Shadow Slave: Book1

Shadow Slave #1

by Guiltythree

Growing up in poverty, Sunny never expected anything good from life. However, even he did not anticipate being chosen by the Nightmare Spell and becoming one of the Awakened - an elite group of people gifted with supernatural powers. Transported into a ruined magical world, he found himself facing against terrible monsters - and other Awakened - in a deadly battle of survival.
What's worse, the shadow powers he received happened to possess a small, but potentially fatal side effect...

Genres: Fantasy, Light Novel, Novels, Action, Fiction, Adventure, Urban Fantasy

591 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 25, 2022

Reviews

[مريم مساعد · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best web novels I have read so far. The world building is amazing and you can sense the depth in the character’s backgrounds. Story is full of plot twists and The cliffhangers are no joke 🥲

[Ubik · Rating 1 out of 5]

Juvenile. Textbook toxic masculinity.
Edgelord MC: Cynical in a way edgy teenagers find cool.
Cringe weeb humor: MC stares at the boobs of a woman, she's asking what he's looking at and he says 'your boobs', so she slaps him. Because he can't lie, haha.
Male gaze: Ogling descriptions of female characters in general, who are always remarked on by their figure and looks. That of course doesn't happen with male characters.

Incel vibes: Male characters with higher standing, better character are despised by the MC, in the end secretly despicable as well. Of course there can't be any relationship with them other than envy, competition, secret resentment.

In an FAQ the author said that it won't be a harem story, the character is surrounded by beautiful people of both genders, which really set all the wrong expectations for me. Imo it could just as well be a harem novel, it would have been more honest. It reeks of the same greasy neckbeard heterosexism.

[Kaixenix D · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I'd like to say that novel is truly a must-read. It's truly a rising star following the apotheosis of the 2nd volume. Every chapter renders your suspenseful mind longing for more.
While initially the narrative might seem akin to a typical fantasy, quickly you'll realize the depth the author has given to not only the plot but the characters as well; I'd even say especially the characters. The interactions between these developing individuals feign realism, betraying the author's care for his literary creations. Not to mention the author themselves, being thorough with their articulation of the world's scenery and the scenarios they subjects their characters to; ranging from macabre creatures, to life-threatening environments. The flow of the narrative gives off a sense of cadence due to how well the chapters are structured.
Conclusively, Shadow Slave is one of the best novels I've ever read and am keeping up with. Keep your eyes out, cuz this novel's a ride.

[Dreamcatcher (HIATUS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Currently on chapters 2200+, and the pacing issues are showing. Otherwise still amazing honestly, I'm really excited for the official upcoming comic/manhwa adaptation

[Cypher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best webnovel I have ever read.

The characters are flawed, complex, multifaceted *humans*. They aren't robots or purely focused on power, fame, or riches. They are humans and, while some just want to get by, others strive (for varying reasons) to get more powerful, despite the cruel world that they live in.

The Spell is not fair, it is cruel and unpredictable. But Sunny is from the slums of a futuristic dystopia - more akin to a Warhammer 40k hive city than a modern day city - if anyone could survive it, it's him. He isn't honourable, he values his life, holds grudges, is woefully underprepared and underpowered for most of his journeys... But he learns, he adapts, and he courts death through the Spell's countless trials.

This webnovel has an amazing world holding, a unique and complex power system, great character development, a price to every power gained and more. Not to mention it's amazing writing (when compared to every other webnovel, and even some mainstream books) and healthy amount of humor.

I am still thoroughly enjoying this webnovel, and look forward to its daily chapters.

[Luiz Virgílio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, in the thousands and thousands of times I searched "Books like Dark Souls" on google, this one never showed up... how??? I get that is a light novel, but at least for me, thats the same fucking thing. This is just like reading bookform Dark Souls, and with that, I mean that this is a masterpiece. 10/10

[Dantegideon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Teetered on the edge of grimdark for a while before jumping in with a joyful shout. Come on in, the water’s fine! Wait, no, the water which was my best friend has betrayed me in a horrible way. And my swimming trunks are also evil! Who would have guessed.

[Urso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peak fiction. I finished this one faster than the first LOTM book, and I was very fast then...
And I can't stop reading, btw I'm addicted

[Omar Iquira · Rating 3 out of 5]

LE DOY 3 ESTRELLAS PORQUE TIENE UN "SISTEMA MAGICO" MUY INTERESANTE. Y PORQUE EL PERSONAJE PRINCIPAL ES CAUTIVADOR DE UNA MANERA MUY PARTICULAR... YA DICHO ESO, MUESTRA DEMASIADO Y MUY OBVIAMENTE DE LOS TROPOS DE FANTASIA TÍPICOS DE LAS NOVELAS LIGERAS.

Tenia que darle una oportunidad a este titulo que varias personas me habían recomendada a lo largo del año. Yo tengo opiniones muy particulares en cuanto a las así llamadas "Novelas Web". Me he cruzado con varias, pero la verdad es que solo algunas me han capturado de verdad. Algunos títulos como: "Solo Leveling", "Lord of the Mysteries" (entre otras) las considero entre las mejores (de allí que no me sorprende que incluso ya tengan una serie de anime). Pero la verdad es que no todas me parecen atractivas. De hecho, la mayoría son algo repetitivas en su temática, o estilo narrativo. Por eso soy bastante cuidadoso al momento de elegir leer una.

"Shadow Slave" es una de las mejor ranqueadas novelas web en la actualidad. De hecho, si uno busca bien en internet, encontrara multitud de seguidores y fanáticos de esta historia. Y esa es la razón por la que decidí hacer el intento con el primer volumen del audiolibro de esta saga. Y empezaré diciendo que el formato y calidad de este audiolibro es IMPRESIONANTE. La calidad es de lo mejor que me he encontrado. Las voces, efectos sonoros, música de fondo, todo es de primer nivel en este audiolibro y no tengo más que halagos para él (aunque para evitar confusiones aclaro que estoy hablando del audiolibro en ingles). Fue una sorpresa agradable ver semejante nivel para una adaptación de un en audiolibro para una novela web. Muestra como las compañías están poniendo cada vez más atención y cariño a estas publicaciones. Y eso creo yo, dará grandes fruto en el futuro.

Pero hablemos de la historia. En un mundo muy parecido al nuestro pero en el futuro, la humanidad se enfrenta al "Hechizo de la Pesadilla", una aflicción mágica que infecta a las personas y las obliga a superar pruebas mortales en un mundo paralelo llamado el "Reino de los Sueños".
Si un infectado sobrevive a su "Primera Pesadilla", se convierte en un "Despertado" y obtiene habilidades sobrenaturales. Por el contrario, si fallan, mueren en el mundo real y sus cuerpos se transforman en "Criaturas de Pesadilla" que atacan a todo lo que encuentran a su paso. Sunny es un huérfano de los suburbios, cínico y pragmático, cuyo único objetivo inicial es sobrevivir. Al infectarse con la enfermedad y superar su primera prueba, recibe un poder único relacionado con el control de las sombras. Sin embargo, su habilidad viene con un "Defecto" crítico: no puede mentir. La narrativa sigue a Sunny mientras navega por paisajes desolados del "Reino de los Sueños" junto a sus compañeros. Pero a diferencia de los héroes tradicionales, Sunny es un antihéroe calculador que utiliza el engaño y la táctica para vencer a enemigos mucho más fuertes que él. Lo cual es a veces muy difícil para alguien que está condenando a decir la verdad.

A primera vista el concepto es bastante atractivo creo yo. Y tengo que decir que el inicio no me decepcionó en absoluto. La historia empieza muy bien y te sumerge de manera sencilla y muy bien explicada en el mecanismo de este mundo. Esta novela es lo que se conoce como "Lit-RPG" (literatura RPG). Por lo que los aficionados de los videojuegos disfrutarán de la "Evolución de los personajes" acumulando experiencia (XP), subiendo de nivel y mejorando sus estadísticas o habilidades. Como dije, todo está muy bien explicado. Y lo mejor es que en cierto punto el protagonista incluso empieza a asistir a una "Escuela Especial" para "Despertados" como él. Lo cual convierte la historia también en lo que se conoce como "Literatura de academia de magia" (Magic Academy). Que es un subgénero de la fantasía que utiliza una institución educativa como escenario principal para el desarrollo de la trama y el crecimiento de los personajes. Funciona como un patrón narrativo donde los protagonistas enfrentan pruebas, descubren sistemas mágicos y superan desafíos para su transformación personal (ya saben, muy al estilo de Harry Potter).

Hasta allí todo estuvo bien (genial de hecho). Pero en cierto punto, cuando empieza la "Segunda Pesadilla" del protagonista, las cosas empiezan a cambiar para peor. El escenario que se nos presenta dentro de esta pesadilla es algo opaco, o tal vez "pesado" sea una mejor forma de describirlo, muy diferente al de la Primera Pesadilla. Estamos hablando de un ambiente que en mi opinión no terminó de convencerme o capturarme por completo. Esta segunda pesadilla se siente muy recargada, y no pude evitar sentir una falta de carácter en la ambientación. Cuando esto me pasa, la lectura se vuelve un poco tediosa y aburrida por momentos (sin importar que hagan los personajes), y yo odio cuando pasa esto. La última vez que esto me pasó, fue cuando leí el primer libro de la saga "Sun Eater". Y si han leído mis reseñas sabrán que considero a esta saga una de las mejores de los últimos 10 años. Pero ese primer libro no terminó de gustarme por completo. Y aunque admito que de allí en adelante la historia no hizo más que mejorar, el recuerdo de ese primer libro permanece. Y es por eso que no me gusta cuando pasa este fenómeno particular, porque siento que "pone una mancha" en la historia general de la saga.

Ya dicho eso, no puedo negar el increíble potencial que tiene "Shadow Slave". Si bien esa segunda mitad del libro no me gustó tanto como la primera, sienta las bases para una historia tremenda. Donde los protagonistas son capaces de mostrar poderes increíbles y enfrentarse a grandes peligros. Este mundo es muy variado, y el sistema de magia (o poderes) que se presenta tiene la capacidad de ser exponencialmente asombroso. Los fanáticos de los videojuegos van a amar esta historia por su temática estilo RPG. Pero para mi en particular, fueron los variados personajes principales quienes más me atrajeron. Además de "Sunny" (el protagonista), tenemos a sus compañeras, "Cassie "y "Nephis". A su profesor; "Julius". A su rival; "Caster". E incluso al "familiar" del protagonista, su propia sombra, que se vuelve un personaje independiente también a lo largo de la historia.

Co todo, esta saga puede resultar muy atractiva para varias personas. Y no me extrañaría si llega a dar el salto al anime en los próximos años tal y como lo hicieron otras historias de este tipo. No se si seguiré leyendo las novelas posteriores. Aunque si lo hago, será también en gran medida para disfrutar de la calidad del audiolibro, que como dije me encantó. El potencial de esta historia es innegable, y aunque los típicos "Tropos de Fantasía" son algo obvios (o descarados) para mi gusto por momentos, eso no afecta sobremanera la trama. Pero si obvias esas pequeñas fallas aquí y allá, uno puede disfrutar mucho de esta lectura. Y al final, eso es lo importante.

Lo recomiendo para aquellos que les guste los géneros de "Fantasía de Progresión" y "Lit-RPG"... (los gamers especialmente).
A ellos les encantará.

[Heather Graeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best webnovels I've ever read, even if I haven't read many it topped my charts the instant I finished the amount of chapters currently out. It's up there with lord of the mysteries as one of my favorite webnovels.

It is incredibly well written to the point where I sometimes accidentally mistake it as real when I get too into reading it. The world building is heavily tied into the characters and story to a very enjoyable degree. Each arc feels impactful and emotionally devastating every time. The female characters are also written just as well, if not better than the male characters. Which is rare for webnovels to not sexualize the women, and as a woman myself it was very refreshing.

Even if I would assault the author on sight its still a very amazing book.

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 200. 👎👎👎👎main character.

[Vyshnav · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extremely mediocre. I will continue with volume 2 just to see if it gets any better but I really don't have much hope.

[Tesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the world building. And in addition I think the characters are very cool.
That is about it, I never thought I had the ability to read and imagine characters, however this got me hook, and reading 20 chapters to finish volume 1 in one day.(Author ends on cliffhanger usually)

But yes, it took a while, but now I can read it and imagine things easily, so I think it is cool.

[Tarmo Pungas · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading 1500+ chapters, I will count this as "read", although the story is still actively bejng written and published as a web novel. I think 1.5 million words is long enough for a book :)

At first, I struggled with the writing style of the author. Thankfully, they improved a lot over the course of hundreds of chapters. The story itself is extremely captivating and especially for the first 50 hours of reading, I was hooked.

[Nitin Sharma]

So hear me out....this book is hella good, I mean literally it is fantastic. This is the first book that i am writing review of because I want everyone to read this masterpiece. Please give it a shot i can guarantee, u will fall in its magic.
PS: unless you r a moron u will love it 😗😗

[A dude · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really outstanding novel, with tonnes of creativity implemented into the novel. This novel has lots of interesting events with great world building and amazing character development.Although this novel does start a little slow in the beginning, it definitely is worth your time.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, for an incomplete webnovel, I’ll give it 4.5 stars. That was some cliff. It was fun though and I’ll read more when it’s published.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find it more comparable to say The novel's extra then lord or reverend, etc. People are really just starving for decent web novels and this is better than most. I'd give it 2.5

[Lani Díaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Hasta ahora no es tan sorprendente como me imaginé por varias recomendaciones, pero parece ir por buen camino, así que continuaré.

[Akshay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadow Slave: Book 1 by Guiltythree

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Overview: Shadow Slave: Book 1 is an intense, imaginative dive into a dystopian future where humanity’s fate is shaped by a terrifying magical affliction known as the Nightmare Spell. The novel combines grimdark survival fantasy with progression elements, centering on Sunny, an orphan from the slums, who finds himself fighting for his life in a brutal, otherworldly realm filled with monsters, secrets, and soul-crushing odds. The story's emotional grit and psychological tension are just as powerful as its action-packed sequences.

Plot Summary

Sunny is abruptly torn from his bleak life when he’s infected with the Nightmare Spell—a phenomenon that forces the afflicted to survive their "First Nightmare" or die. Emerging successful, he becomes an Awakened and is eventually pulled into the Dream Realm alongside two companions: Nephis, a mysterious elite fighter, and Cassie, a blind prophet. The trio must navigate the desolate and monster-infested Forgotten Shore while seeking a gateway home. Along the way, trust is tested, secrets are uncovered, and survival demands sacrifice.

World & Power System

The novel’s world-building is vivid and haunting. The Dream Realm is a place where reality bends and ancient nightmares roam. Its rules are harsh—only through collecting "Memories" and binding "Echoes" can one grow stronger. These magical artifacts not only serve as tools and weapons but also shape personality, strategy, and fate. The power system is intricate, consistent, and clever—inviting readers to ponder how every decision could mean survival or death.

Character Arcs

Sunny: A deeply flawed yet compelling protagonist, Sunny’s arc is one of transformation. He starts as a selfish, cynical street survivor, driven only by personal gain and fear. However, his journey in the Dream Realm forces him to rely on others, confront emotional vulnerability, and slowly develop trust. His growth is realistic and hard-earned.

Nephis: A stoic and battle-hardened warrior with hidden motivations, Nephis begins as a lone force of nature. Her arc involves learning to see beyond the mission, forming subtle bonds, and facing the haunting past that drives her unrelenting resolve.

Cassie: Though physically fragile, Cassie plays a pivotal role as the team’s visionary. Her arc is one of quiet strength—overcoming her disability with insight and intuition. Her connection to fate and prophecy adds a mystical layer to the team dynamic.

Minor Characters: Side characters such as Kai and Effie add diversity and emotion to the party. While not all receive equal narrative depth, each brings a unique presence and voice, making the world feel larger and more lived-in.

Strengths


🌍 World‑building: A vivid, brutal dream world that feels fully realized and immersive.
⚔️ Power System: Logically constructed and strategically deep, it rewards creative thinking.
👤 Character Realism: Protagonist’s emotional and psychological depth adds gravity to the narrative.
🧠 Foreshadowing: The slow reveal of secrets and layered lore makes for a compelling long-form read.


Areas for Improvement


🖋️ Writing Style: The prose occasionally suffers from awkward phrasing or overused terms, which may distract some readers.
⏳ Pacing: Certain sections—especially in the early to mid arcs—can feel padded or too introspective.
🧍‍♂️ Side Characters: While intriguing, some supporting characters lack full development in Book 1.

“The world is cruel, but in cruelty, we find clarity.”

The climax involves a harrowing journey to the Crimson Spire, where betrayal, trust, and ancient legacies converge. Sunny's reluctant servitude to Nephis becomes literal and symbolic, changing their dynamic forever. The conclusion leaves him gravely wounded but fundamentally changed—more powerful, but even more uncertain of what lies ahead.

Character Arc Highlights


Sunny: Orphan → Survivor → Awakened → Reluctant Hero. His journey is shaped by fear, intelligence, and slowly growing empathy.
Nephis: Loner → Leader. Her stoicism begins to crack as personal bonds and emotional conflicts emerge.
Cassie: Seer → Guide. Her blindness contrasts her clarity, serving as a voice of reason and vision.
Minor cast: Secondary characters evolve gradually, offering humor, humanity, and camaraderie in a brutal setting.


Final Verdict

Shadow Slave: Book 1 is a dark fantasy gem that fuses grim horror with an evolving power system and strong character development. Though not without its flaws, it captivates with rich world-building, psychological nuance, and high-stakes tension. A must-read for fans of progression fantasy and character-driven sagas.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

[B. Lança · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect to get so attached. Shadow Slave was my first experience with a LitRPG or webnovel and it completely pulled me in. What started out as curiosity quickly became a daily obsession. I found myself looking forward to each chapter as if I was living in that world.

The story follows Sunny, a boy born into poverty in a harsh dystopian society. He grew up alone, used to surviving without help, without trust, without anyone. When the Nightmare Spell chooses him to become one of the Awakened, he’s thrown into a broken magical world where deadly monsters and brutal challenges wait at every turn. His unique shadow powers are powerful but come with a dangerous drawback that keeps the tension high from the very beginning.

What really surprised me was how emotional and real the story felt. Sunny is not your usual noble hero. He is deeply flawed, sarcastic, often selfish, but always growing. He learns from his pain. He adapts. And as the story unfolds, we get to witness something unexpected: he starts to build real bonds. Watching him go from someone who had no emotional connections in his life to developing meaningful and complicated relationships with characters like Cassie and Nephis was one of the most powerful aspects of the story for me. It never feels forced. Their trust grows slowly, shaped by moments of fear, sacrifice, and quiet understanding.

The worldbuilding is incredible. The power system is creative and consistent. The atmosphere is dark and haunting, filled with danger but also beauty. Every chapter adds something new to the world or to the characters. The author’s writing is far beyond what I ever expected from a webnovel and even rivals many published fantasy books I’ve read.

And once you start reading, it’s nearly impossible to stop. The tension, the pacing, the cliffhangers… they make it incredibly hard to put down. Every chapter leaves you needing to know what happens next.

Shadow Slave is more than a fantasy survival story. It is about loneliness, trauma, resilience, and learning to care in a world that constantly punishes you for it. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys emotional depth, clever storytelling, and unforgettable characters.

[Zachary Kornberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

BANGER. Is it the best written novel of all time... absolutely not. But the world building, the mysteries and the characters make all 2000+ chapters of this enthralling. Often light-novels fall off once the original ideas and world have been explored but Shadow Slave arcs at the end are still as good as the beginning. So good but prepared to invest a lot of life into reading this.

[Fariha Feroze · Rating 4 out of 5]

The power system is simple and straight forward but masterfully executed scenarios makes the full story more captivating. Side characters are made pretty well and the main character has a lot of room for growth which I hope he does

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I demolished this!!! so so amazing! the world building is incredible, the characters are so fleshed out, the journey sunny goes on and his character development is amazing, honestly up there in terms of best thing i have read! bonus points for there being over 2,000 chapters and it’s still ongoing

[Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ymmers power fantasy slop

[Annie O’HALLORAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most well written and paced WebNovel

[Wilson Tun · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting first volume by the author. Although the characterization felt inconsistent and slightly edgy, I have hope that it will improve by time. I have heard many web novel fans recommend this as one of the best out there so I’ll trust the process and continue. Sunless is quite a unique name too. I’m curious about the development between Sunless and Cassie, would it blossom into something greater?

[Sai Saketh · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best novels I read. An incredible world building and setup, amazing lore and a unique power system that ties really well to the characters. A must read for any fantasy lovers out there.

[Charlie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing take on the system genre.

Rather than a naive, coming-of-age protagonist, we instead get Sunless (Sunny), who's fashioned after Odysseus. Not for his bravery and battle prowess, but his metis--that is, his wits. This cunning saves the group many times. It should be noted that many of the episodes feel somewhat like the Odyssey, which is surprising for a Chinese system novel. From the Trojan Crustacean, to fighting the temptation to give into their senses (like the Sirens), he even wants to use the name nobody to hide his identity online in a throwback to the episode with the Cyclops. Alas, the name is taken and in a fit of throwing stuff at the wall till something sticks, Mongrel is born.

What makes this book especially interesting though is with each aspect, each character gets a flaw. And Sunny's flaw is that he can't directly lie, despite being cunning and deceitful by nature. This creates many interesting / funny narrative episodes, especially as he often has to deceive people with a misleading truth. Obviously he hides this flaw and so, many people dismiss much of what he says as insane, largely because he deceives others about how weak he is and the things he says are out there.

I would highly recommend to any fans of game-lit / lit-rpg genres.

[Derrek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. At first I did not know how I would like this, but it soon quickly became one of my favorites. The power scaling is perfect, the world from what I see and what others have told me is reminiscent of dark souls, the characters all feel real and important, and the mc uses his wits to fight which is refreshing.

I love the mc’s interaction with characters because here, the author gave our mc a flaw that makes things extremely dangerous for him, but consequently gives us the readers much more entertainment than I thought it would.

Sometimes reading this novel gives me a hint of cosmic horror in the sense that there are things that make the mc feel like there’s absolutely no way to survive. When there is interaction between the characters it all is relevant to the story; and when there is action, it is keeping you on the edge of your seat, almost feeling like the mc is dancing on the edge of a blade. I would recommend highly.