The Crack in the Crystal

by Barak Engel

Overview

Five unlikely heroes, one buried secret

At the heart of the volcanic city of Kyber lies a secret that has been hidden for centuries.

The clues surrounding this mystery begin to unfold when five strangers are recruited by a shadowy organization. As covert missions lead to more questions than answers, the increasingly desperate heroes seek help from unexpected sources. The key to Kyber’s secret and the truth behind each of their pasts can only be found by facing fierce stone storms, unlocking dormant fantastical abilities, and confronting past mistakes. Caught up in intrigues beyond their understanding, the ragtag band of adventurers must learn to trust themselves and each other as they reach for the stunning conclusion. This adventure fantasy—inspired by a D&D campaign—is filled with magic, missing identities, and daring escapes. Be ready for surprises at every turn with a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. 

The Crack in the Crystal is Barak’s debut novel, inspired both by his love of role-playing and his career in cyber security. He is the author of award-winning books such as Why CISOs Fail and The Security Hippie, which have found a global audience and are recognized as leading texts in the field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798886452440
Publisher:	Greenleaf Book Group Press
Publication date:	10/22/2024
Pages:	354
Sales rank:	824,235
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Barak grew up dreaming of being in the creative arts. Instead, he faced the choice of being a doctor or lawyer; the Jewish stereotype jokes write themselves. After being accepted to medical school and realizing what it actually took to become a real doctor, his inner lazy fair (which is such a dad pun he insisted it’s pointed out) recoiled in horror and he went into engineering instead. 

Graduating from the Technion in Israel, he embarked on a Cybersecurity career, and later became the world’s first “virtual CISO.” If you’re reading this book, then it is (mostly) irrelevant, as is the fact that he wrote a few books on the topic of Cybersecurity. He also built a couple of companies and along the way proudly adopted the title given to him by his own staff: Pretty Lil’ Princess. 

That’s what “PLP” stands for on his LinkedIn profile.

His passion for the arts, though, never wavered.

The unusual, final twist in The Crack in the Crystal has been percolating in his mind for a long time, looking for a story anchor. When one finally showed up, Barak spent several ecstatic months crafting the narrative around it, hoping that when it came time for the big reveal, he would find a way to do it justice. He was thrilled that during the extensive period of beta testing, not one person managed to figure it out before it happened. 

Getting it right only took a day’s long medicine journey on a heroic dose of magic mushrooms. 

He hopes his story brings you joy, and if so, he says, then it is enough.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

The Crack in the Crystal is a wickedly fun and lyrically written stormfaring fantasy heist that slides beautifully into any reader’s shelf between Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series and Joe Abercrombie’s Shattered Sea YA series. Barak Engel’s adult-oriented story’s darker elements are kept teen-friendly, while the propulsive plotting is to be enjoyed by all. Barak Engel gives readers a new take on the fantasy genre’s coming-of-age story, with twists and intersecting character journeys that are by turns thrilling, thought provoking, and heartfelt. The greater yarn of their shared destinies unspools before our eyes, page by page, with masterful plotting. It’s all delivered with a dash of science and dark humor in the tradition of Scott Lynch. Barak’s technical background shines through in how the fabric of his universe is held together by societal rules and a magical system that makes the world feel all the more unique and real.”

—Eliot Baker, author, The Last Ancient

 

“Barak Engel speaks truth in all senses of the word: true characterizations, true actions, true storytelling. He peels away the layers of narrative to reveal the beating heart of a tale in all its glory. In other words: don’t wait. Read it.”

—Allison Landa, author, Bearded Lady

 

“Whether writing crime, mystery, or fantasy, a writer has two main functions: to transport and elucidate. A little weird also doesn’t hurt. In The Crack in the Crystal, author Barak Engel takes the reader far away, with the wildest tale you’ll find this side of Misty Mountain. An enchanting, out-of-this-world experience guaranteed to keep your heart racing.”

—Joe Clifford, author, The Jay Porter Thriller series

 

“As a new player in the fantasy genre, Barak Engel has certainly made a strong impression with The Crack in the Crystal. His ability to create a compelling story with multi-dimensional characters and a richly detailed world suggests that he has a bright future ahead of him in the literary world. I eagerly anticipate his next work and hope to see more of his unique voice and imaginative storytelling in future books.”

—RJ Windham, global activist and author of Inside the Mind of a Cancer Patient,

RJWindham.com

 

“The weaving of a world is a long, arduous task filled with self-doubt and disappointment. But on rare occasions, a rich tapestry such as The Crack in the Crystal by Barak Engel is woven. Each painstakingly crafted detail stands out in sharp relief, yet they create a tactile harmony. The gold and silver threads that wind their way through this wondrous story are the instantly intriguing, beautifully flawed, and gloriously realized characters. This is not a tale to be missed.”

—Bill Roper, legendary video game creative (including Diablo, Starcarft & Warcraft series), musician, actor, and epic nerd

 

“The adventure drew me in quickly and I wanted to find out what would happen next . . . it’s a fantasy novel that doesn’t suck!”

—Michael Mechanic, author, Jackpot