Update/Edit: To clarify two important points
This is NOT a paid position. Strictly voluntary.
I am looking for human feedback only. No AI summaries, thanks.
Do you like reading? How about beta reading? Would you like to get involved with beta reading a story I am working on? If so, get in touch!
I want people to read my book and tell me what they thought about it. Note: Whilst I am open to feedback, ideas and so on, that is not the primary focus for this exercise. I want to know what parts you found exciting, what parts you found dull. Which characters worked for you and which did not?
Wotz da story 'bout, Alex?
The setting is nearest to Low Fantasy. There are no dragons and no magical creatures, although magic itself does exist within the setting —as a recent discovery. This advent of magic is thematically present throughout the setting but not the focus. It is a story about a young individual who is cast out from home and their subsequent struggles with other humans. What compels people to behave in the ways they do? Is it magic? Human nature? Can it be changed? Should it be changed? etc.
Our protagonist is not particularly charismatic, nor are they a skilled fighter. They know little of the world and virtually nothing on how to fit into societal roles, with a very poor self-image from a less than ideal upbringing, lacking both father & mother figures. They are an androgynous teen / young adult who refer to themselves with male pronouns. This is against a backdrop of a kingdom that is seeking to control and shape magic — a new and undocumented force that proves a boon to all walks of life: To regulate the condition of crops; to aid in the construction of new homes; even in the treating of sickness. But so too does it herald a new era of warfare.
Loosely speaking, there are many thematic inspirations from the Kalevala and Finnish culture / mythology. Technology level is roughly equivalent to 1300-1600AD.
The story is written in "close third person." (Each segment is from the POV of a character, so the writing of those segments only details what said character might know and think) There is little that is explicit, although there are violent acts. Think closer to Wheel of Time than A Song of Ice and Fire, in terms of how explicit things get. If you have any specific themes that you would rather avoid reading about, please let me know and I can advise you on parts you may want to skip, for example. Unique POVs: 7-10. Chapter count estimated at 30 with approx 5000 words per chapter.
Thanks, mostly. If you want it, I can include your name in a special thanks section. I've no illusions that I'm the next Tolkien, but I am trying my best to have this novel traditionally published. Maybe one day you'll be able to look back and go: "I believed in him from day 1!" or "I knew his book was a deedee-mega-doodoo from day 1!" In other words, no I can't pay you for this, as I can barely afford to pay my bills.
Anyway, if you'd like to get in touch about this, you can do so here, or you can find me on twitter / YouTube or wherever. I have an e-mail listed on my YouTube page.
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