Fantastic stories for those who live in hope.
Discover the Tales from the Broken Realm.
The Tales from 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, this story follows a group of protagonists who both discover and assume their roles in its restoration. They find themselves opposed by those who will do anything to keep their ill-gotten power for themselves.
In the end, whomever controls three ancient dragon heartstones will ultimately possess the authority to remake the Broken Realm in their own image.
Book One: The Red Queen’s Last Mask
Betrayed by her own leaders, a driven young champion must risk all that she's ever earned 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 to leave is to lose the Game and face exile into the wilds beyond. Thus it has been for centuries.
But, within the walls, Sara - a rising champion - now seeks to find another way out of the Game. Meanwhile, Blackjack - an exiled outcast - will do anything to find a way back in.
Both are offered a choice. One chance. Who is this new player? Can Sara and Blackjack work together to unite their city and heal their home?
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, the 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 Wind And The Stone
The city is open. The people are free. The shapers spill forth to settle across the now-fertile lands. It is a time for growth and change.
Amidst all of this, Sara’s adopted ward, Tricks, leaves her home and her friends to travel to the famous School of Fools in the far-off city of Sefia. Tricks struggles with dour teachers and difficult subjects. School is NOT her thing.
Three years pass. In this time, the Fourth Wave of the long-running Twisted Wars breaks out, despite her best efforts to avoid the conflict.
Tricks finds herself caught up in these events. She realizes that her choices may help to shape the future of the Broken Realm.
But who is their enemy? What does he want? Why are the ancient dragon heartstones so important to the future of their broken world?
And what about Tricks? Will she cast off restraint to chase the wind, or will she choose to walk the path of stones?
Book Five: The Torrent of Fire
The enemy has returned.
The Heartstone of Carida is at risk as never before. The Horde is on the move, and the final conflict for the future of the Broken Realm will be decided before the walls of Masq.
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? Will the defenders of the city outlast the coming torrent of fire? Will the promised help arrive before all hope is lost?
The Four Waves of the Twisted Wars have spanned the centuries. But why? What was 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, 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.
You can’t buy them, but we’ll give them away!
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Author
Halfway home on the road of life, Michael has been working on the stories that have become the Tales from 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.