There’s something hypnotic about Harper L. Woods’ What Lies Beyond the Veil—a whisper beneath the skin, a slow exhale of fear, passion, and rebellion wrapped in myth. The first book in the Of Flesh & Bone series marks the dawn of a hauntingly visceral saga that bends the borders of dark fantasy and romantic yearning.
As the Veil falls between the mortal world and the forbidden fae realm, we’re thrust into a landscape where magic bleeds, faith betrays, and desire can be as fatal as it is freeing. With powerful prose, Woods doesn’t just craft a story—she casts a spell.
Yet behind its magic, there are cracks. Though it promises an alluring blend of sensual fantasy and gothic lore, this opening installment can at times meander, test patience, and tease rather than deliver. Still, for the readers it enchants, the journey beyond the Veil is utterly intoxicating.
Behind the Curtain: The Premise at a Glance
Nothrek is a realm governed by a severe religion, ruled by the so-called New Gods who have outlawed the fae and their ancient magic for nearly four hundred years. The Veil—an arcane barrier—has kept the human and fae realms apart, preserving a fragile sense of order and safety.
Estrella, the story’s protagonist, lives in this oppressive society. Her father’s death in a ritual sacrifice and her mother’s disability mark her as vulnerable—but not broken. Drawn to the Veil since childhood, she tends its borders in secret, defying the roles assigned to her.
Everything changes when the Veil falls. Marked by fae magic and hunted by her own people, Estrella escapes with the help of Caelum, a mysterious and powerful fae-marked man who both protects and unsettles her. Their bond becomes the center of a struggle not only for survival, but for identity, power, and truth.
A World of Gilded Rot: Setting and Lore
Harper L. Woods conjures a dual-realm mythology that feels both ancient and immediate. The contrast between the sterile cruelty of Nothrek and the raw danger of Alfheimr creates a layered setting that evolves as Estrella journeys through it. The Veil’s fall is not just a narrative event—it’s a metaphorical rupture of everything Estrella once believed.
Key elements that make the world immersive:
The Viniculum: This magical marking is not just a visual stamp—it binds, reacts, and reveals. It reflects the duality of power: both gift and curse.
The Mist Guard and the Wild Hunt: Agents of control and chaos, they embody the violent extremes of order and freedom.
The New Gods vs. the Primordials: This religious schism forms the philosophical backbone of the series. Woods cleverly critiques blind faith and questions the narratives we’re told about salvation.
There is an undeniable richness here, and while the terminology and structure may overwhelm at first, it rewards those willing to piece together its tapestry.
Estrella: A Rebellion Forged in Silence
Estrella Barlowe is a heroine who begins her journey in shadow. Not in terms of evil, but of silence. She’s been taught to obey, to suffer in quiet, to survive by shrinking herself. But that quiet is shattered when she chooses to live—and to flee.
Her journey is more internal than external for much of the book. Estrella grows not by conquering beasts or commanding armies, but by questioning everything. Her pain is not romanticized, and her power doesn’t come easily. Her anger—at her society, her gods, herself—is what makes her compelling.
Highlights of her arc:
She chooses death over marriage to an abusive noble, Lord Byron—a moment of profound self-worth.
She defies the Mist Guard not with power, but with principle.
She begins to view her Mark not as a curse, but a call.
While some may find her transformation slow, it is deeply human. Her evolution feels like watching light pour into a room where the windows were bricked shut.
Caelum: Protector, Predator, or Partner?
Caelum’s arrival marks the book’s tonal shift. With him comes not only action and protection but also emotional complexity. His role in Estrella’s life is ambiguous: Is he a rescuer? A predator? A man bound to her by the same Mark?
What makes Caelum intriguing is his restraint. He is physically powerful, magically potent, and emotionally guarded. His secrets form the magnetic pull between him and Estrella—readers are constantly reevaluating his motives.
Their relationship is one of tension, not ease, and that’s precisely what makes it feel earned. Though it veers into possessiveness at times, it never fully crosses into toxicity—a rare balance in dark romance.
Critique: Caelum’s past is so deliberately obscured that at times he feels more symbolic than real. Future books may need to flesh him out with more vulnerability and less mystique.
Romantic Tension: The Slow-Burn and the Firestorm
The romance in What Lies Beyond the Veil is not insta-love—it’s intra-survival. Estrella and Caelum are thrust together by fate, danger, and the markings that tie their bodies and souls. What begins as wary reliance slowly morphs into mutual desire.
What makes the romance work:
Deep emotional groundwork before physical intimacy.
Mutual respect for pain and boundaries.
Tension that simmers across chapters before finally igniting.
This is not a lighthearted love story. It’s raw, tangled, and riddled with consequences. Some scenes may push comfort levels, especially for those sensitive to themes of power imbalance—but Woods does anchor their relationship in choice and emotional growth.
Symbolism and Subtext: More Than Magic
At its core, What Lies Beyond the Veil is a story of unlearning. Estrella doesn’t just flee a city—she escapes ideology. Woods uses the tropes of dark fantasy to critique real-world systems.
Themes that stand out:
Religious indoctrination: Nothrek’s obsession with purity and sacrifice feels eerily close to many real-world theocracies.
Female autonomy: Estrella’s rejection of marriage, her decision to flee, and her gradual claiming of power reflect a feminist core.
The body as battlefield: Whether through Mark, magic, or male control, Estrella’s physicality is contested territory—until she owns it.
These themes elevate the book beyond its genre trappings. It’s not just a romance, or a fantasy—it’s a philosophical exploration dressed in velvet and steel.
Criticisms: When Darkness Stumbles
While What Lies Beyond the Veil excels in many areas, it does stumble in a few key places:
Pacing: The first third of the novel moves slowly. While it builds atmosphere, it risks losing momentum.
Repetition: Certain ideas (Estrella’s fear, her hatred of Byron, the cruelty of the priests) are revisited too often without deepening the insight.
Cliffhanger ending: The final chapters accelerate dramatically and then stop abruptly, demanding patience or immediate access to Book 2 (What Hunts Inside the Shadows).
These flaws don’t ruin the experience, but they do dull the edge of an otherwise sharp narrative.
Series Context: The Of Flesh & Bone Saga
Harper L. Woods is not new to fantasy, but with this series, she steps firmly into dark romantic territory. The Of Flesh & Bone books are interconnected yet individually focused, each expanding the world’s mythology and deepening the emotional stakes.
What Lies Beyond the Veil (2022) – The fall of the Veil and Estrella’s awakening.
What Hunts Inside the Shadows (2022) – Secrets, expansion of Caelum’s role, and revelations about the true nature of magic.
What Lurks Between the Fates (2023) – A story of betrayal, destiny, and cosmic balance.
What Sleeps Within the Cove (2025) – The latest volume, exploring darker magic and deeper emotional wounds.
What Roams Beneath the Stars – A forthcoming conclusion that promises the final reckoning.
The series rewards continuity, and while each book stands on its own, reading in order provides maximum payoff—especially given the cliffhanger-heavy style.
Overall:
What Lies Beyond the Veil is a beautiful contradiction: gentle in language, brutal in content; familiar in tropes, bold in execution. It doesn’t reinvent dark fantasy romance, but it does carve out a voice that is uniquely poetic, morally intricate, and emotionally rich.
Strengths:
Vivid, lyrical prose
Complex female lead with believable growth
A rich, immersive fantasy world
Romance that sizzles without dominating the narrative
Thoughtful exploration of control, freedom, and faith
Weaknesses:
Uneven pacing in early chapters
Underdeveloped side characters (especially Estrella’s brother, Brann)
Obscured exposition requiring attentive reading
A divisive cliffhanger ending
Who Should Read This?
You’ll likely adore this book if you:
Love morally gray love interests and slow-burn romance
Enjoy the atmospheric world-building of The Plated Prisoner or Rhapsodic
Appreciate darker themes woven with sensual storytelling
Want a heroine who fights back with willpower more than weapons
But it may not be for you if:
You need clear answers and resolved endings
You prefer romance without darkness or trauma
You dislike dense, myth-heavy fantasy
Final Thoughts: Through the Veil and Into the Fire
Harper L. Woods writes like a conjurer—crafting a world that is lush, cruel, and magnetic. With What Lies Beyond the Veil, she doesn’t offer a simple story. She offers a reckoning. Estrella’s journey is one of liberation—not just from tyranny, but from silence.
It is a book about transformation, sacrifice, and dangerous love.
And it leaves you wanting more.