Overtime

Information

Status

Hiatus

Year

2023

Author

Melanthe

• Chapter Thirty Three
  Dec 6, 2023
• Chapter Thirty Two
  Nov 6, 2023
• Chapter Thirty One
  Oct 5, 2023
• Chapter Thirty
  Sep 23, 2023
• Chapter Twenty Nine
  Sep 14, 2023
• Chapter Twenty Eight
  Sep 7, 2023
• Chapter Twenty Seven
  Aug 17, 2023
• Chapter Twenty Six
  Aug 9, 2023
• Chapter Twenty Five
  Aug 1, 2023
• Chapter Twenty Four
  Jul 25, 2023
• Chapter Twenty Three
  Jul 18, 2023
• Chapter Twenty Two
  Jul 11, 2023
• Chapter Twenty One
  Jul 4, 2023
• Chapter Twenty
  Jun 27, 2023
• Chapter Nineteen
  Jun 20, 2023
• Chapter Eighteen
  Jun 13, 2023
• Chapter Seventeen
  Jun 6, 2023
• Chapter Sixteen
  May 31, 2023
• Chapter Fifteen
  May 24, 2023
• Chapter Fourteen
  May 16, 2023

Reviews

Community Reviews(10)

• PelgraineRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  From the very first sentence I knew this was going to be good.
  Having just reached the end of chapter 3, I thought I’d pause there to leave this review so I could encourage others to come and enjoy this webnovel as well. The rich imagery and well-crafted characters within a beautifully developed universe had me absorbed from the first line. The author has crafted a refreshing take on a futuristic dystopian setting with incredible skill. (I might not have the requisite skill to do this little description of this brilliant work justice, but I’m keen to try because it deserves a great deal of enthusiasm.)
  Style & Character:
  A lot of fiction I’ve read over the years made me feel like I was an outside observer simply watching proceedings unfold from a distance, but with Overtime everything has felt so much more present and real. I didn’t expect that the main character, given she’s been crafted from nanobots and installed into a digitized environment, would come across as very much a flesh-and-blood human, if I can put it that way; the impression of the character as a human being feels incredibly realistic while retaining the awareness of the game environment. The character’s thought processes, emotional responses, and interactions are very well done; it’s the kind of high quality writing that keeps you intrigued as to how the character(s) are going to handle what comes next.
  One of my favourite things about the style is the ‘Word of the Day’ descriptions at the start of each chapter; it lends a nice futuristic vibe and enriches the overall setting by providing some historical and environmental context as you move through the story. If I could give the style and character scores 6/5 stars, I would.
  Story & Grammar:
  The plot flows smoothly, weaving in aspects of the character’s background and past experiences, along with major concepts like time travel and digitized consciousnesses, without distracting from the main storyline. There’s exactly the right amount of attention
• ArthicernRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Overtime is a mystery novel with a unique premise in that it follows a ghost forced to haunt a death game, after being forced to compete in and then dying to a previous death game.
  As a whole this presents a mix of focal points for the protagonist Dev from dealing with other ghosts from her game -including her own murderer- to observing the new participants and comparing their experiences to her own game bit by bit, all while trying to figure out how to interact with the world despite her limited corporeality. All of which when presented with a slow but appropriately paced writing style that leaves just enough details to hint at mysteries both past and present while also upfront presenting information that while not immediately relevant to the story does build out the world and Dev's more mundane history at fair speed.
  The part that I enjoyed the most about this story however was the constant stream of thoughts from Dev as she tries to deal with her death, which as a still fresh injury is constantly brimming just below her more active actions. With her thoughts and the narrative script painting themselves in occasionally violent imagery as she slowly processes her death and new afterlife while trying to make some part of it work to her advantage despite her numerous limitations.
  Despite not being one of the genres more common to Royal Road I feel that this novel absolutely deserves a wider audience, and look forward to more chapters to come.
• CelestiarcRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  As a fellow writer, I love worldbuilding. Deep immersive worldbuilding has this sort of magic, this quality to it that just... makes a rainy day happy. And this story has that in abundance.
  I appreciate the set up of the world. Creating a place where people from all eras can be pulled together. This leads to interesting and dynamic groupings that you don't normally get, at least not without some sort of weird plot devicing (which I think this story doesn't have as the plot device is intriguing and doesn't have that hand-wavey quality to it).
  Dev is an interesting character. Seemingly strong-willed and thoughtful (a great combination that is most definately going to get her in trouble). I like the way bits of her backstory were woven into the narrative instead of being info dumped. That's a huge plus in my book!
  I mean, the author snuck in catgirls AND gave them an actual realistic reason to exist.
  That's hilarious and I applaud their skill!
  The writing is good. Has a nice pace to it. Doesn't linger to long as it charges forward into the plot. Though it doesn't move so fast that you ever feel like your in a white box. The setting is functional and there to support the characters and the action.
• keeganashleyliveRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Honestly, this one is just so much fun; I really enjoyed reading it and following along as the story moved forward. The world and the characters just left me wanting more and more. How creative! Such an interesting take on a game novel. I really enjoyed the story's premise and the way it was written---very clear and, yet, descriptive. Kudos to the author for that!
  I think what really makes this story pop for me is the main character, the world and the action (that is, sometimes, very dialogue-based). The main character is very relatable and likable. Additionally, there is so much mystery as everything unfolds, and I found myself just wondering what was going to happen next with no expectations because, each time I guessed, the author took it in a surprising new twist which I thoroughly enjoyed. There's this eerie, dark vibe in the background too which really got me in some cases---another great surprise!
  Well done. Well executed. No glaring grammar errors, and the characters come to life in a vibrant way, thanks to the author's style and use of dialogue. If you're on the fence, wondering if you should try this, dive in. I highly recommend it.
  Excellent job.
• I_AM_VRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  First things first. Wow. I never thought I'd find something like this. Or that I'd want to find that. I've always really liked the concept of the game Town of Salem. And the tabletop game Werewolf. This feels like it was inspired by that and I really enjoy that.
  The main character basically becomes an NPC in one such game after dying and is tasked with being a spooky ghost with the potential to evolve into a "character" for the game. Very cool concept.
  The grammar and writing style are pretty modest and easy to read which helps you get immersed in the story/setting which in my opinion is the high point of this novel. The characters are pretty good all things considered but at the time of review things are still pretty early but I believe things will only go up from here.
  The "word of the day" part of the chapters is a fun way to give information about the story without infodumps and I really appreciate that. They can also be used as a glossary of sorts.
  The potential of this series is extremely high and I will be rather expectant of the author. If you want something unique and interesting do give this a shot.
• Jack0fheartRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Overtime follows Devorah, a ghost haunting a game that pulls players from different points in human history. Despite being expected to just watch, Devorah struggles with playing along when she recognizes a familiar face among the players.
  Overall score 5/5: This is an innovative and thought-provoking story that seamlessly blends science fiction with introspective reflection. It is a captivating and intriguing read that leaves the reader with much to ponder.
  Style score 5/5: The writing is captivating, with vivid descriptions and an engaging narrative voice that draws the reader in from the very first sentence. The story is thoughtfully crafted, with a clear sense of pacing that keeps the reader invested in the plot throughout.
  Story score 5/5: The story is truly unique, with a fascinating exploration of what it means to be human and how our perceptions of ourselves and others can change after death. The plot is complex and thought-provoking, with unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader guessing.
  Grammar score 5/5: The grammar is impeccable, with clear and concise writing that flows smoothly from sentence to sentence. There are no obvious errors or mistakes, making for a seamless and enjoyable reading experience.
  Character score 5/5: The characters are multi-dimensional and well-developed, with distinct personalities and motivations that make them feel like real people. Devorah, the main character, is particularly compelling, with a nuanced perspective on her own existence that raises deep questions about what it means to be alive.
  In summary, Overtime is a beautifully written and thought-provoking story that explores complex themes with skill and sensitivity. The characters are engaging and well-drawn, the plot is intriguing and unpredictable, and the writing style is captivating. I highly recommend this story for fans of science fiction and introspective storytelling! ♥
• KonstanceKayRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  The concept of this story and world is absolutely amazing and I was hooked from the blurb and right through. It was hard to put down.
  When it comes to the style and story, the author does an amazing job in keeping you guessing and exploring the world without getting frustrated and there are so many interesting elements shown both in the storyline and in the author's writing style that work really well together to keep me engaged.
  I'm also loving the "word of the day" at the beginning of the chapters. This is a really fun and interesting way to give us some world-building facts without it feeling overwhelming or intruding on the story. Very smart choice! (Especially since it seems to work so well with who the MC is!)
  I didn't notice anything glaring for grammar and it's a nice and smooth read, only kept smoother and faster with how excited I am to get to the next chapter.
  When it comes to characters, Dev is definitely someone that I can imagine and she is real and tangible for me, making it easier to immerse myself in this story. We get introduced to a lot of characters at the beginning, but the author does a really good job of separating them and letting us know who they are without crazy exposition, and focusing on the important ones.
  Overall, a really good read and I'll be waiting for the next few chapters so I can binge this.
• AJ FluffRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  The premise reminds me of The Nonary Games, but less brutal and nerve-wracking (personally, I was never able to play them; too squeamish, so I just watched otheres play). It's a murder-mystery-thriller with a ghost protagonist facing off against the still-alive players of this haunted house game. There's not a lot like this in western media, so it's intriguing for that alone. Hunger Games comes close, but still isn't quite in the same vein.
  The start is both slow and too fast simulataneously, so I'm a bit torn. To be clear, I liked it, but it's a risky kind of start. There's a lot of beginning exposition to get through, which slows down the pacing quite a bit. But Devora (MC) and so the reader too are thrown into the plot and mysteries head first with nothing to really anchor us. My instinct is to say the beginning two chapters could use a rewrite, but they also work for this kind of story in a very niche kinda way. So I'm torn.
  The characters are Devora (a ghost), her fellow ghosts, and the living players. As a ghost, Dev can't really interact with much, which gives her plenty of time to snoop around the players and give them a spotlight. Already, we experience a lot of dynamic characters through interactions and Dev's insightful observations. It'll be interesting to see how Melanthe makes the ghost-thing work without making the protagonist too passive.
  Grammar is unnoticeable, which is how it should be. This allows the style and voice to really shine. It's a very faux-academic style, which works well for the main character being a nosy historian. I dig it!
  Overall, I'd say Overtime is definitely niche. It won't appeal to everyone. But it has its audience and deserves to be found by that audience. Because it's a real gem. <3
• x_luminous_xRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  Plot: This story is a death game story with a twist. The twist being that everyone in the game is already dead and they are fighting at a second chance for life. This premise is genius as it gives every character a key motivation and there are even some mystery elements with a previous death game haven taken place. The ghosts can come from any time and the general story is set in the future, promising some fun shenanigans with characters from different times. The hints of worldbuidling also seem to be very cool thus far. My one complaint about this story is that the later chapters I read had quite a lot of dialogue. This might work out well for the author as it gets us invested in the individual characters which is important for a battle game story like this, but I think some of the side characters can have their scenes cut down a bit. Thankfully, the interesting premise kept me wanting to read more through these scenes.
  Style: Amazingly written. Everything flows fluently with just the right amount of description. There are plenty of variations in sentence structure to keep it engaging. The perspective of the character it's written in also oozes personality and charm, helping us gey invested in their story.
  Characters: As I said, the mc has a lot of personality. It's quite a big cast so it'll remain to be seen whether the author can give them all substantial arcs, but so far, the characters had a lot of chemistry within their dialogue with each other.
  Grammar; Genuinely did not spot a single mistake, which is rare for a rr story. Kudos to the author!
• Onion-SanRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  Overtime has a very interesting premise. Here we have a protagonist acting in a game that she lost and now must follow as a ghost. As the plot unfolds we see how it all happened and what the game is as well as the rules that govern it.
  The writing is agile and easy to read, which I always find very positive. The function of the narrative is to pass the story in a way that makes more people understand what the author wanted to pass, and in this aspect I have no comment to make other than that this story has an objective narrative.
  As far as grammar is concerned, there are no points to make either.
  As for the story itself, I think it would benefit greatly from a change of pace in the beginning. There is a lot of information and characters to and meet all at once and it is all done without much initial context, which personally left me confused and I think may end up being a similar complaint from other readers.
  Devorah and the other characters are good, but since the introduction taken of characters gets in the way of understanding the story a bit, it ends up interfering with how we see the characters as well. Still, they are good characters!
  Overall I found it an enjoyable read with a creative plot!