Broken Path: The Song of Blood and Shadow [A Gritty Cultivation Epic]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

[This story has been plagiarized on amazon under ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CW1BHSDB, this note is my proof of ownership for the investigators, that seller has no rights to this story]

Money and Qi are the keys to power in the Republic of Ardus.Ren has neither.

He had a good life—until debt collectors tore him from his loved ones and threw him out onto the streets.

Life in the dark alleys of Katarn is merciless to the weak, and Ren craves the power to change his fate—like the immortal cultivators of legend and the martial heroes who parade through the streets to fanfare.

Yet he has no teacher, nor master—fated to rot away like the pile of refuse he calls home. Until an encounter with a dying immortal gives him a chance to change everything.

But life is rarely kind, and before he can step onto the path of immortality his spirit is tainted by the venom of a Mythical Beast.

Will the song in his soul and a lost cultivation technique be enough to survive this cruel world?

[Part 1 of the Broken Path series]

What to Expect:

-A Cultivation Tale Written for Fans of Epic Fantasy and Berserk (Golden Age)-

-Lovingly Crafted & Efficient Prose-

-An Intelligent Yet Flawed Main Character-

-An Animal Companion-

-An Unfolding Story That Will Eventually Span the Globe-

-Weak to Strong Progression Fantasy-Grounded in emotion and personal motivation. Progression is a consistent theme, and this story will take the time to ensure it feels meaningful in a broader sense. While Ren will receive a few advantages at several points, the goal is progression that feels earned.

-Gritty, Well Thought Out Combat-Trying to fight against a spear with your sword? Better find a way to compensate for the gap in reach. Take an arrow to the face? You're taking a dirt nap. Fireball? I think you can see where I'm going. Complete withtactical fighting, archery, martial arts, monster battles, and xianxia-inspired magic system.

-A Non-Typical Xianxia Setting- An original world that takes inspiration from the blending of cultures facilitated by the Silk Road at its height. The world is in a constant state of flux and over the course of the story we will see it transform as power changes hands and new technologies shift the balance of civilization. Heavily flavored with middle-eastern influence and dollops of classic fantasy, this is not another clone of ancient china, though eventually we will see some of the classic tropes such as young masters, honor duels, and cultivator sects. Some of these will be deconstructed, some will be played with because they are fun and/or awesome. Don't worry,this is not a harem story.

-Adult Themes and Honest Exploration of Character and the Human Experience- This is a story that will explore the light and the dark. Beauty and horror. While I aim to avoid being needlessly gratuitous, this story does not shy away from the horrors of war and painful psychological challenges that come with a life filled with tribulation. It will also linger in moments of connection, beauty, and peace. This is not Grimdark, though it can be dark at times.

Author’s Note:

I drew inspiration for the Broken Path series from countless sources, but the most obvious are: Berserk, The Name of the Wind, Cradle, Dragon Heart, Dawn of Awakening, Beware of Chicken, (1,001)Arabian Nights, a broad smattering of Myths and FolkTales, and my own time spent studying and practicing martial arts and mystical traditions from across the globe (looking at you Hafiz).

I love Cultivation/Xianxia stories, especially when they manage to stay grounded in the plights of mortals and strong character development. This is my own personal spin set in a world of my own design inspired by the concept and mythos of the silk road as a thread that has drawn together stories from many places. I hope you enjoy reading about Ren’s journey as much as I enjoy writing it.

Information

Status
Hiatus
Year
2023
Author
MaerBear

Tags

ACTIONFANTASYADVENTUREMAGICMARTIAL ARTSPSYCHOLOGICALMALE LEADWAR AND MILITARYMYTHOSSTRATEGYCULTIVATIONPROGRESSIONWUXIA

Royal Road Stats

Rating
4.6/ 5.0
Followers
2,626
Views
679,674

Chapters(63 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

  • saintnRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    I've read about 16 chapters thus far and it has been an incredibly interesting book. It contains a LOT of my favorite tropes such as teenage main character, general inclusion of music, and a more soft understanding of finding beauty in martial arts rather than simply a cutthroat atmosphere. I do think that repeatedly bashing the character over the head in the beginning is a little annoying and seems mildly like a plot mechanic, however it doesn't detract too much from the story.
  • CobbaltRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    It's still in the initial stages, so there's only so much I can judge on. What is there is quite promising. It's a good ol' story arc of a kid who's undergone huge misfortune, what with bullies and an ex who has left him for one said bully, as he gradually betters himself and in the process gains strength and confidence. The arc itself is not new, but the execution is well done. I like the worldbuilding especially, and the fact the exposition of the worldbuilding is done organically. Again, we're still in the early stages of the story, and we haven't yet gotten to what feels like it will be a major part of the story (his spirit being tainted by a venom, as the blurb says), so a lot depends on where Ren goes from here, but I'm optimistic.
  • RainingfoxRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    The story is a great read. Very well done, would definitely give it a chance if you enjoy fantasy, progression fantasy,  medieval vibes. Lots of fighting and action, compelling story and very well written and paced. You definitely emphasize with the main character and really follow along closely with his journey and character development.
  • SinfiniteRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    There once was a very famous monk who took the pilgrimage to the West in search of Buddhist teachings and text. What sort of differing cultures did he and his disciples encounter along the way? Cultivation is a power too great to keep hidden how do the governments and cultures outside of Ancient China interact with such a method of power? Taking place in a time equivalent to ancient China, but instead taking location in Central Asia/Middle East/around where Pakistan is currently along the silk road. The beauty in this story is its ability to invoke in the imagination a truly multicultural cultivation world where whisperings of culture from the East and West travel through the information hub known as the silk road. It's something new that will reinvigorate your wonder at the XianXia/Cultivation genre.
  • aceyRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Usually don't leave reviews (cuz I'm lazy) but this story somehow compelled me to do so.
    Let's start off with what I like the most: The MC actually struggles. He isn't born with some insane talent. Everything he gets is by his own merit. He struggles, fails (so many times I was like damn this is prob the most realistic training arc I've seen), and gets back up again. I'm almost certain the author is a sadist with all the times the MC nearly dies.
    In terms of style, all I can say is that the author has a very precise and elegant narrating voice. I usually skim chapters since I don't have a lot of time to read, but the few times that I did slow down to appreciate the details, the author never fails to deliver great prose.
    Story: It's very slow, mind you. I picked it up when it was on Rising Stars but dropped it around ch 10 just because i found another story more faster paced and just... never really came back to this. Once I did, however, I binged this entire thing in a day. Once the MC finds his niche, he gets good at it quick, and I'm excited to see how he grows from here.
    If there's one thing I'd complain about though, it's the perspective switches we sometimes get. They're too many and too far spaced between the chapters for me to remember details so I'm usually left pretty confused when it's a name that I vaguely remember exists but had forgotten everything else abt. I'm not too sure how the author would fix this issue tho, maybe include a spoiler at the beginning with the relevant information?
    Grammar: I'm a skimmer, so if there were any grammar mistakes, they occur too infrequently for me to catch them.
    Character: It's the best aspect of this story. No character feels 2D, not even the antagonists. Each character's development is also natural and well paced. We don't go from cowardly to steel-hearted overnight.
    All in all, very well done. This is my first time leaving an advanced review and I hope it helps. I'm looking forward to where the rest of this journey
  • babasclareRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Remarkable, enchanting, interesting
    I was emotionally invested in Ren from the very beginning, which made indulging very easy. What an interesting depth MaerBear has...... Sometimes I feel as if I'm reading poetry. Following Ren's journey has been a rollercoaster, I became frustrated, angry, joyous All of the emotions connected with great writing. Thank you for sharing a piece of your mind with us, MaerBear. I cannot wait to see where you go next. I listened to the episode of a podcast you are on, and I hope to hear more of you.  I hope that your break from writing serves you, as your writing has served as a great distraction from my every day. I can't wait to curl up and see what happens next. MaerBear, I am loyally invested in you! I wish that I had a hard copy to carry with my in my backpack. I actually printed out the entire book and put it in a binder myself. But there is nothing like smelling and cherishing a good book. I have underlined so many sentences so that I can keep them with me. Your writing is.... delicious, complex, impressively imaginative. I was connected to so many character. I really respect the way that the author has introduced Qi in a unique way. I love how it binds the story together.
    Thank you, again
    babasclare
  • guillenmlRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    I found myself sitting to read a chapter before bed and before I knew it 3 hours had passed and I still wasn't ready to put it down. The story starts out with our MC going thru the worst life has to offer. Thru all of that he still trys to remain a honorable person. A real good story about persevering. Keep up the good work!
  • KaslenRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    "Broken Path" is an enthralling series (whose nature as a Xianxia has been hinted at) that offers a captivating journey of self-discovery, cultivation, and epic battles. With meticulous world-building (from the first few chapters), profound character development, and a narrative that balances darkness and light, it's a must-read for fans of the genre.
  • LoeksnokesRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    This review comes in three parts.   The first part was written somewhere around Chapter 20.  The second part was written at Chapter 50. The final part was at the end of Book 1.
    --- Early Review ---
    So far, I am really enjoying this Mashup (Cultivation + Middle eastern influences + European military).  I won't say too much except that the MC is really solid and well thought through: easy to care about and empathetic, but with some real backbone when it counts.
    I REALLY like the
    Inheritance from his Uncle.
    This would be 5 * for me, except it went a little too long with the initial beatdowns before the light started shining on the horizon.  It was all to plan, but more heavy than required for a good liftoff (IMO).  Still, I stuck with it, and no regrets...
    Looking forward to Ren rising...
    ----  Later review  -----
    OK, I have just come to love Broken Path more and more.  Still, I think the complaints I gave before are legitimate, so, I cannot quite call it 5 star.
    That said, lately I have been tempted to start writing, and I think to myself: what is it that I like so much about Broken Path?  It is subtle, and hard to pin down, but something about the author's light touch where others are heavy (in terms of how Ren progresses, etc.), and also, of course, the graceful pose.  Also, the ambiance of the background culture is never forgotten, even though it is not too overwhelmingly anything (as I said before, it feels like some mixing between a Middle Eastern and Southern European Culture, without ovewhelmingly being on or another).
    In the end, I am pretty sure I just will not have the finesse to produce writing that can stand with writing like this.  But, when I do write, Broken Path will be one of the few texts that I will use as a standard: surely a distant goal, probably unattainable, and floating there like a mirage of an oasis viewed across the long sands.
    Truly, this is a great story for RR.
    ------------
    Third part.  Despite the early comments I now feel it is closer
  • NovitiateRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    So far out Mc has been through so rough spots but the story keeps a sense that things will get better.
    I like the action and fight scenes.
    I like the beginnings of the power system, even though I don't understand it.
    I like how most characters are written, like little puzzles that are rewarding to solve and learn  more about.
    What more to say? It worth a checkout.