SONG of EMBER

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Legends of savage river-folk have been scoffed at for centuries in the valley below Sisters Mountain, but when a young fisherman named Ember sets out to trap a thief, he catches more than he bargained for; a strange acquaintanceship is struck, and when the creature requests his aid to unlock a hidden door in the mountainside, they find themselves trapped within the ruins of an ancient kingdom...

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2022
Author: Saffron Honey

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.7/ 5.0
Followers: 967
Views: 630,127

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

A V CamenaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
An intriguing story, characters who face difficult moral choices, and quality writing--“Song of Ember” has it all. The author has created a fascinating world full of mystery. This is one of those books that so far has inexplicably been overlooked on this site, but I am hoping that it attracts many more readers.
BRmoixARoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I made an account exclusively to give this novel the rating it deserves. I can sing little but praise, but I can't say there weren't things that mildly annoyed me.
The style was great, it didn't feel like it was AI written, it used plenty of words to describe and encapsulate everything, from the current environment, to whatever the characters are speaking about, to even the accents felt really well made.
The story is phenomenal, it feels like such a classic, The Odyssey is one of my favorite books, and this here feels like it would fit right next to it as a classic, the mythological aspects were fantastically shown, it kept me engaged for way too long. Frankly, I read the entire thing in two sittings, i spent about 7 hours going from ch25 to the end, and I don't regret it, except for the dull ache I felt in my chest when I realized it was over.
The grammar is good, I'm no English professor but I didn't notice anything wrong, and if it was, it was probably there for a reason, like a portrayal of accent
The characters are something else, the character development, intense scenes and moments, they felt frighteningly real, I feel like the author lived in it, and the funniest part is, it doesn't feel like there's an author at all, it feels so unbiased, like their narrating merely what they saw or more specifically experienced. Frankly, I don't want to spoil any more, but I this has no doubt some of the best character development I've ever read.
Now, for some of the mild things that annoyed me, but these are very much personal, so I would never take away any from the score.
Firstly, it felt like Ember was weak. Which is obvious, he is, that's the entire point, the men of today have no magic, they can hardly resist the wild magics of the forests, and he got MUCH stronger then how he was in the beginning, but it still felt lackluster. The main reason he won the majority of the fights was due to his enchanted sword, and whilst I loved fishbiter, it still felt disappointing t
Belisarius27Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I read this story years ago on fictionpress, but when I came back one day to see if it had updated it was gone. The story slipped my mind for a long while, but a week ago I couldn't get the word 'Ember' out of my head so I looked for it again and found it here. Really glad I did, this is one of my favorite stories and the excitement I had reading it again after these years was like nothing else, especially seeing some new parts in the earlier story and of course the new chapters. Overall a great read, thanks for writing it.
BerengariusRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
An extremely enjoyable and well written story. I haven't read a nice adventure story in awhile. Ember, a young fisherman thrust into an adventure he was not prepared for. Alongside his man eating companion, we see the struggle and challenges they face between each other and every moment in their journey.
Characters felt realistic and dyanmic. The duo often seemed as if they had a tug of war going on between the two. The story always had something happening within each chapter that I had to read the next. The writing style helped draw myself in and immerse myself in the world, it felt incredibly smooth. Wonderful story with mysteries and suspenseful challenges everyway.
HalfliteRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Song of Ember is a compelling character-driven fantasy story, easily one of the best on Royal Road. Minus a couple of gripes, the writer takes you on an emotional journey that is difficult to put down.
Style:
The world feels both expansive and intimate, an interesting combination that few authors are able to pull off. There landscape is steeped in history that creates not only a fully realized world, but ties into the personal arcs of the characters. The sirens feel both familiar and alien, and I enjoyed the writer's take on this race of creatures.
The story employs a soft magic system which is sufficient for the important beats, but some things I wish were explained more. It is definitely possible given the yet-to-be-finished state of the story that human magic will be explored later on or in future installments of the series, regardless that's something I personally wish was more defined.
Story:
The story picks up quickly and for the most part remains at a good pace. It feels like a ride, encompassing travels, dramatic action, and times of reflection.
The only part that felt slow was Ember's time at the oracle's well. At first it was a nice respite from the tension of before, but it goes on for seemingly too long.
It does an excellent job of tying the physical obstacles to the characters' internal struggles. The balance between Ember's and Ky's development is done very well. There are a lot of plot points with satisfying pay-offs.
Grammar:
I rarely came across any grammatical errors. The writing is vivid while remaining easy to follow.
Character:
By far the best part. The focus on just Ember and Ky definitely gives off a "cozy" feel and is much to the benefit of exploring who they are. Every action either takes, whether rational or irrational, not only progresses the story but feels true to their characters.
For the few side characters there are, they do a great job of filling out the world and showing the different aspects of how humans and sirens view each other
IneffableWrathRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is probably my favorite story on Royal Road. The writing is poetic and uses powerful imagery. The characters are beautifully written and develop spectacularly (I’m so proud of my boy Ember). There’s a depth of thought to this story that sets it apart from the typical power fantasies you find here on RR. The story feels magical in a way that reminds me of when I first read the Chronicles of Narnia (they’re not similar stories mind you, but the style of storytelling feels somewhat reminiscent). Each chapter is well edited, and I don’t think I’ve ever found a grammatical error. Honestly, when I first started reading this story way back when, I wondered whether I was reading a pirated novel that been already published.
I hope my review doesn’t sound fake or paid for, but if you have desire to read something with depth of thought and well-planned plot twists then this is a story for you. Very little in this story can be taken at face value, and the mystery of it is one of its main charms. I can’t wait to read the ending of Ky and Ember’s story.
P.S. This is my first full book review on Royal Road, and after being on Royal Road for a couple years now, I felt this book deserved it.
JinkaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
First ever review on this site, cause I think Song of Ember is my favorite story on here. Perfect example of a genuinely unique fantasy novel that doesn't rely on a cookie cutter fantasy world or some variety of isekai/reincarnation trope.
This novel won't be for everyone, but the world is beautiful and the characterization is phenomenal. If you don't mind a bit of a slow burn and more character driven conflict then definitely check it out.
Lurker LuuuurkRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is going with my classic reads. WOT, HP, TBC, DF, LOTR, NOTW, ect. This feels like something You'd see carved on an old chest. Or sung by a folk singer. Too damn good. And this is going to be book 1 ?
Seriously authors on RR should be taking notes. Can't think of another story on RR where describing something as a "sex scene" makes me feel like an illiterate hack.
Song of Ember. Encore! Encore!
PhilistineRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A truly fantastic story interwoven with emotion and the full spectrum of the human experience, I absolutely adored reading the story of Ember and Ky with all the highs and lows that it had to offer. It was a refreshing take on adventure that left me with loss that it ended but contentment that I got to read it at all. Bravo, Saffron you have spun a truly wonderful tale.
RonDuneRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A weird and wild story about a mysterious siren and her sometimes willing and sometime unwilling human companion as they venture into a cursed and haunted dungeon.
The story is finely plotted, pathos and mystery abound. What really stands out to me is the character work; Ky and Ember are wonderfully characterised, with the siren's attitude and outllok on life being truly inhuman and Ember believably developing from a seemingly simple fisherman to a mature and persistent adult.
The author is great writer, the images she conjures up and the mood she develops throughout the story is masterful. Ranks amongst the best on RR for certain.
Highly, highly recommended!