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The Years of Apocalypse #1
The Years of Apocalypse: A Progression Fantasy Epic
A new time-loop progression fantasy perfect for fans of Mother of Learning, Apocalypse Redux, and Arcane Ascension.
Become a Master Arcanist. Uncover the truth. Stop the apocalypse.
Mirian Castrella, a senior student at magical academy, had a plan to become an artificer to support her struggling family, but when the Akana Praediar army betrays her country in a surprise attack, everything changes.
Instead, Mirian unexpectedly finds herself caught in a time loop and haunted by strange dreams of the Elder Gods.
Only through becoming a master arcanist who understands the true nature of the world can Mirian hope to stop the apocalypse she relives through time-and-time again.
If she fails, everything she loves will be lost...
Jump into this new time-loop progression fantasy and join Mirian as she navigates a dangerous world changed by the magitech revolution. It's perfect for fans of Mother of Learning, The Stubborn Skill-Grinder In a Time Loop, and The Perfect Run.
What to
- Slow-burn power progression
- A clever protagonist who changes as the story moves from arc to arc
- Expansive world-building full of complexity and secrets
- A deep focus on magic
- Intrigue and spell-flinging fights
- A rotating cast of characters in each arc
- Starts slow, then picks up speed
Become a Master Arcanist. Uncover the truth. Stop the apocalypse.
Mirian Castrella, a senior student at magical academy, had a plan to become an artificer to support her struggling family, but when the Akana Praediar army betrays her country in a surprise attack, everything changes.
Instead, Mirian unexpectedly finds herself caught in a time loop and haunted by strange dreams of the Elder Gods.
Only through becoming a master arcanist who understands the true nature of the world can Mirian hope to stop the apocalypse she relives through time-and-time again.
If she fails, everything she loves will be lost...
Jump into this new time-loop progression fantasy and join Mirian as she navigates a dangerous world changed by the magitech revolution. It's perfect for fans of Mother of Learning, The Stubborn Skill-Grinder In a Time Loop, and The Perfect Run.
What to
- Slow-burn power progression
- A clever protagonist who changes as the story moves from arc to arc
- Expansive world-building full of complexity and secrets
- A deep focus on magic
- Intrigue and spell-flinging fights
- A rotating cast of characters in each arc
- Starts slow, then picks up speed
788 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 7, 2026
An absolutely fantastic time loop
Absolutely loved this one. It has a similar premise to Mother of Learning, but it is executed very differently. Mirian makes for a relatable and inquisitive protagonist as she explores the mysteries of the time loop, the politics surrounding her situation, and the magic system of the setting. Her supporting cast is fantastic, too. I can't wait for the sequel.
Absolutely loved this one. It has a similar premise to Mother of Learning, but it is executed very differently. Mirian makes for a relatable and inquisitive protagonist as she explores the mysteries of the time loop, the politics surrounding her situation, and the magic system of the setting. Her supporting cast is fantastic, too. I can't wait for the sequel.
June 30, 2026
4/5
If you love Mother of learning you owe it to yourself to give this one a try.
Heavily inspired by mother of learning and is a Time loop at a magic school very interesting magic in World building
If you love Mother of learning you owe it to yourself to give this one a try.
Heavily inspired by mother of learning and is a Time loop at a magic school very interesting magic in World building
August 20, 2026
Peak time travel story
July 29, 2026
I love regression stories, especially those with big stakes, like preventing the apocalypse. Sadly, this one never really hooked me.
I've often complained about Romantasies where the protagonist's very existence is in peril while they spend their time worrying over their part in a love triangle. This story goes too far the other way. Mirian Castrella is a young lady studying at magic college when the end comes and she's looped back a couple of months in time. She barely pauses, to process this enormous event, before starting to investigate. She does everything she can to identify and nullify the cause of her world's end. Very rational. In the subjective two years of her looping, she is focused on this purpose. She doesn't take a break (until near the end), she doesn't leverage her foreknowledge for kicks and giggles, she doesn't seek riches, fame or the humiliation of school bullies. Nothing frivolous. It's inhuman, and thus I couldn't fully connect with her.
If you too like this sub-genre I recommend "Mother of Learning." It's a chonker, but well worth the investment.
I've often complained about Romantasies where the protagonist's very existence is in peril while they spend their time worrying over their part in a love triangle. This story goes too far the other way. Mirian Castrella is a young lady studying at magic college when the end comes and she's looped back a couple of months in time. She barely pauses, to process this enormous event, before starting to investigate. She does everything she can to identify and nullify the cause of her world's end. Very rational. In the subjective two years of her looping, she is focused on this purpose. She doesn't take a break (until near the end), she doesn't leverage her foreknowledge for kicks and giggles, she doesn't seek riches, fame or the humiliation of school bullies. Nothing frivolous. It's inhuman, and thus I couldn't fully connect with her.
If you too like this sub-genre I recommend "Mother of Learning." It's a chonker, but well worth the investment.
June 22, 2026
This is a modest start to an excellent series. Like many others here, I've read through the currently available chapters of the webnovel version, and in my opinion this is one of the strongest available time loop stories.
The first book, however, is heavily derivative of Mother of Learning and starts slower than I remembered. Lots of time spent with the protagonist doing things that we as readers know definitely won't be effective, and in this book she's focused on iterating on the big battle over and over.
Not a bad read, but my main thought is how much the series improves from this point.
The first book, however, is heavily derivative of Mother of Learning and starts slower than I remembered. Lots of time spent with the protagonist doing things that we as readers know definitely won't be effective, and in this book she's focused on iterating on the big battle over and over.
Not a bad read, but my main thought is how much the series improves from this point.
June 26, 2026
Very entertaining. Early on I was getting Mother of Learning vibes but it has a very different MC, magic system and world. Through most of the book, I thought that this would be a stand alone book but the end ending shuts that idea down. I liked the MC, I just didn’t get how everyone is romantically interested in her.
July 6, 2026
Best time loop I've read
The concept is very similar to mother of learning. But to execution is superior in my opinion. The character has a bit more depth of personality, and is more impacted emotionally by the time loop. There are a lot of questions and unknowns about the MC's past And I'm excited for the next books release!
The concept is very similar to mother of learning. But to execution is superior in my opinion. The character has a bit more depth of personality, and is more impacted emotionally by the time loop. There are a lot of questions and unknowns about the MC's past And I'm excited for the next books release!
August 15, 2026
The story starts off slow but speeds up a bit after the first time loop. The MC seems to be "smart" but is strangely bad at problem solving for example she spends the whole book trying to fight the invading army head on when she already knows that it's not the root cause of the problem (it is known that disasters are occurring well before the army even arrives) and it's frustrating to read the MC wasting time every loop trying to convince everyone that she really is time traveling.
The MC somehow has 2 girls and 1 guy romantically interested in her at the same time which feels a bit contrived and it's kinda gross how she manipulates them all for her own pleasure and benefit.
The MC somehow has 2 girls and 1 guy romantically interested in her at the same time which feels a bit contrived and it's kinda gross how she manipulates them all for her own pleasure and benefit.
August 23, 2026
Mostly good
Story is well written. It can be slow, but the last half of the book has better pacing. I would have given it 4-5 stars but the romances were poorly done. The book would have been better off leaving them completely out of the story.
Story is well written. It can be slow, but the last half of the book has better pacing. I would have given it 4-5 stars but the romances were poorly done. The book would have been better off leaving them completely out of the story.
September 8, 2026
A remarkably well-plotted progression fantasy that matures beautifully.
This review covers all content available in the web serial, which has concluded on Patreon at the time of writing. The review is targeted at fantasy readers at large, under the presumption that those used to web serials will seek (or already have sought) this out without any recommendation on my part. I skimmed a published copy of the novel for the purpose of this review, but don't plan on reading it otherwise.
The series follows student of magical artifice Mirian Castrella in a post-industrial revolution alt-Earth in which much scientific progress is replaced by magical development. So far, pretty standard. The trite title, cover design, marketing copy, and blurb don't help, nor does the misclassified litrpg tag on the Goodreads page. The writing would benefit from copyediting and is not quite publication-level quality. Mirian's academy arc involves the usual foibles and three rather questionable romances that thankfully peter out fast.
Yet The Years of Apocalypse is also a paradigmatic example of a time-loop narrative and, more broadly, of progression fantasy. The plotting is intricate and suspenseful, and reveals are paced well. I never felt bored. Despite the length of the narrative and the constraints of the time loop, the world unfolds cohesively and coherently. We are given an overarching objective: to stop the apocalypse by preventing the occurrence of a certain event. In this respect, the vehicle of the time loop is perfectly integrated with the nature of progression fantasy. The goal seems at once overwhelming and ludicrous, but such is the conceit of the narrative. One small step at a time, through loop after loop of iteration, Mirian will achieve the impossible. The apocalyptic event is the yardstick against which her efforts will be measured, and solves two frequent problems in the genre: dissolution into mere "power for the sake of power" power fantasy, and free exploration that never quite finds a plot.
Neither does the narrative constrain itself to magic and personal power. The worldbuilding is rich and sufficiently fleshed out for an interrogation into the social, political, and even ecological factors that trigger the apocalypse, maintaining a sense of narrative tension even as Mirian grows ever stronger. She cannot do everything; neither should she. Mirian's journey is simultaneously a conversation and communion with the world. Parts of the narrative read like a paean to nature, which would have been an unimaginable feat to me if I hadn't seen it done. Somehow, everything fits together.
I reached the final few chapters of the web serial with cautious optimism and trepidation. Making an ending stick is no easy feat, especially given the standards set by the preceding narrative: The Years of Apocalypse does so with qualified success. The main story beats are all handled deftly, though I wish there was more finality as to the fate of a certain dervish, and more complexity regarding the conclusion of the ecological narrative.
Despite an unassuming facade, The Years of Apocalypse is an impressive opus that highlights the best aspects of its genres and extends them further yet.
This review covers all content available in the web serial, which has concluded on Patreon at the time of writing. The review is targeted at fantasy readers at large, under the presumption that those used to web serials will seek (or already have sought) this out without any recommendation on my part. I skimmed a published copy of the novel for the purpose of this review, but don't plan on reading it otherwise.
The series follows student of magical artifice Mirian Castrella in a post-industrial revolution alt-Earth in which much scientific progress is replaced by magical development. So far, pretty standard. The trite title, cover design, marketing copy, and blurb don't help, nor does the misclassified litrpg tag on the Goodreads page. The writing would benefit from copyediting and is not quite publication-level quality. Mirian's academy arc involves the usual foibles and three rather questionable romances that thankfully peter out fast.
Yet The Years of Apocalypse is also a paradigmatic example of a time-loop narrative and, more broadly, of progression fantasy. The plotting is intricate and suspenseful, and reveals are paced well. I never felt bored. Despite the length of the narrative and the constraints of the time loop, the world unfolds cohesively and coherently. We are given an overarching objective: to stop the apocalypse by preventing the occurrence of a certain event. In this respect, the vehicle of the time loop is perfectly integrated with the nature of progression fantasy. The goal seems at once overwhelming and ludicrous, but such is the conceit of the narrative. One small step at a time, through loop after loop of iteration, Mirian will achieve the impossible. The apocalyptic event is the yardstick against which her efforts will be measured, and solves two frequent problems in the genre: dissolution into mere "power for the sake of power" power fantasy, and free exploration that never quite finds a plot.
Neither does the narrative constrain itself to magic and personal power. The worldbuilding is rich and sufficiently fleshed out for an interrogation into the social, political, and even ecological factors that trigger the apocalypse, maintaining a sense of narrative tension even as Mirian grows ever stronger. She cannot do everything; neither should she. Mirian's journey is simultaneously a conversation and communion with the world. Parts of the narrative read like a paean to nature, which would have been an unimaginable feat to me if I hadn't seen it done. Somehow, everything fits together.
I reached the final few chapters of the web serial with cautious optimism and trepidation. Making an ending stick is no easy feat, especially given the standards set by the preceding narrative: The Years of Apocalypse does so with qualified success. The main story beats are all handled deftly, though I wish there was more finality as to the fate of a certain dervish, and more complexity regarding the conclusion of the ecological narrative.
Despite an unassuming facade, The Years of Apocalypse is an impressive opus that highlights the best aspects of its genres and extends them further yet.
July 3, 2026
Amazing writing and great story
The Author does a wonderful job with the storytelling and characters. I was really hooked and had a hard time putting the book down. The writing and editing are great with no issues I could see. The characters are interesting and well developed and no ‘cookie cutter’ or cardboard characters in sight. The story starts out with the appropriate amount of detail but as it progresses is skips forward appropriately so we don’t have to hear all the details of the loops every time. That is good storytelling and I have seen other stories with a time loop concept that struggle with it. The world building and reveal of the wider issues follow perfectly with the character development and don’t just lore dump. That is always a sign of a good author when they can reveal at the proper pacing. The book does set up for the next but was the right length for the first book and gave a very satisfying full story while still leaving you wanting more. Again, kudos to the author for not splitting up this book too early and leaving a huge cliffhanger. I am so happy to find good authors and can’t wait for the next book.
The Author does a wonderful job with the storytelling and characters. I was really hooked and had a hard time putting the book down. The writing and editing are great with no issues I could see. The characters are interesting and well developed and no ‘cookie cutter’ or cardboard characters in sight. The story starts out with the appropriate amount of detail but as it progresses is skips forward appropriately so we don’t have to hear all the details of the loops every time. That is good storytelling and I have seen other stories with a time loop concept that struggle with it. The world building and reveal of the wider issues follow perfectly with the character development and don’t just lore dump. That is always a sign of a good author when they can reveal at the proper pacing. The book does set up for the next but was the right length for the first book and gave a very satisfying full story while still leaving you wanting more. Again, kudos to the author for not splitting up this book too early and leaving a huge cliffhanger. I am so happy to find good authors and can’t wait for the next book.
July 24, 2026
This book is a cross between "Mother of Learning" and "Schooled in Magic". The time loop reminds me of "Mother of Learning", but the young woman in magic school at the dawn of early-magitech industrial revolution reminds me of "Schooled in Magic".
That said, so far I think it's doing a good job of not falling into the excessively rapid power-scaling traps the other books hit. I doubt it will last, but most of the main character's advancement is either pure repetition or areas she started pretty good at then made modest improvements.
The main character is a little bland in that we don't really see their personal background. I think they're meant to be a blank slate for the reader to project into, but I personally kinda struggle to relate to them. I don't 'get' the emotional impact of a lot of the events/experiences or the compulsion towards companionship -- or why so many other characters seem interested in her. Maybe a difference in the way different genders experience the world?
That said, so far I think it's doing a good job of not falling into the excessively rapid power-scaling traps the other books hit. I doubt it will last, but most of the main character's advancement is either pure repetition or areas she started pretty good at then made modest improvements.
The main character is a little bland in that we don't really see their personal background. I think they're meant to be a blank slate for the reader to project into, but I personally kinda struggle to relate to them. I don't 'get' the emotional impact of a lot of the events/experiences or the compulsion towards companionship -- or why so many other characters seem interested in her. Maybe a difference in the way different genders experience the world?
August 16, 2026
I can see this being controversial for some, spoilers but the protag is BI...so if you can't separate your prejudices, your probably not going to enjoy this. I wouldn't even say that romance is a focus for what i've read, and i'm unsure if it'll come in focus again, so don't let that stop you. That aside it's using established tropes in a unique setting with a broad and fleshed out plot. So if you like time loop and can tolerate what I've previously said there is a decent series here. It's a unique timeloop, in that it's got a more magitek and urban settings compared to most. The protagonist gets way more viscerally OP compared to MoL.
There is a lot of book here to read, but the mystery may drive you to read what's left online. It's at lest 5 books of stuff online to work through.
There is a lot of book here to read, but the mystery may drive you to read what's left online. It's at lest 5 books of stuff online to work through.
August 30, 2026
Interesting setup, some good characters, but the typical issue of timeloop stories is that they get repetitive and this book did not manage to avoid that problem at all. It doesn't help that a lot of focus in the beginning was on the protagonist making incremental, ultra small gains... while then when she gets bigger guns and ability to actually solve problems, a lot of things get skimmed over.
Characters are pretty static and you don't see a lot of big revelations and secrets, as the authors considers it to be necessary to go ultra sloooow.
Characters are pretty static and you don't see a lot of big revelations and secrets, as the authors considers it to be necessary to go ultra sloooow.
June 18, 2026
Been reading the webnovel for a while now and love it. Prose and characterization are both miles ahead of what I’ve come to expect in the progression fantasy space. In particular the way religion is integrated into story, world building, and themes is unique in the genre as far as I can tell. The plot is extremely well put together, the way the core mysteries unfold and layer over each other is brilliant, and, of course, the progression in both power and knowledge is perfectly paced and shown.
June 24, 2026
loopy
I’m not totally sold on this one. It’s good, and quite kinetic at times. The MC is more physical than the MC in Mother of Learning (the most obvious comparison).
But it is very much slice-of-life for half the book. And for a 5th year student, the MC seems less skilled than I expected.
I’m pretty sure I will read book 2. Just not 100% on recommending it.
I’m not totally sold on this one. It’s good, and quite kinetic at times. The MC is more physical than the MC in Mother of Learning (the most obvious comparison).
But it is very much slice-of-life for half the book. And for a 5th year student, the MC seems less skilled than I expected.
I’m pretty sure I will read book 2. Just not 100% on recommending it.
July 12, 2026
At first I was not sure I was going to like this book, but then I heard the time loop and I was hooked. I felt for her trouble with people believing her the first several loops, especially her best friend. I also found it interesting that not one but two girls liked her, and she liked them back, but not in the same loops. I am excited for the next book when ever it comes out.
July 17, 2026
The sheer amount of connections and paths that this book takes, it's astounding. I can't imagine the sheer complexity and brainstorming Phoenix and those she worked with went through. Truly impressive. It is a bit of a longer read. It took me over 10 hours and I consider myself a decently fast reader. Massive cliffhanger at the end. Can't wait to read the second book.
June 18, 2026
Excellent fantasy and probably my favorite time loop story
Every character feels real and complex, the world is interesting, and the magic system is flexible but still grounded somehow. The story also just keeps getting better as it goes on.
Every character feels real and complex, the world is interesting, and the magic system is flexible but still grounded somehow. The story also just keeps getting better as it goes on.
June 18, 2026
"For fans of Mother of Leaning" - that's the line that made me read it, and I am so glad I did.
That book is one of my favourite time loop books, and this book is just as good. I want more!
Definitely recommend for fans of Time Loop books.
That book is one of my favourite time loop books, and this book is just as good. I want more!
Definitely recommend for fans of Time Loop books.
June 20, 2026
Story was a very pleasant surprise
If you read this, do not let the academy chapters at the beginning discourage you. This is NOT the standard academy trope! I will not ruin the setup with spoiler. Just know that the wait is well worth it.
If you read this, do not let the academy chapters at the beginning discourage you. This is NOT the standard academy trope! I will not ruin the setup with spoiler. Just know that the wait is well worth it.
June 28, 2026
Different
A very slow start. Nearly gave up but it improved or caught its rhythm. World view and magic system is different enough to be interesting. The teenage angst is acceptable in the long run. The fact that it isn’t wash and repeat is good.
A very slow start. Nearly gave up but it improved or caught its rhythm. World view and magic system is different enough to be interesting. The teenage angst is acceptable in the long run. The fact that it isn’t wash and repeat is good.
July 3, 2026
I enjoyed it, but time stuff is time stuff.
It was one of the better time stories, but it got repetitive (intentional). I liked the main character, I liked the world. I thought the twists were good, but not great. I'm not sure that I will read the second book, but I might.
It was one of the better time stories, but it got repetitive (intentional). I liked the main character, I liked the world. I thought the twists were good, but not great. I'm not sure that I will read the second book, but I might.
July 9, 2026
5 stars!
This is a great time loop where you hold your breath wondering if what she is doing will change the situation the correct way.
And oh wow the world building and character development.
I can't wait for book 2!
This is a great time loop where you hold your breath wondering if what she is doing will change the situation the correct way.
And oh wow the world building and character development.
I can't wait for book 2!
September 8, 2026
Even though this book is very long it held my attention the whole time. Love how the author made the reader re-live every life instead of just summarizing and that every time the characters faced different problems
June 16, 2026
Great start to an amazing timeloop adventure
I've read all the way up to B5 of the original on royal road, and loved every chapter.
Absolutely cannot recommend enough
I've read all the way up to B5 of the original on royal road, and loved every chapter.
Absolutely cannot recommend enough
July 14, 2026
Exceptional, I wish more were available on audiobook, but I'll start reading this when I finish my current book.
didn-t-like-it
July 16, 2026Note to self: not for me.
Did Not Finish
July 20, 2026Didn't really hook me - magic system seems boring and the world didn't really seem inviting. Loop also took far too long to start.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews