Elaris: The Timeless City

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Arcane-noir murder mystery in a domed city of ghosts and gears.

When Elder Aranthia is murdered in her own palace, two lives collide. Valara, a servant with stolen memories, becomes Elaris’s most hunted witness. Daron of the Shadowguard is ordered to pull the threads before the city’s factions ignite.

Technomagic guilds, ancient pacts, whispers older than the Elders: mist-lit alleys and gilded halls hide the same blade. Deals curdle; loyalties split. Every answer costs a life. If the dome still holds, someone is bleeding to keep it that way.

You’ll enjoy this if you like: morally gray detectives, arcane forensics, political intrigue; golems and forbidden sigils; cities that look like sanctuaries and behave like traps.

Updates: One chapter every Sunday (Book One in progress).

Trust nothing but evidence.

Can Valara and Daron uncover the truth before the dome cracks and Elaris turns on itself?

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2025
Author: Alex Mondragon

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 5.0/ 5.0
Followers: 58
Views: 8,422

Chapters(28 total)

What readers say about Elaris: The Timeless City

“I really liked this one. It reads smoothly because of how the scenes build one after another. The worldbuilding is pretty solid. The dome over Elaris creates a cool tension between safety and control. It works well as both a magical concept and a symbol of…”
Faedin V.Royal Road5.0 / 5
“Elaris is a complex and very interesting city with diverse buildings and regions, all inside a giant dome. The story style enhance well the caracterization of many parts of Elaris, from a well development region to a very imporished one that is really simil…”
MauraRandikRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(3)

Faedin V.Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I really liked this one. It reads smoothly because of how the scenes build one after another. The worldbuilding is pretty solid. The dome over Elaris creates a cool tension between safety and control. It works well as both a magical concept and a symbol of how trapped people feel. I also liked the different districts. It’s clear that wealth, power and fear do not mix well here.
The characters are interesting. Daron is probably my favorite so far. He’s calm and steady, but it’s obvious he’s got stuff eating at him. As for Valara, I can see that she’s written carefully. Her silence and trauma are handled with respect, and the little moments with the cat or the porridge were honestly the ones that stuck with me. They made her feel real. The assassin is intense, but I appreciated that she wasn’t just some edgy killer.
The pacing felt just right. It doesn’t rush, but it doesn’t drag either. The writing style stays simple and clear, without fancy phrases or hard words.
The scenes feel grounded and even the magic stuff is easy to follow. I liked the mix of technomagic and street-level life, because it gives the whole story this gritty but lived-in feeling.
Overall, it’s a slow burn, but it makes you care about the characters and the mystery. It feels like something that’s going to grow into a big story, and I’m here for that.
MauraRandikRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Elaris is a complex and very interesting city with diverse buildings and regions, all inside a giant dome. The story style enhance well the caracterization of many parts of Elaris, from a well development region to a very imporished one that is really similar to the slums.
The characters are vivid, each with their own personality, problems and goals. I like there is a common goal between the “villains” and that each one has theis own reason to work against the elders and I really want to know more about Lia’s origins.
The story also compels the reader to know more about Elaris’s structure and how the society lives on each place. Specially with the great diference between the lifestyle in each area, which reflect well on reality financial inequality, especially in third world countries.
The grammar is good, with basically no misspeling or major errors that impact the reading.
Overall, Elaris: the timeless city is a great fantasy world building that mirrors well problems that occur in real world with a near touch of magic. I look forward for the novel reveal more about the Shadow Guard: if they are loyal to the elders because they are their superiors our if they have another reasons for following them, such as fear.
Nemo BlancRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This excerpt from Alex Mondragon felt like stepping into a sprawling, meticulously crafted world where magic and technology entwine. As a reader, I was quickly hooked by the tense atmosphere, compelling imagery, and richly drawn characters. The story captures its mood with precision, making every scene, from the dome-lit corridors of Elaris to the smoky ruins of Old Elaris, vibrate with a sense of looming doom and fragile beauty.
The plot is ambitious, merging threads of betrayal, survival, and dark secrets. The murder of Aranthia, an Elder thought invincible, anchors the story and sparks a gripping mystery. The character dynamics, especially between Daron, Valara, and the imposing Lyssara, are captivating. The interplay of suspicion, trauma, and desperation makes these moments feel palpable, inviting readers to ponder deeper questions about trust and immortality.
The prose shines with a poetic flair. The imagery is vivid, from mist-clung alleyways to the dome’s luminous veil, making the setting almost a character itself. The scene of the assassination is especially memorable, imbued with tension and emotion. The only area for improvement would be pacing, certain sections slow down due to dense exposition, and breaking up long paragraphs might help maintain the tension.
Grammar and style are strong throughout, with only a handful of instances where complex sentences slightly obscure clarity. However, the overall voice is confident, atmospheric, and evocative, making this an impressive piece that would appeal to fans of dark fantasy and technomagic.
In short, Alex Mondragon delivers an enthralling, richly textured experience that promises a memorable journey for those who step into its mist‑shrouded streets. An intriguing start that leaves readers eager for more.