The Unexpected Storm

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

In this urban fantasy reimagining of the Japanese children's storybook series "Arashi No Yoru Ni", there's a world where angels and demons secretly exist among man to enact either good or evil on them on behalf of the lord or the devil. On one particular stormy night, one particular angel and one particular demon inadvertently cross paths together, which is to bring an entirely different kind of storm to their lives as they find themselves growing closer to each other...

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2023
Author: BeomJunKoo

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.7/ 5.0
Followers: 18
Views: 8,424

Chapters(13 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

sojsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
To see a famous preexisting story reborn with such imaginative concepts (from pastoral fairy tale to action fantasy) was like a real treat. Not to mention all the character drama/development that wasn't in the source material gave it some unique flavor of its own rather than just a retread of the same story in a different setting. Great read!
Aloof WritesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story does a good job of building this modern setting mixed with some mythology for good measure. Always enjoy the concept of the forces of good and evil existing in some sort of balanced, natural or otherwise.
Kai and Mion are interesting characters, the classic opposite attract set up here mixed with the world building itself rather nicely. It's a fun dynamic with Mion manipulating and lying (or really trying to) just for Kai's authentic empathy to break through to him. Their connection feels authentic, the two of them relating in ways one wouldn't expect and making it believable they would grow close.
There is also a subtle tension I notice building in the background here, hints that things may not go as smoothly as they may appear. Enjoying my read so far, and looking forward to reading more!
BayardADRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
To be honest, writing short stories on RR is a rare thing—short stories are even harder to come by than long novels. At the very least, it shows the author’s genuine effort to craft a quality work.
This story focuses more on the inner world and emotions rather than mysticism or adventure. It avoids lengthy lore dumps, keeping the narrative fresh without overwhelming the reader. The tone is bittersweet, concluding with a blend of hope and loss, much like the opening montage of Up. If there’s a nitpick, the occasional info dumps can feel like Gandalf’s overly long monologues, but they pave the way for the emotional climax.
Kai is the highlight of the story, a “kind and excellent angel” who evolves from an insecure novice (akin to Harry Potter’s early awkwardness) into a hero. His internal struggle between duty and friendship is relatable, making him the emotional anchor. His bromance with Mion is the soul of the story, though some characters could be more nuanced.
Overall, the characters drive the narrative beautifully, with struggles that feel authentic and compelling.
At its core, the story is a meditation on prejudice and change—angels and demons aren’t simply good or evil, and friendship can blur those lines. Redemption, growth, and responsibility are the subtle themes woven throughout.
The writing is clean and fluid, like a well-edited script. Dialogue naturally propels the story, and action scenes are brisk without dragging. While internal monologues can be slightly long-winded, the prose remains immersive and atmospheric.
This isn’t a flashy LitRPG or power fantasy; it’s a heartfelt bromance set in a hidden world.
In summary, this is a simple, sweet, and emotional story, perfect for readers who enjoy heartwarming tales.
Lyssa MedanaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
BeomJunKoo writes in the introduction that this is a retelling of a Japanese tale in an urban fantasy setting. I'm unfamiliar with the story, so I came fresh to this amazing story.
I love stories with a strong tug between good and evil that also acknowledge that sometimes people have both in them. This story shows two fallible beings who try to do their best and discover so much about themselves on the journey. Urban fantasy is often reliant on action to move the story forward but BeomJunKoo gives us a thoughtful, introspective narrative that is wonderfully engaging. As the two main characters work through the complications and demands of their lives (I'm trying to avoid spoilers as the journey is fantastic). When an angel and a demon meet and start an unlikely connection, there is always going to be tension. I love the exploration of the differences and similarities between them and the implications for those around them.
Style - BeomJunKoo has a great clarity about their writing. It has a natural rhythm, and their description and dialogue flow naturally. It's the sort of writing where that doesn't get in the way but gracefully shows the plot and characters. My favourite quote from the story is, 'Kai's mind went blanker than a fresh sheet of paper.' All writers know exactly how blank that is, and how wonderfully that conveys the absence of thought.
Story - This was handled with delicate care. BeomJunKoo expertly shows the background rather than tells you about it. Even though I'm unfamiliar with the story and background, I easily picked up the type of creatures in the story, their weapons, the tech level and their abilities without it ever being explicity written out. It was seamlessly placed within the story right from the start and made it easy to read.
Grammar - I'm notoriously picky. I could possibly quibble about some commas and line breaks, but really it was spot on. Nowhere did I find myself stopping and questionning the text because of an issue with grammar
Makoto NagaiRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Quite the read indeed. Very compact in terms of writing but really emersed you in its storytelling and world-building. Character interactions and dialogue flow smoothly together giving it a surreal atmosphere to the different sides of the spectrum, angels and demons.
The style of the story is written like a book and not your usual cheap web novel style. The writing is solid and well-crafted giving it a sort of professional feel. I have to say it was very good, though try not to info dump as much.
The story is very unique with a concept you don't often run into anymore, angels vs demons in a non-fantastical setting. The questions of how the world and hierarchy work and have evolved throughout the history of the story were a driving force in my enjoyment. Great ideas so far.
Honestly, I could not find anything wrong grammar-wise. Spot on from what I could tell.
Characters are well built though at the beginning there was a lot of explaining of relationships which I sort of wished we could have rather seen than explained. Makoto was probably my favourite character, not biased at all. As time went on the characters really grew on me and their intentions and motivations slowly but surely unravelled adding to their character.
All in all great work. Well crafted story with a very cool atmosphere. Highly recommend this book.
UgarrsvenothRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style: the style was nice and clean. Everything flowed easily and naturally. I didn't have to break my flow by going back to reread something, which is always nice. The author also did an amazing job at putting in just the right amount of detail without slowing down the pacing.
Story: the story is really enjoyable and I'm liking the wholesome interactions between the two main characters. The world's of angels and demons are well constructed with clear defined traits that really allow me to picture everything that happens. It's great to see how angels and demons have adapted to life on Earth with the humans, and how they aren't completely isolated from society and humanity just because of how old they are.
Grammar: I didn't notice any problems here whatsoever. The grammar was flawless and everything flowed easily.
Character: the main characters both hold similar positions in their respective groups, which allows them to really bond. The characters are well written and I can tell what's motivating them and why they do the things they do. The characters and the way they interact with each other is the real highlight of this story and I just love it.
I can't wait to read more.
gliglithRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Prefacing this by saying that I’m unfamiliar with the source material. That said, I did not feel it was necessary in order to enjoy this reimagining. It is a high-concept, well written (and edited!) piece with clear characterization and stakes. Well done action scenes and good touches of humor. Give it a read!
5FivesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I loved this! It is one of the sweetest (and bittersweet) stories I've read here on RR so far. Story-wise, it's very simple so might not be for everyone, but it really touched me! Character-wise, I loved Mion and Kai -- especially Kai!
The story follows Mion, a demand who is abused by his family. In the beginning, Mion tries to harm Kai because he is a demon and wants to prove his place. However, this story is a rare story about a sweet friendship. Of course, because Mion is a demon and Kai an angel, there is going to be misunderstandings and conflict.
Especially when the demon family and the angels find out about their friendship.
I think this is one of the sweetest stories I've read -- I really appreciated it!
Style and grammar-wise: The only thing I would say is that I preferred the quotes to be italicized rather than quoted. However, the grammar is very polished and easy to follow. I'd give it an A.
Character-wise: I liked Kai better than Mion, but you can see the struggles in both. The story is very character-driven with both demon and angel just wanting to be friends.
This isn't a LitRPG or other meta category, but it is a sweet and emotional story with a lot of soul.
I greatly appreciated it.
Edge ValmondRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Story:
It follows angels vs demons, a conflict between the two. They would take over human hosts to combat the conflict. In short, there are rules to follow for the angels, which is not making themselves known. And when they are done, they erase their presence there. This story has a steady progress, and steadily unravels as it goes along, with an Easter Egg I will say. And to another note, they take injuries because of their hosts from what I can tell.
Style:
I do not grade style, since I gotta give something about it. It is in third person, and more intense really. Easy to read and understand.
Grammar:
Didn't find issues with it. This means it is good enough.
Characters:
The way the characters work are quite well. From the start, you get an idea that it just isn't all good. And while some have concern, others might not care. Though more noted, is the growing relationship between the main and another.
Overall:
This is a great story, and it really does well to grip the attention. From the story, down to the characters themselves. Hell, as mentioned there is an Easter Egg as well, and I ain't gonna spoil. So anyway, head on into this story. It ain't a long one, so you can likely finish it in one or two sittings.
Christopher.ScherrerRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
When I was reading this story I got the feeling that this could have been a manga/manhwa, or an anime at one point. Come to find out that this is a reimagining of Arashi no Yoru ni.
The story starts off with a slow burn as the main characters Mion and Kai develop their friendship from their initial meeting hiding from a storm. It really takes off around chapter 6 and we get into the meat of their conflict which is analogous to a "Fox and the Hound" type scenario.
Both Mion and Kai are actually from two warring factions, except in this case instead of fighting over perceived slights or basic fantastic racism, it is over the eternal fates of human souls.
I liked that aspect of the story, and enjoy it when authors take their premise seriously. Instead of hand waving away the difference between demons and angels and taking the easy way out, the author raises the stakes by creating a scenario where both sides are likely to be at odds forever due to their place in the cosmic order.
There's no real way around the conflict on a macro scale, which makes it interesting for the two main characters and how they can maintain their friendship which is at odds with the goals on both sides of this war.
When angels and demons fight entire cities get leveled leaving these apocalyptic ruins in their wake where they stealthily hunt each other.
It is an evocative image.
I know that this one is done but I hope the author continues writing other fictions.
It was an interesting read for sure!