 Quandary 2008-08-22 . chapter 4(Oops. I took a little longer than I had expected.)
As per your request, sagewolf, I came over to have a look. Not bad, if I might say so myself.
Fantastic writing, for starters. Mercifully free of those migraine-inducing technical critters too, although I did pick out several grammatically awkward sentences. (You might want to call upon the services of a beta-reader to fix those.) Dialogue is excellent – very natural-sounding. Clear, fluent narrative for the most part (watch your fragmentation though, it is occasionally overdone), interspersed with a nice dash of subtle humour.
Descriptions are decent, but nothing spectacular. A note of advice would be not to describe (in intimate detail) the innumerable puzzles that comprise the hallmark of the GS games. Completing them was irritating enough; hearing them put in words is just – urgh. Either you create your own puzzles, traps etc. or leave them out altogether. It will annoy readers less, I assure you.
Your portrayal of the characters is more than sufficiently accurate – it is noteworthy. Jenna, in particular, stands out with the natural vibrancy that you’d accentuated most expertly. Felix’s justifiable fear of water is expressed with equal expertise, as is Isaac’s purposeful, but ultimately humane methodology for collecting the Adepts required for re-ignition of the various lighthouses. There is still room to deviate from the stereotype and make Garet a little less brain-numb, however.
The only thing I have a real issue with is the plot. Switching Isaac for Felix is a rather trite story concept, but not utterly uninspired. Leaving out the all-important incentive of rescuing one’s beloved parents in exchange for obliterating the principles of his homeland, by contrast, is a plot-hole of epic proportions. (Sadly, it’s a little late to fix this.) And the serendipitous phenomenon of circumstances refashioning themselves in order to assuage the same person’s irrational guilt is no prize-claimer, either.
Also, the later chapters were rather dull in comparison to the first, which was intense and emotionally charged – an atmosphere I’ll admit I am partial to, but nonetheless. I was all too keen on the story following its apparent destination – of Felix abandoning the village, and the trail of misery that would entail in its wake – but alas, it was not so. Much to my disappointment, might I add.
A slow updating rate will scarcely do you any favours, either, and due to that, the possibility of readers falling out of interest is high. A question: have you planned out the rest of the plot? If not, it might be a better idea to put this on hiatus – so you won’t be getting your readers’ hopes up too much.
Hope I’ve helped. |
 Fehize 2007-08-28 . chapter 3Horray for an update!
As for it being dark, I do have a tendancy to get suspicious around dark stuff. As long as Issac stays out a'ok in the end, I'm all good. -laughs- -sweats- -gets nervous- Um...-muuter-You'renotkillingIsaac,right?!?- -sweat sweat sweat-
Yeah, the chapter was slow, but at least it was an update to begin with! -pokes-
I hpe your planning doens't take long! |