A Cosmic Weight

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Decades ago, strange gateways to other worlds opened across Earth. With these came alien races, strange magic, and danger unlike any other. Reed is what most would call an everyday citizen, but when thrust into a broader universe filled with ancient civilizations, eldritch horrors, and godlike powers, it's only natural one must adapt in order to survive.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2022
Author: PatrickSBooth

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.7/ 5.0
Followers: 961
Views: 149,146

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(6)

DimillionRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'll start off with a broad overview of how this book does in the review categories. This story, as of the first hundred pages or so, has been an excellent rendition of urban fantasy. The universe the author has incorporated around/within Earth seems unique and fitting for the genre. The prose is a bit long winded, but follows in the footsteps of the great cosmic horror authors while also taking inspiration from some the style found here on RR when it comes to the progression aspect. Grammar is excellent with only the occasional small error that comes with a lack of professional editing. Our MC, Reed, is a personable character that I feel a lot of readers will be able to relate to while also being distinct in his traits, flaws, and desires.
Now that I've got the review categories out of the way, I'd like to go into detail about the reason why this book is one of if not my favorite up and coming novel on this site. First of all, the mystery, and not in the sense of a who done it detective novel. We as the audience as well as our protagonist are thrust into the middle of the ominous universe the author has created and left piece everything together. There isn't much exposition, and instead Reed/we are forced to come to vague conclusions until further answers are revealed. The writing style helps with this, as a tone of dread and forboding leaves us feeling out of place and without agency, for now.
Next up, the worldbuilding/magic. So far we have only seen the surface of what this book's universe has to offer, with the occasional glance into the unfathomable depths. From what I've seen so far, it truly is a setting unlike anything I've seen before. The magic system too is unique, and very fitting for the setting and genre of the story. The powers are pretty wild and the escalation just as so, which is fitting when it comes to ancient lovecraftian beings.
I tried to give a surface level explanation to what I like about this novel, as part of the joy I derived from readi
EranatosRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This novel is pretty great. So far we have an exciting and thought out world which is being slowly revealed. I am enjoying the mystery and think it's very well done in this regard. In addition to the world building there is a very unique magic system. It's a mix of limitless possibilities tempered by incredibly hard work and high psychological price. We haven't got very deep into the plot yet, but there are definite seeds and possibilities. The main character has also been great, he's very levelheaded and feels realistic. Finally, the writing quality is solid; it hooks you in and the grammar is A+.
TL;DR: Very enjoyble novel carried by the strong MC, creative worldbuiiding, and unique magic system. I recommend this for those who enjoy lovecraftian themes, it's a mix of mysterious and unsettling and is very good. Please write more author, you're doing great
rrname12321Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Enjoying the merious cosmic horror vibe going on in this novel.Looking forward to what happens next and what other horrendous stuff will appear. Grammar and writing are well done.
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Sir. Bluddington IIIRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
This novel is quite different from what I usually read as in most novels you would see systems, cultivation or sci-fi. But in this novel I find something new as it is based off of something as cool as Lovecraft, which I find a nice break from all the regular tropes. I hve chosen to be an extension of the commenters, as I've seen others say a few things similiar as to what I'm about to say. (Not that the things I'm about to say isn't my opinion)
1. The MC has died many times (whether it be in a dream realm or not) and has experienced pain multiple times beyond the norm, and I have only seen the MC get the sweats and the odd yell when he wakes up, which I find a bit weird. To give advice on this I would say to make him a bit unstable or something, whatever you think a person who has died and been tortured multiple times would act like.
2. As I've read the novel I realised the MC is almost too casual about the dream world and it's inhabitants, because if I were in that world I would be freaking out whether I had powers or not and would jump at even my own shadow. If you were to make your MC a bit more freaked out or paranoid about the dream world around him, that would add to what you would expect from a lovecraftian horror story.
1212BRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
TL;DR:
A amazingly ambitious story on a writing level, with a good premise and an intriguing mystery and world at its foundation, yet somewhat dragged down by a style of prose and descriptions that are not completely up to the task and can end up making scenes tedious to read.
Additionally the story suffers from a disproportionate focus in fight scenes to the detriment of other story aspects.
Imagine porting Bloodborne into a novel form, with all the joys and pains that may entail. Then slap a bit of urban fantasy and sci-fi on top of it. That's this story.
The long version — you have been warned:
"A Cosmic Weight" follows a main character, who, 7 years after being involved in Lovecraftian event, finds himself dragged into a ruined city, populated by rabid monsters and remnants of men — bodies warped and misshapen beyond comprehension — every time upon falling sleep.
Suspecting that a looming threat may soon put their plans into motion, our main character uses the time awarded to him by his involuntary trips into this nightmarish world to train and prepare for the inevitable — No matter how often he'll have to go through the feelling of his body getting torn apart.
Sounds neat, right? I think so too.
This story takes inspiration from the Soulsborne franchise, both in setting and in presentation — No other way to say it.
Porting a video game concept to novel form isn't anything unique. What else are litRPGs, but cRPGs and what are Kingdom Builders if not God Games?
The question is, how well does this work for Souls-likes? Or rather, what should be done to preserve the experience and where do you have to change things up from the original forula to create a functioning story?
The Soulsborne games are notorious for a few things: For one their ambiguous, often vague manner of storytelling, that makes most people consult the wiki, or youtube videos. On the other hand it's great, challenging gameplay, with just as great an enemy variety and bombastic boss fights.
Bringing
WaryorWearyRoyal Road
★★★ 3.0
Prologue was almost great. But it reduces to a guy has a thing done to him for ?/no reason/purpose/discernible effect.
7 year timeskip= no distress about timetables.
No description about what younger brother is being taught at official "space mage (actual story name, not mockery)" academy, so no contrast with MC's experiences.
Non-distressing description of Soulsbourne series world, whether it's supposed to be an homage or no.
MC dies, wakes up in real life with no issues except distress. Not much of that. All tension gone.
Vague tourism in other world, some interesting but near useless for combat body cultivation.
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Nothing driving the story, no sense of time constraint, or sanity constraint, no physical changes, nothing really.
it's typed well and is quite legible. But it's less a story you'd tell at the pub and more one you'd endure about your Grandpa's goiter. Competent, but boring.