Fun Friday – The Broken Shield Chronicles & Covers

Welcome to Friday on Archer’s Aim! I’ve been taking a look at possible covers for a fantasy series I’m developing named The Broken Shield Chronicles (tentatively). I’m also considering whether I should writing as a LitRPG but it’s now become a strong lean in that direction for me. Here’s more information about my ideas:

The idea is to write the books in this series in more of a pulp style meaning that they are shorter at between 50-70k words. Additionally, they are intended to be more straight forward in plotting with a goal/problem and an assumed solution with a number of twists. Since these are shorter pulp fiction novels, they will be heavier on the action.

I haven’t settled on a title for the first book but that will come as I plan it – hopefully next month. However, I think the series will be titled something like: The Hopeless Knight Chronicles or The Broken Shield Chronicles. See the poll below and vote on the series title or suggest your own based on the premise. I suppose this will be more of a semi-gritty sword and sorcery series that I think may be rather fun and entertaining.

The main character will be a knight living off his wits and skill as a former member of an elite company. He formerly served a kingdom which fell in a sudden coup. He survived but presumes no one else of his cohorts still lives. In surviving that attack he used a broken shield – meaning that it’s cracked and floppy – but it somehow never fails him. He’s kept the shield and uses it as he earns a living fighting in tournaments. Because of his unique training, he’s very successful. However, because of the danger of being discovered as a survivor of the coup, he stays on the move and doesn’t reveal his true name or background.

As such, the main character stays to himself while traveling and makes few connections among other knights he meets. Additionally, he has essentially lost hope in any grand causes or service to anything because his idealism as a member of his former unit has been destroyed in the overthrow. As you can see he’s got some problems that can present some interesting challenges, mainly whether to get involved in some worthy cause or just mind his own business.

I’ve been looking at pre-made covers here on the blog for several weeks and I have another possible choice that could make the cut:

This one has a realistic look too it but I feel it’s too close and depicts nothing other than a knight. Sure, there’s danger since the knight is poised to strike or defend but it lacks that additional flare to my mind. It’s basic and functional for my needs so I’m not likely to choose it. Share your opinion in the comments and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks for visiting today!