Welcome to the world of Rob Ray
Former stunt performer, martial artist, and parkour pioneer turned dark urban fantasy author, I bring real-world grit to my debut novel Angelic Illusions. The story drops you into the neon shadows of Oppidum — the original city of Divinity — where angels, demons, and mortals coexist under a fragile truce. At its heart lies the Middle Road Pub, sacred neutral ground where every being can set down their weapons and pretend the war is paused… until one impossible death shatters the rules. Joined by soul Collector Black and his mute reaper partner Grym, the tale explores forbidden alliances, rival crews, and the heavy cost of consequence.
Angelic Illusions-
Debut Novel by Robert Ray
In the neon shadows of Oppidum and the neutral sanctuary of the Middle Road Pub, ancient soul Collector Black and his Reaper partner Grym navigate deals, debts, and the razor’s edge between heaven and hell. When the rules of balance are shattered, Black must confront forbidden alliances, rival factions, and the heavy cost of consequence.
Blending dark urban fantasy, sharp noir dialogue, and profound moral ambiguity, Angelic Illusions is a gripping debut about what happens when the scales of justice tip—and who pays the price.
First manuscript finished
Angelic Illusions, my debut dark urban fantasy novel, is now complete and currently being queried to literary agents.
Working on the next in series
Angelic Illusions is my debut novel and the first chapter in a much larger world. The Cross Roads Pubs, the hidden city of Oppidum, and the fragile balance between angels, demons, and mortals have many more stories to tell.
While I’m currently querying agents with Book 1, I’m already outlining the next installment—deeper lore, fresh alliances, and the same gritty mix of consequence and dark humor you’ll find in the first book.
If you want early updates on the series, behind-the-scenes notes, or the moment Angelic Illusions finds a home, join the newsletter below.
Dark urban fantasy
Angelic Illusions is a dark urban fantasy that doesn’t follow the usual lone-wizard or supernatural-cop formula. Instead, it pulls you into the Middle Road Pub—one of the hidden Cross Roads sanctuaries where angels, demons, and mortals set down their weapons, share a drink, and pretend the war is on pause.
When a death that was never supposed to happen shatters that neutrality, soul Collector Black and his mute Reaper partner Grym are dragged into forbidden alliances, rival crews, and consequences no contract can fix. Grounded in the real-world grit of deals, pain, and moral gray areas I’ve lived through as a former stunt performer and martial artist, the story blends atmospheric city shadows with deep lore and the fragile balance between realms.
About the author
Based in Saint Marys, Georgia, I’m a former stunt performer, founding member of Renzhe Parkour, and martial artist with over 40 years of training. After a career-ending injury in 2008, I channeled my real-world experiences with pain, deals, and moral gray areas into dark urban fantasy. Angelic Illusions is my debut novel.
Connect with Rob Ray
Saint Marys, Georgia
United States
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