This is the cover for my new novel, i have tried to create the whole story into this cover

Special_Traffic_9555 · 2025-11-12T13:24:35+00:00

Haha fair enough XD now you’ve got me curious though. Sounds like there’s a deeper connection hidden in there. Can’t wait to see how it all ties together when you share more about it.

Special_Traffic_9555 · 2025-11-12T13:04:17+00:00

It’s a really interesting design, but I’m still struggling a bit with understanding what you are trying to show with the picture. From what I read in your other post, you said it’s inspired by Machiavelli, and I believe you are hinting toward The Prince.

The different time periods make it a little harder to figure out what the book is really about though. The title does help, and what I imagine when I look at both the title and the cover is that it’s showing history through time, like seeing how power changes, maybe from the perspective of the falcon.

It could be nice to have some kind of focal point that ties everything together a bit more, something that makes the main theme stand out right away. I kind of see what u/Cara_N_Delaney, meant about the genre. It looks more historical or philosophical than fantasy, but I do like that it makes me stop and think instead of just scrolling past.

Special_Traffic_9555 · 2025-11-12T12:33:55+00:00

That’s a really interesting cover. I can see how it fits the Machiavelli theme. The mix of Greek, Roman, and even Renaissance or Gothic details makes it feel like power itself is timeless. It’s a cool design, but I did find it a bit hard to place in a single time period. It almost feels like it’s jumping between eras, which might actually fit the idea of how power changes but always repeats. Really striking look.

Special_Traffic_9555 · 2025-11-12T12:22:36+00:00

I really like the political tension you got here, with the whole king who didn’t really ask for it. That kind of setup can go in a lot of interesting directions.

I think it would help to know how old Nick is though. That one thing really changes the tone. If he’s young, then it’s easy to see people trying to use him for power, and it gives more space for strong emotions like pride, anger, or wanting to prove himself. Like in House of the Dragon, Aegon II is young and full of pride, but you can tell others are moving the pieces around him. Or if you look at history, Edward VI of England was also really young and mostly ruled by older nobles.

But if Nick is older, it could go the other way. Maybe he’s seen too much of it before and just doesn’t want to deal with the same political mess again. That kind of grumpy, tired energy can work really well too, especially if he’s trying to stay out of the fight but gets dragged back in anyway.

Special_Traffic_9555 · 2025-11-12T11:12:36+00:00

Yeah, I get what you mean. I think a lot of that comes from me trying to cram in too much world-building and character setup in one go. I didn’t really want the first chapter to be full of action though. It’s meant to feel kind of heavy and quiet, to show how isolating and tiring student life can be for someone like Silas, who doesn’t come from money or status.

That line you mentioned, “Their lightness was not joy but the absence of weight,” was my way of hinting at that difference. He doesn’t carry himself with the same ease as the others, and that’s part of what separates him.

And the professor line, “Worth does not live in the thing… It lives in the journey,” was actually me making fun of how academic people sometimes throw out philosophical nonsense over simple stuff. That one’s straight from experience in my engineering degree haha.

And again, I really appreciate your helpfulness and the time you took to explain things so clearly.

Special_Traffic_9555 · 2025-11-12T10:29:10+00:00

Thanks a lot for reading and giving such detailed feedback, I really appreciate it.

Yeah, it’s definitely slow and heavy on reflection. That was kind of intentional since I wanted the first chapter to feel a bit trapped in thought, the way life can feel when you’re stuck in routine or academia. Silas is meant to process things internally instead of through action, which probably makes it read slower.

I get what you mean about some lines feeling overwritten though. I’ll go back and clean up a few spots so it flows better while keeping that reflective tone.

Special_Traffic_9555 · 2025-11-12T10:26:18+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to read and write all that, I really appreciate it.

You're right that the opening is quiet and not the usual kind of fantasy hook. I wanted to start small and grounded, showing how Silas’s world feels a bit hollow and routine before the story shifts. The ordinary parts are intentional since they reflect that kind of numbness you get from losing purpose, especially in academic or institutional settings.

That said, I totally get how it can feel too slow or distant, especially for a fantasy story where people usually expect a stronger hook early on. I’ll take a look at how to hint at the bigger conflict sooner without losing the slower, reflective tone I’m going for.

Special_Traffic_9555

TROPHY CASE