The Seam - Part One of ‘Texas Accelerated’

Information

Status

Ongoing

Year

2022

Author

Cashew

• An Update from the Author
  Oct 23, 2022
• Chapter 1 - George, Day 1
  Aug 29, 2022

Reviews

Community Reviews(10)

• chestnutriceeeeRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Perfect! Very immersive right off the bat and continued throughout as the plot is explored and developed on. It was tough to put down to leave a review, honestly, and I'll be diving right back after I'm done.
  Style:
  Seems almost professional with the great quality. The way the plot is structured and revealed alongside the formatting of things makes for a very immersive read. The constant POV switches between each chapter can be a bit jarring for some at first, but it grows on you eventually and shouldn't stop one from reading.
  Grammar:
  10/10
  Story:
  The story of The Seam is very engaging and interesting. It is different from most, yet feels familiar with every turn, creating a perfect balance.
  Character:
  As good as the story is, the thing that truly makes it engaging are the characters, and characters are the strongest point of the tale. I just love how everyone interacts with the sudden amount of changes in their lives and even more so with how they interact with each other. The characters seem like real people instead of cardboard cut-outs, they talk like real people and behave like real people which goes a long way for the story and for the style.
  Overall:
  I adore this. I will continue reading for as long as it goes, and I am sure everyone else would too. It's great and highly recommended.
• SummerRennaRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This story is a blast!
  Style: The writing style is perfectly suited for the story. The prose is clean, descriptive and engaging. The dialogue is witty. The writer does an excellent job between shifting from a grounded atmosphere during certain scenes to an eerie, mysterious atmosphere during scenes that feature the wilderness that has surrounded the town and what dwells within it.
  Story: The story premise is excellent, featuring a small town being inexplicably torn from its own reality and transplanted elsewhere. As of where I am in the story (chapter 13), there's no explanation for how the town and characters have found themselves in this situation, they only know that they are entirely alone and will need to learn to survive without the outside world that they once relied on. The story is well-paced. It is told in multi-POV, which I think is the perfect choice for this story, allowing the reader to see the effects of this situation from several different people within the town, giving the story a wide scope.
  Grammar: I saw no apparent errors in grammar or spelling while reading.
  Characters: All the characters are interesting in their own way. Ben in particular is intriguing, and his backstory is gradually revealed with each of his chapters. George, the sheriff, is a fun character to follow, in that he is trying to fulfill his role as best he can in an insane situation. Madeline, the pilot, is also a highlight for her sense of humor and slightly wild personality.
  Overall: 'The Seam' is a great story featuring a harrowing mystery and survival plot. It's definitely worth reading, and I'm excited to see how the rest of the story unfolds!
• TinyOwlRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This story seems very well-written so far and sets up a fascinating mystery right away. I like the characters we have met, and you can definitely tell they are from Texas! Very interested to see where this goes! I hope we get to see a lot more prehistoric creatures and learn even more backstory on Ben and Abilene.
• UnlikelyroxRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  As soon as I started the book,  I was gripped. Characters are likeable, and I really like the different point of views. I also really like the knowing when in the day things are happening, although precise times arent needed, "afternoon", "evening", "dawn". The writing is well done so far, and I'm left wondering what else the characters will encounter in this mysterious new world. I'm hoping to see more of what this new world looks like. Descriptions of the landscape and more animal sightings would be great. Wondering if there will be a lot of problems with the new world itself (giant bugs? hostile land?)or if the story will focus exclusively on the conflicts between the characters. With a new start will the extinct animals stand a chance or will humanity repeat its mistakes ?? Overall loving the feel of this book and looking forward to finding out more about the journey of the new characters. Really want to know what happened to the rest of the world. And what happened to them. Wonder if there will be like a preview of the current world wondering what happened to Waxahachie. In the story,  the buildings and everything are with the characters. Is there a gaping hole in the real world or is there a forest? Or maybe nothing at all has changed in the real world because they're on another timeline? Too many theories,  need answers by way of more chapters !read This!
• Wandering Brain SpasmRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Everytime I thought I'd finally figured out what was going on, I was wrong. (And I loved it!)
  Several paragraphs in, and I knew I would be clearing my evening to do some serious reading. The Seam has a clear, strong voice that is established from page one and remains consitent throughout. The unique rythm and language sets the stage for a captivating storyline.
  First and foremost, the story feels grounded. There's enough background and detail provided that I'm free to sit back and just go whever the author's imagination takes me. It's an exciting premise and I can feel the stakes building with each chapter as the characters slowly come to grasp with the grim reality of their situation.
  The grammar, sentence structure, expansive vocabulary, all of it are at the level of a professional. A lot of hard work went into polishing these chapters and it shows.
  There are several (at least two, possibly a third) main characters. George is the no-nonsense, several years past his prime Sheriff who steps up to protect his town and its people during an unimaginable crisis. While George is the epitome of the standard 'old man law enforcement type' he feels like a real person and, most importantly, he shows common sense in the face of danger! This man does not go rushing into unknown, hostile sitations with guns ablazing and absolutely no backup.
  The second character, Ben, is still coming into his own. I like that we get glimpses of Ben's history trickled in from chapter to chapter, but it wasn't until chapter eight that I felt his voice start to come through. His friend, Abilene, has been the driving force behind most of his scenes and helps push Ben's character into action. I'm not invested in Ben yet, but he has potential.
  Finally, we have Madeline. Who, in the single chapter I've read so far, has already stolen the show. A potentially alcholic pilot with an attitude, what's not to love? The rest of the cast all have their own unique voices and keep the story believable.
  Give it
• MichucatRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I like this style of writing.  It flows pretty well between different scenes. Takes a bit to get the characters straight since it goes back and forth between them from chapter to chapter. Once you get to know the people though it's easy to keep up.
  The story is a mix of science fiction and reality. Always interesting to see how a writer ties it all together. The story has me wondering how this all happened and what's going to be the next revelation. I like the fact that it is based in a real place as well. Makes it feel more personal to the reader. Who hasn't driven on I-35?
  The Characters are interesting and you can already see personality development to invest you in the main ones so far. There are several who stand out and it will be interesting to see where the story line takes them. Will Ben and Abilene develop a relationship?  Is George going to be able to maintain control of a panicked town?
  The story is intriguing and I want to see where it goes and what happens next! What happened to the people outside the seam? What else is alive in the forest? Waiting to find out!
• Mr.MagicMarleyMarRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I love the way the writer draws in my attention. In the first chapter, the characters are describing the earth in such a way that my imagination knew exactly how it felt and even smelled. The ability he has to paint these scenes and landscapes in my mind are effortless making the read that much more satisfying. I'm hooked, can't wait to read more!
• Peter I. (Ash & Ivy)Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  [Overall score]
  The Seam is an intriguing story with a great mystery at its core. The writing is visually immersive and believable. Simply put, the story is great thus far.
  With the arrival of the seam, some characters are walking on thin ice. There is bound to be a major struggle for survival that will keep the action going.
  If the book finishes as strongly as it started, it would be an excellent source for a live action movie.
  So, if you're looking for a good mystery, check out this story!
  [Style]
  Each chapter is told from single character POV. The multiple third person POVs flow seamlessly. Here is a great quote from the story that brings live to a character:
  "He had left a Matchbox car next to the gravestone, as Daniel had always preferred them over Hot Wheels, promised to visit again someday."
  [Grammar]
  The grammar and vocabulary are solid.
  [Character Score]
  There are multiple characters in this story, and more are being added with every chapter. George the sheriff, is one of my favorite characters thus far. He’s grounded, methodical, willing to compromise for the greater good, and well-liked by the community. With diminishing supplies and the rise of different factions, it would be exciting to see how he manages the situation.
  Even the standalone chapter for Madeline (supporting character), a pilot school instructor, was well written.
  (The review is based on the first 24 chapters.)
• Sam K. LeeRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  The Seam is a story about a group of people from a present town that's encircled by a forest containing creatures from the distant past.
  Every chapter is well-constructed and it's obvious that a lot of time and care has been put into this novel. The novel both provides gratification with action and combat against the predators while also there's also the slow burn of watching a society gradually fall apart because of the extreme circumstances they're placed in. Both of these elements make me keep wanting to turn the pages.
  The only caveat I have is that I feel the cursing and swears don't always sound natural to my ears, but this could easily be from my perspective as someone whose experience with swearing comes mostly from college dormitories and not from small-town Texas. Otherwise, I enjoy the dynamics between the characters and the relationship (or friendship?) drama between Abilene and Ben in particular.
  Some writers on Royal Road have a great deal of trouble with consistency; this author isn't one of them. The grammar, pacing, and style are all at the same level each chapter and this is an author I can trust to deliver regularly. I've even head that his backlog is so large that the novel is already complete! That's dedication.
  For lovers of fantasy, the multiple viewpoints in this story also provides an epic feel. If you like stories like Stephen King's The Mist this will be a great match for you.
• Sketch SanchezRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I'm not half way I don't think but I wanted to leave a rating for so far because it's been that good.
  The story starts off immediately with a mystery and all the characters motivations in the midst of this situation read as real and completely immersed me.
  George is the first character we meet and he has a strong voice. I want to see him succeed , I know he has the best interests of everyone at heart. One thing I appreciate from the author is that I could hear all the minute changes in cadance amongst all the characters. Everyone has their own unique personality and manner, they all felt so alive.
  I love the authors style and prose and how he peppers interesting Backstory and other hooks aside from the main mystery. I'm particularly keen to know more about Ben.
  This is a great story that is building at a great pace and Im so invested in the main mystery that I can't wait to see how this all resolves. The author has me asking in wonder "how" or "why" alongside the characters; I have my theories as well and I look forward to seeing how the author wraps this up.