Averix: Call of the Everloft (Progression Fantasy LitRPG)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

*Please note: this story and all its characters/terms are owned by IronLung (the new author account of JS Boyd)

Female MC/Multi-POV

Psychologically focused LitRPG

A character-driven Dark Fantasy narrative

Come chat Everloft atThe Darklands

Three Warriors.One dungeon.Limitless darkness...

In the land of Averix, one threat looms large over the entire realm: the great gaping pit in the earth known as The Everloft - a sentient dungeon with ten floors, all more gruesome than the last. For centuries this rot-infested chasm has lured adventurers to their doom with promises of riches beyond belief, only to swallow them one by one.

Now, against the cold breath of winter, three more unsuspecting mortals shall vow to traverse the darkness of the dungeon. And, while their motives might be quite different, one truth remains:

The Everloft hungers. And they shall be its finest meal.

UPLOAD SCHEDULE: Twochapters/week (Monday and Friday)

Read up to 15 chapters ahead on Patreon

NSFW scenes available on Patreon.

Cover by @cchaos

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2023
Author: Traversing the Dark

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.2/ 5.0
Followers: 901
Views: 125,278

Chapters(82 total)

What readers say about Averix: Call of the Everloft (Progression Fantasy LitRPG)

“As a note: I have read other works by the author before reading Averix, but this is my first time reading Averix. This was my first time reading a litRPG story and so I had no idea what to expect as far as that aspect of the story went, but I was easily abl…”
-Werewolf14-Royal Road5.0 / 5
“I've absolutely enjoyed Boyd's previous work before, and just like the other stories, this one is most definitely deserving of a 5/5 on all aspects. The story is incredibly well written. Its detailed descriptions paint a beautiful (and sometimes utterly hor…”
A.J. van ScherpenzeelRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

-Werewolf14-Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
As a note: I have read other works by the author before reading Averix, but this is my first time reading Averix.
This was my first time reading a litRPG story and so I had no idea what to expect as far as that aspect of the story went, but I was easily able to follow the litRPG part of the story and it was explained in a way that naturally worked with the story but also gave enough detail that someone like me, who was unfamiliar with litRPG, could seamlessly follow
This story is dark and has some very dark themes in it, so it's not for everyone by any means. However, the dark themes I've read thus far have been treated with respect and the balance has been found to avoid gratuitous detail.
The plot has been very intriguing thus far and hooked me in right from the very first chapter, and I cannot wait to see what's in store for the coming chapters. The story moves at a good pace- it gets faster during action scenes so the reader feels the movement and emotions the character in the story does, but it slows down for more relaxed scenes so the reader can really feel what the character/s in the scene do, and the author has done a great job at capturing those emotions and putting them onto the page for the reader to see and feel.
The characters are all well-developed and have their own voices and unique strengths/weaknesses. Each has their own clear voice and motives and way of approaching the world that helps bring the story and world to life. Some characters have pretty dark backstories that shape how they move through the story, while some, like Marius (a personal favorite of mine), have great senses of humor, even in very dark situations. Averix is told through several POVs, and it's clear who is narrating, even without the character's name at the top of the chapter, something I sometimes worry a bit about when I see that there are multiple narrating POVs. But in Averix, it's clear who is narrating each chapter.
I found no glaring grammar errors, and the story itself
A.J. van ScherpenzeelRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I've absolutely enjoyed Boyd's previous work before, and just like the other stories, this one is most definitely deserving of a 5/5 on all aspects.
The story is incredibly well written. Its detailed descriptions paint a beautiful (and sometimes utterly horrifying) picture which completely sucks you into its carefully crafted world. Yes, there are some very dark and brutal moments, but they are handled which such tact, something I can only applaud Boyd for. Much thought has gone into creating the lore and weaving the character's storylines together and it shows.
As always, Boyd's characters are absolutely captivating, not to mention well-rounded, and I find myself rooting for their survival. There's a good balance of light and darkness within them. I can't wait to see what's in store for them and how'll they'll continue to grow emotionally. It's a dark world out there, so tears will probably have to be shed regardless of what will happen. (Are you even reading a J.S. Boyd story if you haven't actually shed at least one tear, though?)
Executing multiple POV's can be tricky, but Boyd nails it. There's is no confusion about whom is narrating, and each POV strengthens the others.
As for any grammatical issues, I personally didn't find them.
Overall a very well-written and greatly executed story, and I'll gladly continue reading.
C. SpillerRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Memorable characters and a number of cool fantasy races that aren't bogged down with exposition, and a complex world that never seems forced. Character and setting development are well placed. Just enough is revealed about the characters and the mysterious Everloft. I wasn't even sure if I would really like the litRPG genre- but in the hands of a good writer I found it totally accessible. Looking forward to the next chapter.
CT JohnsonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall
Powerful from the first and all the way through. This story saysbdark fantasy and it goes really dark. From the beginning the world is painted with vivid detail, that only serves to rip away whatever hope that you have in this being "cheery". It's very bleak, but it captivates you. Especially as it introduces a cast and characters that come to life naturally and quickly.
Style
The author knew what they wanted and went for it. The dark gritty world comes to life as the author paints it with a flair, and every aspect shines because of it.
Story
Compelling. The author consistently tugs at our emotions allowing to connect with every scene while telling a progressive narrative thay keeps building on itself and moving forward.
Grammar
There was nothing I noticed grammar wise. The sentences, and paragraphs were well crafted
Character
This is truly the pinnacle of the fiction for the author. Getting characters to feel vibrant and real is one of the toughest challenges an author can face. But with the combination of style, setting, and story, when a character is introduced they feel like a natural development and integral part of the world. As dark as tbis story is, it's the characters that will keep you coming back for more.
Overall this is an excellent read. While I usually avoid the darker side of fantasy I have to say this is splendidly well done and has earned my follow.
CoffeeInMyDreamsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Averix: Call of the Everloft was an instant win for me. I really appreciate the unique approach this LitRPG takes as it embodies the essence of classic 'High Fantasy' storytelling. The system in place is seamlessly integrated into the narrative, enhancing the overall experience rather than hindering it (as of Chapter 10, I think there was only one chapter with blue boxes —which wasn’t intrusive at all). I’m glad to have started reading.
For those seeking a quick overview of the work's main strengths, here are a few that stood out to me (there are many more not listed below):
-EPIC world-building (really… that Epic feel —if you know, you know).
-Character-centric (3 protagonists).
-Enthralling, often witty, and believable dialogue.
-Hints at Deep lore.
-Immersive storytelling.
*Readers should be aware that the warning tags are there for a reason; however, the heavier themes are tactfully delivered and serve to deepen and bring our three protagonists to life —their motivations and reactions are given weight by the cruelties they experience— and are by no means there for shock value.
The story's excellent foreshadowing and engaging tone kept me captivated and eager to continue reading. I’ll breakdown my opinions on the work as per the Royal Road scoring criteria:
The style is pleasant to the eyes. The author uses a good blend of third-person limited with omniscient interspersed throughout to flesh out scenes —which is not an easy thing to do at all, yet it is done very well here. The prose is efficient and the use of descriptive language paints vivid pictures of environments, action, and darker scenes. Excellent. It has been and will be a pleasure to continue reading.
The story was the main aspect that hooked me (*Characters a close second). I’m a sucker for those ‘And the world trembled’ kind of Fantasy stories, à la Sanderson. The Everloft is a dark, dark place that calls out to those destined to delve into its depths, and I found myself with a tingle running down my
D.J. RintoulRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is an extraordinarily thoughtfully crafted tale. It's clear that a lot of planning has gone into this world and this narrative, and you are in the hands of an author who knows everything important about his/her own world at the time of setting pen to paper.
Thematically, Averix is a dark story. Each of the primary characters so far is an outcast, a criminal, or likely to suffer a horrible death. That's not to say anything against the rewards of reading it, though. There's a rich world to be explored, interesting lore that's being expanded as the story unfolds, multiple plotlines that may intersect in interesting ways in the future, and all of the characters are crafted with love. The antagonistic characters are easy to hate. The point of view characters, even the arguably evil ones, are easy to love.
This is also quite difficult to read in places. The reason is that this is one of those stories with incredibly dark passages in some parts and incredibly sweet character-driven passages in other areas. There's a bit of mood whiplash you can get, when the story alternates between a POV character being thrust into the probability of a horrible death, to a character receiving comfort from her friends, to a bleak chapter spent entirely inside the perspective of a horribly abused minor while she undergoes the abuse. That felt very unpleasant to read, which was undoubtedly the author's intent. On the other hand, the author isn't hiding the ball exactly. The first chapter establishes the tone, which is almost grimdark in places.
The most impressive thing to me about this work so far is that I have a strong sense of the building story. There's a complex narrative that the author is weaving in parallel among several point of view characters. There are false understandings of the way the world works that characters are working through based on information passed down. And you can tell that this is all building to something bigger in the future, some grand intersection of th
XeinzoRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'm pretty new to the LitRPG genre, but I had a blast reading this. Off the bat, the cover, the story(or stories), and the writing as a whole put me in the mind of a light novel. The world itself was engrossing as well, and I loved being able to spot the various inspirations as well. Your characters, I'd say, were the strongest point overall, however. I'd say Marius is my favorite, though--- in a world as dark and gritty as Averix, it was nice to have a more lighthearted and humourous POV to ease things a bit, even in the rather shitty predicament he found himself in. Regardless, I look forward to seeing where all three characters end up and if anyone will get a happy ending. Definitely will continue reading this one.
keeganashleyliveRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story is a true gem, an easy 5/5 stars for me. The writing really makes it stand out, and the characters kept my interest through the whole thing. First, I found the story to be incredibly well-written. Often, I had to stop and just take a second after reading some of the description sentences because they so beautifully painted a picture that it made me pause (and not in a bad way at all, quite the exact opposite); I appreciate the skill, time and energy that clearly reflects in this work. The author has been evern careful to craft extremely emotional scenes with care---including a rape scene which is honestly so well integrated that the shock of it doesn’t hit wrong at all.
Second, the characters. Period. Exclamation mark. They're epic. They had me rooting for them and eating up the narrative to see what happened next! I cared! It had me really invested! I'm impressed with the depth and emotion. Very well done.
I didn't see any glaring grammatical errors that stopped my reading experience; I think everything was handled very well in that respect. And, honestly, the story and world are just so fun. I highly recommend this work. Kudos to the author!!
pengabtRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A very well-written story that is obscured behind a wall of darkness. Does this mean anyone will be able to read it? I personally don't think so, but while this is a story not for the faint of heart, it's a story I believe anyone with a keen sense of readership would concur with the fact that this story is written superbly. Everything from the description details to the characters (my favourite part) is written up to amazing standards. I won't go into too much detail, but I must tell you I've been rather surprised by how well the author has taken care of writing some particular scenes.
The characters are the manifestation of three-dimensional characters. I personally felt compelled by all of them. I feel like this specific aspect of the narrative is not only my favourite, but is also where the narrative shines the brightest. The people that have actually read this story will understand what I mean by this. Some of the best works I have seen on RR character-wise.
As for grammar, I have found no errors whatsoever.
Overall, while this may not be a story for everyone, it is certainly a story undoubtedly well-written. And despite its dark setting, it is not enough to veil the masterful storytelling shining through its mask. Very well-written story. 5/5 from me.
FiniteVoidRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Averix Call of the Everloft is a tale that combines suspense, moral dilemmas, and psychological depth in a compelling narrative.
It is a captivating narrative that masterfully blends elements of dark fantasy, psychological horror, and LitRPG. The story is set in a richly imagined world where magic and moral dilemmas coexist. Each chapter introduces new challenges and mysteries, keeping the reader engaged and eager to turn the page. While the narrative is complex, it's clear that it's building up to something significant, leaving the reader curious and invested (I've yet to get to the payoff myself, but it's tasting sweet).
The writing style is polished and evocative, successfully combining suspenseful sequences with quieter, emotionally charged moments. The author's meticulous attention to detail adds layers to the world without bogging down the pace. The narrative is well-balanced, offering both action-packed sequences and introspective moments that add depth to the characters and the world they inhabit.
The characters are the real gems of this story. Yelena, Amara, and Marius are particularly intriguing, each with their own set of challenges, motivations, and internal voices guiding them. Yelena is a studious acolyte, while Amara is a wanderer with magical abilities, and Marius appears to be an adventurer of sorts. These characters are complex and well-developed, making them relatable and memorable.
The writing is clean and well-edited, with no noticeable grammatical errors. The dialogue is crisp and serves to flesh out characters rather than just move the plot along. This adds to the overall readability and enjoyment of the story.
Averix is an engaging and thought-provoking read that successfully combines elements of fantasy, horror, and moral philosophy. It's a story that respects its audience's intelligence and emotional range, offering no easy answers but plenty of food for thought. The characters are complex and the world-building is rich, making it a rewardi