Published: Feb. 15, 2010
Words: 133,520 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781452403274

Short description

You're a young woman with no memory of your past. You've been made a sexual slave by a gang of vicious bikers. After ten years' agony, you've freed yourself by committing murder and earning a faceful of scars. But the biker king is obsessed with you. Your sole chance of escaping him lies in trusting a mysterious young man you've just met. Do you choose the devil you know, or the devil you don't?

Extended description

From potter's clay to potter...

"Justice in this world is a human artifact," says Louis Redmond. "Either it's made by individuals, or it doesn't exist. I have made my share of it, and I don't regret it in the slightest." The unassuming young man, a high genius and an adept of the arts of war, means every word. Yet fate has shown him little justice: at age thirty-six, he's dying of spinal cancer.

Louis has picked up an unusual stray: a young woman named Christine who's committed a murder to escape from sexual slavery to the Butchers, a vicious motorcycle gang. Christine has no resources, and the abuse she's endured has apparently robbed her of her memory; she doesn't even know her last name. The Butchers are certain to be looking for her. Despite all, Louis takes her into his central New York home and commits what's left of his life to preparing her for independence. (Read more) From potter's clay to potter...

"Justice in this world is a human artifact," says Louis Redmond. "Either it's made by individuals, or it doesn't exist. I have made my share of it, and I don't regret it in the slightest." The unassuming young man, a high genius and an adept of the arts of war, means every word. Yet fate has shown him little justice: at age thirty-six, he's dying of spinal cancer.

Louis has picked up an unusual stray: a young woman named Christine who's committed a murder to escape from sexual slavery to the Butchers, a vicious motorcycle gang. Christine has no resources, and the abuse she's endured has apparently robbed her of her memory; she doesn't even know her last name. The Butchers are certain to be looking for her. Despite all, Louis takes her into his central New York home and commits what's left of his life to preparing her for independence.

Having no choices, and ignorant of Louis's impending doom, Christine embraces the rigors of his physical and intellectual training program with passion. The speed of her advance astounds them both. It's just as well, for the Butchers are still out there, and their leader Tiny is obsessed with her. Louis repels their first attempt to retake her, but he knows that, some day, she'll have to do it herself.

In the shadows behind the dying champion waits another man: Louis's mentor Malcolm Loughlin, immortal wanderer and grand master of all things martial. Malcolm has trained the great warriors of the world for two millennia. He will take over Christine's education when Louis's life is spent, for a price.

Louis learns that even the end of life can be sweet, if there is love. Malcolm learns to accept instruction from his students. Christine learns many things: the heights of love, the depths of grief, the importance of a moral anchor, and the necessity always to be ready to make justice for oneself.

On Broken Wings depicts the coming of age of an extraordinary young woman without a past, under the tutelage of two extraordinary men: one who cannot live, and one who cannot die.

On Broken Wings is Book Two of the Realm of Essences series, a combination supernatural fantasy and contemporary tale of intrigue among the vicious and powerful. Book One, Chosen One, is also available. The conclusion, Shadow Of A Sword, will be published in late 2011.
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Tags

coming of age, fantasy, supernatural, contemporary, phenomenology, supermen, platonic idealism, alternate creation myth

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Videos

On Broken Wings -- Synopsis
A few words about my novel "On Broket Wings," sequel to "Chosen One" and second volume in my "Realm of Essences" series.

Reviews

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Review by: Melinda Le Baron on April 22, 2012 :
Warning! Once you start this book you won't be able to put it down, so get a big drink, plenty of kleenex and tell your spouse/SO that you won't be making lunch or dinner because you'll be busy. The pages virtually turn themselves and I found myself completely lost within the story. That doesn't happen very often, but it surely happened here, and my prediction that this book would be as good or better than the first book came true;it's better by a long shot and I loved the first one (Chosen One).

We continue with the story of Louis Redmond, our moral, honorable and protective hero who saves Christine from a biker gang after 10 years of maltreatment. He not only saves her but helps her gain self respect, and gives her skills to live and protect her. With Helen, he teaches her to love. Again Porretto has the courage to ask life's major questions: what is religion? What is love? When is it okay to kill? What is God? What happens when we die? What do we owe our fellow man? What do we owe ourselves? He answers most of these questions in a clear and lucid way. That is pretty amazing all by itself.

The second half of the book focuses on Christine. She is being trained by Malcolm, works at OA and lives at Louis' house then all hell breaks loose. The ending of this book is far more wrapped up then the last one. Don't forget your kleenex because this one is far more emotional too. This book celebrates life and love and friendship. On the flipside, it also shows grief and how we can get over it. There is also a strong message about good versus evil and what you must do to protect yourself, your loved ones and the world from the bad guys.


While doing all of this, Porretto gives us simply lush characterization; you cry before they do because you know tragedy is coming, you're scared for them when they go into danger, you rejoice with them when they find love. The story is so deep, so spiritual, so wonderful that I find myself short of comparisons. The writing is superb ; just enough and no more to communicate perfectly the people, emotions, setting, great dialogue, and spiritually to perfectly describe it without any extraneous adjectives or adverbs. What a joy!

I would recommend the first two books in this series to anyone who has any interest in lifes' big questions or religion in general. The third book is out and it's the next on my list. If you ever looked up at the stars and wondered about God, or thought that the bad people were taking over - then these books are for you.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Anony Mous on May 18, 2011 :
I couldn't place a finger on this book at the beginning, the pace was just right, not too fast but not too slow, enough to keep you glued and interested what is going to happen. Character development was good, you grow up with Christine. I got really attached to her, I've cried with her and smiled with her. I loved it, will be looking forward to "Shadow Of A Sword".
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Tim Turner on March 30, 2011 :
DO NOT READ THE REVIEWS BELOW!

SPOILERS!

Do not watch either of Francis' videos. SPOILERS!

This is a "tight" series. That is, it keeps characters, plot, themes and morals closely intertwined. You may think the story-telling is a tad "brusque," but you will be caught up in the end.

This series is not about the next terrorist attack or the secret government thingy (although that might be the backdrop. It's worth reading just for that angle!) It is about our own morals and what we would hope and expect of our best selves.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Sharon Mc Govern on Oct. 18, 2010 :
Sigh....I just finished "On Broken Wings". Louis's body died but he left a legacy of strenth, courage, wisdom, skill and ...love. Much to my surprise, the story of the benefishiary (sp?) of his legacy, Christine Marie De'Allesandro, is as compelling as the telling of Louis's. The end is only the beginning of the 3rd book
of the "Rhelm of Essences". I can scarsely wait for it's completion. R. Sharon Mc Govern
(review of free book)

Review by: LAURA SCHULTZ on June 28, 2010 : (no rating)
JUST FINISHED THIS BOOK SEARCHED SITE FOR NEXT ONE SHADOW OF THE SWORD I WANT TO KNOW WHERE MALCOLM CHRISTINE EVEN BOOMER GO FROM HERE HAVE NOT BEEN THIS INTO A STORYLINE SINCE THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES FROM ANNE RICE OR THE DARKHUNTER SERIES AND DREAM HUNTER SERIES, PLEASE TELL ME THE NEXT BOOK WILL BE SUBMITTED VERY SOON I AM HUNGRY FOR MORE READ BOTH BOOKS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS AND MY CURIOSITY IS KILLING ME, ONLY THING WRONG WITH THIS ONE IS I WAS HOPING FOR MIRACLE FOR LOUIS.
(review of free book)

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