Ghosts Within

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Remy was the best thief this side of old Boston. Well, he used to be the best. Now, Remy's nothing but a washed up con-man turned private investigator who owes a lot of money to the wrong people. Taking one last job to scrap together enough money to get out of town, he finds himself ensnared in schemes well over his paygrade. To save his own skin, he'll need use skills long gone to rust, old acquaintances who'd just as soon see him dead as succeed, and more than a bit of luck.

Ghosts Withintakes place in a semi post-apocalyptic world where the lines between technology and magic are blurred and scattered cities are the last refuge of civilization. Essentially, it's Blade Runner + Ocean's 11 with the magic system from Bioshock.

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2020
Author: AdamJay

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.7/ 5.0
Followers: 19
Views: 18,109

Reviews

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Community Reviews(1)

BeeqsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
If you're a fan of film noir, this is going to be right up your alley. Even if you're not, it's a fun-loving story that's easy on the eyes.
--Style--
This is its strongest point and, golly, when it's good, it's very good.
If you've ever watched Double Indemnity, the narration in "Ghosts Within" could basically be read in Fred MacMurray's voice, despite a considerably different setting and a very different main character in Remy. It's true to the genre and it feels so right.
--Story--
Not as strong as style as there are the few odd parts that seem a bit incongruous and forced in. There is, in particular, a fun race sequence that doesn't entirely fit in with the rest of it, but it's fine in its own right.
-Grammar--
Strong with the occasional slippage here and there, but nothing glaring or particularly worthy of note. Specifically, there are no frequent malapropisms or verbal crutches that need to be corrected.
--Characters--
Remy, the protagonist, is a delightful schlub who really ties the whole book together for me. I don't know why, but I relate to broken down frumpy alcoholics. His relationships are a hot mess, too. This ties back into style because he's a very strong film noir protagonist whose inner monologue is a constant wave of melancholic rumination punctuated by periodic glimmers of happiness.
Very nicely done.