Sanctuary [Nobledark Fantasy Progression LitRPG+Cultivation]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

At age 20, everyone dies.Unless you were born a noble, the wasting disease allows for no exceptions. At 19, Matt is facing the end of his life. Determined to lend his final days purpose, he signs up to fight in a pointless war–at least his death can earn his family a few extra coin. But when he and a few of his comrades stumble into a place lost to time, they abruptly find the wasting disease cured. Not to mention, they can all suddenly wield ancient magic abilities.Matt and his friends now have the ability to give power back to the lowborn, to seize the lives which should rightfully have been theirs from the start. But the nobles will stop at nothing to prevent the secret from getting out, and if their Sanctuary is discovered, their rebellion could end before it even begins.Join Matt in his quest to forge a beacon of hope in a bleak world, confronting ancient powers determined to maintain the relentless cycle of death. Set against a somber world that has forgotten how to live, this is a tale that weaves a dash of city-building with a splash of magic. Blending LitRPG Progression and Cultivation, follow Matt and his friends as they rise to become the Champions the world has waited for.

What can you expect from Sanctuary?

- The main protagonist starts out like a normal person, and although his journey will take him to the pinnacle of power, he will not always be the strongest person around. Typical weak-to-strong.A central theme in the beginning is for Matt to find his Way (capital W intended!) in a world where he sees his friends gaining new and fantastical powers, but all he has is a weird pulsating sphere of power in his mind. The main concept that I want to explore more than anything else is how personal choices affect both the person making them, and the world around them.

- Both the main protagonist and the people around him will experience not just progression growth, but emotional growth- The story mixes LitRPG progression with Cultivation progression. There is a reason behind, explained in the lore of the world, which will take some time to explore- There are some numbers, but these will fade more into the background as the story goes on. Overall the pace is on the slower side.- There are some pretty strong city building elements that will come to the fore in certain parts of the story, but they will also fade in and out- More than a "Numbers Go Up" story, Sanctuary is about exploration and uncovering ancient mysteries that dictate present life- It can get dark. But even as the world can get pretty dark, we will travel with people who will make it lighter

Update schedule: Tuesdays and Saturdays, with chapters between 2000 and 3500, probably averaging around 2750

Lastly, I want to extend my appreciation for- My cover artist: Emma Rottersman: http://emmarillustrations.artstation.com/- My typographer: Inorai: https://www.royalroad.com/profile/89274They did an awesome job, don't you think?

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2024
Author: ikdahl

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.4/ 5.0
Followers: 1,480
Views: 219,691

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

AdvocateOfDoorsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'm blown away by Ikdahl 's new fiction. If this is the sign you need to dive into it, please do. It is so much fun, and really impressive.
This story starts with incredible pace and visceral action, that thrusts you right into the heart of the Matt, the MC's, stomach churning experiences with violence and war. I've rarely seen that kind of dizzying scene so well written and balanced.
The prose is brutally efficient, emphasising clarity and a constant feeling of forward motion. It doesn't get bogged down with unnecessary detail, yet it knows when to linger on pieces of beautiful description that enrich our appreciation of the settings and events, and the characters' tactile experiences of them. Balancing those factors this well, is so rare. I'm always working to get better at it in my own writing, and Ikdahl is giving a masterclass.
The action keeps delivering chapter after chapter. We're introduced to new characters who feel distinct and developed, with interesting dynamics I can't wait to see explored further.
The world is full of potential; I especially really love the way that the Wasting Disease is explored and developed in all of its implications for how a very short lived society would think and interact with each other, especially with the impending painful death always looming over them, and a ruling upper class and clergy who are free from that very affliction. It feels like a coiled spring ready to pop off, naturally full of drama, and exciting scope to learn and explore.
I'm just so impressed with Ikdahl's ability to make promises with his writing, and then deliver on them in a satisfactory way, and make me feel confident that long term promises will be delivered on down the road. All of the world-building and more slow burn character work, feels like it is building towards something exciting, and that is going to keep me running back every time an update is posted.
There are few slightly clunky repetitions of descriptors in adjacent sentences across the
Lord LelanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
There's not much there yet, but the world building is amazing. It is a bit of a slow burn thus far as we haven't seen to much out of the main band of characters. The world building isn't in lore dumps and seems fairly natural to me at least.
The story plays with some tropes that are very common here on RR, but it does it well and goes in it's own direction.
The characters are unique and not 1 dimensional. Grammar and spelling seem to be on point.
I look forward to seeing where this story goes.
I am enjoying this story and look forward to finding out what makes the differences between the true Main character and the rest of his companions. Why doesn't he have a status screen? Why are his interactions different
Lucian T. EinarRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
*Overall: "Sanctuary" by ikdahl weaves a compelling and dark narrative that delves into themes of life and death, choice and consequence. The story follows Matt, a man facing the end of his life due to a disease until a mysterious turn of events leaves him and his companions grappling with newfound abilities and ancient mysteries. The intricate worldbuilding and character dynamics create a rich and immersive reading experience that keeps readers engaged.
*Style: The author's writing style in "Sanctuary" is beautifully immersive, drawing readers into a grim and vivid world where every detail serves a purpose. The prose is descriptive yet balanced, allowing for a seamless flow of action and introspection. The use of symbolism and imagery enhances the storytelling, creating a sense of depth and intrigue throughout the narrative.
*Story: The story in "Sanctuary" unfolds with a perfect blend of mystery, tension, and character development. From the gripping opening scenes to the exploration of ancient powers and dark secrets, the plot keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The progression from Matt's initial struggles to his unexpected survival and the consequences that follow sets the stage for a compelling journey of self-discovery and redemption.
*Grammar: The grammar in "Sanctuary" is solid, with clean and polished prose that enhances the reading experience. The author's attention to detail in sentence structure and punctuation ensures a smooth and engaging narrative flow, allowing readers to focus on the story without distractions.
*Character: The characters in "Sanctuary" are well-developed and multi-dimensional, each with their own struggles, motivations, and growth arcs. Matt's journey from a man facing imminent death to someone grappling with newfound powers and responsibilities is compelling and relatable. The interactions and dynamics between the characters add depth to the story, making the reader emotionally invested in their fates. Mia, in particular, sta
SydannusRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The opening chapters of this story do an amazing job of making the protagonist likeable, relatable and human. The world is built through his lens and we see things rather than just being told. I don’t really feel like I have to say much more but reviews have a 50 word minimum and I have no intent of including spoilers just to reach the word count so I’m going to ramble for a bit.
its worth giving a read.
XtraRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Good plot but there are areas that suffer from the writing style. It is not a big deal. Some areas are too descriptive while not adding anything. The story is good and engaging. Most of it is smooth. Fun and adventurous while also being dark in some moments of the story. There is graphic violence like the warning states.
keeganashleyliveRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
When I first started reading, my mind immediately went to "oh, here we go with another gritty, gore-filled battle-focused book", but no. That does not sum up this story at all. What could have been an intensely one-sided blood-bath scene is transformed into an entire experience as the MC battles with his thoughts, memories, emotions and, frankly, humanity. The contrast is pure skill and extremely impressive and continues the further you get into the novel as the winds change from bloody survival to interesting mystical adventure. The world has a very interesting premise which is built up without any info-dumping. The plot takes some very interesting turns that produces all those questions that keep a reader like me reading. I'm hooked, at least.
The author knows what they are doing. The grammar is spot-on, the language flows fluidly---no, geniusly. I am honestly very impressed with the excellent writing. There were no grammatical errors that I noticed. The style meanders in a way that makes you just want to keep reading. Additionally, there's so much dimension and the characters feel very true-to-life...like real people with flaws and flesh and feelings. Well done.
I highly recommend this. I'll be following and favoriting. Excellent. Kudos to the author for a job well done.
Nemo KnoxRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This review is based on what I've read up to Chapter 5 - The Weight of History.
To say the story drops you smack in the middle of the action would be an understatement! We meet our MC, Matt, as he struggles to survive in a brutal battlefield.
The author's style is ideal to the type of story he's telling; as concise and severe as the fight scenes it narrates. To use a comparison, it reminds me of Joe Abercrombie and Glen Cook, who are masters of militaristic fantasy.
The Wasting Disease—which is our centerfold plot device so far—is a powerful tool to set both the tone and world-building implications of the setting. The fact that the nobility is unaffected does not seem a coincidence, but more like a control method which will inevitably lead to conflict with Matt and cohorts. In this way, the story is quick to set expectations without having to go into lengthy info dumps. In terms of atmosphere, it also works to put the grim in Grimdark.
The young soldiers fighting the wars of the powerful battle with a mix of hopelessness and desperation, and why wouldn't they? They are to die anyway by the time they reach the tender age of 20. This adds a tragic dimension to their circumstances that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
Without going into spoilers, I enjoyed the way the LitRPG elements promised by the author were introduced. It was subtle, and didn't feel 'gamey', which wouldn't be befitting of the setting so far.
As for the characters themselves, I particularly enjoyed Thor. Talk about there being more to what meets one's eye. At first glance the brutish giant stock character, the fact that he can read and his calm demeanor in the face of adversity indirectly say much about him. Great characterization, which we'll hopefully see more of as more characters are introduced.
All in all, it was a page-turner of a read and I can't wait to see where the author takes us from here. Time to check Chapter 6!
MonoDrakenRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
The world that our main protagonist, Matt, finds himself in is one of danger. With the Wasting Disease, an illness that kills anyone after they reach the age of 20, people have gone desperate. Our protagonist of the story has joined in on a war to earn money and he had found himself with a few allies in a strange place where they have been cured of the Wasting Disease.
From the start we are introduced to how mysterious this area is and the group's efforts to explore this area. They explore and look around this entire area after taking refuge and have the chance to learn more about this new discovery.
From this first few chapters we get introduced to the characters and their dynamics, all of which help give birth to this whole place as a whole. Then we get introduced to the moment where hope starts to seek in to every single one of these character's minds over their current situation.
Each of the written players are well done, all of them set up in a way to provide reasoning for their behaviors and actions. Grammatically, there are no issues at all, helping to provide readability and easy access to the form.
The story is written in third person which helps immensely to provide some insight with other characters over what they are experiencing.
shroopdRoyal Road
★★★ 2.5
This story may be marked completed, but it's only half baked at best. What's there is quality writing, but the story jumps entirely past any of the complications of "How are they going to build their population?" To arrive at a tournament, but no tournament arc. And then we have a power up that seems to set up for the rest of the story, and then it just ends??? Did the author think "Oh shoot, running out of epigraph, gotta wrap up"??? This story would be five stars if it wasn't built like a roundabout: circling past a giant hole in the middle. It's like someone tore out the pages in the middle of this book before uploading.
bobnbobbersRoyal Road
★★★ 2.5
The progression of this story could be described as; slow slow burn, slow burn, slow burn, getting interesting, interesting progress and then just as it’s actually gotten started it ends.
So much time is spent languishing in the mundane aspects of the story. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though. That time building could lead to a great payoff when the foundation is utilised to tell Matt’s story. Unfortunately that payoff doesn’t happen in this book. All the time spent building, and then a few chapters of Matt finally powering up, then one incredibly rushed chapter where the growth matters.
Additionally the antagonists for this book are awful. Terrence and Shawn read like strawman villains. Rather than a real credible threat, they are a caricature of villainous assholes. They come across as so stupid their established power beggars belief.
If this series ever gets a book two (and inevitable 3 to 4 to 5… based on current pacing) it might be worth reading. As it is it feels like a whole lot of build up for not a lot of payoff.