The Way Forward

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

The Way Forward

James just wanted to be normal. To follow the rules, stay out of trouble, and—above all—survive. To carve out a quiet life in the shadow of the Imperium, where boys like him were nothing more than fodder for a war they never chose. But when a bite of a golden apple marks him as a God Seed, he’s thrust into a destiny he never asked for.

Now hunted by those who seek to use him and bound to a power he doesn’t understand, James must protect the ones who matter most: Max, his reckless, loyal friend who always finds trouble; Nera, a deadly assassin who sees more in James than he sees in himself; and the town of Oakwood, caught in the crossfire of powers beyond mortal comprehension.

But survival has a price. The gods are watching. The Imperium is waiting. And as the echoes of an ancient war stir once more, James must decide how much of himself he’s willing to lose to save the people he loves.

The storm is coming. And James is at its heart.

The Way Forwardis a dark, character-driven fantasy about found family, sacrifice, and the gods who refuse to be forgotten.

Readers can expect.

~A Dark, Character-Driven Fantasy~

~Found Family and Deep Bonds~

~Fast Paced Action~

~Ancient Gods and a World on the Brink~

~A Reluctant Hero~

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2025
Author: Alastair Hightower

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.3/ 5.0
Followers: 31
Views: 18,340

Chapters(77 total)

Reviews

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Community Reviews(1)

WilliamMyrlRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A High Fantasy coming-of-age tale, I can hear some of the author's inspirations bleeding through, echoes of the Wheel of Time and whispers of The Name of the Wind, but this fiction feels like it's making its own way forward.
There are monsters in the shadows of this world, and nascent magics yet to be discovered fully. The protagonist is young and written young, and while it is too early to claim that every character is well developed, those we have met do feel distinct, and their interactions hint at the relationships connecting them beneath the surface.
So far, there has been enough action and tension to pull me forward, and one monster in particular that I hope we see again. I'm not sure yet if we have an OP MC in the making, but it's clear that James's power is going to progress in the coming chapters.
This is still a new story, and I would normally want to read more before writing a review. However, I think that because this is not a LitRPG or a xianxia it runs the risk of being ignored.
When more has been released, I will update my review. For now, I just wanted to say that this is not a story to be overlooked. Take a break from stat screens, this may be the Fantasy you've been looking for.