THIS ODD & PECULIAR ASSORTMENT

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Meet Josie, a puny girl and her grunting Cat - and join them as they encounter shady vendors at troll markets, explore fantastical cloud fairs and delve into the mysteries waiting in dark, abandoned sewer tunnels. From vanished dumplings to injured bogeymen and too-clever-for-their-own-good goblins; from kibble to ghost trains and the political ambitions of secretive Fae - Josie’s journey into the unknown is filled with wonder and peril alike. By blending the urban legends, folklore, and mythology of various cultures with fantasy, ‘THIS ODD & PECULIAR ASSORTMENT’strives to pay homage to other works and to offer an enchanting yet sometimes gritty adventure. But prepare yourselves and get some before they’re all nicked: there are Knödel to be had.

At 12 years old, Josie never quite fits in.With quirky habits and an oddball personality that just won’t click with others of her age, the girl often turns to the refuge of her beloved books. Still driven by curiosity and a taste for adventure, Josie has developed an eye for the exceptional, able to discover beauty in the overlooked, dismissed, and sometimes even the unsettling. Occasions to share what she holds dear are rare, while frictions with her peersare not.Grappling with the inability to change, her need to be independent conflicts with her loneliness, but the challenges of mundane life need to be faced all the same.

After Josie makes a decision that requires her courage yet seems trivial in the grand scheme, unexpected friendships and new companions enrich her life. Unaware of secrets and the uncanny events around her, the girl struggles with the novelties in her life and soon encounters something that will change her world even more: Magic. All of a sudden, none of the so far familiar rules seem to apply any more. Under the guidance of unseen protectors, Josie stumbles upon forgotten stories and ancient forces while trying to untangle the web of riddles she finds herself in. She also learns that peculiarities can turn into advantages and to trust her own strange instincts, allowing her to unlock hidden strengths along the way. But as the mysteries deepen and the shadows grow darker, the line between friend and foe blurs. Josie is well aware that not everything has to be as it appears at first sight, but what she doesn’t know is that this includes herself. Even her home, Veilwood House, and her life there hold secrets of their own, and not every story ends in light.

This is the first book of the 'A Journey into the Unknown'Fantasy Series and was initially published under the working title "A Tale of three Kings".

Participantin the Royal Road Writathon Challenge (November2024)

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: N.G.Leney

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.8/ 5.0
Followers: 25
Views: 11,280

Chapters(40 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(2)

RofagasRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
If Rothfuss and del Toro teamed up with a Foodie…
I believe this is the world they’d create.
TL;DR:
If you want a straightforward story and fast-paced action, if you love OP MCs, sheets, and skill tables or are maybe even looking for your next waifu, THIS IS NOT FOR YOU.
If you crave riddles, mystery, and adventure in a deeply immersive and vivid magical world; grab your choice hot beverage, because this is absolutely for you. This is something you want to hunker down with under a blanket while fog creeps up to your window or while rain pours on your roof, and you’ll sink in hours without even realizing.
Before you read my detailed review, please let me be absolutely clear: I love this story. At least so far. It has everything I want from a book, all the things that might just make it a real, all-time favorite. I don’t want to force my opinion of this story on you, but tell you why I believe this to be good, why you might like it and what I think might need some work. Just to explain why this review might seem a bit dry even though little old me is hyping the sh*t out of this, which I really really am. Also, I’d love to just click 5* on everything for this story, but seeing as this is an ongoing project, I just can’t. Author has to deliver first. Sorry.
Style: 4*
So far, POVs / perspectives are consistent as far as I can tell, and timeline seems to track. At this point in the storyline, I can only guess if the chronological order is consistent. It seems to be, don’t get me wrong, there are no glaring mistakes or overly confusing skips, and the main story for the recent events is relatively obvious. But the way the author has set the story up leads me to believe that there is a way bigger, overarching backstory. I hope the writer delivers, but as I said, it's an ongoing story, so well see.
One thing I want to add to this, though, is that the author uses very different writing styles for the various settings. At first, it was a bit jarring to change so quickly from on
murmeltierRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
This story is really well-written, combining fantasy, mystery, philosophy and real human feelings to a wild ride that, after you’ve been hooked by it, lets you crave for more. The plot is detailed and happens in a unique place, especially the Cosmic Observatory, which is a very atmospheric and special setting. The writing style is very descriptive, like a dream, although sometimes the language is so rich it can be a bit overwhelming for someone like me who isn’t a native speaker. That does not kill the fun, not in the slightest, but this can make reading this story a bit harder than most of the lighter stories with easier language. But its exactly this richness which sets this story apart, as the language and scenery details create a vivid picture (at least in my mind) that brings these words to life in front of ones eyes. The world building is so rich that the characters feel like real persons you either could meet or already have met in your life, with quirks and personalities that make sense and feel all to familiar. That’s especially the case for the main character Josie, who will connect with anyone who has ever felt “different” in this world, especially during childhood. While this story might not be for readers who want fast action or sudden plot twists, it’s a real treat for those who like to stay in a well-built world and discover each small detail and like to really sink into another ones world. There are some minor grammar mistakes (I’m not a native speaker but I spot some anyway), but I guess that’s to be expected if this is a first draft, but don’t get me wrong, this is already a highly polished one anyway. All in all, it’s a fascinating read that makes you think and feel, not just for the protagonist. I would give it 4.5 out of 5 stars (rounded down) —definitely a recommendation for fantasy fans who enjoy depth and atmosphere. In terms of quality it’s crazy that a story like this doesn’t have a publisher yet, as this, from my humble opinion, could easi