Hey there everyone! It has certainly been a while since I’ve done one of these, and honestly, I feel that’s a blunder on my part. I’ve always enjoyed previous feedback requests as they helped direct and shape the story into what it is today. I always meant to do one near the end of the current book, but the length kept growing and growing, and I dare say the book got away from me, haha.
Originally, I intended for the second book of the installment to be only slightly larger than the first, but it has since grown into a veritable behemoth. Minor storylines like Kyriakos’s were much more fleshed out, and others, like the Sideris estate siege, were never planned in the first place. One of the things I enjoy about writing this story is exactly how it sometimes gets away from me, though it does make it harder to predict the length of any given book 😅
On that note, I plan to divide Book 2 into two books, and in the near future I intend to start selling the second book on digital platforms like Amazon for a token price. I know “stubbing” is a dreaded word in RR circles, but I plan to mitigate it through several measures. Firstly, the first book will remain free in perpetuity. Secondly, I will always strive to maintain a good backlog of chapters on Royal Road for readers who like to build a backlog before reading it all in one sitting. And thirdly, I will price all of my books at roughly €3, depending on platform taxes.
With that said, I wanted to first and foremost ask for your feedback regarding the book - things you enjoyed, things you didn’t, and what aspects of kingdom-building you’d like to see emphasized more. Specifically, I would appreciate your thoughts on the multiple POVs and the pacing of the story. I’ve touched on this before in previous posts, but I like to stay in tune with my readers on these points, as they’re things I think about a lot. Do you want fewer POVs and more focus on Theodorus? Do you prefer a faster-paced storyline, or the current slower, detail-oriented historical realism? Each approach has its trade-offs. Limiting POVs can reduce the depth of character arcs and leave less room for them to breathe, while a faster pace risks scenes feeling rushed and certain developments not being fully explored, especially when it comes to historical realities and tactics. I'll probably always lean more towards multi POVs and slow pace, but your voice helps determine by how much.
This becomes particularly relevant as the next book will heavily feature the most “K-B” aspect of the kingdom-building genre - economy!
To wrap things up, I wanted to address some recent concerns regarding developments in a recent chapter. This story is not meant to dive deeply into the metaphysical or heavily feature supernatural elements, so no need to worry. These aspects are not intended to be a central focus, but rather a subtle side thread that unfolds gradually over the course of the series. The core of the story will always remain grounded in historical realism and in how those tools can be used to overcome adversity and reshape history. The hints I’ve included so far have been subtle, and my intention is to keep them that way. (Anyone who comments on this particular section, be sure to avoid spoilers of any kind for people in lower tiers please).
As for why I didn’t choose a strictly historical setting, it’s because I felt this approach allows for more interesting layers and motivations for Theodorus and certain side characters, both now and later on. There is also one key factor: reader engagement. I want readers to never be entirely certain what to expect - fortunes can shift, and unlikely events can come to pass. I want every turn of the page to carry a sense of surprise (metaphorically speaking, not sure I’ll ever have a physical book, haha). This gives me more freedom, but also more responsibility not to misuse it.
Anyway, thank you all for your support, and to everyone who comments on each chapter and shows love. This book wouldn’t be possible without you :)