{"product_id":"the-crack-in-the-crystal-9798886452440","title":"The Crack in the Crystal","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFive unlikely heroes, one buried secret\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e At the heart of the volcanic city of Kyber lies a secret that has been hidden for centuries. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e The clues surrounding this mystery begin to unfold when five strangers are recruited by a shadowy organization. As covert missions lead to more questions than answers, the increasingly desperate heroes seek help from unexpected sources. The key to Kyber's secret and the truth behind each of their pasts can only be found by facing fierce stone storms, unlocking dormant fantastical abilities, and confronting past mistakes. Caught up in intrigues beyond their understanding, the ragtag band of adventurers must learn to trust themselves and each other as they reach for the stunning conclusion. This adventure fantasy--inspired by a D\u0026amp;D campaign--is filled with magic, missing identities, and daring escapes. Be ready for surprises at every turn with a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Crack in the Crystal\u003c\/i\u003e is Barak's debut novel, inspired both by his love of role-playing and his career in cyber security. He is the author of award-winning books such as \u003ci\u003eWhy CISOs Fail\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Security Hippie\u003c\/i\u003e, which have found a global audience and are recognized as leading texts in the field. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e Barak grew up dreaming of being in the creative arts. Instead, he faced the choice of being a doctor or lawyer; the Jewish stereotype jokes write themselves. After being accepted to medical school and realizing what it actually took to become a real doctor, his inner lazy fair (which is \u003ci\u003esuch \u003c\/i\u003ea dad pun he insisted it's pointed out) recoiled in horror and he went into engineering instead. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Graduating from the Technion in Israel, he embarked on a Cybersecurity career, and later became the world's first \"virtual CISO.\" If you're reading \u003ci\u003ethis \u003c\/i\u003ebook, then it is (mostly) irrelevant, as is the fact that he wrote a few books on the topic of Cybersecurity. He also built a couple of companies and along the way proudly adopted the title given to him by his own staff: Pretty Lil' Princess. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e That's what \"PLP\" stands for on his LinkedIn profile. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e His passion for the arts, though, never wavered. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e The unusual, final twist in \u003ci\u003eThe Crack in the Crystal\u003c\/i\u003e has been percolating in his mind for a long time, looking for a story anchor. When one finally showed up, Barak spent several ecstatic months crafting the narrative around it, hoping that when it came time for the big reveal, he would find a way to do it justice. He was thrilled that during the extensive period of beta testing, not one person managed to figure it out before it happened. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Getting it right only took a day's long medicine journey on a heroic dose of magic mushrooms. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e He hopes his story brings you joy, and if so, he says, then it is enough. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Greenleaf Book Group Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50901964751122,"sku":"9798886452440","price":22.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_cce9375a-9a40-4a93-8d56-a659d1a7b148.jpg?v=1738443563","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-crack-in-the-crystal-9798886452440","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}