Fragments of the Broken Realm
Beware the Hootroar…
The hootroar is the apex manifestation of Twisted depravity. Thick, massive, and twice as tall as a shaper, with four powerful, tearing, bear-like arms, and a tufted, feathered head set with eyes of malice above a hooked, ripping beak, it is a fearsome thing.
Chapter 1 - Masq is the Game
Welcome to the city of Masq. In this post, you can read Chapter 1 of The Rise and Fall of the Red Queen for free. Take flight with Sara, for Masq is the Game, and the Game is Masq!
Selefants at Dawn
A serpentine shape breaks the surface of the waters of the Bay of Calderra. The watchers in the little boat hold their breath. They are trespassers. Will they be welcomed by this herd of selefants at dawn?
The City of Masq
The gates of Masq have been locked for centuries. Within, the Game shapes every aspect of daily life. The setting for the events of The Rise and Fall of the Red Queen, Masq is the Game, and the Game is Masq.
Michael Somerville is the author of several short stories, as well as an in-progress high-fantasy series called the Tales of the Broken Realm. He loves telling stories of hope about ordinary characters doing their small part to help heal a broken world. By day, he pays the bills as a hands-on storyteller and project manager, leading and envisioning professional teams in the "real-world", even as he is busily building and illustrating imaginary worlds in his evenings and on the weekends.
Outside of work and writing, he enjoys a wide range of hobbies, including playing music with his family and friends on keyboard or guitar, drawing, sculpting, painting, sewing, and blacksmithing, or walking the length of the Appalachian Trail in his home neighborhood in the Shenandoah Valley, where he serves as a Board member on his local civic association.
Most important to Michael are his family and his church. Michael and Jessica celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2026 and are happily raising three wonderful daughters. He serves actively in his local church, playing music on Sunday, teaching the older elementary kids, and leading a small group of wonderful saints. He hopes to hear "Well done" one day, and plans to keep serving his true King until then.
If you would like to follow along on Michael's writing journey, please sign up for his newsletter.