A Chronicle of Lies (old version)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Falius... a vibrant world with a troubled past. Its myths speak of an enigmatic figure. The tales and legends speak of a hero who will save the people from tragedy and in the same breath, condemn them to suffering. Others speak of an idiot and a savant, a savior and a tyrant. The stories are many, and they are filled with contradictions. Few believe such folklore these days.

However, a strange being has appeared near Lorix's Eye, an ancient evil stirs at his presence. Foreboding weather phenomena are appearing all across the land. Some believe this stranger may be the Paradox. He shows all the signs. But he believes himself to be a "human" from some place called "Earth. He thinks their world is nothing more than a delusion caused by a madness called "schizophrenia", so he refuses to participate in their prophecies.

Cover art by Intricatevision

A schizophrenic getting sucked into a fantasy world is an idea I've had since at least 2007-ish. It popped into my head while I was mowing the lawn (go figure...) and has never left. But I also take inspiration from many fantasies that came out between 1970-1990 (Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Neverending Story, etc). I am also inspired by the works of Stephen R. Donaldson (Thomas Covenant in particular), and by my secret affection for boy-befriends-monster/alien stories.

I wanted to weave a dark psychological narrative into an 80s era fantasy, basically. I want to invoke the same child-like wonder I had when I watched Neverending Story while also creating a philosophical narrative that (I hope) will stay in peoples' heads.

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I added the "disturbing content" tag because this story does deal with mental illness.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2023
Author: Mekanip

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.5/ 5.0
Followers: 353
Views: 11,743

Chapters(11 total)

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(10)

BuckleRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
For starters, I cannot praise the protagonist enough for a multitude of reasons. He is cynical, sarcastic and short tempered, with a borderline cruel outlook at times. Yet it almost never feels like it comes from his heart. Every outburst, flippant comment or rude remark feels justified by his situation, his interactions with others and the history of his character (no spoilers here tho.) But the author doesnt run away with the context and use it as an excuse to be cruel or edgy, most what you see (or read) comes with consequences, relationship changes and internal conflicts of guilt and desperation.
This is not to say the story is only a slog of angst and shouting. The story likes to swap from dark topics of dysphoria and psychosis to the greys and lights of the world he now inhabits, real or not. Beautiful scenery, grand adventure, soulful character moments and a deep theme of emotional whiplash between awe and panic and snark. A fun rollercoaster that never bogs down, but never lets whimsy take meaning away from the protagonists beliefs and struggles.
Overall, I must say this is one of the most enthralling and unique reading experiences on the site. So different that even the good old isekai story plot feels like an inept way to describe the fantasy you fall into.
The only issue i find myself with is the naming of some of the characters and titled positions being similar enough sometimes that i lose track of what is what, but it doesnt feel like a big issue in a story about confusion in a new world.
HitmarkRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
First of all, the cover photo is great. Although, I still don't see the significance in the story. Perhaps it will come in a later date. It does catch the attention of the viewer since it is a pretty unique image.
The summary is great. It told us the background information of the novel and let us know what to expect. It wasn't too revealing either and leaves some space to explore.
As for the story, it's amazing. I did get a little confused at first since the terms used were own made if I'm not wrong. The lack of description on them did disorient me a little, but that's just me.
The dialogue is something else. Especially when they trashtalked ISlap and the kid just kept on coming. It's very realistic and relatable for some of us. I'd say it's very well done. Same goes gor grammar. I didn't see any mistake which is amazing. What I did notice though is that sometimes you over describe things. Like the part where you said "His mind in a fog and his thoughts mush" It felt like you repeated your words. But that might just be me(again)
Overall, it's a 5/5 for me.
M.C. SiegelRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story is so good, it makes me angry. I now get what Brahms must have been feeling like when he was editing the score of Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B minor.
Story: By Chapter 2, my wish fulfillment / escapism was satisfied; it's only been getting better there. The premise of A Chronicle of Lies is elgant and simple: Vincent Cordell, Chicago native, Electrical engineering major, and sufferer of early-onset schizophrenia has a run-in with a mysterious force that is subbing in for Truck-kun. Vincent awakens to find himself transformed into an anthromorphic dragon in a Jim Henson-esque fantasy world, and neither Vincent nor the voices in his head are happy about it. I'm a sucker for transformation stories like these, even more so when the protagonist isn't happy about it. The isekai factor works perfectly here; this is a classic Portal Fantasy story, no subversion (at least not yet) or betrayed expectations. Vincent is a fish-out-of-water (or, should I say, dragon-out-of-water?), and his confusion and frustration with his bew reality greatly enhance the setting's effect. Everything is as weird and wild to the reader as it is to Vincent, and his unabashedly modern reactions to the world and its inhabitants help the journey come alive. This is not a story with dramatic intrigue or spitfire action, but the pacing feels great to me; the world is as much of a character as Vincent is, and the story does a masterful job of constantly drip-feeding the reader information. Your desire to find out what happens next comes less from a feeling of suspense and more from the desire to see what lies over the next hill, or in the next village that Vincent will pass by. It's a simple pleasure, and I love it.
The reason why I don't give the story score a full 4/5 is a bit complicated, and I will elaborate on it when discussing the character score.
Style: This is absolutely A Chronicle of Lies' strongest attribute. The world-building is vivid and refreshing. It's done in the older style
MajiriRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
An inventive setting and plot with a unique protagonist. Engaging characters and an intriguing mystery make this a must read. Mystery, fantasy, horror, drama, and madness are all interwoven into a brilliant, entrancing blend that has kept me hooked through each chapter. I started reading this on another website and came over to this one when the author started publishing it here.
This story is a unique take on an Isekai plot. Where most Isekai stories have the main character reincarnate in a human body in a human land, or some monster in a human land, this one veers off that path and has the main character painfully ripped from his home and twisted into an alien creature. This leaves him, understandably, upset.
Our main character, Vincent, walks a very delicate balance. Many of his actions could be viewed as rude or selfish, but the framing of the story and the scenarios he finds himself in, not to mention his condition, make just about everything he does understandable, even sympathetic. He is a unique brand of protagonist, refreshing and enjoyable to read. He is not the most likable person, the characters around him show remarkable patience when dealing with him, but I find myself rooting for him.
The world that Vincent finds himself in is one of wonders. The author does a fantastic job of painting a picture of the alien world of Falius. The creatures Vincent encounters are more than just "normal earth animal but with a fantasy name" like what you find in so many mainstream fantasy stories. This makes for a wonderful ride for the reader but an understandable nightmare for Vincent. Even the ground he walks on doesn't behave properly.
The characters that we meet along the journey have been varied and intriguing. From the standoffish Slade, to the reflective Tuls, and the wise and troubled Thal'rin, there isn't any character that stays around for more than a paragraph that feels anything less than three dimensional and real. Their grounded and believable personalitie
Ryan_HairRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A Chronicle of Lies is like a rollercoaster. Not just any rollercoaster but the kind that has you nervous before you board. It's the night of Halloween and you have this feeling of anticipation and excitement but also a note of uncertainty. That's how I felt reading this story.
Character: Vincent is that rider who is either strangely calm or freaking out the worst. The story being told through his eyes is incredibly engaging and is the strongest part of the novel for me. The schizophrenic viewpoint we are given throughout has me glued to the railing as I brace for more chapters.
Grammar: I have nothing to say here besides that it's impeccable. Not any screws loose on the rollercoaster that I can point out. Well done.
Story: I had no idea where this story would go next in all the good and bad that it brings. I wasn't staying for the story or the 'rails" of the coaster. I stayed for Vincent and wanted to watch how his ride would develop. It is a unique approach to the isekai and new body in a new world genre. I hadn't read anything quite so stand out-ish in a while. I was really impressed.
Style: Come on. This rollercoaster is incredibly well-designed. It looks cool, it feels unique and most of all as you read or ride you appreciate how it smoothly runs.
This is Royal Road's hidden gem that deserves more attention. In the future after the author undergoes editing and proofreading of this story. I am sure it could become a published success. Don't be afraid to try out the ride, hop on!!
Snowy KnightRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Whew boy, this is a doozy. I never expected to find a story like this on Royal Road, and I definitely never expected to like it as much as I do.
This is a dark, melancholic, eerie, introspective, fantasy story, punctuated by bursts of wonder and delight.
STYLE:
The style is absolutely out of this world, and if I could, I'd give it a 7/5. The world that Mekanip paints is larger than life: filled with bizarre cultures, hideous monsters, scrunkly creatures, and some of the coolest fantasy imagery I've ever read. Patchwork Continents held together by gigantic silver cable; haunting lonely forests filled with blindfolded pilgrims; quiet homesteads perched on the edge of windswept wilderness; magnificent crystal cities festooned with upwards flowing fountains. It's like someone mashed The Dark Crystal, Ralph Bakshi's Fire and Ice, Heavy Metal, The Never Ending Story, The Warriors of Virtue, and a dozen other forgotten and half-remembered old fantasy works into a beautiful conglomeration, had a month long nightmare about the resultant work, then put that nightmare into a story.
The wonder and eeriness of the setting are, IMHO, unmatched, and I am going to be stealing a lot of this for my TTRPG campaigns, which is the highest compliment I can give a setting.
The physical spectacle is not all that the author has to offer, either. Our protagonist, as a result of his schizophrenia colliding with a fantasy setting, occasionally sees reality, thought, and symbolism combine into gruesome and beautiful imagery. Piecing together just what is going on, and sifting out the difference between symbolism, representation, and literal fact is a delight. These chapters are chewy and velvety, like a rich cut of meat floating in its own broth.
STORY:
The story doesn't disappoint either. There are three stories here: the struggles of a fantasy land facing apocalypse, a wayward young man struggling to survive in a foreign land, and a schizophrenic trying to separate delusion from fiction while
Fallout514Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Disclaimer : I'll state first that I read this on a different website as a heads up.
The plot to the story isn't something that I haven't personally come across and is uniqe in its own right. The author does their due dilgence of exploring Vincent's mindset of his new reality along with its impact on the people around him.The MC's thoughts and actions reflect that he's been struggle with schizophrenia for for all his life really well, (Potential spoilers here)
It helps establish the history of him fighting for a normal life and refusing to give in while at the same time making him a more believable character. Vincent does seem like an a jerk for some parts, but honestly it feels completely understandable from his position. Fighting daily to be treated as a person trying to live a normal life only to have it snatched by, from Vincent's perspective, the very same thing that's fucked up his life from five years old.
The world building compliments the main character with how alien it can feel at times. Through, I feel the meat and bones of it is seeing it via Vincent's interactions and reactions. Thankfully when something new gets introduced it dosn't overstay its welcome; it dosen't try to steal the limelight away from the MC or the story itself.
From-the-DeadRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Originally, I had read up to chapter twenty on a different website as I was informed that this site had the most updated version of the story and the other site cut off at chapter twenty anyways. I've recently managed to get back into the story and am genuinely a bit upset with myself for both having held off for so long and for going through it all as quickly as I had as doing so has left me simply craving more. In short, "A Chronicle of Lies" is a beautifully polished experience with the otherworldly imagination blending enchanting, medieval fantasy with Lovecraftian horror elements to generate a vibrant and enthralling, if even at stages nightmarish, world to get lost in.
The story itself is a finely constructed sequence that maintains a steady pace before multiple upward spikes in narrative tension and intrigue. Without spoiling anything, the earlier chapters center around the protagonist and the situation he finds himself in. We're initially introduced to the world, Falius, as being entirely alien in terms of life but with a medieval fantasy society inhabiting the gorgeous and vividly described landscape. The attention to even the smallest details is made evident in the overall descriptive work and the rampant imagination concerning living in the world of Falius is expertly handled to make a truly believable setting. At no time throughout the story does it feel as though the level of detail is slipping and the mental images will leave anyone interested in such a story on the edge of their seats.
Although I had found myself interested simply by the prologue which acted as a foreboding introduction, the overarching story itself makes a most intriguing case for itself by taking a familiar formula of transporting the protagonist from his world to a brand new and foreign one by giving said protagonist schizophrenia. It is certainly interesting to see the struggles the protagonist faces as the initial shock fades; rather than succumbing to interest and wonder
The Reality Next DoorRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Ok, let's start at the beginning, since there are quite some things we will need to unpack for this review and why I rated it with 4.5 stars.
This story has my head spinning, it starts simple with a gaming section but soon turns into such horror of the mind I had to stop reading, or I felt like I would go insane. If you can handle this, then this surely is something you would love to read.
The grammar is superb, I've noticed that some people pointed out mistakes, and they were promptly fixed.
The character feels real and is written very well, maybe a bit too well.
I can't handle reading beyond chapter 5, the only thing I do like to mention is that the chapters feel a bit too long, but it might just be me, hoping to reach the end.
I am glad that the author listened well to the people pointing out mistakes and I have learned myself, this is a good way to improve, but it is important to keep your own style as well. Learn from your mistakes, but don't let other people influence you too badly.
If you enjoy stories that can freak you out, then certainly, go on, read this, you will not be disappointed.
HalfliteRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
This is my first time reviewing on the site, so I'll try and justify my points as well as I can, but I think generally I can come across as more critical than I actually intend. I very much enjoyed this story; it's the first one on Royal Road that I read front to back, and there is very much a reason for that. Please note that I am rating this compared to all stories I've read, not just fictions on this site.
In one of the chapter notes the author said this was a stub for a planned series, and it is a very strong start for an epic I hope comes to fruition.
Style:
Easily the best part about "A Chronicle of Lies" is the style. If you enjoy tight world-building, you should read this story.
The author cares deeply about this world and it shows. The land of Falius feels fully realized, with purposeful history ingrained into the environments and traditions of the world that also complement the story and characters. Abstract elements like land threads and false conduits are utilized in a way that make me believe the author has thought about the mechanics a lot and chased down their natural conclusions. The attention to detail allows me to trust that even the unexplained parts of the world have explanations to them.
"A Chronicle of Lies" blends lighter aspects like beauty and levity with the dark fantasy premise expertly. The landmarks and wonders of Falius capture the awe of both Vincent and the reader, and gives us a reason to be invested into this world. Meanwhile, the antagonistic force is one of the most existential and horrifying concepts I've read; I wouldn't wish its fate on my worst enemy.
The way that the stormspawn behave and the way that Falius seems to personally invest in Vincent (such as the storms giving flashes of his memory back) makes it apparent that there is something up with the world, and gives credence to Vincent's assumption that this is all inside his head, and I love the fact that it isn't clear-cut whether what is happening on Falius is real or n