Name: Stone Burners
Rating: 4.76 (109 reviews)
Author: Syphax

Shadow of the Spyre

★ 4.69

RabbleRouser

"Those who try to change Form without likewise shifting Function are doomed to a lifetime of agony and mediocrity--or they make the best assassins." -Auld Wynfor Ganlin

An orphan with unique powers not seen in a thousand years, trapped in a world only she can see, her life a waking nightmare. A boy long ago lost to his family, forced to masquerade as the enemy by one of his own, his continued facade his people's only hope of salvation. An immortal trapped in the flesh of a man, a prisoner for something he has not yet done, fleeing something he thought he had killed. A girl abandoned in the mountains, without memories or a note, her people the stuff of legends, but whose villages have never been found. Meet these and many more incredible characters as they engage in a complex struggle for survival in a realm about to plunge in a downward spiral of politics, death, and treachery.

The Last Human

★ 4.58

PSHoffman

Thousands of years ago, HUMANKIND was destroyed ...

… but the xenos still worship them as GODS.

Now, xenos build cities among the majestic ruins scattered across the worlds. Though these alien people are surrounded by ancient wonders and relics, few understand their true powers. One Empire has learned to harness the remains of humanity's forgotten technology to reconnect the distant worlds ... and dominate them.

Eolh is a jaded, avian thief who was raised in the dark underbelly of Gaiam, a city full of winged xenos and soaring temples. When the Empire first stormed through the Gate, Eolh and his friends fought and bled to defend their home.

But the resistance died a long time ago.

No one dreams of fighting back, because only the Empire knows how to wield Humanity's forgotten weapons: warships that fly, robotic constructs that hunt, and rare mysteries scavenged from the tombs of the gods.

Instead, Eolh lives a half-life: thieving, running jobs, and selling his services as a freelance listener for the last gangs of Lowtown. He trusts no one, and only looks out for himself.

But when an unusual heist takes a deadly turn, Eolh must bargain with an overzealous android who carries an impossible secret—one that will shake the foundations of the universe.

There is one last hope for salvation.

Read if you love:

- Extremely powerful human MCs

- Space Opera inspired by the prophecies of Dune

- Aliens and machines found in Star Wars

- The long-forgotten ruins from The Elder Scrolls

2 Books Now Published!

Get The Last Human, Book 1 of the Human Gods here.

Get The Lord of Change, Book 2 of the Human Gods here.

... or keep reading right here on RR :)

No stubs!!!

I'm now posting the 4th and final book as of Sept 2025, so you can read the whole thing right here.

Silhouette

★ 4.55

GrimCat

WARNING: THIS STORY HAS A SLOW START. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

We all grew up hearing stories about heroes and villains, but what would we do if we were to be part of one?

One night, a bioweapon escaped from its laboratory in Zalcien, only to die in a dark alley.

One night, a young man lent a helping hand, only to die alone in the dark.

One night, a deity of death saw two lost souls and offered one a second chance in the other's body.

Now a strange creature made of darkness, James has to deal with his new form in a strange new world where superpowers, heroes and villains are commonplace, far away from his home. Watch as he learns how to use his powers, as he meets allies and enemies and how, when facing the paths of heroism and villainy, he chooses a third way somewhere in between.

Follow the story of James, a lost Earthling soul, as he becomes Silhouette, the mysterious power in the shadows.

Cover by TheWinterer.

Greetings fellow humans. This is my first story on Royal Road and my first long-term project written in English, so I do hope you will have some mercy in your heart when reading.

So, as you may have understood, this is a story with super-heroes - which is quite ironic for my first story considering all of the other ones planned are fantasy - and as such will take place in a modern-like setting.

Despite dark themes and gory scenes making their way into the story, it is still a super-hero world with the logic that matches, so expect characters to survive nuclear explosions without a scratch and yet to get defeated by a rubber ducky - as well as similar dark humor, thus the comedy part.

Hyphen (Pokemon Emerald)

★ 4.7

Dermonster

Leaving the safety of her hidden commune, a Ralts narrowly avoids capture on Hoenn Route 102. Finding a discarded pokeball, she ventures into the human world only to discover that her home is in danger from Humanity's rapid expansion. Now she has one recourse: disguise herself as human and become the pokemon champion before her village is discovered, and prevent the tragedy that is sure to come.

It's too bad she has to deal with subterfuge, eco-terrorism, the end of the world, and awkward inter-species friendships along the way.

Dragon Spar: The Game Maker LitRPG Series [Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic LitRPG – Book 1 Complete, Book 2 Updating]

★ 4.75

keeganashleylive

What happened when my Dad was plucked from this universe and kidnapped into a post-apocalyptic, gritty fantasy, video-game-like world? I went after him, of course.

Things turned dark. Lies swarmed thicker than the zombies and dragons. ...And the truth? ...Did I really want to know it? The Gamers set my father's execution date—their hatred of him made me wonder what he could have done. When I found out, I, also, found I was irrevocably tied to The Game, and there wasn't any going back now. There wasn't anymore hiding under the covers. Because I either stood up and fought for what I believed in, or The Game world that held the keys to a past I couldn't remember died forever.

I was the last Game Maker. It was time I made my Game.

...No pressure...

Fight the dragon

or fight yourself.

Fight for what you stand for

or what you won't.

Choose your path, Game Maker;

make your game.

Sometimes, the hardest choice

is which hill you'd be

willing to die on.

- The Grand Dragon

Tinea and Leah [Cyberpunk, Alien Incursions, Murder and Mayhem, Sapphic Romance (WLW)]

★ 4.67

Eleeyah

Tinea...had an ugly childhood full of pain and abuse. It taught her how to fight and survive, how to run and hide and cut ties. It didn't teach her much else.

So she'd ran.

Crossed an ocean, grown up, and discovered the world. She'd made her life her own. Soul-deep pain notwithstanding, she'd fought to be happy.

Until the rabid aliens invaded her neighborhood.

Smoking rifle in hand and still coming up short, she'd made a life-ending choice...and was rewarded beyond her wildest dreams. Or, perhaps exactly to her wildest dreams; dreams of a chrysalis, come to life through DNA-changing Vanguard science.

Reborn, a whole new journey awaits the warrior looking for connection, for togetherness.

It just so happens, an opportunity lies not far.

What to expect:

Plot is discovered, not designed. Consequences shape events, rather than scenes being designed to push plot. Characters, relationships, and setting are particularly strong, plot can get WILD in amazing, unexpected ways.

- A serious approach to transforming male to female, using sci-fi DNA morphing. Tinea starts out as Aden, but quickly gains his wishes.
- Maturity from both leads
- WLW/GL/Sapphic: from the soft and cuddly, to the (clearly marked) explicit
- Gratuitous violence against unthinking aliens
- Get points, buy gear
- Cybernetic upgrades
- Organic augmentations
- Occasional slowburn sections
- Many, many chapters

This work is set in the universe of RavensDagger's Stray Cat Strut, but it ISN'T necessary to read that first. Further, Tinea and Leah has been recognized officially as canon by master Raven himself. Cheers!

I develop my own plot and characters. Thank you for reading. :)

The cover art was drawn for me by Jero, who can be found on my Discord server - links in each chapter.

Royalroad staff has designated this story as Original so that I may post my Ko-Fi link in the chapters. TnL is still a fanfiction-slash-extended-universe-slash-canon-thing for Stray Cat Strut, regardless of the "Original" tag. :)

Touch

★ 4.65

Rhythminthemind

Touch is a story about a boy named James, and his friends: a group of young, superpowered people brought together by trauma; all trying, in their own ways, to come to terms with what that trauma means to them and who they want to be in response to it. This is a learning process, and mistakes are made, but they grow, learn, and adapt to these difficulties in ways that some might say only young people can.

While it may look it at first, this is not intended as a sad story, merely an honest one. I wanted to make the characters human, and unfortunately, that means that difficulties hit them in very real ways through the story, but then again, they have some equally human moments of warmth between one another as they grow.

Triggers: Explores the aftereffects and recovery process of sexual abuse, and some other forms of physical abuse. I like to think I avoided making it edgy, but you deserve to be informed. Some readers have told me that it can feel a bit too real at times. A bit too honest.

If you like what you read, feel free to comment or review. I like the feedback. Or you can vote for Touch on TopWebFiction.

Touch also now has both a Discord and a Patreon!

Updates weekly.

The Saga of Keres – Book 1 & 2 now available [Fantasy + Steampunk + Fighting + Kaijus + Progression + Magic vs Science]

★ 4.6

Lucian T. Einar

Book One Blurb:

1897, as the world teeters on the edge of war, Volundr, Ambassador of the Society of Nations, gathers a diverse cast of individuals with extraordinary abilities. Steve, a devoted single father looking for his missing lover, and Alice, his mischievous daughter, will join Volundr. Other members seek redemption and vengeance, while some yearn for a place to belong. Cursed and desperate for answers, they agree to assist Volundr in exchange for his teachings on thaumaturgy and alchemy.

Their first mission takes them to the Unseen City, under the threat of a devastating terrorist attack. Amidst the chaos, the most powerful thaumaturgist the world has ever seen, Miss Xana, has other plans for the city. She will stop at nothing until those who wronged her face the consequences they deserve.

Book Two Blurb:

Miss Xana and her followers are on a quest to find a long-lost relic from the past.

Meanwhile, the reconstruction of the Unseen City is ongoing after being ravaged by dragons and a terrorist attack. In the wake of last year's tumultuous events, a power vacuum has emerged in the city, allowing new players to wield their influence on a global scale.

Volundr and his men failed their very first mission spectacularly: Steve got his daughter kidnapped, Kyrie deserted the cause, and Leo, Anna, and Alouqua's children got lost who-knows-where.

How will Volundr and his weary entourage, disheartened by their recent setback, confront these fresh challenges? And amid it all, they have yet to go to Africa!

Prepare yourself for a thrilling alternate historical fantasy set in the late 1890s, a time of political intrigue where magic clashes with science, where kaiju roam the earth, and where awe-inspiring battles hang in the balance. The fate of the world rests on the shoulders of this unlikely group of heroes as they battle against forces both seen and unseen.

What to expect?

- A time when technology is gradually turning from Steampunk to Dieselpunk.

- Slow burn/Character-driven story

- Political intrigues.

- Alternate historical drama + Fantasy.

- Multiple lead characters.

- Magic meets Science.

- Shonen anime-style fights.

- Kaijus and destruction.

- Lots of waifus and husbandos

- NO Harem

- NO Cultivation

- It may contain some mild Fantasy Violence, but nothing too graphic. (Check out my Patreon for an Uncensored version)

Inspiration: the Fate series, Full Metal Alchemist, Harry Potter, the Mistborn saga, Kaiju cinema, and George R. R. Martin shenanigans.

Winner of the Writathon October 2023

I'll be publishing on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (Available on Royal Road and Scribblehub)

Join my Discord server: The Ambassador's Office

Join my Patreon: Lucian T. Einar - Patreon

Stone Burners

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