Customer Reviews

Veil of Fire: A Novel

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I didn't realize until I'd reached the end of this captivating novel that it was based on a real historical event--one of the worst fires in history. A blaze that destroyed six towns including Hinckley and killed 418 people in four hours in Minnesota of 1894.

In Veil of Fire, residents of Hinckley struggle with grief over their losses and wavering faith in the God who allowed such disaster, while trying to put their lives and their town back together.

Meanwhile, rumors spread that a ghost, or maybe a monster, is lurking in the surrounding hills. Things have gone missing--a cart, a pie, some beans--and a veiled figure in black has been spotted in the shadows. People are angry and afraid.

The author pulls you in, first by making you care about her very believable characters--a widower left alone with his baby girl, a mother with many regrets and the man who loves her despite her short-comings, a villain we despise yet understand. Then she keeps you reading, leaving you with one cliffhanger after another. I read this book quickly, always having to know what happened next, and in the end I was satisfied.

Veil of Fire is about finding the truth. It's about being real, and giving and receiving undeserved love and forgiveness. This book will be enjoyed by fans of historical, romantic, and suspense fiction.

Reviewed By Janet Rubin

I had heard that Marlo Schalesky's writing was a cut above the rest, and this novel drew a line under that phrase and placed an exclamation point at the end. In BOLD font.

What a spellbinding book! I was hooked right away and read right through to the end, breathless, savoring the excitement with each page. A VEIL OF FIRE has it all: great story, heartfelt, tender moments, real characters, the thrill of the chase, quiet beauty, and truth. I loved that it was based on a real event in history. Marlo's fine writing and historical accuracy made this a memorable read. Looking forward to my next Marlo novel! Well done.

This book satisfies on every level. Drama, action, passion, internal conflict and of course MYSTERY. The mystery caused me to stay up 2 nights in a row...completely neglecting all of my household responsibility. It was wonderful! Marlo succeeds in making each character very real. My emotions were very much on the surface from the moment I picked up this book. She had me at page one. I rarely get a chance to indulge in fictional works. This was time well spent. I HIGHLY RECCOMEND.

Marlo Schalesky is a consummate storyteller who has woven a tale of suspense, love, and healing in Veil of Fire. In 1894, the small town of Hinckley, Minnesota faced a fire that destroyed the community. As the few survivors begin to piece their lives back together, fear reigns and the citizens persecute the unknown--a being they believe is a ghost. Only a young orphan is willing to question who or what this being might be. Her discovery shatters the secrets one citizen thought had gone up in smoke. Schalesky has done a masterful job of maintaining the suspense until the moment the secret is revealed--a skill that eludes some of the best authors. I loved this book.

This was an amazing book. I admittedly had a hard time getting excited about this one, and I don't know why. I had never heard of this author before, but I love to read new authors. I couldn't put my finger on it. The first 100 pages are necessary to set the scene, and I did find them a bit slow, but at about page 100, it became a page turner that I found hard to put down! I would rate this at 4 out of 5 bookmarks. If you enjoy books based on past historical events, this is a must read!

In 1894 a fire broke out in the town of Hinckley, Minnesota. Four hours later 400 square miles were torched. Four hundred eighteen lives were lost. Out of the ashes the townspeople rebuilt and rose again like the Phoenix of mythology. And a myth began to grow among the survivors. There was one in the hills watching, observing. Friend or foe? No one knew. To this day no one knows who the hermit in the hills around Hinckley was. Speculations abound still.

I met Marlo Schalesky through Shoutlife. Intrigued by the blurb for Veil of Fire, I went to her website and discovered I could read chapter one. I did. And I rushed right out to find the book so I could finish the story.

I must say I'm not a fan of historical fiction. I find it difficult to relate to stories that delve into settings, customs and such that I'm unfamiliar with. However, this story caught my attention because it seemed to have a little mystery and suspense to it. This story, though set in a historical time period and speculating on what might have been so and what was, reads more like a suspense novel than anything else. I went into it expecting chapter one to be about the fire and the remaining pages to be about the aftermath. I got more than I bargained for. The first four chapters cover the fire and the townsfolk attempting to escape. Some succeed, others fail. This section was some of the most intense reading I've done in a long time. I could smell the smoke and hear the flames. The fear of the characters was palpable. I experienced it all with them. This is the mark of a great writer.

The remaining story takes you on several paths. That of a little girl orphaned by the fire. A woman grief-stricken over the loss of her own daughter. A businessman who essentially owns the town. His no account son. A farmer whose only tangible of his lost wife is his infant daughter.

And the hermit in the hills. We see inside the mind and heart of this character. Learn their struggles, meditate on their questions, consider possible answers along with them. All the while having no idea who this person is until the last possible moment. Marlo tosses out so many possibilities to reader as to the identity of this person. I personally was so torn by the possibilities that I could not make up my mind. And yet, it stared me in the face the whole time. Like any good story should.

This was my first historical read. If there are others like it out there, I can assure you I'll be reading more.

Veil of Fire is a compelling book from start to finish. I picked it up thinking it would be an interesting historical fiction, primarily about a factual fire in the Midwest. However, from the very first chapter I became engrossed in this captivating novel that introduced me to the depths of tragedy and despair as the fire ravaged, and the anticipation of hope and redemption as the people in Hinckley rebuilt their town and their lives. Schalesky does an excellent job unfolding the plot of the story and developing her characters. Truth and freedom are wrestled with in new ways as the characters struggle with their own depravity, and the crushing depravity of others. I was pleasantly surprised in the end at the reality of the characters humanity and my own, as the issues in this novel easily translate into struggles of truth, hope, freedom, and faith in my own life, in the face of terrible loss. Yet, it would be an oversight to end my comments here. Veil of Fire is a suspenseful thriller as the reader tries to discover the identity of the hermit in the hills. One of the driving forces of the novel, unveiling the hermit's identity was the primary reason why I could not put this book down. I have already recommended this book to my husband and my friends; a great read for everyone!

In 1894, the town of Hinckley, Minnesota was forever changed by a rampaging fire that struck without warning. Marlo Schalesky weaves a compelling and moving story around that tragic historical event, with tenderness and lyrical artistry.

Josef, Ellie, Lars and Arla's lives take a twist they never thought possible when the Hinckley conflagration consumes buildings, stock and people indiscriminately. Fear, pain, hope and love all rise up from the ashes as they wonder how to move on. God's faithfulness and protection is called into question by some, while others cling to their faith in the face of such tragedy.

As the community attempts to restore their lives, another is hoping a dark and sinister secret has been laid to rest underneath the blackened landscape.

The impact of Veil of Fire is lasting and heartfelt. That the fire actually took place, killing 418 people in four hours, contributes to the book's punch but no less is Marlo's beautiful abilities as a wordsmith. She has crafted a tale that engages the heart with her appealing and compelling characters and activates the mind with a mystery that remains satisfyingly unresolved until the final chapter. I was so impressed with this novel that I have nominated it for my book club to read later this year!

Veil of Fire is a fascinating story based on an actual historical event--the worst fire in Minnesota's history--a fire that burned 400 square miles and killed 418 people in just four hours. The story begins with non-stop action as a hellish blaze consumes everything in sight. The reader is placed in the middle of the maelstrom as the events unfold, and it's an awesome and terrifying experience.

The potential for evil in the hearts of men really comes out in this story, as does a theme of regret. But God takes the painful things and if we let Him, He will shape us into beautiful vessels. I loved the analogy of the gingerbread cookie. Something bitter, something sweet, and a whole lot of heat. That about sums up life in this world. Why do bad things happen? They just do. Is God there? Yes. Whether we see Him or not is based on our choice. These are just a few of the meaty lessons I gleaned from this wonderful story.

Of course, some of the bad guys never change, but that's real life. But many people who were either lukewarm or living behind of false mask, or a "church face" learned about unconditional love and the power of opening your heart and taking risks. Wonderful, wonderful stuff.

Plus, the poor "monster" in the hills really tore at my heart. I loved how the "monster's" thoughts were in first person and the others were in third person point of view. That style had greater impact for the reader. Oh, and the best part of all is that who I thought the "monster" was through the whole story turned out to be someone else. I just love twists like that. I might even read this story twice. Highly recommended!

This was a wonderful book, kept me guessing till the end. It was part real, but part fictional with the characters. It came from a story of the fire of Hinckley.