Seeking Epic-Fantasy-Loving Beta for Novel

[spieles]

Hi, all,

I'm seeking a beta for my epic fantasy novel who can give advice on pacing issues in the second half.

Catalogue of the Gods, at ~146,300 words, is set in a world where gods give miracles in exchange for art. A cult wants to overthrow this system (by assassinating all of the artists), but a famous sculptor teams up with the daughter of the cult-leader to stop the violence.

Comps would be second-world epic fantasy books with driven female protagonists like Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse or Race the Sands by Sarah Beth Durst.

Link to the first chapter thread (which has been revised x4 times since posting) is here: Chapter 1 thread

The novel has been through my writing group in a two-year chapter by chapter process, as well as three betas, and is on its fourth draft. My issue is that I know the pacing is off in the second half, but the advice I've been getting on where and how has been wildly inconsistent, often veering toward suggestions to pace it like a YA novel. (Not at all what I want.) I think the issue is that while all of my beta readers like various kinds of fantasy, they tend not to read epic fantasy, so I'm hoping someone who loves the genre as much as I do might beta.

Also, I'm critiquing a friend's manuscript at the moment, but once that's done, I'd be happy to swap

Shannon

 

[CWNitz]

Can you clarify the kind of feedback you want or don't want? Because reading 150k words is a lot of work if we're not sure you'll use the feedback at all.

 

[spieles]

Can you clarify the kind of feedback you want or don't want? Because reading 150k words is a lot of work if we're not sure you'll use the feedback at all.

Yes, 150k words is A LOT! In terms of feedback, as I said above, pacing is the main issue.

But as a part of pacing, CUTS - because I'm thinking one or more subplots need to be combined or at the very least, be reconfigured to make things more fun and keep the pace high.

Otherwise, I give and receive feedback pretty regularly, so I'm open to getting all the data on a reader's experience. That being said, I personally give feedback in terms of my own reactions - what I feel - what in my opinion would work better - what I was wanting more of - or what I found confusing. Also, if someone is 25k in, and wants to throw the book across the room, I'd be curious as to why.