One of the joys of putting your work out into the world is that, sooner or later, you’re going to catch some criticism.
Unlike some creatives with marshmallows for hearts and noodles for nerves…
I welcome my critics.
I enjoy reading differing views and seeing how some people can absolutely love something while another loathes it. Honestly, quite fascinating. The same work, the same words, but a different interpretation.
Wild.
Anyway.
Sometimes my critics give me genuine food for thought (rare, but it happens) while other times, they make for wonderful email fodder.
Like this nugget:
I'm up to the raid on the kings treasury.
From now on I am on anybodies side other than Darius's.
He's no hero.
I'm hoping his brother becomes king at this point.
Which was followed up with this comment a couple of weeks later by another reader:
I'm at the same spot. He's just a murderer with short interludes of feeling guilty. He must have no leadership ability or imagination as he is still a low level gangbanger after ten years.
I never thought I’d see “gangbanger” used to describe the protagonist of an epic fantasy story, but hell, I’ll take it!
What I won’t do, however, is bash these comments.
Darius was never supposed to be a “clean” hero with moral cues that would have the high priests singing his name. This is a gritty fantasy series with characters who are not always rescuing cats from trees.
Nowhere is this clearer than in Chapter 2 of Exiled, where I set the tone head-on.
Does this mean Darius will remain a “gangbanger” for the rest of the series?
Does this mean he has no redeeming qualities?
Well, that’s for you to find out, my dear reader.
I’m not in the business of spoiling.
What I AM in the business of doing is telling raw epic fantasy — filled with all the tropes we love — with modern pacing that’ll keep you turning the pages at night.
Don’t believe me?
(Jeez, you’re a distrusting toad, aren’t you?)
Well, take it from Loyal Patron and Legionnaire (who shall not be named as I’m not sure they want it so broadly distributed) who sent me this only last week:
Just want to let you know, I bought the first 5 books in The Divided Region series, and when I started reading them, I couldn't stop !! – read all 5 in three days !! GREAT read – CANT WAIT till book 6 is available.
Thanks heaps
No, no, my disciple…
Thank you.
And if you’re ready to delve into a gritty fantasy adventure and get to know characters who aren’t perfect, but aren’t entirely evil either, then let this be your calling card: