The Lifting of the Veil feels very slow because the the characters are "explained" with references to their past and internal thoughts that don’t really create conflict or drive the plot forward. In other words, the beginning just doesn’t provide a lot of impetus to continue reading. This is especially problematic because LotV has a lot of characters, all of which have their introductory chapters and internal musings/setting explained.
The many characters also made it rather difficult to get into the story, especially since each character had a "turn" and, even if something actiony happened, it wouldn’t be resolved until it was the character’s turn. This structure made it very difficult for me to immerse myself into the story.
It was also difficult to suspend my belief at some points in the story. The relatively new-on-the-scene president is elected because the citizens are voting out incumbents in droves. I know this is a story and not the real US of A (and that this is probably my Pol Sci class rearing its dry and boring head), but that just wouldn’t/doesn’t happen. It really isn’t a major point of the story, but it just really bugged me. Also, when the impending doom comes extremely nigh, the government decides not to notify its citizens. This is unbelievable to me, and I don’t feel much sympathy for a president who would not lead the country in such a time of crisis.
The writing is neither bad nor outstanding, but it becomes especially vivid and intense when the crisis strikes. At times the prose is dry and very technical, which sometimes becomes tedious. There are also some past to present tense changes which are rather off putting.
If apocalyptic fiction is the water that floats your boat, you’ll probably enjoy this story.
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