Opus Veda

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

The English Republic grinds through the 2080's, and life in the Third World is cheap. Kasia copes however she can, sedating herself with social media, easy hookups, and infinite content.

But the '90s approach, and England's collapse is a trending topic. A military revolution rises, swearing to make Britain whole again. Masked terrorists educate the public with a theatre of violence. The government barely handles a country pillaged by oligarchs.

Kasia is desperate to belong. When a local child goes missing, she joins the fight to rescue him and finds what society has denied her: human connection. She dares to reach higher, flirting with the powers above for another chance.

And they will threaten her child, her body, and her life.

What to expect:- A near-future England shaped by the mistakes of today's world- Flawed, morally complex characters with psychological depth- Social commentary on technology, addiction, and modern loneliness- Political unrest, culture wars, and competing visions of the future- Violent action scenes- Thriller elements involving hidden identities- A run-down cyberpunk aesthetic

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2024
Author: Samicee

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.9/ 5.0
Followers: 14
Views: 3,766

Chapters(10 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(7)

Rowdha Al SolRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
NOTE TO AUTHOR: On the onset, I will say that this reads like it was written very technically well. As in, when you start talking raw mechanics then we're in a good spot. I also appreciate that there is genuine ambition to tackle a difficult concept here. It is not an easy story; it is a very big story with a high level of complexity which is up there with the likes of Neuromancer and, to an extent, Snow Crash. Your central plot points are at that level where you write like a university student with 10 years of plotting and replotting which is very good. Most of the work on this site is just highschool student level who likes anime and doesn't even read. I see some competency in the progression of Eva and Kasia, which is partially why I picked this up to begin with. That and I generally think this is well written.
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Look, we're going to really have to slice things down to best sum up my current experience with this and I guess each reader might have a different interpretation because fundamentally this work technically does what it aims to do. It is at least done competently. And generally speaking this is at that level where an author clearly has experience writing and probably delved in critique swaps or something of that nature. I’m not going to tell you what this book is primarily wanting to do. Because it feels like it wants to do a lot of things thematically speaking, even sacrificing narrative propulsion and characterisation in favour of social commentary. In this story, it feels like the author has a map. And this map is not particularly clear because it has several roadways, pinpoints, markers, writings, symbols, and coffee smudges. Everything is just a little bit hard to gleam from a narrative point of view and from the perspective of a reader wanting to invest trust.
I actually appreciate the competency of the writing itself. And we actually get some braiding. Ideas are clear in conception. A lot of cleverness to the practice of worldbuilding when you a
matt_kleinRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Rarely do I come across stories that mesmerize me from the first line, but Opus Veda did exactly that. After reading the first paragraph, I was already deeply intrigued by the MC, Kasia. After reading the first chapter, I found myself immersed in the new world, a world of superficiality, loneliness, and melancholy.
Style:
The style of Opus Veda is one of a kind, a melange of cyberpunk, film noir, and Brave New World-esque dystopia. Fret not if these genres seem foreign to you, for the author’s masterful command of language could teleport all your sensations into this new world. As I journeyed through the chapters, I could see the world in front of my eyes, down to the finest details carefully curated by the author. In short, the style is absolutely amazing.
Grammar:
Nothing that interferes with reading.
Story:
The narrative arc is well-designed, filled with important plot points and subplots that keep your eyes. We get a wide variety of scenes, from a day of work in the hyper-consumerist cyberpunk office to major fights and bloodshed. Every small-scale conflict paints a bigger picture, and every turn of the plot contributes indispensably to the progression of the overall narrative arc.
Most importantly, the story is cinematic! Throughout the time I’m reading this, I’m imagining the scenes unfolding on an IMAX screen. This is partly due to the author’s strong grasp of writing mechanics, partly due to the brilliant control of narrative. You will want to sit on the chair and finish this entire piece of cinema in one go without even taking a bathroom break!
Character:
As we follow Kasia’s journey through the office, nightclubs, and slums, we also get introduced to more and more characters, occasionally taking their viewpoints. All characters — whether it be the young teenage daughter, the old neighbor, the ex-con friend, or the private investigators — are written flesh-and-blood down to the tiniest details, each carrying their personalities, desires, and imperfections.
Queenie IVRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Grammar Score
The grammar is excellent 👌
Story Score
The story explores both political and social issues in the world, it is such a perfect balance that neither contradict each other. The world is set in a far future of UK and has a sense of realism. While it can be depressing it also has light humor that balance it out.
Style Score
The dialogue is wonderfully well done, you can understand the characters emotions. The descriptions also gives you a good imagination of the world and the politics. The author has put lots of care in the world building.
Character Score
I love Kasia, she is a relatable person who has real struggles and has to navigate her way with her daughter. She isn't perfect and that's what makes her perfect, you find yourself rooting for her. The side characters also have their own voice, they feel real and although i still don't know much about them like I do with Kasia and her daughter. I'm curious to find out more.
Overall, I recommend this story. The author is an excellent writer and you will feel it in the story.
Thank you Samicee! I enjoyed reading your story!
D.N. NewynRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Opus Veda is a story set in a not-so-distant future, with the UK having fallen way down the world order and has fallen victim to serious anarchist tendencies. Suspenseful and filled with mysterious people running the scheme behind the scene, this grimdark mysterious sci-fi book will be a great read for many people.
Style: The style is neat, non-distracting and easy to follow. There’s no unnecessary fluff or overcomplication, and there are many slower beats for readers to get to know the relationship between Kasia and surrounding characters, as well as unfolding the lives of the detectives who I assume will have big roles to play.
Story: A strong point of this story. The plot follows Kasia and her struggles to protect her kid, but the world is much more than that. A government that functions in all but name, lawlessness reigns, and morality has corroded to the point where depravity is seen as normal. These are all elements of a great dystopian story and I think this book has done well to portray that.
Character: The characters are solid and Kasia's motives are clear. She's a reactive person who struggles in an increasingly hectic way, but has a desire to carve a destiny for herself and her daughter. The side characters' portrayal are generally good, though I wish I get to know more about Sermon, the detective, their backstory and what has led them to lead the lives they are having.
Grammar: Generally clean. Some later chapters get a bit sloppier but nothing a round of editing can't fix.
All in all, if you like a story that doesn't hold back, Opus Veda is the one. Get ready to be terrorized with a good time.
Thesaurus RexRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style:
The prose is sharp, stylish, and loaded with intent. There's a strong authorial voice, and the writing holds up against traditionally published peers. The cyberpunk-noir mood is consistent and immersive, with striking visual language and a deliberate pace that mirrors the weight of the world. Some readers may find it too introspective or slow, especially in early chapters. But it pays off over time.
That said, exposition sometimes overtakes narrative. Worldbuilding details are often explained directly rather than shown through Kasia’s experience. When the story leans into atmosphere and subtext, it’s brilliant. When it pauses to explain itself, it stutters.
Story:
Begins with a broad, ambitious map but doesn’t immediately pick a clear road. For several chapters, it prioritizes setting and tone over narrative propulsion. The central premise comes in late, despite being the story’s emotional core.
The story juggles many elements: social collapse, terrorism, corrupt government, digital addiction, poverty, motherhood, trauma, romance, and more. When it focuses on a single arc (especially Kasia’s role in the missing child plotline), the narrative is strong. But when the story tries to juggle all its themes at once, it can feel unfocused.
Still, once the plot settles into motion (around Chapters 10–15), the pacing improves and the stakes become clearer. The narrative becomes more cinematic, with tension building naturally from earlier seeds.
Character:
Kasia is deeply human. She isn’t a chosen one or a genius hacker, but a tired, anxious woman trying to do right by her daughter in a hopeless society. That’s a refreshing take in cyberpunk, but also a challenging one. Her lack of early agency can make the first act feel slow. She absorbs the world more than she shapes it.
Side characters are equally grounded, often representing different facets of society: radicals, bureaucrats, idealists, criminals. Sermon (a detective) stands out, though his arc still feels underex
Wistful_WillowRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Most cyberpunk stories follow someone elite, special, or important, but what about everyone else in the city? There are so many everyday people whose stories do not get told. In Opus Veda, you follow the story of one ordinary woman. The only thing that makes her stand out is her tragic past and what she chooses to do with it.
Character: Kasia is a single mother with a dead-end job and a past as a sex worker. There are a lot of slice-of-life scenes so you can get a pretty good idea of what her daily life is like. Her addiction to social media would be noteworthy if not everyone else was addicted too.
Story: This is an imagining of the future where your social media engagement is so impactful on your daily life that everyone wants a piece of that pie. People will even risk their lives just to try to get the next viral video. It's a reoccurring theme in this dystopia that no matter what crimes happen, what disasters occur with the government, or what risks civilians have to their own lives, they will always prioritize their socials first. Sex, drugs, alcohol, and corruption run rampant in the city, and there are 3 factions vying for power: the terrorists, the revolutionaries, and the government.
Grammar: Grammar is pretty good; I only noticed minor typos.
Style: Her stylistic voice is strong. Everything is delivered with a punchy tang. Descriptions of people and scenes are both vivid and plentiful.
M.E. CheRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Opus Verde is a dystopian sci-fi story that explores political themes, social media addiction, and the extremes of idealism in a fractured world. With well-written characters who aren’t always likable but remain understandable, immersive world-building, and a balanced tone, this story offers a fresh take on the genre.
Balanced Tone: The story is dark but not humorless, striking a good balance between its heavier themes and some humor.
Strong Characters: The characters are well-written, with believable dialogue and clear motivations.
Nuanced Themes: The exploration of political and social issues is handled with nuance, avoiding oversimplification.
Immersive World-Building: The dystopian setting feels grounded and relevant, with enough detail to immerse readers without overwhelming them.
I recommend Opus Verde to fans of dystopian sci-fi, political intrigue, and stories that explore complex social issues. If you enjoy narratives that balance dark themes with strong character work and immersive world-building, this is a story worth checking out.