New Adult Steampunk Fantasy looking for critique partner or beta reader
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Holland Ward
Jan 31, 2024, 3:06:43 PM1/31/24
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Hello!
Analeigh Beckett knows that if she remains in Grenwich’s West Fork slums, she will die. Choked to death by the smog or crushed beneath a spinning loom in the factory, she will be buried with all the other gutter rats in the city just like her father was.
So when the men in nice suits recruit her colleague Andrew to be an engineer on a fancy airship instead of her, she does what she must: nick his letter of employment and get on the ship in his place.
Her mother warns her that the skies are no safer than land. Unexplained explosions, magic cores gone missing, and pirates once imprisoned sighted again. But the coin is far better, the beds are much warmer, and she can finally afford a frock without holes. And for the first time in her life, she thinks she’s making friends.
Marilyn Lee, an apprentice healer, is preparing to take the assistantship exam that will determine her future in the profession. Duncan Fairtree is a conduit—a conductor of magic—struggling to convince the magistrate that he can be trusted again after nearly burning down the ship in a fit of heartbreak. Together with their friend Jesse Helm, the four must manage the turbulence of early adulthood as the Windcrest comes face-to-face with a ship disaster that nearly costs them all their dreams…and lives.
Following multiple perspectives, HEARTHSWORN is a 150k new adult steampunk fantasy adventure with series potential that may appeal to fans of Tara Sim’s TIMEKEEPER trilogy or V.E. Schwab’s SHADES OF MAGIC trilogy. Since dreaming of this book at 15 years old, I’ve followed an academic path in English literature through to a master’s degree, as well as a graduate certificate in folklore studies. I write stories and articles for a university that involve far less magic and too few explosions, much to my dismay.
Content warnings include: depictions of violence and gore; descriptions of anxiety and depression, self-doubt; past emotional/mental abuse in a queer relationship; depictions of Industrial Revolutions-age poverty and poor working conditions; excessive alcohol consumption; recreational drug use.
My writer name is Holland (they/them, she/her pronouns). Currently un-agented, but my hope (prayer, wish...pipedream...lol) is to be in the query trenches by August 2024.
Like it says in the title: I've got a new adult steampunk fantasy series that I think is in need of a beta reader or critique partner. 150k words, with a diverse cast and LGBTQ+ rep. I've had luck with this match-up before; my first critique partner, who is exceptional, came from here! Figured I'd shoot my shot once more and see what happens. I'd love to get a new, second set of eyes on my work (and potentially be stuck with me for life lololol).
Description? Description:
Analeigh Beckett knows that if she remains in Grenwich’s West Fork slums, she will die. Choked to death by the smog or crushed beneath a spinning loom in the factory, she will be buried with all the other gutter rats in the city just like her father was.
So when the men in nice suits recruit her colleague Andrew to be an engineer on a fancy airship instead of her, she does what she must: nick his letter of employment and get on the ship in his place.
Her mother warns her that the skies are no safer than land. Unexplained explosions, magic cores gone missing, and pirates once imprisoned sighted again. But the coin is far better, the beds are much warmer, and she can finally afford a frock without holes. And for the first time in her life, she thinks she’s making friends.
Marilyn Lee, an apprentice healer, is preparing to take the assistantship exam that will determine her future in the profession. Duncan Fairtree is a conduit—a conductor of magic—struggling to convince the magistrate that he can be trusted again after nearly burning down the ship in a fit of heartbreak. Together with their friend Jesse Helm, the four must manage the turbulence of early adulthood as the Windcrest comes face-to-face with a ship disaster that nearly costs them all their dreams…and lives.
Following multiple perspectives, HEARTHSWORN is a 150k new adult steampunk fantasy adventure with series potential that may appeal to fans of Tara Sim’s TIMEKEEPER trilogy or V.E. Schwab’s SHADES OF MAGIC trilogy. Since dreaming of this book at 15 years old, I’ve followed an academic path in English literature through to a master’s degree, as well as a graduate certificate in folklore studies. I write stories and articles for a university that involve far less magic and too few explosions, much to my dismay.
Content warnings include: depictions of violence and gore; descriptions of anxiety and depression, self-doubt; past emotional/mental abuse in a queer relationship; depictions of Industrial Revolutions-age poverty and poor working conditions; excessive alcohol consumption; recreational drug use.
Looking less for grammar/spelling and more comprehensive and developmental edits: how's the vibe, how are the characters, does the plot make sense, is this garbage, etc etc. You know, the usual! I would also like someone who can provide feedback in a timely fashion. A particular eye towards making sure my handling of nonwhite characters is respectful and avoids harm would be a bonus, but not required (I do plan on paying someone to provide a sensitivity read).
Soooo yeah, if this feels like a thing you'd be interested in reading, lemme know! you can find me at hollan...@gmail.com (listen don't ask about the "piper" thing it was a mistake and we all must bear the burdens of our youth....)
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