Join the ARC Team

A: ARC readers help a finished book reach the world.

ARC stands for Advance Review Copy. ARC readers receive the final version of the book shortly before release. Their role is to read the book and, if they feel comfortable doing so, share honest reviews or recommendations to help the book succeed in the marketplace. This is the phase The Forbidden Spire is currently in.

Beta readers help a nearly finished book become stronger.

Beta readers receive an earlier draft—one that is fully written and well past the developmental stage. The story is complete, but it needs fresh eyes to spot moments that aren’t landing as clearly as intended, where pacing feels off, or where clarity could be improved. The Forbidden Cost (Book Two) will enter this phase immediately after Book One is released.

Both roles are essential—but they serve the book in different ways, at different moments in its journey.

Indicating interest in beta reading now does not obligate you. Final beta invitations will be sent later, once that phase begins, and you’ll have the chance to decide then whether it’s a good fit.

A: The first step is to fill out the form above. I will personally review every application, and most applicants will be invited to receive the ARC of The Forbidden Spire. This means you’ll get early access to Book One before release.

During the ARC phase, I will be looking at reader engagement so I can make my selection for the beta team for Book Two, The Forbidden Cost.

Immediately after Book One has released, my beta team will be given the Book Two manuscript through BetaReader.io.

My goal is to build a dedicated team of readers who will continue forward with me through The Infinite Saga.

A: ARC copies of The Forbidden Spire will go out beginning in December 2025. This gives readers time to finish the book before its June 2026 launch. The ARC is fully edited, but a few small typos may still appear. Those will be fixed during the proofreading passes.

A: The Forbidden Cost is currently being written, with its first draft scheduled for completion before ARC copies of The Forbidden Spire are sent out. As a result, once Book One launches in June 2026, I plan to begin the beta program for Book Two immediately.

A: The Infinite Conflict is a trilogy with a continuous story. To provide meaningful feedback on Book Two, beta readers need to have read Book One—otherwise too much context (character development, worldbuilding, and the foundation of the plot) would be missing.

If you prefer not to join the ARC team for The Forbidden Spire, that’s completely fine. Just know that it’s the only way to gain early access to that essential background. Without it, you won’t be able to move directly into beta reading The Forbidden Cost, and beta spots may be filled by the time you’ve caught up.

A: I love that you’re curious! The Infinite Saga is a 10-book series, divided into three subseries (two trilogies and a quadrilogy). There’s a lot planned, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Each new book within a subseries will be released a little over a year apart—I don’t want readers waiting years to see how each part of the story concludes. Even between subseries, the gap will be no more than two years.

Every book will need beta readers, and my hope is that most of the team from Book Two will continue with me all the way to the end of the saga.

ARC readers are expected to leave an honest review at launch. It can be just a few sentences or go into detail—whatever best reflects your experience.

For The Forbidden Spire, the book is already finalized, so no changes will be made—but prospective readers deserve to hear your perspective. I’ll be distributing ARCs through BookSirens (at no cost to you), which makes the review process simple.

For beta reading Book Two and beyond, I’ll be looking for more in-depth feedback—big-picture impressions, pacing notes, and thoughts on character arcs and motivations. I’ll be using BetaReader.io (also free for you), which will guide you through what I’m especially seeking in each chapter and make it easy to share your feedback.

A: No complicated setup is required. For The Forbidden Spire ARC, I’ll be using BookSirens to distribute copies—you’ll just need a free account with them to access your book in your preferred format (ePub, mobi, or PDF).

For future betas, I’ll be using BetaReader.io, which is also free for you to use.

Both platforms are simple, browser-based, and designed to make reading and giving feedback as seamless as possible.

A: Yes. I will host a private Discord channel where readers can talk through the book, share notes, and hear a few secrets from me. Joining is optional.

Reviews are welcome, but not required. They help the book reach more readers. If you prefer not to leave a review, that is fine.

A: Life happens, and I completely understand if something comes up. If you find you can’t finish or provide feedback for a particular book, just let me know. That said, reliability does matter—those who consistently follow through will be the first invited to future beta opportunities. If you’re unsure about the time commitment, it’s better to wait and join when you can fully participate.

A: For The Forbidden Spire ARC, I expect you’ll have 8-10 weeks to read before launch, with reviews requested within 7 days of release. I’ll send reminders so the timeline stays clear and manageable.

For future betas, you can expect a maximum of four months to read and provide feedback. After that, the manuscript must move into copyediting, proofreading, and layout. The good news is that I now know where the bottlenecks are and can book my editors early in the year—which means the beta window will be as generous as possible without unnecessary delays in the publishing schedule.

A: No. This program is entirely volunteer-based. ARC and beta readers generously lend their time to help strengthen the story, but there is no payment involved.

Paying for reviews—or offering incentives in exchange for reviews—is against the policies of major booksellers (including Amazon and Goodreads). To stay compliant and fair to all participants, I do not offer or accept compensation for ARC or beta reading in any form.