Cardocalypse: Broken destiny

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

John was returning home from a long day at work when the sky was torn asunder and the whole world changed.

The planet was flooded with undying horrors, and to make matters worse, electricity and all modern weaponry became unusable, forcing people to rely on wits, sharp edges, or blunt force to survive the first contact with the mindless monsters. Those that proved their mettle were rewarded the Apocalypse deck, giving them new abilities to survive and push against the incoming threat.

John, armed with an unexpected reward, is offered an opportunity for greatness, but will he be able to grasp it, or will he fail and die like many others around him?

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2023
Author: Detrox

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.5/ 5.0
Followers: 781
Views: 464,943

Chapters(90 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

varkolakRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Exciting system right out the gate. The MC gets a lucky break for a strong start that isn't overwhelmingly better than everyone else but just enough to keep him at the top. The premise is a pretty standard apocalypse setup but the card based power system combined with the novel naming for undead enemies really do well to make it feel fresh. Grammer and spelling are impeccable and all the characters are decently believable. Overall a great read that deserves more love.
BarrierSlayerRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
MC is clear headed without being apathetic, although not taking every precaution possible is still a bit careful without blatantly showing off his powers. The setting is post-apocalyptic with a universal card system in play, with the only major advantages given to the mc so far are those earned through being first to do something and not some bs luck or upgraded system. Overall, I'm liking what I'm seeing!
TL:DR - A card based apocalypse novel with a MC that isn't trying to be a hero saving all humanity, but rather a random guy surviving, just being a decent human being.
5 stars is for good potential alongside current chapters.
(I'm not really good at reviewing novels so forgive me if there's something wrong with what I said)
(Resubmitting to change the format of the review slightly)
Jack0fheartRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Cardocalypse is a fantastic post-apocalyptic adventure that has everything a reader could want. With its engaging story, unique style, and excellent characters, readers are sure to be swept up in the adventures of John and his team.
Overall score 5/5: Cardocalypse is a unique and engaging read that offers a refreshing take on the zombie apocalypse genre. It is well written, has interesting characters, and a fascinating card-based system.
Style score 5/5: The author's writing style is engaging, with descriptive prose that paints a vivid picture of the world that John finds himself in. The pacing is spot on, with the action scenes being particularly well done.
Story score 5/5: The story is intriguing and full of unexpected twists and turns. The world-building is excellent, and the characters are well developed, making the reader invested in their journeys.
Grammar score 5/5: The grammar in Cardocalypse is top-notch, making the reading experience smooth and enjoyable.
Character score 5/5: The characters in Cardocalypse are complex and multifaceted, making them feel like real people. John is a relatable protagonist, and the supporting characters are all memorable in their own way.
In summary, Cardocalypse is a fantastic read and the card-based system adds an extra layer of strategy to the story, making it all the more engaging. The author's writing style is excellent, and the characters are well developed, making it a book that you won't want to put down. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and exciting twist to the zombie apocalypse genre! ♥
Jonathan ProutyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall this is a decent read. The pacing is good and the MC character development is done well. My one critique is that there are no deep relationships or really even any friends. I'm not really sure it's a deal breaker. It is just personal preference really. Interesting friendships or romantic interests bring out a deeper level of the MC's character and motivation.
KKWalkinRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A great take on a card based LitRPG within an apocalyptic setting, with the standout being the complexity of the card side of the story. John is decently decently fleshed out and other side characters have their moments as well. No big grammar errors so far. Wish it was updated more though.
OcerkinRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
i am so glad i found this story randomly, it is so GOOD its power fantasy in a fun way, smart choices and an intelligent build for an apocalypse, minion master is one of my favorite "class" types too.
i definitely recommend this story but only if you prefer a character that doesnt settle down for long, MC is a rolling stone and anywhere he hangs his non existent hat is his home!
(literally)
Second LawRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Everyone enjoys LitRPG for a number of reasons, but one of the things that, if executed well, I personally absolutely enjoy is OP MC. And in this fiction, you get it from the start. Without giving away much of the story, I'll just say this that the MC gets head and shoulders above those around him quite early in this finction, and if you dig that, you will absolutely love this book.
Style score : The story is written in the usual style of LitRPG apocalpyse stories. It reads briskly, all events are properly narrated, there is good representation of inner thoughts as well as worldbuilding. I read the 5 chapters in one go and enjoyed the pacing throughout, not getting bored or feeling the need to rush through the text at any point. I have given 4.5 because while the author has done an excellent job writing, he is new at it and it shows in very small but noticeable ways. With subsequent chapters, it gets better, and I suspect when I update my review in future, it'll be 5/5 for style.
Story score : This is a typical apocalypse story in the style of DOTF, and the similarities with DOTF don't end there. The MC has a tendency to operate independently, and is quite powerful and capable of handling all threats so far on his own. Beyond that, the unique elements of the story come in. The combat medium in this fiction uses cards - apocalyse decks to be exact. There is an element of skill, strategy as well as luck, in what cards you get, and all this is shown to the user via actual combat, rather than describing things, which is always great. I'm enjoying the story so far, and it has started to pick up pace towards the end.
Grammar score : Didn't notice any errors.
Character score : The characters so far have been a mix of good samaratans, well meaning but rude folks, and just simply selfish people. Every side character met so far has displayed an independent personality, which helps a lot with building a realistic setup of the MCs environment. Coming to the MC, he's the one who
the__jahRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A solid fun story. Nice take on card acopolypse.
Good integration of other pov.
Still parts of the worldbuilding could use refinement. Especialy with the rank system and all that. But it is intuitive and a nice variation on the deckbuulding story theme
But it is just a fun read with a unique system setup for card and deck setup
Looking forward to how the story develops going forward
Author will need to tie a few storylines they have started together here which will be interesting to see. Storylines seem to be globally focused and mc is a bit general at the moment there does need to be some more worldbuilding here. Right now its still a bit scattered but i expect this will improve. Especialy with making the mc seem more human and explaining his actions in the stories context
I enjoy the summoner aspect the author is going for
Now to get 200 words in this review.....a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a plus ;) story
I like it and would recommend reading
ProconRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Overall: A classic take on LitRPG using a refreshing card-based system reminiscent of Jake's Magical Market and recommended read if you're looking for a quick, satisfying read with hard LitRPG stat elements and awesome chapter illustrations. 4.5/5
Style: Good, not great. The stats and ability descriptions are absolutely what you want to see when diving into a LitRPG and I believe that was done very well; however, I think the use of those abilities could have perhaps been incorporated better or explained more. For instance, the MC's first card is essentially a 'sentient' stiletto. Frikin awesome, right? Alucard Castlevania vibes, right? Yes, and no. The item is presented as a basic attack card with no indication of its capabilities or potential 'growth.' However, when the character levels up and gets other ability cards we get very decent details about their capabilities. So what happened to Mr. Stilleto? What I'm trying to say is that the style is there, but it almost feels like the author was so excited and passionate about getting the story out there that he neglected to introduce the reader to the intricate system he has planned out. If you're going the route of confusion, slow growth, and the unknown, like something in Defiance of the Fall, then you can't make it seem like the character is calm and in control, understands what's happening, easily learns/grasps his powers, or breezes through fights. 4.5/5
Grammar: Great! Hardly a single immersion-breaking moment. 5/5
Story: So far good, not great. Since this review does not encompass the author's complete work, I can only, in good faith, provide a malleable impression of my perception of the story. That impression is one of cautious optimism because the MC's backstory and motives don't seamlessly align with his actions, but it's entirely possible he experiences growth later on. And when you have a story without an exposition dump or retro-internal dialogue you had better make your MC more relatable than early 200
A. StargazerRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
The basic premise of this story reminds me of Defiance of the Fall except with cards instead of an RPG/Cultivation system. Which is a good thing, I love DotF, and enjoy other apocalypse/system stories as well.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and the writing. The author did say that this was their first time writing and I can see how hard they are working to find their voice. I encourage them strongly to continue writing and working to improve themselves..
Style: The language flows well and is well put together. The author is telling the story very well. The action scenes in particular are quite well done.
Grammar: I didn't notice any significant issues during my read through.
Story: If you enjoy apocalypse system stories and/or card stories, then this one is right up your alley. While the plot is not overly complex, sometimes simplicity is bliss. The opening has has all the elements that make this genre great. For a first time author, this is a great work to stretch one's writing skills.
Character: While I believe that the author is doing a great job overall, I do feel that his characters are somewhat flat and stereotypical. Which isn't to say that the characters drag the story down - it's the action and the setting which make this story enjoyable for me. I just feel that this is the area where the author could improve the most.