Breaking Down Darkness

by Ellen Wind-van Strien

After the devastating fall of Asgard, Sierida and her closest allies were forced to flee for their lives, seeking refuge in the enigmatic and magical town of Mirage. This mystical town, shrouded in mystery and illusions, seems to exist outside of time and reality, offering both safety and uncertainty. Trapped in Mirage, Sierida finds herself facing not only the imminent threat of war but also a personal journey of rediscovery. As the weight of reclaiming her home looms large, she begins to unravel the hidden parts of herself—powerful fragments of her past, secrets long buried, and ancient abilities she never realised she possessed.
But as months pass in Mirage, Sierida remains unaware that not all of her friends made it to safety. Several, who attempted to follow her path from Earth to Asgard, have been captured by the tyrannical Lord Callaen. Callaen, a ruthless warlord determined to see Asgard fall, sees Sierida as the key to his ultimate victory. Fueled by his unrelenting desire to control Asgard’s power, he keeps her friends imprisoned, using them as pawns in his twisted games.
Meanwhile, time is running out. War is brewing across the realms. To reclaim her home and save her friends, Sierida must forge new alliances with ancient beings she has only heard about in legends—the Frost Giants of Jötunheimr. The icy and treacherous giants, known for their strength and cunning, are led by a king with motives of his own. Though he offers to help Asgard, Sierida knows that his generosity may come at a steep price. She must decide whether to trust him and lead her people into battle with an untested alliance, knowing that betrayal could be just as deadly as Lord Callaen’s wrath.
As the final confrontation draws near, Sierida must harness the full extent of her hidden powers, confront her darkest fears, and rally a new, unexpected group of warriors. The fate of Asgard, her friends, and perhaps even the entire realm hangs in the balance.

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 17, 2024

About the author

Ellen Wind-van Strien is a native-born Dutchie who teaches part-time at a graphic arts school when she’s not writing. She always had the aspiration to write when she was younger, but she kept it small by writing short stories. With plenty of imagination to spare, she finally made the leap into writing a novel and plans on writing many more. She currently resides in the Netherlands with her husband, daughter, dog and bunny and is already in the process of thinking up the second novel in the Aesir series.