Dark Masquerade: Book 1 (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781764138604)

*2026 International Book Awards Horror Finalist*

For fans of the esoteric, the dreadful and the beautifully sinister, prepare to enter a world where horror is real, secrets rot from within and the cost of truth is sanity.

Victorian London, 1891. Six strangers are summoned by cryptic invitation to the mysterious Order of the Steel Rose, a vanguard against an ancient and implacable evil.

Each of the six brings their own skills and expertise, as well as their own dark secrets.

To their horror, they learn that the supernatural is, in fact, very real. The hidden world they discover threatens not only their lives, but their sanity, as those secrets return to haunt them.

In the beating heart of the most populous city in the world, the six find themselves alone, battling against horrendous creatures lurking in the shadows, stalking people as prey.

Forced to engage in a terrible Dark Masquerade, straddling an invisible line between decorum and carnage, their actions set them on a dire path to discover what lies in the darkness...

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, 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 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. All of which makes their encounters with the unknown feel even more disturbingly real.' Rebecca V