A Crucible of Light [EPIC PROGRESSION FANTASY]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

To gain the power she needs to save those she loves, Magdalena must become the darkness she sought to root out from the world.

Humanity is in an endless war against the Maldrath- devouring monstrosities from beyond the veil. Spawned from dungeons that intrude on the mortal plane, humans have come together to form the Crown Coalition Forces to hold back the tide.

Mags, an orphan of a devastating incursion, always dreamed of joining the Forces to fight back. And she works towards that goal with every fiber of her being.

One day, she goes on an unauthorized exploration of a dungeon, and gets her hands on a power that could destroy the Maldrath threat forever- or doom the world to oblivion.

A Crucible of Light is Stormlight Archive meets Attack on Titan. For fans of traditional epic fantasy (with a System).

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Official Cover Art by VladimirSolnyshko.

vol. 1: THE MALEVOLENT TIDE- Ongoing (Ch. 1 thru --)

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What to expect:

- Epic scale in worldbuilding: detailed, diverse, and a world larger than the MC’s perspective!

- Chapter length: averages3,000words (2,000 – 4,000 words).

- Female MC

- Slow burn

- Weak (relatively) to strong to OP (eventually).MC will spend most of the first Arc without access to the power system.

- No harems or murder hobos, no significant romance.

- The story will get dark at moments but won’t be stuck there.

- A magic system based on some of my favorite epic fantasy stories with flavors of anime-influenced power systems.

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RELEASE SCHEDULE:

Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Last week of every month:A break from release to focus on editing, story development planning and outlining.

Will occasionally include Wednesday/Friday uploads called “Interludes” which will be bonus chapters with non-primary POVs focused on Worldbuilding or character-centric flashbacks (these are often shorter). Interludes DO NOT count as a chapter release.

Information

Status
Hiatus
Year
2024
Author
RMCollinwood

Tags

LITRPGACTIONFANTASYADVENTUREMAGICFEMALE LEADGAMELITSTRATEGYPROGRESSION

Royal Road Stats

Rating
4.4/ 5.0
Followers
1,356
Views
240,401

Chapters(81 total)

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(10)

  • tildeRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    I've greatly enjoyed watching Mags grow and the start of this arc has me waiting with baited breath.
    It will be interesting to meet a new cast of characters even if we had to say goodbye to some characters I've come to know and love.
    Overall I've enjoyed how this story intersperses interludes to flesh out characters for the world. I expect this arc to be the best yet!
  • EscapefromrealityRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    A fiction that is well executed, with a unique world, power system and concept. Refreshing when an author takes the time to set up the world before giving an MC the cool powers. The characters have depth and backstory that is revealed in flashbacks that do the story justice. The use of flashbacks as a structure benefit the tense feelings between chapters and add just enough context to the story to keep me in suspence. Very impressed.
  • LARSrevolutionRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Please be aware that this review is made by a beta reader, keep that in mind when reading but don't worry, this is a spoiler free review:
    A Crucible of LIght clearly shows its author's love of the genre, from fantastical jellyfish in the stars, Dungeon delving, and-well, you'll see soon enough just how much love and care and exciting things your going to find in this story. The worldbuilding and description is on point here but it doesn't feel overbearing as the author manages to seamlessly flow information in easily digestible ways making you not realize just how much you are learning and even experiencing through the eyes of the multiple POVs.
    If you enjoy a fantasy with a slowburn progression where stakes are real, and consequences even more so, then look no further. The characters act and feel real and the more you learn about them, the darker and more real their struggles and burdens feel. If I were to give any piece of advice, don't sleep on the Interludes. While they may not be full chapters in their own right, they are stuffed to the brim with information, scenes, and pivotal moments that bring back characters that aren't within Mags' vicinity. Keep reading, I'm sure you'll love it as much as I do.
    STYLE: The Author has a quick and easily digestible prose and way of describing things that don't bog down the flow of the story. You see, feel, hear, and understand as rapidly as the characters do which I think is the most desirable outcome in a story like this. The dialogue feels realistic for the ones who speak it, and the interior monologues are easily distinguishable among the POVs.
    STORY:  While I can't say too much, what you see in the beginning clearly sets up a grand scale this will clearly be a lengthy story! Which in my book (pun intended) is a good thing. Like the other review by Critical Scribe, there is little to no "dead air" and every single chapter feels meaningful and impactful, even if you don't always understand the full picture. There is plent
  • OCRAuthorRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Reviewed at chapter 7 - dungeon II (sniper)
    A Crucible of Light is reminiscent of epic fantasy, but with some of the faster pacing to be expected of a progression fantasy story. That’s the pitch, and I think it delivers on it very well so far.
    The world beckons you in, and there is a distinct feeling that the author has put a lot of thought into this world. Rather than spend too long overwhelming the reader with Proper Nouns, we instead get to see the world as the protagonist does, and it unfolds nicely within the first half dozen chapters. The interludes are a nice way of providing further exposition without feeling forced, and everything I’ve learned so far has made me want to dive further in.
    The plot is also flowing well from the start, and I feel the pacing is good – fast enough to keep things moving, but takes enough time to let us get to know the characters before their world is inevitably turned on its head.
    The action is crisp, and I find it easy to follow what is happening. There’s plenty speckled in throughout the first few chapters while still giving time for the characters, plot and worldbuilding to hook you in.
    Style: The writing is clear and puts you right into the world. I think the highest praise I can given this writing is that you don’t notice it. You feel immersed, and the world slips by into your mind. There is focus paid to the world but it doesn’t feel overly indulgent, and the descriptions are both flavourful and concise. The protagonist walks through the world, and you as the reader experience the world as she does.
    Characters: The protagonist – Mags – is great. We are given enough of her backstory to guess at where some of her impressive drive and competence comes from, and her goals are clear and understandable. The interactions between the supporting cast so far have been very well done, and each has a distinct voice.
    Grammar: I found no repeated mistakes or errors. Reads like any published e-book in the genre that’s gone through a full e
  • OccultoRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    A Crucible of Light offers an enthralling dive into the depths of Iardyss, blending vivid descriptions with dynamic sequences that keep readers at the edge of their seats. The story brings to life the world’s rich fantasy setting, taking us from the eerie corridors of labyrinthine Deeps to the hidden chambers of Soulgrave House. The balance of classic dungeon-crawl elements, like the tense encounters Mags, Sabo, and Bidelia face, is masterfully interwoven with unique lore that hints at the broader mysteries of the world. While the pacing drives the story forward, some intense action scenes might benefit from a slower approach, allowing the tension and stakes to sink in even further.
    Style: The author’s style captures the dark, mysterious atmosphere of places like the corridors of Soulgrave and the intricate patterns of the dungeon floors. Descriptions are lush, and the magic of Soulsinging is brought to life with an almost tangible energy. However, some complex concepts, such as the mechanics of navigating the Deeps or the aetheric lore, could use a bit more clarity to ensure the reader remains fully immersed in the world without needing to pause and re-read.
    Story: The unfolding plot skillfully blends action, lore, and exploration, keeping readers engaged as the characters journey through places like the depths of the Veins of Aether or the foreboding halls of Soulgrave. The balance between familiar fantasy elements and new, exciting twists—like the mechanics of Deeps and the enigmatic presence of the Morduu—adds a fresh spin to the genre. That said, given the complexity and depth of the lore introduced, a bit more background information could help maintain clarity when new elements are brought into play.
    Grammar: The grammar and mechanics throughout the story are polished and professional, mirroring the author’s care in crafting the world of A Crucible of Light. Dialogue, especially the exchanges between characters like Mags, Sabo, and Bidelia, flows naturally, an
  • R.BRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Huh, you better get that story up and rising like a star. You're almost there and i know it is worth the rising and shooting star pantheon. Now soar! Soar and bring this 'wesome nivel to the 7neducated masses so they can discover your world and characters.
    People wills want more.
  • SRadioactiveRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Definitely still reading and stoked to jump into the story while it's early on. Mags is a down-to-earth badass, honestly my favorite part. I am really enjoying the building out of the magic system as well. I like that there is some jealousy of talent there within the party as well, feels very authentic.
  • WheatShadowRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    I think this story right now has the potential to be a 5 star story now that we've gotten past all the exposition in the first book. It dragged on a bit too much, and was probably like 2× the length it needed to be, with a lot of exposition.
    I really like the characters and the world building, and it seems like we're getting a lot less exposition and more actual story and character development. So I'll give it a 5 because I feel the potential that book 2 has, even if I feel imo the prologue was probably 4 stars (maybe lower or higher depending on how much you dislike exposition and slow pacing). I trust the Collinwood knows what they're doing, and that they're building up to the story they want to tell.
    The fight scenes don't drag on too long, our character has a good motivation to complete her goal, and I'm really invested in the world. The chapters where she's just interacting with other people are interesting, especially where they stick around across multiple chapters.
    Sorry if this has been a bit too critical, but I really like the story.
    How much is 200 words, it feels like I've written way more.
  • dzweigRoyal Road
    ★★★★ 4.0
    The first arc is promising.  The author promised slow story development with careful world building, and so far, that is what was delivered.  The world being built is dark:  The monsters are monstrous, most people are potential victims - and those possessing power aren't particularly nice either.  The LitRPG elements of the story have so far been treated with restraint.
  • BarnescandoRoyal Road
    ★★★ 2.5
    I'll keep it simple - This drew me in because the idea of Kaiju 8 and Stormlight archive really grabbed me and really appealed.
    It started off well enough but by chapter 12 - when I stopped - there had been several chapters of flashbacks, the Deep (dungeon) that they were to search seemed to be dragging on with little actual progress being made and little to hold onto my attention.
    The background story elements of aether technology and the nature of Navigators was very interesting still.
    The dungeon just. Lacked.
    In the end I just didn't get along with it.