The Veil of Corruption
Buy the Book:Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Bookshop.org
Audible
Signed Copy
Published by: Hazel Publishing Company
Release Date: November 12, 2020
Pages: 221
ISBN13: 978-1736002728
View on Goodreads
OVERVIEW
Join Wilf in a thrilling adventure where witches, wizards, and soccer collide!
In the Magical Realm, a long-standing conflict between witches and wizards has destabilized everything. Wilf finds the antidote for the Virus of Beauty but wants to return to his normal teenage life. Unfortunately, his stepsister Myra vanishes, and Wilf is accused of corrupting the Veil, a protective barrier. As the spell expands, attacking witches and wizards, Wilf must act. Evil forces kidnap his witch friend Katryna, and Wilf is willing to risk his life to save her and the Magical Realm. Brace yourself for a captivating journey of bravery, friendship, and the power to save an entire world!
PRAISE
"Lyall's magic realms are jam-packed and the plot is lightning-quick. She throws a lot at her cast of characters, who seem to only be able to win their battles by teaming up and working together. There's the rub; how can anyone lock down an ally when the players keep switching teams? This theme of trusting others, and more poignantly, trusting oneself, is a central point of contention in Lyall's novel.
To make matters worse, the rules of the game are constantly changing as the very structure of existence is progressively jeopardized. Every few chapters the plot thickens, the sides switch, and the stakes get higher. If you want to see what happens next, you'll have to wait for the release of the third book of this series, which will no doubt be an equally magical and mind-bending ride."
–Judy Moreno, BookTrib.com
"The Veil of Corruption was just as mesmerizing as its predecessor The Virus of Beauty. It drew me in with the first page. The Veil of Corruption was an intense read with all its twists and turns. Once I picked it up there was no way I was going to lay it down until I had read the last page. The world-building and the magic alone kept me hooked page after page. I can’t wait to dive into the next book The Vassal of Magic to see where Wilf’s journey takes him.
I highly recommend The Veil of Corruption to all fans of magic, witches, wizards, and the Magical Realm! One-click your copy of The Veil of Corruption today! I would like to suggest that you read The Virus of Beauty before reading The Veil of Corruption."
–Nancy Allen (The Avid Reader)
"A dynamic YA series entry that continues to combine realistic adolescent issues with imaginative, magic-based fantasy."
–Kirkus Reviews
Also in this series:
EXCERPT
Chapter One–Wilf’s Store, Hong Kong
A green fissure burst open in the gray Hong Kong sky, and a constellation of tiny black stars spilled out. Wilf pushed off the wall and stared at the witches flying in a V configuration as they weaved in between the clouds. The pit in his stomach deepened. A plague of magic was entering this world, and he felt responsible.
The downward-spiraling fighter-plane formation of brooms swept over the Wan Chai sky, above the high-rise buildings and market. Material from the witches’ robes rustled and flapped overhead as they made their last approach into the Tai Wan Street. They peeled off into a single file, whooshing along the dead-end street past the Hung Shing Taoist Temple, until the brooms halted a few feet above the cobblestones. With a wave of her arm, the leader signaled, and the brooms floated down until the witches’ feet touched the ground. Another signal and the black brooms shrank to fit the small, cylindrical containers strapped to the riders’ belts. A thunderclap sounded as the Executrix Squad, the elite guards of the Witch Council, stamped to attention. The squad moved forward. An eerie silence surrounded their marching feet as they moved towards Wilf’s souvenir store, their non-reflective black uniforms absorbing the light.
Wilf leaned against the wall, merging his six-foot frame into the shadows. If only he could be like the locals who were oblivious to the steady stream of witches landing on Tai Wan Street from the Magical Realm. They typically arrived alone or in pairs when traveling by broom — he’d never seen this many arriving together. It took magical energy to navigate the Thermals, so only witches in the early stages of contagion flew. Warehouse portals transported witches who were severely affected by the Pulch Virus. Their beautiful, radiant profiles brought tears to the eyes of the magical healers, the virus having stripped the sufferers of both their magic and their facial warts. Wilf had only witnessed a handful in the latter stages who would never have their magic and ugliness restored. But at least the antidote had saved their lives.
Wilf’s store was now the Witch Council’s headquarters in Hong Kong. They had swooped in, taken command, and removed all the boards and advertising bills from the windows that Myra, his stepsister, had used to disguise the store as abandoned before following Ermentrude and himself to the Magical Realm. Wilf’s happiness at finding a cure for the Pulch Virus — and some control over his own magic — had disappeared when he’d realized his store, his apartment, and his life had become infected with witches. When the virus was no longer a threat and the witches’ realm stabilized, they would leave, and Wilf would get his old life back. He pinned his hopes to that dream.
He continued to watch the progress of the Executrix Squad towards his store. He sighed, perhaps he should find out why they were here. Before he could move, the door opened and Ermentrude stepped out. Wilf had become used to the Head Witch’s doughy face and the enormous wart on the end of her long, beaked nose. It was her scratchy voice, blackened fingernails, and habit of stroking the bristles on her square chin that still made him wince. The squad saluted her before entering the store. Katryna collided with the witches in her haste to catch her mother.
“Why didn’t you defend Wilf?” Katryna said, rushing ahead and angling her rake-thin body to block her mother from reaching the door to the store’s apartment.
Ermentrude adjusted an enormous book in her arms. “What could I have said?” She stepped around her irate daughter.