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The Otherworld #2
Veins of Magic
The conclusion of Heart of the Fae, where Beauty and the Beast meets Irish Mythology.
Once upon a time…
Heartache dogs the steps of Sorcha of Ui Neill. Although she is home with her family, she is unable to shake the memories of her time in Hy-brasil. She heals with a heavy heart, tells stories with melancholy words, and cannot forget the magic of the Otherworld. When an opportunity arises to return to her beloved Fae Prince, she makes a questionable deal. Dark magic, druidic curses, and a witch open a portal and send her tumbling into the middle of a war she must end for the sake of all who dwell in the Otherworld.
Saving the faeries will not be easy when she has become a woman they fear.
The once banished king battles his way through the Otherworld, freeing the Lesser Fae with each swing of his sword. Each attack turns Eamonn into something far more beastly than before. Geodes multiply and hinder his movements, harden his heart, and crystalize his resolve.
Together, they face the King of the Seelie Fae and his golden army to end the war that will change the fate of the Otherworld forever.
Once upon a time…
Heartache dogs the steps of Sorcha of Ui Neill. Although she is home with her family, she is unable to shake the memories of her time in Hy-brasil. She heals with a heavy heart, tells stories with melancholy words, and cannot forget the magic of the Otherworld. When an opportunity arises to return to her beloved Fae Prince, she makes a questionable deal. Dark magic, druidic curses, and a witch open a portal and send her tumbling into the middle of a war she must end for the sake of all who dwell in the Otherworld.
Saving the faeries will not be easy when she has become a woman they fear.
The once banished king battles his way through the Otherworld, freeing the Lesser Fae with each swing of his sword. Each attack turns Eamonn into something far more beastly than before. Geodes multiply and hinder his movements, harden his heart, and crystalize his resolve.
Together, they face the King of the Seelie Fae and his golden army to end the war that will change the fate of the Otherworld forever.
350 pages, ebook
Published December 19, 2017
997 people are currently reading
3773 people want to read
About the author
Emma Hamm
75 books4,456 followers
We all know you don't really care about reading my background. Enjoy Cap instead.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 504 reviews
April 30, 2022
I’m just obsessed with the dynamic Sorcha and Eamonn have 😭
May 24, 2018
To be honest, I didn't really enjoy this book. It fell flat for me and I found myself getting bored while reading it. That's not to say there wasn't action in the plot, but it just wasn't as exciting or engaging as I wanted. The plot felt a little all over the place, and not focused. A bunch of things happen that just kind of seem out of the blue, like the author was just like here, I'm going to throw this bit in to make things magically work out. I also found some of the characters' actions to be baffling and not making sense, bizarre in the way they act- maybe that's due to the fact that I needed more character insight? Some of it just seemed out of line with what I expected them to act like.
Also, I was left with a lot of questions that went unanswered, and there were plot holes and spelling mistakes throughout. There's that one random druid/witch in the beginning- like whatever happened to her, is she going to show up in the later books? How/why whatever happened to Eamonn happened? How about the druids and the Unseelie Queen- why did they do what they did? It seems like they'd want something from Sorcha but nothing happens on that front. There's also unresolved stuff with Bran and weird dynamics with the high fae.
Sorcha's character seems to turn more bitter after the events of book 1, and she feels discontent in the human world. After returning to the Otherworld, she's happier and they say say she's kind and good, but I didn't see much of that, and there's the thing with her powers as a Weaver. First she doesn't use it, then she does, and it's just an odd feel of character development. Eamonn was confusing as well- warlord yet not, he's changing, but he felt all over the place too. Also, both do things that break the other's trust, and I didn't agree with some of their actions- it just seemed like too much of a betrayal. I did enjoy the relationships she grew with the faeries and the dwarves though, like Cait. Overall, the way things went just wasn't for me.
Also, I was left with a lot of questions that went unanswered, and there were plot holes and spelling mistakes throughout. There's that one random druid/witch in the beginning- like whatever happened to her, is she going to show up in the later books? How/why whatever happened to Eamonn happened? How about the druids and the Unseelie Queen- why did they do what they did? It seems like they'd want something from Sorcha but nothing happens on that front. There's also unresolved stuff with Bran and weird dynamics with the high fae.
Sorcha's character seems to turn more bitter after the events of book 1, and she feels discontent in the human world. After returning to the Otherworld, she's happier and they say say she's kind and good, but I didn't see much of that, and there's the thing with her powers as a Weaver. First she doesn't use it, then she does, and it's just an odd feel of character development. Eamonn was confusing as well- warlord yet not, he's changing, but he felt all over the place too. Also, both do things that break the other's trust, and I didn't agree with some of their actions- it just seemed like too much of a betrayal. I did enjoy the relationships she grew with the faeries and the dwarves though, like Cait. Overall, the way things went just wasn't for me.
July 24, 2018
my review for book one can be found here!
and so Eamonn and Sorcha's journey has come to end. I enjoyed reading this book and Sorcha is as badass and fierce as ever, I love her.
review to come!
and so Eamonn and Sorcha's journey has come to end. I enjoyed reading this book and Sorcha is as badass and fierce as ever, I love her.
review to come!
April 7, 2022
This book is for you if… you can easily settle into a narrative and not be too hard on it. This series is for readers who don't torture themselves over what they feel is missing in a book and, instead, simply sit back and relax.
⤐ Additionally.
Overall, this was about as average as it can get. For some reason, I never got the first book in The Otherworld series out of my head even though I had a hunch that the series would never make it on my favourites shelf by a long shot. Nevertheless, Heart of the Fae kept resurfacing from the back of my head from time to time. I just love Celtic mythology and tales of emancipated women too much to not give them another chance. I still recall the things I loved about Heart of the Fae the first time around vividly. So I decided to give it another go.
After re-reading, and also decreasing my rating for the first book, my enthusiasm got somewhat diminished and after having finished Veins of Magic I have accepted that this series simply isn't for me. Technically speaking this book has everything a good fantasy needs; heroes, villains, the desire to make life better for the people, romance, magic and Celtic mythology. In the end, it still wasn't enough for me to love this book even though I have a hard time naming what I'm missing.
I think Emma made it too easy for Saoirse to return to the Otherworld which made everything after that a tad implausible.
⤐ What’s happening.
‘War is dark and dangerous, there are many who fall prey to its nightmares.’
spoiler alert : At least you won't have nightmares because the book is terrible.
_____________________
3 STARS. Decent read that I have neither strongly positive nor negative feelings about. Some things irked me and thus it does not qualify as exceptional.
December 20, 2017
I love fairytale retellings!I've almost read all of the ones available so when I came across a new Beauty and the Beast retelling in Heart Of The Fae, I knew I had to have it, especially since it was written by Emma Hamm!I've loved her writing from the time I read The Goblin Bride two years back.And this series was just another unique treat!
Veins of Magic picks up where we left of in Heart Of The Fae,with Eamonn going off to fight his brother and Sorcha trying to find a cure to the beetle plague.The previous book focused on the journey of the characters while they meet each other,the development of their relationships and the setting up of a world which was uniquely beautiful and amazing.In this book the characters start off with quests of their own, and their personal development from the protagonists that we saw in book one to the strong characters that we see here was very well done!They are very well fleshed out with a strong supporting cast too!The world building, the descriptions and the history was also mesmerizing.
I was waiting for the moment when Sorcha and Eamonn would meet again and it did not disappoint!I read this book in one complete sitting and the ending had me jumping with joy!
I've fallen in love with this world and this series and I hope there are more books to come! :D
So,what are you waiting for?If you haven't started this series yet, I urge you to give it a try!You will definitely love it!
Veins of Magic picks up where we left of in Heart Of The Fae,with Eamonn going off to fight his brother and Sorcha trying to find a cure to the beetle plague.The previous book focused on the journey of the characters while they meet each other,the development of their relationships and the setting up of a world which was uniquely beautiful and amazing.In this book the characters start off with quests of their own, and their personal development from the protagonists that we saw in book one to the strong characters that we see here was very well done!They are very well fleshed out with a strong supporting cast too!The world building, the descriptions and the history was also mesmerizing.
I was waiting for the moment when Sorcha and Eamonn would meet again and it did not disappoint!I read this book in one complete sitting and the ending had me jumping with joy!
I've fallen in love with this world and this series and I hope there are more books to come! :D
So,what are you waiting for?If you haven't started this series yet, I urge you to give it a try!You will definitely love it!
September 18, 2018
Books like this are the reason I'm so glad to be on Goodreads and a part of the blogging community. I never would have given these books the time of day if not for a review on GR that captivated my interest and forced me to satisfy my curiosity. Rife with Irish mythology and faerie lore, this series is exactly what I've been in the mood for, and I think the conclusion was every bit as good as the first book, if not better. It continued the BatB theme but made it more vicious and cruel and just plain heart-breaking. But it was also just so lovely and I'll definitely be revisiting.
September 16, 2021
I can't put my finger on what is missing...
we have all the ingredients for this to be a perfect fantasy but still, I am at times perplexed with the story... as with book one, I need better transitions and more cohesiveness.. still enjoyable with lots of potentials..
we have all the ingredients for this to be a perfect fantasy but still, I am at times perplexed with the story... as with book one, I need better transitions and more cohesiveness.. still enjoyable with lots of potentials..
February 1, 2018
Nooo... what happened? The first book was just amazing and this one seems to have been written by a different person.
I’m going to be honest... I’ve got to the 80% and I was still pretty much in love with the story and then...everything went to hell.
1) No one... and I mean NO ONE is going to truly believe that Eamonn was killed just like that so when Sorcha cried and was devastated... I was like “oh come on, girl... you know he’s alive.”
2) The war/battle was non-existent. I really thought it was going to be epic. I’d have loved to see Sorcha training a little bit more but I was really expecting this great war where she was going to do something amazing and it was going to give me the chills... but nop, that didn’t happen. The “war” was over in less than 2 pages.
3) Even if I hate cliffhangers... I think it would have fit the story to leave it there during the war so we could have another book in which the ending would have had a good closure and everything would have been pretty much explained. The ending left me feeling as if it was just rushed... Was the relic what gave Eamonn those crystals? Why his parents didn’t intervene? Why was Fionn so guilty? Why did the soldiers wake up and pledge alliance to Eamonn so easily?
I needed a 3rd book and the fact that only 20% of the book was left for the war and the ending of the duology makes me mad. I was expecting so much more. I read the 1st book so quickly and I recommended it to so many people...that I feel I’ve let them down as the book let me down.
I still believe the author is amazing and her writing is very good... I only wish this book hadn't ended in such a rushed way.
I’m going to be honest... I’ve got to the 80% and I was still pretty much in love with the story and then...everything went to hell.
1) No one... and I mean NO ONE is going to truly believe that Eamonn was killed just like that so when Sorcha cried and was devastated... I was like “oh come on, girl... you know he’s alive.”
2) The war/battle was non-existent. I really thought it was going to be epic. I’d have loved to see Sorcha training a little bit more but I was really expecting this great war where she was going to do something amazing and it was going to give me the chills... but nop, that didn’t happen. The “war” was over in less than 2 pages.
3) Even if I hate cliffhangers... I think it would have fit the story to leave it there during the war so we could have another book in which the ending would have had a good closure and everything would have been pretty much explained. The ending left me feeling as if it was just rushed... Was the relic what gave Eamonn those crystals? Why his parents didn’t intervene? Why was Fionn so guilty? Why did the soldiers wake up and pledge alliance to Eamonn so easily?
I needed a 3rd book and the fact that only 20% of the book was left for the war and the ending of the duology makes me mad. I was expecting so much more. I read the 1st book so quickly and I recommended it to so many people...that I feel I’ve let them down as the book let me down.
I still believe the author is amazing and her writing is very good... I only wish this book hadn't ended in such a rushed way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2018
Ahhhh man. I'm bummed. I liked the first book. There were a few holes in the story or things that didnt quite name sense but I enjoyed the story so much it didnt really bother me.
This one however was just a mess. The characters didnt feel solid at all, like the author wasnt sure who they were so I wasnt sure who they were either. They would say something one moment then say something completely different in another. I couldn't see where the story was going and not in a “oh what's going to happen” way but in a “what the hell is going on I dont understand” way. And then illogical statements like this would randomly pop up all over the place.
“Metal scraped against leather in a harsh grind”.
What? Metal and leather dont grind....
And then Eamon would say stupid shit like this:
“Sorcha, I've undressed more women in my life time than you have yourself.”
Are you for real?
And then we'd go back to saying one thing one moment and another thing at a different time. One person says the Fae are who they are and have always done this or that. Then the next moment you read this:
“The Fae are much used to changes in their lives.”
I just got so irritated. This story just made no sense. It was everywhere. And I really liked Sorcha in the first book but could not stand her in this one. I mean everyone wants world peace but utopia is just not realistic. And who goes to lead their army in a battle then walk up to a soldier and try and have a peace talk. The strong fierce Sorcha was missing in this book. The woe is me and confused one was in this one.
This one however was just a mess. The characters didnt feel solid at all, like the author wasnt sure who they were so I wasnt sure who they were either. They would say something one moment then say something completely different in another. I couldn't see where the story was going and not in a “oh what's going to happen” way but in a “what the hell is going on I dont understand” way. And then illogical statements like this would randomly pop up all over the place.
“Metal scraped against leather in a harsh grind”.
What? Metal and leather dont grind....
And then Eamon would say stupid shit like this:
“Sorcha, I've undressed more women in my life time than you have yourself.”
Are you for real?
And then we'd go back to saying one thing one moment and another thing at a different time. One person says the Fae are who they are and have always done this or that. Then the next moment you read this:
“The Fae are much used to changes in their lives.”
I just got so irritated. This story just made no sense. It was everywhere. And I really liked Sorcha in the first book but could not stand her in this one. I mean everyone wants world peace but utopia is just not realistic. And who goes to lead their army in a battle then walk up to a soldier and try and have a peace talk. The strong fierce Sorcha was missing in this book. The woe is me and confused one was in this one.
May 7, 2023
“Veins of Magic” solidifies Emma Hamm‘s title as the queen of character development.
Sorcha begins this duology as one woman and ends it as another. The change is slow, natural, and motivated by ideologically- and environmentally-driven choices. I completely understood every decision she made, even if I didn’t agree with all of them.
Sorcha’s relationship with Eamonn is perhaps the most realistic romance I’ve ever read in a fantasy novel. Because they care so deeply for each other, their arguments are just as fiery and passionate as their physical intimacy. Plus, there are plenty of times when they feel disconnected from one another, but that never means their relationship is in danger.
Unfortunately, “Veins of Magic” suffers from the same issue as “Heart of the Fae” — the setup is weak compared to the rest of the novel. I’d go as far as to call the first ~90 pages of “Veins of Magic” a series of plot conveniences.
EXAMPLE 1: Sorcha spends the entire first book trying to cure the blood beetle plague. Then, ~40 pages into the second book, a random dude she’s never met before appears in the woods and *hands her* the cure. Huh?
EXAMPLE 2: Sorcha spends months trying to convince the fae to take her back to Eamonn, until one day, a random woman she’s never met before (and never meets again!) appears at her doorstep with a spellbook and helps her create a portal leading directly to him. Again: huh?
Despite the rocky starts, I’m happy to keep the “Heart of the Fae” duology on my shelf to reread again!
Sorcha begins this duology as one woman and ends it as another. The change is slow, natural, and motivated by ideologically- and environmentally-driven choices. I completely understood every decision she made, even if I didn’t agree with all of them.
Sorcha’s relationship with Eamonn is perhaps the most realistic romance I’ve ever read in a fantasy novel. Because they care so deeply for each other, their arguments are just as fiery and passionate as their physical intimacy. Plus, there are plenty of times when they feel disconnected from one another, but that never means their relationship is in danger.
Unfortunately, “Veins of Magic” suffers from the same issue as “Heart of the Fae” — the setup is weak compared to the rest of the novel. I’d go as far as to call the first ~90 pages of “Veins of Magic” a series of plot conveniences.
EXAMPLE 1: Sorcha spends the entire first book trying to cure the blood beetle plague. Then, ~40 pages into the second book, a random dude she’s never met before appears in the woods and *hands her* the cure. Huh?
EXAMPLE 2: Sorcha spends months trying to convince the fae to take her back to Eamonn, until one day, a random woman she’s never met before (and never meets again!) appears at her doorstep with a spellbook and helps her create a portal leading directly to him. Again: huh?
Despite the rocky starts, I’m happy to keep the “Heart of the Fae” duology on my shelf to reread again!
January 29, 2019
2.5 stars
Sadly, I didn't enjoy this sequel as much as the first book. It felt clunky, slow and too simplistic at times. There was too much telling and not enough showing/action. The dialogue was laughable. The so called battle was anticlimactic, the ending predictable and I just wasn't invested in any of the characters like I was in the first book. I had to force myself to read the second half of this, as I was bored. Not a good look for a fantasy book.
I did like Sorcha she was a good heroine, brave, independent, strong and kind. However, her relationship and love of Eamon felt weak. The other chacters also felt two dimensional. I'm so disappointed!
Sadly, I didn't enjoy this sequel as much as the first book. It felt clunky, slow and too simplistic at times. There was too much telling and not enough showing/action. The dialogue was laughable. The so called battle was anticlimactic, the ending predictable and I just wasn't invested in any of the characters like I was in the first book. I had to force myself to read the second half of this, as I was bored. Not a good look for a fantasy book.
I did like Sorcha she was a good heroine, brave, independent, strong and kind. However, her relationship and love of Eamon felt weak. The other chacters also felt two dimensional. I'm so disappointed!
March 6, 2018
Too long. This series should have been edited and reworked to be just one book. Ending was weak
March 29, 2022
Definitely super addicted to the series! Can't wait to read what happens next or who the characters will be in the next book.
This is the second book and explores more about Sorcha and Eamonn's plot to gain the throne of the Seelie Court. This book was honestly a whole ride and what happened in the middle of the book left me in shock and broken hearted but thank the author!!! It was resolved by the end. Am so glad, Couldn't have asked for a better ending!
We get to know more about Sorcha, and her growing into her own powers and being the queen she is! The plot was very feminist, but I still hoped for the romance to win and well I wasn't disappointed.
This is the second book and explores more about Sorcha and Eamonn's plot to gain the throne of the Seelie Court. This book was honestly a whole ride and what happened in the middle of the book left me in shock and broken hearted but thank the author!!! It was resolved by the end. Am so glad, Couldn't have asked for a better ending!
We get to know more about Sorcha, and her growing into her own powers and being the queen she is! The plot was very feminist, but I still hoped for the romance to win and well I wasn't disappointed.
March 25, 2019
A FIRM 3.5 STARS
This conclusion to Heart of the Fae was overall an enjoyable read, although not to the same level as book 1 for me. I was pleased that Sorcha and Eamonn got their HEA, for a big horrible moment I thought they wouldn’t.
In this book we see the battle to return Eamonn to his rightful place and free the lesser Fae from the tyranny of Eamonn’s brother intensify, as Sorcha truly comes into her own.
Whilst I liked this book there were issues, I felt that the ending needed to be teased out far more, and the great war/battle for the crown and for the freedom of the lesser Fae, wasn’t as epic as I thought it would be, I don’t think it received the attention it should have been given. Plus, without giving too much away I loved the addition of the Druid culture/history in this one, but the connection to Sorcha felt a little out of left field.
Also, I really wanted a confrontation between Eamonn and his parents, one that allowed him to have some form of closure from their betrayal/cruelty, just being told they will be sequestered to their rooms for the rest of their days wasn’t enough. More showing than telling needed to occur, in this final part to Sorcha and Eamonn’s tale.
I’m looking forward to reading more about all the otherworldly beings/creatures mentioned in book 1 and 2.
Acquired via KU.
This conclusion to Heart of the Fae was overall an enjoyable read, although not to the same level as book 1 for me. I was pleased that Sorcha and Eamonn got their HEA, for a big horrible moment I thought they wouldn’t.
In this book we see the battle to return Eamonn to his rightful place and free the lesser Fae from the tyranny of Eamonn’s brother intensify, as Sorcha truly comes into her own.
Whilst I liked this book there were issues, I felt that the ending needed to be teased out far more, and the great war/battle for the crown and for the freedom of the lesser Fae, wasn’t as epic as I thought it would be, I don’t think it received the attention it should have been given. Plus, without giving too much away I loved the addition of the Druid culture/history in this one, but the connection to Sorcha felt a little out of left field.
Also, I really wanted a confrontation between Eamonn and his parents, one that allowed him to have some form of closure from their betrayal/cruelty, just being told they will be sequestered to their rooms for the rest of their days wasn’t enough. More showing than telling needed to occur, in this final part to Sorcha and Eamonn’s tale.
I’m looking forward to reading more about all the otherworldly beings/creatures mentioned in book 1 and 2.
Acquired via KU.
December 2, 2018
I love fairytale retellings. I especially favour the Beauty and the Beast trope so when I saw the first book in this series was discounted a few weeks ago I couldn’t resist the temptation. This mentality's also why I will never even make a dent in my TBR mountain let alone clear it up.
The first book was nothing original but I enjoyed it enough to decide I want to know how the story will end. Well not how it’ll end precisely because as a Beauty and the Beast retelling it must follow a certain pattern. So the correct thing to say is I wanted to know the particulars of how Sorcha and Eamonn will get to their HEA. Unlike the Heart of the Fae this one managed to sneak in some surprises. I particularly enjoyed the way Sorcha’s devotion to a peaceful resolution was tested. She wavered in the face of heartbreak and grief but her healer’s heart ultimately won over the desire for revenge. Hamm’s interpretation of the Fomorian myths was also quite engaging and I would love to see her write the story implied by the mother of druids. There’s so much potential there even if we know how it will end. But then again that can be said for all retellings and I (and apparently a lot of other readers) love them.
The first book was nothing original but I enjoyed it enough to decide I want to know how the story will end. Well not how it’ll end precisely because as a Beauty and the Beast retelling it must follow a certain pattern. So the correct thing to say is I wanted to know the particulars of how Sorcha and Eamonn will get to their HEA. Unlike the Heart of the Fae this one managed to sneak in some surprises. I particularly enjoyed the way Sorcha’s devotion to a peaceful resolution was tested. She wavered in the face of heartbreak and grief but her healer’s heart ultimately won over the desire for revenge. Hamm’s interpretation of the Fomorian myths was also quite engaging and I would love to see her write the story implied by the mother of druids. There’s so much potential there even if we know how it will end. But then again that can be said for all retellings and I (and apparently a lot of other readers) love them.
September 18, 2018
my heart .
January 17, 2019
This was a very conflicting read.
I still like the idea, the general landscaping, but that potential is not supported by well-rounded characters and an immersive worldbuilding.
Characters in general should be more nuanced, instead they suffer of a widespread fickleness: I couldn't define their personality, understand what their ideals are, what they really care for or want to achieve.
I couldn't perceive their emotions and their evolution. Consequently, I felt no empathy for them.
Almost everyone runs a personality rollercoaster but Sorcha, in particular, is the epitome of contradiction. She is like a wind vane, changing her words, thoughts and actions between one page and another, without sense, nor logic to character and plot development. Like a boat drifting in the stormy sea. At times was "just" annoying, but it became ridiculous at some point.
Some side characters - Macha, Bran, the ancestors - appeared at random, while other ones - Eamonn's parents, the witch, Macha herself in 3/4 of the book - conveniently disappeared.
What I missed most is a deep characterization of different fae "races".
In the first book, when on the island, we had glimpses from brownies, and Boggart, Cian and his affinity for horticulture...
In Veins of Magic there is no account of how dwarves and gnomes differ, of what makes a pixie and a peat faery recognizable from one another, or explaining how flowers are part of them...
We're suggested that dwarves have this special power of singing to stones: why not telling/showing something more about it? How does it work? What makes the stones respond? Couldn't this kind of trick be very useful in battle?
All this magical beings, and everyone relying only on physical combat and physical labour, instead.
There were inconsistencies (starting with the different flow of time between realms), the plot felt too stretched out, several outcomes were predictable and often enough the narrative sounded disconnected, like a telegram: scene - stop - other scene - stop...
I also noticed several misspellings, and the use of some words sounded cheesy.
When reading about fairy myths, supernatural beings, magical worlds, I'd wish for the storytelling to excite wonder in the reader.
I'm not certain how selfpublishing works, but I think with a good editor Heart of the Fae and Veins of Magic could have been arranged in one nice book.
I still like the idea, the general landscaping, but that potential is not supported by well-rounded characters and an immersive worldbuilding.
Characters in general should be more nuanced, instead they suffer of a widespread fickleness: I couldn't define their personality, understand what their ideals are, what they really care for or want to achieve.
I couldn't perceive their emotions and their evolution. Consequently, I felt no empathy for them.
Almost everyone runs a personality rollercoaster but Sorcha, in particular, is the epitome of contradiction. She is like a wind vane, changing her words, thoughts and actions between one page and another, without sense, nor logic to character and plot development. Like a boat drifting in the stormy sea. At times was "just" annoying, but it became ridiculous at some point.
Some side characters - Macha, Bran, the ancestors - appeared at random, while other ones - Eamonn's parents, the witch, Macha herself in 3/4 of the book - conveniently disappeared.
What I missed most is a deep characterization of different fae "races".
In the first book, when on the island, we had glimpses from brownies, and Boggart, Cian and his affinity for horticulture...
In Veins of Magic there is no account of how dwarves and gnomes differ, of what makes a pixie and a peat faery recognizable from one another, or explaining how flowers are part of them...
We're suggested that dwarves have this special power of singing to stones: why not telling/showing something more about it? How does it work? What makes the stones respond? Couldn't this kind of trick be very useful in battle?
All this magical beings, and everyone relying only on physical combat and physical labour, instead.
There were inconsistencies (starting with the different flow of time between realms), the plot felt too stretched out, several outcomes were predictable and often enough the narrative sounded disconnected, like a telegram: scene - stop - other scene - stop...
I also noticed several misspellings, and the use of some words sounded cheesy.
When reading about fairy myths, supernatural beings, magical worlds, I'd wish for the storytelling to excite wonder in the reader.
I'm not certain how selfpublishing works, but I think with a good editor Heart of the Fae and Veins of Magic could have been arranged in one nice book.
March 13, 2019
I probably shouldnt rate this because I am giving up at 63% because of the inconsistencies with the characters relationship. Its just too disjointed for me. So seriously, she throws his sword into the sea because it is manipulative but she can justify mentally manipulating others instead??? Like, huh? And whilst I could overlook the odd huh moment I just found too many of them.
I wanted to love these but sadly it's a no from me.
I wanted to love these but sadly it's a no from me.
December 24, 2017
Amazing
Emma Hamm is an amazing author. She is so articulate, charming, and eloquent. I truly love your style and how you meld this story together. Simply amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Emma Hamm is an amazing author. She is so articulate, charming, and eloquent. I truly love your style and how you meld this story together. Simply amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
October 16, 2018
I liked the sequel better than the first book, and I enjoyed the first book a lot. It’s a satisfying conclusion to Sorcha’s story. There’s enough details in this world to go on retelling Irish fairytales.
February 10, 2025
Took one star off because it had a small part where it kind of dragged in the middle but over all a super solid romantasy series. I’m surprised it’s not talked about more! I will say I enjoyed book one a bit more but I’m big on world building so that’s probably why.
September 4, 2019
This book was... I just... it's hard to find words to describe all the feelings I have about this wonderful story... it was a truly epic fantasy novel, the second story in The otherworld series and the concluding book in the duology all about Beauty and the beast retelling... and... *sighs* it was soooooo good that I find it really hard to sit down and focus all the thoughts that are running around in my head long enough to form coherent sentences, so I can share all my love for this story, and convince you to pick it up if you haven't yet... :) since this is a continuation of a bigger story arch, let me first share some spoilers-free-safe-for-everyone-to-read informations in the next paragraph :)
Both "Heart of the fae" (the first part of this duology) and "Veins of magic" take place in an alternate version of our world, a bit back in time... it's a world where fae, fairies and all sorts of magical creatures are real and exist, but people believe them to be myths and legends... apart for a few that still uphold the traditions and take care of the ancient shrines... one of those people is Sorcha... *sighs dreamily* I'm sorry, but there will be a lot of happy and dreamy sighs about her, because I absolutely adore her... she's everything I love in heroines of the stories I read... :) Sorcha is an orphan who was raised in a brothel, her mother burned after they accused her of being a witch... she grew up to be a midwife and a healer, loved dearly by her foster family... when a horrible blood beetle plague spreads more and more wildly among humans, and when her own father catches it, Sorcha agrees to a make a deal with a very dangerous fae in order to find a cure... that decision will lead her down the path that will change her life forever... she will travel to an island on the border between human world and the otherworld, where a banished and disfigured fae prince lives as punishment... and if all that doesn't peak your interest, I don't know what will ;)
When I started that first book I was immediately mesmerized by the writing style... hooked from the very prologue, Emma Hamm's enchanting words burrowed deep under my skin, reaching straight into my very heart and soul and I was lost between the pages of her book... yes, technically I was going to work and doing all the adulting stuff I had to do, but my thoughts were never far away from Sorcha and her story... it took me a few weeks to read both installments, and that is saying something, because I have a pretty fast pace when I read... but when it came to these books, I wanted to prolong the experience as much as I could have... and it was a great decision on my part, because now that I finished it, I have problems to get back into the real world... I want to crawl between the pages of this book and stayed in that magical world a bit longer... Emma Hamm created such a vast and rich world filled with complex characters, that I hope she will keep writing amazing stories that will only expand it even more... her stories are one of the reasons that if I was forced to pick just one genre to keep reading for the rest of my life, I would choose fantasy... as much as I adore regular contemporary romances set in our world, between people without any magic and such, the ones with magic, mythical creatures and just that something extra will always have a special place in my heart... :)
I did what I could to convince you to give this duology a try if you haven't yet, but if you are new to it, please stop reading my review right now... I shared as many spoilers free thoughts as I could, but now I have to share some feelings that will include sharing some events and people we saw in the first installment, so unless you read it, they may be counted as spoilers... final warning people... :) ok, I assume that all who kept reading are familiar with the story from the first book and the main characters I will be mentioning... if not, don't blame me for spoilers later ;) ok, so after that cliffhanger of an ending, when Eamonn send Sorcha away in the middle of a battle, so she would be safe from his twin brother... at the beginning of this one we pick up soon after that and see how Sorcha is handling getting back in the human world, caring for her family... but missing her fae prince and everything she left behind so much... as the months go by, she decides to find a way back to the otherworld... but time flows differently there... and a lot of things happened since she went away... don't worry, I won't spoil any specifics, but I will say that once she's reunited with Eamonn, they will fight side by side to overturn Fionn from the throne... and as much as I fell in love with Sorcha in the first book, my love only grew in this installment... *sighs dreamily* you can't say I didn't warn you about all the sighing ;) she's just such a strong and complex character... and she becomes even more kick-ass after enduring everything life throws at her in this book... and trust me, it's a lot... the same can be said about Eamonn... I love how both of them are so complex and flawed, and yet they can communicate with each other and admit when they were wrong... I want to read about more relationships like that... this book swallowed me whole... I laughed, I teared up, I gasped in surprise, I sighed and swooned on my week knees... I cried out in pain and wanted to hurl my kindle across the room from the injustice and pain these characters endured... I felt inspired and empowered by the journey Sorcha goes through within the pages of this book... she sufferes a lot, but comes out much stronger because of all that... it's gonna take me a while to shake off the remnants of this duology... it was everything I love in stories... complex characters, rich and diverse world, story filled with surprises, action and just all around epic awesomeness, with an absolutely stunning and beautiful ending that will mend your heart that was shattered before... I cannot recommend you to read these books enough... just please, go do it... you won't regret it...
XOXO
A
Both "Heart of the fae" (the first part of this duology) and "Veins of magic" take place in an alternate version of our world, a bit back in time... it's a world where fae, fairies and all sorts of magical creatures are real and exist, but people believe them to be myths and legends... apart for a few that still uphold the traditions and take care of the ancient shrines... one of those people is Sorcha... *sighs dreamily* I'm sorry, but there will be a lot of happy and dreamy sighs about her, because I absolutely adore her... she's everything I love in heroines of the stories I read... :) Sorcha is an orphan who was raised in a brothel, her mother burned after they accused her of being a witch... she grew up to be a midwife and a healer, loved dearly by her foster family... when a horrible blood beetle plague spreads more and more wildly among humans, and when her own father catches it, Sorcha agrees to a make a deal with a very dangerous fae in order to find a cure... that decision will lead her down the path that will change her life forever... she will travel to an island on the border between human world and the otherworld, where a banished and disfigured fae prince lives as punishment... and if all that doesn't peak your interest, I don't know what will ;)
When I started that first book I was immediately mesmerized by the writing style... hooked from the very prologue, Emma Hamm's enchanting words burrowed deep under my skin, reaching straight into my very heart and soul and I was lost between the pages of her book... yes, technically I was going to work and doing all the adulting stuff I had to do, but my thoughts were never far away from Sorcha and her story... it took me a few weeks to read both installments, and that is saying something, because I have a pretty fast pace when I read... but when it came to these books, I wanted to prolong the experience as much as I could have... and it was a great decision on my part, because now that I finished it, I have problems to get back into the real world... I want to crawl between the pages of this book and stayed in that magical world a bit longer... Emma Hamm created such a vast and rich world filled with complex characters, that I hope she will keep writing amazing stories that will only expand it even more... her stories are one of the reasons that if I was forced to pick just one genre to keep reading for the rest of my life, I would choose fantasy... as much as I adore regular contemporary romances set in our world, between people without any magic and such, the ones with magic, mythical creatures and just that something extra will always have a special place in my heart... :)
I did what I could to convince you to give this duology a try if you haven't yet, but if you are new to it, please stop reading my review right now... I shared as many spoilers free thoughts as I could, but now I have to share some feelings that will include sharing some events and people we saw in the first installment, so unless you read it, they may be counted as spoilers... final warning people... :) ok, I assume that all who kept reading are familiar with the story from the first book and the main characters I will be mentioning... if not, don't blame me for spoilers later ;) ok, so after that cliffhanger of an ending, when Eamonn send Sorcha away in the middle of a battle, so she would be safe from his twin brother... at the beginning of this one we pick up soon after that and see how Sorcha is handling getting back in the human world, caring for her family... but missing her fae prince and everything she left behind so much... as the months go by, she decides to find a way back to the otherworld... but time flows differently there... and a lot of things happened since she went away... don't worry, I won't spoil any specifics, but I will say that once she's reunited with Eamonn, they will fight side by side to overturn Fionn from the throne... and as much as I fell in love with Sorcha in the first book, my love only grew in this installment... *sighs dreamily* you can't say I didn't warn you about all the sighing ;) she's just such a strong and complex character... and she becomes even more kick-ass after enduring everything life throws at her in this book... and trust me, it's a lot... the same can be said about Eamonn... I love how both of them are so complex and flawed, and yet they can communicate with each other and admit when they were wrong... I want to read about more relationships like that... this book swallowed me whole... I laughed, I teared up, I gasped in surprise, I sighed and swooned on my week knees... I cried out in pain and wanted to hurl my kindle across the room from the injustice and pain these characters endured... I felt inspired and empowered by the journey Sorcha goes through within the pages of this book... she sufferes a lot, but comes out much stronger because of all that... it's gonna take me a while to shake off the remnants of this duology... it was everything I love in stories... complex characters, rich and diverse world, story filled with surprises, action and just all around epic awesomeness, with an absolutely stunning and beautiful ending that will mend your heart that was shattered before... I cannot recommend you to read these books enough... just please, go do it... you won't regret it...
XOXO
A
February 20, 2023
Whereas I skimmed maybe 25% of book one to just get to the end, I'll be brutally honest : I skimmed probably 65% of this one. I only wanted to see some of the general plot and, most importantly, how things resolved whilst also avoiding another DNF. That was my only goal. And yay, I succeeded.
This was a series I had on my kindle for so long and I'm bummed I couldn't jive. It seemed such an interesting and refreshing take on a tale as olddd as tiiiiime and I love me an Irish mythology story or fantasy but.. yeah, couldn't get on with the writing. Didn't like the characters. Womp womp to me.
I will obviously not be continuing with the companion novels proving to one and all that I do sometimes know when to quit. Sorry to say but this author isn't for me. But at least that's two more books off the "has sat untouched on my kindle for a thousand years" (paraphrasing a bit) shelf.
1.5 stars
This was a series I had on my kindle for so long and I'm bummed I couldn't jive. It seemed such an interesting and refreshing take on a tale as olddd as tiiiiime and I love me an Irish mythology story or fantasy but.. yeah, couldn't get on with the writing. Didn't like the characters. Womp womp to me.
I will obviously not be continuing with the companion novels proving to one and all that I do sometimes know when to quit. Sorry to say but this author isn't for me. But at least that's two more books off the "has sat untouched on my kindle for a thousand years" (paraphrasing a bit) shelf.
1.5 stars
March 10, 2019
I am so glad I discovered this series! The way the author weaves Irish folklore in with fairytale retellings just makes me so happy. This is exactly what I want to be reading!
This is the end of the first two books following Sorcha, and I loved the ending. I loved watching both Sorcha and everyone else grow throughout the story and her POV is a joy to read from. I think she might be one of my new favourite characters!!
Knowing that the series now branches off into companion novels I was so excited whenever characters appeared that I’ll soon be getting to know! I’m so excited to start Bride of the Sea!
This is the end of the first two books following Sorcha, and I loved the ending. I loved watching both Sorcha and everyone else grow throughout the story and her POV is a joy to read from. I think she might be one of my new favourite characters!!
Knowing that the series now branches off into companion novels I was so excited whenever characters appeared that I’ll soon be getting to know! I’m so excited to start Bride of the Sea!
February 22, 2021
I was so worried about Eamonn throughout this whole book. For good reason too cause I found myself with tears in my eyes toward the end. The end was absolutely satisfying though. Sorcha sometimes annoyed me with her “I will not shed blood” as they are right smack in the middle of a war 🙄 not to mention she is in a relationship with a warlord for goodness sake. I do like her though and she was awesome in the last battle.
My favorite character is Bran and I’m stoked that the next book in this series is about him ♥️
My favorite character is Bran and I’m stoked that the next book in this series is about him ♥️
December 24, 2017
VEINS OF MAGIC was spellbinding!!! It was the perfect end!
I truly loved Sorka & Eamonn's journey!
Their love will last forever!
I truly loved Sorka & Eamonn's journey!
Their love will last forever!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2018
4.5 Stars
RTC
RTC
July 31, 2021
I somehow love this book even more than the first, I didn’t realize that was possible. Emma just has such a beautiful way with words, she truly makes the world and the characters feel so magical. It’s the type of book that leaves me feeling almost bittersweet. Because I closed the book, I finish their story. At the very least there’s books in this world about other characters, so I don’t have to leave it completely just yet.
July 22, 2024
“What if you lived in a land where war was nothing than memory?”
No eres tú soy yo.
Desde un punto de vista objetivo, la novela está bastante bien y es entretenida y super bonita. Sin embargo, el problema es que se me ha hecho denso y no he conectado con los protagonistas en esta segunda entrega. No voy a negar que estaba más pendiente del paradero de cierto personaje secundario.
Necesito su historia y me molestaría que no estuviese en las siguientes entregas.
No eres tú soy yo.
Desde un punto de vista objetivo, la novela está bastante bien y es entretenida y super bonita. Sin embargo, el problema es que se me ha hecho denso y no he conectado con los protagonistas en esta segunda entrega. No voy a negar que estaba más pendiente del paradero de cierto personaje secundario.
Necesito su historia y me molestaría que no estuviese en las siguientes entregas.
dnf-or-skimmed
May 1, 2019I'm calling it: 42% it's a DNF and I had no desire to continue whatsoever.
Sorcha was just unlikable and the story-line wasn't interesting any longer. I'm moving on to something that grabs me better.
Sorcha was just unlikable and the story-line wasn't interesting any longer. I'm moving on to something that grabs me better.
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