
The Broken
- by Daniel Schlordt
The Broken
Are we born broken, or are we broken over time?
Jack was a young man in the late 70s, tormented by his family and confused about his feelings for the world, who longed to feel like he belonged somewhere. He desperately tried to navigate his life in a world where he never felt accepted or wanted; he was constantly facing challenges and trauma, and it all piled up, making him crack.
Is there a line that, once crossed, one is too broken to piece back together, or is there always a chance for salvation?
Even when Jack managed to find his feet in a world where he nearly felt worthy, a society he started to trust failed him. The Broken follows Jack's story and the butterfly effect of repression across generations.
Out There
- by Daniel Schlordt
Out There is a novel following four couples away on their annual family weekend. This year, they have travelled far into the Scottish Glens to a remote yet modern lodge where more than just the views await them. Four narrators tell the story; Shelley, the family's matriarch; Claire, the eldest daughter; Kyle, the middle child; and Ellie, the youngest. They each have their better half and respective backstories with subtext to follow. Throughout the weekend, strange goings-on occur, which unnerve the family, and they soon realise they are not alone in the lodge. Trapped with no chance of escape and several family members missing, they hatch numerous plans to escape. Still, none are fruitful until the identity of the terroriser comes to light, and the family has to take action.
This novel has dynamics which don't just dive into cheap thrills as family politics provides the humour with sexuality, race and health flowing through as; often subtle subtext
This book is the perfect novel to accompany one at the beach or pool on holiday or for a suspense-filled Sunday afternoon. Suited to a reader aged fourteen plus; a tween would enjoy the subtle sophistication of an adult thriller with the drama of the backstories to relate to, and an adult would enjoy the suspense and thrills that come with piecing all the clues together and reading a story with subtle themes which are not yet mainstream enough.