Down Under the Different Darkness

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Walk too far into the bush and you might not come back.

Kylara's biggest concerns had always been gossiping neighbours and small town politics. The only one in her town with the ability to use magic, she was used to the responsibilities and the stares.

But now her power was gone.Eldritch horrors lurk in the deserts, thieves brazenly steal from the most powerful city in the world, and a mysterious traveller arrives in town, seeking hidden truths.

Kylara never expected to find herself embroiled in any of it,but she’s always been good at spinning a bad situation to her advantage.

Even without magic.

Slow paced with plenty of slice of life elements, but lots mystery and action too. Lots of worldbuilding, science, and a bit of maths.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2022
Author: Sidney Broome

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.3/ 5.0
Followers: 36
Views: 23,207

Chapters(51 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(4)

JoseArcadioBuendiaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The magical world down under from the brilliant Sidney Broome is a triumph of creative writing. The rich tapestry of this universe of strange and wonderful magic is a joy to explore. The characters are authentic and complex. The writing is polished and immersive. The storytelling is extraordinary. Keep your eye on this important young writer!
keeganashleyliveRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Okay, down to nitty, gritty details. This story has an epic, over-sweeping, dark feeling to it. The writing is what I want to discuss most. It flows very well and has a very descriptive style to it. I feel this story is very well-written, and I appreciated that in reading it.
I know this will sound like the other reviews, but I have to mention it: the pace of the novel is slow. …But it’s like the dragging of your feet in a meadow full of beautiful flowers---it’s purposefully slower so you can take in all the details. The author likes diving deep and layering this expansive world, and that just takes time. Nothing wrong about it, and many people like to read slowly building plotlines.
The characters are as rich as the description. I really enjoyed diving into this world and journeying along. There’s a quite a bit of suspense as you trail along and it keeps you in the moment, reading quickly which was something I really liked.
I’d definitely recommend this to a reader who’s okay with a slower story for the benefit of an immersive, interesting and dark world. Kudos to the author. This is a job well done.
CobaltWolfRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Well I will be damned. It's rare to find a story that is this willing to try to do different things. I've seen a good few stories mess around with different mythologies and cultures, but never Australia. The names and ideas are all pretty new to me, and it definitely helped to keep my attention.
If there is one thing that I can respect about this, it is patience. There isn't any heavy exposition dump or massive deluge of information. The author is simply letting the story and characters speak for themselves, and allow for the exposition and lore to come naturally rather than be entirely forced. This does mean that the story might be a bit confusing for the first few chapters, but once it gets going, everything feels really strong. There's such a dynamic world here that feels more fleshed out than a normal web novel. This does mean that this work is going to require a tad more focus than most, but I really appreciate when someone is willing to experiment and try something new.
Kylara is a very interesting protagonist to me. I love the idea of Warders that the story has set up, and the dynamics of the power are really interesting. Knowing that she used to be more powerful, and that her lack of strength has created resentment for her creates a lot of strong tension in her interactions. You want to learn more, to find out what she did wrong and why everyone is so angry with her. The rest of the cast is relatively flat compared to her, but she definitely steals the show.
The plot is slower paced, but I think that pacing is necessary for a world like this. In a setting which is not directly spoon fed to you, I can really appreciate a series taking its time and having the willingness to withold information to keep you reading. Definitely going to keep reading this one and am highly anticipating where it can go in the future.
drifter265Royal Road
★★★★ 3.5
Overall: "Down Under the Different Darkness" is an engaging and compelling narrative that draws readers into the mysterious world of Kookaburra Creek and the enigmatic Desert. The author effectively combines elements of fantasy, mystery, and suspense in a captivating story that keeps readers intrigued from beginning to end.
Story: The plot revolves around the search for a missing boy, Billy, and the mysteries surrounding the Desert. The protagonist, Kylara, is a warder with special abilities who sets out on a journey to find the boy while uncovering hidden secrets and facing her own fears. The plot is well-paced and unfolds with a balance of suspense and moments of reflection.
The story is compelling, but the lack of interaction with the setting leaves room for improvement. It could benefit from a more balanced approach to "showing" rather than "telling," which would offer readers a more vivid and immersive experience.
Style: The style is characterized by humorous and entertaining dialogues between the characters, but the reliance on dialogue to drive the story results in less emphasis on body language or setting. The author's writing is beautiful, but it still shows signs of a developing writer.
The use of imagery and symbolism, such as the moths found by Kylara, adds an air of mystery and foreshadows possible future events. The dialogue is realistic and serves to further develop the characters and their relationships.
Grammar: The grammar is well-executed, and the author employs a fitting vocabulary and sentence structure, making the narrative easy to read and understand.
Character: The characters are fun and interesting, particularly the protagonist Kylara and her sister Yalmay. Their strong bond adds depth to the narrative and keeps readers invested in their journey. However, there's potential for even richer character development with more attention to their interactions with the environment and other characters.
In summary, "Down Under the Different Darkness"