However, I can't tell if it's my computer screwing up or not, but you
repeated chapter 8 in chapter 9, only the chapter titles were different.
Just letting you know.
Keep up the good work!
Sweet mother of smokeless powder, this rules! Beta reader or no beta reader, it takes no small amount of proficiency - talent - with the English language to write well with it, and miss, you are swimming in the stuff. Hell, you're sailing around the central Atlantic and torpedoeing everything that gets in your way. Furthermore, I applaud your decision to balk at AFF's current, temperamental nature by going ahead and publishing quality work, even though not many people will likely read it in the near future, much less leave a review. Even in its first chapter, your story is looking great.
Great opening quote, by the way.
Anyways, very nice job, and I'm looking very foreword to more.