Story Blurb:
Everett Warder, a young man with no magic of his own, dreams of one day becoming the King's courier and racing across the warfront, delivering messages to turn the tide of the war. But without access to a field of incanting, the best he can hope for is to be anything other than a farmer tied to the land of the sleepy little town of Linre. When the attacks from Thedeus push the warfront--and the powerful Aberrations that the Thedians command--unexpectedly close to his front door, Everett just might get what he wished for. But what will he have to trade for what he wants? And what will he learn about the nation he is fighting for in the process?
Short Excerpt:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/177ePyVJV9FnirV3BLXdJ_gReK70gWG2zrUjrQmJWBJ4/edit?usp=sharing
Content Warnings:
18+/NSFW, LGBTQ+ Themes, Transgender/Nonbinary MC, Neurodivergent/AuDhd Themes, Explicit Sexual Content, Explicit Language, Adult Themes, Violence & Death, Mental/Physical Health Topics, Sensitive Social Issues [Transphobia], Bullying, Racism, Ableism, Depictions of War, Discrimination and Political Violence
Desired Feedback:
Any and all feedback is welcome, but I am most interested in call outs towards any story and character issues. Are there any gaps that feel like they're missing additional information? Are there any parts of the world that you feel like you're having difficulty feeling grounded in? Is there anything that you feel like deserves to be highlighted or have more "camera time"? Is there any character that you feel deserves more "camera time"?
I am especially interested in any feedback from LGBTQ+, BIPOC and Neurodiverse individuals on how they feel about the story and characters and if there is anything you felt like you connected well with or did not connect well with. Please be advised that this story deals with heavy themes for these audiences.
This draft has been alpha read and edited once already and should be free of any major spelling and sentence errors. If you happen to find anything that stands out, please do not hesitate to call it out, however that is not the main purpose of this pass.
Preferred Timeline:
I am looking for folks to work closely with me over the next three months to read through the full draft. I am flexible on the timeline due to the size of the manuscript.
Critique Swap Availability:
I am open to swapping critiques for any readers that enjoy the excerpt and want to be dedicated readers for each other's projects.