Consolidated Feedback for "What do you want to see in book 5?"

Hello again guys. I've been holding off on doing this until the ebook release, but I've been thinking about the stuff you're about to read for awhile. Additionally, I've been going over the "What do you want to see in book 5?" thread for patrons only. This can be considered a second such thread, but open to everyone who follows this patreon.

Once again, I want to take the time to reflect on the state of the series, what we've done so far, and where I want the series to go moving forward.

First, with the negative. The bulk of the issues I hear people raise all seem to stem from one root cause: the story is getting too complicated. Reception of the dual Earth / Other world plotlines is somewhat mixed, and it's tough for people to follow. I think people would prefer if I shifted to a more linear story. I'll have to focus on finishing up the integration of Earth, and we'll just check in on them periodically.

Also, there are a number of plot threads that have been dangling way too long. Mainly, Sakura's father and reviving Ben and the others. I really thought I was going to address both those in book 2 or 3, but they keep getting pushed back. I'm hoping this is the last time and both will be satisfyingly concluded in book 5.

Myrina is not as much of a favorite character as I would like. I love writing her, but most readers would prefer I sideline her more in favor of other harem members. Likewise, Reluna isn't resonating as well as I want. She needs more page time to develop more chemistry with Carter.

Additionally, it seems like I can once again increase the alternate POV concentration of the books. At the start, I was just doing one. Then I jumped to two, and finally to three alternate POV chapters last book.

Now, I think I'll push things up to four. Perhaps even five. But don't worry, Carter's perspective will still make up 90% of the book.

For the positive, I think readers generally like Cyra a lot. Carter as a character had a bit of a rocky start, with some readers leaving because of the Chaos Wolf thing in book one, but things are going smoother now and readers generally like him as the protagonist. The current balance between stats and text is okay-ish, with text readers being okay with more stats and audio listeners wanting the same or fewer.

The series does seem to be maintaining a modest but dedicated fanbase who talks about the books and recommends the books to others, for which I'm extremely grateful. I hope I've done right by you guys and plan to continue doing so.

Have additional feedback?

This feedback list will remain open indefinitely, though obviously once the book is mostly done I won't be able to act on it much.

If you're just tuning in now and have new ideas, or if you're coming here after reading the book on Amazon, feel free to add any ideas / thoughts / criticism / complaints here. I read everything that is posted here (and on this patreon page in general.)

Below, you'll find my notes summarizing everything you guys said in the previous thread. I will add to them if any of you guys find you have more to say.

Remaining plotlines to be tied up:

• Meeting Sakura's father

• Meeting Lyra (Reaper of the System) again.

• Fulfill Carter's promise to revive Ben and the others.

• Who built the golems on the golem shard and what are they protecting?

• What is the System planning?

• What is the Goddess in Jade's sect planning with their invasion?

• Babies for Bridget.

• What is Eowyn up to, and hopefully see her again.

• Carter never got the final notification for conquering the Torchdragon shard.

• What's going on with the ancient books Carter found and the ruins under his house?

• How is the Sage of Forbidden Knowledge class Carter has connected to the Chaos Gods?

Item ideas:

• Upgrades for Doomseeker.

• Power Armor is a winner. Carter should continue to upgrade and make more.

• More unique items for Crownhill & New Earth can become an industrial powerhouse.

• More things that blend tech and magic to produce powerful results.

On explicit content:

• Readers want sexual content where it is. Could be increased slightly if needed. Feedback is mixed on the domination & submission themed sex scenes, but leans slightly toward positive. The kink level can be kept roughly where it is.

Plotline ideas from readers:

• Want a little more focus on Earth and battling the Chaos Gods there.

• A little more intense / desperate situations for Carter to be dropped into.

• Expand the monster XP farm.

• Expansion for Crownhill. Recruit more off-world crafters to help strengthen his faction.

• Need to start merging skill slots and simplify Carter's list of abilities.

• People want to meet more famous adventurers and influential people across the Arcadia Multiverse.

• Want to encounter another shard of successful humans.

• Explore the origins of the system and some of the story's cultivation elements.

People ideas and comments from readers:

• Myrina being intelligent like in the deleted chapters and getting some sort of leadership position of the mage army.

• Spend some time with Prince Herius, Cyra, and Myrina, as family.

• Requesting the Goddess in Jade join the harem.

• More sexy elf characters.

• Reluna still needs more screen time.

• Check in with the criminals in the swamp breeding trolls.

• See the Governess AI continue to develop.

• Additional species requests: Kitsune, catgirls, yokai, etc.

• Additional non-hostile races.

• Formalize the integration of the goblins with Earth. Higher status for Gobgob.

Abilities ideas from readers:

• Transition Carter to an updated power system that can handle a higher power level.

• Still waiting for sexy female Sharky.

• More use of Share Curse, which should still be nasty for enemies.

• A little more exploration of cultivation magic.

• Requests for a Mana Barrage upgrade.

Faction Building ideas from readers:

• Expand Crownhill's re-industrialization.

• Find a way to bring Carter's army of recruits home after the war on Ladwick?

• More citybuilding to grow Crownhill.

General Writing Style feedback:

• More POV chapters. The number of alternate POV scenes can be increased again. (Normally just one, for book 4 it was two. Readers might be okay with three or even four.)

• I still owe you guys a side story at some point. Either the girls, another character, or somebody else.

• Typo complaints in the kindle version have mostly cleared up, so the 2 editor workflow is working.

• Release rate is on the slow side for harem. Ideally, I want to release every 3 months instead of every 4.

• The story is getting too complicated with so many plot threads going on. Need to trim a few of them down and simplify the story.