Aura Overload

As of the time of writing this review, I’ve read all 25 chapters available on Patreon.

Blurb

In a crumbling empire ruled by cybernetic immortals, royal bodyguard Hector Finalis was betrayed, branded a traitor, and left for dead. Two centuries later, his lost neurodeck resurfaces in a scavenger haul, and he awakens in a fragile new body, a relic haunted by fractured memories and a blood oath most in this decayed age have forgotten.

To survive, Hector must rebuild his aura system from nothing, forcing potentia through a process that can forge flesh, sharpen the mind…or shatter the unworthy. One overload could rip his unenhanced “skin” apart.

Bound to criminals and unexpected allies, Hector must claw his way back to power as he uncovers the truth behind his fall, all while struggling to master a rage that could destroy him unless he finds something worth living for.

The empire erased his name and rewrote his legacy. Hector will carve it back in blood.

How far will he go to unearth the truth—and bury the guilty?

Thoughts

Normally I’d wait until a lot later to review a story, but I’m going to do a cyberpunk roundup post and figured it’d be good to include Aura Overload. I’ve just finished Neon Dust from Plum, and obviously have read most of their other things, so the same thoughts will come across:

• Solid worldbuilding
• Great characters and character voices
• Smooth dialogue.

Now, this story is much more progression focused than Cyber Dreams, which obviously applies double when comp’d to Neon Dust. In addition to normal cyberware, users can also have an aura system, where aura is effectively the mana equivalent. There are different system archetypes (like Brawler, for instance), and harvesting potentia (read: XP) from downed enemies can be put towards various goals, such as increasing your aura system’s level, improving specific stats, or unlocking skills. Sounds great, and it’s a lot closer to the standard LitRPG systems so it’s very easy to grasp.

As part of that, Hector is hungry to regain his former power that went to waste when his neurodeck was slotted into his new skin (read: dead body he takes over). Hector’s already levelled up, picked fights, and set himself up for tons of fun violence and we’re twenty-something chapters in. It’s much faster paced, much more focused, and much more violent than the initial books in Plum’s other cyberpunk series. In fact, the increased pacing has this shaping up to probably be my favourite cyberpunk story from Plum, and I’m super keen to read more chapters the instant they come out!