Re: Shattered Memories

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

The scariest part isn’t the game. It’s remembering he’s in it. Dante Montressor is faced with the hardest challenge of his life: survival. Stuck without his memories, the only thing he knows is that he's in the world of the hardest video game he's ever played. Terrified that he'll get brutally murdered before he even gets past the first boss, Dante must find some way through the game's story with his head still attached to his shoulders and what remains of his sanity intact. With the Bloodbath Princess by his side, Dante faces horrors both physical and psychological. Mangy beasts with venom dripping from their maws lurk in the shadows as he has to face every gamer's worst fear:High School. Come see a story inspired by things like Trails of Cold Steel, Fear and Hunger, Red Princess, and Norse Mythology. What to Expect: -Heavy focus on character development with slice of life elements -Romance -No harem -Low fantasy early modern school setting -Psychological themes, including dealing with feelings of worthlessness and self-hatred. Updates every Saturday at 10 AM EST/9 AM CST. Read now! Cover art done bylittleruby726

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2025
Author: Skarabrae

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 382
Views: 51,093

Chapters(44 total)

What readers say about Re: Shattered Memories

“Re: Shattered Memories offers a compelling twist on the familiar video game isekai genre. The story follows an amnesiac protagonist, Dante Montressor, who finds himself trapped in the very same brutally difficult game he couldn't master, now forced to navig…”
P_MagnoRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Re: Shattered Memoriestells the familiar story of a guy who is isekai’d into a game world and ends up in the body of one of its characters.While the overall story structure is familiar, the unique setting—the early modern age—sets it apart from most of its…”
Raphael_IFRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

P_MagnoRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Re: Shattered Memories offers a compelling twist on the familiar video game isekai genre. The story follows an amnesiac protagonist, Dante Montressor, who finds himself trapped in the very same brutally difficult game he couldn't master, now forced to navigate its deadly high school setting without the comfort of prior knowledge or cheats.
Character dynamics are a central focus. Dante is a relatable and vulnerable protagonist whose "bluffs and improvisations showcase his intelligence and somewhat scrappy nature" . The supporting cast is generally well-received, with characters like the stoic Princess Augusta and the enigmatic Millia adding depth and mystery. Millia, in particular, is highlighted as an intriguing figure who knows the world is a game but seems "exhausted and isn't fully committed to things," hinting at deeper layers to uncover .
The author's prose is straightforward, immersive, and easy to follow, making the story highly readable The first-person perspective effectively puts readers in the protagonist's shoes as he unravels the world's mysteries. I found no major grammatical issues that broke immersion, though some minor points were noted, including occasional repetitive language and tense shifts between past and present that could be smoothed with editing.
Re: Shattered Memories is a promising and enjoyable read that breathes new life into its genre. It's is a refreshing change from the more common stories in the genre where the protagonist already knows everything . It is widely recommended for isekai fans looking for a story with a different flavor and strong foundational elements.
Raphael_IFRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Re: Shattered Memoriestells the familiar story of a guy who is isekai’d into a game world and ends up in the body of one of its characters.While the overall story structure is familiar, the unique setting—the early modern age—sets it apart from most of its competitors. Here, magic coexists with early gunpowder weapons, a combination I personally enjoy and hope to see more here in RR.The characters are distinct, each with unique personalities, backgrounds, and motivations. Among the main cast, a few stand out: the smart girl (you’ll know why when you read) and Augusta, the high-and-mighty noble girl, or as the MC would say, “The Coolest Character in the Game.” They’re all great so far, no complaints.The conflicts driving both the story and the characters work very well. The protagonist begins by forming a strong party to defeat the first boss, which is a huge deal for him.The pacing is solid: the story starts by explaining the important aspects of the world and the game’s mechanics. There’s an academy arc to introduce the main cast and to showcase their abilities.The grammar is excellent; I didn’t spot any real issues.To sum it up,Re: Shattered Memoriesis a great story with compelling characters and a unique setting.This was part of a Review Swap.
RyukiroRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Grammar: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Character: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Overview "Re: Shattered Memories" feels like a dating sim that has been corrupted by a Lovecraftian nightmare. The author pitches it as a mix of Trails of Cold Steel and Fear & Hunger, and honestly, that description is spot on.The premise is classic Isekai: the protagonist wakes up as Dante Montressor, the main character of a notoriously unfair game called "The Duke's Duplicity." He has amnesia regarding his past life, remembers only fragments of the game, and—crucially—admits he was a "noob" who never even beat the first boss. This isn't a power fantasy; it's a desperate scramble for survival.What I Liked (The Good)1. The Tonal Dissonance: The strongest aspect of these first 12 chapters is the jarring (in a good way) contrast between the setting and the reality. One moment, the characters are discussing club activities, gardening, or awkward teenage crushes. The next moment, Dante is in a pitch-black room drinking brain fluid out of a severed head just to learn a basic spell. The author balances the "Academy Slice of Life" with "Grimdark Horror" perfectly. It keeps you on edge because you know the safety of the school is just an illusion.2. The Characters are Broken People: The cast isn't just a collection of tropes; they feel like people coping with trauma.Dante (MC): He isn't OP. He is weak, terrified, and relying on meta-knowledge that might be wrong. His desperation makes him rootable.Princess Augusta: She steals the show. She is a terrifying mix of a Kuudere and a weapon of mass destruction. Her obsession with Dante is cute but carries a constant underlying threat of accidental violence.Millia: The contrast between Dante’s "Gamer" mindset and Millia’s "Reincarnator" trauma is excellent. Her breakdown in Chapter 8 ("I’d have lost my f***ing mind years ago") grounds the story, reminding us that this world is a living hell, not just a game.Janek & Robert: Even the side chara
Ally_BooRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Excellent interactions between Dante and his (maybe) love interest.
Very fun moments.
Dante is still trying to navigate this new world and through him we discover the social and political context as well as all the other usual aspects (magic, abilities etc).
I hope to see the continuation soon because we might very well start on something big!
I can say that any Isekai genre lover such as myself would like this story! I certainly did.
ColRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story drew me in at once with its unique take on a waking-up-in-the-game scenario. As someone who dies a lot in video games, I can sympathize with someone who can't get past the first boss (is god mode an option here?) and who is looking for a way to change the inevitable by changing their team/abilities/layout or whatever they are.The setting is great – high fantasy with a touch of gunpowder for variety. This makes for an interesting setting, and a diversity of weapons and fighting styles, too. I’m hoping there are steam-powered airplanes arriving soon… but that’s just me.I like that Dante knows the lore, which makes the world so interesting, but not the spoilers which would make things all too easy. I am looking forward to learning more about Dante as the main character, especially about his backstory.I thought the characters had depth, and I wanted to learn more about them. There is definitely more to each of them that meets the eye. I like that [*spoiler alert*] more than one of the characters is like Dante, except they know far more about the game.I’m hoping the next chapters have more fight scenes so we can see what all the characters can do.Great work!
FrestonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I am liking the story, enjoying it a lot as a matter of fact. But I find myself in a conundrum when writing this review. How to talk about the features I like most without giving away spoilers?
The author makes excellent use of a truly original idea, something I had never seen implemented before, at least not in the same way. Think Matrix+Memento+Hedgehog day. That is as far as I dare to go.
The action flows smoothly and is an incredibly easy read, and believe me, I am grateful for that. The characters are well done and relatable. The writing is excellent, with no grammar or typos I could catch.
But the part that did it for me is the sense of looming menace, like a threat hanging just around the corner that you can only glimpse. I feel as if the author is constantly giving me clues as to what is really happening, but I am still missing enough pieces to see the great puzzle.
There are some truly memorable side characters, like the bloodbath princess or a rakshasa merchant that steals the show by doing something so incredibly gruesome that I think it is going to be forever inked into my brain.
I am genuinely hooked and curious to see how the story unfolds.
Excellent job. Will check the author's other works
FuriozeRapidaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Strengths:
Protagonist/Premise: I liked this story from the first chapter. The opening is clear, the common trope is nicely twisted. You feel at home, but it's like visiting a neighbour. :) The MC is not an all-knowing, omnipotent player. He's just a guy who played the game without much success and was hooked by its lore. He's panicked at first and leverages the little knowledge he has, making him feel smart, but he's also just likeable.
World/Pace: The fact he doesn't know everything but knows the lore actually helps with the natural world-building. We learn about the world through the MC's fragmented memories as he re-lives the game or talks with others, which splits the "info-dump" nicely and feels engaging. The world is quickly filled with just enough distinct characters with interesting hooks about them.
Prose/Style: The writing style is easy to read, the text is clear, well-crafted, and flows smoothly. Enjoyable read.
Nitpicking:
Character/Plot: This is a very minor point and just a personal observation. MC after being panicked about his situation and afraid of dying to the first boss, later on springs with excitement which completely overrode any fear. This works very well as a plot hook to achieve his goals, I did find it a bit strange the fear was completely gone. It's just a tiny observation in an otherwise great story which focuses on the journey forward, not initial shock.
Overall:
Overall, this is a very nice start, I hope the author finishes it. Smart premise, relatable protagonist, and clean prose. Recommended.
Hero GohanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read so far of Re: Shattered Memories quite a bit. Going into it, you should know that it’s an Isekai, which is a good thing in my book. For me, I love seeing how different authors offer new wrinkles in the primary tropes of the genre.
Here, the main hero has few memories of his life before getting Isekai’d into the role of Dante, lead character of basically the hardest video game ever. A game so hard, in fact, that after numerous attempts he’s never been able to get past the tutorial’s main boss. Yep, the tutorial is near unwinnable!
Dante has to meet the NPCs, but he behaves in a very different way than the grimdark lead of the game did. He knows the first boss is a killer, so wants to be sure to have as many companions as possible when it comes time for the confrontation. Watching people’s reaction to a kinder friendlier Dante is a big part of the fun.
Of the secondary characters, Augusta, the bloodthirsty princess is the best girl. She’s super awkward in a charming way, lacking as she does social skills. She’s way OP and everyone is deathly frightened of her. Except for our MC, who was a Stan of hers from the game. Watching their interactions are the high points of the series thus far. There’s some good humor and warmth and total left field interactions.
At this stage the plot is largely at the “setting up the confrontation, world building and character development” stage. That’s not to say there’s no action. In fact, I’d say the author’s ability to write high quality action set pieces is one of their primary strengths. Genuinely gripping stuff going on in the fight scenes! I look forward to watching it once stuff really goes down. I’ll be curious to see how many of our cast makes it out of the battle alive, and what sorts of nightmares await after the tutorial boss.
HonestDevilRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Shattered Memories is an isekai story that immerses you in a world that even the main character doesn’t fully understand, the MC has amnesia after being reincarnated into a notoriously difficult game. As he starts his life at the Academy, he aims to avoid suspicion despite his amnesia. This approach is built around his fragmented memory and adds a strong mystery element that keeps the story intriguing.
The characters are diverse and well-developed, and their interactions feel realistic because they don’t all get along right away. Relationships and subplots are engaging, and the romance is a surprisingly central and enjoyable aspect. Dante is written to feel like an everyman, while Augusta stands out with her reserved, almost robotic yet caring personality. Other characters, such as the enigmatic Millia or those with titles like the “Bloodbath Princess,” add depth and intrigue to the story.
The narrative also delivers action and interesting worldbuilding, with glimpses of the magic system and historical-fantasy elements that feel fun and inventive. Moments of humor, though sometimes juvenile, fit the story’s intended tone. The author’s writing style is fast-paced, clear, and immersive, with minimal grammatical issues that rarely disrupt the experience.
Overall, Shattered Memories combines mystery, romance, action, and character-driven storytelling into a compelling adventure that makes you eager to see what happens next.
StratPlayerRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
So far I am realy enjoying this story. It has it all: action, vivid characters, a great setting, and several very origional story twists. It's a refreshing take on the genera. I found myself power reading through it. Bravo to the author. This story focuses both on character and plot devlopment. The approach is a well babalenced story where you identify with the characters, especially Dante, and the trials he must endure. Additionally, the story introduces twists that are a creative variation from the traditional path of litRPG and isekai. This makes it a very rewarding book to read. It hits all the beats you expect, but then adds a few you don't expect. The characters speak directly, yet there is plenty of room to read between the lines. I found myself both wondering and guessing what would happen in the next chapter, and what the characters were really thinking behind their words.
It's a great read. I love a well crafted story that also has creative elements. The pacing is spot on. The setting is also on point. It was a nice read where I could sit back and just escape from the real world and spend time in a fantasy world.