The Years of Apocalypse - A Time Loop Progression Fantasy (Book 1 stubbing early June!)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Mirian Castrella, a student in her final year of a magical academy, unexpectedly finds herself caught in a time loop and haunted by strange dreams of the Elder Gods. Her plan had been to become an artificer to support her struggling family, but when the Akana Praediar army betrays her country in a surprise attack, everything changes. Instead, she finds herself delving into the dark secrets of the world, mastering magic, finding allies, and uncovering a vast conspiracy. However, just because the time loop can save her life doesn’t mean it can save her from everything. Mirian must navigate a dangerous world changed by the magitech revolution. Her quest to save the world from the apocalypse will lead her to battle magi and beasts, into the unfathomable underground Labyrinth, across distant lands, and into forgotten ancient ruins. Only through becoming a master arcanist who understands the true nature of the world can Mirian hope to stop the apocalypse she relives through time and time again. If she fails, everything she loves will be lost. Update schedule: At least 2 chapters per week, usually Sunday/Wednesday. Occasional bonus chapters on Friday. What to expect:- Slow burn power progression- A clever protagonist who changes as the story moves from arc to arc- Expansive world-building full of complexity and secrets- A focus on magic- Intrigue and spell-flinging fights- A rotating cast of characters in each arc- Starts slow, then picks up speed (This book is exclusively on RoyalRoad and Patreon. If you find it anywhere else, it's stolen. Book 1 is also up for preorder on Amazon through Aethon books.)

Information

Status
Ongoing
Year
2024
Author
UraniumPhoenix

Tags

FANTASYADVENTUREMAGICFEMALE LEADHIGH FANTASYPROGRESSIONTIME LOOPAPOCALYPSE

Royal Road Stats

Rating
4.8/ 5.0
Followers
15,181
Views
10,332,404

Chapters(287 total)

What readers say about The Years of Apocalypse - A Time Loop Progression Fantasy (Book 1 stubbing early June!)

  • “I am a pretty avid reader. Have read lots of novels. Was honestly just searching for the next one to satisfy my itch. I thought this was just going to be like Mother of Learning and since I didn't have anything else to read was like, eh, why not.But boy was…”
    DrHammeyRoyal Road5.0 / 5
  • “If you liked MoL, you'll almost certainly like this. This story has its own distinctive feel, but it's definitely in the same vein as MoL - time loop, big conspiracies to uncover, relatively weak MC with an interest in magical artifice.The writing style is…”
    006fixRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

  • DrHammeyRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    I am a pretty avid reader. Have read lots of novels. Was honestly just searching for the next one to satisfy my itch. I thought this was just going to be like Mother of Learning and since I didn't have anything else to read was like, eh, why not.But boy was I wrong.While the start of the setting is somewhat similar (magic academy, war on the end of the month), I feel like this story goes so much deeper. There is so much character growth- physical, arcane, and mental. And how the MC relates to other characters feels so smooth. There is never a moment where you feel something is unearned. The MC has to fight tooth and nail to advance, and advance she does.There are so many characters, each with their goals and thoughts, and it's a joy to see not how the MC overcomes physical fights, but political fights. She has to act and manipulate to get what she wants sometimes, even if it disgusts her, and I find that all the more appealing. I love a good word fight, and manipulation to get what you want (not a sociopath, just love it in stories lol, I could never come up with wit on the spot), and this story has so many moments where she needs to do this to advance or learn something.And the problem is actually complex as hell. I was honestly a bit disappointed on the Mother of Learning problem, since it actually seemed pretty simple if not for the other looper that was a mistake of the original one, but the problem that MC has to overcome is massively complicated. It's a problem where I actually stop and think, huh, makes sense that she has to do this.And this is all before the twist at the end of the first volume, which I will not spoil.I will just say that I was a bit skeptical, because not many progression fantasy readers like setbacks, but it has developed incredible and added even more depth to the story.So, yes, 10/10, would recommend
  • 006fixRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    If you liked MoL, you'll almost certainly like this. This story has its own distinctive feel, but it's definitely in the same vein as MoL - time loop, big conspiracies to uncover, relatively weak MC with an interest in magical artifice.The writing style is very crisp and clean, very pleasant to read, I'm enjoying the various characters so far, and it feels like its progressing at a nice sensible pace. Really strong start, and looking forward to more.
  • AdiAdiAdiAdiRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    the main character is a complex person and she changes throughout the series, she consistently needs to make hard choices but despite all the things that she needs to do its really nice to see she holds her morals dearas stories go its a bit more story focused than other looper stories, its not just grind grind grind grind grind, though we do feel the impacts of the time mc spends practicing and improving on her skillser right... where I was going with this :D it's very good, if you like time loop stories I highly recommend, if you like slightly more idk the best word but limited magic systems where there are requisites to do stuff then you might also like thiswell thought out fairly hard magic system
  • ArkanthRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Easily one of the best novels, if not the best, I've read on this site. The world is fleshed out and the characters feel like they actually live in that world, with the events of the nove actually changing the way the act and interact with each other, rather than just exist to be temporary plot devices.
  • BobGuyRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Before I read this novel, I read through the reviews carefully. The negative ones had a heavy focus on how much of a slog the first 10 chapters were and also on how the world building felt janky.
    To be honest they weren’t wrong, but they don’t cover the full picture.
    The author has grown greatly since those first few chapters. This is a masterpiece. It’s nearly published novel quality, the world building after the first 10 chapters is professional grade. The story has so many unexpected twists. The plot is not predictable. It’s a very very satisfying read and I have no regrets whatsoever.
    If you’re still hedging, I can assure you that it’s worth it and you will be back to write your own review.
  • Cardguy5Royal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Hey, I’ll be once again using speech to text to write a review because it’s just so much easier to speech to text reviews because you don’t have to waste all the time typing it out and making sure all your grammar is correct. You can just like speak your opinion, speak your mind and then post it out so I’m gonna be using Speech to text again.i’ll sit off the bed yes years of apocalypse is heavily inspired by mother of learning and like the entire first book is basically just mother of learning, but the main character is a girl this changes overtime because usually the apocalypse focuses more on on her interactions with other time loopers and I’m just, i’m having trouble expressing how my mother of learning is different from here to the apocalypse. I guess the easiest way to say it was that you’re in the apocalypse works with a much longer timeframe and the time loop then mother of learning does not say necessary the length of the loops because like the loops are still a month long but the loops lastloops there are significantly more loops, and she spent significantly more years than the time, even if she hasn’t escaped the time loop from where I’m out in the store right now, which which leads to a lot more development in her character than Dorian gets while it’s really hard to explain it, but like it,I shall retry trying to express myself mother of learning no no no I mean years of the apocalypse deals more with the solitude inherent in being in a time loop while also dealing more with the interactions with other people who are having to deal with the same solitude, you are and the different views that people have spent years looping through time without anyone to talk to, that would have it also well I wouldn’t say that the magic system is as good in years of the apocalypse as it is in mother of learning, she does progress significantly farther in her magical power which you know provides a bigger gap for those that knew her before the time loop and yeah it’s been
  • AgasthenesRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    I highly recommend to keep going through the slow start. This story will suck you in and not leave you alone.
    Great world building, Great characters, great character development.
    Religion is a topic that's seldom explored in fantasy. Here it is done perfectly.
    If you have any interest at all in time loop stories, read this. I'd you don't read it too.
  • Daniel FariaRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Approaching chapter 200, I can confidently say this is one of the best stories I’ve read so far on RR. It’s incredibly well written and tightly structured, with a complex and well-thought-out plot that kept me hooked from the very first chapters.
    The story follows Miriam, who finds herself trapped in a one-month time loop leading up to the end of the world. Each reset forces her to balance learning new skills, uncovering secrets, and forming fragile alliances — all while racing against a ticking clock that she can never escape for long.
    The author masterfully blends mystery, action, and emotional depth, creating a world that feels both vivid and dangerous. The pacing is excellent, the stakes are high, and the twists keep coming.
    For anyone who enjoyed Mother of Learning, this is an absolute treat — familiar in premise, yet fresh in execution.
  • DesertSoxRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    The finest book I have read on royal road. Especially considering how hard it is to write a time loop that consistently explores new territory and remains interesting, while avoiding making the character(s) static. I especially love how the focus of the story expands throughout the books. Thank you for all the chapters!
  • EmpireofTrustRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Unlike most stories of this genre it really starts to wear at the MC's psyche when things go wrong or their hard won gains are reset to zero.It makes a refreshing change from other numbers go up variations with instantly OP MCs.Looking forward to more, devoured up to this chapter almost in one glorious sitting.

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