Wander West, In Shadow [Slow Burn Dark Fantasy]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Cover art done byTofuyi! BOOK 1 COMPLETED! The war ended, but the world didn't. For years, the lands burned in the wars of the White Queen, a sorceress and tyrant whose mad ambition brought ruin to all she touched. Now she is dead, but all that remains has been bled dry. Charred towns lie hollow, fields return to the wild, and quiet shadows settle where folk once made their homes. The gods themselves seem tired. Where humanity retreats, darkness creeps in. Through this darkness the young wizard Martimeos walks the broken roads, following the fading trail of his brother, who marched west to fight in the Queen's War and never returned. He left behind no grave, no message, no certainty. Only rumors of what he'd done. On his journey Martimeos must barter with demons, trade riddles with fae, and contend with the wild witch Elyse, a fellow practitioner of the Art with secrets of her own. At last the road brings him to Silverfish, a cursed village whose future has been stolen, overgrown with thorns and lies. His search will lead him to the horror at the heart of Silverfish's tragedy—and the truth behind his brother's fate. WANDER WEST, IN SHADOWis a dark fantasy set in a world of faded kingdoms and lost history, with no litrpg elements. Magic is subtle, especially when Elyse and Martimeos first set out, and it is often better to run than it is to stand and fight.

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2024
Author: CloverCloverClover

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.8/ 5.0
Followers: 3,250
Views: 371,735

What readers say about Wander West, In Shadow [Slow Burn Dark Fantasy]

“This is a really good story. It is in my opinion what the "adventure" tag should stand for and i will think of this story every time i see it. The characters are travelling arround and exploring a wonderful world full of danger and magic. They struggle,they…”
skopotRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“I don’t have much to say other than read this story. For those of you who don’t know this story had a previous version that released on Royal Road about 3-4ish years ago. Back then it was the best thing I read on this site. For reasons the author went into…”
BbhermesRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

skopotRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a really good story. It is in my opinion what the "adventure" tag should stand for and i will think of this story every time i see it. The characters are travelling arround and exploring a wonderful world full of danger and magic. They struggle,they fight,they run, they cry... They honestly feel alive so yeah I think it deserves those stars
BbhermesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I don’t have much to say other than read this story.
For those of you who don’t know this story had a previous version that released on Royal Road about 3-4ish years ago. Back then it was the best thing I read on this site. For reasons the author went into in a post near the end of this story he decided to rewrite the entire thing and start over.
This was a great decision because he took what was the best thing I read on Royal Road and made it even better.
Seriously a lot of the stories you read on here I would describe as popcorn stories. Fun action that you can turn you brain off for a little while and just enjoy. And that’s not to knock those stories I LOVE stories like that.
But this story is not that. This is an ambitious and clever story that rewards you for paying attention and noticing little details. This story is written by somebody with an incredible amount of talent and it is so good that it probably should be a published book somewhere.
The fact that it’s free on here is a gift because I would have happily paid to read it.
Go read this story.
BiSeannRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I almost cannot believe a story like this is on this site. It is easily better written than many of the books (hardcovers!) I used to purchase from bookstores' fantasy sections in the 1990s. I would call it epic fantasy except that it is rather more quiet than that, though it is clear that it has the potential to be more "grand". It is patiently, delicately written, but in a modern prose without being tacky and anachronistic (given that it is set in standard fantasy-medievalesque era). There is the absence of the kind of corrosive irony and excess self-referentialism that seems to dominate so many more recent works in the webnovel fantasy genre - it is almost "classic" hero fantasy.
It feels like the story has substance. By the 10th chapter, I sense that I'm reading the first book of what ought to be a series - there is a feeling of "a world out there" to it. The author has clearly dedicated no small time to world-building; but it does not feel ingeniously artificial (ala Sanderson) so much as organic and natural (ala Rothfuss). A big plus.
But, most importantly for me personally, it focuses on a small set of viewpoint characters for whom you can feel genuine curiosity, interest, and indeed, affection. It is, in other words, a pleasure to read. I feel happy and interested reading it.
The only complaint I have is that the many chapters already written are not released en masse!
Chronicler1Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is the first review I've ever written on RR, I usually couldn't be bothered to leave a written review but Wander West, In Shadow knocked my socks off and absolutely deserves a review.
From the moment I started reading I was utterly captivated. This grim/dark fantasy horror novel is a masterpiece of storytelling, weaving a tapestry of intricate world-building. The characters within the novel are memorable and all have their own personalities and quirks that made them feel fleshed out and real.
The book description says that the book is slow-paced however it felt anything but slow. From the first chapter we were introduced to some horrors that are present within the world, and with each new chapter a new question or a piece of the puzzle was revealed.
The dynamic between Elyse and Martimeos is the heart and soul of this novel. Their contrasting personalities and motivations create a compelling tension that drives the narrative forward.
This is a truly unforgettable reading experience. I devoured every page, unable to stop until I finished the novel. This is a must-read for any fan of dark fantasy, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a gripping and unforgettable story.
Demetre ZurebianiRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
To those familiar with my reading list on RR (extensive to say the least) the title may seem hyperbolic, but there it is. I read the first draft and was blown away. I seriously can hardly remember more than a handful of actual published novels that got me so emotionally invested.
I'm not much of a review writer but I really want this one to succeed and for the writer to continue the great work.
Honest to god, I was a bit depressed for a few days after I finished reading and realized there was no more. Very excited to re-read the polished version.
Dmcclure9519Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I read the rough draft of its story in it's entirety, and I was so obsessed with it that I would check back almost daily for like a year and a half straight. If you are looking for a grounded traditional fantasy where characters have to work to achieve what they want then please give this author some of your time.
Ecobro5Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
It's great! Go read it!
The characters are all charming, while remaining mysterious and appealing. They never slip out of character and are able to make mistakes while still being clever.
The plot is a classic slow burn, but I never felt that my time was being wasted. Every interaction and piece of information feel important and meaningful.
The worldbuilding is top tier. The world feels bleak (and at times beautiful) without feeling like edgy grimdark nonsense.
This all culminates in a world that feels deep and well thought out. Often you see fantasy bloated with overpowered characters and overdone tropes, so this was refreshing and fun.
powpowRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I love it so much! The Writing is impeccable, and the story is very different from your standard royal road novel! The characters are very realistic and alive as well. In general, the whole vibe is amazing and I can't wait to read more. I just had to drop a review before continuing, because this shi is so peak bro
AhlriteRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
hello I have zero experience with writing at all so there isn't much weight behind what I wanna say but I really liked the story so I really couldn't help but rant about it.
While there were moments where MC had gotten abnormally lucky, don't know how the author did it but I didn't much get the feeling that it was plot armor or anything, and in the same vein, overall I think the world building was very well conveyed, where I'd expect things like that happening which could just be explained by the wonder of it all. (which was probably how the author did it.)
(Spoilers!!!)
In the same vein, I remember reading in one of the chapter notes that the author had tried to convey that the world was both terrifying and beautiful (probably misremembering), but I think this was achieved really well, to the point where (this might be me being naive) later in the story, I really did fear it to be the kind of story where the MC was just gonna die and that would be the end of it just to drive the point home of this world's harshness. damn you I love it
KnifeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
It is not very often I come across something that is able to to extensively hold my attention, and keep me constantly interested in what is happening. Yet, Wander West, in Shadow is so interesting between the worldbuilding and detail that it's hard to not think about even when I'm not reading it. I love the themes and how the tones and mood changes with them. I'm looking forward to the next book. Take your time author, I know it will be worth it. Thank you for making this.