Age limits to novels - Leighann Anderson's Blog

I have been writing a novel thus titled:  Lazuel:  Dark Beginnings, for about 4 years, however, I have not touched it for 3 of those years due to university taking up most of my time.    This has, I have found, caused me to forget most of the ideas I had when I started writing it, which I find rather irksome and disappointing.

The story is a horror/fantasy, based on a character named Lazuel who is a vampire but I have done away with 90% of the stereotypical stuff and created my own using fantasy as the basis.  The problem I am having is what "Age Limit" I should put this novel in; I know, for certain, it is NOT for children; age 5 - 13, but I am also wondering about young teenagers; age 13 - 16.  In some scenes in the novel it is rather gruesome and, quite frankly, the imagery I have used makes this more vivid.  For example read a phrase taken from the novel below:

"Suddenly, Lazuel begun to feel his internal organs fall away and on to the ground with a light, wet thump; his eyes seemed to be sliding out of their sockets, his intestines tumbled out of him like unfolding chains, his lungs, liver and heart fell to the floor like sliding snow on top of a steep hill....."

In some scenes taboo is used but I try not to use it too much. Should only 18+ read this kind of thing?

Matt Hunt Date: 5/21/2011 11:19:00 PM That sounds awesome. Can't hurt them any worse than the crap on tv;) Login to Reply

Roxanna Johnson Date: 5/17/2011 5:07:00 PM From my point of view. I must say that I am only seventeen years of age and I have read some very interesting material, mainly romance but some occasional horror I have to agree with Andrea that its all about maturity. I love a juicy book but I know what I can and can not handle. Mainly I think that you should place your book under 14 and above simply because I feel that at thirteen I wasn't much into nightmares or books encouraging them. But at around 14 maturity started embedding its roots and here I am now, tackling books written for 34 year olds. Login to Reply

Andrea Dietrich Date: 5/16/2011 10:26:00 PM well, hon, I was reading this kind of stuff before I was 15. Kids mature very early these days. I think it all depends on the kids and their interest level! Login to Reply

Brenda Atry Date: 5/16/2011 6:24:00 PM My 12 year old daughter would love it! She has been fed much worse with Teen Chic Lit in the years since the Twilight Saga was published..Go for it! Login to Reply