Broken Arrow

Darkened Destiny Saga #1

by Azaria M.J. Durant

Ealdred is the son of no one. A half-breed slave. Born to serve.

And yet magic lives within him.

When a freak accident reveals his powers to the world, Ealdred is forced to flee for his life, only to fall into the hands of the dark sorcerer, Zeldek. Suddenly, he is thrown into a world he never knew existed. The legends are real, the Vaelhyreans of old exist, and Ealdred must choose between death and service to Zeldek.

But when he meets Bellator, beautiful and treacherous servant of Zeldek, a new choice is presented to him: to escape from Zeldek’s stronghold and embark on a quest to find the cursed arrow of his ancestors and free the Vaelhyreans from the spell that holds their powers captive.

Yet how can he survive in a world where magic is illegal, half-breeds are despised, and nothing is as it seems?

Genres: Fantasy

463 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2018

About the author

Azaria M.J. Durant is an award winning writer of YA epic fantasy. Her book Broken Arrow won finalist in the Young Adult Fiction category in the 2019 Book Excellence Awards.
She writes for the thrill of it and for the love of literature. Azaria enjoys humour, realism, and good stories with vastly detailed worlds and solid characters. When not writing, she enjoys doing forms of art, be it sketching concept art for her characters or participating in community theatre.

Connect with Azaria!

Facebook:
Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/hermajestymj/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HerMajestyMJ
Blog: http://www.azariamjdurant.com/

Reviews

[Azaria Durant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken Arrow was my project and passion between the ages of 14 and 19, and I put basically all of my struggles into it. The story and characters were very real to me, and I enjoyed writing every word. What I want most for my reader (you) as you enter the magical, epic, and dangerous world of Theara is that you are immersed in it and it can be as real to you as it was for me. I hope that the characters stick with you for a long time.
But I already know you will enjoy it. Because it's a great book.
So go read it.
Please ;)

[Amanda Kern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

This is an awesome book. I can't wait till the next one. I read this book as unlimited and ended up following the author and actually buyi n the book. Please try it out.

[anie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received from Xpresso Book Tours

Broken Arrow describes such a rich fantasy world. I especially love the mix of political and magical system, it's very vast and interesting. I love reading a fantasy book with thought out setting.

Ealdred is just a boy living a very hard life. Sold as a slave from a very young age and is constantly beaten and yelled at. No matter the amount of abuse, he stayed good on the inside. After particularly hard punishment, something magical happens and he has to run. This is a world where magic has become a myth. On the run gets captured and thrown in the middle of an ancient power struggle. And he just might be the most important part.

The world building is amazing, I felt like I was really there, in the middle of the action. The writing is good, but the pace is a bit off at times.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn into Broken Arrow immediately, from the first page. The writing is really intriguing, and I just wanted to know what was happening. I read this book in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. I’m really impressed with Azaria M. J. Durant’s ability to create captivating characters and beautiful descriptions.

There are twists and turns at every corner. It was fast paced, and even with some more complex character names, each character felt real. I never found myself lost or trying to figure out who was who.

I’m a huge fantasy fan when it is done correctly, and Broken Arrow was done correctly. I highly recommend checking this one out!

* I recieved a copy of this book as part of a blog tour. All opinions are my own.*

[Destiny Bridwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. The pacing of this tale kept me turning the pages from page one until I closed the back cover a couple of hours later. I loved the world building and how the characters pulled you along on their journey. I sometimes have an issue with some fantasy. But I found all the answers I needed and the tale was put together very well. The POVs of the characters are sharp and clear. This makes it very easy to follow the story and who's voice is telling this part of the story. I enjoyed it and can't wait to see what come in the next one. 

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Broken Arrow” by Azaria M.J. Durant is a high-speed adventure with twists at every turn; this book was a superb read. I could hardly put the book down! When Ealdred is captured by the vile Zeldrek, he meets an unexpected ally and they set off to find the Broken Arrow, an alleged weapon that will be able to vanquish Zeldrek once and for all. I recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and adventure. I can hardly wait till I forget the plot so I may read it again! I look forward to a sequel.

[Ravyn (clockwork.bookdragon) Nightshade · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh so will be super honest. I could jet thru this book.
It was slow paced and difficult to get into the narrative. The world was explained well but I just couldn’t connect to the story. I did feel terrible for how the protagonist was treated before he discovered his potential destiny. But I found most of other characters unlikeable or forgettable. I may try to finish reading it later this month. For now I have other books I will find more enjoyable to read. This book was just joking me up from those other stories.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

After almost a year of not reading anything except school books, Azaria sent me an advance copy and I devoured this book in a day in a half. The characters are fascinating and complex, the story is amazingly developed, and the world feels completely real. While most fantasy books tend to explain their world and magic in long, dull passages, Broken Arrow explores these aspects of the story in engaging, fascinating ways. I'm excited to reread a published copy soon.

[J. d'Merricksson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Broken Arrow is first in Durant's Darkened Destiny series, following the adventures of half-breed Ealdred. Despised for what he is, Ealdred has been a slave his entire life. When the sorcerer Zeldek captures Ealdred and brings him to the stronghold of Gaiztoak, he learns there's more to his past than ever he realised. Zeldek tries to convince Ealdred to join forces with him. Ealdred refuses, and later is ‘freed’ by Zeldek’s general, Bellator, who is convinced that Ealdred has what it takes to mend the magical broken arrow artifact of Arnon. There certainly is more to Ealdred, more than even he and Bellator know. A visit to the Valamette royal household reveals unexpected aspects of Ealdred's past. Ealdred will lose friends, and gain them, but can he gain what he most wants- his freedom? And can he learn to control his burgeoning magic before he seriously harms himself or others?

I quite enjoyed this story. There were far less dragons than I expected. We see living dragons, but most often, we see them as decoration on weapons, jewelry, and brands. Still, I love Fyra for the time we see her. Maybe there will be more dragons in future books. I certainly hope so! Ealdred himself is a compelling character. A slave, Ealdred has never quite lost his will, his stubborn streak. He's been beaten near senseless, starved, and forced to watch a friend die. He has a strong sense of morality and ethics, and it is for this reason that Bellator needs him to help mend the Arrow of Arnon.

The writing was a little clunky at times. There were things that could be tightened and trimmed to flow better. Another grammar/ spell check would not be amiss. I was also confused about the half-breed concept. Zeldek called Ealdred half-race, saying he is part Valhyrean, which did seem a different species actually. But half-breed seems to mean something else, like if people from one country marry someone from another country. Does that mean each country is actually a slightly different species? Half-breeds seem to always manifest with pale skin, black hair, and blue eyes. The anthropologist in me wants to understand the genetics behind this! Haha, probably just reading too much into things. That being said, I quite enjoyed this read and am looking forward to reading the next in the series. Recommended for those enjoy scifi/ fantasy!

***Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. This book was reviewed for the XPresso Blog Tours.

[J Plaza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken Arrow by Azaria M.J. Durant is one of those books that I am overjoyed to name a forever favorite of mine. From the very first chapter, Azaria weaves together a wonderful fantasy filled with characters that burst with life, a world of magic, and an adventure impossible to put down. Ealdred, a half-breed slave boy, has a rare gift: magic. And Zeldek, a dark sorcerer, will stop at nothing to gain Ealdred’s allegiance, and his power. Yanked from life as he’s known it and thrust into a world where he is more powerful than he could possibly imagine, Ealdred has to make a choice: bow down to Zeldek or resist. That is, before Bellator, a servant of Zeldek, offers him a different option. If Ealdred helps her find a long-lost, magical broken arrow, he won’t have to give himself to Zeldek or defy him and risk death.

Azaria’s writing style brings the land of Theara, its outlaws and kingdoms and lush history, into brilliant light. All I had to do was close my eyes and I could see Fyra rising up in front of me; the story unfolded like a movie in my head. I would find myself asking questions like, “Will Ealdred’s family's identity ever be revealed?” and, “How did Bellator get her scars?” that left me with no other choice but to blaze through the next chapter. And the next. And the next. The plot twists left me gaping with shock and overwhelmed with emotion.

Then there are the characters. Ealdred won my heart easily with his acts of good and his kind heart, but he wasn’t the only character that drew my eye. Bellator, Ealdred’s unlikely ally, is undoubtedly my favorite character from Broken Arrow. As Ealdred and Bellator set off to find the broken arrow, joined for a while by their friends Annalyn and Uri, they are dogged every step of the way by Zeldek’s informants. Azaria takes this time to slowly unmask the outward cold, harsh demeanor of Bellator to reveal a girl who has suffered hardship and betrayal that questions everything Ealdred thinks he knows about her. Bellator kept me on my toes trying to figure out her secrets and puzzle out her plots and past.

Broken Arrow pulled me into a story world that would not let me go. By the end, I was nearly in tears because I knew I only had a few more pages to spend with Ealdred, Bellator, and all the rest of the characters introduced along their quest. I would highly recommend Broken Arrow to readers looking for a book with complex and lifelike characters, avid fantasy readers, and to anyone who wants to read a well-written novel. Broken Arrow stole my heart, and I cannot wait for the sequel!

[Wolverine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women in Fantasy

I was excited to see so many women in positions of power—in the councils, in their legends/stories, as sidekicks, as a protagonist. Bellator, who reminded me of Black Widow in a lot of ways, was the most obvious strong woman. But every woman who featured showed a different kind of strength—loyalty, love, patience. Mental, emotional, and physical strength were all displayed through these female characters, which was a welcome departure from clichés of “her personality is knocking people out + wearing spandex.”

Plot

There were multiple times that I thought I had the plot figured out, based on assumptions/clichés of the high fantasy genre. I was always wrong. If I assumed that no one else was going to be added to the cast of characters, someone who turned out to be one of my favorites joined the crew. If I thought that chapters of the novel would be taken up with a Journey-Through-The-Fantasy-World narrative, swordfights/higher stakes/so many people with their own motivations and goals that fought against Ealdred’s were introduced.

There were also quite a few plot twists that were well foreshadowed and caught me by surprise.
My only con is that during the climax, Ealdred didn’t seem to be an active participant. While Bellator was, of course, also a protagonist, Ealdred didn’t contribute much to resolving his side of the plotline during the main back-and-forth.

Worldbuilding/Setting

One of the best worldbuilding bits was the ‘origin myths/stories’ of how different civilizations and conflicts came to be. These stories flowed very naturally and felt similar to creation/origin stories told by real tribes and peoples today.

I think the setting/descriptions were largely carried by the choice to use present tense. It made the prose clip along, instead of drag during the descriptive parts. This world really felt rich and fully imagined, and the descriptions used so many strong sensory details.

Overall

My favorite bit of dialogue was:

“That’s settled,” she replies in her usual officious manner. “Now, let’s go kill some raiders, shall we?”

“Right behind you!” Uri cries with new enthusiasm, gripping his trident with both hands.

“Don’t let me spoil the fun,” I say miserably.

I'm excited for the next book to come out + see where my favorite characters end up as they keep chasing their goals <3

[Arlene Mullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts at a council of Gaiztoak meeting where Zeldek tells of how the world is coming to dangerous times and the boy needs to be brought in and give allegiance to him. He is found as a slave and taken after a battle against his will. He is brought to Zeldeks castle and locked up until he decides to submit.
I really enjoyed this book. The scenes were so beautifully described. The book moves at a great pace. I loved Bellator. She is not as she seems in the beginning. Ealdred has a strength and spirit that cant be broken. My only complaint was it took awhile for the book to say what Ealdreds name. Besides that I loved it

[Anisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing storyline, strong characters ( I would like the male protagonist to be stronger but I understand he has't been trained yet so) I love fantasy books and these kind of lovely book cover so this can't really go wrong with me.

It is possible for you to be confused at the first few chapters, but you'll be fine! Don't worry. I like how the male protagonist develops his powers slowly, in a more realistic pace. Unlike some other books that went from a poor guy to the strongest in a nanosecond after the big revelation .

I would love to know what happens next, can't wait for book 2 :"(

[Jessica Crespino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the characterization. The self-reflective male protagonist (Ealdred) was a nice change from the many headstrong or confident male characters out there, but my favorite character by far was Bellator, for the complexities and subtly-hinted-at backstory. Truly a character well woven.
There were times when I was a bit confused as to the current step in the overall plot, but the action, relationships, and plot twists kept the story moving swiftly enough that I never felt lost in what was going on. Definitely looking forward to the next book!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for the third time recently, and with every time it just gets better. Each character seems to come alive as I read it, and they each hold so much personality that I feel like I can get to know them personally. The plot twists are pulled off amazingly and are all interesting and keep me on my toes. While it's not perfect, and from time to time there's a sentence that just somehow feels off to me or something that feels like it could have been left out, it's a total page turner, and I would recommend it to anyone. 5/5

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Spoiler Review. Imaginative. Rolling out with a good pace, in a well constructed world, Broken Arrow managed to subvert my expectation! It answered important questions set from the beginning, while raising more questions in the end...questions that need answering, begging for further adventure. Well done!

[Teresa Lavender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won this here on goodreads. I LOVED this book. I struggled with the cruelty to children in this book, but I understand it was part of the story. Well executed characters and story line. It only became predictable when the pieces were pulled together. Can't wait to see how the rest of the series plays out!

[Julia Witmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love great writing, quality descriptions, unique and strong female characters, and also dragons, this book is DEFINITELY for you. It was amazing.

Read the full review on my blog

[Valicity Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been getting a lot of fantasy showing up in my inbox lately and Broken Arrow has left me with no regrets! What a wonderfully written and deeply moving story! There are so many times where, as an editor and a book blogger, I begin to feel weighed down by my work. I start treating the books I read as chores and simply plow through them, sketching down notes of every error and dislike I come across while reading. But every so often I am brought back to the time I read for fun—back when I enjoyed books for the simplicity of enjoyment. Where I was taken to another world against my will and found myself lost in the exciting imagination of a person I do not know. I miss those days, and sometimes I feel like my work has taken me away from those days for good. But I was so happy to have come across Broken Arrow because it took me back to my imagination—to the depths of creativity that’d been lost in the slush pile of work, endless list of emails, and monotonous editing.

Broken Arrow is an expertly written and wonderfully imagined novel by Azaria MJ Durant. It follows the story of a young slave boy with all the odds stacked against him. In a world where slaves are hated, magic is illegal, and war is ripping the land apart, Ealdred must find a way to overcome it all. Yes… the story has a bit of an ‘underdog’ feel to it as Ealdred is one of those protagonists you would least likely expect to make a difference in this very complicated world, but it plays out very well. The entire story and adventure are detailed and easy to follow; action sequences flow wonderfully and character development is so strong it forms a bond that will have you dreaming of your favorite characters while you sleep! Pleasant dreams of freedom, magic, and the fight of good versus evil.

With all the praise I’ve given this story, I still have to say there are some things I dislike. For fantasy, I feel the story is very short and as I mentioned before, it follows a very cookie-cutter routine by taking a weak and unlikely character and molding them into the hero we need. While it is certainly written well and deserves every star I’ve given it, I will say I wish the plot wasn’t so cut and dry. It feels like another VERY GOOD version of a story you’ve heard before. That being said, I don’t know what could be changed to take away the feeling of having read this before. Broken Arrow is good enough as it is, nothing *needs* to change but I am more than interested to see how things will play out from here.

I strongly recommend this to YA readers who enjoy fantasy, magic, and adventure. Anyone with appreciation for expert writing will love this and if you’re feeling the underdog theme then I’d encourage you to give this a try.

[Amy Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pulls the reader right in

From Chapter one, this story pulls you right in. You want to know about this figure and what is going to happen next. The imagery and flow of the words paints a grand story bringing the reader smack in the middle. The characters had a sense of depth, and make the reader wonder and want more of them. The Master and his tools, his slaves, create a wondrous and intimidating story. The story is divided into two parts, with different POVs. It's a mythical story that brings the power of Ealdred to light, and he is just a slave or is he? I really enjoyed this story, and a fantasy and mythical story that grabs the reader attention from the first page, finds it a highly recommended read.

[Garrett Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken Arrow is among the best books I've ever read. Ealdred is an amazing main character, and the journey he has to undertake is equally awesome. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy.

[Lindsay Durant · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent debut! The world is fascinating and the characters are phenomenal! Very good book by an up and coming author.