The Partisan Chronicles [Gothic Fantasy Saga]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

He's a fire hazard. She brings the accelerant. Andrei Strauss has spent years teaching himself not to feel, because when he does, things catch fire. Literally. Rhian Sinclair never learned how to hold back at all. They’re both Partisans: born with supernatural powers, conscripted as children, and thrown into a world that expects them to protect it or die trying. Now they’re being sent on an investigation no one expects them to survive. Disappearances. Silent gods. Anomalies that defy everything they were taught to believe. It’s supposed to be routine. What begins as a mission unravels into something far bigger, and far more dangerous. The truths they’ve been fed their entire lives? They might all be lies. And if they want to make it out alive (and maybe set the world on fire in the process), they’ll need help: a telepathic tinkerer, a steadfast commander, and an agent who thrives on chaos. From legend to life. From fiction to fact.It all begins with them. What to expect: ➼ Intimate, unapologetic POVs➼ Slow-burn, character-first storytelling➼ Gallows humour, sharp banter, found family➼ Love of all kinds in messy, inconvenient forms➼ Rebellion, buried truths, and long consequences➼ A fractured generational saga shaped by trauma New chapters 3-4x per week.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2022
Author: Classy@Swordpoint

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 666
Views: 239,062

Chapters(281 total)

What readers say about The Partisan Chronicles [Gothic Fantasy Saga]

“The premise of this story immediately hooked me, and the author’s engaging style – sparse, crisp prose - consistently has me clicking that ‘next chapter’ button. The characterization is so well done that the characters spring right off the page (or screen,…”
moonzyRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Irreverent humor? Off the charts personality? Fascinating magic? This book has it all! Character: Who doesn’t want a cookie-loving main character with great hair and a hilarious inner monologue? Gus’ stream-of-consciousness first person point of view is so…”
Ayela ArcanaRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(10)

moonzyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The premise of this story immediately hooked me, and the author’s engaging style – sparse, crisp prose - consistently has me clicking that ‘next chapter’ button. The characterization is so well done that the characters spring right off the page (or screen, to be more precise). Rhian, in particular, is such a sparky character; the chapters told from her point of view are those I lap up most eagerly. It is difficult not to feel empathy for Andrei Strauss, unhappy as he is with his lot in life, more or less exiled in an isolated village. At Chapter 14, I am completely immersed in this world, and eagerly await the next instalments of The Partisan Chronicles.
Style: I love the author’s elegant, fluid prose. There is a clear sense that the reader is in good hands with an author on top form. I also have the sense that the story is carefully edited as well as crafted, as there are no distractions or hitches in any aspect of style. It is a pleasure to read such excellent writing.
Story: Engaging, enchanting and captivating, this is a story that always leaves you wanting more. That is no small feat, with so many great stories here on RoyalRoad.
Grammar: First class, A++.
Characters: Brilliantly shaped and crafted. I care about these characters, and want to know how their fates play out.
Thank you for a brilliant story, Classy@Swordpoint.
Ayela ArcanaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Irreverent humor? Off the charts personality? Fascinating magic? This book has it all!
Character: Who doesn’t want a cookie-loving main character with great hair and a hilarious inner monologue? Gus’ stream-of-consciousness first person point of view is so well written you forget you’re reading. He’s just entertaining line after entertaining line!
Grammar: Yes, I left comma corrections for the author who instantly fixes them, so no need to remove stars. Even the best of us have broken comma keys on our laptops.
Style: The prose is beautiful, the dialogue snappy and entertaining, and there are no formatting issues. The author includes illustrations which are a nice touch and bring the world to life. There’s also an embedded narrative that has piqued my curiosity, as this is a favorite narrative style I enjoy immensely. Oh, and there’s music! Love songs to cookies! (Don’t listen if you wanna be in a bad mood like a cranky pants.)
Story: Now here’s where it gets interesting. As you can tell by the switch doohickey symbol, Classy@Swordpoint and I agreed to a Review swap, and we intentionally did it for our most recent published volumes to draw attention to our later chapters. The author expressed concern that I might have a difficult time following Gus’ POV, but I’d read enough of Partisan Chronicles that I knew this story from the other POV characters already, and it meshed perfectly. So, I say that this volume is a genius addition to Chronicles because it gives the readers another way to love the book and the characters. This is the type of story-telling that lovers of fantasy appreciate.
These books have it all: snappy dialogue, fascinating magic, well-developed characters, a rich world, and a story that keeps you turning the pages. I highly recommend!
Black_SheepRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Wow! It's been a while since I stumbled across something this well written. I'm still only in the first chapter so I can't speak to plot, but this is definitely a story worth reading. The picture painted by the authors words is both vivid and easily understood. The characters are complex and the concept of the story is very interesting. Again I haven't gotten far, but I'm expecting a lot from this one.Update:style: the author uses a unique style, telling the story by alternating between the voice of two characters Andrei and Rhian. Both are compelling characters, more on that later. This story has some very obvious dark themes, but the authors leverages the character personalities to make things feel light and easy to read.story: This is the opposite of cookie cutter. It totally breaks the mold. There's magic, a terrible shity government that oppresses those it fears, and all the makings of a great adventure; however, this story is so unique I'm currently struggling to think of anything to relate it to. You'll just have to take my word and read it to see what I mean.Grammar: superb. The author takes care to edit their work and I have only noticed minor issues that don't impact the story.Character: Rhian is amazing. She has a sense of sarcasm that'll make you laugh in some of the most grim or awkward moments. She's witty and also very relatable. She's a little dark, but overall she's a great character.Andrei is a deeply fleshed out traumatized character. Andrei has emotional issues so sometimes his early chapters feel a bit disconnected, but it makes sense in the scope of his emotional struggles. This doesn't take away from the excellent narrative and there are alot of interesting things to explore within Andrei's personal struggles.
Caelum MhirRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall: This story is beautifully written, with an intriguing and unique story line, and an exquisite use of character voice. It is entertaining and binge worthy.
Style: The world is revealed through alternating between two POVs - and even without any names, you can tell whose POV is present. Voice, style of descriptions, psychological foibles of the characters - each MC is clearly defined. The descriptions of both people and environment are detailed and place you in the story beside the characters.
Grammar: The grammar is excellent. I haven't noticed any errors (and I usually do) - and certainly nothing obvious or distracting.
Story: At first, while the characters and world were being established, the plot line was slow to present itself. But as you progress further in, the drama begins to build in intensity and the carefully laid early foundation makes sense.
Characters: This is one of the stories exceptional strengths. The characters are well-conceived and written. They are flawed, three dimensional characters, well described, with personal voice beyond expectations. The author gives them room to grow, as well as failings and introspective moments that the reader can connect with as they read.
I am reading this rapidly because I want to see where it goes, and I will update as new thoughts present themselves.
CloudfallRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Cover: Beautifully designed.
Synopsis: It's a killer. It really displayed what the book is all about in a descriptive way. I love everything about it.
Grammar: Excellent. No error that could affect the flow of the story.
First Chapter: It's really good. The pacing, the story's progression, the characters, all are well written. Readers will want to turn the pages.
Story: The plotline follows two main characters, Rhian, a partisan, and Andrei, a priest. This high fantasy novel is a mixture of magic, supernatural and mythos. From what ive read, the story is developing really well.
Style: First person narration. We are seeing the fantasy world through the eyes of the MC. Well used.
Characters: So far, they're well written, especially the two main characters, Rhian and Andrei.
Overall: Excellent work.
Rowdha Al SolRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
For the record, dear reader, I do not believe in rating RoyalRoad books with the same metrics I use for rating professionally published books.
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The Partisan Chronicles reminds me a lot of The Lies of Locke Lamora given the notable uptick of roguish charm in prose that never really slows its pace. I would even give it credit for the way it balances humour and formality in a way that doesn’t grate my teeth at every turn of the page (or in this case, swipe of the screen). It also just has lots of time.
And all of this is good stuff, especially when you consider the point of this meeting a standard you don’t often see on RoyalRoad. It still does feel early-drafty, but not too early-drafty. I’m not holding this to a professional standard, as mentioned; if you come into this expecting good prose, you will mostly get it. The times where you feel it’s off are going to be some structural problems that an average reader won’t be able to pinpoint but will know on a deeper level.
The Partisan Chronicles is clever in its control of reader expectations. I often call this the ‘rotating element of surprise’ within fiction. There are times where we are led to believe in a plot direction only for an earlier component of the story to jump in and twist the helm. Uniquely clever. For example, the portrait subplot initially feels like a simple art theft gag but later flips into a breadcrumb trail tied to pre-Divide history. Right when you’re led to believe one thing, the voice steps in and changes things up to keep you engaged.
There is also an overall complexity to what this story wants to do. I can’t say it’s the most complex thing I’ve ever read, but there are a lot of moving pieces. One could argue that the story is a little too big for the author because they started relying on interludes for a novel that doesn’t actually reach the epic standards of where an interlude is typically necessary, but they’re fine, I guess.
The issues with this work arise within engagement. A lot of wo
5FivesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I don't think I have read anything like this -- and it was very high quality!
This fantasy story has a level of mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat with complex and fleshed out characters that switch between two main POVs.
Most of the book is written in first person, which gives a very intimate and engaging vibe. The story follows the POVs of Rhian and Andrei in addition to helpful and intriguing interludes weaved throughout. I was not expecting the complexity of this book -- it was amazing. I don't think I have read works with many interludes, but I was surprised to find they were personally my favorite. I remember smiling at one extremely short interlude that was written very intentionally. I also appreciate the interludes that
told the story of Lidia and her baby Victoria.
There were so many unique tricks the author incorporated that just worked. The prose itself was easy to read and was occasionally very artistic. Very impressive.
The story itself is very complex. It is very mysterious with twists and turns readers wouldn't expect. The pacing is good, but may lean on the slow end in the beginning (but it did not detract from my reading.)
As for characters, I actually really liked Lidia and Adeline. I thought Adeline's relationship with her mother piqued my interest immediately. One of my favorite lines is from Adeline, when she says
"Enforcer Rhian is risking her life in Verena to protect you...And what have you done lately...besides doubt her and canoodle with this awful woman?"
Loved that line.
My only critique leans towards my personal tastes. As I mentioned, this is a complex story that is thought-provoking and artfully executed. However, I found it difficult to remember all of the side characters, but this is simply because I am unused to reading a work like this. It is a reflection of me, not the story.
Would I recommend this story? Absolutely. Read if you are a fantasy fan who enjoys complexity and mystery. Artfully executed. Kudos to the
I. QuillanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The first thing that struck me was how rich and deep layered the world building is, the lore with political tension, complex, multidimensional character relationships. The writing is confident and vividly descriptive, especially in Andrei’s sections, immediately grounding the reader into a society of rigid hierarchies and perilous expectations.
The interplay between telepathy, empathy, and prophecy as instruments of power is intriguing and effectively heightens the sense that Andrei’s life is perpetually under a microscope.
On the contrary, Rhian’s chapters are quite distinct, shifting into an irreverent, conversational voice that is immediately engaging. Her sardonic humor balances Andrei’s heavier introspection, and her self-deprecating commentary gives the narrative some much-needed levity. That tonal counterpoint is one of this story’s greatest strengths, offering readers two very different lenses on the same oppressive system.
This fiction is very well written, and it is definitely character-driven, which I like the most. The contrast of voices, the textured relationships, and the detailed sense of place make it a compelling and very engaging book. I would live to, someday, buy this book in a paperback form, then sit quietly with a cup of tea and fully delve into the beautiful and emotional world created by the author.
KLeo GertsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
From the very first line, The Partisan Chronicles ignites something rare—an alchemy of elegant prose, deeply human characters, and a world so vivid it hums beneath your skin. Classy@Swordpoint has crafted a story that burns slowly and deliberately, yet with such undeniable heat and brilliance that you can’t help but be drawn ever deeper into its flames.
At its heart are two unforgettable protagonists: Andrei Strauss, the reluctant priest whose very emotions are a danger to everyone around him, and Rhian Sinclair, the sharp-tongued Enforcer with a talent for trouble and a soul that refuses to conform. Their opposing perspectives—introspective and volatile, irreverent and unyielding—form a tonal and emotional symphony that elevates this story beyond the ordinary. Each chapter is an invitation into richly drawn minds navigating a world of political tension, divine silence, and supernatural peril.
The prose is exceptional—crisp, confident, and immersive—offering vivid atmosphere without excess. The characters aren’t just written, they’re breathed into being, flawed and full of fire, constantly evolving. The alternating POVs are so distinct in voice and rhythm that you always know who’s speaking—even without names.
This story deserves not just to be read, but cherished. Whether or not it ever returns from hiatus, what’s here is already a literary gift. Thank you, Classy@Swordpoint. You’ve created something timeless.
KogitoErgoSumRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Review: The Partisan Chronicles
★★★★★ (Early review and will update but I doubt anything will change!)
Ok so I don’t throw out 5 stars lightly but this one grabbed me early, and I’m putting this up now so more people give it a shot. I’ll be updating as I get deeper in, but so far this one’s hitting all the right notes.
The writing has a really unique tone that’s hard to pull off—it’s clever without being smug, emotional without overplaying it, and the voice is strong all the way through. The characters feel like actual people, not just roles being filled. Rhian’s dry wit and no-nonsense attitude are top tier and the way she handles scenes just feels fun and real. Andrei’s whole deal is a nice contrast too, it’s moody but not whiny which is a balance a lot of books miss.
What I liked most is how alive the world feels. You’ve got this gritty dystopia that still feels like it’s got hope buried somewhere in it, and the politics and the power systems are just enough to get you interested without drowning you in info dumps. Also there’s just enough of our world in theirs that it makes it easy to slip in and follow without needing to reference a glossary every 2 minutes.
It’s character driven, slower burn in a good way, and the writing's got some real charm to it. You can tell this is written by someone who cares about the people in their story.
Only a few chapters in and already hooked. No clue where it's all going yet but I’m here for it. If you're into sharp dialogue, solid pacing and a mix of heart and teeth in your fiction, check this one out.
Again, early review, but if it keeps this up it’s gonna be a favorite.