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To Crack a Soldier

The Shattered Tales
by Sarah Beran
To Crack a Soldier (The Shattered Tales) by Sarah Beran
not yet rated

A broken soldier. A wooden ballerina. When battle comes, can Alex use his gifts to defeat the Mouse King?

Alexander Monde may have survived the war with Brisia in one piece, but that doesn’t mean he’s not broken. His family, his home, and his friends are all gone, leaving him just a shell of the man he once was. When a mysterious visitor arrives at the army hospital the night of the winter solstice, Alex is given a gift that will change his life forever: a ballerina doll.

When midnight arrives and his ballerina comes to life, a battle ensues between the dancer and Mouse King. The mirror gateway to Faerie is broken, and Alex finds himself stranded in a new and completely unfamiliar world. Worse still, a wound from the recent battle is causing him to slowly become more and more wooden and stiff as time goes on. As the sprightly ballerina slowly begins cracking the shell of his heart, will Alex be able to find the missing pieces of the mirror and restore the gateway? Or will the Mouse King come out victorious against the wooden soldier?

To Crack a Soldier is a retelling of the Nutcracker. It is one of twelve novellas in The Shattered Tales, a collection of twelve fractured retellings of your favorite fairy tales. They can be enjoyed in any order, so fall in love with the swoony sweet romance, magical adventures, and tale-shattering twists one happily-ever-after at a time!

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Standard Shelves
Updated 04/12/2025
Category: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fae, Retellings, Fairy Tale Retellings, Holiday/Seasonal, Christmas Fiction, Romance
Release date: November 28, 2023

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Sarah Beran

Sarah Beran is a writer who has found her true passion in blending enchanting tales with relatable characters, bringing magic, romance, and adventure to life through her unique lens. Living in sunny Southern California, Sarah is not only a writer but also a devoted wife, mother to two young children, and an elementary music teacher by day. Her life is filled with the hum of creativity, both in the classroom and in her writing.

When she's not guiding young minds in music, Sarah spends her free time running, creating new melodies, or immersing herself in a world of make-believe with her family. These moments of balance between the practical and the whimsical are often reflected in her stories, where everyday life meets the extraordinary. Her writing journey is one that began with a love for storytelling, evolving into a deep connection with the craft of creating worlds that feel both magical and grounded in reality.

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Sarah's books are filled with heart, humor, and the kind of characters you can’t help but root for. Her stories often feature rich world-building, engaging plots, and moments of quiet magic that resonate with readers looking for something both familiar and new. Her ability to weave romance and fantasy seamlessly has made her an author to watch in the genre.

While still making her mark in the literary world, Sarah’s dedication to her craft and her readers is evident in every page. Whether you're a fan of fantasy, romance, or adventure, Sarah Beran's books offer an invitation to escape into a world where the ordinary is touched by the extraordinary.

The Shattered Tales

The Shattered Tales consists of 12 total books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

To Betray a King: A Frog Prince Retelling (The Shattered Tales)
not yet rated
To Shatter A Slipper (The Shattered Tales)
not yet rated
To Escape a Wonderland: An Alice in Wonderland Retelling (The Shattered Tales)
not yet rated
To Break a Silence: A Little Mermaid Retelling (The Shattered Tales)
not yet rated
To Defy a Dream (The Shattered Tales)
not yet rated
To Deceive a Kingdom: A Princess & the Pea Retelling (The Shattered Tales)
not yet rated
To Heal a Broken Heart: A Beauty and the Beast Retelling (The Shattered Tales)
not yet rated
To Curse a Black Swan: A Swan Lake Retelling (The Shattered Tales)
not yet rated
To Crack a Soldier (The Shattered Tales)
not yet rated
To Rival a Reflection: A Snow White Retelling (The Shattered Tales)
not yet rated
To Destroy an Illusion: A Glass Mountain Retelling (The Shattered Tales)
not yet rated
To Capture a Beauty: A Snow Queen Retelling (The Shattered Tales)
not yet rated


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