Fractured

Fractured #1

by Keith Robinson, Brian Clopper

The world of Apparatum is divided. To the west lies the high-tech city of Apparati, governed by a corrupt mayor and his brutal military general. To the east, spread around the mountains and forests, the seven enclaves of Apparata are ruled by an overbearing sovereign and his evil chancellor. Between them lies the Ruins, or the Broken Lands – all that's left of a sprawling civilization before it fractured.

Hundreds of years have passed, and neither world knows the other exists.

Laws are harsh. Two young fugitives – Kyle from the city and Logan from the enclaves – escape their homes and set out into the wastelands to forge a new life. But their destinies are intertwined, for the separate worlds of Apparati and Apparata are two faces of the same coin... and it turns out that everyone has a twin.

This novel is the first of a 2-part story, although the book is complete in itself. The second book, UNEARTHED, takes the story deep underground. For sci-fi and fantasy fans aged 10 and up.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy

281 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2013

About the author

Keith Robinson is the author of the ISLAND OF FOG fantasy shapeshifter series for all ages, featuring creatures from myth and legend. Currently 15 books.

Also available is the ISLAND OF FOG LEGACIES series, currently 5 books. This series takes place 20 years after the original adventures.

Visit the official Island of Fog page for more information. And don't forget the ISLAND OF FOG CHRONICLES, currently 3 books.

Keith is also the author of the Sleep Writer series, the spooky Darkhill Scary Stories, a standalone novel Quincy's Curse, and the co-author of two Fractured books with Brian Clopper.

By day, Keith is a self-employed website designer. Originally from England, he moved to the United States in 2001 where he now resides in the sticks of Chickamauga, Georgia.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when two wildly inventive authors join forces to create a magical tale of fantasy, adventure and science fiction? If you are Brian Clopper and Keith Robinson, the result is Fractured, the first book in a new middle grade/young adult two book series that blew me away with their deft blending of their signature styles! Their approach to this tale is a testament to “teamwork” as they spotlight the two main characters in alternating chapters, while never missing a beat! This wonderfully detailed, well-thought out plot doesn't pause for a breath as this fast-paced, double-sided tale unleashes fantasy at its best!

How appropriate, two authors write about two vastly different worlds, one full of technology and very sci-fi-ish, one full of magical fantasy, while both worlds have corrupt leaders who are keeping important truths from their people. Two exiled young boys who never quite fit in their worlds, one from the land of magic, one from the tech world, traverse a vast wasteland that lies outside the walls of safety, at the mercy of roving gangs and hideous monsters, each unaware of the other. Along comes a peculiar old man who sets each boy on a frightening path to their true destinies in worlds they never knew existed, because within each boy is the power to lead the world to change.

Get ready to enter the fractured world of Apparatum, see the remnants of a long lost civilization and the results of fear and distrust in a world in need of a couple of unlikely but totally likable young heroes!

I won’t go so far as to say it’s like a fine blended wine, but my inner child was bouncing off the walls with glee! This is great writing times TWO with appeal for ALL ages!

Book One of a Two-Part Series
Publication Date: September 4, 2013
Publisher: Apparatum Books
Number of Pages: 282
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure/Sci-fi
Age Recommendation: Middle Grade on up!
My Rating: 5 Stars
Book Source: Self Purchased
Available From: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Connect with Brian Clopper: http://www.brianclopper.com/
Connect with Keith Robinson: http://www.unearthlytales.com/
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.

[Trutze · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have any doubts about picking up the book,
do yourself a favour and at least get the preview chapter.
I was hooked after a few pages.

This book is AWESOME.

Honestly I wasn't too crazy about starting to read it myself, thought I already knew it after reading the premise. Your usual post apocalyptic story with oppression and an uprising, poor vs rich etc etc but this is not The Hunger games reloaded of some sorts, this is something else!

So about what the book is actually about ;)
It's about weird society rules that are not questioned by the masses. It's about impressively imaginative worlds, that even while not being completely new concepts have some very unique aspects which will even surprise people who read a lot of fantasy and scifi.
Is there oppression ?, will there be an uprising ? - certainly, but both not in the way one would expect it!
I loved both worlds and was only able to keep from skipping chapters because i knew it would be eventually one story.
The characters Logan and Kyle are very likeable and both their adventures are interesting. I loved the little twists here and there in the story, they were truly unexpected, but was most drawn into the story by the feeling of exploring both worlds and the ruins together with the characters. And impressed by the emotional layers in the later chapters.


The story in itself is whole and doesn't leave us with big cliffhangers, but there is enough left untold for the reader to want a second book, to dive deeper into this fractured world.

spoilers:

The people of either parts of the world can not see each other, that's why they do not know either exist. I didn't expect that and though it leaves open loads of questions, i loved the idea.
Why do the leaders keep the secret, what is the advantage for them in doing so. What was the original idea about it? Who lived in the ruins?
Would there be people in both parts that are able to tether with spirits/meddle with tech? If not so, are both human civilisations evolutionary different from each other? Like two human races?

Of course i want to know who the man is that brings Kyle and Logan together, why can he see both boys ? Who is his group?

I loved that each family welcomed the lost son but didn't do so without reservation. I didn't particular like how the fathers treated their biological sons but than again they seemed quite harsh even with their "actual" children. So it seems realistic that they wouldn't be all of a sudden tender and loving with some stranger child.
I read about parents that had their children switched at birth by accident, in that article the parents said, they didn't feel directly reconnected to their real children, at first it would have felt like only a stranger child to them.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was one of the beta readers for Fractured. The writing style is interesting in that it's written by two authors, each with their own peculiar writing style. Each chapter is an alternating story-line about a different character in a different place. Each author takes their story-line and weaves it with the other. The distinctiveness, which I initially found a little disconcerting, soon becomes one of the best components of the style of the book. A beautifully written book with the ability to conjure up lush landscapes and novel concepts. There are some mesmerizing scenes that put you right into the shoes of the protagonists. The story is taut, compelling and well paced. It's a book that you need to read in one sitting! The story pulls all the right punches, and the many nods to genre science fiction and fantasy is endearing and adds a touch of humor. The subject matter contains some social commentary and there is a moral component that might be more suited to the older child. It also means you can read it after junior's done.

[Mavis Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written. A fun easy read for adults though it's meant more for kids/teens. It does have some violence so parents may want to read first and decide for themselves if their kids are old enough for it.

This book is a mixture of magical fantasy and science fiction. It is written by two authors writing in alternating chapters which works well for the books two protagonists.

Goodreads only has Keith Robinson listed as the author here but it was a collaboration with Brian Clopper

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of two boys from different lands, each embarking on an adventure far from home. Each boy makes amazing discoveries about the world and himself. The characterizations were great. Fast and easy reading. My favorite thing about the book is that it's filled with suspense throughout.

[Steve Mccann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading the beta version. After the usual clean up that always comes with such projects, I would guess this fantasy/sci fi blend should keep young readers with noses to screens for a few intense hours.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful dystopian novel by a local author!

[Eryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

No swearing, no adult themes, some violence, death themes.
I was reading this book to decide if it was suitable for my 11yr olds, however I thoroughly enjoyed it myself. For a free book it is very well written and edited, and will be loved by all ages.
The action scenes are resolved far too quickly and easily and perhaps that is deliberate for the target audience age, however I think if they were fleshed out a little then this book could be a bestseller. With such an original storyline, it could easily be in line to become a movie too.
My only gripe with this book is the loose end of the map. Not being mentioned when the bag was left behind means it is clumsily going to be brought back in the next story, or it is finished with and hopefully we will forget it. EIther way it annoyed me.
Definitely a fabulous book though and suitable for middle graders and up. The only thing that may bother some younger readers is the possibility of death hanging over the main characters. Most kids would have read and seen much worse though.
Looking forward to the next book and I'd just like to add that considering the book was written by two separate authors chapter by chapter, the storyline is very smooth. I wouldn't have picked that up if it wasn't pointed out at the end.

[hakeem]

Wow

This is a grate book. I recommend it. it has a grate ending, that will hopefully tie into a sequel.