Deviant's Masquerade: The Huntsman's Quest (A YA Hero's Failed Attempt At Retirement)

Information

Status

Ongoing

Year

2021

Author

Arthicern

• The Horror Returns: Prologue
  Mar 7, 2026
• On Fairy Metamorphosis (II)
  Mar 7, 2026
• Dark Doubts In The Light’s Wake
  Feb 12, 2026
• Turn 70: Fighting Through The Pain
  Dec 30, 2025
• Trail 69: Distractions, Enchantments, And Beasts
  Oct 30, 2025
• Fairy Metamorphosis
  Oct 28, 2025
• Interlude: A Little Story, About A Little Light
  Oct 21, 2025
• Path To Power (XI): A Maddening Field of Effect
  Oct 14, 2025
• Trail 68 (Pt. 2): Preparing The Path To Power
  Jul 26, 2025
• Trail 68 (Pt. 1): Preparing The Path To Power
  Jun 13, 2025
• Trail 67: Asking For Help
  Apr 30, 2025
• Southside Coven: Path To Power (X): Building An Offense
  Mar 23, 2025
• Southside Coven: Path To Power (IX): Plotting A Personal Project
  Mar 10, 2025
• Trail 66: Ill Timed Discoveries
  Feb 28, 2025
• Understanding The Void (Pt. III): Dark Dealings And Reminders
  Jan 20, 2025
• Reaching An Understanding With The Void (Pt. II)
  Jan 13, 2025
• Understanding The Madness Of The Void
  Dec 18, 2024
• Trail 65: Family Consequences
  Dec 5, 2024
• Thanksgiving (Pt. 6): Family Gatherings
  Nov 30, 2024
• Thanksgiving (Pt. 5): Cooling Off And Warming Back Up
  Nov 15, 2024

What readers say about Deviant's Masquerade: The Huntsman's Quest (A YA Hero's Failed Attempt At Retirement)

• “Story has an odd beginning that drew me in. The background 'sound bites' set the stage and were followed with an engaging setting and plot with characters that fit and I am compelled to follow. If an urban fantasy is up your alley, this one should be a prim…”

  nielRoyal Road5.0 / 5

• “Spoilers will follow. The MC of this story, Jon, is incredibly well written.  His mother is a training fanatic along the lines of Randidly Ghosthound, constantly training her son in police, military, and even special forces tactics. Needless to say, Jon is…”

  Leahcim ZanathaxRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

Community Reviews(7)

• nielRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Story has an odd beginning that drew me in. The background 'sound bites' set the stage and were followed with an engaging setting and plot with characters that fit and I am compelled to follow. If an urban fantasy is up your alley, this one should be a prime choice for you.
• Leahcim ZanathaxRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Spoilers will follow.
  The MC of this story, Jon, is incredibly well written.  His mother is a training fanatic along the lines of Randidly Ghosthound, constantly training her son in police, military, and even special forces tactics.
  Needless to say, Jon is a bad ass.  Amusingly enough, he doesn't truly realize his personal strength, so there is little to no conceit in him.  Additionally, he has learned the basics of magic despite not having the talent to become a true magic-user.
  He is a very disturbed young man, having spent the Summer fighting Cthulhu-esque entities and Cultists while trying to protect the Summer Camp that is his second home.  His struggles with the darkness both inside of him and all around him make for a VERY interesting story.
  The only negative here is the MC has regular flashback scenes, rarely more than 2 or 3 lines long, that pop into his head.  At first, they were a bit disconcerting since the author lets you figure out on your own what they are, but it is initially mildly off-putting at best, and they actually add a great deal of flavor to the story without extensive flashback scenes.  It annoyed me at first, but it has a purpose and makes sense once you have context a few chapters in.
  Aside from this one thing, I cannot recommend a story any more strongly than I do ths one,  It is excellent!
• LightChaserRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Deviant's Masquerade: The Huntsman's Quest is a young adult fantasy novel that follows Jon as he navigates the aftermath of a chaotic summer at Camp Bet, where magic and monsters collide. The story dives into themes of friendship, personal growth, and the struggle against inner demons, all wrapped up in a magical adventure.
  The writing style is engaging and descriptive, painting a vivid picture of the magical world Jon inhabits. I found myself drawn into the camp's nostalgic atmosphere, which contrasts sharply with the darker elements of Jon's journey. The humor sprinkled throughout the narrative adds a lighthearted touch, reminiscent of the camaraderie found in stories like "Harry Potter."
  Jon is a relatable protagonist, and his growth from a carefree camper to someone facing real challenges is well-executed. His relationships with characters like Ying and Pix add depth to the story, showcasing the importance of friendship during tough times. One aspect that stood out to me was the imaginative world-building. The different magical affinities, like Hunter and Defender, are intriguing and add layers to the story.
  What I Liked:
  Character Development: I really appreciated how Jon evolves throughout the story. He starts off as this carefree kid, but as he faces real challenges, you can see him grow and mature. His relationships with Ying and Pix add a lovely touch, showcasing the importance of friendships during tough times. I found myself rooting for him, especially when he was grappling with his past.
  World-Building: The magical elements are delightful! I mean, who doesn’t love a good fantasy world? The way Arthicern describes the spells and creatures makes it all feel alive. I could vividly picture the camp and the chaos that ensues when magic goes awry. Plus, the idea of different magical affinities is intriguing and adds depth to the story.
  Humor and Dialogue: The humor sprinkled throughout the book really lightens the mood. I found myself chuckling at some of the
• AkinduRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This story reveals a surprisingly good perspective on the psychological impacts of killing and the trauma related to it which I think most rpg or progression stories conveniently forget. Most of these mc's use the excuse of survival or kill or be killed theory to kill which is a valid point but it doesn't mean that you are completely absolved from the shock and trauma of taking a life. In this story we can see the mc struggle with the psychological effects of a VERY TRAUMATIC INCIDENT where he has had to kill, maim others which is a good change of pace from the typical power fantasy. Overall the rpg elements were good and the writing style follows a unique pattern where the narrative jumps between the past and future. While this may not be for the liking of some it personally worked for me. The mc is likeable and real. I suggest you at least read at least four chapters before you decide whether you like it or not because for me this is a really enjoyable read
• ShadoCat2Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I like this a lot.
  I must admit that it took a bit to figure out what was going on in the first chapter.  However, once I got it, it was a very powerful way to convey 2 months of important backstory.
  I had some concern about the writing style of the first chapter.  I've read stories where every chapter is like that (though, honestly, not done as well) and they get old fast.  However, except from using that style for occasional flashbacks, the rest of the chapters follow a more conventional writing style (more, not completely).  The fact that the flashbacks are done in a different style actually makes the story much more readable since you don't have to wonder if what you are reading is happening now or in the past.
  The main character has voices in his head (at least two extras).  It is unclear, at this point, if the voices are expressions of his own mind or are coming from outside.  Given the supernatural world in the story, either could be possible.  The use of fonts and other typographic tools helps the reader keep track of who is talking in his head.
  On a side note, the MC has a very atrocious naming style (which is pointed out in the story).
• TheHofferRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I am a huge fan of long-running series and it all started with Worm. The reason I mention this is because in a lot of key-defining aspects it feels like Worm. I feel like there is a rich and vibrant world that exists beyond the MC. The MC is not the most important character in the world, but we are promised an immersive view of things from the MC's point of view that feels intimate in the best way.
  Style 5/5: The prologue is a gripping in media res start, whereas the rest of the story has audience engagement that really adds a level of immersion and investment that not all stories have the style that allow them to attain.
  Grammar 5/5: Perfect
  Story 4.5/5 - The story starts full gas when it comes to world-building and character investment, but then it pumps the brakes so hard the reader is in danger of whiplash. I found the ride enjoyable, but it is a bold enough choice that I can imagine it being jarring for a more casual reader.
  Character Score 4.5/]5 - This world feels lived in and populated by real people, and that is clear right away. However, we have to take it on faith that we like and care about these characters because the snippets we are given are merely crumbs. That being said, I imagine the longer this story goes, the less that will be an issue.
  This story has a lot to offer. It has a magical world that it only scratches the surface of at the beginning, an MC that has been through heck and promises to go through even more before the story is done. It promises deep, emotional bonds with the supporting cast and a lot of growth. The writer hints at so many promising things if you continue to read, and they do enough in the starting chapters to earn the reader's trust, but I can imagine someone who wants a quicker start being put off if they aren't willing to wait for the payoff.
  As for me, I plan to continue to read this book at some point. It has everything I am looking for in a character-driven urban fantasy.
• S.O.ARoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  Alright, let's talk about this story because it's honestly wild in a good way. The author nails that "trying to act normal when your life is anything but" vibe that makes urban fantasy fun. Jon's out here doing morning parkour with his mom, reviewing magic theory with his fairy roommate, and casually dropping gang intel like he's reading the weather forecast.
  The writing style hits that sweet spot between serious and absurd - like yeah, Jon's got PTSD from fighting corrupted monsters, but he's also dealing with a fairy who refuses to wear clothes and keeps getting hypnotized by the TV. You can't help but laugh at how he treats both supernatural and normal problems with the same "well, this might as well happen" attitude.
  What really makes this story work is how the characters feel real despite the crazy situation. Jon's relationship with his mom is peak teenager - they clearly love each other but are both hiding things. His mom's teaching him how to pickpocket while he's got forbidden magic books under his bed. Classic family dynamics, am I right?
  The world-building is solid without getting bogged down in exposition dumps. We learn about magic through Jon's study sessions, about the city through his conversations with cops and neighbors. Everything flows naturally even when we're jumping between "normal kid stuff" and "eldritch horror dropping by for tea."
  The only criticism I have is that Jon seriously needs therapy, but watching this disaster-in-waiting try to maintain his "everything's fine" facade while juggling fairy care, gang surveillance, and whatever that Man in the Mask is planning... it's addictively entertaining.
  Bottom line: If you like your urban fantasy with a heavy dose of "this is fine" energy while everything slowly catches fire, this is it.