Robin the Prodigy [Last Chance to Read this Version!]

UPDATE! This version has been downgraded from "pretty close to print" to "Oh man I need to fix this." It's currently in the hands of my very talented editor and will be re-released in a new version with a new title and cover, hopefully in time for Christmas. The new cover features an oil painting I think folks will like a lot. What will change: Probably about 15-30k words cut, especially from the fantasy sections. Many anachronisms and medical inaccuracies cut, a few more consultations with subject matter experts if I can get them A full pass of the spanish-language bits, much will be stripped and the parenthetical translations will probably be converted to footnotes. Probably some more structure shifts at the start of the book where it's quite hard for readers to get in to chapers one and two. I will leave this version up until the ad runs out, (probably around sept 1) and then it may vanish, so enjoy while you can! If you do get cut off just email me, I can get you a copy of the revised. Big thanks to all who read, commented, and especially to the folks who joined in the edit stream. 1979. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Big dreams and little soldiers. Robin Martillo is the unluckiest thirteen-year-old in the world. His mother is gone and he's stuck in t Albuquerque with his abuela, Una. Before Robin even has a chance to enroll in a new school, he's diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia. The treatment is brutal. Even with it, the chance he'll survive to eighteen is only fifty percent. Friendless and too sick to play fútbol or ride a bike, there's nothing left in his life to keep him going. Then, the magic happens. At Duke Games, Robin is swept into a fantastic world of tiny armies, miniature painting, and huge competition. The wargame club has a rich campaign full of tactics, backstory, evil legions, and defiant heroes. The older boys don't think much of this scrawny newbie, but a reckoning is coming! While the battles play across the tabletop, the inner war rages on. With enough victories, Robin can earn the game club's respect. With enough friends, he can find the strength to fight on. All he has to do is win. Robin the Prodigy is a completed novel of sixty chapters that will be posted daily starting on June 1st. Drawing inspiration from the early days of tabletop wargaming, RtP has been exhaustively researched for historical and medical accuracy. We still need your help! Readers are welcome to join the daily editing livestream where tomorrow's chapter will be proofread before posting. Spanish speakers, cancer survivors, and anyone who has been through (or is going through) a childhood illness are especially welcome to post their thoughts and suggestions. All comments will be tallied on a leaderboard and all contributors will be thanked in the printed novel. Robin the Prodigy began its life on Royal Road as part of the Goblins and Grandmothers writing contest. Two years later it's now a full novel! A portion of proceeds from this book and editing stream will benefit the Leukemia Research Foundation.