DarkRE: Shadows of Nekrom [Dark Fantasy | Isekai | Time Loop | Soft-LitRPG]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

**ARC 1 COMPLETE - ARC 2 COMING SOON (7 CHAPTERS NOW ON PATREON)** Even if I'm devoured, even if my body is torn apart, even if my head is ripped off, and even if my heart stops… I'll come back from Death. Such is my fate. Tristessa Irandell is a young woman with no memories of her past, who is summoned into another world without any explanation at all. A world that goes by the name of Nekrom, where upon arrival, she is killed... But Death was not the end for her. The mysterious God of Chaos banished Tristessa from Death and granted her an unique Divine ability known as[Death and Resurrection], capable of bending the fabric of space and time in order to bring her back to life. Now every Death, every inch of pain and suffering, every little bit of information... Tristessa carries along everything from every failed loop back to the past, to start again. A never-ending spiral of fear and violence. Of Divine abilities and thaumaturgy. Of blood and horrors lurking in every corner. A path that Tristessa will need to traverse if she wants to uncover the dark, evil truths behind her lost memories, and the tragedies that are bringing Nekrom to the brink of collapse, under the hands of the terrible Shadow Queen... Points of interest: 😈 Dark High Fantasy. The story is going to be brutal, with gore, extreme violence, psychological horror and uncomfortable topics. Be aware about it. 🎮💀 Soft-LitRPG and Soulsborne genre. No System. Statistics appear from "Chapter 76 - Divinity of the Dark Room" onward. 📈 Slow-burn progression. Very weak necromancer MC. Acquiring skills and progressing comes with its share of suffering and pain. Nothing is free in Nekrom. 🗺 Lots of worldbuilding and lore. Currently creating a map of the world with the Inkarnate app! ❤️ Some romance here and there. That be Het, GL, BL, it doesn't really matter since characters try to grasp some happiness amidst a very bad context. Also no harem, but our lovely MC is a greedy teenager with a big, troubled heart. Keep that in mind. ⏰️ Release Schedule: Monday-Wednesday-Friday, at 15:30 UTC AFTER HIATUS. The average is about 1000-1500 words/chapter, but once in a while I'll release a 2500-3000 words chapter if the gods of literature are willing. Arc 1-Angel of Rebirth and Demoness in Pain Status:Complete Start:Prologue - Anteroom for Death and Resurrection End-The Soulbound Contract Lenght-217 chapters, 438.000words With that said, for those lost souls who happened to find this story, welcome and enjoy! Thank you for reading! Areview, favourite or ratingis very appreciated! 💪🏻😊 Also, below I leave a Spotify playlist that I update while thinking about the story:DarkRE: Shadows of Nekrom Playlist

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2025
Author: SOMBRAcorpDT

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.4/ 5.0
Followers: 1,475
Views: 397,367

Chapters(224 total)

What readers say about DarkRE: Shadows of Nekrom [Dark Fantasy | Isekai | Time Loop | Soft-LitRPG]

“Okay, wow. This story was a full-on emotional hurricane. I honestly don’t even know where to begin, but I’ll try to keep it coherent The writing is rich and evocative. The scenes? Brutal, chilling, poetic. Tristessa is a compelling character — fragile and t…”
smilodon88Royal Road5.0 / 5
“Good blend of genres, good characters, and good world building. It definitely deserves more attention. The first few chapters are a bit overwhelming but once the story gets going it’s hard to put down. If I had to name a complaint it would be that the litrp…”
BanthorRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

smilodon88Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Okay, wow. This story was a full-on emotional hurricane. I honestly don’t even know where to begin, but I’ll try to keep it coherent
The writing is rich and evocative. The scenes? Brutal, chilling, poetic. Tristessa is a compelling character — fragile and tough in all the right, tragic ways. There’s a mix of cosmic horror, psychological decay, and dark fantasy that feels super unique. I love how nothing is handed to you. You feel the confusion, the fear, the surreal descent into something deeper than death. That twist at the end? Brilliantly disturbing. You can feel something big is going on behind the curtains and the story doesn’t treat you like you’re dumb.
That said… yeah, it’s long. And heavy. If you’re looking for a lighthearted read, this is not it. There’s gore. There’s despair. Some parts felt a bit too much at once — I did find myself needing to pause and take a breath, especially during the more graphic sequences.
Still, I’m giving it 5 stars because, honestly, it’s a rare find. The worldbuilding is wild and I need to know more. It won’t be for everyone, but if you like dark, layered, emotionally gut-punching stories — this one stays with you.
Just… maybe don’t read it alone at night 😬
BanthorRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Good blend of genres, good characters, and good world building. It definitely deserves more attention. The first few chapters are a bit overwhelming but once the story gets going it’s hard to put down. If I had to name a complaint it would be that the litrpg stats element seems semi shoehorned in, but it does make sense in context of the story and her power. That’s a very minor detail in an overall top tier story though.
MagicalWhispersRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a story that legitimately gave me goosebumps. I hope it does for all of you.
Initial Impression
The opening chapter is gripping. I love it. I am here for the slow burn, the dark fantasy elements.
General Comments
Do read this with the author’s suggestion of OLED black (in the prologue, don’t skip it)
Immersive and immediately gripping. You can imagine the scenes and the (unfortunate) shenanigans Tristessa ends up in.
Do note that the LitRPG tag is not the way you expect. This can be a turn-on or turn-off for some readers, but for me, it’s great! No floating screens, at least until chapter 76, according to the author.
Prose Positives:
The prose is the thing that truly stands out. It is descriptive, atmospheric, yet it does not overstay its welcome.
The Grimdark, dark fantasy atmosphere comes through without any edginess. It’s visceral and immersive. Did I also mention it’s dark? Try not to read this if you are eating. (in the best way)
Character Positives:
Tristessa’s reaction to being truck-kun’d (no trucks involved!) is realistic and shows the author’s attention to character integrity. Her reaction to the sudden shattering of her psyche and memories, and then being thrown into a nightmarish place, all feel natural.
This skilfully bypasses the typical issue of: “Oh no! I’ve been isekai’ed…. anyways!”
A supporting cast is not introduced until much later in the story. But I assume this should not be an issue for most people. We are here for MC’s suffering! (muahuahuahua…..?)
When the first humanoid characters are introduced, their personalities feel real and their reactions are realistic, informed by their own needs and wants. So they don’t bend over just because the MC is here; always a good sign in storytelling.
Characterisation shines when the wider cast is introduced—stick around till then.
Plot/Setting Positives:
The Red text and the ever-present question of ‘why can’t she remember’, combined with the beautifully executed prologue, is a premise that hooks
Nemo BlancRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
From the very first lines,Dark Resurrectionmakes it clear: this is not your average fantasy story. It's dark, lush, and unapologetically strange, in the best way. The writing leans poetic without losing clarity, painting a world that feels half-dream, half-nightmare. Expect a heavy focus on mood, atmosphere, and internal thought, with occasional spikes of violence and uncanny beauty.The main character (no spoilers) wakes in the ruins of death, both literal and symbolic and the story becomes a slow, eerie journey through a broken landscape full of secrets, shadows, and half-remembered power. There’s necromancy, otherworldly forces, soul-stitching horror-magic, and enough mystery to keep you guessing. You’ll probably find yourself rereading a few lines just because theysoundso good.Character-wise, the protagonist is cerebral and intense, and the world they move through feels alive in a rotting, whispering sort of way. It's more introspective than action-packed, at least at first, but when the storydoesmove, it hits hard.Grammar and editing are solid overall. A few stylistic choices might throw off readers used to faster-paced prose, but it’s clear the author knows exactly what they’re doing. The structure is deliberate, immersive, and full of rich phrasing.In short: If you like your dark fantasy thoughtful, lyrical, and full of necromantic mystery,Dark Resurrectionis well worth your time. Just be ready to sit with it, it’s a story that wants to haunt, not hurry.
OneDropRainRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story drops you into a world that is both surreal and unsettling, where beauty and horror are inseparable. From the first chapter, it keeps you on edge—nothing feels safe, and every scene carries a quiet tension.
The atmosphere is expertly crafted. The author immerses you fully, making the air, shadows, and sounds feel real without ever overdoing it. Every detail supports the mood and the characters’ psychology, making the fear feel personal rather than forced.
Tristessa is a strong, well-rounded protagonist. She’s vulnerable yet capable, and her reactions to the impossible situations she faces feel authentic. The supporting characters are also fully realized, with their own motivations rather than just existing to support the main story.
The worldbuilding is imaginative and layered. Red forests, warped afterlife institutions, and unexpected allies create a strange but consistent setting. The story trusts readers to sit with the unknown, which adds to its tension and intrigue.
The pacing is deliberate and measured. The slow build enhances the impact of violent or chaotic moments, and the story takes its time revealing answers, making each one hit harder.
Overall, this is dark fantasy at its most immersive and unsettling. It balances psychological depth, atmosphere, and worldbuilding with confidence. This is not a story to skim—you sink into it, and it stays with you.
RainyLiquidRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A fun read so far. I've enjoyed my time reading this novel. I like it a lot and have enjoyed the world building and development. Tristessa is a very enjoyable MC. She's put into a horrorfic world that feels like it is a mix between Dark Souls and Bloodborne. Things are horrifying and the story doesn't sugar coat it at all.It's also written super good! I'm still early on, but I'm greatly enjoying the ride. Watching the MC struggle and keep pushing forward is awesome. She's strong but also realistic because she's constantly getting freaked out by this twisted world.The lore is being slowly fed and I love that so far it's all twisted. We see things for what they are, but are told how the people of this world naturally see it. I'm looking forward to learning more about the Gods and however got so messed up.I'm also looking forward to seeing Tristessa grow. All in all, this is a super solid dark fantasy story and brings to horror to Gothic Horror.
Tanner_1000Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I won’t lie, the first ten chapters were incredible, and it felt like I was entering the authors brain. To be honest, it felt like the author had a mental illness and I was reading all this torture porn that made be want to drop the whole novel, like it was that bad. Yet, I could not stop reading it…. I felt bad reading everything yet I just could not stop or pause reading this novel!!!! That itself is a gift this author has and regardless on how I felt, my fingers would not stop clicking for the next chapter.This novel is quite definitely one if not, one of the top five novels that I’ve read that have been so grim and dark. I am not being dramatic when I say it’s a lot of torture porn and mind games. However, the world building is beautiful, well thought out and makes me wonder, “if we are already past chapter hundred, how much more are we at?” and to be quite frank I am very excited.I was a bit skeptical with how much genres were in it, reincarnation, time loop etc almost, but you have created a great compelling balance and for that I applaud the author. Just please, please make the main character Tristessa have some type of power that is significant. Sometimes it hard to read how insignificant she is in not just the grand scheme of things, but just in general moments of everything. Regardless, love this novel even though it pains me to read it. Thank you.
3vilWookieRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Dark Resurrection: Shadows of Nekrom is the kind of story that doesn’t just ask for your attention-it demands your surrender. From the very beginning, we follow Tristessa Irandell, a girl with no memories, dropped into a world that kills her on arrival. But death isn’t the end-it’s the beginning of a horrifying loop of pain, divine interference, and unraveling truths that make each resurrection heavier than the last.
What makes this story special isn’t just the brutal world of Nekrom-it’s how deeply layered that brutality is. This isn’t edge for edge’s sake. The psychological horror, theological weight, and rich lore feel purposeful and terrifyingly coherent. The chapter with Lucahn reading the tale of Endrel and Margules, is a perfect example: what starts as a romantic myth gradually warps into something grotesque when seen through Tristessa’s eyes. The storytelling is immersive and twisted in all the right ways-it rewards attention, makes you question everything, and gives every “holy” story a sense of lurking dread.
The LitRPG and Soulsborne elements are understated but powerful-they sit under the surface, shaping the atmosphere without taking over. Tristessa isn’t a power fantasy heroine. She’s fragile, haunted, and holding on by a thread-but she’s trying. And as a reader, that makes me root for her even more.
If you’re a fan of dark fantasy that isn’t afraid to be weird, tragic, and emotionally punishing-this one’s absolutely worth diving into. Just be prepared: the gods here don't deal in mercy.
E.M. DashRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Dark Resurrection: Shadows of Nekrom is a dark fantasy isekai novel that leans heavily into horror, psychological tension, and a brutal time-loop premise. It follows Tristessa Irandell, a protagonist who starts with no memories and is thrown into a hostile world called Nekrom, where she is killed almost immediately after arriving.
However, death does not end her journey, instead, it becomes a recurring mechanic. Thanks to a divine ability granted by a god, she revives again and again, forced to re-live pain, gather information, and endure through repeated deaths.
The core concept is solid and effectively implemented. The time-loop mechanic is used not just for spectacle or plot convenience but to explore trauma, learning, and suffering. Tristessa is not a power fantasy figure, she is weak, vulnerable, and often barely surviving. The story doesn’t hand her solutions. It makes her earn each step forward through hardship.
This story is brutal. It does not shy away from graphic violence, emotional trauma, or body horror. It explores themes of death, memory, suffering, and existential dread. The atmosphere is bleak and oppressive. Even when there are brief moments of peace or beauty, they feel fragile and temporary. Anyone coming in expecting light-hearted fantasy, heroic arcs, or fast-paced progression will likely be disappointed or even put off.
The prose is generally clean and well-edited. Grammar and sentence structure are consistently solid. Despite the complex content, the writing remains accessible. However, the story can sometimes fall into repetition, particularly in emotional descriptions or internal monologues. There are places where a more restrained touch would allow the character’s emotions and decisions to stand on their own without being explained again through narration.
Tristessa is not a traditional protagonist. She is not powerful, confident, or wise. She is thrown into chaos with no guidance and is shaped by her suffering. She often breaks down, make
EptaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I started reading Dark Resurrection and I’m honestly blown away by the atmosphere. The author has a real talent for descriptive prose—the way the world is painted in the prologue and the early chapters like 'The Red Forest' is haunting and deeply immersive.
It’s refreshing to find a story that truly commits to the 'Grimdark' tag. The concept of the soul and the mechanical elements introduced early on (especially in chapter 5) add a very unique flavor to the dark fantasy setting. The sense of dread and the psychological weight of the protagonist's journey are handled with a lot of skill.
If you’re looking for a serious, well-written dark fantasy that doesn't pull any punches, you should definitely dive into this. Looking forward to seeing where this dark path leads!