Shadows Over Arcadia

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

The unwanted second prince of a powerful but corrupt Kingdom in a world of monsters and magic is set on the dangerous path of vengeance. Prince Ren Drakemore, under the protection and guidance of his demonic maid, works to covertly gain power, influence, and allies in hopes of eventually killing his own father, brother, and anyone else who stands in his way. Initially he hopes to right the evils perpetrated by his kingdom, but as he grows in power, he will also struggle to maintain his own humanity. Will he be the hero to save them all or the monster that consumes them? Only time will tell.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2024
Author: Zacheas

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 1,006
Views: 261,072

What readers say about Shadows Over Arcadia

“Had to force myself to stop at chapter 13 so I could write this review, otherwise I would have kept going forever. Will definitely come back with an updated review once I finish the whole book. Be aware I am trying to avoid spoilers, so if I come across as…”
Constantin RomanRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Shadows Over Arcadia is a fun story about a young hero, REN, who is sequestered alone with his fae guardian caregiver, Willow, who protects him from all harm. Ren is essentially ignored and outcast by his father the King, and his older brother, the prince,…”
AlexanderScottRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

Constantin RomanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Had to force myself to stop at chapter 13 so I could write this review, otherwise I would have kept going forever. Will definitely come back with an updated review once I finish the whole book. Be aware I am trying to avoid spoilers, so if I come across as vague in regards to some of the things I am talking about, it is to avoid spoiling things for you, because you absolutely should go and read this novel.
I will say it outright, this is not your average Isekai / LitRPG. It is a grimdark, slow-paced, complex and hauntingly beautiful epic that reads and feels like a blockbuster novel on the same level as groundbreaking fantasy series like Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy and other well-known works of fiction. Would not be surprised if this gets a Netflix adaptation in a few years, because it is that good.
Without further ado, let's get into the specific categories.
1. Style
First-person present tense PoV, especially when you have a cast of multiple characters, is a notoriously-difficult style to write in. You have to really get into the head of the character and narrate everything in a way that matches your PoV's personality. You also have to figure out how to introduce your worldbuilding to the readers, as a lot of concepts would be naturally familiar to the characters and you'd have to create situations where your PoV is thinking of, or interacting with your setting in a way that allows you to lay out your setting's concepts to your readers. Zacheas has absolutely nailed it, here.
Not only that, but he has multiple PoV characters, including one I can only describe as utterly alien (you'll figure out who I'm talking about fairly quickly). The author does a fantastic job of making each PoV feel distinct and unique, while maintaining consistency all throughout each chapter. The progression here is subtle and often indicated through narration style and feel, rather than with the traditional tables of stat blocks. You can feel the characters change and evolve as you progres
AlexanderScottRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Shadows Over Arcadia is a fun story about a young hero, REN, who is sequestered alone with his fae guardian caregiver, Willow, who protects him from all harm. Ren is essentially ignored and outcast by his father the King, and his older brother, the prince, seems to hate him. While Ren is kind and caring and thoughtful, he is also wise and studied far beyond his years. This story is a blast to read and sets up a very cool underdog plot, in which a young outcast prince must fight for what is good and right (against his own family), and that is exciting to watch play out.
In terms of the writing STYLE, Shadows Over Arcadia has a strong sense of its self, and there is a clear world built here with defined rules, deft literary devices, and sharp witty turns of phrase. The spelling and GRAMMAR are polished, and it's clear and well written throughout. In terms of the STORY, by chapter three, the reader has a sense of the main characters, the setup (like how did they get here and why) and also the stakes of the story that's about to unfold. This is a testament to Zacheas' writing and plotting of the story—we get into fast and understand what's going on. A few places in the story could move a tiny bit faster, driving to plot and action, but otherwise, this is an enjoyable read. Finally, the two main CHARACTERS of Willow and Ren are both carefully rendered and unique, and there's so much intrigue and heart here too.
167fiveRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Holy, this is a good one!
The main character feels so relatable and has tha childish innocene, turning him into someone that you just want to hug.
His interactions with his maid, Willow are very realistic. The conversations often hint at deeper tension and plot beneath the surface, while the introductions of the other prince, and Ren's tyrannical father gives a very good common antagnoist.
Overall, this is a great story! New readers should definately check this one out!
Century boyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style:
The writing style somehow perfectly manages to stay modern enough to be easily accessible, but not too modern to the point of disrupting the high fantasy/historical aesthetic. The prose are efficient and straightforward with just enough thought given to stylistic elements. The aesthetic of the world feels quite unique despite being in a world quite small to a lot of other fantasy series, particularly game of thrones.
story:
The story is compelling with an interesting twist when it comes to world building. The Fay in particular feels like a real non human entity and not just a pretty person with pointy ears. I also find Ren the mc to be a very compelling lead although his level maturity is a bit unrealistic for his young age.
grammer:
honestly everything is perfect so not much to say.
Characters:
Like how Ren is built up to be a genius without them just stating that he is. His level of maturity is staggering if a bit hard to believe at times. The contrast between him and his much less competent brother perfectly highlights his strength as a character as well as his compassion towards those less fortunate. I also like the Fay lady who immediately establishes herself as a truly powerful existence that’s beyond humans, the lore with her involving equal exchange also adds an air of intrigue into the magic system. the king is a classic bastard who’s butthurt over the death of his wife. I think he makes a good early villain for the story though I’d like to see more antagonists with deeper motivations.
overall the book has a solid first few chapters and I’ll probably be back some day to check the full thing out. Until then keep writing and take care.
Ayan RayRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
You know, the relationship between Ren and Willow gives me a wholesome + terrifying found family vibes, and so far, it's my favorite.Now onto the scoring:Story: 4/5The pacing is really well done. You hook the reader immediately, and then chapter two completely flips things. I dropped a star just because the "Hero’s Luck" is hitting a little hard early on. Finding the only two honorable men in a kingdom defined by rot (Gavin and Griswald) the moment Ren steps out of the tower feels a bit too convenient for a gritty world.Do note, my review might change as I read more.Character: 5/5I'm an absolute sucker for characters who get thrown into hell and still choose to fight. Ren is a great protagonist that shows that. He's smart, but he still acts his age when facing real monsters. Lady Willow is the MVP for me. An ancient, indifferent forest spirit trying to figure out how to throw a human birthday party is awesome. I also have to give props to King Edric; making him a tragic, mind-controlled antagonist adds some psychological horror that makes him compelling.Style: 5/5The shifting POVs are handled masterfully and never feel jarring. I also love both the quotes and art you have on the chapters. Those are a treat.Grammar: 5/5Clean and professional. Though keep in mind that I did read the first chapters, and I noticed the community has helped with some typos. Hoping it stays strong!Overall:The contrast between the wholesome tower life and the ruthless shadow war brewing outside is fantastic. I genuinely want to see how this 4D chess match plays out. Will read more!
BlackMarch97Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
For the longest time I always skipped over this after reading the summary since it sounded like standard edge-lord MC but I am glad I finally caved and read this.
Style: The novel is well written, dialogue is loquacious when it fits the story, short and punchy when needed. Overall there is minimal 'tell' and mostly 'show' for things ranging from the facts of the world to the priorities of the characters. Only exception is the first chapter where geography seems shoehorned but thats nitpicking at this point.
Story: So far seems to be moving at a decent clip and in a good direction but I feel like not enough has happened to say definitively if things are good or great. Feels like there have not been any big plot points/villians/goals that MC has reached.
Grammar: Haven't seen any grammar misses that I can think of
Characters: The strongest part of this novel are the characters. Each feels realistic and has well defined motives and flaws. The villains so far seem incredibly incompetent but I have a feeling thats just cause MC has an end game bodyguard and that the villians will get more threatening and interesting with actual stakes as time goes on.
BlurpleRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Just finished reading this awesome story about Ren so far as chapter 4, a young prince who's basically been stuck in a tower his whole life. It's giving me major Rapunzel vibes, but with a really cool magical twist! Instead of some witch, he's got this mysterious lady named Willow looking after him, and she's WAY more interesting than your typical fairy tale caretaker.
The worldbuilding is engaging - this kingdom of Arcadia feels both magical and real at the same time. I love how the author weaves in details about the magic system, especially the creative ways Ren uses his abilities. There's this thing he does with puppets that's just chef's kiss brilliant storytelling.
The best part though? The story tackles some pretty heavy themes about society and power, but it never feels preachy. Seeing everything through Ren's eyes gives us this perfect mix of innocence and sharp observation that really works. Plus, his relationship with Lady Willow is complicated in all the right ways - definitely not your typical guardian-ward dynamic!
If you're into fantasy that goes beyond the usual "chosen one" stuff and like stories that make you think while still being entertaining, you'll dig this. It's got magic, political intrigue, and complex characters - all the good stuff! Can't wait to see where this story goes next.
Andrew K D IRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story is a very engaging take on the hidden prince trope that immediately creates a strong emotional hook for the reader. I love the atmosphere of the lonely tower and the sense of isolation Ren feels during his early years. The mystery of his mother's death and the king's intense hatred creates a high level of tension that kept me interested throughout every chapter. It is refreshing to see a young protagonist who is genuinely working hard to overcome his circumstances through study and training rather than just relying on natural talent or luck.The relationship between Ren and Willow is the most compelling part of these chapters. She is a fascinating mentor because she does not think like a human and her cold fae logic makes her care for the boy feel more unique and earned. I also really enjoyed the introduction of Captain Gavin and Lord Griswald because they offer a different perspective of the kingdom and give Ren allies who are honorable. These connections make the world feel much larger than just the walls of the castle and provide a clear path for the future of the plot.The puppet system is a brilliant piece of magic that allows for a lot of creative storytelling and character growth. Using a separate body to explore the city and take on dangerous quests is a clever way to handle a character who is physically trapped in one place. The scene where the puppet is destroyed by wolves was a real highlight for me because it showed the mental cost of the memory transfer and made the danger feel permanent and scary.If I had to mention anything as a critique, I would say that the dialogue often feels a bit too advanced for such a young child. Even with the magical mental enhancements it is sometimes hard to believe an eight year old has such deep insights into global economics and military politics. I understand that his rate of learning is accelerated, but it seems a bit extreme for a 5 year old (at the start).Overall I think this is a fantastic start to a series
Apollo149Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall Vibe: Seriously, "Shadows Over Arcadia" is a total page-turner! It sucks you in from the jump with its awesome plot and characters you'll actually care about. It's got this cool mix of magic and real-world vibes, plus deep character growth. The story perfectly balances crazy action with quieter, thoughtful moments, which is a big deal for Ren. It's paced really well, super emotional, and keeps you hooked the whole time.
What's the Story About?: The plot's crafted super well, kicking off with a cool mystery that just keeps building to an epic showdown. The whole dying crops thing and the surprise Dreadcoil Worm twist add tons of suspense. And the way characters like Lord Griswald and Captain Gavin go back and forth between believing and doubting? That just ups the stakes. You'll see Ren's magic skills grow, leading to a killer final battle where he still shows his human side. Plus, the king's all messed up with grief and obsession, making for a super intense conflict. His curse and the political drama just add even more suspense.
Writing Style: The writing is so vivid, it's like watching a movie in your head. Descriptions are sharp and to the point, no fluff. It balances action and quiet moments perfectly, weaving in humor and tension like a pro. Ren's inner thoughts give you awesome insight into who he is, and scenes flow super smoothly. The tone jumps between grand and melancholic, which totally bumps up the emotional stakes and makes the fantasy world feel incredibly real. And the formal dialogue and titles? They just crank up that royal, political vibe even more.
Grammar & Stuff: The writing is clean, polished, and just looks professional. Sentences are varied, giving it a great rhythm. Dialogue punctuation is spot-on, and transitions are seamless, so you can just dive right into the story. A tiny bit of tweaking for caps and subject-verb might make it even better, but honestly, the writing is already super impressive and effective. Chapter length might b
Cowabunga_BluewriterRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Ren Drakenmore is a kid spurned by his family and wants to right the wrongs that his kingdom has like slavery. He is slightly idealistic but I think that's more age than anything else.Meanwhile, Willow stands beside him teaching him and nurturing him. As he grows in power we see a subtle shift. I love that the characters aren't completely OP and that many are well thought out esp the protagonist Ren and his maid Willow.The characters are great feeling real and with agency. and the world-building is also great being usually on point instead of really descriptive.The story gets five stars because while it's about a spurned prince looking for revenge many nuances to it collide and make Shadow Over Arcadia just different enough to garner attention and well-deserved attention too.I didn't find many grammar errors but there is a teeny bit of a problem with plot points being rehashed and such. Nothing big though.The setting and descriptions are good just enough detail and on point. The fight scenes are great and the magic system is nice too!Style-wise I think it's working out having several characters as POV characters. It brings more variety and life to the piece. I like it!Overall this is a great story keep it up!