Posted here months ago looking for books that don't feel passive. Got some recommendations but none clicked. Still felt like watching someone else's story with no input.
Gave up on books and tried reader participation comics on storygrounds. Beyond the vale specifically. Completely different experience from traditional reading.
The community votes on character decisions at major story points and plot actually changes based on results. That agency makes huge difference in engagement. Not just consuming predetermined narrative but participating in story development.
Format works better for my attention span too. Episodes are short, can read in minutes instead of needing hour blocks. Voting periods create natural engagement points between content drops.
Community aspect helps. Before votes close, people debate options. Like book club except discussing what should happen rather than analyzing what did happen. Makes reading social instead of solitary.
The stories are good. Not literary fiction but solid plotting, interesting characters, genuine moral complexity. One series has better character development than several novels I abandoned.
Not what I originally wanted but actually works better. The participation and community elements keep me engaged where traditional books lose me.
If you're in reading slump and books aren't working, try interactive comics. Different enough from books that it might work when traditional reading doesn't.
by CaptainBrima