Political marriage, war taxes, subsidies, a tribute... All those terms sound nice when one juggles them from behind the screen of his trusty computer! Junk food? Check. Sugary drinks that will cause me diabetes? Check. Two weeks of leave from the work? Check. A fresh copy of the newly released game finishing downloading as I'm going back from the grocery store? Check. Oops! My emotions got better to me, and I tripped on the stairs. I'm so silly! Then... Why the hell am I kneeling in a throne room, watching the marriage and coronation ceremony of the King, dressed in the noble robes with the game itself only flashing in the corner of my eyes? Discord link: https://discord.gg/pJTVGZZ
This is very much a coming of age story. Fantastical elements take a backseat to the story of Trent, a freshman in highschool at 15, who is desperate to learn more about the father who died before he was born and learn his place in this world. Scifi elements do exist and occur, but they're often cutaway events that quickly return to the school life drama unfolding among Trent and his friends. As the story continues, those fantastical elements do slowly encroach more and more onto Trent's life, but the operative word here is 'slowly'. By chapter 20 there may be a significant shift away from this, but the first dozen chapters are densely packed with Trent's life both at school and at home. Characterization comes first here, and before any of the action, the author makes sure you'll care about the characters involved in that action. If you're looking for an urban fantasy/scifi with a deliberate pace and a focus on characterization first, it's worth keeping an eye on this story and seeing if you find yourself drawn into Trent's story.