Unranked Ascension (Previously Legacy of the Abyss)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

(The first book of this story is now for sale on Amazon under the new name Unranked Ascension! --->Check it out here!)

"Their god is dead. The horror begins!"

When the protector of Earth, a god who defended the planet in secret from the eldritch terrors of the abyss, is murdered, an unprepared humanity is thrown into a world ofmysterious powers, vile monsters, and death. Lucius, a young man fleeing a painful past, will leave behind his life of begging for scraps on the city streets. An undiscovered strength inside of him will allow him to quickly rise to the deadly challenges of this new world.

What to expect;

-Apocalypse

-Mythical Creatures

-Striving forward on the edge of life and death

-Strong bonds of friendship

-Kingdom Building

-Cute Pets

-Daily updates

-No Romance

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: Perry Okeefe

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.5/ 5.0
Followers: 1,614
Views: 130,894

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

AbarithRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story throws you right into fast paced action with Lucius and his unlikely group teaming up to escape their situation. The group's interactions are quite immersive, really selling their frantic struggle for survival.
Style: The writing is incredibly absorbing, combining pace and detail to keep readers on edge. I'd like to note to new readers that this is written in 3rd person omniscient, so some parts may be confusing as multiple viewpoints are shown. Additionally, some scenes transitions could be smoother, but overall a great job.
Story: This dark fantasy LitRPG throws you right into a world on the brink of chaos as the apocalypse arrives. The system is interesting, with different aspects to it to provide our characters with power. I like the addition of the interludes focusing on the broader happenings throughout the world as events unfold.
Grammar: Vocab is solid, nothing to say there. However, the author has problems with using commas. Sometimes, there are too many commas in a sentence that make you double take to make sure you understood it correctly the first time.
Characters: Lucius is a MC with a complex past, making him compelling. His relationship with Mary and James humanizes him, and shows the reader a normal human perspective. These secondary characters will need to be developed further should they stick around.
Altair PolarisRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Legacy of the Abyss is an electrifying blend of dark fantasy and LitRPG, delivering an intense and immersive reading experience. The story begins with a bang, throwing readers into Lucius’s ordinary world, which is quickly shattered by a vision of an ancient man battling a shadowy, eldritch creature. From this moment, the narrative grips you with its vivid descriptions and tension.
Style: The style of Legacy of the Abyss includes tension, vivid imagery, and creative world-building. The narrative pulls the reader in immediately with its immersive descriptions, such as the crystal palace shimmering in Lucius’s vision and the monstrous shadow creature radiating dread. The juxtaposition of the everyday—the convenience store and its mundane patrons—with the surreal horrors of the Abyss creates an intense and engaging atmosphere. The author skillfully uses language to heighten suspense, from the quiet dread of a vision to the frantic action of fending off cat-sized insects.
The story also excels in its pacing, transitioning seamlessly between introspection, action, and dialogue. The introduction of RPG-style mechanics adds a fresh, interactive element to the narrative, cleverly integrating game logic into a life-or-death scenario without disrupting the story’s realism.
Grammar: The grammar in Legacy of the Abyss is polished, with well-constructed sentences and excellent use of punctuation to control the flow and tone of the narrative. Dialogue is clear and natural, capturing each character’s personality while advancing the plot. The use of short, sharp sentences during action scenes effectively conveys urgency, while longer, more descriptive passages immerse the reader in the world and its strange new rules.
Any minor inconsistencies are easily overshadowed by the story’s gripping content and strong command of language. Overall, the grammar supports the narrative beautifully, making the text both accessible and enjoyable to read.
Characters
The characters in Legacy of the
BT.curioRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Reminiscent of greats like 'The Mist', the opening scene especially sucks you in and refuses to let go. The dire situation is skillfully balanced, and tension kept to really leave the reader wanting more.
Style: The prose is simply great, and in my book deserving of the title "page-turner". Perfectly balanced in pacing and details, the only thing one might remark is that the third person omniscient point of view is an acquired taste, and sometimes takes away from the focus of the protagonist.
Story: Harrowing and delightfully terrifying, this LitRPG is definitely pulling closer towards horror/thriller in some ways. And as things unfold I mind myself sitting on edge, both fascinated and unsettled, aching to know more.
Grammar: With only the occasional minor mistake, this read is the smoothest of rides.
Character: Though the protagonist is well fleshed out, the viewpoint shines its light on others that could use a bit more love. Sometimes it's hard to discern what characters are important or not, but again that is mainly down to the viewpoint.
All in all this is a horrifyingly delightful read that I could recommend to anyone. If you find yourself a fan of both thriller classics and LitRPGs, this eldritch amalgamation is going to be a great experience.
Resigned DilettanteRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The start was a very exciting concept, visions of dying gods followed by a system apocalypse whose system is ambiguous about whose side it's on. Why did the god prevent the system? A compelling mystery.
Style: The biggest flaw is here. Dialogue and narration are stilted and very unsubtle regarding what people are feeling, why they do things, and how you should feel about them. No room for ambiguity, more so than even most 3rd person fictions.
Grammar: Perfectly fine, with only a few minor things noticed that didn't get in the way of understanding.
Story: The story is where things are at in this fiction, with a very compelling premise. 'God is dead, so we must become gods ourselves' sort of vibes. I do hope that it's not all just grinding for xp though. But so far it has been working out, showing a clever solution to the problems at hand.
Character: Part of this is from the style score. They are perfectly good characters with no incoherent or erratic behaviour. However they haven't displayed much in the way of nuance or subtlety yet, and are somewhat simple in terms of character traits, at least so far. So far being operative since I'm not that far.
As a whole it's worth a read for those with an interest in the genre.
Edit: The author reached out to me after some rewriting, and going back through the Style is better than in my original review. Also upon further consideration there was something about the MC that I liked but failed to consider for the score.
TheBBBRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story excels at drawing readers into a suspenseful world, blending action with well timed moments of vulnerability & complexity. It also effectively builds tension through visceral descriptions of Lucius's battles with Abyssal creatures, capturing the relentless, almost hypnotic nature of his combat experience. The details, like the satisfying grind of leveling up & Lucius’s inner thoughts on family relationships, add an emotional layer that keeps readers invested. His dynamic with Jack & Mary brings warmth, showing camaraderie amid chaos, which I found particularly engaging.
The story has a high-stakes political setting adds an intriguing depth, contrasting the on-the-ground survival story with a broader, apocalyptic crisis. This change in perspective is refreshing & allows readers to see how the unfolding supernatural threat affects not only individuals but entire governments, enhancing the scale of the story.
The writing style is straightforward, descriptive, and immersive, though at times it could benefit from smoother transitions between scenes for better flow. The characterization is strong, especially with Lucius, whose backstory is revealed subtly, making him relatable. Grammar is mostly solid, with minor improvements needed in sentence structure & pacing to enhance readability.
Overall, this story hooks with its rich action, nuanced characters, and layered storytelling, promising an engaging read for fans of both fantasy and thriller genres.
courtney.wolfRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Legacy of the Abyss by RhetoriKILL is a dark fantasy tale that captivates with its richly imagined world and evocative storytelling. The novel plunges readers into a realm fraught with danger, mystery, and moral ambiguity, where every choice feels like a step closer to the abyss.
Lucius’s journey is a compelling mix of personal struggles and larger stakes, as they grapple with inner demons while confronting an ominous, looming threat. RhetoriKILL’s prose is sharp and poetic, painting vivid imagery while delving deep into themes of power, betrayal, and redemption. The narrative expertly balances moments of action and introspection, offering a story that is both thrilling and thought-provoking.
One of the book’s strengths lies in its characters, who are flawed, multifaceted, and deeply human, making their struggles resonate. The world-building is equally impressive, immersing readers in a setting that feels alive and haunting. While the plot occasionally becomes dense, demanding close attention, the payoff is worth it.
For fans of dark fantasy and morally complex storytelling, Legacy of the Abyss is a must-read. RhetoriKILL delivers a tale that lingers in the mind long after the final page. Five out of five stars for me! This is certainly one of the most thrilling stories I’ve read in a while time
MrCarsonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The character Lucius is done very well. I like that the author has put him in a group to start with. Characters who have emotional issues may like to go solo, but this is bad for character development in the story. His character works well for the genre, and I am glad that he hasn't deviated. I like that it is quick growth at the beginning. The fact that he is using ingenuity to kill the monsters is great. There are a few grammar fixes needed, but nothing that overly distracts from the story.
CasualDave42Royal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
I love the where the story is going so far! It's very engaging and has a nice amount of system but doesn't rely on it to carry word count. The story is very interesting and I never know what to expect next. I love the pacing and it's fun. Sometimes it moves a bit slow but it always picks up the slack especially when it matters.
tonyxstormRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
The story gets straight into the action and allows us to get a feel for our main characters temperament in the first few chapters. I think the characterization could use more show and less tell but we are still early so this can develop over time.
I enjoyed that there is a wider plot being hinted at and slowly developing behind the scenes. There are a few grammar issues here and there but I’m personally not a stickler about grammar in my stories so overall it’s a good read!
Lord_of_AvalonRoyal Road
★★★★ 3.5
This story is still I development stages, but thus far is very good. No grammar mistakes. The characters have emotional depth and are reacting to their circumstances and are pulling their weight instead of having to wait for the the hero or having bystander syndrome. The world building is coming along nicely. We have a small setting but still get the wider glimpse of overall setting.