The Land of Broken Roads

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

STUB NOTICE! Volumes 1 and 2 are now only available on Amazon. For audiobook, print, and ebook:Amazon link!This story is now complete. Follow for occasional news and updates about other projects and possibly new novels in this series.The age of Man has come and gone. His bright and glorious works are ruins, his heritage scattered and forgotten. Vicious things now walk his empty halls and hunt his empty streets. Men are few in number and huddled far away on the last weary stretches of land that have not cast them out. Yet new things awaken and old things change. Warmth may still return and light again may shine where doors have long been closed. New feet begin to tread on lost ground and beings more ancient than the sun behold and wonder: Do old mornings dawn again? Do old days return? In the land of broken roads, nothing comes easy. For a boy like Dirt, there is no food but what he can scavenge and no shelter but what he can dig.If he wants to survive, he must find allies in even the most unlikely places, because in a world the wilds have reclaimed, there is no mercy from hungry jaws. Dear reader: This is an adventure story about friendship, courage, and the unrelenting savagery of nature. It'll give you warm fuzzies and nightmares. It takes inspiration from the isekai and reincarnation stories that have become so popular lately, starring a boy with a mysterious, forgotten past who must quickly learn to contend with the supernatural to survive. Chapter names are the book titles and chapter numbers. Any time skips between consecutively-numbered chapters are deliberate. Please also consider reading my complete fantasy trilogy, the Acts of Androkles, still available on Royal Road: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/25012/the-acts-of-androkles

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2023
Author: Ryan English

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.8/ 5.0
Followers: 3,697
Views: 485,817

Chapters(41 total)

What readers say about The Land of Broken Roads

“I'll try to keep this review largely spoiler-free, other than speaking in broad terms about the progression of the story. The Land of Broken Roads is more about mood than plot, although there is a clear sense of direction to the narrative. Planning and an e…”
Andrew B. SalmonRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“TL;DR This story is great. Read it. This story is a real gem. RE has taken the classic 'Boy and his dog' story and flipped it on its head. The characters are real and unique, the world building is achieved through plot progression rather than lore dumps, a…”
ConicleseRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(10)

Andrew B. SalmonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'll try to keep this review largely spoiler-free, other than speaking in broad terms about the progression of the story. The Land of Broken Roads is more about mood than plot, although there is a clear sense of direction to the narrative. Planning and an endgame are apparent as the tale unfolds, but the primary point is to stir up your emotions and to connect you with the majesty and terror of the wilds. I've found the LoBR evocative, surprising, and nostalgic, like coming across an old picture of your otherwise-staid grandparents skydiving.
Unbridled curiosity, exploration of ancient places, unlikely friendships, and horrifying hints of old evils and unresolved regrets--this story has it all. The prose is a joy to read, full of beautiful and visceral imagery while still retaining a sleek and clean style. Generally speaking, it doesn't get bogged down in unimportant explanations, though at times there's some lush description that might seem extraneous. There are no wasted details, however; careful readers will glean information about future plot points, or start to piece together the lore of the world earlier than it's revealed as long as they're paying close attention.
The main character, Dirt, is delightful. Once he gets over the awkward hatchling phase, and no longer makes me worried he's going to die at the slightest goblin sneeze, he's lovely. Charming, jubilant, quick-witted: he embodies the liveliness and freshness of discovering the world through the eyes of a child. I love how simple realities of life take on marvelous new dimensions as he learns and grows. A work of sheer wonder!
If I have any nitpicks, it's that the first several chapters weren't clear to me. I wasn't engaged yet, didn't know why I cared about the boy, and had no investment in the story. They meandered a little, although it's fitting since Dirt didn't know what was going on. I'm so glad that I kept reading, however, because this is one of the true masterworks on Royal Road. By the time y
ConicleseRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
TL;DR This story is great. Read it.
This story is a real gem. RE has taken the classic 'Boy and his dog' story and flipped it on its head. The characters are real and unique, the world building is achieved through plot progression rather than lore dumps, and the plot has a good mix of action, dialogue, and exposition. The often whimsical nature of the world building is offset by real danger and hints of tragedy, hardship, and sorrow.
TLOBR is very much an exploration of its characters and the ways that vastly different beings connect and communicate. The childish innocence of the MC allows him to develop relationships with a variety of fantastic beings, each with their own unique charm. RE's characterization of such beings as the trees and the wind is both wildly inventive and perfectly appropriate. The various characters don't just live in the world, they define it by the myriad ways in which they experience reality.
The magic system(s) in this story are top notch. The ways magic is used by the different races are like different languages, each adapted to the nature of the race that uses it. The magic is well thought out and beautifully described; complex without being convoluted. Magic in RE's world is not a force to be controlled and contained, but an extension of the natural world and the beings that inhabit it.
The icing on the cake that is this story is the phenomenal prose. The author has truly gone above and beyond in his beautiful descriptions of the world, magic, and characters. He manages to convey complex concepts and magical theories with elegance. His handling of the MC's relationship with his best friend is a joy to read.
If I had to give some criticism, it would be that the plot has a tendency to wander. The story is character driven and the MC is an 8 year old boy(sort of), so the plot often follows his childish whims. This is a very minor point because exploring the world through the innocent eyes of a child (and puppy) is part of the unique char
Asimina trilobaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is an oddity on royal road. It's a book with a unique idea and execution. The characters are great and drive the story forward. Dirt, the MC is categorically underpowered as an 8 year old in a world with trees taller than skyscrapers and wolves the size of a cargo plane. He still has a measurable impact on the world, however, and is not free of the consequences of his actions for better or for worse. Overall impressive and can't wait to see more.
Devinzh1997Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story is one of the best I have read in depicting interactions with nonhuman entities. But still making feel real enough to enjoy them as characters.
I feel like it can't be explained without spoiling. I am always exited to read because I just dont know what to expect. Bravo to the Author, and I hope little Dirt gets some more time to grow up before he gets to much more trauma.
DocterMrCat12Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I love this story so much. I come back every 6 months for a reread like I do with all the stories I like and it guts me every time I reach the end. I enjoy every second, totally give it a read and I’ll see y’all in 6 months
ElectroShockRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Really enjoyable read. So far I really like the balance between some really cool world building and the harsh struggle against the environment. The little in jokes around words that he knows but can't remember is hilarious. Can't wait for more exploration of the world and growth of Dirt and Socks.
Fluffy4839Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
TL;DR: The author is getting published and it's evident why within the first few chapters. This book is prime fantasy literature far above the bar for RR. If you enjoy fantasy novels, this is a must read.
Threads the needle between mysterious and believable for an isekai, and not the cop-out "from modern earth" so the author doesn't have to be creative. I'd even say the term isekai is so marred with the self-insert/power fantasy drivel that I wish the author would use another term, like reincarnation, to distance itself. Well and truly the best rendition I've seen yet.
The story itself is fascinating. As others have written, the protagonist is an old soul in a young boy and aware of that. He is both at the same time and the interplay is fantastically written. The juxtaposition in the setting, as well as a method of story telling, is satisfying when it is used.
The world is familiar enough to feel comfortable without struggling to understand concepts, but it tugs at your sense of wonder and discovery. It's an age after Man's dominion has slipped, explored by the children of its past and present, building something together that begins to look like the future.
The characters are well written and each have a drive and sense of self. Men/women and the creatures are all distinct with motivations in line and enjoyable to read. The main character and his companion are everything you would hope for in a story about a boy and his friend discovering a fantasy world. The fact his friend is a wolf the size of a building makes the story all the more evocative by their semi-disparate points of view.
The grammar meets the high bar of what you would expect of a novel pulled from a library.
If you've made it this far you either have already read the novel and are doing a victory lap to confirm your brilliance, or you spent too much time reading my review. You're committed. Go read the first three chapters and don't come complaining to me when you fall headfirst into this beautiful s
David_ZeitRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is my first review on this site.
I did not want to read this novel because of the cover which moved something inside of me I did not want to think about. Am I glad I did start though even if I need to pause sometimes and calm down.
You, my dear writer, are telling a wonderful story. I am looking foreward to "watching" Dirt and Socks expiriencce more of your world.
Thank you
HideLordRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Just finished reading the first novel, and I'm quite impressed. The world-building is stellar and the characters are endearing. The grammar and spelling are also good enough, that I did not notice any mistakes while reading, except maybe a typo or two.
I especially enjoyed the fight scenes -- they felt dynamic and I never lost track of what is happening.
Infinite42Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Wow the story is so engaging and the world already feels rich and interesting. I'm excited to keep reading. The setting and characters so far are distinct and every chapter is starting to bring answers and new questions in a masterful way.
It'll be one of the fictions I follow.