Your story is made of characters, people that have goals, dreams, passions and loves. What is the thing that they want, and who, instead, doesn't want them to get it? Think about your characters and make them as real as possibile, get to know them just like they were people. So, what do they...
I think that you should write a plot that leaves the reader thinking about it after they put the book down.
Leave random hints, and then take them up later, so that they think "I knew it, I should have seen it coming!"
A good plot that's not too complicated can really get any reader's interest...
I know what you mean when you talk about cultures that should not have anything in common with Earth but that looks too similar to the Roman Empire and other ancient cultures. It is obvious that as humans we have to take after something that we have seen or that we want to see. Also, it is very...
Please, write the name you were thinking about, the way you would write it in the story. I think many people will pronounce it differently, and you can change the way you wite it by seeing what are the answers you get.
Great names, though!
Orior