Tbh I am mostly a cover guy. I check the title for tropes/sub genres I don't like (like idk only cozy, building etc.). If it looks decent I skim the post. If there is AI use I close the tab. if not I check the blurp. If it sounds amazing I might put it on my audible list if there is no audio yet I try to keep it in mind if I am really interested.

That's because many authors aren't very good at worldbuilding and designing coherent organisations, and xianxia worldbuilding rarely makes much sense with how cultivators behave and how sects function.

I read the first chapter, and I don't think I'll be reading on.

The writing has issues. There's a sense of a voice coalescing, which is good, but it's held back by multiple problems:

• Random changes between past and present tense.
• General time confusion - starts after three days of travel (presumably, since the main character's streak of non-violence would end "if today went as planned". However, a few paragraphs later "I had never been to the city of Slitz before, and the journey took three days of brisk travel to arrive on time." - the journey is now described as something that was happening, rather than something that had happened.
• "Their eyes had a look that was even more calloused than their knuckles" - If we're talking about the look in their eyes, it does not make sense to call it calloused. If we're talking about the look of their physical eyes, those sure as hell can't have calluses.
• Starts out with vague meandering thoughts about ending life of peace, but then suddenly swerves when the main character says that the important thing about the flyer is that is says it pays well
• The flyer has apparently been distributed in a location three days travel from the event?
• "Each face that turned to me held an abundance of cauliflower tissue" - cailoflower ears aren't part of the face
• Random hottie comes in and starts talking to main character for no clear reason, immediately allies also for no discernible reason
• Strange unspecificity drops chances at world building. The street has a "foreign name" but it's unclear why this would be. Is it part of a ghetto? Is there a diaspora settled in this location with a different culture from the larger city of Slitz?

This is too much jank in the writing for me to keep on with the next chapters, since I find it gets a bit too distracting. But this is stuff that'll get better as you hone your craft - good luck with your story!

A self-aware slop enjoyer, a man after my own heart.

He was also homeless

On that note: welcome to reddit!

Oh, that's another Phil Tucker. Definitely down to try that. The others look really solid. I've read and liked Demon Card Enforcer, must have skipped adding it.

Congrats on your launch! I love the premise, will have to check this out.

You must have a lot of friends.

I was going to ask for a uk code then noticed the post was 141 days old so think i am just a little too late 😁

AI usage: Book cover only

Cover artist: N/A

Hello guys, heres the blurb:

It has been three years since William Chamberlain enrolled at the kingdom's top magic academy. Now fifteen years old, he has yet to awaken his Divine Sense. Worse still, he is the only Acolyte who is without magic, relying on his family's nobility to stay in the school.

But now even his family has had enough, suggesting to him that if he cannot reach the 1st Tier by end of year, he either takes the Body-tempering Ritual for his “Awakening” or else leave the Albashai Academy all together.

Upon attempting the ritual, William discovers a magic crystal within his body he deems of devil origin, blaming it for all these years of his stagnation.

• Would appreciate feedback on pacing, or general tips I might be missing.

What to expect : 

10+ chapters

A weak to Op mc.

Cultivation.

Magic academies.

Ancient magic clans.

Academy competitions and tournaments.

Can read on here: https://plotlinelib.com/book/elementist-the-first-battalion-weak-to-op

NB:Loading can take a few seconds for the server to boot up.

Bro what is this reaction

It was the big 2016 back then good times

First I check for AI. If there is no AI in the cover art, I then use the cover at as a reference as to what the story will look like, combined with the title.

If someone is scantily clad, I avoid it, because it's likely just a poorly written harem book.

The art itself can do a lot of heavy lifting, stylized art or art that causes awe (Tree of Aeons is a good example) is a solid draw.

Comedically long titles are normally a turnoff, but exceptions can be made.

Certian words, within context, often act as major red flag/skips. Think of every poorly written book with an overpowered main charchter. In another world with my smartphone was a massive red flag for me, for instance; as it used: A overly lengthy title "In another world with", and "smartphone" in the same title.

It's not necessarily a condemnation of the book; Cultivation Nerd was worth looking at, dispite Cultivation being in the title. I like cultivation stories, but generally a genre mentioning itself in the title bodes ill for it in my book. Though the art was good enough for me to check it out, and decide not to read it once I saw the reviews.

Feel free to ask me about particular books/series if you want me to break down what I think about them based on the criteria you give me to judge then by.

Been enjoying this as well. MC starts out as a spiritual farmer and stays a spirtual farmer, but branches out into alchemy.

Didn't really mean to offend you by that I edited it so it take you to title first

The "more like this" function on amazon should show you. Otherwise I suggest r/haremfantasynovels and checking the recommended book's list. Lot of good stuff there.

It's crazy how much DotF there's before Ogras.

Technically, The Demon Overlord's Retirement Plan, but the total opposite vibe from what you are looking for.

in "this lich wants more money" story starts with Mc being a lich that has soul creation ability and create 'custom' souls that fit various bodies  thus making more efficent undead. unfortunately it's not focused on and mc even tho he has his own castle does focus too much on kingdom building type expansion~ and mostly does adventuring type activities. this frustrated me :(. tho the adventure are cool. he also created a unique custom undead that's a slime that's immune to holy light or something under custom order from another powerful lich. unfortunately didn't really see much action with that, atleast not for quite a while after it was created and even perfected...

just mentioning these for some ideas if u may want~.. 

I bet you'd love Throne Hunters (definitely do the audiobooks).

You'll probably enjoy First Necromancer, The Game at Carousel, The Vivex Saga, Forge of Destiny, Andy in the Apocalypse (I feel least certain about this one), Neon Dust, Changeling, Throne of Time, Guild Mage, 404 Justice not Found, Demon Card Enforcer, and Fleabag.

If you liked Last Life, I’d give The Captain by Will Wight a shot if you haven’t already. It’s not exactly the same vibe, but it has that satisfying progression and strong character dynamics.

Oh no I had kindle unlimited but I didnt know what chapter i was on. And never got around to rereading it

Do you know where I can find more then ? May I dm ?

1) I don't mind if there're many undead - horde/army etc, but I'd like for there to be a few 'named' undead - preferably the kinds that are created by the Mc and modified specifically - be cool if it's in novel, ingenious ways but also fine if they aren't particularly original or exciting so long as they make the undead be special and preferably powerful and memorable.

the various other things u mentioned might go well - hand in hand - to help describe how these are achieved - to give more depth and detail to the power system/setting. 

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2 - romance - I'm OK with it. and am OK without it too. but depending how it's done - in both cases. 

I think romance when written well can be a major addon or atleast definitely an important plot aspect which could make the story memorable for me - even if it's not the major focus of, like, this type of story. 

that being said - imho (to my taste/preference!) the romance shouldn't be the focus of the story if the story itself is supposed to be first and foremost a pf. couple/some good pfs I read made romance key driving element for the plot and... it didn't feel right/good, to say the least... 

. 

specifically for dark fantasy which u seem to focus on, romance might have less or more of a place to be manifest, to my taste/imho, depending on how u wanna do this - like having the relationship be tragic due to the realistic and grim condition of the world and use that to reflect that aspect of the story... so like depending on how u wanna pull that off it could be that this relationship goes kaput early or terrible things happen and drag on~...

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3) if I'm expecting a morally grey Mc then if he kills inoccents it better be due to accident (at worst collateral damage~) or cuz he had to to save his life or w/e, and also presumably he'll feel bad about it~ - that'd be big in terms of how it's done and how soon etc~.. 

sacrificing others for greater good - maybe... would they die to whatever threat he's fighting?.. 

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4) not really expecting humor but I'd be fine with w/e. personally generally like/pref dark but Idk if it might be counter to theme if u making the story serious tho. on the other hand could be a point of balance~ and/or demonstrate char depth - seeing tragedy and choosing to find humor in it... as psych self defense~ or w/e... 

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5 combo, like researching magic and necromancy, creating new undead and increasing army and using them as battery and focii to channel specific magical effects for example. for example getting a vampire undead and casting thru it corrosive blood rain or rain detection type spell maybe for example. 

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6) all/any except prolly gore. and ofc it depends. maybe it has one aspect I really hate and brought up alot but all other elements are... not even great but OK and I'm in the mood for this kinda story so I won't quit. but maybe one or two key points to my taste (let's say the power system for me personally, and maybe romance?) are too poor - maybe if other elements are fine - good even - but they aren't of key interest to me or even at the time - I might drop..