The Cast Die

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Participating in the writhaton.

In a world where magic, fantastical creatures, and gods exist, Vacuus Venti is one of the few unblessed. Stuck in what feels like a dystopian nightmare, he spends his time stealing from those who rule over him. But one day he steals something far more valuable than he'd ever imagined, and ends up setting off a chain of events that changes the world.

Note: It's tagged as steampunk, but it's less evident than you'd imagine. It's more in the technology than it is the the general setting.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: PyritePirate

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.0/ 5.0
Followers: 37
Views: 12,807

Chapters(39 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

Apollo149Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Vacuus Venti is one of the few people without the blessings in a world full with magic, deities, and magical animals. He spends his time stealing from those in power, trapped in what seems like a dystopian nightmare. However, he finds himself starting a series of events that alter the universe after stealing something much more precious than he could have ever dreamed.
Cast Die is a captivating blend of ancient Greek and Roman mythology, advanced steampunk technology, and magical fantasy. The world-building is particularly impressive, with floating islands, airships, and a rich tapestry of mythological creatures.
The story is fast-paced, yet maintains a logical progression of events. The protagonist's journey is engaging, and the world-building is a highlight, hinting at a vast and intricate universe. The magic system, though still developing, is intriguing, with the potential to become a complex and fascinating aspect of the story.
While the blending of historical, technological, and magical elements is ambitious, there are moments where the disparate elements feel a bit disjointed. A more seamless integration of these elements could elevate the world-building to even greater heights.
Despite this, Cast Die is a promising start to a series. With further development, this world has the potential to become a truly epic and unforgettable setting.
CoJoGoRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style:
The balance between action, character conversation, and exposition is really wonderful in The Cast Die. There are some instances where it feels like a 'bumpy road' instead of a 'smooth ride' for transitions between one scene to another, which is the only reason for the 4.5* rating. If those changes can be smoothed out a bit, it would be a 5* all-around.
Story:
I'm pretty invested here. The pacing is great, the chapters skip over a lot of what might be seen as filler, and the struggle we're introduced to is one that I'm going to want to keep reading to get more information on it. The 'villains' we're introduced to thus far also have understandable motivations that make the conflict feel more realistic. The nature of the powers is also interesting to me, and I'm looking forward to seeing how things are fleshed out further.
Grammar:
The story is really solid grammatically, and the end-note definitions were a welcome inclusion.
Characters:
The characters feel well-written, with their own motivations, secrets, and desires. You do have to wait a bit to get to the meat of reason behind some of their decisions, but it's been worth it so far. I give characters a 5* rating on the assumption that the same kind of development will continue as the story progresses. The MC is a bit standard, but not in any detrimental way.
Overall, a really solid story with a ton of promise.
ammonoidsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
The Cast Die is a story of rebellion set in a retro-futuristic world. There's a sense of depth to the world, an intriguing magic system, and roman mythology is incorporated to give it an additional mythological flair. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes mythology retellings or coming of age stories. It's a little rough around the edges but clearly told with heart.
Style
The Cast Die has a lot of description, but it's used in places that don't always make sense for the plot. A good example is the first chapter- we spend three paragraphs describing the sky and surroundings in the beginning, but when we see the artifact that the entire plot hinges around (the titular dice), all we're told is that it's glowing. Additionally, very casual language is mixed in with formal description, making the style a little inconsistent.
Story
The story has a good sequence and motivation, especially with the competing gangs and the harsh background of life in the city. While it's not particularly complex, it doesn't need to be. However, the magic system is unclear and at times seems to be contradictory, which is tricky when a lot of the plot hinges on it.
Grammar
The grammar is mostly fine, I saw few errors. This is well-edited and easy to read.
Character
The characters don't always have useful motivation or explanation. Our POV character could use a lot more depth- he has many contradicting motivations, and could be very complex and interesting. However, he mostly comes off as a pouting teenager. I think all of the characters, including side characters, are just missing a little bit of additional depth- hobbies, interests, banter- that gives them the interest that makes me want to keep reading.
KhaleRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
The worldbuilding is easily the best part of this story. You can tell the author did their homework when they were creating the story and truly feels like a Greaco Roman place.
The write has writing skill and better prose than most. Descriptions of the world and the magic system are done well.
The story is still early days but so far its seeming interesting. Its not a unique premise. Conquerors and rebels are a tried and true plot point, after all. The settting, however, makes the world more intruiging. The conflict between science and divinity against the backdrop of an industrialising society is great tp explore.
Grammar is fine. Author knows English well enugh and the writing is fairly clean. Typo's are few and overall, its easy to read.
Character: This is undoubtedly the weakest aspect. characters are somewhat stereotypical, rebel thief, mea bully for no real reason. There's even th whole mysterious guerdian with a mysterious past. so far. There's been attempts at character developmetn, but so fa they seem shallow and inconsistent.
Overall, a good read if you wamt a world with Roman influence that explores what industrialisation can do in a world with actual gods.
PawnsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Style: The author's writing demonstrates competency in diction, sentence structure, and overall quality. However, it lacks distinctiveness and fails to leave a lasting impression. Whether this stems from the character's lack of depth or the unfolding plot, the overall effect is mediocrity.
Story: The narrative suffers from predictability and verbosity, resulting in an unengaging experience. The conventional trope of the 'chosen one' acquiring extraordinary abilities and aiding the masses feels stale amidst today's literary landscape. Anticipated plot twists detract from the story's intrigue, evident in instances like Nero's rescue by Vac and subsequent alliance. Furthermore, the explicit declaration of character growth in Chapter 6 appears contrived, highlighting the absence of genuine development.
Characters: In a setting ripe for exploration and revelation, the protagonist, Vac, falls short of expectations. His archetypal altruism and resolve lack nuance, hindering the potential for a more compelling narrative. Surrounding characters adhere to familiar roles, rendering the storyline formulaic and predictable.
Grammar: The grammatical execution is commendable, with minimal errors detected.
Overall: While the narrative may appeal to audiences seeking familiarity and comfort, it falls short of delivering a truly captivating experience. Addressing the pacing issues and injecting more depth into character development could elevate the story's impact.
Despite its shortcomings, there remains potential for enjoyment, particularly for readers who appreciate delayed revelations and traditional storytelling conventions. Continued refinement and attention to narrative elements are encouraged to enhance future works.
UgarrsvenothRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
The world of this story is very much based on ancient Greece and the Roman empire, with typical advanced steam punk technology and magical fantasy elements like airships and floating islands. It's pretty interesting and I'm curious to see what the wider world is like.
The story itself is pretty good. Fast paced, but in a way that's believable and doesn't feel rushed. It all plays out in a logical series of events.
I don't have much of a connection with the characters, but their not badly written by any means, I just think I need more time for them to grow on me (except for granny, she's great).
Keep up the good work.
SM BennettRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
I love history, so I was excited to see a story which combined Roman mythology with fantasy and steampunk elements. The Cast Die is at its strongest when it leans into these ideas.
The author does well at keeping the style consistent across multiple points of view. Character changes were easy to follow. Chapters flowed well. At times, the paragraphs were packed with information and I had to reread to make sure I didn’t miss anything important.
The story is fast paced. There is plenty of action to keep readers interested. The world building is strongest in the first arc. The initial setting, the floating island, was the highlight of the story for me. I was intrigued by the way people glide about the island, as well as the hideouts of the rebel groups. The setting felt appropriately grim and desperate. There was a clear story progression within the first arc and the motivations of the characters were easy to understand, and to sympathise with. I wanted to know more.
In the second half, the setting shifts and I lost that connection to the story and the characters’ motivations. The new setting was not as well developed as the first, though it contained some interesting events and mythological creatures.
The grammar was fine. A few minor errors that didn’t impact the flow of the story. Overall, the writing was easy to read.
I still haven’t warmed to the MC yet. I find him young and impulsive, but I think seeing him mature is part of his character growth. I am curious to find out more about his past and his connection with the Gods. I would also like more exploration of some of his skills outside of magic, especially his ability to tinker with gadgets.
The supporting characters were well written. I enjoyed Nero’s character the most. His motivations and actions were clear. I was really pleased when we were able to read things from his point of view. Other stand-out characters included the mysterious Swordman and the grandma!
Overall, the Cast Die has some unique and intere
SuitoinRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
While the most definitive part of the book was the character's names and possibly the setting, I can only surmise the piece as "interesting yet not readily appealing.
Style: There's nothing wrong with the author's style of diction, sentence structure, or writing quality, however, there's nothing that stood out either. It could've been the blandness of the character himself or maybe the situation up until I stopped reading, but it was average at best.
Story: This is partly why I think the style was bland. The story itself is unappealing, predictable, and full of prolixity. The 'chosen one gets incredible powers, hones them, and helps the common people,' is played out in today's fast-paced fiction world, and the plot is full of expected twists that were obvious before they started.
Like when Nero got burned and Vac ended up saving him and joining his rebel group, taking responsibility for his actions, etc. It was quite peculiar that the characters themselves pointed out that they "grew from the experience and matured" in Ch. 6 because that's something that should be shown to the readers not told. If we can decipher how they've grown and you have to tell us, there probably wasn't any character progression in the first place. And that pulls us to our next topic.
Character: With a setting and story like this, where everything could be a new adventure or secrets are unfolding - Vac doesn't check the right character boxes. The altruistic, resolute, emerging hero (to which Vac is) is definitive in plots that have a sense of reliability, where he can offer insight into recurring events. This type of story would've been FAR more interesting with someone who's investigative, curious, or naive to social constructs that made them step into situations bigger than themselves.
In the ongoing plot, everyone has to play their roles around Vac, and not satisfy their characteristics or personalities for the sake of storytelling. The bully turned ally; the rebels turned freedom fighters
Mr~oRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
The story has great potential and manages to grab attention with an intriguing plot and well-defined themes. While there are areas that could be refined, the overall result is solid and engaging, providing a strong foundation to build on.
The writing style is immersive and detailed, effortlessly transporting the reader into Vac's world. The descriptions help vividly visualize each scene, especially during action sequences and the setting's atmosphere. Though there are moments where the narrative may feel a bit heavy on details, this meticulous approach showcases the effort to create a complex universe. Simplifying certain parts could help streamline the pacing without losing its essence.
The story presents an interesting premise and develops around a strong, exciting conflict. Vac's struggle against oppression and the mystery of the magical die add a lot of tension to the narrative. While the plot is well-designed, there are moments that could benefit from a clearer structure to ensure all elements unfold smoothly. Still, the potential to expand the story is very much present, leaving readers wanting more.
Grammar and writing are mostly on point, and the text reads clearly and naturally. There are a few minor errors, such as punctuation details or sentence constructions that could be improved. These small adjustments would help the text flow better and enhance the overall quality, but overall, the effort to maintain a solid grammatical level is evident.
The characters are a highlight of the story. Vac is a well-developed protagonist with clear motivations and internal conflicts that make him complex and relatable. His interactions with other characters, such as his grandmother and Nero, add layers of emotion and connection. Although most of the secondary characters fulfill their roles well, some could benefit from more exploration to make them more memorable. Even so, the cast brings dynamism and strengthens the narrative.
I hope this constructive criticism is helpf
KT CorbettRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
I am probably a bit biased in favor of this story because I was a Latin minor in college and love the touches or Latin and Roman mythology spread throughout the story.
The world-building is really my favorite part and given all the reference to mythological stories from our world and references to real world places, I wonder if this isn't something like an alternate history where the gods made their presence known through magic and it reshaped the way society developed. The magic system here is also really interesting, and has the makings of a hard system, though one that appears soft because of the MC's inexperience.
The story of Vac and company and their resistance to the Minerva-followers is a pretty standard plot, but the world-building gives it enough flavor to keep things engaging.
The one real weakness here is the characters. Vac is fairly standard rebel hero type protagonist, a sort of mix between Luke and Han, and while he isn't unlikeable, neither is there much about him that feels fresh. There are also moments where characters go through strange shifts in their personalities and without much regard to pacing. For example, when we meet Nero he treats Vac like a bully out of a cartoon, but the next day he is a noble freedom fighter. Likewise, Vac learns the "with great power comes great responsibility" lesson too quickly and without losing anything commensurate with such a sudden change.
Hopefully, as the author gets more experience with these characters, this will improve. I look forward to seeing it.