The review below my short paragraphs is originally by @gon@lemmy.world, but their thoughts reflect a lot of mine and their post is the original reason I put this book in my backlog. This isn’t necessarily a furry-themed book but it does have a ton of cute fuzzy creatures in it that play a bulk of the characters, and you’d be forgiven for calling it a furry-adjacent novel. Unfortunately the book is not fully finished but I’m on chapter 98 of 167 at the moment, with a new chapter coming out every few days. I find it difficult to estimate just how long this book is because of its digital chapter format, but it’s taken a while to get to where I am in the story.

The beginning of the story quickly opens with an interesting plot, but then it keeps getting better and better and better. After chapter ~40 I was fully hooked and am having trouble putting it down. It keeps surprising me with twists and turns and I feel like I never know what’s going to happen next. I also really enjoy how many main characters there are - there’s at least a dozen characters we’re paying attention to at any given moment, and you really get a feel for everyone’s motives and thoughts.

The writing quality is also excellent for being a work in progress. It must be extremely hard to write a story from start to finish without needing to edit story structure or pacing. The only real nitpick I’ve noticed is that we’re introduced to many new characters throughout the story, and every time we get a new one we have to go through their thoughts while they learn and contemplate the previous events of the story. It can feel a little repetitive but it’s usually framed from a slightly different perspective and bias each time so it doesn’t end up feeling like the exact same thing over and over.

Overall, I have to agree with the 5/5 rating so far and I hope the story never ends. As far as I’m aware, there are fanfictions and spinoffs for the universe that I’ll probably have to look into once I reach the “end”.

(Also, I had to frequently search through the NoP wiki (beware of spoilers) and e621 to get a feel for every alien’s appearance. There’s so many different alien types and I had trouble remembering what they look like)

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/719657

I don’t like reviewing unfinished works, as I feel a poor landing can destroy a whole story, just as a perfect finale can justify anything. There are 127 chapters out, as of me writing this.

However, I feel that every second that I stay silent about this web-series is a second wasted, an utter affront to fiction, and a betrayal of everything I stand for.

If even one person reading this did not know of “The Nature of Predators”, I command you to look into it.

This is pure brilliancy. An epic story filled with action, drama, tension beyond belief. Mystery, betrayal, political collusion, and romance spanning the whole universe… There is nothing missing!

I have racked my brain for any weakness in the story… Maybe the pace, or the prose, maybe the characters aren’t developed enough, maybe the plot isn’t compelling enough… But no. Everything is impeccable, a true work of art. And to think it’s not even completed yet.

“The Nature of Predators” follows several characters, with different beliefs, motivations, and interests. Some characters only appear later in the story, some appear early but fizzle out, some we’ve had the pleasure of accompanying from the very start and to this day.

There are characters you are made to love unconditionally, and characters you are made to hate. Some that want ultimate good, but can’t help their nature, and those that went against their nature for their own survival. Terror inflicted upon the innocent, BY the innocent. A world upside down.

I simply cannot describe the emotional weight of the characters. I’m not ashamed to say I’ve bawled while reading this. Straight up tears and snot.

And in all this chaos, different personalities and stories clashing all over the universe, somehow everything clicks. Every plot point is addressed, in due time, and never are you left high and dry wondering helplessly about the true nature of things. It feels like no stone is left unturned…

But the stones never end! There is always the next step, the next adventure, the next mystery, the next quarrel… It’s a relentless journey into the cosmos, and it’s expanse is unending beauty.

A perfect balance between closure and novelty, tension and release.

My words CANNOT do this work justice. I urge you to read it, or listen to it. Do whatever you can to inject this story into your mind, for you will not regret it.

That being said, it is HFY. I know that bothers some people.

Rating: 5/5

Read on Royal Road!
Alternatively, listen on Youtube:

  • Adastra has the best narration, but is currently almost 100 chapters behind.
  • Agro Squirrel Narrates is only about 10 chapters behind, but the narration isn’t as good (IMHO).