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Behind the Veil
Short Synopsis:
Behind the Veil follows the story of a timid yet determined girl from the Outlayers as she competes to join the ruling elite of Nyine City, but whose strange and sudden visions lead her to uncover their secrets instead!
This YA Dystopian Fantasy combines all our favorite dystopian tropes, while exploring the concepts of blind loyalty to authority we don't understand, and the consequences of our actions.
Long Synopsis
Layden Prier, a timid yet determined girl from the Outlayers, has always believed in the Council’s mission.
To her, they are humanity’s lifeboat, and joining their ranks is her only chance at a life worth living. But to do so, she must survive the Generational Trials—a grueling competition where her mind is transferred into the body of a Host, and her goal, to prove her worth at any cost.
However, as strange visions haunt her, everything she thought she knew about the Council begins to unravel. Guided by her enigmatic Guardian and a quiet voice within, Layden must wrestle with truths she wasn’t prepared for, and make choices that affect those she loves, and the future of their world.
Layden's been gifted with vision, but when all is revealed, will she truly see?
Behind the Veil follows the story of a timid yet determined girl from the Outlayers as she competes to join the ruling elite of Nyine City, but whose strange and sudden visions lead her to uncover their secrets instead!
This YA Dystopian Fantasy combines all our favorite dystopian tropes, while exploring the concepts of blind loyalty to authority we don't understand, and the consequences of our actions.
Long Synopsis
Layden Prier, a timid yet determined girl from the Outlayers, has always believed in the Council’s mission.
To her, they are humanity’s lifeboat, and joining their ranks is her only chance at a life worth living. But to do so, she must survive the Generational Trials—a grueling competition where her mind is transferred into the body of a Host, and her goal, to prove her worth at any cost.
However, as strange visions haunt her, everything she thought she knew about the Council begins to unravel. Guided by her enigmatic Guardian and a quiet voice within, Layden must wrestle with truths she wasn’t prepared for, and make choices that affect those she loves, and the future of their world.
Layden's been gifted with vision, but when all is revealed, will she truly see?
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2025
6 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Rae Ortiz
1 book5 followersSamantha is a writer of God-honoring Speculative Fiction for all ages. Her current novel, Behind the Veil is a YA Dystopian Fantasy and the beginning of series entitled Whispers of Eden.
She works as a freelance editor, contracted copy-writer with Mettle Marketing, and lead administrator for her local church.
She has two children and a husband and lives with them in Albuquerque, New Mexico where you can find her reading books, watching movies and admiring the beautiful skyline of NM!
She works as a freelance editor, contracted copy-writer with Mettle Marketing, and lead administrator for her local church.
She has two children and a husband and lives with them in Albuquerque, New Mexico where you can find her reading books, watching movies and admiring the beautiful skyline of NM!
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 25, 2025
I received an ARC for this masterpiece and let me say that I was pleasantly surprised from the first chapter! It was a refreshing sci-fi dystopian that gave me all the feels of nostalgia as if I was reading Divergent and Hunger Games for the first time! I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn't put it down! You will not be disappointed!
July 26, 2025
While I enjoyed elements of this book, namely the creativity of the trials to determine creative thinking and group collaboration, many aspects felt lacking.
Laydens character development was lacking for me. She is entirely devoted to the council and incredibly naïve to many very questionable things that they do and perpetuate through their society. I never felt like I got a good reason for why she was so incredibly committed to the council until the end, when she admitted that it would be the only people to ever accept her. When she had manni for this all along?!
Additionally the chapter endings were such a clean wrap up, that it left me NOT wanting to read the next chapter. If the chapters had ended on an unresolved moment, this would have spurred me forward as a reader!
The world building was quite unfinished and there were MANY plot holes unaddressed. Why did the world flood? Are they living in a shallow sea because surely they’re putting on peers? This is not addressed. Are there other people living outside of this compound in the out layers? Why the defense mechanisms that Manni questioned? Why was Layden not repulsed that her ideas for selection would result in total reform in keeping all babies from their mothers until they could be returned for being unsuited or unworthy candidates?!? Is there chemistry between her and the guardian? What the heck is going on with her an Manni?
I wanted this book to be so much more. I wanted Layden to REALIZE her hosts were communicating to her. I wanted her to come to her senses and realize the council is a controlling evil dictatorship and seek a way out herself.
Instead, in the end, she was rescued by two MEN who never let her in on the plan.
What if they had TOLD HER & she could have had camaraderie through all the trials? A plan for her to rise above all the other candidates so she could be extracted like Katniss?
And what happened with the green book??? She never even read it?! I wanted there to be something there! Some information on faith or religion or just government that would make her question the system.
I think there was a lot of potential here that u fortunately fell flat for me.
However, this author shows promise with her extensive medical and scientific knowledge to make futuristic world’s thst are believable.
Laydens character development was lacking for me. She is entirely devoted to the council and incredibly naïve to many very questionable things that they do and perpetuate through their society. I never felt like I got a good reason for why she was so incredibly committed to the council until the end, when she admitted that it would be the only people to ever accept her. When she had manni for this all along?!
Additionally the chapter endings were such a clean wrap up, that it left me NOT wanting to read the next chapter. If the chapters had ended on an unresolved moment, this would have spurred me forward as a reader!
The world building was quite unfinished and there were MANY plot holes unaddressed. Why did the world flood? Are they living in a shallow sea because surely they’re putting on peers? This is not addressed. Are there other people living outside of this compound in the out layers? Why the defense mechanisms that Manni questioned? Why was Layden not repulsed that her ideas for selection would result in total reform in keeping all babies from their mothers until they could be returned for being unsuited or unworthy candidates?!? Is there chemistry between her and the guardian? What the heck is going on with her an Manni?
I wanted this book to be so much more. I wanted Layden to REALIZE her hosts were communicating to her. I wanted her to come to her senses and realize the council is a controlling evil dictatorship and seek a way out herself.
Instead, in the end, she was rescued by two MEN who never let her in on the plan.
What if they had TOLD HER & she could have had camaraderie through all the trials? A plan for her to rise above all the other candidates so she could be extracted like Katniss?
And what happened with the green book??? She never even read it?! I wanted there to be something there! Some information on faith or religion or just government that would make her question the system.
I think there was a lot of potential here that u fortunately fell flat for me.
However, this author shows promise with her extensive medical and scientific knowledge to make futuristic world’s thst are believable.
July 22, 2025
This book is exactly what YA dystopian science fiction should be! I was hooked right from the opening chapter, and I had to find out what was going to happen to Layden Prier.
Set in post apocalyptic Earth, humanity had been saved by an elite few who created Nyine City as all of Earth had been flooded after catastrophic events. The Council is now the governing body of the technologically advanced Nyine City and the Outlayers are where the working and lower class people live. Humanity was almost rendered extinct, but technological advancements made it possible for people to be self-sustaining with bio engineered food, shelter and reproductive assistance.
The Council holds the generational trials to select those people who show exceptional promise as leaders and contributors to society so that humanity can continue to flourish. Layden Prier was selected as a child and wants nothing more than to serve The Council and help to better Nyine City. Layden is chosen to begin a process of having her mind transferred to a human host through different age groups to glean knowledge from specific experiences in the hopes that she would become one of the next group of Councilors.
As Layden goes through the day to day life of her host, she discovers that mind transfer isn’t as easy as she thought it would be, and to top it off she has begun to have disturbing visions that come to her unexpectedly. These visions center her out by the members of The Council and Layden has to have a Guardian assigned to her to work with her and report back to the Grand Councilor on what she sees when the visions happen. As time goes on Layden works to continue to prove her worth to The Council, but she discovers the councilors are withholding information and have secrets that she isn’t sure she wants to discover.
Behind the Veil is a clean YA dystopian science fiction that is set in a water covered world, has advanced technology, enhanced human genetics, high stakes war games, friends that become family, and a fighting hope for the future. This book is the first in the series and I can’t wait for book two to come out!
I received a complimentary copy from Samantha Rae Ortiz. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Set in post apocalyptic Earth, humanity had been saved by an elite few who created Nyine City as all of Earth had been flooded after catastrophic events. The Council is now the governing body of the technologically advanced Nyine City and the Outlayers are where the working and lower class people live. Humanity was almost rendered extinct, but technological advancements made it possible for people to be self-sustaining with bio engineered food, shelter and reproductive assistance.
The Council holds the generational trials to select those people who show exceptional promise as leaders and contributors to society so that humanity can continue to flourish. Layden Prier was selected as a child and wants nothing more than to serve The Council and help to better Nyine City. Layden is chosen to begin a process of having her mind transferred to a human host through different age groups to glean knowledge from specific experiences in the hopes that she would become one of the next group of Councilors.
As Layden goes through the day to day life of her host, she discovers that mind transfer isn’t as easy as she thought it would be, and to top it off she has begun to have disturbing visions that come to her unexpectedly. These visions center her out by the members of The Council and Layden has to have a Guardian assigned to her to work with her and report back to the Grand Councilor on what she sees when the visions happen. As time goes on Layden works to continue to prove her worth to The Council, but she discovers the councilors are withholding information and have secrets that she isn’t sure she wants to discover.
Behind the Veil is a clean YA dystopian science fiction that is set in a water covered world, has advanced technology, enhanced human genetics, high stakes war games, friends that become family, and a fighting hope for the future. This book is the first in the series and I can’t wait for book two to come out!
I received a complimentary copy from Samantha Rae Ortiz. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
August 2, 2025
I could not put this down. So readable. Such excellent word-building and enough mystery to keep me intrigued without being confused. The only negative is that the second book in the series was not immediately in my hands upon finishing book one. Cannot wait to see what happens next and how Layden’s character continues to develop. Incredible.
September 10, 2025
This is not my normal style. But I was immediately sucked in to the story and the journey of Layden. I loved the character development and the changes along the way. If you like dystopian worlds I highly recommended this. If dystopian isn’t really your thing.. I will highly recommend this! I had fun, it took me on an adventure and I can’t wait for the next book!
July 21, 2025
Post Apocalyptic/Dystopian style books are definitely my favorite and I’m so glad I picked this one up! The story will suck you in the minute you start. I was desperate to know what happens next the whole way through! I’m impatiently waiting for book 2!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews