Adventure

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Three people find themselves in a mysterious space. Strangers to each other, yet striking similarities. A being higher than their comprehension approaches. “I am the Corruption of Jesva.”Join them in a story of an explicit labyrinth, corruption, weird writings on the wall, and stupid cows doing stupid things. Enjoy!

Please keep in mind the first two chapters are character introductions, and are not the start of the story. As a mention, most characters mentioned in said chapters will not be mentioned again. Maybe. Who knows where the story will lead?

On Hiatus while i do a full rewrite.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: Shadows of fantasy

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.0/ 5.0
Followers: 12
Views: 11,462

Chapters(41 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(8)

Ananth Van Der LekhRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Adventure is a fantasy tale from Shadows of Fantasy, set in a world of dungeon explorers where characters navigate a landscape governed by familiar gaming mechanics, such as defeating enemies for loot and receiving rewards from their remains.
After two introductory chapters, the story truly gains momentum in chapter three. Full of mystery, tension, and moral dilemmas, the narrative captures readers' attention by thrusting the protagonists into an unfamiliar, ominous setting—a purple labyrinth shrouded in swirling mist.
One of the most intriguing aspects is the introduction of two characters who look strikingly similar. Taegan notices a boy next to him who resembles him in appearance, down to their identical pendants. This detail hints at deeper themes, such as identity crises or parallel realities, and serves as an early hook to engage the reader's curiosity. A further point of interest is the change of narrator from chapter to chapter.
Tension escalates quickly with the introduction of a strange and menacing antagonist of great power. The Corruption God, with his casual yet disdainful tone, offers the group two grim choices: survive for a month or sacrifice one of their souls for eternity. The stakes are high, and Taegan's remark that the choice feels "too simple" adds a layer of suspicion.
Character development and world-building are handled well. Taegan, the traveling adventurer, takes on a leadership role despite his underlying fear. Shankhe’s laid-back demeanor contrasts with the situation's intensity, while Dalyva, a scholar, remains the most reserved and hesitant. Their diverse backgrounds—Tingaren Surawa, Shafkan Shitaki, and Dajenuan Daruden—hint at a rich world beyond the immediate dungeon, open to further exploration in future chapters. This glimpse of a larger world not only adds depth but leaves readers curious about both the characters' histories and the broader world they inhabit.
A few thoughts for development:
There’s little time for the characters
Avocado_LeaderRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Adventure by Shadows of Fantasy is quite a bizarre (JoJo reference? Joking… or am I?) mix of portal fantasy, cosmic horror, and random humor. The story has this unique balance of creepy, unsettling tension mixed with moments of absurdity that really keep you hooked. For a new author, I think they’re onto something cool here, and it’s refreshing to see a story that sounds very original.
That said, there are some small grammar and flow issues here and there, but nothing major enough to ruin the experience. Honestly, don’t be too harsh - it’s their first story, and you can tell they’re putting a lot of effort into it. The rough edges don’t take away from the fact that the concept itself is strong, and it keeps you curious. You’ll find yourself reading just to figure out what the heck is going on, and that’s a good sign. Overall, I’d give it a solid 4.5 out of 5. It’s weird, it’s fun, and it’s definitely worth a read if you’re into stories that don’t take themselves too seriously while still keeping a darker edge.
I need to keep yapping for the review apparently, but that's it. I do reccomend - and uhh. Yeah. Happy reading guys,
Celestial_Creator_Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story and plot till now was good and the character is also good. This is my own opinion and interest, so if anyone have any other they can give. In my point of view I liked it some others may not so please if you don’t like don’t criticize me.
DesirRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story blends light-hearted moments with adventure and hints of deeper emotional themes, creating an enjoyable experience. The world-building around the town of Mara-Ni is unique and well-done, with interesting cultural aspects like the cherry blossom ale and the dwarf-orc dynamic. The mix of everyday adventurer tasks and monster fighting provides a nice balance between action and downtime, making the setting feel lived-in and believable. While it’s clear that there is more to come, the chapter provides a satisfying slice of life within a fantasy world.
The writing is solid, but there are a few grammar and punctuation issues that occasionally interrupt the flow. The use of different accents for certain characters, like the dwarves, adds flavor. Still, the writing is generally clear, and the narrative voice is distinct and consistent throughout.
The plot strikes a good balance between mundane activities like herb collection and the thrill of fighting monsters. The protagonist's journey through the town, their encounters at the tavern, and the monster attack provide a solid sense of progression and action. The introduction of various characters, especially Jargob and the dwarves, adds layers to the world. The story hints at larger conflicts (such as the possibility of a dungeon nearby and past monster attacks) without diving too deep into them yet, which leaves room for future development. The decision to leave the town at the end also opens the door for more adventure in future chapters.
The protagonist is likable, with an interesting backstory teased by their nickname, "Devil of the Sands." Their moral compass and interactions with the townsfolk, like helping with the monster fight and de-escalating the tavern conflict, reveal a calm and capable personality. Jargob is a standout supporting character, bringing humor and camaraderie, while the dwarves feel distinct thanks to their accents and actions. The drunkard scene shows how the protagonist manages conflict
Majestic7Royal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Got pulled into this story and couldn't stop reading. Three strangers meet a cosmic horror in a maze that's equal parts terrifying and fascinating. The creepy atmosphere and weird events hook you immediately. It's dark, unpredictable, and totally unique. If you like stories that are genuinely different and deeply engaging, you have to check this one out. Highly recommend!
cursedclarkeRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
The work as it stands is ambitious in scope and uneven in execution. It clearly wants to be an epic fantasy narrative with surreal and comedic touches, but it struggles with consistency, pacing, and basic craft. The premise has potential: three strangers drawn into a corrupted purple labyrinth by an ominous entity, each carrying their own history and identity, and forced into trials that mix danger and absurdity. Unfortunately, the promise is often buried beneath indulgent exposition, tonal whiplash, and structural bloat. What follows is an honest look at how the story, the characters, the style, and the grammar are functioning across the chapters you have shared.
The story has seeds of intrigue. The purple labyrinth setting is unusual, the Corruption God carries mythic weight, and the inscriptions and riddles gesture at a layered, puzzle-like progression. The opening chapters with Taegan and Shankhe each leaving their homes work as introductions, but they meander. They are filled with local economy notes, tavern politics, and long goodbyes with side characters who will not matter again. These sections might belong in a travelogue but not in a fantasy opening. By the time the actual inciting incident arrives, the reader has been bogged down in orphanage porridge, dwarven ale, and farewell hugs. Once inside the labyrinth, the story finally sharpens into something more engaging, but even then the pace stumbles. The Corruption God presents two options, but neither feels costly, so tension collapses. The bridge trial has the right bones for suspense, but the slapstick of suicidal cows undercuts fear, leaving the reader unsure whether to take the world seriously. The story does not yet know whether it wants to be a dark survival epic or a dark comedy. That indecision bleeds into every scene.
The characters are functional but not yet compelling. Taegan comes across as a competent, reliable leader figure, but he risks flattening into blandness. Shankhe is either comic reli
Godkiller379Royal Road
★★★★ 4.0
Chapter 1 - Taegan
The opening chapter effectively establishes the setting and the protagonist, Taegan. The description of the dwarven town of Mara-Ni is vivid, with strong world-building details like the cherry blossom ale and the laid-back dwarven culture feeling unique and immersive. Taegan is introduced as a competent and somewhat weary adventurer, and his interaction with the drunkard in the tavern immediately sets a tone of casual realism mixed with fantasy. The action sequence with the rat monsters is well-paced and serves as a great introduction to Taegan's sand-based magic, making his capabilities clear to the reader without over-explaining. The chapter's conclusion, where Taegan says his goodbyes, is poignant and effectively establishes his character as a respectful traveler with a past tied to the town, particularly the Battle Grove memorial. The prose is generally strong, though it is occasionally hampered by grammatical errors and awkward phrasing that can momentarily pull the reader out of the story.
Chapter 2 - Shankhe
This chapter introduces the second protagonist, Shankhe, and provides a stark contrast to the mountainous dwarven setting of the first chapter. The seaside village of Shitaki is well-realized, with the overwhelming smell of fish effectively grounding the scene. Shankhe's connection to the orphanage and Matron is the emotional core of this chapter, and it is handled with warmth and sincerity. His desire for adventure is clearly born from a place of love rather than a need to escape, which makes him a sympathetic character. The interactions with the tourist and the vendor efficiently show the community's protective nature towards its own. The farewell scene is genuinely moving, capturing the bittersweet pain of leaving a loving home to pursue a dream. The chapter does a excellent job making the reader care about Shankhe and his journey before it is abruptly cut short.
Chapter 3 - Hello?
This chapter serves as the inciting incident that bi
AtavisticTexasRoyal Road
★★★ 2.5
Overall, I think it has potential but the sentence structure, flow, grammar and confusing portrayal of characters and their interactions takes me out of it. It's not every paragraph, but it's frequent enough that I have trouble enjoying what I'm reading. If those weren't issues, I would definitely find it easier to read and stay engaged.
Right now, I don't really notice anything that hooks me in and stands out, either. Sand magic, orcs and monster cores are cool, but I didn't see them used in any interesting ways here. Monster cores are a valuable reward, or not, depending on how hard the monster is to kill, I assume. Sand magic is... a direct manipulation of the sand, or some kind of telekinesis? I don't know.
It is only Chapter 1, but my first impressions are that this needs more time in the oven and some thorough editing before it can really show me what type of story it is and what worldbuilding and characters it has to offer.
I can say that I can't really enjoy this writer's style because of the grammar issues. I'm having a hard time actually getting a feel for their style, honestly.
This has the tag for a Portal/Isekai story, but seeing as how there's no portal or Isekai happening in the first chapter, I find myself wanting something else to keep me engaged until then and I'm getting hung up on the characters and the lack of answers to all my questions about them, and to a lesser extent, the world they inhabit.
I did really like some of the little things like the nickname for the main character, or the fact that these monster attacks are mentioned to be becoming worse, but the more major things like grammar, characters and worldbuilding felt like they weren't polished enough.
I can be extremely judgmental as a reader, but personally, I would wait until the author has cleaned up the grammar a bit, especially if that's a dealbreaker for you like it is for me. For those who can look past the grammar, I recommend it since if it wasn't for that I would probably hav