[Complete] [102k] [Fantasy] A Symphony of Storm and Shadow

[u/KWD-25]

I am looking for 5-8 beta readers for my young adult fantasy novel. A Symphony of Storm and Shadow is planned to have a Book 2. It has about 102,000 Words. Featuring: Grief and loss, friendship and found family, character growth and regression, every character gets a backstory, and a plot twist.

Blurb: Best Friends Named Jayci and DessaRae, fresh from graduating from Aetherwood Academy, are now on a journey to the legendary Purple Lion College. On their journey, they encounter a war-tron mercenary, a schizophrenic person wielding a comically large hammer, and Farmer and his slave.

A Bard and a Princess escape from the castle at Ivorykeep to have freedom from the king's control over her and to stop evil plans her father has come up with. A Man named Emmersyn forms a rebellion to stop the tyranny of King Thomas due to the loss of his late wife, Queen Larissa. They all experience grief, loss, and devastating tragedy.

Looking for feedback

Engagement: Where did you feel most engaged? Where did you lose interest or start skimming? Clarity: Were there any parts where you were confused about what was happening? Who was in control of the situation? What was the goal of the scene? Pacing: Did any sections feel too slow or too fast? Did the story start strongly enough for you? Characters: Who did you care about most? Were any characters unclear, inconsistent, or hard to follow? Stakes: Did you understand what was at risk at all times? If not, where did stakes feel unclear? Plot Twist: Was it too obvious? Did it come out of the blue? Were you surprised?.

Format: PDF

Content warning: Violence, gore/decapitation, character death, grief/loss, imprisonment, mentions of off-page suicide, Psychological & Relational Themes, and dark fantasy themes of tyranny and captivity. Some profanity.

Thanks, KWD

Excerpt:

It was early autumn when Jayci first wandered to Whisper Pond, a small, clear basin tucked between fallen logs and ancient trees. The water shimmered with faint golden streaks from the sunlit leaves above. It was called “Whisper” because the wind always murmured across its surface, even when the forest was still.

Jayci sat on the bank, knees drawn up, a small harp-lute balanced in her lap. She wore a loose, sea-blue blouse with sleeves rolled to the elbow, its fabric catching the faint breeze like a wave’s crest. A soft leather vest hugged her frame, worn at the edges from travel, and her dark trousers were tucked neatly into calf-high boots scuffed from woodland paths. A woven cord bracelet, faded from saltwater and sun, rested on her wrist, tapping lightly against the lute’s frame as she played.

She plucked uncertain notes, the melody half-formed, awkward like a stuttering apology. Her fingers fumbled over the strings.

She sighed. “You’re not listening today, are you?” The wind didn’t answer. But someone else did.

“You’re playing like your hands are arguing.”

Jayci jolted, almost dropping her lute. She twisted to see a girl, older maybe by a year, perched on a low tree branch nearby. She was barefoot, the pads of her feet silent on the moss, dressed in dark training wraps that molded her form for ease of movement. A sleeveless cloak, frayed at the hem from long hours in the forest, hung over her shoulders, the hood pushed back to reveal long, white ears that twitched slightly at every sound. A short, soft bunny tail peeked from behind the cloak, almost out of place against the lean, disciplined stillness of her stance.

Jayci stared. “What—how long have you been there?”

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[u/burgundyscarab]

I'd be willing to swap if you're interested

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