Fates of Grenora: Return of the Night [Progression LITRPG]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

A routine dungeon dive. A botched ritual. A world on the brink of war. After two decades of uneasy peace, a new era is about to dawn in Grenora—one forged in blood and fire. An ancient race, from the times of the Progenitor Wars, have awoken to reclaim what was once theirs. Caught in the middle is an unassuming young man, unaware that the fate of this reborn conflict—and the survival of all races—rests in his hands. He can be the spark that ignites the world’s ruin… or the key to a long-overdue reckoning. As old powers rise and alliances shatter, only one truth remains: no victory comes without sacrifice. Which side will you choose—those who seek justice, or those who believe they were right the whole time? Update Schedule: 1-2 chapter(s) per weekend 6:30-7 PM EST Chapter length varies on what needs to be conveyed. At minium chapters will be 1.2k words because of my limited time in life currently, and any over 3k words will be split into parts.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2022
Author: J. L. Jones

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.8/ 5.0
Followers: 117
Views: 67,796

Chapters(133 total)

What readers say about Fates of Grenora: Return of the Night [Progression LITRPG]

“Basically, this dungeon diver gets forced into becoming the first vampire. These travellers come from old earth after humans on earth lost a war from something from the water/oceans? Fast forward 20 years and we are in a D&D world. I am really enjoying this…”
Apollo149Royal Road5.0 / 5
“Fates of Grenora: Return of the Night is a fantasy progression LitRPG story that blends adventure, action, and horror, all while featuring a non-human protagonist. The story begins with Aldrin and his party exploring a tier-2 dungeon, only to stumble upon…”
CKJ5Royal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

Apollo149Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Basically, this dungeon diver gets forced into becoming the first vampire. These travellers come from old earth after humans on earth lost a war from something from the water/oceans? Fast forward 20 years and we are in a D&D world.
I am really enjoying this story so far. It is a nice take on the Role Playing Style story we see on Royal Road. The system is pretty standard and adds lots of information about the characters.
The main character is pretty good. He doesn't want to embrace the vampire side but he also doesn't want to die again. We see the start of his journey to master his vampire hunger.
Story is pretty straightforward right now because of the worldbuilding and character development, plus there isn't anything wrong with straightforward in the beginning because it allows for growth. Plus there is tons of vampire battle action.
Grammar is solid.
Pacing is alright. Chapters are a bit long for my personal taste, but I am in there. I am following the story now!
If you want a vampire story i feel loke this might be foe you. I see a lot of dungeons and dragon elements here too, like the classes and potions. Anyways, i is just a good base for growing and balancing new development. Overall I am enjoying this story: 5 out of 5
CKJ5Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Fates of Grenora: Return of the Night is a fantasy progression LitRPG story that blends adventure, action, and horror, all while featuring a non-human protagonist.
The story begins with Aldrin and his party exploring a tier-2 dungeon, only to stumble upon something that will drastically alter his fate. The opening does an excellent job of pulling readers in, setting high stakes early and keeping the tension tight.
Style:
The story employs a third-person limited perspective that works well for the genre, keeping the reader grounded in Aldrin’s experience. The use of stat sheets, as well as bolded and bracketed text, feels consistent with progression LitRPG conventions and adds to the immersive feel of the narrative.
The pacing is brisk, with high-stakes developments introduced early, making the pages turn effortlessly. The balance between action and tension is particularly well-executed, ensuring that each scene serves a purpose.
Characters:
Aldrin stands out as a protagonist because he isn’t a rookie adventurer or someone transported from another world—he’s an experienced fighter well into his prime. This is a refreshing departure from more common LitRPG tropes and adds an extra layer of intrigue to his character arc. While the supporting cast is less fleshed out at this stage, Aldrin’s presence and personality carry the story well.
Grammar:
The prose is solid, with a confident and engaging narrative style. There are a few areas where the writing could be smoothed out, particularly in dialogue tags, but these minor rough patches don’t significantly detract from the reading experience. They’re easy to overlook in the face of the story’s strengths.
Overall:
Fates of Grenora: Return to the Night is an exciting and well-paced progression LitRPG that delivers strong action, compelling stakes, and a protagonist who stands apart from genre norms. While there are small areas that could benefit from polish, the core of the story is engaging, well-crafted, and immersive. Whi
DwayneDTRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Fates of Grenora: Return of the Night
Reviewed after Chapter 9.2 Spoils for the Victorious
If you enjoy stories packed with detailed skill trees, constant leveling, and brutal graphic combat, then Fates of Grenora is absolutely for you. The series leans hard into system-heavy growth and intense violence, so readers who like that mix will feel right at home.
Aldrin is a newly turned Vampire Progenitor trying to keep himself pointed at “bad guys only,” and the tension between instinct and intention gives the story a strong emotional core. The pacing is quick, the action hits hard, and the chemistry between Aldrin, Pierre, and Jared feels like the start of a party you want to keep following. If you like detailed systems, grim fights, and a character fighting himself as much as his enemies, this one is absolutely worth diving into.
Style
The writing is energetic and leans straight into the drama. Bloody fights, tense cave scenes, frantic escapes, and plenty of humor to keep things human. The tone balances dark violence with character banter, which helps prevent the story from feeling bleak. At times scenes move fast enough that transitions can feel abrupt, but the momentum never drops. The prose is clear, direct, and very “web serial”—easy to read and easy to binge.
Story
This arc shines because it’s built around two pillars: Aldrin’s struggle to stay in control and a crunchy, fully fleshed-out system that rewards planning as much as brute force. The skill-tree reveals (Vampire Progenitor, Night Reaver, racial unlocks, branching magic) add a ton of flavor and make every fight feel like a tactical problem instead of a stat-check. Pieces of world building, like the Holy Order, undead territories, demon involvement, and Earth-origin characters, hint at a much larger plot.
The action scenes are standouts. The two major fights (Gýt and the bandit camp) are raw, violent, and visceral, but still tied to character. Aldrin rarely becomes a mindless monster. The story repeatedly
Eric VanderlipRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Fates of Grenora: Return of the Night is the story of Aldrin, a young cleric, who makes an encounter with an ancient race is hellbent on retaking his new home, Grenora, changing his life forever.
Style: A tradition GameLit/LitRPGs with the game aspect deeply integrated with the story. The perspective is consistent and smooth. The pace is solid and exciting. The battles are engaging and well described. No complains.
Story: Conversation and events flow naturally at a satisfying pace. The world-building and lore is extremely fleshed out (and is expertly revealed piece by piece). Aldrin's desperate struggle for survival drives the plot, together with devastation in his wake and the threat he represents.
Grammar: Excellent. My need to edit (for grammar reason) went mostly unfulfilled.
Character: Superb cast. Aldrin makes for a sympathetic, ill-fated protagonist. His strong-willed sister, Adeline, makes a great secondary lead. Kilinos is a masterfully crafted looming antagonist. The rest of cast also feels alive and authentic (no matter how brief their appearance). Interactions are a joy to watch.
Conclusion: I highly recommend Fates of Grenora: Return of the Night. In terms of writing, worldbuilding, characters, it doesn't get better than this. You'll soon find yourself relentlessly click "next chapter" to find out what happens next. It's an addicting read.
Jack0fheartRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Fates of Grenora: Return of the Night is a thrilling and intense journey through the world of Grenora. The author sets the tone with a warning that the reader is in for a dangerous and brutal ride, and they deliver on that promise in spades.
Overall score 5/5: This book is a thrilling and captivating journey into the world of Grenora, filled with dangers and unexpected twists. The author has masterfully crafted a story that is both immersive and exciting, and the reader is sure to be drawn in from the very first chapter.
Style score 5/5: The writing is gripping, and the attention to detail in each chapter makes the world of Grenora come alive. The reader is fully immersed in the story, feeling every victory and defeat alongside Aldrin and the other characters.
Story score 5/5: The story is rich in mystery and intrigue, and it is easy to get swept up in the journey of Aldrin as he tries to unravel the secrets of the world around him. Each chapter builds on the last, leaving the reader eager for more.
Grammar score 5/5: The writing is polished, and the grammar is excellent. This is a well-crafted story, and the attention to detail in the writing is impressive.
Character score 5/5: The characters in this story are well-developed, with unique personalities and motivations. Aldrin is a complex character who the reader will follow on his journey as he grapples with his new powers and the dangers that come with them. Adeline is a strong and determined woman who is a force to be reckoned with. The supporting cast is also well-written, each character bringing something new to the story.
In summary, Fates of Grenora: Return of the Night is an excellent power fantasy that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat from start to finish. If you're looking for a fast-paced and action-packed journey through a richly imagined world, then this is the book for you. Highly recommended! ♥
Morbid writerRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
What’s working
The inciting incident lands
The dungeon crawl starts tense and readable, and the sudden spike to “Tier 6 mythic hell-realm” is a legit “oh no” moment.
That’s the kind of genre pivot LitRPG readers love: routine run, then catastrophic anomaly, followed by world-level consequences.
Kilinos is a strong “engine” villain
The reveal, the hellscape, the taunting, the ritual, this is a good dark-fantasy spectacle, and it clearly forces your protagonist into the story instead of asking politely.
Your scope expands fast (and that’s good)
Cutting to The Aurora, the political panic, bishops screaming crusades, etc. That’s the right kind of “this event matters globally.”
Your world can feel magical when you slow down
The upper-city elf-tree architecture sequence is vivid and breathes. That’s you at your best world-building-wise.
What’s holding the story back (the hard part)
You’re introducing too many names + systems before the reader is attached
In the first stretch, we get several party members, their classes, tiers, a key orb, skill choices, profession checks, and more.
That’s not “world-building,” that’s cognitive load. Right now, the reader is memorizing spreadsheets before they care who dies.
Delay most of the stat/class labeling until after the first real danger beat, or show only Aldrin’s relevant info. Make us bond with him first.
The “Spoiler” blocks are actively hurting immersion
Calling it “Spoiler” reads like a placeholder from drafting, not an in-world UI.
LitRPG readers will accept system screens if they’re clean and consistent. But “Spoiler” breaks the spell.
Replace “Spoiler” with something like: SYSTEM//, STATUS UPDATE//, NOTIFICATIONS//, CHARACTER SHEET//, and keep formatting consistent.
Tone whiplash: modern crude banter, cosmic horror, epic politics
The early “circle-jerk” style joke
Return of the Night
clashes hard with the later grim body-horror ritual and massacre.
This isn’t about being “clean” or “PG.” It’s about control. If you want dark
Second LawRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Fates of Grenora is the story of Aldrin, a man who had fleed earth for Grenora around 22 years ago, with many fellow humans. The story start with Aldrin and his fellow humans exploring a tier 2 dungeon when something happens that changes Aldrin's life forever, and puts him in the middle of something much bigger than himself.
Style Score : The story is well written, and is very pleasant to read. The chapters are a bit lengthy, but it gels well with the author's style where he finishes a full logical chunk of events in a single chapter. The vampire action scenes are also very deftly written, in a way that I can visualize the action as if it's happening in front of my eyes.
Story Score : The story starts with us getting introduced to Aldrin and his band of adventurers, and through them we get to see the litrpg aspects of this world - race, levels, classes, professions, skills, etc. The adventurers are in a tier 2 dungeon which suddenly turns into a tier 6 one, where they are completely outclassed, and gets Aldrin turns into a vampire. This completes the setup of the story, and then we see Aldrin deal with his situation, and a lot of intense action sequences! Overall, the story is developing well so far and I'm hooked to know more. The LitRPG aspects are well thought out and the level ups and skills are enjoyable.
Grammar Score : Did not find any spelling/grammar issues in my readthrough.
Character Score : The character of Aldrin is the one most developed in this story, and watching his struggles against his new bloodthirsty nature builds empathy towards him, making him relatable. However, I personally felt the lack of a backstory or any other personal details that would help me anchor with that character. Other than Aldrin, Kilinos' character was done masterfully, an aura of mystery making me look forward to seeing him again. Aldrin's sister is another character I look forward to seeing more of. Overall, there is good set of characters set up for future chapters, and t
SpattykinsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Fates of Grenora follows a young man named Aldrin who is unceremoniously killed and resurrected by some manner of demon/vampire lord. In this resurrection he is turned into a terrifyingly powerful vampire with zero control or help. He is forced to grapple with his new way of being and try to figure out how to move on with his life and sanity intact. This book is not kidding with that content warning about gore. It has gore in spades in every chapter which really sells its concept.
Style:
The story takes on a typical litrpg format minus the isekai aspect. The world is just an rpg and no one is a fish out of water who needs every little detail explained to them. It is clear that the author put a lot of care and attention into the rpg elements of the world. There are so many tables that you can browse at your liesure and come back to easily when you need a refresher.
Grammar:
There are a couple oddities scattered throughout the book but a lot of the slightly off-kilter phrasings were actually very interesting and give you a view into the author's mind. There are two spots in chapter 1 where the story accidentally goes into first person perspective but those are easily rectified.
Story:
The story has a lot of potential for human interest. When one is dragged to hell and made a vampire, that's going to change everything about your life. The story is very focused on its combats which is good for people who like fight scenes. Every fight is well-described and easy to follow.
Character:
To me characterization is one of the most important parts of a story. And this book tackles characterization in an interesting way. Side characters talk and act in ways that really sell that they're real people. Aldrin, however is tougher to get a read on. He seems like an interesting characater who is made to grapple with what amounts to a beast in his brain and I'd like to see the work spend more time meditating on his emotions rather than his actions.
WalkeroRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a sort of portal isekai, where the mc and his group had to leave earth and teleport to grenora (I didn't quite understand why they had to leave though). 20 years passed, and the reader is thrown right into action, as Aldrin, The protagonist of the story, gets turned into a vampire progenitor by an archdemon. Personally, i love reading about vampire characters and i love the choice you made with that. The skills were a bit basic, but i guess he is still low level. I would hope to see some unique variants of abilities in the future.
There are a lot of blue boxes, with skills and traits. Obviously a very thoroughly thought out system. It is perfect for D&D lowers or seasoned Litrpg readers, but i feel like it might be a bit much for the casual reader. But that shouldn't be an issue on RR as everyone here loves Litrpg.
There is a lot of killing and fighting, as the Protagonist has to fight against his vampiric instincts to hunt and drink blood. In the end he does get controlled by his instincts more often than he can resist them though.
Style: Written in third person perspective, we get insights into not only Aldrins decisions and thoughts, but those of other people as well. It's a good style to use for showcasing other people as well, which does happen on occasion. What i really love about the writing, is that it is so descriptive. The way the surroundings, fights and almost everything are described. Some of the paragraphs feel a bit long to me though, maybe it's just my short attention span.
Story: We follow Aldrin on his journey, to control his vampiric instincts and try to find a cure for it. It's good that he has a long standing goal early on, as motivation is one of the most important aspects to a character in my opinion.
Grammar: I barely noticed any grammatical mistakes, i believe that most of them were already edited out. So props to taking your time in polishing the chapters.
Character: The characters, even his group in the beginning, are very well cha
Writer's ScienceRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I don't usually enjoy litrpgs because there is a lack of thought put in to making the, usually isekai'd, characters and things aren't very clearly explained for those just dipping their toes in to the genre, but I really liked this one. It's actually one of the best Litrpg's I've seen.
Style, the only complaint I have is that the authour leaned a bit more toward telling vs showing, but that's not a big deal and is good for people who are just getting in to the genre.
I like the story and the premise, it genuinely feels like I'm playing DandD and I'm not bogged down by the lack of realism in the story because all the characters were born and raised in the world they are in. This means that discrepancies in what we consider normal reactions in RL can be easily handwaved and they don't break my suspension of disbelief.
The only thing I would like to see slightly more of is the body language and mannerisms of the characters to really bring them to life a bit more and add depth. Otherwise, they are very well thought out for the genre and I have no other issues, because if this were made too realistic then it would no longer be a litrpg and have that gaming feel that you want.