Broken Promises

by Evelyn Chartres

When capture or surrender means that your life is forfeit, failure is not an option. A young lady and her lord arrive in the New World with the promise of stability and an expanse of land to claim as their own. Surrounded by the beauty of the Appalachians, they count themselves amongst the blessed. When the colony's Governor General is recalled to Europe, rumours spread like wildfire that conflict is just over the horizon. The prosperous peace that brought them here is suddenly in danger of collapse. What does this mean for the lady of the house? When tensions escalate, she finds herself isolated from all that is familiar. Desperate to survive, alone in the dark, and in a world unspoiled by the greed of men, what can she do? Despite insurmountable odds, this young woman must risk traversing unfamiliar and hostile territory to find help. As you read, be sure to When capture or surrender means that your life is forfeit, failure is not an option.

43 pages, Paperback

Published May 19, 2021

About the author

Evelyn Chartres is the nom de plume for a self-published, Canadian author. The writer of nine Gothic fantasy novels, Evelyn released her debut novel, The Portrait, in 2016, and her latest, Man of War, in 2024.

A fan of the phrase ‘live to eat’, Evelyn shares her recipes on evelynchartres.com. These recipes have a loose focus on French-Canadian cuisine, featuring deep-dish meat pies, seafood, and desserts that are rarely seen outside of La Belle Province.

Evelyn is currently living in Ottawa, Ontario, and is busy laying the foundations of another book in the Adventures of Clara Grey series.

Reviews

[Madelon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Broken Promises" is a gothic tale that seems to be set somewhere in the Americas during colonial times. A young woman is instructed by her 'lord' to run as her rooms begin to glow yellow after a window breaks. She seems to then be chased by Native American men armed with bows and arrows.

My first thought was this unnamed woman being chased through the woods and down a raging body of water, complete with waterfall, was an overblown attempt at historical fiction portraying the evil red Indian on the warpath. As I read more, I was disabused of this notion when the tale took a speculative turn. There are several clues to this young woman's true nature cleverly placed throughout the tale that make you question her reality.

Fans of gothic horror fiction will find this story to their liking… as did I.

[KaylaSH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evelyn’s short story Broken Promises opens with an intense scene sharing the main character's shock and fear of the situation. The author employs powerful use of descriptions showing what the MC is sensing during her pursuit. I can hear, see, and feel every moment and experience she does every step of the way. The character, a young woman, is never named, making the story feel that much closer to the reader. The intensity continues all during her flight and pursuit as she struggles to escape all while piecing together what had happened to her via the memories buried in her dreams.

The timeframe of the story also isn’t given, but through setting and details about the character’s pursuers it feels like pre- or early industrial revolution. Evelyn expertly avoids making any direct judgments about either the character or her pursuers, letting the reader decide for themselves as the story progresses. Is the young woman a blameless victim? Are her pursuers just in their actions? What was the promise, and from whom did she break it?

Broken Promises is a fast paced read that fits nicely in her growing world of gothic stories. I enjoyed and gladly recommend it.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly confusing but Left wanting more

Nicely descriptive. The beginning had some parts that were a little confusing I think but I was able to follow enough. Personally I think it would have been better if it were longer and a bit more devloped. Overall it was a nice quick read

[Sahreth Bowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Broken Promises’ is a gothic short story following a young woman fleeing a group of unknown assailants who have presumably killed her lord/husband. It appears to be set in colonial war times, judging by the use of arrows, tomahawks, horses, and the mention of soldiers.

With her lord’s voice in her head, pressuring her to keep going, she perseveres through the dark of night, hounds on her tail, persistent paranoia, and deathly wounds. During her escape, she fades in and out, allowing the reader to peer into her past and pick up clues that might make the high intensity situation we were thrown into from the get-go make more sense. It also seems that there are entities attempting to communicate with her in these nightmares and recollections.

Y’all should know by know that Evelyn Chartres is one of my favorite authors. I love her writing style and the unique twists and perspectives she writes. If you’ve been unsure about whether to read her or not, this short along with the ‘Come Hell or High Water’ short are great peeks into her work.

[Carin Camen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deceptively Thrilling

Evelyn Chartres deceptively leads you into a thrilling chase, with beautiful descriptive writing, which mirrors classic literary style. As you're immersed into the main character, willing her to be victorious, Chartres brilliantly causes a gasp to escape your lips as she cackles in glee of being able to once again deceive you.

For all those who enjoy Chartes writing, Broken Promises will be at the top of your favorites. It's a quick and enjoyable read which leaves you screaming for Chartres to extend this story into a full length novel.

[Mirella Ivanova · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book 30 of 2023

I get that it is a short story but there was little to no sense in this book. Its not stated when or where the story happens, nor who is the MC and why the heck is she running for her life...

I did like the writing style but I just felt like I'm reading through a honeycomb - plot hole next to plot hole, next to plot hole.

[W.A. Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little short story with a twist.