Fractured Veil

After the chillingly elegant intrigue of Dark Masquerade drew a growing readership into its shadowed world, including many readers discovering gothic and supernatural fiction for the first time, R. Slater returns with the next instalment.

London, 1891. The mask begins to crack.

Malevolence, long veiled, stirs beneath its exquisite façade as the hidden world beneath London's surface begins to rise.

Within the Order of the Steel Rose, the six new members must learn to stand together. Each is stalked by their own secrets while they begin their hunt for the Dark Master. But in a world of shadows and deception, one question remains: Who is hunting whom?

Supernatural forces twist their path, leading to a devastating confrontation in the shadows of the East End - one for which none of them are truly prepared.

And behind it all, something older and far more dangerous moves unseen, shaping events towards an end none of them can yet imagine.

Who will triumph? Who will survive to face What lies in the Darkness? Find out in the chilling second part of the Order of the Steel Rose series.

Six souls, summoned by shadows, chosen to face a horror the world dares not name:

Axel Hastings - A young nobleman-turned-adventurer, hardened by near-death encounters in the Wild West, who possesses the extraordinary ability to perceive what others cannot.

Richard Carnby - A wily East End burglar haunted by inner demons, now hunted by a ruthless local gang, the Cable Street Boys.

Percival Wallace - A suave gentleman with a criminal's cunning, bound by a forgotten past to the darkness they now face.

Dr Stanthorpe Cunningham Whitehall III - A brilliant yet insufferable physician who straddles the line between life and death, not simply due to his skill as surgeon.

Jane Halifax - A brilliant scholar of esoteric lore, assuming her father's place in the Order, and able to manipulate reality - though at great peril.

Emma Westover - A stunning and seductive actress with an uncanny gift for charming others to do her will.

PRAISE FOR R. SLATER

'This book was definitely outside my usual reading choices, so I wasn't sure what to expect, however, I really enjoyed it. The story pulled me in gradually and before I knew it, I was fully engaged. The writer was exceptionally descriptive, bringing every scene to life with rich detail. It was clear that a lot of research went into this compelling story. The sequels are definitely on my must-read list.' Deb Frichot

'Slater draws you in with intrigue of what takes place in the dark of merry old London town, and then in that dark, brings you to the skin-crawling horrors his mind has devised. A great beginning to many more treats he has in store for us.' Kane Stewart, First Nations Poet

'A compelling gothic horror story set in 1890s London, where the polished surface of Victorian society hides a darker, secret world. The story blends everyday life with a sinister underbelly of monstrous beings and secret societies, creating an atmosphere of suspense and mystery. The author captures the era beautifully, from darkened streets and gloomy architecture to complex characters and frightening events. The way the author writes pulls you deeper into the world, making it hard to stop reading. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys a gripping story that combines horror and history.' Elizabeth D

'A very chilling, character-driven descent into an authentic, yet eerie depiction of 1890s London. The story builds a tense, slow-burning sense of horror that rewards paying close attention to detail. Dry wit and bursts of action sharpen the dread, with characters that are as layered and compelling as the supernatural world they face. ' Rebecca V