The Divided Guardian

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Novaria’s underworld has a new name for fear: The Angel of Death.To the criminals he hunts, he offers a chilling ultimatum—redemption, or whatever awaits beyond Mercy’s Edge. To the city, Auron Division officer Angelo Ashworth is its deadliest enforcer and its youngest urban legend. But the most dangerous enemies Angelo faces aren't on the streets. They're in his own head. Angelo shares his mind—and his body—with two other entities: Red, the agent of chaos, and Blue, a cold, detached intellectual. Once, they were just prisoners behind his eyes. Now, they can manifest into the physical world, finding endless new ways to drive each other insane. They may see through each other's eyes, but they never see eye to eye. Angelo was content staying in the shadows, cleaning the scum off Novaria's streets. That was until a disturbing truth surfaced, forcing them to look into their parents' past—and unearthing an earth-shattering revelation about their own. They were never meant to exist this way. They were once whole. Torn apart by something ruthless that still lingers in the dark. Every scar, every moment of helplessness wasn’t a tragic twist of fate—it was inflicted. And whatever butchered their soul isn’t finished with the pieces. Hunted from without and haunted from within, Angelo, Red, and Blue are fighting a war at a fraction of their true power. To survive what's coming, they must face the one thing they’ve avoided their entire lives: becoming something together. Because when they don't rise as one—They fall as three. What to expect: Reluctant Teamwork:Three underdogs forced to work together to get things done. Found Family:Deep, character-driven bonds. Hard Power System:Distinct rules and creative applications. Shared Senses & Tactics:A divided MC sharing a body opens the door for wild combat tricks (when they actually cooperate). Fun Banter:Plenty of internal and external dialogue. Chapter Length:~2,000 to 3,000 words. Chapters published on Wednesdays

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2024
Author: S.O.A

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 312
Views: 115,849

What readers say about The Divided Guardian

“Without a doubt, you can tell that this story is a labour of love; someone's passion project.The characters are electric and alive, each distinct and unique from one another, but nevertheless interesting. That's especially true of the MC, Angelo — otherwise…”
Karl_D_SmithRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Auron Trinity takes what could have been an eye-rolling edgy protagonist trope - "The Angel of Death" who offers criminals a choice between surrender or death - and transforms it into something genuinely compelling through strong character writing and thoug…”
Navi97Royal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

Karl_D_SmithRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Without a doubt, you can tell that this story is a labour of love; someone's passion project.The characters are electric and alive, each distinct and unique from one another, but nevertheless interesting. That's especially true of the MC, Angelo — otherwise known as the Angel of Death, who lives on the edge of authority and discovers some disturbing things about his past (that I won't spoil here). At times, it didn't feel like I was reading, but rather peering in on someone's life with the well-written prose — bravo, author!The world-building is well curated and non-intrusive, which is my favourite kind, and it develops naturally as the chapters go on. Each chapter also brings a new level of intrigue that's well-paced and feels natural — you're always asking questions about what's going on, but you're never lost with where the plot currently is.The prose is poetic and smooth, very easily readable — so much so, that I sat and read this far without even realising an hour had passed and I had to force myself to put it down. If I don't check the time while I'm reading, I know the story is interesting, and this story is interesting!In short, I can't wait to read more and from what I've read so far, this piece of fiction promises to be something exciting.
Navi97Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Auron Trinity takes what could have been an eye-rolling edgy protagonist trope - "The Angel of Death" who offers criminals a choice between surrender or death - and transforms it into something genuinely compelling through strong character writing and thoughtful world-building.The story's greatest strength lies in its handling of Angelo's split personalities, Red and Blue. Rather than using them as a simple gimmick, the author develops them into fully realized characters whose interactions feel genuine rather than forced.Their banter provides natural comic relief, but their deeper moments reveal shared trauma and complex relationships that evolved from childhood.The scene where Blue explains their early existence to Albert is particularly powerful, showing how they experienced Angelo's isolation and bullying as helpless observers.The power system is well thought out, with clear rules and limitations. Angelo's condition reducing him to 25% normal capacity is a clever twist on the usual overpowered protagonist trope. His combat victories feel earned through strategy and teamwork rather than raw power, making moments like the Infernian battle genuinely thrilling.That said, there are some rough edges. Early chapters lean a bit heavy on the edgy vigilante aspects before finding their groove. Some world elements like the Enlightened Society could use more development, though this may come later.The pacing deserves special praise. While some plot threads (like Angelo's parents' murder) remain unresolved, this feels realistic rather than forgotten. Investigations stall, leads run dry, and sometimes more immediate threats take priority. The story juggles multiple plot lines without losing focus or artificially forcing progress.Despite some early roughness, Auron Trinity has evolved into a compelling story that transcends its genre trappings through strong character writing, thoughtful world-building, and earned emotional payoffs. It's not just about an edgy vigilante with sp
Apollo149Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
"If facing death doesn't make a man change his ways, nothing will." This haunting line encapsulates the core of Auron Trinity, a gripping tale that delves into the depths of a troubled soul.
The story follows Angelo, a young Auron with a unique and complex identity. Split into three distinct personalities - the righteous Angel, the chaotic Red, and the strategic Blue - Angelo's existence is a constant battle for control. His journey as a vigilante, the "Angel of Death," is a fascinating exploration of morality, power, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.
The worldbuilding is rich and immersive, blending elements of urban fantasy and dark superhero fiction. The city of Novaria is a vibrant and dangerous place, filled with both wonder and despair. The author's vivid descriptions bring this world to life, making it easy to visualize the bustling streets and towering skyscrapers.
My own issues with the story come from my personal preference or my own style, so I won’t let that impact my review. Overall, Auron Trinity, is a compelling read that will appeal to fans of dark fantasy and complex characters. The author's skillful storytelling and unique premise make this a must-read for those seeking a thought-provoking and emotionally charged story.
BoptodatopRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Forsooth, I have arrived to divulge unto thee my review!
I don't have much else to say there. Let's get right into it shall we?
IN GENERAL! This book does a REALLY good job of hooking you from the get go. It opens up with that traditional mysterious~ description of a location that gets you to go "Alright I'll bite" and read into the rest of it, and sort of not so subtly slips the foundations of its power system into it as well.
From there, it carries itself pretty well, but it does have a few minor issues that are more-so nitpicks on my part that I'll address in a moment.
Style: It's really just a fairly standard third person point of view. It's basic to be frank. And that's perfectly fine! There's no real issue with that, and it services the story well. There's just nothing that really makes me go WOW! on that front. Nothing offensively, or certainly even nearing "bad" though.
Grammar: As far as I've so far read, no mistakes. Therefore, no blemishes to be marked, teehee!
Story score: It sets up the punchline pretty smoothly and pretty damn quickly as well. There's not too much to be left asking for on this front either, but this is also where a few of those aforementioned nitpicks lie, which I shall place into spoiler text given they're kind of definitely spoiler territory. It'll also be kind of ramble-y.
Okay, so, some things felt a smidgen contrived in my opinion. Or otherwise underdeveloped/not given the focus they should have been given within the first few chapters. The whole student master relationship felt pretty un-important to me so far, cause like... could some random officer have not accomplished the same thing as his master when they had a talk? Just a friend he's made on the force? Speaking to him about, "hey are you like, sure this is what you wanna do lmao" but that could also just be my lack of information from not reading further. Maybe the chief and
Introducing the concept of his parents having been murdered is a good hook, but therein lies the pr
Cynthia DawnRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall: This is an engaging story that catches the attention right away. A young man is orphaned and trains to become an Auron with special powers, but he’s even more special because of his two friends Red and Blue who happen to be extensions of himself. First in his mind and then they become physical. Oh but wait there’s more! Angelo has also become the Angel Of Death and he has an ultimatum for the criminals he captures!
Style: the style works well as it weaves this story about Angelo. Some of the story is told from his point of view and some from the supporting characters, including Angelo’s master who is desperately trying to help Angelo correct the path he’s walking on.
Story: the interaction between Angelo and his two personalities is intense and often times humorous. It’s clear that there much contention between the three, but with Red the most. It makes ever situation interesting because you never know who is going to say what or who will be able to take control of the situation. Yes, Angelo’s other personalities can over take him. So there’s a thread of chaos that runs in this story that’s so very interesting to watch.
Character: Angelo and his two personalities easily dominate the story, but I also really enjoy Angelo’s master and the professor. All the characters in this story are well thought out and developed.
Grammar: only saw a few things here and there. Most of the grammar looks good.
D.N.A.Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
When I read the story, it's always been explained that "they're police, they can't just kill" or something like that. That's true. But on the one hand... for my personal taste, I kind of agree with Angelo (although Angelo has a reason why he acts that way, not because it's his nature).Though, there was an incident when Angelo "still" killed Water Auron when his enemy already asked for mercy, I can still understand why he acted that way because there, Angelo was shaken when he found out about his parents' case. And in my mind... don't be evil at all if you don't want to die! (I know this is cruel but... yha?)There have been so many instances of criminals being "let go," only to cause even more trouble (and I'm tired of seeing the same kinds of cases repeat over and over). But that's the "law," right? What can we do as people caught within its system? To me, this is one of the story's strong points:Moral Ambiguity.You can agree or disagree with Angelo; it's your choice! But remember to consider more, as the story delves into themes of justice, redemption, and the weight of choices, particularly around the idea of extrajudicial actions. The story is also rich with the added characters "Red" and "Blue" (Who they are? Just read, seriously xD)Regarding style and Language, I can’t give a perfect score only because of a few personal preferences. NOT because of grammar, which is excellent! I didn't find any errors! The narrative structure is also cinematic; you can easily imagine what's happening in each scene. It's immersive, and the tone is… quite dark. If this were a movie, it would definitely fall under "Urban Noir."But because of the rather "dark tone," there were some words I didn't understand as they weren't inFamiliar English, which made me pause, reread to understand, and then continue. But this is understandable, given the theme.So, as I said, the language issue is ultimately just a matter of personal taste, as someone who isn’t a native English speaker hhhhOverall
BlueShearRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
TL;DR Version: An action packed magic romp with in-depth power system and a killer main character. Literally. Dubbed the “Angel of Death,” for his unique dispensation of justice, follow Angelo and his two alter egos as he seeks justice for wrongs done on him in the past.
Style: Patient and descriptive with fight scene galore. Whenever the boys come out in force it’s always a treat to page through. Great presentation over all.
Character: The characters are where this book really shines. I especially like the interactions between Red and Blue. The way they contrast one another so completely makes for excellent banter. All to the increasing annoyance of our often stoic main lead. I like how Angelo’s ethos is established very early on, and I especially like how it’s tested throughout the chapters.
Grammar: Nothing wrong immediately comes to mind. The grammar is immaculate and the spacing of paragraphs feels just right.
Story: A bit of a slow burner, but I’m all for that, really. It gives you just enough to stay invested, dropping hints here and there about the politics of the world at large, as well as our main characters tragic past.
Overall: I’d have to say I enjoyed the six chapters I read immensely.
Eva_EverquillRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story is a page-turner that grabs your attention immediately. Each character within Angelo has a distinct voice, making it easy to follow their thoughts and become invested in their journeys. Angelo’s character development is particularly well-executed, especially with his split personality—this unique aspect adds significant depth to the story. I especially enjoyed the banter between Blue and Red and quickly became a fan of Red. You need to read it to fully appreciate how his character evolves and how his dark past shapes his journey.
The pacing remains consistent throughout, striking a perfect balance between cinematic action and story progression in every chapter. The author keeps the momentum going while allowing room for character growth, ensuring that readers stay engaged. Each chapter ends with a compelling hook, keeping the story fresh and unpredictable.
While there are a few minor technical hiccups, they do not affect the overall flow or enjoyment of the story.
Overall, this novel is an immersive and thrilling read, delivering a gripping blend of action, psychological intrigue, and compelling character development. The author skillfully crafts a narrative that keeps every moment filled with tension, excitement, and emotional depth. If you enjoy action-packed stories with psychological depth, this is a must-read.
Faedin V.Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Yo, this story is straight-up solid! I'm not even gonna lie, I got pulled in right from the start. The whole vibe with Novaria and Luminia is pretty cool, especially with all the festival stuff going on while Angelo's out there being the “Angel of Death.” The city feels alive, like I can actually picture it.Okay, so Angelo. This dude is intense, but not in a try-hard way. He’s kinda relatable, especially with those two voices in his head. Red and Blue? Honestly, they’re a great addition. It's like, Red's over here yelling, “Let’s punch stuff!” while Blue’s all, “Think about the consequences,” and Angelo's just rolling his eyes. I honestly feel for him having to put up with that chaos 24/7.Grammar-wise, dude, you’re on point. Nothing felt awkward or clunky, so kudos for that. I don’t usually notice grammar much unless it’s bad, and here, it was smooth. The writing style is chill but detailed.And the pacing, so far, feels great. I’m actually super curious about Angelo’s backstory now. The thing with his parents and the whole deal about his power splitting into Red and Blue? That’s some next-level stuff right there. Also, shoutout to Professor Goldstein for actually breaking down the energy stuff in a way that didn’t make me snooze. For a sci-fi/fantasy thing, that's good, so props for making it work.Good work so far!
Rookie12Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Before you we have a story about a young vigilante in the making. I get the strong Eastern vibes from the setting, as we have energy flows (chi), weapon and magical power manifestations, in addition to the occasional dramatic naming of attacks and a young hero who has otherworldly spirits within him.
And I quite enjoyed the concept!
The spirits act more like pals to the main hero, with each dragging him into an opposite direction. It is not an evil versus good situation, but rather impulse versus rationality, which works superbly for crafting friendly banter. The MC ideology is flawed, but it is realistic for someone of his young age, and I found myself struggling to disagree with it at times.
Style: Fast-paced and action-packed. Even in "slice-of-life" chapters, something hilarious or interesting happens. The story never dwells for too long in one place, racing a reader from one situation to another, but at a rather comfortable speed.
Worldbuilding. Extensive. I would even say too extensive, as we have many chapters filling us with new terms and information. The setting is interesting, but I kind of wish the author would slow down here a little and focus on the characters.
The story. Five stars so far because the early chapters deal with the MC's ideology and ask the reader if it is right or wrong. There are a lot of subplots that plant seeds for future situations, but the main point is this, and I am glad that we can make up our minds about it.
Characters. Some are unrealistic. While the MC is helpful, the way his former teacher disappears from the story and the way the police put up with his behavior is a bit odd, since energy users are not exactly rare. I like Albert (definitely not Albert Einstein) the most (besides the MC), as he felt like a real person with his own flaws and interests, rather than a plot device.
Overall, if you are looking for kickass action and a very decent amount of lore, this story will be a satisfying read for a week or two. Give it a t