What Burns Beneath

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

*Book 1 Complete!* Brin wakes to fire and blood. Fae monsters descend on her once-peaceful village, leaving her best friend at death’s door. All hope seems lost… until one of the monsters offers to save him. For a price. She accepts. Now, whenever she falls asleep, Brin finds herself face to face with the Fae. With each dream, their time together transforms from a nightmare into something almost pleasant. But Brin’s been told her entire life that Fae are bloodthirsty, cruel, and never to be trusted… no matter how charming this one seems. She flees to the north, hoping to find aid from a sect of holy warriors. Along the way she meets Renner, a mercenary who agrees to act as guide and guard. He’s far from charming and the two find themselves constantly at odds, but he’s her best chance of making it to safety. Their journey is fraught with danger. Otherworldly creatures prowl the wilderness, preying on mortals. Towns that should be safe are filled with humans in league with monsters. And every night, the Fae waits in her dreams. What to expect: 1. An underdog heroine with a heart of gold. 2. Romantasy adventure with a fairly dark plot, but plenty of cozy moments. 3. Strong emphasis on atmosphere and thoughtful story development. 4. Slow-burn, series-long enemies-to-friends-to-lovers arc. 5. Themes of found family and unconditional love. 6. A fun twist on the “chosen one” trope.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2026
Author: luckyjester

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 5.0/ 5.0
Followers: 37
Views: 14,472

What readers say about What Burns Beneath

“Don't want to give much away, but the plot definitely drew me in, it's unique, exciting and promises an amazing adventure. The story's supported by prose that feeds you the adventure in a very smooth and visual narrative. You've tapped into something amazin…”
whatwillbeRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“I love this story so much! It basically checks all of the boxes for me lol, the interactions are interesting, the mc is exactly how I expected someone in her situation— a little sheltered in more ways than one and raised by a rather pragmatic old man. — to…”
AyaiseRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

whatwillbeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Don't want to give much away, but the plot definitely drew me in, it's unique, exciting and promises an amazing adventure. The story's supported by prose that feeds you the adventure in a very smooth and visual narrative. You've tapped into something amazing here and I'm excited to follow along!!!
AyaiseRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I love this story so much! It basically checks all of the boxes for me lol, the interactions are interesting, the mc is exactly how I expected someone in her situation— a little sheltered in more ways than one and raised by a rather pragmatic old man. — to act like and I like that.
She's a little naive, perhaps to the point where she still thinks she can still save everyone but that's the point of heroism! There's no room for being cynical if you want to save the world, after all.
The setting is also something I enjoy and the way Brin's naivety contrasts with it is one of my favorite parts of the story.
For the writing style, it flows nicely, every paragraph that describes situation "shows" and doesn't tell, a rather rare thing here in Royal Road, and while that may seem bad, it isn't! It is genuinely great. The way the author writes things hooks you into the situation in a way that makes you somewhat feel what the characters are thinking and I think that's quite nice!
The story is the standard "chosen one" plot, which means the mc grows over time rather than, say, nigh instantaneously. If you want to read about a main character who grows into a hero step by step then this story is absolutely perfect for that!
Grammar is absolutely perfect, I have spotted no mistakes in it so far. There are even "localized" parts of the language! Such as swearing becoming "Oaths" and people, more often than not, saying the world "salt" in stressful situations.
Now, as for the characters? All of them are absolutely well done! Brin is consistent with her thoughts, her two companions are the same, and even the fae, with their somewhat apathetic attitude towards the humans— and their hatred towards each other. — are well characterized! And I think that it is also worth mentioning that everyone but Brin is cynical, as they have lived in their rather cruel world their whole lives while the main character has always been sheltered.
DeepBlueRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I honestly really liked this, it sucked me in fast. It feels cozy at first (birthday breakfast, the town, the friend bringing cake), but there’s this constant “uh oh” vibe under everything, like something bad is sitting just out of sight. The witchwood stuff is especially cool, like the trees are actually paying attention to her, not just set dressing.
Royce is super sweet (and the awkward gift moment felt really real), and Durst made me sad in a way that works. He’s not chatty, but you can tell there’s a whole mess of feelings under the surface. And when the letter/runebook shows up? That was such a good turn. Like, oh, this is what the story is about. The first magic moment was also kind of terrifying in a good way, burnt hair smell, passing out, almost wrecking the letter… I was stressed.
Also, the writing itself feels really solid. The grammar is clean, nothing pulled me out of the story, and it reads smoothly without feeling stiff or over-edited. Overall, it feels polished and easy to read.
It’s definitely a real slow burn, but in a way that works. I never felt bored, and the buildup made the emotional moments hit harder. It’s one of those stories where the world feels real and you can tell something huge is coming, so I’m in.
Heath A. ClarkmannRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This reads like someone who actually enjoys atmosphere. The early sections aren’t just “calm before the storm”—they’re doing real work: Fellbrook feels insulated, and the witchwood isn’t decoration, it’s a presence. The way Brin talks to the trees and gets half-responses is quietly eerie in a good way. It’s cozy, but with a hairline crack running through it.
Your strongest skill here is texture: food, stone walls, smoke, rain, the “too quiet” kind of quiet. It makes the later violence hit harder because the reader has a tactile baseline to lose. Durst is also handled well: you don’t over-explain him, and the small details (like the bed) carry emotional weight without you having to announce it.
The letter/runebook reveal mostly works because it’s emotionally specific, not just “chosen one” setup. There’s a sweetness to it that’s almost painful, and then you undercut it with the runes being physically punishing to even look at. That’s a great built-in tension: inheritance as both love and burden. The “look at it every night” instruction is an especially effective little hook because it creates ritual, obsession, and dread all at once.
When the danger starts, your action is readable and visual. The shadow-hound sequence is tense without turning into muddy choreography, and the witchwood’s intervention is a standout “world rule” moment—nature as guardian, but also as something that can be frighteningly lethal. The Fae bargainer is where the tone really clicks: beautiful, mundane in speech, cruel in implication. That “lost my dog” line is exactly the right kind of wrong.
The big thing holding this back from feeling razor-sharp is repetition. You lean on the same emotional words and cadence in high-stress moments (fear/helplessness/“salt” beats, “I don’t know what to do” spirals, repeated reassurance). Individually those lines work, but stacked they can soften the impact. You don’t need to remove the tenderness—just vary the shape of the panic: sometimes she dissociates,
Lianne VailRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A beautifully written adventure with heart and stakes, and some romance creeping over the horizon. It’s more novel than serial, but easily one of my favorite things I’ve read on Royal Road, so check it out!What Burns Beneathtook me a little by surprise. Atmospheric writing can be difficult to pull off without weighing the story down, but this one succeeds beautifully. The prose is confident and deliberate, creating mood and tension without sacrificing clarity or momentum. The style reminds me of Robin McKinley, which is a high compliment coming from me (The Blue Swordis still one of my all-time favorites).This feels much more like a novel than a serial, both in pacing and in craft. The writing is super clean and feels professional level, while the style feels cut from the same cloth as more fairytale-esque fantasy novels. The worldbuilding is elegant rather than overwhelming, and it serves the story instead of competing with it. I could see this appealing to readers of Jessica Day George or Julia Golding, though with a more adult tone and emotional weight.Brin is also very much in the vein of those classic protagonists: brave, kind, and fundamentally good, while still discovering just how difficult the world can be. I’m excited to see how she continues to navigate the challenges ahead. The secondary characters have also been fleshed out and feel believable so far. Overall, the character work here is excellent.The story is still early (I’m writing this after chapter 13), but there’s already a clear direction, with both larger, more epic stakes and smaller, character-level ones taking shape. I’m really enjoying it so far. This isn’t a story built around constant action beats or rapid-fire twists. If you’re looking for back-to-back spectacle, this probably isn’t for you. But if you enjoy fantasy that takes its time, trusts the reader, and builds atmosphere through character, voice, and restraint, this is absolutely worth your attention.At the time of writing, this is t
NoctlarixRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
First of all, Impeccable grammar.
The emotions feel raw and real and the author’s writing style really makes you feel as if you’re inside the story. It also have a certain magical feel that’s just perfect for fantasy stories. However the pacing is a bit slow for me but that’s just personal preference.
Opaque DragonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a very methodically written story with great care extended to word choice and pacing. One of the better enemies-to-lovers journeys on this platform -- a trope that simply doesn't get old for me. The notes on prior chapter revisions is really nice and likely something I'll borrow for my own work. Thanks for sharing this world with us -- looking forward to a lot more of it.
SaucingtonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Happy holidays to you as well!
I love the blossoming love affair (or intimate friendship) between Brin and her environment (the Witchwood). The atmosphere is a character and they have a beautiful, emotional connection.
I liked how the call to adventure, the inciting incident, wasn't something passive. It wasn't Hagrid showing up or a bunch of letters delivered by owl post, but instead was done by snooping. She snuck into a hidden room and bumped into a book and BAM, there's the letter, as a result of the character's actions.
And that leads to this upside-downing of the world. Her life is quiet and isolated. There's Durst and there's silver trees. She years for warmth and that's what makes the letter hit so hard. Especially one calling her beloved, from a mother she only remembers as "distant" and "sad". What an emotional bomb to drop on a silent world!
Favorite tropes: A gruff protector raising a little girl, and Chekhov's Gun in the form of a supposedly dead Witchwood bracelet ward.
ThornveilRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is the kind of story that hooks me because it starts with real texture and calm, not just “here’s the plot.” The opening birthday section feels lived-in. You’ve got the smell of burnt bacon, the salty oatcakes, the quiet stone house, the routine of hunting and trading, and then Brin tending the witchwood like it’s normal life. That baseline matters a lot, because later when everything goes wrong, you’re not just telling the reader it’s tragic, you’re ripping them out of a world they were already starting to believe in.
The witchwood is easily one of the best parts. It doesn’t feel like set dressing. It feels like an entity with rules and mood. The leaves brushing her hand, the branches giving shade, the way it ignores Royce, all that is super effective character work without “characterizing” it directly. It gives big Ent energy, but you’re not copying that vibe. You’re doing your own thing with it, especially once the trees become violent protectors. That moment where the tree bends and the branches go through the hound is honestly a standout (Lord of Rings vibes). It’s protective, yes, but also horrifying. That’s exactly the kind of double-edged “nature magic” I like.
Brin’s dynamic with Durst and Royce is also strong. Durst is quiet, practical, emotionally compressed, and you keep him that way without making him flat. The detail about the bed being rumpled on one side and untouched on the other is such a clean emotional punch. You don’t need to explain anything. It says everything. Royce is believable too, especially how he swings between warm best-friend energy and that “I want more than you want” tension. It’s uncomfortable in the right way, because it feels like a real small-town friendship that’s starting to crack as they grow up.
The runebook and letter reveal works because it isn’t just “you’re special.” It’s “you were loved, watched, and prepared for,” which is way more personal. The mother’s voice feels tender and specific, like she’s actually seeing
Andrew K D IRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The opening chapters of this novel create a deeply immersive experience by shifting the tone from a raw survivalist nightmare into a cold and mechanical bureaucracy. The transition from the sheltered life in the grove to the grit of the open road is handled with a commendable sense of consistency. By building a sense of quiet sanctity before shattering it with a visceral threat, the story ensures that the reader feels the weight of the loss when the journey finally begins. This deliberate pacing helps establish a world where the quiet moments are just as meaningful as the sudden intrusions of dark elements.
The magic system is particularly effective because it feels grounded by a tangible physical and mental cost. This prevents the MC from feeling overpowered too quickly, and maintains a sense of vulnerability even as her abilities grow. The concept of an inherited manual providing a roadmap for her future adds an intriguing layer of destiny that complicates her choices. It creates a constant sense of impending danger, making the progression feel like a burden she must carry rather than just a skill she masters for convenience.
As the scope of the world expands, the introduction of a travel partner adds a necessary social dimension that reveals the prejudice of the broader society. The story successfully moves beyond simple monsters to exploring how fear turns humans against those they perceive as different or marked by darkness. This creates a complex landscape where the protagonist must navigate not only physical threats but also a social hierarchy that is quick to condemn anyone who does not fit their narrow definitions of safety or divinity. The presence of a cynical observer further heightens the tension, suggesting that the world is far more aware of her secrets than she might hope.
In my opinion, one area where the story could possibly be 'improved' involves the significant jump across a decade of the MC's life. While this skip is an efficient way to reach th