Requiem of Secrets [Don't Read/ Needs rewriting]
Community Rating
Description
In a City of Gears and Shadows, the Price of Truth Is Blood.
A man awakens in the body of a teenage boy, his past life a fading whisper—but this new world does not care for what was lost.
Evergarde is a city suffocating under soot and secrecy, where masked rulers weave unseen schemes and survival is bought with steel and sacrifice.
Yet behind the veil of reality lurks something far worse.
A higher dimension of vast, unknowable horror, existing alongside reality yet never truly seen.It is the source of all that is unnatural—a realm where forgotten things slumber, where twisted echoes of existence watch from beyond, and where those who wander too deep are never heard from again.
The desperate call itpower. The wise call itthe abyss.
What to Expect ::
+Progression in a grimy steampunk dystopia+A power system built on corruption, consequence, and the unknown+A calculating MC who plays the long game—without plot armor+An eerie, hidden world whose deep layers conceal twisted beings, lost gods, and slumbering horrors that should never be awakened.
Information
- Status
- Hiatus
- Year
- 2025
- Author
- Deep__aureate
Tags
Royal Road Stats
- Rating
- 4.7/ 5.0
- Followers
- 71
- Views
- 15,507
Chapters(22 total)
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
Community Reviews(10)
- vorlefanRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0"The Astral Realm watches. And it does not forget."
Overall: What I enjoyed most about the novel is the noir grit with existential horror. The creatures are lurking in the fog. The Astral Mysteries. The darkness is in the streets in plain sight. All of that got me thinking that I've never read a LitRPG that uses the noir element in the story. In truth, it has the Lovecraftian dread. I must say, if you enjoy noir, give this novel a chance, even more if you enjoy the genre of LitRPG. And the System has the unique quality of the 'Casual & Effect', it's more fleshed out than other systems I've read, giving more input and being more thoughtful in general.
Style: I think the novel has the perfect prose for the genre. It's simple to understand, but it has the flavors of sensory immersion and internal monologue. We know what the main protagonist thinks, and we know what is happening from his point of view.
Grammar: Well executed with varied sentence structures. Consistent tense and POV, even during metaphysical sequences.
Character: What I enjoy about Silas is his willingness and wit to play the long game. He knew the streets, what he needed to survive, and how he needed to act in front of certain characters. He's smart and uses the System well. And the side characters are well done; they have their own voice, and you can easily remember some of them.
Story: It has a few chapters, but so far, so good. We have the World-Building gradual showcase, the mysteries about the fog, the creatures, the Astral and the System. We have the underlying dread sense that something bad could happen anytime, and that, together with the investigative nature of the novel, makes it really good to read.
Do you recommend it? Yes, of course, I'll be following to read more.
~ Keep up the good work :) - LitRPG AdventuresRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0Requiem of Secrets blends dark fantasy, steampunk, and LitRPG in a way that feels fresh and immersive. Silas is a smart, resourceful protagonist navigating a brutal world with a system built for survival—not glory. The story’s rich atmosphere and mysterious power system hint at even more complexity to come.
Style: The story is written in third person which is very common and my personal preference as it's easier to do well than first person (in my opinion). It’s a good choice for this story.
Grammar: I didn't have any issues, and the author is correcting issues noted by others. It's a good way to write, as long as the mistakes aren't too distracting, which they aren't, so good job!
Story: The story starts out like many isekai with the main character arriving in his new world. We learn a little about his previous life but most of the focus is on the new world he finds himself in. It's exactly as one would expect for a LitRPG.
Character: So far so good. Looks like we are set up for a weak to strong character arc which is quite popular. It is one that I both enjoy writing and enjoy reading. - Bryn NorelRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0Requiem of Secrets is definitely worth a read!
The author's dedication to their prose shines through from the first paragraph. The commitment to word choice and revision is obvious. The imagery is sharp, down to the finest detail. The world-building immediately conjured an image of a steampunk version of an English town during the industrial revolution.
Moreover, the author weaves the reader's setting discovery tightly into the story's activity and dialogue, giving you just enough, right when you need it.
Similarly, the magic system is logical and well-structured. The author takes their time building the path to power, not giving too much to his MC too quickly. The reveals are well-balanced into the pace of the story.
Silas, as a MC, is clear-headed - more so than I would be awakening in his situation! Both likable and relatable, there is some room to deepen the reader's connection. I would like to know more about him!
Deep_aureate teases his monsters very well through the first several chapters. We are shown glimpses of some frightening beasties that had me hungry for more.
I have found many progression fantasies race forward, lurching from one battle to the next without taking the time to tell the rest of the story. That is not the case with Requiem of Secrets! The pacing is just right, my questions got answered, and the rationale behind the MC's actions was clear and sensible.
Overall - Very well done!
Give this one a look - you won't be disappointed! - MarstheoddballRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0What a great start! The gripping beginning, a transmigration into a steam-punk fantasy filled with dark shadows, and an curious and determined protagonist.
Cant wait to read more! Now the details.
The style is something I wish we had more of, dark fantasy steam punk. Cthulu-esqe but with flavour to make the story its own. Reminds me of LOTM, In a good way. 5 stars.
Story is filled with moments where the reader feels like the MC, always searching for answers in shadows. Like a mystery, the plot doesn't slam into your face, which is good. Were placed in a dark land that wants to kill the MC, with society largely ignorant of the serious issues that lay beneath. 5 stars.
Grammer is well done. The prose is fluid and effortless. Descriptive words are find their place naturally. The only caveat is amount of descriptive wording. It doesn't hurt the story, there is just too many sentences describing the same action or feeling. 4.5 stars
Characters are wonderfully written! With motive and expressions that fill them out very well. From our MC who finds himself in another world, grappling with two distinctive personality's. To the MC's neighbor, who finds her once ordinary child hood friend, increasingly different. 5 stars
Love the story! Can't wait for you to be successful! - NerokazamaRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0The world-building in this story is incredibly detailed, with everything explained so accurately that it feels like the writer has experienced it firsthand. The steampunk setting is richly developed, leaning toward a high-steampunk aesthetic—though it’s hard to define exactly, it definitely stands out and adds to the novel’s immersive atmosphere.
The protagonist is both intelligent and cautious, which I really appreciate. He doesn’t rush into things recklessly, making his decisions feel logical and well-thought-out. His careful nature adds depth to his character and makes his journey more compelling. However, I found the beginning of the story a bit difficult to get into, as it takes some time to fully grasp the world and its mechanics.
One of the most unique aspects of this novel is the system. Unlike most stories where the main character stumbles upon a pre-existing system, here, the protagonist actually creates one. This adds a fresh twist, making the progression feel more organic and engaging.
The chapters are somewhat long, but that’s not necessarily a drawback. The writing style allows the author plenty of space to explore the system and expand on new and exciting concepts without feeling rushed.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this novel to any steampunk fan who enjoys deeply immersive world-building with a unique take on system-based storytelling. - Queenie IVRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0Grammar Score
The grammar is impeccable and fluid.
Character Score
We follow the life of Silas in this engaging world. He is a good MC and knows how to navigate his way through situations and is cautious. I love how he doesn't immediately jump into things but thinks logically which allows the readers to feel engaged and interested on his he solves future obstacles.
Style Score.
The story has excellent descriptions but at the beginning it was hard to follow the story but overtime the story becomes more clearer and easy to follow. The dialogues and monologues are well done and the pacing of the story is done well.
Story Score p
This story has a unique twist where the protagonist creates one his system , a unique deviation from other System stories. Another aspect is the creatures hidden in the fog. The mystery and undertones of dread with the mix of steampunk and lit rpg is a welcome surprise. The world-building is also incredibly thought out. There is a bit of an info dump but it doesn't affect the story but makes things more clearer.
Overall, I love the smart MC and the steampunk aesthetic along with the monsters. It is such a a unique and original idea that I can see this story hitting huge in the future. Keep up the good work author! - SdsreaderRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0The worldbuilding, story beginning and character builds are very good. Power system of Chronicles and Wielders is quite interesting. I am getting Lord of Mysteries vibes. The author has kept a flexible power system unlike lotm fixed sequences...but laced with danger. Liked the way of mc - not wanting to attract attention or thrust himself in danger like other isekaid novels. The mc knows to endure while gradually strengthening himself - not like other isekai novels where mc acts as rebellious kid. Found some mistakes in grammar and some mismatched fonts. Otherwise this novel shows great potential ! A recommendation for those searching for novels like Lotm or steampunk mystery/occult vibes. The fallen lands outside evergarde seems like the upcoming adventure of the MC.
- SnarbyRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0The world painted is dark and gritty in exactly all the right ways and I love how the author portrays the ability system. Reading this book just feels like I'm living in Bloodborne and I love it.
My only main critique is that the main character sometimes seems to rely a bit much on his system when it is way more interesting when the character is out there in this finely crafted world, figuring things out for himself and so I hope that this is something of a temporary crutch for the main character that he will be allowed to move away from in the future. - StudioBunBugRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0Highly atmospheric. Steampunk is at its best when aesthetic is adhered to and realism is given the boot, and every paragraph evokes yet more of this sooty brass and iron world. Nature is evoked only as an opponent, a source of fear, representing the industrial theme from which steampunk draws its fuel. Laid over it is a healthy dose of gothic horror, creating what GURPS would term “screampunk.”
As the story develops the use of the aether until its Wielders become the only relevant participants,
the madness of the world goes up to a fever pitch. The opening scene seems to have been only the merest taste of the horrors above.
Style - unquestionably the strongest point of this story is its ability to evoke an atmosphere of industrialized, coal-burning, soul-rending dread. The word choice and imagery evoke an impossible nightmare that might have been.
Story - the chapters are on the long side, but only the more rewarding for finishing. The author is clearly building to a point with each chapter, and it leaves you wanting to read more to find out the next wild ride.
Grammar - there are grammatical errors, but if you point them out they get corrected. Generally, it’s a word here or there and not horribly disruptive.
Character - the protagonist is a grim analytical machine, determined to master a world bucking plenty for those who do follow its rules, much less him. He operates above and beyond the rules of the world by virtue of things not yet explained. The secondary characters are evocative of particular aesthetics, and while not always developed, they are at least coherent. - M.E. CheRoyal Road★★★★★ 4.5Overview
Requiem of Secrets is a dark fantasy mystery set in a Victorian steampunk-inspired megacity. The story follows Silas, a young man grappling with the memories of his former self while navigating a world of supernatural forces, political intrigue, and a mysterious magic system.
Atmospheric Setting: The blend of dark fantasy, mystery, and steampunk creates a rich, immersive world.
Intriguing Magic System: The story’s magic system is well-developed and adds depth to the narrative.
Complex Protagonist: Silas’s internal conflict and dual identity add layers to his character, making him compelling to follow.
Strong Pacing: The story moves at a steady pace, keeping readers engaged with its mix of action, mystery, and world-building.
Recommendation
Requiem of Secrets is a great choice for readers who enjoy:
Dark fantasy and supernatural mysteries.
Stories with complex protagonists and intricate magic systems.
Settings inspired by steampunk, urban and eldritch fantasy.
While the story has some minor issues its strengths—particularly its atmospheric setting and intriguing magic system—make it a compelling read. I’d rate it 4/5, with the potential to rise to a 5-star rating with further refinement.