The Wysteria Files - A Pokemon Horror Epistolary

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

In the road connecting Vermillion and Fuchsia there's a small, abandoned town called Wysteria, from where multiple rumors and urban legends have emerged. My alias is Tulip Glasslip, and this online journal is my attempt to document these strange occurrences, years after the town's mysterious disappearance.

Welcome to the Wysteria Files; I hope you enjoy your read.

This story takes place in the same universe as Child of Thorns.

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2024
Author: Inyssa

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 5.0/ 5.0
Followers: 39
Views: 16,291

Chapters(18 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(8)

AdvocateOfDoorsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I could not give this any less than a five star review. Incredible writing.
Inyssa is doing something really special and fresh here, and it is so worth checking out.
Firstly, a note on the amazing writing style.
The epistolary format, conversational tone of a story communicated through interview, and the gradual reveal of Tulip's character behind the pen, is so effective for this story. It makes each entry feel vital, building up our understanding of the mystery, and the key players within. The foreboding tone, threatening context, and unanswered questions make it very hard to stop reading, which is the mark of a fantastic story.
Each entry makes up part of that overarching mystery, and it is so well woven together. We swiftly learn that normal people are/were suffering at the hands of Pokemon, and a mysterious group of people seeking to warp and use them for awful deeds. That simple premise is gripping. The real grounding of each narration in the life of an ordinary person just trying to get on with their days, before being horrifically interrupted by their contact with the conspiracy, makes every entry very relatable, and hard hitting.
The story doesn't shy away from from darkness, but makes the reader feel like an investigator alongside Tulip, delving into the shadowy mystery with only a weak light to guide them. I feel really nervous for Tulip, and afraid for them each time I start an entry, because I'm sure they are being watched, and I feel watched at the same time. It's just that well written.
What's perhaps most fun, is the Pokemon themselves. We are encouraged to visualise these well known characters and types in brand new ways. They are made sinister and uncanny. The vulnerability of the narrators and the various victims of the secret society is so keenly felt in their helplessness against the strange powers of the Pokemon in play.
This is such professional writing, showing off technical mastery of story, pacing and suspense. I'm so excited to have found s
Eli'sPencilRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I gave this story a 5/5 in every single aspect and it is well deserved. In my opinion, it is the best fanfiction I have read on this website and it isn't even close. If you're tired of the copy and paste litRPG fanfictions, you have come to the right place.
Grammar: Perfect. There are literally no mistakes, it's easy to read, and there are no weird tense changes or anything like that. There isn't much else I can say here.
Style: The style is what really does it for me. Unlike most books on here, this story is told via interviews. Our main character rarely speaks, they are mostly just listening to these interviews while occasionally asking for further context or making a short comment. It's honestly unlike anything I have ever read before and this interview style of storytelling actually makes it very easy for me to get lost inside of the story. In a way, it makes it feel real. It doesn't even feel like a Pokemon story at all outside of the references to the lore that is sprinkled in. Wonderful job!
Story: As I said, the story is told via interviews so it's different than what you would expect. In a way, it's sort of like an anthology series, however, the MC is a constant throughout every chapter. It's too early to tell, but I assume these interviews are connected in some way and will lead to something big by the end of it all. However, even if this isn't the case and these stories aren't connected, they are still masterfully told short stories in their own right. Literally, from what I have read, these interviews could be their own self-sustained stories and could honestly even become books on their own if expanded upon. These short interviews are MILES better than the same old same old litRPG Pokemon stories that you'll find on here. It's very refreshing.
Characters: The characters only get a single chapter dedicated to them, however, they are still incredibly written and interesting. I especially love the woman being interviewed in chapter one. Somehow, with just
J. AdskiyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
First person, interview style.
We follow the narrator's journal in first person present tense as they interview a victim, who recounts their past in first person past tense.
Some moments of the narrators present tense dialogue seems as if it wants to be written in past tense but is forced into present tense, but I think this is a product of it being a journal style entry rather than the narrator's pov.
Overall the style is consistent and I like the direction and potential, maybe with some touch ups.
Each chapter is a fresh account that follows a similar cadence in their delivery. Personally I think this is a good thing.
The main character's motivations are spelled out by the end of the first chapter, thus embarking the reader on a journey to uncover clues along with the author.
I think anyone who is a fan of mystery/thriller type stories should keep an eye for how the plot is going to play out; not particularly in terms of twists as of yet, but more of in terms of intrigue.
Grammar and vocabulary are solid. There are a few instances where some sentences or punctuation seem slightly off, but nothing to lose rating over.
I think this story shines in it's character development. With each chapter we get a peek into the lives of the interviewee. Each of them has their own past that potentially haunts them, and they act in accordance to their traumas.
Overall, this is an excellent read and I think anyone could give it a try to determine if it's their cup of tea.
LazieRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This crab is on a journey to learn the truth about the Pokeman world, and this series of interviews aims to provide the answers. A conspiracy told through interviews is on the menu, and this crab has fork and knife ready to dig in.
The story is told through interviews, conducted by Tulip Glasslip of various people who have experienced the conspiracy that surrounds her. Such questions as "Why are Chanceys in every PMC and not Blisseys," and "Why did this famous reporter mysteriously go missing?" are on the table.
The style may be something that a reader of novels is unused to, but the story is served well by it. It gives the feeling of an interview being conducted with individuals well, and you get a good feeling of the various intervewees through their dialogue.
Tulip has a drive to solve the mysteries, and her live is being effected by the interviews. The deeper she delves into the secrets, the more her paranoia increases and the more steps she takes to keep herself safe. It forms the connecting thread between the different accounts.
Grammar is on point, as they have been on all of Inyssa's works.
Now to finish the trifecta!
LonebotRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style: Love how the different parts of the interview are properly differentiated and identified such that we know who's speaking or moving at a particular time, making the story very easy to follow through to the end. I also like the way the paragraphs are structured, as it is able to keep the reader's interests going for a long while.
Story: As much as I do not know a lot about Pokemon, the stories are written in such a way that anyone can read and understand them. The format of having all these short horror stories that might hopefully converge into an overarching plot is also great.
Grammar: A few mistakes here and there, such as missing capitalisation, a few typos and a few grammatical errors, but nothing too egregious or bad.
Characters: Apart from Tulip the main character who serves more as a narrator, there are no fixed characters due to the story's nature. However, all the characters so far are diverse, unique and interesting on their own, especially with their occasional movements that highlight their different personalities. As for Tulip, I hope she gets her chance to shine in a story of her own because I find her character to be very interesting based on how she affects the other characters.
Overall, I was hooked. As a fan of horror, I have to say the stories were written well, perfectly balancing the tension and the scariness. Even if I do not know much about Pokemon, the stories are still terrifying, and I can't wait to read more!
TheJournalistRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The Wysteria Files plunges you into a captivating tale of fate's intricate dance with choice. With each chapter, new layers of mystery unfold, weaving a web of suspense that keeps you on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating each revelation. The premise is both interesting and insanely difficult to pull off I would imagine, but the author had done a fine job with it so far.
I think the author's storytelling prowess really shines in this unique format. Through a series of journal entries, the narrative unfolds with a raw and an intimate feel, drawing you into the protagonist's world and immersing them in the unfolding petrifying drama!
The prose is polished and refined, with meticulous attention to detail evident throughout. Vivid descriptions, and a good balance between telling and showing. While a few minor errors may be spotted, they do little to detract from the overall readability and enjoyment of the story.
The characters are skillfully crafted, very well fleshed out, each possessing their own distinct personalities and motivations. From the enigmatic protagonist to the supporting cast, every character feels authentic and fully realized, adding depth and complexity to the already intriguing narrative.
Overall, I think it's a really well done Pokemon horror fanfiction, and I enjoyed reading it. Give it a try!
UgarrsvenothRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'm really enjoying this story so far. Each chapter slowly builds on what is going on, while still being self-contained enough that you won't be confused if you come back to it after having not read it for a long time.
I love the perspective it's written in and how the different parts of the interview are distinct enough so that we always know who is speaking.
The stories themselves are also fantastic. The author does a great job at building the horror and tension throughout the chapter.
I also love how they are using pokemon that aren't typically associated with horror. The vast majority of pokemon fans know that drifloon kidnaps children, but nobody really questions how chansey and blissey have the ability to change how people behave. I like how the author has shown a more realistic and darker side to these pokedex entries.
WhiteRose-BlueSpaceRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I will immediately preface this with the fact that my only experience with Pokémon has been a bit of the anime and about three hours of Pokémon Sword so there’s only so much “Who’s that Pokemon?” I remember. However, despite my complete lack of education in it, and the fact that this is actually the first fan fiction I have reviewed and the second I have read (shocking innit?) I very much enjoyed my time with the series! Like this is just straight up well written and wiki surfing is not required at all to understand what’s going on, so all those who are thinking of reading this while not knowing a lot about the franchise, go ahead, it’ll be a-okay!
But anyway! Onto the categories!
Style:
I will admit this required a bit of getting used to as it is certainly a little odd. Though what I will say is it certainly fits the format of the diary and series of interviews that the story is told through.
Story:
Excellently done with good pacing and clear planning. That’s what comes into my head when it comes to describing it.
Grammar:
I don’t see any issues here so here’s all the stars!
Character:
Again excellent. Everyone who’s interviewed has a very distinct voice and personality that shines through in the writing. It’s quite possibly my favourite part of the series.
Overall, I’d say I recommend this series and again I’d like to say, if the idea of a horror story told through logs and interviews appeals to you, but you don’t know much about Pokémon, just give it a go.