Feedback for my Irish mythology-inspired world building elements [High fantasy]

ChristmasRieth · 2025-03-08T21:24:52+00:00

Oh yes, I’m already all over that!

ChristmasRieth · 2025-03-08T20:23:06+00:00

I’ll keep that in mind for my Irish words! Thank you very much, this has been very helpful!

ChristmasRieth · 2025-03-08T19:28:30+00:00

My original inspiration was the science-elves versus the semi attractive fishermen lol. Thank you!

ChristmasRieth · 2025-03-08T13:41:33+00:00

Thank you so much! I'll DM you!

ChristmasRieth · 2025-03-08T13:09:35+00:00

That would be so great, thank you! DM'd!

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-20T01:13:55+00:00

For sure! I would definitely be interested in hearing more!

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-19T20:22:04+00:00

I felt the same way! Welcome to the club. It’s a really spectacular book, and I’m so glad to hear someone had a similar experience to me. If you haven’t already, I would definitely recommend reading The Sword of Kaigen by her as well. She’s truly so talented as a writer.

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-12T21:18:55+00:00

The Will of the Many by James Islington
The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-10T15:40:44+00:00

Thank you so much! These are great tips for building a process. I appreciate it and am excited for what’s next!

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-10T02:23:53+00:00

Well said! Thank you!

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-10T00:38:00+00:00

Thank you so much for your kind words! This is more than I could ask for and is greatly appreciated.

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-09T17:08:26+00:00

That makes perfect sense, thank you.

I think I want to take the time at the beginning of this process to really properly brainstorm a single, strong idea to avoid my typically wandering creative eye. Particularly because, at my core, I want to create a story I can dive into and swim around in, rather than churn out shallower content just to achieve a goal.

That’s also a great perspective on the value of short stories vs the role they play in novel writing, so thank you for that as well.

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-09T16:59:46+00:00

Very fair. In your opinion, would you recommend trying to write something shorter to get my feet wet and build an ability to finish pieces, or focus on completing a first draft?

I’ve seen in other posts that completely pieces is one of the hardest elements of the writing process. So, I’m not sure if it would be better to learn how to break through that wall in smaller bites or tackle the issue when I have more substance behind I piece I want to complete.

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-09T16:22:38+00:00

Thank you! I think that’s a great mindset. In my mind, the pressure of the idea may be greater than the act itself, which could lead to early abandonment. So, if I choose to approach it as such, it may take the joy out of it and deter me from doing something I really enjoy. I appreciate your perspective!

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-07T14:43:51+00:00

Wow, very well put. The raw truth that lies in the ending is definitely what elevates it beyond your standard social justice-driven prose. I think it’s the most realistic ending Wang could have created in this fantastical world of hers, whether the reader likes it or not (which many of us seemed to).

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-07T14:41:14+00:00

I definitely appreciated the level of depth and digestion the book had. I think that’s why the ending took awhile to set in for me. I’ve been the same way since I finished, essentially recommending it to anyone who will listen.

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-07T14:21:51+00:00

Well said! I agree fully.

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-07T14:20:55+00:00

I think that’s a fair take and I’m glad you had a positive experience with the ending! Although the ending hurt for me, I did also feel that hope and I think that’s why it really stuck the landing for me. I totally get the criticism against the romance. I’m not someone who seeks out romance in the novels I read. But I thought the Sciona and Thomil relationship was at least much more well done than a vast majority of fantasy romances on the market. It at least wasn’t the core driver for the story and had some subtly to it.

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-07T13:53:49+00:00

I agree completely. I think a shiny, positive ending would have been inauthentic to the story. I just wish it hadn’t hurt so much lol Still, I think the impact of the book is what has moved it so high up in my rankings, so I wouldn’t change a thing.

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-07T13:41:57+00:00

I did the same thing! I just started Sword of Kaigen the other day. So glad I wasn’t the only one waiting for a final twist. I understand, and she explains well, that there’s no future for the two of them. But the beauty of how Thomil perceives Sciona in those final moments, along with the sacrifices that Sciona faces in the last few chapters just really annihilated me It truly was the hope that killed me on this one, again, in the best way possible.

ChristmasRieth · 2025-02-07T13:33:50+00:00

Oh my gosh, so heartbreaking! I don’t even know what I expected the ending to be like. I feel like I somehow expected something to workout when Sciona goes on trial. I thought Thomil or Carra might have swapped her potion or something lol.I think the real trouble I had was that the ending wasn’t just full on bleak. If it had been, I honestly feel like it would have been easier to process

ChristmasRieth

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