So, I have started a new story. In fact, it is a reimagining of Crown of the Martyr. I say reimagining because I have fundamentally changed the entire story, all characters, the entire point and mostly just kept some of the names. The reason why is simple: I had 2 years to figure where I made my mistakes in this story and to fix them. 2 years of the occasional evening where I would just lie in bed and figure out the story and world-building.
After all the changes it is a different story. But I believe that it is and will be much better.
For one I trashed the LitRPG elements. Frankly, they were unrefined, hastily put together and did not really fit the story in the end. They were mostly a gimick and never rose above that.
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
Second, I have changed Irwyn fundamentally as a character. Having the faultless, has-solution-to-everything protagonist can be fun, but there has to be weaknesess somewhere, otherwise the mc never struggles, the stakes vanish and then the whole story becomes boring.
Third, I greatly improved on pacing and direction.
Anyway, if you have stayed a follower this long, I should hope you would at least give the new story a try, maybe leave a rating. there are 169 page at the moment, and although I don't think it can hit rising stars due to age maybe it can since no one really knows how that works.
Here is the link