Right to Ruin

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

In a world beset by deadly fog -capable of eating through metal and flesh alike- the only protection comes from the Great Mother's gift of her forgiving light. City-states rise and fall at the whim of their upper class, and with little to do but survive within their city walls, humanity has poured its focus into machinery. Steam-powered marvels fill the streets, artful creations that reflect mankind's ingenuity. Yet even these mechanical wonders cannot shield them from the terror of the Great Purple. With no sky to gaze upon and no certainty in life, people live and die in a world that feels long past its prime, as though its warranty has expired.

Sunshen was born into this decaying world with a silver spoon in his mouth and an arm that would never fully develop. Ambitious but plagued by doubt, brash and often at his wits' end, he struggles to reconcile his own desires with the duty he feels toward a world teetering on the edge of collapse. In a society driven by survival and steam, can Sunshen carve out a purpose for himself? Or is he destined to be another forgotten soul in the fog? Only time - and the reader - will tell.

[participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]

Information

Status: Cancelled
Year: 2024
Author: High Guy Magic

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 5.0/ 5.0
Followers: 4
Views: 2,297

Chapters(14 total)

Reviews

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Community Reviews(2)

Ninni241Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I really like how High Guy Magic creates completely realistic human characters and motivations in a fantasy world. I love his imperfect heroes. I appreciate how he lets them learn from their mistakes. It's fantasy, and yet so much like real life. High Guy Magic has become my favorite author.
The CuratorRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Great start! It gave me the impression of a post-apocalyptic story, which I really enjoy. In the first chapter, we’re plunged into Sunshen’s life in this gritty, dark world. The author clearly knows what he is doing, drawing you in with rising tension in every sentence. This isn’t one of those stories that slowly introduce their characters; instead, you’re thrown right into the heart of it all, which I think is fantastic. The interactions feel dynamic and pull you even deeper into the story. The whole setting actually reminds me a bit of the game Dishonored, which is a big plus. I also appreciate that the main character isn’t overpowered; instead, he has to push himself, especially with the added challenge of having only one arm, making every accomplishment hard-won and keeping the tension high throughout.
You should definitely give it a try and show some support to help keep the story going!