Homecoming

Broken Universe, Book 1

By: D.K. Landtroop

Narrated by: Rylee Kuberra, Boise Blue

From bestselling author D.K. Landtroop

What if the Isekai’d hero came back—with secrets, debts, and all his power stripped away?

Kyle Sangster ruled a magical realm as its near-divine emperor, forged in battles against the nine armies of hell and bound by pacts with gods who summoned him. After a decade of epic adventures, he found a way home to the parents and friends he loves. But he wakes in his 17-year-old body, fresh from a year-long coma, in a hometown far too curious about him.

High school. Worried parents. Zero magic. Once a world-ruler, now a regular teen—his legendary skills now mere fragments. His old foes led demon legions; here, they run banks and score touchdowns. His parents, crushed by debt from his care, need him now more than ever. Yet his return may be unraveling reality, awakening magic in his friends and stirring forces only he can see.

With shadowy threats closing in, Kyle must rebuild his strength, outsmart cunning enemies, and protect his family while guiding a world on the brink of transformation.

Witty, raw, and fiercely original, Broken Universe flips portal fantasy on its head—where a hero’s choice to return may have broken reality.

©2025 D.K. Landtroop (P)2025 Royal Guard Publishing LLC

Good start!

It’s a good start for a new book series and a nice twist on the Hero story. The only downside was the very classical clichés that the author just had to have in the book. This made the story somewhat predictable.

Worth the credit

I like the premise, and I'm interested to learn more about the system and the story. I didn't like the many perspectives, but I applaud putting them in different chapters.

A good start

It’s a slow burn, ramps up in the middle and gets you excited for book 2 when it drops. Genuinely can’t way.

we all know what it's like to be sucked into another world

But what happens when you have saved the day and that story ends and you get sent home... that question that has haunted me since the first time Lord British sent the Avatar home in Ultima. D K Landtroop gives us answers highly recommended.

Clever, Engaging and Surprisingly Thoughtful

This book really surprised me in the best way. I often think that an author can’t truly write a character who’s smarter than themselves — there’s usually a ceiling on how “brilliant” a protagonist can feel. But this author genuinely impressed me. The main character’s intelligence felt real and well thought out, with ideas I wouldn’t have come up with myself.

It was fascinating to watch a 17-year-old protagonist quietly building a company from the ground up — forming trusts, hiring experts, and thinking several steps ahead. The author managed to make those high-level business and strategy moments engaging and believable, which is no small feat.

That said, some of the “teen” elements didn’t quite land for me. While the main character himself acts far more mature than his age, his interactions with a few of the other teenage characters sometimes made the book feel geared toward a younger audience.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed it. It’s rare to find a story that balances youthful energy with such clever, thoughtful planning, and this one pulled it off better than most.