Graven

Information

Status

Completed

Year

2019

Author

Sharkerbob

• 6 : Shoggoth
  Apr 4, 2019
• 5 : Shoggoth
  Apr 3, 2019
• 4 : Max-Out
  Apr 2, 2019
• 3 : Max-Out
  Apr 1, 2019
• 2 : Max-Out
  Mar 31, 2019
• 1 : Max-Out
  Mar 30, 2019
• 0 : Doorways
  Mar 29, 2019

Reviews

Community Reviews(10)

• Aki1redRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Spoiler: Spoiler
  I don't have alot of reviews or series in my fav section and I've been on the site for years so please believe me when I say this story is a gem and should be read.
• B. A. Baker (Thedude3445)Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  (Review originally published on Web Fiction Guide)
  Graven is nominally a superhero story, which I’ll admit was a turn-off for me at first. There are technically superheroes, and there is even a superhero team featured in the story. However, this is pretty much as far as you can get from superheroes and still be in the genre.
  Really, it’s more of a post-apocalyptic sci-fi adventure, featuring a cast of broken, diverse characters forced to come together to fight a mysterious, world-ending threat. Graven is set in a world where superheroes come to Earth through mysterious portals. And, pretty much like expected . . . that basically ends society as we know it. In the present tense, that means our characters are essentially living in the end times, and they are well aware of it too.
  The way the story blends low-level character drama, fast-pace superhero action, and chilling cosmic horror is very respectable. It comes together in a way that differentiates it very well from the endless horde of other superhero web novels out there. There’s some shocking twists and turns I seriously didn’t see coming at all, too.
  And for what it’s worth, the actual superpowers featured in this story are really awesome. You get the typical super-speedster, the shapeshifter, the strong flying lady, but the sources of their powers are different. They operate mechanically differently in ways that completely change how they operate, and that leads to some really interesting elements.Then there’s characters like Strider, the terraporter, and Earth Mage, the . . . well, his name is pretty self-explanatory. They, among others, have powers that are really unique in a superhero story, and Graven makes very good use of all of them. No potential wasted in terms of crazy power usage.
  Where the story falls flat for me is in two areas— One, is the fact that there is just so, so much exposition. The characters are constantly talking about their backstories or the backstories of worldbuilding elements or el
• Cocop (Cale Plamann)Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  The only reason I'm not giving this an advanced review is that I read it before I made a Royal Road account and can't remember the specific nitpicking details enough to give a proper advanced review.
  That said- it is my favorite superhero novel on this site.  There are hints of grimdark/dark mystery throughout the entire story but they're done so deftly that even though it is ultimately a dark tale, it doesn't even feel like it.  The characters are well written and fun and the super powers/their interactions are fun and innovated.  The world is dark but fleshed out in a way that makes it feel like a logical but depressing outgrowth of our own.
  I don't really know what else to say.  Read this.
• Mark TimeRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  It's a tripping read with a cool premise then it feels like it's gon to far then raps up good. Read it in one sitting.
  warning tags are there for a reason
  spoiler it is a tragedy hiding behind a superhero story. While I found som of the crass humor slightly over the top it delivers a narrative that is rather good.
  a warning you will feel a bit lost a first with all the disconnected storylines but they join into one cohesive narrative early on.
• Skylark (Dion Sky)Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I've been meaning to leave a review on Graven for a while - better late than never!
  I absolutely loved this story. In Graven, the appearance of superheroes in the world isn't glamourised or brushed aside - rather, it does precisely what you'd expect, which is to say 'wreaks absolute havoc on global society in just about every way imaginable'. Straightaway we're dumped into a society which resembles modern America on the surface but quickly becomes apparent is disrupted by villain attacks, brutal coups and takeovers, and is basically struggling to cope.
  The plot is fast-paced and straight to the point, stripping out the dross to get to the good stuff - and oh, is there a lot of it. From the intricacies of each character's powers and backstory, to the clever world-building and story hooks rushing in one after the other, to well thought out concepts and consequences behind each event, Graven is just crammed full of satisfying details asking (and answering) a variety of fascinating questions.
  For someone like me whose favourite aspect of speculative fiction is the 'what-if' scenario, it's an absolute treasure trove. Even more impressively, it's so easy to read. Lore is dispensed only when relevant to the plot and characters, is relayed with the perfect amount of detail, and is well-fleshed out and logical. You can tell a great deal of thought has gone into this - not only into the individual pieces, but how it all fits together as a whole. It's very difficult to fit this much well-described, well-paced lore into such a concise story and still keep the pace roaring along. In fact, I can't think of a story that does it better. Bravo.
  The plot is unique, raising original scenarios with extremely satisfying conclusions, each arc's resolution tying into the next in a web of cleverly-interconnected threads. And it just builds. My sole criticism is that the final third feels a little rushed compared to the rest, the pace outweighing the scope of events just slightly. But this
• YesorNoRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I read the entire story on the author's blog in one sitting. After finishing it, I was left with a feeling of deep satisfaction, that I formerly believed, only a long soak in a hot tub on the coldest day of winter could provide.
  If nothing else, it taught me how to correctly use a teleporter in a fiction. Strider single-handedly shouldered the story and lugged it from one action setpiece to the next and all across the globe, giving the story a frenetic pace that reminded me of allnighters and caffeine overdoses.
  I absolutely loved the pacing. No fillers... non-stop action. I felt like I was reading a movie transcript and I loved the feeling. Easily the best thing about the story was how the deaths of two main characters were so abrupt. It really ratcheted the tension high. No one was safe. Once again, I can't express how much I adored the speed at which we rushed through the narrative WHILE maintaining narrative integrity. Really amazing. It takes serious talent to pull it off.
  A few things, though, hold the story back. The inordinate amount of luck [plot convenience] showered on the team at the cost of realism... A character who should have taken a hike [nudge nudge] remains behind in the cast for the sake of keeping the team united. The very first case they crack as a team exposes a clue that leads to the main villain. And so on...
  Final verdict: It has it's flaws - sure - but overall, I would call the experience a really enjoyable one.
• KhaotRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Pros
  - Fantastic read, dark but compelling themes
  - Fast pace and satisfying plot progression
  - Creative, diverse and unusual cast of characters with rational behavior and consistent personalities
  - Phenominally good fight scenes with fascinating and realistic depiction of superhero powers
  - Ambitious and worldbuilding, with genuine plot twists
  Cons
  - Last section perhaps a little rushed. You'll know it when you see it.
  - Some antagonists in the early chapters play into stereotypes perhaps a little too much... could be a bit off-putting to some readers who haven't yet met the rest of the diverse cast. I recommend pushing though, you'll miss out if you bounce off in the early chapters.
  Overall:
  - Cannot recommend enough
  - A bit of editing and this deserves to be published
• Murderous_CaterpillarRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  Writing is well above average:
  Few to no typos/grammatical errors
  Dialogue is realistic
  Exposition handled naturally
  Characters are likeable
  Their self-images are believable
  Each characters percieves the others in different ways
  Motivations seem reasonable
  The plot is gripping
  The investigation of the core mystery is compelling
  Details about the world foster cursiousity
  Seems to have clear direction
  Fast paced
  Author releases chapters often consistent quality
  Definiitely both a story and author to look out for
• cthakur92Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  Each section is like a mini series. Writing is good but the pov switches are not for me. Ymmv.
  To complete 50 words. To complete 50 words. To complete 50 words. To complete 50 words. To complete 50 words. To complete 50 words. To complete 50 words. To complete 50 words.
• HickupsRoyal Road

  ★★★★ 4.0

  Fast-paced and action driven Graven makes for a few hours of entertainment, however, it also remains rather bland when it comes to intrigue, suspension or it's characters.
  Especially the latter are underdeveloped, aside from the main cast. If they are it's usually through long-winded internal monologue which kept me from really empathizing with any, this includes the protagonists. That it's all from first person also blurres the peculiar traits and mannerisms and so they all feel kind of same-y, even though you can see the author has them well thought-out and they are differing in motive and personality.
  Lastly, while this story features grim dark elements they were so out of focus or washed out by monologues I honestly didn't feel any of it. In general, as the story progresses it loses detail until only the primary strain of plot is described.
  Personally, I say it's worth the read if you're looking for some short and easy entertainment, which does not include emotionally engaging or thoughtful content.