In a far off galaxy, planets are leaving the long established Federation to join a new coalition promising wealth and plenty for all. Veil Of Darkness by T.E. Metivier chronicles the Federation's first attempts to assassinate the leader of this new and dangerous movement - a charismatic but thoroughly evil individual responsible for an avaricious betrayal which led to the slaughter of thousands of his colleagues. Admiral Drogni Ortega thought that he had disposed of the villain many years before, but finding this not to be the case and discovering that he is in fact the leader of this new Coalition, Ortega makes it his personal quest to rid the galaxy of this malevolent being.

Massive ancient magical forces are ranged against him, however, and conventional weapons may not be enough to win the day. But two scions have been foreseen by the Keeper of Prophecy. Two individuals who are unknowingly drawn to the planetary lair of the Coalition's leader. One is an ambassador for his planet; the other engaged in a desperate search. Both are unaware of the roles they will be required to play. While dark forces shadow their every move, will they find a way to overcome the awesome powers they must face?

Veil of Darkness is the first book in a saga set in a galaxy which reminded me of many of the settings of the Star Wars movies. There is plenty of action in a pacey narrative which introduces a host of believable characters, both alien and humanoid. Timothy Metivier has produced a volume of good, solid science fiction, a carefully thought out example of the genre. I look forward to seeing how the story develops.

If there is any book or series that Veil of Darkness by T.C. Metivier reminds me of it would be Lord of the Rings, one of the greatest fantasy adventures of all time. Just as Lord of the Rings felt huge in scope and the fate of many species were tied to the success of the heroes, the same scope and especially that frightening feeling of impending doom is found in Veil of Darkness. The big difference is that Lord of the Rings takes place in a time before history as we know it had even begun, and Veil of Darkness takes place in a future so far off in time that some might find it difficult to imagine. T.C. Metivier is not one of those people. He imagines and paints this future vividly. All the reader has to do is lose him or herself in this vast future and enjoy the story.

There are a lot of characters and species in Veil of Darkness. Luckily Timothy Metivier provides an APPENDIX OF SPECIES that I suggest readers refer to so they will know who they are dealing with. There are characters from every walk of life. Thieves, soldiers, diplomats, and many others play their parts as evil creeps, planet by planet, across Federation space. I like that the galaxy will need many heroes in order to come out on top. The plot is good and a lot of very different creatures do their part in Veil of Darkness. The writing is good and Veil of Darkness has an interesting feel of fantasy quest and space opera. But give yourself plenty of time to enjoy it. You will need it.

As the first installment in the Chalas Peruvas series, Veil of Darkness does not disappoint. Author T.C. Metivier presents a universe enjoying peace for eight hundred years. The Federation of Worlds has ruled over a galaxy composed of eleven races and is taken by surprise when a hundred worlds withdraw from the organization. Although there has been no proof that the act is hostile, there is reason to believe that a galactic war unlike any other is forthcoming. As commander, Admiral Drogni Ortega is tasked to defend what the federation has nurtured for years, but his militia is unprepared to fight an enemy that uses an ancient magic known as the Antiquaari, a mysterious scroll that dates back thousands of years.

Veil of Darkness offers a mesmerizing glimpse of an intergalactic world populated by many different races living together in perfect harmony ... until secession and whispers of an impending war pervade the air. To top it all, the enemy is led by Rokan Stellas, a person believed to be long dead. He is just one of the many fascinating characters that T.C. Metivier brings to life. His clever use of folklore, ancient artifacts, and divination makes the story doubly fascinating. Confronted by secession and rumors of a devastating war, Admiral Ortega is faced with a formidable task. Humanity itself is at stake. What makes this novel a great read is the author’s picturesque writing style as he describes the memorable events and colorful characters in Veil of Darkness.

Veil of Darkness is the first in the science fiction and fantasy series, Chalas Peruvas, by T.C. Metivier. Following eight hundred years of peace and relative prosperity from eleven different species, the Federation of Worlds — an intergovernmental organization formed to promote intergalactic cooperation — is imperiled when a hundred worlds secede. With the rumbling of war, the Federation is left unprepared and vulnerable for what is to come. The foundation of the Federation is the human planet of Tellaria where Drogni Ortega, an admiral at the helm of the Tellarias forces, hails from. It falls to Ortega to not only counter a revolution and quash a brutal war, but to face an incomparable adversary, Rokan Sellas, who cleaves the Chalas Peruvas and wields ancient magic against a universe waiting for the prophetic Scions to defeat their common foe.

Layered in spectacular world building and intricate character development, Veil of Darkness by T.C. Metivier is a story that packs a solid punch. Metivier is a masterful storyteller, constructing the foundation of what one could only predict to be a science fiction superstructure. Cloaked in fantasy and magic, any reader who flocks toward intelligent fiction will find themselves wholly immersed. Despite covering multiple realms that one could easily be lost in, Veil of Darkness instead offers a dynamic backdrop that's accessible and yielding, complete with an appendix of species for the most apprehensive of readers. This is the first in a series, and a series it certainly requires given the magnitude of its plot. Luckily for his readers, Metivier has already released book two, Chains of Mist, so fans can pick right up where Veil of Darkness leaves off.