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Twinned Destinies: A Cultivation Progression Fantasy
A new high-magic, cultivation progression fantasy from adastra339, bestselling author of Savage Awakening.
Shunned. Forgotten. Ruyi will do whatever it takes to gain the power to rise up.
Prophecy tells of a hero who shall slay the Lord of Demons—but this is not his story.
This is the story of his twin. Where he has a magical core of unparalleled talent, Ruyi has none at all.
Where he is celebrated, she is shunned.
Yet Ruyi refuses to accept her fate. She will prove herself, even if it means breaking a sacred taboo and eating the flesh of demons in order to start on her path to ascension.
Don't miss this new Xianxia cultivation adventure from adastra339, bestselling author of Speedrunning the Multiverse and Savage Awakening. This weak-to-strong progression fantasy featuring a rational MC is perfect for fans of The First Law of Cultivation, Cradle, and Unintended Cultivator.
Shunned. Forgotten. Ruyi will do whatever it takes to gain the power to rise up.
Prophecy tells of a hero who shall slay the Lord of Demons—but this is not his story.
This is the story of his twin. Where he has a magical core of unparalleled talent, Ruyi has none at all.
Where he is celebrated, she is shunned.
Yet Ruyi refuses to accept her fate. She will prove herself, even if it means breaking a sacred taboo and eating the flesh of demons in order to start on her path to ascension.
Don't miss this new Xianxia cultivation adventure from adastra339, bestselling author of Speedrunning the Multiverse and Savage Awakening. This weak-to-strong progression fantasy featuring a rational MC is perfect for fans of The First Law of Cultivation, Cradle, and Unintended Cultivator.
- GenresFantasy
918 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 4, 2025
96 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 14, 2025
This was a wonder to read. I was surprised by how much I loved this book, I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. Ruyi’s a relatable main, not because of her experiences but because of who she is at her core... someone who just wants to be loved for who she is.
February 11, 2025
this is a YA lesbo love story
Sorry, as a straight guy I just don’t enjoy reading a story about 2 young girls falling in love with each other. Especially when the author treats any man other than the brother as an idiot, a slobbery creep or simps. The only reason I give this story 3 stars is that the actually story other than the love interest is rather fascinating, just could not get past the lesbo love story. Would really help to pair down books for people by adding in the description of it’s got strong LGBTQ elements in it
Sorry, as a straight guy I just don’t enjoy reading a story about 2 young girls falling in love with each other. Especially when the author treats any man other than the brother as an idiot, a slobbery creep or simps. The only reason I give this story 3 stars is that the actually story other than the love interest is rather fascinating, just could not get past the lesbo love story. Would really help to pair down books for people by adding in the description of it’s got strong LGBTQ elements in it
February 17, 2025
YA Romance meant for preteens
I'll be honest, I Did not finish this. I got about about 6 hours in out of the audible 25 hours and had to quit. The MC was like one of those entitled popular highschool girls who only cares about being praised , daddy issues and what she's 'owed'. Always comparing herself to others and putting everyone down around her.
She literally becomes a drunk, drug addict and treats everyone like trash. There is a scene with a servant who keeps catching her when she falls and instead of thanking him or anything like that, she berates and treats him like he's garbage. So typical brat noble in fantasy novels, except it's not the evil nobles who the MC needs to put down, in this, IT IS the MC.
Who the hell wants to read about the bratty self absorbed noble girl? Because that is this. She has no redeeming qualities at all. She's constantly jealous that her brother is better than her, that no one praises her thinking she 'deserves' it for some reason. Because she was born I guess? She has the typical daddy issues of where her father barely praises her and treats her near a servant for a few weeks and suddenly all that matters is making him happy. Cliche much?
This girl lives in a mansion, gets food regularly, gets private tutors, gets any thing she really asks for. Never has to starve ,lack for clothing, lack for education and yet is constantly whining woe me. Wow.
Then there is the 'big evil' who is really just a misunderstood demon lord who is super handsome and plants trees and is 'sooo' interested in this girl he gets reports on, he can't stand to kill her because shes just 'special' for some unknown reason.
This book reads like it is meant for preteen girls with dreams of that prince who thinks they are special. Is that who this is for? Because sorry, I don't think there is that big a demographic of cultivation reading progression fantasy preteen girls out there. Is this a pet project written for the authors niece or daughter or something? Because making the MC a druggy drunk with entitlement issues isn't really a good role model.
Maybe it gets better? Maybe her brother is killed, she's ran out of the kingdom and she has to claw and scrap her way back up. No clue because I couldn't get past how horrid the MC was and the plot, and the whole set up. If that's case, sorry but if you're going to make it 6 hours in and that still hasn't happened. That way to slow burn to make a character likeable to read about.
Maybe another reviewer can help. Does she get better? Does the story lead somewhere? Or is it all, Everyone praise me, I love this girl, Daddy did I do good? Everyone love me and not my brother? Is that all this is?
I'd question the author's sense of what is a good MC but the Savage Sage Zane Walker is a great character and series by the same author. So they can do good characters and a cast of them.
Honestly makes someone wonder if it's just multiple people posting under Adastra on RR because this is so off of good compared to that series.
It's like the writer went and wrote Dragon Age Inquisition then followed it up and wrote the dialogue for Veilguard after. Just Cringe.
I'll be honest, I Did not finish this. I got about about 6 hours in out of the audible 25 hours and had to quit. The MC was like one of those entitled popular highschool girls who only cares about being praised , daddy issues and what she's 'owed'. Always comparing herself to others and putting everyone down around her.
She literally becomes a drunk, drug addict and treats everyone like trash. There is a scene with a servant who keeps catching her when she falls and instead of thanking him or anything like that, she berates and treats him like he's garbage. So typical brat noble in fantasy novels, except it's not the evil nobles who the MC needs to put down, in this, IT IS the MC.
Who the hell wants to read about the bratty self absorbed noble girl? Because that is this. She has no redeeming qualities at all. She's constantly jealous that her brother is better than her, that no one praises her thinking she 'deserves' it for some reason. Because she was born I guess? She has the typical daddy issues of where her father barely praises her and treats her near a servant for a few weeks and suddenly all that matters is making him happy. Cliche much?
This girl lives in a mansion, gets food regularly, gets private tutors, gets any thing she really asks for. Never has to starve ,lack for clothing, lack for education and yet is constantly whining woe me. Wow.
Then there is the 'big evil' who is really just a misunderstood demon lord who is super handsome and plants trees and is 'sooo' interested in this girl he gets reports on, he can't stand to kill her because shes just 'special' for some unknown reason.
This book reads like it is meant for preteen girls with dreams of that prince who thinks they are special. Is that who this is for? Because sorry, I don't think there is that big a demographic of cultivation reading progression fantasy preteen girls out there. Is this a pet project written for the authors niece or daughter or something? Because making the MC a druggy drunk with entitlement issues isn't really a good role model.
Maybe it gets better? Maybe her brother is killed, she's ran out of the kingdom and she has to claw and scrap her way back up. No clue because I couldn't get past how horrid the MC was and the plot, and the whole set up. If that's case, sorry but if you're going to make it 6 hours in and that still hasn't happened. That way to slow burn to make a character likeable to read about.
Maybe another reviewer can help. Does she get better? Does the story lead somewhere? Or is it all, Everyone praise me, I love this girl, Daddy did I do good? Everyone love me and not my brother? Is that all this is?
I'd question the author's sense of what is a good MC but the Savage Sage Zane Walker is a great character and series by the same author. So they can do good characters and a cast of them.
Honestly makes someone wonder if it's just multiple people posting under Adastra on RR because this is so off of good compared to that series.
It's like the writer went and wrote Dragon Age Inquisition then followed it up and wrote the dialogue for Veilguard after. Just Cringe.
February 18, 2025
Not my cup of tea. I'm having extreme bad luck lately with the LitRPG books I choose from kindle unlimited. It seems like every one I choose because it looks interesting is just a regular story with little to no LitRPG elements. Not to say the stories themselves aren't worth reading, most of them are, they're just not LitRPG stories. The whole point of looking for LitRPG stories is so I can read about characters levelling, gaining skills, upgrading their stats, and/or advancing their cultivation levels (though I don't really like the cultivation stories quite as much as the regular stats/levelling ones). However, it seems like too many authors are throwing the term LitRPG at a story, adding minimal (if any) LitRPG elements, then marketing the book as a LitRPG adventure story (which it isn't). If I didn't like LitRPG so much, this kind of behavior would be enough to make me stop looking for such books entirely. It's just so frustrating to pick what looks like it's going to be a great story only to find that while the story isn't bad, it's about as far from an actual LitRPG story as it can get and still call itself part of that genre. This irritates me to no end. If you pick up a star trek book, or a starwars book, then you expect that book to take place in one of those universes. Imagine picking up a star trek book to read, and the only time there's anythign star trek related is when one of the captains claims to be related to one of the original star trek characters. That my friends is *not* a star trek story, and yet, that's what's happening here with the LitRPG genre. Authors seem to think that as long as they mention a level/skill/spell getting stronger somewhere in the book that it counts as LitRPG. Not so my friends, and I really wish this kind of thing would stop being marketed as LitRPG stories, because it makes me waste my time reading books I have no interest in reading, which gives those books poor ratings, which hurts the overall ratings of the books, which leads to bad algorithm processing, which leads to fewer recommendations, which leads to fewer people finding out about the books, which leads to fewer reads, which directly translates to less money for the authors. Why anyone would sabotage their earnings in such a way is beyond me, but I've encountered entirely too many books of this kind lately, including this one. I think I'll be unwilling to read anything else by this author when it claims to be LitRPG in the future.
Tell me it's a fantasy story, or a scifi one (if it fits that genre, and I'll probably read it, but otherwise no. This is becoming an epidemic.
Anyway, if you like fantasy stories with lots of battles, magic, multiple races, and intriguing plot twists, this story is probably something you'll enjoy. If on the other hand, you picked up this book for the LitRPG elements, don't bother.
Tell me it's a fantasy story, or a scifi one (if it fits that genre, and I'll probably read it, but otherwise no. This is becoming an epidemic.
Anyway, if you like fantasy stories with lots of battles, magic, multiple races, and intriguing plot twists, this story is probably something you'll enjoy. If on the other hand, you picked up this book for the LitRPG elements, don't bother.
February 19, 2025
I absodamnlutely loved Twinned Destinies! Yeah, yeah I know that I've said something like that before, but what can I say, I just love good books! Plus I really love alchemists. And yeah I could almost kiss adastra339 for writing a one-off. Don't get me wrong series are great, but it's really nice to sometimes be able to read a fabulous book and say thank you... Ruyi and her brother Jin born twins, where Jin got everything along with a strong core, receiving the prophecy of a hero. Rue got nothing, just an empty space where her core should have been... she has to work hard if she wants the love and respect she so desires from others, even from her own father! She has to make her own fate! And ohhh what a deliciously devious ending evarrr.
It's simple go download the audiobook if you wanna find out how she goes about that! And btw Jessica Threet voice performance is a treat.
Here's a quote that I really, really liked:
"The moon was a milky sickle trampled by a swarm of dark-gray clouds."
It's simple go download the audiobook if you wanna find out how she goes about that! And btw Jessica Threet voice performance is a treat.
Here's a quote that I really, really liked:
"The moon was a milky sickle trampled by a swarm of dark-gray clouds."
August 3, 2025
I don't know where to begin. This story is, as is often mentioned in reviews, a YA Lesbian romance or something near it. Fine in itself, no issues from me. What I do mind is that the MC is very very fickle (I hate you - I love you in one page) and the MC doesn't seem to have any goals. The book starts with her being weak. No issue there, but then she gets some info to get stronger and goes for it, mentioning all the way that it's a bad idea. Ok....but WHY are you going for it since yes you got ignored but you seem to make a place for yourself. The story goes downhill from here. There are some nice scenes, and the Emperor is an ass for sure, but the book feels like it jumps from event to event. There seems to be a lack of continuity/flow in the work itself. I dropped it at about 77% since I got tired of it due to the things mentioned earlier. I was hoping for more, since I like Savage Awakening a lot.
February 6, 2025
A beautiful work
This isn't really your standard cultivation progression fantasy. I mean, it is, but it's also much more than that.
Our main character, Ruyi, is born broken. She is told that she's broken, she is shown that she's broken, and so we watch her break. She's an interesting character, in that she is shown and told her own flaws over and over and over again, but never really gets better. And that's good! This story, while ostensibly being about the Hero's battle to kill the Demon Lord, is also very much about learning to accept yourself. It's about learning to love, and forgive, even if you can't forget. It's, to me, a beautiful letter to being human.
It's a long book, but it's worth every minute. Please read this! I can't recommend it enough.
This isn't really your standard cultivation progression fantasy. I mean, it is, but it's also much more than that.
Our main character, Ruyi, is born broken. She is told that she's broken, she is shown that she's broken, and so we watch her break. She's an interesting character, in that she is shown and told her own flaws over and over and over again, but never really gets better. And that's good! This story, while ostensibly being about the Hero's battle to kill the Demon Lord, is also very much about learning to accept yourself. It's about learning to love, and forgive, even if you can't forget. It's, to me, a beautiful letter to being human.
It's a long book, but it's worth every minute. Please read this! I can't recommend it enough.
March 5, 2025
A fantastic one-book cultivation read!
As someone who generally loves long series with epic cliffhangers, this is a refreshing change of pace: a self-contained novel that progresses from childhood to adulthood, with themes of personal understanding and growth through childhood trauma (and how prophecies can be subverted). Exquisitely detailed in interpersonal relationships, with broad overviews of battles or moments you know the outcome of already in order to skip to the good bits, I thoroughly enjoyed a refreshing take on cultivation and human/demon relationships.
10/10, will definitely recommend
As someone who generally loves long series with epic cliffhangers, this is a refreshing change of pace: a self-contained novel that progresses from childhood to adulthood, with themes of personal understanding and growth through childhood trauma (and how prophecies can be subverted). Exquisitely detailed in interpersonal relationships, with broad overviews of battles or moments you know the outcome of already in order to skip to the good bits, I thoroughly enjoyed a refreshing take on cultivation and human/demon relationships.
10/10, will definitely recommend
March 11, 2025
wow
I have been enjoying Savage Awakening greatly but this one is next level. I had to take a sick day from work just so I could finish reading. The twists and turns (much like a certain river) make it impossible to put down. Highly recommend
I have been enjoying Savage Awakening greatly but this one is next level. I had to take a sick day from work just so I could finish reading. The twists and turns (much like a certain river) make it impossible to put down. Highly recommend
March 27, 2025
Long but great
This could have been 3 books but I'm happy with it either way. The main character really gets to you and this had far more emotion and depth then I expected. It doesn't leave a cliffhanger and finishes well. Pick it up and give it a go.
This could have been 3 books but I'm happy with it either way. The main character really gets to you and this had far more emotion and depth then I expected. It doesn't leave a cliffhanger and finishes well. Pick it up and give it a go.
March 13, 2025
I just couldn't get into the story. FYI- There is some swearing and lesbain content.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews