Shropshire-based author Stephen Anthony Brotherton draws on Greek mythology to deliver a gripping new novel, Borrowed Time, a story of love, loss, and the enduring power of human connection.

In Borrowed Time, Rico, Mary, and a gangster named Fats are thrust into a dangerous journey beyond the veil of death, caught in a deadly game of power and revenge. Their fates rest in the hands of Octavius and his embittered daughter, Livia, whose lifelong resentment toward her father stems from a tragic deal with the devil, Wrath. As the story unfolds, long-buried questions about destiny, fulfillment, and the very nature of the soul emerge. With both literal and personal demons to confront, only the Fates know who will survive.

Brotherton, who has worked in social care for over thirty years and currently serves in the NHS, began creative writing a decade ago. His fiction often explores the complexities of vulnerability, spanning life, death, and the spaces beyond. He lives in Shropshire with his schnoodle, River, and has published three previous works, including a novel and two collections of short stories. He is also a longstanding member of the Bridgnorth Writers’ Group and can be followed on Instagram at @sab_author.

Reflecting on his inspiration, Brotherton says:
“I have had a fascination with Greek mythology since childhood and, in particular, the ways in which these stories provide parallel links to aid a better understanding of modern-day lives. Borrowed Time is essentially about human connections, the degree to which fate intervenes in lives, and the fact that everyone is searching for the same things out of their existence. The ways of achieving this can be good or bad, but it is all about finding a way to survive. My fiction revisits lives that ended abruptly or were never really lived. Loss of identity, loss of self, loss of family, loss of relationships—all figure as headline acts in my stories, but I try to restore a sense of living.”

Book Details:

  • Title: Borrowed Time

  • Author: Stephen Anthony Brotherton

  • ISBN: 9781835743317

  • Release Date: 28 November 2025

  • Price: £9.99

Borrowed Time is a powerful, mythologically infused exploration of human connection and survival, perfect for readers of literary fiction, contemporary fantasy, and Greek mythology alike.

Author: Stephen Anthony Brotherton,