Broken City
Broken City #1
Genre/Age Group- 16+
By- D.D. Chant
A girl with no future
A man with no past
A little lost boy
And those who seek to find him....
....Welcome to Deeta's world.
Deeta Richards has never seen the outside world. Before she was born a banking crisis brought civilization to an end and now no one leaves the safety of the compounds unless they need to, but Deeta still dreams of seeing more than the building she was born in.
Tom is in the guard, this group are the only people that the tribal elders allow to leave the compound and Tom knows only too well that Deeta could never survive the harshness that exists outside. Then tragedy strikes and Deeta and her Sister Jan find themselves captured by a hostile tribe. Why does Tom know so much about these people? And why do they know so much about him? As this mystery draws to a climax, they discover that their friend Tom is not quite what he seems...
**Broken City is FREE right now! **
And now an excerpt from Broken City-
The unspeakable pain that encases my head is so all consuming that for the first few minutes of consciousness, all I can do is remain completely still where I lay. By and by I manage, with my eyes still closed, to take a rough stock of my surroundings. The surface that I am stretched out on is hard, and there is the faint sensation of motion. Above me I can hear the low murmur of whispered conversation, then I remember Jan.
My eyes open quickly, too quickly I realise as my eyes react painfully to the light. I turn my head to find, with relief, that Jan is laying beside me. Her dark eyelashes are lying peacefully on her cheeks, so she must still be unconscious. I close my eyes again, trying to fight the nausea welling up within me but the motion is making it worse.
"Looks like one of them is coming round." The voice is unfamiliar.
"Best thing you can do is turn her lights out for her." Comes a second, faintly aggrieved, and more familiar voice.
I open my eyes again and blink slowly, carefully, a few times to bring the speakers into focus. There is a row of seats to each side of us, occupied by soldiers, four to a side. Their visors are up, and they stare down at our hitherto inert forms interestedly.
For some moments I stare at them as they are staring at me, before the hazy recollection that I am only wearing pyjamas crawls into my mind. It's immediately followed by the reassuring secondary realisation that we have been further covered by rough woollen blankets.
There is a sudden lurch as movement stops, and the soldiers open the tailgate of what I now perceive is a truck. A moan beside me signals Jan's struggle toward consciousness.
"Come on, missy, up you get." One of the soldiers holds my arm, and is gently trying to encourage me to rise. "Come on, up you get; you'll feel better soon."
For a second I stare at him blankly.
"I'm sorry."
Turning abruptly I throw up, and I hear rather than see him pull away from me.
"I'm really sorry."
Again a wave of nausea sweeps over me and I convulse.
"I'm so sorry!" My voice is unsteady and my whole form trembling.
"That's alright, missy, are you going to…" He makes a sketchy gesture.
"No, no; I'm fine now." I can feel moisture standing icy cold on my brow.
"Come on now, missy." He wraps the blanket around me more securely, and lifts me into his arms.
"James, lad, get the other one would you?" He calls over his shoulder.
I hadn't realised that I'd been out of it for so long, but the sky is bright, and sunshine gives me a headache. Closing my eyes against the harshness of the light, the sickness I'm feeling lessens. I hear a door open, and the crunch of gravel ceases as he steps into a noisy room. I turn my head into his shoulder away from the glaring lights.
"And to the victor goes the spoil, hey, Simon?"
"Hello, sir, I'm glad to see you safe," answers my captor.
"Have a bit of a struggle with her did you? I'd have thought…" The amused voice stops suddenly, and when he next speaks his voice is low. "You'd better get her to a bed."
"Yes, sir, I'm on my way to the ward."
"No!" His voice is harsh, and he moderates his tone for his next words. "She isn't as bad as all that. She just needs some quiet; take her to a holding room."
"But, sir, she's had a nasty hit to the back of her head, shouldn't a doctor-"
"Take her to the holding room, Simon, and be as quick as you can." The voice commands authoritatively.
"But there's another girl..."
"Then take them both!"
I'm only half aware of the conversation taking place, being more concerned by my discomfort than
anything else. We begin to move again and the hubbub gets fainter, until the only sound is that of Simon and James footsteps.
The bed that I am placed on is hard, and covered in a plastic that crackles when I move. I lay still listening to the sound of my captor creeping around the room quietly. Soon he comes to stand near the bed again.
"Here, missy; this'll make you feel better."
He raises my head and shoulders, and I sip gratefully at the water he is holding to my lips. When I'm finished he lays me gently back down on the bed, and I open my eyes into narrow slits. My helper is a tall man with thick gray hair and blue eyes.
"What's your name?"
"Simon Rush at your service, missy," he answers promptly. "And what's yours?"
"Deeta Richards, please could you tell me what you've done with my sister?"
"She's next door sleeping like a baby," he answers. "So you're sisters are you? I thought as much. What's your sister's name?"
"Jan… please sir; is she alright?"
I try to sit up at this juncture, but he pushes me back down.
"Don't worry; she's fine. She'll have a headache like yours when she comes round, but she'll be ok. The best thing both of you can do is sleep."
The plastic covering crackles as he stands, but before he can leave I grab his hand.
"Thank you, Mr. Rush, for all your kindness; I'll not forget it." Read My Review - Broken City
My eyes open quickly, too quickly I realise as my eyes react painfully to the light. I turn my head to find, with relief, that Jan is laying beside me. Her dark eyelashes are lying peacefully on her cheeks, so she must still be unconscious. I close my eyes again, trying to fight the nausea welling up within me but the motion is making it worse.
"Looks like one of them is coming round." The voice is unfamiliar.
"Best thing you can do is turn her lights out for her." Comes a second, faintly aggrieved, and more familiar voice.
I open my eyes again and blink slowly, carefully, a few times to bring the speakers into focus. There is a row of seats to each side of us, occupied by soldiers, four to a side. Their visors are up, and they stare down at our hitherto inert forms interestedly.
For some moments I stare at them as they are staring at me, before the hazy recollection that I am only wearing pyjamas crawls into my mind. It's immediately followed by the reassuring secondary realisation that we have been further covered by rough woollen blankets.
There is a sudden lurch as movement stops, and the soldiers open the tailgate of what I now perceive is a truck. A moan beside me signals Jan's struggle toward consciousness.
"Come on, missy, up you get." One of the soldiers holds my arm, and is gently trying to encourage me to rise. "Come on, up you get; you'll feel better soon."
For a second I stare at him blankly.
"I'm sorry."
Turning abruptly I throw up, and I hear rather than see him pull away from me.
"I'm really sorry."
Again a wave of nausea sweeps over me and I convulse.
"I'm so sorry!" My voice is unsteady and my whole form trembling.
"That's alright, missy, are you going to…" He makes a sketchy gesture.
"No, no; I'm fine now." I can feel moisture standing icy cold on my brow.
"Come on now, missy." He wraps the blanket around me more securely, and lifts me into his arms.
"James, lad, get the other one would you?" He calls over his shoulder.
I hadn't realised that I'd been out of it for so long, but the sky is bright, and sunshine gives me a headache. Closing my eyes against the harshness of the light, the sickness I'm feeling lessens. I hear a door open, and the crunch of gravel ceases as he steps into a noisy room. I turn my head into his shoulder away from the glaring lights.
"And to the victor goes the spoil, hey, Simon?"
"Hello, sir, I'm glad to see you safe," answers my captor.
"Have a bit of a struggle with her did you? I'd have thought…" The amused voice stops suddenly, and when he next speaks his voice is low. "You'd better get her to a bed."
"Yes, sir, I'm on my way to the ward."
"No!" His voice is harsh, and he moderates his tone for his next words. "She isn't as bad as all that. She just needs some quiet; take her to a holding room."
"But, sir, she's had a nasty hit to the back of her head, shouldn't a doctor-"
"Take her to the holding room, Simon, and be as quick as you can." The voice commands authoritatively.
"But there's another girl..."
"Then take them both!"
I'm only half aware of the conversation taking place, being more concerned by my discomfort than
anything else. We begin to move again and the hubbub gets fainter, until the only sound is that of Simon and James footsteps.
The bed that I am placed on is hard, and covered in a plastic that crackles when I move. I lay still listening to the sound of my captor creeping around the room quietly. Soon he comes to stand near the bed again.
"Here, missy; this'll make you feel better."
He raises my head and shoulders, and I sip gratefully at the water he is holding to my lips. When I'm finished he lays me gently back down on the bed, and I open my eyes into narrow slits. My helper is a tall man with thick gray hair and blue eyes.
"What's your name?"
"Simon Rush at your service, missy," he answers promptly. "And what's yours?"
"Deeta Richards, please could you tell me what you've done with my sister?"
"She's next door sleeping like a baby," he answers. "So you're sisters are you? I thought as much. What's your sister's name?"
"Jan… please sir; is she alright?"
I try to sit up at this juncture, but he pushes me back down.
"Don't worry; she's fine. She'll have a headache like yours when she comes round, but she'll be ok. The best thing both of you can do is sleep."
The plastic covering crackles as he stands, but before he can leave I grab his hand.
"Thank you, Mr. Rush, for all your kindness; I'll not forget it." Read My Review - Broken City
Broken Truce
Broken City # 2
Genre/Age Group- 16+
By- D.D. Chant
Life isn't turning out the way that Deeta thought it would. With the Lewises defeated and peace between the tribes, she had believed that the dark times were a thing of the past.
But troubles between the tribes continue, and the Andak council have selected Tom as their ambassador and spokesman to the other tribes.
Deeta knows that there is still much resentment against the Andak, and that Tom is in danger every time he leaves the safety of Andak City.
Struggling with her own complicated feelings against the tribe that she is now a part of, Deeta tries to ignore the changing attitudes growing within her.
But when Tom is betrayed and they are thrown into great danger, Deeta finds that reality can't be ignored forever…
And now an excerpt from Broken Truce-
When I turn back to Tom it is to find that he has recovered from his amusement, but a lingering smile still hovers on his lips. His head is resting against the softness of the cushions and his eyes are closed. He seems close to sleep, and I notice again the fatigue in his face. The paleness of his skin stands out sharply against his dark stubble and the bluish shadows beneath his eyes.
I wish I could make it better somehow, that I could take away the responsibilities that wear him down like this. I want to ease his burden, bring him relief, but I have no idea how to do that or if it would even be right.
"You're staring." Tom shifts a little as if he's trying to find a more comfortable position. "Do you fancy me or something?"
I snort.
"I was just thinking that if you fall asleep there I'm not strong enough to carry you up to the bedroom."
He smiles a little, still not opening his eyes, and reaches a hand up to me. I lean forwards to take it, thinking he wants me to help him up, but when I place my hand in his, he jerks me down beside him, pulling me close and wrapping both arms around me.
"Mmm… that's better," he murmurs, settling my head on his shoulder and resting his cheek against my hair. "You're nice and soft Deeta: comfortable."
"Are you telling me I'm fat?"
Tom's shoulders shake in amusement and he lifts a hand, covering my mouth.
"Shhh, let's just sit like this for a bit."
His voice is so tired that I decide that now is not the time to ask him what happened while he was 'out'. A few seconds later I feel his hold on me relax and his breathing change as he falls asleep.
These are the moments I treasure, the times that bring me most happiness. I know that it's memories like these that I will never forget. They are simple, common place even, but more precious to me than the grandest of romantic gestures.
I can't begin to explain the feelings I experience when Tom turns to me for comfort, for peace, the way he is only able to relax completely when he has me in his arms. It makes me feel so good to know that to him I am important and precious. That my existence makes his life richer just as his existence enriches mine.
I move a little so that I can study his face, the dark hair falling over his brow and the strong features that I know and love so well. I smile slightly; I don't mean to brag, but there is no denying that I did pretty well for myself!
Beneath my hand I can feel the strong, steady beat of his heart, a heart that I know is filled with Tom's own special brand of tenderness. As the warmth he radiates seeps into me, my eyes flutter close.
Tom is back safe and sound, for now that is the only thing of any importance.
I wish I could make it better somehow, that I could take away the responsibilities that wear him down like this. I want to ease his burden, bring him relief, but I have no idea how to do that or if it would even be right.
"You're staring." Tom shifts a little as if he's trying to find a more comfortable position. "Do you fancy me or something?"
I snort.
"I was just thinking that if you fall asleep there I'm not strong enough to carry you up to the bedroom."
He smiles a little, still not opening his eyes, and reaches a hand up to me. I lean forwards to take it, thinking he wants me to help him up, but when I place my hand in his, he jerks me down beside him, pulling me close and wrapping both arms around me.
"Mmm… that's better," he murmurs, settling my head on his shoulder and resting his cheek against my hair. "You're nice and soft Deeta: comfortable."
"Are you telling me I'm fat?"
Tom's shoulders shake in amusement and he lifts a hand, covering my mouth.
"Shhh, let's just sit like this for a bit."
His voice is so tired that I decide that now is not the time to ask him what happened while he was 'out'. A few seconds later I feel his hold on me relax and his breathing change as he falls asleep.
These are the moments I treasure, the times that bring me most happiness. I know that it's memories like these that I will never forget. They are simple, common place even, but more precious to me than the grandest of romantic gestures.
I can't begin to explain the feelings I experience when Tom turns to me for comfort, for peace, the way he is only able to relax completely when he has me in his arms. It makes me feel so good to know that to him I am important and precious. That my existence makes his life richer just as his existence enriches mine.
I move a little so that I can study his face, the dark hair falling over his brow and the strong features that I know and love so well. I smile slightly; I don't mean to brag, but there is no denying that I did pretty well for myself!
Beneath my hand I can feel the strong, steady beat of his heart, a heart that I know is filled with Tom's own special brand of tenderness. As the warmth he radiates seeps into me, my eyes flutter close.
Tom is back safe and sound, for now that is the only thing of any importance.
My Review - Broken Truce
I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.
Deeta and Tom have finally realized or admitted that they are in love with each other. Tom has cared for Deeta for a long time now and has tried to take care of her and keep her safe. Deeta has finally found out a lot of the secrets that Tom has been hiding about himself from her and their tribe. But when she finds out what he has been hiding it makes no difference to her because she knows the person that he truly is and not the person that he tries to make other people think he is Deeta can see right through him. She can see that is doesn't matter what tribe he comes from and it doesn't change who he is nor does it make his heart any different.
Deeta's dream of going outside has finally come true. She has finally got to go outside of the building that she grew up in and was born in. She has found out that not all of the horror stories that she has heard about the other tribes in the city are not as bad as she thought. Some of the tribes are she as good as her own tribe but she has also learned that there are some tribes out there that are just as bad as hers is good. Some of the horror stories that she has heard are just as bad as she has been told and even worse.
Deeta's sister Janny met one of Tom's brothers Ryder and fell in love with him just as quick of not quicker than Deeta did Tom. I mean Deeta has known Tom a lot longer than Janny has known Ryder but sometimes it doesn't take someone very long at all to know that they love and care for another person. I am sure that it would be a lot different if you lived in a world like Deeta and Janny has grown up in. Everything would move at a different pace and in different ways as well.
Deeta and Janny are both now married to an Andak brother and after living outside the walls of the building they grew up in and meeting other people from the different tribes in the city they have come to realize that all of the stories that they have been told all their lives about the people are not true. They have learned after meeting these people and getting to know them that they are just like them. Their only desire is to live out their lives as they wish and not like someone else has told them they must. They have come to the conclusion that everybody is the same no matter how they live or how they believe. Tom and Ryder make a trip to visit the Marshall tribe to see how they are coming along with the rebuilding of the destruction that the Andak tribe made when they were attacked believing that they had taken Tom prisoner. Tom and Ryder thought that they would be safe making a trip through the city with the girls now after all the time that has passed since the attack but they failed to realize that not all could be trusted.
When they are on their way back to Andak city their group is attacked. They are surrounded and outnumbered so therefore they are caught and captured. Tom and Ryder both know that they cannot allow their wives to be taken by this tribe to their homes. This tribe is not like any of the other tribes and will harm the girls and more than likely kill them.
Will Tom and Deeta make it out alive? Will Ryder and Janny make it out as well? Will Janny and Ryder's baby make it too? Will Janny carry the baby to full term? Will she be strong enough to survive the Lewis tribe? Will Tom, Ryder, Deeta and Janny all hang on to the goodness that is in their hearts or will they become some else after everything that they have to go through?
Have you read the Broken City novels? If you have not then I highly recommend that you do and I would also suggest that you start with book #1 Broken City and then read book #2 Broken Truce. If you love reading books that are hard to put down then the Broken City Series is a great series to read and not one that you want to miss out on. D.D. Chant will have you on the edge of your seat hanging on waiting to find out what is going to happen next. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Deeta and Tom have finally realized or admitted that they are in love with each other. Tom has cared for Deeta for a long time now and has tried to take care of her and keep her safe. Deeta has finally found out a lot of the secrets that Tom has been hiding about himself from her and their tribe. But when she finds out what he has been hiding it makes no difference to her because she knows the person that he truly is and not the person that he tries to make other people think he is Deeta can see right through him. She can see that is doesn't matter what tribe he comes from and it doesn't change who he is nor does it make his heart any different.
Deeta's dream of going outside has finally come true. She has finally got to go outside of the building that she grew up in and was born in. She has found out that not all of the horror stories that she has heard about the other tribes in the city are not as bad as she thought. Some of the tribes are she as good as her own tribe but she has also learned that there are some tribes out there that are just as bad as hers is good. Some of the horror stories that she has heard are just as bad as she has been told and even worse.
Deeta's sister Janny met one of Tom's brothers Ryder and fell in love with him just as quick of not quicker than Deeta did Tom. I mean Deeta has known Tom a lot longer than Janny has known Ryder but sometimes it doesn't take someone very long at all to know that they love and care for another person. I am sure that it would be a lot different if you lived in a world like Deeta and Janny has grown up in. Everything would move at a different pace and in different ways as well.
Deeta and Janny are both now married to an Andak brother and after living outside the walls of the building they grew up in and meeting other people from the different tribes in the city they have come to realize that all of the stories that they have been told all their lives about the people are not true. They have learned after meeting these people and getting to know them that they are just like them. Their only desire is to live out their lives as they wish and not like someone else has told them they must. They have come to the conclusion that everybody is the same no matter how they live or how they believe. Tom and Ryder make a trip to visit the Marshall tribe to see how they are coming along with the rebuilding of the destruction that the Andak tribe made when they were attacked believing that they had taken Tom prisoner. Tom and Ryder thought that they would be safe making a trip through the city with the girls now after all the time that has passed since the attack but they failed to realize that not all could be trusted.
When they are on their way back to Andak city their group is attacked. They are surrounded and outnumbered so therefore they are caught and captured. Tom and Ryder both know that they cannot allow their wives to be taken by this tribe to their homes. This tribe is not like any of the other tribes and will harm the girls and more than likely kill them.
Will Tom and Deeta make it out alive? Will Ryder and Janny make it out as well? Will Janny and Ryder's baby make it too? Will Janny carry the baby to full term? Will she be strong enough to survive the Lewis tribe? Will Tom, Ryder, Deeta and Janny all hang on to the goodness that is in their hearts or will they become some else after everything that they have to go through?
Have you read the Broken City novels? If you have not then I highly recommend that you do and I would also suggest that you start with book #1 Broken City and then read book #2 Broken Truce. If you love reading books that are hard to put down then the Broken City Series is a great series to read and not one that you want to miss out on. D.D. Chant will have you on the edge of your seat hanging on waiting to find out what is going to happen next. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
About the Author -
Hi everyone!
My name is Dee Dee, I'm twenty seven and I live in a beautiful part of Devon, England, with my family.
That introduction made me feel a little bit like I was on Blind Date!!!
As our house is in the countryside we have some unusual neighbours including chickens, ducks, geese, pheasants, a cat (that adopted us when we moved in!!!) and some koi. I also have a very long suffering younger sister, Jingle, who is a brilliant guitar player. She keeps me supplied with coffee and brownies, generally making sure that the Chant household doesn't grind to a halt.
I really hope you enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them.
I love reading and have a kindle, I enjoy almost every genre; if there is adventure and romance I'll be there with coffee and a brownie! I also like to cook and wear impractical high heels! You may also have noticed that I have a horrible addiction to exclamation marks!!
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