​Today I’m going to be discussing narrative promises. Have you ever read a book only to, by the end, feel let down, even betrayed by it? Have you ever read one that really builds up romantic tension between two characters, only to let it fizzle out with no real resolution? Or maybe you’ve read an action book and they’ve really built up to a heist, chapter after chapter, and then the next chapter’s just talking about “Oh yeah, that heist went well” without ever letting you read it? Or, perhaps, you’ve been following two groups of people who are at odds, clashing, and you know that they have to work together if they’re going to save the world, and then they all do a 180 and they’re perfectly fine with one another and there’s no conflict—what were you worried about? . . . Well, frankly, I don’t blame you if you feel betrayed or let down or confused or disappointed if any of these things happened, because what these things are is when a narrative does not fulfill its narrative promises.
 
(If you’d like to view this post in video format, click here. It’s part of our “Advice from an Editor” series on YouTube.)

​Happy third publishing anniversary to The Merry Band, book 2 in the Plot Bandits series by Katherine Vick! Reviewers are calling this series “a rip-roaring underdog tale” and “hilarious...with a heart.” It’s perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett, Jasper Fforde, and Piers Anthony.

Need a bit more convincing to dive into the book? Then read the ten awesome quotes (excerpts, really) from The Merry Band that we’ve compiled here!