The Morningstar

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

‘When the ancient monsters rise again,

And death is at our door,

The morningstar will shine again,

Lighting the path for all.’

When his journey had come to an end, the hero, Earnest Rowe, laid his weapon down and hid away in the oft forgotten village of Locham. Many years passed, and unknown to all, his descendants lived on.

Lucien Rowe, a town guard, husband, and father of two, watched over the mighty weapon, making sure it never fell into anyone’s hands. For he knew, that behind the legends told about Earnest, hid a dark and tragic sorrow. And should the weapon ever shine again, only death and ruin would follow.

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2024
Author: Ugarrsvenoth

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.8/ 5.0
Followers: 48
Views: 17,514

What readers say about The Morningstar

“Overall, this is a story worth reading for any lover of fantasy and the making of a hero. It starts light, and then turns dark real quick, so you have to be prepared for that. The story and world is built up very well, at a slow and steady rate, before it p…”
WinterwispRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Style: I enjoy the 3rd person narration with elements of 1st person thoughts from Lucien. The only issue was I felt the beginning was saturated with too many named characters, it was somewhat hard to keep track of everyone and their relationships with each…”
KarocoRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(8)

WinterwispRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall, this is a story worth reading for any lover of fantasy and the making of a hero. It starts light, and then turns dark real quick, so you have to be prepared for that. The story and world is built up very well, at a slow and steady rate, before it picks up speed, so patience is a virtue. I was into it by the fourth chapter, so I'd recommend you try reading til that point before deciding if the story is for you.
We meet our MC, Lucien, on an ordinary day in the village, as he is tending to his duties. We meet his family, as well as others who are important in his daily life. With news of bandits attacking villages in the area, and Lucien being suspicious about someone in the village, he goes to scout the forest, where he learns of a dark secret.
Style: The prose is excellent, with several descriptions of environment, people, and senses. The way tension is built up over the first couple of chapters is good, with plenty of foreshadowing elements that add to the growing unease as you read. What I didn't like, though, was how the village did not feel like a village at all, but a small town. With a dedicated guard and a school with several teachers, I just couldn't buy that a normal village would have that in a medieval-like setting.
Story: The story begins very quiet with an ordinary day; a classic start to a hero's journey, before everything goes wrong. I like that we get a good look at the village and Lucien's family and a snapshot of a few characters important to everyday life. While the story is slow to build speed, it hits a lot of emotion in chapter 4 because of that build, which I thought was excellent. What I didn't like was the short trip into the forest with the children, just after learning there might be bandits coming. It seems like something that could be delayed a few days, until patrols could look through the area, and I felt there were better ways to achieve the same narrative goals without that expedition.
Character: Lucien, as our MC, is built
KarocoRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style: I enjoy the 3rd person narration with elements of 1st person thoughts from Lucien. The only issue was I felt the beginning was saturated with too many named characters, it was somewhat hard to keep track of everyone and their relationships with each other. But, I got used to it after the prologue and 1st chapter, so it isn't a big deal.
Story: The five chapters out when writing this make up the beginning to the story, and I have to admit it's the strongest intro I've read in a while. It's a well paced and organic introduction that leads way to a clear and set goal.
Grammar: I only encountered 1 minor spelling mistake, and I didn't even notice it on the first time reading, It was only when I went back did I notice it. The rest of the story is clean and reads well.
Character: Lucien is a breath of fresh air. He's not amazing at any one thing, and has obvious flaws that could lead to growth. I think that if the story continues with the path it's set for Lucien, he'll be a very relatable and fleshed out character.
Overall, I was entertained the entire time I read through the story. The author has very noticeable skill, and I'm sure the story will continue to grow into a very good read.
Parallax TalesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story, man, it's like biting into a honeyed apple only to find a worm inside. It starts so idyllic, this little village, Locham, with its blacksmith and its gossip and its games of dice. You've got Lucien, a dedicated guard, a loving father, a loyal brother-in-law. It's all sunshine and blueberry pie.
But then, like a whisper in the wind, a sense of unease creeps in. Bandits on the horizon, whispers of unrest, and Lucien's brother-in-law, Adam, acting shiftier than a fox in a henhouse. The tension builds, subtle at first, then BAM! It hits you like a runaway cart.
The attack on Locham is brutal, a gut-punch that leaves you reeling. It's a massacre, plain and simple, and the author doesn't shy away from the grim reality of it. The aftermath is even more harrowing, with Lucien, our stoic guard, reduced to a shell of his former self, burying his friends, his family, his entire world. The scene in his own home, with his wife and children… it’s enough to make a grown man weep.
The story is well-paced, with moments of lightheartedness interspersed with growing dread, culminating in a climax that leaves you breathless. The author does a fantastic job of building the world, giving you just enough detail to paint a vivid picture without getting bogged down in exposition.
However, it's not all sunshine and roses. The story does have its flaws. Some of the dialogue feels a tad clunky, and certain plot points, like Lucien's sudden trust in the rabbit, could have used a bit more fleshing out.
Overall, "Ring! Ring! Ring!" is a gripping read that will stay with you long after you finish the last page. It's a story about loss, about duty, and about the thin line between good and evil. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you're looking for a story that will stay with you, this is it.
Overall Score: 7/10 - A solid story with a gut-wrenching plot.
Style Score: 6/10 - The writing is descriptive, but the dialogue could use some work.
Story Score: 8/10 - The plot is engaging and
RavensFantasyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style/Story:
Style: the style of the story is in third person and flows at a decent pace. The story is set up well as it shows us life before events take a tragic turn. As we see the events unfold we get to see bits of a first person narrative through Lucien’s thoughts. Which is a great source that aided in forming a connection to him.
The story does well with setting up certain scenes. As there are some scenes that pulled at my emotions.
There is plenty of world building throughout the first few chapters.
The fight scenes were done well and I thought there was enough description to visualize them.
The story itself: To me the story itself seems to be set up to be somewhat of a revenge story. As the chapters unfolded before me, the story was quick to pull at my emotions as certain events unfolded. I can’t wait to read more of this story to figure out how the story will unfold from chapter 5.
Grammar: I did not see any major grammar issues with the story.
Characters: For the character of Lucien I could definitely feel a connection with him. As I admired the father/daughter bond that we don’t always get to see. I also enjoyed his interactions with the other children as it showed his character more, before things happen. His reactions to the events that unfold seem true and real, leaving me feeling sad for the character. This build up of emotions made me think that Lucien will turn to revenge. And I personally wouldn’t blame him for it.
The other side characters I think were introduced well, despite there being a bunch of them. Ones I enjoyed were those like Cassandra as she was so kind to the kids and was quick to help Lucien. Delilah was another enjoyable read as I enjoyed the scene with her and her father Lucien. Adam on the other hand, well I don’t like him/
Overall, I thought the majority of the characters were well-thought out. Also, the dialogue, I thought, flowed well between the characters, even the parts that had children talking.
In Summary: The story is a we
SRadioactiveRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I think someone said it previously that it is difficult to review the story without any spoilers. And that is very, very true because it truly comes running at you –and that is a good thing. We follow Lucian, a good and honorable man, through his endearing family life, which is something that is rare to see in stories, and of course, there is a twist.
I mention it later too, but it is just the best way to describe the style –it is written like an epic and is both grand and flows smoothly like a river with twists and turns. I am sure that the river will turn very turbulent sooner rather than later. Or is it?
The story is just unfolding in the chapters available to us, but it is immediately clear that the scope is huge and will unfold far beyond the quiet family life we are offered at the start. The setup for an epic is absolutely there.
There was absolutely nothing to trip you up during the read, spelling or grammar-wise, although, full disclosure, I did listen to the chapters.
You get invested in the characters early on, and the author truly makes you feel the closeness of their relationships. That was one thing that stood out to me more than anything else, as you could feel both the people incredibly close to his heart and friends that are an arm's length away but still dear and familiar. Lucien himself is well-crafted to be an emotionally intelligent and solid man. Something else I enjoyed because it is one of my favorite things to read was that the characters were flawed in one way or another. It truly brings realism to the story.
I would definitely recommend it if you are looking to love and be inspired by the main character, to feel things that he feels, and to walk the grounds that he walks. The title itself tells you that this is going to be pretty badass, and I am happy to have gotten in on the ground floor just as it begins.
SkarabraeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a very good story.
Style: I like this story's style a lot. It has literary devices, in particular a lot of imagery that helps with the story's tone and set various scenes within the story. I was able to spot some foreshadowing too as I read more of the story. The author has incredibly good word choice and is able to set the tone very well with it. The author's way of writing is also unique. And I can safely say that the tone fits the story perfectly.
Story: The story is great. it is paced at just the right pace. It develops at the right pace too. So, no complaints regarding that. The story itself is a great fantasy about the descendants of a hero. I especially like its worldbuilding and how it handles elves as a fantasy race. So, no complaints here.
Grammar: I couldn't find any grammatical errors. That does not mean they don't exist, but if they do, they are most likely not distracting enough for most people to notice them.
Character: The characters are really good. They are all well-depicted, realistic, and three-dimensional. The main character is quite interesting, and I like the interactions the various characters have.
Overall, I highly recommend this story.
John Stax (Fobywoby)Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Thoroughly enjoying this story.
Immediately gripping, immediately immersive and immediately ready for more.
I found myself really there, enjoying the beautiful adventure and then... don't read this story if you don't like the feels.
I really need to know what happens next. My only complaint is that there aren't more chapters lol. So, yes, I will be clicking follow and fav.
Hard to go into this story much without spoilers, and we are just in the early stages now, but I feel like it sets the scene for a great, emotionally potent journey.
There are some very minor grammatical issues, but those could be dealt with easily and were not enough to detract from the story or overall enjoyment.
The characters are real. Oh! The magic system, whike we are just starting to explore it, I really like the way it is set up with the difference between the people and animals. Really cool touch that adds a lot to the world for me. I'd read more just to find more creatures with more powers. Left me thinking about all the different abilities that they could have and how it would effect the world.
10 out of 10, would read. I suggest you do the same.
ThuggzRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
I was hooked after the prologue, so I am definitely keeping an eye on this one! I love a dark plot that makes time for the lighter things in life and the involvement of nature and magic in the setting.
Style - Minor issues; the pacing felt slightly too fast at times, as did the scene transitions and dialogue, but they weren't glaring enough to matter too much.
Grammar - I noticed a few grammar errors, but they're minor fixes.
Story - This is a strong fantasy story so far. Many of Lucien's facets are present; his life, family, and work, as well as the town of Locham and its residents, are all neatly developed. The set-up is well-paced, setting the stage in time for when the feelings hit.
Character - Lucien is a well-rounded character, a family man with a strong sense of duty, but not without his flaws. The other characters also get their time in the limelight, adding depth to the story without taking away from the MC's experience. I think Lucien will develop into a strong but relatable character.
Overall, this story has a lot of potential and I'm excited to see where it goes. I'm glad I've gotten in early.