History Literature / ShadowOfTheConqueror

* ScriptWank: Ahrek and Cueseg have an extremely {{Anvilicious}} conversation about the DefiledForever trope, repeatedly saying how terrible it is without the slightest trace of subtlety.

* {{Animesque}}: Between the [[WorldOfTechnicolorHair technicolor hair]], [[WorldOfHam crazy emoting]], [[DismembermentIsCheap over-the-top action sequences]] and [[WorldInTheSky alien setting]], ''Shadow of the Conqueror'' can read a lot like an anime novelization, especially compared to other western fantasy novels.

* GenreBusting: It's a DungeonPunk ''and'' a HighFantasy story set in a world of solar {{Magitek}}, with Renaissance swords everywhere, the eve of an Industrial Revolution dawning, early twentieth-century political conflicts on the world stage, and some [[{{Animesque}} Anime]] and SuperheroTropes thrown in for spice. Some reviewers have even declared it the TropeMaker of an entirely new genre, dubbed "Sunpunk."

%%[This description was copied in violation of our [[Administrivia/AboutImagesAndCopyright Plagiarism]] policy. Please replace it with original writing.]

Who better to fight back the darkness of the world than the one responsible for most of it?

Daylen, once known as the Great Bastard, the Scourge of Nations, [[NamesToRunAwayFromVeryFast Dayless the Conqueror]], has lived in hiding since his presumed death. Burdened by age and tremendous guilt, he thinks his life is coming to an end. Unbeknownst to him he’s about to embark on a journey towards redemption where his ruthless abilities might save the world. Many battles await with friends to be made and a past filled with countless crimes to confront, all the while trying to keep [[SecretIdentity his true identity]] a secret.

Indeed, it might be too much if not for the fabled power awaiting him.

%% * HatesMySecretIdentity: Daylen has this issue with almost everyone in the world, but ''especially'' Ahrek and Lyrah, who never miss a chance to remind him of his "[[MyGrandsonMyself father's]]" numerous crimes.

* NoPronunciationGuide: If you buy the paperback version, at least; If you buy the audiobook version then it's [[InvertedTrope inverted]] into [[NoPronunciationGuide No Spelling Guide]].

* HornyDevils: Daylen mentions that one type of Greater Shade is called a Lust, which can bend weak-willed [[MostWritersAreMale men]] to its control with its magic.

* DarkSkinnedBlond: Tuerasians as a whole, who combine black skin with bright blond hair.

* RPGMechanicsVerse: The setting's Functional Magic is described as having precise mathematical effects on abstract abilities, complete with power levels.

** After administering some corporal punishment on Sain for [[DisproportionateRetribution not standing in the correct position]], Daylen refuses to accept that Sain just forgot about Daylen's orders. Later in the book, after [[RantInducingSlight ranting]] at Lyrah and feeling guilty over it, Daylen tells himself that he only did it because he "forgot" who she was. ''Really,'' Daylen?

* RantInducingSlight: At the Fallton, Daylen tries to swallow his fuming anger over Lyrah [[BerserkButton bossing him around and calling him "kid,"]] but her insisting on him going to the constabulary immediately makes him [[RageBreakingPoint boil over in rage]] and scream at her not to order him around. Her [[TraumaButton reaction]] makes him instantly regret this, and he apologizes by the next page.

* {{Tsundere}}: Daylen is a male Tsundere towards Lyrah. (To everyone else, he's a [[MoodSwinger Mood Swinging]] JerkWithAHeartOfGold.) He's initially very uncomfortable around her, [[BerserkButton getting angry]] and shouting at her over [[RantInducingSlight minor things]]. After many apologies (from him) and her pushing his KindnessButton, he acts “like the perfect gentleman,” opens doors for her, goes into his playful moods, and thinks about her in distinctly affectionate terms.

* HatesMySecretIdentity: Daylen has this issue with almost everyone in the world, but ''especially'' Ahrek and Lyrah, who never miss a chance to remind him of his "[[MyGrandsonMyself father's]]" numerous crimes.

* {{Animesque}}: Between the [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair technicolor hair]], [[WorldOfHam crazy emoting]], [[DismembermentIsCheap over-the-top action sequences]] and [[WorldInTheSky alien setting]], ''Shadow of the Conqueror'' can read a lot like an anime novelization, especially compared to other western fantasy novels.

* WorldOfTechnicolorHair: In the fantasy world of Everfall, the people have a wide variety of different hair colours, form blue, to green, and purple.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: The various ethnicities of this world have a much broader collective range of natural hair colors than us, including such anime classics as green, purple, and yes, blue.

[[folder: Tropes #0-C]]

[[folder: Tropes D-F]]

[[folder: Tropes G-I]]

[[folder: Tropes J-O]]

[[folder: Tropes P-R]]

[[folder: Tropes S-Z]]

* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim: [[spoiler: In the end, the reason why Ahrek not only spares Daylen's life, but also forgives him. Just before Ahrek [[SwordOverHead delivers the killing blow]], Daylen contemplates how [[NotSoDifferent similar their stories are]], and how ultimately it was Daylen's hatred of the aristocracy that fueled the fury behind his atrocities as Dayless. Daylen channeled that hatred towards evil deeds, and Ahrek towards helping people, but the same hatred was there in both. To rid himself of that hatred, lest he be destroyed by it as Daylen was, Ahrek embraces his family's killer as a changed man and a friend.]]

* SwordOverHead: [[spoiler: Ahrek, after managing to beat Daylen in their TrialByCombat, struggles with their [[NotSoDifferent similarities]] and his [[VengeanceFeelsEmpty years of empty hatred]] while Daylen [[PleaseKillMeIfItSatisfiesYou urges him to do it]]. To Daylen's utter surprise, Ahrek instead chooses [[{{Forgiveness}} to forgive him]], and the sword doesn't fall.]]

* {{Superhero}}: Daylen has StockSuperpowers like SuperStrength and SuperSpeed, keeps a SecretIdentity that he must conceal from the people closest to him, fights crime as a vigilante, wears a [[PrimaryColorChampion bright red dueling jacket that goes well with his blue hair and sword]], picks up a wise-cracking sidekick early on, plans to join a team of people with the same powers, and even briefly covers his face with a mask to avoid being recognized.

* InTheBlood: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]]. Lyrah initially believes a monstrous parent will create a monstrous child, insisting that the son of [[EvilOverlord Dayless the Conqueror]] wouldn't even be capable of a HeroicVow to fight evil, which is why she so intensely distrusts Daylen even with his [[MyGrandsonMyself cover story]]. Ahrek takes the opposite view, and frequently ends up defending Daylen when other characters attack Daylen based on his "parentage."

* AuthorAppeal: Shad famously likes swords and swordfighting. The mechanics of Tellos mean that the whole population carries swords and knows how to fight; and Dalen is a MasterSwordsman even by the standards of Tellos.

The first installment in ''Chronicles Of Everfall'', a DungeonPunk WorldInTheSky setting by Shad M. Brooks, also known as the host of ''WebVideo/{{Shadiversity}}''.

* OurHumansAreDifferent: In that they have a completely different set of ethnicities and much broader range of hair and eye color.

The first installment in ''Chronicles Of Everfall'', a DungeonPunk WorldInTheSky setting by [[WebVideo/{{Shadiversity}} Shad M. Brooks]].

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Daylen is self-admittedly a former murderer, rapist, tyrant, pedophile, and current PsychopathicManchild, but he earnestly wants to be a better man, defend the innocent, [[MustMakeAmends make amends]] to the world, and [[GoodFeelsGood do good]].

* CultureClash: Lyrah and Cueseg, constantly. Most of the conflict comes from him being [[YourCheatingHeart so lewd]] that even other Tuerasians think he's perverse, and her being [[ParalyzingFearOfSexuality exceptionally puritanical]] even for a Hamahran. After some [[PervertRevengeMode uncomfortable conversations]], things settle down to a CrazyCulturalComparison between the two.

* YourCheatingHeart: Cueseg became a social pariah among his people after sleeping with a married woman, which led to him becoming an Archknight simply because it was a guaranteed way of being respected, again.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Daylen is self-admittedly a former murderer, rapist, tyrant, ephebophile, and current PsychopathicManchild, but he earnestly wants to be a better man, defend the innocent, [[MustMakeAmends make amends]] to the world, and [[GoodFeelsGood do good]].