Veins of Magic by Emma Hamm – A Book Review

Posted June 17, 2019 by Booksandblurbs in Fantasy, Reviews / 1 Comment

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Veins of Magic

(The Otherworld – Book 2)

by Emma Hamm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fairy Tale, PNR

Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited

Down and Dirty

This is part two of Emma Hamm’s fabulous retelling of Beauty and the Beast – it deserves a spot in your Kindle Unlimited Queue!

Read my review of Book 1, Heart of the Fae.

What is it about?

(Blurb from GoodReads)

The Sequel to 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.

It is suggested to read Heart of the Fae before reading this book

Thoughts on Veins of Magic

A great retelling

Fairy tales embody the heart and soul of our deepest desires, each telling stories of danger and intrigue, heroes and villains, love and loss – but each finds that most precious happily ever after in the lesson.

This revamped and reworked telling of beauty and the beast is no different, though the way to that joy is far from the direct path the original author may have dreamt. Rich with imagery and color, this novel concludes a dastardly tale that truly could have only ended with a rose.

Pros:

The human condition is exposed and examined, though worn in fae guise.
Characters are rich and fully developed.
There are echoes of myth, but this telling is wholly unique.
It makes you smile.

Cons:

There were moments when it didn’t feel quite as engrossing, but they didn’t last.

Perspective

Third Person, Multiple POV

Ending Type

HEA

Rating

R to NC-17 for sexual content. M/F

Favorite Line

“If I measured my worth in beauty, I would live a life full of riches and happiness. If I am valued for the knowledge I impart on the world, then I live forever.” (58%)