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The Exile Series #3
The Prince of the Veil
After the death of Geofred, Prince of Eagles, Raven and the Exiled Kindred find themselves trapped in the city of Banelyn and under siege by the indomitable Prince of Wolves. Forced to fight for the lives of his companions, Raven finds himself descending into madness he cannot control, even as he tries to understand the prophecies contained within his brother's memories. The Empire's plans are shrouded in darkness, but one thing is the Empress is striving for something called the Return, and it will cost the Kindred everything.
533 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2014
26 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 10, 2019
Alright. So... this was the worst book of the series. I had to really push myself to finish it. The main character was just so damn whiny. I didn't want to read about it. I'm not saying he shouldn't be or that I wouldn't be if I were in his situation, but I don't want to read about it. It's boring and depressing. I also don't love the writing. The descriptions of things and analogies and similes and what have you were not to my taste. I also never felt like I really understood the world and how the magic system worked. It seemed like a mix of several things and none of them was every fully fleshed out to my liking. So, a lot of things added up in this book to make not enjoy it nearly as much as the others. Still an OK series, I think, overall. But... meh.
March 15, 2019
Very nice wrap-up of the story. I felt a roller coaster of emotions while reading this -- happiness, sorrow, anxiety -- that I had to take a break from reading in order to collect myself. There were some low points that I felt like dragged on for a bit, and I wasn't surprised about little typos, but overall it was a good read; the sentences were very fluid, which I really liked.
I think the characters were well-made, especially Raven. I really liked reading about his thoughts and being in his shoes. The other characters were very memorable too and I would go as far as to say that my favorite characters are Davyyd and Lorna.
I wish the Empress had more "appearances" in the previous novels, though. It would be interesting to see her perspective on things.
I think the characters were well-made, especially Raven. I really liked reading about his thoughts and being in his shoes. The other characters were very memorable too and I would go as far as to say that my favorite characters are Davyyd and Lorna.
I wish the Empress had more "appearances" in the previous novels, though. It would be interesting to see her perspective on things.
September 19, 2023
"The Prince of the Veil" by Hal Emerson is a breathtaking and emotionally charged third installment in "The Exile Trilogy." This captivating continuation of the saga thrusts readers into a world of relentless tension, intricate politics, and a profound exploration of the human psyche.
As the story unfolds, we witness the aftermath of Geofred, Prince of Eagles' death, with Raven and the Exiled Kindred trapped within the city of Banelyn, besieged by the relentless Prince of Wolves. This dire situation forces Raven into a desperate battle for the lives of his companions, a battle that takes a toll on his sanity, pushing him to the brink of madness. Amidst the chaos, Raven grapples with deciphering the cryptic prophecies contained within his late brother's memories.
The Empire's malevolent plans remain shrouded in darkness, but one ominous truth emerges – the Empress is relentlessly pursuing something known as the Return, and the cost to the Kindred is nothing short of everything they hold dear.
Hal Emerson's storytelling prowess shines brilliantly in "The Prince of the Veil." The narrative is a relentless rollercoaster of emotions, with tension that grips readers from the very first page and refuses to let go. Emerson's exploration of Raven's descent into madness is nothing short of mesmerizing, providing a deeply visceral and thought-provoking experience for readers.
The characters in this installment are as complex and well-developed as ever, their struggles and sacrifices resonating on a deeply human level. The political intrigue and the enigmatic nature of the Empire's machinations add layers of complexity to an already richly layered narrative.
Emerson's world-building continues to impress, painting a vivid and immersive landscape that transports readers into the heart of the story. The pacing is expertly managed, keeping the narrative propelling forward with a sense of urgency that keeps readers utterly engrossed.
"The Prince of the Veil" is a triumphant addition to "The Exile Trilogy." It is a work of fantasy that transcends the genre, offering a profound exploration of the human condition within the context of a gripping and thought-provoking adventure. With each revelation and twist, Emerson keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the mysteries that lie ahead. This book is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy.
As the story unfolds, we witness the aftermath of Geofred, Prince of Eagles' death, with Raven and the Exiled Kindred trapped within the city of Banelyn, besieged by the relentless Prince of Wolves. This dire situation forces Raven into a desperate battle for the lives of his companions, a battle that takes a toll on his sanity, pushing him to the brink of madness. Amidst the chaos, Raven grapples with deciphering the cryptic prophecies contained within his late brother's memories.
The Empire's malevolent plans remain shrouded in darkness, but one ominous truth emerges – the Empress is relentlessly pursuing something known as the Return, and the cost to the Kindred is nothing short of everything they hold dear.
Hal Emerson's storytelling prowess shines brilliantly in "The Prince of the Veil." The narrative is a relentless rollercoaster of emotions, with tension that grips readers from the very first page and refuses to let go. Emerson's exploration of Raven's descent into madness is nothing short of mesmerizing, providing a deeply visceral and thought-provoking experience for readers.
The characters in this installment are as complex and well-developed as ever, their struggles and sacrifices resonating on a deeply human level. The political intrigue and the enigmatic nature of the Empire's machinations add layers of complexity to an already richly layered narrative.
Emerson's world-building continues to impress, painting a vivid and immersive landscape that transports readers into the heart of the story. The pacing is expertly managed, keeping the narrative propelling forward with a sense of urgency that keeps readers utterly engrossed.
"The Prince of the Veil" is a triumphant addition to "The Exile Trilogy." It is a work of fantasy that transcends the genre, offering a profound exploration of the human condition within the context of a gripping and thought-provoking adventure. With each revelation and twist, Emerson keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the mysteries that lie ahead. This book is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy.
August 26, 2019
I devoured this trilogy in a week and feel like the Exiles after they’ve spent an entire book on the march and in battle against the Empire. This masterfully-woven trilogy clicks into place perfectly as the set and plot pieces from Books 1 and 2 are brought back to light. It’s not perfect; for example, it utterly fails the Bechdel Test, but this isn’t all that surprising in this genre. To his immense credit, Emerson’s handling of suicidal ideation is sublime; I’d never thought I’d experience such humanizing characterization so close to the culmination of three books of development. I’ve fallen in love with these characters in a way I haven’t since I last indulged my ravenous reading habits in grade school. The last thing I want to do now is read something else... after all, if I keep their memories alive, then their stories have yet to truly end, right?
April 22, 2025
Young readers
I read the entire series. It is truly a coming of age epic adventure. It seemed to be able to recreate the turbulent teen years. Some of the character jumps were like they were coming straight from a teenager confused imagination. They series runs smoothly together with all of the magic, sword fighting, and lifelong companions. The character development was patient and done well. The 17 year old perspective leaves it firmly in the younger readers category. Although it does get a bit gory.
I read the entire series. It is truly a coming of age epic adventure. It seemed to be able to recreate the turbulent teen years. Some of the character jumps were like they were coming straight from a teenager confused imagination. They series runs smoothly together with all of the magic, sword fighting, and lifelong companions. The character development was patient and done well. The 17 year old perspective leaves it firmly in the younger readers category. Although it does get a bit gory.
July 13, 2024
Sadly this one was not as good as the second. Was too long with a lot of filler. The main character went from a likeable person you wanted to root for, to a whiny know it all. I liked the ending overall, but the journey was a bit boring.
January 21, 2020
I feel this could have been 150-200 pages shorter.
April 10, 2014
I'm not particularly good at organizing my thoughts and impressions in to a coherent review. All I can say is that it was great in general, and a great end to the trilogy. It has been a while since a whole series of books gripped me the way this one did. And if you are a fan of epic fantasy, yes you should READ THIS ONE!
January 18, 2024
Last of three
Enjoyed it very much, but not as gripping as the previous two. At times it was a bit dragged out and the fantasy a bit too much to get your head around. Still a good re as d though and gutted the series has come to an end. Kind of hoping there might be another part along the lines of a new world.
Enjoyed it very much, but not as gripping as the previous two. At times it was a bit dragged out and the fantasy a bit too much to get your head around. Still a good re as d though and gutted the series has come to an end. Kind of hoping there might be another part along the lines of a new world.
September 18, 2014
Amazing
simply a well written book! the writer really knows how to bring the story to life. very well done. I am going to have to look up his other books.
simply a well written book! the writer really knows how to bring the story to life. very well done. I am going to have to look up his other books.
March 12, 2015
Probably the weakest book in the series and in need of a good editor.
May 21, 2015
Nice ending to a very good story
I'm starting to like this author very much. He tells an imaginative and mature story with my kind of plot
I'm starting to like this author very much. He tells an imaginative and mature story with my kind of plot
March 4, 2016
Great read riveting
A few twist and turns the story of a boys fight to overcome his destiny gripping storytelling by a master
A few twist and turns the story of a boys fight to overcome his destiny gripping storytelling by a master
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews