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The Paths We Have Taken, Vol. 1
In the city-state of Bradford, tensions are flaring. On the cusp of a Council Election, an underground human trafficking ring is exposed and an assassin starts killing religious figures in a foreboding ritual. But the powers devoted to saving this city may be the greatest threat of all.
The idealistic Fare Breekon is committed to catching these criminals. But he has further ambitions and requires the particular touch of two infamous mercenaries.
Cohl is a philosophical mercenary with a black reputation. When he returns home, he expects a transactional relationship, but he is employed by a man with connections to his past—and he finds that trauma is flooding to the surface.
Peyton has long given up on change. She is drifting with a veritable monster, but with Cohl becoming more distant, and new connections being made, great change might be upon her.
Ehric stands by his faith when he joins a great competition. But he must confront the brutal implications of political realism, and balance that with the responsibilities that Evelyn and her sister bring.
Evelyn is trapped in Bradford with her unwanted younger sister. As she locks horns with Ehric and her sister, she aligns herself with the sharpest critics of the government.
The Paths We Have Taken is the first Arc in The Broken Reality, an Epic Horror Fantasy series that draws from ASOIAF, The First Law, and The Second Apocalypse. Steeped in scheming, uncertainty, and extreme violence, it paints a grisly picture of society, where our characters become ensnared in a complex web of corruption that seems destined for oblivion.
The idealistic Fare Breekon is committed to catching these criminals. But he has further ambitions and requires the particular touch of two infamous mercenaries.
Cohl is a philosophical mercenary with a black reputation. When he returns home, he expects a transactional relationship, but he is employed by a man with connections to his past—and he finds that trauma is flooding to the surface.
Peyton has long given up on change. She is drifting with a veritable monster, but with Cohl becoming more distant, and new connections being made, great change might be upon her.
Ehric stands by his faith when he joins a great competition. But he must confront the brutal implications of political realism, and balance that with the responsibilities that Evelyn and her sister bring.
Evelyn is trapped in Bradford with her unwanted younger sister. As she locks horns with Ehric and her sister, she aligns herself with the sharpest critics of the government.
The Paths We Have Taken is the first Arc in The Broken Reality, an Epic Horror Fantasy series that draws from ASOIAF, The First Law, and The Second Apocalypse. Steeped in scheming, uncertainty, and extreme violence, it paints a grisly picture of society, where our characters become ensnared in a complex web of corruption that seems destined for oblivion.
553 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2023
1 person is currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 14, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because authors are cool
A fantasy horror inspired by GRRM, Abercrombie, and Bakker. Yup. That's definitely what this was.
Dark world, dark themes. No heroes. Darker shades of gray permeating every corner and crevice.
The writing on this is highly intelligent, commanding your full attention at all times; forcing you to immerse yourself into this dark morality play. I, admittedly, had to put this book aside several times, as the complexity of the prose and darkness of the plot/characters were something I needed a breather from.
The plot, on the surface, seemed easy enough; but the aforementioned prose elevated it exponentially.
Top tier stuff. Going to take my time with the second book as well and let it take me in on as much of my own terms as possible.
A fantasy horror inspired by GRRM, Abercrombie, and Bakker. Yup. That's definitely what this was.
Dark world, dark themes. No heroes. Darker shades of gray permeating every corner and crevice.
The writing on this is highly intelligent, commanding your full attention at all times; forcing you to immerse yourself into this dark morality play. I, admittedly, had to put this book aside several times, as the complexity of the prose and darkness of the plot/characters were something I needed a breather from.
The plot, on the surface, seemed easy enough; but the aforementioned prose elevated it exponentially.
Top tier stuff. Going to take my time with the second book as well and let it take me in on as much of my own terms as possible.
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July 5, 2025Trailer: https://youtu.be/9TZq8BnSg64
I've been working on this beast of a story for four and a half years. And this is only the first half. The second volume of Paths is already written, and it was released on February 1st, 2024. I'm rather proud of this accomplishment, and I'm very excited to continue writing in this universe. I have so much planned for it. I hope readers enjoy!
Volume II: https://youtu.be/3we4VC3lDJs
I've been working on this beast of a story for four and a half years. And this is only the first half. The second volume of Paths is already written, and it was released on February 1st, 2024. I'm rather proud of this accomplishment, and I'm very excited to continue writing in this universe. I have so much planned for it. I hope readers enjoy!
Volume II: https://youtu.be/3we4VC3lDJs
February 26, 2024
3.5/5
Full disclosure, I know the author, but this review is not biased for that fact. I always make sure to not blow smoke when someone is putting their work out there and looking for constructive criticism.
Fantasy is a tricky beast, and there are all manners of flavor. While I can get into monster epics like GRRM’s ASOIAF, I lean toward smaller-scale stories. This one is anything but small-scale, but it illuminated some things I never put much thought into with multi-POV novels. The writer is essentially writing a novel or novella per POV and hoping to bring all their stories together in a larger narrative that they not only experience, but hopefully, influence.
I was pleased that this novel, while part one of a two-part arc, actually had a conclusion. I never felt like this was merely a setup novel. It established characters, established the world, and set a plot into motion that wasn’t fully concluded but revealed, which in itself is a micro conclusion.
Character: We’re presented with four POV characters. Two mercenaries, a man seeking a better life, driven by his beliefs, and a woman caught in between. While I enjoyed the characters, there were times I didn’t fully grasp their motivations, which caused the story to drag. I’d hop into a chapter only to find little momentum in the story, how the character would play their part, or even what they were off to do. Sometimes a chapter might feel more like its intent was to divulge information about the plot and the way the world worked rather than to exist to get us to know the character deeply and how they fit into the story. Since I am a character-forward reader, you can see how this might not be an ideal experience for me. Now someone who is more about plot or setting over character, may not have the same issues.
Setting: The setting was well-realized. It felt like this world had been going on well before the first page, which is always a great thing. I’ve read too many novels that feel like the story of the world begins when you begin the novel, so this was refreshing to see. Unique quirks and features are also present, so it didn’t feel like a knock-off of other fantasy novels, nor did it feel generic.
Plot: The plot takes some time to kick in. I’d say about a third of the way through the novel. That’s not typical, but I didn’t mind it. Four POVs requires a little setup, and while the catalyst COULD have technically come sooner, it didn’t feel like the novel was dragging on endlessly. It’s also worth mentioning that one of the POV characters has a thematic link to the plot presented in the novel, which, while present, could have hooked me a little more. I think it would have been a great opportunity to get deeper inside his head. It was there on the surface, but remained on the surface.
Writing: The writing is capable and often evocative, but there are a few strange anachronistic choices that took me out of the experience regarding language. I’m not sure if this was intentional or merely an oversight, so it’s something to look out for.
Overall: This is a great first effort from a new author, and while a little rough around the edges, I’m looking forward to how the story develops. If you’re into long-form fantasy epics like GRRM’s ASOIAF or Bakker’s Prince of Nothing series, you’ll find something to enjoy here.
Full disclosure, I know the author, but this review is not biased for that fact. I always make sure to not blow smoke when someone is putting their work out there and looking for constructive criticism.
Fantasy is a tricky beast, and there are all manners of flavor. While I can get into monster epics like GRRM’s ASOIAF, I lean toward smaller-scale stories. This one is anything but small-scale, but it illuminated some things I never put much thought into with multi-POV novels. The writer is essentially writing a novel or novella per POV and hoping to bring all their stories together in a larger narrative that they not only experience, but hopefully, influence.
I was pleased that this novel, while part one of a two-part arc, actually had a conclusion. I never felt like this was merely a setup novel. It established characters, established the world, and set a plot into motion that wasn’t fully concluded but revealed, which in itself is a micro conclusion.
Character: We’re presented with four POV characters. Two mercenaries, a man seeking a better life, driven by his beliefs, and a woman caught in between. While I enjoyed the characters, there were times I didn’t fully grasp their motivations, which caused the story to drag. I’d hop into a chapter only to find little momentum in the story, how the character would play their part, or even what they were off to do. Sometimes a chapter might feel more like its intent was to divulge information about the plot and the way the world worked rather than to exist to get us to know the character deeply and how they fit into the story. Since I am a character-forward reader, you can see how this might not be an ideal experience for me. Now someone who is more about plot or setting over character, may not have the same issues.
Setting: The setting was well-realized. It felt like this world had been going on well before the first page, which is always a great thing. I’ve read too many novels that feel like the story of the world begins when you begin the novel, so this was refreshing to see. Unique quirks and features are also present, so it didn’t feel like a knock-off of other fantasy novels, nor did it feel generic.
Plot: The plot takes some time to kick in. I’d say about a third of the way through the novel. That’s not typical, but I didn’t mind it. Four POVs requires a little setup, and while the catalyst COULD have technically come sooner, it didn’t feel like the novel was dragging on endlessly. It’s also worth mentioning that one of the POV characters has a thematic link to the plot presented in the novel, which, while present, could have hooked me a little more. I think it would have been a great opportunity to get deeper inside his head. It was there on the surface, but remained on the surface.
Writing: The writing is capable and often evocative, but there are a few strange anachronistic choices that took me out of the experience regarding language. I’m not sure if this was intentional or merely an oversight, so it’s something to look out for.
Overall: This is a great first effort from a new author, and while a little rough around the edges, I’m looking forward to how the story develops. If you’re into long-form fantasy epics like GRRM’s ASOIAF or Bakker’s Prince of Nothing series, you’ll find something to enjoy here.
November 27, 2024
Disclaimer, I know the author.
The author did a phenomenal job creating a story where all the characters are villains in their own right. Causing you to question what you believe to be wrong or right. You might even find you disturbingly relate to some of the characters. The book is a terribly dark outlook on human nature - and I can't wait to read more.
The author did a phenomenal job creating a story where all the characters are villains in their own right. Causing you to question what you believe to be wrong or right. You might even find you disturbingly relate to some of the characters. The book is a terribly dark outlook on human nature - and I can't wait to read more.
July 6, 2024
A general election may just put the world on a new path. Some will not like what they plan to do. Some may even start a rebellion to put an end to it all. See how they get on? Will the world change again? See how it will go go
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
February 23, 2024
Full disclosure- I do personally know the author.
I would say that TPWHT Volume 1 would be for the people who think deeply about searching for meaning and truth in this life. TPWHT combines a philosophical discussion of morality and the imagination of a detailed world-builder of fantasy. Dark and brooding L.R. Hunter constructs his sentences with eloquence such as, “Agony was the atmosphere and Cohl its summons”. The detailed dialogue reminds you of something out of a Quentin Tarantino movie that captures and demands your full attention. These characters are unapologetically themselves and steer clear of the usual tendency to people-please a reader to be likable. This book will have you on the edge of your seat, and by the end of it you’re frothing at the mouth for volume two.
I would say that TPWHT Volume 1 would be for the people who think deeply about searching for meaning and truth in this life. TPWHT combines a philosophical discussion of morality and the imagination of a detailed world-builder of fantasy. Dark and brooding L.R. Hunter constructs his sentences with eloquence such as, “Agony was the atmosphere and Cohl its summons”. The detailed dialogue reminds you of something out of a Quentin Tarantino movie that captures and demands your full attention. These characters are unapologetically themselves and steer clear of the usual tendency to people-please a reader to be likable. This book will have you on the edge of your seat, and by the end of it you’re frothing at the mouth for volume two.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews