Daybreak on Hyperion (re)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Born into prestige and gifted with talent, Pascal was a promising officer cadet whose deeds caught even the King's gaze. At the mere age of twenty, he had everything a young, ambitious man could need to begin a promising career.

Except his habitual arrogance had destroyed every opportunity of a close friendship outside his political marriage.

Seeking a companion who meets his protracted list of requirements, Pascal decided to craft the 'perfect spell' for the upcoming familiar ceremony. If those around him were not fit to accompany his genius, then he would summon a best friend through his own hands -- one that was mature, intelligent, knowledgeable, bright, and cute as well.

He received far more than he bargained for... and in turn, so did the shifting geopolitical power balance of his world.

[ Note: if you've seen previous versions of this story, see foreword in 1st chapter for how this relates to the older versions. ]

*****

Disclaimer:

This is not a power-fantasy or a 'feel-good' story. If you feel that a protagonist should never lack agency (especially in early story) or make compromises due to difficult circumstances, then this fiction is probably not for you.

Daybreak is a story that delves deep into real world sociological/psychological subjects and explores many topics of gray morality. I wrote it because I like stories that makes me think more about the world around us, not to detach myself from reality.

Some things you can expect include:

- [Ruling Class]: political drama, geopolitical/geoeconomic strategy- [High Fantasy]: how magic changes the sociotechnological evolution of civilization- [Genderbender]: exploration of gender identity, gender role, and discussion of social expectations- [Progression]: career capital accumulation and rank ladder-climbing- [War and Military]: massive battles featuring in-depth planning, combined arms, and operational logistics

This story is primarily hosted onmy blog, where all the art/map assets can be found as well as the latest chapters.

Cover art by Nanang (lineart) +AbsolutePower(coloring)

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2021
Author: Aorii

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.3/ 5.0
Followers: 901
Views: 318,396

Chapters(87 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

lastenRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this story -- an interesting, well researched setting and engaging yet flawed characters who learn and grow over the course of the story. I started reading this and could not put it down.
Be warned: while this is an isekai, it does not follow traditional isekai power fantasy. I found the protagonist an interesting individual but their approach is more of a soft-power approach. I found their reactions to the isekai itself, as well as the restrictions imposed by the society they found themselves in to be a lot more realistic than most other isekais out there. If you're looking for the normal isekai power trip that populates most of Royal Road, then this story is not for you.
I will admit that I do enjoy those kinds of stories, especially kingdom builders where we see the protagonist have more of a direct impact with the knowledge they hold, but this story made a compelling argument for the reality that it set forth (that is, that a 17-year old without any magical aptitude of their own has limited means as an individual, but being able to exert influence on the political elite of nations has much more potential).
If you want to read a political story in a well built setting, populated by realistic characters, I highly recommend this story.
As an aside, my personal pet peeve was the over-use of the word "wispy". Using more synonyms or a slightly different description of Kaede's voice would have been nice.
Addicted_Reader720Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I have not read either of the previous rewrites, this review is just about what I’ve seen so far here.
Daybreak on Hyperion is the most fleshed-out Ruling class fantasy novel that I have seen. Taking place in a world set thousands of years after the setting of most “fantasy” or progression novels on this site, the days where a single hero could destroy armies on their own power have long passed, replaced by a geopolitical game eerily reminiscent of Early Modern Europe. The relationships between characters reflect this, with a constant tension between personal life and political expectations, particularly in the opening chapters where the reader isn’t integrated with their innermost thoughts.
I will say that while this fiction isn’t the kind that casually throws around chapters full of heartbreak, gore, torture & the like, it has so far steadfastly refused to grant the MC’s the sudden spikes in agency that allow for things like power role reversals. This can produce a sense of inevitably for some events, but the commitment to the principle that one person can only do so much in politics and war.
AethlingRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Disclaimer: This review was written for the legacy version of Daybreak on Hyperion. Once the rewrite catches up to the legacy version; I plan on writing a new review that maintains the same tone as the previous while also covering the changes in the rewrite. It's also worth noting that I've read every chapter that is currently posted to Aorii's blog. (If you like the story, then I'd highly recommend checking out the blog to keep up with the latest updates.)
To preface my review, I would like to say that Daybreak on Hyperion displays a level of quality that is rarely seen in hobby writing. The topics that it touches on are somewhat controversial in nature, but I believe that the author does an amazing job of touching on these subjects with all the respect and thoughtfulness that they are due. With all that said, I will now move on to the actual review.
Style:
Aorii writes in the third person, which I believe to be the best point of view for engaging storytelling. Even more importantly, the author has an admirable grasp of both history and geopolitics which they masterfully weave into their story. To say that I was impressed by the depths of the author's knowledge would be an understatement.
Now, I don't know too much about style in general, so I won't profess to be an expert on the subject. I am; however, a very prolific reader. I have a good grasp of what is and isn't a good story pretty quickly, not accounting for taste. The author's word choice is on point throughout the entire work. This combined with a serious political/military tone interspersed with tidbits of comedy makes for a very amusing read. Finally, Aorii's use of syntax is easily comparable to professional authors. I wouldn't be surprised if their career is that of an English professor.
Story:
The story of Daybreak on Hyperion takes a common theme in anime but adds an interesting and amusing twist. The protagonist of the story, Kaede, is ripped from his life and thrown into a confusing and fantastical
AjhkumRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Let's start by why you might not like it. It's not always uplifting, and in fact it's pretty dark at times. It puts the protagonist in a hard spot and explores how interpersonal relationships work when one side has dramatically more agency than the other, and that dynamic feels really bleak on occasion. There's no catharsis to be found, for the most part, Kaede doesn't get any power ups or clever moves that let her reverse the power dynamic, she must learn to live with the reality of her new life in a very tough spot. So, not for the kind of people that want an empowering story.
Now, stuff you might like. If you like worldbuilding done well this is your place. Aorii has a rare perspective in fantasy writers that makes certain parts of the world come alive, making the whole thing a thorough exploration of how a fantasy world might actually work. If you like intrigue and scheming there's plenty of that too, in the form of nuanced politics and realistic motivations behind key players. Last but definitely not least, if you like war stories, the author has a gift with narrating battles with vivid descriptions, interesting scenarios and well thought out strategies.
STYLE
It reads somewhat like a light novel in style, and there's humor and seriousness mixed. Some will probably find the style not to their taste, but the humor and the serious scenes get more separated later on, and it never reached a point where it affected the overall mood too much. Other than that, the speeches are well crafted and the scenes flow well.
GRAMMAR
Pretty much flawless as far as I can tell, and under constant revision should any of you spot any inconsistencies (seriously, you can go to the author's Discord from their blog or comment in the chapter and point it out, will get fixed in no time). Way above the average around these parts in any case.
STORY
It has consistent themes, explores them well and doesn't shy away from tough situations or unpleasant character traits. The intrigue is well exp
KvkRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
One of the best fantasy stories i've read on this site. It has excellent worldbuilding, the characters have depth to them, and feel human. It somehow manages to grapple with the huge scope and setting well. Without feeling empty. I also really enjoyed the historical references/inspiration. Looking forward to see where it goes!
Monologuing RadioRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story's not for everyone, and then again, one of the most memorable for others. The main character is different from what you would expect in a fantasy story. And the author has done their research on how their characters should behave.
The politics involved with the world is captivating. Each chapter away from the main protagonists to focus on monarchs and schemers is refreshing. That isn't to say that I don't like the characters.
The two main characters, Kaede and Pascal, feel like Watson in relation to Holmes. And like the famous duo, Pascal is egotistical, exceedingly confident, and tends to ignore his partner. And I absolutely love it. As the story progresses, a genuine platonic relationship forms. Often rare with stories in Royal Road.
Give it a read, you might just find it to your likings.
OriginalName3Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
(Before I begin, this story is out in its completion on the authors blog. So go read it there once you’ve reached the latest chapter posted here.)
TLDR: The changes from Volume 1 to Volume 2 may be tough, but stick through it. This is a story you won’t regret finishing.
This is a damn good story. A really damn good story. I was unsure I would continue reading it after the shift in style between Volume 1 & 2, but I am glad I did. What this story becomes is something truly special. Aorri managed to make magic feel grounded making the world and characters they created feel alive in a way very few authors have accomplished. They are not afraid to have the protagonist lose, to make them feel the consequences of their actions. Mistakes and poor judgment choices made by the characters eventually come back to bite them, and that kept me glued to my phone for 2 days (nearly 3) as I couldn’t wait to read what happens next.
Some parts of the story felt rushed, others felt out of place, and I think some members of the initial cast of characters should’ve had more time in the spotlight, but the fact that these flaws do not bring the overall story down is a testament to Aorii’s skill as an author.
I look forward to reading future works by Aorii and will be following his blog closely, as should anyone else that enjoys this story.
nnaauujjddaaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story frustrates me, but the good kind. Like I enjoy all those OP MC as much as anybody, but Kaede is definetly not one. Sometimes I wish Kaede would beach slap everyone like in a chinese novel, but that would end very badly and she knows it. The most unrealistic part of the novel is that Kaede doesn't insult anyone even in her own mind, like I understand she cannot respond as she wished, but I would be insulting everyone inside my mind at least.
RozenkreizaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
What is the the other side of Futurology? It is the desire to ask the question "What if?" on a historical topic, something that happened in the past. The desire to model that past with a new variable. There are no "what ifs" in history, but there are in fiction, and some of them are really good.
Like this one, the Daybreak on Hyperion. The author who was obviously interested in history, asked themself a question - "What if" and that question was interesting enough to give birth to this project.
This is one of those not so often seen reads, where magic meets actual, proper history, and together they form a pretty interesting union. It studies social constructions, the differences between them, gender roles in society, economical, geopolitical and other topics in the envisioned, modelled world called Hyperion.
Just as history, the genderbender in the story is used as a tool, to discuss and study society standing, the initial reception, the inevitable change that it brings, the difficulties one can discover once placed in an unknown, uncommon, uncomfortable enviroment. It helps to provide multiple layers of questions and attempts to answer them, enriches the created modelled world.
The story has a slow start, but gets going nicely and it does not feel stretched, a good pacing, common and much needed for historical fiction. It provides the context, allows you to study the characters. Overall well written and is enjoyable to read.
The character design and development are also great. When i think about characters as a reader, i usually devide them into three categories: Those with whom i can associate myself, accept them and understand them. Those with whom i argue, i disagree and can have an inner dialogue. And those that can be just cast aside. To my enjoyment, this novel has none of the third category, which gives us a good roster of characters, who are well written, motivated and have different and sometimes unique perspective on the events.
I am no expert in the gram
Tim GoddardRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Daybreak on Hyperion is one of the best-written books I've had the pleasure to read on this site.
The story manages to be simultaneously character-driven, with well-rounded individuals who act consistently with their personalities and values, and deal with large-scale phenomena such as military conflict and logistics, and the politics that bridge both.
The author's love of history shows through. While the story is set in a sword and sorcery world, the author has clearly borrowed from history to create a rich setting. There is no single quest or person that is more important than anything else going on, enemies do not wait for other plot lines to run their course, the protagonist is not automatically the most important person in every setting, and this makes the world a much larger place.