Winds of Change (Fantasy Adventure)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Two estranged siblings are thrust back into each others lives after the accident that separated them years prior and killed their parents. Can they reconcile when one of them has become a sky pirate?

Nestor has been raised from a child by a gang of sky pirates. Athera has spent the past few years being a hermit. Everything changes for both of them when Nestor's gang attacks Athera's village and steals her griffin along with a mysterious skeleton treasure. Now Athera is after them in the hopes of retrieving both her griffin and her brother. It won't be easy as both siblings have to contend with the past, the true cost of the stolen treasure, and the growing pains that come with being a family.

Also there's baby griffins.

[November 2023 Writathon participant]

What to expect:

Not a LitRPGMagic system based half on real world chemistry and half pure magicOlder teen to young adult protagonists. I like them a lot. I hope you do too.Alotof animal companions. I really really like mythical pets. Someone stop me please.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2023
Author: Silverstorm4444

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.7/ 5.0
Followers: 35
Views: 16,789

Chapters(30 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

David GilesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This review is part of a review swap.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story thus far and intend to keep reading it in the future.
Story
Winds of Change is the classic mix of steampunk and fantasy, though that was obvious from the synopsis.
One of the main things I like about it is that, thus far, the steampunk and magical elements are distinctly separate rather than the magitek fusions more typical to such settings, with the two protagonists firmly anchored on their side of that line.
The story itself is a classic but from both sides, a bunch of pirates hired to steal a mysterious magical object that then lands them in trouble and the pursuers of the same. Neither side is lacking, a common risk when telling such stories.
The pacing is good, lacking the glacial crawl common to web serials but also knowing when to take a moment to breath.
Character
The characters are a lot of fun. There's nothing massively original there but the well trodden ground they're walking is well trodden for a reason. A 'father to his men' captain, a rescued cabin boy now grown up, a survivor of a tragic accident, it's all there and all executed well.
Grammar
No grammar issues, good vocabulary. No further notes.
Style
The style is very functional. There's no flourishes of language, not much in the way of witty aside or meandering introspection. That's not to say it lacks description, but the author uses just enough to set the scene and describe the action.
This isn't a criticism, it's not so barebones as to leave you wanting either. If I had to describe it then I'd say it's a style of carefully considered restraint, always a good sign in a fantasy author.
Conclusion
I wasn't initially going to five star this until I realized there's nothing here I dislike, it's a much better than average fantasy-steampunk novel. If you like those you'll like this.
Lucian T. EinarRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
**Overall:**
Winds of Change weaves an engaging narrative that effortlessly captures the reader's imagination. From captivating steampunk elements to dynamic characters and a tantalizing plot, this story promises an enthralling journey that's not to be missed. More so that I'm a sucker for steampunk and the like, so I really love this one!
**Style:**
The author's style is a breath of fresh air, delivering a clear and engaging narrative that immerses readers in a steampunk world teeming with creativity. The story's crisp pace keeps you hooked, while its ability to build intrigue through minimalistic yet effective prose is truly commendable.
**Story:**
The plot is a well-crafted blend of action, adventure, and sibling bonds. Rather than rushing into world-ending scenarios, it wisely focuses on character dynamics and hints of grander events to come. The dual narratives of Nestor and Athera promise an exciting journey with vast potential for character development and story progression.
**Grammar:**
While the grammar is generally good, occasional misspellings can be found in the earlier chapters, which don't significantly detract from the overall experience. A bit of proofreading could address this minor issue, but the author seems to be on top of it. Frankly, I'm not good at spotting grammar errors, definitely not my forte.
**Character:**
The characters in Winds of Change are a diverse and intriguing bunch. Athera shines as a relatable and capable protagonist, while Nestor, though somewhat in the background, holds promise for future growth. The supporting cast, particularly the pirates, adds depth to the story and leaves room for further exploration.
In short, Winds of Change is a captivating narrative with a penchant for steampunk and fantasy elements, featuring well-drawn characters and a plot that promises to keep readers engaged. Don't miss this enchanting tale of skies and siblings.
SalivaSpittingWormRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story of a young pirate whose pirate career takes a turn for the worse and his past is covered in mystery.
Overall score: Aside from a few things that rather bother me personally, on the whole it's a good read that and there's no nonsense, the characters are enjoyable, the world building and descriptions of it are well done. I like the steampunk style, it's nicely rendered. It reminds me slightly of Fullmetal Alchemist, but only slightly. Overall, definitely worth five stars. I recommend it as a relaxing, enjoyable read.
Style Score: I'm not too picky on this one, everyone has a style and none are bad. I think the author does a good job of describing and handling things.
Grammar: I always score a five on this one, as a dyslexic and non-native English speaker I definitely have no right to rate the spelling. But I didn't notice any spelling errors.
Story: I lowered my rating a bit here because I have minor complaints. I like the idea of the separated siblings. But I'm a little disappointed that the author didn't spend a little more time on the MC's pirate life. I was also a bit bothered that the villains didn't quite strike me as villains. Therefore, I have to fault the story for its lack of "Evil".
Characters: I had to lower my rating a bit here too, because despite the characters being nicely drawn and having their own characters, the conversations sometimes felt a bit forced. Also, I'm a little uncomfortable with the fact that the MC who spent eight years as a pirate on a pirate ship, his personality doesn't quite fit. At the very least, I don't like that he gets nervous easily. I'm not saying he shouldn't be scared of anything and be like a piece of granite, but he could have a little stronger nerves.
Stark GottoRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story has many strengths: The character development is excellent, world-building, plot and tension, emotional depth and the descriptive writing, and the pacing.
The only thing I would recommend you to work on is clarity. For instance, the alchemical aspect might need a more detailed explanation so us readers can fully understand the significance. But I am sure that in the future you will cover it.
Overall, the story has great potential and captures the reader's interest. I strongly recommend.
wingmanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
so no going to be going on a introduction so let get into the review and what the author did well.
The author's writing style stands out as a prominent feature. Their use of words flows seamlessly, immersing readers in a vivid and authentic world. To enhance the overall prose, one suggestion is for the author to introduce more variety in sentence structures. As by doing this it can improve the reading experience by not having to read around the same linking word a lot of time.
The story itself is captivating, maintaining the reader's engagement throughout. The narrative's structure, consistently prompting "why, where, and who," adds to its allure, and the suspense is masterfully gripping, providing a satisfying experience. And by doing this it tell the reader what is going on and what is happening and I like it it great and it not really seen use by many author,
In terms of grammar, no significant or recurring issues were observed, and any minor errors had minimal impact on the reading experience.
The novel's characters are not only compelling but also intricately developed. Each character possesses a distinct voice, motives, and personality traits, rendering them both memorable and relatable.plus they have they own goals which make them more relatable and likable.
overall great work author I like it even if I only read 8 chapter it manage drag me in and make it an interesting book. Great work.
Raj Ch, AuthorRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
This narrative is rich with the essences of friendship, adventure, and the key ingredients that conjure a fantastical realm, complete with familiar elements that avoid an excess of cliches that might otherwise render it burdensome.
The flow of the prose is seamless and fluid, devoid of any extraneous sentences. It doesn't linger on any aspect that could potentially impede the pacing, making sure that you could read without feeling bored.
Moreover, the grammar throughout the chapters is really good. With the exception of a small typo, the story remains completely free of any grammatical hiccups.
While it is still early, the characters introduced so far brim with life and each possesses distinctive qualities. The distinction between them is clear, and I quickly identified each one. Nestory is particularly captivating; his intriguing personality draws the reader in. His sister also stands out as a badass character, and her friendship with the blacksmith feels truly wholesome.
The story began swiftly and pleasantly, introducing a cast of characters in a remarkably natural manner. It never felt overcrowded, as each character was seamlessly introduced. The first five chapters lay the groundwork for events that could culminate in a grand adventure. This adventure aims to uncover the reasons behind certain tragic events that resulted in the separation of two siblings and to unveil the mystery behind a stolen artifact.
Sacred-FireRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
You can really feel the difference when you step into a well thought out story that's been written with care and skill. Silverstorm displays a knack for using sentences to simultaneously progress the story and fill the atmosphere with colour and life. I'm only a few chapters in but I already feel like I know this world, despite the remarkably little exposition the author uses.
The story structure is familiar and comfortable, lost siblings that dont yet realise they are part of something greater. I nice dualism between masculine and feminine. The action starts quickly, and the moments of peace fit nicely between them to give us room to contemplate the environment. I particularly enjoyed the attention to detail given to the combat. I could follow the action easily in my minds eye and everything was believable. That, in my opinion, is a very good skill for an author to have, and goes a long way to getting big star recommendations from me.
The grammar seems very good, certainly had no complaints and the prose flowed smoothly.
A rather large cast of characters gets introduced early, i had a little trouble at first keeping up with who is who, but that got better as I got to know the characters and familiarise myself with their relationships.
The setting has a steam punk or 'gilded age' feel, blended with high fantasy, gryphons and dragons and such. Its an interesting blend, and doesn't always work well, but Silver has managed it well.
Overall I'm very happy to have stumbled across this story and am looking forward to reading more.
fantasyretreatRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Winds of Change is a 'W' for me. I like the attention to detail that was given to planning this story. It has certain elements that you'd be surprised to find integrated but then, they'd still read smoothly.
Thumbs up to @Silverstorm, especially with the cover. It does a really good job of portraying the elements of the story.
Overall, it is a good story. It hits many of the right buttons for me in what I consider a good story. Slow-burn but intrigue is present enough to keep you wanting to know more.
The Style was easy to follow. No over-flowery prose, which in my opinion would have been a chore to read. Most new authors that use flowery prose tend not to get it right. The prose here is simple and makes the reading experience nearly seamless.
Grammar was a supporting factor that helped the prose, which was why it was very smooth for me. There were no glaring errors. A few frequently used words and some wrong choices of words, but nothing to take away from a good reading experience.
The Characters are where I have a bit of a... how do I say this, err, itch.
Athera is perfect - loveable woman. Her companion is good too; complements her well. The pirates though... they are 'enjoyable'. And this is where things get shaky.
The pirates feel like they are too smooth.
No. They need to be rough around the edges. You know, gritty... like rough sand. Their perfection as pirates would be the fact that they are 'imperfect'.
I ain't saying they need to be downright roughshod and 'hooliganistic', I'm saying to give them imperfections as traits. Maybe a bad temper here, vulgar language there.
Trust me, you wanna keep their appeal to your readers. Because as time goes on, they may or may not lose their appeal. I even read one review that said Athera was a more likable character than her brother.
You wanna know what I think is the reason? It's because he feels too perfect, never used a curse word, and he's really in touch with his emotions.
The same goes for the rest of the pirates.
StabbybabyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Reviewed at Chapter 8
Overview: This is an entertaining read. I am looking forward to watching this author develop their style and story. I will keep reading.
Style: Third-person limited with POVs changing between chapters. Most emphasis of POV is placed on the two main characters, a brother and a sister. Like most new authors, the style develops as the story progresses, and they become more comfortable expressing themselves. For this author, dialogue and character chemistry is where they shine.
Story: It's early to cast judgment, but it is decent so far. The author follows through on their promise of sky pirates in a fantasy setting with the importance of family connections and experiences. Traumatic events are alluded to too, but not over-emphasized. Saving the details of the trauma for later is a nice touch. Pacing is appropriate for the story. Action sequences can be a little clunky, while transitions between scenes can be easier to miss causing some backtracking to find out where they occurred.
Grammar: Some punctuation or capitalization issues. The sentence structure is acceptable. Any mistakes are not frequent enough to distract from the story, but this does need to be improved.
Characters: Again, dialogue and character chemistry are where this author shines.
HippioScipioRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
I like the story, clearly very well planned out, and the character moments are done very well. The storyline so far is well-set for a natural and interesting progression. And though steampunk might not be my thing, I think those who enjoy the genre will very much enjoy this addition.