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Shattered Bonds
In the harsh world of Sicaria, everyone is out for their own gain. Rising rebellions, overambitious psychopaths, and a world in ruins is about to turn one woman’s world upside down.
For thirteen years Ruth survived her servitude to the nomadic Sicarium army by doing her job, keeping her head down, and obeying the rules. With freedom in sight, Ruth is eager to leave her unruly masters behind once and for all and rejoin her family.
Commander Keres has worked under Sicarium rule for far too long. Frustrated by Overlord Darius's paranoia and inability to stabilize Sicari, Keres is ready to seize power. Yet to execute his daring plan, he needs a man with specialized skills that could turn this takeover from a war into a peaceful surrender. When Keres discovers this soldier’s sister - Ruth - is a bondservant in a nearby Sicarium camp, he tracks her down and forces her to find him.
For Ruth, the news is a jolt of hope: her brother, long-thought dead, is alive! But the revelation comes at a cost. Ruth must now navigate working with her enemy, finding her brother, and regaining her freedom before Keres’ own desperate plans spiral out of control and destroy Ruth’s dreams of a future beyond servitude.
For thirteen years Ruth survived her servitude to the nomadic Sicarium army by doing her job, keeping her head down, and obeying the rules. With freedom in sight, Ruth is eager to leave her unruly masters behind once and for all and rejoin her family.
Commander Keres has worked under Sicarium rule for far too long. Frustrated by Overlord Darius's paranoia and inability to stabilize Sicari, Keres is ready to seize power. Yet to execute his daring plan, he needs a man with specialized skills that could turn this takeover from a war into a peaceful surrender. When Keres discovers this soldier’s sister - Ruth - is a bondservant in a nearby Sicarium camp, he tracks her down and forces her to find him.
For Ruth, the news is a jolt of hope: her brother, long-thought dead, is alive! But the revelation comes at a cost. Ruth must now navigate working with her enemy, finding her brother, and regaining her freedom before Keres’ own desperate plans spiral out of control and destroy Ruth’s dreams of a future beyond servitude.
345 pages, ebook
Published July 18, 2025
5 people are currently reading
950 people want to read
About the author
Britney Farr
5 books21 followersBritney Farr writes apocalyptic and dystopian novels filled with characters who face impossible situations, forcing them to persevere and grow despite the surrounding threats by finding hope and strength in something greater than themselves—God.
Britney lives in Colorado with her husband and two rambunctious dogs. Though born and raised in Southern California near the beach, the mountains fuel her creative spirit. When not writing, she channels her creativity through other creative outlets like the performing arts and graphic design. When she’s not pounding away at the keyboard writing her next novel, you can find her reading multiple books simultaneously, trying her hand at an escape room, camping and hiking in the Rocky Mountains, or cherishing moments with the people who mean the most to her.
Connect with her on Facebook: facebook.com/britneyfarrauthor
Britney lives in Colorado with her husband and two rambunctious dogs. Though born and raised in Southern California near the beach, the mountains fuel her creative spirit. When not writing, she channels her creativity through other creative outlets like the performing arts and graphic design. When she’s not pounding away at the keyboard writing her next novel, you can find her reading multiple books simultaneously, trying her hand at an escape room, camping and hiking in the Rocky Mountains, or cherishing moments with the people who mean the most to her.
Connect with her on Facebook: facebook.com/britneyfarrauthor
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July 18, 2025Excerpt:
Talia stood still with her arms folded. She stood silent for so long, Ruth wasn’t sure she’d ever speak up.
“Well?” Ruth asked when she couldn’t take the silence anymore.
“You’re not going to like what I have to say.”
Ruth took a deep breath and let it out, steeling herself. Talia was blunt, but honest, and she never steered Ruth wrong. She trusted her friend’s opinion, no matter how hard it was to hear. “Go ahead, tell me.”
“If your brother hasn’t returned home after all these years, he either doesn’t want to leave the Sicarium or he’s… ” Talia bit her lip, her brows knitted together in pain. She didn’t finish the last word, and she didn’t need to.
Ruth shivered. Talia was right. It was Ruth’s biggest fear. One she didn’t want to admit it—that the Sicarium had turned her brother. She wanted to hold on to hope. That there was another reason for Ethan not returning home. And that reason needed to be something more than death.
“What if Keres is right, and he’s being held captive so he can’t leave?”
Talia kneeled down and flipped the cakes with a pair of tongs. “I admire your optimism.”
“I have to. Otherwise, the pain will eat me alive. I have to have hope.”
“Fine, but if he’d wanted to go, he would’ve by now.”
“What if he is?” It was something Ruth hadn’t considered. “What if he’s back home?”
“Home?”
“Yes. What if he went back home after I left?”
“Honestly, I don’t think you really have a choice but to accept.” Talia flipped the last cake and stood. “But you could also run away. You’ve served your time.”
“Run away?” The idea sounded so ludicrous, she laughed. “How would I do that?”
“It would be easy. Tell Keres you’ll go with the men, then slip away. It should be easy to get away from just three men. You could then go home. Be free. Just wait for a moment of chaos or distraction and just go.”
Ruth sighed and grabbed at her bracelet. The thought was tempting.
Talia’s eyes widened, and her mouth formed a small “O” as she looked past Ruth. Confused, Ruth turned around to find a massive dust cloud barreling toward them, roaring with engines.
“Raiders!” Ruth grabbed Talia’s hand and bolted toward the food truck. “Quick, hide!” Ruth ordered the other women to follow.
Warning horns blasted through the camp, cutting through the engine noise. The camp came alive with Sicarium soldiers rushing out of their tents, armed and ready for battle.
Soon, the engines died. Out of the dust cloud came a large group of men dressed in long, flowing, black desert clothing covered with strings of beads made of bones, fur pelts, and strands of human hair. Black war paint was smeared across their faces and arms in chaotic patterns. Many had shaved heads while others wore tall mohawks. War cries pierced the night as the raiders rushed into the camp like falcons swooping down on their prey.
Ruth picked up the pace, sprinting toward the storage truck. If they could get in, they could close the door and lock themselves inside.
The camp erupted in a cacophony of scuffles, crashes, yells, and clanging of metal on metal. One raider cut Talia and Ruth off. He reached out for Ruth, taking hold of her arm. She tried to pull away, but the man’s fingernails dug into her flesh with ferocity. Pain radiated through her as skin broke.
Talia let out a loud warrior yell. A thick wooden stick crashed down onto the man’s forearms with such swiftness that he cried out in pain and loosened his grip on Ruth just long enough for her to get away. It didn’t take long for the man to regain composure. He lunged after Ruth. Talia swung the stick hard and fast into the man’s face. Blood splattered as he tumbled backward.
“Run!” Talia shouted as she took off again toward the truck.
Ruth ran after her; her feet not moving fast enough. They felt like lead. She pulled her skirt up, freeing her legs from any hindrance, and started into a run. Ruth tripped over something and crashed to the ground, landing face-first. A sharp sting spread from her chin and across her face. She winced, knowing she must’ve cut it open. Talia grabbed Ruth by the arm and pulled her to her feet.
They made it to the truck along with several other women. Ruth jumped in. Behind her, Donovan and a few other Sicarium men were fighting off the Raiders.
Joan pulled the truck door closed and latched it from the inside. Together, the women moved to the back of the truck and huddled together, trembling. Ruth tried to take long, slow breaths and reminded the others to do the same. They needed to stay calm and quiet, so as not to draw attention to the truck.
Outside, more loud screams pierced the night. Ruth squeezed her eyes shut as if closing her eyes would also shut out the cries for help coming from the women beyond the truck. Ruth wanted to go back out there and help, to protect those in danger, but she knew the others would never allow it. They needed to keep themselves safe at this point.
After what felt like eternity, the yelling and clashing of weapons died down while the sound of dune buggies and motor carts thundered until they died out.
“They’re gone,” Talia whispered.
Ruth sucked in a shaky breath as tears sprang to her eyes. They were safe, for now.
“What were those Raiders tinkin’ attackin’ a Sicarium camp?” Joan spat out angrily.
“I don’t think they knew we were Sicarium,” Ruth said. “The men didn’t put up their flags.”
“That or they’re getting bolder,” Talia said. “Those sheretz don’t care about law and order.”
“Neither do the Sicarium,” Joan said.
“Exactly.” Talia threw her hands up. “The world is complete anarchy. It’s everyone for themselves, unless someone can figure out how to bring peace to this godforsaken world.”
The women fell silent. They huddled together, holding onto one another for comfort. Ruth’s throat constricted uncomfortably as she fought back tears.
“Yer wrong, ya know,” Joan whispered, her voice tight as if she were trying to hold back tears. “El Shaddai has not forsaken us. . .” Joan let out a sob. “He can’t have.”
Hope. They all wanted it. Joan found it in El Shaddai. Maybe Ruth could, too. But Talia wasn’t wrong, either. The world was a harsh and unforgiving place. Ruth’s hope and refuge were within her home, with her family, all together as one. That’s where she needed to be, where she belonged.
Read and review my ARC at https://booksirens.com/book/H77UYS2/X...
Talia stood still with her arms folded. She stood silent for so long, Ruth wasn’t sure she’d ever speak up.
“Well?” Ruth asked when she couldn’t take the silence anymore.
“You’re not going to like what I have to say.”
Ruth took a deep breath and let it out, steeling herself. Talia was blunt, but honest, and she never steered Ruth wrong. She trusted her friend’s opinion, no matter how hard it was to hear. “Go ahead, tell me.”
“If your brother hasn’t returned home after all these years, he either doesn’t want to leave the Sicarium or he’s… ” Talia bit her lip, her brows knitted together in pain. She didn’t finish the last word, and she didn’t need to.
Ruth shivered. Talia was right. It was Ruth’s biggest fear. One she didn’t want to admit it—that the Sicarium had turned her brother. She wanted to hold on to hope. That there was another reason for Ethan not returning home. And that reason needed to be something more than death.
“What if Keres is right, and he’s being held captive so he can’t leave?”
Talia kneeled down and flipped the cakes with a pair of tongs. “I admire your optimism.”
“I have to. Otherwise, the pain will eat me alive. I have to have hope.”
“Fine, but if he’d wanted to go, he would’ve by now.”
“What if he is?” It was something Ruth hadn’t considered. “What if he’s back home?”
“Home?”
“Yes. What if he went back home after I left?”
“Honestly, I don’t think you really have a choice but to accept.” Talia flipped the last cake and stood. “But you could also run away. You’ve served your time.”
“Run away?” The idea sounded so ludicrous, she laughed. “How would I do that?”
“It would be easy. Tell Keres you’ll go with the men, then slip away. It should be easy to get away from just three men. You could then go home. Be free. Just wait for a moment of chaos or distraction and just go.”
Ruth sighed and grabbed at her bracelet. The thought was tempting.
Talia’s eyes widened, and her mouth formed a small “O” as she looked past Ruth. Confused, Ruth turned around to find a massive dust cloud barreling toward them, roaring with engines.
“Raiders!” Ruth grabbed Talia’s hand and bolted toward the food truck. “Quick, hide!” Ruth ordered the other women to follow.
Warning horns blasted through the camp, cutting through the engine noise. The camp came alive with Sicarium soldiers rushing out of their tents, armed and ready for battle.
Soon, the engines died. Out of the dust cloud came a large group of men dressed in long, flowing, black desert clothing covered with strings of beads made of bones, fur pelts, and strands of human hair. Black war paint was smeared across their faces and arms in chaotic patterns. Many had shaved heads while others wore tall mohawks. War cries pierced the night as the raiders rushed into the camp like falcons swooping down on their prey.
Ruth picked up the pace, sprinting toward the storage truck. If they could get in, they could close the door and lock themselves inside.
The camp erupted in a cacophony of scuffles, crashes, yells, and clanging of metal on metal. One raider cut Talia and Ruth off. He reached out for Ruth, taking hold of her arm. She tried to pull away, but the man’s fingernails dug into her flesh with ferocity. Pain radiated through her as skin broke.
Talia let out a loud warrior yell. A thick wooden stick crashed down onto the man’s forearms with such swiftness that he cried out in pain and loosened his grip on Ruth just long enough for her to get away. It didn’t take long for the man to regain composure. He lunged after Ruth. Talia swung the stick hard and fast into the man’s face. Blood splattered as he tumbled backward.
“Run!” Talia shouted as she took off again toward the truck.
Ruth ran after her; her feet not moving fast enough. They felt like lead. She pulled her skirt up, freeing her legs from any hindrance, and started into a run. Ruth tripped over something and crashed to the ground, landing face-first. A sharp sting spread from her chin and across her face. She winced, knowing she must’ve cut it open. Talia grabbed Ruth by the arm and pulled her to her feet.
They made it to the truck along with several other women. Ruth jumped in. Behind her, Donovan and a few other Sicarium men were fighting off the Raiders.
Joan pulled the truck door closed and latched it from the inside. Together, the women moved to the back of the truck and huddled together, trembling. Ruth tried to take long, slow breaths and reminded the others to do the same. They needed to stay calm and quiet, so as not to draw attention to the truck.
Outside, more loud screams pierced the night. Ruth squeezed her eyes shut as if closing her eyes would also shut out the cries for help coming from the women beyond the truck. Ruth wanted to go back out there and help, to protect those in danger, but she knew the others would never allow it. They needed to keep themselves safe at this point.
After what felt like eternity, the yelling and clashing of weapons died down while the sound of dune buggies and motor carts thundered until they died out.
“They’re gone,” Talia whispered.
Ruth sucked in a shaky breath as tears sprang to her eyes. They were safe, for now.
“What were those Raiders tinkin’ attackin’ a Sicarium camp?” Joan spat out angrily.
“I don’t think they knew we were Sicarium,” Ruth said. “The men didn’t put up their flags.”
“That or they’re getting bolder,” Talia said. “Those sheretz don’t care about law and order.”
“Neither do the Sicarium,” Joan said.
“Exactly.” Talia threw her hands up. “The world is complete anarchy. It’s everyone for themselves, unless someone can figure out how to bring peace to this godforsaken world.”
The women fell silent. They huddled together, holding onto one another for comfort. Ruth’s throat constricted uncomfortably as she fought back tears.
“Yer wrong, ya know,” Joan whispered, her voice tight as if she were trying to hold back tears. “El Shaddai has not forsaken us. . .” Joan let out a sob. “He can’t have.”
Hope. They all wanted it. Joan found it in El Shaddai. Maybe Ruth could, too. But Talia wasn’t wrong, either. The world was a harsh and unforgiving place. Ruth’s hope and refuge were within her home, with her family, all together as one. That’s where she needed to be, where she belonged.
Read and review my ARC at https://booksirens.com/book/H77UYS2/X...
August 12, 2025
Be transported to a desert land where hope has been taken away. The only way to survive is to follow the rules and keep your head down or is it? That is the question Ruth must tackle. You get to follow Ruth on her journey to discover true freedom.
This exciting book provides unexpected turns and leaves you wanting more.
This exciting book provides unexpected turns and leaves you wanting more.
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