Severing Chains

by P.C. Darkcliff

She stole bread to survive. Now the emperor wants her dead.

Elion lives in a barn, stealing to feed her younger brother – until she’s caught and forced to serve the empire that murdered her parents. Her mission: hunt down illegal mages hiding in the city.

Then she realizes she’s one of them.

And that the Summoner she targets is bound to something impossible – a dragon trapped in a cat’s body, which becomes a spiked, winged monster when angered.

The encounter pulls Elion into a brutal class war. She throws her lot with rebels she doesn’t truly trust – and draws the attention of His Divine Highness.

Emperor Agaton has ruled for centuries by bathing in the blood of the innocent. No one has ever been able to kill him. But he is not beyond reach.

Somewhere, hidden in plain sight, lies the one weakness that can destroy him.

Finding it will cost Elion everything. Using it may turn her into something far worse than the tyrant she fights.

ebook

Expected publication December 31, 2026

About the author

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I started my fiction career in kindergarten when 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 writing fantasy. That evolved into a lifelong passion, resulting in over ten books and three writing awards.

Apart from publishing two standalone novels and a historical fantasy trilogy, I have fulfilled my childhood dream and completed two epic fantasy series, The Magic Circle and Shattered Empire.

My stories have appeared in numerous publications, and "A Poisoned Gift" received an Honorable Mention in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest. I am Spillwords Author of the Year 2020.

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.

Reviews

[Jim Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Summoner Horum uses his magic to free six prisoners from a hanging in the town center and then escapes on his dragon Ferox, the stage is set for a rip-roaring adventure, and what an entertaining reading experience it is. Horum is committed to leading a rebellion against the evil emperor Agaton. The man is a malicious tyrant, but he’s been in power for four centuries and has many followers, so going up against him is challenging to say the least. Along the way, reluctant thief Elion and her brother Padam along with a former servant girl Neyre join Horum and the rebels. The book kicks into high gear and the story becomes filled with an interesting cast of characters, some you love, others you hate. One is Rezail, the son of the emperor Agaton, who is beginning to have serious doubts about his sadistic father. What I like about PC Darkcliff and his books (and this one is no exception) is that he delves deep into his main characters. You learn about their passions, what makes them tick, and the motivations behind their actions. This gives the book heart and soul and makes for compelling reading. The last half of the book is an edge of your seat page turning thrill ride that I had trouble putting down. “Severing Chains” is the beginning of a trilogy and I’m glad for that. This one’s a winner on all fronts and I’m looking forward to the next two books with a high degree of anticipation. Highly recommended.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Severing Chains opens like a blade sliding free of its sheath—quiet, sharp, and full of promise. The book builds a world where oppression is not just political but spiritual, and every character carries scars that shape their choices. The story follows a character who has been shaped by captivity, trauma, and the constant pressure to obey, and the book’s power lies in watching that obedience crack. The book blends dark fantasy, tension, and emotional grit as the hero confronts the forces that forged their chains in the first place. The pacing is tight, the atmosphere heavy with dread, and the moments of defiance hit with real force. This is a story about reclaiming identity in a world determined to erase it—raw, intense, and threaded with the stubborn spark of hope that refuses to die.