Fresh Cut Rose

Information

Status

Hiatus

Year

2023

Author

Spattykins

• A Note Regarding my Upload Schedule
  Apr 3, 2023
• Chapter 13
  Mar 25, 2023
• Chapter 12
  Mar 18, 2023
• Chapter 11
  Mar 11, 2023
• Chapter 10
  Mar 4, 2023
• Chapter 9
  Feb 26, 2023
• Chapter 8
  Feb 18, 2023
• Chapter 7
  Feb 11, 2023
• Chapter 6
  Feb 4, 2023
• Chapter 5
  Jan 28, 2023
• Chapter 4
  Jan 21, 2023
• Chapter 3
  Jan 20, 2023
• Chapter 2
  Jan 19, 2023
• Chapter 1
  Jan 17, 2023

Reviews

Community Reviews(10)

• drewhead118Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  The chapters I've read of Fresh Cut Rose were a delight to read through. Three investigators arrive in town to find the truth of a shop employee's greusome death; each chapter introduces still more mysteries, and though I'm certainly far from the beginnings of answers to those questions, they're presented in a way that gives the impression of a tightly wound ball of secrets--meticulously crafted, and never confusing.
  Style score: the first-person present-tense narrative is a breeze to read through. The writing style is easy on the eyes, but not without depth; at portions, the writing itself almost feels poetic.
  Grammar score: as close to perfect as it gets. Even the best let the occasional error by, but this text is clean enough to eat off of.
  Story score: Complex, intriguing, and well-paced, the story is succesful in setting the stage, introducing interesting worldbuilding, and familiarizing the reader with a likeable cast in only a few chapters.
  Character score: While the cocksure and aloof MC may not be the most likeable, per se, he and the rest of the main cast are all rendered with enough depth to make them compelling.
  Overall, fans of fantasy stories and mystery tales surrounding crime investigation should give this story a read!
• Apollo149Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Basic breakdown: Owen Goldenfist is a detective with the State Militia, a branch of his country's military. He is tasked with investigating the grisly murder of Panril Gaelmorne. It's like a classic murder mystery detective novel but with a fantasy twist. The setting has some classic fantasy races and elements. I've only read the first four chapters but I enjoyed them.
  Overall score: 5/5 The story itself left me wanting more but in a good way. Fresh Cut Rose is a different story compared to a lot of Royal Road stories I've encountered. I recommend Fresh Cut Rose because of its gripping setting and characters. You'll soon find yourself relentlessly clicking "next chapter" to find out the answers. The story overall is a masterfully crafted mystery.  It's an addicting read.
  Style score: 5/5 The perspective is consistent and smooth.  The descriptions are excellent. It is told in the first person present tense, it is well-managed and easy to follow. It is sometimes poetic, sometimes humorous, but always compelling. The pace is solid and exciting. No complaints. Lots of elements to keep you on your toes in this mystery.
  Grammar score 5/5: The grammar is well done, making for an easy and enjoyable reading experience
  The characters score 5/5 the characterization is well done. You can really get into the main character's mindset when dealing with everyone. Example: How he deals with his partners seems to be fully flushed out. They seem like real people that have a clear history. Their dialogue bounces off of each other well.
• DestroyatronMk8Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Fresh Cut Rose is a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in an old fashioned detective story set in a 19th Century Fantasy Land. Wierd as that sounds, it's played completely straight, and quite compelling.
  STYLE: There are a number of (good) oddities in the way the story is written. It's completely done in the present tense, for one, and the prose and dialogue bring to mind older, classical works while maintaining a more modern story structure and ease of reading. The prose and descriptions vary between to the point "Just the facts, ma'am" function and full on poetry depedning on what the MC is describing. It's fascinating and deeply immersive.
  STORY: There are only four chapters so far, and the series has left me with more questions than answers. I don't know who to believe or who to trust or even if my MC is real and alive. As mysteries go, this is excellent.
  CHARACTERS: The characters are vivid and distinct. The MC is kind of a jerk, a bold choice that hints at a future character arc, but I adore his assistants. Suspects, detectives, and bystanders are all given idyoscinracies and conflicting motives, giving hints of depth and making them feel like real people.
  GRAMMAR: The grammar is flawless. I didn't see a single mistake.
  OVERALL: I haven't seen a lot of murder mysteries on this site, and I certainly haven't seen another one like this. I highly recommend you give it a go.
• OnicRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  The plot will revolve around Owen Goldenfist, a detective mystery with a magical twist and fantasy characters. The premise is that he and two other people are tasked with investigating a murder and discover more about the incident than they expected. And the manner in which it is told is both fascinating and immersive. The setting is well-constructed, and the story is told through Owen's eyes.
  Because it's a mystery, expect a lot of investigations and plot twists and turns. If you believe you have reached the bottom, you will discover that the abyss is much deeper.
  Style. The story flows smoothly, and the chosen POV is well utilized. Details that are important in this type of story are explained very well.
  Grammar. Clean and precise. Nothing to say about grammar.
  Character. The current focus of the story is on our main characters, Owen, Walter, and Sidhion. Each of them has distinct characteristics and is fleshed out sufficiently for you to root for. Their interactions with one another are fairly natural and entertaining to observe.
  Overall. A promising story with an intriguing premise. If you read it, you will be hooked from the first chapter on and will want more. This book is highly recommended!
• Sketch SanchezRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Fresh Cut Rose is a murder mystery story set in a fantasy world, following the journey of Owen Goldenfist, a detective with the State Militia who is tasked with investigating the murder of Panril Gaelmorne in the isolated town of Two Rocks. Along with his two companions, Sidhion and Walter, Owen delves deeper into Two Rocks' secrets as he tries to solve the crime.
  In terms of style, the story is well-written, with good prose that is subtle yet engaging. The pacing and descriptions are solid, adding depth and dimension to the fantasy world. The perspective is smooth, making for a satisfying reading experience.
  The story is intriguing, with a well-crafted mystery that keeps the reader engaged and wanting more. The worldbuilding is also noteworthy, with great care and attention given to every aspect of it, resulting in a rich and immersive setting for the story. The events flow naturally, creating good buildup and increasing tension which is right up my wheelhouse.
  The characters are well-developed and distinct, with Owen Goldenfist standing out as a unique protagonist who is both rude and abrasive and prideful and cunning. The interactions between Owen and his two companions, Sidhion and Walter, are entertaining and help to establish the characters and their relationships further. The rest of the cast is also well-developed and satisfying, adding depth and dimension to the story.
  The story is flawless in terms of grammar, with only an occasional extra comma infrequent enough not to be distracting.
  Overall, Fresh Cut Rose is an expertly crafted fantasy mystery that is a must-read for fans of the genre. Its gripping setting and characters, intriguing story, and well-written style keeps readers engaged and eagerly clicking on the next chapter.
• Eric VanderlipRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Fresh Cut Rose is a fantasy mystery thriller which follows the story of Owen Goldenfist, a detective with the State Militia sent to investigate the grisly murder of Panril Gaelmorne at Two Rocks, a isolated town at the far end of the province, with two companions, Sidhion and Walter.
  Style:    The perspective is consistent and smooth.  Descriptions are excellent.  The pace is solid and exciting.  No complains.
  Story:  This is an expertly crafted fantasy mystery.  It's obvious an extraordinary care has been given to every facet of the worldbuilding.  Events flow naturally to create lots good buildup.
  At first train wreck disaster drives the plot, but then quickly questions take over ("what is going on with the non-existent train connection to Two Rocks?  What made that imprint in the mud?  Who is hiding what?)
  Grammar:  Excellent.  My need to edit (for grammar reason) went mostly unfufilled.
  Character:   First rate cast.  Owen Goldenfist makes a delightfully detestable protagonist: rude, abrasive, prideful (with some merit), ruthless, uncaring asshole.  The type that's a joy to hate.  What's more, he plays off wonderfully against his two companions, the straight-laced, well-meaning, and diplomatic Sidhion and the laidback, good-natured, and kindhearted Walter.  The rest of cast also well developed and satisfying.
  Conclusion:  I recommend Fresh Cut Rose because of its gripping setting and characters.  You'll soon find yourself relentlessly clicking "next chapter" to find out the answers to its masterfully crafted mysteries.  It's an addicting read.
• J. L. JonesRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Fresh Cut Rose, definitely wasn't what I expected it to be, but it is turning into something I need! It's a murder mystery in an urban fantasy setting. Of course, the beautiful town in this story hides a sinister secret that the author slowly reveals in layers. From the chapters I have read so far this story sets up to be a long game of cat and mouse, but in reality, strings are being pulled in the background.
  Style: The author keeps it clean and quick, meaning you won't be slogged with meaningless dialogue as everything has a concrete point. It is consistent and the pacing is well done and thought out that leaves you wanting to read the next chapter.
  Story: I mean a magical murder mystery in a beautiful town? The author does a great job of letting theories percolate in your mind as you are thrust along for the ride.
  Grammar: No complaints at all! The author knows his stuff, making the reading flow naturally and easier to follow.
  Character: Each of the characters feels alive with all of them having unique mannerisms and a sense of upbringing making them more fleshed out!
  Overall: I have thoroughly enjoyed what I have read and will come back every Saturday for more!
• Nsimon801Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  For people too lazy to read the entire review like me: read this! it is indeed amazing! 10/10, 5/5!!!
  Okay, so for everyone else, if you have read my other reviews you will know I do not leave bad reviews, instead I will send a PM if I believe the fiction will fall beneath the four-star mark. As an author myself, I understand the impact of a bad review both on this platform and beyond, so while I tend to only leave good reviews, these posts are vetted as I take a full week to fully read the agreed-upon portion of the fiction, and carefully analyze what the author has made. I would like to use this information to stress the authenticity of this review: this ficiton is amazing.
  Style: it is in the first person decsriptive, and at first I was wary but the author does an amazing job both describing the inner turmoil of the character with the myriad of outlying details and elements that shape the deeply rich and detialed environment. The reader (myself) is a passenger on the perverable tour, as the author does a fantastic job showing us the world they queite clearly pain stakingly scultped. Very, very well done!
  Story:  One of my pet peeves is a chapter standing alone. Meaning lets say a particular story element whether it's world lore, character foil, childhood memory, or any particualr detail that was propped up to be important is left behind. Classic Checkovs gun, right? There are zero, and I do mean literally zero checkovs guns in this fiction. I make this statement because as I read through these chapters, I expected there to be at least three. Whether it was the protagonist's childhood in the Luminary Mirror cult, or the clearly outlined real world parrells to the fictional worlds interaction of different mages, populations, or races, everything is tied up neatly and nicely, with continueing references to previously established details that further secure the concrete world building the author has pulled off!
  Grammar score: not an english teacher nor a grammar nazi
• Dingo_shablinkoRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  This story has a lot going on and it is very fun to read. It follows a young detective on his first assignment, who runs into a series of obstacles that must be overcome and encounters a baffling series of mysteries along the way.
  It is told in first person present tense, it is well managed and easy to follow. It is sometimes poetic, sometimes humerous, but always compelling.
  The story has a lot of convolutions and a few twists right from the start. So far does not feel predictable in any way, but does progress along a plotline which is critical in this kind of story.
  The grammar is overall pretty good, but does have a few minor niggles.
  The characters drive this whole thing. The MC is a bit full of himself and interacts with others abrasively to hide a bit of his insecurity. This is tricky to pull off in first person, but the author makes it really work. The other characters are fleshed out and have very amusing moments in their interactions as the relationships develop.
  I have enjoyed this story so far, and I am excited to see where it leads. Thank you for such a fun read!
• AnxiousReaderRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  Well, let's do it, no need to dally.
  Style:
  Honestly, I really felt like I was reading a genuine book in a book shop.
  The prose is excellent. The dialogue feels real. The imagery paints a wonderful picture.
  Story:
  The story's gotten... messy. Very messy, actually. It's hard to tell if messy good or messy bad.
  Complexity on its own isn't bad, and I owe the author a bit of trust with it, they seem like a talented writer.
  It seems well-constructed and thought through, so 4.5 stars it is.
  Grammer:
  Wonderful Grammer, only spotted one mistake, not much to say, so that's good!
  Character:
  This thing that lowered my Character rating was the main character.
  There is a rather thick line between being an common asshole and being a literal maniac.
  In that space lies Owen Goldenfist.
  I'm unsure whether or not this has a reason, but the Owen from before the town and after feel like different people... one is a bit of a jerk, with bigoted notions of others. The other is a
  Murderous Cultist.
  I'm not sure where this story is going, but the author seems to, and with their skill with words they'll get there flawlessly.