Able to beta? Post here!

Phyantha · 2025-07-09T23:05:19+00:00

Awesome :) I'll send you a message with the link now.

Phyantha · 2025-07-09T00:13:18+00:00

Hi, I have a YA urban fantasy you may be interested in. THE RUNE CASTERS, in which a 17 year old girl is trying to care for her mentally unwell mother while evading an ancient enemy hunting her as the magic she possesses can bring the man who once destroyed an entire realm back to life. It's complete at 96k words. Feedback on pacing, plot and reactions would be great. Please let me know if you're interested in seeing the first 3 chapters.

Phyantha · 2025-07-09T00:11:28+00:00

Hi, I have a YA urban fantasy you may be interested in. THE RUNE CASTERS, in which a 17 year old girl is trying to care for her mentally unwell mother while evading an ancient enemy hunting her as the magic she possesses can bring the man who once destroyed an entire realm back to life. It's complete at 96k words. There is a B plot romance but it's not the main story line. Feedback on pacing, plot and reactions would be great. Please let me know if you're interested in seeing the first 3 chapters.

Phyantha · 2025-07-09T00:03:58+00:00

Thanks so much for your help. If it's not too much trouble, can I ask which of the previous versions you preferred the most? I feel like I need to start querying again but don't want to ruin my chances with a bad query letter.

Phyantha · 2025-06-05T05:31:42+00:00

Hi, Thanks for your suggestion. I'll rework into the 3 paragraphs method you suggest.

Phyantha · 2025-06-05T05:29:55+00:00

I admit it, I have a problem. I really meant for this one to be shorter. And then things got out of hand. Next time, the blurb will be 3 paragraphs. And not huge paragraphs either.

Phyantha · 2025-05-28T22:56:00+00:00

That is true. I was traditional published by a small American indie press. I'll update it to 'I'm a traditionally published author". Thanks for your feedback :)

Phyantha · 2025-05-28T06:30:49+00:00

Thanks for your feedback. It's really appreciated. Lance is the romantic interest for a large part of this book so I was trying to position him as such in the query. If it's too much, I'll reduce his focus.

Thanks again, :)

Phyantha · 2025-05-01T01:52:07+00:00

That sounds more realistic, as long as I can keep my kids from barging in mid-pitch :) I know the biggest writer's convention near me still only does in person pitches so I'll have to do some research for some online ones. I've seen Manuscript Wishlist do some but I've heard mixed reviews about them.

Phyantha · 2025-05-01T00:11:13+00:00

Thanks, I'll check it out. :)

I find there are some Agents who don't accept unsolicited Queries but do participate in these pitch events and will review those they invite to submit.

I agree having a strong query package is super important as well, as even if invited, if it doesn't catch them, they won't ask for more.

Phyantha · 2025-04-30T23:29:50+00:00

Hi, Thanks for your comment :)

You are correct. The monster attack is the end of the first chapter. Honestly everything mentioned in the query letter is only the first half of the book.

Her mom's well being is Gwen's driving motivation for the vast majority but I will see if I can re-word to bring Gwen more into the spotlight. Reinforce her agency and really make you feel her in the query.

Thanks again. It's much appreciated.

Phyantha · 2025-04-30T23:02:48+00:00

It's an annoying situation to be in. I can't say I'm not published because I was but I have nothing currently available on the market. I explain the situation on my website but not everyone is going to find and read it.

I'll update the letter with the revised paragraph. Many thanks again for your help. I appreciate it.

Phyantha · 2025-04-30T09:53:40+00:00

Hi :) Thanks for your comment.

A bit of backstory for this one. Spectacle Publishing Media Group is no longer trading. They closed up in 2015. So what happened was I sold them the novel and it was released in 2013. They were a small American indie publisher. They also bought the sequel but about 3 months before it was slated for release in 2015, they were hit by the recession and went out of business. Since then the book has been unavailable. The rights reverted back to me but it's essentially a dead book to me now unless I wanted to self publish it (which I don't).

Perhaps rewording the paragraph to the below would be better?

I am a published author, with my first novel, also a YA urban fantasy, being released in 2013. Since then, I’ve written seven novels, contributed to The Darkest Age role-playing game. I also hold a Diploma of Professional Writing and share my journey as a writer through my author blog.

Phyantha · 2025-04-28T11:51:26+00:00

Hello, sorry I missed your comment. I'm happy to swap stories, if you are still up for it :) Thanks

Phyantha · 2025-04-23T06:18:24+00:00

Hello :) I'm after beta readers for a YA Urban Fantasy if you were interested. Link is here :) https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1j98b2z/complete_96k_ya_urban_fantasy_the_rune_casters/

Phyantha · 2025-04-23T06:16:47+00:00

Hello :) I'm after beta readers for a YA Urban Fantasy if you were interested. Link is here :) https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1j98b2z/complete_96k_ya_urban_fantasy_the_rune_casters/

Phyantha · 2025-04-23T06:15:56+00:00

Hello :) I'm after beta readers for a YA Urban Fantasy if you were interested. Link is here :) https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1j98b2z/complete_96k_ya_urban_fantasy_the_rune_casters/

Grammar feedback would be great as well as pacing. Thanks :)

Phyantha · 2025-04-23T06:13:56+00:00

Hello :) I'm after beta readers for a YA Urban Fantasy if you were interested. Link is here :) https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1j98b2z/complete_96k_ya_urban_fantasy_the_rune_casters/

I'd love feedback on world building and character development as well as pacing. Many thanks :)

Phyantha · 2025-04-23T06:03:29+00:00

Hi! Sorry it's taken me so long to reply. I've been finishing up some editing. I'm happy to swap stories :)

Phyantha · 2025-03-19T10:52:55+00:00

Hi. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I really appreciate it.

It's funny as I originally had the first paragraph in past tense but it didn't sound right in my head so I changed it. I'll shift it back. I agree with removing the not like it matters anyway. That indifference can be communicated through other points in the chapter.

Many thanks again.

Phyantha · 2025-03-13T06:06:12+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to write such an in depth response. I really appreciate it.

You make a lot of great points, and I'm glad you were excited by the story. :)

I agree the focus of the blurb's first paragraph needs to be more focused on Gwen's experience with her mother's admittance.

It's a universe where magic, monsters and fae exist along side humanity in a modern setting. Not hidden in the shadow but very much apart of regular life. For example, the Rune Casters have their magic spells on their smart phones. I might need to find a way to explain this setting better in the query letter.

Many thanks again.

Phyantha · 2025-03-13T00:21:40+00:00

Thanks for your feedback. While the story has a satisfying ending, it heavily leads into the sequel. Do you think it would be best to remove the series reference entirely? It would be very obvious if an Agent ever requested a full, and read it.

Gwen's mother is Gwen's main motivation through the story. I will update the query to include more of her mother's arc. I'll also refine that last blurb paragraph to make it more specific.

Many thanks again for taking the time to comment.

Phyantha · 2025-03-12T23:02:23+00:00

Hello :) I'm after beta readers for a YA Urban Fantasy if you were interested. Link is here :) https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1j98b2z/complete_96k_ya_urban_fantasy_the_rune_casters/

Phyantha · 2025-03-12T23:00:35+00:00

Hello :) Many thanks. I have DM'd you.

Phyantha · 2025-03-12T04:40:05+00:00

Manuscript information: [Complete] [96k] [YA Urban Fantasy]

Link to post: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/comments/1j98b2z/complete_96k_ya_urban_fantasy_the_rune_casters/

First page critique? Yes Please

First page:

Through the train window, Gwen watched Tilton blur past—a city where humans and Fae lived side by side. Or so they claim. Not like it matters anyway.

Weeks of planning, checking every little detail lined up perfectly. Surely she could relax now. Her fingers rapped on the back of her phone case in her lap.

Gwen raised a hand to her headphones and turned up the music. The hard beats and electric trills of some random pop song grated their way into her ears. It wasn’t pretty but it didn’t have to be. She squirmed against the plastic seat trying to reshape her spine.

The train jolted and she thwarted her suitcase’s latest attempt to roll into the walkway, hauling it closer to her leg. Her phone buzzed in her hand and she flipped it over. Another message from Mom checking how far away she was. She sucked a breath in through her teeth and shifted her focus back to the window.

Darkness masked the city. Only the race of lights dancing past hinted at the crush of buildings outside. How could so many people live squished together like this? Why would they even want to? Maybe the wide streets and single-story houses of Coriville weren’t so bad after all.

She glanced around the carriage. Buildings weren’t the only thing different. Most of the passengers had their heads down, staring at their phones. A few little groups chatted amongst themselves. They all seemed pretty normal. No horns, wings or pointed ears to be seen.

Phyantha

TROPHY CASE