[Complete][114k][Dark Romantasy] The Void and The Soul Thief
Hi everyone!
I'm looking for beta readers for the first book of a romantasy trilogy I've been developing. This is my first time asking for beta readers and showing my work to a potential audience, so bear with me 😄 Here's everything you need to know:
Blurb: Lynarri has spent her life as a healer apprentice in a world that fears what she is: an Eldren. She lives in a kingdom that's scarce and poor, which makes her and her friends have to smuggle from other kingdoms. On one smuggling operation, she meets a disembodied force that attacks her group, pulling her into the dark and calling her something she doesn't understand: soul thief.
The being turns out to be an old enemy of the crowns and seems to be very interested in her. Lynarri doesn't know why. And the more she learns, the more it becomes clear that the world's most dangerous man might not be the biggest threat in the room.
The Void and the Soul Thief is a dark romantasy set in a world of five immortal queens, spreading magic, and a cosmic wound that's been quietly bleeding for centuries. It follows one woman discovering what she is and everyone around her realising it before she does.
Comp titles: From Blood an Ash meets Fourth Wing; The Jasmine Throne; Throne of Glass.
Good for readers who enjoy:
- Enemies-to-lovers with actual tension and a very slow build
- Political intrigue across multiple kingdoms with a cast you actually care about
- Found family dynamics that get messy and complicated
- Magic systems tied to identity and cost
- A female protagonist who grows from passive to formidable across the series
- Dark tone balanced with genuine warmth between characters
Some content warnings:
- Violence and death (including on-page)
- Trauma and emotional manipulation
- Referenced childhood sexual abuse (not depicted in detail, but present in backstory)
- Death and grief
Feedback should work with answers like:
- Does the pacing hold your attention? Where did you slow down or disengage?
- Are the characters consistent and compelling?
- Does the world feel coherent without being overwhelming?
- Did the ending land emotionally?
- What confused you? What made you want to keep reading?
It can be delivered however works for you — a document with comments, a summary email, a voice note, whatever. There's no rigid format. I just ask that it's genuine.
Timeline: Ideally until the end of June, but I'm flexible!
I'm not looking to do a critique swap at this point in time. I want to be upfront about that so no one feels misled. I genuinely appreciate the community spirit behind swaps — just not where I am in the process right now.
If you're interested, drop a comment or DM me with a little about yourself as a reader — what you enjoy, what romantasy you've read, anything that feels relevant. I'll reach out to confirm and send the file from there.
Thanks for reading this far. 🖤