Book Review: Shattered Veil (The Diatous Wars #1)

When everything that defines you is stripped away, who do you become?
~
For Aris, a talented wingjet pilot, war means sacrificing everything: her home, her name, her face—and the one promise she swore she’d never break.

In the small village of Lux, everyone flies wingjets, but nobody flies them like Aris Haan. When she’s not dancing through the skies, she’s spending every minute with Calix, whom she’s loved since childhood. They plan to Promise, but instead he is sent to defend their dominion against a bloody invasion. Determined not to lose him, Aris follows, joining an underground network of women inside the male-only military. Using secret technology that allows her to pass as a man, she becomes “Aristos”, a Flyer in a search-and-rescue unit.

As Aris grows stronger on the battlefield and more comfortable in her guise as Aristos, her personal mission becomes less and less clear. When she and her enigmatic commander, Major Vidar, uncover an astonishing conspiracy that could destroy everything, she must make a choice that will determine not only the fate of her heart, but the future of her dominion.

I would absolutely love to live in the world that Tracy E. Banghart has created. Shattered Veil has it’s fair share of conflict. There is a war brewing in Aris’ world, and it’s all too close to home. However there are also wingjets. The ability to soar above the clouds. What person hasn’t dreamed of that very thing? For Aris, flying is a way of life and also her ticket to something more.

Aris impressed me. Although I can’t tell you exactly what it is, you won’t get any spoilers from me, Aris faces a big challenge in this book. A challenge that was exacerbated by those around her, even if they were really only trying to protect her. I cringed as I watched her struggle, smiled as I watched her overcome, and cheered as Aris grew to be a better person than even she thought she could be. Banghart has created a character that feels real because she faces real problems. She isn’t always confident, she isn’t always perfect, she’s only human.

In terms of story line, there’s a lot at play in Shattered Veil. Civil unrest, military missions, and deeply rooted plots to overthrow the good that is being done in Aris’ world. While I fully appreciated each and every twist of this book, I also felt like it was a lot to take in. I enjoyed the writing, but I wished for more of a glimpse into the actual world that was being built for me. As I said above, the wingjets had my attention! I would have loved to learn more about the landscapes, the cities, and anything else to sate my overactive imagination. Since this is the first in a series, I’m hopeful! I think there’s more around the corner.

At the end of the read, I was happy. I was satisfied with the ending and, although this is a first series book, it wraps things up nicely. I’m excited to see what’s coming around the bend. I love when New Adult branches into other areas besides romance! Shattered Veil breaks that mold, and it does it well.

FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.