Member Reviews
Book 1:
Amari Hawke is the daughter of a dragon shifter and a human Eldian. Because of her mixed race, her parents have never told her of the possibility of her shifter within. It never mattered until she ventured outside the Veil, got captured by slave traders and lost her memory due to a bump on the head. She’s sold in servitude but not before meeting the handsome dragon Lord Jaxson. She’s drawn to him yet doesn’t know why.
Jaxson never goes to auctions yet here he is at the very same auction where Amari is being sold. Once he lays eyes on her, she intrigues him. She claims to be a sheep but her feisty attitude riles up his dragon. He wars with himself over his inability to keep her safe but when there’s a rogue attack and her life is in jeopardy, Jaxson acts. Can he heal her as only his dragon can or will he be too late?
From the first page, I knew this was going to be a breathtaking fantasy romance. I fell in love with both Amari and Jaxson, their attraction immediate and made my heart flutter. As the story unfolds, the world Shaw creates comes to life. Nuances of dragon near-extinction, societal hierarchy and the will to survive no matter the risks add immense depth to this story. It’s more than just a shifter romance; it’s about life and what you make of it. Bravo to Shaw for her world-building tactics. The alternating POV with Amari’s parents and their painful search for their missing daughter was pure emotional anguish to read. But in a good way, I promise.
If you’re looking for a fantasy romance with plenty of action and intrigue, pick this up today. Be aware: there is a huge cliffhanger but parts two and three are available to keep reading. I myself can’t wait to read the rest of the serial.
Book 2:
Amari struggles to maintain her sanity as her awakening draws near. Her memory has still not returned and she starts to doubt her self-worth. Her animal within is clawing to get out but since her parents never showed her how to connect with her animal, she’s feeling hopeless. The pain is unbearable. Jaxon’s connection to her is a lifeline and she clings to it.
Jaxon’s done denying his attraction for Amari, not that his dragon will let him forget it. Together, they enter Amari’s dreams and explore their need for her. Jaxon confides in his cadre Amari’s struggle and they vow to protect her, no matter who comes up against them. When there’s an attack on Jaxon’s property, Jaxon discovers Amari covered in blood. Did she do this horrific crime and if so, what is Jaxon willing to sacrifice to keep Amari safe? Her beast stirs and is begging for release. Will Jaxon’s love save her from the brink of madness or has he lost her to her beast forever?
Sleeping Dragon Stirs is part two in the Outside the Veil series and my first reaction after reading it is, WOW! It picks up exactly where part one left off and we delve into Jaxon and his cadre. We get some much-needed background on Amari’s father and how it relates to Jaxon and his father. But more than that, we get to fall in love as Amari explores her feelings for Jaxon. The shared dream scenes were intoxicating, rich in detail while showing the softer side of Jaxon.
There’s a lot going on in this book and with that being said, I read it in two sittings. I couldn’t put it down. I had to keep reading, to find what happened next. Plenty of action and romance, this is a fast-moving paranormal romance even non-romance readers would enjoy.
If you’re looking for an intense shifter romance with dramatic scenes where the stakes couldn’t be higher, pick up Sleeping Dragons Stirs today. I can’t wait to read the next part in this alluring paranormal romance series!
Favorite Character/Quote: “You will never get lost in the shadows, est draco, because your flame will only burn brighter in the darkness.”
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
a splendid set of three stories. Good storybuilding and characters. I enjoyed all 3 stories and look forward to more by T J Shaw.
When I requested the boxed set of Outside The Veil, I expected there would be three different stories. However, the three parts seamlessly flow into the next. So I would highly recommend to read all three books in correct order. This is no hardship though. We meet Amari, a girl who is kidnapped and hit on the head. As a result, she doesn't remember who she is. In a world full of shapeshifters (herbivores and predators) she stands out. When she is sold as a sheep at an auction, she attracts the attention of Jaxon Blackthorn, a dragon shifter. Since she claims to be a sheep, Jaxon let's her go to the highest bidder. However, when the caravan (where Amari is travelling with) is being raided, she succesfully rescues a child from the attacking rogue shapeshifters). It becomes very clear that she is not a sheep, but something else. When Jaxon and his cadre (loyal companions) come to aid the caravan, they take Amari with them. Jaxon doesn't understand the deep feelings he feels for this exceptional and fearless woman.
Together, they try to unravel the mysteries of Amari's past. And Jaxon teaches her what it is like to be a shapeshifter, living with your companion in harmony and communicating through links with your family (or nest). But Amari's not safe at Jaxon's nest. There are still attacks and strange killings occur. Can it be that Amari's companion has something to do with it? Why can't Amari connect with her beast? What is she hiding?
You really need to read all three parts of the series to find out. But what a wonderful ride! Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.
I really enjoyed these books and would give this a 3.5. Because the first two books in this series are short and end in cliffhangers I think this is the best way to read these books. The world building was really good, the plot moved as a good pace, and there was no instalove which I loved. Amari is strong, smart, and resourceful. Jaxon is the typical brooding male lead, but very likeable. All of the supporting characters were very likeable as well. There is a villain, but they aren’t important to Amari and Jaxon’s story. The conflict was internal and that was a refreshing change to read in this genre. This story was completed but there are plenty of characters whose stories I would like to read, I am eager for the next book in this series.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it to everyone.
I received a digital arc of this boxed set in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this series, the world building was brilliant and I'd have lived to learn more about it, and the magic involved. But i did love what we were shown about the magic and shifting and mates.
The books read fast and seemed less like individual books, but more like one large book.
The characters were brilliant and well planned and I enjoyed the character growth even if it was a little fast... I love all the dragons they're just.... so... majestic *swoon*
I can't wait to read more from this series as there is obviously a deeper plot line that was hinted at but only gave an insight into it... It seems like it could be much, much deeper than it was since it was three books... That annoyed me slightly... 😅
Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Although this was a three part series it felt like a very long single novel. Amari loses her memory and meets Jaxon in an auction just before she's being auctioned off. He is immediately drawn to her and one thing leads to another and he saves her from sudden death. There were parts that were beautiful written like when he enters her mind and gently woos her fears so she can let him heal her. Their connection is undeniable.
But there were parts that were repetitive and clichéd. Jaxon is an alpha dragon and it's annoying how he often treats Amari like a helpless child, constantly controlling her behavior and calling her little dragon. She tries to stand up for herself but he always manages to outsmart or distract her. I prefer stronger heroines but she did show some bravery and growth.
This is a decent shifter series if you enjoy very dominant dragons, a bit of menage and a determined heroine trying to uncover her abilities.
A young woman with no memory finds herself forced in auction of shifters. The only thing she remembers is her first name. For some reason, her fiery red hair has everyone giving her a wide berth. When Dragon lord Jaxon Blackthorn sees the petite redhead, he’s drawn to her in a way he’s never been drawn to any female before. He can’t help coming to her rescue every time problems arise even as he’s sworn to never mate.
This was a really great story. It’s definitely a long read, but following Amari’s journey as she tries to figure out who she is is well worth the read. There were a few small things that bugged me, like jumping to other POVs beyond the two main characters (with a long read like this I skimmed through these as they tended to drag me down a bit with the story) and when the book starts, there’s no real introduction to the world Amari is dealing with. It doesn’t really detract from the story, but it irritated me a bit as I was trying to figure out what was happening. I’ve never read this author before so I’m not sure if it was explained in another story or not. I can’t wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book
First of all, I feel a little mean not giving this more than a four-star score, I was in two minds whether to give it five or four, but decided to go with four. There was a lot I loved about these books, but I suspect that there's room for even more in future instalments of this series, so I decided to go with four.
I had intended to read the three parts of this boxed set separately, possibly reading something in between each one. This time, that just didn't happen. With each part, I couldn't put it down and was dying to know what was going to happen in the next. I was warned that the first two books would finish on cliffhangers, but I still didn't expect to be so caught up in the story.
Both Jaxon and Amari were fascinating and I loved how they were together. Finding out how they managed to navigate their way through the problems that faced them and their finding a way for Amari to become who she should be. I also really liked the other members of their cardre and I hope that we see more of them in future books. This is the start of a series I believe and there is certainly scope for plenty more storylines. Amari's sister Lizbet has got her own issues to face in the near future, as well as dealing with the shadowy villain of the piece. I suspect that we have only seen a small amount of this person so far, their motives or what they are ultimately trying to do hasn't really become clear as yet.
The setting of this book means that there is a fair amount of world-building to be done. This doesn't get in the way of the story or the action and our understanding grows as the plot develops so that you almost don't notice it, but certainly know far more about the world in which they live by the end of the books.
There is romance here and I loved the interaction between Jaxon and Amari as they at first find themselves drawn to one another and then as their relationship and love begins to grow and develop.
If you are thinking of giving Outside the Veil a go, then I would suggest going straight for the boxed set. You probably won't be able to put it down so you might as well get all three to begin with. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This was a good surprise never read anything by this author and really enjoyed this and am looking forward tothe next one.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher
This was an awesome,exciting, lol series! I loved how everything evolved and pulled together. The characters were well written with fantastic dialog. There really wasn't anything missing and easily could have read 200 more pages. There were a few unexpected but totally awesome sexy surprises. Will definitely look for more from this author.
Outside the Veil is an exciting boxed set that contains three stories which follow the dramatic events and heartbreak that plague and exceptional young woman. TJ Shaw created imaginative and intriguing stories that delved into the difficulties faced by a woman with no memory of her past or the world around her, and also incorporated dream walking and mind connections.
I enjoyed the growth and development of the characters and the world building only ensured that readers would become ensconced in the wonder of this unique realm. I was a little sorry to turn the last page, so I’ll definitely be looking out for what TJ Shaw has in store for readers next.
The Outside the Veil Boxed Set includes: #1 Rogue Dragon Rising, #2 Sleeping Dragon Stirs and #3 Alpha Dragon Awakes.
It`s a beautiful, in parts very funny, dragon love story. I loved the wold TJ Shaw has created and the dream walking and mind connecting parts were very intriguing. It`s definitely a world I wan`t to explore more.
Outside the Veil Boxed Set by TJ Shaw is book 1-3 in the Outside the Veil series. These books cover the story of Jaxon Blackthorn and Amari Hawke.
After a terrible injury Amari is left with no memory but her pain doesn't end there. Amari keeps getting attacked and unsure what or why. When Jaxon a dark alpha dragon shifter saves her there is an attraction there that doesn't stop, but Jaxon tries to fight it at first. But the more he comes forward to help the more he cannot turn his back on the growing feelings. But things don't go easy and plays out in the 3 book set.
Exciting read.