I just finished chapter 8 and I absolutely adore this game, the writing is amazing :) Thank you for your efforts in creating something as wonderful as this!
Omg, how did I just find this today!! I've been looking for an over-arching story game and I have found it!! Also, I recently got a haircut and now have discovered Dara is my haircut twin lmaoo But I am enamored with the characters are they are absolutely amazing. As someone who wants to possibly pursue writing as a career your project is an inspiration! :)
While I can see how complicating pronouns in our modern culture may seem silly to some, I would see their use in this universe as part of the worldbuilding. There are many different customs among cultures, both real and fictional. And I would think introducing yourself with name and pronouns is far from bizarre in that sense.
Just reached the end of chapter 8, screaming, crying, throwing up, all that. I adore this story. I adore Xelef, and Rezan, and Azad, etc. etc. They're all utterly brilliant and beautifully unique characters. The story so far is fantastic! It's full of subtlety and depth and beautiful, beautiful magic that feels just about real. Seriously, stunning game. I can't wait for more.
I love this so so so much!!! My birthday is in 3 days so my friend is coming over and they're DEFINITELY going to play this whether they like it or not. It's a total masterpiece and I'm so excited for whenever the new chapter comes out!! Make sure to take care of yourself and take breaks as needed though! Have a nice day! <33
Just found this game after hitting a slump for romance games, so I'm not too far into it yet, but I'm loving A Tale of Crowns! UI is sleek and discernible, colour scheme is complimentary but not overpowering, and the writing style is eloquent and beautiful. That I get to explore a Middle Eastern-inspired setting along with such interesting love interests is icing on the cake! Looking forward to the rest of the game and future updates!
Thanks so much, this is so nice!! The UI is actually one of the things I often wonder about because other IFs have such pretty, elaborate/unique menus and designs and I just stuck with the basic format haha. I'm happy to have your approval!! 💖
I had to replay four times because I like all genders but wanted to get the characters' specific genders and only realized at the fourth time that all I wanted were women. Anyways great game highly recommend!! I love the story and characters <3 Thank you so much for making thisss
You have got something genuinely incredible here. The world is fleshed out, the characters are believable and likeable, & it actually feels like a lot of the choices you make matters. I can't wait to see more.
The writing is impeccable, especially the entire coronation event so so good. Just finished my first playthrough, can't wait to play the other routes <33
I think I may have genuinely lost track of the number of times I've played through the story now -- I've done each route at least once, with Rozerîn andXelara several times each. Apparently my fantasy love interest tastes vary from elegant magus to roguish mercenary (and everything in-between). I use the femme names because my playthroughs are a queer extravaganza of extremely validating sapphism.
I've tried out a whole heap of different works of--typically romantic--interative fiction, but A Tale of Crowns has been the one to sincerely captivate me more than any other. That it stands out isn't an insult to the many other, really good stories out there, but a testament to just how well written the Crown's narrative is.
Every character feels like they've been lovingly crafted. None of them are one-note; even minor members of the cast, like Steward Welat, Tujo & Heval of the Crescent Blades, Mir Behram, and so many others are all multi-faceted. None of them come across as hollow or one-note. There's always more to each person--and I emphasise person because that's exactly what they feel like--than what the Crown might initially surmise. That's some crazy good character design.
That's to say nothing of the world-design so far. The Empire of Ashur is super intriguing, and I find myself making my own theories on how the country/people function in my head as I read. With every subsequent playthrough, I pick up something new that I'd missed in previous reads. That's amazing and it's a big part of why I keep re-reading even whilst it's a wip.
Some excerpts genuinely give me goosebumps, however many times I experience them. One in particular is...
"IT'S THE CROWN!"
Damn, it hits like a truck, even moreso after the notion of craving the sun after hiding in the shadows. That & the first night in the palace at Marabad especially--when this is coupled with Xelara's emotion-sensing gimmick it's chef's kiss.
With my long-winded comment concluding, I just want to say thank-you for working on this captivating story. It's brilliant and I'll be super(-duper) excited to see the next chapters.
Omg thank you so much!! That's such high praise, I really appreciate the kind words and I'm really happy to hear you enjoyed it so much. Never apologize for leaving a long comment, it's heart-warming as an author to read 💖💖💖
hello, I just intalled the game through the itch.io pc app and it doesn't allow me to save, in any instance. I've tried reinstalling the game but it's not working. does anyone else have this problem?
I’m in love with Dara, like I think there’s something wrong with me, I’ve been giggling like a little school girl every time something happens… Also… Zeryan… I love you because you’re an awesome guard friend… but I also really hate you. XD
Anyone else feel like it was kind of stupid of the steward to try to embarrass our crown when he first met them? Because doesn't he know that after our coronation, since he did that, we are definitely not going to have a good opinion of him and are going to try to replace the first chance we get? Not trying to downplay the game, it's probably my favorite game on itch.io, just wondering what the stewards logic would be.
The Crown isn't as powerful as you (and the Crown themselves at this point) think they are tbh, they cannot replace stewards. Stewards are chosen by the citizens of the city they belong to, not the Crown--if a Crown were to try to replace a steward it would be seen as an act of tyranny. The Crown can't touch Steward Welat and he knows it.
Also, a lot of what the Crown can actually do depends on the willingness of the Imperial Court and other high-ranking officials to obey them - such as Steward Welat, in other words. Underestimate him at your own peril.
Does this mean to say that once the Steward has been 'chosen', they're secure in the position for life? Because - if I recall correctly - Welat is increasingly unpopular with the local populace.
Would it be possible (in a wider historical view of Ashur) for a Crown to use negative public sentiment as a pretext to give a Steward / figure of similar standing the boot without taking the risk of being considered tyrannical?
With that plus Welat's... less-than-favourable position in the court of public opinion and the Crown currently enjoying this desperate awe/reverence from the people in mind, would it stand to reason that he probably can't get away with making an enemy of a more savvy monarch?
I'm finally finished replaying this for like...the fourth time now- ...and you guys. I have an issue lol. I really want to explore the other LI storylines, but every time I play through it I feel so drawn to A! Like my MC is always perfect with them. AH. Anyways, overall like so happy with chapter eight, it seemed so well done. I'm so glad I'm getting to see SO much more backstory. I'm so excited to see more! <33
istg, im gonna run out of saves with my overthinking brain going red alert ever since ive gotten into chp five. im having such a love-hate relationship with this. i love that its so good that it forces me to push through and make a choice just to get some sweet scenes and i also hate it for that. im totally not fit to rule over a kingdom. im stuck at the coronation scene cause someone decided not to come >:(
third option is the safest but i dont wanna be regarded as a pussy tho (i need to be persuaded into a choice lmao). xelef still my boo and will always have my heart. i did however went through dara's route and i am in love with a bold flirty mc. makes me wanna simp over the mc too lmao. the way the mc just says dara's name to tease them has me weak on my knees.
Thanks so much, that's so nice of you to say!! 💖💖💖
For me, it helps when I try to think of my MC as a separate person so I don't feel embarrassed when I make a bad choice lol. It wasn't me, it was MC, I'm not responsible 😭
Although as an author I'm also definitely enjoying giving people huge dilemmas so I hope you won't blame me for giggling at this comment 🙈
Super awkward! It's a necessity to keep the Crown safe but most Imperial Guards do definitely feel like voyeurs at times. They've been trained to ignore/tune out any personal conversations or interactions the Crown has as much as possible, but you really can't get around it lol 😭
Is there or will there ever be an option to go back to the previous page? I think it'd be fun to be able to see what each option would say without having to replay the entire thing again just to see it.
Also, this game is fantastic with its writing, characters, and world! It's so fleshed out, like the characters are really there to spend time with you, and it's really thrilling! :)
I don't remember when I started reading this. A week ago? Two weeks ago? All I know is that the hours I've spent scanning pages upon pages of text are starting to make my eyes hurt. Yet I can't look away! I feel as if I have never read so much in my life, becoming invested in Crown Serin Xani's misadventures with her guards while navigating romance subplots (Ashti is bae and you can't convince me otherwise), family tree subplots, political maneuvering and the pages of history I'm going to review tomorrow. In fact I may or may not have jumped the gun slightly and downloaded Twine2 to see what I could pull off on my own (not much, but if I becomes a major game dev you can blame Cherry).
I love the fleshed out world I'm exploring while reading, the meticulous rules and conflicts, many of which are tucked away in the sidebar to read up on at one's own leisure. It could be safe to assume that the story is secretly an excuse for the setting (I've written many of those on my own, that's for sure). I also have this incredible feeling that where I am in the story is entirely unique, that if I had chosen some other option back in Chapter 1 or II I wouldn't be getting anything close to half the scenes I'm getting. How true that actually is is a mystery to me but I love the feeling that this is me who is in control.
I just can't praise this enough. I'm so glad I didn't write this off like I came scarily close to doing. This is so good. Keep up the amazing work!
Check the FAQ! Usually save errors are due to the itch.io app being used (the save function isn't compatible with it, unfortunately) or due to the browser type. Also, the use of VPNs/adblockers could form a problem.
This game was absolutely fantastic! :D The story was breathtakingly good and the artwork equally so. I loved all the characters, especially Ezo and Kaja. They were such a funny duo and UGH! 10/10 would recommend to anyone who wants a very detailed and engaging story. Looking forward to further progress and even more chapters! :)
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Im at the beginning of chapter 2 right now and it has been very enjoyable so far :) I'm really liking Tujo alot though
I just finished chapter 8 and I absolutely adore this game, the writing is amazing :) Thank you for your efforts in creating something as wonderful as this!
i would die for xelef but i dont think he would appreciate that very much
waiting for the crown to give rezan a lil kiss because the likely flustered blushing and stuttering will be glorious. >:)
Thanks for the update, omg!!!!
Omg, how did I just find this today!! I've been looking for an over-arching story game and I have found it!!
Also, I recently got a haircut and now have discovered Dara is my haircut twin lmaoo
But I am enamored with the characters are they are absolutely amazing. As someone who wants to possibly pursue writing as a career your project is an inspiration! :)
Being a transphobe is the real cringe, cope and seethe 💖
Cope 💖
slay
While I can see how complicating pronouns in our modern culture may seem silly to some, I would see their use in this universe as part of the worldbuilding.
There are many different customs among cultures, both real and fictional. And I would think introducing yourself with name and pronouns is far from bizarre in that sense.
Just reached the end of chapter 8, screaming, crying, throwing up, all that. I adore this story. I adore Xelef, and Rezan, and Azad, etc. etc. They're all utterly brilliant and beautifully unique characters. The story so far is fantastic! It's full of subtlety and depth and beautiful, beautiful magic that feels just about real. Seriously, stunning game. I can't wait for more.
Thanks so much!! That's definitely the reaction I wanted with the CH8 cliffhanger haha 💖
This is such a great story!
Thank you!! 💖
I love this so so so much!!! My birthday is in 3 days so my friend is coming over and they're DEFINITELY going to play this whether they like it or not. It's a total masterpiece and I'm so excited for whenever the new chapter comes out!! Make sure to take care of yourself and take breaks as needed though! Have a nice day! <33
Omg happy early birthday! Also as you should the story is just absolutely amazing 😭
Ty!!! And Exactly- it's legit so good- :,)
Ohh, happy (belated) birthday!! 💖💖💖 And thanks so much for the kind words/spreading the AToC propaganda to your friends haha
Ofcourse! and ty :) They should know of this because it deserves so much hype!
Rozerîn my beloved <3
CAN'T BELIEVE I JUST DISCOVERED THIS?!!!! Now I can't wait for the update
STOP SCROLLING AND READ IT... I WON'T BLAME YOU IF YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS MASTERPIECE HERE.
When I first played this and looked at the images, I thought Xelef had taken my heart. But Dara... Dara my bady, I would die for you <3
Just found this game after hitting a slump for romance games, so I'm not too far into it yet, but I'm loving A Tale of Crowns! UI is sleek and discernible, colour scheme is complimentary but not overpowering, and the writing style is eloquent and beautiful. That I get to explore a Middle Eastern-inspired setting along with such interesting love interests is icing on the cake! Looking forward to the rest of the game and future updates!
Thanks so much, this is so nice!! The UI is actually one of the things I often wonder about because other IFs have such pretty, elaborate/unique menus and designs and I just stuck with the basic format haha. I'm happy to have your approval!! 💖
I Love the game! Im currently building how i imagined the palace in minecraft, I only have the Beginnings though!
I loved playing this and I'm looking forward to the future updates! You guys have done an amazing job so far!
Thanks so much!! 💖 I'm the only person coding/writing the game, though, if I had a team maybe updates wouldn't take me so long haha
I had to replay four times because I like all genders but wanted to get the characters' specific genders and only realized at the fourth time that all I wanted were women. Anyways great game highly recommend!! I love the story and characters <3 Thank you so much for making thisss
You have got something genuinely incredible here. The world is fleshed out, the characters are believable and likeable, & it actually feels like a lot of the choices you make matters. I can't wait to see more.
Thank you so much for this amazing story, you are really talented!! I love this game so much TvT
The writing is impeccable, especially the entire coronation event so so good. Just finished my first playthrough, can't wait to play the other routes <33
I think I may have genuinely lost track of the number of times I've played through the story now -- I've done each route at least once, with Rozerîn and Xelara several times each. Apparently my fantasy love interest tastes vary from elegant magus to roguish mercenary (and everything in-between). I use the femme names because my playthroughs are a queer extravaganza of extremely validating sapphism.
I've tried out a whole heap of different works of--typically romantic--interative fiction, but A Tale of Crowns has been the one to sincerely captivate me more than any other. That it stands out isn't an insult to the many other, really good stories out there, but a testament to just how well written the Crown's narrative is.
Every character feels like they've been lovingly crafted. None of them are one-note; even minor members of the cast, like Steward Welat, Tujo & Heval of the Crescent Blades, Mir Behram, and so many others are all multi-faceted. None of them come across as hollow or one-note. There's always more to each person--and I emphasise person because that's exactly what they feel like--than what the Crown might initially surmise. That's some crazy good character design.
That's to say nothing of the world-design so far. The Empire of Ashur is super intriguing, and I find myself making my own theories on how the country/people function in my head as I read. With every subsequent playthrough, I pick up something new that I'd missed in previous reads. That's amazing and it's a big part of why I keep re-reading even whilst it's a wip.
Some excerpts genuinely give me goosebumps, however many times I experience them. One in particular is...
"IT'S THE CROWN!"
Damn, it hits like a truck, even moreso after the notion of craving the sun after hiding in the shadows. That & the first night in the palace at Marabad especially--when this is coupled with Xelara's emotion-sensing gimmick it's chef's kiss.
With my long-winded comment concluding, I just want to say thank-you for working on this captivating story. It's brilliant and I'll be super(-duper) excited to see the next chapters.
Omg thank you so much!! That's such high praise, I really appreciate the kind words and I'm really happy to hear you enjoyed it so much. Never apologize for leaving a long comment, it's heart-warming as an author to read 💖💖💖
hello, I just intalled the game through the itch.io pc app and it doesn't allow me to save, in any instance. I've tried reinstalling the game but it's not working. does anyone else have this problem?
The app is not recommended due to the way the save function works - the app doesn't allow it to function. You need to play it through browser!
ahhh thank you so much, I'll try then, have a nice day :)
I’m in love with Dara, like I think there’s something wrong with me, I’ve been giggling like a little school girl every time something happens… Also… Zeryan… I love you because you’re an awesome guard friend… but I also really hate you. XD
this game- PURE GOOLD I SAY!!
Anyone else feel like it was kind of stupid of the steward to try to embarrass our crown when he first met them? Because doesn't he know that after our coronation, since he did that, we are definitely not going to have a good opinion of him and are going to try to replace the first chance we get? Not trying to downplay the game, it's probably my favorite game on itch.io, just wondering what the stewards logic would be.
The Crown isn't as powerful as you (and the Crown themselves at this point) think they are tbh, they cannot replace stewards. Stewards are chosen by the citizens of the city they belong to, not the Crown--if a Crown were to try to replace a steward it would be seen as an act of tyranny. The Crown can't touch Steward Welat and he knows it.
Also, a lot of what the Crown can actually do depends on the willingness of the Imperial Court and other high-ranking officials to obey them - such as Steward Welat, in other words. Underestimate him at your own peril.
Does this mean to say that once the Steward has been 'chosen', they're secure in the position for life? Because - if I recall correctly - Welat is increasingly unpopular with the local populace.
Would it be possible (in a wider historical view of Ashur) for a Crown to use negative public sentiment as a pretext to give a Steward / figure of similar standing the boot without taking the risk of being considered tyrannical?
With that plus Welat's... less-than-favourable position in the court of public opinion and the Crown currently enjoying this desperate awe/reverence from the people in mind, would it stand to reason that he probably can't get away with making an enemy of a more savvy monarch?
I think those are definitely good questions to ask 👀
The writer in me felt that statement so hard-
Imagine not being in love with Xelef. Lol can't relate-
I'm finally finished replaying this for like...the fourth time now- ...and you guys. I have an issue lol. I really want to explore the other LI storylines, but every time I play through it I feel so drawn to A! Like my MC is always perfect with them. AH. Anyways, overall like so happy with chapter eight, it seemed so well done. I'm so glad I'm getting to see SO much more backstory. I'm so excited to see more! <33
dear developer, may i know what format of twine did you use to make this story.
Sugarcube 2.21!
oh, alright then. Thank you for the info
istg, im gonna run out of saves with my overthinking brain going red alert ever since ive gotten into chp five. im having such a love-hate relationship with this. i love that its so good that it forces me to push through and make a choice just to get some sweet scenes and i also hate it for that. im totally not fit to rule over a kingdom. im stuck at the coronation scene cause someone decided not to come >:(
third option is the safest but i dont wanna be regarded as a pussy tho (i need to be persuaded into a choice lmao). xelef still my boo and will always have my heart. i did however went through dara's route and i am in love with a bold flirty mc. makes me wanna simp over the mc too lmao. the way the mc just says dara's name to tease them has me weak on my knees.
anyways, as always, 10/10. best fucking IF ever.
Thanks so much, that's so nice of you to say!! 💖💖💖
For me, it helps when I try to think of my MC as a separate person so I don't feel embarrassed when I make a bad choice lol. It wasn't me, it was MC, I'm not responsible 😭
Although as an author I'm also definitely enjoying giving people huge dilemmas so I hope you won't blame me for giggling at this comment 🙈
AHHH!! I LOVE THIS!!! Xelef is kinda hot ngl... BUT ANYWAYS!!! I hope you continue this in future updates! I look forward to seeing more!.
EXACTLY MY THOUGHT!!!! I'm so excited for the new chapter to come out after what happened towards the end of chapter eight TvT
Hey this is my new account lol, IM ALSO EXCITED ABT THE NEW CHAPTER!!
Being an Imperial Guard must be a really awkward job, to be listening to everything The Crown does and pretend you saw/heard nothing
Super awkward! It's a necessity to keep the Crown safe but most Imperial Guards do definitely feel like voyeurs at times. They've been trained to ignore/tune out any personal conversations or interactions the Crown has as much as possible, but you really can't get around it lol 😭
I should have waited for few more QAQ it was good though
Absolutely love how engaging this story is, It's so sad that i finished this too fast. :( now i gotta wait ughhhhh
Is there or will there ever be an option to go back to the previous page? I think it'd be fun to be able to see what each option would say without having to replay the entire thing again just to see it.
That's what the save function is for ;)
I didn't think of that... That makes so much sense...
Also, this game is fantastic with its writing, characters, and world! It's so fleshed out, like the characters are really there to spend time with you, and it's really thrilling! :)
I don't remember when I started reading this. A week ago? Two weeks ago? All I know is that the hours I've spent scanning pages upon pages of text are starting to make my eyes hurt. Yet I can't look away! I feel as if I have never read so much in my life, becoming invested in Crown Serin Xani's misadventures with her guards while navigating romance subplots (Ashti is bae and you can't convince me otherwise), family tree subplots, political maneuvering and the pages of history I'm going to review tomorrow. In fact I may or may not have jumped the gun slightly and downloaded Twine2 to see what I could pull off on my own (not much, but if I becomes a major game dev you can blame Cherry).
I love the fleshed out world I'm exploring while reading, the meticulous rules and conflicts, many of which are tucked away in the sidebar to read up on at one's own leisure. It could be safe to assume that the story is secretly an excuse for the setting (I've written many of those on my own, that's for sure). I also have this incredible feeling that where I am in the story is entirely unique, that if I had chosen some other option back in Chapter 1 or II I wouldn't be getting anything close to half the scenes I'm getting. How true that actually is is a mystery to me but I love the feeling that this is me who is in control.
I just can't praise this enough. I'm so glad I didn't write this off like I came scarily close to doing. This is so good. Keep up the amazing work!
Thanks so much for the very kind comment, I really appreciate it and I'm glad you gave it a shot too!! 💖💖
Love the writing - characters - setting but when I try to save I get an error. I'm willing to wait years for it to work.
Check the FAQ! Usually save errors are due to the itch.io app being used (the save function isn't compatible with it, unfortunately) or due to the browser type. Also, the use of VPNs/adblockers could form a problem.
I adore this game! It's so engaging!
This game was absolutely fantastic! :D The story was breathtakingly good and the artwork equally so. I loved all the characters, especially Ezo and Kaja. They were such a funny duo and UGH! 10/10 would recommend to anyone who wants a very detailed and engaging story. Looking forward to further progress and even more chapters! :)