[3350] The Iron Century - Opening

Hi, everyone. I'm here to have my ego ripped apart.

This is the second chapter (or first chapter - depends how I want it in the end) of my novel. This is a recent iteration of what once was an almost complete novel, now (almost) turned back to scratch.

Some of you may have seen me post this title before with the POV of a jester. You can find this in my post history. That is "technically" the first chapter with this as the second, but this is where the main POV is introduced and who we will spend 80% of the time with. It can function without the context from the previous chapter (but by all means check the first part; it will add some thematic context).

Contrasted with the jester POV, this POV's prose cannot contain any similes or metaphors or such "imaginery" tools. If you see one, please mark it for me as an error on my part (except for dialogue).

I welcome any and all critique. Plot, characters, atmosphere, grammar, anything you feel is worth telling. I want to know if I hit the right level of absurdity or not, or if the juxtaposition of the sexes (you'll get it once you read) is too much in some ways. The point is not to create something of a politically controversial nature.

Blurb: After the eleventh widowing happens, the men rally together in hopes to avoid the twelfth.

Chapter Two: https://docs.google.com/document/d/183z_XV-2TH7gULTKieoPBa28xOgpcUvi/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103563585274281338559&rtpof=true&sd=true

Crit 1 [2842]: https://www.reddit.com/r/DestructiveReaders/comments/rg3hli/comment/hp3tns6/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

Crit 2 [578]: https://www.reddit.com/r/DestructiveReaders/comments/rhh5a2/comment/hp44at6/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3