# Vela Reader — Bring the great books to life > AI-powered reader for classic books with contextual explanations and scene illustrations. (iPhone/iPad app by Tasio Victoria.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vela-reader/id6760212343 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Tasio Victoria](https://appshunter.io/developer/1883254799) - Category: Books, Education - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings - Age rating: 9+ - Requires: iOS 18.0 · 28 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-03-16 - Data updated: 2026-07-29 - Monetization: freemium - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vela-reader/id6760212343/reviews.md ## What is Vela Reader? Always wanted to read Moby-Dick, Ulysses, or War and Peace — and actually enjoy them? Vela is a beautiful reader for the world's great books, with an AI companion that helps you understand every page and bring it to life. Highlight any line and ask. Get the historical context, a character you lost track of, the meaning of an archaic word, or what a dense passage is really saying — in seconds, right beside the text. It's the context you'd otherwise put the book down to go hunt for, without ever leaving the page. And picture what you're reading: illustrate any scene and bring the moment to life. A calm, modern home for the classics: • Thousands of public-domain works from Standard Ebooks and Project Gutenberg • Distraction-free reading — dark, light, and sepia themes • Adjustable typography: font, size, and spacing • Bookmarks, in-book search, and beautiful quote cards to share Vela isn't a summary tool or a shortcut — it helps you read the actual book, and get more out of every page. New accounts include a trial of AI questions. Keep going with Pro ($6.99/month) or Bonfire ($14.99/month) for more questions each month and the most capable model by default. For readers who want to finally get through the great books — and love them. Terms of Use (EULA): https://vela.cool/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://vela.cool/privacy.html ## Key features - AI-powered contextual explanations - AI-generated scene illustrations - Access to thousands of public-domain books - Distraction-free reading modes - Adjustable typography - Bookmarks and in-book search ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Pro | $6.99 | per month | | Bonfire | $14.99 | per month | ## Frequently asked questions about Vela Reader ### What is Vela Reader? Vela Reader is a reading application designed for classic books. It features an AI companion that provides contextual information, definitions, and historical insights directly within the text, and can illustrate scenes from the book. ### Does Vela Reader have ads? No, Vela Reader does not contain advertisements. The app focuses on providing a distraction-free reading experience for its users. ### What classic books are available on Vela Reader? Vela Reader offers thousands of public-domain works, sourced from Standard Ebooks and Project Gutenberg, making a vast library of classic literature accessible. ### How does the AI companion in Vela Reader work? You can highlight any line in a book and ask the AI for historical context, character details, word meanings, or explanations of dense passages, all without leaving the page. ### What are the subscription options for Vela Reader? Vela Reader offers a Pro subscription for $6.99/month and a Bonfire subscription for $14.99/month, providing more AI questions per month and access to the most capable AI model. ### What devices is Vela Reader available on? Vela Reader is supported on iPhone and iPad devices, offering a seamless reading experience across Apple's mobile platforms. ### What is the age rating for Vela Reader? Vela Reader has an age rating of 9+, making it suitable for young readers and adults alike who are interested in classic literature. ### How often is Vela Reader updated? The latest version of Vela Reader is 2.2.0, and it was last updated on July 2, 2026, indicating regular maintenance and feature additions. ## Version history (last 4 releases) ### 2.5.0 — 2026-07-22 Your library now follows you. • Cross-device sync — your place in every book, plus your highlights, bookmarks, shelves and saved AI answers, now travel between your devices automatically. • Shelves — organise your library into collections that sync everywhere. • Highlights in colour — choose a colour as you highlight, and find your way back faster. • A rebuilt reader — smoother page turns and much more precise text selection, with a redesigned selection menu. • Illustrations now open with a smooth expanding transition. • Ask the assistant how much you've been reading. • Fixes: reopening a book returns you exactly where you left off, Continue Reading stays accurate, in-book search flashes your match, and the screen no longer sleeps mid-page while you read. ### 2.2.0 — 2026-07-02 Reading the classics just got smoother, and the AI companion got more helpful. • Ask about a passage, then tap Discuss to talk it through in the Assistant • Quiz yourself on what you just read with tappable multiple-choice • Tap a search result to jump straight to that page • Tap any illustration to view it full-screen • Share beautiful full-screen story quote cards • Your screen now stays awake while you read • Sharper page layout, smoother highlights, less flicker, and a batch of fixes ### 2.0 — 2026-06-23 A refreshed look, a clearer purpose, and a calmer reading experience. ### 1.0 — 2026-03-16 No release notes. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-29.*