Fenghuolun: Wheels of Wind and Flame [STUB]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

It's the Isekai fantasy epic with MOTORCYCLE RACING you never knew you wanted!

Lotus Shen's life of poverty and danger is flipped on its head when she and her brother Echo find themselves transported to Stormvast, a nation of obsessed bikers where the motorcycles channel the supernatural powers of ancient magical beasts. It doesn't take long for Lotus herself to be thrown head-first into the high-speed high-stakes world of professional Chakram racing, and along with rising stardom comes new friends and powerful enemies. To have any hope of carving out a tenable future for herself and Echo, Lotus must contend, not only against her rivals on asphalt, but also with her own inner demons.

But if there's one thing she could always count on, it's that she never backs down from a good race...

What to expect:

- Sports anime/manga meets Isekai

- Heart-pumping race scenes

- Progression via looting defeated opponents and monster "hunting" (ethical and non-violent)

- Plenty of character-driven drama with a diverse cast

The story in its current form is finished. No more updates on Royal Road.

Book 1 has been stubbed as of June 30th, 2024.

Book 2 has been stubbed as of July 31st, 2024.

Book 3 has been stubbed as of August 31st, 2024.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2023
Author: Larkspur Wren

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.3/ 5.0
Followers: 370
Views: 28,545

Chapters(16 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

Conrad StokesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Disclaimer: I am writing this review as part of a review/comment swap with the author. I have read just over 10k words.
I was going to give this story a 4.5, but then it occurred to me that I really have nothing bad to say about this story. So I think a 5 is warranted.
I did not think I was going to like this story as much as I would, I mean come on, "motorcycle isekai". Yet the author impressed me with a well written sibling relationship and intertwined motorcycle racing with another world quite well.
As far as style goes, I would compare it to the grammar: smooth. I never felt like the dialogue or action scenes were janky nor did I feel like the author was trying to spoon feed me their world building, instead relying on us to intuitively figure it out.
Elaborating a bit more on the brother/sister characters, I found that they did not seem to fall for any of those so often seen tropes like "annoying younger brother" or "overprotective sister". Those elements are there, but they seem natural to the characters rather than being forced. I'm genuinely interested to see how their excursion to the other world will flow and how characters there will interact with them.
Overall: Good story. Recommend.
Genuine55Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Just doing a quick review here. I'm going to make it simple: When was the last time you read something that actually felt original? Something with a core concept that you hadn't really read before? Yeah, I can make comparisons to Speed Racer, or Akira, or other Isekai, or any number of other works. But the way it all boils down is that this one is special, and it is certainly worth your time.
TharsultRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
So, my take on this story is extremely positive. That makes it weirdly harder to leave a detailed advanced review, as its easier to talk nuance about why something was good not great, or the parts you liked vs. the parts you didn't, etc. This was very nearly 100% all like, and any negativity I felt I had to suss out as I thought about the review.
This review was done as part of a review swap.
Style: Phenomenal. An easy, easy read that just flows. the story moves along at a steady clip, each action and choice logical and leading to the next one, believably and smoothly. Excellent work. Its done in a very traditional style, but so so well.
Grammer: I'm not great at finding grammar errors but I found zero, so that's still mighty impressive.
Story: Very very good. A down on your luck young woman and her brother, engaged in a dangerous activity for which she has a flair and passion are taken to another world where they can practice it further. Very well told, this story is an isekai standard except for motorcycles and with a smooth, fast read. Just nearly 100% positive.
Character: Very very as well. All three characters presented have very different personalities and mannerisms, I would absolutely know who was speaking the second that I read the sentence even without a dialogue tag. It's really quite impressive characterization. Even the tiny few secondary characters were extremely distinct right out the door. Also, the cultures come across, with people behaving differently in the two places seen so far even as to basic mannerisms. fantastic work. I guess if I have any complaint here, its that echo starts relatively unlikeable and his exact motivation to trigger his involvement in the story felt unclear, but seriously, I had to think to come up with anything so that this review wasn't just me clapping over and over. Not that I didn't think that, but it was a pretty minor quibble. I loved chapters 1 and 3, I liked chapter 2 (echoes intro chapter).
Overall, a very strong a
Tom Writing QuietlyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Welcome to the world of Chakram racing, where magical motorcycle riders maim, maul, and mystify in brutal endurance races where two-thirds of the competition failing to finish the race isn't unusual.
I'm writing this review as of the end of the first Chakram race - the section marked GAMBIT 1-8, ending with Chapter 11.
The first three chapters are in the mundane world, the introduction of the main character, her motorcycle, her brother, and a race that she does not finish because said brother stopped to try to help the driver of a fuel truck escape the wreckage of an accident.
And then, isekai. The one sour note for me is that the brother is genre-aware, but that's a matter of personal preference. I did not notice a single grammar or spelling mistake, which is very unusual - I'm very good at spotting them, so I was either distracted by the gripping story or there just weren't many to be spotted in the first place.
There's tension, drama, a clear sense of perspective, and no real exposition dumps... which leaves me wanting to know more. And I do want to know more! This one is worth a follow from me.
keeganashleyliveRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Okay, lets talk about this one. The story is action-packed with a heavy foot on the gas (if you get my racing metaphor ;P). There’s danger, holding of breath and a general vibe of grittiness and fantasy. The subject matter is a little bit different from the typical story here on RR with the emphasis on racing, but I liked the premise and, most importantly, the main character. I found stepping into their head to be relatable and something that really contributed a deeper aspect to the action, action, action found in these pages.
The writing is really where I noticed the story shine brightest. The author employs detailed description which truly immerses the reader in every scene. The LitRPG elements, while probably not fully fleshed out in these beginning chapters, were used well and brought tension to the story.
I would highly recommend this read for anyone who enjoys a fast-paced, thrilling ride.
R. L. EhrickRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is quite possibly my favorite story that I've read on Royal Road so far. Admittedly I haven't read too many just yet, but the combination of the unique racing theme, strong characters, a vivid writing style, and supercompetent grammar really wowed me on Fenghuolun. The story played out like an anime in my head.
STYLE: The writing style is perfectly suited to the story being told. Character voices are consistent and vivid. Overall the story is just fun to read, and I breezed through the first 10 chapters in one sitting. There were no speed bumps to slow me down.
GRAMMAR: No complaints here, and I am the queen when it comes to grammar complaints. I'm a very picky reader, and grammatical errors take me out of the story faster than a Flametip Spear can take you out of a race (I'm sorry, I can't help it).
STORY: I debated taking away half a star for a couple places where I had trouble suspending my disbelief--when they discuss the fact that they've been "isekai'd," for example--but I decided against it. The story as a whole is just too strong. It hits its stride once the isekai occurs and doesn't slow down, to go overboard with racing metaphors.
CHARACTER: This is the one place where there may be a teeny tiny bit of weakness. I don't know the characters as well as I want to. But I *want* to get to know them. Lotus, being the protagonist, comes across the most clearly. Iver and Echo still need some development before I can pass judgment on them as characters. But this author has earned my trust with the quality of their writing, so I have faith that I *will* get to know both of them in time, as well as the other racers and auxilliary characters who will doubtless show up as the story continues.
And believe me, I'll be following to find out what happens next.
R.C. JoshuaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
So far, this is rad. Action is pretty hard to write in an interesting way, and I'm not incredibly into racing as a genre. But this is action written very, very well; it's compelling and interesting to read about the races.
The first couple of chapters are interesting, but I can't emphasize enough how much the story picks up in chapters 3-4. If it was just what it was in chapter 1-2, that would be great; after the actual Isekai takes place, the whole thing opens up into a much cooler world.
The MC alone is enough to get it a 5 for character, and the rest of the cast isn't too shabby either. Story is great, writing is great, and style somehow is even better. The magic motorcycles aspect of this, I can't be too clear, really really shouldn't work for me. It's not my usual thing at all. But it's done so damn well that I'm pretty sure I'd read anything from this particular author, regardless of what it was.
Overall, well worth a read, regardless of whether or not the premise is your usual. This is an instance of good authorship erasing normal genre/preference boundaries to make a thing that's worthwhile for anyone.
GodlyskeletonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
The concept of "motorcycle isekai" is undeniably unique. so I dived in and found a gem. The characters, namely Lotus, Echo, and Iver, are well-developed, their racing-focused backgrounds are engaging, and the racing sequences are vividly portrayed. It's easy to find yourself swept up in the excitement.
It's all so thrilling. You feel like you're on the ride with them at points, it is quite well written, exciting, and engaging.
I feel it could benefit from emphasising it's diversified focus heavily. Although it does this to an enjoyable degree, it could be taken even further. The isekai genre often revolves around magic, magic discovery, (magic themed) exploration, conflict, or general slice of life goodness, and I found myself yearning for much more of these elements in the narrative. The story includes it already, there is magic, and lore in spades, but the emphasis could be woven in to the point that it is as heavily focused as the racing itself. The combination of racing, and magic focus in equal measure could take the story's uniqueness to another level.
The isekai shift also felt a bit clunky at first, took me a hot minute to realize we were on a different planet.
But honestly, it's all pretty damn good. Highly recommend.
So 4.5 stars, if there's a greater focus on the marraige of traditional isekai elements alongside the racing in future chapters then it could be a favourite.
Lile BanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Summary:
The story follows Lotus Shen, a street racer from modern-day Earth who finds herself transported to the parallel fantasy world of Stormvast along with her younger brother Echo. There, she meets Iver Gambit, owner of a struggling Chakram racing team, who convinces Lotus to pilot his Chakram Fenghuolun in an upcoming race. After a stunning debut win, Lotus's adventures continue as she navigates this strange new world, its magical motorcycle races, and a brewing rivalry with the powerful Drake family corporation.
Structure & Plot:
The narrative structure is generally coherent, with events unfolding in a logical chronological order. The introductory chapters do a good job setting up the fantasy world and rules of Chakram racing without too much exposition. The plot builds steadily, transitioning from Lotus's fish-out-of-water experiences to the exhilarating race day, then culminating in higher stakes with Echo's arrest. There are perhaps a few too many races and training sequences condensed into the second half, causing the pacing to drag at times. But overall, the central conflict is well-established, and the cliffhanger ending leaves readers eager for the next installment.
Characters:
Lotus is a compelling protagonist - stubborn, fiercely protective of her brother, and a talented racer. Her fiery personality drives much of the plot forward. Supporting characters like Iver, Marly, and the Drake brothers are distinctive and multidimensional. I would perhaps like to see more nuance in Lotus's characterization over time, as she seems to stick to an angsty mistrust of those around her for much of the story. But her motivations are clear, and the lengths she goes to for Echo make her empathetic.
World-Building:
The world of Stormvast feels richly imagined, with creative touches like Chakrams, Conduits, and Moshou bringing Lotus's modern sensibilities into conflict with fantasy traditions. Details like clothing, architecture, and food root us in this culture. While
smartiesbabRoyal Road
★★★ 3.0
This is very well written, no doubt about it. However, it seems the author lost sight of making the story feel natural as well. When the MC meets a stranger for the first we are reading, the conversation is very artificial, with none of the casualness people typically exhibit when meeting each other, instead both characters in the situation physically grabbing each other, which is, at least to me, an extreme oddity. This unnatural communication appears again, with the MC's brother exclaiming "Maybe you don't know everything about me!", at very inappropriate time. It feels like the author wants there to be constant action or development, but no person I know display their personal issues that prominently in front of strangers.
And the smaller problem is the racing itself. Most people will probably not realise it, but the racing is rather unrealistic as well. At one point, with a 4 second deficit to first place (P1) and 4 laps left in a race, MC in P2, P1 for some reason decides to play defense? In racing, a 4 seconds deficit is a race defining time, even with 50 laps to go, not just for. There was no reason at all for P1 to lower the pace and play defence, and clearly he was not very clever as well, as the best defence P1 could have played was to remove the option of slipstream.
That also contains my last gripe with the story, there is no explanation of race lingo. Lines, inside lines, outside lines, entries, exits, racecraft, braking patterns and more are just some of the things you need to know to properly understand a race, and would make the story much more in-depth and a pleasure to read.
All in all, a very interesting premise ruined by a large amount of low-quality character interactions and, for the casual readers, a lack of understanding of racing.