[QCrit] Adult Fantasy with Romance, The Lost Amulet, (128K/First Attempt)

Hi everyone, thanks so much for any help and criticism! I recognize my manuscript is too long, and am actively working on further cutting it down.

Dear [AGENT],

I am seeking representation for THE LOST AMULET, a fantasy novel with strong romance elements for adult audiences with crossover YA appeal, complete at 128,000-words.

Centuries ago, a brutal war erupts between magical creatures and humans. To end the carnage, an elf sacrifices his magic to tear the realm in two, ultimately banishing humans and their champion dragon riders across the seas. 

THE LOST AMULET follows Kurlan, the heir to the man who ended the war. Living in the shadows of those with magic far more powerful than his own, and still reeling with guilt from the traumatic death of an old friend, Kurlan relegates to himself to an ordinary life as an unremarkable elf. 

When whispers warn of the return of the humans and dragon riders, Kurlan and his two closest friends uncover mysterious secrets of the infamous war — secrets that destroy the values they were taught to believe in, and their entire understanding of what it means to be an elf. When Kurlan later meets a mysterious human woman named Esmerelda, a woman whose voice he has dreamt of for the last several decades, he and his friends embark on a journey to help Esmerelda find her missing brother and discover why the humans have returned. As they travel through the realm, they will encounter political intrigue and polarized societies, age-old curses and prophecies, and a lost magic that may challenge Kurlan's perception of himself as an unremarkable elf. Kurlan must decide how much he is willing to risk to uncover the truth of the war, and what role he will play in history repeating itself.

THE LOST AMULET features a medieval setting, a cast of close-knit main characters with complicated interpersonal dynamics, and a slow-burn central romance. The themes of found family, uncovering a mystery, and persevering through grief will appeal to fans of the Crescent City Series by Sarah J. Maas. 

For my day job, I am a physician who specializes in psychiatry. My expertise has lended itself to a passion in fleshing out my characters, and as such I believe character development is a strong point of my writing style. In my free time, I am exploring coffee shops or hanging out with my husband and dog. Thank you for your consideration, and for your time.

[my name and email]