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Review Requests: ON
1,473 Public Reviews Given
1,527 Total Reviews Given
Review Style
Honest and encouraging
I'm good at...
Proofreading for grammar, letting you know which areas of your writing work and which might be improved
Favorite Genres
Fantasy, historical, adventure, sci-fi
Least Favorite Genres
Murder, horror, erotica
Favorite Item Types
I’m happy to review all types of item
I will not review...
Anything with graphic violence, sexual content or profanity
Public Reviews
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Review of The phoenix  
Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
This is a wondeful poem drawing on the symbolism of the phoenix and foloklore and religion of different cultures. I like how the phoenix was linked to many things - Shakespeare, Odin, Hinduism, Christianity - in this well written poem. I liked how you reveal at the end that the bird's true name is poetry.
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Review by HollyMerry
Rated: E | (5.0)
This short story is vivid and memorable. The appearance of the little boy with his suitcase, bear and dog in the desert not only fits the contest image but creates an unusual picture. Tom decided the boy must be the oracle he is searching for and asks to be shown his future. The reader never sees Tom’s future or what he needs to do at the end of the tale, this air of mystery makes the story stronger.
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Review by HollyMerry
Rated: E | N/A (Review only item.)
This story if full of romance and made me laugh when Mr. Darcy and Heathcliff appeared to give a happy ending to the ladies! I love learning about the lives of historic writers like Jane Austen and Emily Bronte. I'm going to the Bronte Parsonage at the end of the month to see a dress exhibition and I'm very excited about that! I like how you have the characters of the writers and their world so well decribed.
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Review of April Shadows  
Review by HollyMerry
Rated: 13+ | (5.0)
I love how this poem expresses longing for the healing of April showers to heal the land scarred by frosts and drought. April is a gentle time and the showers bring flowers and renewal. This sense is contrasted with harsher feelings in other seasons here. I like how you end on a question about what might happen when April comes.
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Review of The Unicorn.  
Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
This poem perfectly captures the magic and mystery of unicorns. I loved the lines about the unicorn hiding in our dreams and that the unicorn is without equal amongst horses at capturing our imaginations. The acrostic poem format was used to good effect here.
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Review of Fairy Tale  
Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
This poem captures the magic of elves, pixies and fairies. Those who are young at heart believe at them but many, sadly, loose belief in adulthood as is referenced in Peter Pan. The colourful setting and use of language adds to an enchanting mood.
I loved the use of the Rictameter form. I had heard of this before but only seen one stanza using the diamond shaped format. The three stanzas here interlock like a beautiful pattern.
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Review of Eiledon  
Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
This poem captures the drama, beauty and poignancy of the natural world and legends perfectly. I loved the sense of longing after the world of the past before cities grew up and some of the magic was lost from the wilder countryside that went before industrialisation. The poem worked well structually with the rhyme lending a memorable music.
One aspect I espeically liked was the circular struture of the poem as it returns at the end to the images of the eagle, deer and wolf. The idea of waking the wolves who once walked where cities now stand was such a memorable and striking thought and lends the poem a lot of power.
I wondered if the last line might sound better starting with 'For' instead of 'And' to give it more impact fitting with the thoughts that go beforehand?
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158
Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
This poem made me wonder if fairies have had to adapt to modern urbanised life like so many wild creatures. They are traditionally depicted in countryside settings, so this poem was thought-provoking and a fun read. I like how it was structured as a series of questions relating to modern life.
The big question is, did the fairies come? You left me wondering at the end of the poem!
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Review of SNOW  
Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
This is a tense story with a great use of language personifying snow and building up drama. I like how snow is portrayed as a murderous danger here as often tales just comment on its beauty. The repeated phrases about what snow is or isn’t and personification of it having human qualities makes it sound like a being with evil intent as it downs a plane in the Alaskan wilderness. There was a hint things might be all right at the end as the pilot spots a nearby cabin but this was dashed, making the tragic end more powerful.
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Review of Snowflake  
Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
I enjoyed seeing how you personified the snowflake here. The idea of it dancing captures the notion of a falling snowflake well. I also liked how you pointed out that snowflakes refract rainbow colours as most people think of them as clear or white unless they look closely. The short poem works well. I would have liked a mention of the snowflake having snowflake brothers and sisters each of whom are unique in shape as this is an awesome fact about snowflakes. ❄️
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Review of A Girl like You  
Review by HollyMerry
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
This is an interesting blend of modern and fairytale elements with a twist. The story opens with Stiles at a Halloe'en party suggesting a magical time when eveil creatures might appear. You turn the idea of a fairy godmother on its head by having an evil fairy seduce Stiles who enchants him to dance with her. After taking a potion, in a sinister twist at the end he is trapped forever looking down on his other self dancing with the evil fairy.
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Review of The Gift  
Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
This piece is thoughtful and ideas well expressed. As I read it, I reflected on times I had been rejected in life. At the time things seem tough but looking back I can see things happen for a purpose. As one door closed, another has opened. Often, the thing I thought I wanted but didn't get because I was rejected has turned out to be not as good as the thing I went on to do as an alterantive option. I guess it's always good to have a Plan B in case of rejection. I like how this piece worded this feeling so well and broadened out to consider all forms of rejection. As a reader, I felt stronger as I ended the piece with the lovely line about finding true happiness after overcoming our focus of being hurt by rejection.
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Review of Rain!  
Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
This is a beautifully written poem about sorrow and loss. The rain prompts the speaker of the poem to reflect on a loved one who is no longer with them. I loved the words 'Soft as the mist is the cheek that I think I can feel' as it conjures a perfect image of gentle rain and love.
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Review of Oh Joyful Day  
Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
This poem would appeal to all ages. The Biblical allusions, such as the mention of Jesus the Son and unicorns recalling Noah’s ark, are presented in a fresh and memorable light. Having a rabbit as a kind of saviour carrying his message to others is an interesting take on the life and mission of Jesus. Petey is a true Easter bunny! I like the fact the rabbit’s name recalls that of Peter, Beatrix Potter’s famous creation, adding another layer to the piece.
The poem has an amusing and memorable rhyme scheme and I liked how you used internal rhymes to add to its musical quality.
I can’t think of anything to alter or add, other than that maybe it would be nice to hint at the reaction of the other rabbits and Pete’s owner after he is resurrected to join the unicorn.
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Review of Links Of Gold  
Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
This is a meaningful poem about the miraculous reappearance of two beautiful wedding rings belonging to Lucy. The loss of the rings and looking for them opens the poem in a way that has readers hoping they will be found. The reappearance of the rings and all they mean to Lucy’s bereaved husband felt such a meaningful moment. It is like Lucy was leaving a gift for him with the returned rings, and for her friend with the bag with its memories of her, that Christmas. The couplet rhyme scheme is used well here.
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Review by HollyMerry
Rated: E | N/A (Review only item.)
This is a romantic story about a princess who runs away with a handsome and kind knight because she cannot marry the man her parents choose for her. Life was hard for women historically having their choices mapped out for them, so I admire this princess for following her heart. I hope she lives happily ever after in Ireland and her parents forgive her.
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Review by HollyMerry
Rated: ASR | (5.0)
An amazing poem, I loved every word. I like how you captured both the beauty and cruelty of nature as plants vie against each other. Another nice aspect was that you included plants like the fleabane and bindweed that aren't typical floral plant subjects for poetry yet are every bit as interesting as roses. The poetic form worked well in this interesting piece. I could vividly picture the flowers and scenes described.
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Review by HollyMerry
Rated: E | N/A (Review only item.)
This is beautiful and cute. I love her bunch of violets and how they match her hair. Are you planning on writing some stories about her? Her wings are lovely and sparkly and I like the friendly butterflies that land on her dress. They probably think it’s a flower!
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Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
This is a very helpful summary of how to create a good short story. The adivce is easy to follow and useful as wriitng a short story can be hard if writers don't know where to start from. I like how you broke the story down into main elements of characters, plot, themes and setting. The analysis of each element and what to think about when planning a short story is excellent.
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Review of Struggle  
Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (5.0)
I enjoyed this poem teaching us how struggles in life are placed there by God in order to bring us closer to Him. They teach us His power and remind us that he has a plan for us, even if we can't see it at the time. The imagery is full of Biblical references. I enjoyed the arc as the character goes from struggling to crying out to God and ending by becoming a better man through what his struggles taught him.
The image of a man trying to move a boulder up a hill is a perfect fit for the theme of this poem.
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Review of Glass House  
Review by HollyMerry
Rated: E | (4.5)
Choosing glass as a metaphor for truth works well. This poem is about seeing things clearly and not living in a make-believe world as dreams can shatter if there is no reality behind them. The repetitions work well and the message was clearly conveyed despite this being a short poem.
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Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (4.5)
This is a great blend of modern, hilarious twists and the traditional fairytale plot. I enjoyed how you altered the characters so that Beauty is really not beautiful but just a stuck-up girl who gets praised because her Dad is a famous toaster manufacturer. When she discovers the truth she runs away and encounters the Beast. She changes her ways to become a nicer person and all seems like a happy ending until their child, Beast Junior, decides to eat the teacher!
You missed the t off to here: 'starting o get the hang of the idea.'
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Review of The Survey  
Review by HollyMerry
In affiliation with WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  
Rated: E | (4.0)
This short piece shows how a story can be effectively created using dialogue without any speech tags or setting. The story unfolds as we pick up snippets about the plot and characters as the dialogue progresses. Conveying a telephone conversation in this way is realistic as we often focus solely on words during a telephone conversation. The short sentences and ellipses created a natural representation of dialogue here.
You missed out a capital letter here: “thought so, I understand family politics.”
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Review of Four Feathers  
Review by HollyMerry
Rated: E | (5.0)
What a beautiful story full of spiritual hope this poem tells. I love how the kind lady nursing the injured pheasant back to life gave you, Lucy, Kieran and Jessica feathers to keep to symbolise the love of God's angels watching over you. It was nice of her to care for the pheasant and I hope it survived. I have some tame pheasants visiting the bird table in my garden and they like to follow me around, they have such beautifully coloured feathers. The poetic form here is wel structured and works well.
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Review by HollyMerry
Rated: E | (5.0)
This wonderful poem enters perfectly into the spirit of the novel 'Frankenstein'. Told from the point of view of the monster, the poem pours out his pain and his story. I enjoyed how you had a hopeful ending where the monster might return to God after death, showing he has a creator beyond Victor Frankenstein. I also liked how closely your choice of language and poetic form mirrors Romantic writing.
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