This is a contest designed to help expose your novel to the greater Wattpad community. Whether you just joined Wattpad or have been an active member for years, the sole purpose of this contest is to assist in the recognition of your book.
NBR'S CUR...
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Commenting time frame (CST): Aug 12 - Aug 21 (since the round was published late this week. We're so sorry about that!)
Comment Topic: Comment on the way the authors brought their story to life. In other words, how well did they do on describing the scene?
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Specified Chapter: Ch. 1~ Freedom Beckons
Summary Thus Far in Book: N/A
Author's Note: Author's Note: Woo, in the Spotlight. *cue throwing confetti then nervously waiting for criticism, lol!* This is the 4th novel NBR has graciously let me Spotlight. A HUGE thank you to DawnStarling and the moderators for keeping this group going. I'm so glad to be a part of it.
Deep in the Shadows is a Fantasy novel, and it's the first time I'm trying my hand at 3rd person Omniscient. That means the narrator knows thoughts of side characters as well as mcs. So, my questions are:
1- When the narrator jumps from the mind of one character to the other, is it ever confusing or does it take away from the general flow of the story? I try to make it seem natural, so I need to know how close I've come to it.
2. I'd like to know what you think of Nera. I'm still fleshing her out, as this story is still in the beginning stages, so I'd be grateful for any insight you might have about her past and personality from you've read here. Is she likeable? Too mysterious? Does she seem too violent and strange to be likable? If she were a male character, I wouldn't be so worried, but as she's a girl, I'm worried some readers might think she's too much, too dark or jaded to be likable. (Just FYI, I like her very much).
3. As this is the first chapter, is it interesting enough to make you want to read on? Why or why not?
In-line Comment Preference: ♡ them!!
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: PG-13 for mild violence and talk of a sensitive subject (nothing specific, but Nera mentions that prisoners and slaves worry about 'being taken advantage of' by the guards)
Winning comment: Congrats on the spotlight! I'm sorry for this being so late, I had a long and busy week.
CT: I thought your descriptions were nice and very realistic. You set the scene of the cell quite graphically, and it was nice to see the brutal side of the prison! I would have liked to know more about the prison itself, even though it isn't necessary. I did think it went rather slow, but that was obviously intentional because you set the ending up nicely.
Q1: Switching between the point of views never bothered me, but I felt like I didn't get to know your characters very well. For about 75% of your chapter was switching between Nera and the guard, and I felt like I got to know them both equally, instead of your main character. You added more about her towards the end but that is question two and I will answer it there. Switching between them allowed for more interesting monologues and while it worked very well, some people may not like it. I was split even. I liked it at some parts, but I also wanted to see more of Nera.
Q2: I don't think we got too much of her. She seems to be highly trained and skilled, while being somewhat inquisitive and skeptical. Nera knows what she is doing -- even though we don't -- and isn't afraid. She seems like a warrior or assassin to me. About her personality, though, is something I didn't really see. She is fearless, and that's about all I got. Maybe add a little more about her and that will make me more compelled to like her.
Q3: I do want to continue, but I'm also a little hesitant. I really like your setting and plot, and the ending of the first chapter hooked me very well, but I don't know too much about Nera and that somewhat shakes my answer. Why is she there? Why did she steal cloths and get herself arrested? Why does she have to escape? These questions drive me to keep reading but they also somewhat turn me away because that is something I want to know almost instantly. If you keep up with the action and character development, I would read to the end. For now, let's say I would probably read the next chapter.
