A question I occasionally see slip into my inbox looks something like this:
“Can my kid read The Divided Region?”
Usually, my reply inquires about their age, and if they are under 17, I’ll simply reply with:
“No.”
That’s not to say TDR is grimdark by any stretch, nor am I implying that age automatically assumes one lacks the maturity levels to handle the story (I regrettably know many “adults” who have the emotional resilience of a two-year-old).
But it does have a gritty edge and undertone to it that might not be appropriate for minors.
For instance, the battles are sometimes depicted in bloody detail… characters occasionally say crass things that would be deemed “triggering” by today’s standards… good people die (sometimes in upsetting ways)… and, quite frankly, the story is told by an author twice their age.
There’s nothing inherently wrong about this by any means.
I have read and enjoyed many books by people more than double my age and vice versa.
It’s just that my generation (like the ones before me) sees our respective worlds differently and tells our tales as such.
For some folks, they will share/agree with portions of my worldview.
For others, not so much.
That’s why I am very clear from the outset in my marketing that I do NOT write long books, nor ones that include dragons, orcs, elves, or talk of real-world social inequalities.
These are the kind of fantasy stories I like to read and write about.
And as you’re here in the Legion, I assume you do, too.
So, no, I wouldn’t recommend The Divided Region to kids under 17, nor adults who pretend to be mature.
If you are neither of those people, then by all means, dive right in.
Estos awaits you:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/TDR-Bundle
DJJW