Over the last few weeks I have, several times, simply forgotten to post a new chapter part. I did say that I would persist in posting, for the sake of anyone reading, but I have so little engagement from Royal Road that I struggle to remember to do so.

I have not received any feedback for a couple of months now and despite my pleas for comments, I am bound to conclude that if anyone other than an AI collecting material so it can replace living authors is responsible for the views I am getting, then they are readers stubbornly resistant to giving any feedback. Such readers are of little help to a fledgling author and, frankly, I have had enough of screaming into the void.

So, sadly, Royal Road has proved a complete waste of time and I am bound to conclude this will not change. Publishing here has proved futile in my case. To continue would be to flog a dead horse. Thus, I am doing anyone who does view this novel the courtesy of letting you know that I am suspending chapter posting indefinitely because it's just not worth the effort. The reality is that I do not suppose anyone will react to this post anymore than they have to the 60K words posted so far, and that rather depressing fact will vindicate my decision not to publish further.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Writing is a lonely process and constructive criticism is essential to the writer. I am clearly not going to get feedback here, and its absence is, of course, dispiriting. Despite making no impression upon this community, fortunately I am able to retain confidence in my writing thanks to my editor, my beta reader and my publisher, who have given me the help I needed because they have confidence in my work, for which I am truly grateful.

In case there is someone who has been enjoying this novel, and remember, two months in I have absolutely zero evidence that such a person exists, then do not despair. A final draft of this novel is in preparation with a view to the publication of a print volume Q1 2025. I need to concentrate on making that happen. I do not have any further time to waste.