I'm looking for some advice from authors who write modern romance or romantic comedy.

My background is writing traditional fantasy novels, yet I have an idea for a modern, dialogue heavy romantic comedy. The story relies on character interactions, humor, awkward situations, and relationship development.

Since I can't draw nor afford to commission a manga, manhwa, or graphic novel, I'd be writing it as a standard novel.

Are there any novels or authors you would recommend that do this style particularly well? I'd like to study the formatting they use before I start writing.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Hello everyone!

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I'm looking for approximately 5–10 beta readers for my completed fantasy novella The Roads Between Us: Book I – The Hearthstone Tavern.

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The manuscript has gone through several rounds of revisions and editing, and I'm now looking for feedback from readers outside of friends and family before moving forward with publication.

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This story is about family, belonging, loss, loyalty, and the people who live with the consequences of adventure long after the heroes have moved on.

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It is intentionally a slower-paced, character-driven fantasy focused on relationships, community, emotional growth, and the quiet moments that exist between larger events.

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Title

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The Roads Between Us: Book I – The Hearthstone Tavern

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Genre

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Fantasy / Cozy Fantasy / Character-Driven Fantasy

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Word Count

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~45,000 words (Novella)

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Status

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Complete

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Timeline for Feedback

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4–6 weeks (though any feedback is appreciated)

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Story Blurb

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In the city of Stonehaven sits the Hearthstone Tavern, a place where travelers, merchants, adventurers, and wanderers all eventually find their way.

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For some, it is simply a warm meal and a bed for the night.

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For others, it is the closest thing they have left to home.

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The story follows Garrick, a human tavernkeeper; Liora, an elven herbalist; and Seris, the young dragonkin girl they are raising together.

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As stories from distant roads pass through the tavern's doors, the family witnesses the friendships, triumphs, sacrifices, and tragedies left behind by lives shaped by adventure.

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Set in a world of swords and magic, The Hearthstone Tavern explores what comes after the journey—the people who wait, the bonds that endure, and the scars that remain when not every road leads home.

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Type of Feedback Requested

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• Reader engagement

• Pacing

• Character attachment

• Emotional impact

• Story clarity

• Overall enjoyment

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A Note on Writing Style

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The novel is intentionally written in a slower, more atmospheric style.

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The prose makes frequent use of shorter paragraphs, spacing, and pacing choices designed to create a more conversational and immersive reading experience. In many places, it intentionally breaks away from long blocks of descriptive text in favor of a style that I hope feels easier to read while still maintaining emotional depth and worldbuilding.

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I would love to know how readers felt about this approach.

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Questions I'm Particularly Interested In

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• Did you want to keep reading?

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• Did the writing style work for you?

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• Did the shorter paragraphs and spacing make the story easier or harder to read?

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• Were there any sections that felt slow or dragged?

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• Which characters stood out most to you?

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• Did the emotional moments land?

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• Were there any reveals, discoveries, or story developments that genuinely surprised you?

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• Without spoiling specifics publicly, were there any moments where information was intentionally withheld that you felt paid off later?

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• Did any particular scene stay with you after finishing the story?

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• Would you continue on to Book II?

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I'm less interested in grammar corrections and more interested in understanding your experience as a reader and whether the story connected with you emotionally.

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Thank you for your time, and I'd be happy to discuss beta swaps with other fantasy authors.

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Hello everyone,

I'm looking for approximately 5 beta readers for my completed fantasy novella, The Roads Between Us: Book I – The Hearthstone Tavern.

The manuscript is complete at approximately 43,800 words and has already gone through multiple rounds of revisions and editing. I'm now looking for feedback from readers outside of friends and family before moving forward with publication.

Genre

Fantasy / Cozy Fantasy / Character-Driven Fantasy

Word Count

43,800 words

Status

Complete

Format Available

PDF

Timeline

4–6 weeks, though any amount of feedback is appreciated.

Story Blurb

In the city of Stonehaven sits the Hearthstone Tavern, a place where travelers, merchants, adventurers, and wanderers all eventually find their way.

For some, it is simply a warm meal, a mug of ale, and a place to rest for the night.

For others, it is the closest thing they have left to home.

The story follows Garrick and Liora, the keepers of the Hearthstone Tavern, and Seris, the young dragonkin girl they proudly call their daughter. Curious, energetic, and forever finding trouble where none existed before, Seris has a way of turning even the quietest days into memorable ones.

As stories from distant roads pass through the tavern's doors, the family witnesses the friendships, triumphs, sacrifices, and tragedies left behind by lives shaped by adventure.

Set in a world of swords and magic, The Hearthstone Tavern explores what comes after the journey—the people who wait, the bonds that endure, and the scars that remain when not every road leads home.

Writing Style

The novel is intentionally written in a slower, more atmospheric style.

Rather than relying heavily on large blocks of descriptive text, the story uses shorter paragraphs and spacing to create a more conversational reading experience while emphasizing pacing, emotion, and character interactions.

I'm particularly interested in hearing whether this style worked for you as a reader.

Comparable Works

While every story is different, readers who enjoy the following may find themselves at home with The Roads Between Us: Book I – The Hearthstone Tavern:

• Frieren: Beyond Journey's End — for its focus on relationships, reflection, and the lives shaped by adventure after the journey is over.

• Spice & Wolf — for its slower pacing, character-driven storytelling, and emphasis on conversations and personal growth.

• Legends & Lattes — for its cozy fantasy atmosphere, community-building, and focus on everyday life rather than world-ending stakes.

• The House in the Cerulean Sea — for its themes of belonging, found family, and emotional warmth.

While The Hearthstone Tavern contains moments of action, danger, and loss, it is ultimately a story centered on people, relationships, and the impact that adventures leave behind.

Content Notes

Themes of grief, loss, family, sacrifice, and emotional trauma.

No explicit sexual content.

Feedback I'm Looking For

• Did the writing style work for you?

• Did the spacing and shorter paragraphs make the story easier or harder to read?

• Did Garrick, Liora, and Seris feel like a believable family?

• Did you become emotionally invested in the characters?

• Did the tavern itself feel like a place you wanted to return to?

• Were there any sections that felt slow or dragged?

• Were there any moments where information was intentionally withheld that felt satisfying when later revealed?

• Did the emotional scenes land?

• Which characters stood out most?

• Did any scenes stay with you after finishing the story?

• Would you continue on to Book II?

I'm less interested in grammar corrections (If you happen to spot any I'd appreciate the heads up) and more interested in understanding the overall reader experience, emotional impact, pacing, and whether the story connected with you.

I'd also be happy to discuss beta swaps with other fantasy authors.

Thank you for your time and consideration.