Dreams of Badazan - City without gods

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Welcome to the free and beautiful city of Badazan!

While the rest of the world is still playing with swords and bows, the city of boundless magic has risen to become the new metropolis of the continent. But between the countless high towers full of wonder and intoxication lie the filthy gutters where it is easy to get lost.

This is how an elf disappeared in the undergrounds of Badazan. The street thief Seroin is then commissioned by the rural knight Tomga to find this elf, his runaway sister. The search soon turns out to be more risky than expected and the two companions more hostile than anticipated. What began as a simple mission turns into a deadly hunt with dangerous consequences.

Who will survive the streets, gangs and perversions of Badazan? And who will be swallowed up by the city? Or as they say in Badazan: wrong dream, wrong dreamer.

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2025
Author: Carcharodon

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.7/ 5.0
Followers: 4
Views: 4,604

What readers say about Dreams of Badazan - City without gods

“First of all, I like the dynamics the author present to the readers. As I have mentioned, I see what this author is conveying. The idea is very unique and something not seen very much. I really appreciate the creativity. Besides that, the style of the story…”
AddictednovelicRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Review: Dreams of Badazan – City Without Gods (Ch. 0–11) Dreams of Badazan opens with an inspector entering, setting the tone that this world disregards gods, sorrows, or illusions of safety. It’s a gritty mosaic of corruption, divine neglect, and resilienc…”
AncienthipsterRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

AddictednovelicRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
First of all, I like the dynamics the author present to the readers. As I have mentioned, I see what this author is conveying. The idea is very unique and something not seen very much. I really appreciate the creativity. Besides that, the style of the story is very appealing. The characters enhanced this quality. I haven't been disappointed with one yet.
Also, I see no problem with the grammar. It's very well written. I see no inconsistent's or mishaps. All of the events is very organized. The structure isn't bad either. It is very easy to read, all you need to do is pay attention to the details.
With all of these aspects combined, it deeply immerses the reader into the story. The author paints a very good picture. The City of Badozeer, how will it go, the places outside of it, the implications is very intriguing.
I would highly recommend to read this novel, if you want a fresh take on a story. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. So far, I haven't been. I have nothing but praise for the author.
Keep up the good work, you have my support. If you have any future work, I wouldn't mind reading it.
AncienthipsterRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Review: Dreams of Badazan – City Without Gods (Ch. 0–11)
Dreams of Badazan opens with an inspector entering, setting the tone that this world disregards gods, sorrows, or illusions of safety.
It’s a gritty mosaic of corruption, divine neglect, and resilience, told through a confrontation between a cynical fixer and a grief-stricken veteran.
The story explores systemic collapse, fear, and predatory cities, with each scene meticulously crafted like a watch.
The narrative seamlessly merges philosophy and character, using dialogue to reveal motives and worldviews.
Rich sensory details, such as blood-slick cobblestones and illusion-soaked skies, drive this immersive world of urban Theo(cracy)punk, where memory is currency and bureaucracy replaces divinity.
Character duality is key in this story. Each person you will meet has hidden depths. There’s Seroin’s guilt, Tomga’s fury, Shiverlips’ predator’s charm. Even the city contributes to this by masking exploitation beneath promises. Z
I found the story a thrilling ride, going another road. Where many fantasy settings overload there worlds with gods, this story dares to strip them from the world forcefully.
Story 5 / 5
The story develops at a steady pace, and that patience pays off. The progression from Chapter 1 to 11 is like a chess game. Each move doesn't seem dramatic on its own, but the consequences build consistently. Themes of religious decline, mortal ambition, and the commercialization of suffering don’t just appear—they seep in. The plot unfolds slowly but deliberately: we watch Seroin manipulate a war hero, then gradually start to care. Tomga resists Badazan’s influence, then bends, and finally breaks. The city serves as the silent antagonist, never needing to raise its voice. The only slight slowdown happens early in Chapter 11, where some philosophical dialogues risk repetition. A bit of trimming could make this nearly perfect. Overall, it’s as close to literary grimdark excellence as serial stories come.
Chara
CapwallcroftRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
When reading you can often tell what came first, the story or the world. Did the author just drop characters into a plane and see what their imagination can bestow, grow shift with their own character demanding for a world to spontaneously appear through interaction and action, scene by scene? or did the world demand to be made? did it come with it's own painstakingly crafted rules, laws, norms and societies that left before it even reached the page? Badazan is too complex of a story to simply have been written, and I think it demanded to be made. Dreams of Badazan City Without Gods is a gritty and atmospheric urban fantasy that, even in its early chapters, reveals a world teeming with danger, intrigue, and moral ambiguity. It reminds me alot of mistborn especially with the inquisitor/executionor like iron spike kind of creatures but well get into that later. By Chapter 9 (which is where I stopped reviewing), the story has already cemented itself as a rich blend of noir and fantasy, set in a city where the divine is absent but the consequences of power and belief still shape every corner. Let's just say we might be very happy when they eventualy kill a god hah LOL :) but regardless this is a compelling and very interesting story! You can feel the political upheaval in the air, and how badazan is something fresh, something new and something which is taking this world by storm. The titular city of Badazan is a character in its own right vividly rendered in ash-streaked alleys, glowing towers, and shadowed underpasses where gangs and magic users fight for control. The writing captures this world with confidence, alternating between sharp, tense dialogue and moments of immersive, almost poetic description.
The story follows Seroin, a hardened street thief (bro were talking like really really hardened), and Tomga, a rural knight bound by honor, who form an uneasy alliance to search for Tomga’s missing elf sister. We got like some uncle iroh paired with like the most evil
Haviel2102Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story crafts a gripping, shadowy narrative in the godless, chaotic city of Badazan.
From Sister Lufarion’s venomous scorn in Seroin’s morally fraught choices, the novel vividly portrays a world where trust is scarce and survival demands ruthless cunning. Badazan itself, with its floating Plattis, blood-sensing magic, and decaying splendor, feels like a living entity, embodying rebellion and moral decay.
Seroin’s icy pragmatism, Tomga’s tormented faith in Diersa, and Shiverlip’s eerie shapeshifting form a compelling cast, each molded by the city’s merciless culture. The story shines in tense moments, like the temple heist and Dala Mesmoli’s shocking statue reveal, which amplify the stakes.
However, the intricate web of plots, involving Lady Olva, Young Harvest, and the enigmatic necklace, can overwhelm, occasionally disrupting the pacing. The evocative prose captures the characters’ loneliness and ethical compromises, though transitions between perspectives sometimes feel abrupt. Badazan’s rejection of divine authority challenges readers to question faith, power, and loyalty, adding intellectual depth.
The blend of fantasy and noir, with its gritty world-building and multifaceted characters, captivates, but unraveling its dense conspiracies requires patience. Dreams of Badazan is a must-read for fans of dark, immersive tales, offering a haunting exploration of a city where survival tests the soul’s limits.
Nemo BlancRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
“Carcharodon” is one of those stories that feels like being thrown head‑first into a bustling, brutal, and endlessly intriguing world. The plot revolves around an inspector with a serene smile and a brutal streak, extracting information from a farmer, and quickly unfolds into a sprawling tableau of gods, demigods, gangs, and magic. It’s gritty, captivating, and packed with a sort of grim poetry that sticks with you long after you’ve stopped reading.
What struck me first was the style. The writing is sharp and confident, almost clinical when capturing moments of violence, yet it suddenly blooms into vivid richness when describing settings like the smoky tavern or the sprawling city of Badazan. The author has a gift for worldbuilding, every scene feels layered, lived‑in, and urgent. The character voices crackle, making the inspector, the farmer, Seroin, and Tomga stand out sharply, despite the sheer density of ideas and names.
Grammar‑wise, it’s almost flawlessly executed. The prose has a natural cadence, and even long, winding sentences maintain precision. Occasionally, the sheer richness can overwhelm, making it challenging to track certain threads or details, but this feels like a conscious choice, a reflection of the sprawling, unpredictable nature of Badazan itself.
What truly shines is the balance between the brutal and the poetic. The inspector’s cruelty, the farmer’s desperation, and the strange beauty of the setting are all rendered with equal care, making this a piece that demands attention and leaves a palpable mark. Its sprawling ambition and dark allure won’t be for everyone, but for those who lean into its depths, “Carcharodon” is a ferociously rewarding read.
alexUnderTheStarsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Continent of Aeurvam is expansive and diverse with its own stories unfolding simultaneously.
Style:
The story gives a good third perspective view of everything that happens in the city of Badazan and outside of it. Seroin takes center stage very well as she introduces us to her chracteristics through little interactions and details.
Story:
Adventure and mystery unfolds very thoroughly step by step. Badazan at the start seems like a city with chaotic structure but then it shows its true nature of mystery. Polbin as the first victim of the inner workings of Badazan tells us more of the city than Seroin's interactions.
Grammar:
While the author had maintained a consistently strong grammar throughout the first few chapters I read, a few places that seemed odd only occurred due to the way the in-verse terminology is being used. This is alright since that requires the reader to adapt to the fantasy.
There is not any other grammatical problems in the story as the author has put in the effort to maintain a good writing style.
Character:
Seroin is our protagonist who knows the inner paths and workings of the environment she is in, this introduces us to a story right in the middle of it. Tomga adds in his own flavour as a side character in early chapters. Shiverlip does a lot in the little screen time he was given early on, giving the readers a good foundation of what to expect.
Overall:
Badazan is a city of newly rising gods. Ones that want to reshape the world in its own manner. Ideas and their war is a great hook line and sinker to get the people to read the story further.
This story is for the fantasy readers who wants to read fantasy that rewires the way they think a fantasy should look like, a really good high fantasy.
EstarsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
I’ve read your first 10 chapters and they’re truly captivating. There are so many fresh and unique elements for me—like the A.M.I.s as currency and the G.M.E.s that really feel like killing machines. Chapter 6 was especially exciting and my favorite so far. It really conveyed the cruelty and harshness of Badazan’s government system.
Your ideas are genuinely refreshing. Things like this are what make the novel stand out. Another thing I really liked is Dala’s power—it feels unique and refreshing. Honestly, if I could choose a power, I’d love to have hers haha.
Your writing is also impressive, very neat and polished. It managed to really immerse me in the atmosphere of Badazan and the personalities of all the characters. Their characters are strong.
You’ve truly succeeded in building your world, even though there are many elements that, for me, I had to pause and reread to better understand. But that’s actually a good thing, because I enjoy the depth of your story. I think i even learned about writing from your story.
If you enjoy dark fantasy, immersive tales, and a haunting exploration of a city where survival tests the limits of the soul, Dreams of a City Without Gods is a must-read.
HS FerrandRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
This review was a long time in the making but man, what a heck of a world this story offers.
The idea of a city of advanced technology with floating platforms, modded inspectors and blood currency in a world of fantasy and gods is a very intriguing concept which this story sells well.
We are at first introduced to Seroin, a skillful woman well adjusted to the dystopian nature of Badazan and it's underbelly. She works for this mysterious, let's say, mafia lord of the underground known as Shiverlip and is assigned a task to guide around this man called Tomga in hopes of finding something that belonged to his sister.
Tomga is an honourable knight elf who fought in this great war of the past. He is a growth from outside Badazan and a believer of the goddess Diersa, an entity not looked so fondly upon in the godless lands of Badazan.
The two characters, Seroin and Tomga, create this very interesting dynamic which I just can't stop reading. A young woman of the dark dystopia of Badazan and an elven knight of an ancient war from the fantastical lands outside. The two who carry within them their own sense of trauma, humour, and backstory bonding through the course of the story is nothing but fascinating and very captivating. Seroin's familiar movements through the alleys of Badazan and Tomga's originally childish yet quickly adaptable behaviour creates many nice moments between them with Badazan as their stage.
I also really love the gods known as Ideas and their children who fought and waged the ancient war Tomga was part of. The lore behind all of this is something I personally really like.
Not to mention how the currency; the A.M.I's work. They are probably my most favourite piece of worldbuilding in the series. This bottle of liquid not only function as a currency, but also as a medium for magic and an addicting drug. To have a currency like that which is made of literal blood and can do such things make Badazan even more gritty.
To wrap it up all neatly, Dreams of Bada
SaltspireRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
There are a very large amount of qualities that make this story interesting.
The setting is great. Many of the practical necessities we have today are actually touched on in the story. It may not be important to others, but to me, magic being explored to the point it’s an almost a science is an amazing concept. There’s actually a strong resemblance to a Si-Fi settings, though with a strong medieval tint. There’s not really a point where magic gets ‘phased out’; it does everything technology does for all practical purposes.
Tomga himself is a very good showing of this evolution. For him, as an individual, he remembers when magic was still a just magic. Seroin is the exact opposite. She’s grown up in it. They clash nicely in many ways while being complementary characters. Even side characters are unique in personality, retaining a sense of ‘this is an actual person’ rather than being a simple vendor of information.
The story itself is also solid from the start. There’s your main driving device, the necklace, and it’s presented early. It doesn’t have a sense of urgency to it, but that isn’t bad. The necklace itself doesn’t seem to be an easily replaceable plot point either. It bears very deep personal ties with Tomga that anchor it to the story and make it a compelling objective.
The style and grammar are where the story have its main problems. They aren’t terrible to read by any means and flow well, but could use a little refinement. There’s the occasional mistake when using pronouns, but no issues with punctuation or misuse of words for the most part.
KripnovaRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
This story was really good. I liked the sci-fi fantasy blend of it. A little hard to follow considering the pronouns were kind of all over the place and I only knew gender bc of the description, but otherwise the story itself was good. Interesting to bring us all the way up to the war and have that be the ending, I think it fit the characters well as I don’t think they would’ve wanted to fight. I like that the epilogue shows that Balf was right and that it would be war after war and badazan would not live forever. But that’s just how life and conquerors go.