Truechild : Reaper Reborn

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

In the dark waters of death, he kept watch. A reaper who kept souls safe while they traveled to the other side. He had no emotions. No name. And no mercy for anyone who disturbed the waters. Known by just a moniker, The Silent Hunter, he kept order. Pulled out from the void he patrolled, by the God Emperor of the Starbright Empire and given form by his divine partners, he is nowVoss Truechild. A Prince of the Empire. A Manaborn with bones made out of crystalline mana. A body created from the emperor’s flesh and blood. Engineered for war and conflict. With a soul tied down by bonds of mana and essence, he is sent to rule a troubled region. Because the Empire is rotting. The Damned, the ones he once called predators are rising. Twisting the laws of life and death for their own ambition. They believe they have cheated the cycle. The Demons, the doom bringers, and their minions think they can run free. They think the Empire is their hunting ground. They all believe they are untouchable. They are all wrong. The Reaper has been reborn. And he will set the balance right.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2026
Author: I L Shade

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.7/ 5.0
Followers: 110
Views: 22,032

Chapters(77 total)

What readers say about Truechild : Reaper Reborn

“Truechild is a dark progression fantasy that sets itself apart from other novels of the same genre from the very first chapter. The concept of a 'Truechild' is actually deeply fascinating, and the character of the Emperor himself is also very satisfying. A…”
Ash CorvusRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“This one surprised me in a really good way. Truechild: Reaper Reborn has that rare “mythic prologue” vibe that actually lands, instead of just being purple for the sake of it. The opening in the Dark Waters is eerie and memorable: souls drifting, predators…”
Chimera WorksRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

Ash CorvusRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Truechild is a dark progression fantasy that sets itself apart from other novels of the same genre from the very first chapter. The concept of a 'Truechild' is actually deeply fascinating, and the character of the Emperor himself is also very satisfying.
A nearly all-powerful and seemingly immortal Emperor is too strong to have regular children, so what does he do?
He spents decades studying mana engineering to make them himself. Honestly, it reminded me a bit of Warhammer and how the Emperor of Mankind created the Primarchs. Even though there is a stark difference, the Emperor 'fishing' for souls to be his children in the Dark Waters reminded me a bit of how the Emperor of Mankind went to the Chaos Gods when creating his own children.
Now, if that is about to turn you away, please don't let it. The Emperor actually loves his children, as do his two wives. The characters themselves all have their own voices and are one of the best parts of the novel so far.
Now, there are some issues, although small ones. The start is a slow burn, so be warned of that. Chapter 2 is when things start getting a bit faster and I expect Chapter 3 and forward to really pick up the pace.
We have the arrogant bastard who you can't wait to be beaten up by the Mc, but this time, we actually have an explanation of why he behaves the way he does, and I expect it to be somewhat tragic as well.
All in all, the worldbuilding is solid, the characters so far are amazing, and the main character is being cautious and smart in this new body and world he suddenly found himself in.
From me personally, this is a strong recommendation to those who love dark fantasy and I will definitely be reading with excitement.
Chimera WorksRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This one surprised me in a really good way.
Truechild: Reaper Reborn has that rare “mythic prologue” vibe that actually lands, instead of just being purple for the sake of it. The opening in the Dark Waters is eerie and memorable: souls drifting, predators circling, that amethyst-leaf tree, and the spear-man calmly doing violence with a kind of ritual certainty. It instantly sets a tone of ancient order vs intrusion, and the MC’s internal voice (detached, observant, almost inhuman) sells the idea that he’s not just “a guy who reincarnated,” but something that existed before personhood.
Where it really hooked me was how the story treats awakening as a process rather than a switch flip. The MC “remembering words” (white, stone, glow, learn, humanity) is such a cool way to show identity rebuilding from fragments. It makes the early chapters feel alien in a good way, like you’re watching a mind boot up.
Then the rebirth ritual ramps the stakes hard. It’s brutal, intimate, and honestly pretty cinematic: blood binding, heart-flesh, severed fingers, chants, and then the Eye of Saroom crashing in like a malicious admin response to something that shouldn’t exist. That sequence did a lot of work fast: it gives the MC trauma, gives the world a sense of larger hostile forces, and makes the “Truechild” concept feel costly and consequential rather than just edgy.
After that, I liked that the story doesn’t stay in abstract mysticism. It pivots into court/politics/clan logistics, and it mostly works because the MC’s mindset stays consistent: he’s reading rooms like he used to read souls and predators. Tyran is also a genuinely uncomfortable antagonist presence (the predator parallels are strong), and Sage is a great counterbalance as the “soft power” sibling who still has steel underneath.
Saha’s entrance is a highlight too. The chemistry is immediate, but what I appreciated is that the MC’s reaction isn’t written like generic lust—it feels like a being unfamiliar with living emoti
Frost WoodsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
So far, the story is pretty good, but the paragraph spacing is a bit confusing and disrupts the reading flow. It would benefit from proper proofreading and cleaner formatting to make it look more polished and easier to read.That said, the world-building is solid from what I’ve read so far, and the characters are interesting enough to keep my attention. With some refinement in presentation and consistency, this story has the potential to become even better.I might come back to read it again in the future.
GraukenRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I’ve liked this a lot so far.
What stood out to me first was that it felt different right away. The opening has a strange, almost dreamlike quality to it, and Voss feels genuinely unfamiliar from the start. He does not come across like a standard progression fantasy lead with a darker backstory added on later. There is something a little off about him in a way that made me want to keep reading rather than push me away.
I also liked that the story does not lose that once the world starts opening up. As more of the politics, the empire, and the people around him come into focus, it starts to feel larger without smoothing out what made it interesting in the first place. Saha, Ilya, and Grek especially helped with that for me. They make the story feel inhabited, not just built around the main character.
The tone also worked for me. It is darker than a lot of stories in this space, but it never felt like it was trying too hard. It just feels deliberate. The story seems comfortable being what it is.
My only small critique is that it took me a few chapters to really settle into the world and into Voss himself. Once I did, though, I was in.
Overall, this feels distinct, confident, and worth sticking with.
Kor VithanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
What really grabbed me about Truechild: Reaper Reborn is how it starts with mystery and identity rather than jumping straight into the usual reincarnation tropes. The Dark Waters sections are beautifully eerie and vivid: they give the story a mythic, almost haunting feel, but without losing sight of the characters’ emotions.
The main character, Voss, feels genuinely unique. He’s restrained, observant, and often kind of detached, but never boring. Watching him slowly figure out things like family, duty, power, and even attraction is way more compelling than it would be with a more typical hero.
I also really enjoyed the character dynamics. Emperor Larden makes an impression every time he shows up—not just because he’s powerful, but because he’s complicated: affectionate, dangerous, proud, and unsettling all at once. Sage is a great balance to the heavier moments, bringing warmth and humor without killing the tension, and Tyran adds genuine menace. These relationships really make the world feel alive.
As for the writing style, it’s ambitious and leans into the dramatic side, but it mostly stays clear and readable, which helps the worldbuilding land. The story feels huge in scope, but the emotional core never gets lost. Overall, it’s a fantasy novel with a strong sense of identity, a memorable lead, and just enough strangeness to keep you curious.
Orion VossRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story of reincarnation after death by a mysterious figure is very intriguing and immediately captures the reader’s interest.
Style:
The story is written in first person, which is a bold choice since most fantasy stories are usually written in third person. However, the writer has executed it very well, allowing the reader to experience the world directly through the eyes of the main character. This approach helped me understand everything happening inside the MC’s mind even without him speaking a single word in the first few chapters.
The characters are also described in great detail — from white marble skin and black veins to hair and eye colors. These descriptions make it easier to imagine the characters and become immersed in the world of the story.
Story: Worldbuilding is one of the strongest points of this story. The Dark Waters, the city, the giant ship, Voss clan and terms like Manaborn, Truechild are all fascinating elements that add depth to the narrative. The description of the city feels both fantastical and realistic, which makes the setting believable.
The story begins as an origin narrative in the Dark Waters during the selection process. The way the writer keeps the Spear Man as a mysterious figure makes him feel almost godlike. The first-person perspective works very well here, as I felt like I was one of the souls in the Dark Waters wondering who this Spear Man was. This element really hooked me into the story.
The reincarnation process is tense, filled with both internal and external pressure. The action scenes are also well written and engaging.
Characters: Voss Truechild is a very interesting character. He begins as a defender in the Dark Waters and later becomes a 14-foot giant with ice powers. His personality is cold, composed, and thoughtful, which makes him stand out.
The Emperor also feels like a godlike character. His abilities and the way he fishes souls from the Dark Waters at the beginning show how immensely powerful he is. However,
Phantom SageRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
From the very first lines, this story announces that it is not a simple reincarnation fantasy. It is a meditation on identity, duty, and what happens when a being forged for cosmic order is forced back into flesh, politics, and emotion. The voice is calm, almost clinical, yet heavy with ancient weight. The opening in the soul-waters is especially striking. It feels timeless, alien, and eerily serene, making the later violence and intrigue hit harder by contrast. The spear-bearer, the culling of predators, and the selection of “Truechildren” establish a mythic scale that feels earned, not inflated.The rebirth ritual is brutal, intimate, and unforgettable. The use of blood, heart-flesh, and sacrifice gives the creation of the protagonist a sacred horror that lingers. The intrusion of the Eye and the loss of the mother figure inject personal tragedy into what could have been abstract cosmology. This is where the narrative truly anchors itself emotionally.As the story moves into court politics and clan tensions, the tone shifts without losing cohesion. The predator brother is genuinely unsettling, not because he is loud, but because he is familiar with cruelty. His presence reframes the entire “Truechild” system as something that can rot from within. Meanwhile, the healer brother provides a fragile moral center, making the protagonist’s quiet, restrained nature stand out even more.The embassy sequence shows maturity in worldbuilding. The throne, the clan crisis, the looming threat from the mountains, and the subtle attraction between the lord and the former princess all suggest long-term arcs already in motion. Nothing feels random. Every scene plants seeds.This reads like the opening movement of a dark epic about order, corruption, and a reaper learning what it means to care again.
R M KRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I really like the premise of the story, the thing it would benefit from would be some polishing. Otherwise a solid read so far, the worldbuilding is good, characters have been interesting so far, pacing is also good. The eerie imagery and a sense of mystery has me hooked. Voss is a great main character, a living weapon trying to navigate emotions and intrigue.
I look forward so seeing where this story leads me.
Widia ayu AmeliaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
'Truechild' is a breath of fresh air in the progression fantasy genre. From the very first chapter, the author establishes a hauntingly beautiful and gritty atmosphere that sets it apart from your typical "reincarnation" stories.What I love most so far:1. The Protagonist: Voss is a fascinating lead. Watching a "living weapon" navigate human emotions and societal intrigue while suppressing his overwhelming power creates a constant, gripping tension.2. The World-Building: The concept of a Truechild—forged from mana and flesh—is unique and dark. The lore feels deep and intentional, not just a backdrop for fights.3. Pacing: The "restrained power growth" mentioned in the description is handled perfectly. It feels earned, and the stakes always feel real because the threats aren't just external; they are psychological.If you’re looking for a story with brutal combat, complex morality, and a world that feels alive (and dangerous), this is it. It’s dark, it’s visceral, and I can’t wait to see where Voss’s journey takes him next.Keep up the amazing work, author! Highly recommended.
ZunyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story opens with a uniquely atmospheric and almost mythic tone, immediately pulling the reader into the strange and haunting setting of the Dark Waters. The imagery of drifting souls, lurking predators, and the silent observer is vivid and memorable, giving the opening a strong identity that stands out right away.The protagonist is particularly compelling, defined by a detached, analytical perspective shaped by his existence in the Dark Waters. His gradual rediscovery of language, emotion, and identity adds a strong internal progression that pairs well with the unfolding external stakes. The transition into becoming a “Truechild,” especially through the intense rebirth sequence, is impactful and sets the tone for the story’s scale and direction.Worldbuilding is rich and carefully layered. Elements like manaborn, Truechildren, and corrupted souls are introduced naturally through events, maintaining immersion without overwhelming the reader. The presence of powerful figures such as the Emperor and the threat posed by Tyran adds early tension and narrative weight.The grammar and overall writing quality are solid, supporting smooth readability and a polished presentation throughout.Some minor drawbacks include dense terminology early on and introspective passages that can occasionally feel heavy.Overall, this is a distinctive, immersive, and highly promising start with strong atmosphere and clear long-term potential.