The Silent Kingdom
By Mark Anthony Brown
Once, the world was alive with words. The air was filled with the vibrant sounds of laughter, songs, arguments, and stories that connected every soul in the kingdom. Speech was a gift, a cherished freedom that bound the people together, creating a world rich in conversation and thought. But that was before the silence.
Gradually, whispers of discontent began to stir in the streets, until one day the Monarch's voice rose above all others, decreeing that no more would be spoken. From that moment on, the kingdom's voice was lost, replaced by a law of silence. The Monarch's voice echoed through the land, a powerful force that commanded all to remain quiet. To speak, to sing, or to even whisper became a crime punishable by exile, erasure, or worse.
The people adapted. They learned the silent language of gestures and signs, their conversations reduced to movements and symbols. The old ways of speaking became distant memories, locked away in the forgotten corners of libraries, hidden from the Monarch's prying eyes.
But not all voices were silenced.
In secret, in the hidden places of the world, the whispers of the past lingered, carried by old journals and the minds of rebels who remembered what it was like to speak freely. And one voice, louder than the rest, began to call out.
Elysia, a young girl living in the quiet city, begins to hear the voices of the past calling to her - voices that haven't been heard in centuries. As she uncovers the long-buried secrets of her kingdom, she learns that the silence was never meant to last, and that the true power of speech is far greater than anyone could have imagined.
As the silence begins to crack, the kingdom faces a new dawn - one filled with possibility, danger, and the unshakable truth that the voices of the past will never be silenced again.
The Silent Kingdom is a spellbinding tale of rebellion, power, and the fight for freedom. With a brave heroine at its heart, this is a story for anyone who has ever fought to be heard.
The Silent Kingdom is best suited for readers ages 12 and up, making it appropriate for the young adult (YA) audience. The Moonlit Bookstore Series