A Cursed Cleaning [STUBBED!]

Information

Status

Ongoing

Year

2024

Author

Ellen Taylor

• E-book AND paperback out now!!
  Sep 8, 2025
• Chapter 1
  Nov 2, 2024

What readers say about A Cursed Cleaning [STUBBED!]

• “This story has great character growth, angst, cleaning, horror, and cozy. Good story length and pacing. I’m not the greatest fan of cozy games but thoroughly enjoyed this work. The first draft is finished so there’s a whole lot of scrumptious words to binge…”

  MrlemonyRoyal Road5.0 / 5

• “I'll go through each section one by one: Overall: It was pretty new concept to me, never knew cleaning could be this intriguing as I'm pretty lazy myself, but I enjoyed throughout the chapters it was a greatly depicted story from my point of view. Style : I…”

  Mukund_Vishwa95Royal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

Community Reviews(10)

• MrlemonyRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This story has great character growth, angst, cleaning, horror, and cozy. Good story length and pacing. I’m not the greatest fan of cozy games but thoroughly enjoyed this work. The first draft is finished so there’s a whole lot of scrumptious words to binge. I don’t know what else to say except that you should definitely read it.
• Mukund_Vishwa95Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I'll go through each section one by one:
  Overall:
  It was pretty new concept to me, never knew cleaning could be this intriguing as I'm pretty lazy myself, but I enjoyed throughout the chapters it was a greatly depicted story from my point of view.
  Style :
  I found style of writer very amazing I'm not a fan of very big and complicated English words I've always hated them, and in this story the words were pretty easy to get and that's why I was able to feal the story, the pace and transition are well written.
  Story :
  As mentioned previously it was a new concept to me, the texture of LitRPG combining the farming simulation and horror game resulted into a quite nice of story line. I found this idea very very interesting and was amazed even in the first chapter, story is well thought by the author and I'm not getting tired of parsing such a creative story.
  Character :
  Till ch 6 I this whole story have been roaming around only main character and other than her only one other character was introduced.
  So this story have less characters to work with.
  The main character doesn't remembering anything at all does give it a good point of start and it does add humorous tone too.
  But if try introducing more characters this could have been better because sometimes following through thought of a single character having no other type of interaction in the story sometimes bored me.
  Grammar:
  Simply put grammar was flawless I'm not a good person to judge for grammar anyway so just, FULL POINTS.
• ArelaiRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This was fantastic! This was incredible! This was on my recommended list. And I avoided it…. Then I read it and could not stop.  I hate scary movies but this was just right. It felt like I was watching 6th Sense for the first time again. I kept wishing this were a movie.
• MrMaddavinciRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I have one gripe to author but other than this this was a wonderful story. Now on to the gripe in the last 30-35 chapters there are a few words misspelled, a few random letter switch, or misused word as the word used sounds almost exactly like the correct one. Other than that it was a truly wonderful read.
• FoamKnightRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This story has a very intriguing premise. It wastes no time in getting to the meat and potatoes of the tale, and by the end of the first chapter I was hooked. Horror and LitRPG seem like a match made in heaven.
  Grammar: I noticed no spelling mistakes and nothing pulled me out of the story. Easy five stars.
  Style: there are a lot of beautiful and atmospheric descriptions that really make the house and the scenery come alive. You can really get a feel on what the MC pays attention to and every once in a while the sinister aspects of the world around her creep in. Very nice.
  Story: The plot and the mystery surrounding our nameless MC are a definite strong point. Information is revealed in just the right speed to keep you interested and craving for more.
  Character: The MC is a nice change of pace from the usual LitRPG protagonist iching to commit mass murder on a grand scale. She feels like an actual person with likes and dislikes, fears and doubts. These aspects of her character inform her choices in a natural way, which makes watching her progress very compelling.
  What are you waiting for? Chapter 1 is right there!
• John Stax (Fobywoby)Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Starting this review off, I had no idea what I was getting into before I started reading. I liked the picture and the title and that was enough.
  Once I got going, I was immediately taken by the style of writing. The author has a beautiful way with words and the prose are smooth.
  Overall Score: 5/5
  I feel like I'm just getting into the story. It's always so hard to say anything of the overall plot and characters this early. But what I can say is that I really enjoy spending time with this story. The write makes it a comfortable journey and it feels like sinking into an old sofa, the kind that only gets more and more comfortable as it ages.
  Style: 7/5
  Again, style for me is big point. I really like how smooth the writing is. You can tell that the author has been writing and this isn't her first novel. I'm going to be going and checking out some of her other work as well.
  Grammar: 5/5
  I'm no gramatician but this book is solid so far, and is distraction free. Especially seeing that Royal Road is often a place for first drafts, this one has nothing to complain about.
  Story Score: 5/5
  This one is the hardest as we are still so early.
  But, I definitely enjoyed the hook. And did not expect this style of gamelit. Not sure if that is a spoiler at all so I'll mark it in the spoiler tags. Did not expect this at all! Very cool! It isn't the type of game I usually play but still, I can really appreciate the author taking on this different angle.
  Character Score:
  I like the way she links and processes. But I feel there is much more to learn about her.
  Overall, you should give this story a shot. If you are looking for a cozy, sort of slice of life (and a well written one at that) this is great place to go.
• Junimo45Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  A tad confusing at first, which I think is intended. The story picks up and keeps going strong. I enjoyed the portrayal of different aspects of the psyche through the lens of farming and horror.
  My only small complaint, is the final act seemed a bit rushed. Still a great story and an enjoyable read.
• GodlyskeletonRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This story is an absolute gem, blending elements of cozy, relatable moments with an undercurrent of creeping horror that keeps you hooked. The protagonist waking up in a dilapidated house with no memory and a cryptic to-do list feels familiar but still fresh, especially when paired with the eerie threat of *“they”* arriving in seven days. I loved how the main character’s personality shines through her actions and inner thoughts—practical, sarcastic, and just the right amount of stubborn. Her decision to focus on cleaning and organizing while actively ignoring whatever might be lurking in the shadows is not only relatable but adds a layer of humor that balances the tension perfectly.  That was a great touch.
  The writing is incredibly easy to follow, with descriptions that bring the house to life—every mildew-covered wall, dead plant, and creaking floorboard feels vivid and immersive. I could picture the setting so clearly that I almost felt like I was there (though thankfully, not barefoot on that crusty carpet). The balance of horror and humor is handled expertly. Small victories, like clearing a room or finding a key, feel monumental against the strange, oppressive environment, and they make you root for the protagonist even more.
  The pacing is just right, allowing the tension to build naturally without rushing into major plot points. The subtle use of game-like mechanics—like sanity and stamina—adds a clever twist, making it feel almost interactive. Honestly, there’s little to criticize here. If anything, a tiny detail in the dialogue could be slightly clearer, but it’s barely noticeable.
  Overall, this story is a fantastic mix of creativity, tension, and humor. It’s the kind of story that leaves you eager to see what’s coming next, and I’ll definitely be following along. If you enjoy stories that balance charm and suspense seamlessly, don’t miss this one.
• Busrob62Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I liked the beginning of this story very much.  The atmosphere reminded me of  the Early M. Night Shyamalan movies, where you had very little information at the start of the movie but the atmosphere and the setting of the story immediately draw you in.  That’s how I felt here, I had very little information about  the MC, but the deep descriptions of the house and the things in it more then made up for it.  And I had that feeling from the start of a big reveal coming at me in the chapters ahead.
  Grammar:  I’m not an expert, but I saw nothing that tripped me up or drew me out of the story, so I gave it five stars.
  Style:  I don’t like writing first person, but I’m okay reading it.  I don’t however dock points based on my own proclivities,  I think the Style chosen was brought forth and handled well.
  Story:  Even though the story has game mechanics in it, I didn’t feel like I was reading a LitRPG or anything like that.  The mechanics seem to be another facet of the plot, verses a requirement of a genre.  The descriptions of the house and the things in it are great, and not overbearing.   And the suspense is well balanced and reminds me of The Village where the menace of “Those we don’t speak of.”  Hangs over you from the beginning, but you never even see them  till the middle of the movie.
  Characters:  The woman is well written,  even thought there isn’t much information about her in the first 6 chapters, but  she does make you care for her and her situation.  The main character so far though, at least for me has been the house.  The descriptions of the hose and the different parts of it, are so vivid, that o feel like it’s a Character I have spent a whole book getting to know.  Very well done in that respect.
  Overall:  I enjoyed reading the first part of this book and will return to Sade what the big reveal is.  The beginning is top notch and was easy and enjoyable to read.
• Nightmare723764Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  So I just watched the demo of We Harvest Shadows not long after I read this and as I was watching I thought "Wait a minute..."
  So I'm genuinely curious, did you write this before We Harvest Shadows or after playing the demo? Doesn't really matter, it's still an amazing story, but still the similarities are there.