Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

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“I saw with my own eyes that they used the finest, rustproof refined steel to make utensils and cans, filling them with just a little food, then casually throwing them away after eating.”

“I saw with my own eyes that they used giant beasts as tall as mountains to devour soil and rocks, digging out underground cities, just to park their steel carriages beneath the surface.”

“I saw with my own eyes that they fed glowing ores into an everlasting stellar furnace, unleashing a radiance brighter than the sun.”

“I saw with my own eyes all those indescribable things.”

“Their iron birds covered the sky, their steel ships filled the ocean, their war machines tore the earth asunder, and their gods walked upon the world.”

“You must think I’m mad.”

“But it doesn’t matter.”

“It has already seen you.”

——————

Oil is Its blood.

Thick smoke is Its breath.

Ore and steel are Its food.

The countless cargo ships in the harbors are Its myriad offspring.

The place of origin stamped in the corner is Its silent mockery.

They claim they are mere mortals.

Child, you’d best not argue.

You must understand:

Their technology is beyond comprehension.

Their production capacity is unimaginable.

A mere glimpse of their creations will drive you insane.

Their morale surpasses even the most fanatical worshippers of dark gods.

How will you stop them?

With your sword, child? Or your flesh and blood?

You should be grateful that they still consider themselves mortals.

——————

“I’ve finished building my factory, and now you’re telling me this world runs on idealism?!”

“Wait, then what the hell did I just create?”

Associated Names
One entry per line
工业克苏鲁,从海岛领主开始
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Lord of the Mysteries (1)
Deep Sea Embers (1)
Release that Witch (1)
Rise of the Zerg in the World of Gods (1)
Dorothy’s Forbidden Grimoire (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Horror [ThatpassingbyA]
  2. Summer 2025
  3. Occult Mysteries
  4. Cthulhu Inspired/Cosmic Horror
  5. Career/Shop/Kingdom/Etc. development part 2

Latest Release

Date Group Release
07/22/25 Fenrir Realm c235
07/21/25 Fenrir Realm c234
07/20/25 Fenrir Realm c233
07/19/25 Fenrir Realm c232
07/18/25 Fenrir Realm c231
07/16/25 Fenrir Realm c229
07/15/25 Fenrir Realm c228
07/14/25 Fenrir Realm c227
07/13/25 Fenrir Realm c226
07/12/25 Fenrir Realm c225
07/11/25 Fenrir Realm c224
07/10/25 Fenrir Realm c223
07/09/25 Fenrir Realm c222
07/08/25 Fenrir Realm c221
07/06/25 Fenrir Realm c219
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4 Reviews sorted by


ReadingFanatic
ReadingFanatic rated it
February 21, 2025
Status: c75
This is my first time being the first one to write a review for something, but I genuinely think this book has potential. Like, a lot of potential. To the point where I think losing my first-review c*astity is worth it. And I'll list the reasons why.

If I had to describe this book, I would do it in terms of LOTM because 1) there are many areas of comparison and 2) I'm a LOTM fanatic and it's the easiest for me. I'm one of those LOTM fans who glaze that... more>> book to the high heavens, so it's telling that this book is even comparable in my eyes.

First, the time period and setting are similar to LOTM (Industrial Revolution, steam, cults, churches, supernatural species, magic, pollution, etc.), but that's where most of the similarities end. Plus, even those similarities have some differences.
Spoiler

I'm looking at you cognitive interference

[collapse]

Imagine LOTM, but reversed.

Where Klein is a mortal cosplaying as a god, Hughes is a god cosplaying as a mortal. Where Klein joins the church, Hughes' relationship with the church is... not the best. Where Klein is cautious and constantly on the move, Hughes literally has no fear of death and a territory to build. Honestly, if I had to compare Hughes to someone, it would actually be Roselle (bringing the Industrial Revolution and kingdom building). You could sort of think of him as a "what-if Klein had Roselle's spawn conditions" (noble status and scientific knowledge). But, of course, Hughes isn't exactly Klein.

However, this isn't to say that Hughes is s*upid or reckless. Just because he doesn't fear death doesn't mean that he doesn't think through his actions. In fact, Hughes is a very smart and ambitious man (he kinda has to be since he's a lord), but he's also kind, generous, and inspiring. His character really shines through his interactions with others, values, and actions.

One point of Hughes that I like the best is his rhetoric.

He talks well. Really well.

I don't really know how to describe it. I just know that every time he finishes one of his monologues about science, I feel myself being filled with pride as both a human being and a person from a scientific civilization. Really, he would thrive if he decided to become a motivational speaker, con artist, or cult leader (well... hm?).

Hughes managed to check every box that I'm looking for in a man: money obsessed and able to scam others! (Joking)

Anyways, from the above rant, you can tell that Hughes is the brightest part of this book, but this doesn't mean that there aren't other areas that are good. The side characters are well developed, the world building is expansive, and the pacing is done well (it might be slow to others, but I enjoyed the first volume of LOTM so...). There are no large info dumps and everything happens naturally. Even though Hughes is the center piece, everything else is just as good.

Overall, I'm really enjoying this book so far. If I had to rate it, I would give it a 9/10 (which is even higher than I would rate the first volume of LOTM!). If this book keeps up with the quality, I'm sure that it'll become much more popular! <<less
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inzill
inzill rated it
March 15, 2025
Status: --
If you say the protagonist has strong skills in rhetoric, I could agree. Unfortunately, the rhetoric reads like the author is a supporter of certain anti-theist measures. "I could make them worship me, but instead I will destroy their faith and rule them by divine right." It just sounds a bit too familiar.

Quickly skimming through another 30 or so chapters, I hoped to find something to redeem the story. The best I can say is that the side characters don't seem to exist solely to reinforce the idea that the... more>> protagonist is a genius, though they do quite often. The protagonist, obviously a god, using Earth as a measure for this fantasy world with arrogance and willful ignorance doesn't speak well for future worldbuilding while we're primarily stuck to his perspective.

If there's anything I can say in favor of the story, it's impressive to recreate the feeling of an isekai'd-into-a-novel protagonist trying not to change the original story, while writing a story that doesn't have a defined in-world original story. <<less
5 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
OrzBeta
OrzBeta rated it
May 2, 2025
Status: c369
This novel's beginning (the first 80 chapters or so) could be rated as a firm 5/5. The speeches are great, the stakes are high, a lot of future promises and you could really imagine a more Lovecraftian version of most medieval fantasy to steampunk. Even in the later chapters, the moments of awe from science is still really well done.

However.

From 200 or so, the author ... more>>
Spoiler

decided to put the entire island in another dimension, quite literally, and have them fight in a very post-apoc survival game kind of way. All dangling plot threads are severed and/or moved forward without any explanation. Once this arc ends, barely 20 or so chapters of resolution and somber feelings, another monster appears.

[collapse]
The premise of awe and wonder at the creations of mortals, the single best part of this novel, was done dirty and diluted by literally everything else.

A good, spoiler free analogy would be: "All beings are equal under nitroglycerin, except for occult gods that have plot armor. Plot armor occult gods are instead equal to fossil fuels." <<less
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JiminaOmake
JiminaOmake rated it
March 28, 2025
Status: c8
As a fantasy novel it's a certain thing for MC to have one or two cheats. So it won't be a major spoiler.

cuz it's early chaps but I don't know how long MC have been in that world. And if he can read the memories from the start? Or it's just something he picks up while doing the decedent. If possible I wanna know the start of the story. Not the way he died. Just how he started to use his ability, and his first few tries.

But as a story,... more>> it's the kind I like so I will read it. Until Author do me dirty. <<less
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