Blackveil

True to the title, Blackveil sees Karigan and the green riders venturing into Blackveil Forest. For centuries the forest has been kept at bay by the Dyer wall, but as the wall grows weaker, Second Empire seeks to unleash the evil within. Yet the riders are not alone in their venture, for the Eletians have taken an interest in the forest as well. To what ends they will not fully reveal. Together the Green Riders, members of the King’s army, and the Eletians will face off against the cursed beings of the forest. But will they be able to contain it?

The audiobooks for The Green Rider series are always such a joy to listen to. The narrator, Ellen Archer, brings the characters to life with such soothing tones. And the variety at which they are able to capture each different character in such a wide cast is astonishing.

In Blackveil politics starts to become a larger presence in the story. But the level of subterfuge displayed in the story will further engage the reader in Karigan’s fate. There are members of the court obsessed with the future queen’s success and see Karigan as a barrier to it. Though future queen Estora would never harm her friend, those of her own retinue would not hesitate. And while Karigan is away in Blackveil, members of the own King's court plot to secure the marriage in other ways.

For those who enjoy romantic subplots, The Green Riders series has one steadily growing with each passing book. It has both the hint of a love triangle and forbidden love, but the characters themselves aren’t really sure what direction they will go in. While they understand they do have feelings, duties call them away and force them to reevaluate each book. And make no mistake, it isn’t the highlight of the series. There is still a major focus on dealing with a greater evil and discovering the past truths of magic long buried in history.

Blackveil was an immersive and compelling addition to The Green Rider series. Kristen Britain has a beauty with words and developing the world piece by piece. Such an intricate series is given careful attention in each passing story, building a stronger foundation and allowing characters to stretch beyond their limits. And with the way this one ended, readers will demand the next book immediately.