Fractured Are the Pieces

The Fractured Realm #1

by Ciar Pfeffer

Enter Kerath, a fractured world terrorized by the dangerous creatures that inhabit it.

The world is dying.

Fractured are the pieces that bind Kerath after it’s devastated by an unknown force that left it broken and destroyed over a millennia ago. Breaks in reality called fractures appear throughout the land, threatening to slowly consume the world.

Mi’Cra are hunted without prejudice.

Caet, a powerful and dangerous Mi’Cra, lives within the boundaries of the Protected Territories to keep herself and her youngest sibling safe. Until, that is, their solitude is destroyed by the arrival of three strange Bloodbearers, ones that are likely stronger than any she’s met before. Torn between loyalty to her family and to herself, can Caet balance two separate lives without endangering them all?

Bloodbearers hunt them down and turn them in faster than they can be saved.

Haunted by his past and the damage he has caused, Wraith, an ancient Bloodbearer with more secrets than even he remembers, has successfully spent centuries avoiding the rest of his kind’s affairs. Until the Tetrad comes to him for help, seeking him for a specific talent he has and wishes no one knew about—the ability to deal with particularly strong Mi’Cra. Will Wraith complete his task without repeating the past?

Fractured are the pieces is a NA fantasy with low, fade to black spice, some profanity, and mild violence. Experience mythical creatures in ways you never have before in the first installment of this new fantasy series. Fractured features a diverse cast, slow burn romance, forced proximity, a unique magic system, found family, engaging action scenes, and much more!

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Enemies To Lovers, Ebooks, Romance

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 29, 2023

About the author

Ciar is an award winning author of dark fantasy worlds, who decided dyslexia wasn’t going to stand in the way of her storytelling. She’s an avid reader, nature enthusiast, and full-time day dreamer. She has been writing and rewriting stories for longer than she can remember. Currently, she lives with her two children and pupper in New England. When Ciar isn’t writing, having fun with her children, going to the gym, playing video games or board games, she works in the local school system.

Unrelated to that, she graduated from college with a degree in history, specifically ancient history. It was such a love for history and mythology that gave her the desire to bring her stories to life, that and whenever a book or show ended wrong. Whenever that happened, she wrote her own fanfiction. Eventually that evolved into building worlds of her own to share with you all.

Reviews

[Kenzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. The premise is unique, the magic system is interesting, and I love a good “rise up against the system” story

However, I don’t think this book went through any edits past a basic spell-check. The writing is extremely immature, an example: "She had boundless amounts of energy with no end in sight" & many instances of extreme, clunky repetition.

Examples of things that were so glaring that I had to put the book down:
- Excessive sentences that are actually just phrases with a period
- Crazy amounts of info-bombing and full paragraphs of physical descriptions
- The author reiterated 5 times the age where the magic awakens in the first 80 pages
- Short time skips with no rhyme or reason
- Highly detailed explanations of mundane tasks

Would absolutely love to read this book after a seasoned editor gets their hands on it and the author is able to make revisions!

[Jen Woodrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kerath is a fractured world terrorized dangerous creatures. Breaks in reality called fractures appear throughout the land, threatening to slowly consume the world.

Caet is a powerful and dangerous Mi'Cra who can seal these fractures with her abilities to manipulate energy. But Mi'Cras are being hunted by Bloodbearers. And three Bloodbearers have just shown up at Caet's door...

Things I loved:
⚡The slow-burn relationship between Caet and Wraith, an ancient Bloodbearer who holds secrets and regrets from his past. I didn't want the scenes between them to end! The tension was perfect!

⚡The three Bloodbearers were such fascinating characters - I got major "Originals" vibes from the Vampire Diaries. Loveee!

⚡Caet's relationship with her sister was heartfelt! I connected with Caet's protective instinct. Caet was a very loveable character and I was intrigued by the "half-truths" she kept trying to push down

⚡ The MAGIC. Ciar created such beautiful imagery of Caet's energy abilities, the reality fractures, and her "flower bud" energy source. I loved the battle scenes.

⚡ Topics related to grief, family conflict, and fears were handled really well.

This book was so easy to read and the world drew me in! I can't wait for the next one to see what else Ciar has in store.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and instantly fell in love with it! It’s so well paced and kept me excited to keep reading more. I found the story itself to be unique, as well as the world in which this story takes place. The characters of the story are incredible, I really felt like I knew them and the author did such a good job with bringing these characters to life. When I wasn’t reading the book, I was thinking about the book and I cannot wait for book 2 to come out! Very enjoyable and exciting read!!

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I opened the book and started reading, I was drawn into the world! The author created a broken world with believable characters facing daily, sometimes dangerous, challenges. The book held my interest throughout. I became invested in the characters and where their decisions would lead them too. When I put the book down, I worried about the characters and their safety. Great character development, believable world and complex family relationships ! A must read! Can’t wait for book 2!

[Kasey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this down! First you love the characters, then the world fascinates you, and you can't wait for book 2! The characters are broken, mysterious and powerful, and the world is deeper than we know. So much fun!

[Charity King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the world building. The different “beings” throughout the story were so unique and fun to read about. Caet is such a killer MC: strong, powerful, protective. There’s so much left to unfold and I can’t stop thinking about it all!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading about Caet and the creatures in her world. It was fast-paced and captivating. I can’t wait for the next book!

[Marie Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a bit to get into this book because so much about the world is unexplained at the beginning. As the story unfolds, more is revealed and it works--I just hate not knowing things.

The romance is a true enemies-to-lovers, which I haven't read in a while; even after you've reached the "lovers" part, the "enemies" part isn't quite gone, nor does the reader or main character fully know where they stand. And the tension between the two characters is fabulous.

After the events of the last few chapters, I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. The storyline is really starting to go somewhere and I'm excited to get some answers.

[Megan Wrye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly I loved this book so much. It’s the best book I’ve read in a while. There was definitely things I didn’t love like her age I was so intrigued by this story. The title is accurate because this story has a written in fractured pieces but like done with intention and skill. It was so different and refreshing while keeping some of the more traditional things. I need book two in my hand asap and this one will be bought immediately to have a physical copy for my shelves and rereads!

[Jessy Melton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fractured are the pieces is a NA Fantasy book that contains different creatures , a unique magic system, and impeccable imagery. I enjoyed every second of this book and didn’t want it to end!!

The story was different, fast paced and the relationship between the FMC & MMC was a perfect slow burn ❤️‍🔥 it also has forced proximity 👀

For my besties who love spice, it’s very low/fade to black but it’s still a delicious read and the spice isn’t needed. I’m obsessed with Wraith (our MMC) and can’t wait to see how book 2 plays out!!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need the 2nd book ASAP! This book was fantastic! It has all the tropes I love including but not limited to fated mates, forced proximity, badass female lead, and found family. I very easily fell in love with these characters and this world. I am not one to typically love the first book of a series, but this book changed that! It was a fast paced and action heavy. If you are interested in fantasy with romance, check this book out! I would compare it to Daughter of Smoke and Bones, Throne of Glass, From Blood and Ash (without the heavy spice), and Shadow and Bone. I cannot wait for the next book!

[Alicja Lilianna W · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could give 5 stars to this book. I can see how much love the author gave when she was writing it. The problem is... Well, there are a lot of problems.

I love the idea the author had. I am sure I will buy the next book, too.

The characters are so well created. There must have been a lot of thought put into them.

But the world. I wish it had been explained to me more. There is just a little description of it. I can sense it is a fantasy world, but yet there is a fridge and a car, thinking the technology is somehow highly evolved, and yet, the main character is going for her shopping to a market, as if shops do not exist. I am not able to imagine a world there.

The relationships between characters are awfully explained. We have a friend towards whom there is a lot of hatred and I do not feel a friendship there. We have an enemy only on paper but is a lover from the start.

The rhythm of the book is off. Sometimes it was hard to read it, and I felt like I was reading ChatGPT. Long sentences, sometimes unnecessary, flat. Dialogues without soul. But at the end of the book, it got better, so I hope the next book will be better written too.

I wish someone with a hard heart and right questions would review this book before it was published. It has a lot of unused potential.

[Danielle Valdez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1 of this series and wow! Such a cool twist on vampires and other species and magic. This book is written in the 3rd person but with multiple POVs. 1 chili pepper. Fade to black.

So we follow Caet and her adopted family who are Mi’cra and one is a wolf shifter who is like a brother. They are magic weilders that get hunted by bloodbearers (vampires) and their different councils in each area. A tragic event made Caet, along with her adopted move to a new house. Along comes Wraith and his friends who she is instantly attracted to. The rules in the land state she had to let vampires stay with them but if they find out she is Mi’cra they can kill her. But these 3 become like friends. Caet is also battle something internal that we find little about. There is a lot happening in this world and between them all.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Wraith and Caet and can’t wait to see where their story goes. And even Ma’lic and Citrine. I think I will also love getting to dive into her family more in the next book! Story is so good.

[Heather Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Venture into the fractured world of Kerath, where danger lurks at every turn. Caet, a powerful Mi'Cra, battles to seal the fractures and save our world from its impending doom. But the arrival of three Bloodbearers threatens her mission.

I am completely and utterly obsessed with the slow-burn relationship between Caet and Wraith - it's like watching pure magic unfold before my eyes. The intense tension between them had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly devouring every word. And let's not forget about the three Bloodbearers, they had me completely enthralled. But what truly touched my heart was Caet's deep bond with her sister - it resonated with me on such a profound level, I could feel it in my bones. Caet herself is such a lovable character, with her intriguing "half-truths" that kept me guessing and wanting more.

Ciar's stunning imagery captures Caet's energy abilities and the mesmerizing reality fractures. I was entranced by the "flower bud" energy source. The battle scenes were gripping. Topics of grief, family conflict, and fears were delicately explored. This book effortlessly drew me into its captivating world. Excited for what Ciar has in store next.

Loved exploring the captivating world within this story! Definitely recommend this book!

[Sandy Goguen-Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was great. A dark fantasy novel with great characters. I normally wouldn't have picked a fantasy novel, so it was a slow read in the beginning. A few chapters into the story I began to enjoy the story and didn't want it to end. Suspenseful, great characters and a strong female character are some of the great aspects.

[Julia (teastarsandbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the author and R&R Book Tours for the gifted physical copy and swag in exchange for an honest review!

You ever just need an easy fantasy to indulge in after you’ve been binge reading some heavier ones? This was that for me. It was low key, easy to read and easy to follow - an excellent change of pace from my more intensive fantasies.

The general plot is that our main character, Caet, is a powerful magic user called a Mi’Cra - which happen to be illegal. So she, with her adopted sister, live hiding her powers and avoiding the attention of Bloodbearers (vampires). She generally does until three ancient Bloodbearers appeared on her doorstep. This is a promising plot line and is what drew me to it. A broken world, vampires, magical humans - all really good themes.

The problem is, the plot drags on quite slowly and exposition, foreshadowing, character thoughts, etc; are all repeated often. In addition to the repeat of information already revealed to us, we’re also privy to every single detail of Caet and her sister’s life. To the point that I struggled to maintain interest or was found asking if parts of chapters were really necessary.

Whenever the plot picks up tho, its fun and exciting. The whole book just swims in mystery and despite the slowness and repetition, you still want to keep going because the characters’ troubles and secrets are fascinating. The action scenes are fun and well written, making me wish there were more of them. The author has a talent for writing fight scenes!

But in regards to those mysteries and questions I mentioned? Don’t expect any answers because absolutely nothing is revealed, which certainly left me feeling put out upon finishing the story. Sure it’s a series, but even the first book needs to have some answers strategically given in order to keep things interesting.

The characters were all great. Caet is a fantastic lead - stubborn and strong willed, but still family oriented. Her sister was honestly hilarious to me. A friggen 9 year old with more brains than their whole family put together. I adored her. Wraith was just delicious. I absolutely wanted to learn more about him.

The atmosphere of the book has this amazing “if Twilight and Hunger Games had a small town baby” vibes. I could easily envision the Twilight blue filter over the town and the way the world is described as broken and separated into Protected and Unbounded gave me the dystopian Hunger Game vibes. I really loved it!

All in all - Fractured are the Pieces is a fun and easy fantasy read that suffers from storytelling problems and slow pacing.

I still will likely pick up the next book because I’ve got some questions that really need answering!!

[Caitlin O'Neill · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was tough getting into this one because its pretty slow paced but I'm glad i stuck with it because it was pretty good. I think some sections were a bit confusing but overall it was really interesting. Theres a large cast of characters who are all unique and well written, citrine and ma'lic being my favorites. Avery is super interesting too. I also thought the worldbuilding was clever and the cliffhanger really makes you want book 2.

[Amanda Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will have you immediately immersed from the start, and is an easy to read and fast paced fantasy. If you love reading about a main character who has an immense power, this is one, as the main character, Caet, is a powerful (and dangerous) Mi’Cra, and her powers are strong than the others. Mi’Cras are hunted and eliminated (often before the age of 12) by Bloodbearers, so Mi’Cras hide their identity for their survival. Wraith, a Bloodbearer, and Caet have a slow burn relationship and it was *chef’s kiss*. You have to love a good enemies-to-lovers. They’re starcrossed! Note about the spice— it is fade to black, so take that how you will!

Thank you R&R Book Tours for the early copy!

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fractured: are the pieces,” book 1 of The Fractured Realm series by Ciar Pfeffer, brings a fresh voice to dark fantasy fans. The intricate world is Kerath, which is indeed fractured, populated by deadly creatures that threaten those who live there. It’s a world on the brink of extinction, having been devastated by a mysterious force that nearly destroyed it a thousand years before. Now it’s held precariously together by fractured pieces–breaks in reality–that pose a threat to the land.

Mi’Cra are mercilessly hunted down, but a powerful one named Caet dwells in a Protected Territory, safeguarding her young sibling until their private existence is shattered by three Bloodbearers who appear on the scene. These could be the most powerful ones of all. Caet is forced to choose between family loyalty and her own needs, but can she find a way to maintain both, or will it lead to danger? When an ancient, troubled Bloodbearer named Wraith enters the picture, things begin to get complicated, because he has a talent for handling powerful Mi’Cra. He’s faced with challenging choices, too.

Pfeffer has created a fantasy world you want to sink your teeth into. The author’s world-building skills are impressive, and the writing is peppered with profanity and violence in just the right places. You’ll be introduced to mythical creatures that seem fresh and new, and characters that come from all walks of fantasy life. The magic and romance woven between the characters are central to the plot, and these characters are fully fleshed out and relatable. The action scenes are well-played and add extra energy to the story.

The author has a talent for blending her knowledge of history and mythology into the plot, which seems to ground it in confidence and interest. The romance is there, the sex is there (but now exactly described), which is where the term fade-to-black comes in. The dialogue sparkles and the pace is well-balanced. And there is a promise of more in the series. For dark fantasy fans looking for a fresh clash of magical powers, be sure to put “Fractured: are the pieces” The Fractured Realm by Ciar Pfeffer, at the top of your list.

[Jodie Oc · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honest to god i have no idea what was going on in this book

The writing is slightly juvenile, the same information is repeated continuously to the point I had to skim a few parts because it was information said the page before.

The insta lust made me feel icky. The first thing she thinks about the mmc (i think hes the mmc?) is more or less “wow hes very very very attractive and i cant stop looking at him” like come on?!

The mmc if thats what he is, is the most cardboard character ive ever read!!!! No personality, no depth, no drive, nothing - honestly he is so boring i kept eye rolling his parts

The fmc is unbelievably aggravating. Incredibly selfish and annoying - at first i thought oh maybe she has a huge arc and shes selfish for a reason, nope! She acted like a spoilt brat. Her family needed her and all she could think was “oh i have a hot vampire at home so i don’t really care about you guys and the fact the world is apparently falling apart with monsters”

Which brings me to my next point - whats the plot? Im all for world building but this was ridiculous. I was so confused and lost at who was who, what was what. There was no motivation to be on the fmc’s side at all. She had some sort of ‘Jean Gray’ powers yet i still couldn’t work out what she was doing in her ‘fight scenes’ and had this face 😐 throughout.

Too many enemies and little clarity. Vampires (bloodbearers) wolves? Random, a council? Again no idea what or who that is, and some scary monsters falling through the sky. Oh and shes some weird race of people who have energy powers and cool tattoos with cool eyes and cool hair…..

I gave it the stars i have because on paper its a compelling story but it just fell so hard.

[Sydney Victorson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Fractured: are the pieces! The world building was interesting and the magic system was unique. There were some spots in the book that felt a bit repetitive, mainly with explaining certain aspects of the characters or world they live in. We’re told the same things several times throughout the book. There were also some inclusions of modern day lingo that I didn’t love, though I recognize that’s completely a personal preference kind of thing. Nevertheless, I really liked the story as a whole!

The strongest part of the book for me was the relationship between Caet and the three bloodbearers. I really enjoyed seeing the way it developed, and I found it much more compelling than her relationship with her adopted family. I’m so suspicious of their actions and motives that I found it hard to truly like any of them besides maybe Sar. I really grew to love the three bloodbearers though. I knew from the start that I’d love Wraith but I wasn’t expecting to love Citrine and Mal’ic like I do. I really look forward to seeing more of them in book 2 and learning more about them, especially with the way book 1 ended for those three. Of course, I also desperately need to see where Caet’s journey takes her in book 2.

Thank you so much to Ciar Pfeffer for the copy of Fractured: are the pieces. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ashley Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books has ALL the vibes! Started off with a lot of world building, but once the plot started to thicken and the slow burn was burning I could not put it down! Gave me major Doctor Who vibes with all the different monsters and fractures that they fight to close!

The entire plot line was insanely fascinating and different than what I’ve been reading and I was hooked so quick. The mystery of Wraith and who he is and why he came into Caet’s life intrigued me, and I can’t wait to find out more about him in book 2. (Plus, he’s a hot as hell dark cinnamon roll who gives off vampire vibes and I fell HARD!)

I loved the idea of how Caet battled with herself as she led two different lives, as if they collided it would end badly. Her character development was out of this world! The ending shook me and I was SO thankful I timed reading this book as soon as I got the ARC for book 2!

I rate this book a 3.75 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ only because the timeline got a little confusing and things moved really fast. Otherwise, I really recommend this book to everyone who loves closed door romance fantasy, Ciar did such a great job writing in some slow burn love scenes while keeping it simple! The shower scene was my favorite!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As some others have noted, this book starts a little slow since the author takes some time to ease you into the world she's built, but once it gets going, there is a lot to like. You have plenty of questions from the start, which helped keep me going, and I really enjoyed the second half. I'm personally someone who enjoys character psychology, and the author develops some fun personalities that anchored me. There's the precocious child who actually pretends to be child-like just for fun, and the hot, laconic vampire who seems to have infinite patience...until he doesn't. In short, there were plenty of details that pleasantly surprised me.

The book is fantasy with romantic elements, and the spice is fade-to-black, which isn't usually my thing, but the author still managed to make the most out of the scenes where there was some action between the MCs. (I just filled in the smut in my head. LOL!)

The book ends on a mild cliffhanger, and now I need to see what happens, so on to book 2!

[spaghootlesreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review!

Okay, I think that the author had a really good idea when it came to the plot and the magic system of this book. However, there was just too much repetition for me in the beginning. It was said where they lived and why they lived there several times.
The interactions between the sister and the FMC seemed kind of basic if that makes sense. There was no meat to their conversations, and her sister was described as being very smart and acting older than her actual age. So, I would expect just a bit more detailed conversations between them.
The author spent a lot of time trying to world build, and that took up a lot of the book.
This is a really great idea for a book though!

[Juliet Hartell · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I am obsessed with Wraith, I mean name alone got me at first. I struggled a bit through the first half of this book, but not because there was anything wrong. I was just so excited to get back to the chapters with Wraith that I didn’t want to read anything else. I am obsessed with a love between 2 people who shouldn’t be together. Everything about Caet and Wraith is so wrong which makes it so perfect and desirable.

I loved the writing style for this, Pfeffer did a great job with this. I am so honored to be a part of the ARC team for the 2nd book, Broken, I am dying to read it. The fight scenes were intense and so well written. I felt like I was there watching it all happen.

I read the second half of this book in a day, I had to know what was going to happen, desperate. I was not prepared for what was coming, holy shit. I can’t say anything more without spoiling it. Go read this, right now. The next book comes out early 2024.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. That's the first word I have to describe this book. Just wow. 

I loved the story and all the mystery it presented. It kept me reading. I wanted to know Caet's story, Wraith's story, and I wanted to know all about the ongoings at the mansion. 

I thoroughly enjoyed what this book features. It had a mix of dystopian, True Blood (the TV show) vampire vibes, as well as superpowers (in X-Men style), and werewolves. There's also a slow burn romance which I really loved! 

The book ends on a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to read the next one, which will be titled Broken! 

[Nicole Pelletier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fractured is an amazing read for those who crave unique worlds with fleshed out characters. Ciar has thought deeply about the connections her characters make to each other, through internal and external monologues. Her world building is clear and wholistic, and really gave me the sense that this universe is one she has pondered the details of. While classic fantasty world-building is not always my thing, I loved how Ciar did it, keeping me engaged - and eventually committed- to the characters and their stories in the end.
Can’t wait to dive into Book II to continue the adventure!

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the story line interesting, but felt the small details of the story were often repeated which made it hard to read. I wanted more adventure as well, I felt that the book heavily revolved around the mundane tasks that the characters did throughout the story; for example lots of driving, sleeping, dreaming, etc. When we saw more of the action scenes, I got really excited and melted into the storyline and wanted to know more, but a lot of questions remained unanswered. I would have loved to know just a little bit more about the main character or the world around them.

[Shay · Rating 3 out of 5]

while I enjoyed this story, it felt long. It was probably 60% world building. There was a lot of plotting done and words, but not much action or anything to push the story along. I loved the Mi'Cra magic system, though not a fan of when it was called "'Cra". It felt lazy 😅. Wraith is to die for. The epitome of touch her and die. Citrine is the sassy frenemy we all strive for in our fictional worlds 😂.

I definitely will be reading book 2. I need to know what happens between Caet and Wraith 😍.

[Charissa » 꿈과 이야기를 쫓아요 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning felt a little cumbersome with many info dumps, and the way time jumps were littered throughout the story felt overabundant. She also wrote in multi pov and didn't really do that well. Her writing needed to go through another round of editing.
buttttt 🍑
the plot was very intriguing!
I am thoroughly roped in and excited to see how book 2 unfolds.

(a good story covers a multitude of writing sins in my book)