The Outskirt Wars C01

Primary Genre: Epic

Word Count: 3,213

Description and Details:

Chapter Title: Conflicts of Conscience and Factions

In a savannah village at the edge of empire, a blind boy’s inner struggle may decide the fate of his isolated village.

Genre: Speculative fiction with magic and military-political intrigue.

In a mirror world shaped by alternate history and enduring empires, ten-year-old Nadir Al-Ahmadi sits blind beneath the light of Sol, unaware his life is about to change. Raised in the desert village of Mawtad, part of the Sehgán Empire, Nadir hears whispers of rebel factions and looming war. As tensions rise, his inner world—pulled between caution and recklessness—becomes as unstable as the world around him.

A mysterious gang known as the Blood Scythes draws near, and the sands shudder with what’s to come. In this opening chapter, we meet a protagonist whose loving uncle helps him face his first real test—a quiet step toward revolution, responsibility, and sacrifice.

It begins a character-driven epic of moral tension, cultural depth, and the slow unraveling of innocence in the shadow of imperial and gangland power.

Feedback List for Beta Readers:
Dear listener — thank you for experiencing Chapter One of The Swarmcaller Series, Book One: The Outskirt Wars. This is a slow-burn epic with strong emotional and thematic threads. We’d love your feedback on the following:

Did the opening hook your attention?

Was the worldbuilding immersive and clear?

Was Nadir a compelling POV character? Did his blindness and inner voices feel authentic?

Were any parts slow, confusing, or hard to follow?

Did anything make you feel something—curiosity, dread, warmth, sadness?

Negative feedback is welcome and appreciated. Thank you for listening.