D.M.’s Comments (group member since Nov 11, 2025)

D.M.’s comments from the Beta Reading and Editing group.

Hi all! I'm in need of Beta readers for my completed adult Romantic fantasy of 115,000 words, with Greek mythology elements. It is an original story, with original characters, but many mythological figures are referenced, so if you're a fan of Greek mythology this will be for you!

Blurb:

After the death of the Gods, the Creatures of Mythology were forced into hiding in the Underworld to escape Human persecution. Hades, the Last God left, has promised that one day, they will return to the Desolated World Above and reclaim it. Until that day, no Creature is allowed to set foot there.

Ilaeira, a Psychopomp Creature whose job it is to escort Human Souls into the Afterlife, is blackmailed by the Soul of a young man to smuggle him back into the World Above to give a final message to the woman he loves.

Thrust into a forbidden journey, she is faced with unimaginable beauty, danger, ancient secrets, and the impossible realization that she is feeling emotions she isn't supposed to for the very Soul she must eventually deliver to Hades.

The novel is the first in a planned trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. It features a slow burn, reluctant allies to friends to maybe more storyline, where Ilaeira and the Soul embark on a journey through the World Above facing situations that will challenge them, break them, and bring them closer to each other, to the truth and to who they truly are.

Prevalent themes are institutionalized religion, childhood trauma, depression, emotional suppression, violence, conditioning, self discovery, death and duty vs loyalty.

This story turns all the popular romantasy tropes on their head, while still (I hope) maintaining the romance that they inspire.

This is my sixth draft, it has been through 3 rounds of developmental edits and 2 line edits, but before I proceed with another round, I need objective opinions on characterization, character arc and plot.

TW: there are 2 spicy scenes, discussions about spice, cursing, some gore, death, discussions about death, conditioning, violence, depression, childhood trauma (no sexual assaults of any nature).

If you'd like to check it out and invest your time, I will be more than happy to send the first 10 chapters (or more) so you can see if you're interested! I require honest feedback, and do not want the use of AI in any way shape or form for this! Thanks in advance!!