Harbinger: Infinity [Mecha Drama]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

**Short Hiatus - Will Return with Final Chapters Starting April 30**It's been only a decade removed since the last Earth-Space War ended, and Hexa International's mechanized security service "Infinity" was designed for volunteers across the globe with one goal: help keep the peace worldwide. But what is behind the sudden spikes in violence and cries for change? Who can figure it all out and make a difference while surviving long enough to see it through?

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One part-time test pilot for pre-production LTAC (Lightweight TACtical) mechanized frames, Samantha Knight, throws away her potentially illustrious career in law laid out for her to pursue what she thought would be her true calling on a path she would choose all on her own. Being a daughter of a famous war pilot with ample military pilot training had eventually filled her head with aspirations she never had any business entertaining in the first place, but her ill-prepared and ill-advised entering of the ring of violent Earth-side politics was more ensnaring than she could have hoped for.

Now, with her involvement ultimately set and fully in motion, how much harsh and uncensored reality would she be able to take before it consumes her or before someone painfully convinces her to walk away?

(LTAC Axiom Line-art on Cover by Mecha Artist "Syaechoni")---

What to Expect:

-Complexities of engaging and mitigating effects of urban guerilla warfare-Urban collateral beyond small arms fire experienced by infrastructure and victimized societies-Geopolitics and the effects of influential global corporations and alliances on less stable regions-Challenges that come with keeping global transparency while working against underground, black market-driven organizations-Inter-family drama and unavoidable desires for revenge or redemption

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2021
Author: ys_og

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.7/ 5.0
Followers: 98
Views: 104,854

Chapters(187 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(6)

AcrinoeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Harbringer: Infinity [Mech Drama] by Ys_og
The author presents an immersive narrative characterized by its intense and dramatic writing style. Ys_og skillfully crafts a vivid future world within the story, delving into rich details encompassing history, politics, advances in technology, space travel, and the evolution of weaponry, particularly the captivating world of Mechs.
The story revolves around the central character, Sam, and offers a glimpse into her dynamic relationship with her father, Al. Both are deeply intertwined with a company that specializes in Mech manufacturing and services, and business is thriving. The narrative kicks off with a fiery action sequence in the very first chapter, setting the tone for what's to come. In this future world, Mechs play a pivotal role, serving as essential tools for small-scale insurrections, policing, and, seemingly, the preferred equipment of the era. As of now, Sam finds herself entangled with Bas Navarre's crew as they strive to defend their Familia's territory against external threats. Ys_og's vision of the future is marked by political instability, resulting in frequent violent clashes that add layers of complexity to the storyline.
The grammar and writing quality are commendable, with no noticeable errors or issues. Any minor glitches that may arise are promptly addressed by the author. Ys_og's attention to detail contributes to the reader's ability to vividly envision the intrigue and action that unfolds throughout the narrative.
Sam, the central character, is thoughtfully developed, portraying her journey to assert her independence and forge her own path. The narrative skillfully highlights her skills while also revealing her vulnerability when faced with real combat situations. This setup paves the way for substantial character growth as she navigates the challenges of a world thrust into turmoil. Her interactions with Bas and his crew add depth and authenticity to the story, introducing elements of language an
Christian LawrenceRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Harbinger: Infinity is a sci-fi mech drama set in a near-future dystopian landscape. The story begins with Samantha Knight (Sam), a member of the privileged elite living in a space colony with her wealthy parents, but the focus quickly shifts to a group of fighters in Columbia who are battling for survival in a bleak, violent world. The two storylines merge, and they team up against the crime lords and money-hungry CEOs who are trying to enrich themselves off of poverty while unidentified mech fighters terrorize the streets.
Some other reviewers have criticized the first few chapters for "info-dumping," but I don't see it. In a story as complex as this one it's almost a necessity, and I thought the backstory elements were well-integrated into the dialogue and narration.
While the mechs were well-described and realistic, the character development was the star of the show, and for that, I give the author props. I believe that regardless of the background narrative, characters should always come first, and here, they do. The political and cultural elements are thoroughly explored, which adds a rich layer of complexity. Nothing is an afterthought.
Also, the illustrations MAKE this story, in my opinion. The mech guides, character art, and even pictures of local food provide a visual aid to the things described in the text, and add yet another layer - a human touch.
Character: The characters were 10/10. They had realistic backstories, well-defined motives, and reasonable reactions to the situations they found themselves in. I also liked that we had a few flawed protagonists in there, as well as some whose intentions were vague, questionable, or obscured (Al Knight and Vrey come to mind).
Story: The story is VERY complex, in the best way possible. The narrative follows multiple characters and plotlines, weaving in and out of a dystopian world separated into haves and have-nots. We get a glimpse of Sam in the first few chapters, then switch to Columbia, following a group of
K.AsvoriaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Harbinger: Infinity is not an easy series to read. Not the first few chapters. It sure is full of engineering and scientific terms and one must also need to know some basic knowledge in those terms to fully get deep into reading the series. Thus, the story is slightly above YA, but not reaching the adult level.
I've read the two arc of the story, and now in the begining of the third arc. I must say, imo, the first 10 chapters are difficult. It consists of worldbuilding info-dumping and wordy dialogues. Also take some time to get into their team, especially for those who never experience mil training, the characters addressing each other using nicknames might confuse some readers. However, that's the brilliant side of the story, it depicted some accuracy but yet, added fiction imaginary technology that brought the reader closer but yet still on the ground.
The first arc slowly reveal the antagonist behind the rebellion, also the complex political ideology that causes the tension behind the 2nd arc. As heavy as I mentioned on this review, in fact, the story is not all the time that heavy at all. There is a relax beach episode, some fun banter, and the protagonist's romance. Also, the family drama could be one of the core in the story.
in summary, this is a close to reality sci-fi mecha work that ready should read and enjoy. If you love mecha and am into near realistic sci-fi, give Harbinger infinity a try.
L.K. WinturRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Overall:
Harbinger is a realistic and well written mech drama with a detailed world that feels just as real as the world we live in. There is a lot going on in this one, and for those looking for something more intelligent and thought out, this is the one. It explores politics, war, family dynamics, and of course; mech battles. Also, there is a ton of cool art throughout that helps to build on the already great imagery the writer has provided.
I will admit, I found this story a bit hard to follow at times, but I don't think that's due to bad writing, I think it's simply due to my lack of intelligence. This is a complex story told from many perspectives with literary devices being used to make the massive undertaking a bit more digestible.
The story *mostly* follows Sam, who is being pushed by her parents to pursue a career in law, but like her father and brother, she's more interested in working on the front lines. Same however, finds herself biting off more then she can chew as she arrives in Columbia, the epicenter of ongoing attacks.
I can tell the story is just unfolding, but even still, there's a ton going on and a lot to digest already.
My personal issue is that it's a bit dense for me, as I can be a bit dense. I found myself reading back old chapters to try and understand if I missed something, and tried my best to follow the plot. However, I can saw after reading the first 5 chapters a few time I can tell this author has dedicated a good amount of time putting this story to paper in a way that would satisfy the most vigorous of readers.
Style:
There are a lot of perspective changes, enabling the reader to ingest the story from different points of view and from different sides of the ongoing conflict. The writing is excellent and I never found myself saying "that doesn't make sense" or "why did they write it like that?".
Story:
As I mentioned, the story feels personal, well thought out, and complex. It's dense and gives you so many mechanisms and literary tec
Bernadus AndrewRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
Hey, Ys_og. At long last, I can finally read your first chapters as promised! My apologies, I was swamped with finishing a few chapters of my own fiction—but here’s my review:
Alright—first off, your story feels big. From the opening scene of the first chapter alone, I could tell you have built a massive, detailed universe that actually makes sense: the politics, the tech, the mechs, the aftermath of past wars. Everything feels like it’s been thought out for years before writing even started. I’d like to hear your process of building the lore in your story, perhaps! Many writers don’t often provide that kind of consistency. It really gives off that ‘military sci-fi with emotional depth’ vibe, kind of like a mix between Gundam and the Expanse.
The worldbuilding is honestly one of the strongest parts of your fiction, for me. The level of detail in how the mechs work, the power struggles between nations, and how corporations like Hexa International fit into it all—it’s all very believable. It's dense, but it works because it’s grounded in logic.
Then there’s Samantha Knight, who I think carries the emotional weight of the story. She’s got this relatable mix of frustration, independence, and guilt that makes her character instantly human. I’m all for complex characters (hence why if I had to reference one of my favorite characters in fiction that inspired me to write my characters as I do now, it would be Cersei Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire). Samantha’s relationship with her parents, especially her mom, feels very real. Those conversations could’ve come straight from any family with a controlling parent, to which I can relate. It gives the whole sci-fi setup a personal core, which I really liked!
Now, my only main feedback is on pacing and structure. The first four chapters cover a lot—we go from a mech crash to a calm morning in a café to family drama to political explanations, then to a full-on perspective shift to Colombia. It’s a lot to take in for the firs
SleepingdragoonRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
General: I'm generous with my overall score but more stringent with other scores. Most people can enjoy a story well enough if it's four stars, but there is usually a critical flaw and barrier to entry. This story is no different. Additionally, it's been a while since I read the first six chapters, so my memory may be a tad foggy.
Style: could use some work. The author seems to have revised the earlier chapters multiple times. The prose could do with some work, some exposition could be cut down, and in general, the pace could be a bit quicker.
Story: the story is alright. If I had to describe what the author appears to be going for, it's: privileged, high-class soldier goes to fight in a third world country but ends up in over their head and needs to connect with locals who save them and with whom they form a bond with. Not whole original, but, particularly with the setting in mind, I think it is interesting enough. There are some twists and turns incoming, from where I've ended my review, and I really like how well I can get a feel for the path of the story while still finding the story to be pleasantly surprising and dramatic.
Grammar: could do with some work, but it's mostly passable.
Characters: the characters are all right. The main character has family problems and wants to make a difference in the world. While she isn't extraordinarily in-depth, she is quite realistic while providing the story a good bit of drama, intrigue, and a push forward through her family past and connections. The locals seem interesting, and there is a lot of political intrigue-type stuff going on due to the characters. They have potential, but if you want to know just how much, you're going to need to read on.
Misc/the cons: this story is mecha/sci-fi/politics/military. If you like that particular combo, perhaps because you watched Code:GEAS, you may like this story. I would unfortunately have a hard time recommending this to anyone beyond that particular niche, at least right now. W