TH;{4NAT.05} [sci-fi, murder mystery, thriller, drama, tragedy]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

The Elysium. A private, completely self-maintained cruise floating in space, welcoming specific people with its invites.

Shiria, a simple but nice girl, woke up aboard the Elyisum with no memories. Her invite untraceable despite her presence.

Ten other passengers, everyone with their own ideas, vocations and struggles. Some are kind, some are jerks, some are plainly mysterious.

Among the Elysium's great source of entertainment and respite, "death"looms above.

What is "death"? Who is Shiria?

Information

Status
Completed
Year
2024

Royal Road Stats

Rating
4.3/ 5.0
Followers
11
Views
7,394

Chapters(24 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(8)

  • AuthorSeanHallRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    This story isn't usually the kind of thing I go for, but I have to admit, it grabbed my attention as Angelica starts building up the characters and setting. It’s definitely a murder mystery at heart, using some of the usual tropes you’d expect from the genre, but it still manages to keep things interesting and fun. I found myself trying to guess what would happen next!
    I’ve made it through the first ten chapters (since that’s all that’s out right now), and I’m already eager to read more. The story has some interesting shifts in point of view, which I think adds a nice layer to the plot. We start off with Shiria, who has amnesia, and then switch to Kaeron, who’s trying to piece together who the murderer is. The changes in perspective keep things fresh and make the mystery feel more complex.
    Now, let’s address the weird name: TH;{4NAT.05}. Honestly, it’s almost impossible to say! If this ever becomes an audiobook, I feel bad for whoever has to read that aloud, but luckily it only pops up when the title is mentioned. There were a few small grammar and spelling mistakes, but nothing major that would ruin the story.
    All in all, I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to murder mystery fans. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
  • DosilliRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    The start of the novel draws you in immediately. With the way Shiria is introduced in a somewhat dazed state and her early interactions with the wrist band/ Ai Captain of the ship. Even that initial interaction with Kaeron adds to the immersion and forces you to keep reading to see what happens next. What’s interesting though, is the fact that even though Shiria lost her memories she strangely acts in a way that seems to fit her appearance in the art given by the Author.
    I love how each character on the ship was introduced and they all feel very different and unique in their own way. The vocations that each of them possesses, shaping their personality and role in society accordingly, especially Noir!
    Her dedication to her god was quite alarming to the other passengers and one could only hope to understand the reasons behind her actions…
    All in all, this is a great mystery story and has a lot of potential to throw readers off their game and keep them on their toes. From the very first paragraph to the current latest chapter, you will be on the edge of your seat as you try to predict what happens next.
    It’s almost as if Among Us got an extreme anime-like novel adaptation. The author has done a great job here.!
    Oh and the art is spectacular!
  • beadmanRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    To start with some more general stuff, one thing this story does is include character portraits within the story itself. Which goes a decent way towards understanding who we are supposed to be looking at, especially for people who have trouble remembering those kinds of details. (Which I totally am one of). It also starts with an abstract intro, which is something I like.
    The story is a unique spin on the kind of dinner murder mystery type stories you often see, taking that type of idea but placing it in a somewhat surrealist sci-fi space station setting. It also has some slice of life elements in that you spend some time getting acquainted with the setting and doing various day to day things while introducing the characters. And that continues on until a few chapters in when the murder mystery starts.
    The interesting thing about the setting is that the mystery isn't just in the murder mystery itself. The setting itself comes off fairly mysterious in that it introduces snippets of a world that we don't know much about. The world contains witchcraft and other forms of mysticism in a sci-fi setting, and the various characters allude to different aspects of this that may be explored more over time. The characters also don't know eachother, or know everything about the places eachother came from, so you learn about them as they learn about eachother.
  • xDemonOfTheFallRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    TH;{4NAT.05} is a work that promises to redefine the rules of the "murder mystery" genre.
    The author chooses to implement vivid characters, each with their own nuances... so well-developed that you could tell who's speaking even without looking at the name (think of Lilin or Azrael, with their mysterious and cryptic demeanor), or the nihilistic Kaeron (silent and ever watchful).
    The spaceship setting enhances the sense of suffocation experienced by the passengers as they are killed one by one: it’s not a classic manor they could escape from, but a spaceship... outside, only death awaits.
    Moreover, despite the story not being among the longest, the writer managed to create and add lore (with deities and vocations) to an already immersive setting: a detail I truly appreciated.
    Finally, the story is compelling. The culprit uses every trick at their disposal, making it anything but easy for readers to figure out who they are.
    In short, if you are a fan of the genre, TH;{4NAT.05} is a work that must be part of your collection... it won't disappoint you.
  • GanuRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 4.5
    I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started reading, but TH;{4NAT.05} surprised me in all the right ways. It’s a murder mystery at its core, but the unique sci-fi setting and engaging characters really set it apart. The plot kicks off on a space station, where we follow Shiria, an amnesiac, and Kaeron, a fierce protector trying to piece together the murder. What I loved most were the perspective shifts, giving us a deeper look into the mystery and making it feel even more complex.
    While the title is a bit of a tongue twister and could be a nightmare for an audiobook narrator, it doesn’t pop up too much. The real stars here are the characters—each one distinct, with their own quirks shaped by their connections to different gods. Shiria and Kaeron stood out, with their dynamic relationship drawing me in from the start.
    As a fan of classic whodunnit stories, Sherlock Holmes, Detective Conan, and Kindaichi immediately come to mind. This story evokes that same thrilling sense of mystery and deduction, where each clue unravels more intrigue, making you feel like a detective yourself. It has that compelling suspense where you're constantly trying to piece together the puzzle.
    The ESL nature of the writing does lead to some awkward phrasing, and dialogue could benefit from clearer spacing. However, these minor issues don’t detract much from the enjoyment. The included character portraits are a nice touch and help bring the cast to life. All in all, I’d recommend it to mystery lovers looking for something a little different!
  • FrozenEntropyRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 4.5
    Let me begin by saying this is a part of a review swap, full disclosure. Let me also say that I adore the first ten chapters of this series (Which are the only chapters out at the time of this review) and I fully plan on continuing the series as it updates further.
    Style and Grammar;
    I feel it's convenient to combine these two, as will I be combining story and character. It's worth noting that English isn't the authors first language, which can make itself apparent in some awkward sentence structure or dialogue. There are also portions of dialogue where there isn't enough spacing between different character's speaking, and it can make it hard to track.
    I wouldn't call it too distracting though, and for the most part it's an easy read. I didn't notice any spelling errors and the drawings of character's as they're introduced and interacting (Something I will absolutely give style points for) are well done and pleasant to look at. I am so into the art and it added to my immersion that much more. There isn't any overly complex prose, the writing is straight and to the point, a level of cleanliness I'm sure many readers can appreciate.
    Story and Character;
    I am in love with these characters. Each one of them have their own unique flair and distinct character voice. This is easily the highlight of the novel so far for me, which is impressive because I consider it strong all around.
    Shiria and Kaeron are favorites which is awesome considering they seem to be the two leads. Shiria is a kind and trusting girl who's inexplicably lost her memories and is trying to understand who she is and why she's on this space cruise. Kaeron is a fierce protector who isn't afraid to speak her mind and stand up against immorality. At the same time it's apparent she has a soft side, one Shiria is able to draw out from time to time.
    The other cast of characters are diverse in design and personality, all accompanied by awesome drawings of them. Many of their quirks and worldviews are shaped by
  • C.S. CharlesRoyal Road
    ★★★★ 4.0
    Thanatos is an intriguing murder mystery on a futuristic, unmanned space cruise with ten women with various abilities and personalities. Though it has a slow start with a blank slate narrator, the story kicks up after the initial introduction and becomes thrilling and suspenseful. It has a cinematic feel with movie script style writing and frequent images that will please lovers of murder mysteries and fast-paced, no frills writing.
    Style 4/5
    Thanatos adopts a minimalist, almost cinematic writing style that favors surface-level descriptions and dialogue-driven interactions over deeper introspection. The story reads quickly, akin to a movie script, which could appeal to fans of fast-paced, plot-centric narratives. However, for readers who enjoy rich inner monologues or detailed world-building, the minimalism might feel lacking. Despite this, the author does a great job of establishing a futuristic setting aboard a space cruise ship run by an AI without any staff. Personally, I find this type of setting for a murder mystery cooler than something like an island or being trapped in a house during a storm. The cryptic opening further adds to the intrigue, skillfully setting the stage for a suspenseful narrative. Something unique that this story does is include images embedded into the chapter with snapshots of scenes and characters. This extra attention and love that the author puts into these elevates the style significantly. For those who do enjoy fast-paced movie script style writing, and are along for the enjoyable murder mystery ride, I don’t think there will be any complaints with style. For those with more literary tastes and wanting character exploration, this style won’t be to your taste.
    Story 4.5/5
    The murder mystery at the heart of Thanatos unfolds gradually, with information revealed in small doses, keeping the reader hooked. The futuristic setting is unique, but the story takes a while to fully dive into its mystery elements. Once it does, the pace quickens
  • cosmax3Royal Road
    ★★★★ 4.0
    Grammar and Style: Overall, the author's writing is simple and doesn't try to overload sentences and dialogues with too many descriptions or definitions, which is a good thing. However, it would be a little better if there were more activity in the way the characters speak and act, making them sound and feel a bit more alive. Sometimes, the text is too dense, which can make it hard for the reader to concentrate or easily get lost in the dialogues, not knowing what's happening in the scene or who is speaking. (This is just a small tip—it's fine if you don't want to use it—but I recommend using bold text in the dialogues so that it's more visible and easier to tell when someone is speaking.)
    Characters: The characters have their defined roles from the moment they are introduced, showing their personality lightly, which makes it easier to get familiar with them. Since this is a new story with few chapters, it's obvious that the protagonist still has time to develop or undergo some notable changes. But so far in the story, the protagonist doesn't seem very complex yet and has a lot of character. (Another tip: I recommend dedicating an entire chapter to showing each of the characters with images. This way, readers can clearly know who is part of the plot. Sometimes, while reading, I get confused and can't distinguish who's who, so dedicating a chapter to show each character with personal data could help form a better mental picture, improving the reading experience for new readers.)
    Story: Stories set in large spaceships have always been one of my favorites, like in the Dead Space saga or the movie Event Horizon. So, this story has captured my attention, and I’ve really enjoyed it. In general, we're shown a universe with its own laws and cosmology, teaching us about different gods and the supernatural that exists everywhere. This makes you more intrigued with each chapter about what will happen next. I appreciate the imagination with which you handle each system that mak