The Berserkers Brand

About The Book

The world is unraveling. A silent, insidious rot devours reality, turning living stone to dust, twisting memory, and erasing the very essence of existence. At its heart stands a serene, white-masked figure, the architect of a terrifying new order, who wields a destructive power of “Unmaking,” promising a cold, perfect peace to a chaotic world.

Forty years ago, Gundroff of the Ragingfire clan lost everything. His mountain home, Hjarta-Fell, fell to the dragon Ash Heart, leaving him scarred by the Berserker’s Brand and driven by a solitary vow of vengeance. But when the creeping rot infects human lands, his path collides with Seraphina, an elven Chronomancer whose precise magic unravels the subtle geometry of reality’s decay. Joined by the enigmatic monk, Thaddeus, they embark on a desperate quest for the source of this spreading blight.

From the oppressive matriarchy of Nyx’Tolos to the sun-scorched graveyard of the Ashen Desert, their journey forces them into impossible alliances and brutal compromises. They uncover the horrifying truth: the Unmaking is orchestrated by a cult, manipulating ancient forces to unravel the very fabric of existence by targeting the Four Pillars of reality. The discovery of a silver locket, containing a forbidden memory of a pure, ancient love, hints at the cult’s deepest wound—and offers a desperate hope.

As the cult’s Laughing Shadow hunter stalks them, and the dwarves of the hidden Stonehammer clan rise from their exile to reclaim Hjarta-Fell, Gundroff, Seraphina, and Thaddeus must confront not just physical enemies, but the very nature of time, memory, and sorrow. They are three broken people, fighting to mend a broken world, in a war that threatens to unmake them all. “The Berserkers Brand” is the harrowing first chapter in “The Age of Scars,” where the lines between hero and monster blur, and survival demands a price no one can foresee.

About The Author

I’m David J. Hodges, and I’ve spent my entire life lost in the sprawling worlds of high fantasy. My passion for this genre began with the epic scope of Tolkien, the moral complexities of George R.R. Martin, and the cosmic terror of H.P. Lovecraft. For years, my primary method of storytelling was tabletop RPGs, where I wove the complex narrative that would eventually become The Berserker’s Brand: Book 1 from the Age of Scars as an ongoing epic for my family.

Honestly, I might never have finished the book if it weren’t for my wife, Stacia, who recognized that this story my epic tale that started at the gaming table was something that deserved to be shared with the world. This novel is more than an adventure; it’s a deep dive into the very fears my grandpa once shared with me: time, memory, and the terror of being forgotten. That concept is the beating heart of this entire series. My goal wasn’t to be the next anyone, but the first me, and to show my daughter that every story, no matter how small, is profoundly important.

I have no formal training in writing, but I’ve been building worlds and spinning yarns since I was a young child. That tradition started when my Dad would take me into the mountains and weave tales of dragons and forgotten heroes under the stars around a campfire. Today, I continue to find inspiration in the rugged, natural beauty of my home in Utah. When I’m not writing, you can find me enjoying tabletop games, exploring the wilderness, and spending time with my family.