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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/30691
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

My goal is to introduce the reader to a ‘wonderful’ fantasy world with an underdog main character full of panache…and delve into the constraints and debilitations of living in such a highly stratified, unmeritorious society. However, I understand the problem this might cause. The beginning of a story is important in laying out the tone of a piece, and I’ve personally read one too many books where the author decides to take an unaccounted for, grim-dark tone shift in the middle of the story that – frankly – kind of ruins the reading experience.

My question is, how can I lay out the exposition to create a ‘false sense’ of security and positivity, without making the tonal shift to a darker, more serious plot later on too jarring for the reader?

Original score: 5