Pain, emotional hurt & the System Apocalypse (Patreon)

One of the common remarks / reviews I hear about the System Apocalypse and the reason people drop the series (or hell, book 1) is John's anger. His lack of emotional maturity, the rage that makes so much of him.

Now, let's be clear. Life in the North was basically the second book I'd written in ages. Not to say I hadn't dabbled in writing, but it was the first full book I've ever written. In addition, when I was writing it, I was writing on Royal Road - it's chapter by chapter system makes for a slightly different writing style. 

In either case, I was inexperienced and book one could have been less heavy handed. Certainly, there's a lot that I'd change if I was writing it now. 

That being said, it's interesting to see how the reviews split (at least from what I perceive) along two lines - of experience and inexperience. People who have (or have to deal with) heavy emotional burdens, of anger and pain, of abuse and neglect; they get John. They get his actions.

Some drop it because it hits way too close to home.

Most seem to read on.

Those that don't have that experience, or just want a lighter book (and the gods know, I read a ton of light stuff) drop the book and series. For those without the experience, it's hard to relate I guess. And it is a heavy series, it's a heavy book. 

It was, in many ways, by choice. All the works I'd read till then had shied away from some of the harder aspects. Not the events, but the emotional toil that an apocalypse would have. Putting a man who was already damaged into that world just made it more stark. 

It's lost me readers, but I like to think that it's also gained me fans. 

Anyway, just some random thoughts about John.If people like these random thoughts, let me know. I have another somewhat different musing about Wu Ying...