Ad Astra

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Astra was born without any talent in cultivation and, being orphaned from a young age, didn't have many other prospects for thriving on the mining colony she called home. After naively buying a mysterious map from a sketchy old man, and being chased by a deranged cultivator for said map, she stumbles upon an opportunity that will change her life, and her fate. Now given the opportunity to cultivate, Astra must find a way to thrive in this brand new world that has opened up to her. Join Astra as she begins her cultivation journey, gathers allies and friends, fights against demonic beasts and cultivators alike, and steadily makes her way, to the stars. *** Just like Astra's journey has a start, this story was my start to writing. My writing has vastly improved over the years, and just as I hope you wont look down on Astra when she's weak at the beginning of her journey; I hope you'll give me the same consideration. After all, the Dao of Writing is its own path, and this story is a record of my journey on that path. As such, Its unlikely ill go back and change the early parts of the story for content of writing quality, even if/when I edit this story for a paper release if I choose to do so. If you're reading this anywhere but on Royal Road or by a link I've personally sent you then it's being pirated against my desires and will. Come read it on Royal Road! It's totally free there and the view numbers mean a lot!

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2023
Author: DaBellerz

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.0/ 5.0
Followers: 1,038
Views: 235,833

What readers say about Ad Astra

“Okay, first of all, did you see that cover? Gorgeous, and the volume art matches it for a sight you wanna see. And once I started the story, Ad Astra kept me flipping the pages. Astra is an instantly lovable character, imperfect and relatable. The dialogue…”
Ayela ArcanaRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“A new take on the cultivation journy genre. Where not everyone is a greedy asshole obsessed with face, and the availablilty of SiFi technology is a matter of culture. That said the the main character seems to have everything she needs handed to her on a sil…”
Element_WeaverRoyal Road4.5 / 5

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(6)

Ayela ArcanaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Okay, first of all, did you see that cover? Gorgeous, and the volume art matches it for a sight you wanna see. And once I started the story, Ad Astra kept me flipping the pages.
Astra is an instantly lovable character, imperfect and relatable. The dialogue is vivid, engaging, and oftentimes funny, as is her inner monologue. The world she occupies is fascinating. Astra cultivates qi from the elements, and thankfully for her, she has Text to help her along when she needs it, which is quite often.
Her relationship with Text is really funny, and that grows into a necessity as dangerous situations arise. The action sequences are entertaining to read, and the internal tension of the character is portrayed so I was feeling her every step of the way.
What I loved reading most was Astra’s cultivation experiences and the swirling vortices of energy. The writing paints the cultivation so dynamically that I could see it and feel it as though I really were Astra. And she isn’t a fluffy character, she uses her power to help those who are defenseless, so how can you not love that?
The author is quick to make corrections when needed, and even better, is very engaged with the readers through notes and comments, which makes this book all the more delightful to read.
Yes, this is my first Xianxia, and I’m glad that I opened it because time flew by as I got lost in its pages. And that is exactly what you want to happen when you start a new book!
Element_WeaverRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
A new take on the cultivation journy genre. Where not everyone is a greedy asshole obsessed with face, and the availablilty of SiFi technology is a matter of culture.
That said the the main character seems to have everything she needs handed to her on a silver platter and never really suffers lasting consequences from actions taken by her or others. It would definitely add to the story if she loses some of what she has gained ether by theft, defeat, or betrayal.
MapleSyrpRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Its good, if you like xinxia and can handle a little space travel then i think you should give it a shit. I did and i dont regret it. I look forward to see what happens and what the author has in store for us. The combat was pretty decent but i look forward to when out mc is a bit more powerful and can really open a can of woop'ass.
DavevwRoyal Road
★★★★ 3.5
I'm enjoying the story, but on the whole the MC is waaaaay to trusting. She seems to spill her secrets at the drop of a hat. Also, the conflicts (so far) seem to be resolved very easily.
I'm not always looking for a grimdark slog of trials, but a little more effort to complete her goals might be warranted.
Death Threat CollectorRoyal Road
★★★ 3.0
The premise is interesting, cultivation and sci fi meet. The summary promises an underdog's struggles.
Except thats a lie, she starts in a shitty position but it's really just "poor." Nothing else of note about her situation. No debts, no friends, no enemies. She could've just as well just spawned into existence then and there and nothing of note would change.
She's being chased by a cultivator in the first chapter and as she's pushed into a corner a deus ex machina gold finger saves her ass. Which may or may not be related to the map, it doesnt seem so but it IS immediately forgotten after the gold finger shows up, so I guess it is?
The action scenes feel like shes doing chores. No tension, nos stakes. Just flat statement of what they do. No detail, no feeling, no stakes, no consequence, just "A results in B." Like crossing off a list.
Characters! They have a clear intended attitude... Yep. Thats all I have to say about em. The dialogue is flat facts, no character, no attitude, no feeling, no emotion, no character voice. Just facts like crossing off a list. Again.
The story, again, feels like a checklist of tropes. Theres no real indication of thought or a plan, Astra's plan for the future is literally just a hollow, generic, "get stronger," a perfect moment for demonstrating character and it is passed upon like it doesnt even matter.
There is no style, no plot, no character. Everything feels like checking a list of things to do and is immediately forgotten. There's no real bad, there's no real good. The whole thing is just... hollow. Missing a soul.
At least there's nothing wrong with the grammar.
EmptyOwlRoyal Road
★★★ 2.5
This is an entertaining bit of fluff with a likeable MC. The story and world building are inconsistent and chaotic, the plots simplistic and unsophisticated, and the setting unnecessarily complicated with the addition of spaceships and technology. It is an agreeable filler between more serious reading, but hard to take seriously as there is so much inconsistency and retconnig.
Also, please number your chapters.