Veil by Jonathan Janz
Veil by Jonathan Janz is the spiritual lovechild of movies like Predator and novels like The War of the Worlds and The Three-Body Problem. A story of endurance and perseverance, love and humanity. It’s impossible not to relate to the characters in this novel, asking yourself, “What would I be willing to endure to save my loved ones?”
Personal Loss Against a Cosmic Threat
The protagonist’s story is heartbreaking and resilient. He is a character who always tries to do the right thing but somehow falls short. He and his wife have separated, and he is growing more distant from his children, but everything changes when invisible beings arrive in the dead of night, abducting people from the streets right before their loved ones’ eyes.
It is unknown who they are, where they come from and what they want, but as more and more are abducted, it is clear they are an unfathomable threat to humanity.
Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Battles
Veil follows John Callhoun, a high school Biology teacher, husband and father who embarks on a journey to save his family after they are abducted by these invisible specters. When his son is plucked away without a trace, along with thousands of others across the globe, John’s world is turned upside down.
Before they can begin to get answers, his wife is taken right before his eyes. John and his young daughter Emma attempt to shelter from these beings, but when Emma is ultimately taken, John is determined to get them back by any means necessary.
The small, ragtag band of survivors in this story is an eclectic bunch of fighters. They rally the reader to root for them, each with their own tragic backstory.
Humanity Fractured, Action Unleashed
Much like you will find in similar stories of survival, threats loom around every corner, and not just the monsters. Humanity falls apart quickly as the world fragments, with many seeking to seize power through intimidation and wickedness.
This story has a slow build, broken down into five parts, the first couple of which are focused on survival amidst this new world order.
Pulse-Pounding Action with a Nostalgic Edge
Then the action kicks into overdrive, and the last 200 pages are intense and pulse-pounding. These moments really elevated the read and had me turning pages frantically to keep up with the action.
The story appears to be set up for a sequel, and I am interested to see where Janz will take the story next. This book reminds me of what is so special about the sci-fi/horror genre.
I am reminded of those films from the 80s and 90s that we used to rent at the movie rental house. The low-budget sci-fi films that had solid stories and valiant efforts at execution despite their limited budgets.
It’s an exciting and fun experience to read, with relatable characters, a unique spin on the alien invasion storyline and plenty of action.
About Jonathan Janz:
Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels and numerous short stories. His work has been championed by authors like Joe R. Lansdale, Jack Ketchum, and Brian Keene; he has also been lauded by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and School Library Journal. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novel Children of the Dark was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Horror Book of the Year. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children. You can sign up for his newsletter, and you can follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, and Goodreads.
