There were a handful of times another person’s thoughts would show up in the narrative for about a paragraph which felt really out of place for me as the narrative belongs 99% to Ilys.
It can seem slow at points, but knowing this is a life and not a glimpse makes me appreciate the slow moments whereas in other novels I might not. In the beginning I did think it would’ve served the audience better to see snippets of her growing up interspersed throughout the story, but after having read the whole I am not sure that would’ve been best. It does take ⅓ of the book to begin the premise in the blurb which is a bit long to wait.
Overall, I think this is a solid debut for Hallie Pursel. She has a lot of potential with her stylistic prose and deep connections to characters. I look forward to seeing more from her!
tiktok | instagram
“I am a Veilwalker. I have loved Death well, and I do not fear him.”
Follow the life of Ilys of the Veil, a girl chosen to become a Veilwalker, servant and companion of Death. Raised in her faith, Ilys was taught to have no bonds, to kill without hesitation. Yet, when she meets with Death to partake in the Veilmarch her world is tipped on its head.
This is a rich, gothic novel full of vivid imagery and emotion. Rather than a fast paced, action packed story, it is a life with moments that are exciting, peaceful, violent, loving, and even tragic.
It’s such an interesting concept, that Death looks away as long as the veilwalker kills people who magically try to defy the natural order. There wasn’t a TON of worldbuilding outside of the vague religious aspect, but that in itself made the story super interesting.
I really felt for the characters and their journeys. There were even points where I teared up during certain interactions. Ilys, to me, really just wanted to be seen—seen as Ilys, not the Veilwalker—and that’s what drove the familial, platonic, and romantic relationships we see. There were a handful of times another person’s thoughts would show up in the narrative for about a paragraph which felt really out of place for me as the narrative belongs 99% to Ilys.
It can seem slow at points, but knowing this is a life and not a glimpse makes me appreciate the slow moments whereas in other novels I might not. In the beginning I did think it would’ve served the audience better to see snippets of her growing up interspersed throughout the story, but after having read the whole I am not sure that would’ve been best. It does take ⅓ of the book to begin the premise in the blurb which is a bit long to wait.
Overall, I think this is a solid debut for Hallie Pursel. She has a lot of potential with her stylistic prose and deep connections to characters. I look forward to seeing more from her!
tiktok | instagram
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and editors for this ARC.
Veilmarch is the story that follows Ilys, a girl who has been "selected" as the next Veilmarcher, what is this you may ask? The Veilmarch is the walking of the Veiled one, alongside Death, as they recollect the souls bound to die, all in exchange for the one that cannot die.
There are many mysteries unfolding alongside the story, many characters, along with those who will also become your favorites one, like Grim, the current Veilkeeper, and Cenyn whom you will meet on the path, now lets shred the story, shall we?
In a fantasy world, we meet this little girl who has been raised as the next Veilwalker: this title is bestowed upon those selected by Death itself. So, we have Ilys, a girl that cannot even remember her own name, since she was renamed so young, and her educator, Grim a Veilwalker himself, and the actual one, and while he teaches and educates Ilys in what is to become her path, we start to see what lies beyond duty, and what is left behind when one starts to know yourself.
The cost of choice is heavy and not for all, but you do get the sweetest reward by accomplishing what you need.
All in all, I would say about this book that the story is a bit complex, but never dull, and the characters have everything, are lovable or easy to hate and despise, we have good people and bad people, so in that aspect is very close to reality, you should read this book, because you need it to make you feel your life is really, beyond anything worth living.
I am so grateful for being given the chance at all, and dearest author if you reed this: thank you, this is a work of art, and it's amazing work.
Veilmarch is the story that follows Ilys, a girl who has been "selected" as the next Veilmarcher, what is this you may ask? The Veilmarch is the walking of the Veiled one, alongside Death, as they recollect the souls bound to die, all in exchange for the one that cannot die.
There are many mysteries unfolding alongside the story, many characters, along with those who will also become your favorites one, like Grim, the current Veilkeeper, and Cenyn whom you will meet on the path, now lets shred the story, shall we?
In a fantasy world, we meet this little girl who has been raised as the next Veilwalker: this title is bestowed upon those selected by Death itself. So, we have Ilys, a girl that cannot even remember her own name, since she was renamed so young, and her educator, Grim a Veilwalker himself, and the actual one, and while he teaches and educates Ilys in what is to become her path, we start to see what lies beyond duty, and what is left behind when one starts to know yourself.
The cost of choice is heavy and not for all, but you do get the sweetest reward by accomplishing what you need.
All in all, I would say about this book that the story is a bit complex, but never dull, and the characters have everything, are lovable or easy to hate and despise, we have good people and bad people, so in that aspect is very close to reality, you should read this book, because you need it to make you feel your life is really, beyond anything worth living.
I am so grateful for being given the chance at all, and dearest author if you reed this: thank you, this is a work of art, and it's amazing work.
December 29, 2025
Thank you to the author and the publisher, Cariad Publishing House, for sharing an ARC of this book with me on NetGalley!!
“You are no woman. You are the Veilwalker - a gift from Annon to Death, a blessed sacrifice”
“No one sought the aid of a Veilwalker. she only brought more Death”
I’m left speechless by the intensity and beauty of this story. A young woman raised to become the one whom walks beside Death in the Veil between life and death. The one whom walks beside brings forward Death’s inevitability and his fate. A life of abuse and constrictions. A fate of suffering and bringing pain. But also an enemies to lovers, forced proximity and inevitable doom after sharing one bed with Death romance. Ilys’ story was amazing. Beautiful. Painful. Exciting. Obsessive. Addicting. I loved every second of reading it. It was amazing. Every chapter a new exciting part of her journey. Every page a newfound discovery of her strength and fear and bond with him. And an incredible love story that goes beyond the line of life into the world of the souls. It’s perfect for fans of the Belladonna series but way more adult and bit for fans of From Blood and Ash !!! I cannot wait to read more from this author !!
“I hate you”
“I know … But now you must learn to use me”
“And while this body weakens and my hold on the world thins, I watch you and I learn the shape of purpose”
“You are no woman. You are the Veilwalker - a gift from Annon to Death, a blessed sacrifice”
“No one sought the aid of a Veilwalker. she only brought more Death”
I’m left speechless by the intensity and beauty of this story. A young woman raised to become the one whom walks beside Death in the Veil between life and death. The one whom walks beside brings forward Death’s inevitability and his fate. A life of abuse and constrictions. A fate of suffering and bringing pain. But also an enemies to lovers, forced proximity and inevitable doom after sharing one bed with Death romance. Ilys’ story was amazing. Beautiful. Painful. Exciting. Obsessive. Addicting. I loved every second of reading it. It was amazing. Every chapter a new exciting part of her journey. Every page a newfound discovery of her strength and fear and bond with him. And an incredible love story that goes beyond the line of life into the world of the souls. It’s perfect for fans of the Belladonna series but way more adult and bit for fans of From Blood and Ash !!! I cannot wait to read more from this author !!
“I hate you”
“I know … But now you must learn to use me”
“And while this body weakens and my hold on the world thins, I watch you and I learn the shape of purpose”
February 4, 2026
This book is beautiful. Gut wrenching and heartbreaking, yet hopeful. The prose is ethereal. Sounds strange, but I almost felt as if I were floating reading this book. After the first 30 pages or so, I didn’t want to put it down at all. If it weren’t for having to sleep and stay employed, I probably wouldn’t have.
I cried (several times), kicked my feet with the sweetness of the friendships and eventual romance, and embraced the character’s anger and rebellion.
I pray this author continues to write gorgeous and lush books like this. I will always pick them up.
Thank you NetGalley and Cariad Publishing House for the opportunity to read this lovely aARC.
I cried (several times), kicked my feet with the sweetness of the friendships and eventual romance, and embraced the character’s anger and rebellion.
I pray this author continues to write gorgeous and lush books like this. I will always pick them up.
Thank you NetGalley and Cariad Publishing House for the opportunity to read this lovely aARC.
February 19, 2026
I loved it. My first gothic fantasy, but it did not disappoint me. It was an emotional roller-coaster and it succeeded at making me cry. Vivid, descriptive world, great world building, even small characters are pretty memorable, and the main characters had good character arcs. (Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I really enjoyed this read.)
February 19, 2026
I really wanted to love this story but it unfortunately just didn’t do it for me. The idea of this book was so fascinating and I feel like it had great potential. We have a setting of a theocratic kingdom that has a deal with Death. To fulfill their side of the deal, this kingdom must have a designated “Veilwalker” who is to be a companion to Death. From a very young age this chosen person is raised to be a religious figure, executioner, and loyal to the King. However, as we follow our main character through her journey she becomes more and more hateful of what she’s been raised to believe her purpose is.
The biggest thing that kept me from enjoying this story more is that it felt quite pieced together and didn’t leave me with as detailed a picture of what was happening as I would have liked.
I think that we could have gotten more out of the story if we had witnessed it from first person rather than third. Also, much of the first 50% of this book was snips from our main character at multiple different ages of life. We get to see a bit of what her training is like but we could have used this time to get a better picture of the world that unfolding around her if we heard about anything from the mentor's point of view. This could have left the reader feeling the resentment alongside our Veilwalker rather than just hearing about it.
**i received this book as an advanced reader copy and will only be leaving reviews with my voluntary and honest feedback **
The biggest thing that kept me from enjoying this story more is that it felt quite pieced together and didn’t leave me with as detailed a picture of what was happening as I would have liked.
I think that we could have gotten more out of the story if we had witnessed it from first person rather than third. Also, much of the first 50% of this book was snips from our main character at multiple different ages of life. We get to see a bit of what her training is like but we could have used this time to get a better picture of the world that unfolding around her if we heard about anything from the mentor's point of view. This could have left the reader feeling the resentment alongside our Veilwalker rather than just hearing about it.
**i received this book as an advanced reader copy and will only be leaving reviews with my voluntary and honest feedback **
February 11, 2026
Immerse yourself in this captivatingly gothic coming-of-age fantasy where our main character Ilys is raised in the kingdom of Annon as a pawn in crown’s game and how she learns how to live, how to love and how to ultimately find her purpose and earn herself freedom.
Hallie Pursel’s writing is contagious and beautifully enchanting. As I was reading Veilmarch, I knew it was something special. The concept of the world was unique and unlike anything I have read. For this to be a debut was so impressive and inspiring. This was incredibly poetic and put me right in Ilys’s shoes. Hallie Pursel’s style was very clearly reflected in her writing and development of the characters, the journey and the themes and motifs held within the pages. Every character’s words and actions made sense and I was pulled this way and that and irrevocably shattered throughout the journey. A lot of time passes from beginning to end and I loved getting to see Ilys grow and make and break friendships. I highlighted so many lines at the moment I don’t even think I could pick one that is my favorite, so many of them were magnificent.
I was so moved by this book and will be recommending it to any gothic reading lovers in my life.
4.5 / 5 stars
One million thanks to NetGalley and Cariad Publishing House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely loved this.
#Veilmarch #NetGalley
Hallie Pursel’s writing is contagious and beautifully enchanting. As I was reading Veilmarch, I knew it was something special. The concept of the world was unique and unlike anything I have read. For this to be a debut was so impressive and inspiring. This was incredibly poetic and put me right in Ilys’s shoes. Hallie Pursel’s style was very clearly reflected in her writing and development of the characters, the journey and the themes and motifs held within the pages. Every character’s words and actions made sense and I was pulled this way and that and irrevocably shattered throughout the journey. A lot of time passes from beginning to end and I loved getting to see Ilys grow and make and break friendships. I highlighted so many lines at the moment I don’t even think I could pick one that is my favorite, so many of them were magnificent.
I was so moved by this book and will be recommending it to any gothic reading lovers in my life.
4.5 / 5 stars
One million thanks to NetGalley and Cariad Publishing House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely loved this.
#Veilmarch #NetGalley
January 6, 2026
written with delicate, almost lyrical prose, this novel unfolds like poetry in motion. the world is painted quietly, patiently, blooming in the periphery while our attention is held fast by its heart: ilys. a child raised to become a veilwalker, one of the solemn faithful tasked with guiding souls past their due and into death, through the veil beyond, as part of an ancient bargain. ritual is not window dressing here. it is lived, embodied, and inseparable from identity, woven tightly into deep and careful character work.
from child to woman, we ghost ilys’s journey. her life is one of devotion and duty, her faith both anchor and shackle. fragments of childhood glimmer through the darkness that comes to define her path, lingering like light caught behind her physical veil. that veil becomes more than cloth. it is symbol, burden, protection, and distance, mirroring the way she moves through the world unseen, unquestioned, and yet profoundly shaped. ⚔️
we grow alongside her as the story unfurls into a meditation on fate and freedom. it explores how the lives prepared for us, especially those framed as sacred or inevitable, can become cages we ache to escape, often without even realising we were confined at all. the ache of that realisation is handled with such care, never rushed, never sensationalised.
a medieval fantasy world that sits back and blooms behind our fmc, rich without ever overwhelming 🏰
a heady, unusual romance that simmers beneath the surface, never distracting from the true journey, the sacrifices demanded, or the slow process of self-discovery ♟️
dark deeds of ritual, faith, and consequence, with higher powers tugging at the threads and reminding us that bargains are never clean 🪡
this is a truly stunning debut. measured, haunting, and quietly devastating in places. i cannot wait to see how hallie’s work spreads from here. thank you so much for the immaculate arc, i absolutely devoured it.
vasha 🤍
from child to woman, we ghost ilys’s journey. her life is one of devotion and duty, her faith both anchor and shackle. fragments of childhood glimmer through the darkness that comes to define her path, lingering like light caught behind her physical veil. that veil becomes more than cloth. it is symbol, burden, protection, and distance, mirroring the way she moves through the world unseen, unquestioned, and yet profoundly shaped. ⚔️
we grow alongside her as the story unfurls into a meditation on fate and freedom. it explores how the lives prepared for us, especially those framed as sacred or inevitable, can become cages we ache to escape, often without even realising we were confined at all. the ache of that realisation is handled with such care, never rushed, never sensationalised.
a medieval fantasy world that sits back and blooms behind our fmc, rich without ever overwhelming 🏰
a heady, unusual romance that simmers beneath the surface, never distracting from the true journey, the sacrifices demanded, or the slow process of self-discovery ♟️
dark deeds of ritual, faith, and consequence, with higher powers tugging at the threads and reminding us that bargains are never clean 🪡
this is a truly stunning debut. measured, haunting, and quietly devastating in places. i cannot wait to see how hallie’s work spreads from here. thank you so much for the immaculate arc, i absolutely devoured it.
vasha 🤍
February 8, 2026
I loved this book! It reminded me of a Rachel Gillig book and the writing was excellent. This book doesn’t rely on relentless action or spectacle to leave its mark. Instead, it settles deep into the marrow, into the quiet places where grief, rage, devotion, and love all coexist. Reading it felt less like watching a plot unfold and more like living a life shaped by impossible choices. It is a story forged from restrained fury, aching compassion, and a world where tenderness is treated as a liability.
And then—Death.
When Ilys finally meets him, the story transforms. What unfolds is a slow, tender unraveling of two beings bound by duty and isolation. Their connection is quiet, deliberate, and devastating in its simplicity. Resentment, curiosity, and longing blur together as they each confront what they have been denied. Their bond becomes the emotional core of the novel, deepening as true death looms closer.
This book broke me open more than once. It made me grieve, rage, hope, and ultimately sit in a bittersweet stillness I wasn’t ready to leave. The ending carries both sorrow and solace in equal measure—soft, earned, and achingly beautiful.
Veilmarch is not just a story about death. It’s about what it costs to live without love—and what it means to choose it anyway.
And then—Death.
When Ilys finally meets him, the story transforms. What unfolds is a slow, tender unraveling of two beings bound by duty and isolation. Their connection is quiet, deliberate, and devastating in its simplicity. Resentment, curiosity, and longing blur together as they each confront what they have been denied. Their bond becomes the emotional core of the novel, deepening as true death looms closer.
This book broke me open more than once. It made me grieve, rage, hope, and ultimately sit in a bittersweet stillness I wasn’t ready to leave. The ending carries both sorrow and solace in equal measure—soft, earned, and achingly beautiful.
Veilmarch is not just a story about death. It’s about what it costs to live without love—and what it means to choose it anyway.
January 27, 2026
Thank you to Cariad Publishing House for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.
'𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐥 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐲' 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐨.
Beautifully devastating and well-written. This book is a life story of a girl who went through a long journey of sorrows, brought up to the role of a Veilwalker. A Veilwalker is a companion of Death, of whom is owed souls and a debt unpaid. Through womanhood she explores the world with a grimmer truth of role being unveiled while accompanying Death. The pacing is slow at first, almost halfway through did I get to read how she truly begun her official journey as a Veilwalker. I loved how the interaction and dialogues didn't feel cliché, rather it felt poetic and comforting at times. While reading through the book, I loved how the character depth of the FMC was being shaped into person as she grew up. The overall atmostphere and the pacing of the story, along with the character depth and interactions. It all felt real, rich and concrete as a world built and written-well.
'𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐥 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐲' 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐨.
Beautifully devastating and well-written. This book is a life story of a girl who went through a long journey of sorrows, brought up to the role of a Veilwalker. A Veilwalker is a companion of Death, of whom is owed souls and a debt unpaid. Through womanhood she explores the world with a grimmer truth of role being unveiled while accompanying Death. The pacing is slow at first, almost halfway through did I get to read how she truly begun her official journey as a Veilwalker. I loved how the interaction and dialogues didn't feel cliché, rather it felt poetic and comforting at times. While reading through the book, I loved how the character depth of the FMC was being shaped into person as she grew up. The overall atmostphere and the pacing of the story, along with the character depth and interactions. It all felt real, rich and concrete as a world built and written-well.
January 27, 2026
I received this book as an ARC. It was enough to keep me reading but I felt like it moved very slow. It felt like it took a long time to get to the point of the story. Once it got there it moved much faster and was much more interesting but then the ending fell kind of flat for me. I liked the idea of the book, it was unique and interesting but I think I was just looking for more from it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Veilmarch is a gripping story about faith, loyalty, devotion and love in a world of tyranny and war, and explores what happens when you defy everything you were raised to believe...
I enjoyed the story, world building and characters!
Thank you to Cariad Publishing House and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I enjoyed the story, world building and characters!
Thank you to Cariad Publishing House and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 10, 2026
Veilmarch absolutely destroyed me. This is such a dark gothic romance that will gut you. Don’t forget to have tissues nearby. While the story is devastating, it was written so well that I saw every painstaking moment with clarity. Death, grief, and the greed for power make up the bulk of this story, but underneath it is love that keeps you going.
Thank you to Cariad Publishing House for the ARC.
Thank you to Cariad Publishing House for the ARC.
February 10, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
4.5 ⭐️
This book was so beautiful! The writing is lyrical and poetic. The feelings!?!! Oh the feelings! This book brought me to tears more than once! The story of falling in love with Death- so original and thoughtful! I will definitely be purchasing this book and following the author to read anything else she writes!!
4.5 ⭐️
This book was so beautiful! The writing is lyrical and poetic. The feelings!?!! Oh the feelings! This book brought me to tears more than once! The story of falling in love with Death- so original and thoughtful! I will definitely be purchasing this book and following the author to read anything else she writes!!
February 11, 2026
This one was a pretty slow-paced book, so I had a hard time staying fully invested. The gothic atmosphere is definitely there, but I personally didn't feel all that invested in the romance.
That said, the writing here shares a similar feel/vibe to Rachel Gillig's books. So, if you have enjoyed her books and you're in on slower pacing, this will probably be a five star read for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, Cariad Publishing, and Hallie Pursel for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
That said, the writing here shares a similar feel/vibe to Rachel Gillig's books. So, if you have enjoyed her books and you're in on slower pacing, this will probably be a five star read for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, Cariad Publishing, and Hallie Pursel for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2026
This book was perfection!
I will write more in the next day but if you’re wondering if you should read it, the answer is yesssss
Now with more words…
This one was available as a Read Now on NetGalley and I picked it up on a whim because the concept sounded interesting… and wow, I’m so happy I did.
I absolutely loved the gothic atmosphere - dark, haunting, and immersive in the best way. And Death as a character?
Incredible. It added such a unique layer to the story and made everything feel even more eerie and poetic.
I really enjoyed following Ilys through the years. It does make the beginning feel a bit slower, but it builds the world and emotional weight so well that everything that happens later hits exactly the way it should. Watching her begin to question the world around her and step into her own power was so compelling to read.
The ending? Perfection. Honestly, the entire book was perfection for me.
Easy 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I will write more in the next day but if you’re wondering if you should read it, the answer is yesssss
Now with more words…
This one was available as a Read Now on NetGalley and I picked it up on a whim because the concept sounded interesting… and wow, I’m so happy I did.
I absolutely loved the gothic atmosphere - dark, haunting, and immersive in the best way. And Death as a character?
Incredible. It added such a unique layer to the story and made everything feel even more eerie and poetic.
I really enjoyed following Ilys through the years. It does make the beginning feel a bit slower, but it builds the world and emotional weight so well that everything that happens later hits exactly the way it should. Watching her begin to question the world around her and step into her own power was so compelling to read.
The ending? Perfection. Honestly, the entire book was perfection for me.
Easy 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 5, 2026
4.5🫂
Read this early thanks to the read now option on netgalley :)
I loved this 😭 The gothic atmosphere was my favorite and I enjoyed it so much. Hallie’s writing made it easy to read and flowed nicely that I never struggled with it and found myself reading it so quick.
The romance didn’t started until around 70ish%? through and I loved that. 😭 We got to see Ilys grow and her personality shine with people in her life and outside of this romance. I really liked all the characters as well, it’s wonderful when no one annoys me.
Read this early thanks to the read now option on netgalley :)
I loved this 😭 The gothic atmosphere was my favorite and I enjoyed it so much. Hallie’s writing made it easy to read and flowed nicely that I never struggled with it and found myself reading it so quick.
The romance didn’t started until around 70ish%? through and I loved that. 😭 We got to see Ilys grow and her personality shine with people in her life and outside of this romance. I really liked all the characters as well, it’s wonderful when no one annoys me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC provided by NetGalley and Cariad Publishing House in exchange for honest review.
Veilmarch is a deliciously gothic, dark tale with a gentle romantic twist. It is the story of Ilys, chosen at 9 years old to be a the successional Veilwalker to Grim - a tool of Death to sever life threads of people who have unnaturally extended their lives. When she ascends to her role, it is with bitterness and resentment, after she is forced to eliminate one of the most important people in her life. But when she encounters Death himself, she is surprised to find him not only mortal, but a dying man. Her desire to end his life becomes less as she travels at his side, until a revelation changes everything. She now has someone firmly set in her sights for their ending - but just who is the one she will make pay? And what does it mean for Ilys, and her chosen successor Hanna?
Ilys is raised from an infant knowing she will be the hand of Death - his servant in ending the lives of those deemed so. Grim is her tutor, her father figure, and he sees that she is brought up devout and dedicated to the cause. But when god Death orders her to end the life of Baron, someone both she and Grim adore, Grim chooses to end his stint as Veilwalker, leaving a vengeful Ilys determined to end the life of Death. When he escorts her to her first Veilmarch, she discovers he is not only now mortal, but also dying - leaving her with the choice of ending him herself, or letting nature take its course. What she doesn't except is to develop feelings for him (enemies-to-lovers and one bed tropes are key to this arc). Their relationship is slow burn, with just a touch of spice, but it leaves you with an everlasting impression of how gentle love can be. An overly spicy on page relationship wouldn't fit the story that had gone before, and I think Pursel has read the room well there.
The twist of Grim's whereabouts being revealed sucked the air from my lungs, despite me acknowledging that he would not have willingly just abandoned Ilys, despite how she felt about it. This spurs Ilys into making her final decision, and her preparation, knowing she likely won't return, is bittersweet, particularly the scenes with Rowenna and Leif, where she asks them to care for Hanna out of sight of her enemies.
The world building in this book has me utterly torn between feeling like it was wonderful, and feeling like it was nowhere near enough. We see Ilys' early life, her training commencing with Grim, her love for Baron, her only real friendship with Rowenna and how it endures. It is the shaping of her childhood, and then the subsequent destruction of it with her order to kill Baron, and Grim's disappearance. I don't feel like we see enough of the King, and his wickedness, as a counterpoint to Ilys' formative years, nor do we know enough about Death before his appearance in his mortal form. This enigmatic figure appears and his affection for Ilys is quite apparent - yet she is hellbent on destroying him. The pacing of the next third of the novel is slow, focused purely on the developing feelings between Ilys and Death as they journey on to the Veilmarch. Then the truth about Grim sets the next events in motion at breakneck pace, and it just feels a bit jarring - almost rushed. I think a bit more pacing consistency, and some additional content on two big players in the story would elevate the story firmly into the 4⭐ ratings bracket.
Overall, Veilmarch is a solid debut by Hallie Pursel. Ilys is a likeable, fierce character who is devout in her duty until forced into something she cannot reconcile as anything other than wicked. Her feminine rage is plotted against one figure, whom she finds herself falling for, despite her assumptions of his guilt. When it comes to her final showdown, Ilys is prepared to bring everything around her to its knees - believing wholly in herself that she will enact a better future for Rowenna and her children, and for Hanna, her chosen one. The finale is hauntingly beautiful. I'm excited to see where Pursel's future takes her!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this book!
Veilmarch is a deliciously gothic, dark tale with a gentle romantic twist. It is the story of Ilys, chosen at 9 years old to be a the successional Veilwalker to Grim - a tool of Death to sever life threads of people who have unnaturally extended their lives. When she ascends to her role, it is with bitterness and resentment, after she is forced to eliminate one of the most important people in her life. But when she encounters Death himself, she is surprised to find him not only mortal, but a dying man. Her desire to end his life becomes less as she travels at his side, until a revelation changes everything. She now has someone firmly set in her sights for their ending - but just who is the one she will make pay? And what does it mean for Ilys, and her chosen successor Hanna?
Ilys is raised from an infant knowing she will be the hand of Death - his servant in ending the lives of those deemed so. Grim is her tutor, her father figure, and he sees that she is brought up devout and dedicated to the cause. But when god Death orders her to end the life of Baron, someone both she and Grim adore, Grim chooses to end his stint as Veilwalker, leaving a vengeful Ilys determined to end the life of Death. When he escorts her to her first Veilmarch, she discovers he is not only now mortal, but also dying - leaving her with the choice of ending him herself, or letting nature take its course. What she doesn't except is to develop feelings for him (enemies-to-lovers and one bed tropes are key to this arc). Their relationship is slow burn, with just a touch of spice, but it leaves you with an everlasting impression of how gentle love can be. An overly spicy on page relationship wouldn't fit the story that had gone before, and I think Pursel has read the room well there.
The twist of Grim's whereabouts being revealed sucked the air from my lungs, despite me acknowledging that he would not have willingly just abandoned Ilys, despite how she felt about it. This spurs Ilys into making her final decision, and her preparation, knowing she likely won't return, is bittersweet, particularly the scenes with Rowenna and Leif, where she asks them to care for Hanna out of sight of her enemies.
The world building in this book has me utterly torn between feeling like it was wonderful, and feeling like it was nowhere near enough. We see Ilys' early life, her training commencing with Grim, her love for Baron, her only real friendship with Rowenna and how it endures. It is the shaping of her childhood, and then the subsequent destruction of it with her order to kill Baron, and Grim's disappearance. I don't feel like we see enough of the King, and his wickedness, as a counterpoint to Ilys' formative years, nor do we know enough about Death before his appearance in his mortal form. This enigmatic figure appears and his affection for Ilys is quite apparent - yet she is hellbent on destroying him. The pacing of the next third of the novel is slow, focused purely on the developing feelings between Ilys and Death as they journey on to the Veilmarch. Then the truth about Grim sets the next events in motion at breakneck pace, and it just feels a bit jarring - almost rushed. I think a bit more pacing consistency, and some additional content on two big players in the story would elevate the story firmly into the 4⭐ ratings bracket.
Overall, Veilmarch is a solid debut by Hallie Pursel. Ilys is a likeable, fierce character who is devout in her duty until forced into something she cannot reconcile as anything other than wicked. Her feminine rage is plotted against one figure, whom she finds herself falling for, despite her assumptions of his guilt. When it comes to her final showdown, Ilys is prepared to bring everything around her to its knees - believing wholly in herself that she will enact a better future for Rowenna and her children, and for Hanna, her chosen one. The finale is hauntingly beautiful. I'm excited to see where Pursel's future takes her!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars
Hallie Pursel’s Veilmarch is a gothic fantasy romance that transcends simple genre labels. It is a story about survival, identity, and the heavy price of truth, and it left me completely captivated by its protagonist, Ilys.
From the very first chapter, I found myself feeling so many things for Ilys—sympathy, frustration, and ultimately, an immense sense of pride. Ilys is not your typical "invincible" fantasy heroine; she is a woman who has been shaped by hardship and the weight of her own history.
What makes her journey so compelling is the way her character shifts as she uncovers the dark realities of her world. As Ilys learns more about the long-standing bargain between the King and Death, her entire perspective on her life begins to fracture. She is forced to reconcile not only with the things she has been made to do but with the realization of who she truly is in the wake of those choices. This knowledge changes her "endgame" entirely. Without spoiling the conclusion, seeing Ilys move from a position of being a pawn to a woman fiercely determined to see things through to her own envisioned end was incredibly empowering. Her growth is a slow-burn transformation that feels earned and deeply personal.
The brilliance of Veilmarch lies in how Ilys is defined and challenged by the people surrounding her. The secondary characters are the architects of her transformation, each representing a different facet of her struggle:
Grim: One of the most touching elements of the book is the relationship between Ilys and Grim. Grim serves as a vital father figure for Ilys. In a world that is cold and often unforgiving, his presence provides a necessary sense of protection and guidance. Their bond is a beautiful reminder that family isn’t always blood, but those who stand by you in the dark even though he wasn't necessarily the warmest person.
Hanna: In a world filled with secrets and hidden agendas, Hanna serves as a necessary tether to Ilys’s humanity. Her relationship with Ilys provides moments of warmth and genuine connection that contrast beautifully with the darker, more clinical elements of the plot. She was a reminder of the future and gave her someone to connect to when everyone else was gone.
Baron and Rowenna: These two figures represent the friendships and love that Ilys developed while living at the Sanctum. They both defy the rules and show Ilys that there is more to her life than what she is being raised for.
The true romantic tension of the book lies in the relationship between Ilys and Death. Pursel utilizes the enemies-to-lovers trope with masterful precision. This isn't a simple "star-crossed" attraction; it is a complex, slow-burn evolution.
The concept of a romance with Death himself fits the gothic tone perfectly. Their dynamic is built on high stakes and mutual wariness. Seeing Ilys navigate her anger towards him while slowly uncovering the layers of his character was one of my favorite parts of the reading experience. It is an electric connection that keeps the pages turning, especially as the lines between "enemy" and "lover" begin to blur.
As a debut, Veilmarch is exceptionally polished. The prose is lyrical and evocative, capturing the "gothic" essence without ever feeling overwrought. It is rare to find a fantasy romance that balances the "high-stakes" plot with such a heavy emphasis on emotional resonance. I found myself tearing up at points, not because of the external dangers, but because of the personal moments Ilys experiences.
Hallie Pursel has set a very high bar for herself. I will definitely be picking up more from this author in the future, as she has a gift for creating characters that feel like real people lost in extraordinary, dark circumstances. If you want a book that will make you feel every emotion on the spectrum while losing yourself in a magical, shadowed world, Veilmarch should be at the top of your list.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Hallie Pursel’s Veilmarch is a gothic fantasy romance that transcends simple genre labels. It is a story about survival, identity, and the heavy price of truth, and it left me completely captivated by its protagonist, Ilys.
From the very first chapter, I found myself feeling so many things for Ilys—sympathy, frustration, and ultimately, an immense sense of pride. Ilys is not your typical "invincible" fantasy heroine; she is a woman who has been shaped by hardship and the weight of her own history.
What makes her journey so compelling is the way her character shifts as she uncovers the dark realities of her world. As Ilys learns more about the long-standing bargain between the King and Death, her entire perspective on her life begins to fracture. She is forced to reconcile not only with the things she has been made to do but with the realization of who she truly is in the wake of those choices. This knowledge changes her "endgame" entirely. Without spoiling the conclusion, seeing Ilys move from a position of being a pawn to a woman fiercely determined to see things through to her own envisioned end was incredibly empowering. Her growth is a slow-burn transformation that feels earned and deeply personal.
The brilliance of Veilmarch lies in how Ilys is defined and challenged by the people surrounding her. The secondary characters are the architects of her transformation, each representing a different facet of her struggle:
Grim: One of the most touching elements of the book is the relationship between Ilys and Grim. Grim serves as a vital father figure for Ilys. In a world that is cold and often unforgiving, his presence provides a necessary sense of protection and guidance. Their bond is a beautiful reminder that family isn’t always blood, but those who stand by you in the dark even though he wasn't necessarily the warmest person.
Hanna: In a world filled with secrets and hidden agendas, Hanna serves as a necessary tether to Ilys’s humanity. Her relationship with Ilys provides moments of warmth and genuine connection that contrast beautifully with the darker, more clinical elements of the plot. She was a reminder of the future and gave her someone to connect to when everyone else was gone.
Baron and Rowenna: These two figures represent the friendships and love that Ilys developed while living at the Sanctum. They both defy the rules and show Ilys that there is more to her life than what she is being raised for.
The true romantic tension of the book lies in the relationship between Ilys and Death. Pursel utilizes the enemies-to-lovers trope with masterful precision. This isn't a simple "star-crossed" attraction; it is a complex, slow-burn evolution.
The concept of a romance with Death himself fits the gothic tone perfectly. Their dynamic is built on high stakes and mutual wariness. Seeing Ilys navigate her anger towards him while slowly uncovering the layers of his character was one of my favorite parts of the reading experience. It is an electric connection that keeps the pages turning, especially as the lines between "enemy" and "lover" begin to blur.
As a debut, Veilmarch is exceptionally polished. The prose is lyrical and evocative, capturing the "gothic" essence without ever feeling overwrought. It is rare to find a fantasy romance that balances the "high-stakes" plot with such a heavy emphasis on emotional resonance. I found myself tearing up at points, not because of the external dangers, but because of the personal moments Ilys experiences.
Hallie Pursel has set a very high bar for herself. I will definitely be picking up more from this author in the future, as she has a gift for creating characters that feel like real people lost in extraordinary, dark circumstances. If you want a book that will make you feel every emotion on the spectrum while losing yourself in a magical, shadowed world, Veilmarch should be at the top of your list.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"And it was spoken that the Veilwalker is bound by three duties: to sever, to serve, and to walk the path unseen."
fantasy/romance | spice scale: 1.5-2
what to expect:
✧ a divinity-driven kingdom
✧ a trained, executioner FMC
✧ coming-of-age journey
✧ (soft) enemies-to-lovers
quick synopsis:
Ilys is the Veilwalker, the chosen executioner to carry-out Death's will as duty demands by her kingdom. Ilys’ role upholds an ancient contract that maintains the threads of all life. As the Veilwalker, she lives in dutiful, relative solitude, severing lives as called upon. When duty fractures Ilys’ view of her role, she sets out to destroy Death, which brings on a chain of events that leads her down a path she'd never expect.
spoiler-free review:
This book shines in its overarching themes and delicate, fluid writing. It ached to watch Illys grasp for a sense of belonging, that yearning for connection; Pursel brings about vivid emotion where you can really feel the isolation of Ilys’ reality. Further, the experience of womanhood was all too familiar; it felt, at times, like a mirror was being held to life where our choices are but made by the powers that be, where we're forced into boxes that could never contain our shape. One quote stuck with me, that both drives home this theme and gives example to Pursel's writing:
"Run, her thoughts whispered silently. Let us both abandon these cloaks of obedience. Let us play at being men, loud, sure, untouchable. Let us ravage the world and call it ambition. Let our desire be a shield, wrapping us like a woolen quilt against cold expectations. Let us make our own names feared so none may speak over us, none may say what we are or what we must become."
The premise of this book as a whole was quite enticing. A mortal character who directly influences the weaving of fates, who goes on to challenge the very system they previously upheld? I'm sold. However, the pacing and world-building plagued its execution for me. The story begins with a meandering pace and quickly loses stamina in the first 30%. While Part I provides helpful background on our character, their relationships, and the pious kingdom, I think these aspects could have been realized as the main plot began unfolding come Part II. As for world-building, it was pretty vague for me — the story's physical settings, religion, and magic lacked defined boundaries or distinctive qualities, or both.
Finally, the romance (sub-plot turned main plot?? I'm undecided). All I'll say is that it was a bit jarring, considering it wasn't really alluded to until well into the story. I think this story could have held its own, and perhaps thrived, without it.
Overall, this book was a pretty solid debut and I think Hallie Pursel has a lot of potential (see quote above!!!). I'd definitely pick up one of her books again.
Much thanks to Cariad Publishing and Net Galley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review ◡̈
3 stars
fantasy/romance | spice scale: 1.5-2
what to expect:
✧ a divinity-driven kingdom
✧ a trained, executioner FMC
✧ coming-of-age journey
✧ (soft) enemies-to-lovers
quick synopsis:
Ilys is the Veilwalker, the chosen executioner to carry-out Death's will as duty demands by her kingdom. Ilys’ role upholds an ancient contract that maintains the threads of all life. As the Veilwalker, she lives in dutiful, relative solitude, severing lives as called upon. When duty fractures Ilys’ view of her role, she sets out to destroy Death, which brings on a chain of events that leads her down a path she'd never expect.
spoiler-free review:
This book shines in its overarching themes and delicate, fluid writing. It ached to watch Illys grasp for a sense of belonging, that yearning for connection; Pursel brings about vivid emotion where you can really feel the isolation of Ilys’ reality. Further, the experience of womanhood was all too familiar; it felt, at times, like a mirror was being held to life where our choices are but made by the powers that be, where we're forced into boxes that could never contain our shape. One quote stuck with me, that both drives home this theme and gives example to Pursel's writing:
"Run, her thoughts whispered silently. Let us both abandon these cloaks of obedience. Let us play at being men, loud, sure, untouchable. Let us ravage the world and call it ambition. Let our desire be a shield, wrapping us like a woolen quilt against cold expectations. Let us make our own names feared so none may speak over us, none may say what we are or what we must become."
The premise of this book as a whole was quite enticing. A mortal character who directly influences the weaving of fates, who goes on to challenge the very system they previously upheld? I'm sold. However, the pacing and world-building plagued its execution for me. The story begins with a meandering pace and quickly loses stamina in the first 30%. While Part I provides helpful background on our character, their relationships, and the pious kingdom, I think these aspects could have been realized as the main plot began unfolding come Part II. As for world-building, it was pretty vague for me — the story's physical settings, religion, and magic lacked defined boundaries or distinctive qualities, or both.
Finally, the romance (sub-plot turned main plot?? I'm undecided). All I'll say is that it was a bit jarring, considering it wasn't really alluded to until well into the story. I think this story could have held its own, and perhaps thrived, without it.
Overall, this book was a pretty solid debut and I think Hallie Pursel has a lot of potential (see quote above!!!). I'd definitely pick up one of her books again.
Much thanks to Cariad Publishing and Net Galley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review ◡̈
3 stars
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