Howdy!
I'm glad I found your story. I enjoyed reading it and hope you find this feedback useful. Remember, this is just one opinion, so take what you like and leave the rest. Everything is said with love and in hopes that it helps!
Overall Impression:
WONDERFUL story! I loved it! I was almost disappointed when it was a dream, but you saved it by still keeping it in the fantasy realm. Great work!
Plot:
Alverad is fighting a lich, but then turns out he'd just fallen asleep while he was supposed to be cleaning.
Style and Voice:
Appropriate for the piece
Scene/Setting:
An ancient crypt and a tavern
Characters:
Alverad, a lich, Haldersen, and other assorted friends who are simply there
Dialogue:
Seemed natural and appropriate
Grammar and Mechanics:
No mistakes noticed.
Suggestions:
"A laugh echoed through the halls of the catacombs, drifting from the walls..." I'm not sure I agree echos drift. I'm glad you didn't use bounce, though it's an accurate description, it's too passe. But I think there's something better than drift...unless the laugh doesn't echo. If it was far away, the laugh could crawl through the halls, then drifting would work. Just my opinion. Keep what you like, change what you agree with. lol "Visibly strained and wounded, the lich was no longer laughing." This part confused me because I kept reading "REstrained" since you'd just finished talking about Alverad getting restrained by the vines. I'd suggest a different word as not to confuse the reader, but I'm easily confused, so...
Favorite Part:
"Alverad had wanted this his entire life, but at this moment, all he could feel was the gripping terror of the situation he'd found himself in." You grab the reader from the very first sentence--perfect! You're a natural talent! I also like the next sentence where the "...his brow was lined with sweat..." instead of covering it like most folks say. Great work! "Ensorcelled"--new word for me. Nice! "The elf had regained consciousness, but was firmly constricted in rough, thorny vines. They were black and gnarled, corrupted by the evil and malice of the undead spellcaster that had conjured them." Fabulous descriptions! "He charged forward, raising his hammer, infusing it with all the powers of his deity he could summon. It glowed fiercely, bright with the righteous fury he channeled, becoming a blessed weapon of divine will." Awesome! "It hissed, clacking its skeletal teeth as it neared Alverad's face, the small embers of malignant magic in its otherwise empty eye sockets burning like pyres." I know half this review is just me repeating what YOU said, but you're just such an amazing writer! I love so many parts! (Plus, it heps me get my 1000 characters. Though I've doubled it by now. lol "He'd fallen asleep once more in the course of his duties, and his surly dwarf employer seemed none too pleased." I'm glad the characters continue to not be human, otherwise, I'd have been disappointed. lol "...floodin' in here like rats to a pantry." I especially like that there's a link between rats and floods already (in many people's minds), so this works extra well. "He turned to clean the mugs quickly, too quickly, as he just missed the faint, golden glow that had begun to emanate from his broom." NOOOOooooo...
Thank you again for sharing your story! Keep writing!
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