Born Under a Black Sun

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

BOOK ONE IS COMPLETE, AND ALSO AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK ON AMAZON! Stay tuned for book two: Raised Under Dark Waves.

In the Sainted Lands of Kirith, there are two forms of magic– the animalistic Beastly Arts and the elemental Twelve Paths.Teren is an apprentice Gravecaller, one set to walk down the Path of Death. He may not have the emotional depth required of one who meddles with ghosts, but he does have the skill for it. And when his master gets a mission in the far-off Crater City of Merdz, he finds himself facing a threat that could plunge not only this strange city, but even the land of the dead itself into chaos.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: Born Under a Black Sun

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 417
Views: 36,703

Reviews

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Community Reviews(4)

CaelumThyzeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
You're immersed in a world that immediately feels alive and expansive.
You get to know the world, the magic, and the characters naturally, fueling your curiosity to learn more.
The magic is unique and fascinating and a major asset to the story.
The characters aren't flawless (especially the main character). They're not shining knights, but they're not heartless killers either. They have their own morals and prejudices.
CyrusWendellRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A vibrant world full of tantalizing mysteries aided by your inventive language!
I especially loved the introduction and banter with Spellhaunt, the camaraderie between Baltry and Teren, and the tease with the feathered prince.
The thing about your writing I have the deepest appreciation for: the introduction to your world’s metaphysics. That is my personal favorite aspect of fantasy and the thing that keeps me hooked until the end of a story despite the quality of its writing. What good fortune for me that you have gripping prose, great character writing, and lush mechanisms to your world!
I’m excited to learn more Aren Fatlus, the web of life and this third world! As well as what effects the leys have on the Twelve since both seem to be aspect driven.
Lasty I love visceral descriptions of spells!
xordRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style: The description of the world and characters is beautiful. The author has a definite style and sticks to it. Very tightly written with a breakneck pace that leaves you feeling just as harried and desperate as the characters do. Not overly tropey, but when tropes are invoked they're invoked well.
Story: A very well-worldbuilt story that tries and succeeds to break the mould of Tolkienian fantasy. The details of the setting flow incredibly easily, and at no point did I feel I was being exposited to. The powers of the setting have just the right amount of mystery and coolness to hook you in and leave you wondering at how things work. The story will catch you off-guard in a number of places.
Grammar: No mistakes or abuses of the English language that I can remember, and the author stays well away from the RoyalRoad trend of writing only in extremely clipped, basic sentences.
Characters: The characters are incredibly compelling, in my opinion. The story does not shy away from confronting darker aspects of the main character, and approaches the trend of 'emotionless/morally grey' MC with an awareness of the tropes that really add a lot of depth. The interactions between characters also feel a lot more realistic, and thus compelling, than much of what is around right now.
Green PennRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
From the cover photo to the synopsis, this booked hooked me up real good. I think it just needs the right audience and it could be on Rising stars. It would do pretty well on Amazon though.
The story flows as fast and as slow as it needs to. The power progression is earned, it's soft fantasy though along the lines of LOTD.
The storytelling really draws you in and once it's got it's teeth into you, it's not releasing you for nothing.
I have no issues with the grammar and characters are as human as we know it.
Good luck reading, I highly recommend.
From the first glance at the cover to the last line of the synopsis, this book had me hooked. With the right audience, it’s a clear Rising Stars contender—and I’m confident it would shine on Amazon.
The pacing is peak🥶—fast when it needs to grip you, and slow when it needs to let you breathe. The power progression is satisfying and well-earned. Think soft fantasy with the immersive pull of LOTD.
The storytelling is magnetic. Once it sinks its teeth into you, forget about escape. Flawless grammar, believable characters, and a world that feels alive—this is a read worth every second.
Four out of five stars. Highly recommended.