Matthew D Riven

The Short Answers

Questions & Answers

Quick versions. Each links to a longer one elsewhere on the site.

Who is Matthew D Riven?
Matthew D Riven is the pen name of a Christian fiction author from Ohio. He writes Christian fantasy that explores faith, doubt, deception, and redemption.
What is The Shattered Covenant?
A Christian fantasy novel set in the kingdom of Terindale. It follows Malak Crosswell, a father with a buried past, and his family as they travel north into political fracture and spiritual confrontation.
Where can I read it?
On Kindle. Each Part is released as a Kindle short and is included with Kindle Unlimited.
How are new parts released?
Chapter by chapter. Each Part of the serial is published on Kindle as it is written. The Prelude released in February 2025; subsequent Parts follow as they're completed.
Is the book finished?
No. The Shattered Covenant is being released in serialized form as it is written. Twelve Parts are written, with more to come. When the story is complete, a collected paperback and Kindle edition will follow at a lower total price.
Why read an unfinished work?
Two reasons. First, the serialized installments are each a first edition, a record of the story as it was first released and preserved as readers first encountered it. Second, readers who choose the serial version experience the story as it unfolds in real time, supporting the work as it's being written.
Did AI help write it?
Yes, as an execution layer rather than a collaborator. The author owns every decision about plot, characters, theology, and meaning. AI accelerated the drafting under tight constraints, with every change reviewable in version control. See the Transparency page for the full account.
What is Riven's broader project?
The Shattered Covenant is one of three projects through which the author is exploring how to work with AI tools more deliberately, alongside this website and an interactive narrative game in development. The shared premise: AI is a tool the craftsman directs, not a partner who decides. See Work for the broader picture.