Weirden

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

When a murder happens, the Reeve is called. When a natural death occurs, the Dedicated is summoned. And when the weird makes a man a corpse, a Warden of the weird comes to town. Weirdens are charged with maintaining the harmony between the mundanes and the creatures of the weird. In the case of a mortality, it is the duty of the weirden to seek justice if it is required and prevent vengeance if it is not. But when a young weirden arrives in a town with a bloodied past and a fresh body, such a duty may not be welcome.

A cozy-adjacent, dark folkloric mystery novella with a deaf hero, LGBTQ+ representation, and a love for navigating cultural interfaces. Inspired in part by Fullmetal Alchemist, Mushi-shi, Twin Peaks, Arrival, and Inspector Gamache, our story takes place in an isolated but cozy forest village in an arcanepunk world…

Updates on the second Thursday of the month.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: Squared Qed

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.8/ 5.0
Followers: 19
Views: 5,063

Chapters(14 total)

Reviews

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Community Reviews(4)

Ana87Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
First, a warning: you'll get cravings for lots of cookies.
Overall
This novel is a charming combination of cozy weird, cozy mystery, supernatural elements and hints of horror, all wrapped up in an endearing and humorous narrative that puts LGBTQ+ characters at the center and a magical world described in detail. It has a soft magic system that subtly blends with the everyday charm of a small town. A great choice for reading on a foggy day, with a hot cup of your favorite beverage and a stack of cookies.
Story
Like most mystery stories, it begins with a murder (duh), but the circumstances are far from simple. At the time I'm writing this, the story is only 11 chapters long, which I finished too quickly, and now I'm eagerly awaiting the next chapter.
Though the plot progresses slowly, the clues lead one to believe that the murder is but the tip of the iceberg. Moreover, it is linked to a tragedy in the town, so it also arouses all kinds of emotions in its inhabitants.
However, it is not only the mystery that hooks you, but also the emotional side and the cozy tone of the narrative. The supernatural elements do not saturate the story, but rather enrich it, generating tension and leaving room for moments of tenderness and humor. The world-building -especially the relationships between humans, weirden and weird- is cleverly integrated into the main plot, adding moral dilemmas that bring depth.
Character
The heart of the novel is in its characters. Trish, a deaf weirden, is a brave and curious protagonist, unafraid to take on challenges, even if it leads her into dangerous situations. She is some kind of police officer in charge of investigating crimes committed by critters. Her bond with Chatter, an eloquent and charismatic demon interpreter, provides much of the humor and warmth in the story.
The contrast between pragmatic Reeve Brody and his cheerful husband Flip is one of my favourites. The Dedicated steals the show sometimes with her witticisms and eccentricities. Eve
FalstaffRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This has super cozy murder mystery/detective novel-vibes. Every chapter is a complete meal.
I recommend a warm cup of something and you’ll sink into this story.
A countryside milkman and his precocious daughter stumble upon the body of a man slain by a banshee. Now a weirden has been called in to investigate the death and determine the cause and consequences.
Characters are a shining bright spot. They're all charming folk, but of course, the standout is Trish, a Deaf detective of the story. Surely, Trish and her demon interpreter Chatter will soon discover there's more to this man's death than seems at first glance. Something darker lurks in the cozy countryside.
Fear the weird. But more importantly, fear those who aren't weird.
The story seems to be structured in many ways like a classic detective novel. A personal favorite spot for me is the way the author demonstrates interpreter codes of conduct. It's a tiny elegant thing, but I like it. Of course, with a deaf MC, scent gets utilized in the narrative often and practically. That's also a treat. I wish Chatter got a little more description upfront. The 5 eyes certainly give an impression, but I wasn't sure if they were pet-size or person-size. Turns out they’re regular shape-shifters, so that explains the sparse description, but I’d still appreciate a few early moments of description.
Sometimes I perceive little inconsistencies. Maybe I’m misinterpreting the text, and there’s no reason to fuss over the details at this point in development. That’s a later problem. A few good beta readers should iron out any wrinkles.
Personally, I don’t like making Trish so inexperienced that this is her first job. It raises the stakes but at the cost of Trish’s competency, and competence is such an important quality in a detective lead. Trish having no field experience whatsoever makes her later risks seem very foolish, and I don’t think that’s the ideal way to go. Just my opinion.
HastumRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Wierden is a great mystery novel set in a unique environment. The story unfolds as a detective mystery with an interesting plot that begins as all good detective stories do—with a body. From there, we meet our heroes and side characters, all with their distinct voices, cultures, strengths, and flaws. The world and story are very well executed.
Style: The aspect of the style that shines the most is the voices. Everyone, from the MC and her demon to the village people, possesses unique voices. From their personalities to their accents, everything is polished. Another noteworthy aspect is the world-building, which is smooth and draws you in. Overall, it creates a pleasant story to read.
Story: The story mainly follows our detective and her demon companions as they solve unusual cases. It is far from banal. It doesn’t simply revolve around finding the bad guy and punishing them. No, the events are not black and white, and everyone has their own motivations for their actions beyond mere evil intentions. The mystery is gripping, and the story flows well.
Grammar: Nothing to comment on. It’s good.
Characters: This is a powerful aspect of the story. The characters are unique, from the previously mentioned voices to their actions. Our MC is also unusual, she is deaf and has a demon interpreter making her that much more interesting. Most importantly, she is likable and a pleasure to read about, though I think my favorite is her cool demon.
Overall, if you enjoy mysteries and fantasy, you'll love this one.
TheHofferRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is probably the freshest take and most intriguing start of any story I've reviewed on RR to date. This feels like something I could pull off a bookshelf and just dive into.
Style 5/5: I love the way this story is told from a multiple POV of a small town. It is really cozy and intriguing and just kinda sad. It is such a charming place, you genuinely feel bad that they lost one of their own. There is a lot of fun folksy banter and it drip feeds information well enough to stay hooked.
Grammar 5/5: No Issues Here
Story 5/5: The story and worldbuilding feel top notch. You care about the main plot because it feels so personal, and throughout you're wanting to know how this fantasy world operates. The naming conventions and magic system just feel fun and not super overused.
Character Score 6/5: The CHARACTERS ARE SO GOOD. I think I have one minor gripe among the characters that is a bit immersion breaking, but the main cast feels very real and lived-in in a gratifying way. They just are real people living their lives and trying to navigate the world of the weird.
Loved it. I really hope this story gets more attention. It is excellent.