Fantastic stories for those who live in hope.
Every place has its own story of ruin and redemption. This is the story of the Broken Realm.
The Tales of the Broken Realm books are a redemptive, hopeful, alternate-world fantasy series for readers from eight to eighty years old.
Thousands of years after a fiend ruined their once-good world, these stories follow a collection of characters who are caught up in great events and must find their roles in the restoration of their world as they take their places in the Lost King’s great mission to heal the Broken Realm. But the task is not easy. Again and again, they find themselves opposed by those who will do anything to keep their ill-gotten power for themselves.
In the end, only the one that controls three ancient dragon heartstones will possess the authority to remake the Broken Realm.
Discover the Tales of the Broken Realm.
Book One: The Red Queen’s Last Mask
Born to rule a game that she could never escape, Sara's only way to win may be to risk everything. But when she is betrayed by her own leaders, this driven young champion risks all that she's ever won to save her imprisoned city from the once-noble Game that now controls everything. Until the Game is won, the gates of Masq are sealed. No one may enter, and the only way out is to lose. But losing means facing deadly exile in the wilds beyond the walls. Thus it has been for centuries.
Meanwhile, Blackjack, an exiled outcast who has hit the very bottom of the Game after twenty years of playing, will do anything to find his way back in. Soon, each will meet a stranger beyond the walls. In time, each will be offered a choice. One chance. But who is this mysterious "Chief"? And what does he really want?
Book Two: The Outcast’s Errand
An exiled criminal must decide whether to trust his new Chief and find the courage to brave a monster-ridden journey before he can discover a new way home.
When Blackjack - a washed-up outcast and an ex-criminal - is given a chance to get back in the Game, he jumps at it, willing to do anything!
Yet the only job his new chief offers him is an errand to bring back one of his slippers. Little does he know that this seemingly useless job will change his life and bring legends back to life.
As he tracks this slipper across seas and continents, Blackjack discovers that both this story and his role in it is far, far bigger than he could possibly imagine.
Book Three: The Lost King’s Secret
Sara, Blackjack, and their companions have been established as a part of the household of the Lost King, himself. Is there a place for them in the City of Masq?
As Sara and the others strive to carve out a place for themselves, they run afoul of the forces that control the Game and, through it, their city. The Gamemaster will allow them no rest outside of the rules of the Game. Harried and driven to their last extremity, Sara hatches a desperate plan.
The only way to escape is to remove all traces of themselves from the Game. Yet they soon discover that secrets sleep below the streets of the city. A heist gone wrong will fling open long-locked doors and blow a cleansing wind through long-dead places.
Book Four: The Storm And The Stones
The gates stand open. It is a time of growth and change. But a great storm is brewing that must soon break out into open war, for powerful enemies will stop at nothing to seize the ancient draconic heartstones of the Broken Realm.
Tricks leaves her home and friends to attend the famous School of Fools in the far-off city of Sefia. There, she struggles with dour teachers and difficult subjects. School is NOT her thing. Three years pass. The storm must soon break.
Meanwhile, Sara remains alone in her empty city, wondering whether to believe the whispers that tell her that she has been abandoned.
As Tricks finds herself caught up in the storms of conflict, she learns that her choices may help to shape the future of the Broken Realm. But so much is unknown. Who is their enemy? What does he want? Why are the ancient heartstones so important? Through all of this, Tricks must discover her own limits and find out whether she is willing to follow the Lost King into the storm?
Book Five: The Torrent of Fire
Their enemy has returned.
Sara’s heartstone is at greater risk than ever before. The Horde is on the move, and the final conflict for the future of the Broken Realm will be decided before the war-torn walls of her city.
Yet Sara has promised to hold firm to the end. She cannot run, for the heartstone cannot leave the city, and she cannot leave it unprotected.
But can she stand against the gathered storm? Will the defenders of the city outlast the coming torrent of fire? Will the promised help arrive before all hope is lost?
The waves of the Twisted Wars have spanned the centuries. But why? What is it ultimately all about? Who is the Lost King? What his mission? Why are the heartstones so important?
Why will the enemy do anything to claim them for himself? Can Sara, Blackjack, Tricks, Ash, and the rest of the Broken Realm finally be free?
The Songs of the Broken Realm
Original poetry and compositions from the Broken Realm, including the Song of the Stones, The Longing, and more.
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Author
Halfway home on the road of life, Michael has been working on the stories that have become the Tales of the Broken Realm ever since his oldest daughter was old enough to ask him to tell her a story.
Wanting to give his girls stories that would warm their hearts and build their understanding of the world, the Broken Realm was born.
Unapologetically telling fairy stories, Michael is an amateur in every sense of the word. By day, he pays the bills by leading teams and managing projects.
By night, he tells stories. He has been building worlds and drawing maps ever since he was eight years old, and his wife and three lovely daughters despair of him ever stopping.
His dog doesn’t seem to care, as long as he sticks close to home in the Shenandoah Valley and is around to open doors for her.