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Shattered Empire #2
Of Chaos and Doom
Bound by doom. Driven by chaos.
A devastating battle shatters the ancient city of Dar Kahar, leaving Derrik Thon’s best friend missing and allowing an evil mage to plot revenge.
Everyone fears that the mage would not content herself with killing Derrik and his friends and parents. She walks the Darkside, and could soon be as powerful as Saitaan himself... Especially if she has truly stolen Tarroth, a magical battleax capable of unleashing earthquakes, blizzards, and tidal waves that would destroy the entire world.
Derrik and his friends cross the war-ravaged empire to reach their village before the mage. They race on dragonback over the scorching dunes of the Kalhan Desert and the snowy forests of the north in a desperate attempt to find their missing friend along the way.
Although battle-scarred beyond his years, Derrik does not feel fit to face the evil mage. Besides, he is not the only one who longs to wrestle Tarroth from her dead hands.
Saitaan is watching, dreaming of destroying all humans, elves, and dwarfs. He wants to bring doom as much as Derrik wants to avert it.
A devastating battle shatters the ancient city of Dar Kahar, leaving Derrik Thon’s best friend missing and allowing an evil mage to plot revenge.
Everyone fears that the mage would not content herself with killing Derrik and his friends and parents. She walks the Darkside, and could soon be as powerful as Saitaan himself... Especially if she has truly stolen Tarroth, a magical battleax capable of unleashing earthquakes, blizzards, and tidal waves that would destroy the entire world.
Derrik and his friends cross the war-ravaged empire to reach their village before the mage. They race on dragonback over the scorching dunes of the Kalhan Desert and the snowy forests of the north in a desperate attempt to find their missing friend along the way.
Although battle-scarred beyond his years, Derrik does not feel fit to face the evil mage. Besides, he is not the only one who longs to wrestle Tarroth from her dead hands.
Saitaan is watching, dreaming of destroying all humans, elves, and dwarfs. He wants to bring doom as much as Derrik wants to avert it.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2025
2 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
P.C. Darkcliff
44 books66 followersReceive my free novella for joining my mailing list: www.pcdarkcliff.com/subscribe
A multi-award-winning author, I have always had a vivid imagination.
When I was in kindergarten, I convinced my classmates that my grandma was a tribal shamaness. Then I learned my letters, and kidding my friends no longer seemed adequate—so I started to write.
My stories have appeared in various publications, and ‘A Poisoned Gift’ received an Honorable Mention in L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest. I am Spillwords Author of the Year 2020.
Apart from publishing two standalone novels and a historical fantasy trilogy, I've fulfilled my childhood dream and completed an epic fantasy series, The Magic Circle.
I have lived in six countries and on three continents. While it burned a hole in my bank account, the seminomadic lifestyle has inspired most of my stories and novels.
My wife and I have settled in Spain, where I go swimming and cycling whenever I’m not too busy writing and teaching English.
A multi-award-winning author, I have always had a vivid imagination.
When I was in kindergarten, I convinced my classmates that my grandma was a tribal shamaness. Then I learned my letters, and kidding my friends no longer seemed adequate—so I started to write.
My stories have appeared in various publications, and ‘A Poisoned Gift’ received an Honorable Mention in L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest. I am Spillwords Author of the Year 2020.
Apart from publishing two standalone novels and a historical fantasy trilogy, I've fulfilled my childhood dream and completed an epic fantasy series, The Magic Circle.
I have lived in six countries and on three continents. While it burned a hole in my bank account, the seminomadic lifestyle has inspired most of my stories and novels.
My wife and I have settled in Spain, where I go swimming and cycling whenever I’m not too busy writing and teaching English.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 15, 2025
I couldn’t wait to continue on the Shattered Empire journey and this book did not disappoint! The author continues to build the world and the characters beautifully! Ends with you needing to immediately jump into Book 3!!!
October 23, 2024
Another great read from P.C. Darkcliff. This continues the story of Derrik Thon and his friends and allies as they struggle against the Darkside as well as the human traitor Lanfereth. Intense battle scenes, great characters. These young people are forced to grow up as they go along. Humans, elves, dragons, daemorcs, Wrathlords. I seriously could not put it down. Very nice job.
June 6, 2025
I have to say this is another excellent read from this amazing author. His writing style is superb and he creates great characters that will capture your attention. Some of them you will love and some you will love to hate. I use Lanforeth as an example. I think she is one of the all time greatest villians. I absolutely loved this and can’t wait for the next one.
There is a lot going on in this one with plenty of action. Things are not well in the former Aganopean Empire. There is civil unrest among the citizens throughout the land and we have wraithlord monsters under the control of the Dark Overlord Saitaan attacking cities as they please. , The Magic Circle mages are causing issues as well because they not all on the same page when it comes to following the new High Mage Torsum and that causes Derrik and his friends to be rght in the middle of the action.
Derrik, Broose, Eriana, and Leya are kidnapped by some rouge silver-level mages and held for ransom in the hold of a ship off the coast of Dar Kahar. They want to blackmail Torsum to get what they desire but when Archmage Torsum finds out he is lpretty ticked off and sets out to rescue his young friends. He gets the aid of eleven chieftan Al’Anark and Derrik’s dragon Dhra’ack.
We also have the evil villain Lanfareth who is still trying to even the score with Derik and his friends and yes she is still evil as ever.. Throw in the Dark Overlord Saitaan who will not rest until his Darkside warriors defeat the Lightside.thAll these factors give the story so much depth that it will suck you in and keep you glued to the pages. If you haven’t started this series yet then you should start now becausr it is awesome!
There is a lot going on in this one with plenty of action. Things are not well in the former Aganopean Empire. There is civil unrest among the citizens throughout the land and we have wraithlord monsters under the control of the Dark Overlord Saitaan attacking cities as they please. , The Magic Circle mages are causing issues as well because they not all on the same page when it comes to following the new High Mage Torsum and that causes Derrik and his friends to be rght in the middle of the action.
Derrik, Broose, Eriana, and Leya are kidnapped by some rouge silver-level mages and held for ransom in the hold of a ship off the coast of Dar Kahar. They want to blackmail Torsum to get what they desire but when Archmage Torsum finds out he is lpretty ticked off and sets out to rescue his young friends. He gets the aid of eleven chieftan Al’Anark and Derrik’s dragon Dhra’ack.
We also have the evil villain Lanfareth who is still trying to even the score with Derik and his friends and yes she is still evil as ever.. Throw in the Dark Overlord Saitaan who will not rest until his Darkside warriors defeat the Lightside.thAll these factors give the story so much depth that it will suck you in and keep you glued to the pages. If you haven’t started this series yet then you should start now becausr it is awesome!
October 22, 2024
Early in the first chapter of PC’s new book, Derrik and his friends Broose, Eriana, and Leya are attacked in the middle of the night. There is a furious sword fight (the kind PC excels at) and thus begins another reading adventure in the Shattered Empire series.
All is not well in the former Aganopean Empire. Wraithlord monsters under the control of the Dark Overlord Saitaan are attacking cities at will. If that’s not bad enough, there is civil unrest among the citizens throughout the land. On top of that, the Magic Circle mages are not all on the same page when it comes to following the new High Mage Torsum. Derrik and his friends are right in the middle of the action.
Derrik, Broose, Eriana, and Leya are kidnapped by rouge silver-level mages and held for ransom in the hold of a ship off the coast of Dar Kahar. When Archmage Torsum finds out he is livid and sets off to rescue his young friends. He enlists the aid of eleven chieftan Al’Anark and Derrik’s dragon Dhra'ack
. A fierce battle ensues which sets the stage for the rest of this exciting book.
There is a lot going on and PC handles the multiple storylines seamlessly with finesse and an eye for detail. Believe me, there’s never a dull moment and he doesn’t miss a beat. We have favorite characters like Derrik and his buddies Broose and Glen, along Eriana and Leya. Then there’s Al’Anark and Dhra'ack. It’s fun to see them all again. We have evil villain Lanfareth who we love to hate. Not to mention the Dark Overlord Saitaan who will not rest until his Darkside warriors defeat the Lightside. We also have interesting new characters like the cast from The Human Marvels who add more depth to the story.
I like how the main characters keep developing. PC lets us see what they are thinking and feeling which adds an emotional depth to the story. And, as mentioned, his fight scenes are superbly written and exciting. I feel like I’m right there in the heat of the action. The exciting ending dramatically sets the stage for the next book. Of Chaos and Doom is a winner in every sense of the word. It’s got a great story, wonderful characters, and is superbly written. I loved it.
All is not well in the former Aganopean Empire. Wraithlord monsters under the control of the Dark Overlord Saitaan are attacking cities at will. If that’s not bad enough, there is civil unrest among the citizens throughout the land. On top of that, the Magic Circle mages are not all on the same page when it comes to following the new High Mage Torsum. Derrik and his friends are right in the middle of the action.
Derrik, Broose, Eriana, and Leya are kidnapped by rouge silver-level mages and held for ransom in the hold of a ship off the coast of Dar Kahar. When Archmage Torsum finds out he is livid and sets off to rescue his young friends. He enlists the aid of eleven chieftan Al’Anark and Derrik’s dragon Dhra'ack
. A fierce battle ensues which sets the stage for the rest of this exciting book.
There is a lot going on and PC handles the multiple storylines seamlessly with finesse and an eye for detail. Believe me, there’s never a dull moment and he doesn’t miss a beat. We have favorite characters like Derrik and his buddies Broose and Glen, along Eriana and Leya. Then there’s Al’Anark and Dhra'ack. It’s fun to see them all again. We have evil villain Lanfareth who we love to hate. Not to mention the Dark Overlord Saitaan who will not rest until his Darkside warriors defeat the Lightside. We also have interesting new characters like the cast from The Human Marvels who add more depth to the story.
I like how the main characters keep developing. PC lets us see what they are thinking and feeling which adds an emotional depth to the story. And, as mentioned, his fight scenes are superbly written and exciting. I feel like I’m right there in the heat of the action. The exciting ending dramatically sets the stage for the next book. Of Chaos and Doom is a winner in every sense of the word. It’s got a great story, wonderful characters, and is superbly written. I loved it.
September 8, 2025
"I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.” Of chaos and doom. This book wastes no time throwing readers into the heart of danger. The story opens with Derrik and his companions Broose, Eriana, and Leya ambushed in the dead of night, sparking a furious sword fight that sets the tone for the thrilling journey ahead.
The once mighty Aganopean Empire is crumbling. Civil unrest brews across the land, while Wraithlord monsters under the command of the Dark Overlord Saitaan terrorize cities at will. To make matters worse, the Magic Circle mages are divided, with many refusing to align behind the new High Mage Torsum. This fracture leaves Derrik and his friends caught directly in the chaos.
When rogue silver level mages kidnap the young heroes and ransom them aboard a ship off the coast of Dar Kahar, Archmage Torsum’s fury knows no bounds. Determined to rescue them, he enlists the formidable chieftan Al’Anark and Derrik’s loyal dragon Dhra’ack, leading to a fierce clash that propels the rest of the narrative.
Longtime fans will delight in the return of beloved characters such as Derrik, Broose, Glen, Eriana, and Leya, while formidable new allies and adversaries deepen the intrigue. Among the villains, the ever scheming Lanfareth continues her vendetta, while the relentless Dark Overlord Saitaan pushes his Darkside forces toward their ultimate goal of destroying the Lightside.
PC masterfully balances multiple plotlines with crisp pacing, sharp detail, and a seamless blend of action and emotion. The result is a tale brimming with tension, battles, and betrayals that keeps you turning pages late into the night.
If you never started the Shattered Empire saga then start it now. This second book is a richly imagined world of danger, magic, and heroism. It’s an exhilarating read that never lets up and one you won’t want to miss. It lets you crave for the third book! A must read! 💛
The once mighty Aganopean Empire is crumbling. Civil unrest brews across the land, while Wraithlord monsters under the command of the Dark Overlord Saitaan terrorize cities at will. To make matters worse, the Magic Circle mages are divided, with many refusing to align behind the new High Mage Torsum. This fracture leaves Derrik and his friends caught directly in the chaos.
When rogue silver level mages kidnap the young heroes and ransom them aboard a ship off the coast of Dar Kahar, Archmage Torsum’s fury knows no bounds. Determined to rescue them, he enlists the formidable chieftan Al’Anark and Derrik’s loyal dragon Dhra’ack, leading to a fierce clash that propels the rest of the narrative.
Longtime fans will delight in the return of beloved characters such as Derrik, Broose, Glen, Eriana, and Leya, while formidable new allies and adversaries deepen the intrigue. Among the villains, the ever scheming Lanfareth continues her vendetta, while the relentless Dark Overlord Saitaan pushes his Darkside forces toward their ultimate goal of destroying the Lightside.
PC masterfully balances multiple plotlines with crisp pacing, sharp detail, and a seamless blend of action and emotion. The result is a tale brimming with tension, battles, and betrayals that keeps you turning pages late into the night.
If you never started the Shattered Empire saga then start it now. This second book is a richly imagined world of danger, magic, and heroism. It’s an exhilarating read that never lets up and one you won’t want to miss. It lets you crave for the third book! A must read! 💛
January 4, 2025
This is the second book in the Shattered Empire series that follows the Magic Circle series in the future. The heroes of the Magic Circle have settled down and have raised their children in a village far away from all the civil wars that plague the continent. However, the Darkside has neither forgotten nor forgiven their defeat, and are after both the heroes, and their children. While the original heroes stay in New Thorstorm village, their children have been battling the Darkside, and have been doing a great job, considering that they're very young and inexperienced. They've survived the first round, but they are still being hunted by the Darkside, and they've been split up. They have epic battle after epic battle to save the Lightside, that has splintered into separate kingdoms that seem to be unwilling to unite to conquer the once again, growing threat of the Darkside, that wants to enslave the world, or destroy it. They must find the evil mage Lanfareth that has stolen a magical weapon, that can help the Lightside, or destroy the world. However, Lanfareth is hunting them too. This is yet another page turner that kept me up WAY after my bedtime.
May 17, 2025
These books serve the reader by introducing, developing, and growing a saga-like story that provides a lot throughout and up until the very end. Starting a new saga means you'll get, as a reader, new characters, conflicts, and adventures. This is the second book of this saga, and the author delivers on his promises of action, good characterization, and high fantasy.
Along the way, the adventure unfolds, the plot thickens, conflict rises, and characters develop. All of this put together delivers a remarkable fantasy story that will introduce you to the story world and characters, and I promise you, a great read. The protagonist makes mistakes and is a realistic, rounded, and three-dimensional character. The author works hard to make it a real person having an adventure. And secondary characters feel real, too. They are not just cardboard cuts.
The conflict is well-written as things mount around the protagonist, making the tension realistic. You'll enjoy this adventure, a mix of high fantasy, action, and personal hero quest.
Along the way, the adventure unfolds, the plot thickens, conflict rises, and characters develop. All of this put together delivers a remarkable fantasy story that will introduce you to the story world and characters, and I promise you, a great read. The protagonist makes mistakes and is a realistic, rounded, and three-dimensional character. The author works hard to make it a real person having an adventure. And secondary characters feel real, too. They are not just cardboard cuts.
The conflict is well-written as things mount around the protagonist, making the tension realistic. You'll enjoy this adventure, a mix of high fantasy, action, and personal hero quest.
January 13, 2025
Hands down this is the best P.C. Darkcliff book so far. There is non-stop action and adventure from the first chapter to the final page. I was so caught up in the story, I felt that I had gone on the adventure with the heroes. The peace that was won in the first series is now unraveling and the very fabric of the world is coming undone. Readers should especially watch out for Leya who is rapidly becoming a hero in her own right.
August 14, 2025
Eriana and Leya
WOW! The second book in the Shattered Empire series by P. C. Darkcliff and I definitely was not disappointed. Once again I couldn't put the book down. The brilliant world building is spectacularly and magically woven through the story keeping the reader turning the pages. The characters are all fantastically written and show a lot of growth with room to grow in future books. I absolutely enjoyed this book and highly recommend.
WOW! The second book in the Shattered Empire series by P. C. Darkcliff and I definitely was not disappointed. Once again I couldn't put the book down. The brilliant world building is spectacularly and magically woven through the story keeping the reader turning the pages. The characters are all fantastically written and show a lot of growth with room to grow in future books. I absolutely enjoyed this book and highly recommend.
November 17, 2024
This is a good follow-up from book 1. The story moves forwards as the five youngsters find out more about magic, betrayal and themselves. It's an enjoyable read
March 12, 2025
The story continues the epic adventure of Derrik Thorn and his friends as they continue to struggle against the dark forces of the Darkdide and the human traitor Lanfereth. The world is in chaos and the stakes are higher than ever as they fight to save their realm from impending doom. The book is filled with action, intrigue, and moments of heroism as the characters navigate through a world on the brink of destruction.
Merged review:
The 2nd book continues the journey of Derrik Thon. After a devastating battle in the ancient city of Dar Kahar, Derrik faces new challenges as an evil mage plots revenge. The mage wields a powerful magical battleax, Tarroth, capable of unleashing catastrophic natural disasters. Derrik and his companions must race across the war-ravaged empire to stop her, all while grappling with their own fears and scars from previous battles. The book delves into themes of the struggle against overwhelming odds, and the moral complexities of power. It promises a thrilling mix of action, magic, and emotional depth
Merged review:
The 2nd book continues the journey of Derrik Thon. After a devastating battle in the ancient city of Dar Kahar, Derrik faces new challenges as an evil mage plots revenge. The mage wields a powerful magical battleax, Tarroth, capable of unleashing catastrophic natural disasters. Derrik and his companions must race across the war-ravaged empire to stop her, all while grappling with their own fears and scars from previous battles. The book delves into themes of the struggle against overwhelming odds, and the moral complexities of power. It promises a thrilling mix of action, magic, and emotional depth
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews