No Extra Lives

The Broken Circle Duology, Book 1

By: Dan Blakely

Narrated by: Alex Corbett Ashby

Thane is dying. His body is failing, his mind is fraying, and the world feels like a cruel joke. When a cutting-edge VR game promises an escape, Thane logs in to lose himself in its fantasy world, Arbelon—a land of fractured beauty, prophecies, and dangerous magic. But what begins as a way to vent his bitterness soon spirals into something he can’t explain.

Arbelon feels real. Too real.

The people call him the Chosen One, a savior sent to heal their breaking world. Thane dismisses them—just NPCs in a game. But when his uncontrolled wild magic destroys a sacred sanctuary and an entire village, the consequences are all too vivid. As Arbelon’s collapse accelerates and Earth itself begins to twist in inexplicable ways, Thane faces a harrowing question: What if this isn’t a game at all?

Joined by a ragtag group of supporters, Thane is thrust into a battle to save Arbelon’s Heart—a battle that may cost him the only thing he has left: his life. In a story where reality blurs and choices matter, there are no extra lives.

©2025, 2026 Dan Blakely (P)2026 Dan Blakely

Fantasy with a Twist!

Entertaining story that straddles genres with Excellent narration! I’m thinking Tron meets LOTR. Well worth a listen!