BOOK 2 IS NOW AVAILABLE!

Empire’s Cost: Forged in Paper

The second novel in The 500-Year Journey, has officially launched.

*****

The Schutt family survived the fires of persecution. Now empire has found colder weapons.

Amsterdam, 1595. Ships crowd the harbor, fortunes change hands in counting houses, and the newly formed Dutch East India Company promises ordinary families a share in an extraordinary future. But every voyage carries a cost—and every signature leaves a mark.

Continue the journey that began with The Night the Bells Burned.

Eight books. Five centuries. One family carrying its name through history.

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The Night the Bells Burned

Book 1 in The 500-Year Journey Series

*****

In 1544, Cornelis Schutt gave his wife his word: their children would grow up free. Now the Spanish Empire is teaching him what that promise will cost.

A neighbor is dragged from his home in the night. A baker’s family burns in the square. Cornelis believes that if he stays quiet, bows his head, and endures, his family might survive.

He is wrong.

From the blood-soaked snow of Naarden to the siege of Alkmaar, The Night the Bells Burned follows one family driven into a world of fear, faith, sacrifice, and impossible choices. As Spanish occupation tightens its grip, the Schutts must decide what can be endured, what must be risked, and how much a father can lose before silence becomes surrender.

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Reviews of The Night the Bells Burned

  • “An ambitious and gripping historical thriller.”

    — Colin Mustful, Founder of History Through Fiction

  • “A compelling and emotional story that will live in readers’ minds long after they’ve turned the final page.”

    — Jennifer Kay Davies, The History Quill

  • “A richly researched historical novel that launches the Schutt family saga, beginning amid the upheaval of the Dutch Revolt and bringing the 16th century vividly to life."

    — Amazon buyer

  • "I recommend the reading of this novel wholeheartedly. Mr. Brothers has captured this tumultuous period of history faultlessly through his characters. Whether it be a surprise attack in the woods, or a family gathering around the table, the reader will be completely immersed in his poetic prose."

    — Diana W. (Amazon buyer)

  • "The Night the Bells Burned is a masterful blend of historical accuracy, memorable characters, and gripping storytelling. Highly recommended. I found it to be as interesting, educational and thrilling as Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follet)"

    — Douglas Taranow

  • "I laughed. I cried. Sometimes I did both on the same page. The Night the Bells Burned pulled me in fast and stayed with me after I closed it. I expected a historical novel. I got a family I cared about… I finished it thinking about my own family, my own past, and what people carry forward when almost everything else is taken away."

    — B. Brown

  • “An immersive historical fiction novel about survival. The pacing is on point, and although the novel covers 30 years, the story feels tense and fast-paced. This was the first historical fiction version I've read of this event and it really helped me feel what that was like."

    — LMargot

  • “It's a captivating story. But what I truly appreciate about The Night the Bells Burned is the pure academic thoroughness and research that went into the writing. The level of details, the first-hand accounts and resources all combine together to make an interesting and fun read! I'm excited for the next installment in what will clearly be an amazing series."

    — Robert B.

  • “A chilling descent into a town where history refuses to stay buried. The author blends slow‑burn dread with psychological tension, creating a story that feels both ancient and immediate. The atmosphere is thick with smoke, superstition, and the echo of bells that seem to ring long after the page is turned. It’s haunting, immersive, and impossible to put down — a perfect read for anyone who craves darkness with depth."

    — Amanda Stevens

Coming soon: The 500-Year Journey, Book 3

The River Carves the Stone

New Netherland, 1638…

Rich in frontier danger, family stakes, and historical atmosphere, The River Carves the Stone is a gripping historical thriller about survival, identity, land, and the cost of beginning again.

The fire burned. The debt was counted. Now the river takes its due.

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