FVR (Full Virtual Reality)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

For some, escaping reality is the only way to escape their pain.

Seventeen-year-old Joel lives his life trapped in the immobilizing grip of chronic pain. Not wanting to die, but not keen on living, he seizes the chance to join a trial for a groundbreaking and fully immersive virtual reality game known only as:FVR. Within the game lies that which he craves most: complete relief from his suffering.

"FVR" is a story of escapism, of finding a place to call your own, and discovering a life that is real only in the ways that truly matter—where genuine emotions form genuine bonds, and the lines between truth and fiction blur.Follow Joel as he flees his pain-ridden existence for a world with a new kind of suffering, and watch as he navigates the difficult choices between his comfort and his morality.

What to expect in the first volume:

- LitRPG, fantasy style levelling.

- The game itself is a fantasy, with it's own familiar yet distinct magic/levelling systems, classes, and creatures.

- A sprawling world with various countries and cultures.

- Graphic deaths and an insight into trauma and isolation.

- Character focused plot within a large world and a real, real slow burn.

- An average word count of over 4,000 words.

If you like a slow burn and want to join me on my journey to writing my first novel, then come along! I'm currently posting every Thursday![on break due to health issues. Be back soon!]

[Check out the discord to stay up to date with releases: https://discord.gg/UsHj8k2G]

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: Said X

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 120
Views: 32,000

Chapters(28 total)

What readers say about FVR (Full Virtual Reality)

“I can't gush how much about how this had me sucked in! I was reading. I looked at the clock and went, "Damn, it's that late? It's been 3 hours!" Okay, into the meat of this amazing work. Style: Definitely distinct. I haven't come across anything like it to…”
SerasStreamsRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“The story takes you on an intriguing adventure as the MC is thrown into a VR world unprepared. The author does very well at portraying Joel's experiences and the trauma he faces both from his past and in this new world. The LitRPG mechanics were solid, help…”
C.H. MouserRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(7)

SerasStreamsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I can't gush how much about how this had me sucked in!
I was reading. I looked at the clock and went, "Damn, it's that late? It's been 3 hours!"
Okay, into the meat of this amazing work.
Style: Definitely distinct. I haven't come across anything like it to compare to. Normally, I try to compare to other well-known authors to give you an idea of what the style is like...and honestly, I'm struggling. This is a really unique way of writing. I guess the best comparison I can make is Eric Nylund (he wrote a bunch of the Halo books). The style is a bit similar in the pacing of the action. But only in that action aspect. The rest is wholly unique to anything I've read before.
Story: The plot is so simple but executed gorgeously. Ultimately this is a character-driven narrative, so I'll elaborate more on the Character Score section. But it's a simple premise - a guy gets a chance to 'full dive' into a VR world to escape his own chronic pain, and ends up in a situation that is a blessing and a curse.
Character: Okay this is where it hits the hardest. We only really get to know 1 character for the first 8 chapters (where I ended up pausing before writing this review). And man, he is so sympathetic. You really feel for the guy. Like, I knew he was fictional, but I've known people in real life dealing with chronic pain and have had them describe it to me. This character is written just like those people described. I was hooked into the story by the amazing characterization of the MC. Not the plot (dive into VR? It's been done a lot), no sir. This character is written so damned well. And he's the only real person we get to know well. Sure, there's some side characters that are used in the start of the story and are flashed back to in a 'challenge'...but the MC is the focus and he is so believable as a person.
Grammar: Pretty much flawless. In an author's note, the author mentions that they reworked the first few chapters to fix grammar. I caught nothing.
I will definitely be read
C.H. MouserRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story takes you on an intriguing adventure as the MC is thrown into a VR world unprepared. The author does very well at portraying Joel's experiences and the trauma he faces both from his past and in this new world. The LitRPG mechanics were solid, helping further the story's intrigue as well as Joel's experiences. I enjoyed the read and can see the story going far.
Style: The author's style is very honed, allowing the story to flow smoothly and working well with setting the tone. The system mechanics and overall setup were comfortable and done well.
Story: The story has a lot of depth and grit to it. Joel's trials, both in life and in this mysterious VR world, were nicely done and made for a fun read. There is a sense of mystery to the world that I felt really made you want to keep reading just to watch it come to life. It can be slow at times, but that works well with the type of story being told, and it picks up when it needs to. I like the grittiness of some of the system mechanics, feeling like you had to work for stuff, and that was nice.
Grammar: I'm not a grammar warrior, but from what I could tell, it was great. As a reader, I can say that never once was my reading experience interrupted due to grammar. I saw some notes for corrections, and the author fixed them, which is nice as it shows they are invested in their work.
Character: I felt this was where things really shined. Joel's experiences and inner turmoil were done amazingly well. You really felt the sense of struggling to overcome challenges both in life and in this new world. Joel's journey was just beginning, and it felt like there was a lot more depth to be found as the author continues to breathe life into the character. Each character felt distinct and unique, allowing the whole experience to feel natural.
Overall, I would say this is definitely worth a read for fans of the genre!
SundayravenRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is an incredibly well-written VR story with a sense of real consequences and a compelling and understandable MC. It's on the slower side, but that's not a bad thing in a character-driven story like this one is.
I have no complaints about the style. It's clear and immersive. It definitely has a darker, more realistic feel, but I expected that from the synopsis, and I'm glad that the story lives up to its premise. The writer doesn't pull their punches, but the violence and descriptions of gore don't feel gratuitous either.
The grammar is also well-polished. There weren't any jarring errors that took me out of the story. I'm sure if I was reading with a focus on editing rather than entertainment, I would be able to find some minor issues, but the same can be said for any work. The writer clearly knows what they're doing and took the time to proofread.
This story holds a lot of promise. I like that Joel has strong motivations for going ahead with the VR experience despite having reservations about it. Joel doesn't do things "just because" but the people in charge of the experiment seemed to let him in a little too easily, which I think is something that could be improved upon considering how realistic the rest of the story is. So far, the story seems to have a good balance of tension and conflict, while also occasionally taking a step back and allowing Joel (and the readers) to breathe. I'm six chapters in and don't have a good feel for what the main plot will be yet, so it's a little on the slow side, but the writing is engaging enough to keep me hooked anyway. I very much want to learn more about the VR world he's in and how it functions.
Joel is the only major character I've met so far, but by as soon as the first chapter, it's clear that the writer put a lot of thought into his development. As the story goes on, Joel's character remains consistent and his motivations are clear. He just wants to not be in pain, which is something even people who don't suffer fro
ThatHumanMageRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This has been a really solid read from beginning to "end" as I've caught up with it, and I can definitely recommend FVR for anybody who likes slow burn LitRPG.
Style: The style of the story throughout the first arc so far has certainly trended a bit darker, but never overly so in my opinion. The dark parts make sense for the world and characters, and are used well to the story's benefit. The blend of third person narration with italicized internal thoughts is done really well and never feels out of place, leading to an easy-to-read style of writing that fits this story well.
Grammer: Other than a few small things that are bound to happen in self publishing, especially serialized stories, there are no issues with the grammer. It's all polished well, with few to no noticeable errors, and certainly nothing that took me out of the story like in others I've read.
Story: The story so far has been quite interesting. Be prepared to accept a bit of mystery regarding the nature of the game and the world it takes place in. Since the MC is a replacement for someone else they don't learn what is probably crucial information, which sets up several mysteries for the reader to think about as the chapters progress. It's clear to me that Said X has a plan for why things are the way they are, and I'm very interested to see what that is. In regards to the world itself, while the plot jumped around a bit in the beginning, things have started to settle a bit more and start building towards what I can already feel is going to be a big ending to the first arc, and I'm looking forward to it.
Character: I think Joel, the MC, is easily one of if not the strongest parts of this series so far. At the core of his character is the struggle between two contradictions: his desire to stay in the game to escape his chronic pain, battling against his fear and unpreparedness for the type of game that he is now stuck in, one that will require him to feel pain just to survive. That conflict drives him as
d.c.brums23564Royal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Overall: FVR is an engaging and well-crafted narrative that captivates readers with its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and immersive world-building. The story skillfully balances action, emotional depth, and humor, making it a compelling read from start to finish. Each chapter builds on the previous one, creating a cohesive and intriguing storyline that keeps the reader eagerly turning pages.
Style: The writing style in FVR is both evocative and accessible, allowing readers to easily visualize the richly detailed world and connect with the characters. The author excels at blending descriptive prose with natural dialogue, creating a seamless narrative flow. The use of varied sentence structures and vivid imagery enhances the reading experience, while the careful pacing ensures that the story remains engaging throughout.
Story: The plot of FVR is well-constructed and filled with twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The narrative expertly weaves together themes of bravery, camaraderie, and self-discovery, all set against a backdrop of political intrigue and fantastical elements. The story's progression is logical and satisfying, with each chapter revealing new layers of complexity and depth. The blend of action, mystery, and character development ensures that there is never a dull moment.
Grammar: FVR is generally strong, with minor issues related to punctuation and sentence structure. These occasional errors do not detract from the overall readability but could be refined to enhance the flow and clarity of the text. The dialogue is well-punctuated, and the narrative voice remains consistent throughout, contributing to a polished and professional feel.
Characters: in FVR are well-developed and multifaceted, each with their own distinct voice and personality. Joel, the protagonist, is particularly compelling, with his growth and struggles portrayed with depth and authenticity. The supporting characters, such as Damon, Zach, and Be
Cyanide MagicianRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
This one has been a pleasant surprise.
I don't normally review works this early, but I've found that early writing is a fairly good indicator of how much care an author is putting into their work and what to expect later in the story.
Often, I find writers of litrpg or progression fantasy lose themselves in the 'expectations' of the genre to the point where they neglect 'expectations' of good story telling. FVR is a story that does not make this mistake. This is obviously not the author's first foray into writing. This is a very competently written story that understands what it wants to be and remains true to it.
Stylistically, the writing is very straight forward. There isn't much beauty to it, but there aren't any rough edges either. What stands out is the quick and easy way we're made to empathize with our MC, Joel. His struggles are not glanced over. They're given the time that they deserve to flesh him out into a well written character, and they make him compelling and likeable.
Note: I know authors can choose only 4 genres, but I think a psychological tag would be nice for this story, because we are very much in our MC's head, and the author does a good job in making us feel very close to his struggles.
My only nitpick with style is I think the story slows down a little too much in chapters 3 and 4. Yes, ch2 is visceral and our MC needs a calm break, but there's a bit too much meandering there that I think could be thinned.
Story: Again, solid. There's no plot aside from our MC's wants as of this early, and that want is to escape his real life disability through the game, but the game is a nightmare, and so the basic story is our MC navigating this psychological hell whilst grappling with the game he's presented with.
Grammar: Nothing to say here. I didn't catch anything.
Character: The strongest point. Our only character up to here is Joel, and he's great. This might not be for everyone, since I understand that people like reading litrpg for the power fantas
AveryLineRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
I was captivated by this story for one primary reason: Joel, the main character, struck me as a sensitive, thoughtful person, who Said X really got into the mind of. Emotion is what hooked me, and what I hoped to see more of.
I have been reading this story off and on for weeks now, and I am quite pleased to see that that promise has been met --and even exceeded.
STYLE
I just read chapter 23, which begins: "There is a comfort in knowing that pain will not persist. The stubbing of a toe, the biting of a tongue, even the breaking of a leg; one part of the brain will always say: it's fine, it won't last long."
I won't spoil things, but if you know the theme of this novel, you'll recognize that the first scene of chapter 23 reinforces the promise of the early chapters. There is a steady escalation of scene, tone, prose, and characterization as the novel goes on. Theme is not easy to achieve, and to be fair it is inconsistently applied sometimes in this story. But in scenes such as this one, the prose is eloquent, outpacing the requirements for the scene. I was absolutely thrilled to read these lines and see the continuation of a theme that is woven through the story. Theme is not easy to achieve.
GRAMMAR
The attention and care in this story is above the vast majority of what I've read here. I do find grammatical flubs that pull me out. However, those iron out as things move forward. To take this story on its own terms, the author states that this web serialization is a way to get the story told without being self-critical. From what I've seen, the author is quite conscientious and devoted to the craft of writing, and it shows.
STORY
This category is the main reason why I waited so long to write a review. I'll just be blunt: LitRPG is not my jam. I don't understand its rules, and what constitutes good or bad pacing. So, LitRPG fans, I can only say that the story throws in enough twists to keep me engaged, but otherwise the genre is a mystery to me, so I'll shut up now, an