Beholden's (beholden) Reviews

Public Reviews

1

1

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#4878431

Review of Kill 'Em With Kindness  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Aug 14, 2026 at 12:17pm

Length:   1,112 Characters | 959 w/o WritingML

Ah, if only life were so simple. Still, I can believe it if the song was Nessun Dorma. The story itself is excellent. Brief but filled with drama and emotion. And a truly happy ending, of course. The writing is accomplished, to the point, avoiding unnecessary complications, and clear. With no grammatical errors - editing is just as important as the writing. If I have a quibble at all, it would be that phrase, "The music washed over her like a maze of dazzling light..." I have trouble imagining that. I know that "maze' was a required word but it looks slightly forced in this context. Do mazes wash over one? But it's easily skimmed over and forgiven - the effect of music is difficult to describe, after all. My conclusion must be that this is a pleasant little story, made expecially tasty by the gentle comeuppance in its denouement. Well done! Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

2

2

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#4878311

Review of Review: THE WITCH HITCH Elizabeth Bass  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: 13+ ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Aug 13, 2026 at 11:12am

Length:   1,351 Characters | 1,198 w/o WritingML

Don't think I've ever done a review of a review before. But there's a first time for everything, they say, and so here it is. Obviously, since I don't usually do this kind of thing, it has to be something exceptional that gets me going. And that's what your review does - it makes me want to read at least the book you've reviewed and maybe the series too. Which is quite a feat, considering I've no real interest in romances, comic or otherwise, nor in books that deal with magic (it's just a cheap way for the author to get the hero out of a jam). But you make the whole idea of this lady's books sound very interesting. I think it's that combination of magic and skepticism that does it. The most successful story (in my opinion) that I wrote was a combination of horror and comedy. If you get unusual combinations right, they can be very enjoyable. Your review really succeeds in that you explain your reaction to it without going into enormous technical detail on the writing, editing, etc. Sometimes a short review is all that's needed and that's true of this one. Wonderfully well done! Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

3

3

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#4878212

Review of The Fen Blow and the Pumpkin Kings - 1  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Aug 12, 2026 at 12:37pm

Length:   1,821 Characters | 1,668 w/o WritingML

Interesting technique. Normally I'd advise against the chatty introduction mimicking a spoken prelude from a seasoned raconteur. "Are you sitting comfortably" indeed. But it works here because it fits with the type and mood of the whole piece. And it probably helps that I know the Fens and Ely is one of my favourite cathedrals. It is Ely, isn't it? Anyway, you have captured much of the feeling of an English village and the great emptiness of the Fens with those huge skies. And the story-telling style is an important part of that. You should keep it throughout the book (is that what it's going to be?). But keep it natural and don't overdo it. I have one quibble to mention. Your first mention of Pete is in the fourth paragrapah, when you talked of his angst at losing the Pumpkin title to Ted for three years running. Up until then, we had been watching Ted plant a pumpkin seed so, for a few moments I thought you had made an error and said Pete when you meant Ted. It's only when we reach the end of the sentence that we find you've been talking about Ted's rival. This info needs to be introduced first so we know whose feelings you're describing. A minor alteration should do it, something like: "It was a title Ted's rival, Pete South, desperately wanted to reclaim." Otherwise, it's a delightful tale (or developing into one) and the tone of your writing prepares us for a highly amusing and heart-warming tale of the coming struggle. And you can do no better than to follow your own advice and build up slowly to the eventful Halloween night! Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

4

4

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#4878081

Review of The Unseen Sender  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Aug 11, 2026 at 10:29am

Length:   993 Characters | 852 w/o WritingML

An engaging little tale, hinting at dark things barely sensed and never grasped entirely. The denouement is no big surprise, this device having been used before, but it holds up in the last sentences as the finger turns to point at the reader. Unsettling and yet satisfying in its completion of circular plots. I like it. You have spent time in building up tension and the reader is impelled onward through curiosity. There is no stronger impulse than "I want to see what happens!." The writing flows well and with measured pace, at times sounding like Poe in its slightly detached horror. In the end, the story is squeezed of all it has to give and the tale, short as it is, needs no continuation. It is complete and without loose ends. Very neatly done. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

5

5

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#4877983

Review of The Universe Loves Balance  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: 13+ ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Aug 10, 2026 at 12:25pm

Length:   1,175 Characters | 1,029 w/o WritingML

Beautifully described, carefully constructed, and far too close to reality to be comfortable. And in that last lies the humour, of course. To anyone that loves cats, this is a paean of praise to them. Well, I'm a Dad so I know that even Dads can like cats and yet wonder where the Dads fit in. It's well written, as I was trying to say in my first sentence, but be careful of overstepping the mark on the descriptions and actions. You have succeeded in getting across the sumptuous magnificence of the palace and recreated the feeling of needing care to survive in such a rarefied atmosphere, but, just occasionally it becomes too much. Beware piling on so much detail that the reader becomes overwhelmed and starts scanning. Otherwise, it's a delight ful tale with an amusing and thought-provoking ending. Oh, and one tiny quibble: the word is not "tempertatrums,." You mean "temper tantrums." Typing too quickly, methinks... Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

6

6

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#4877884

Review of The Genie of the Marble  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Aug 9, 2026 at 12:23pm

Length:   1,727 Characters | 1,574 w/o WritingML

Lovely little tale, suitable for both children and adults. It's full of invention and leads the reader into another world where ordinary things become meaningful and lessons are learned without effort. The idea of a marble being the source of a genie is truly original and a fitting introduction to the events that follow. This kind of story is so often spoiled by certain lessons being pointed out and hammered home, so it is refreshing to find oneself in a situation where the lessons are clear but so subtly introduced that it's entirely up to the reader to respond or not. And the final reappearance of chocolate cake was a delightful surprise. I thought we'd seen the last of it much earlier! The one quibble I have is the matter of genre. There is no such thing as a None genre. Everything has genres or elements of them that can be applied to it. And it's important from the reader's position to have some inkling of what he's about to read. I nearly went on to the next offering from Read & Review when I saw that you had not stated at least one genre. The fact that I'd already rejected a large number of stories this morning made me decide to give yours a read at least. And I'm glad I did. It's a wonderful story that has elements of children's tale, fantasy, fable, entertainment, and many more. Don't handicap your writing by refusing to give a clue as to its content. And that's it. Well written, fascinating tale. Thanks for such an enjoyable read. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

7

7

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#4877801

Review of The Box  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: 13+ ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Aug 8, 2026 at 4:49pm

Length:   1,115 Characters | 962 w/o WritingML

This is a quiet little story without drama that nevertheless delivers a surprisingly powerful message in very few words. That is exactly what flash fiction should be and what is so often missed by other writers. There has to be that twist or revelation in the end. What I particularly like about this one is that you write to the restrictive word limit without the reader being conscious of any haste or clipped phrases. Everything happens naturally and with unhurried pace so that it was a surprise to see the word count at the end. You have managed to include enough description to provide atmosphere without having to speed up towards the end. The subject, too, was serious but never depressing. In fact, the plot lifts one to understand that life is often not as hard as we imagine. The reader is left with a feeling of a new dawn, indeed. Most enjoyable. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

8

8

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#4877626

Review of Moonflowers and Moonstones  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Aug 7, 2026 at 11:39am

Length:   1,636 Characters | 1,486 w/o WritingML

A very beautiful and powerful poem, full of arresting visions and original metaphors. You start with a bang, as "The Pregnant full moon Struggles to get her belly over The thick copse of evergreens." Very expressive and insistent that the reader keep going. Is there more? "Sharp lances of silvery light," "Full white petticoats shimmer," and "The Moon drags her satin sheets." Bright flashes of insight scattered through the lines like pearls strewn on a beach. Some interesting techniques as well. One may be a typo, rather than deliberate. But poets devise and order so the floating quotation marks after - "Goodbye my beautiful friends. ” may be intended. Don't say! I prefer to think that there's a deep significance to this apparent slip. Then there are the capitals assigned to some words but denied others. This imbues them with due importance, of course, perhaps striving to make the reader realise the true depth of meaning intended. My favourite, however is this: "dark-of-the-moon stone (TM)." I love the sudden intrusion of the outside world with this abrupt declaration of trademarks. Perhaps a tap on the shoulder to remind us that dawn and the day fast approaches? All together it's a wonderful poem and demonstrates an exceptional facility with words and an understanding of how their power is increased by interaction with each other. Most impressive. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

9

9

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#4877477

Review of Beneath the Rooftop Sky  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: 13+ ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Aug 6, 2026 at 11:54am

Length:   1,452 Characters | 1,299 w/o WritingML

This is a heartwarming tale of a friendship deeply rooted in past events. I like the way you have taken plenty of time to allow the full impact of the couple's joint histories to be apparent to them. I was aware of the direction of the tale quite early on, but I knew that they were characters in a romance and so was forewarned to expect such things. Involved in the unfolding drama, as they were, it's not surprising (or unlikely) that it took so long for them to understand what was going on. So your unhurried development of the tale is entirely appropriate. The one note I found slightly jarring was Jenny's annoyance that the narrator had saved her life. I heard recently, and I believe it to be true, that unsuccessful suicides always regret their decision to attempt the deed. That may not be true in all cases but actually blaming the rescuer for survival seems a little too much. Apart from that, I found the story to be cleverly constructed, quite different from most in the genre, and well written. The setting was exactly right, rooftops having a head start when it comes to romantic scenes. You described it very well, too (the setting, that is). Altogether a most enjoyable read. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

10

10

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#4877360

Review of The Mountain We Never Mention  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Aug 5, 2026 at 12:43pm

Length:   1,465 Characters | 1,314 w/o WritingML

Wonderfully amusing tale. Your turn of phrase continues to grab me - "Her coffee had cooled to the approximate temperature of regret," and the plot is quite delightful. There's just one thing I found a bit odd. Not that it detracted from my enjoyment but that it seemed to divide the story almost into two. The first half is all about Emily, she drives, makes it happen, and establishes a relationship with the reader. Halfway through, Greg suddenly takes over (previously he's been a supporting character, hovering at the edge of the action) and, from then on, he's the one who takes the story forward. It's a bit distracting. Or feels that way when the end is reached. Where on earth did Emily disappear to? As the initiator, she deserves more than this inexplicable obscurity. It's almost as if the story is the point, not the characters. And that makes me wonder. Maybe that's intentional? Certainly, Greg's the hero - it's only thanks to his embracing of criticism that the tale becomes a happy one. But is it enough to justify the strange seesaw nature of the telling? I dunno. I'm undecided and mention it only because you may want to think about it yourself. It's still a great story, even so. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

11

11

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#4877258

Review of Boulevard  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Aug 4, 2026 at 9:34am

Length:   1,351 Characters | 1,198 w/o WritingML

I am English and unsure that I get the meaning of some lines in the poem. But I know enough to say the poem is powerful and have some understanding of how it works. The style is composed of flashes of insight, like bright-lit railway carriages zipping past a darkened station. The effect is cumulative, each stanza taking us further in what turns out to be a story. So we travel from a time of hope and happiness, growing older with each line, until the destination which brings the hardness of life home to the reader. It's a journey of hope turning to despair. Ma proves to be the thread which binds all the lives togather. Although she is not involved in the development, standing at the edge and witnessing the lives of others, it's her feelings that drive the message. The poem is really a monument to her travail, as well as a paean against injustice. It's a strong, emotive poem, constructed almost like a Lego tower, with each brick contributing to the whole. I would encourage you to continue to write because you have a natural talent, an ease in finding a way to communicate emotion. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

12

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#4877164

Review of Shepherd’s Shift  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Aug 3, 2026 at 11:14am

Length:   1,072 Characters | 919 w/o WritingML

Came across this in Read & Review today. Impressed by the authenticity of the tale's setting. Perhaps more than research went into this - nothing like a bit of experience, hey? You have a fine way with words, too, especially this phrase: "...suspended in something without edges." Gloriously emotive. It's a very clever piece. Using the learning process of the narrator it teaches without becoming didactic. That's not easy to do when you have a point to make and you make it seem easy. There is nothing quite so off-putting as a piece that starts wagging a disapproving finger at the reader. And your point is an uncommon one that results in true wisdom. Such quiet and unassertive stories are rare these days and I must congratulate you on this one. It's excellent and delivered so effectively. Most enjoyable. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

13

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#4877056

Review of Another Ordinary Tuesday  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Aug 2, 2026 at 12:59pm

Length:   1,797 Characters | 1,644 w/o WritingML

I try not to repeat review a writer too often. The idea is to avoid appearing too slavish and also to keep me searching for other pieces worthy of review. But I was presented with this immediately upon opening Read & Review and had to stop to read it. I did not know you wrote poetry as well. And that serves as excuse enough to proceed! If poetry were intended to make us think, this certainly succeeds. Every line presents another simile, each fresh, different, and thought-provoking. As fast as the reader gets his head round one, he has to begin working on the next. It's brilliantly readable and fascinating. Not only are these thoughts worth thinking about, they have their own peculiar beauty. The one question that occurs to me is, "Do they belong together?" Is it too much to expect of an audience that they deal with so many flashes of insight in one great nutritious lump? I'm not sure I know the answer to that. Personally, I love it, but what will be its effect on others? The best answer I can come up with is that it's so beautiful that it doesn't matter if it's not understood. The words alone have a strange, unexpected beauty. I know you're aware of this because you chose some of them as the title - Another Ordinary Tuesday. That alone is enough to make it poetic. After that, it's entirely up to the reader how deep he wants to dive into it. And the final two lines do provide a way to tie them all together. I think that's all I wanted to say. It's really good and I just hope others can see its excellence. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

14

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#4876809

Review of The Dog Who Refused to Leave  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Jul 31, 2026 at 12:20pm

Length:   1,229 Characters | 1,076 w/o WritingML

Wonderful story, beautifully told. You're very good at these quiet, apparently undramatic tales that pack a learning punch in the end. In this one the power comes from the descriptions and atmosphere created. The device of giving emotions action and intent builds a picture that is deeply immersive. As we hear of disappointment becoming reduced to sheer acceptance of the inevitable, refusing to hope or try, the true loneliness and emptiness enters our souls. It's very effective and you do it well. Never too much but enough to make us feel it. The reason for your own sadness is never discussed but we have enough hints to guess. And this draws us further into the tale as we add our own experience to the narrator's. That is the essence of this story's power. It's simple enough but, imbued with the deep emotions engendered by the descriptions, it becomes much more than a series of events. It is really an experience. You write extremely well and should continue. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

15

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#4876356

Review of The House with Two Doors  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Jul 26, 2026 at 2:58pm

Length:   1,327 Characters | 1,172 w/o WritingML

Not many people create parables or allegories these days. That's probably why I stopped to read this one and I'm glad I did. It's a delightful little tale that speaks of things common to the human condition, yet is not preachy, disapproving, or holier-than-thou. The writing is simple and clear, the plot uncomplicated but full of meaning. And it teaches a lesson that is true and satisfying in its accuracy. Its one weakness is that I cannot see why the first door is necessary. If there are two sides to the house with an impenetrable wall between them so that two different people can live in each compartment, then the entrances make sense. But if the house is one whole with only one person inside, the tale no longer needs two doors. The first door does provide contrast to the second, but I'm not sure that it adds anything to the moral. Of course, it may be that I'm missing the point, in which case my criticism is invalid. It's not a huge flaw in any case and I'll not let it spoil the enjoyment I had from the story. On that basis, I must give it five stars. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

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#4876191

Review of Nothing Plain About This Family  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Jul 24, 2026 at 3:35pm

Length:   1,027 Characters | 872 w/o WritingML

Delightfully confusing and nonsensical. People think it's easy to write nonsense but it's actually quite difficult to have ideas different enough to be classified as such. And maintaining the alternative vision is hard too. Reality has so strong a pull and often decoys us back into the fold. This little story is an excellent example of the genre. It wastes no time in setting up the unexpected rules of the imagined world but allows it to grow as the reader progresses through the tale. It extracts exactly the required response from the reader - "I don't understand what's going on but it sure is fun!" Best of all, you offer no explanation at the end. We are left with no alternative but to accept the tale on its own terms. Wonderful stuff and a most enjoyable read! Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

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#4875863

Review of Blood, sweat and tears  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Jul 21, 2026 at 11:00am

Length:   1,352 Characters | 1,192 w/o WritingML

Interesting. As a study in conflicting emotions and motives, it's a veritable tour de force. You write well, without pretence and have an air of knowing what you're talking about. I found myself wondering if you were a dancer yourself. Perhaps subjected to lessons at some stage or other. Not professional surely, for who would have time for writing in that case? See how you've set my mind to worrying at things that really shouldn't concern me. That shows how good the piece is at drawing the most from a fairly straighforward siruation. We have all had to work with people we dislike at times, after all. Which means that the story (or vignette - I'm undecided which it is) works very well. As for your writing, it;s refreshingly competent, especially in one so young (yes, I read the brief bio in your profile). No errors and a smooth and well-paced style make for an easy, relaxing read that still manages to draw the reader in. Altogether an accomplished piece. The only trouble is that you've given me no points to make to improve the thing. And that means a shorter review. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

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#4875667

Review of THE QUESTION  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Jul 19, 2026 at 2:26pm

Length:   1,385 Characters | 1,230 w/o WritingML

I like this. Generally, I don't like stories intended to teach a lesson or push an opinion. But this one gets the balance right. It's not one-sided and blind to the arguments of others who think differently. You have presented both sides and revealed the likely results of conflicting ideas. Most of all, you have shown that there is room for both suggestions, that we do not need to devote ourselves completely to one side or the other. In doing this, you have allowed the reader an insight into the importance of things he probably had not considered before. You present the good things of places that have grown through hard work and sacrifice to become places that others like to visit and recharge their batteries. It's the flavour of the small country town, the seaside village, the ancestral home. These things need a voice in this age of obsession with progress and leisure. That's what this story does and it does it well. Written in simple language and with solid reasoning, it's an example of how to write to show life, rather than to insist upon a theory. Let us never lose the wisdom of the past. Wonderful tale. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

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#4875279

Review of The Abyss Illuminated  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (4.0)

Given:   Jul 15, 2026 at 11:19am

Length:   1,406 Characters | 1,255 w/o WritingML

A rollicking adventure and sci-fi tale reminiscent of Jules Verne and HG Wells. It shows great originality and invention in plot and world creation, but the lack of any dialogue or character creation makes it seem more a draft or plan for a much longer work. In fact, I would suggest that the piece could easily be expanded even as far as novel length. It seems a pity to waste such excellent preparation work on no more than a short story. Normally, I'm not one to quibble over a lack of dialogue. It's true that dialogue adds interest and information that would otherwise be difficult to provide without requiring stamina of the reader, but there are some stories that benefit from this more sober narration. It's just that the tale as presented here needs more to really involve the reader. For instance, the names given are excellent starting points for character creation but that's as far as this goes. Let us get closer to the characters and we'll be more into the tale. I loved the scientific explanation of the new breathing apparatus, by the way. Who knows? Maybe you'll one day be proved prophetic in this. Altogether an enjoyable read. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

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14 days may be credited.

#4874605

Review of Incident at Owl Creek  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: ASR ★★★★★ | (3.5)

Given:   Jul 7, 2026 at 3:08pm

Length:   2,282 Characters | 2,135 w/o WritingML

A most unexpected ending. It's almost a pity to have worked so hard, building the characters and their difficulties, only to rub them out in a couple of lines. You've been successful in creating tension and suspense through the account of the storm, we've learned a lot about the characters and are getting involved with them, and then it all ends so suddenly. I'm unsure what you're trying to achieve through the story, whether it's about the frailty of life or the pointlessness of it all, so it might be better to extend the ending a little, giving more time for the reader to realise the seriousness of their situation. Apart from that, you have succeeded in creating a vivid picture of the couple's troubles and your powers of description are strong. It's a situation most of us have been in at one time or another, driving through a heavy storm, so we can identify with the characters. Another reason not to kill them off so finally, perhaps. I did notice a few errors in the text and I'll list them here: You tell us that "Jack wasn't used to seeing this much rain either" at one stage and then, in the next paragraph, Jack says, "I'm not used to seeing this much rain either." There's no need to repeat the infomation and the first statement could be omitted. It has more strength coming directly from Jack anyway. "a shower of water succumbed the right headlight" - "Succumb" means to give up to something, so I'm not sure what you intended here. A bit later you say that there was "a ghostly glow illuminated by the headlights," indicating that they were both still working. That disproves my first impression that one of the headlights had been extinguished by the water. But it's confusing, either way. "the vehicle seen to crash into something" - I think that's a typo and should read "The vehicle seemed..." The story has some potential but, in my opinion, it really needs a bit more of a question in the ending - do they survive or are they wiped out before they realise just how much trouble they're in? Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

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14 days may be credited.

#4874407

Review of Drake's Rainy Night  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Jul 5, 2026 at 2:43pm

Length:   1,083 Characters | 928 w/o WritingML

Sometimes the quiet, inoffensive stories are the one that affect us most. As this one does. It's carefully constructed, with fine details being noted without fuss until they build into a picture. We are held in a vision of a damp street under the lights and turn our thoughts in obedience to watch Drake make his few preparations for leaving. The final gesture of giving a saved piece of bread to the man in the street is the one moment that even approaches drama, yet the story hinges upon this moment. It's a hymn to the decision not to be broken by this world, a reminder that we can rise above misfortune. As for the writing, there is power in the simple descriptions and the quiet narration. The result is a powerful and effective story that will be remembered long after the tales of derring-do are done. A wonderful read. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

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#4874144

Review of Cupid on a Bad Day  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (4.0)

Given:   Jul 2, 2026 at 3:00pm

Length:   1,378 Characters | 1,223 w/o WritingML

Ooh cynical. It's an interesting reversal of assumed roles and a bit of a twist in the tail. It seems Cupid is not quite godlike in that the third couple's true thoughts were hidden from him. And yet a new resolution has arisen in Cupid's heart, to never use leaden arrows again. Somehow this ghost of an optimistic ending raises the tale above our usual cynicism. Can it be that mistaken motives can yet produce good outcomes? The story is noteworthy for the originality of its premise, whatever the implications for morality. In escaping the inevitable expected course of events, it does more than observe what might happen were our assumptions turned on their heads. It entertains and avoids boredom. The one quibble I have is that the dialogue is a bit forced and curtailed. Perhaps a slower build to the ultimate breakdown might make it seem a little more natural. So it's a different sort of tale and is well told , avoiding the pitfalls of being agenda-fueled. Unlike the original Cupid myth, this story merely observes without judging. And so the reader is allowed to come to his own conclusions. Nicely done. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

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14 days may be credited.

#4867099

Review of Estranged  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: 13+ ★★★★★ | (4.5)

Given:   May 5, 2026 at 3:33pm

Length:   1,731 Characters | 1,582 w/o WritingML

This is an interesting take on love and marriage under the oppression of a tyrannical regime. It shows very clearly the difference between arranged marriage and true love. A lot of thought has gone into the portrayal of both afflicted and officials. There are several minor errors throughout the text, mainly typos, that show you need to be more careful in your editing. That final polish is what makes the difference between a promising manuscript and one broken and halting because of distracting mistakes. The actual writing is good. Your story flows quite naturally and has the feel of someone giving an account of events that actually happened. What they call authenticity. And that's something to be treasured because it enables the reader to become immersed in the tale and to forget the real world for a while. Your pacing, too, is excellent. The reader feels the gradual intrusion of doubt into the mind of the narrator, the slow erosion of his trust that the beloved remains true. This adds to the emotional effect on the reader and gives the ending enormous power. It's not clear exactly what happens in the end but the very fact that he now regards the matter as his mistake leads us to think that he broke in the final sentences. Leaving it still open to other interpretations is a clever twist, the need to have closure for the reader forcing him to ponder deeply on the tale. Congratulations on writing a very effective story. And get those errors fixed! Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

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#4866143

Review of The moon...She IS  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (5.0)

Given:   Apr 28, 2026 at 11:24am

Length:   1,265 Characters | 1,128 w/o WritingML

Interesting question and a hard one to answer conclusively. I like the way your reflections have wandered through the various possibilities, progressing from the general to the intimately personal. Ultimately, it's one's relation to the moon that counts, for she is what she is to each of us. Your poem is particularly appealing to me because it uses free verse as it should be used. There is no attempt to wax poetic, trust being placed in the truth of the words rather than their beauty. And that makes the poem more beautiful as well. Truth can't lose, really. I have always written in free verse (actually blank verse but that's another story) but I recently discovered that rhyme has its uses (as does meter). For the lighter, less important poetry it's fine and almost indispensible for comic verse. But when the matter is close to the heart (and what better reason for poetry?), free verse enables us to say so much more. Your poem is simple, straightforward and avoids all pretence. We as readers can request no more. Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .

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14 days may be credited.

#4865640

Review of Clair de Lune on the River  

Review by Beholden

In affiliation with The Power Reviewers Group  

Rated: E ★★★★★ | (4.5)

Given:   Apr 24, 2026 at 12:31pm

Length:   2,103 Characters | 1,963 w/o WritingML

This is a charming story that most resembles an extended fairy tale. It is full of eniticing names and words, interesting and original ideas, and unusual events. The conversations recorded are natural and help the story to progress at a brisk but unhurried pace. As you have mentioned in your description of the piece, the prose could use some editing, there being a few grammatic oddities and slips in the text, but the overall effect of your writing is a marvellous feeling of magic and beauty in a world that is somehow better than the one we know. As it should be in a fairy tale, of course. I hesitate to point out any failings in the tale since you have indicated already that you know it needs some improvement in the telling. But there are places where you allow yourself to wander into descriptions of events that do nothing for the essential thrust of the narrative. The intervention of the flying fish into Camille's journey seems entirely to justify their existence in the story. Other than assisting the hydra to carry Camille, they perform no other function. I would also advise against the use of all those esses in the speech of the hydras. There are far too many of them and they become merely an impediment to the flow of the writing. The similarity to the speech of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings is also unfortunate. Just double the esses used at the end of plural nouns and verbs should indicate enough, I think. Your style is a wonderful mix of astounding descriptions from quite ordinary beginnings with a steady purpose driving the story onwards. It's very unusual for a modern story but I would encourage you in this. Being the same as everyone else is no recommendation these days and the difference you make is a welcome relief from the standard chorus. All in all it's a delightful story that is a joy to read. Well done! Image #2202470 over display limit. -?- Beholden Nominated for Quills Best Reviewer, 2023 and 2024 Image #2291664 over display limit. -?- Image #2291665 over display limit. -?- My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .