Tales From A Shattered World
A Short Story Collection
By J.A. Roggie
Tales from a Shattered World is a haunting collection of dark fiction that explores the fragile boundary between reality and the unknown. Each story opens a door into a different world, where ordinary choices unravel into extraordinary consequences, and unseen forces linger just beyond perception.
From quiet woods where something watches from the shadows, to dying worlds that offer no true escape, to machines that promise miracles at an unimaginable cost, these stories weave together themes of grief, transformation, and the unsettling possibility that reality is far less stable than it seems.
Blending elements of horror, speculative fiction, and psychological suspense, this collection invites readers to step beyond the familiar and confront the question: what if the impossible is already happening?
Perfect for fans of atmospheric horror and thought-provoking dark fiction, Tales from a Shattered World lingers long after the final page, leaving readers to wonder what might be waiting just outside their own world.
Devaultus Was Here
A Novelette Prequel to “The Book of Devaultus”
By J.A. Roggie
When a rogue portal dumps Devaultus, master of daggers, lies, and a happy go lucky attitude, into a world of motorcycles, neon skylines, and disturbingly attractive vampires, he does what he does best: adapt, confuse his enemies, and cause utter mayhem.
But this world isn’t just strange, it’s dangerous. Crystal-skinned beings known as the Quarnyx are already here, and they're tracking something... or someone. And Devaultus might’ve "accidentally" stolen the very artifact they’re hunting.
Teaming up with Darius and Saphire, two leather-clad vampire outlaws with a thirst for justice and a flair for destruction, Devaultus launches into a brutal fight across shadowy warehouses, bloody alleyways, and underground biker bars. With poisoned blades and twisted plans, he may just have a shot at survival.
That is… if he can keep his head, hold onto his ring, and remember which portal leads out.
A dark, fast-paced ride filled with sarcastic banter, brutal fight scenes, and unexpected heart, Devaultus Was Here is your gateway into the chaos that is The Dark Deceiver Chronicles.
The Book of Devaultus
The Dark Deceiver Chronicles Book 1
By J.A. Roggie
Things have been going to hell in Tyranus for years. Heroes are gone. New ones die fast. People vanish, sold into slavery or left dead in dark alleys. The Lords? I wouldn't depend on them. They're too busy filling their vaults and bellies to care. The gods? Yeah, they care even less. Everyone else? Broken, beaten, and resigned.
None of this mattered to me. I am Devaultus, shapeshifting bard, occasional murderer, professional annoyance, and one of the most incredible lute players you will ever meet. I live day to day, hunt a missing ring, and keep my knives sharp. Until the day I found a noblewoman cornered in an alley. Most days, I would have let her scream. Heroes never last. But today... I was bored.
That choice set in motion an adventure I did not anticipate. I brought down upon me the wrath of the Lords, garnered the attention of gods, and found the kind of trouble that makes average people beg for mercy.
My past is dark, my secrets dangerous, and my skills... lethal. I may be the only one standing between this world and absolute ruin, but honestly? I'm not sure if I care if it burns around me.
They will tell you this is a story about a hero. It's not. It's about me, a bard who should have stayed out of it, the companions who complicate everything, and an old friend called 'chaos' who refuses to leave me alone.
You wanted a hero. Instead, you got me.
Whether we survive or not, it's going to be a hell of a show.
-Devaultus
THE DEATH PANDEMIC
A Free Short Story by J.A. Roggie
The Death Pandemic is a short story about grief, loss, and the unexpected connections that help us keep moving when the people we love are gone.
We all experience loss in our lives. Sooner or later, it finds all of us. Sometimes it's difficult to see past the pain that those losses leave behind.
I wrote this short story and I'm sharing it with everyone. I'm not asking for a penny in return. I'm simply hoping it helps someone else make it through the tough times.
Because no matter what we're going through, there are people who see us. There are people whose day is made a little better simply because we're a part of their lives.
Look inside yourself and be that person.
Be better. Be stronger.
Together, we will get through the good and the bad.
I hope you enjoy this story, and I hope that when you finish it, you remember that even when some of the people we love are no longer with us, there are still people around us who need our light.
Free to read. Free to share.
Until next chapter,
J.A. Roggie
The Grinning Bard
