Beyond the Ruby Veil

Beyond the Ruby Veil, Book 1

By: Mara Fitzgerald

Narrated by: Inés del Castillo

A dark, queer YA fantasy that's perfect for fans of the Three Dark Crowns series and Wicked Saints. After Emanuela Ragno kills the one person in Occhia who can create water, she must find a way to save her city from dying of thirst.

Emanuela Ragno always gets what she wants. With her daring mind and socialite schemes, she refuses to be the demure young lady everyone wants her to be. In her most ambitious move yet, she's about to marry Alessandro Morandi, her childhood best friend and the heir to the wealthiest house in Occhia. Emanuela doesn't care that she and her groom are both gay, because she doesn't want a love match. She wants power, and through Ale, she'll have it all.

But Emanuela has a secret that could shatter her plans. In the city of Occhia, the only source of water is the watercrea, a mysterious being who uses magic to make water from blood. When their first bruise-like omen appears on their skin, all Occhians must surrender themselves to the watercrea to be drained of life. Everyone throughout history has given themselves up for the greater good. Everyone except Emanuela. She's kept the tiny omen on her hip out of sight for years.

When the watercrea exposes Emanuela during her wedding ceremony and takes her to be sacrificed, Emanuela fights back...and kills her. Now Occhia has no one to make their water and no idea how to get more. In a race against time, Emanuela and Ale must travel through the mysterious, blood-red veil that surrounds their city to uncover the secrets of the watercrea's magic and find a way to save their people - no matter what it takes.

©2020 Mara Fitzgerald (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

villain origin story?

not bad, not absolutely amazing. probably wouldn't spend as much as I did on it again

Dark and Fabulous

I loved this book. Dark fantasy is my favorite genre.

Emanuela is very cocky, arrogant, rude, and I loved her character. she's an anti-hero, or maybe an anti-villain?, either way, I thought she was great. She's definitely not a good person or friend, but you can tell she cares about her city. Or she just wants to the savior and be worshipped. Eh.

The writing was wonderful.

The narrator was very good, she put a lot of feeling into her voice acting.

Awaiting the sequel eagerly.

Atrocious. Every part was worse than the last.

The MC is insufferable. She cruel and evil to everyone even her best friend. I literally skipped the last 8 chapters to get it over with.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY OR CREDITS ON IT!