The Painter: A fantasy psych thriller and epic

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

- Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed, I'm happy to say The Painter is in the top 200 best-rated fictions.- Readers of The Painter have suggested reading through Chapter 6 before making a decision on this book.- The story takes place in the Lootverse, but you don't need a canonical understanding to appreciate the storyFor a time, the Painter's life was simple. He lived in the small town of Kinon (called Kinney by locals) with his wife, Kahriah and his son, Thesdon. The story begins with him alone and unable to travel more than a few hundred miles from his home. For 5 years he tried to chart his prison until one day a letter appears with a mysterious commission that will see him test his condition and his boundary.Set roughly 50 years before the impending end of days (from Loot canon), The Painter is a story about loss, grit, and exploration of a seemingly normal man in a world of magic and monsters. The Painter will follow the man on his adventure to restore his family, uncover his commissioners and discover the nature of his condition.Loot is the decentralized, global, community built fantasy world based on Dom Hoffman's art/tech experiment: Loot.Fun fact: The cover of our book is painted by the artist, who the MC is loosely based on and the same person painting the Banners (digitally) IRL for an art/worldbuilding project.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2022
Author: Banner Caygeon

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 59
Views: 27,048

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

BeverlyyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
It's a unique story that I can confidently say I've never read before, but only as far as the actual idea goes.
It reads very well after the first couple chapters and you can tell it's been edited, so there weren't many issues when it came to understanding the situation. It's almost professional in that regard.
Where this story falls short is the characters, specifically the character actions and decisions. But before that I'll get into each of the categories.
STYLE - 5/5
Solid. Easy to digest, and utilises a mix of activity and psychology to understand Paint and maximise him as a character. There's little to say outside of this other than the author gives the right amount of information and the right time and in the right circumstances. There are repetitions later on, but I chalked that up to it only emphasising certain aspects that were lost in the earlier parts of the story. (I will get to that specifically.)
GRAMMAR - 5/5
Few mistakes but pretty much perfect. Especially after the first two chapters, which are the roughest of the bunch. There is a steady improvement as you progress, and again, you can tell it has been cleaned up immaculately.
STORY - 4/5
Very middle of the road. I was lost by chapter 3, but after chapter 6, found interest again, then lost it by chapter 10 again. The reason for this is because there are a great deal of cliches being used to depict this otherwise unique story of a painter, and it all starts in Chapter 3, where the story kind of goes off the rails in terms of believability.
Paint's son has basically no reason to ruin his dad's painting outside of the "I'm a child" device. Running off into the woods is very cliche, and it is particularly handled in a contrived manner. The father turning back is a mellow action which suspends my disbelief further. More detail in Chapter 3.
The opening chapters ended up being exactly what I predicted they would be: filler chapters. The interactions shown within Chapters 1 and 2 essentially provided no
PistolWordsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
It takes talent to make a reader cry in just a few chapters, but Banner made it happen—And he made it look easy.
This story has just started, but it has so much potential to reach the top rankings and I'm here to make sure this happens.
Style:
Prose? check. Description? check. Exposition? Check. The author takes a dull scene, like a horse galloping down the road, and turns it into something more. You can feel what his words mean, and lose yourself in his flowery descriptions so easily. It takes real talent to make you feel for a character so early, but Banner did it.
Story:
It is genius, simply put. I wracked my brain to find the perfect words to describe it, but I couldn't. It would spoil too much. The intrigue and mystery are there, and they loom over our heads and remind us of the painter's dark tale in every turn.
The promise of a grand adventure has been displayed in chapter 10 in a smart manner.
The magic has been scarcely seen, but it already holds promise. Its mythical nature reminds me of the magic system in the king killer series. It has the same spiritual feel that we rarely see in the hard magic, 'system' inspired novels. And it is beautiful.
Grammar:
No mistakes have been found, but I am not the best judge. However, the author seemed to have already edited their chapters, so I doubt you'll find any typos and the like.
Characters:
Oh my, where do i begin?
The painter is still a puzzle. We already know his motive behind the 'grand adventure', but there is still much mystery to him. The author is doing well by showing us snipets of his background, and making us crave more.
He is a sad man, who had lost so much and the author does great in describing his grief. They do it in original ways, relating to the painter's habbits—which is painting, obviously.
The wife, some people might find what she did as cruel but it was totally understandable. I can't go into details as it is a spoiler, but heed my words and go read this story now!
The ranger and book binders
RathowmRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This novel oozes originality and uniqueness. It is truly a psyche thriller, and it not like anything that Ive read before.
The style is nice and fitting for the story. The prose is good, simple and easy to read. It can be very poetic at parts, which is something that I personally enjoy quite a but. It is a tale of loss and mystery combined. It is like reading through a painting itself, which is an incredible achievement. Something I think the author intended.
Grammar was great. I saw no issues with it, but im never one to take much issue with grammar.
The story is an interesting and so far slow burning pyschological thriller. It is incredibly enterntaining and fresh and fun. The Author has done a great job getting us hooked on the story in a few chapters.
The MC is a great and poignant character. A relatable character that already has a nice amount of depth written into him. No real fighting power or anything, but still a very entertaining character, no doubt.
Although I am a fan of fast paced-action, I found this to be an amazing read. I encourage all to give this a shot. Keep it up, author. Great work.
Rhea BringRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'm left with mixed feelings here. These prose-filled chapters are not filled with the things that normally draw me into stories, but I found myself unable to stop reading. I was only planning on reading a few chapters to see what it was about and then ended up finishing the ten chapters available.
It's mysterious, filled with dark, heart-breaking tragedy and depression. But it also leaves room for hope... for things to look up for the painter. For an adventure to come for this somewhat mundane character I related to in a not-so-mundane world.
~ Style: Prose is beautiful, with flowing scenery and parts I re-read just to get a deeper understanding. At times there were longer chapters, but it did not detract from my personal enjoyment.
~ Story: Slow-burn, just as the authors have warned. I honestly enjoyed it, much more than I thought I would, as I typically go for action/adventure that has a lot more initial conflict. But this works perfectly for this story. As of yet, it's very character driven. We see the present and the past of the painter, and everything else is a mysterious bubble I can't wait to watch pop. I have yet to see how the storyline connects, my only reason for taking off a half-star, so it's likely I will update this at a later time depending on how the authors advance the story and give growth.
~ Grammar: Did not find a single typo and nothing that made me stop and wonder. Nice job.
~ Character: This is where my mixed feelings collide. Our MC is extremely relatable, and I half-way like him... and yet, becuase I see the parts of myself in him that I don't like in myself--it exposes and shines light on things I don't often think of. Not a bad thing at all. It merely shows how well-rounded and imperfect this character is. All characters, including supporting characters, are distinct and make choices in line with life's tragedies.
Overall, this is a peice that you need to get your thinking hat on for. It's prose is solid, the characters realistic, and t
VyStarlitRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
When I read the first chapter, I wasn't so sure about the story. It didn't quite pull me in but by the second I grew curious and then bit-by-bit I was pulled in and now I'm looking forward to reading more. Honestly, the story is beautiful and I'm looking forward to the next part.
Style: The prose is lovely. It's smooth and easy but has so many layers like watching an artist paint. I felt like I was slowly uncovering parts of the world and each part led you further into a mystery and uncovers the pieces of a man on a bittersweet journey. I will say the first chapter is a bit too slow and doesn't really help draw you in but I would suggest to keep reading anyway.
Story: The story is like little clues that give you a taste of something larger. There is one scene early one that is heart-wrenching and immediately gets you invest. The world itself is presented in a way where fantastic things are happening but are also so natural as well. It really gives you the sense that the story is from a man who lives in a fantasy world.
Grammar: I didn't see any obvious issues. It read smoothly.
Character: You get hints of the character but there is definitely a feeling of distance. I'm not sure if this is because we don't even learn the character's name until later orif it's because we are introduced to the character's grief before we get to know him. Despite this I felt the character was very solid and I'm looking to seeing his character developed.
One thing I will say that I'm very excited about is that the story is very clearly leading us on a journey of discovery. I love stories about exploration and this one is definitely that.
_GlassesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A streamlined beginning of loss and heartache that meticulously builds up the mysterious motivations of Paint, the painter of the story. The fact that I enjoyed the beginning so much, making me fall in love with the main character, is so important for the story that Banner Caygeon is preparing us for.
We’re in for a ride with this Paint and we’re going to experience every up and down with him.
Grammar & Style
The grammar has been thoroughly checked and the style is right up my alley. No useless details, just enough to set the mood and the setting. Descriptive language that concisely paints a scene, whether a physical one or emotional, becomes the cornerstone of the truly heartbreaking experience of Paint and his mission.
Story
It’s building up to something, something amazing. When the last chapter available ended, I was really pumped to see what was exactly in store for our Paint and I was not disappointed. Banner Caygeon is truly setting up for an “epic in the making” and the proof of that is in the magnificently crafted opening that ends with a mission made for Paint and his emotional journey. I can’t wait to see everything about Loot, Caygeon’s hints of worldbuilding already showing that he has it well in hand.
Characters
Similar to my thoughts on the story, Paint is an amazing character with layers that you can feel from the first chapter. The first ten chapters are peeling apart his day-to-day, his issues, his past, and makes you come to love him. The world is filled with other characters as well that possess their own charm, like Grelda, and the mysterious characters we see leading up to Paint’s journey.
I can tell The Painter is going to be a great example of what a firm grasp on storytelling and writing looks like.
emily_mccoshRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Well, this was an unexpected read. I had no idea what was going to happen with this story when I picked it up, and I'm glad I did!
Style: The chapters are short, but I like them that way, it has the feel of a long epic to it that's just beginning. It's a very easy story to read and the writing never gets in the way, and some of the descriptions are just fantastic. It feels vibrant and real and part of the way through I was struck by how something about the writing style reminded me of stories I read when I was a kid, patricularly the tales of King Author. Which is about a big a compliment as I can give, because I'm always looking for stories that make me as interested and invested as I was in reading when I was a kid, and this one is getting there quick.
Grammar: Perfect grammer. There's a note at the start of each chapter saying it's seen an editor and it really pays off!
Story: We've got a story that starts with grief and continues on into strange magic and the beginnings of something that'll be a very interesting slice of life quiest type tale. It's definitely slow burn, but very worth the read.
Character: Our MC is known only as Painter until the last chapter of the current section, and he's written very well. We can feel his grief at the loss of his son (who I'm holding out hope he'll find eventually) and his curiousity at the strange new things happening to him. The side characters are interesting as well, particularly the ranger that comes to pick Painter up for his new commission.
All in all: please read this, I have a feeling it's going to get better and better, I just wish I didn't have to wait so long for the next section to begin posting!
Elijah MenchacaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The Painter tells the story of the eponymous artist, the tragedy that has befallen him, and the journey it has now set him on.
The first 5 chapters consist of being introduced to the main character in a very slow, methodical way that very atmospherically eases you into the tragedy of his current state.
The next 5 constitute essentially the call to adventure and the setup for what looks to be an intriguing odyssey across the setting, which, if the vibes of previous chapters hold, will be an absolutely fascinating bout of introspection.
Style (5/5): Painter purports itself to be a thriller, and the author does a great job creating the atmosphere of one. I can feel the desaturated lighting in the text of this.
Story (5/5): The story has really only begun, but the personal intrigue is engaging and the actual premise and setup established by the conclusion of chapter 10 is quite frankly, ingenious.
It is a slower burn of a story, so impatient readers beware, but if you're prepared to wait going in, there's plenty of vibes and introspection to soak up in the meantime.
I can't tell you how this compares to the larger Lootverse, but I can tell you this will probably be a great way to be introduced to it once part 2 of the story gets underway. If it isn't, the author will have wasted their ingenious premise, and I don't think they will.
Grammar (5/5): Everything works and is in the right spot, AND the whole of part 1 just got a prose focused rewrite to tighten it up. Also, it taught me a new word!
Character (5/5): By nature of the story, there's not too many characters to hang your hat on just yet, but the lead is an interesting one indeed, and he's already at least one character who fills me with questions. What's more, I suspect we'll be meeting many, many more interesting characters in the story to come.
All in all, check it out for a contemplative exploration of grief, artistry, and quite possibly a walking tour of the Lootverse itself down the road.
Ellen TaylorRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Yeah. I like slow burns. It's obviously reflected upon my score.
Style: There was never a time while reading this story that I was confused about what was going on. It flowed well, the writing was simple and to the point. Even with flashbacks that happened, it was clear and I knew what was going on.
Story: Yep, slow burn. There was only once that I found my mind drifting off, but the mystery kept me invested. A good slow burn for me is a book that poses a lot of questions upfront and then answers them in a way that slides in more questions that I don't feel bothered having, because I know the author will eventually answer them as well. Okay, maybe that was a little confusing, but I'm enjoying this quiet unraveling of the worldbuilding and the character in it.
Grammar: Didn't see anything that stood out. Granted, unless they're super obvious, I don't pay too much attention to the grammar.
Character: I really felt for the painter. That guy has gone through a lot, and his journey is part of the reason why this slow burn has been so compelling. I am rooting for him.
Overall a great read. If you're on the fence about slow burns, I would repeat the author's suggestion about reading until chapter six. Character development was first priority for the author, and they poured the foundation for the MC in the first five chapters, which honestly didn't feel too long. Give it a try. See if you like it.
Evil_WarlordRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
STYLE: A story with few descriptions and short chapters. Or at least shorter than the average you see on royalroad. Still, they make you feel the emotions of the characters. The sadness of loss and grief. It's a well told story.
STORY: The story is slow, so it's hard to understand what it's about. It's in chapter six where it starts to point in one direction and in chapter ten where we find out where the story is headed. Or at least we get a better idea of where it's going. I like the chapters where the protagonist's tragic past is told, but to me that past tragedy is the reason the protagonist is where he is, not the whole story itself. I think that although it seems simple there are more mysteries to be solved and if the author tells it like he has so far then it will be great.
CHARACTER: The few characters that have appeared have been enjoyable. The conversations feel real. The main character feels alive and the author manages to express the painter's emotions very well. He makes us feel the sadness and empathize with him. Something that not all stories can achieve and less with so few chapters.
GRAMMAR: I can't say too much about the grammar, I was too focused on the story.... I think this is the best way to describe the grammar.
I saw another review that talks about how mundane the tragedy that happened to the main character is and that there is nothing magical. I can't agree. The mundane, which can happen to us or the next door neighbor, is what makes the story feel real. And now, in a magical world, that event that one may see mundane may end up being very different from what one may expect. I think in the future the author will delve more into that aspect and I look forward to it.