This book is getting away from me...
Added 2026-01-06 02:38:44 +0000 UTCBooks are living breathing things, at least for me. The plot has some landmarks that it has to hit, and I know where the overall story needs to end up, but how it gets there can take many different shapes.
The problem being that sometimes as a panster, I don't realize that the trajectory has shifted enough that it's not going to end up where I thought it was. I usually don't stress about that too much unless it's the last book of a series in which case I stress a lot.
So this book, Exploration has gotten away from me. I've really tried to far with WttM to write it so that the cross-over books will add to your understanding of the story but aren't required reading.
At the moment, I think the logical flow of this book is going to make it so that if you don't read Exploration but then read Magic Eater 5, that you'll feel like you missed out on a lot. This is the first time, I've done the cross-over before the crossover series was complete and now, I'm worried about it.
As per the cover of Exploration, it was always supposed to start here, make a connection wtih Tad, and then they were going to end up in the Divided Realms for the rest of the book, before returning for a short part in Magic Eater 5.
I'm starting to feel like Silas being who he is won't be able to leave Tad without providing some significant assistance.
So considering this- what do you all think?
Comments
There's already so much magic eater in this book at this point. I feel like a lot of the info exchange between tad and silas can be condensed into a couple of chapters. It may also leave a reader who hasn't read the magic eater series confused as to who's who and why they are or not important. That's to be expected for a cross over book though.
Lonnie
2026-01-07 17:22:11 +0000 UTCSo many thoughts and feelings related to the initial question and the discussion in the comments. Instead of catching feelings, please stay true to the characters. We've been on this ride with you so far, and many of us will be there at the end of the series and crossover. TL;DR I’ve thoroughly enjoyed what you’ve written so far; in fact, this is the first time I’ve experienced a crossover outside the DC or Marvel universes! While crossovers are exciting, they do present a unique challenge for the reader experience: The “Requirement” Factor: Readers of Magic Eater might feel forced to read WttM to understand the gap between books 4 and 5, and vice versa. Character Integrity: I appreciate that you stay true to your characters. For example, Silas leaving Tad without providing significant assistance would feel out of character. However, if external forces (like an intervention by another god) were to separate them, it creates a natural plot pivot that doesn't compromise Silas's personality. Potential Solutions: One suggestion from the community is to include a brief “The Story So Far” summary at the start of Magic Eater 5. This would catch up readers who haven't read Exploration without requiring them to switch series mid-stream. Ultimately, there is no perfect solution, and you have to stay true to your vision. I just wanted to share these observations as a fan who is enjoying the journey. I’m looking forward to seeing how you handle these threads!
Phoenix
2026-01-06 19:51:51 +0000 UTC
