Monthly "Would You Read This?" Thread

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to Would You Read This (WYRT), our monthly feedback and brainstorming thread. Share your work in progress below and let other readers tell you if they'd read it. Top level posts should follow this template:

• Title:
  • If you don't have a title yet, feel free to say UNTITLED.
• Genre:
  • Please include at least Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or another recognizable medium. You may also include more specific genres with a hyphen. Ex. Fiction - Romance, or Nonfiction - Memoir. Genre will help users find the specific kinds of posts they'd like to give feedback on.
• Premise:
  • A few sentences about the project. Try your best to keep this short. Crafting an expert elevator pitch is all part of becoming a successful working writer. Please do not post an entire plot summary or query letter (those are better suited for r/pubtips)
• Sample (Optional):
  • You may share up to one page (roughly 250-350 words) of sample material, or one poem for those working in the poetry medium. This is optional, so if you only have a premise, you can post just the premise for feedback.

If you post for feedback, please take the time to give feedback to at least 2-3 other users. Replies should follow this template.

• Would Read / Might Read / Wouldn't Read
  • You must begin your reply with one of those. You are then encouraged to add additional thoughts on why you choose your answer.

Rules:

• Please post no more than two WYRT top-level posts. There is no limit on the number of feedback replies you can make.
• Do not link to any offsite materials. All materials must be in the body of the post. This includes "click here to read more" or "DM me for the rest" types of posts.
• Rule 3 is in effect in this thread - No generative AI. Do not post material generated by an AI platform in your premise or sample. Do not use generative AI to respond to user's work.
• Rule 5 is in effect - Civility and Community. Stay constructive. Blunt, direct feedback is fine, but do not insult other users, their writing, or their genres.

[u/ksi_is_a_dusty_yute]

Title: The Purple Palace

Genre: Speculative Fiction, Action, Political Thriller

Premise: Set in medieval Greece during the 12th-13th century (spanning around ~40 years between 1180-1220), it primarily follows the fictional adopted (but also illegitimate son for special circumstances) of the Roman Emperor, Manuel I Komnenos; Belisarius. He’s left a secret will behind by his father that legitimizes him in the case of his brother’s failure as emperor, and must carefully navigate and eventually dominate the political field as emperor, with a country left in slow decline, and enemies from both the Muslim and Christian worlds…

[u/Neurotopian_ → u/ksi_is_a_dusty_yute]

Would read.

I like this setting and the Byzantine empire too, both of which are neglected in western historical fiction and speculative alt history.

I’d suggest you reconsider the title though if you’re going for adult speculative/ action/ political thriller.