Spliced

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

6.5 Middle-aged Magic Wielders,

1 Werewolf,

and half a Vampire...

...are summoned to a remote underground facility where evil rules with good intention.

They are supposed to be investigating a recent string of mysterious deaths, but instead they stumble upon a secret that could unravel the world. That is if their relationships don’t unravel first.

Oh, and that horde of ravenous creatures lurking in the dark?

Don’t worry about them, these guys are experts...

...right?

Splice;A joining of two lines with interweaving strands.

What to expect:

- Urban fantasy set in another world

- Lots of characters with different skillsets (and lots of character banter)

- A smattering of action, puzzles, comedy, and tragedy

- A really slow overarching plot that sometimes takes a background seat to other smaller plots

Volume one complete.

Volume two complete.

Volume three ongoing.

These volumes can be read as standalones if you like but there is an overarching plot. Volume 3 in particular will relate a lot to the former two.

I will be publishing 2000-5000 words a week. This may be spread across 1-3 chapters depending on chapter length.

Releases will be 2:16am NZ time (2:16pm UTC).

Publishing schedule is public so you can see when the next chapter will be released.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2022
Author: Saiph

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.0/ 5.0
Followers: 119
Views: 112,687

Chapters(231 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(3)

CodeBreakerRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
I'm 29 chapters in. I'll do my best to avoid spoilers as I share my thoughts...
"Spliced" is a gripping urban fantasy that delves into the mysterious and the macabre, set in a world where magic and supernatural creatures coexist with modern technology. The story follows a diverse group of characters(with Indi still being my favorite), each with unique abilities, as they navigate a complex underground facility to uncover the truth behind a series of mysterious deaths.
The narrative excels in its character development, with each member of the group being distinct and well-rounded. The interactions between characters, particularly the banter and the underlying tensions, add depth to the story. The plot is intricate, filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader engaged. The world-building is rich and imaginative, blending elements of traditional fantasy with a modern setting.
The writing style is amazing, and the beauty lies in its ability to blend action, mystery, and character-driven drama seamlessly. The author's descriptive prowess brings the eerie underground facility to life, making the reader feel as though they are part of the journey. The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of high tension interwoven with quieter, character-focused scenes.
While the story is strong overall, there are a few minor issues. The complexity of the plot can occasionally make it difficult to follow, especially with the numerous characters and subplots. Some of the dialogue feels forced at times, and the pacing can drag in certain sections. Additionally, the resolution of some plot threads feels rushed, leaving room for further exploration.
Style: 5/5
The style is a solid 5 for me. The writing is engaging and descriptive, with vivid imagery and well-constructed scenes.
Story: 4.5/5
This is my personal take on the story. I don't usually read stories like this, but it surprisingly had a strong hold on me. The plot is intricate and full of twists, keeping the reader on th
realnotperfectOfficialRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
[As always, please note I am not King of Alpha Mega Publishing Universe, nor am I Master of Editing With Five Thousand Editing Degrees. I am a corgi. These are only opinions. Yes, I give this disclaimer literally all the time.]
This will be spoiler-free. These, in no particular order, were my thoughts on this story and/or my thoughts as I was reading this story.
- LET’S GO SPLICED!!!! (The title of this work is “Spliced,” as of the writing of this review.)
- Thank you, God! Action, anticipation, a cast of realistic (relatively compared to many other stories here) characters and I could keep reading without feeling oddly thrown into an entirely different multiverse!
- I loved the choice of words, practically everywhere. Why? It was relatable. I will say there were a bunch of places where commas were missing or spaces between certain letters/numbers/symbols where there shouldn’t have been. But I don’t care that much.
- I didn’t need to pretend or take so much effort to transform myself mentally to follow the voice of this story. I was being told a story by someone who mostly already spoke my language.
- So many parts of this story (in my opinion) were told as if you’re being told a mystery. And I loved it. I don’t know which works influenced the author but I’m willing to bet that (at least) some may be the same as mine.
- This work didn’t need to rely heavily on magic or powers or skill points or entirely on fictional creatures to have a powerful appeal.
- A few missing commas when quotes were/dialogue was presented. I wasn’t too bothered personally, but there’s that.
- I LOVED THE DIALOGUE YESSSSSSSSS PLEASE may all stories online have that same style!!! (This is subjective, of course. Or I assume it is.)
- Some character’s attitudes/personalities/unique little nuances were shown very well simply by their manner of speaking, and/or actions, and for those characters that was enough for me to feel like they absolutely had an entire set of character traits. Other times,
Conrad StokesRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
Warning: This review is written as part of a comment/review swap with the author. I have read over 12,000 words.
Story / Characters: At over 12,000 words, I have not reached a point in the story that “hooked” me in. At chapter 14 it feels like there has been more flashbacks about a single event (people getting a phone call) then there has been progression in the main story. This has been further compounded by the cast of eight in the party that we have been introduced to. Each person is unique and has something to differentiate them from the others, but the cast is so large that it can be overwhelming and drags down the momentum of the plot as it tries to move forward and accommodate the flashbacks/perspectives of so many people at once. Furthermore, some of the characters are grating, one specifically really likes to argue with people, and it seems like the squeaky wheel gets the grease as others react to that one more often then they independently interact with the story.
Style: In a forum post the author describes it as “Buffy/Resident Evil”, and that is certainly an interesting style. I can see the buildup to this style, the cast, the supporting characters, and in general tropish fun. Yet again, by 12,000 words I did not read much of a payoff in action and fighting as would be expected of this style, so I can not tell you if the fight scenes are appropriately styled or well written.
Grammar: Grammar is fine, no complaints in this department!
Overall, I see what the author is going for and there is a promising style, but the pacing drags it back.