Books by Paul
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Books by Paul
Keeper of the Deer, Book Three
by Paul Heisel
The Balance is Broken
A Keeper must Arise
In a land where ancient magic weaves through every living thing, Heather—a determined yet conflicted young druid—is thrust into a battle for her realm’s future. Torn between familial loyalty and destiny’s call, her journey from the familiar Druid’s Glen into the intrigues of rogue magic ignites a confrontation with shadows, treacherous relics, and the bitter legacy of nature’s wrath. With the survival of her people and the natural world hanging in the balance, Heather must risk everything to defy the darkness before it consumes Elarandor.
In Elarandor, the fall of The One Tree has done more than silence a sacred grove-it has unsettled the balance of the world itself. The druids once stood united as keepers of root and river, bound to a living symbol of harmony between civilization and the wild. Now that bond lies broken.
Whispers spread across the glens: mages are returning.
Long thought shattered in the Sundering, their forbidden arts stir again in distant lands. Ancient relics, forged in ages of ambition and ruin, surface from buried vaults and forgotten ruins. Each carries power enough to reshape kingdoms-or destroy them. At the center of the growing storm lies a desperate question: where will the new One Tree rise, and who will claim the right to guard it?
Heather feels the answer forming long before the council is willing to listen.
Still young, yet hardened by betrayal and loss, she stands at the crossroads of fate. The mission to the Mage-Gate has fractured her family, driving loved ones onto divergent paths shaped by duty and doubt. Within the Druid Council, unity falters. Old alliances splinter. Political maneuvering threatens to eclipse wisdom, even as a darker threat gathers strength beyond their sight.
The Shadow Druids are no longer whispers in the forest. They move with purpose, twisting sacred teachings into instruments of control. Where they walk, nature does not wither-it obeys.
As rival factions race to secure the site of the new One Tree, Heather must endure trials that test more than her command of nature. She must decide what it means to be a keeper in a world where power tempts even the faithful. To preserve what remains of the old harmony, she may have to embrace a future that no druid has dared imagine.
The mages rise
Relics awaken.
The council fractures.
And Heather must stand between a wounded world and those who would claim its heart.
Keeper, the third book in the Keeper of the Deer saga continues the sweeping tale of sacrifice, legacy, and the fragile line between devotion and domination in the world of Elarandor.
Welcome to Books by Paul. I’m Paul Heisel, a fantasy author passionate about building immersive worlds and unforgettable characters. Whether it’s ancient forests, lost cities, or haunted towers, my stories are filled with mystery, magic, and meaning. This store is where those worlds come to life—through books, exclusive editions, and more. Thanks for joining me on the journey. Adventure awaits.
Paul Heisel is a fantasy author with a lifelong love of storytelling, first sparked in 1979 when he discovered Dungeons & Dragons and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Raised in Alaska and inspired by the wild landscapes of his youth, Paul began writing at thirteen and never stopped—building worlds shaped by loyalty, betrayal, and the eternal clash between light and shadow. His flagship series, Keeper of the Deer, has been nearly five decades in the making. In addition to that sprawling fantasy epic, Paul has published the An Emperor’s Fury series, Tale of the Catstaff, and a contemporary thriller, First Frontier. Paul’s writing is grounded, immersive, and driven by moral complexity. He invites readers to imagine beyond the page, to explore not only what is said but what is left unsaid. When he’s not writing, Paul works as a Principal Underwriter for the world’s leading property insurer, FM. He lives in Frisco, Texas, where he enjoys cooking, sipping Hendrick’s martinis, and listening to Alan Parsons while dreaming up new stories. Explore more at paulheisel.com or visit his official shop at books.by. Get Special Editions at https://paulhbooks.etsy.com. Also explore the world of Keeper of the Deer at Paul's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@PaulHeiselBooks. Smash evil.
Keeper of the Deer, Book Two
In a world where nature and sorcery collide, young druid apprentice Heather faces betrayal and rising darkness within the sacred groves of Druid’s Glen. As forbidden magic reawakens and old alliances falter, her courage and faith are tested in a struggle that will decide the fate of the One Tree — and the balance of life itself.
Keeper of the Deer - Book One
Cast out. Bound in servitude. Hunted by blood and shadow.
Rad never asked for power. But in the halls of Château Saignoral, where secrets fester and cruelty reigns, a hidden legacy awakens. As darkness coils beneath the surface and ancient forces stir, Rad must decide what he’s willing to risk to reclaim his name—and his soul.