Oblivion

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Eighteen-year-old Aine was destined to live a quiet, miserable life. As an Ashand, her only job was to wade the flooded gardens, harvest the creepy flowers that grow out of corpses, and trust the teachings of the Sanctari. Who are the Sanctari? Just freakishly tall, mask-wearing priests who insist those flowers carry souls to the “Living Gods” in the shining city above. Totally normal. Nothing suspicious about that at all. Then she stole one of the flowers… That kicked off a particularly fucked up series of events resulting in her being forced to climb some kind of intergalactic death-tower. Hmm. Now that I type all this out, it does sound rather depressing… But at least she has me! This galaxy’s most dazzlingly brilliant...it's most outrageously fabulous, [REDACTED]. The viewers are bloodthirsty, the elites are scheming, and I…may or may not be able to help, depending on what time it is. What?I’m not missing my soaps for this. What to expect: - Weak-to-strong progression that combines cyberpunk elements with a unique "magic" system. - LitRPG mechanics grounded in reality and physics. (No all knowing system) - A comedic twist on an extremely grim universe. - An interdimensional invasion, consciousness harvesting, and human livestock. - Found family, class warfare, political scheming. - A sarcastic interdimensional entity and...a baby wombat. - 100% human written story, no AI writing. New chapters every Monday (Sometimes also on Thursday) at 12:01am. Discord! *Jump on the mailing list for bonus content and updates* Please let me know how I'm doing as you read! I value feedback above all else. Cover Art by Arief Rachmad

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2025
Author: probably satan

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.5/ 5.0
Followers: 1,736
Views: 111,674

What readers say about Oblivion

“Oblivion hooked me right away with the setup. I liked how the world feels lived in instead of being dumped on you all at once. The mix of sci-fi and progression elements works really well, and the way things are introduced makes it easy to follow without lo…”
B.R.ROBINSONRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“This is a really solid read. It is definitely dark and earns its horror label very quickly, but it's not dark just for the sake of being dark. The darkness is there to serve the world and character building, so I'm down for it. Just not a light read by any…”
Lianne VailRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

B.R.ROBINSONRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Oblivion hooked me right away with the setup. I liked how the world feels lived in instead of being dumped on you all at once. The mix of sci-fi and progression elements works really well, and the way things are introduced makes it easy to follow without losing the bigger scope. It’s got that slow build that keeps you curious.
Aine is a strong lead. Her perspective feels real and she comes across as someone worth following, even when she’s struggling. The little details in how she thinks and reacts made me buy into her character. I also like that the stakes aren’t just about power, but survival and choices. That gives it some weight.
If I had to nitpick, I’d say some scenes could use a little more description to lock in the atmosphere, and there are spots where the pace could move faster. But honestly, those are small things compared to how engaging the story is. Overall, it’s been a fun read and I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops.
Lianne VailRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a really solid read. It is definitely dark and earns its horror label very quickly, but it's not dark just for the sake of being dark. The darkness is there to serve the world and character building, so I'm down for it. Just not a light read by any means. I've really enjoyed the story so far. The world building is intriguing (what's up with those flowers), and there is really solid characterization here. I like Aine's perspective, and she's easy to like as a character. Overall, definitely a great read if you're looking for a character driven dark sci-fi.
Also, fair warning: While the story does have a chapter-level SA (sexual assault) tag, it also includes overt (but not graphic) consensual sexual content that isn’t marked. If you prefer to avoid either, be aware before diving in.
Style (5/5): Fairly direct, very accessible. It's first person which is fun. Pacing is solid.
Story (5/5): Not far enough in yet at chapter 11 that I can say a lot about this, but I like it so far. Feels like we are just getting into the main plot, but I like where we are going so far and will probably keep reading. In some ways, the story moves quickly, in other ways, it's a slower burn, so feels like a solid middle ground story pacing wise.
Character (5/5): Characterization is definitely one of the strengths here. Aine is an intriguing protagonist that definitely seems worth following. The secondary characters are great too.
Though the secondary characters don't seem to last very long so far... so maybe not good to get attached. Most seem to max out at 2 chapters, but that may change as we get farther. Lol.
Grammar (5/5): Nothing that pulled me out of the story
STR_B3ARRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Oblivion hooked me right away with the setup. I liked how the world feels lived in instead of being dumped on you all at once. The mix of sci-fi and progression elements works really well, and the way things are introduced makes it easy to follow without losing the bigger scope. It’s got that slow build that keeps you curious.Aine is a strong lead. Her perspective feels real and she comes across as someone worth following, even when she’s struggling. The little details in how she thinks and reacts made me buy into her character. I also like that the stakes aren’t just about power, but survival and choices. That gives it some weight.If I had to nitpick, I’d say some scenes could use a little more description to lock in the atmosphere, and there are spots where the pace could move faster. But honestly, those are small things compared to how engaging the story is. Overall, it’s been a fun read and I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops.
StaleCrowRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall Notes: Literally the only thing holding this story back is the number of eyes on it (and the number of chapters, but that's how it is with a new fic). The writing and world is freaking top notch and if you're a fan of any type of fantasy I couldn't recommend this story more. If you're reading this and on the fence about checking it out you owe it to yourself to read at least until chapter 3.Story Score: I want to start with this one which I'll break into world and then the events of the story itself.The world is vivid, dripping with personality, and believable. Most importantly the characters react to the world. The world is integrated into characters view points and thought processes. Part of me wishes that some of the hints were obfuscated a bit more, and that the blurb didn't state the 1st major twist, but that's because I really really like mystery -- so I can't fault the author for that.The story is sad y'all. Like emotionally it's pretty heart wrenching and that tone is set immediately. The world in my head is beautiful, but the events that take place in it are bleak without being horrific or anything as simple as "war and killing bad". There's only three chapters out right now, but the direction its heading has me intriguedCharacter Score: This is a 1st person story, which means that the main character and their internal monologue have to be amazing. 3rd person novels can often get away with a subpart 3rd character since you're not always stuck with one. The main character here is well written, they're curious and you can tell there's bitterness in that curiosity. In the first chapter we know she's someone that asks questions and while most fictions would end it there at "she's naturally" curious, we actually see a likely cause for her questioning the world she lives in due to what has and is happening to her parents.Grammar: I often listen to stories with text to speech, so it's pretty easy to find grammar mistakes or misspelt words. I didn't notice
TrivangleRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Oblivion is a classical "Out of one's depth", with a twist. There is deep world-building hidden beneath the seemingly simple things happening in the beginning. The protagonist is very perceptive and notices things quickly, utilising all the tools available to her, despite being clueless. It's interesting to see her thought process and comprehend technology that is familiar to us through her lens.
Style:
The action happens from the first person, and the author puts a lot of emphasis on projecting the inner world of characters into descriptions. It makes the author's voice clear. Things happen swiftly, with good pacing, not letting you get bored. But you won't get confused either, since it's easy to understand what exactly is happening.
Story:
It's clear that the author spent a lot of time world-building the exact specifics of the world. All the special types of humans and machines don't just exist; it feels like they have history. However, the way new elements are introduced into the story is slightly hectic, which is nice if you're trying to understand it quickly.
Grammar:
It's not great, but it's good since there are some mistakes and some missed commas. There are occasional problems with wording, but they are not significant.
Characters:
This is the strongest point of the story. They feel alive, and they have, apologize for the pun, character. MC is clever, observant, and determined, yet the cruel world breaks her. Despite that, she continues going forward, not to escape her cruel circumstances, but to simply understand the world. Side characters, too, have their fun quirks, and unlike other stories, it's fun to read different POVs here.
luluflora@Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall Notes:
This one caught me off guard in the best way. I thought I was getting a dark fantasy with a bit of action and grit, but it turned out to be way more layered than I expected. Oblivion doesn’t just drop you into the world; it pulls you right alongside the main character, step by step, until you’re completely caught up in it.
It’s not just good. It’s sharp, it’s emotional, and it stuck with me. I kept thinking about certain lines and scenes long after reading it.
Story Score:
The pacing is slow in the right way. No endless lore dumps or heavy info dumps; the story takes its time, always focusing on what Aine’s going through in that moment. That closeness makes the emotional punches land even harder.
Even the quieter parts keep the tension going. It never really lets you relax.
Style:
I sincerely think that the writing is clean and immersive, with just enough detail that made me see and feel everything without dragging it out. It’s dark and often uncomfortable, but it needs to be, because Aine’s situation is horrifying.
There are moments where the prose just hits, and I had to stop for a second. The author’s voice is confident, and I can tell they’re in full control of their story.
Grammar:
Smooth all the way through. No weird hiccups, no typos, nothing that pulled me out of it (nice lol)
Characters:
Aine (my favorite character) feels like a real person. She reacts like someone who’s scared, angry, stubborn, and sometimes a little impulsive, and that’s what makes her so believable.
The side characters stand out too. Aldren, Caelan, and even the ones who don’t stick around long they all feel distinct without a ton of exposition.
Final Thoughts:
If you like your fantasy on the darker, heavier side and you want something that treats you like a smart reader, pick this up. It’s not light or easy, but it’s so worth it.
Once you hit chapter 3, it’s not just a story anymore. It’s a full-on descent you won’t want to look away from. I’m hooked.
M1dmuRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
"Show them...my pain"I don’t usually write reviews—especially for stories still early in development—butOblivionhas been an absoluteblastso far.The story centers around one girl and anothermysterious beingas they journey through a vast, complex world that’s new to both of them. Aine’s adventure has been a joy to follow; with each new chapter, I find myself eager to see how she and her uninvited passenger will handle every twist and turn.I’m also completely hooked on the side characters we’ve met so far. Each one has a distinct, interesting personality that keeps me coming back for more. As of writing this, we’re just entering a “tournament arc,” and I can’t wait to see how the events of this arc unfold. It’s clear in every passage that Toadsage isn’t just a writer—he’s a genuine fan of the genre.I’m already deeply invested in the lore of this world and can’t wait to see not only how Aine grows and becomes stronger, but also to learn more about the hierarchy and structure of this sprawling universe.In my opinion:If you likeGamelit, readOblivion.If you likeProgression Fantasy, readOblivion.If you likeSci-Fi, readOblivion.And if you like none of those… well, why are you reading this review?5/5 on all ends, Oblivion to the moon and beyond!
NvenRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Thankyou for sharing this story.
You know.. the space opera of Iain Banks or the humor of Terry Pratchett, the dark heros of David Gemmell and wild/confused magic of David Eddings, the high magic of Jullian May and Janny Wurts. Peter F. Hamilton and Tad Williams and many others are among my favorites.
It is Truly a shame when world renown Authors with this level of talent passes away or decides to retire from writing. It is fantastic to read a new story on a similar level and find a new Author with, not just the talent to tell a story, but also the ability to write.
I will be looking for your books on Amazon and would love to read what you have writen in fantasy.
To Anyone else reading this review... This book is writen in the same style as many world wide best sellers. It has a well thought-out, polished and consistant story with its own twists. It's full of action and the author provides enough detail to let your own imagination run with the story without stiffleing it.
Its complete, polished and very professional.
PessimysticRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Five chapters in, I'm a big fan of the (fucked-up) world I've been introduced to. I really appreciate that there's virtually no extraneous explanations or boring world building, everything unfolds organically from the main character's experience. You're given just enough to follow what's happening without being frustrated, while still being tempted by the mysteries the MC's worldview brings to mind.
The author's prose is crisp and polished, and descriptions are well written and intriguing. The pacing really shines, with the opening events possessing that familiar curve of a well-told story. I felt like both the answers and action I was looking for happened right on time. The author's notes reference that some of the early chapters were re-written recently, and I think that extra polish shines through.
Overall, I'm glad I started this story and am looking forward to finding out how Aine (hopefully) overcomes some particularly terrible odds. The only caveat I'd give prospective readers is that there are some very dark elements and events at play, so make sure you're going into this story knowing not to expect sunshine and rainbows from the onset.
RhinoUPRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The writing's clean and moves fast. You handle pacing well, the scenes don't drag, tension builds naturally. The prose does its job without overreaching. Kept me engaged straight through. Solid craft that gets out of its own way and lets the story work. Very enjoyable and I will 100% finish this one.