Death by Chocolate - A Mind-bending Cyberpunk Noir Thriller

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Cyberpunk meets alternative history in this dark mind bending story about an enhanced canine cop with nothing to lose. Warhund explores identity, family, love, loss, rage, and what it means to be alive when technology blurs the lines between life and death.

Kerner Braverhund was used to being the underdog.After the Second Continental War ended Kerner decided to put his life as a Jagdkommando behind him and leave his homeland of Döbi. It was an adjustment,going from being an elite soldier to an anonymous beat cop, but he managed. He hid his past and his anger, tried to integrate, tried to forget.

Years later when a chance run-in with the mob ends in a bloody shootout Kerner knows that his days are numbered and he can't hide who he is anymore.So if he’s going to die, he’s going to go out on his own terms with his head held high.

The mob might have numbers in their favor and the police in their pocket. But Kerner is a warhund with a head full of cutting-edge military hardware, unresolved anger issues, and nothing to lose.

Whoever said that all dogs go to heaven probably never saw Kerner use a flamethrower.He's not a good boy, he's not dead yet, and he's going to make that everyone else's problem.

COMPLETED

What to expect:An enhanced canine anti-hero and his psychotic body-jumping war criminal father fighting an uphill battle. Explorations of Identity, purpose, morality and family. Also dog jokes. So many dog jokes.

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2023
Author: Alex Karne (TheDeliciousMeats)

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.8/ 5.0
Followers: 365
Views: 122,485

What readers say about Death by Chocolate - A Mind-bending Cyberpunk Noir Thriller

“short and bittersweet, like chocolate. Hits all the right notes for the genre, would recommend to anyone looking for a cyberpunk story. It's more action than Noir, though the atmosphere is there. There is some mystery, but due to the short length there isn'…”
incblobRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Brilliant. Unique setting with fleshed out cultures of uplifted animals. German speaking dogs running cat concentration camps. Characters that feel alive and fd in the head. Descriptions of genetically modified war criminals sitting in bath and playing with…”
CondescendingMilkRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

incblobRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
short and bittersweet, like chocolate.
Hits all the right notes for the genre, would recommend to anyone looking for a cyberpunk story. It's more action than Noir, though the atmosphere is there.
There is some mystery, but due to the short length there isn't much time for much to develop.
The lore is well done, hinting at a wider world, leaving room for the sequels to expand on (I assume, haven't read yet.)
The description is pretty spot on, so if that catches your fancy, give it a try.
CondescendingMilkRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Brilliant. Unique setting with fleshed out cultures of uplifted animals. German speaking dogs running cat concentration camps. Characters that feel alive and fd in the head. Descriptions of genetically modified war criminals sitting in bath and playing with their nipples. Respectable levels of violence and humour. Mystery in the background and possible conspiracy. Cybernetically enhanced supersoldier MC that you'd want to root for. This is shaping to be one of the greatest novels.
Really, the only bad things I can tell is that sometimes quality of storytelling lags behind quality of the story. But its just a matter of practice.
Elva the 13thRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story hooked me by chapter 2. I was fully immersed, I voraciously read until I fell asleep reading. I woke up and was compelled to keep reading. I don't have the words to tell you all the thoughts and feeling that this story involved in me. I've read other stories by this Author and I LOVE them as well, but this one will achieved something... Reading it was like driving my old really car (as a teenager) at full speed through the twists and turns of roads that we have here,through hills and gorges where one wrong move means you'll die in a fiery wreck, and the adrenalin rush when you accomplish it .
The darkness and grittyness was totally on point. Its fast paced, It's filled with German and spanish, but you can figure out what it means by context clues. Its a story, a puzzle, it keeps surprising you, twists and turns you never see coming, revelations... It makes me think about how my personality was shaped and molded by not only the people around me. Its a very raw look at prejudice; just because someone isn't exactly like you does not make them any less of a person than you are.
to the Author. I salute you. I haven't felt like this since I read " stranger in a strange land". I grok this story. Your talent is frightening. You made me feel feelings like you were inside my brain rewriting my code as I read it.
Bravo sir. I salute you.
MtlKillsMyBrainRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Death by Chocolate feels like an cyberpunk alternate history post WW2 story. The use of German adds on to this feeling so if you don’t understand might have to use some google translate. I guess one this be prepared for multiple twist and turns the grammar seemed really smooth to me didn’t notice any mistakes.
OgreRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
So many things to say, I'm not sure what should go first.
Simply put, read this book. It might look like casual sci-fi at first, but it's not. It's a complex story of love, loss, family, and redemption. It asks big questions about identity, and technology, and explores what it means to live, and to die. And who are we, really?
This is a super good read, and I strongly recommend it.
Some Guy with a PotatoRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I greatly enjoyed this story. I read Alex's sequel to this, Eden & Echo, and this story ties up a great many questions I had reading that. The characters are interesting, if extremely morally questionable, and the plot never takes you where you expect. The world building and "big picture" aspect is also really neat. Overall, I give it a strong recommendation if you like other trippy thrillers or cyberpunk stories where nobody really knows who's in control.
Lucian T. EinarRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
**Overall:**
Death by Chocolate serves up a gritty and engaging cyberpunk experience, blending unique world-building, complex characters, and a touch of dark humor.
**Style:**
The narrative's gritty and grim style, true to its title, immerses readers in a cyberpunk world with post-WW2 European vibes. The use of Germanic terms enhances the atmosphere, contributing to the story's authenticity. The writing maintains a good flow and pacing.
**Story:**
The plot unfolds across volumes, featuring Kerner Braverhund, a cybernetically enhanced police canine, and his feline companion. The first volume tackles cybernetically enhanced war criminals and death god AIs, delivering intense fight scenes, moral choices, and a corrupt city backdrop. So far, that's the only volume I have read, but I'm going for more.
**Grammar:**
Grammatically sound. The writing maintains clarity and coherence, making it accessible to a broad audience.
**Character:**
The diverse cast, including uplifted animals and humans, adds depth to the narrative. The author skillfully portrays the Hunds' dog-like behavior despite their humanoid form. Characters feel alive, with a cybernetically enhanced supersoldier MC that readers can root for. While the storytelling quality sometimes lags, the characters remain a strong point.
In summary, Death by Chocolate offers a delectable blend of cyberpunk, noir, and dark humor. Readers who appreciate unique settings, complex characters, and a touch of wet dog in their grimdark tales will find this series a compelling and intriguing read. I love the title by the way. Because the character is a dog, and chocolate is poisonous to dogs.
PawweRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
I have read many stories on Royalroad but few as well written and captivating as this. The premise is very original and fully fleshed out plus it has cool cyberpunk. What more can you wish for? I'd like to see more is my only complaint. It was far too short.
J.TravelRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
A depressing story of a determined soul with a desolate outlook. This Hund knowingly accepts death but on his own terms with a last scrap of honor. Well and twistily done. I don't know why I want to continue down this dark path but perhaps I hope for some redemption in this dark sad place. But isn't everything CyberPunkish dark and sad?
AmeritusRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
This a really solid cyberpunk story. Like most good cyberpunk and can be quite trippy and really provokes a lot of introspection and thought. Has some moments that are somewhat disturbing, but aren't too bad. All the characters are very morally grey or just downright bad which also very cyberpunk. It hits a lot of those familiar cyberpunk notes while also managing to be very unique. The world is fascinating and I think I finished the book with more questions than answers, but the answers were satisfying. The post epilogue chapters setup another story which I will definitely be checking out. Overall if you like cyberpunk or just thought provoking scifi then I'd recommend it.