Dreams of Imahken

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

A gothic fairytale wrapped in a poetic mystery, secluded in mythic Imahken.

Illus the sniper is down on his luck wooing Anilee, the bookish daughter of his superior officer. Exhausting formalities and the watchful eyes of loose-lipped serving staff have made it impossible for him to move the relationship further, and she is too wrapped up in her dream to notice his futile love for her. He thinks if he can fulfill her lifelong dream, she may finally accept him and realize his love. But her dream is the difficult part. For as long as she can remember, Anilee has toiled to no end to discover the ruins of Imahken, an ancient temple sought after by the most daring explorers and archeologists, a place from which none have returned to tell the tale. They’ll follow in the footsteps of Jiremont Carmonia, the greatest explorer of the modern era whose expedition to find Imahken was never heard from again. With haste and the help of fur traders Tyza and Sator, Illus’s sister and brother-in-law, they set off on an exploratory mission to find signs of the temple lost to time.

All seems well until they discover a foreboding poem and a blue and black fox with a curious cackle. Before they know it, they’ve stepped into a dangerous game of love and lies between a cunning fox and an ancient sorceress.

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2024
Author: Ren Cory

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.4/ 5.0
Followers: 172
Views: 9,658

Chapters(20 total)

Reviews

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Community Reviews(8)

longwindedone1Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This review comes after reading the first five unnumbered chapters of Dreams of Imahken. I apologize for the spoilers.
Story:
The story follows Illus, Anilee, Tyza, and Sator on a quest to find Imahken. The journey tests the group, with a blue fox embodying the dangers of the forest. There are some tensions within the group, particularly between Illus and Anilee. The story is deep with mysteries, from the poem to the blue fox. This story does a great job bringing together bits of myth, an adventurous quest, and a character study in conflict
Style:
The overall tone is adventurous. It gives the reader a sense of mystery and something looming around the corner. It is written in third-person, which is perfect for this story because there are so many important characters to get to know. The dialogue is something special in this story. It is essential here to help differentiate the difference character's personalities. Flashbacks are another good tool to help the reader understand the depths of the character's relationships.
Grammar:
I'm not a great one to comment on this category because I listened to this story using the RR audio features on their app. It makes it hard for me to spot errors. That said, I didn't hear anything that took me out of the story. Nicely done!
Characters:
The author had to get the characters just right in a story like this, and he/she did. They are relatable. Illus is portrayed as reliable and thoughtful. Anilee is tough to describe, given that she is a bit of a mix of emotion and insecurity. Tyza is critical, while Sator brings the laughs. The blue fox is a cool "mystical" force. Those are the only characters in the first five chapters.
This is some good storytelling. The characters are intricately done and their interactions are deep. There is a nice mix of adventure and supernatural parts to keep readers hooked. Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed. 5/5
BluesycobaltRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
In a very good way, Dreams of Imakhen feels a bit like what you would get if you had a fever dream when you were younger after your parents let you stay up to watch Alice in Wonderland and Atlantis back-to-back. It's not a children's story, to be clear, but it has the ephemeral, dream-like logic, and fairy tale qualities of Alice with the archeological mystery and marvel of Atlantis. The use of poetry helps on both fronts and is a draw all on its own if you happen to like poetry (as I do).
Style - Third-person limited with some flashing backwards and forwards and poetry puzzles. You're never quite on solid footing here which is very much part of selling the archeological mystery angle and serves the mood of the story well. Very dream-like quality in the logic between what the characters uncover and their interactions.
Grammar - Perfect, no complaints.
Story - It's hard to judge a mystery and character-driven book while it's in-progress, because the payoff is typically in the transition into the third act which we are still a way off from. I will say that the balance of information being given out, the play with the audience's expectations, and the prevailing ethereal tone help to make the mounting mystery compelling. And as I have no real complaints on either the character or style front, that mostly informs this score.
Character - The cast is very tight here, with four main characters and a supporting cast that we get glimpses of in the flashbacks. They are all distinct and interesting in their own ways, if a bit on the archetypal side. There is a sense that you already know the characters which helps act as the sole tether in a mystery-driven novel
Dreams of Imakhen does a lot of things very differently from typical RR fantasy that I quite enjoy. Poetry, actually mysterious use of magic (death to magic systems), and a refusal to spell things out in exhaustive detail. It can be a bit challenging to keep pace with what's being revealed in the story, but if you give
Apollo149Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Dreams of Imahken is a captivating blend of gothic horror and historical fiction. Set in a mysterious, fog-shrouded world, the story follows Illus, a young man who embarks on a perilous quest to fulfill the dreams of his beloved Anilee.
The author skillfully weaves together elements of romance, adventure, and the supernatural. The world-building is rich and immersive, with vivid descriptions of the eerie landscapes and the enigmatic characters. The plot is intriguing, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing.
The pacing is well-balanced, with both slow-burn moments of character development and fast-paced action sequences. The author's writing style is elegant and evocative, drawing the reader into the story.
While the story is still ongoing, the early chapters have already established a strong foundation. The characters are complex and relatable, and the mystery surrounding the lost city of Imahken is intriguing.
If you enjoy gothic fiction, historical adventure, or a touch of the supernatural, Dreams of Imahken is definitely worth checking out.
Jonathan BRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'll say from the get-go that I ended up enjoying this book far more than I anticipated and will definitely be buying the full novel on Amazon. The dialogue is well-done, you've created a diverse cast of characters and given each of them distinct voices and relationships. The mystery is of course interesting, but I'll admit to being taken captive by the unhealthy relationship between Illus and Ani and I'm morbidly curious to see where it goes. Excited to see where the story goes!
Karl_D_SmithRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story follows a group of four adventurers as they set off on an expedition, hot on the trails of a lost explorer, and encounter a strange off-colour fox who seems to have powers beyond anything a regular fox should have. The intrigue is addictive, the dynamic between the characters is refreshing, and the writing is both vivid and colourful.
The thing I enjoyed most about reading Dreams of Imakhen is most certainly the characters. The characters in this book feel distinct, with engaging personalities that are both fun and interesting to read. I find myself feeling sorry for the doormat Illus, and hoping something rotten will happen to the prudish Annilee, who both serve as the story’s main characters. The banter between these characters is, without a doubt, the most entertaining part of the book, and the author really brings out a believable and interesting dynamic through the use of believable dialogue and character actions.
The next part of this story I found overwhelmingly exciting was the intrigue of the piece. Each chapter builds it slowly, but it’s very clear that there is a mystery at the heart of the narrative that yearns to be unspooled. It’s also clear that the author has put a great deal of work into creating this mystery, and masterfully feeds to reader bite-sized chunks to entice them to eat more, utilising everything from visuals and poetry, to character backgrounds.
In short, if you’re the sort of reader who enjoys adventure novels, enticing mysteries, and interesting characters, then I can’t recommend this enough based on what I’ve read so far.
armedleosRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I appreciate how this story seamlessly weaves between present adventure and past revelations, particularly through MC's recollections of how he met AF (another main character). The author cleverly builds tension through contrasting character dynamics - the strained relationship between TZ and AF adds an engaging layer of complexity to their expedition group.
The world-building is subtly done, introducing magical elements like the blue fox and living rose maze without overwhelming exposition. Instead of front-loading information, the author lets readers discover the mystical aspects alongside the characters, making the experience more immersive. The description of the landscape and ruins is particularly well-crafted, painting a vivid picture without bogging down the narrative.
What stands out is the natural dialogue between characters. The banter, especially between ST and TZ, flows authentically and serves to both lighten tense moments and reveal character depths. The author also handles the class dynamics between characters masterfully - the contrast between AF's privileged upbringing and the others' military background creates interesting friction without feeling forced.
The pacing is well-balanced, alternating between tense moments of discovery and quieter character interactions. The mystery of the ancient ruins and artifact is gradually unveiled, keeping readers engaged while saving major revelations for later chapters.
While some might find AF's character initially off-putting, it's clear the author is setting up room for character growth. The interpersonal relationships, particularly between MC and AF, feel realistic with their complications and unsaid tensions.
Despite being early chapters, the groundwork laid here promises an intriguing blend of adventure, romance, and mystery. The writing is clean, with vivid descriptions that bring the magical elements to life without overshadowing the human elements of the story.
john_doe_999Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a fantastic book, definitely worth reading. I enjoyed it very much. As far as short stories go, you will find yourself enthralled.
From a very pragmatic point of view, if you do not like it, you will not waste very much time reading it, as it is very short.
-A happy reader
HerrkaNeRoyal Road
★★ 2.0
The story was unusual, and it is very short. So no time wasted. Here and there there were a few grammar things that read wrong but maybe are correct.
The story between ani and ilu is very well written, and the feeling of beeing in a toxic relationship captured exceptionally.
Then the second part starts where it's just a lame old save the princess story.