Warhammer, I think.
So, I’m noticing something about The Compass Key. There are a ton of fight scenes compared to the previous 4 books. Each battle is important and it feels like a lot of the tension has simply hit the climax. It’s a little worrisome because the last few books had more subterfuge or defensive fighting. Luke and his friends are certainly done reacting and are taking things into their own hands.
I have the following:
- Multiple monsters in a swamp attack heroes.
- Scattered fights between angry heroes.
- Aerial battle
- 5 battles inside a characters mind. (scattered throughout)
- Demonic wolf pack
- Large-scale battle opener
- Moat monster fight
- Lizardman ruler fight
- Rival fight on a bridge
- Golem trap
- Big confrontation in castle
- Attack on invaders fleet
- Assault on a wizard’s tower with multiple fights
- Griffin rider versus Construct
- Griffin riders versus ships
- Luke versus Dragon
- Luke versus Shark
- Setting traps on ships to help with fight
- Ogre battle
- Vampires on a ship battle
- Sword Dragon versus Drite
- Guardian versus Vampires
- Corrupted creature fight
- More vampire issues as they invade temple
- Drite versus major villain
- Monsters guarding damsel in distress
- Mystery fighter in dream world.
I might be missing some, but that feels like a lot for a 20 chapter book.
Legends of Windemere 
A lot of fighting isn’t a problem, so long as you do it right. For example, doing it wrong would be to have the entire book be just about them fighting. Then you’ve essentially recorded a DnD campaign and put it on paper. As long as plot happens, and characters develop and whatnot, there’s no issue with lots of fight scenes. Probably also an important thing to keep in mind is that fight scenes can get boring if there are too many of them — so make sure each is unique so it can be remembered 😀
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Each one is unique. I have that down. The big plot points are an assault on a castle and undoing a city invasion.
Just realized I forgot the spectral cockatrice fight from that list.
I’m worried about the D&D feel of it.
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It sounds like it is certainly action packed and would be very hard to put down with that much excitement going on nonstop.
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I hope so. I’m dreading hitting that point where a reader goes ‘not another fight!’
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What’s in between the fight scenes?
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Dialogues, plot movement, character interactions, and the usual banter.
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The you’re good.
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Go with your gut on this one. They sound interesting, though.
Ellespeth
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Thanks. Forgot to add the spectral cockatrice fight in there.
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Ohhh Franny so loves it! I think it’s good! I mean if they’re “realistic” and make sense in the book and fit into the story, why not? I don’t see the problem!
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Just worried about action overload.
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Action packed can be good you have been building your characters to a specific point, readers are probably going to be happy to see this point coming into play. Sounds exciting! 🙂
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I hope so. Battle overload is a fear of mine. My beta readers should be able to help.
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Absolutely! I am sure it will be fine though, sounds very exciting!
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