Rubellite | Review and Editing Shop | HIATUS

❄ Age of POWERS | John ❄

Reviewed by: HuntedAcolyte

Book Title: Age of POWERS

Author's name: Lityo23

This will be a spoiler free review.

Title: 4/10
The title, while eye-catching, doesn't fully captivate or draw the reader in. "Age of POWERS" feels somewhat generic and could benefit from refinement or expansion. Adding more depth or specificity could make it more compelling. For example, a title like The Age of Power: Growing Darkness or The Age of Power in a Shrouded World might evoke a stronger sense of intrigue and better reflect the story's tone and themes.

Cover: 3/10
Unfortunately, the cover needs significant improvement. It lacks the vibrant colors or striking visuals necessary to grab a reader's attention, and the details are hard to discern without focused effort. This is particularly disappointing given the quality of the artwork featured within the chapters. Don't hesitate to use tools like AI to create eye-catching, visually dynamic covers that draw readers in.

The saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover," doesn't apply to books—readers often make their first decision based on the cover alone. Studies show that over 70% of readers admit to choosing a book primarily because of its cover design. This makes the cover an essential marketing tool and often the biggest selling point for your book. A captivating cover can be the difference between a potential reader picking up your book or moving on to the next.

Blurb: 1/10
The blurb is the second most critical element of your book, acting as a key selling point, much like a trailer is for a movie. It should provide a concise yet engaging summary of the overall plot that hooks the reader's interest. Unfortunately, the single sentence currently doesn't do justice to your story. A compelling blurb should be 4–6 sentences long, offering enough detail to intrigue potential readers while leaving them eager to dive into the book.

Overall Plot: 4/10
The overall plot of your story is undeniably enticing—a great evil threatening to destroy the universe by spreading chaos and destruction is a fantastic premise. However, the execution feels overwhelming. There are too many plot threads happening simultaneously: friends turning into rivals, ancient evils rising one after another, battles raging, and armies clashing. It's a lot to process and can leave the reader struggling to stay engaged. I suggest narrowing the focus to the great evil and the ally-turned-enemy subplot, which was the most compelling part of your story.

What also detracted from the story was the lack of character progression. Instead of showing Rei's growth, you tell it. We don't see her struggle, her training, or how she achieves her transformations. Time skips are frequent, and suddenly she has advanced significantly without any explanation or buildup. For example, the moment she gains the ability to summon alternate versions of herself from other universes comes out of nowhere and feels unearned. This approach risks losing your readers, as it skips the most engaging part of the story—the hero's journey. Take your time with Rei's development. Show her struggling, learning, and overcoming challenges. Let readers feel her growth and invest in her journey.

Another issue was the setting, which felt unclear and disjointed. Characters jump between universes so often that it's difficult to keep track of where the story is taking place. Condensing the locations to a handful of significant ones would help ground the narrative. For example, you could focus on an Earth-like planet as Rei's home or even make it Earth itself. The key is to make readers care about the universe being threatened. Why is it worth saving? If the setting is constantly changing, it's hard to build that emotional connection.