Pieces of My Heart

Pieces of My Heart — A Story of First Love, Freedom, and Loss

Young Princess Astraea has always lived behind silken curtains and gilded walls, her life shaped by duty rather than choice. Hidden within the palace gardens, she meets Vaelith Nocturne—a quiet, scarred boy whose kindness and calm strength offer her something she has never known: freedom. In stolen moments away from the court, their connection grows into a fragile first love, one that exists only as long as it remains unseen.

When Astraea is promised to a foreign prince, the delicate world she and Vaelith have built begins to fracture. A single desperate mistake exposes their secret, setting into motion events that cannot be undone. As loyalty clashes with love and the weight of the crown bears down, Astraea must face choices that will shape her future forever.

Gabriel Bloor’s Pieces of My Heart is a haunting, emotionally rich fantasy tale of innocence lost, love found too briefly, and the cost of choosing one’s own heart in a world ruled by power.

Discover Pieces of My Heart today and step into a story that lingers long after the final page.

Excerpt from the book

I, Princess Astraea of the royal family of Valemore, nibbled at the treat the chef gave me that will be part of the exquisite dinner planned tonight. Convincing him to spoil me a little before dinner has gotten almost too easy; all I have to do is make sure that I eat at least one section of the main course. I took a deep breath of fresh air scented with the flowers of the royal garden.

The royal garden is one of the prides of the kingdom of Rosvara. I do believe the only thing that is prized more over the ancient Rosvara royal garden is me. I, Princess Astraea, daughter to the king and queen, who bears the image of the moon goddess with my pure silver-white hair, fair skin, and starry blue eyes. The only daughter of the royal family. I have eleven older brothers, but they all have golden-blonde hair and sky-blue eyes. However, I am the favorite child; my mother was a priestess to the moon goddess, and despite being my father’s third wife, she was his favorite.

I stuck the last piece of my treat in my mouth and savored the moment of its sweetness before it vanished. A sigh escaped my lips. I wish I had more, but knowing the chef, he’s not going to give me any more until after dinner when the desserts are served.

“Maybe,” I said to myself, “I can get one of the older maids to get it for me if I ask nicely.”

My lips pulled my cheeks back at my own cleverness, and I turned around with the intent to find one of the maids when the silhouette of someone disappeared around the great tree in the center of the garden. Who could that have possibly been? If it had been a servant, they would have greeted me and asked if I needed anything. I will have to have a word with them and show them that’s not how to treat me! However, with that said, if it were a servant, why didn’t they just walk along the path instead of running across the grass? I saw the silhouette slowly emerging from the tree. Their tunic and trousers are in terrible condition, all dirty and threadbare. No servant would be allowed to come even near the palace in such conditions! That only means one thing: they aren’t a servant but some random peasant.

I took a sharp gasp and said, “The audacity!”

A burning heat grew in my face, and I stormed in their direction with every intention of giving them the tongue-lashing of their life, knowing full well that when my father, the king, found out, they would get fifty more lashes with a rawhide whip.

I assume the peasant, who appears to be a young boy, hasn’t seen me, for he took no notice of me. Regardless, he took a step closer to the tree and vanished from sight.

“What sorcery is this?!” I said to myself.