Seeking Beta Readers — THE WHOLE MEGILLAH (comic literary retelling of the Book of Esther, ~95k words, complete)
Volunteer readers only — this is an unpaid beta program (early read + your name in the Acknowledgments for substantive feedback). Please don't reply offering paid beta or editing services; I'm not hiring.
What this book is: • A literary retelling of the Book of Esther — the Purim story • Told by four unreliable narrators (Haman, Mordecai, Esther, Xerxes), each sure they're the hero • Comic, satirical, and irreverent — Jewish to the bone, but NOT a religious or devotional book • Character- and voice-driven; the humor is the point • You do not need to know the Purim story to read it (though if you do, you'll catch extra layers)
What I'd love feedback on: • Whether it's actually funny — where it lands, where it falls flat • Whether the four narrators feel like four distinct people • Pacing — where you were hooked, where you drifted • Overall reading experience
What I'm NOT looking for: • Proofreading or grammar notes (a marked-up list at the end is welcome, but it's not the job) • Rewriting my voice • "This isn't my genre" feedback — if comic satire isn't your thing, this one's not for you
Logistics: • Format: PDF or EPUB (your choice) • Length: full novel, ~95k words (a 6–8 hour read) • Timeline: about 6 weeks, with a short feedback questionnaire at the end
If this sounds like your kind of read, reply or message me with: • What genres you usually read • Whether comic / satirical fiction is something you enjoy • Whether you can commit to the timeline
I'm taking on a small group this round, so I'll follow up with the readers who seem like the best fit. Thanks for reading!
Volunteer readers only — this is an unpaid beta program (early read + your name in the Acknowledgments for substantive feedback). Please don't reply offering paid beta or editing services; I'm not hiring.
What this book is:
• A literary retelling of the Book of Esther — the Purim story
• Told by four unreliable narrators (Haman, Mordecai, Esther, Xerxes), each sure they're the hero
• Comic, satirical, and irreverent — Jewish to the bone, but NOT a religious or devotional book
• Character- and voice-driven; the humor is the point
• You do not need to know the Purim story to read it (though if you do, you'll catch extra layers)
What I'd love feedback on:
• Whether it's actually funny — where it lands, where it falls flat
• Whether the four narrators feel like four distinct people
• Pacing — where you were hooked, where you drifted
• Overall reading experience
What I'm NOT looking for:
• Proofreading or grammar notes (a marked-up list at the end is welcome, but it's not the job)
• Rewriting my voice
• "This isn't my genre" feedback — if comic satire isn't your thing, this one's not for you
Logistics:
• Format: PDF or EPUB (your choice)
• Length: full novel, ~95k words (a 6–8 hour read)
• Timeline: about 6 weeks, with a short feedback questionnaire at the end
If this sounds like your kind of read, reply or message me with:
• What genres you usually read
• Whether comic / satirical fiction is something you enjoy
• Whether you can commit to the timeline
I'm taking on a small group this round, so I'll follow up with the readers who seem like the best fit. Thanks for reading!