The Illusion of Freedom

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Worlds collide when three scientists, Baldovo, Colto, and Volente, encounter a native of the fabled land of Siperon while out at sea. Their agenda is to find a way to the secluded land before anyone else, and the displaced Trosyn "Red" Nytt needs to ensure security for her future. They have until the SS Serendipity returns to port to get their answers, but Trosyn's condition is that they hear her story of how she went from a slave to being set adrift in the ocean.

What you can expect:

* Mix of frame story, and third person omniscient.* Lore vaguely inspired by Celtic mythology* Mature themes without the crutch of gratuitous sex and graphic violence

UPDATE

I have removed Volume II which contained an unfinished sequel and am marking this as complete. It is undergoing revision, but I will not be posting the most up-to-date versions n Royal Road. They will become available on Novelizing and my Substack.

Novelizing Version

Substack

~ Cover contains Ai generated art.

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2024
Author: RandomSyllables

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.8/ 5.0
Followers: 11
Views: 4,943

Chapters(15 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(2)

Celladora_StRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Trosyn has never been free, though her life has taken her from gilded cages to quite literal ones. In this frame story, we follow two parallel narratives - one of her being rescued at sea on a ship possibly taking her to freedom (for the first time in her life), and the other is Trosyn recalling her life and the events that led to her rescue to three scientists on the ship. The scientists make for a compelling trio as they listen to her story, each with their own personalities and investment in Trosyn’s journey. But the best part for me was Trosyn’s own narration of her life. It wasn’t always linear, but the way the author jumps between different periods and events - and between the frame and the story - is very compelling and fluid. The writing is smooth and clear, and the prose has an almost wistful, understated quality to it that fits the themes of the story very well.
The world Trosyn occupies is not really our Earth, though it resembles it in most ways. There is a strong element of magical realism, where spirits and magic are almost a part of everyday life, even though the scientists themselves (who are from another part of this “world”) remain skeptical. But the fictional world that Trosyn occupies is very intriguing, with its own history and lore that is never dumped on the reader but slowly revealed through Trosyn's tales. And the core of the story is her complicated relationship with his father-figure/mentor/consort Benold. Benold is one of those rare characters who is all shades of grey, never once black or white. All the good he does is underlined with dubious or selfish motives, and all the bad he does is spurred from "good" (at least in his eyes) intentions. Yet I couldn’t help but to root for him, despite his obvious failings - he was just so deeply, thoroughly human.
All in all, I enjoyed this story very much. It ends in a way that leaves plenty of room for Trosyn’s story to continue, and I am eager to return to this world and revisit these characters
Kaleb ZaleRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
This story had a very wistful and charismatic presentation. It was sad, yet hopeful. It was evil but full of goodness. Trosyn starts off as quite the unknown factor being the main character and it took me a few chapters to figure things out and what she stood for. I think this is a great way of building the person we are to follow, to scrutinise her is to understand her.
The style is deliberate and paced in a way that has Trosyn tease out her tale and often it hits the right notes. When I finished a chapter I wanted, much like the scientists listening to her story, to know what happens next. I also had questions of my own which I was eager and pleased that the scientists pushed for.
Interestingly and I think this is a strength, Trosyn doesn't give us everything, questions go unanswered, this is effective. The author has picked the most intriguing details and sprinkled them liberally with the slice of life engagements of the ship she had boarded.
I particularly enjoyed how simultaneous story lines were occurring on the ship and with Trosyns tale, this added the comfort of her history unfolding with the pressing tension of the ships various plagues. (Perhaps women are bad luck on a ship!)
The magical side is sparse but effective, it nods to it but doesn't give it a weight that would allow the modern man to prove it, this leaves Trosyns story open to particular scrutiny. The scientists, at least one, could have perhaps shown some sort scepticism at the claims she made.
At the back of my mind prickled the thought that Trosyn was a liar, and that her tale was far too tall for the meek and mild woman she presented. She was offered advances and flirted with each but never quite took them on. It's clear she can get what she wants from people and achieves it at the end with offerings of support. I honestly love this, the doubt mixed with the desire to see her win is what makes a great character story.
As my review title says - I want more. I think there are untied threads wh