How to put a Royal Road story on Kindle over USB with calibre
You can put a Royal Road story on your Kindle without using Amazon’s Send to Kindle service. First, download the fiction as an EPUB with WP Downloader. You can then add it to calibre, convert it to AZW3, and transfer it to your Kindle over USB.
Royal Road is home to long web serials, and WP Downloader saves the whole fiction with every chapter in one file. You do not need to move the chapters separately.
What you need
You will need:
- The Royal Road fiction link
- A computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux
- calibre, a free e-book manager
- A USB connection for your Kindle
A Royal Road fiction link usually looks like this:
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/12345You do not need a Royal Road account.
Step 1: Download the Royal Road story as an EPUB
Open the Royal Road downloader. WP Downloader is a free web tool, so there is nothing to install.
Paste the fiction link into the box. WP Downloader will detect that the link is from Royal Road. Choose EPUB as the output format so you can add the file to calibre and convert it for your Kindle.
Turn on the option to include images if you want the story’s images in the book.
WP Downloader will save the whole fiction, including every chapter, as one EPUB. Save the file somewhere you can find it easily.
For more detail, see How to download a Royal Road story.
Step 2: Add the EPUB to calibre
Open calibre and select Add books, then choose the EPUB you downloaded from WP Downloader.
The story will appear in your calibre library. You can edit its metadata or cover before transferring it, but this step is optional.
You can also open the EPUB in calibre’s e-book viewer to check the chapters. The viewer has a Read aloud feature for listening on your computer.
Step 3: Convert the EPUB to AZW3
WP Downloader does not create MOBI or AZW3 files. It provides EPUB files, which calibre can convert to a Kindle format.
Select the story in your calibre library and choose Convert books. Set the output format to AZW3 and start the conversion.
AZW3 is a Kindle format that you can copy to a Kindle over USB. Kindle e-readers can also open MOBI files transferred over USB, but AZW3 works well when converting from EPUB.
Amazon’s Send to Kindle service no longer accepts MOBI files. Kindle e-readers can still open MOBI files copied over USB.
Step 4: Connect your Kindle and send the book
Connect your Kindle to the computer over USB. After calibre recognizes it, select the converted story and choose Send to device.
Calibre will transfer the book to the Kindle. Disconnect the device when the transfer is complete, then open the story on your Kindle for offline reading.
This USB method does not upload the story through Amazon’s Send to Kindle service. To use that service instead, see How to send a Royal Road story to Kindle.
Getting new chapters later
WP Downloader cannot update an EPUB you have already downloaded. When the author adds chapters, return to the Royal Road downloader and download the fiction again.
Add the new EPUB to calibre, convert it to AZW3, and send it to your Kindle over USB. The new file will contain every chapter available when you downloaded it.
For another e-reader, see How to read Royal Road stories on Kobo.
FAQ
Do I need a Royal Road account?
No. WP Downloader does not require an account for Royal Road.
Can WP Downloader create an AZW3 or MOBI file?
No. WP Downloader outputs EPUB and PDF. PDF requires a free Discord sign-in. Download the EPUB and use calibre to convert it to AZW3 or MOBI.
Why use USB instead of Send to Kindle?
With USB, calibre can convert the EPUB and transfer the Kindle file directly to the connected device. You do not have to upload the book through Amazon’s Send to Kindle service.
Can I include images from the Royal Road story?
Yes. Turn on the option to include the story’s images before downloading the book.
Will the book update automatically when new chapters appear?
No. Download the story again with WP Downloader, convert the new EPUB in calibre, and transfer the new version to your Kindle.