I often get asked what books my series is most like and which bestsellers it compares to.
And always, I wince.
Everyone’s impressions and memories of books/movies are different. I could say my books lean closer to Game of Thrones than Lord of the Rings, but someone else might say, “No, no, I get Brandon Sanderson vibes from this.”
In more crass terms:
We’re all full of crap. 😄
So, rather than play the comparison game, I like to take a different and vastly more candid approach by giving people reasons NOT to read my books.
It might sound counterintuitive (and sure, many marketing greats would turn in their graves for such tactics), but I’d rather a reader know exactly what they’re getting into than feel misled by some subjective comparison.
So if you’ve yet to delve into The Divided Region, here are five reasons it might not be for you:
1. There are no dragons.
I’ve lost count of the number of snarky comments left on my social media posts for making such a simple declaration, especially as I claim TDR to be “epic fantasy,” which it most definitely is in terms of scope and stakes.
So yeah, if flying lizards are your thing, you’ll be sorely disappointed. That said, there is no shortage of monstrous beasts and legends lurking in the realm.
2. The books are short.
Most epic fantasy tomes weigh more than a brick. Mine clock in at a third (sometimes a quarter) of the size — and that’s intentional. I prefer to read short books. They're less intimidating, more bingeable, and fast-paced by nature, which makes it especially appealing to readers who don’t know me from Gimli and aren’t ready to commit months of their time to my books.
Completely reasonable.
That said, if thick books are your jam, you’ll enjoy sinking your gnashers into Book #5 (The Great Betrayal). It’s the biggest so far, clocking in at over DOUBLE the length of my second-longest book — Exiled.
3. No elves. No orcs. No dwarves.
No different fantasy races whatsoever. It’s humans, wizards, spirits, and monsters all the way down!
4. It’s not a trilogy.
Most fantasy readers expect trilogies. Mine is likely to go 7 books (maybe more). I prefer to build things in fast, snackable chunks that can be consumed in a couple of sittings.
5. Very few POVs.
No dozen-strong cast of rotating perspectives. You mostly stick with Darius (the protagonist), sometimes the villain, and rarely anyone else. It keeps things focused and easier to follow while also allowing me to sharpen the action and build momentum through the story.
(Though yes, as the plot expands, I imagine so too will the POVs. Just not at epic proportions.)
So there you have it:
5 reasons you shouldn’t read The Divided Region.
Should any of those things actually appeal to you, then make haste and snag the Starter Bundle while the snaggins’ good:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/TDR-Bundle
DJJW