Warden of Time

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Already on edge from a series of increasingly strange occurrences, student practitioner Juniper Lorn is not surprised to see her fears validated when the world is upended before her eyes.The literal end of the world, however, had not been on her bingo card.Finding herself one month in the past perfectly safe and sound, even less so.Faced with an insurmountable task, Juniper must now uncover the secrets of the time loop and find a way to escape and somehow save the universe in the process.//A hard progression time loop story with cultivation elements.Schedule: Wed-Fri-Sun, with occasional extra chapters.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2022
Author: shortlemon

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.7/ 5.0
Followers: 1,632
Views: 225,619

Chapters(22 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

1Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
While I generally enjoy time loop stories of all kinds, this one is really quite good. In this world, magic comes from a process best described as soul cultivation. Progression is quite interesting here, considering the premise. With mysteries and layered intrigue, there's plenty waiting to be discovered. The writing is very competent, as is the protagonist. I'm excited for more!
ArcanicalRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I enjoy it, it's a well done story in a genre that doesn't have too many entries. The characters feel good, and more than cardboard cutouts. Dialogue is handled well, and feels natural. The MC is accepting of what it means to be in a time loop without giving the impression of being overly cold towards those within, but cares just enough to do what she needs too (like obtaining treasures someone else found before) without being apathetic or weirdly calm and forgiving. It walks the line very well in all aspects, including the loop lengths thus far. A great MC, in a great story. A Mother of Learning contender in truth!
Dark JesterRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
There are inevitable comparisons made when writing in a popular subgenre, but i think this story stands on its own. Yes, it has a lot in common with certain other stories,but has several elements that keep it feeling fresh.
More importantly, it scratches the itch that time loop stories strive to scratch. We get to see the MC use the loop to improve, and the loop changes her in turn. She is savvy enough to capitalize on the situation, but does so in a believable way
The writing style is highly readable, though could use tightening up at a future date. I spotted a few typos, but nothing that ruined the flow too badly.
Characterisation is another strong point. The MC has complex motivations, isn't a mary sue or a braindead moron. She has flaws and strengths, and characteristics that give her depth.
Side characters havn't featured too heavily yet, but the one who has seen the most screen time is also relatively well characterised, with a defineable personality that makes her more than a cardboard cut out.
i really hope this story continues and that the quality holds, i love time loop stories and so far would rank this one up with my favourites, only time will tell ;)
Dreamwolf969Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Juniper Lorn is the chosen one, but she doesn't know. She only know that she is stressed out of her mind and then someone starts to send her notes.
In some ways this is a homage to "Mother of Learning" but it's different in important ways. The magic system seems inspired both by Xianxia and by D&D. Our MC is from far south of the tracks but fights for a better future in a magical academy. So far she seems a bit socially awkvard but she have at least one friend in her room mate. No romance so far but possible hints of intrests from a classmate.
I highly recomend this story.
FlamebeardRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a great story.
Very MoL-like with a kid in school learning magic and progressing. The system has more cultivation elements to it and there are a dozen other nuances that make it unique and interesting.
Writing quality is high, with mystery, humor, action, excitement, sadness, and every other emotion you could ever want. The time loop is handled perfectly (not too many loops, not to few).
Really not much else to say, other than this. Unlike many other incomplete fictions, this one is good enough that it is worth reading in its current state. No new chapters are coming, and it's unlikely the story will ever get new chapters, but what is there at the moment is worth it.
run2uRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Well written and creative spiritual successor to MoL. Unique and interesting twist on the premise and power system. Our protagonist is likeable and believeable, characters are vibrant, I could go on and on. I sincerely hope that our author chooses to resume this one day, I created a royalRoad account just to leave this review (after reading thousands and thousands of pages of other stories on RR)
trotskyfriedchickenRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
At the risk of sounding rude, this is a very sound addition to the vaunted Mother of Learning 2: Electric Boogaloo genre of RR fics. The grammar and style are both quite good, though the prose could do with a touch more sensory descriptors. The true joy of this fic though is the worldbuilding: so far the world feels incredibly large, the magic system is intriguing (a sort of elemental soul-cultivation/western style hard magic), and the society our MC is placed in seems complex and engaging. The MC herself is a student at a fairly stereotypical magical academy setting who excels in her classes and seems quite competent, so don't worry about the story growing frustrating in regard to low power scaling. Character-wise this fic is also fairly good, though so far no characters other than the MC have been given much screen time. However even in the short while some of these characters have been shown it is clear that they are entertaining and multi-layered, the MC especially has a variety of warring motivations and is a solidly built character. Read this fic if you have the time, you won't regret it.
LemerlinoiRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
So yeah! The title say it all, it's good. What more can I say?
... You want more? Fine...
So, the main character is not obnoxious, she grows. In both character and skills. Albeit that skill wise it's difficult to juge in the beginning cause we are not really famillair with the capacity of a wizard. But, because the setting is cultivation lite well we still get the picture.
There's some good plot point that where sow here and there that make for some great tension. The time loop mechanic is cool and play in a different way then the other and all of this is because of the prologue that frame the story in a (I think) new way.
So, if you want a good story with a time loop with some bit and bop of fresh air this is for you. Cutivation/wizardry and time loop shenanigans are abound!
WhisperOfLifeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
TL;DR: Very compelling story with a lot of potential, a shame there isn't a Patreon at the time of writing this review as I would gladly pay for more of this.
Very early on establishes an assumed maximum power limit, nature of the loop, and an end goal through a Cradle-esque cosmic-level entity exhibition. Despite the lack of any other time travelers interfering (yet) and the dynamic nature associated with that, still creates plot tension well through the use of MoL-esque multiple different plot threads interweaving, as well as the MC herself not knowing the nature of the loop.
Great beginning of not only the progression of power but also the development of the MC internally. All characters, really, seem well written so far from what we've seen of them. One of the biggest challenges of a statically structured time loop story is facing static characters but this author handles it well. Dialogues are usually only present when there are different circumstances, so there's not too much overlap for repeating lines.
Power progression is also handled very well. The steady burn of progress is neither too boring and slow nor devilishly quick, striking a nice balance when working on all the various individual skills. There are constantly things to do, but not so much that it becomes overbearing. The MC's weaknesses, such as never taking a combat class and thus initially not knowing how to approach combat sufficiently, are actually handled and not glossed over. The potential power limits are also satisfying, as professors at the academy and nobles form a good local limit, while of course there are likely pinnacles even higher in this realm. Realm theory exists along with a more concrete reward of traveling to the next realm Cassia for the top seniors, which promises even higher limits.
The magic system itself is also moderately simple yet well made, drawing inspiration from eastern cultivation internally, and expressed externally with western magic. Different Paths seem balanc
Zenopath (AEV)Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The title of this review shouldn't be taken as a negative comment. When something reminds you of something else that is really good, it means you also think it is good. I don't know if this novel will turn into the masterpiece that is MoL, but if you liked MoL, you will probably like this one. It has the same vibe, one month timeloop of a student in a magic school who can use that opportunity to advance far beyond what is normally possible, with an objective of finding out why the timeloop is occuring. But, there is enough differences to keep this novel fresh and not be a carbon copy. Inspired by, sure, but not the same thing. The writing is good, the prose is good, the characters seem likable, the various elements seem interesting. I have high hopes for this novel, will probably update when I finish catching up to the current chapter, but wanted to post a first impression.