Update: IGS #4 Edits

I just wanted to jump in here real quick and provide a snapshot as to where the story is as we race down the final stretch. Overall, I'm pleased and relieved to have pulled things together and hammered out a coherent plot, as that was in doubt early on and a large part of why I wrestled for so long with this book. I gave it my first shot back in February, but only got as far as Scorio reaching the Red Keep before backing away, defeated.

But FastLance, a great alpha reader of mine, gave the manuscript a look and made a fantastic suggestion that helped unlock the book. He suggested that we needed more time with the characters early on, a training arc or something where they could breathe and connect, so I went back and created the entire Silverine-warren cave section, where Scorio and his friends get trapped, and which served the purpose of deepening relationships and adding much needed meat to the plot's skeleton. From there, things progressed more easily, even as it felt at times like I was just barely staying ahead of a collapsing wave.

But we're in the final stretch now, and I while I still don't quite know how exactly the book's going to end (I mean, I have a very rough idea as to what must happen), I'm confident that I'll figure it out simply by writing my way through the last chapters and finding the overlap in the Venn diagram of what makes the most sense and is the most exciting.

A few revisions have already suggested themselves, however. They are as follows:

• Nyrix refuses Moira's touch, as I never included this aspect in the story thereafter.

• Myla's fake Heart necklace will be briefly mentioned in Dameon's first POV chapter when he speaks with her, enough to offer some foreshadowing for later.

• The Lost Cube's path in the Rosewood Box is shown to pass right by the location of Jova's Tomb of Sadness. The closest Silverine Sun is also revealed to be exceptionally close to the Tomb's location, hence the density of Philosophers in the area.

• Scorio's composure in the Cube Gauntlet will have a much more obvious impact on Myla, who learns strength from watching him and which will signal to the reader that he's fundamentally impacted her.

• Lady Krula as a Charnel Duchess heals Nyrix's head injury, or explains why she can't. Still not sure about this one, but I will address it.

I'm sure I'll polish and edit these last dozen chapters when I'm finally done so as to ensure that the whole thing hangs together, but for now we're in good shape, and what you've read so far is 95% what'll be appearing in the final version. Mostly, I'll just be going back and making sure each scene does what it needs to do, whether that's making certain moments hit harder, or adding more substance to parts that feel 'thin'. Like this last chapter I just posted--I might go back and make their escape from the Tomb more impactful, even though it currently makes sense as it reads.

I'll make another post like this once the novel is done to both update you on any additional revisions and ask for feedback, but in the meantime, thank you for being part of the ride, and offering such fantastic encouragement and feedback!