Last Stand Against The Wave

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Whether you’re a fan of mythology or not, there’s no denying that everyone’s familiar with, or at least heard of, the concept of merfolk to some extent. From ancient folklore to modern fictional media, it is a widely known subject with various different interpretations. May it be sirens luring sailors to a watery grave, a magical race of aquatic folks existing in secret, or the result of science experiments, the only limit to depictions of merfolk appears to be the imagination. And like the aforementioned examples, as well as many others out there, the depiction you’re about to see in the following story is like a testament to those lack of limits – one involving intelligent extraterrestrial beasts possessing incredible abilities, a few good Samaritans, a famine, a “survival of the fittest” mindset, and a couple of young adults unwillingly dragged into a matter of life or death.

Character art byLost Rain

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2023
Author: BeomJunKoo

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.3/ 5.0
Followers: 13
Views: 10,655

Chapters(18 total)

What readers say about Last Stand Against The Wave

“Alright so... Here's the thing. I loved this book, I think there's everything for it to be a major success. But in its current state, there's still a long way to go. Style and Grammar: Let's talk about both those points together. Before you start reading yo…”
ElectrikBlueRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“If you're looking for a totally wild and wacky adventure, you've got to check out Last Stand Against The Wave! This story about an alien mermaid's invasion of Earth is perfect for anyone who loves crazy tales with plenty of humor and excitement. Right from…”
SanteeeRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

ElectrikBlueRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Alright so... Here's the thing. I loved this book, I think there's everything for it to be a major success.
But in its current state, there's still a long way to go.
Style and Grammar:
Let's talk about both those points together.
Before you start reading you should know the style and grammar could be a nuisance. COULD be. You should definitely try out the first chapter and see for yourself.
The thing is, it's written like the receipe for a good story. Where most of the time the description tells you what should have been written. Let me explain:
Basically the author's writing style suffers from three things:
- Show don't tell.
- Repetition.
- Passive voice.
All combined they sometimes make you feel like you're being told the idea for a story, rather than the story itself. If it makes sense.
Those are all very common mistakes I think everyone has struggled with at some point. Myself included, so I completely understand.
In spite of all that, you can still clearly feel the author's style behind the flaws. And it's very refreshing and interesting. A sort of second degree sarcasm as well as playful banter.
With more proofreading and working on improving sentence structuring, I think this story could become one my favourites on Royal Road. And that is why I finished it despite what I just said.
Characters:
Let's talk about this first.
Noel and Caleb are adorable. But like someone said in another review they're a bit two dimensionnal, although they tend to be more fleshed out towards the end. I only wish it had happened sooner.
That being said, their interactions are wholesome and you root for them easily.
The other characters who join the journey throughout the story are never dull or useless but they're not particularly remarkable either. It's not a huge issue as it's a story about two survivors and it works that way.
Story:
This brings me to the strength of this fiction.
The ideas are trully impressive, with a willingness to send a message. Just like in his work for th
SanteeeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
If you're looking for a totally wild and wacky adventure, you've got to check out Last Stand Against The Wave! This story about an alien mermaid's invasion of Earth is perfect for anyone who loves crazy tales with plenty of humor and excitement.
Right from the start, you're hooked by the super creative premise of merfolk mind-controlling humans and turning them into mer-creatures too. It's sort of like a mermaid apocalypse story, but way funnier and more imaginative than anything you'd expect.
The book is written in a really fun, breezy style that makes it a total page-turner. The dialogue between the two main characters, Noel and Caleb, is hilarious and had me cracking up at their jokes and silly banter. At the same time, the vivid descriptions make it easy to picture the insane mermaid invasion unfolding.
Speaking of Noel and Caleb, they make such a great duo! You can't help but root for them as they take on the scaly villains. Caleb's struggles feel very real as the mermaid chaos gets seriously intense. And the awkward parent characters bring some extra comedy to the story.
With creative worldbuilding, entertaining characters, and non-stop action and laughs, Last Stand is a total blast! The open ending leaves you wanting more mermaid mayhem. I couldn't put it down and I bet you'll feel the same way once you dive into this fin-tastic adventure. Two thumbs up!
Bookman9Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Story: Last Stand Against The Wave is a thrilling tale of survival against extraterrestrial invaders, where Noel McKinnes, Caleb Rhodes, and an unlikely ally, the turtle, must band together to save humanity from the mind-controlling aquatic aliens.
Character: The dynamic between Caleb and Noel adds depth and humor to the narrative. Their banters are my personal highlight of the story. They each have their internal struggle too which makes them that much more compelling as characters.
Style: The seamless integration of world-building enhances the plot without overwhelming the reader with information dumps. Instead, the focus remains on the characters and their struggle against the mermaid aliens, keeping the immersion intact. The action sequences are vividly depicted, allowing me to easily follow each character's movements during the intense battles.
Grammar: There are no mistakes in this part. Nothing that takes away my immersion in the story. Perfection.
The open-ended conclusion leaves room for speculation and anticipation, inviting me to imagine the aftermath and potential sequel. Personally, the ending feels satisfying, yet leaves me curious about the fate of humanity and the possibilities of building a new civilization underwater. My mind imagined the possible creation of an underwater city such as Atlantis, or something similar.
Eva_EverquillRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a very creative and action-packed story that offers a lot to keep readers engaged. The plot is full of incredible twists, and the slow-burn romance adds a nice layer to the overall narrative. The pacing is consistently fast, especially during the action scenes, which will keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters are well-developed, each with their own unique traits, and there’s one character I would have loved to see more of. Unfortunately, my favorite character met a tragic end, but this only highlights the emotional depth the author brings to their storytelling.
While there are a few grammatical issues, it’s clear the author is open to feedback and eager to improve. If you can look past some minor sentence structure issues, you’ll find yourself fully immersed in a compelling story. The lore and sci-fi elements are intricately woven into the plot, and the world-building really stands out, adding an extra layer of enjoyment for fans of the genre.
If you're looking for a shorter series that packs a punch with twists, an array of monsters, and plenty of exciting action, this is definitely a gripping read. Overall, it’s an entertaining journey, and I highly recommend giving it a try!
L.J.P. GuoRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
I wasn't sure if a story about sentient aquatic life invading Earth was going to be my cup of tea, but I was pleasantly surprised! The Last Stand Against the Wave approaches the mythos of merfolk in a truly unique way. It's fresh take means you'll never see what's coming next.
Style: I was initially struggling to get into the style of the story, as it's written much differently than what I'm used to. The prologue is a bit heavy-handed, but the subsequent chapters flow more naturally. After hitting a couple of lines written in a kind of dry humor that sent me into an absolute laughing fit, it occurred to me to read the story as camp. Taken as such, it is an absolute delight. In light of this, I am inclined to agree with another reviewer saying they could see this being made into a movie.
Grammar: I didn't notice too much in the way of technical grammatical issues, but the language could use some editing and fine-tuning.
Story: I haven't made it far into the story yet, but the premise feels very unique. I'm curious to see where things go.
Character: The parents in the story are written a bit awkwardly. The main characters I find to be realistic (almost to a fault) and likable.
Overall, I had a lot of fun with the first couple of chapters and will keep reading... just as soon as I take a break for some "non-noodle smelling air."
ThrillianRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
This was a wonderful surprise!
The story follows two young friends - Noelle and Caleb - as a horrifying situation sweeps the globe. The story quickly takes an apocalyptic turn, with the pair struggling for figure out exactly what's happening . . . and why.
The sheer horror of what's happening increases the impact. It's so strange and bizarre, and that only adds to the story's impact. "Last Stand Against the Wave" takes a surprisingly common idea - in this case merfolk - and does something brilliantly original with the concept.
Noelle and Caleb come off as two very original characters, who are, well, pretty normal. I was always concerned about them, and the story does a great job keeping us engaged in their success as well as their situation.
The prose generally works well. The description and pacing are all handled pretty well. There are a few moments of clunky prose, but nothing too major. The exposition is generally handled well too, and just the general weirdness of the situation keeps us engaged no matter what the situation ends up being.
Overall, this is a really fun story with some surprising twists and turns. It's definitely recommended, especially because it's a relatively short thrill ride that will stay with you for a while.
Lovely-Cosmic-IcicleRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
This is a unique concept, the type of weird mind child that I crave to see more of. The prose is nice, but there’s room for improvement and cutting down some more wordy sentences. The grammar is good, however, some sentences are just a tad bit clunky. I will probably come back to this one because the premise is so wild.
Jaha RiderRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
The story of two ‘losers’ that somehow save the world? I guess one of them’s me, so sign me up! And there are mermaids too? And a splash of body horror? Wonderful!
Well, sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?
The story starts slow, but that’s fine ‘cause it builds tension. At the beginning, we get a brief introduction of our beloved protagonists and are intrigued. Considering the tempo of the opening, one would hope for more information about the characters, but surprisingly, we get to find out very little. I wished there was more for me in that department. There was definitely an opportunity to flesh them out. Caleb is certainly better because we get to find out he has a crush on the other protagonist and that adds a layer to their interactions. Noel could be improved. I don’t feel like I know her very much.
That little problem was slightly visible in the dialog as well. While we get Caleb’s lines and they, for most of the time, sounded like something a normal person would say, Noel is bland when she speaks. The way conversations are constructed felt unnatural to me, as if the narration suddenly gained an ability to speak for her or bled out into “...”.
Although the characters and dialog could be improved, the biggest issue of this story was style. While the perspective was upheld throughout all that I’ve read and there was no confusion about the timeline, I found myself re-reading many sentences and wondering why the author didn’t cut a long one into smaller pieces. Also, there were a couple of cases of repetition. Like: “Caleb stared at her like the turtle still staring at them from the tank.” I suggest that if the author wants to improve their writing style, they should try reading what they wrote aloud. It would definitely improve readability, in my opinion.
What the author did well, however, we could see in the story. The author had an idea, and they knew exactly what action led to the next. I was intrigued by the turtle when it was first introduced and the revelati
AcrawRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
An excellent way to kill some time. The story is light and easy to read, but it isn't shallow. You don't need to think about it and can just watch the action. The characters are caring, likable underdogs and their interactions are fun. Nothing profound or deep, but alright with decent theming.
AstraionRoyal Road
★★★ 2.5
[Part of a review swap]
Our author is a big fan of mermaids, it seems. In brief, the world is invaded by aquatic telepathic, shape-altering creatures, and everyone but our two heroes are reduced to mindless mer-people, flopping into the ocean to become food. Our plucky heroes with the help of one of the invading creatures, start a quest to return normalcy.
Style:
The style, to me, is the most difficult part of this. While technically competent, the author does a lot of tell, not show. Most of the sentences belabor one point or another and vocabulary is limited. There's no prose and no really 'style' to pick up on. Most of the sentences could be cut in half with judicious use of terms, phrases, metaphors, similes, or even just advanced vocab.
Grammar:
A lot of run on sentences. A lot. Otherwise, fine. Spelling is pretty good. Minor errors are noted here and there.
Character:
The characters are a bit two dimensional. When the story starts out, they're both sort of 'losers' in society, which is fine. But when the world proverbially ends, they quickly stand to the call for action.
My main issue with their portrayal is they are essentially the same person, just one's a girl, one's a boy. There's no dramatic differences in their characterization. They really don't seem to have any particular strengths, nor weakness, or at least none that have any real impact on the story. Introduction of flaws that hamper the story would be beneficial, as well as specific strengths of character that move the story forward. Perhaps one is riddled with crippling anxiety, but they overcome it to save the world? Perhaps one struggles with a sense of worthlessness, which slowly falls a way as they find they are competent? Perhaps one of the characters is particularly good at encouragement, and the other is very wise? That sort of thing.
Story:
The story is weird, but that's the best part. It's so weird, and I'm here for it. As a writer, you shouldn't be afraid to explore strange ideas. It's wh