Kowloon, A CYBERPUNK SAGA (ONGOING)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

[233,000 words and counting!]

For over a thousand years, Kowloon has survived hidden deep underground, its people convinced they are the last of humanity. The Yaozhi Dynasty has ruled unchallenged, its divine right to rule absolute.

Yaozhi Keung, nephew to the Emperor and lieutenant in his elite Kingmaker gang, hunts the Yang: radical Dongists bent on fulfilling religious prophecy. When Keung executes Jian, a key Yang leader, the rebellion should have died with him. Instead, it erupts uncontrollably: A new leader seizes control in South Kowloon, steering the Yang down an even more violent path, and the loyalties of the Emperor's 66-districts being to crack.

Now Keung and his Kingmakers face impossible orders in a mega-slum city changing faster than they can keep up. Worse yet, something has alerted the nations high above. After a millennium of secrecy, the surface world has discovered Kowloon still exists.

- 4-6k word chapter lengths- Prose geared towards immersion- Cyberpunk wuxia- Hong Kong noir- Intense drama and political intrigue- High-impact martial-arts- Fully realised worldbuilding- No harem

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2024
Author: MHAI

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.9/ 5.0
Followers: 255
Views: 22,484

Chapters(49 total)

Reviews

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Community Reviews(5)

AddictednovelicRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
First of all, the writing style isn't bad. It starts out with a good intro. Then, it slowly reveals what Kowloon is all about.
Each of the events is well written. Also, it is very vivid. I could picture each scene in my mind. Mhai did a good job.
Secondly, the story is very unique. It's something that definitely set itself apart from the rest. I haven't seen a story like this yet.
Besides that, the world building is very good too. The Kingmaker politics, the no man's land, the growing unrest etc, give the whole story a very intriguing vibe. It's makes you want to see what happens next.
Third, grammar is perfect. I see no mistakes. From my point of view, everything is flowing right.
Fourth, the main character Keuing and rest is presented well. Each of them have their own ideas, struggles, and feelings. It makes the story even more engaging.
If you want a unique concept with cyberpunk, this will be right up your alley. I think you will definitely enjoy it. I highly recommend anyone to read this novel. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. So far, I haven't, Mhai keep it up.
Battle_Sloth1Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Full disclosure: This review was written as part of a review swap. However, I started reading this before any prospect of review swap was raised.
After the execuion of the controversial general Jian, Kingmaker Keung, nephew of the Emperor of Kowloon, finds himself embroiled in a web of criminal conspiracy, terrorist plots, and political intrigue that threatens to devour all of Kowloon!
Let's start with the worldbuilding. The author is clearly fascinated with the historical city of Kowloon, and it shows. The city is the real star of the novel, and you feel its cramped, oppressive nature as you read it, and as the plot grows to a boiling point. We also see drama in the history of the city, with the oppression of the people from the Eastern segment. The Kingmakers are a fascinating organization, a group of well-dressed, ruthless and disciplined peacekeepers, who nevertheless struggle with internal issues.
The characterization is also fascinating. Kueng, our protagonist, publically commands respect, but faces allegations of nepotism. A dutiful servant of the emperor, chosen for the most controversial of assignments: the assassination of a once-beloved general-turned-rebel. There are also other fascinating characters, such as the mysterious terrorist Iblis.
The prose is high quality. Many of Kowloon's inhabitants are low-lives and criminals, and they talk like it, and you really get the feeling of an old Hong-Kong crime drama when you read it. The dialogue matches exactly what every character should sound like. The grammar is excellent.
Altogether, this is an excellent novel, and has earned all 5 of its stars.
ConfusedscistudentRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This novel is excellent; its worldbuilding is clear and distinctive, the author's style is creative and creates a strong blend of mystery and anticipation that suits the cyberpunk genre very well. The setting is placed in a tense antebellum, weaving together different factions and balanced POVs that create for very advanced storytelling. This is definitely not the typical royalroad webnovel; it is clear that the author has put a lot of time and effort into this, and it is excellently written.
kirby01Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Extremely well written novel. I really liked the perspective changes, it was different to the mainstream one perspective stories I usually read. Really elaborate descriptions of the setting and characters. I could see each scene play out in my mind.
Overall, a well executed idea and I recommend this book to other readers :)
NinjaWriter_MasaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
If you are looking for a gritty, multi-layered cyberpunk story with incredible depth, Kowloon is a must-read. From the very first chapter, MHAI paints a claustrophobic, neon-drenched, and terrifyingly vast underground world. The transition from the "surface" down to the depths of the Walled City is seamless and highly cinematic.
The story truly shines in its complex political maneuvering and moral ambiguity. Keung is a fantastic protagonist—a privileged "nepotism baby" who is forced to bear the crushing weight of executing his former mentor. The fallout from this single act ripples through every faction in Kowloon, affecting his friends, his enemies, and his own conscience.
The world-building is where the author flexes their muscles. The blend of high-tech cybernetics (like the Eye and adrenal pumps) with ancient, decaying infrastructure (sewer slums, ancient elevators, and illegal tea-poisonings by the terrifying Aunt Tong) makes Kowloon feel incredibly alive and dangerous. The introduction of the villain, the Ibilis, in Chapter 9 was spectacular—a true theatrical debut that perfectly tied together the looming threat of the Yangs and the Kingmakers' struggle to maintain order.
Constructive Feedback: The only minor critique I have is that because the world is so vast and the cast of characters (and factions) is so large, the perspective shifts in the early chapters can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming to keep track of. A slightly slower introduction to some of the secondary factions might help ease the reader into the complex web of Kowloon's politics.
Overall, Kowloon is a brilliantly crafted cyberpunk saga. Highly recommended for fans of deep lore, morally grey characters, and intense action!