Author: Shelby Mahurin
Genres: Young Adult Fantasy
Tropes: vampires, gothic mystery
Publication date: September 1, 2023
Edition I read: Paperback
Pages: 622
My rating: 4.25/5
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/175740693-the-scarlet-veil
This review contains spoilers so please proceed with caution.
You'll enjoy this book the most if you've read the Serpent & Dove trilogy —but even without that it's a full and exciting story. It has the eerie vibes you'd expect from a vampire story, together with hints of mystery and romance. As it's the first book of a duology, it of course ends on a cliffhanger —but it's an easy and entertaining read that didn't even feel like 600+ pages. If you like stories about heroines finding their strength and confidence, you'll like this one.
We knew Célie from the Serpen & Dove books but it was great to get to know her even better. She's supposed to be this good and obedient girl but we learn from the beginning that she's more than that after what she'd been through. It's just that others don't believe (in) her.
I loved her character development throughout the book as she's not only found her voice but started to follow that up with her actions. It was also refreshing to have a heroine that can't actually fight, unlike most romantasy FMCs that are always badass after a few chapters.
Though I need to admit, it was almost funny to see how Célie was continuously praised for being smart yet her suddenly overgrown confidence actually made her so careless and stupid. Particularly when she left the modiste to go send her message, knowing the town is full of bloodthirsty vampires. I knew it was to set her up to be saved by Michal but she acted like a brat and it was pretty annoying.
Michal and his dynamics with Célie were written so well, I was guessing whether he'd be the love interest for a while. I might be used to enemies turning lovers (or at least having sparkling tension) very early on, so when they didn't instantly have that, I got hesitant.
For example when he ripped that expensive black gown in half? I gasped. But it was refreshing, seeing his personality show slowly over time, while he still remained firm and didn't become a pushover when it came to her.
I love that it wasn't insta-love between them —although it was also too slow of a slow-burn for me.
I feel like Odessa came around much quicker and I feel sad we didn't see more of her personality. I loved her reaction to finding out about Mila, showing that there's so much more behind the initially cruel interior.
Even before Célie said so, I thought he might be the Necromancer at one point. I still don't really know how to feel about him, as we only got a few glimpses about each side of his personality. And especially with the ugly side kind of winning at the end, I'm not sure if there is redemption for him.
Although after seeing those few rare glimpses of his playful, charming side, I wish there will be. Because I'd love to see more of that.
Mila's yet another "wish we've seen more of her" kind of character, who's definitely not perfect (judging Michal for turning her, when she later turned Odessa and Dimitri) but is still fun and caring. I know she cannot/shouldn't be brought back to life, but I hope she's going to have lots more good moments with Célie and the others and can pass on finally after.
Let's just say the author succeeded with making me dislike Jean Luc VERY quickly. His behaviour towards Célie pushed exactly the right buttons. So while I know he's not evil and didn't have ill intent, I got very annoyed and frustrated with him early on.
What an asshole. I didn't expect him to turn out as he did, though he's not that bad of a choice for it. It was nice to set us up to hate him already and to drive that point in at the end.
The more we find out about her the more I dislike her. She was always so rude to Célie, like she didn't love her at all. I would have still expected her to be horrified to be resurrected but if that's her in the epilogue then it seems I was wrong.
The book started out with Célie in the Chasseur Tower as a newly initiated huntsmen, dealing with the prejudices of all the men around her. Sadly, that included her fiancé, Jean Luc, who annoyed me to no end. He treated her like a child, someone to be controlled and coddled.
I wasn't sure if Célie would be brave enough to let go of him and the idea of the perfect picture-book life of him, so I was really happy when after their biggest argument, she took her engagement ring off. I know it was all to set up her being drawn to the dark side and other love interest. Who, I assumed, would encourage her, inspire confidence in her, and will not belittle her.
That setup/situation actually reminded me of Feyre with Tamlin vs. Rhys, the former restricting her under the name of protection, the latter encouraging her to find her strength.
Speaking of ACOTAR parallels, in Part 2, when Célie got to her room in the castle the first time and feels the air shift as if there was someone there... It reminded me of the House of Wind in ACOTAR and how it kinda has a conscience. In the end it might have been the ghosts but it definitely added to the eerie atmosphere.
I also loved the ghosts. They make that eerie world and castle that much more fun. Like the one that got excited to help Célie break into Michal's study.
"You want to steal from Michal?"
I nod warily.
"Ooh, excellent. Where shall I stand?"
I liked the way the adventure went in the last part. Not super smooth with Lou's suns burning the vampires including Michal, but smooth enough I didn't wanna keep putting the book down (which I tend to do in awkward or negative parts).
It was nice how Célie predicted that the Necromancer wanted to resurrect her sister, how her dream melded with reality and how she could touch Michal in it.
The final scene in the cavern was just a little too chaotic for me, with everyone fighting and the water, and Célie dying or not.
Also Michal not dying was sort of a disappointment. I didn't actually want him to die and I'd love to see their romance finally unfold but getting a silver knife in the heart, falling into the water dying and still surviving?! Seems unrealistic even for a fantasy book.
As for the rest, I have a bunch of random notes from reading that'd be hard to compile into a conhesive review, so let me just list them out for you:
When Celie finds the message in the cross, how does she not realise "the three of us" probably means she was pregnant?
The whole keepsake thing of Dimitri is so creepy! Which is great, cause this book is supposed to be creepy.
I loved Michal's surprise with the silver dress. Especially as it was not just a silver colour but actual silver, and he put himself up with burning if he touched her just so she can make a statement.