Stranded In Drowned World [Progression Fantasy] (Book 2 In-Making)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

The world everyone once knew had sunken. Most civilizations were lost to the wrath of the gods. The few who lived fight for their life in a world where monsters from the depths of the ocean constantly threaten them. Even in the face of danger like that, humanity still fights with each other, be it for gold or land. Some fall to the changes while others rise to the top as the world sets new rules.

In this drowned world, good people still remain. Navia belongs to the Order of Tomorrow, an order that fights for the people so they can see another day, another sunrise. After saving thousands of lives, her own life had been taken, but the war against the gods wouldn’t stop there. Becoming entangled in a divine scheme, Navia had been given another chance.

A second chance doesn’t come without a cost. Becoming a pawn in a much greater scene, Navia fights for her life and proves to the goddess her value. People and monsters aren’t her only enemy, as her mind is getting worse, she tends to lose her humanity and memories.

Will she save humanity and her family or lose herself along the way, becoming a real mindless pawn in the hands of the goddess?

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Book 1 -Bereaved(Finished/Minor Editing)

Book 2- In making

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What you can expect:

-Unique world-building set in a mostly drowned world

-(Probably) original power system - without numbers and levels because it's not a game

-Complicated powers (Almost Jojo level)

-Realistic injuries that hold back the characters

-Fights that are more than simple swings of swords or fireballs flying around

-Greater plot of the entire world and pantheon of gods

-Main character without much plot armor (Maybe a bit of plot armor so she could survive till the end of the story)

-Not every battle is a victory, and even if it is, there's a price to pay (Prepare for some tears)

Illustration by NoomuAZ

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2025
Author: Demonic Heaven

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 3.8/ 5.0
Followers: 32
Views: 16,389

Reviews

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Community Reviews(2)

LunaaslikolcuRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Wasn't expecting to get this invested this quickly. Stranded In Drowned World grabbed me from the opening bells warning of the Tide and didn't let go. Dark fantasy done right. Brutal when it needs to be, but the emotional stakes actually make you care.
A world already half-drowned. Coastal cities crouch behind walls. Citizens flee to mountain shelters when the sea vomits up nightmares. The author trusts readers to absorb details naturally rather than dumping lore. Setting has weight to it. Dangerous.
Monster design? That's where this story shines. Barnacle-encrusted corpses with swordfish skulls for hands. Massive turtles used as living artillery shells. And the anglerfish skeleton with its bioluminescent lure still dangling—creepy as hell, unlike anything I've seen in the genre. The "Anchors" wielding literal anchors as weapons? Chef's kiss. Worldbuilding that commits to its themes sticks with you.
Bold narrative structure here, and it pays off. We follow Taizen through combat—intense, heroic—only for the story to pivot to Navia after tragedy strikes. Her resurrection by the veiled woman raises questions I actually want answered. What was done to her? Why her specifically? The theater sequence with Director Sive Herming adds another hook. Something is deeply wrong in that shelter. The slow-burn reveal had me clicking through pages.
Navia carries this story. Grieving. Powers gone. Stranded in hostile territory with no allies and no way home. She keeps moving forward anyway. One scene gutted me: she stops to bury Taizen's remains. Builds a cross from planks despite the danger. Says prayers. Forces herself onward because she's a mother too, not just a widow. Character work like that earns its punch. She's human in a world full of monsters.
Taizen makes a strong impression in limited time. His sacrifice lands because we've seen his competence, his tenderness with Navia. Side characters catch your attention but don't overstay. The veiled woman and her leashed old man. A
MajidRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
A promising addition to the dark fantasy novel set in a post-apocalyptic realm submerged by divine wrath in which humanity struggles to survive.
I think the idea and the setting of the story is original and seems well thought out, though the execution is still a bit lacking, given it the potential to become a great story once it is polished a bit.
The greatest positive right now is clearly the worldbuilding. We encounter a rich imagined world, where people are confronted and have to seek shelter from waves and waves of strange monsters. We are introduced into it at a steady pace, that gradually unfolds the lore without excessive info dumping that could feel overwhelming to the reader.
I am missing a bit more texture, specially in the beginning, feelings, impressions, smells, noise, etc. The pacing and rhythm seem a bit monotonous, and unnecessarily wordy at times. Though there is a clear improvement between the first chapters and the later ones.
With the characters happens something similar. At first, they seem really shallow, but soon we discover they do have dept to them. It is just that it wasn´t shown, because the beginning was overly centered in the actions, which isn´t necessarily bad, if the action was engaging enough to make up for it. Which it only achieves partially. It all seemed a bit distant, as if someone was relating something that don´t matter that much to them, hard to connect with.
That said, there is also a clear improvement there in the later chapters where characters start to feel more real and relatable, and the narrative shows more instead of just telling.
In conclusion, this has the potential to become a great story, once the author starts to become more comfortable in his voice and fluid in his narrative.
There is always time to fix and rewrite earlier chapters.