Whispers of Winter's Flight [A Magical Realism Progression Fantasy]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

In a world where nothing is black or white, a girl forsakes her duty in a quest for freedom.

Princess Kha'Lythria, a young elf filled with untapped potential, has her future forever altered when her father, the King, arranges her marriage to a distant human ruler to unite their realms.

Yet, she longs for the life of an adventurer and the forbidden art of magic, both denied to her for her role as a political pawn. During her journey to her betrothed's kingdom, fate deals a cruel blow that might just turn out to be the start of her story not as a pawn but as a player. A brutal ambush scatters her entourage, forcing the young princess to flee through the wild heart of the untamed wilderness.

Now, the question looms: Will these dire circumstances free her from a life she dreads, or will the unforgiving mountains, her kin's ancestral home, quash her budding legend?

TAGS: [GL] [Bisexual Protagonist]

Okay, this is my first original fic after two fanfictions so I hope you'll bear with me, I try to get better and I hope for constructive criticism as I know I'm far from how good I could be.

Disclaimers:

-> I might go back and edit previous chapters based on later revisions or criticism I think has merit to it.

-> The Anti-Hero Tag: It is there because in some instances it might be valid but don't expect a full-on Anti-Hero lead.

-> With this fic I'm breaking out of my 'world builder's sickness' and finally making the weeks I spent on the world worth it(I hope).

-> No System, (there are levels but it's an indication of the amount of 'energy' inside a person and not the reason for it, and neither does it give Skills or whatnot).

-> Updates: Not sure? I'll try to keep uploading at least a single chapter every week. All chapters will be between 2k and 4k words.

-> I love the magic system I made, it might be a bit convoluted but I think it makes sense, I will be focusing on it quite heavily in the story.

-> Last Disclaimer: The MC is an Elf, she is genetically different from a human. Elves are not just long-lived humans with pointed ears, they are different in instincts, manners, and lifestyles so please don't make me read 'I wouldn't have done that in her position.' I wanted to explore how these different base instincts would influence her character and personality.

Inspirations for the world: The Legendary Mechanic, The Fallen World (by playwars)

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2023
Author: Arawn Frostguard

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.3/ 5.0
Followers: 982
Views: 168,722

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(8)

BaconSageRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The Story mixes High Fantasy with Progression and Cultivation Elements, and it works. At times a little dark in some places but it gives the world some grittier Touches and makes it more believable and is not overdone. Can't wait were the Story will take us. Thanks to the Autor, you get better with every chapter.
demervalRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
very interesting so far, the story deviates a little from that max of the protagonist who out of nowhere and without any help becomes the most OP in the world by killing some monsters. Despite this, she is clearly stronger than average and it seems that she will eventually become an OP protagonist. The story has a slower pace, but not too slow, the fights are interesting and the world seems very well developed to be explored, the rules have already been well established from the first chapters and I don't think the author will bend the rules of the world to benefit the protagonist.
for now everything looks good
john.mainerRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style: Our character is a hothouse (icehouse?) flower, and sheltered, so her awareness is shallow as she has been deliberately stunted from birth. The story telling style fits a very simplistic worldview and a mind that knows there ought to be more.
Story: Pacing is odd. It is equal parts slow slice of life and terrorizing trip in a barrel over a waterfall after serious class 4 rapids. Our character is in a desperate situation and having the time of her life.
Grammar: The technical execution is good. Word choice fits the theme and style, I am the LAST person to talk about spelling. You can check my work, seriously, not saying anything except theirs is better.
Character: The characters show the real span of reaction to the racial and societal conditions set up in the world building. No shining heroes, a lot of survivors, people doing what they tell themselves is the best they can do. There are no good nations we have met yet, so people are just trying to survive in the only world they can conceive.
the space dogRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a very good book. It’s world building is amazing and it’s magic system is great not as good as practical guide to evil. The only reason this is not at five stars and only a four point five is part of this story’s magic system is derived from cultivation stories and the book has introduced a level system created by the people of the world a classification of power and I fear that it could become level/power means everything and to me that is not fun but this has not happened yet. I encourage you to try this book it is pretty good.
Edit: The author and I had a conversation and I was assuaged from my concerns.
Lucian T. EinarRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
**Overall:**
Whispers of Winter's Flight enchants with its magical setting, drawing readers into a rich world. Arawn Frostguard's storytelling is captivating, blending fantasy and progression seamlessly. This story is both immersive and emotional.
**Style:**
The style has incredibly vivid descriptions and emotional depth. Scenes come alive with enchanting details, from the majestic Winter Castle to the treacherous forest. The magical system is explained with clarity, providing a glimpse into the intricacies of Kali's abilities. The prose flows perfectly, carrying readers through Kali's internal struggles and triumphs.
**Story:**
The narrative introduces readers to a world where family's expectations clash with personal desires. The prologue sets the stage for intrigue, and each subsequent chapter builds upon it, creating a rich and layered storyline. The journey through the forest becomes a metaphorical and literal exploration of self-discovery, with Kali's quest to learn flight adding a promising layer of anticipation.
**Grammar:**
The prose is polished, showcasing Frostguard's command of language. Sentence structures are varied, contributing to the overall rhythm of the narrative. While the technical aspects are commendable, there's room to tighten certain sections, especially during detailed processes like cooking, to maintain a balanced pacing. Frankly, though, I'm not particularly good at spotting errors, so I didn't find anything wrong if there is.
**Character:**
Kali emerges as a compelling protagonist with complex emotions. Frostguard skillfully navigates Kali's relationships, particularly with her family. The infusion of personal goals sets the stage for character growth and future development.
Human Type PersonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
I have enjoyed this story. The main character is unique, and fun to read. She is not someone I have previously encountered in story. The main character is also nuanced and multifaceted. This could easily turn into a power fantasy but hasn't so far. The magic system seems well thought out and true to its own logic. I find the world building is interesting but light on details. From the author comments I take it that there is actually a fully developed world here but that they are struggling not to drown the reader in too many details. One of the small details I enjoyed is the time scale that befits the characters. There is a lot of care an attention here. I recommend this story, it is fun and easy to read with a unique character perspective.
MyriadRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
World building and the overall story are good. Not much to say here, it is solid and you want to keep reading, the reason I write this review is for some small gripes.
When I first saw this story, the stats showed 5/5 grammar. So I expected near perfection. But it was not the case, I do not mind a grammar error from time to time, but there was enough that I don't think a perfect score is justified here.
Something else I noticed, is the presence of some minor discontinuity in the story.
A quick example:
An early chapter MC mentions how she's barely 30 years old. Then in later chapters she mention being 20.
Not sure in what world 20 is ''barely'' 30. Maybe the author wanted to make her younger later on, it matters not. What matters is consistency.
There are other small questionable discontinuity like that, nothing too bad. But it is jarring when you binge a lot of chapters, since the information is fresh. For those that read these chapters months ago, it is probably not as bad, since some details slip away with time.
I'd advise the author to double check these small slips for a better reading experience.
Anyhow, so far the story has a lot of potential.
BedwigRoyal Road
★★★★ 3.5
The grammar is alright, although there are a lot of run-on sentences or sentences phrased very awkwardly. There are also missing commas where there should be one. There were no mis-spelt words that I remember.
The main character so far is pretty interesting, but she reads like a typical fantasy MC.
I think she's been having a too easy time in the forest, because although she's an elf who's biologically suited to hunt in the winter forests, she's also a sheltered princess, whose knowledge is all from books or tales from her master.
The other side characters are pretty undeveloped for now, so there's nothing much to say there.
When reading different POVs, they feel all very similar, in a way. Their thought processes are framed the same, and their personalities also feel similar.
Overall seems a decent read so far.