Monovalent Realms: a Virtual Reality Mystery

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Jacob was just moments ago, enjoying one of the vast, virtual worlds found in Monovalent Realms, the latest, state-of-the-art AI. Yet suddenly, he awakens not in his virtual hotel room but in a strange world where giant black felines roam the sky on dusky wings and great, suffocating mists hang over everything. Some lady calling herself "a healer" explains that he needs to hide because a shadow beast lurks around every corner and Jacob could be its next target...

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2025
Author: Sheave

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.5/ 5.0
Followers: 6
Views: 7,127

Chapters(39 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(8)

AchhHansRunRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A wonderfully written tale thus far. I'm a huge fan of the extended description sequences we get to see here.
The opening paragraph of this story really captured my attention. A MC who is already experienced in VR worlds and has pre-set expectations of what they'll be experiencing in the new world. I'm hoping to see the MC's expectations continuously be shattered as the story progresses.
The author has a genuine talent for painting pictures for the reader, and I'm super excited to continue reading through the story and getting to know the characters better as we progress!
The characters feel good. I like them enough to continue reading to see where their arcs carry them. I especially like the "mad" queen. Her lines feel hectic, her attention constantly diverted, and its a very interesting character to see in a story so soon.
The biggest issue I noticed was some grammar stuff. Honestly, Grammar is probably the biggest issue for most authors, and is also one of the most easily fixed things for a writer. I couldn't let that detract from my overall score of this beautifully written piece. I cannot wait to see what the author produces as we continue with this story!
EthanKantosRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Story
I really enjoyed the story. It begins with a classic fantasy setting involving kings, queens, and royal intrigue but then blends in some cool futuristic elements like chimeras, virtual worlds, and advanced technology. This mix felt fresh and imaginative. Sometimes the layers of religion, politics, and tech got a bit complex, but that just made the world feel rich and deep. The twist in the middle was especially exciting and kept me hooked.
Style
The writing style is strong and distinctive. Some parts are beautifully descriptive and poetic while others are clear and modern. That contrast worked well to keep the story engaging. Occasionally the shifts felt sudden but overall it gave the narrative a unique flavor. I liked having to slow down and really absorb some of the details.
Grammar
The grammar is generally solid and easy to follow. There are a few minor slips like missing commas or slightly long sentences but they don’t distract from the story. Overall, the writing flows well and these small issues could easily be polished with a quick proofread to make the prose even smoother.
Characters
Shiver and Mist have a great dynamic. Their banter is clever and sometimes funny. Jacob adds a grounded, thoughtful perspective that balances things out nicely. I felt connected to all three and wanted to see where their stories would lead.
Eva_EverquillRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
The story is descriptive and immersive, pulling the reader into its world with vivid details. The protagonist’s inner thoughts contrast sharply with his controlled demeanor, as he constantly weighs whether to survive or be polite. This contrast adds depth to his character and often makes him unintentionally humorous when others launch into lengthy monologues. His internal struggles provide an engaging look into his personality, making him both relatable and entertaining.
The dialogue among the royalty is extensive, which may not be to everyone’s taste, but it contributes to the world-building and political intrigue. The level of detail in these conversations helps establish the power dynamics and cultural depth of the setting. The pacing is moderate, striking a balance between character development and plot progression. While it isn’t overly fast-paced, it allows readers to absorb the details and immerse themselves in the setting at a steady rhythm.
There are a few minor grammatical hiccups, particularly involving homophones, which occasionally alter the intended meaning. However, these small errors don’t significantly impact the overall readability or enjoyment of the story. The writing style remains engaging, and the story flows well despite these occasional mistakes.
Overall, this is an engaging and well-crafted read, with strong characterization and an immersive writing style. It’s clear the author put a lot of thought into the details. If you enjoy rich descriptions, in-depth world-building, and a moderately paced fantasy, this book is definitely worth checking out.
AlexanderScottRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Monovalent Realms is a strange and beautiful story following Jacob who wakes up in a new world and has to figure out what he’s doing there, among other mysteries. The descriptions are lush and detailed, and the sights, sounds, and animals are dreamy and amazing.
Jacob meets a healer who tells him not to stay out in the valley very long as a demon comes out every night and kills everyone it finds. So he goes to a castle and gets himself invited in - but the inhabitants of the castle aren’t much better than the demon.
The writing, especially in the opening chapter, is captivating though it gets a little bit inconsistent too. The narration is concerned mainly with description, and not action, which slows the narrative down. When characters speak they tend to monologue, which makes it hard to follow along. That said, the potential for this rich and beautiful world is massive! Onward.
LaughingCroweRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
The story kicks off with a vivid and eerie start. The author does a good job painting this bizarre, mist-covered world, making it feel mysterious and just a bit unsettling.
The descriptions are detailed without bogging things down. Nicely done.
Style-wise, there's a cool blend of poetic, slightly creepy imagery - flying cat-creatures and weird black rain - that really pulls you into the atmosphere.
Dialogue mostly flows well, although Shiore sometimes sounds like she's just there to explain stuff. It might be smoother if her backstory or lore explanations were worked into the story more naturally.
The story itself grabs attention right away, with Jacob thrown into immediate danger. It creates a solid hook with the Shadow Beast threat looming overhead which adds instant suspense. But it could help to make it clearer how Jacob shifts from playing a VR game to suddenly being trapped in this strange reality. Some extra internal thoughts or reactions from him could make his confusion feel more believable.
Grammar-wise, it's good - only minor tweaks help smooth out some longer sentences here and there. There's a section in the first chapter where the prose shifts into the second-person perspective, which should probably be addressed.
Characters have promise. Jacob feels real and relatable with his genuine confusion and skepticism. Shiore seems interesting, though right now she's mostly serving as an info-dump guide.
Other characters later on like Shiver and Mist add a nice dynamic to the cast. More of that!
Overall, it's a solid start with lots of potential. Just a few tweaks to dialogue delivery and character depth. Looking forward to seeing where it goes!
NocturneKitsuneRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
What happens when you blend a virtual reality, dreamscape, and isekai?
This.
The story is highly atmospheric. Excellent spacial description. The author has a talent for describing scenes in a dreamy, poetic flair. It's like a fusion of Ghibli's spiritual and mystical fixtures, The Witcher's dark lore and theology, and Sword Art Online's otherworldly VR-esque isekai narrative.
The scope of the worldbuilding is astonishing. Ambitious even. Surreal flora, lively fauna—mer-cat, cat-fox, Mossumie. They were so real that I could almost feel how fluffy their furs were.
But as I said, the story is extremely detailed, which could be its strength and challenge.
The healer lady we met is intriguing, and even funny at times. But she often speaks in an esoteric way, like a sage who loves to lecture on the youngsters. It slightly undercuts the tension when the protagonist must seek shelter urgently as the demons are coming their way. A little more restraint or breaking up the expositions could help things grounded and ease the reader's digestion.
Some negligible punctuation issues could be seen, but it definitely doesn't distract from the flow.
All that said, I truly look forward to what the author has to offer. He or she is really masterful in crafting a rich, immersive world.
If this is what taking a drug feels like, I might consider hooking up on one. Just kidding, I won't.
Bonnie HartRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
This is my first time reading a portal fantasy/Isekai story and I stepped between the pages a bit like our anti-hero Jacob, wondering "What strange land have I come to? What the heck is going on? "
And so far? I like it! I'm following this story and will be back for more.
The writer's style is lush. The kind of lush that feels like boarding a plane in Saskatchewan and getting off in Costa Rica. This is a settle in with a cup of tea and plate of biscuits kind of read. This is not a lean, fast, or quick read. Sit back and prepare for some fully immersive detail coming at you. (Spoiler alert! That rich, descriptive detail is a perfect support for the simulation the author takes us to)
I like that the author adopts a "show don't tell" approach - and in that regard I'm applauding. I really enjoyed the slow creeping realization that things are not quite as they seem at first blush, and that the author let me piece that together for myself rather than hitting me over the head with it.
Spolier alert: This story is about a simulation (not much of a spoiler - I actually think thats in the blurb!) The author does a great job of illustrating (but not outright saying) that the simulation may be many more layers deep than we know. The simulation may be corrupt. It may impossible to tell which simulation the characters are in, or even which simulation we, the readers, are in. I loved that. A lot.
Grammar, spelling, sentence structure and other mechanics are spot-on.
Too soon for me to tell if this is going to become a favourite genre for me - but for now, I'm hooked on this story and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.
ella-chowRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
Story
This story doesn’t really follow a typical structure, which threw me a little at first—but I think that’s part of the point. You’re meant to feel a bit disoriented. The chapters feel more like little snapshots than a straight line plot-wise, but there’s a clear sense that something bigger is going on in the background. It’s slow-moving, but intentionally so. If you’re someone who likes stories that slowly peel back their layers, this might be your thing.
Style
The writing’s really visual. You can tell the author’s got a strong image in their head of what this world looks like, and they’re not afraid to dive into all the details. At times, the descriptions do get a bit heavy, but it’s also part of what gives the story its dreamy feel. I personally preferred the scenes with more dialogue because that’s where the story felt like it loosened up a bit and let the characters shine.
Grammar & Flow
No real issues here. Everything reads clean, and nothing pulled me out of the moment. Some sentences are on the longer side, but that suits the tone.
Characters
Jacob’s still a bit of a blank slate, but that seems deliberate—he’s the outsider, just taking everything in for now.
Overall Thoughts
It’s early days, and the pacing is definitely on the slower side—but there’s a lot of creativity here.