This is the updated review about my novel so far, trying to reply to some questions and doubts I noticed recently about the novel.
I will start the review by quoting the words of a renown worldwide editor that I personally respect, Daniel Wallace
"Some of us writers, as a result, get confused about our goal. We try to write a novel that introduces readers to that universe that has begun shimmering in our mind's eye. But unless you plan to write a thousand page "epic," and you know how to make such a grand tome exciting to a reader, what happens instead is:
You get confused and stuck because there is so much to convey.
Your characters feel passive, like TOURISTS, because their real function in the narrative is to show up to new parts of this fictional world so that you can describe those locations to the reader.
In contrast, it can be very therapeutic, and very effective, to instead distinguish between the novel's "universe" and its "story." And then to focus on the story.
The novel's story might reveal only a tiny fraction of that fictional universe. Instead, the story focuses on a character trying to do something, to change, to figure something out. Through that fictional person's struggles, we let the reader imagine the fullness of the fictional universe we see."
My novel is well planned, per my usual writing habits in writing any story. It's grand outline, main plots and subplots are already planned out. So, a thing or two might happen that would seem illogical, or things being mentioned now and not be spoken about for long time; these all are intentional, not plot holes, but it's the plot twists.
The MC works not as a tourist, but a real adventurer, where he will focus on making himself stronger, recruit many followers, build an army, and make this army mighty.
He seeks to change his current situation to better, and he won't stop at anything while doing that.
He might seem kind at first, but if you read carefully, noticed the tiny points I scattered here and there, you will discover he never did anything to anyone outside the small area of his own personal benefit.
He never went off to rescue anyone, or make a war for a girl; everything he did and will do will only be for his own benefit.
As for the first chapters, you might think they are slow in progressing, but many, and I mean it, many plot pieces are scattered there, unseen yet to you, but everywhere you will find many secrets hidden well, and if you dig well and deep enough you will be able to spot it.
Long review short, this isn't a story written on a whim, not a story written with conflicted decisions, but it's a well planned, well executed story where everything is in deep relation to the grand plot, interlinking together as the story progresses, and finally when time is ripe, you will be amazed by the plot.
Enjoy reading, and I'm sure you will be satisfied.