[Complete] [72k] [Epic/Political Fantasy] Heir of the Ashes

**The Blood of Kings — Book One**

**Heir of the Ashes**

A newborn prince is celebrated across a continent that believes its peace is permanent. Kings strengthen borders, the Church chooses a new Shepherd, ancient bloodlines gather for a royal baptism, and rival kingdoms pursue their own interests beneath the appearance of stability.

Then the celebration ends in blood.

*Heir of the Ashes* is a slow-burn epic/political fantasy focused on characters, competing kingdoms, ancient institutions, and the tensions beneath a seemingly peaceful world.

**I'm looking for feedback particularly on:**

* Whether the pacing holds your attention * Which characters you become attached to * Whether the worldbuilding remains understandable without excessive exposition * How well the political tensions come across * Whether the different POVs keep you engaged * Whether the ending makes you want to continue into Book Two

I'm **not primarily looking for line editing**. I'm interested in the experience of reading the novel as a reader: where you were hooked, where your attention dropped, what confused you, what you enjoyed, and what made you want to keep reading.

**Genre:** Epic Fantasy / Political Fantasy **Status:** Complete manuscript **Length:** 72k words

**Content warnings:** Violence, death, political violence, assassination, grief. **Preferred timeline:** No strict deadline; I'd rather receive thoughtful feedback than rushed feedback.

I'm also happy to do a critique swap if that's something you're interested in.