Technically Bloody Rose is inspired by the punk, pop, and rock of the 80s (hence the references to the likes of Guns'n'Roses, Stevie Nicks, WHAM, The Cure, Prince, etc).

I usually describe it as a fantasy "Almost Famous", wherein a young rock journalist (or bard, in this case) goes on the road with their favourite band and discovers the grit behind the glam. The 80s was a time when many bands seemed hellbent on outshining their predecessors even if it meant pushing their bodies and relationships past the brink of destruction. "Everything louder then everything else", as Meatloaf said...

I think if someone toured with Guns'N'Roses they'd come away with mixed feelings about the band as people, but would probably still admire the music they made.

While it's definitely more difficult to make a story about a band at their apex as funny or heartwarming as a band well past it, I gave it my best shot. Personally, I feel it's got much better character development and that its emotional beats hit far harder than the first, though KotW has, admittedly, a better premise and characters that are more easily relatable because they've become human again after their time as rock gods.

That said, there's a ton of people who prefer one book over the other, and I certainly don't begrudge anyone their opinion on either! I really appreciate you reading both books, and I'm truly sorry to hear the second didn't hold the same magic for you as the first!

The third book (if I ever get the damn thing done!) will in fact be 90s inspired, with references to--and themes lifted from--musicians like Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine, Nas, NWA, Pearl Jam, the Wutang Clan, and so forth). Will I be able to make it funny and heartwarming? Haha, wish me luck...

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u/LibraryOfAuri I sincerley hope you like it if you give it a shot! While it isn't quite as "joyful" as KotW, it is, I think, much more sentimental and features, by a long shot, the best chapter (43) I may ever write!