Enchantress of the Vermilion Flame

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

In the cozy, cobblestoned city of Thundrel, Lilly feels unfulfilled living the life of a baker, and wants to do something greater.

After dreaming about the amulet she's had since she was a child, she decides to research it, and discovers that it holds secrets beyond what she could have imagined.

The life she wants to live suddenly seems a lot more achievable now, and she is determined to use this chance for what it's worth.

Little does she know her path is about to take another turn after her first trip outside the city walls.

Author note: This is my first story, so any feedback (not too harsh) is appreciated. It's hard to write a decent synopsis without spoiling anything in the story, so I'll just say that it's mostly focused on character interactions and learning magic at first. It takes its time to let you get to know the characters, but it picks up the pace considerably after a while.

The story is nearing its end now, with book 3 being the last one. It will also be moved entirely to Kindle Unlimited at some point this year in case you're looking for an excuse to read it now :)

I should probably note that the romance in the story is between two girls.

Also, the Slice of Life tag is slightly disingenuous. It gets a bit dramatic at times. Be warned.

Happy reading!

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2024
Author: GoldSphere

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.1/ 5.0
Followers: 1,170
Views: 307,274

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

Anubis' JackelRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I started this book because the name was interesting and I saw there was a lesbian romance. Those were my two reasons until I got a couple chapters in. The story is beautiful, funny, entertaining, and written very well. The romance actually builds and you see the two girls throughout their relationship, going from nervous and no clue what they were doing to flirting with each other and more confident than before. The author is also amazing with portraying emotions, nothing felt half done or forced. It was really satisfying to read and not that hard to understand either. I would recommend this story to anyone that wants Slice-of-life with a cute, believable romance.
Clay PetersonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The magic system is nice and crunchy. Very solid presentation. I’m usually a soft magic kinda guy but seeing one be so well defined really amazes me on how much thought the author put into it. I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes and how the relationships between everyone grows. 👏🏻
Lucian T. EinarRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
**Overall:**
"Enchantress of the Vermilion Flame" invites readers into a captivating world of magic, self-discovery, and friendship. With a unique blend of fantasy elements and a focus on character interactions, this debut story leaves a lasting impression.
**Style:**
GoldSphere's descriptive and immersive writing style effortlessly transports readers into the enchanting world of Thundrel. The careful attention to sensory details creates vivid settings and emotional connections. While the pacing is generally smooth, some expository portions could benefit from trimming to enhance overall impact. Nevertheless, the engaging style earns a commendable 4.5 out of 5.
**Story:**
At its core, the story revolves around Lilly, a baker's granddaughter, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery upon unlocking her latent magical abilities. The plot balances personal growth with epic moments, weaving in meaningful relationships and mysterious elements. A steady pace and well-developed characters contribute to a compelling narrative, earning a solid 5 out of 5.
**Grammar:**
The technical execution of the writing stands out with polished grammar, smooth sentence structure, and well-formatted dialogue. Few errors or typos won't disrupt the reading experience, earning a commendable 4.5 out of 5.
**Character:**
The characters in "Enchantress of the Vermilion Flame" come alive through well-crafted backstories, dialogue, and emotional responses. Protagonist Lilly, supported by characters like Eldrin and Mia, undergoes a relatable and compelling journey. The relationships evolve organically, enhancing the emotional core of the story. A perfect 5 out of 5 for dimensional, empathetic characters.
**Overall Score: 5 out of 5**
In summary, GoldSphere's debut delivers a magical and immersive tale, showcasing a promising start to a fantasy journey. The well-realized characters, engaging plot, and vivid writing style make "Enchantress of the Vermilion Flame" a recommended read for fantasy enthus
LuesatoraRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The first few chapters are a bit weak, likely due to the authors inexperience at the time, but it improves drastically after that.
The story is engaging overall. A lot of things feel like they are going really easy for the MC at the start, but things are not always entirely what they seem.
The magic system is interesting and well thought out.
The romance aspect is adorable, but also believable. If you like yuri romance, then this story is 100% worth reading.
naepoleonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I read all the way through these chapters last night and today, and I didn't quite remember how many had been released. As I got to around chapter 9 I started getting more and more anxious. Hoping that the next chapter wouldn't be the last. I luckily got another 7 chapters before i hit that wall. I am really enjoying this story immensely and am looking forward to a future where I can read more of this. It's truly very well written and I am loving it.
BootsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Is cozy your style? How about an adventure? Enchantress of the Vermillion Flame has you covered for both. Follow Lilly as she awakens her magic, and learns what it means to be an adventurer.
Grammar and Style
Grammar is fine. No glaring issues.
Style is a bit rougher. The writing could use some tightening and the dialogue could use some more push and pull, but it's easy enough to follow. I'm never confused, and things are laid out well on the page.
Story
I think the central story conceit is the strongest aspect by far. Lilly has a good cozy life, but she wants to be an adventurer. She quickly finds out that the grass isn't necessarily greener, and has to deal with the consequences of her first outing. Strong foundation to tell a good cozy tale with.
Character
Lilly has a lot of unrealized potential, and it's hard to tell if she'll live up to it. I think her core conflict is an interesting and relatable one, but based on what I've read so far, I couldn't tell you if it's going to be adequately explored or not.
Overall
If you like the character and the core concept, I'd say give it a shot and see if its for you.
Ria CorvidivaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
I'll start off with the bad with this review. The first three chapters are slow, rough, and a bit of a chore to get through. However, the payoff is worth it.
We have a pretty standard setup: Lilly Baker, at age 18, wants adventure and excitement, rather than an ordinary life working in her grandfather's bakery. But after a rough go of her first outing, she instead decides to pursue the study of magic and the enchanting of magical items.
Along the way, we're slowly introduced to our cast of characters from throughout the city, including the elvish woman Eolande, who takes the role of a surrogate mother, and Mia Gorton, Lilly's childhood friend and eventual love interest. There aren't too many named characters, which allows the author to spend more time with each of them. And this is done extremely well. Characters have their own plots as they enter and leave the story (as our heroine sees it), and the romance is well-developed, which is always nice to see.
Regarding the grammar - not much to say. There's a few awkward phrases and some occasionally unclear antecedents, but nothing that seriously detracts from the readability of the story. The prose is rather simplistic, evoking more of a light novel feeling than a dense, thick western epic. But simple is not bad, and often makes for a lighter, easier read.
What I will caution is that, while the story is mostly lighthearted, cozy, and fluffy - especially when the main romance is involved - that does not mean that there aren't darker moments throughout the story. The story never delves into the realm of grimdark, but that doesn't mean that there aren't some scenes that are going to hit hard, most notably (SPOILER ALERT!)
The murder of Lilly's grandfather and its immediate aftermath.
Those looking for a consistently cozy and low stakes story might end up disappointed a bit once Book 1 closes and the stakes start to ramp up more. Again, never grimdark, but caution is warranted.
And, I think that's about all I h
Lile BanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Style:
The author employs a descriptive and immersive style that effectively transports the reader into the fantasy world. Careful attention is paid to sensory details - sights, sounds, scents - that establish vivid settings and convey emotional states. The pacing ebbs and flows smoothly between narrative exposition, dialogue, and action. For the most part, the writing carries the reader along at a steady clip. There are a few sections, particularly earlier on, where background details and explanations of the magic system decelerate the pace. But otherwise, the style is engaging and animated.
I would score the style a 4 out of 5. The vivid sensory writing is a strength, as is the general flow. Trimming some overly long expository portions would enhance the style's impact.
Story:
At its core, this is a fantasy coming-of-age tale centered around Lilly, a baker's granddaughter who discovers she has latent magical abilities. After her amulet unlocks her powers, she sets out on a journey of self-discovery to harness her talents as an enchanter. She forms meaningful bonds along the way - with mentors like the mage Eldrin and the elf Eolande, and with her childhood friend Mia. There are elements of mystery woven throughout regarding the history of Lilly's magical amulet and her family lineage.
The plot builds at a measured yet steady pace, laying emotional foundations before culminating in a final battle where Lilly must leverage her full powers to defend her city from an attacking fleet. The story balances the personal - Lilly's growth, her relationships and inner journey - with the epic, as she unlocks unbelievable power. The narrative remains focused throughline centered on Lilly, even as the stakes ramp up. Overall, the story is engaging with well-developed characters and a good interplay of subplots and action.
I would rate the story a 4.5 out of 5. It checks all the boxes for an immersive fantasy tale focused on coming-of-age and self-discovery. The relationships enr
First_PageRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. I think it's worth the read for those that are interested in the summary. In my personal experience, it can be hard to get past the first few chapters but found it worth the wait. Unless there's something particular that's irritating about them.
The plot is pretty tight. From what I read this is the Authors first work, even so he crafted a really Interesting story. Though I disagreed with some decisions made by the characters, that comes down to personal taste more than anything. I noticed no plot holes during my reading, which is good. Saying that I felt this work shines when it comes to characters. At first, I was rather hesitant due to some of the character Introductions but it exceeded almost all of my expectations in this regard, especially the Mc. She is very likable and surprisingly Enjoyable once you get to know her.
The only gripe I have with it is the style that it's written in. Other than that I can't say anything bad about the story, It's really good. It has a really solid hook that invests you into the story and doesn't let go until the ride is fully over. Definitely worth the read.
Ditto1234859173Royal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
The pacing is a little weird at times but works with how it was written however the characters, the overall plot and the feel of the web novel is phenomenal. I lowkey almost cried during certain parts in volume two and during the finale. The main couple are well written (I'm a sucker for romance, especially LGBTQ+ couples), the supporting cast flesh out the main cast pretty damn well. Lilly's journey to becoming the Enchantress of the Vermilion Flame is fun and stressful and all the feelings between. Keep up the awesome work Gold Sphere!
AAAA! They have kids at the end! it makes me so happy