The Serpent and the Shattered Sword by N.A. Betts
Blurb:
ALL SHALL FALL
With the Fates united, Alira Verbrandt ventures into the arctic wastes of Clerracia, seeking the last artifact of the Illuri. The relentless pursuit from a forgotten enemy pushes her into the depths of the city’s desolation. Only to find a dangerous serpent hidden amongst her friends, watching as she plunges into darkness.
Defeated and betrayed, she washes ashore in Evenglacia, a continent with ancient and veiled secrets. There, her survival comes with a price: a dangerous allegiance binding her to a war beyond her control.
The Shattered Sword is rising, igniting a rebellion across the south. To destroy them, she must fight at Evenglacia’s side. But as she delves deeper into their continent’s shadowed heart, she discovers a truth that may help her topple the Empire, and turn enemy into ally.
But if she chooses wrong, there may not be a world left to save.
Book Title: The Serpent and the Shattered Sword
Author: N.A. Betts
Cover Artist: J.N. Ignacio
Word Count: 142k
Publisher: Legend Forge Press
Genre: Fantasy, Epic
Release Date: November 26th, 2025
Available Formats: eBook, Paperback
Trigger Warnings: Medieval violence, torture, death, anti-religious themes
Additional Details: Signing up for the ARC team will get you complimentary copies of Books I and II, or a "the story until now" document can be sent if an ARC team member unfamiliar with "The Fates of Aten" would like to join, but hasn't read the first installments. This is a planned pentalogy, and this book is the third in the series of five.
COMPS: Perfect for fans of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn: The Final Empire, George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones, and Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass. The Serpent and the Shattered Sword is a sweeping epic of betrayal, rebellion, and destiny.
Author Bio:
N.A. (Nick) Betts is a Canadian author of epic fantasy with a love for timeless storytelling. A Veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, he crafts sweeping tales of good versus evil, drawing inspiration from Tolkien and other classic works of the genre. His stories are filled with tropes such as coming of age, self-discovery, and found family, while exploring themes of physical perseverance and mental resilience. When he's not busy creating new worlds, Nick can be found enjoying professional wrestling, diving into stories of the unexplained, or relaxing with some good jazz. He lives just outside Edmonton, Alberta, with his wife and their cats: Bandit, Carter, and Addley.
