National Guard Sergeant Ivy Newland doesn’t understand why civilians are commanding United States soldiers in Iraq.  Employed by the fanatical religious group the Foundation, civilian John Smith is searching for the One True Cross and will let no one get in his way.  The discovery of the Cross sends jubilation through him until Ivy touches it and then he is filled with anger and the belief that Ivy is a supporter of the goddess Ishtar.  Smith kills Ivy but not before she manages to return the favor.  Neither, however, understands the full powers of the Cross.

Captain Zack Herrera is horrified to see all of the blood on Ivy and just as shocked when she is miraculously healed and once again lives.  Both realize the enormity of the situation and flee with the Cross.  The Foundation is not far behind and is able to sense the psychic vibrations or aura from the Cross.  Ivy receives a vision from a long dead priestess that sets the path for Zack and Ivy’s journey.  This journey will span several countries and challenge all of their beliefs about God, the Virgin Mary, and the motivations of their own country.

VEIL OF THE GODDESS is an action packed adventure with a supernatural twist.  The reader is engrossed in the story from the very first sentence as Rob Preece carefully constructs a plotline that is both entertaining and thought provoking.  The rich details of each locale bring the various cultures and cities alive.  One can almost hear the water as the gondola glides upon it or smell the musty tomb in which Zack and Ivy hide.

Religious beliefs are challenged and questioned in VEIL OF THE GODDESS.  Ivy becomes the epitome of the female goddess and is even labeled a Saint by some of the characters, including several priests and imans.  At times, the situations seem a bit over-the-top but Rob Preece makes the unbelievable seem believable.  The dichotomy of the various Catholic beliefs is explored as the Foundation seeks to bring about the final war, the Gog-Magog war, while labeling their opponents as supporting Marianism.  Some will perhaps be offended for the very nontraditional ideas expressed in VEIL OF THE GODDESS, but Rob Preece is to be commended for writing such a thought provoking story that is not simply another rehash of Dan Brown’s THE DA VINCI CODE. 

Religious artifacts have always held an allure for humanity and Rob Preece uses two of the most common ones in this story as the Veil of Mary and the Cross are both located and given mystical powers.  However, Rob Preece postulates in VEIL OF THE GODDESS that religious artifacts and sites from other religions also have power, as exemplified by the temple that killed the sheep.  The author’s sheer creativity and ingenuity is demonstrated in this reviewer’s favorite scene involving the effects of the evil, sickly yellow temple on the sheep in the area.  Power can be used for good or evil and Rob Preece does a fabulous job of demonstrating this concept.  VEIL OF THE GODDESS is not a quick read but it is one guaranteed to provide both enjoyment and food for thought.   

Reviewed by Debbie