Burning Starlight [Science-Fantasy Cultivation LitRPG] (Book 1 Complete!)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Out of Retirement. Out of Options. Out of Fucks to Give.

Retirement was supposed to be simple: a quiet apartment near the Saginaw River, maybe a hobby or two. Blake Connover survived decades of military and mercenary work to earn that peace. Too bad it only lasted two weeks.

When a mysterious wormhole tears open above the river and drags Blake into the unknown, retirement becomes the least of his worries. Stranded on an alien world and fused with an advanced bio-tech suit he barely understands, Blake has to adapt fast. The suit's real owners want it back, the locals aren't exactly friendly, and the universe is a lot bigger—and stranger—than he ever imagined.

From haunted starships to cosmic cultivation, Blake's retirement plan is officially out the window. Good thing he never really liked sitting still anyway.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: Ryan Stennet

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 2,707
Views: 883,946

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

tobascoasakoRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This series strikes a perfect balance of grit without crossing into the realm of hard gravel—a commendable feat. The prose is vivid and immersive, skillfully engaging all five senses when needed. It draws you into the scenes so effectively that you almost feel like you’re there. The action sequences, in contrast, use shorter sentences to heighten the sense of urgency and speed, creating an excellent dynamic. In short, the writing is well-crafted throughout.
The story itself moves at a brisk pace, avoiding unnecessary lingering while maintaining a compelling rhythm. What stood out most to me, however, was the alien character. It strikes a careful balance: alien enough to feel otherworldly but familiar enough to seem approachable, making communication and interaction feel plausible. (The alien also serves as the gateway into the LitRPG aspects of the story, which were seamlessly integrated and a highlight for me.)
From a technical standpoint, the grammar was solid, with appropriate word choices, standardized punctuation, and well-structured paragraphs.
The narrative drops us straight into the action, following a seasoned, street-smart fighter who is competent and fully in control [Mr. Connover]—a refreshing break from the trope of an inexperienced protagonist overwhelmed by their circumstances.
Overall, I highly recommend this series and encourage readers to give it a shot!
ArchetypeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Looking at the other reviews I must say. People really need to learn the meaning of the term "prose". Hell's bells! (Though it's clear they mean well).
No. It is not bland. It is not artless. Nor absolutely lacking in poetic rhythm nor tone. Far from it. Though the protagonist's speech is prosaic, the rest of the writing abounds with artful touches. Though not in an overbearing way. Still easy to read and digest. Altogether quite pleasant. Grammar looks good to me.
I've only read a bit, but I'm already impressed.
DosilliRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story is extremely detail oriented. From how blake woke up, to how he is adjusting to his new environment, nothing is left unsaid. The author seems to make it their goal to give the reader every bit of information available, but in a way that isn’t absolutely drowning the reader in needless information. It feels truly like a systematic yet artistic approach to writing that ensure the reader is never lost while reading. And speaking of blake, he seems to be holy grail of that style of writing. He essentially embodies that systematic approach to life, though his approach is one that was earned and drilled into him from a long time spent in perilous circumstances.
I really enjoyed how the “system” was introduced by the first real side character we meet! A hulking, yet surprisingly friendly alien. At the point of the story I am currently at is when we get a true taste of the current “strength and power” dynamics in the story. My brain already cooking up theories of how blake himself could begin using what was seen and how he might develop.
All in all this is a great read and I’m very excited to see where it goes!
isaiahironsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Wow! Some twists and turns early that keep you wondering what the heck is going on. I won't spoil the beginning but I have loved the interactions between characters!
This is a fun one and the author has done a great job with the main character and story so far! The main character is clear cut, and unique (at least for me), and I am enjoying his tired old quirks and grit. He is placed in a new reality right out of the gate, and I like how unique that new reality is. Also I have so many questions about where he is and who his new friend is. I also like how the beginnings of the litRPG pieces are coming together and how the mechanics for how the MC gets his language translation and HUD are well explained.
I haven't seen one grammar mistake, and the style is clean and simple. I like the easy to read prose, and I am able to follow the characters actions perfectly. The settings are well setup, and the one action scene I have come across I really enjoyed! The dialogue is natural and not awkward at all.
I am giving this a 5/5!
Excited to keep reading!
AceGreenRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The first comparison that comes to mind for Burning Starlight is Cowboy Bebop. There's a way it presents the stark environment that somehow creates a sort of sleepy, VHS atmosphere. To be clear, I'm a "90s kid" and that's about the highest praise I can give for aesthetics.
There are some notable medium-depth analogies to be drawn. Blake's kind of like Spike, and Eland's kind of like Jet, and the scavenger world they're trapped on (as of chap 14) is reminiscent of Earth from that series. But I think what really gives it that atmosphere I love so much is pace—specifically pace of movement.
Pace of plot is one thing. But I'm talking more about the way characters move around, and interact with the world, the way they move through the junkyard and salvage parts from scraps. It creates the sense of a world that's lived-in, and more than that, a universe that can be as thoroughly unfriendly as a razor blade. The 'lived-in' part comes from the ways characters adapt to that world, use what's in front of them until it becomes their normal. Blades in the wrong context are terrifying. But sometimes you gotta shave.
Eland is particularly standout. I'm a sucker for scholarly characters, and the idea of a hefting monster of an alien that's really just an academic who gets a bit too into his work is right in my wheelhouse. The basic banter between him and Blake, and his endless patience with the soldier trying to come to grips create a flavor of homecooking. Sort of like the dish he serves Blake in the Canteen.
The main criticism I had of the first few chapters actually dissipated fast, and around chapter 5 or so is gone entirely. There were times I felt like the prose and characterization suffered a bit from how often it reminded the reader that Blake was a former soldier, and all his instincts screamed against the strange things he was seeing. It made sense, though, and diegetically of course he'd be continually uneasy.
Once Blake settles in, though, the prose is great and imo c
JolligreenRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A classic tale told thoughtfully, with one of the best system implementations I've ever seen, lots of science fiction and cultivation shenanigans, a snarky but not one-dimensional AI companion, and an MC who is highly competent, displays realistic flavors of PTSD after a life of violence and disillusionment, but whose fundamental morals and chance to start over don't feel trite or formulaic.
Good satisfying progression, high enough stakes to make you care, creative science fiction and political + cultivation elements, and not a single character that makes you want to tear your hair out. Multiple POVs are handled well, and not overused.
Like it says on the tin, this is one of the good ones, highly recommended.
KateSpellRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
First off, the writing itself is superb. Beautiful prose that guides you in imagining the scenes perfectly. The author has a unique punchy style that is a nice break from the usual.
Second, the plot is super fun. Tough retired ex military gets sucked to another planet and shenanigans ensue. Classic.
Third, the characters. We don’t have too many yet, but what we have is so perfect I’ll be satisfied with just them for a while. I will riot if anything bad happens to Eland.
LordAnchalinRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This type of story is the best type. I didn’t know what to expect at all, what was coming from it. What would be happening with it and where it could go. I read this on a whim, but 10 chapters in and in really shocked by how much I liked it. Something is special here, the potential is great
MRhodesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall Score: 5
Burning Starlight and its main character, Blake, are a solid story that I'd highly recommend reading for anyone looking for a bad a** MC who's just trying to live through the day and come to grips with how their world has changed.
As a bonus, the author has done a superb job of tying in technology with cultivation without totally nerfing the other.
Style Score: 4.5
The Authors voice and style come out cleanly from the very beginning. There are parts that are admittedly a bit rough, but that's to be expected in unedited work.
E.G. - Incomplete sentences that still get the author's point across. No differentiation between narration and the MC's inner thoughts. Inefficient paragraph breaks that throw off the flow of certain scenes. (All items in which editing would likely solve).
Story Score: 5
The concept and story itself get full marks. It's an interesting take on a popular theme that is worth checking it out. It's too easy to give spoilers, but it *really* picks up after chapter 5.
Grammar Score: 4.5
The grammar is solid, there are some items that the reader may notice that would also be cleaned up during editing but the Author has no issue getting his point across.
There is a bit more telling than showing and inconsistency in narration vs. what is clearly narration in the MC's voice, etc.
Character Score: 4
This is the area in which the story struggles with the most. It isn't until Chapter 7 that the MC becomes more than a grunting toy soldier. It's at that point he takes on a history and personality.
The above is just one man's opinion. Take a read for yourself and see what surprises the author has in store for you.
ProviderRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
No-nonsense fast-paced sci fi story that drops the reader directly into the action.
The prose makes for a smooth read, with lots of interesting stuff going on. Scenes and events are described briskly, but in sufficient detail to understand what is happening. I like the writing style a lot and the use of sensory details—sounds, smells, and textures—enriches the world, grounding the surreal in tactile reality. The language oscillates between stark, utilitarian prose in action scenes and almost poetic imagery in descriptions, particularly when depicting the alien environment. Sentence structure effectively varies between long, descriptive passages and short, punchy lines during action scenes, maintaining pacing.
Blake Connover is a well-realized protagonist. His military background informs his pragmatism, resilience, and instinctual decision-making, lending authenticity to his actions. The narrative captures his inner conflict—his exhaustion with violence versus his ingrained survival instincts.
This story succeeds in establishing a gripping premise and a protagonist worth rooting for. Its blend of gritty realism and surreal sci-fi elements creates an intriguing world. The plot kicks off with a compelling mystery, combining the protagonist’s military past with a surreal, otherworldly anomaly. The shift from a sleepy Michigan town to an alien scrapyard is jarring (in a good way) and effectively mirrors the protagonist’s disorientation. The story balances suspense and action well, providing a survivalist tone reminiscent of classic sci-fi adventure tales.