Renegade's Redemption: Dust [Epic Fantasy] [Book Three Ongoing]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

There are no plans to publish on Amazon or Kindle Unlimited until the entire series is completed.

In a world where gods are divided into the greater gods known as Crowns and the lesser gods known as Hallows, Elian, God of Healing and Protection, is known as the most powerful and beloved of the Hallows amongst mortals. Unlike the other distant and reclusive deities, he is known to travel the world, personally aiding troubled mortals.

But his road to reaching this point was a long and harsh one, filled with pain, loss, manipulation, and betrayal. Upon choosing to share this story with an idealistic mortal princess, their respective views of heroism and altruism will be challenged.

And what of the vicious and vile Sun Fiend following his path?

Heroes, gods, kings, all. Are they not human too?

What to Expect:

-First-Person Perspective-Multiple, distinctive leads-Character-driven-No Systems or Stats-Multiple styles of magic-Expansive worldbuilding-Creative fights-Mythology-inspired setting-Gods and demons-Queer characters-Tragic romances

Volumes 1 and 2 are now completed, volume 3 is ongoing. Early rough chapters available on my Patreon. Updates every other Monday.

Cover art by me, text added by DWinchester. Thank you!

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2022
Author: StainedGlassThreads

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.8/ 5.0
Followers: 279
Views: 94,995

Chapters(76 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

AnodyneRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style: Renegade's Redemption is written in first-person past tense--but wait! Before you run off, assumed-majority-opinion-RoyalRoad-reader, I need to tell you that it's done really well here. I'm not usually a fan of first-person POV either, but in this case, it moulds itself to the story and allows for deeper glimpses of insight into character's heads.
Story: So far, we seem to be following the life of a living legend, an immortal healer-warrior with humble beginnings and a convoluted past. While this is a character-driven work, there are also sprinkles of high-quality action on top of and coinciding with the character development. This all takes place in an intriguing fantasy setting with a unique and internally consistent magic system--from encounters in deep, mysterious woods to cultures interwoven with the magic of hallowed gods and goddesses, it's clear that a lot of attention-to-detail has been put into this work.
Grammar: Good grammar, spelling, and punctuation; highly readable. Not much else to say on this section, other than the fact that I found all of the chapters so far very well-paced and pleasant to read.
Character: The characters have distinctive voices and thought processes that lend themselves well to the aforementioned first-person POV. From simmering anger and self-sufficiency to altruism and deeply-rooted compassion, the characters span a wide range of personalities and remain internally consistent while not being confined by a handful of traits. As such, their interactions are always interesting to read about--and if you've read to this point without embarking on the story yet, then I encourage you to give it a go, since it's undoubtedly more entertaining than this review :)
BardLyreRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a really old-fashioned, in the absolute best sense of the word, fantasy yarn. Gods, warriors, magicians - everything joins together in a convincing and mature mileu that is well handled.
The author has constructed a range of P.o.Vs and has the uncommon skill of being able to construct properly differentiated voices for them. All too often, people stick the name of the person whose P.oV we are hearing at the top of the chapter, but then simply make it all sound the same - this is absolutely not the case here. It is, as my review title makes clear, masterfully done.
The different characters are all engaging and have their own flaws and issues - their plans to improve their lot in life drives much of the conflict and interest in this piece. The cultural touches here are nicely introduced in a sensible manner - no expositional infodump here. As a reader, you need to be prepared to work to keep up - and the story is all the better for that.
Overall, this is a very strong piece of world building and, certainly, one that deserves to find a wide audience. I will be giving this a favourite and a follow and would encourage you to do likewise!
CapaluchuRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Two of my favorite things are fantasy and mythology, and Renegade's Redemption has found a way to combine them wonderfully well. The story introduces you to figures of divine legend and then brings you back to the days before the legends became gods and demons. I have read other stories where we see the origin of gods but what really sets this one apart is when we meet the god at first, he is affable and humane. So much so that even the other characters question his divinity. By introducing Hallow Elian in this way the story becomes more personable and warmer. The god is not some cold unfathomable entity but someone we want to root for.
STYLE: Full stars. The writing is clear and vocabulary choices are well thought out. The only slightly confusing thing is the calendar runs backward. Even though the years are larger numbers, each of the first three POV's go backward in time.
STORY: Very compelling. This was a Review Swap but honestly, I had to force myself to stop reading to review it.
GRAMMAR: Tiny issues at best. And those that are noted, the author is very quick to address them. Nothing that will detract from the great story.
CHARACTERS: Each character we are given focus on is brought to life for us. The knight is proud and boisterous (until he is not). The princess is proud and brittle. The hunter is harsh and sharp. I often lose interest in stories that change POV. This might just be the best use of it I have read.
OVERALL: The best compliment I can think to give is this one is definitely going on my reading list. If you are looking for a story that will carry you along, I highly recommend Renegade's Redemption.
DuvilRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
What a story. Like really, wow. Right from the get-go, the author brings you into a new world and pretends like you've lived there all your life. To pull off immersion like that speaks to the author's ability, and promises a true fantasy epic right off the bat.
Style:
There is something to be said about the switching of POV's we see every few chapters. I'll say it right now: I love it. Each character is their own, and balancing multiple point of view characters in a way that doesn't frustrate a reader while simultaneously having cliffhangers is tough. Have no fear, because this story does all that, and does it well.
Story:
The concept of going back to a time before a god becomes a god is a fun one at its core. And by setting up some interesting beats in the early chapters, we get a glimpse of where the journey is headed. And at the same time, it feels like that leap forward is still somewhere in the middle of a massive journey.
Grammar:
What's the point of even talking about this? It's great!
Character:
Like I said previously, each character is their own. They feel so grounded and consistent that it is difficult not to think of them as real. One thing that keeps me reading is to find out if a certain grumpy character eventually becomes slightly less grumpy (in one way or another). And the growth of going from strangers to enemies to friends is a dynamic I am always happy to enjoy.
Overall, I bow to you, author. You took a genuine fantasy epic worthy of appearing on store shelves and put it on this site for us to read and enjoy. Fantastic work!
HirambeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
"Renegade's Redemption: Dust" by StainedGlassThreads.
Style: Dude, it's all about characters taking the wheel, with action, emotions, and some seriously wild stuff thrown in. Imagine a break from the usual action-packed tales – this is a warm escape. First-person past tense, surprisingly written and gives you this front-row seat to all the character.
Story: Picture this: there's a world being stitched together across two timelines, and it's not your usual fantasy setting. You’re in for a wild ride exploring this magic-laden wonderland.
Grammar: Solid, nothing to say here.
Character: Each character has this unique voice, and it's more colourful than paintball match. They're so real you'll be thinking you're chillin' with them.
Overall: Flawless score. The world-building? The author crafted it with some serious dedication. You might even feel like you’re stepping into it.
We're in a realm with gods, warriors, and magic. Different personalities, goals, and dreams collide, cooking conflict. No fillers detected here – just a smooth ride through the author's imagination. This story is a symphony of classic fantasy, skillfully executed. The author deftly carves distinct voices for various characters, transcending mere labelling. The characters are driven by their dreams, delivering conflicts that drive the narrative. Cultural introductions are elegantly integrated, allowing readers to dive without exposition.
Kudos my friend, StainedGlassThreads
ScruffedUpRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
While I generally dislike starting books based off of reviews that are packed with content, generally because I then have to spend an entire day reading it all, I did find myself enjoying this one until I was caught up.
Style:
The world building, writing style, and everything in between are very well done. I found myself enjoying the world and it kept me engaged until the end. 5/5
Story:
The story is engaging, well written and entertaining enough that I made it to the end with little to no issues. Overall I like it and I would recommend it to anyone looking to start up a lesser known book, for as long as it stays 'lesser known' that is.
Grammar:
I found no spelling mistakes or issues with the grammar while reading, whether or not I missed any is another issue entirely as I breezed through a lot of the chapters reading it, enjoying it more than really reviewing it. 5/5
Character:
I enjoyed the characters, they feel alive and their motivations are clear, and rather understandable. 5/5
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Overall, it's good. Very Good. I think the story has a lot of potential to get decent coverage so long as it gains a following to sustain it. Unfortunately a lot of good stories get buried under the fact that most people search books by 'most views' or 'highest ratings'. Hopefully my review bumps it up a bit so more people find it.
Good work and good luck, I look forward to the updates.
TMKnightRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
There are many things that make RenRed stand out. I honestly do not think I could add anything that the other reviewers have not already said. Suffice it to say that I agree with them and their perceptions of this wonderful work.
So, just as RenRed itself is a breath of fresh air, I'll leave something a little different in this review.
GlassThreads cares for his characters. Oh, I know what you might say. "Every author cares for their characters! That's not really an interesting take, friend!" And to that, I would agree. But hear me out.
From reading this story, one can get a solid glimpse of the characters involved: but only a glimpse. Nania, Talon, Lordrin, Elian, Fereshteh, and all the rest offer unique and differing lenses with which to view the world, but they aren't truly people. This, of course, is a necessity! But as with every work of art involving people, they will never truly be people. The characters you're reading are only that: characters, imagined in someone else's head and only partially 'human.' Ultimately, all characters are placeholders in a narrative meant to teach some sort of moral lesson or demonstrate some aspect of human existence.
But in my mind, what sets RenRed apart from nigh every other work is how real the characters are beyond the sphere of their story. They approach that unapproachable line of humanity---not just characterhood---more than most authors ever manage with their creations, and I wholeheartedly believe that this is because GlassThreads deeply, truly cares about their story and its progression in a way very, very few ever do. (Or maybe even can?)
I've had the honor of being Glass' friend and hearing some of the processes behind the creation of his story and how he fleshes out his characters, and this has only further cemented my belief. It is my hope that others can pick up this work and see what I've seen and appreciate for the rare gem that it is. :)
ZenobiaTayRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Renegade's Redemption is an epic fantasy that stands out from the crowd. The author's incredible attention to detail is apparent from the first chapter, with a world full of creatures, cultures, and a deep, intricate mythology that captures the imagination. This story is a true gem in the fantasy genre and is easily deserving of a perfect score. The characters are diverse and complex, with distinctive voices and thought processes that lend themselves perfectly to the story's first-person POV. The pacing is spot-on, with a perfect balance of action and character development that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.
Style:
An absolute gem of a story with a captivating style that is sure to draw you in from the very first page. The author's use of first-person past tense is a refreshing surprise that is executed flawlessly, giving readers a deeper understanding of the characters and their motivations. What I love most about this writing style is how it manages to balance action, emotion, and quirkiness in a way that keeps you hooked without ever feeling overwhelming. It's a refreshing change of pace from the typical high-octane stories out there. Additionally, the author's ability to create unique voices for each POV character is truly impressive, bringing a new dimension to the story and making it an absolute joy to read. I can't recommend this author's style enough - it's definitely one to watch!
Story:
A story that will leave you utterly mesmerized from start to finish. The author has created a rich and captivating world filled with mythical creatures, magic, and a unique culture that is unlike anything you've ever seen before. The action scenes are top-notch, perfectly complementing the character development, and the fantasy setting is nothing short of extraordinary. It's clear that the author has put a lot of thought into building a world that is both intriguing and internally consistent. The multi-timeline aspect of the story and the rich mythological ba
fantasyretreatRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I can count on my hands the number of stories that I've read that really has a wealth of history and tradition on RR (They ain't much). Renegade's Redemption: Dust, is one of them and is on another playing field.
The author has really taken his time to develop this world, coloring it with powerful myths and gods, magic and tradition. I could tell as I read through that this had been in the making for a while before being dropped. No half-assed storylines or arcs.
There are many things I wanna talk about that makes this a really great story so I won't do it the usual way.
1. Execution of scenes:
First and foremost, the author uses first-person POVs, making for a really visual narrative. This was executed excellently as you get to follow the thought processes of the characters, see through their eyes, and get a sense of what they feel. Did I mention that each character's POV is unique to the character like you could just create an inside voice for each person as you read their POV? Even when names aren't mentioned, you just know who's talking (or thinking).
2. Execution of dialogue:
This one blew my mind in some chapters. I was literally reading through expositions without knowing I was reading through expositions. The level of care and attention the author put into making sure that conversations read seamlessly and without the reader knowing or figuring out that they just read through an exposition was superb. And I can tell, this must be quite hard to do if word building hadn't been fully realized.
3. Rich history and tradition:
Oh, boy. This is the backbone of the story in my opinion. It's like a backdrop - you know it's there in the background of the scenery (or story in this case). You can always recall when some things are done in certain ways. You know, mannerisms, speech, and even table manners (you read that right). And things just click as you read.
4. Character:
Just as it says in the title, this is a character-driven epic fantasy. So the characters ought t
PeterRobertsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The fantasy genre is a hard one to parse through, especially on RR. But calling this an EPIC fantasy is bang on. Its scope is huge, both in terms of timeline and the mythology of the world that is being introduced. It hits you from the first chapter.
Style
I think that distinguishing the voices of the different POV characters is the strength in style here. The POV’s have a unique tone, not just in dialogue but in what they notice and how the scene feels through their eyes.
Story
There is a fine line between asking the reader to keep up and read carefully to pick up the threads, and dumping information - this author walks it well. I liked that the cultural aspects of the world were introduced piece-meal. The multi timeline aspect and the huge mythology background are what really took this up a notch - or two.
Character
I mentioned above how the characters have their own unique voice, but to add to this, they seem to have the capacity to go in any direction with their development. The groundwork has been laid and I hope that their arcs can do justice to such a fantastic introduction.
Grammar
I’m not close-reading for issues. Nothing got in the way of my reading.