By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting

The Stellar Swordmaster by Hong Dae Ui and Juno on Webtoon has quickly become one of my favorite stories. If you know me, you’re aware of my penchant for epic tales. I love knights, sword battles, and the arduous training arcs where the protagonist genuinely earns their prowess through diligent effort rather than breezing through to overpowered levels with a montage. The Stellar Swordmaster encompasses all of these elements, making it a personal favorite of mine and one I want to recommend to you all as well.

It deviates from the traditional knight’s tale. Typically, when we envision a knight’s tale, we might think of movies or stories where the protagonist is already a knight or is in the process of earning that esteemed title but already has the skills and worth, which you can learn more about in my previous post on knights called, “[Concept Analysis] Knighthood: It’s Complicated – A Broad Overview of Knights”. However, The Stellar Swordmaster takes a different approach.

Instead, it is a journey of becoming a knight as the main character matures from a young boy to a man. He must undergo a process of learning and self-discovery. Although he possesses natural talent, he requires refinement. This can only be achieved through his own determination and the guidance of those willing to invest their time, skills, and effort into his development. It feels like magic and a sentient, ego sword are common tropes in the genre now. However, The Stellar Swordmaster distinguishes itself with its unique approach to using these elements by offering a captivating exploration of class, prejudices, and interpersonal relationships.

I find that these ideas are more intricately developed in this narrative compared to many other stories with similar elements in the genre. This adds a nuanced perspective to themes of equality and humanity, surpassing the typical run-of-the-mill epics I’ve seen more often in this genre.

With that said, if you also like epics (an “epic” typically refers to a long narrative poem or a literary work that recounts the heroic deeds and adventures of legendary or mythological figures. With grand themes, such as the struggle between good and evil, the pursuit of glory or honor, and the quest for knowledge or self-discovery), I definitely encourage picking up The Stellar Swordmaster.

10/10 Recommended! You can read it on Webtoons here: https://www.webtoons.com/en/action/the-stellar-swordmaster/list?title_no=5988

Developmental edits by: Krow Smith | @coffeewithkrow