Written by C.M. Dawson, DARK SIDE OF THE VEIL: The Lesitha Veil Tales (Book 2) opens with the rebellious Bex in the grip of her kidnapper. Having crossed the veil out of curiosity, she has stumbled into a dystopian world where programmed insects enforce order under the iron rule of Urbo'Krk: an emotionless dictator who prizes scientific control above all human feeling. Bex has a rare power to shape the people and world around her, making her a political asset for change. As her friends and mother race to find her, they discover a world where workers are drugged into compliance with alu alu and "liberated" from life when no longer productive.
This is both a philosophical and physical battle. Urbo'Krk views Bex's loyalty and compassion as her weakness, seeing detached reason as true power; Bex values humanity over power, position, and transactional relationships. The two worldviews collide: freedom against forced compliance. Within this strange dystopian landscape, Dawson crafts a profound meditation on what makes us human and what creates a free and safe society. The novel explores trauma's impact on the psyche, slavery, the erosion of the soul, and how one person's careless choices can redirect the lives of others.
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As the second book in the series, DARK SIDE OF THE VEIL thoughtfully orients both new and returning readers. Each character is introduced with care, and a glossary helps navigate this vivid world and its inhabitants. It means new readers do need to orient themselves in a story that appears to move slowly at first, but it's worth the time. The narrative shifts between Bex's first-person perspective and the third-person journey of the rescue party, a structure that ensures multiple points of view on the adventure as it unfolds and offers a multidimensional layer to the characters. Each person's insights play a role in finding Bex, as does her resilience and tender bond with the mechanical Cog.
By showing how trauma, logic, and transactional relationships intertwine, Dawson creates a fascinating exploration of authority and how it might shape society. DARK SIDE OF THE VEIL is a rich, imaginative, and deeply moving novel that will leave readers longing for the next adventure.
C.M. Dawson's DARK SIDE OF THE VEIL: The Lesitha Veil Tales (Book 2) is a bold, emotionally intelligent sci-fi sequel that explores social power, integrity, and humanity’s ability to shape a more caring society.
~ Nicci Attfield for IndieReader