A Stirring at the Ridge [REMOVED]

Information

Status

Ongoing

Author

Solus-Solace

Reviews

Community Reviews(10)

• DanchiveRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  #WARNING: I'm not an English teacher, editor or a good writer. Everything I say here could be invalid. All subjective and all that.
  I just want to first say that I am thoroughly impressed by the languages. It shows the effort that was put in in the making of the novel. I have to say that this is one of the best books I have read on this site. Of course, there are some flaws so I'll start with the first impressions, and cons then the pros to a conclusion.
  First Impression: I believe that the first impression/chapter is the most important in a novel, so I'd like to begin with what caught my eye in the first few chapters.
  Now I must admit that I am the type of person that has to read a complex sentence (even the ones I wrote) multiple times to fully understand the content, and since I'm used to reading simpler texts like 'light novels' and 'learning ABC books for infants', I had just a wee difficult time with diction such as 'score of the year' and 'motley' (I had to search up the latter).
  The second thing I noticed was the names. Now, I love these unique names. Not only does it stand out from the rest, but it also works as a bit of world-building. When I think of the name "Górin", "Móð" or "Gráðír", images of foreign, medieval European or Scandinavian kingdoms come to mind (I don't know geography). The only thing about these names is as an English speaker, I have no idea how they are pronounced, so I'm forced to remember what they look like or just ignore all the little tattoos the letters have.
  Cons: Let's start with the cons so we can end with good taste in our mouth (is that a valid expression? Who knows).
  Now, I consider myself of average intellect, but some passages in the book made me question if I should apply for special education. Paragraphs such as:
  >It was no secret that Gráðír had just as much Síarner blood within him as Þérgic blood. Yet, as he put it, “Síarner blood, but it flows through a Þérgic heart.” Even this, he claimed, gave more validity to his b
• FirstNexusRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Style: This was the only small gripe I had with the story, as I've read a lot of fantasy, and the prose in this story is written really really well, but at times, it can be difficult to understand. The larger paragraphs also make it a slightly more difficult read, but that isn't a bad thing at all. Reading this type of deep fantasy style takes some thinking and good comprehension, and personally, I liked it a lot.
  Story: The story starts off well, with both a mission outlined and a whole lot of world buildng occurring in the first few chapters. It reads smoothly even through the internal flashbacks, as each paragraph and conversation connects and flows perfectly. Although the descriptions and detail might look like a lot, it never feels unnecessary. I applaud the author on building a good start to a unique world.
  Grammar: I didn't catch anything here, so nothing much to say. I will say a lot of fantasy stories suffer sometimes from grammar, as with larger expansive stories with tons of worldbuilding, it can be jarring to see a mistake, but I think the author has done well here and there wasn't anything I've caught so far.
  Character: I really like the character introductions so far, but I will say that other than our main ranger, it's been slightly difficult to track the names and descriptions of everyone so far. I haven't formed an attachment to any of them yet, but I think that will become easier as I read further.
  All in all, a solid entry to the genre, and I'm a stickler for new fantasy worlds so I recommend this to anyone who sees this review!
• LostButNotForgottenRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This story is not like the majority of stories on this site. It is short, has more descriptions than action scenes and tries to make dialogue sound like what these kinds of people would say rather than what we would. Above all, it manages to make its world feel alive and believable in a way that makes its grimdark aesthetic work very well. It skillfully creates a hopeless world (among others, but mainly) inhabited by cynical misanthropes while still giving humanity a fighting chance against despair and decay.
  Grammar: no major issues. 5/5
  Style: There are some awkward wordings from time to time (the author most likely speaks english as a second language) and unclear sections in action scenes. The dialogue tries for an old-timey feel and succeeds, but rarely it reads a bit too much like a poor shakespeare imitation and rather impractical. On the whole, though, these are not major issues, and the atmosphere as well as the descriptions of landscapes and moods are great. 4.5/5
  Characters: Our main characters are interesting people with believably rough edges considering the world they live in. Sometimes, the mediocre communication skills and the cynicism might get annoying, but I think it adds to the experience and mood, and it's more believable than the perfectly rational and self-controlled main characters you find a lot on this site. The depictions of insanity get quite intense but at a few points veer off into unintentional comedy or a high school theater performance (only once was it enough to break my suspension of disbelief). Over all, the characters fit their world and make the drama feel very real. 4.5/5
  Story: This story is short, sweet, and to the point. It is densely packed with lore, atmosphere and worldbuilding in believable and interesting ways that don't get in the way of the flow. It can be gripping, tragic, melancholy, foreboding and more. I was always excited for what the next chapter would hold. 5/5
• S.nufflesRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I like my stories like I like my pancakes
  Style: is weighty. There's not much going on but the author spares every moment a lot of words, detailing it and savoring the scene nicely. For people really into the older high fantasy style, I think it's enjoyable, but I will say to those who do not, you might have a bit of a hard time. Either way, it's a matter of preference more than anything else, but that's where my half star has gotten since I did find myself getting lost at times.
  Grammar: was pretty strong overall. There were a few slip ups here and there, and I will say that a lot of the paragraphing is blocky and could use with some separation.
  Story: is a really refreshing change of pace. Investigations into rituals and the return of an old plague rather than anything immediately threatening. It builds tension more effectively and adds a unique twist to audience expectations. I do take off half a star (and this is partly in tandem with style) just because it does drag along at some points.
  Character: is a little hard for me. I can really tell the story and the world was definitely the focus of the novel, and the character's actions were a lot more important than who they were, but I hope in their next endeavor a little more can be done to flesh out the leads a little more. Even so, I do think there was some good work done here.
  Overall: I think they sell Stékkr wood at bunnings ngl
• akizawaRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Style:
  The story is written in a dense, descriptive prose style. Long paragraphs are used to paint vivid pictures of settings and events through careful details. This immersive style of writing draws the reader deep into the world, although the larger paragraphs can also make it slightly more difficult to read.
  Story:
  The story involves a group of rangers being summoned on a mysterious mission which is the setting for the story to take place. The world building and the introduction of interesting characters make me want to learn more about it.
  Grammar:
  The grammar and vocabulary used is flawless. Complex sentences are constructed and woven together smoothly. There are no noticeable grammar errors to pull the reader out of the story.
  Characters:
  While backstories are only hinted at, the characters introduced feel fully fleshed out despite some just being briefly described. Their interactions and dialogue lend dimensionality. I can picture their appearances and guess their personalities based on subtle details. The introduction of diverse characters from different backgrounds adds depth and potential to the story.
  In summary, this is a skillfully written story with a compelling plot, vivid setting, and intriguing characters. The story showcases a deep world-building, rich history, and compelling characters that feels alive. The author's attention to detail is evident in the meticulous construction of the story's setting. This is a great read.
• Shizzle BlitzRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  A Stirring at the Ridge follows a group of rangers being summoned to a city to escort some witches. That's the basic premise of it, and the author spends the first few chapters giving a very vivid image of the city, some of its townsfolk and a bit about the characters. If you want a dense and rewarding story that takes place in a fleshed out low fantasy world, this book is the one for you!
  Grammar: Grammar and Prose I can't give higher praise for. The writing is perfect with no grammatical errors and plenty of descriptions for the scenes. It might focus a bit too much on the surroundings or history instead of the actual scene sometimes, but the tangents are enjoyable to read in their own right.
  Story: The story so far has been light, with most of the word count being taken up by admittedly great prose and scene setting. It could do with a faster pace, however.
  There are some hints dropped about the nature of the quest the rangers are going on and an underlying mystery, but I feel as though it would have been better if we had more character work done for the main cast as well. This leads me to my only minor gripe with the first few chapters.
  Characters: Characters in the story thus far have been interesting, feeling like they have fleshed out backgrounds that we have not seen. The only problem I have is that we spend a lot of time focusing on the people surrounding the main characters. I'm hoping this improves in the later chapters as they won't have many other people to talk to on their quest.
  Overall: A Stirring at the Ridge has a fantastic first few chapters and is well worth the read if you want to immerse yourself in a new fantasy world. It has mysteries, which I tout as being one of the fundementals of a good story, perfect grammar and a great style, and finally characters that feel real.
• InfinityphoenixRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  It seems this will be a very complicated and deep story judging by how slow-burning it is.
  Style: Consistent and fitting of a grimdark high-fantasy story. A large vocabulary is used, and everything is described well. The reason I put it at 4.5 stars is because some paragraphs definitely need to be broken up. Getting faced with a wall of text in this kind of story is very daunting.
  Story: So far the main character is asked to go on a mission to help purify the land left damaged by necromancers with the help of a witch. But traces of strange objects were discovered inside the land, which need to be retrieved by the main character. I can see this is a well-thought-out story, made to fit the author's ideal of a grimdark high fantasy. It's just very slow burning. We don't get to see any magic within the first 10k, nor any combat, so it feels somewhat boring to read the first four chapters, as we wait for the horror aspects to start.
  The worldbuilding could also be revealed a bit more in the first few chapters, just to provide some more context to the technological level of the world, which doesn't seem very high.
  Grammar: Perfect, from what I can see. I haven't noticed any mistakes.
  Character: While we're introduced to characters somewhat quickly, making it hard to keep track of names, they have distinct traits displayed several times. The characters feel realistic and human.
  Overall: Definitely a good high fantasy story. It sticks firmly to its genre and so far, has demonstrated a unique plot that for once is not some coming-of-age story. The history of the world seems complex, and all elements are written well. I'd suggest this for anyone who loves high fantasy.
• JTAckerRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  Overall Score: 4.5 stars
  Entering the world of this fantasy tale was a captivating experience. The author's descriptive style transported me to the realms they've created, making everything come alive in my imagination. While the pacing of the story was generally good, I did find myself getting a bit bogged down in the lengthy second chapter. It might have been more effective to break it into smaller sections for better pacing. The characters, especially Górin and Jynge, had promising depth, though some of the side characters could use more development. The writing was skillful and polished, contributing to an enjoyable reading journey through a world of magic and intrigue.
  Style Score: 4 stars
  I found the author's writing style to be quite immersive and rich in detail. Their choice of words and use of literary devices really brought the fantasy world and its characters to life. However, I did notice that the writing could get a bit wordy at times, which slowed down the pacing a bit.
  Story Score: 3.5 stars
  The story's blend of fantasy and adventure intrigued me from the start. The mystical elements and mysterious plotlines set the stage for an exciting journey. Overall, the pacing kept me engaged.
  Grammar Score: 4.5 stars
  I was impressed by the author's strong grasp of grammar and punctuation. The writing was clear and easy to follow, with only a few minor errors that didn't disrupt the reading experience.
  Character Score: 3.5 stars
  I enjoyed getting to know the main characters like Górin and Jynge. Their interactions revealed glimpses of their personalities and motivations. However, I felt that some of the side characters lacked depth and memorable moments that would make them stand out.
• jaxobelRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  Full disclaimer this review was done up to chapter 7 as i feel that the author certainly deserved it when it came to the story this is a review swap and I'm disclaiming it as follows. Bias's aside till the end however, let's begin
  Style: The authors style certainly is at a high level of description and detail to the environment, but when it came to the characters, I personally felt it was lacking as I prefer them described both physically and emotionally. The grammar: The style suffered from this as some minor errors detracted from the first 3 three chapters but it ocurred less frequent as i got closer to the end and there was nothing that i could notice after reaching chapter 7. The author clearly is polishing his grammar and whenever i swing by and continue reading which i definitely will be then i'll change it because i like to see consistence but thats just me.
  The story: Is a great reminder of how all great quest's started. Thats right im talking about an escort type quest where right from the bat we are introduced into the story. We know we are in the minds of profesionals doing their job as they know it to be but a simple escort mission lol. But there's a catch, she's a witch, and there are greater machinations at play. Let me just say im sold and apologies for not holding my bias till the end.
  The characters: Characters are solid on my grade, as they were limited by my own preferences, and highly believe other people will have no problems accepting them at a higher standard than me.
  Overall: As of course im adding this on follow and favorite to keep updated peace out mates.
• cucioRoyal Road

  ★★★★ 3.5

  I don't adhere to RR's 5-stars-or-nothing broken culture. For me 3.5 stars means this is a fairly good story, almost recommended.
  A grim sword-and-sorcery tale of a blighted land where flawed characters strive against arcane perils, while exchanging ponderous statements about life and duty. The setting and style reminded me a lot of Howard's Conan books. Not the usual RR trope-riddled fare, and that's refreshing.
  The story is fairly modest in its premise: it's essentially about a small magic military taskforce in their mission to purify a pair of outposts of an ancient blight that permeates most of the land.
  The style is somehow raw. Worldbuilding is complex but hardly explored by the characters and situations, so it's easy to get lost in the whole pile of Norse-like names of places, gods, languages, etc. that we don't know about. This is not necessarily a bad thing, not every story has to hold the reader's hand and this kind of confusion can add mystery and exotism to the ambience.
  Characterization is shallow, and our protagonists voices alternate between swearing and somehow implausible ceremonial speech. Pacing is all over the place, sometimes stopping at the tiniest details, sometimes glossing over important plot points.
  All in all I think this book shows promise, if the author manages to improve their style while keeping their stories lean, imaginative and to the point.
  Thanks for sharing and good luck with future projects!