What do you think?
Rate this book
The Hero's Fall: A Chronicle of Valsavia and Almária
The Guard Serves The Emperor and The Empire to The GatesValan Doekstava grew up determined to follow his father’s path in the Valsavian Imperial Guard. His life is everything he dreamed it could be. He’s a masterful swordsman and a natural leader. He’s supported by his loving parents. He’s a rising star in The Guard, and those around him see him as a future Gran Brivvat – the supreme leader of The Imperial Guard and the third most powerful figure in Valsavia.
As a naturally empathetic man, Doekstava has always fallen back on The Guard’s creed as his moral compass when his strong personal ethics might clash with his orders. This serves him well until a horrific battle shakes his faith in both himself, and the mission of The Guard.
Named a “Hero of The Empire” in a victory that saw most of his valanx destroyed, newly promoted Comitat Doekstava finds himself in the subjugated Almárian kingdom of V’tintin.
Wise in the tactics of battle but naïve in the ways of politics, Doekstava’s sympathy for the subjugated Almárians soon leads to disagreements with the Valsavian overseers The Guard is sworn to aid and protect. Little does he know that the consequences of this conflict — for both himself and The Empire — are far more devastating than anyone could possibly imagine.
As a naturally empathetic man, Doekstava has always fallen back on The Guard’s creed as his moral compass when his strong personal ethics might clash with his orders. This serves him well until a horrific battle shakes his faith in both himself, and the mission of The Guard.
Named a “Hero of The Empire” in a victory that saw most of his valanx destroyed, newly promoted Comitat Doekstava finds himself in the subjugated Almárian kingdom of V’tintin.
Wise in the tactics of battle but naïve in the ways of politics, Doekstava’s sympathy for the subjugated Almárians soon leads to disagreements with the Valsavian overseers The Guard is sworn to aid and protect. Little does he know that the consequences of this conflict — for both himself and The Empire — are far more devastating than anyone could possibly imagine.
296 pages, Paperback
Published May 4, 2025
1 person is currently reading
635 people want to read
About the author
Kirt Winter
1 book6 followersKirt Winter spent more than thirty years in various engineering capacities in both big companies and startups. An avid history buff, sports photographer, woodworker and serial hobbyist, Kirt is driven by his love of learning and passion for creation. As a youth he was captivated by the stories of Anne McCaffrey, Michael Moorcock, Arther C. Clarke and Issac Asimov. Today, while still pursuing various engineering projects, he hopes his writing inspires a new generation that needs heroes more than ever.
Get signed copies here!
Email me.
For those of you out there hustling on the marketing end of books, I'm not trying to disrespect what you do, but I think it's unethical to pay for reviews, so if that's your game, please don't ask.
Get signed copies here!
Email me.
For those of you out there hustling on the marketing end of books, I'm not trying to disrespect what you do, but I think it's unethical to pay for reviews, so if that's your game, please don't ask.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 7, 2025
it’s a moving exploration of loyalty, conscience, and the cost of honor. Valan Doekstava begins as the perfect soldier disciplined, noble, and deeply devoted to his empire. But when duty clashes with morality, his journey becomes one of heartbreaking transformation.
Winter’s storytelling is vivid and immersive, filled with the grandeur of battle and the quiet devastation of doubt. You feel every conflict within Doekstava his pride, his guilt, and his desperate search for redemption in a world that demands obedience over compassion.
The political tension and emotional depth make this story unforgettable. It’s not just about empires and wars, it’s about the human soul caught between right and duty.
A haunting, beautifully written tale that will stay with you long after the final page perfect for readers who love morally complex heroes and richly crafted worlds.
Winter’s storytelling is vivid and immersive, filled with the grandeur of battle and the quiet devastation of doubt. You feel every conflict within Doekstava his pride, his guilt, and his desperate search for redemption in a world that demands obedience over compassion.
The political tension and emotional depth make this story unforgettable. It’s not just about empires and wars, it’s about the human soul caught between right and duty.
A haunting, beautifully written tale that will stay with you long after the final page perfect for readers who love morally complex heroes and richly crafted worlds.
February 7, 2026
A great read overall
This definitely took me a little to get into but once I did, it was a great book. The story has been put together and thought about thoroughly which made the read even better. Definitely be watching for more from this author in the future. Well done.
This definitely took me a little to get into but once I did, it was a great book. The story has been put together and thought about thoroughly which made the read even better. Definitely be watching for more from this author in the future. Well done.
November 27, 2025
My interest grew from the start. Valan Doekstava begins as everything a hero should be skilled, loyal, honorable, and full of promise and watching his world slowly crack was both painful and powerful. I really felt his inner struggle as duty, empathy, and politics all collided in ways he never saw coming.
What hit me the hardest was how real his choices felt. Nothing was easy, nothing was clean, and every decision carried weight. The shift from celebrated hero to a man questioning everything he believes in was emotional and gripping. The political tension, the heartbreak of war, and the quiet moments of doubt all felt so human.
This isn’t just a story about swords and empires, it’s about conscience, consequences, and what it truly costs to stand for what’s right. Thought provoking, intense, and surprisingly moving. I closed this book with a heavy heart in the best way.
What hit me the hardest was how real his choices felt. Nothing was easy, nothing was clean, and every decision carried weight. The shift from celebrated hero to a man questioning everything he believes in was emotional and gripping. The political tension, the heartbreak of war, and the quiet moments of doubt all felt so human.
This isn’t just a story about swords and empires, it’s about conscience, consequences, and what it truly costs to stand for what’s right. Thought provoking, intense, and surprisingly moving. I closed this book with a heavy heart in the best way.
November 27, 2025
This story surprised me in the best way. I went in expecting a classic rise of a hero fantasy, but what I got was something much deeper and more heartbreaking. Valan starts off with everything honor, skill, respect, a future full of promise and watching that slowly unravel was intense and honestly painful at times.
What really stayed with me is how human his struggle felt. His compassion becomes both his strength and his undoing, and the clash between duty and conscience is handled so powerfully. The politics, the moral tension, the cost of war it all felt heavy and real.
This is the kind of book that makes you stop and think about what “hero” really means. It’s emotional, gripping, and quietly devastating in places. If you love character driven fantasy that doesn’t shy away from hard truths, this one truly hits home.
What really stayed with me is how human his struggle felt. His compassion becomes both his strength and his undoing, and the clash between duty and conscience is handled so powerfully. The politics, the moral tension, the cost of war it all felt heavy and real.
This is the kind of book that makes you stop and think about what “hero” really means. It’s emotional, gripping, and quietly devastating in places. If you love character driven fantasy that doesn’t shy away from hard truths, this one truly hits home.
May 31, 2025
This is a story that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go until the last. The world of the Valsavian Empire is richly imagined from the geography, through the culture, all the way to the operations and traditions of the Guard. Doekstava, the main character is everything you could wish for in a hero. He's humble, caring, dedicated, loyal, and the best fighter one could imagine.
Without giving anything away I can say that the plot unfolds in a satisfying yet unpredictable manner. When I finished the book I was left wanting more details about the future life of this remarkable character.
Highly recommended.
Without giving anything away I can say that the plot unfolds in a satisfying yet unpredictable manner. When I finished the book I was left wanting more details about the future life of this remarkable character.
Highly recommended.
January 2, 2026
So this one is a slow burn in the best way. After a brief opening battle with traitorous savages, we skip ahead to deal with our hero, Doekstava, and his seemingly mundane problems in an established province. This book actually takes the time to build up the main character and his relationships. All while sowing the seeds of the grander plot. Almost to a fault, but I liked it.
The most terrifying “battle” early on: When our hero returns home to deal with his mother. Said mother, is quite a character in her own right. The first "real" danger about a third of the way in is a mine collapse. One that ties into the building plot quite well.
Not going to give away any more tidbits. This is a well-written start to what could be a whole series of adventures. Just don’t expect nonstop action. Some might find the pacing slow, but I for one thought it was fantastic. Just go in knowing that, and you can decide for yourself.
The most terrifying “battle” early on: When our hero returns home to deal with his mother. Said mother, is quite a character in her own right. The first "real" danger about a third of the way in is a mine collapse. One that ties into the building plot quite well.
Not going to give away any more tidbits. This is a well-written start to what could be a whole series of adventures. Just don’t expect nonstop action. Some might find the pacing slow, but I for one thought it was fantastic. Just go in knowing that, and you can decide for yourself.
December 4, 2025
The Hero’s Fall by Kirt Winter is a powerful novel that blends the emotional intensity of character-driven storytelling with the grandeur of epic fantasy. Valan Doekstava emerges as a deeply relatable protagonist, shaped by honor yet haunted by the consequences of war.
The battle that earns him the title “Hero of the Empire” is both triumphant and tragic, setting the stage for the profound moral struggles he faces in V’tintin. As he meets the subjugated Almárians and begins to confront uncomfortable truths about the empire he serves, the story becomes even richer, more layered, and impossible to put down.
This is the kind of book that will appeal to readers who appreciate introspective heroes, political tension, and stories that challenge the idea of what it truly means to be honorable. I wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of thoughtful, emotionally resonant fantasy.
The battle that earns him the title “Hero of the Empire” is both triumphant and tragic, setting the stage for the profound moral struggles he faces in V’tintin. As he meets the subjugated Almárians and begins to confront uncomfortable truths about the empire he serves, the story becomes even richer, more layered, and impossible to put down.
This is the kind of book that will appeal to readers who appreciate introspective heroes, political tension, and stories that challenge the idea of what it truly means to be honorable. I wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of thoughtful, emotionally resonant fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews