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Broken - A Novella
Michael Samson is no stranger to adversity.
His life has been marked only by the deaths of those he loved; depression has consumed him and made him a shell of his former self. When he awakes on a sinking ship - with no idea of how he'd gotten there - Michael is forced to face his own mortality.
A barren beach, a mysterious and peculiar young woman, a crumbling house on the rocks...
Michael washes up on the shore of an empty, forgotten island, soon realizing he's alone except for Essa, the strange young woman he finds wandering the fringes of the jungle. Although she appears to mean him no harm, Michael is wary of her presence and her motives. Still, he follows her, knowing if there is any chance of escape, it will be by her side.
Michael's journey begins on the ship, but takes us much deeper into the mind of a man whose past has led him to this moment. Where is Essa taking him, and how have the monsters inside Michael's head suddenly come alive to chase him through this waking nightmare?
Some choices mean everything.
What happens to the broken?
His life has been marked only by the deaths of those he loved; depression has consumed him and made him a shell of his former self. When he awakes on a sinking ship - with no idea of how he'd gotten there - Michael is forced to face his own mortality.
A barren beach, a mysterious and peculiar young woman, a crumbling house on the rocks...
Michael washes up on the shore of an empty, forgotten island, soon realizing he's alone except for Essa, the strange young woman he finds wandering the fringes of the jungle. Although she appears to mean him no harm, Michael is wary of her presence and her motives. Still, he follows her, knowing if there is any chance of escape, it will be by her side.
Michael's journey begins on the ship, but takes us much deeper into the mind of a man whose past has led him to this moment. Where is Essa taking him, and how have the monsters inside Michael's head suddenly come alive to chase him through this waking nightmare?
Some choices mean everything.
What happens to the broken?
79 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2017
8 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Motz
17 books51 followersChristopher Motz grew up on a steady diet of horror and science fiction from some of the genres heavyweights: Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, Richard Laymon, William Hope Hodgson, Ray Bradbury, and Peter Straub. From a young age, Christopher was an avid reader and always had the goal to one day publish his own work.
His debut novel, “The Darkening,” marks the beginning of a journey that has been years in the making, but it’s only one step forward. The joy in writing is not knowing exactly where the journey will take you, where your characters will lead you, or how it’ll all turn out in the end.
This author’s story has yet to be written.
Christopher grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, and his work mirrors that way of life. His work is peppered with his own memories of growing up, the friends he had, the places he has seen. It makes for a very authentic atmosphere in his stories and creates a touchstone for others who have similar memories of their childhood.
While he spends most of his time writing, Christopher still finds time to read his favorite authors, along with up-and-comers in a variety of genres. “The best way to become a good writer is to become a good reader.”
Outside of writing, Christopher is an avid collector of classic rock and heavy metal records, and for the past twenty years has been a drummer in a variety of different bands. In 2011 he married his High School sweetheart, and with his step-daughter and dog, Oy, has started a new chapter of his small-town story.
His debut novel, “The Darkening,” marks the beginning of a journey that has been years in the making, but it’s only one step forward. The joy in writing is not knowing exactly where the journey will take you, where your characters will lead you, or how it’ll all turn out in the end.
This author’s story has yet to be written.
Christopher grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, and his work mirrors that way of life. His work is peppered with his own memories of growing up, the friends he had, the places he has seen. It makes for a very authentic atmosphere in his stories and creates a touchstone for others who have similar memories of their childhood.
While he spends most of his time writing, Christopher still finds time to read his favorite authors, along with up-and-comers in a variety of genres. “The best way to become a good writer is to become a good reader.”
Outside of writing, Christopher is an avid collector of classic rock and heavy metal records, and for the past twenty years has been a drummer in a variety of different bands. In 2011 he married his High School sweetheart, and with his step-daughter and dog, Oy, has started a new chapter of his small-town story.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 16, 2025
Wow...just wow! This was a very powerful, intimate horror experience. Now I've made no secret in divulging that I grew up in a very abusive environment, riddled with abusive relatives, teachers, religious figures, and on top of the pile was my nasty, manipulative, alcoholic father. And some of the experiences really took me down some dark paths. Self harm, suicidal ideations, alcohol abuse and self-medicating, and all sorts of really challenging issues that I still carry with me to this day. When I was developing my Preternatural trilogy, I did so using mental health as a primary undertone for everything in each book. Each characters, the dynamics between them all, the situations, outcomes, etc all have direct parallels to mental health difficulties and eventual recovery. Some people enjoyed this aspect of my trilogy, while others not so much. I'm prefacing my review with all of this because it's not often that I give 5-star ratings. But Christopher Motz really hit something special here. We take a spiritual journey with the main character, Michael, as he revisits his traumas, depression, and tries to finally forgive himself to be able to move forward with his existence. I don't want to give much more away than that, but the story is chock full of creatures, spooky scenery, and unsettling visuals. However, it all has deep meaning to his personal story. And as this novella goes on, we learn more and more about the terrible things Michael has experienced and why he has chosen a certain path with his life. Your heart goes out to him and you hope so much that he finds his peace. He deserved it. And Motz has a very lovely afterward that gives some background on the tale, including some personal details about himself. And an author who writes a story like this, especially so perfectly, can only do so when they have that lived experience needed to capture all of the right emotions. I applaud Christopher Motz and appreciate his talents so very much. It really means a lot to me personally and professionally when I see like-minded colleagues out there like this doing such great work.
June 17, 2019
A depressed man seems to be stranded on an island after his ship has sunk and follows a mysterious woman named Essa. This is a very philosophical novella with Michael living in the past seeing no new future for him. Essa tries to refocus him on life, lead him away from the demons of the past who claim him. Why is Michael missing a part of his left arm and some part of his foot? What is happending in this strange dreamlike surrounding? Who is Essa actually? This is an excellent page turning story shifting perspectives between the past, dreams and the here and now. Strong symbols, strong storytelling and very well written (also many autobiographic detaily added). I think everyone can get something out of this book. It's a great read, with many eerie passages. But the most eeriest part is life itself. Absolutely recommended!
June 12, 2023
A dark and captivating tale with many layers.
I loved the strange journey this story took me on and fully appreciated how it all came together at the end.
A quick read and 'Real' Horror fans are in for a treat here!
I am looking forward to reading more of this author's work.
I loved the strange journey this story took me on and fully appreciated how it all came together at the end.
A quick read and 'Real' Horror fans are in for a treat here!
I am looking forward to reading more of this author's work.
September 12, 2019
A different horror
A very different kind of horror tale, this one deals in the black and white of death and loss. This tale is well-written, the imagery intense and the two storylines kept me guessing and wanting more. Just be prepared for the emotional toll this story will take.
A very different kind of horror tale, this one deals in the black and white of death and loss. This tale is well-written, the imagery intense and the two storylines kept me guessing and wanting more. Just be prepared for the emotional toll this story will take.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews