CPs and Betas for Dark Romantic Fantasy/Romantasy With Political Intrigue Wanted!

[Haley Clark]

Hello all!

I am an experienced but unpublished writer looking for feedback on my dark romantic fantasy novel, A Death Like Poetry. ADLP has been through three revisions, and I am currently halfway through my first line edit.

Here is some info about my novel and the kind of feedback I'm looking for:

Comps

My alpha readers call ADLP The Poppy War with less magic, more romance, and guns. I think a good comp is The Poppy War + Arcane.

Blurb

Deavan Nightshade is tired of losing everything– first her dad, taken by the Immortals, and now her sanity, fractured during the Ceasefire Violation that nearly broke her. When her people plan a mission to capture the Source of Immortality from the enemy, Deavan is the first to volunteer. But though she may have the power to steal Immortal hearts– literally– she is seen as little more than a liability.

It's been twelve cycles since his wife was executed by the Immortal Council, and Laith Aquil has no reason to keep living. And as the former leader of a team of rebel hunters, he might as well have been the one who killed her. There’s no hope for redemption, but when the rebels he once hunted recruit him for a suicide mission, he reluctantly agrees to join them– if only to keep an eye on the reckless mortal who may be his only way out of the Immortal life he never wanted.

She wants him and his kind dead. He needs her alive.

But in a world where Immortality is power, the cost of victory may be far more than they are willing to bargain for.

Genre

Dark romantic fantasy (romantasy) with a strong political intrigue subplot and morally grey FMC/MMC.

Content warnings for mental health (depression, PTSD), violence, gore, death, gun use, smoking, suicidal ideation, sexual assault (not on page), trafficking, child abuse (not on page), substance abuse, and explicit sexual content.

Type of Feedback

My #1 need is in the pacing department. I would love to cut ADLP down by 10-30k, but I am struggling to kill my darlings. My dear alpha readers have also been adamant that nothing needs to be cut (!!), which is why I am turning to you, beta readers. I plan to self-pub this, but I don't want the length to intimidate readers.

I would also love general reader-ish feedback: How do you feel about the characters? Is the plotline engaging? Is the plotline predictable? Are you confused by any of the worldbuilding? Is the magic system understandable and generally consistent? Would you pay money to read this? etc.

I am not currently looking for feedback on the prose (or the poetry excerpts featured throughout the novel), grammar, syntax, etc., as I am still developing the story itself.

Open to Critique Swap?

Yes! Also open to swapping for two 100k or lower stories. I prefer to read romantasy or fantasy with a strong romantic subplot, but I also read a lot of fantasy (especially epic and grimdark), contemporary romance, and other genres depending on the story.

Timeline

I will be actively looking for feedback for the next few months, so anything within that timeline. I value quality reads over fast reads!

I look forward to connecting and chatting all things writing and manuscript-ing!

[Shanley]

Hello,

Your story sounds interesting and I would be open to beta read for you. Perhaps we could start with the first 1-3 chapters and see if we fit? You did not mention your current wordcount, but I'm open to longer works if the story grabs me. I've read the Poppy War and enjoyed it, and also enjoy more romance-forward fantasy works. By Arcane, are you referencing the show? Regardless, I am happy to offer feedback that matches what your goals are - self-pub, passion project vs money project, or perhaps a bit of both? Let me know :)

Shannon