Sigils of Power - [Urban Fantasy/Progression]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

All souls are marked. Not all marks are created equal.

Sent to boarding school in Louisiana at seven years old, Ethan Margrave has spent most of his childhood away from his family - a Margrave family tradition. Growing up he has endured torturous training that has left him scarred and seething.Despite his father's absence, Ethan is determined to prove himself useful. All so he can join the family business.

Before he has a chance to finish his education, Ethan's father sets him a task: accompany his strange associate to New Orleans. Deliver a package. There is no explanation. No questions asked. Oh. And don't come back.

When Ethan is thrust into the world of magic, he will need to learn things he could only dream of if he is to survive. There are monsters about, and never enough hands to go around.

Release schedule:New chapters are out on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

What to expect- Slow(ish) burn urban fantasy- Modern setting with monsters and magic- A coming-of-age story- Progression elements of my own design- A tad of mystery

Whatnotto expect:- A LitRPG story- An Isekai story

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: Physicle

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 485
Views: 69,008

Chapters(30 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

BlindCentaurRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
It's really refreshing to read a Urban Fantasy as good as Paranoid Mage after it's end! What I can say is that MC is pretty real, you know? I mean, if suddenly you were thrown in fantastic world with several mysteries involving you and you family it'd be pretty shocking! But not so shocking if you were mysteriously trained since child for combat only for inherit you family's company. What I'm trying to say is that MC feelings and thoughts are pretty humanized. Like a real person. I liked it a lot. Besides, I like how the author slowly gives the MC the info about his new reality. It feels organic.
Anyway, some people don't like "slow burn" but I say that the best meals are slowly cooked!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS NOVEL.
Bookman9Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Character: Sigils of Power introduces us to Ethan, the main character, who finds himself adrift and lacking purpose after being unexpectedly ousted from his father's footsteps. The dynamic between Ethan and Colson, a vibrant and cheerful character, adds a refreshing layer to the narrative. Their banter is both funny and witty, promising entertaining interactions as the story progresses.
Story: What makes the story engaging is its attention to detail in character development. We not only learn about Ethan's struggle but also get insights into each character's likes and dislikes, such as their favorite songs, enriching the way we relate to the characters. The palpable tension within Ethan's family adds depth to the storyline, hinting at underlying secrets waiting to unfold.
Style: By far the biggest selling point for me on the novel is in its well-executed combat sequences. The narration of action scenes is fluid and smooth. Best of all, the plot progresses smoothly without any info dumps.
Grammar: There are no mistakes here. Immersion in the story is smooth sailing without any bumps that would otherwise detract the reader. Perfection!
Overall, Sigils of Power offers a fun read with a well-paced plot and character-driven story telling. Give it a go!
CillalapostejRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story really is a must read. If you love fantasy, you really need to put this on your "to be read" - list.
You instantly feel sympathy for the male lead role and personally I look forward to following him on his adventures and in his personal development.
MonoDrakenRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story is one that does a lot of things right. The first chapter, while slow, helps integrate the reader into the story and introduce the main character and the family dynamics that will come further. Ethan is our main protagonist who is being thrown into a situation that he must adapt to, which helps provide context for his actions.
The style of this story is from the first person perspective where the main character goes through each of their thoughts as they go through their adventure. However, there are moments of third person perspectives for when the other characters are being displayed in their thoughts and actions. There isn't any disorientation though as we get line breaks to show when such an event will occur.
The grammar doesn't have any issues from what I've seen. It's quite good.
The characters themselves are entertaining and amusing to read. It's not often I see people interact with each other in such a unique way that it genuinely makes me interested in continuing reading. There's several hints of things to come littered in the dialogue that does make me look forward to what is to come. The way we are able to enter the main character's head and go through his thoughts and reactions to events that occur is done quite well that it's quite immersive.
goolicRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a refreshing take on the Urban Fantasy genre.
Way too often the characters are cartoonish and shallow, not here ! There's also quite a bit of mystery going on that baffles the MC and the people around him.
The world building is complex and well written, makes sense while being surprising.
I read a LOT of stories here and elsewhere, some are page turners even tough they're plenty crap in some areas. This one is a page turner that is well crafted and polished.
thalia.Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
‘sigils of power - an urban progression fantasy’ is a charming slow-burn story that captivates readers with its likeable characters and high-octane action scenes that will leave many wanting more.
style:
written in 1st person perspective for the majority of the time, the narrative follows the stream of consciousness of our protagonist, ethan, allowing readers to quickly connect with him as they delve into and explore his psyche. stylised through ethan’s eyes, the writing highlights his personality, bringing forth a sassy and sarcastic tone to the prose. this is further accentuated with the snappy dialogue and entertaining banter between him and the other characters.
the use of this style of humour is a wonderful addition as it adds a delightful touch of levity to the narrative, helping balance out the intense action and emotional scenes with wit and charm. i’m sure many would enjoy immersing themselves in the story because of this.
story:
as a slow-burn story, the first initial chapters are centred around grounding ethan and bringing him to life. we learn about his isolated and relatively brutal childhood in detail, before everything ethan knows is flipped on his head and he is asked to leave his home at his father’s request. but there seems to be more than what meets the eye, as ethan begins his journey with a new companion and guardian.
without spoiling too much, the heart of this narrative so far seems to be setting up a journey of self-discovery as ethan learns more about himself. at the same time, the other characters raise suspicion about his upbringing, weaving a sense of intrigue throughout the narrative.
and because the story is considered a slow-burn, it does not mean it’s not engaging to read. action-packed scenes are interwoven throughout, where each one is choreographed with precision, offering a reading experience that is exhilarating and immersive. i’m sure that those who enjoy faster-paced stories will still be able to enjoy this one.
grammar:
gramma
GoogiemanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Disclaimer: I want to specify that this review was NOT written as part of a review swap, but because through talking with Physicle as a fellow new author on the site I decided to check out their fiction and - let me turn up the ol' volume for this - I AM BEYOND PLEASED THAT I DID. As the title says, this story is on track to become my new favourite in the Urban Fantasy genre, not just on RR, but full stop.
Okay, obviously all Reviews contain an element of subjectivity, but Ima try to break down why I am enjoying this book so much and why Ima keep reading it. I am low key trying to take my time with it so I don't hit that greyed out 'next chapter' button too fast. I want to savour this bad boy. Let's get to it!
Style: Aight, so here's the thing. A common trope of Urban Fantasy, a classic really, is the 'hidden world' aspect. Things are not always as they seem. Sigils of Power (Ima abbreviate this to Sigils later for the purposes of this review) cranks that mystique up to 11 with clever use of a first-person POV following our soon-to-be initiated protagonist. We learn as they learn. Every hint, clue, and aggressively scavenged breadcrumb is exciting.
It's Urban Fantasy, we know the reveal is coming, but Sigils makes each step leading up to it feel exciting not necessarily because it goes out of its way to subvert this trope but because it leans into it and does it brilliantly. I'm going to talk about promises in story, but Sigils uses their stylistic choices to enhance them. Again, brilliant. The chapters are well structured and easy to digest.
Story: Fuck, okay, I am sitting here debating about how much I should go into this without spoiling too much, so let's talk about promises. Within the first handful of chapters, you can pick out a few classic, well executed plot archetypes. Sigils sets them up clearly and - since they are some of my favourites - I was hooked immediately. To name a few:
> Coming of age
> Mystery
> Master-Apprentice
The elements that makes these
morphiwritesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
While all reviews inevitably carry a subjective element, I'll endeavor to articulate why I find this book so captivating and why I'm compelled to continue reading it. I'm deliberately pacing myself, resisting the urge to hastily click the 'next chapter' button, as I want to savor every moment of this literary gem. Let's delve into it!
Style: Urban Fantasy often revolves around the allure of a hidden world, where things are not always as they appear. "Sigils of Power" (which I'll refer to as "Sigils" for brevity) takes this mystique to the next level with its clever utilization of first-person POV, guiding us alongside the protagonist as they navigate the intricacies of this concealed realm. Each hint, clue, and breadcrumb is imbued with excitement, drawing us deeper into the narrative. While we anticipate the eventual reveal typical of the genre, "Sigils" imbues each step leading up to it with an exhilarating sense of anticipation. Rather than subverting this trope, it embraces it brilliantly, enhancing the storytelling experience through stylistic choices. The chapters are meticulously structured, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable read.
Story: Delving into the narrative without revealing too much, let's discuss the promises it holds. Within the initial chapters, several classic plot archetypes are skillfully introduced, including coming of age, mystery, and the master-apprentice dynamic. These familiar elements, among my personal favorites, immediately captured my interest. "Sigils" showcases these archetypes with exceptional promise, infusing them with Urban Fantasy conventions such as magic, monsters, and secret organizations.
Grammar: The prose maintains a solid standard throughout. I found no instances that disrupted the flow of the narrative, indicating careful editing and attention to detail.
Character: The dynamic between master and apprentice is a central focus of the story, and Colson, the master, is undeniably iconic. There's a compelling humanity to the
Edward LightRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
A nice story set in an interesting world that follows the thin line between believability and mystique well. The chapters leave you wanting to read more, be it to learn more about the sigils or about Ethan and the other characters. The pacing ends up being neither too slow nor too fast. The action and the fight scenes are compelling and well developed. Overall, a very capable urban fantasy narrative.
the_Enn_GeeRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
Style: The style is fine for what it tries to do. It has the tendency to go into explanations mid-narration and stick to the same mode that flows well enough for much of the written prose, but in action scenes, it sticks to this form which makes them long-winded and overly descriptive when a short and evocative would have been better.
Story: A prodigious boy gets told to pack up his cushy boarding school life which seems to barely exist anyway and go on a road trip adventure with a weird, mysterious guy. Everyone seems mysterious and there is no point where it is not made obvious that mysterious things are happening, so there are many layers to the mystery that will be explored with little exploration going on. Overall, every adult in the story deserves a kick in the nuts for not telling the poor boy what is going on.
Grammar: There’s nothing wrong with the grammar apart from the occasional spelling errors.
Character: The MC seems to be an entirely blank slate, equipped with all the combat and knowledge skills to go on this adventure. He doesn’t seem to have any friends at his boarding school, has no attachments and does nothing to reflect on that apart from the fact that he has accepted it. He seems to be completely at peace with his rootless existence. He feels that he is misplaced at an elite boarding school, despite his father owning a pharmaceutical company AND the very estate the boarding school itself (or the mansion it is in). Sadly, snooty elitism and juxtaposition to the rough but friendly roadtrip companion do not seem to be the basis for their relationship.
We also get a PoV section (that could have been its own chapter) from a cat, possibly a mountain lion. That was fun.
Overall, this story promises much but doesn’t seem to know how to deliver on it. There is certainly the desire for a fun and deep story here, now it needs to be refined and freed from extraneous parts.