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2,032 Public Reviews Given
2,051 Total Reviews Given
Review Style
I tend to write in depth reviews, discussing all aspects I feel need addressing. I am always positive and encouraging, but I'm also honest. If I feel something needs looking at, I will mention it.
I'm good at...
I'm a grammar and punctuation fiend. It is always one of the first things that strikes me about a piece of writing. I'm also good at offering suggestions to back up any comments I make. I'm always happy to re-review once changes have been made.
Favorite Genres
Dark or emotional poetry. The same goes for short stories; I like writing that makes me feel something. I love to read mysteries, thrillers, romance. I'll give anything a go, though.
Least Favorite Genres
Steampunk, sci-fi, fantasy.
Favorite Item Types
Emotional or dark poetry. Heart warming short stories. Mysteries. Thrillers.
Least Favorite Item Types
Chapters from the middle of books.
Public Reviews
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101
101
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (4.0)
Hi Swapna

I am reviewing your poem, "The first glimpse of the light, on behalf of "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. I found your poem in the 'Review a Newbie' section.

Please remember these views are purely my own and any advice given is with the sole intention of being helpful.

First Impressions: I was intrigued to read this poem when I read your description. And I wasn't disappointed. This is a lovely, little poem, describing that peaceful time of the day. The way you mention the birds chirping and rays of sunlight evokes a great sense of the world in the early hours of every day.

Voice/Tone: The tone is just right. It has a light feeling. I think this is heightened by the clouds and "golden rays." I really like the picture you paint. I think most people will relate to it.

Mechanics: An aabb ccdd rhyme scheme gives the poem a certain pace that adds to the lightness. You have stuck to this well. It means the poem flows fairly well.

Rhythm: There are a few bumpy parts with the rhythm. For example, where you write, "With dreams built over the night / Gives us a day of opportunity bright" the rhythm isn't spot on because the stresses of the words aren't even. The word "opportunity" doesn't fit. It's too many syllables. Also, "flowers all in the air" doesn't quite work. The word "all" doesn't work. I can see why you have added it (to make the right number of syllables), but it just doesn't sound right.

My Favourite Part: The lightness and warmth that runs through this poem is fantastic. I love the description of the world "playing hide and seek between the clouds." That's really great. It made me smile. Actually, the whole of your poem made me smile. It's definitely a feel good poem. I also love the idea of having dreams overnight, and then as a new day starts having the opportunity to achieve them. There's something really comforting about that.

Suggestions: I would change the title, if I were you. At the moment, it is a bit of a mouthful and probably not so easy to remember. However, if you changed it to something shorter, like 'Dawn' or 'Aurora' it would be snappier and more memorable. That's just a suggestion.

Thanks for sharing your work with us.

Keep writing!

Choconut

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102
102
Review of Keeping Time  
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (4.5)
Hi QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

I am reviewing your flash fiction, "Keeping Time on behalf of "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. I found this item in your portfolio, and I was drawn to the title.

Please remember these are purely my own opinions, and any advice given is done so with the sole purpose of being helpful.

As I started to read, I could wholeheartedly relate to the wife who is annoyed at her husband who keeps interrupting her while she tries to read a book. Is there anything more annoying than being interrupted when reading? As I continued, I found the reason for her husband constantly asking what time it is: he is winding three clocks and wants them all to tell the same time. Okay, so he could probably be forgiven for the interruption in that case.

If I'm honest, I was a little confused at first. When I first read, "What time is it?" I thought it was the narrator asking the question. There are a few lines without dialogue tags, and I had to go back and re-read it a couple of times to get it clear. That may well be more about me than about the writing.

This story made me smile. Because it is so relatable, it is very funny and really made me laugh. I thought this was fictional at first, but those paragraphs at the end sounded like they were coming from the heart. It sounds as though this is true. When you speak of how you haven't wound the clocks since John died, it was really sad. I kind of relate to that. When Dad died, I had a desktop calendar where you had to tear the page off every day. After Dad died, I couldn't turn the page at all. I think it is our way of holding onto the life we had with them. As I said, it's very sad. If it is autobiographical, I am sorry for your loss.

Thanks for sharing this with us. It is well written, funny, and poignant all rolled into one.

Rachel

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103
103
Review of Ocean Fling  
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
Hi MJones

Thank you for entering your poem into "A Newbie Poetry Contest. I am Choconut, one of the contest judges for the February round.

I am reviewing your poem, "Ocean Fling, in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group.

Please remember these views are purely my own and any advice given is with the sole intention of being helpful.

First Impressions: Before I even started to read this poem, I was drawn to the beautiful illustration. That's a great visual that will, I'm sure, make others stop to read whenever they see it. As I read, I was struck by the warm, loving tone the narrator uses. I loved the playfulness. Honestly, I don't think I've ever read a poem about a boat before. It wouldn't be something I normally choose. But this poem is so good. I absolutely adore it.

Voice/Tone: As mentioned above, I love the warm, sensual, playfulness of the narrator. I also really like the way you have personified this boat. It could so easily be written for a lover. I can hear the smile and the love as I read these words: "For I am your Captain, my adventurous girl."

Mechanics: A series of rhyming couplets. And they are spot on. All your rhymes work. They are creative and clever. Your rhyme of "girl" with "unfurl" particularly made me smile.

Rhythm: There is a great rhythm, and the pace is just right. If I'm super picky, then I would say the last line isn't quite as smooth as the rest. I like the content; I would just try to jiggle it around a little. (But that really is picky.)

My Favourite Part: This line: "whose face was illumined by the starlit sky?" Not only is this beautifully worded; it is also humorous when taken with the previous line. The thing I love the most, though, is just the warmth and the loving tone. It makes the poem so pleasurable to read. It feels like a warm blanket wrapping me up tight. The narrator speaks directly to the boat, and this really appealed to me, as well. It makes it feel intimate.

Thanks for entering your poem into the contest. I have enjoyed reading your work.

Keep writing!

Choconut

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104
104
Review of The Jewel Thief  
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: 13+ | (5.0)
Hi Dave Ryan

Thank you for entering your poem into "A Newbie Poetry Contest. I am Choconut, one of the contest judges for the February round.

I am reviewing your poem, "The Jewel Thief, in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group.

Please remember these views are purely my own and any advice given is with the sole intention of being helpful.

First Impressions: The moment I began reading your poem, I loved it. De-lousing your camel made me sit up and pay attention right away. As I continued to read, I believe I had a smile on my face and a laugh in my throat, and this stayed with me for the entire poem.

Voice/Tone: The narrator is witty and tells us the story of his younger brother, Earl, a hunted jewel thief.The lines where you comment on the events in the story are brilliant. I would never have thought of doing that, but it works really well.

Mechanics: I'm not sure if this is a specific poetry form. I don't think it is. But it has a great rhyme scheme. You have been super creative with your end-of-line rhymes, and this makes the poem so smooth. It flows like liquid chocolate. You have the stresses in all the right places, and I genuinely didn't find a bumpy part. As I read, I kept thinking, I wish I could write like this.

My Favourite Part: The story itself. It really is a poem that tells a story. It keeps the reader hooked so brilliantly. But your humour is the shining star of this poem. It's so funny. It's sharp, clever, slick. Oh, the last line: "A-fol-de-diddle-diddle-dum, a-fol-de-diddle-day." That's clever. And hilarious.

Suggestions: The only thing I can think of to offer is it would have been nice to know if you have used a set poetic form. Purely, because it interests me.

Thank you for sharing your poetry with us. What an amusing yarn!

Keep writing!

Choconut

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105
105
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
Hi KingsSideCastle ,

I am reviewing your blog entry, "Soundtrack of Your Life Entry #16 Dream On, for Week 9 of "I Write in 2024. My review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group.

Please remember, these are just my opinions, and my sole aim is to be helpful.

Ahh, this song. What an amazing choice from you! It is quite spooky that I'm reading your blog entry today because my hubby and I spent about forty-five minutes listening to it over and over at the weekend. I happened to mention to him I didn't really know any Aerosmith (which was a big sin in my hubby's eyes), and he played this song. I fell in love instantly, and, hence, forty-five minutes later, I was in raptures over it. So, when I saw this song in your blog, it made me very happy. I watched the 'Glee' link that you posted, and those guys totally nailed it! That last note! *Shock2* I might even say I liked it more than the original version. I've never seen 'Glee,' but it's a show I've always thought I would like. Maybe I should have a hunt for a free stream of it and start from the beginning.

I love the video you linked with the song. It fits perfectly. I actually wondered if the song was written for the film until I read your comments. Definitely a good choice on your part. (I've also never heard of 'Naruto.' I really don't seem to know about anything, do I?)

I understand why you like this song. Your reference to ageing makes sense with this song. We do tend to try to achieve so much, pushing ourselves, sometimes, too hard. This struggle resonates within this song.

My only suggestion is that it would be nice to have the lyrics accompanying the video. You could put them in a dropbox, so as not to take up too much room.

I am so glad your blog came up as the previous entry for me to review this week. Awesome choice.

Choconut

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106
106
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (4.5)
Hi jayesandz ,

I am reviewing your poem, "Looking Back at You. The review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group.

Please remember these views are purely my own and any advice given is with the sole intention of being helpful.

First Impressions: Wow. This is a very emotional poem. As I first read through, I kept wondering who you were addressing, and then I got to the end and was blown away. You were addressing yourself, looking in the mirror. That's a really clever twist, and I absolutely loved it.

Voice/Tone: I was struck by the amount of compassion in your voice. That's nice to read, particularly as we learn you are speaking to yourself. I felt more positive by the end of the poem. You sound as though you want to let go of the pain and to start life anew. That's positive. At the same time, I'm sure you are writing with such emotion because of the past.

Mechanics: I expected to find a free verse poem, and I started to read with that rhythm in mind. However, you have used a set rhyme scheme of abcb, defe, etc. So it's not free verse. I like the rhymes, though. I think they give the poem a good rhythm. It rolls off the tongue more easily.

Rhythm: There are some places where the rhythm is a little off, and that is my main suggestion for you to check out. Sometimes, I found myself reading and getting into the swing of a rhythm, and then being brought up short because a line didn't feel quite right. It's not necessarily about syllables, but more about the stresses on your words. So, for example, "You staring back at me, / I can see sadness in your eyes." Writing, "I can see" is too wordy. I would change it something like, "You staring back at me / with sadness in your eyes."

I thought the last verse was a bit more rocky than the rest of them. "These words I'm thinking of" isn't quite right. It is about the stresses again.

My Favourite Part: I have to say, again, how much I love the ending. I think it's smart and a fantastic reveal. I'm pretty sure most people who read it will feel the same way. Or, maybe not. I've just taken note of the title. I should have got it from that *Blush* I also think the emotion you create is fantastic. I found myself caring about the person you were addressing, without having a clue who they were. You certainly write with feeling.

Suggestions: Just one thing I wasn't sure about. "There's something different about you, / heads always towards the floor." I had to read this a few times because I thought, firstly, you were saying more than one head was always towards the floor. But I couldn't figure how that made sense. Then I thought you meant their "head is" always towards the floor. Is that right? If so, you need an apostrophe to make it "head's."

This is a good, emotional piece of writing, and I thank you for sharing it with us. Welcome to WDC!

Keep writing!

Choconut

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107
107
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
Hi MJones ,

I am reviewing this on behalf of "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. I found this poem whilst checking out your portfolio, and I thought I'd send you a 'welcome' review.

Please remember these views are purely my own and any advice given is with the sole intention of being helpful.

First Impressions: I was drawn to the photograph immediately. The car is intriguing, and I can see why you stopped to photograph it. Also, how you were inspired to write this poem. And it's a great poem, too. I enjoyed it a lot. Visually, this item is really nice, and that always helps.

Voice/Tone: The poem is written as though it's from your own experience, and I assume that is the case. (Although, I could be wrong.) I like the warm, nostalgic feeling that weaves through your words. That's very appealing. I felt like you were here in the room with me.

Mechanics: Two verses with an aabb ccdd rhyme scheme. These rhymes give the poem a great flow, and this makes it read easily and fluidly.

Rhythm: The rhythm is spot on. I didn't see any bumpy areas, and that made me happy. It is a smooth, perfectly-paced read.

My Favourite Part: Honestly, I think I like the way it all ties in and fits together. I'm so glad you included the photograph, and didn't just say it was based on a photo. I also love the ending where you say that you won't forget the car, and it will always be brought to mind when you look at this photo. Love it.

I really enjoyed reading this poem, and I would like to welcome you to Writing.com. I think you're going to like it here *Smile*

Keep writing!

Choconut

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108
108
Review of WDC Dragon Vale  
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
Hi GERVIC 🐉 WDC Dragon Vale ,

I am reviewing your activity, "WDC Dragon Vale as one of my dragon tamer's tasks. My review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group.

Please remember, these are purely my own opinions, and you can take whatever is useful and disregard the rest.

Firstly, I have to tell you I am obsessed with this activity. I am constantly reading the tasks to find ones that I can complete. Even when I'm away from my computer, I'm thinking about my dragon and this activity. So, thank you. You've made me very happy.

Okay. I have to be honest, when you first advertised this, I had a look at it, and there was so much information, so many levels of what is required, and it overloaded my brain. I looked at it a few times, and each time, I felt like I wanted to be a part of it, but I wasn't sure what to do. Then, I was gifted an egg, and 🌸 pwheeler - love joy peace helped me to figure out what I need to do and encouraged me to join in. So. Here I am. And I'm so glad I threw away my inhibitions. (Although, honestly, I still don't understand everything, but that's more about my brain than the activity.)

Everything is beautifully presented. The artwork is colourful and enticing, and the pictures themselves are really attractive. I like the pastel colours you have used. The whole layout is creative and impressive.

There is so much to do in this forum. It could keep anyone going for weeks. But, I think, that's the plan, right? The promise of the arena where our dragons will fight is an exciting one. I wonder how it will work. I like that you have this promise of excitement to entice us further into the Dragon Vale.

It looks like you have a lot of people taking part in this. Dragons are always popular, so that was a good choice of subject. I can't wait for my egg, Alfie, to hatch. That's part of the fun, isn't it? I already know he will be a mischievous, little imp.

I love this activity. Have you guessed? *Bigsmile* Your imagination is huge, and I don't know how you came up with all of this. I haven't seen anything like it before. It's simply fabulous!

Rachel

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109
109
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
Hi KingsSideCastle ,

I am reviewing your blog entry, "Soundtrack of Your Life Entry #10 Mr. Roboto for Week 8 of "I Write in 2024. This review is in a affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group.

Please remember, these views are purely my own opinions. Take whatever is useful to you and disregard the rest.

Firstly, I have to say how much I enjoy the 'Soundtrack' activity. I haven't had the time to participate this year, but it's still fun to read through other people's entries.

I have to confess, I didn't know this song and, while I've heard of Styx, I don't think I've ever heard any of their music before. So I wasn't sure what to expect, although your mention of Sci Fi intrigued me no end. After listening to the song, I'm guessing it would be early 80s? The synthesiser and almost-disco feeling it has is great fun. The tune is meoldic, too. Mostly, though, it just made me smile.

Your comments about the crescendos in the middle guided me to listen out for them, and you were right; they are brilliant. The fact that the song was originally featured on a commercial interested me. A lot of songs start out that way. I've heard of the film you mentioned on Netflix, 'Ready Player One.' I can't remember what it was about, so I'm sure I haven't watched it. But I'm interested to check it out now.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading your entry and listening to this tune. It has left me smiling and feeling happy. Thank you for that.

Rachel

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110
110
Review of Our Love  
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (4.5)
Hi 💙 Carly ,

I am reviewing your poem, "Our Love, for my week 7 entry in "I Write in 2024. The review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group.

Please remember, these are purely my own opinions, and you can take whatever is useful to you and disregard the rest.

Firstly, I would like to say how much I admire this poem. I wrote a poem for this contest yesterday, and it is terrible. Writing about love, romance and happiness is so much harder than writing depressively. Or, maybe, that's just me. But, when I read your poem, I was impressed. You have captured the emotions and the excitement of being in love. The poem is sensual and playful, and it speaks volumes to how much you love your partner.

In the first half of the poem, it feels like you are seducing your partner. The "wine" from your "lips" and "hot kisses wrapped in sensuous prose" are very evocative of a romantic moment. Your imagery is creative and, for the most part, fresh. For example, when you say your love is "tangled together." I love that!

It feels a bit like this poem covers a whole relationship. In the first part, you mention being "drunk with anticipation." This could be the beginning of the relationship, when everything is new and your thoughts are intoxicated with desire for each other. Then, in the middle section you become one and your thoughts and bodies are entwined. You join together and head into the third phase where you are forever bonded together, and nothing will ever pull you apart. I like how you've crafted that.

One place where I wasn't sure about the imagery is when you describe the "column of your flawless neck." Column just feels less poetic. It makes me think of something solid and fixed, but not necessary beautiful. But, maybe that was the point: you wanted to say your lover is safe and solid, as well as sexy and someone who makes your heart dance with his (another great metaphor, by the way.) That is probably my favourite part, actually: "Your heart dances with mine/ And we are one--"

You have used the prompt really well in this poem, and I like how you end by saying that even death can't break your bonds. That makes sense, both for the prompt, and for your relationship.

Thank you for showing me how to write a good romantic poem. I really enjoyed reading it. I've learned a couple of pointers for the future, too *Wink*

Rachel

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111
111
Review of Arachnid  
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
Hi Sumojo ,

I am happy to be reviewing you on behalf of "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group [E]. This review is written for Week 5 of "I Write in 2024.

Please remember these are only my opinions, and any advice given is with the sole intention of being helpful.

My first thoughts: I wasn't sure how I would cope with reading this because I am massively frightened of spiders. So much so, that I can't even look at pictures of them. So I knew this would be a challenge. And it was. But I'm really glad I read it because the story is completely absorbing, and I felt like I was in that rain forest with Ben, Simon and Carol. It is really well written. More than once, I found myself shivering at your words.

Plot: Simon and Carol, on their honeymoon, decided they want to go on a hike in the heart of the 'real' rain forest. Straight away, I was asking, are you crazy? You wouldn't catch me hiking with all those bugs and snakes and spiders. I was on the edge of my seat from the start, and that is exactly where I stayed. When Simon first walked through a sticky spider's web, I shuddered. This is a clever write because everyone will know how they feel, how creepy they are.

Characters: You didn't really go into much depth with the characters. Simon and Carol were honeymooning, and suitably in love. Although you didn't show us any backstory, that was okay. Because the main point of this story is their fateful hike and the giant eight-eyed spider. Eek! Actually, the spider is the character we understand the most. It is hungry, looking for prey. And these three hikers are it. I didn't understand why Simon and Carol stayed where they were after the spider left with Ben. I know they said they didn't know where they were going, and they didn't want to disturb the spider. But, the spider knew they were there in its hunting ground. I would have decided anywhere would be better to go than there. They came across as pretty useless, really. You would think they'd have read something beforehand about hiking in the rain forest, and how to survive.

Grammar: I have a few suggestions, which I have put in a dropnote for your ease.
Grammar Suggestions

What I liked: The atmosphere. We know something scary is going to happen, and we know it will be connected with a spider. This hooks us and pulls us close, and it's there that we stay until the end. This sentence, near the beginning, is fantastic: "Carpeted with mosses and ferns, the dank smell of damp earth and decaying vegetation drifted up to meet them." It is visceral, it takes your reader to this place that should be a paradise for these honeymooners. But, this description makes us know that all might not be well. Most of all, though, what I liked was the spider. I mean, it was horrible and scary and evil, but it was really well written. I found myself brushing myself down after reading this.

You wrote a fantastic horror story about a horrific creature who was very, very hungry.

Most importantly, keep writing!

Choconut


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112
Review of Turn From Here  
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
Hi intuey GoT Survivor!,

I am reviewing your poem, "Turn From Here, for Week 3 of "I Write in 2024. My review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group.

I hope my review is helpful. Please, take anything you find useful and ignore what you don't.

This poem tells a tragic story of a boat that crashes onto the rocks of a lighthouse. The lighthouse keeper and his wife try to help, but there is nothing they can do.

I was shocked when I read that the boat's occupant had no legs. I wasn't expecting that, but it made me really sit up and listen.

I like how you have used a consistent aabb ccdd, etc. rhyme scheme. It gives the poem a great pace and a good rhythm on the whole. I did feel that the fourth verse flows a little less well than the rest. When I first read the line, "To the mainland the husband quickly called," it seem slightly different to the beats in the previous lines. I think, maybe, the stresses are slightly different. It kind of threw me off a little, and I had to go back over that line a few times to make it fit. The rest of the verse, in particular the third line, feels like it needs a little work. I was going to say it's a bit rocky, then I realised it would be a terrible pun!

Just one other place I questioned. "A boat fought hard to stir from the light." - Should this be "steer"?

What I love the most about this poem is the way the story flows. In just a few lines, a few words, you have told an entire story. I could picture the raging storm, the waves crashing onto the rocks, and the wife's horror at the injured man. Brilliant!

I really enjoyed reading your poem. Nice work.

Rachel

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113
113
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Hi Genipher ,

I am reviewing your short story as part of "I Write in 2024. It is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group.

Please remember, these are purely my own opinions, and everything I say is with the intention of being helpful.

This is a great, fun piece. I think I had a smile on my face the whole way through. I love the twist at the end, of the present being a puppy. I have to admit, I thought it was a puppy up until the point where Melanie mentioned its snot. I switched my ideas then to thinking it was a baby. But, no! My first thought was right. Emily had left a puppy for Melanie's husband.

Personally, I wouldn't have minded being left a puppy. When the husband said they could have two dogs, I was like, "Yeah, do it!" Melanie, however, is not happy about the situation. This first dog should have been one that they chose together, and definitely not a gift from her husband's ex girlfriend. She is very spiky about this, and I can't say I blame her. A living creature is quite an intimate gift, isn't it?

You kept the tone light, though. I think most of us will be able to picture the scene. Who hasn't had a spot of insecurity in love?

My only suggestion is to place a comma before a person's name when speaking to them. For example, "We can still have our own Melanie." I would place a comma before "Melanie."

I really enjoyed this piece of dialogue. It's hard to write without dialogue tags and exposition, and I think you have done a great job of it.

Choconut

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114
114
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: ASR | (4.0)
Hi Graham B.

I am reviewing your short story, "The Forbidden Library, as one of the judges for August's official contest, "Short Shots: Official WDC Contest. Thanks for entering, and good luck!

This review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. Please remember any views are purely my own, and any advice is given with the sole intention of being helpful.

My first thoughts: You hooked me nicely at the beginning with the journey on which Gerhard is about to embark. The teasing of the village and shouts telling him he can't do it help show us the reasons why he wanted to.

Plot: Gerhard sets out on a journey to find the lost city of Buchwald (nice name) and to uncover all of the secrets of the library that has been forgotten. The journey will be dangerous, Gerhard knows that, but he wants to be the person who brings back the knowledge of the ancient Sonnenberg Empire.

Characters: I like the way you show us subtle pieces of everyone's characters. For example, Gerhard "brushing his rusty locks" out of his eyes. I love that detail. It instantly gave me a picture of Gerhard. Also, Ilsa's description as "stout" and later "dour" says a lot about her.

Grammar: Just a couple of suggestions. I have put them in this dropnote:
Grammar/Spelling/Typos

What I liked: The way Gerhard is transformed through the course of his journey. He is mature in his decision to not look at the books, but to leave with the wider knowledge he acquired from his journey. It truly has transformed hm. His eyes are brighter and he walks more lightly. He also has new ideas for the bakery. Truly transformed. This description is fantastic: "The birds chirped a melody of mornings and dewy flowers." That's so lovely. It made me feel warm inside. I also loved how the vines and plants weren't growing and destroying the books. Rather, they were protecting them and not letting careless humans take them away.

Suggestions: When Gerhard almost falls over Max von Teufel (who reminded me a little of Rumplestiltskin, or maybe a leprechaun), he was standing right next to him, but you write that Max "stood up and sauntered over to Gerhard." This doesn't make sense. I don't think there would be enough space between them for Max to do any sauntering. I would rewrite that line. I have a question, too: What does "fire-kissed" mean. I notice a few of the characters saying it, and it made me wonder what it means.

I enjoyed reading your entry. Thanks, again, for entering.


Choconut

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115
115
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (4.5)
Hi Beholden

I am reviewing your short story, "The Library Finder, as one of the judges for August's official contest, "Short Shots: Official WDC Contest. Thanks for entering, and good luck!

This review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. Please remember any views are purely my own, and any advice is given with the sole intention of being helpful.

My first thoughts: You have a wonderfully descriptive writing style which is a pleasure to read. It works particularly well in a story such as this, where you have a team of explorers searching lands long-since devastated by the Electro Magnetic Pulse and the fall of the Cloud.

Plot: This is part-mystery, part-adventure. You leave your readers wanting to know more about the fall of the Cloud and the specifics of what happened. At the same time, it works nicely that you don't tell us. It makes us use our own imaginations to think about it. I like that. The end of the story is, I think, a touch of genius. I say "I think" because I wasn't sure about it at first. I felt like by leaving the library undiscovered, Aurelius is denying a whole lot of learning for his village. But, he is right, of course. Given the same circumstances, the same events would happen again. It would be inevitable. I liked how you ended with this, rather than taking the easy, more obvious, ending of the library being uncovered and happiness ever after.

Characters: The way you gives snippets of physical description for all of your characters is great. Near the beginning, you describe Jonas's eyeglasses, then say he regards Aurelius with "myopic estimation." That made me chuckle. Similarly, when Aurelius and the judges are leaving the room, Jonas follows behind Olivia, "shuffling in her glorious wake." Jonas clearly admired the view from where he was walking! Brilliant. I did think it odd that Aurelius changed his mind right at the end, after finding the library. He was previously desperate to find it. Maybe, being inside it and feeling the majesty of the numerous tomes made him realise how powerful they would be.

Grammar: Just a couple of suggestions. I have put them in this dropnote:
Grammar/Spelling/Typos

What I liked: Whenever I buy a new book, I have to sniff the pages. My husband thinks I'm weird. I'm not one to argue. But, reading this, I love the descriptions of the smell of books. Aurelius thinks he will be able to smell the library. That really appeals to me. This proves that my love for book sniffing is perfectly normal. Also, I like, "There’s an atmosphere, a luring whisper in the wind, that clings to the learning of long ago." I totally get that. It's so accurate. I also love it when the door "falls open drunkenly." Again, pure genius. Love it!

Suggestions: My only suggestion would be for the explorers to encounter some more danger. Like those, "evil things, dark things without names." I love this description, but I was a little disappointed we didn't meet them. That said, the story is absolutely okay without doing that. It is purely a suggestion, should you wish to rework it.

I enjoyed reading your entry. Thanks, again, for entering.


Choconut

Purple Panther sig. 2. Gifted by  [Link To User tblakely5] .


*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!.
116
116
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (3.5)
Hi Geoffrey Williams

I am reviewing your short story, "The Library of Forgotten Fables, as one of the judges for August's official contest, "Short Shots: Official WDC Contest. Thanks for entering, and good luck!

This review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. Please remember any views are purely my own, and any advice is given with the sole intention of being helpful.

My first thoughts: My first thought was of how sad I felt for the library. You write of the declining number of visitors which parallels the declining building of the library.

Plot: The plot is a little hard to pinpoint, if I'm honest. You show us the feelings of a library in decline, but not a lot really happens until the boy finds the building and realises its worth. You mention an approaching war, but it is over before it really arrives. I'm not sure you needed to mention a war. The main action of the story is in the second part, where the boy finds and befriends the library. I guess that is the crux of the plot.

Characters: You personify the library, making it seem like a real character with feelings. It gives your readers someone to relate to and feel emotional about. I like that. I also really like your mention of magic lying in the library, through all the shelves and the books. The whole structure is magical but, also with declining numbers of visitors, its structure is overtaken with plants and grasses and, most importantly, a single purple hyacinth. Even the plants and flowers have human characteristics in this story, and that works really well. The only human character is the boy in the second part. I would have loved to know his name. It would have made him more real. I understand that the library is the important part of the story, but I did feel the story needed the boy's name.

Grammar: Just a few suggestions. I have put them in this dropnote:
Grammar/Spelling/Typos

What I liked: The purple hyacinth is great. It serves as a beacon of hope amongst all the devastation and unloved structure. I love how you say the meaning of this flower is "Please forgive me." It is a peace offering, it asks for solidarity and love. I also can't leave without saying how much I love the way the boy speaks with the library by writing his thoughts in a blank book, gives it to the library, who then writes its response. They have conversations this way. How creative! This really made me smile. Lastly, I love the way the boy knows instantly how special and important the library is.

Suggestions: This is more of a question than a suggestion: " as if that tiny red thread upon his finger had been not a string to someone unknown, but the tassel which marked one’s place in a book." - What tiny red thread? Is this some kind of metaphor? I'm really sorry, but I didn't get it. I also wondered why the boy thought he couldn't vocalise his thoughts for the library to hear. Could he not speak? Yes; I know his not being able to speak leads to writing with the library in the book. But, when he says, "He wished he could vocalize his thoughts, let it be known that the library would never be forgotten, that it hadn’t failed." I wondered why he couldn't just do it.

I enjoyed reading your entry. Thanks, again, for entering.


Choconut

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*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!.
117
117
Review of The Sanctuary  
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (3.5)
Hi Massive Friendly Derg

I am reviewing your short story, "The Sanctuary, as one of the judges for August's official contest, "Short Shots: Official WDC Contest. Thanks for entering, and good luck!

This review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. Please remember any views are purely my own, and any advice is given with the sole intention of being helpful.

If I'm honest, this is more of a scene than a story. It is a beautifully written scene. Your use of descriptive words is great. But, nothing actually happened to call it a story. There is no action, no characters. Nothing moves.

This all said, I do love how you capture this sad scene. You end by saying, "What is the point in gathering all that is known if no one is left alive to take advantage of it?" This is a fantastic place to end your narrative. It's a great pause for thought. Also, the notion that, without people coming together to safeguard books and knowledge and learning, it will be lost. Like stories carried down over generations; it will crumble and disappear.

I enjoyed reading your entry. Thanks, again, for entering.


Choconut

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*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!.
118
118
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Hi Kotaro

I am reviewing your short story, "Eternity in Monochrome , as one of the judges for August's official contest, "Short Shots: Official WDC Contest. Thanks for entering, and good luck!

This review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. Please remember any views are purely my own, and any advice is given with the sole intention of being helpful.

My first thoughts: I loved reading this story. The mystery, the danger, the selling of one's soul to (I'm guessing) the devil ... all of this adds up to a great, interesting, exciting read. I completely forgot about the picture prompt as I read. It wasn't until the end that I remembered the importance of it. I have to say, you used it really well. It was clever and unique.

Plot: This is kind-of a story within a story. A man goes to a bar and speaks with another patron, who proceeds to tell him a story of how his life has been ruined. I love Watanabe's story. It is a great lesson in that old saying, "Be careful what you wish for." This character, Watanabe, is like a broken man. He was desperate to finish writing his novel and to go down in history for his fabulous work. However, he wants fame alone. He doesn't want to write words to entertain or help others. He wants only to be hailed as one of the great writers. In doing this, he sells his soul to the devil. It really is a great lesson to all of us to think about what we are doing with our lives, and with our writing. It's a lesson to not take ourselves too seriously, and to not think ourselves more than we are. I loved the sense of danger and unreality about this story. Like, who was Watanabe's mysterious colleague who disappeared right after their visit to her friend? Why did she disappear? I think, maybe, she worked for the devil and delivered souls to him. And then, at the end of your story, Watanabe disappears with a puff of carbon dioxide. How intriguing. The end made me smile. I really liked it.

Characters: The narrator is not the main character in this story. That is Watanabe. Everything about this man screams of someone defeated and dejected. This thought runs through your narrator, Anrie's, mind: "At that moment, I thought about Poe’s tragedies unhinging his perception of reality." So we know before he even starts his story that Watanabe is looking a little unhinged. Additionally, Watanabe says that he knows for definite his novel will be successful. How does he know this? we wonder. Well, we get the answer to that question at the devil's house. He will guarantee it in exchange for Watanabe's soul upon his death.

Grammar: Just a few suggestions. I have put them in this dropnote:
Grammar/Spelling/Typos

What I liked: The devil's house, and how eager Watanabe was to sell his soul to the devil without comprehending what it meant. The way the library has crumbled and rotted in 100 years' time, so no one remembers Watanabe is a great kicker for the moral of the story. I love this description: "He glanced at his cigarette. It was a long piece of ash." This shows how lost in his narrative Watanabe is, how powerful it is to him. That's a really nice touch.

I really enjoyed reading your entry. Thanks, again, for entering.


Choconut

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*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!.
119
119
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: 18+ | (3.0)
Hi PureSciFi

I am reviewing your short story, "SpaceHorrors: Learning From My Victims, as one of the judges for August's official contest, "Short Shots: Official WDC Contest. Thanks for entering, and good luck!

This review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. Please remember any views are purely my own, and any advice is given with the sole intention of being helpful.

My first thoughts: I enjoyed this story of a DeathBringer, whose job it is (life mission, even) to kill as many Jeehon people as they can find. What I wasn't sure about was why they had to do this? What was the objective, because they didn't have to gain any knowledge from the victims? Although, this particular DeathBringer does like to gain knowledge.

Plot: I love your opening line. It is a fantastic hook to get your audience reading more. It hooked me; that's for sure. In this story, we see a DeathBringer who has been sent to kill Jeehon people. You show us the thoughts that go through the mind of this killer. It's a unique idea for this prompt.

Characters: I liked how I felt sympathy for this DeathBringer. What confused me big time was whether this creature was male or female. You refer to it as both "he" and "she," sometimes in the same sentence. It made it really hard to figure out what was happening sometimes. The initial victim, also, you switch between male and female. I wasn't sure why you did this. It made everything confusing at the beginning. As I read the part about the adults and children being brought to the building, it felt a little like people being shipped to death chambers in World War II. I wondered who they were, and why they were being taken there. I loved how Surranon counted the adults and decided in what order he/she would kill them. That made me smile.

Grammar: I have a few suggestions that I have put in this dropnote:
Grammar/Spelling/Typos

What I liked: I found this story intriguing. I loved reading the thoughts of this DeathBringer. They seem almost sorry that they do what they do. I think you've done a great job with portraying this character sympathetically. I was interested to know what will happen with the new Jeehon people. Who are they? Are they prisoners? So many questions about them? And what do the DeathBringers do with the knowledge they gain? I really like your imagination. This is a creative direction to take the prompt.

Suggestions: Mainly, to sort out the genders of your characters. If they are more than one gender, then tell your readers at the start of the story. It would save a lot of confusion. Now, this is something else I wasn't sure about, and it is maybe that I misread it: Surranon walks around, looks at books, does all sorts, but then you say he/she hasn't let go of the tubes connected to the victim. Maybe, it is because this is a foreign planet, and the inhabitants have different abilities. I'm not sure. But I did wonder about it.

I enjoyed reading your entry. Thanks, again, for entering.


Choconut

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*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!.
120
120
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: 13+ | (3.0)
Hi Joseph

I am reviewing your short story, "Quest To Find The Tree Of Life, as one of the judges for August's official contest, "Short Shots: Official WDC Contest. Thanks for entering, and good luck!

This review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. Please remember any views are purely my own, and any advice is given with the sole intention of being helpful.

My first thoughts: I love your description of the natural disasters that occurred in the Great War, leading to this destroyed world that Chris and Kat are living in. That feeling of chaos and anarchy is a great striating place for your story.

Plot: This is the story of a group of people who go searching for the Tree of Life. I'm not entirely sure why. What is the purpose of their journey? Are they looking for enlightenment? But what would be their objective? I would have liked to read more about that. This story is more about the journey than the outcome, I think. We see the group facing hungry wolf-men and white water rapids that threaten to swallow them. However, the good thing about the journey is they meet some ancient spirit-birds. One of them, Goldar, is especially wise and has some magic powers. He saves the party from the rapids and places them in the old abandoned library where they previously met. Except, it is no longer abandoned. Goldar has sent the group back in time, to a time when books are still physical objects, and where there is a chance to save civilisation. This is their new objective: to persuade humans to get along with one another and prevent wars that will destroy them. I have to say, I loved the ending. This is a great challenge for this group of people.

Characters: Chris and Kat: a married couple. You don't show us any interaction between them, or between any of the cast of characters really. I was a bit disappointed with that. Characters are an important part of a story, and it's good that you gave us brief descriptions of the two main ones, but I didn't witness their relationship. I don't think they even spoke to each other. So I don't really know much about their characters. I did, however, love your physical description of Chris: "Chris grew up in the woods so he knew every tree, brushed his teeth with a porcupine, wore a rattlesnake for a hat and rode a bear before he was three." I was interested to read of the Daynites, and it would have been nice to have a bit of an explanation for their name. I loved the birds. Goldar and co. are a great addition.

Grammar: Just a few suggestions. I have put them in this dropnote. Please note, I haven't included all of the grammar issues I noted. Maybe, just run the story through a grammar programme:
Grammar/Spelling/Typos

What I liked: The birds are fabulous. Even at the beginning, you mention the various coloured birds in the Tree of Life. And then, Chris and his gang meet the spirit-birds, and they are wise and helpful also. I like them. The ending is fantastic. This chance to right the world's evils is brilliant.

Suggestions: This is me being picky, and I know you had to include this to make the story work. But I wondered why, with hell-wolves chasing the gang, they chose to enter the cave for protection. My first thought was the wolves will corner them in there. It didn't make sense that they chose to hide there. I also hoped they would find the Tree of Life, as it was the purpose of the whole story.

I enjoyed reading your entry. Thanks, again, for entering.


Choconut

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*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!.
121
121
Review of Sophia's Library  
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
Hi LightinMind

I am reviewing your short story, "Sophia's Library, as one of the judges for August's official contest, "Short Shots: Official WDC Contest. Thanks for entering, and good luck!

This review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. Please remember any views are purely my own, and any advice is given with the sole intention of being helpful.

My first thoughts: This is a lovely story. As I first read, I got swept up in the love, both for words and stories, and between Sophia and John. This is a great idea for a story, and you have used the picture prompt really well. I like how class boundaries are crossed as a society becomes more enlightened and well-read. I could feel the excitement Sophia and John must have felt in reading to the local children.

Plot: This is a kind-of post-apocalyptic world when people no longer read. Following the end of the world as it was, the majority of the world's books have been burned. This theme of dumbing-down the people so they don't complain feels oppressive and uncomfortable. It makes Sophia's discovery of the abandoned library, and the books within, so much more wonderful. I could feel her awe.

Characters: At the beginning, Sophia's grandfather is a sympathetic character. He is overjoyed at the prospect of the books lining the shelves of the library. I think he was always a little rebellious about the no reading rules, and he read to Sophia from a book about tax law because it was all he had. I love how Sophia drank in the words in that book!

Grammar: Just a couple of suggestions. I have put them in this dropnote:
Grammar/Spelling/Typos

What I liked: I think it's clever how you show John growing taller and losing his stoop with every book he reads and every minute spent with Sophia. The quotation from 'Wuthering Heights' at the end of the story is inspired. What a great quote. It's like it was written for this story. The overall feeling of the story, of the power and beauty of words, is so lovely to read. I felt immersed in this word where words equal magic, and where stories are read for the first time. It left me with a warm feeling inside.

Suggestions: My main niggle is the beginning. I found it a little hard to follow as you switched between the past and present for Sophia. I wasn't sure when her grandfather died. She must have been very young. But, it all blended into one blurb that confused me somewhat. For example, you say that Sophia "ran back to the village" then straight after say, "She remembered the scents ..." I wasn't sure when she was doing the remembering because it reads as though it is at the same time she ran back to her grandfather. But I think it is actually a lot later.

I enjoyed reading your entry. Thanks, again, for entering.


Choconut

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*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!.
122
122
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (4.0)
Hi Averren

I am reviewing your short story, "John and Ann... A beginning, as one of the judges for August's official contest, "Short Shots: Official WDC Contest. Thanks for entering, and good luck!

This review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. Please remember any views are purely my own, and any advice is given with the sole intention of being helpful.

My first thoughts: I enjoyed this prequel to your longer story. My first thought is you should definitely explore these two characters more fully. Although they have only just met in this story, there is already a special connection that makes me want to learn more about them. The other thing I thought as I was first going through it was, I wondered how you had included the contest prompt. But I had that question answered at the end and, actually, I think it works perfectly that way. It is a safe place (hopefully) for Ann to recover from the beast's attack.

Plot: John has robbed some kind of institution and is on the run from the people trying to catch him. Just what, or, who, those people are and what place he robbed, we don't know. I wondered whether it is the police or the bad guys who want to kill John and are chasing him. Whoever they are, they are managing to stay very close. I wonder if there is magic involved in keeping track of him? Meanwhile, Ann and her cousin Damian wait for a person to appear who they have been commissioned to kill. (Is this person John, I wonder?) However, an evil, massive beast appears and kills John and badly injures Ann. Along comes John who rescues Ann and takes her to the library. Again, I love that John carries her to this magical library.

Characters: I am completely intrigued by your characters. Ann seems as though she is a bit of an outcast among her own folk. She seems down on her luck, and I would love to know why. What has led up to her taking a job as a hitwoman? John is equally interesting. Who was he stealing from, and why? It seems as though he's done it before, so maybe he's a career criminal. I'm not sure. He clearly has a heart because, despite him realising Ann is Fae, he still rescues her.

Grammar: Just a few suggestions. I have put them in this dropnote:
Grammar/Spelling/Typos

What I liked: I loved how the story started right in the middle of the action. Right in the middle of John's robbery. I loved that some of the library books look completely untouched by nature. They look as though they have been "protected by magic." I suspect that may well be the case! I think you have set up your longer story really nicely with this short story.

Suggestions:Just one small niggle. Near the beginning, when John is trying to escape his pursuers, he has just jumped over the wall and ran into the woods. Then you write, "John woke with a start." This seemed like an odd thing to say. John is running for his life, and the first time he pauses, he falls asleep? It doesn't ring true to me.

I enjoyed reading your entry. Thanks, again, for entering.


Choconut

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*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!.
123
123
Review of Long After Humans  
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (3.5)
Hi AmyJo- only 2 steps behind -

I am reviewing your short story, "Long After Humans, as one of the judges for August's official contest, "Short Shots: Official WDC Contest. Thanks for entering, and good luck!

This review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. Please remember any views are purely my own, and any advice is given with the sole intention of being helpful.

My first thoughts: My first impression is how good your descriptive writing is. I enjoyed everything about the way you told us about the long-abandoned library and the way Mother Nature has reclaimed it for her own. That's a great way of reading this prompt.

Plot: If I'm honest, I didn't actually feel much of a plot here. It is more of a description of building that has been overtaken with verdant plants and weeds, and Mother Nature has moved in. Because you didn't really have characters, aside from Mother Nature and, possibly, the library itself, we didn't get any dialogue. You write as an omniscient narrator and tell us about this old library. You do give a few hints as to why it is abandoned — for example, the extinction of the human race. I would have loved to learn more about that. Like, what happened to humans? Did we fight and fight until all were dead? Or was it some kind of nature disaster? I know you say it is. mystery why humans have gone, but I think that could be an interesting avenue to explore. It would bring the story more to life. In my opinion.

Characters: The narrator is probably the main character, now I think of it. The narrator sounds a little scornful of humans, especially when she describes the effort humans took to make a structure devoid of Nature. Nature is the other living, breathing character. She is growing all over the old library, and she will soon have taken over completely. Maybe this is a lesson that Nature is something we can't underestimate.

What I liked: Your descriptions. You do a great job of placing your reader inside the library. I, for one, would never have taken this place for grated! I have to admit, I felt sad for the books who have waited patiently for humans to caress them, to drink in their knowledge. But they have been left alone. That's genuinely quite sad.

Suggestions: My only suggestion would be, if you were to expand on this story, you could introduce some characters. They don't have to be alien, per se. They could be plants, Mother Nature herself. Just a thought.

I enjoyed reading your entry. Thanks, again, for entering.


Choconut

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124
124
Review of The Library  
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (4.0)
Hi J.R. PETE

I am reviewing your short story, "The Library, as one of the judges for August's official contest, "Short Shots: Official WDC Contest. Thanks for entering, and good luck!

This review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. Please remember any views are purely my own, and any advice is given with the sole intention of being helpful.

My first thoughts: Well. This story was not what I first thought. It is a story about battles and a race of Merfolk who have been fighting with different factions, mainly the Sunners, for years. But it is so much more than that. It is a story about love and relationships and about courage and doing the right thing. I was utterly charmed by this story.

Plot: I can honestly say, I have never read a poem about Merfolk before. It's not something I would have ever chosen. But the relationship between Marisol and Oceana, her father, is beautifully written. And I was intrigued to learn how you would incorporate the contest prompt. You did this in a unique manner, and it fit really well within your story. Very creative! I also liked the way you included parallels between this world and our world. For example, having a Senate was a great touch. I do have a slight issue with the first two or three paragraphs. There is nothing catchy and in-your-face about them. If I hadn't been judging this contest and read those, I may not have continued. And that would have been a shame because it's a really great story.

Characters: Marisol and Oceana. I know I've already mentioned this, but they are wonderful characters. The whole scene where he tells her about her mother, and tells her she has to go to the library to live and won't be able to come back, is heartbreaking. I could feel the sadness Oceana felt in having to say goodbye to his daughter forever. It brought a lump to my throat. I believe the start of the story is a teacher telling her pupils about the wars of past times. But, then, you switch to Oceana speaking to Marisol, and also to Marisol and Jetta. I did lose the thread a little, particularly in the beginning. I'm not sure if the teacher is the best device to convey the history. You show the history through Oceana's words to his daughter. And it doesn't matter that we don't learn about this until the two characters meet up. This is everything we need to know. If it were a longer story, you could still incorporate the history as the story goes along. I want to check something. Is Marisol 75? If so, how long do Merfolk live? Are they immortal? But Marisol seemed a lot younger than 75. Finally, I noticed how upset Marisol was when she learned of her mother's fate. I found this odd because, I thought, she already believed her mother was dead. So I didn't get how this made her more unhappy or surprised.

Grammar: Just a few suggestions. I have put them in this dropnote:
Grammar/Spelling/Typos

What I liked: The names you give your characters are fab. Sea Taker is my favourite. I love the whole world of Merfolk and whales and the way they all relate together. The backstory of wars and unrest is interesting. Also, the connections to our own world. This society seems much like ours in many ways. I also have to give you kudos for the imaginative direction you took the prompt.

Suggestions: Near the end, there are a couple of places where you switch your narration from past tense to present tense. It brought me out of the story momentarily. I would go through and check them, if I were you.

I enjoyed reading your entry. Thanks, again, for entering.


Choconut

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125
125
Review of Let It Grow  
Review by Choconut
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
Hi Amethyst Angel🌸📝🪽

I am reviewing your short story, "Let It Grow, as one of the judges for August's official contest, "Short Shots: Official WDC Contest. Thanks for entering, and good luck!

This review is in affiliation with "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group. Please remember any views are purely my own, and any advice is given with the sole intention of being helpful.

My first thoughts: I really enjoyed this story. The whole time I was reading, I found myself wanting to shake Fiona and make her see how much Joseph loved her. I was glad she did see, in the end. I only hope it wasn't too late.

Plot: This is a love story set in 1792. Joseph and Fiona were once lovers (I think), but then Joseph went away to sea, Fiona felt abandoned and heartbroken that he was gone, and so when he returned, she didn't want to forgive him. She couldn't allow herself to be heartbroken again. Joseph, however, is secretly building a tropical garden with butterflies (Fiona's passion) and birds and lots of sweet smelling plants. The story ends with Fiona finally seeing the garden, and how much Joseph loves her. But this only happens because Joseph has the plague, and she rushes to his side. I was glad she went to him. The thing I wasn't sure about was why he had to have the plague. Like, in terms of the story. He doesn't die of it. We don't know whether he lives or dies, because you don't tell us. But, he didn't need to be ill for Fiona to go to him, for her to see the garden. She was intrigued by whatever Joseph was building, and she was going to see it as soon as she could. So, I'm just not sure giving Joseph the plague added anything to the story. At the same time, I did gasp when I read that the plague was ravaging the land. I was caught up in Fiona and Joseph's love story, so I wasn't expecting a major illness to come along. In that respect, I liked the addition of the plague. I guess, maybe, it would have felt more significant if we were to learn Joseph's fate at the end.

Characters: Joseph is a great character. He loves Fiona, and all he wants is to make her happy and to make up for breaking her heart when he went to sea. I was somewhat frustrated with him for not letting Fiona see the garden before it was finished, therefore, pushing her further away. Fiona, it took me a while to like her. She comes across as impatient and self-absorbed. As the story moves along, we learn how unhappy she has been since Joseph went to sea. But, again, is this a little selfish of her? He didn't go specifically to hurt her. He didn't stop loving her. Although, he could have communicated better when he returned, and spent time with her while building this secret garden separately.

Grammar: Just one suggestion. I have put them in this dropnote:
Grammar/Spelling/Typos

What I liked: Your despriptions of the garden are wonderful. I felt I was actually in the middle of it as I read. The birds, plants and butterflies are all described vibrantly and colourfully. I could feel the warm and humid atmosphere, and it was like I was in a tropical house. I really enjoyed this. I also loved how Fiona came through for Joseph at the end. The book on the bedside table was a nice touch.

Suggestions: I did struggle a couple of ties with the long conversation between Fiona and Lovena. They spoke a lot of about the Royal Navy and things that happened before Joseph's deployment and after. This lost me a little because I didn't know anything about the events, and Fiona spoke as though I did. (If that makes sense.) Similarly, when Lovena first mentions Paul, I had no clue he was her husband. It kind of slotted into place when I did find this out. But, I did feel a bit like an outsider in their conversation.

I enjoyed reading your entry. Thanks, again, for entering.


Choconut

Purple Panther sig. 2. Gifted by  [Link To User tblakely5] .


*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!.
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