ABZU

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

'Return. Complete Convergence.' In the shadow of ecological collapse and corporate feudalism, bruised idealists chase meaning through time. At the heart of it all lies Convergence—a spatiotemporal juncture of uncertain proportions, humanity's last chance... or its final undoing. Blending the metaphysical resonance ofDuneandThe Hyperion Cantoswith the haunting techno-mysticism ofBlade RunnerandHorizon: Zero Dawn,ABZUis a labyrinthine exploration of what it means to be human—where truth is mutable, the unknown sacred, and the price of transcendence, fathomless. New chapters on Tuesdays(day job and 'tism permitting—for sometimes I get "the sads") BEFORE YOU READ: ABZUis not a casual read; it’s a million-piece puzzle with no reference image. You’ll pick up pieces that don’t seem to fit, only to realise—chapters later—they were essential all along. This is a slow-burning work of British science fiction, written to be layered and cumulative rather than immediate. It rewards attention and trust, revealing its full shape only at the end. If that’s your kind of story, you're in the right place. Furthermore, by the nature of the story being a complex narrative in active development, consider each chapter a new iteration—the latest upload of a draft in flux. What you read today may shift, transform, orconverge(pun intended) asABZUmoves toward its final form. Your patience and support through this creative process are deeply appreciated. Want to dive deeper?Join your fellow descendants on the officialsubredditandDiscord. Copyright Notice:This fiction is officially hostedonlyon RoyalRoad. If you’re readingABZUelsewhere, it’s an unauthorised copy. Please visit RoyalRoad to read it for free and support the original author. Thank you.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2025
Author: FableFish

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.4/ 5.0
Followers: 495
Views: 45,228

Chapters(53 total)

What readers say about ABZU

“ABZU is everything but a light read for a quick escape from everyday life. If you give it a go, and I really think you should, expect a long hike that will strain your mental muscles, from your attention span to your vocabulary. Three major storylines are b…”
Dormouse PieRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Like the description warns, ABZU is a chonky boy, the kind of book that demands dedicated reading and absolutely refuses to be treated as quick popcorn fiction. It has left my tea undrunk and my biscuits forgotten more times than I can count, because I keep…”
L H GravesRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(6)

Dormouse PieRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
ABZU is everything but a light read for a quick escape from everyday life. If you give it a go, and I really think you should, expect a long hike that will strain your mental muscles, from your attention span to your vocabulary. Three major storylines are braided together: one based on ancient Mesopotamian mythology (think Enūma Eliš or the story of the sons of gods and the daughters of men from Genesis 6:1-4), one playing out in the near future on a barely inhabitable Earth (with some details hitting way too close for comfort), and one of hardcore sci-fi in deep space, with some very imaginative worldbuilding involved. As the story proceeds, the subtle links between the three threads become gradually visible.
Style: Rich and elegant prose that makes you want to keep a dictionary open but will still surprise you with some neologisms (or maybe it's just that I'm ESL and not well-versed in sci-fi, but my point still stands).
Grammar: I like to think I have a keen eye for mistakes, but I didn't spot more than two in the 13 long chapters I've read so far, and even those two were editing mistakes rather than bad grammar.
Characters: As it is to be expected, there are many characters to follow, POV or not. They are all fleshed out sufficiently, each with their own quirks and goals. Interpersonal relationships are treated in a very sensitive and thoughtful way.
Story: The three storylines work seamlessly together, creating a refreshing variety within the book. However (and this is my only gripe with this book) I don't think the serialised format does justice to the story. It would work much better as a printed book, where you can easily go back and double-check some details you might have not paid sufficient attention to previously. I hope it will make it to printed format sooner or later!
L H GravesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Like the description warns, ABZU is a chonky boy, the kind of book that demands dedicated reading and absolutely refuses to be treated as quick popcorn fiction. It has left my tea undrunk and my biscuits forgotten more times than I can count, because I keep flipping back to earlier chapters to reread scenes and build up my speculations. If ABZU ever becomes a hardcover, I’ll need two: one for the shelf, and one I will absolutely devastate with dog-ears and highlights.
At its core, ABZU weaves three stories together, threads stretching from the mystical Mesopotamian era to a dystopian, noiresque neo-Britannia and onward into space. As the story progresses, these timelines that shouldn’t influence each other begin to resonate, creating a world that feels rich, layered, and full of mystery and momentum.
Style: Lively, flowing prose that softens the edges of a sprawling plot. Captivating writing that leaves you breathless (and your tea cooling on the table). The world feels genuinely lived in with accents, mannerisms, beliefs, and religions that make every scene textured. My only tiny gripe is the usage of apostrophes to differentiate dialogue, but that’s a personal preference, not a real complaint.
Story: I still have no idea how the three timelines work together so smoothly, and I’m anxious to read more. The story is built carefully, layer by layer, and sometimes a casual mention of one item sends you back to reread the moment it first appeared. It rewards attention, and it knows it.
Grammar: While I’m barely literate in English and have no business judging anyone on mechanics, I think I spotted… one typo. And no, I'm not telling where it is :)
Characters: This is where ABZU truly shines. Once you’ve spent time with the cast, you could take out every beat and tag and still know exactly who’s speaking. Every character has their own cadence, vocabulary, dialect, or accent that makes them instantly recognizable. They have their own aspirations, and feel like they’ve live
WiltshiredorneyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Absolutely fantastic work Isabel. I’ve obviously been following you for a while on your different platforms, so have had quite a head start on reading Abzu Descendant Arising. The characters are nuanced and interesting. The historical fiction and religious mysticism blended with near future sci-fi detective mystery is really unique (at least to me in what I’ve read in the past). I think the way you describe each of the scenes is superb and transports me straight to the location in a way that rarely happens for me as I’m typically not too imaginative when reading. I’m really hooked on the different story threads you have set in this first pieces and am absolutely desperate to know the origin and meaning for the stone and spire. I can’t really imagine how you are going to link Kis with NeoBritannia, but I can’t wait to find out how you ultimately do. My favourite story line currently is Kis because I can just tell it’s going to be central to the future plot lines, which is also interesting because I typically much prefer sci fi over fantasy elements. I love the changes you’ve made in this version, it’s a much more simple narrative, but I look forward to you stirring in the additional storylines in the future books.
czroseRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
ABZU has never failed to inspire, impress, and surprise me, from day one until now. The writing is consistent and spectacular, the chapters are flawless and tightly written, the settings are vivid, and the characters are refreshingly diverse. It’s easy to tell that great care went into writing every sentence and paragraph. It never feels like anything is wasteful, which I can really appreciate as a reader.
Whether it’s following the lives of laymen or leaders from the futuristic Neo Britannia to the antiquated Kiš, it’s hard not to find something that lures you in and keeps you wanting to learn more. Each character has their own unique voice, perspective and history. Everyone brings something to the table, and as the story unfolds, even more new voices and stories appear. Nothing is ever dull, and action is always happening somewhere.
Though we’ve reached the end of Book 1, the history and scope of this series so vast that I can’t wait to delve back into the story again and uncover more of its many thought-provoking mysteries. (Not to mention, the fallout of a lot of the decisions our beloved characters have made!)
I’m looking forward to seeing the series flourish and grow—it truly deserves the love.
treasuresofartemisRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
From the very first chapter, this book captivated me. The author’s writing style is nothing short of breathtaking. Every sentence feels like it’s been lovingly hand-carved, as if each word was chosen with reverence. There’s a quiet poetry to the prose that makes even the smallest moments feel grand, and I often found myself rereading passages just to experience the beauty of the language again.
I love how seamlessly it weaves together genres…traditional fantasy, dystopian sci-fi, and a haunting post-apocalyptic backdrop. Somehow, the author makes these elements coexist in a world that feels entirely natural and incredibly alive. It’s an awesome mix, familiar and yet entirely new.
The storylines are absolutely gripping, but the narrative set in Kiš stands out as my personal favourite. It’s rich and compelling, and the vivid descriptions make me feel completely transported there. I’m especially fascinated by the Igegi, these ancient, downtrodden people who clearly hold a deep well of knowledge that feels like it’s going to be crucial to the story’s unfolding. And Sophie’s storyline…she’s kick-ass, and the race scenes are absolutely thrilling.
I genuinely cannot wait to read more.
veskiRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
ABZU is grand and innovative; an epic tale unlike any other for lovers of both sci-fi and fantasy alike. From the early chapters, it immediately became clear to me—ah, this author has put so much passion and thought into the world and its cast of characters. The scale of the story’s universe can be felt woven into each purposeful line of dialogue, interaction, and description. There’s nothing superfluous. Every character and scene flows with intrigue and hidden depths; strictly necessary and widely entertaining. As someone who has read more fantasy than hard sci-fi, the author’s implementation of scientific exposition was compelling and easy to digest.
Accompanied by prose both beautiful and engrossing, I thoroughly enjoyed everyone’s unique and memorable characterisations—whether they be a main or side character—the range of interesting perspectives that we get to explore; and the interweaving of backstories, memories, into a character’s introspective moments. (Sahâru, my beloved! 🥲)
Although there are multiple storylines to follow—and an abundance of delicious mysteries to uncover—it doesn’t feel overwhelming nor is it confusing, as the three timelines are very distinct and well executed, yet somehow maintains the “feeling” of ABZU throughout them all.
From the morsels of Kiš’s divine lore, to Neo Britannia’s cyberpunk clash of old and new, and Yuketis Beta’s intrigue of aliens and starships—all of it “converges” into a fascinating fragment of a larger painting that I’m excited to see finished!