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Penance of Blood: A Dark Fantasy
Scarred by a supernatural war, a disgraced paladin must redeem himself through bloodshed in the first installment of this thrilling fantasy series.
Alken was once a Knight of the Alder Table. But when the ravages of war tore apart the world he once knew, he was stripped of his title and cast into shame. Now, as an uneasy peace reigns, he moves through the shadows of a realm haunted by demons and the restless dead—an outcast in his own homeland.
Seeking atonement, Alken accepts the burden of a cursed axe and becomes the chosen executioner of the immortal Choir. Known throughout the realm as the “Headsman of Seydis,” he’s soon tasked with a much darker rid the land of treacherous foes and nightmarish monsters. As he faces off against these horrors, his lonely struggles bring him to a haunted backcountry where evils old and new gather at the castle of a mad lord.
To defeat this growing cabal of adversaries, Alken will need more than just brawn and the lingering remnants of a magic that burns him as readily as his opponents. Forging unlikely alliances, he finds himself surrounded by danger and conspiratorial plots at every turn. And with each traitor he vanquishes, he’s met with choices that blur the line between the knight he once was and the warrior he’s become.
The first volume of the hit dark fantasy adventure—with more than 850,000 views on Royal Road—now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook!
Tropes reluctant hero, redemption quest, and good versus evil.
Alken was once a Knight of the Alder Table. But when the ravages of war tore apart the world he once knew, he was stripped of his title and cast into shame. Now, as an uneasy peace reigns, he moves through the shadows of a realm haunted by demons and the restless dead—an outcast in his own homeland.
Seeking atonement, Alken accepts the burden of a cursed axe and becomes the chosen executioner of the immortal Choir. Known throughout the realm as the “Headsman of Seydis,” he’s soon tasked with a much darker rid the land of treacherous foes and nightmarish monsters. As he faces off against these horrors, his lonely struggles bring him to a haunted backcountry where evils old and new gather at the castle of a mad lord.
To defeat this growing cabal of adversaries, Alken will need more than just brawn and the lingering remnants of a magic that burns him as readily as his opponents. Forging unlikely alliances, he finds himself surrounded by danger and conspiratorial plots at every turn. And with each traitor he vanquishes, he’s met with choices that blur the line between the knight he once was and the warrior he’s become.
The first volume of the hit dark fantasy adventure—with more than 850,000 views on Royal Road—now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook!
Tropes reluctant hero, redemption quest, and good versus evil.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 27, 2026
9 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 27, 2026
Somehow managed to finish this by end of month. Had a rough little slump in the middle of the month and I feared I wouldn’t be able to pick this back up.
That said, the back half was too good to let the slump win! Review to come.
That said, the back half was too good to let the slump win! Review to come.
February 20, 2026
I tried writing a long review glazing this, but I decided to go for short and sweet instead. Buy it, read it, then read it again. It’s great. Cant wait for book 2.
February 17, 2026
A Dark Home Run
This book doesn’t read like a debut novel. Pacing, action, world building and dialogue are all done well. Beautiful dark setting. Main Character First person POV done very well, Alken’s “voice” is very strong and consistent.
The late middle of the book felt weaker to me, but returned to form shortly after to finish strong.
4/5
This book doesn’t read like a debut novel. Pacing, action, world building and dialogue are all done well. Beautiful dark setting. Main Character First person POV done very well, Alken’s “voice” is very strong and consistent.
The late middle of the book felt weaker to me, but returned to form shortly after to finish strong.
4/5
March 5, 2026
This book is awesome. The MC is this tortured dark paladin. It's like if Diablo met the Dresden Files... super satisfying.
also the narrator has this rumbling voice that matches the MC's energy perfectly.
also the narrator has this rumbling voice that matches the MC's energy perfectly.
February 19, 2026
Great debut!
If you love curse of strahd, vampires, foggy woods, and fickle fey this is the book for you! Excited to see what is next for Alken!
If you love curse of strahd, vampires, foggy woods, and fickle fey this is the book for you! Excited to see what is next for Alken!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews