Ronan Grey: Chains of the Lowborn

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Born into the slums of the Ravencia Empire, Ronan Grey knows hardship like the back of his hand. Cynical, disillusioned, and burdened with untapped potential, he is thrust into a world far removed from his bleak upbringing when his latent magical abilities gain him entry into the prestigious Lumenbourg University of Mystical, Combat, and General Studies. Which he hated at first.

But Ravencia is an empire on the brink—its secrets darker than the shadows Ronan has always known. While navigating the competitive guilds, ancient magic, and the rigid caste system of the university, Ronan stumbles upon anomalies that could shake the very foundations of the empire. As he uncovers hidden truths about the university and its connection to Ravencia's decaying power, Ronan must decide whether to embrace his role as another wheel in the empire’s machine or forge his own path in defiance of the system.

In a world where strength and cunning determine one's survival, Ronan’s sharp wit, growing magical prowess, and sarcastic charm might not be enough to face what lies ahead. When the darkness begins to consume the empire, will Ronan rise to challenge it, or will he vanish into the shadows that birthed him?

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: jkaarsan

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 131
Views: 21,542

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

AalanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Let me first say that this work is impressive. It could be considered to have been written by a professional author.
The grammar and spelling are both outstanding. One of my hobbies is to edit works here on RR as well as a couple of published hard copy works by a few different authors... and this far, I have only had a single suggested edit in seventeen chapters. That is beyond amazing considering I often make multiple suggestions per chapter in most stories I have read here.
The biggest thing I think I have seen is the first chapter looks to actually take place right after the chapter I have finished and it is a bit of a jarring transition to go through.
Otherwise, you can feel the MC's experiences as if they were your own. The author does an outstanding job of not just telling the story, but making it so you feel that you are there. There are some darker elements dealing with loss and extreme poverty and the challenges though being when thrust into an entirely different world-view from what the MC has known.
So far, apart from one chapter that was strictly a lore list of candies, there have not been any true data dumps and everything that has been shown lore-wise has been in character, on plot, and completely justified.
Character development is still on-going but what there has been has been remarkable.
I cannot express how much you should read this story, particularly, if you like Harry Potter or other similar stories.
Drake41Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
There isn’t enough story yet to give a nuanced review, but I enjoyed the characters that are out throughly. As such, the five stars.
I already like the MC, big fan of the classic demented slum kid in the noble world. The prose is very professional with no grammar mistakes that I was able to notice. The author’s biggest strong suit so far seems to be drawing a reader into a character’s emotions; I was instantly hooked by the descriptions of grief and loss in the first two chapters. Another reviewer has mentioned it’s too dramatic, but I am a fan of it and think it was fitting for what Ronan is feeling. Overall, excited for where this goes.
I wish authors would stop using AI covers tho.
General PeacefulRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Currently enjoying the start of this story - looking like a standard fantasy rags-to-riches so far with a grimdark start giving way to learning and training in preparation for entrance to a mystical academy.
Characters feel realistic and unique, hopefully this holds up in the future as so far there are only 4 named ones to judge against.
The magic system is still very much a mystery and presumably we the readers will be introduced to it at the same pace as the MC.
Grammar and syntax are all good and there are minimal if any typos if that's a worry.
Shades98Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The first chapter is a great chapter and then we jump to the past where it begins. This jump causes a bit of shock, but once you get through the beginning and realise it is a jump to the story clicks at that point.
The focus of the MC on Freedom causes another disconnect for the chapters 2-4. At Chapter 5 you get another change and a new look at the MC and his new adoptive father.
Weas97Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
It doesn't have many chapters yet, but so far they have been quality and long. The story has developed very well so far and is realistic and consistent with its characters. The whole world and magic haven't been developed yet, but from what I can see, everything is well constructed. I read everything in one go and I already hope to see more chapters. Thanks for the novel.
William OhRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The potential in this story is so obvious. The main character is relatable and starts at the lowest of low points, which makes him both rightfully wary and secure. The author composes clearly and well. They can be quite evocative whilst also driving narrative. While we are quite early in the process, I am excited to see where this story goes.
flamingdragonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Ronan’s story is an absolute gem, and I couldn’t put it down. From the very beginning, the narrative pulls you in with its immersive worldbuilding and emotionally rich storytelling. The writing style is polished and captivating, makes you want to keep on reading.
Style
The style of Ronan’s story is engaging and immersive, striking a good balance between description and action. I particularly liked how Ronan’s personality is revealed through his interactions and inner struggles. The occasional sarcasm adds flavor to his character, although I still feel like I'm getting to know him. I do feel like it could do with a little more dynamic pacing.
Story
The plot is thoughtfully structured. There is the mystery surrounding Ravencia and the university. I'm deeply intrigued by the magic system and how it will play out. The seven images in the introduction have hooked me in. Although, what they are haven't been introduced properly yet, I'm gonna keep reading in the future and find out.
Grammar
The grammar is nearly flawless, with well-constructed sentences and clear dialogue attribution. There are occasional minor redundancies in phrasing, but nothing that distracts from the story.
Character
Ronan’s character is complex and relatable, with a balance of flaws, sarcasm, and underlying humanity. Supporting characters, like Suri and Gideon, add variety, though they could use a little of their own story arcs. It's still early in terms of characters, since there haven't been a lot yet, but I'm hoping for more good characters
Overall Impression
I'm loving this story for now. It feels like a blend of magic, mystery, and worldbuilding, with well-executed emotional depth and an innovative magic system.
IxtaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
This isn't a 5 star story yet, but I think it has the potential to become one in the future. To be honest, the first few chapters are pretty rough. Readers who pay attention to details will notice some things that don't quite add up. However, it starts getting good in Ch 4, and by the time the MC makes it to the university, it's flowing quite smoothly. The author also seems to be very open to constructive criticism, and has already made a couple changes that were suggested in the comments section to address some of those early rough spots.
In terms of style, the author starts off very descriptive and nearly poetic, giving me some pseudo-Tolkien vibes. In becomes a bit more grounded later on, and I start getting some Harry Potter vibes instead when the character gets to the university. Excessively poetic descriptions aren't really my thing personally, but I know a lot of people like rich and vivid descriptions, so readers will have to make up their own minds about that. I do think some areas could be more concise though. Early on some of the descriptions can be a bit repetitive, but I've noticed that less and less with each chapter. In contrast to that, there are a few cases where I believe that the details given about certain events could be increased to produce a better result. The passage of time, in particular, can be a bit hazy in certain areas, and certain things that feel like they should at least be mentioned "on screen" get handwaved as happening off screen instead.
The grammar is great. There might be some mistake here or there, but I never actually noticed any so far.
The story is really solid so far too. No criticism at all. It starts off pretty dark, but the world seems like it's going to be an interesting one, and I'm very interested to see how the university setting plays into everything else that's supposed to happen. Unfortunately, we haven't really gotten into the meat of the plot yet, so it's hard to say more about it at this time.
Fo
BeenBeanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Okay so what I really like in a lot of stories is vague bargains where what the protagonist is offered is "freedom" in some way shape or form. I don't know why, it strikes a chord with me.
It's a classic start. Some kid with a dark backstory winds up with power and has fantasy thrust upon him. Don't let the familiarity of the premise deceive you though, Ronan Grey takes things in a very different direction than you may be used to. Firstly, when a bunch of wizards come knocking on his door to "take him under their wings" in exchange for loyalty he tells them to scram. It takes someone willing to be honest and willing to leave him his little bit of freedom to recruit him, and even then, saying that Ronan was "recruited" is a bit of a stretch.
Ronan does not forget his origins and always seems a little bit bitter at how much easier he has it now that he's got magic. It's said that many poor people don't see themselves as poor, they see themselves as someone who hasn't gotten rich yet. Ronan is the opposite, at least as far as I've gotten in the story, and hasn't been shy about his resentment towards the class he's now a part of for their indulgence and wastefulness. This is at least partially due to the fact that his family died from things that would have been prevented easily using resources that are commonplace in his new life.
The one gripe I have is the prologue(?) being in medias res. It's not a bad start; I just don't like it.
I recommend that you all at least give this story a shot if you have a minute to spare. It might just be for you.
NoTime..Royal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Its still a bit too early to give a fully clear review.
But overall the story, characters and world building all seem pretty decent.
The character is going through a great deal of struggle and will surely go through much more so I imagine his growth as a person should be impressive.
Unfortunately though so far there is nothing really amazing or that keeps my interest too much. I actually got a bit bored reading 10 chapters at once. So I hope future chapters have more interesting and fun developments because otherwise I will need to drop this just due to lacking interest.