Modern Monster

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

"Everyone's a monster. Some just show it less than others."

A small meteor struck the earth close to central Europe in the late 1800s. No one knows how or why it happened, but shortly after, monsters started appearing in the populace, ravaging and eating humans alive.

Along with the phenomenon, humans started to change, causing their senses to heighten. From then on, humans began cultivating their new-found powers, but counterintuitively, the dangers of monsters kept increasing along with the phenomenon.

Far into the future, the story follows Sen, a 16-year-old boy. He was smart, acting on critical thinking rather than emotions. However, not everything came naturally to him, like his genius brain. He was deprived of a necessary power the rest of the world wielded...

Regardless of hisdisability,he was determined to find someone, someone who had been taken from him all too soon.

What to expect–The setting is a cyberpunk dystopian world, trashy and ridden with danger. Humans are forced to live in condensed cities to avoid monsters~Heavy foreshadowing~ (The story is planned out from start to finish)Major Plot twists~Character development~Multiple POV's~Thriller, murder mystery and drama~OP MC / AntiHero~

Psychological~ (Delves into the human condition)Philosophical~ (Proposes moral dilemmas)

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2023
Author: SenTheSenseless

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.3/ 5.0
Followers: 409
Views: 88,619

Chapters(96 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

royaljasonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
So far, it's been great. No grammar mistakes, style is easy to read, it might be too easy for some people, but I certainly like it, tbh. There is a lot of foreshadowing going on that ties into something more, and im excited to see where this goes. Characters are really cool, too. Thank u author!
Beardedbro7Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The author captures you immediately within the first chapter. The rest is a journey in which is a modern literary triumph. The in-depth approach to the writing makes you feel as though you are truly within the pages of the book. From the characters to the setting, everything captured my imagination. I couldn't stop reading. Having read the others other endeavors,I hope that the author continues with their literary pursuit. They have captured a reader for life with this novel. May they look to expand their world building and the creations in which they have wrote.
ValdenePatriarchRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This one grabbed me right away. Chapter 1 is seriously one of the strongest openers I’ve read in a while, it doesn’t mess around. The tone hits heavy, and there’s this immediate weight to Sen’s inner world that makes you want to know what broke him before you even know who he really is. Huge props to the author for that, if you're looking for a hook that actually lands, this one sticks the landing.
The story itself balances world-building, internal drama, and supernatural mystery really well. It sets up the rules of the world slowly, Super Senses, Knights, monster attacks, but never tries to overexplain all at once, which I appreciated. You get a sense of threat without needing a full info-dump right off the bat.
That said, when the info does come, it can feel a little heavy and a bit front-loaded in spots. Some scenes carry a lot of exposition all at once, especially when Sen is thinking. The ideas are interesting, but the flow would hit harder if it felt more natural, maybe spread across a few different moments or tied more closely to what’s happening in the scene.
Same goes for some of the dialogue, it’s a little too clean or formal at times, especially between family members. The love between them is clear, and I enjoyed the family dynamic a lot, but their voices don’t always feel distinct. Giving characters more natural speech patterns or quirks would make those moments land even better. Right now, it feels like everyone's talking with the same tone Sen uses in his head, and that dude is all logic and internal monologue, so it gets a little stiff.
As for the writing style? Honestly, some of these sentences are gorgeous. Like, seriously good. There are moments where the prose flows so clean it feels effortless. But sometimes, it’s almost too clean, like every line is trying to be profound. A little more roughness or restraint might actually let the powerful lines stand out more. You don’t need every moment to be deep, sometimes letting a sentence breathe a bit m
powpowRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I rarely make reviews for books. I like to lean back and just read it for a bit. But with this, I have to make an exception. I'm surprised this isn't more popular. IT'S A GEM! The foreshadowing is almost unnoticeable at first, but as I went on, I realized how many hints and little puzzle pieces were laid in past chapters, and they all started connecting the more I read. I just got up to date, and there's a huge plot twist that I didn't expect. AOT type shi.
The characters are all really complex and not one-dimensional. They all struggle with their own problems, to the point where I can’t hate a single character in it. For example, Asashi. At first, you hate him because he has this animosity toward the MC for some reason (which is explained later on), but then you slowly get to know him, his thought process, and what he has lived through. And tbh right now he’s probably one of my favorite characters.
I also really love the philosophical and thought-provoking elements of the story. Like, what does it mean to be human? And I think the story is trying to say that it’s our ability to have compassion and emotions. If someone has none of that, then are they different than even monsters? Do we apply our sympathy in the same way toward a criminal who killed someone in cold blood? No, we don’t. Because in our eyes, the criminal lost their human connection, therefore they are no different than a monster.
AsteriskAceRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is as of Chapter 11!
As a lover of dark stories, this had me hooked from the very start. It’s a haunting, slow-burning exploration of identity, grief, and what it means to exist in a world that’s trying to define you before you get a chance to define yourself. From the prologue alone, you feel the weight of something larger and cyclical. Then we meet Sen, a teenager without a pivotal ability that makes society see him as undesirable. Rather than playing him as a victim, the author crafts him as sharp, emotionally restrained, and deeply observant. His quiet search for his missing father becomes the emotional thread that ties everything together.
If you're expecting a standard power fantasy, you're sorely mistaken.
The worldbuilding is standout. There’s an oppressive realism to the post-meteor society. Pollution, overcrowded cities, the rise of monsters, and the hierarchy of Super Senses feel meticulously thought out. The Administration of Knights feels like a believable response to systemic crisis, and the "magic system" built around enhanced senses is fresh, minimalistic, and surprisingly tense.
Sen’s lack of powers is built into the core of his worldview in ways that make sense that don't feel like he's just an underdog for the sake of potentially crushing everyone else later in a power fantasy sense. His intelligence, martial arts training, and resilience all stem from that absence, and the story doesn’t shy away from showing how it isolates him. The prose is also incredibly strong. It's clean and emotional without ever feeling overwrought. The action is grounded and brutal, and the emotional parts pay off really well. The author has a talent for building tension in ways that feel authentic.
The cast is already starting to take shape. Hana, Master Grit, and Sen’s mother are all compelling in different ways, and even the minor characters feel distinct. And while some story threads are still unfolding, the foreshadowing and thematic consistency make it clear th
DosilliRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story gives you a lot, while also giving you nothing at the same time and I think it’s great! We’ve learned a lot through first 10 or so chapters. Enough to introduce the reader to Sen and his family, his surroundings, and the current state of the world in a way.
The power system has been introduced and an organization representing that power system has been introduced. So, we have indeed learned a lot, yet there is clearly still so much to be discovered that it drives you to click the next chapter button.
Who is Sen really? Like he is introduced in detail, but who is he really? It’s an interesting question for the reader but also one for Sen, because it’s not even a question that Sen is currently asking himself.
As it stands he currently knows who he is just like most people do, but the reader can see that there is something more than what Sen himself even knows, and I’m excited to learn more about him at the same time that Sen himself learns it.
Something else that’s interesting is the power system as previously mentioned.
Super sense.
At first glance, it doesn't seem like all that much, but when the existence of rankings for Knights were introduced, I think it hinted at a way to grow those super senses and I’m really looking forward to seeing if I’m right or there’s something else altogether.
All in all, the story is good, so give it a read!
DweiaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Modern Monster is certainly an intruiging story. From the very first chapter - the prologue - it pulled my attention, and continued to keep me interested and curious to continue reading. The prologue ended quite unexpectedly, and caught me completely off guard.
Style: The author has put a lot of care into making sure the story flows well, and their style reflects that. I saw no inconsistencies concerning tenses, and no weird word choices that broke immersion. Their writing is easy to follow, and makes for comfortable and understandable read. It's good!
Grammar: There were no grammatical errors that I have noticed - I am only human though, I may have missed them. There were a few often used words at some points, but nothing that bothered me.
Story: It's very intruiging, and enjoyable. The pacing is good, I didn't notice any dull moments, nor did I feel exhausted (in a bad way) from constant action. It's clear a lot of thought has been put into making sure the story flows as well as it does. I only noticed a few very small instances of information dumping, but nothing immersion breaking.
Characters: I found them interesting, and quite well written. The only issue I found was with dialogue feeling somewhat artifical from time to time, considering how the main character is, that may be intentional at some places.
Lucian T. EinarRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall: Modern Monster is a captivating story that immediately grabs the reader's attention from the very first chapter. The prologue sets the stage for a dark and mysterious world, filled with monsters and humans with enhanced senses. The story follows Sen, a 16-year-old boy who is determined to uncover the secrets of his missing father. As the plot unfolds, deep-rooted secrets and conspiracies are revealed, creating a thrilling and suspenseful read.
Style: The author's writing style is well-crafted and flows smoothly, making it easy for readers to engage with the story. There are no inconsistencies in the use of tenses or word choices, at least not that I could find, ensuring a comfortable and immersive reading experience. The pacing of the story is well-executed, with no dull moments, and the author's thoughtfulness in maintaining the flow of the narrative is evident. While there are a few instances of information dumping, they do not detract from the overall immersion of the story.
Story: Modern Monster presents an intriguing and enjoyable storyline that keeps readers hooked. The concept of a post-apocalyptic world filled with monsters, combined with the enhanced senses of humans, creates a unique and compelling setting. The plot is well-thought-out and carefully crafted, with twists and turns that keep readers engaged. The author's attention to detail in world-building and the exploration of dark themes adds depth to the story, making it an exciting read.
Grammar: The grammar in Modern Monster is excellent, with no noticeable errors or issues that would interrupt the reader's immersion. I'm not particularly good at spotting grammar mistakes, but couldn't find anything wrong. While there are a few instances of repetitive word choices, they do not significantly impact the overall reading experience.
Character: The characters in Modern Monster are well-written and interesting, with Sen being a particularly unique and complex protagonist. His lack of a super sense
StaleCrowRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall: A strong premise with an overarching mystery element that explore a world of interesting powers. The stories main hook is its world and the idea that there's something going on with Sen that we get from the prologue and first chapter. Sentences are well structured and the diction is kept simple. The story appears to be very introspective and because of that and the word choice some scenes aren't vivid externally, but this is made up for by the internal vividness of Sen's character. One of the only gripes I have is that sometimes character dialogue can be a bit awkward, but the ideas behind it are good so it's forgivable.
Grammar: It's good. Noticed minimal errors even when I was looking, and the reading experience wasn't interrupted by grammar. There are some sentences that can read as a little awkward or that repeat ideas presented in previous sentences, but that's more on the side of-
Style: Stylistically, the author does well overall. The tone of the narrative is consistent, and the main themes of the story are already being interjected and woven into the story at chapter 8. There are times that it's done rather clunkily, but that has to do with character dialogue more than anything else. The story is an easy read. The sentences and word choice are simple (Which is not bad. Simple =/= Bad), and I didn't find myself having to re-read a sentence because of how it was structured.
There are a lot of time switches/scene flashbacks that give information. I feel rather neutral on these, and they rarely interrupt the pacing since the transition into these sequences are well choreographed.
There's less of a focus on scenery and vivid descriptions, and more of a focus on the world itself. The pacing is consistent, a chapter starts, and there's always something that happens or a new piece of information revealed. The one major critique of the style I have is that some of the foreshadowing can be phrased a little dramatic for the context we as an audience have.
Stor
Killer BeanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
I would recommend this story to avid enjoyers of the monster/demon vs hunters sub-genre but that feels ways too shallow to describe this novel. The protagonist is his own character with complexities that we discover as the story goes on making the wait for the next chapter exciting as the plot progresses. That with the astounding world building and the power structure of this world; makes for a truly great story so far.