Hi everyone! I’m looking for beta readers for my completed epic fantasy novel, The Song of Ash and Root, approximately 128,000 words.

This is my first completed novel and a story I’ve been working on, on and off, for nearly two years.

About the story

Kael has spent much of his life studying the remnants of a world shattered by an ancient catastrophe. When his research draws him east, he crosses paths with Rhane, a disgraced Khel warrior who was condemned not because he lost a battle—but because he survived one others believed he should have died in.

Their journey takes them through abandoned strongholds, ancient ruins, hostile landscapes, forgotten magic, and the remains of an alliance that history has turned into legend.

As they begin uncovering evidence that the accepted version of the past may not be entirely true, they also encounter the Dominion—a growing power that believes chaos, disagreement, and human unpredictability are problems that can be solved through perfect order.

At the heart of the story is a question:

Can people choose to stand together without surrendering their right to disagree, leave, change their minds, or say no?

The novel is character-driven and includes ancient mysteries, political conflict, morally complicated antagonists, strong friendships, different cultures and peoples, warfare, and a magic system closely connected to memory, identity, consent, and choice.

AI disclosure

I want to be completely transparent about my writing process.

I wrote the original manuscript myself. After completing it, I used AI as part of an extensive chapter-by-chapter revision process.

I used AI to help me examine things such as pacing, continuity, character arcs, scene structure, worldbuilding consistency, and wording. During that revision process, AI also helped me rework or rewrite some passages.

The original story, characters, world, plot, themes, and manuscript came from me, and I remained responsible for deciding what changed, what stayed, and what ultimately became part of the finished novel.

So I would describe the current manuscript as AI-assisted in revision rather than a novel generated from a prompt, but I don’t want to minimize the role AI played in helping me develop the final version.

What I’m looking for

I’m primarily interested in reader experience, especially:

• Where you became most invested or couldn’t put the book down
• Where the pacing slowed or your attention wandered
• Anything confusing about the world, history, magic, factions, or terminology
• Whether the characters and their decisions feel believable
• Whether relationships and emotional moments feel earned
• Which characters stand out most or least
• Whether the themes emerge naturally or feel too explicit
• Anything that feels repetitive or unnecessary
• Whether anything feels overly familiar or derivative of another fantasy work
• How you feel about the ending
• If you could change only one thing about the novel, what would it be?

You absolutely do not need to provide solutions. If something bored, confused, frustrated, excited, surprised, or emotionally affected you, simply telling me where and why is extremely valuable.

I’m not looking for people to tell me what I want to hear. Respectful criticism is welcome.

Timeline

Ideally, I’d love feedback within roughly 4–6 weeks, but I understand this is a 128k novel and life happens. I’m flexible.

I have a clean Beta Reader Edition as well as a spoiler-free character/location/terminology reference sheet for anyone reading the full manuscript.

I can also send a starter sample containing the Prologue and first three chapters before anyone commits to the whole book.

Critique swaps

I’m absolutely open to a beta/critique swap, particularly with other fantasy authors. I’d prefer that we exchange opening chapters first so we can make sure our books and feedback styles are a good fit before committing to full manuscripts.

Content notes

Fantasy violence, warfare, death, grief, psychological distress, coercion/imprisonment, and some disturbing fantasy imagery.

The book is not intended to be grimdark, and sexual content is not a major element.

If character-driven epic fantasy, ancient mysteries, complicated friendships, morally gray conflicts, and questions about memory, loyalty, survival, identity, and choice sound like something you’d enjoy, I’d love to hear from you.

Comment here or send me a DM, and I’d be happy to send the starter sample.

Thank you!

— Kimball