Your Gentle Warmth

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

How long can you last, having to survive in the unforgiving cruelness of the wild with little knowledge and a single knife to serve as a tool? That is the question that Alpheus, a goblin ostracized by all, has to face. Too stubborn to accept the ending thrust on him, he runs from it with all his might. On this fruitless journey, Marianne, an elderly lady of unknown origin, appeared before him. Will the hand stretched out to him bring about an entirely different ending?

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: Lemance

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.7/ 5.0
Followers: 7
Views: 9,356

Chapters(32 total)

What readers say about Your Gentle Warmth

“This review comes after reading the first nine chapters of Your Gentle Warmth. I apologize for any spoilers. Story: This story follows Marianne as the MC. She finds herself in an unfamiliar world where she encounters Alpheus the goblin. He is malnourished s…”
longwindedone1Royal Road5.0 / 5
“this one took me a few chapters to get into, but I found myself really enjoying it by the time I got to chapter 4. recommend you give this one a chance. I give this 5 stars on style. I'd honestly give it a 5.5 or 6 stars if I could. the Author has a very in…”
BitEater829Royal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

longwindedone1Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This review comes after reading the first nine chapters of Your Gentle Warmth. I apologize for any spoilers.
Story:
This story follows Marianne as the MC. She finds herself in an unfamiliar world where she encounters Alpheus the goblin. He is malnourished so she takes him under her wing, offering her protection and companionship. Marianne teaches Alpheus some survival skills. Her care softens Alpheus’ defenses, allowing for a bond to form between them. Together, they face threats in this world.
Style:
I don't think I've read a story quite like this before. Though it is true I read less slice of life stories, I was impressed with how the story hit me right in the feels. It seems to shift between a third person narrator that doesn't know everything and one that does. It very closely follows Marianne and her thoughts and feelings, but at other times gives a 10,000 foot view of the other characters.
Grammar:
I use the audio feature on the Royal Road app quite often when I consume new stories. This said, I don't usually visually see mistakes with grammar and punctuation. This story didn't have any moments that pulled me out of the story, so kudos to the author on that.
Characters:
There is Marianne and Alpheus, as I have mentioned, but there is also the swordsman who hunts Alpheus and some people from Marianne's "past" life. There is also someone who shows up and enjoys watching Marianne and Alpheus together. My favorite interactions are the playful teasing between the two main characters.
I think my favorite part came when the little goblin finally smiles for the first time at Marianne. It was a turning point both in the story and in my love of the story. Do recommend 5/5
BitEater829Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
this one took me a few chapters to get into, but I found myself really enjoying it by the time I got to chapter 4. recommend you give this one a chance.
I give this 5 stars on style. I'd honestly give it a 5.5 or 6 stars if I could. the Author has a very interesting way of presenting the story. A lot of things feel very fantastical or whimsical to me, which makes this story that much better for me.
Story gets 5 stars from me. it takes a couple chapters to ramp up, but suddenly I found myself a lot more invested than I expected to be without really being able to point at specifically why. I don't want to give any spoilers so I'll simply say that there are some events that happen to kind of turn things on their head, which surprised me in the best kind of way. I do love a good twist.
Grammar gets a 4.5 star review from me. I didn't see any obvious spelling or grammar errors. very readable.
Characters is a 5 star for me. the two main characters really hooked me in interesting ways. the characters continue to surprise me in a good way, and I'm interested to see how they develop, especially with the non-standard storytelling.
I'm still giving this one an overall score of 5 stars. my 4.5 in grammar comes from not using any words I'm not familiar with. everything was really well done, so very much 5 stars.
CRHelixRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
An old woman and a goblin is an unusual pairing for a story, and somehow it works. The mystery of Alpheus' past and how Marianne appeared in the forest are yet to unfold...
The main character is a brusque yet patient protector. The visions of the past show glimpses of her character beyond the harsh survival necessity of the forest.
The writing style is fluid and descriptive and paints a picture in my mind, particularly I remember the view of a crimson butterfly in twilight. The prose is enjoyable to read.
I find Alpheus character to be a bit frustrating but I suppose we don't yet know what led to his condition, or why the world seems to hate goblins so much as they seem quite endearing creatures. I'm not sure if he is actually a child or just traumatised? It would be nice to have more detail on this. I am very much interested to read more about this world and its strange inhabitants like the squirrel-fish.
There is a great mixture of these slice-of-life encounters and then spiced with surviving the dangers of the unique world that allows the characters to shine.
Besides, you just have to love a story where grandma is kicking the ass of bullying swordsmen. I'm looking forward to see where this story will go...
Camadt (Alex Hancock)Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall: 5/5
Overall this was a fantastic take on the prompt “Goblins and Grandmas” and I’m excited to see how the rest of the story plays out.
Character: 5/5
The two main characters are the Goblin, Alpheus, and the human grandmother, Marianne. Alpheus is cast as the timid and gentle Goblin, who has a hunger for meals that consist of more than just berries and plants. Yet despite the pain in his stomach, he can’t bring himself to harm living creatures.
He is contrasted by Marianne, who, while old and somewhat frail due to age, is as tough as anyone who has lived life on a farm where each day was filled with taxing physical exertion. She provides a very stern, yet loving guidance for the young Goblin while the two of them begin to rely on each other in an untamed and dangerous environment.
Grammar: 5/5
No complaints here.
Story: 5/5
For a slice-of-life, I found it rather endearing. The role of mentor being embodied by a grandmother instead of the typical old man personas was refreshing. Adding in that the mentor is who has been isekaied makes it even more unique. The character needing guidance as a Goblin diverges from the usual tropes, giving the entire story a familiar, yet new feel.
Style: 5/5
The blending of so many common tropes, while also providing a twist, is a style that many authors strive to find a way to pull off. The way that the author has made each trope recognizable, while also providing their own flair has created a very fresh and interesting tale.
DesirRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story seems to have the potential for an emotionally charged journey of survival and self-reflection. It hints at a darker theme with the protagonist’s struggles to survive in a desolate, perhaps harsh environment. Despite this, the warmth brought in by the mysterious figure towards the end suggests that companionship, hope, and moral conflicts will play significant roles. The overall tone of the story balances bleakness with potential for growth, keeping the reader curious about how the protagonist's fate will unfold.
The grammar is solid throughout. There are minimal errors, and the sentences flow fairly smoothly. Overall, the author clearly has a strong command of the language.
The premise of the story is intriguing, though the narrative hasn't fully unfolded yet. The protagonist's survival in a seemingly harsh environment, his moral struggle when faced with taking a life for food, and the mysterious introduction of another character at the end, all hint at a larger world with a lot to explore. There's a great opportunity for conflict, development, and deep character interaction as the story progresses.
The protagonist is portrayed as someone deeply conflicted by his circumstances—desperation to survive battling against his compassion. This immediately makes him relatable and human. The sudden appearance of the mysterious figure at the end of the passage creates an intriguing dynamic, and her warmth and confidence contrasts with his cold, survivalist nature, giving room for interesting future interactions. This suggests that character development will be a strong point in the story.
The writing style combines introspection with descriptive detail, capturing the protagonist’s mindset and environment effectively. The repetitive internal monologue at the beginning reflects the weight of the character’s emotional state. The descriptions of the trapped creature and the protagonist’s hesitation are vivid and immersive. The shift in tone at the end, with the introdu
DosilliRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
STYLE SCORE The story flowed well, but it does start a little confusing in the early chapters. The confusion is eventually cleared up.
STORY SCORE - The story so far is about a grandma who seemingly passed away, yet woke up in another world. One with fantasy elements, as the first creature she stumbled into was a Goblin! Yet this wasn't a typical Goblin, it was one that clearly needed help and she didn't hesitate to provide that help, even in the face of danger. This has a lot of potential and I look forward to see where the author takes it!
GRAMMAR SCORE - Overall the story flows pretty well, but there are some missing words here and there that isn't glaring but can be potentially important to the story depending on what the missing word should be. Easy fix!
CHARACTER SCORE - Who doesn't love a Grandma? Miss Marianne seems like such a nice grandma that you just can't help liking her, and wanting her to live forever. The way she never refuse to entertain the neighboring kids, and always has something to not only teach them, but also give them something to laugh about. This dynamic continues even when she came face to face with a Goblin, a situation where most would react with extreme hostility , instead the warmth of a Grandma shone through. And Alpheus! The Eloquent Alpheus, a young Goblin who is nicer than what his species or the rude man might suggest. Truly a nice addition to a loving grandma.
M.A.RemyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I enjoyed what I read so much!! Marianne and Alpheus have such a cute relationship!! It’s so refreshing to see something more paternal in a fantasy/ isekai setting. You also really never see an old woman with kids as protagonist and I really loved that. When I finally have time I can’t wait to finish this!!
AceGreenRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Sincerity is an underrated trait in stories. It takes a certain kind of artistic courage to display it wholeheartedly, and that's very much what Your Gentle Warmth does.
If I had to make a meaningful comparison to normal web novel fare, I'd say that Your Gentle Warmth is a disguised childcare novel. While the staples of childcare stories are usually beautiful children who are almost inexplicably abused by aunts and uncles with no sense of self-preservation, YGW is about a goblin. A kind woman named Marianne—who's lived a full life in what I'm fairly certain was our world—looks past the 'monstrous' exterior to see Alpheus for what he is: a child.
This artistic choice adds a lot of weight back to the genre. Marianne's kindness is a little more meaningful, since Alpheus is neither her kin, nor a beautiful child, nor a long-lost prince or princess. Alpheus's struggles have emotional heft, because it's not just one chapter of eating moldy bread, followed by thirty chapters of being gushed over by maids and doting parents sending commoners to be executed for stepping on the wrong toe.
It's a genuine, honest-to-god story about what it means to be kind, and I think that deserves a lot of praise.
A word on the YGW's style: it's actually rather unique, and there's a lot I really like about it. I would say a slight majority of the story is written in present tense. It's a very moment-to-moment story, and the reader's perspective is lockstep with the experiences and feelings of the characters.
That's not to say it's stream-of-consciousness. It's just that it's an eye level view, rather than a bird's eye view.
Present tense is tricky to write from, and there are times when it breaks into past tense in a way that's a little distracting. I'm not sure if there's a rhyme and reason to the past tense I'm not getting, but in general I think the prose would benefit from a fuller commitment to present tense. The issue is heavily mitigated by the fact that even the past tense sentences a
beadmanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Although this story isn't presented as primarily a mystery, the mystery aspect is intriguing and makes you start to wonder right away what is coming next. A woman wakes up in a mysterious world, beleiving that she has passed on and that this may be the afterlife (though that aspect isn't confirmed), and meets a small companion who is a bit aloof and afraid of violence. Someone is shown to be observing them from afar, so you are given three different mysteries fairly early that all call for answers. These characters are interesting, especially accounting for the the woman's backstory, and introductory tearjerker.
Stylistically it is good with a kind of casual pace. That's not to say slow, since it actually gets into the story pretty fast in only three chapters. But that it doesn't feel overly rushed, but gives you time to get acquainted to the feeling. It's hard to describe style, but it kind of feels a bit dreamy. Like it calls to mind hazy childhood dreams of being on a tall place looking over a far distance.
As far as grammar goes, I didn't notice any particular grammar issues. Though admittedly I am not the best one to go to for assessing grammar.
Ryujin2xdRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
This story is beautifully atmospheric, with a strong sense of warmth, melancholy, and quiet depth. It feels like a mix between The Boy and the Beast, Made in Abyss, and The Witcher, but instead of a battle-hardened warrior, we get a kind, maternal protagonist. That’s rare and refreshing as hell.
The core strength of the story is in its tone and character interactions. There’s a deep, quiet sadness in both Marianne and Alpheus, but it’s never melodramatic—it’s subtle, natural, and emotionally grounded.
However, the writing could be tightened up in places, and the early pacing could use a bit of smoothing to help the emotional beats land even harder.
We don’t get many older protagonists in fantasy, let alone an elderly woman. She immediately stands out because she isn’t your typical battle-hardened hero—she’s compassionate, clever, and fiercely protective without being physically powerful.
Her kindness feels natural, not forced. She doesn’t go around preaching about how “violence is bad.” She’s practical, but she also refuses to become cruel.
Her interactions with Alpheus feel real. She doesn’t pity him—she sees him as a child in need of guidance. That makes her way more compelling than a typical “reluctant protector.”
Alpheus is sympathetic but not overly cute. He’s scared, meek, and clearly inexperienced, but he’s not just a helpless baby.
The way he slowly starts trusting Marianne is handled perfectly. You don’t rush it—he’s still hesitant, still unsure, and that makes his eventual acceptance of her all the more satisfying.
His dialogue is wonderfully awkward. The way he struggles to phrase things makes him feel like someone who hasn’t had a lot of social interaction. His “G-Good morning!” panic moment? Adorable.
The descriptions of the forest, the cave, and the world feel immersive. You never over-explain, but we get just enough detail to feel the environment.
The sense of loneliness is POWERFUL. There’s a quiet, lingering sadness throughout. It’s not just “Marian