The Art of Melancholia

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

The youngest son in an old aristocratic family, Charles d'Artois, sick and tired of the mundanity of his life, murders his abusive father. Inheriting his ancestral titles and marrying into the prestigious House de Rohan, Charles is thrust into the heights of an aristocratic society where his social station should be secure. However, his introverted and aloof demeanor, couple with rumors of mental instability caused by a past marred by violence and loss, he finds himself a pariah among his peers.

Desperate to reclaim his lost dignity and gain control, embracing the role society has given him, he orchestrates a calculated smear campaign against himself to instill fear and respect into the hearts of those who scorned him.

But facades come with a price in a world where perception is reality.

Just as he believes himself secure, Charles's estranged brother resurfaces, threatening to unravel everything he worked hard to achieve. As his reputation spirals out of his control, the lines between truth and fiction blur, and the consequences of his actions become increasingly dire, Charles's carefully crafted image crumbles as he finds himself trapped in a world of intrigue and betrayal that he no longer can control.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2025
Author: AJJENNINGS

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.5/ 5.0
Followers: 1
Views: 1,721

Chapters(13 total)

Reviews

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Community Reviews(1)

VesLarkinsonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
This story is well-written and gripping. A gem of a find! For the sake of fairness, I should note that I have only (currently) read up to chapter 2 - I came across this via the random story function, and I did not regret giving it a try, but I find it just a little too tense for me.
CHARACTER
I like the attention to detail in the historical voice used in the narration, the semi-linear way the beginning part is written - it really gives you a good feel for Charles' character, and also the ways he relates to the people in his life, and, by proxy, the society around him. In particular, I like the depictions of the way misogyny interfaces with familial abuse.
GRAMMAR
The SPAG is mostly fine, but there were a couple of mistakes that slightly pulled me out of immersion, such as missing commas or incorrect capitalisation.
STYLE
The style works very well to convey Charles' personality, and to give the overall piece a tense, antiquated, and moody feel. No notes.
STORY
I have a particular fondness for stories that explore the internality of slightly crap (/affectionate) men who have some connection with or affinity with femininity - so it's not suprise that I've loved what I've seen of this story so far. It seems like it's heading for a satisfying conclusion (if you're into this sort of story).