Hey ,
It's me again, your friendly neighborhood book weirdo. And you may disagree with what I'm about to share, but that's okay.
I will warn you, if you have not read Twilight... there are spoilers in this rant. Who hasn't read Twilight? That's a ridiculous question... if you haven't, you have at least heard enough spoilers about it as it is. It's proliferated EVERYWHERE!
Many authors try to defy expectations, wow, and delightfully surprise a reader!
That's wonderful, and a reader wants to be guided along a fantastical journey, BUT, and here's where you might disagree with me, perhaps try to strangle some sense into me through your screen, BUT, I repeat unnecessarily, it is rare that I've enjoyed a book that defied too many expectations that I had when I picked it up to begin with.
I pick up a sci-fi fantasy adventure, I expect starting in a mundane world and being whisked away into something fantastical. I expect the main hero to kick ass and be daring and resilient.
So, sure, defy my expectations and have the adventure twist and turn, but...
You could have the BEST sci-fi adventure story ever, but readers can still give you a lower rating if they EXPECTED something that wasn't delivered on.
I can pick up a sci-fi adventure, and my expectations don't include any raunch at all, and if it suddenly has a sex scene that makes NO SENSE other than to be shoved in there without any lubricant, then that is not within my expectations and would decrease my enjoyment of the book!
I guess what I'm trying to say is expectations ARE everything, and there is nothing wrong with a book that meets those expectations and delivers on them.
A book doesn't have to be life shattering to help someone escape and resonate with a reader, and as a reader a book doesn't have to be littered with red herrings to trick the reader's expectations so that we are "surprised".
Surprises are not all they are cracked up to be. Screw surprises in terms of defying the basic expectations of why I picked up the book in the first place.
So what, if I know the characters are fated mates and WILL end up together. It's the journey that I'm reading and escaping into.
Take Twilight for instance, sure you can say what you want about the "quality" of writing. (Though, really, I didn't have any issues with it, screw the critics, I admit I enjoyed the Twilight Series hardcore.)
Expectations were set that Bella wanted Edward, and Edward was who she was going to get, and even through the stint with the whole team werewolf, we ALL knew she was going to get back with team vampire. And because she DID, expectations were met, and we all felt satisfied, and the book went VIRAL!
Kingdom of Acatalec is a slow-burn fantasy sci-fi mash up that starts in the mundane world of a very near-ish-like future Seattle with drone transportation, following the spunky heroine Tyler as she discovers a magical alien world interconnected with Earth.
Yes, there is a couple on the cover, so yes, there is romance, but again it is a slow-burn romance and as it's a series, and this is book one, do not set your expectations for any kind of raunch until the characters get to know each other/accept each other. If anything, my MC, Tyler, has a huge crush on one character, but isn't sure about her feelings towards another... so really, I guess it's like life, she has feelings, but who can she trust?
Even Twilight had a couple on the cover, and no one is doubting the story is romance, but really, she doesn't end up with the guy at the end of book one! They dance... and share one kiss! Book two Edward is BARELY there, it's mostly all about her psychotic hallucinations and self-harm, until the very end when he saves her from herself! Really, they wouldn't have been in any of the trouble they found themselves in book three without the massive downward spiral Bella instigated in book two. And the Twilight series is considered YA, but... BUT, book three they have a honeymoon, and get PREGNANT, raunch ensued! I digress.
First and foremost, Kingdom of Acatalec is a fantasy adventure set in a futuristic world with deadly drone races, a kingdom with a mysterious secret that could end both civilizations, and along the way you have two magical dudes that she crushes on, but she's got more important things to do like survive this new world with the skills she's honed through adversity.
I think other readers kind of explain the book best, even better than me, the author!
Here's what some people have said about the story so far:
"This book did not grab me from the first paragraph. Or the first page. Or even the first chapter. It built slowly until I was hooked. The night I started "Kingdom of Acatalec" I read until almost 2.a.m. before I realized how late it was. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an adventure in mystery." - Barbara 5-star review.
I'll be honest, I never really considered my adventures a mystery, but yah, I guess she's right! There is a hidden mystery of why the drone race exists to begin with, or why it's so important that the Kingdom of Acatalec finds who they are looking for to save both civilizations.
Magical world of aliens, check.
Lots of secrets, and world building check, and check.
Mystery, murder, and lies... Absolutely!
The romance takes longer to develop, yup.
MC is in a wheelchair, and that doesn't stop her from kicking ass, YESSSS!
I tried to create HTML coding to do a hide and reveal on click function for this potential spoiler, but enter at your own risk.. or read this section at your own risk if this code doesn't end up working... haha.
(START POTENTIAL SPOILER CODE)
<a onclick=" hiddentxt.style.visability ='visible';">Potential Spoiler More...</a>
<div id="hiddentext"> ** potential spoiler?**
I'll be honest with you, YES, the MC does find a way to walk again, painfully, but her legs end up making things more difficult for her than when she stuck with the wheelchair, and legs are just another obstacle for her. Is that a spoiler... or perhaps incentive to find out how that's possible? Or find out whether she chooses to keep relying on something that makes life more difficult, or accept that injury is pain, and not let that define her life? All while kicking ass in an epic fantastical futuristic adventure!</div>
(END OF POTENTIAL SPOILER CODE)
Go start reading/listening to Kingdom of Acatalec today! Available in all the places books/stuffage is sold including Kindle, Audible and more! Even request the book at your local library! I would absolutely love it if you did that!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B4V9867P
Already read the book? Thank you from the bottom of my squishy heart, please share your thoughts on all the places readers gather, even on your favorite Facebook groups! Many indie authors such as myself are not allow to self-promote on many groups, so your word of mouth means everything!
Review Kingdom of Acatalec on Amazon -- BookBub -- GoodReads
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~Stevie, author of all things fantasical and otherworldly adventurous, mom of a few humans in training... including my hubby. Overall booknerd, and yes... I am writing this in my pjs. Why not?
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