Sometimes the most dangerous thing in the universe is a man with nothing left to lose...
Thomas Knight is a professional photographer struggling to cope with the tragic death of his wife. Drawn into the heart of an ancient prophecy involving a legendary sword and a mysterious vintage camera, he suddenly finds himself transported to a medieval world beyond his imagination.
The last of the Verðldian kingdoms is about to be destroyed by an unspeakable evil, and if they fall, Earth will be next. With the fate of two worlds at stake, Thomas embarks upon a quest to oppose something believed to be unstoppable, guided only by a cryptic rhyme, a talking cat, a warrior princess, and her pop culture obsessed brother.
Fast paced and full of surprises and quirky characters, The Warrior With Broken Wings is an epic tale that will make you believe in magic, redemption, and the power of destiny.
The Warrior With Broken Wings by Thorsten Brandl is a fantasy novel about Thomas Knight, a photographer who’s suffered much loss that has left him broken. During a trip to Japan, he happens upon a shrine where the monks give him a blade. As he goes to take a picture with a camera his cousin bequeathed him at his passing Thomas finds himself transported into a world on the brink of destruction. Here he learns there is a prophecy that a hero would come to save them, and it’s believed he’s that very soul. With his newfound friends, and his magical blade they embark on a quest to find a way to save the last city of the realm from falling into evil forces.
This book has some great world-building, it’s a beautiful place with some rich history. There are great characters to fill it like Phoenix the talking cat who comes armed with sass, Ylja the tough captain of the guard, and Sæla her brother who is hung up on 80’s pop culture. There’s great humor, which I always appreciate in a book, Sæla had me grinning. We see the scary side of corporations when they have too much power. It makes for a great unorthodox villain unit in a fantasy setting. There’s also some great use of time travel.
The book does not start out with a description of the main character so readers will get to know his personality before finding out his appearance. I would have liked it made clear from when we learn Ylja was the king’s daughter that Sæla is her brother instead of figuring it out from an offhand comment. The character relationship building is slow, much like real people would interact. It can handle be expected that when someone transports to a new world they are instantly friends with people they encounter. This gave the writing an authentic feel as readers watch as they became great friends and bonded.
The Warrior With Broken Wings is a great work of fantasy, it has everything a good fantasy novel should have: talking animals, time travel, 80’s hits being blared from speakers during the big battle. If you’re seeking a unique fantasy this book is the one for you.
This book has an interesting concept and the author does an excellent job of telling the story. It made for a wonderful read. The characters are well developed and the landscapes are described so well I can picture them in my mind.
I don’t know exactly why I chose to read this book, but I’m so happy I did. It’s superb. The “hero” is a photographer and he is as human as it is possible to be. His journey is long and at the end... well you need to read this.
I enjoyed the story line, and the characters. It was quite an interesting take on saving humanity with good action and interesting dialogue to keep it fun.
This is the tale of an ordinary guy who is destined to save two worlds, if he is willing to pay a terrible price . The book has a great nostalgic|oldschool feel, there are so many references to 80s and 90s pop culture (of which I am certain I only caught a few), an awesome soundtrack and an EPIC battle at the end. Oh, and yes, there's also a feisty princess, a talking cat and a coyote in it. Loved Will, he was most likely a Ferengi in his former life. It's one of those books that gets better page by page.
This is the story of an average man being thrust into an epic adventure to find his way back to the light in many ways.
There is magic, time travel, quantum physics, talking cats, and charismatic coyotes. The plot is very complex and I love how the story comes full circle.
There is also a pinch of romance. However, the story didn’t really need it. There was so much awesome adventure going I didn’t feel there was time to properly develop and express emotions. It felt a little like insta-love and I’m not a fan of such love stories.
PS I wanted more Phoenix. 🐱 Don’t tell the other characters, but he was my favorite.
Characters were very easy to embrace and just loved Phoenix.. I always knew a talking cat would be sarcastic! And it is not often that I truly get surprised a twist. I won't be a spoiler but keep you eye on that cat!
I recently completed this book and wow. I wasn’t expecting that ending but it was well done and a satisfying one at best. This is an urban fantasy that was written in 2018 and it has far exceeded my expectations in spite of having read The Palladium prior.
The protagonist in this story encompasses all the heroic traits I believe a true warrior, with human limitations, should possess. Again, I like that the author uses an ordinary person and turns him into someone exemplary with each challenge and turn of events. It’s narrated in first person and is the eye into the depths our hero’s character and world, whose fate is uncertain yet he is determined to fulfill his quest. I appreciated the clean subtle romance that tied into but did not overwhelm the overall storyline. The dialogue between characters, especially the feline supporting sidekick (or rather “side-scratch”) was highly entertaining and a barrel of laughs. The opinions expressed by the warrior regarding modern music had me tear up; the humor was very endearing. Also, there are nougats of wisdom and truth riddled throughout the chapters that are at the heart of this book and the prophetic epic poem had a nice ring to it.
Although it’s not part of a series, it does connect loosely to the Palladium and share the same themes of time travel, Greek mythology, retro vibe 80’s nostalgia, and of course, lovable pets! I found it all charming and enjoyed the adventure, couldn’t ask for a better mix. I will always without hesitation recommend this title.
I’m making an attempt to read books that I’ve had in my TBR stack for awhile. I purchased this in 2021. I started reading it last night and although I find the writing excellent, it didn’t seem like a paranormal story. But! there is a reptilian eye on the cover and the words “broken wings” in the title so I figured it must be; I just haven’t read enough to enter the supernatural realm.
The everyman being thrust into a fantastical situation he is in no way prepared for reminded me of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.
It’s eventually revealed that Ævi created seven worlds for his offspring. Taka was given earth. It appears he wants to annihilate the other worlds. I assume he already has dominium on earth via the Chade Corporation. If Taka destroys all of the worlds, including earth, what will he gain? There won’t be anything left to dominate.
Sæla definitely fits the bill for comic relief. I confess I don’t get most of the eighties references. It was just too long ago.
I believe early in the story that Thomas speculated that the Myrkr were mindless and must be being controlled. Is Taka the puppet master?
I did get a bit confused at the time travel with characters dying and coming back to life near the end. I even went so far as to re-read several pages to try and grasp what was going on without a whole lot of success. The beings somehow related to the necklace were also a stretch for me. I was surrounded by people chatting in a waiting room so that may have contributed to my inability to concentrate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The Warrior With Broken Wings will take you on a journey where travel between worlds can happen in a blink of an eye. This story will transport you to a world of dragons, a little magic, and true love. I read a lot of books, and sometimes the storylines can all seem quite similar, but this author has a great vision and makes his story come alive through the pages. This is a great stand alone book, but was written after Thomson Brandl's first offering, The Palladium. While the two books are not meant to be sequential, they could be. I am looking forward to reading future books from this budding author.
This is the first book I have read in a long time that grabbed my mind and heart from the very beginning and would not let me put it down except to eat and sleep and even then I read while I ate and slept very little. It is the most fantastic book to have read. I would give the author a billion kudos for his imagination and perseverance in writing this book. Thank You So Much!!!!!!!!
4.5 stars! This was a solid, interesting and well-paced story. I didn’t personally connect with the characters as much, but really enjoyed the second half of the book. The pop culture references sprinkled throughout were great. I also had a few laugh out loud moments 🙂
This is an awesome idea and story! Magic, love, hate, good, evil, and best of all, A hero that is humble! I loved this story! I do not usually leave a review, but this one was exceptional!
I admit that I read his second book first. However that did not ruin anything as the second book ends where the first book begins. I did become invested in the characters to some extent and found the mythology that was created to be interesting. I am in my forties. But this is certainly doable for younger ages as well. Middle to high school and really anyone who enjoys fantasy or who has wished that the world they're in isn't the only one that there is.
I quite enjoyed reading this story. Brilliant characters and full of humorous moments. I loved the way the present time on earth was referred to in appropriate occasion s. Worth the read, I look forward to the next book. 💜
It seemed as if the story couldn't quite stay on task. Inconsistent character behavior, as well. I gave up at around 72%. I appear to be in the minority , so who knows? Maybe it gets better.