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Veil Of Stone
Step back into the world of
Levanthria
, this time on a new continent. Welcome to Argosia, brought to life by A.P. Beswick and Talia Beckett.
The gods have fallen. Monsters roam free. And survival is no longer guaranteed.
Xevras has lost everything. Alone and desperate, he crosses paths with the Slayer Guild on their latest hunt. Sworn to protect the people from fae and other horrors that stalk the land, they offer him a place among them and a chance to start again. But the Guild has secrets, and their next mission will test him before his training is complete.
His first hunt carries whispers of a creature born from the spite of a vengeful goddess, cursed to roam the wilds and leaving its victims frozen in stone. The transformation is slow, creeping through flesh and bone until nothing human remains, and no cure has ever been found.
Gods now walk these lands in mortal bodies, still wielding fragments of their power. And where they tread, far greater monsters are sure to follow.
Step into the bestselling world that brought you the Levanthria series and discover a new land, filled with legends, dark magic and deadly monsters.
The gods have fallen. Monsters roam free. And survival is no longer guaranteed.
Xevras has lost everything. Alone and desperate, he crosses paths with the Slayer Guild on their latest hunt. Sworn to protect the people from fae and other horrors that stalk the land, they offer him a place among them and a chance to start again. But the Guild has secrets, and their next mission will test him before his training is complete.
His first hunt carries whispers of a creature born from the spite of a vengeful goddess, cursed to roam the wilds and leaving its victims frozen in stone. The transformation is slow, creeping through flesh and bone until nothing human remains, and no cure has ever been found.
Gods now walk these lands in mortal bodies, still wielding fragments of their power. And where they tread, far greater monsters are sure to follow.
Step into the bestselling world that brought you the Levanthria series and discover a new land, filled with legends, dark magic and deadly monsters.
306 pages, Paperback
Published November 11, 2025
18 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 11, 2025
A dark, emotional reimagining of myth that asks who the real monsters truly are - a powerful start to the Chronicles of Argosia.
Having followed A.P. Beswick’s work for a while, I was really looking forward to seeing where he would go next. Veil of Stone, co-written with Talia Beckett, marks the start of the new Chronicles of Argosia series - and it’s an incredible beginning.
The story follows Aryanna, a skilled medicine woman both loved and feared by the people who depend on her, and Xevras, a humble farmer whose life is torn apart by tragedy before he’s rescued by a monster hunter and slowly becomes one himself. What really stood out for me was how different Xevras is from the usual monster hunter type. He’s empathetic and kind, choosing to understand rather than destroy, and he often helps others with small, simple acts of decency. His quiet strength reminded me of Laith from the Tales of Levanthria, and the way Vireo grew throughout A Forest of Vanity and Valour.
The addition of Talia Beckett as co-author works perfectly. Her voice adds emotional depth and balance to Beswick’s darker tone and world-building, creating a story that feels both mythic and deeply personal.
At its heart, Veil of Stone asks an unforgettable question - who is the real monster? Those who look monstrous, or those who act like gods while hiding cruelty behind beauty? It’s a theme that lingers long after you finish, blending the spirit of Greek mythology with fresh emotional storytelling.
The world of Argosia is vast and filled with hidden secrets and clever connections, just as fans of Beswick’s Levanthria series would expect. For new readers, it’s also an excellent entry point - rich, immersive, and easy to follow.
All in all, Veil of Stone is a dark, heartfelt, and thought-provoking tale of survival, compassion, and the fine line between good and evil. A.P. Beswick and Talia Beckett have created something special here - and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
Having followed A.P. Beswick’s work for a while, I was really looking forward to seeing where he would go next. Veil of Stone, co-written with Talia Beckett, marks the start of the new Chronicles of Argosia series - and it’s an incredible beginning.
The story follows Aryanna, a skilled medicine woman both loved and feared by the people who depend on her, and Xevras, a humble farmer whose life is torn apart by tragedy before he’s rescued by a monster hunter and slowly becomes one himself. What really stood out for me was how different Xevras is from the usual monster hunter type. He’s empathetic and kind, choosing to understand rather than destroy, and he often helps others with small, simple acts of decency. His quiet strength reminded me of Laith from the Tales of Levanthria, and the way Vireo grew throughout A Forest of Vanity and Valour.
The addition of Talia Beckett as co-author works perfectly. Her voice adds emotional depth and balance to Beswick’s darker tone and world-building, creating a story that feels both mythic and deeply personal.
At its heart, Veil of Stone asks an unforgettable question - who is the real monster? Those who look monstrous, or those who act like gods while hiding cruelty behind beauty? It’s a theme that lingers long after you finish, blending the spirit of Greek mythology with fresh emotional storytelling.
The world of Argosia is vast and filled with hidden secrets and clever connections, just as fans of Beswick’s Levanthria series would expect. For new readers, it’s also an excellent entry point - rich, immersive, and easy to follow.
All in all, Veil of Stone is a dark, heartfelt, and thought-provoking tale of survival, compassion, and the fine line between good and evil. A.P. Beswick and Talia Beckett have created something special here - and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
December 14, 2025
The Gods have fallen, monsters roam the lands. Xevras has lost almost everything when his path collides with the Slayer Guild. As whispers spread of a creature born from divine vengeance, turning its victims to stone, survival means confronting both ancient horrors and deeply personal demons.
As a big fan of the Levanthria series, I went into this one genuinely excited, and for the most part it delivered exactly what I was hoping for. The world still feels rich, dangerous and steeped in history, with that familiar sense of a civilisation constantly on the edge of collapse. This very much feels like a natural expansion of the Levanthria universe rather than something disconnected from it.
Xevras is a compelling lead, but Aryanna really stood out for me. She adds a strong emotional counterpoint to the brutality of the world, and I liked how her strength isn’t shown through combat, but through resilience, conviction and the choices she makes. The dynamic between characters gives the story more heart than I initially expected, grounding all the monster-slaying and dark magic in something more human.
Theme-wise, it leans heavily into loss, guilt and redemption. There’s a constant undercurrent of characters wrestling with past failures & trying to decide whether a broken world is still worth fighting for. I liked how it explores duty versus personal freedom, especially through the Slayer Guild, & the cost that comes with dedicating your life to protecting others.
While I really enjoyed this, it’s maybe not quite as strong as some of the standout Levanthria books. The pacing dips slightly in places, & not every plot thread hits with the same impact. That said, the mystery surrounding the stone curse kept me engaged, and the darker, more introspective moments worked well.
Overall, this was a solid and enjoyable read that left me keen to see where this newer strand of the Levanthria world goes next.
familiar, dark fantasy with strong themes, interesting characters (especially Aryanna), and plenty of promise for what’s still to come.
As a big fan of the Levanthria series, I went into this one genuinely excited, and for the most part it delivered exactly what I was hoping for. The world still feels rich, dangerous and steeped in history, with that familiar sense of a civilisation constantly on the edge of collapse. This very much feels like a natural expansion of the Levanthria universe rather than something disconnected from it.
Xevras is a compelling lead, but Aryanna really stood out for me. She adds a strong emotional counterpoint to the brutality of the world, and I liked how her strength isn’t shown through combat, but through resilience, conviction and the choices she makes. The dynamic between characters gives the story more heart than I initially expected, grounding all the monster-slaying and dark magic in something more human.
Theme-wise, it leans heavily into loss, guilt and redemption. There’s a constant undercurrent of characters wrestling with past failures & trying to decide whether a broken world is still worth fighting for. I liked how it explores duty versus personal freedom, especially through the Slayer Guild, & the cost that comes with dedicating your life to protecting others.
While I really enjoyed this, it’s maybe not quite as strong as some of the standout Levanthria books. The pacing dips slightly in places, & not every plot thread hits with the same impact. That said, the mystery surrounding the stone curse kept me engaged, and the darker, more introspective moments worked well.
Overall, this was a solid and enjoyable read that left me keen to see where this newer strand of the Levanthria world goes next.
familiar, dark fantasy with strong themes, interesting characters (especially Aryanna), and plenty of promise for what’s still to come.
November 11, 2025
If you're looking for dark fantasy that hits you in the feels, look no further!
Adam Beswick has done it again, but this time with the help of Talia Beckett they've taken us to Argosia—and it is dark. With fallen gods and genuinely terrifying monsters, the world is stunningly built, making survival feel far from guaranteed. The best part of this story is definitely Xevras. He starts as a humble guy who loses everything, but when he gets pulled into the Slayer Guild, he doesn't turn into a hardened killer. He's empathetic, which is such a refreshing change from the usual grumpy monster-hunter trope.
The central mystery about the creature that turns its victims to stone is brilliantly mythic, but the core theme is what really sticks: who is the veritable monster? The one who looks ugly, or the one who abuses power like a vengeful god? The co-authoring dynamic clearly gives this book the perfect emotional punch to balance the dark world-building.
Whether you're a long-time fan of the Levanthria series or completely new to the world, this is an excellent, immersive, and thought-provoking place to start. Highly recommend!
Adam Beswick has done it again, but this time with the help of Talia Beckett they've taken us to Argosia—and it is dark. With fallen gods and genuinely terrifying monsters, the world is stunningly built, making survival feel far from guaranteed. The best part of this story is definitely Xevras. He starts as a humble guy who loses everything, but when he gets pulled into the Slayer Guild, he doesn't turn into a hardened killer. He's empathetic, which is such a refreshing change from the usual grumpy monster-hunter trope.
The central mystery about the creature that turns its victims to stone is brilliantly mythic, but the core theme is what really sticks: who is the veritable monster? The one who looks ugly, or the one who abuses power like a vengeful god? The co-authoring dynamic clearly gives this book the perfect emotional punch to balance the dark world-building.
Whether you're a long-time fan of the Levanthria series or completely new to the world, this is an excellent, immersive, and thought-provoking place to start. Highly recommend!
November 15, 2025
I loved it!
Thank you for the opportunity of advanced readers copy.
An interesting interpretation of Medusa myth with very sweet mmc? Yes, please count me in. As per usual in Adam's books the world building is very solid and clearly explained. I enjoyed the begging which showed us a mundane lives of our characters and what caused the change of their lives. The plot was well developed. The characters had their motives and acted accordingly which is not as common as you would think. The dynamic among the hunters indicated that they're not heroes nor they're united among themselves, it was quite good showing that egos also take part there.
I think the book depicts interesting dilemma of whose fault is it when the harm is done but the said monster wasn't the precursor of the hurt. what's then?
The ending was really ambiguous, where good and bad mixed together, left me curious for what's next.
Thank you for the opportunity of advanced readers copy.
An interesting interpretation of Medusa myth with very sweet mmc? Yes, please count me in. As per usual in Adam's books the world building is very solid and clearly explained. I enjoyed the begging which showed us a mundane lives of our characters and what caused the change of their lives. The plot was well developed. The characters had their motives and acted accordingly which is not as common as you would think. The dynamic among the hunters indicated that they're not heroes nor they're united among themselves, it was quite good showing that egos also take part there.
I think the book depicts interesting dilemma of whose fault is it when the harm is done but the said monster wasn't the precursor of the hurt. what's then?
The ending was really ambiguous, where good and bad mixed together, left me curious for what's next.
November 11, 2025
This was a really beautiful and immersive read. Even though it’s set in the same world as Beswick’s other series, the new region, culture, and myths made it feel fresh and new. I loved the characters right away — their struggles, choices, and relationships felt real and carried emotional weight. It was hard to take my eyes off the map at the beginning.
The magic system remains one of my favorite aspects of his writing. Power always comes with a cost, and the consequences hit hard. I also loved the twist on the Medusa myth — familiar enough to resonate, but unique enough that I never knew exactly where the story was going.
The pacing builds naturally toward a climactic end, and the final battle delivered everything the story had been promising. Satisfying, emotional, and earned. The ending gives closure, but still leaves enough open that I can’t help wanting more.
The magic system remains one of my favorite aspects of his writing. Power always comes with a cost, and the consequences hit hard. I also loved the twist on the Medusa myth — familiar enough to resonate, but unique enough that I never knew exactly where the story was going.
The pacing builds naturally toward a climactic end, and the final battle delivered everything the story had been promising. Satisfying, emotional, and earned. The ending gives closure, but still leaves enough open that I can’t help wanting more.
November 11, 2025
A.P. Beswick and Talia Beckett come together to put their own spin on a character obviously based off of one of the most popular monsters in Greek mythology, all while telling the tale of young farmer who turned monster hunter after losing everything. The two embrace their fate, resulting in their inevitable confrontation as the two’s previously distant lives collide. From beginning to end the story was excellently written and equally exciting. An amazing start to this new world… you have to check it out, you will not be disappointed.
November 11, 2025
amazing start to a new series. set in the same universe as the previous series but this time the authors take us to a new regions to share more dark fantasy retellings.
amazing start to the series, love the characters and can't wait to explore more with them as the story and mystery unfolds.
you don't have to have read the previous books to get started here (but I recommend you do anyway :-D)
amazing start to the series, love the characters and can't wait to explore more with them as the story and mystery unfolds.
you don't have to have read the previous books to get started here (but I recommend you do anyway :-D)
November 10, 2025
A.P Beswick strikes again! Bringing the world of Argosia to life through the pages of Veil of Stone, co-written with Talia Beckett. Together they beautifully delivered the first installment in the new series Chronicles of Argosia!
I will be *impatiently* awaiting the next book!!
I will be *impatiently* awaiting the next book!!
November 20, 2025
A super spin on the classic Medusa tale. This book sets the groundwork for an exciting series and has you unable to put it down.
Highly recommended and a great continuation of the Levanthria series.
Highly recommended and a great continuation of the Levanthria series.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews