The Song of a Broken Mountain: An Epic Fantasy Adventure Novella of Dwarves, Magic, and Ancient Secrets

by T.R. Simpkins

The Song of a Broken Mountain
A Nythorian Novella

by T. R. Simpkins

Beneath the mountain, stone endures.

But even stone can break.

In the vast dwarven hold of Dûrmhollow, life is simple: work the stone, trust the forge, and never stray beyond the mountain’s embrace. For Bramble, a young dwarf with a love for ale and an easy laugh, and Thistle, a seasoned stonewright with a family to protect, the world has always been measured in tunnels, firelight, and routine.

Until the mountain begins to change.

When the forges falter and ancient shafts grow restless, the king sends the unlikely pair beyond the gates—into a world neither of them truly understands. What begins as a simple task to gather rare magma shades quickly becomes something far more dangerous.

The old roads are waking.

The land remembers what was buried.

And not all things left behind were meant to be found.

As Bramble and Thistle journey further from the safety of Dûrmhollow, they must rely on each other more than ever—because beyond the mountain, the rules are different… and survival is no longer guaranteed.

A character-driven dwarven fantasy filled with rich worldbuilding, humour, and creeping danger, The Song of a Broken Mountain is the first tale in the world of Nythoria.

139 pages, Paperback

First published May 27, 2026

Reviews

[William Lee]

Great little novella. A good back and forth banter between the two main characters. It had a fast pace that kept me hooked. Looking forward to more stories set in this world.

[Paul Fuller]

This a novella book by T.R.Simpkins,and about my two favourite characters from his excellent debut novel,Sisters of Fate.
The story follows the story of two dwarves Thistle and Bramble,and their adventure to save the forge from dying in their home.
I have to say these were my two favourite characters from the main book,and when I heard that there was going to be a Novella following these two characters I was so very pleased.
As with the Sisters of Fate,this is such a well written, beautiful paced story throughout,and you can tell that this was a story T R Simpkins enjoyed writing,plus the love he had for these two dwarves shines through with every single page you read.
There are no faults with this story in any area,it's written with charm,humour,love throughout.
I just hope that one day T.R.Simpkins decides to write a longer story with these two dwarves front and center of the story.
Overall excellent story,well written,great cover,a joy to read.

[Alex McNicholls]

A great Novella featuring our two favourite dwarfs Bramble and Thistle! I love their personalities so much, can’t wait to see more of them!!

[Eli-Marthe]

I thought this was a pretty enjoyable little fantasy novella ✨ The story had an interesting concept with dwarves, magic, and ancient secrets, and I really liked the atmosphere throughout the book. You can definitely tell it’s a very short format, so you don’t get quite as attached to the world and characters as you would in a full fantasy novel, and I would’ve loved a bit more description and a slightly smoother flow in some parts.
That being said, I still think the author managed to fit a lot into a short story, and it worked well as a quick fantasy read 🏔️ There’s definitely potential here, especially for readers who enjoy short adventures with a classic fantasy feel. 4⭐

[Kiran]

Thank you to Tyler for letting me ARC read this novella. It’s a nicely paced, quick read that is full of wholesomeness and adventure. I read this after reading Sisters of Fate, so it was a joy to be reunited with Thistle and Bramble again and to experience more of their amazing personalities. I would say that you can read the novella either before or after Sisters of Fate and still fully appreciate the story.

Overall, it’s a really pleasing read that either sets you up perfectly for the main book or leaves you even more excited for the rest of the series.

[Lucy Brighton]

The Song of a Broken Mountain is an engaging fantasy novella and a worthy addition to the Shadow of Sands series. Following Bramble and Thistle on a perilous mission beyond Durmhollow Mountain, the story combines adventure, humour, magic, and ancient secrets with an accessible writing style. The dual perspectives and well-developed characters add depth, while the fast-paced narrative makes for an enjoyable read. Whether read before or after Sisters of Fate, it serves as an entertaining and rewarding companion story.

[Emma Douglas]

This novella was exactly what I needed after finishing Sisters of Fate. Finding out some more of Thistle and Brambles backstory was awesome and their banter was amazing as it was in the Sisters of Fate. Loved seeing more of them as they are without a doubt my favourite characters within this world. The way Tyler writing really draws you in and makes you fall in love with them and leaves you wanting more. Can’t wait to read more within this incredible world!

[D.G. Torrens]

I recieved an arc copy to read and review. I loved this story. Especially Bramley and Thistle, two loveable and brave dwarfs who are tasked by the King to venture outside the mountain to collect Magma, they desperatley need. Along the way, they meet a wandering dwarf called Hadrim, who warns them against lurking dangers. The characters a wonderfully developed and the story flows well throughout.

[Tracy Herring]

Bramble abd Thistle on a mission to save the forge.Friends by choice but brothers by heart.The mountain is talking but are the dwarves listening.A heartwarming tale fabulous world building and wonderfully written .Another good read from TRSimpkins

[jytang]

What a great novella, I thoroughly enjoyed that journey and I look forward to reading the main novel.

[Christina Blanton]

I received this book as an ARC, from the author. This review contains no spoilers.
It was a very well written novella. I enjoyed the banter between the characters a lot. Although I didn't understand at first, it was easy to enjoy. I believe if I had read other books by T.R Simpkins I would have understood this novella more. But it was good even without fully understanding the story. I am thankful to have had a chance to read this early and I look forward to hopefully reading other works as well.

[D.G. Torrens]

A wonderful short story of two dwarfs, thistle and bramble. They are tasked with an important and brave mission by their King—to venture outside Durmhollow mountain for a couple of days to collect magma. This is a big adventure for these two lovable characters. Along the way they happen upon Hadrim, a wondering dwarf who warns them to be careful of fearful beings on their path. This is well-written, with fantastic characters that I love.

[Laura Squirrel]

Thank you to Tyler for giving me the opportunity you Beta and ARC read this novella.

The Song of a Broken Mountain follows the adventure of Bramble and Thistle that the King sends them on. With them not knowing what to expect, anything could happen.

This novella is a great addition to the Shadow of Sands series. Following two of the character’s before the events of Sister’s of Fate, this story has the same writing style, wittiness and humour, while giving you a gripping story that you don’t want to put down.

I really enjoyed this story because it gave you more of an insight of who Bramble and Thistle are and how they got to be in the main novel. If you choose to read this before the main novel, it would be a great introduction to the world and the writing style. If you were to read it after Sister’s of Fate, I think you’d still enjoy it just as much learning some of the lore behind the character’s.

When I read this, I found that it had a great flow and I really enjoyed the different POVs. I enjoyed the new character’s that were introduced too. Overall, I just thoroughly enjoyed this novella and I would recommend you pick it up and give it a read whether you’ve read the main novel or not. It’s a nice quick read too.