Scales & Shadows

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Issa’s shadow powers are a curse, and they are going to kill her. While the potent magic helps her and her sister Kyrae get by on the muddy streets of Ess’Sylantziis, the cost will drive them both to the brink. Will the Temple of Jaezotl that rules over the jungles of the Empire of Jii’Kalaga from its great stone ziggurats actually help them? Or will the pair of sisters—one a lamia, and one an elf—be driven from the shadows of insignificance into the light of the Empire’s power games?

And just what kind of entity is Issa linked to that is neither god nor mortal?

Scales & Shadows is a fantasy novel with a character-driven plot, elements of drama and political intrigue, and a dash of late romance set in a misty-jungled land of elves and snake people.

New Chapters on Sundays. Ideally every week, but often every other week.

Cover art is by the amazing and wonderful Cutetanuki-chan. Links to her tumblr and twitter are after the Prologue.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2023
Author: MadMaxine

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 143
Views: 59,804

Reviews

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Community Reviews(2)

Origami NarwhalRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
MadMaxine opened with a flash-forward that pulled me in and then kept me there. Well-written character dynamics between compelling characters, in a world that I'm happy to learn more about...
Her characters mess up and do so in meaningful ways that forward their characters. They can lose, they can mess up, and they learn from each other-- it's all very human, and the stakes don't always have to be terribly high.
There's also this underpinning of transgender identity issues without making it the primary plotline, which is well-handled and uncomfortably relatable for me. Acceptance isn't universal, and the path isn't all steps forward.
Also, there's snake girls. Big fan of that.
TealiciousTeaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Uses the fast forward to future then back tracks. The start of story seems built around this and I think it works. The framing fits from what I have read.
Trans issues are an underlying and important character issues for Issa and Kyrae (i think that is the spelling). It would be nice to read a story where trans character are just accepted, but exploring these issues is important as well.
A solid relationship is built early on between the sisters. Hooked from the first chapter and their characters and bond fleshed out in the ensuing characters.
Effective investment is built in the character. Also, bad guys feel slimy and evil. I apprectiate the clear signalling. Mysteries can work, but so does clear characterisation.
However (during the inital chapters), I don't feel i have grasp on the powers and physicality of the charavters. The issue with relying on drip feeding info. Less of a bore to the reader, but bits of info can be missed by inattentive readers like me.
It's a writing choice and that was my experience of it.
Once we hit present day and pace slowed down I got a better feel for physicality of the characters. Writing shifted to a more description and dialogue.
I did get a bit confused by all the new characters and moreso with their fanatsy names. Minor.
For grammar, I think some of the commas are iffy. I didn't double check, so I could be wrong. Overall meaning of semtences are clear and that is what matters.
Quite a fast pace with events moving quickly through a series of time skips. Every chapter feels meaningful and worth a read until we catch up to prrsent day.
The pace does slow down once we are at present day. We hit the fluff, which will be rewarding for some readers who are here for all the good stuff: validation, family vibes etc. Slower placed for those chasing drama.
I have to admit this story doesn't grab me personally, but the content is all good.
Author continues to write well. Review wrote on phone so apologises for typos. Hope yall enjoy!