The Fifth Kingdom: Before the Fractureby Brinda PhokeerdassBefore the Fracture is the story of a world built on harmony-and what happens when that harmony becomes a threat. Through Manara, the last heir of balance, we witness not just the unraveling of ancient alliances, but the quiet courage it takes to stand against unstoppable division. This book is a love letter to gentleness in an age of ambition, to the power of empathy in the face of elemental war, and to the idea that sometimes, something must break before it can truly heal.