Blood and Brine; a short fiction [COMPLETE]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Radagan Greymane, an ex pirate lord, has been rotting in a cell for years awaiting execution, but when a brutal string of murders rocks the capital, he is given a shot at freedom. With a vampire-hunter leading the expedition to find the beast responsible, Radagan is drafted to help them navigate the dangerous waters of the Howling Peninsula.

As they search, the corpse of a young boy tells a cruel and dangerous tale, and Radagan learns that things may not be as simple as he had hoped. As he seeks to reclaim his place on the high-seas, he must overcome the magic of the wytch-hunter, the corruption of the vampire, and the might of the Cerevisian navy. But is there a greater danger lurking below, seeking to reclaim the seas from even the dreaded Cannon-Hand?

This is a short story written for the royalroad community magazine contest and will be no more than 10 chapters and 15k words. Release schedule will be somewhat random, so follow to get notified, though it should be finished before the end of January 2025.

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2025
Author: OCRAuthor

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 5.0/ 5.0
Followers: 20
Views: 4,760

Chapters(10 total)

Reviews

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Community Reviews(2)

Recon1342Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
It’s only three chapters long as of this review, but it promises to be an excellent short story if the opening hook is to be believed. Somewhat unusual to start in the middle of the action, but I find the snippets of backstory to be well-placed tidbits of information. I am really looking forward to the rest of the show, so to speak. Well done!
Timothy BarilRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Character
An absolutely fantastic, fun, wonderfully dark pirate tale. The blackhearted pirate captain is a villain through and through, yet we can’t help but root for him against the arrogant jerks keeping him prisoner.
The vampire hunter is badass but cocky, and the noble a prick, and they are perfect foils to a villain MC. The rescued woman plays her part perfectly.
Style & Story
The story keeps a fast, intense pace, with mystery and twists, some interesting magic, and a unique addition of vampirism that is well-themed with the story. Not your typical pirate or vampire tale, but with the best of both.
The voyage at sea feels real, the expedition to the wreck is creepy, and the voyage home full is of suspense. It all leads up to an explosive, exciting climax with a ship-wide battle. And then a rather unexpected ending. Loved it!
The style really brought the story to life, and the grammar is near flawless. A very comfortable read. Professional.
I haven’t read the author’s other works yet, but this certainly indicates the author is a fantastic writer. By the end of this short story, I found myself wishing there was a whole novel to follow.