u/Hour-Bee9396

Sharing my story with the world feels like a beautiful milestone.. though I can't seem to shake the urge to disappear and pretend the internet doesn't exist. I've been told that's a terrible strategy for both growth and marketing, so here I am, choosing courage instead.

Before I share it, I want to be transparent about the content. While there is no sexual violence or sexual assault, the story does contain public executions and psychologically disturbing acts carried out in the name of politics and ideology. However, the violence is never there for shock value alone. It was written to explore how fear and hatred shape the people who live within my world.

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A glimpse into my story:

Theo has spent his life being told that monsters live beyond the southern desert. But when his closest friend is executed for being one of them, everything he was taught begins to unravel.

Forced to carry the king's message into the very land he was told to fear, Theo finds himself caught between two kingdoms on the brink of war, where every answer uncovers a terrifying truth.

Before his story ends, Theo must decide which truths are worth saving, and what loyalty really means.

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This is a standalone dark fantasy novella set in the same world as my novel. More than anything, I'm hoping to learn whether my story feels clear and engaging. If something confused you, slowed the pacing, or didn't work, I want to hear about it.

If Theo’s story sounds like your kind of adventure, please DM me. I'd be grateful to have you along for the journey.

If our souls eternal destiny depends on knowing God, why is the evidence for God less obvious than the evidence for clouds, trees, or germs? If God truly wants a relationship with humanity, then sincere disbelief should not be possible.

I am constantly told “first have faith or you won’t believe” but my belief in whether something exists is not a choice. I cannot choose the conclusion my mind reaches after honestly searching.

Punishing someone for an unconvinced mind would be like punishing a juror for returning a verdict based on the evidence given to them,

therefore, if a person sincerely searches for God and remains unconvinced, that is not a moral failure deserving eternal punishment. It is an honest conclusion based on the evidence provided.