Description

Leonardo deRye, young Master of not much at all, spends his days defying everyone's expectations by being a completely ordinary boy. But when he catches sight of a Winged One out his window, it stirs up questions that those around him can't—or won't—answer. It is up to him to unravel the secrets of his past, and decide for himself how to let it shape his future.

[Participant in the Royal Road Writathon Challenge]

Community Reviews(3)

NuclearUmbrellaRoyal Road

★★★★★ 5.0

Melancholic, but beautifully. Comedic, but tactfully.
This is a story about love, madness, and a world with more kinds of people in it than we have. And yet, it still manages to be purely human.
Oh come on RR, that was a perfect review. It doesn't need any more words, and would be less if it had them.

Ryan StennetRoyal Road

★★★★★ 5.0

I struggle to find things to critique with this story. It seems to know exactly what it wants to be, and then sets out and does it.
Style
When I tell you I didn't expect to find contemplative literary prose on Royal Road... Well, you'd likely believe me. And yet here we are. The prose feels delightfully and purposefully antiquated in how it captures the period being written about. This is not a critique, and it is not a synonym for "dry", "boring", or "difficult to read". This story is none of those things--it just feels older than it is.
Story
As mentioned above, we're looking at a slow burn. Mysteries that beget mysteries--about the world, about family, even about the main character's own past. It's a measured and interesting story that captures the imagination and refuses to return it.
Grammar
I have no major notes or takeaways.
Character
All of the characters I've met thus far have been well-realized and consistently written. I only knock the slightest points off because, while each character has their own lane, their own minor obsession (whether it be the status of the family and estate, an obsession with astronomy, or the main character's burning desire to know more of the Winged Ones), none of them ever seem to vary far from that lane. It's a utilitarian approach to character writing, but there's nothing to say that the inner lives of each of these characters do not blossom onto the page later. Having said my piece, I can only conclude by saying that the characters feel real and I can't wait to read more of them.

csantnerRoyal Road

★★★★★ 5.0

I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed getting the opportunity to read this story. So much so that I couldn’t put it down until I ran out of chapters, and I am now dying to know what happens next. It was a nice change of pace from what I usually read that I didn’t realize I needed.
The overall style of the story is classic and well-executed. You can perfectly imagine the scenery and the feel of the world while the flow of the story itself is expertly done.
The story is well planned, showing plenty of forethought and care in even the smallest details, which I immensely respect.
The grammar is a nonissue; I didn’t notice anything (though I was pretty engrossed in the story). Every chapter is well articulated and descriptive.
The characters are one of my favorite parts, next to the story itself. You really feel their emotions and the depth of who they are. Even the more minor characters have their own personalities, which I feel is hard to do. The relationships are well crafted and well thought out while still giving some mystery to the future.
Overall, it is very well made, and I eagerly look forward to future chapters.

The Winged Ones

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Royal Road Stats

Chapters(33 total)

Reviews

Community Reviews(3)