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moirwyn's review against another edition
4.0
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2019/12/31/year-end-mini-reviews/
The Veil of Gold is an adult fairy tale heavily influenced by Russian history and folklore. The story revolves around a cursed/blessed gold sculpture of a bear. Rosa finds the bear, and asks her former lover Daniel to look at it, as he’s a historian. Daniel is travelling with his emotionally distant colleague Em. The bear has the ability to open the veil between worlds, and so Daniel and Em are thrust into a world of Slavic mythology, and Rosa embarks on a magical journey to try to rescue them. I adore books that incorporate Russian mythology, and this one was no exception. But the book also had a bit of a slow start, so I picked it up and put it down several times over the course of a year before finally finishing it.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2019/12/31/year-end-mini-reviews/
The Veil of Gold is an adult fairy tale heavily influenced by Russian history and folklore. The story revolves around a cursed/blessed gold sculpture of a bear. Rosa finds the bear, and asks her former lover Daniel to look at it, as he’s a historian. Daniel is travelling with his emotionally distant colleague Em. The bear has the ability to open the veil between worlds, and so Daniel and Em are thrust into a world of Slavic mythology, and Rosa embarks on a magical journey to try to rescue them. I adore books that incorporate Russian mythology, and this one was no exception. But the book also had a bit of a slow start, so I picked it up and put it down several times over the course of a year before finally finishing it.
cjenningspenders's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing amazing book.
A solid gold bear is found in a Russian excavation site. A historian sets out to discover the origins of the bear with a colleague.
Somehow they get lost on the way. Time slips away and they find themselves caught in a time warp.
I simply couldn't put this book down and it is the last time I read something that I didn't want to end. When I got close to finishing. I slowed way down because I didn't want to finish.
It was that good.
A solid gold bear is found in a Russian excavation site. A historian sets out to discover the origins of the bear with a colleague.
Somehow they get lost on the way. Time slips away and they find themselves caught in a time warp.
I simply couldn't put this book down and it is the last time I read something that I didn't want to end. When I got close to finishing. I slowed way down because I didn't want to finish.
It was that good.
sharonskinner's review against another edition
3.0
I found it interesting and appreciate how the author has woven in Russian fairy tales. Unfortunately, it is, like much Russian literature, rather long-winded. However, though a bit predictable, I found the ending satisfying.
lyndann's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the Russian folklore. Didn't like some aspects of the main characters personalities and relationship. 3.5
charles_cbcpl's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book like a summer film. That is, I wouldn't recommend it to my book-nerd friends, but I was more-or-less pasted to the pages.
This contemporary fantasy taps in to Russian folklore to bring new life to an tired concept (magical and human worlds separated by a veil), and tell a fairly unique and fast-paced story about the repatriation of a sinister golden bear. There are no ambrosia-drinking elves to shelter with on this hero's quest, however; the non-human characters are generally untrustworthy and violent. A trio of likable protagonists elevates this story above the "pulp adventure" mark, and provides an excuse for critical readers to continue enjoying themselves.
For those who enjoyed this book, I would recommend [b:mythago wood|126192|Mythago Wood (Mythago Wood Cycle, Book 1)|Robert Holdstock|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171910263s/126192.jpg|121534] by Robert Holdstock.
This contemporary fantasy taps in to Russian folklore to bring new life to an tired concept (magical and human worlds separated by a veil), and tell a fairly unique and fast-paced story about the repatriation of a sinister golden bear. There are no ambrosia-drinking elves to shelter with on this hero's quest, however; the non-human characters are generally untrustworthy and violent. A trio of likable protagonists elevates this story above the "pulp adventure" mark, and provides an excuse for critical readers to continue enjoying themselves.
For those who enjoyed this book, I would recommend [b:mythago wood|126192|Mythago Wood (Mythago Wood Cycle, Book 1)|Robert Holdstock|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171910263s/126192.jpg|121534] by Robert Holdstock.
christythelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
In a nutshell:
When development sub-contractors accidentally tear down a wall in an old Russian bathhouse, they discover a small statue of a golden bear. The niece of the developer, Rosa Kovalenka, can immediately tell – through her second sight – that there is some strange magic surrounding the bear. To assist in identifying the bear’s origins and value, she contacts an old lover, Daniel St. Clare, who happens to be elsewhere in Russia as a history consultant on a documentary shoot. Daniel catches a ride with a co-worker, Em Hayward, to get to St. Petersburg. All three will become connected by the bear, as they decide that Daniel and Em will take the bear to a university for an appraisal.
While driving to the university, Daniel and Em get lost on a rural road and their car dies. They are transported by the bear’s strong magic into Skazki, a world where the creatures, demons and spirits of Russian folklore live and have dominion.
Meanwhile, when Rosa realizes what has happened, she connects with a volkhv – a magician – and his family, so that she may learn to harness her own power and cross over into Skazki. However, the family’s own troubles are soon to entangle Rosa as well.
Interspersed throughout the book, a mysterious narrator tells the story of the golden bear, and how its story is intertwined with Russian history, and Russian nobility.
Eventually all three story strands will come together in Skazki.
Review:
I was fascinated by the frightening and desolate world of Skazki, which Wilkins populated with malevolent inhabitants: ghostly revenants bent on possession, wizards who skin humans alive, a headless demon covered in spines, and the terrifying Baba Yaga. Daniel and Em suffer from hunger, cold, and fatigue as they journey to see the Snow Queen, who they hope will send them back to their own world in exchange for the golden bear. Their only allies are mercenaries who they bribe with Em’s gold jewelry. It’s a journey of misery for them, to be sure, and I was glued to the pages, wondering how and if they would survive.
Rosa’s part of the story was also intriguing – more of a domestic fairytale in contrast to the epic nature of Daniel and Em’s story. She must use her cleverness to figure out who to trust as dysfunctional (and magical) family dynamics rage about her. I loved her solution for crossing over into Skazki – I totally did not expect it.
Not everyone will like the main trio of characters, I suspect, but their flaws made me like them as characters all the more. In particular Daniel is often paralyzed with fear and Em is strangely incapable of feeling strong emotions, like terror or love. At one point, Daniel says, “We’re like two rejects from Oz, Em. You don’t have a heart, and I have no courage.”
I loved Em’s story arc. The book jacket made it seem like The Veil of Gold would be all about Rosa and Daniel, so it was with surprise that I realized that Em would be my favorite character. I was fascinated by how she is completely aware of her inability to feel emotions as others do. She has become accustomed to being different in this way. I admired Em’s indomitable will to survive, although she tells Daniel early on that she fully expects to die in Skazki. Most of all, though, I was – am still – haunted by aspects of her story arc. I think of Em’s portentous encounter with Morozko, the father of frost, and also of the first time Em screams in pure terror (I’ll leave the reader to discover what causes that response.)
This is a book that has sticking power. It is not perfectly written: I thought Wilkins was too explanatory and obvious when she wrote things like “And so [he] learned one of the most painful lessons in parenthood: to let her go.” That said, the story and characters have left an indelible impression on me.
When development sub-contractors accidentally tear down a wall in an old Russian bathhouse, they discover a small statue of a golden bear. The niece of the developer, Rosa Kovalenka, can immediately tell – through her second sight – that there is some strange magic surrounding the bear. To assist in identifying the bear’s origins and value, she contacts an old lover, Daniel St. Clare, who happens to be elsewhere in Russia as a history consultant on a documentary shoot. Daniel catches a ride with a co-worker, Em Hayward, to get to St. Petersburg. All three will become connected by the bear, as they decide that Daniel and Em will take the bear to a university for an appraisal.
While driving to the university, Daniel and Em get lost on a rural road and their car dies. They are transported by the bear’s strong magic into Skazki, a world where the creatures, demons and spirits of Russian folklore live and have dominion.
Meanwhile, when Rosa realizes what has happened, she connects with a volkhv – a magician – and his family, so that she may learn to harness her own power and cross over into Skazki. However, the family’s own troubles are soon to entangle Rosa as well.
Interspersed throughout the book, a mysterious narrator tells the story of the golden bear, and how its story is intertwined with Russian history, and Russian nobility.
Eventually all three story strands will come together in Skazki.
Review:
I was fascinated by the frightening and desolate world of Skazki, which Wilkins populated with malevolent inhabitants: ghostly revenants bent on possession, wizards who skin humans alive, a headless demon covered in spines, and the terrifying Baba Yaga. Daniel and Em suffer from hunger, cold, and fatigue as they journey to see the Snow Queen, who they hope will send them back to their own world in exchange for the golden bear. Their only allies are mercenaries who they bribe with Em’s gold jewelry. It’s a journey of misery for them, to be sure, and I was glued to the pages, wondering how and if they would survive.
Rosa’s part of the story was also intriguing – more of a domestic fairytale in contrast to the epic nature of Daniel and Em’s story. She must use her cleverness to figure out who to trust as dysfunctional (and magical) family dynamics rage about her. I loved her solution for crossing over into Skazki – I totally did not expect it.
Not everyone will like the main trio of characters, I suspect, but their flaws made me like them as characters all the more. In particular Daniel is often paralyzed with fear and Em is strangely incapable of feeling strong emotions, like terror or love. At one point, Daniel says, “We’re like two rejects from Oz, Em. You don’t have a heart, and I have no courage.”
I loved Em’s story arc. The book jacket made it seem like The Veil of Gold would be all about Rosa and Daniel, so it was with surprise that I realized that Em would be my favorite character. I was fascinated by how she is completely aware of her inability to feel emotions as others do. She has become accustomed to being different in this way. I admired Em’s indomitable will to survive, although she tells Daniel early on that she fully expects to die in Skazki. Most of all, though, I was – am still – haunted by aspects of her story arc. I think of Em’s portentous encounter with Morozko, the father of frost, and also of the first time Em screams in pure terror (I’ll leave the reader to discover what causes that response.)
This is a book that has sticking power. It is not perfectly written: I thought Wilkins was too explanatory and obvious when she wrote things like “And so [he] learned one of the most painful lessons in parenthood: to let her go.” That said, the story and characters have left an indelible impression on me.
mimima's review against another edition
4.0
I heard about this book from a blog that I read and I was not disappointed. I'm not usually a fantasy reader, but this novel wove Russian folklore and history together to make an engaging story that I greatly enjoyed.
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