*This review is a part of the SYOT Verses Discord Annual Holiday Fic Exchange, where users read and review each other's fics! If you'd like an invite to the server, DM this account*

Hi there Aud! Really looking forward to getting to read and share my thoughts on Desolation! To make it easier, I’m going to be doing it in sections, which will be the prologues, intros/pregames, games, and then postgames!

- Prologues -
I absolutely love Blaire and I feel so bad about how she’s been attempting to kill herself like that. It just makes my heart pang for her, but I’m glad Dax is trying to keep her centered and point out the positives. I wonder what Minerva is concocting based on how she’s keeping things from Dax. That’s truly fascinating, how they would cause a little rebellion to decrease the chances of a large successful one. Oh and Hebe is throwing a party and hosting a meeting about the rebellion! I like her too, but I’m worried that it could end up hurting her. Glad that Kaenas is coming to support her though. I’m really enjoying all of these subplot characters, but I can’t wait to meet the tributes!

- Intros/Pregames -
I like Diamond and I think his relationship with Titania is pretty good! Looking forward to seeing more of their duo! Oh poor Tanner, I feel so bad that he’s nervous about the Reaping. I also feel kinda bad about his brother making fun of him, but it doesn’t seem like they have a terrible bond with each other. Dash seems like he’ll be the most stubborn Career of the bunch. I wonder if his arc will make him more accepting or more of a villain. Violet seems rather sweet! I loved your descriptions in this section, and it made the Reaping seem very lifelike! I’m sensing that Tesla is going to be one of my least favorites, simply because she seems very attached for someone her age and she’s definitely going to have a very dramatic reaction about getting put into the Games. Oh Rust’s thoughts are so sad. I think I’ll be rooting for him. Lucien’s a model, that’s so fun! He seems like he’ll be entertaining in the form of being a diva in the Capitol! Oop, Carlotta seems like our villain. Kinda sad about the things she said, but at the same time she doesn’t care, so it really doesn’t matter too much. Oh wow, the worldbuilding behind Three’s training is so cool! I love it! Will be rooting for Elixane as well! Demetri getting to see the train’s engine room is awesome! He seems precious. I think Seaward is going to be one of the more entertaining ones in the Capitol as well! He seems pretty funny! Hmm, the Two’s relationship is definitely going to be rocky, but I have a feeling that they’ll be a force to be reckoned with. Oh interesting, Raleigh can fight. I think he can make it fairly far. Ouch, I feel bad that Ruben has to deal with Carlotta. I hope that he gets away from her in the Bloodbath. Oh my goodness, It seems that Peeta has officially gone crazy. Anthracite and Mattock seem like a pretty solid duo though. Oh man, that’s awful to say to someone. I feel so bad for Nettie Sue. At least she has some spunk that may get her decently far. Ashlar seems like a pretty charming guy. I like him so far! Astra’s definitely got a lot of fire in her. I agree with her on the fact that they did things to her hair without her permission like she wasn’t a human being, but it made me sad that she’d rather cut it all off than just accept that the Capitol’s like that. Cordelia seems like a pretty neat girl! I find it admirable about how her guard is kept up so high but she still manages to think about whether things match her or not. Oh that’s so fun for the Ones! Their outfits sound so lovely and I think it was a great idea on Titania’s part to ask to swap. Hopefully Diamond is able to keep his courage up. It’s so neat that the Eights were allowed to have some say in their outfits, plus I think it’s really cool that Arachne makes scarves! I like her! Aww, that’s so sweet that Serena May talked to the avoxes. It’s also very neat that she can sign to them and I totally respect the fact that she’d rather be in the peace and quiet of nature instead of out in the bustling parade area. Cool, Issa’s a painter! Glad that he’s dreaming of better things than his situation right now! Oh how sweet of Mattock, the Twelves will definitely be a pair to keep an eye on. Wow, all of these costumes sounded incredible! I think my personal favorites have to be One’s and Eleven’s costumes! Very neat to see the rebels’ reactions to how their little stunt went! It was really cool to see everyone interacting in the Training Center, and I really wonder how alliances are going to fare in the arena, especially the Careers. I think the scores everyone got were pretty much fitting. Oh Cordelia’s interview entrance was so fun! It was really neat to see the different interview angles too!

- Games -
Ahh, it’s time for the Bloodbath! I’m honestly not too sure who’s going to make it out and who isn’t, so I’m really looking forward to reading! And the arena’s a volcano? That’s actually so cool, Aud! Oh no, I’m so sad that Arachne had to die first, but I can see why. I wonder how Anthracite is going to be without the other half of her duo. Oh my goodness I was not expecting Zella to go out so early. She really should have listened to her instincts about it being a trap. Goodness, Anthracite really isn’t doing well. I wasn’t expecting her to be with Carlotta though. Oh dear, that was really mean of them to leave Lucien for the Careers. Oh and Seaward too! Several people are dying off now. Oh wow, and it was Cordelia that killed him with poison. Ouch. I really do wonder who keeps sending Tesla all these sponsor gifts. If not for them, I’m fairly certain that she would have died a lot earlier. Oh man, good for Violet for killing someone. I’m definitely rooting for her! That’s actually crazy how the Careers split up, I wonder which group is going to survive longer. Oh poor Nettie Sue, that sounds like a terrible way to die. Dang, Dash and Tanner are dead now. I was not expecting either of them to go so soon. And Cordelia right after them? Man, some really strong tributes have been dying. Wow, Tesla lasted so long. Her relationship with Anthracite was precious. Oh no, Diamond! I really enjoyed getting to see him develop, and it’s so sad that he had to go! Oh my gosh, that was a crazy ending to the interviews! I was not expecting that to happen. This rebellion seems to be getting out of hand. Oh Titania, I’m so sad that she’s dead. I loved her, and I was truly rooting for her! The whole riding the mutt was pretty funny though. Aw man, I was really rooting for Violet and Elixane. Now, I suppose I’m rooting for Serena May or Astra. Oh wow, that was such an amazing finale, and congrats to Serena May and her submitter! Those flashbacks in another world for each of the fallen tributes were such a unique touch and I really enjoyed reading them!

- Postgames -
Oh my gosh what the heck? Is Blaire like plotting against Serena May? I’m glad that Serena May is at peace with all that happened now. You did so awesome with this story, and I’m so glad that I got the chance to read and share my thoughts!

The return of Daphne! : D I'm glad ;-; Honestly, they would've never let Astra win after that broadcast, but I'm glad the crossbow served its purpose.. Things are still brewing and I love to see it ;-;

"But now he was dead, and the dead didn't control anything." HELL FUCKING YEAH HE IS JHGJH ..ok for real, that's. Yet another absolutely Baller line, I fucking love it. Yess, Horatio.. Good people are being in charge of things now, I'm super excited to see how things play out in the sequel ;-;

/Serena joining the rebellion omg ye s/ I love the Avoxes being included in it, like. It's v smart. They're usually just forgotten or swept under the rug.. which is why the Capitol will never see it coming :D hopefully.. Like I can't quite figure out of this is going how the President wants it to go with her rebellion plan, but it looks like not. She didn't get her Jabberjay, Mr. Wren is dead and Horatio probably Won't be inclined to continue funding whatever army she's building.. and I'm not sure she's got intel on the Ace of Spades and the rest of them. I'm so hype to see how this will continue on in the next one, it's. It's gonna be excellent my dude ;-; And also just. Big congrats on finishing this too ! :D

Dude, I'm screaming too hjfjdfjh I was So hoping something like this would happen and I am just. (: Like maybe it'll get Serena May's entire family killed but. Look, greater good, yeah? Blaire fucking popped o f f.. (also lowkey her convo with Dax about Carlotta had me Emotional again, even if she was just playin him a bit.. bc it was True either way ! And I love that ;-; ) ..Man, I'm just so glad that Serena May fucking Went for it.. Girl know's she's got a decent enough way to get out of it and she saved a lot of people a lot of pain with that ;-;

Desolation is an amazing story, and I'm glad I was part of it. Of course, I'm sorry because it's finished, but all this stuff about a new rebellion sounds interesting, and I'm going to follow the sequel to know more about it. Thank you for the time and care you devoted to this story

Ace of Spades, oooo! That is an awesome codename! (also SCREW AUGUSTUS!) also just a note: Isn't Serena May from District 7, not 10? O.o

but in any case, since Augustus is now out of the picture and Peeta remembers what happened to him now (specifically around him ands Katniss), what will everyone plan to do now? O.o

Even though I jumped on this stories bandwagon a bit late, I cant wait for the next story! 8D

AHHHHH THIS WAS SO EXCELLENT MY DUDE.. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE FORMAT YOU CHOSE FOR THIS I LEGIT STARTED CRYING ONCE I REALIZED WHAT YOU WERE DOING.. It's so clever and it really allows you to do all the tributes justice I'm. It was so good.. and the final battle itself.. man I had no idea how it was gonna turn out, but I was Noticing not hearing Serena May's cannon and then with the Crossbo .. heck. you did such an excellent job with this entire thing ;-; 3

Ohh shoot, Serena May got Elixane, ri p.. ;-; Damn, Three's officially out. That's all the Careers.. oh man. I'm glad she gave Elixane the chance to fight though, that was Good ;-;

A h Violet.. rip ;-; That was a nice scene with her and Astra though, I like that neither of them cheated.

CARLOTTA NOOOOOO ;_; /3 HECK, MAN.. IM GONNA MISS HER SO MUCH.. SHE HAD A GOOD DEATH AND AN INCREDIBLE ARC BUT A H MY HHEARTTT

Holy shit the crossbow.. n.. also oh m /know/ that was Ashlar's idea hgjhghj I fucking love that crazy-ass kid.. and O h shit Titania.. ohh damn, she and Serena May Did That.. ohhh my go ;-; ohhhh o h god.. that was so good though I'm. A h I'm so sad to see him and Titania and Rust go, but m that was such a good chapter, I can see why you'd been excited to get to it.. bringing back Diamond's poisons was such a nice touch too (though I bet poor Ashlar didn't quite appreciate it hfhjgf) ..this was Excellent though, so good ;-;

I want to skin that man alive (:

O o h these are all so good.. The straight-up rebellions happening in 12 and 6 and even a little bit in 11 it looks like.. 3 definitely picked up their Career card it seems jhf.. and 9 seems just so. Sad. Also 10.. Aunt Marge having Carlotta's bac am Here for that ;-; A harrowing quote from Sapphire.. and holy shit she's fucking dead oh my god jhghjjhgf was Not expecting that.. /rebel plan went a Bit too well o o f/

A h Anthracite's inner Carlotta.. god, I absolutely love that both of them have inner monologues of each other without even wanting it jhghj its V good ;-; And big oof to Diamond.. ;-; No more underestimating Anthracite now, she's on a mission. (I am gonna miss Diamond though, he was Good ;-; )

its even Worse reading about Diamond through Titania's pov Hec k.. I'm. Ouch ;-; Ahh man, things are getting Rough, frick. And that sounds like a Decision regarding Serena May oof.. I guess the only thing that remains to be seen is if Serena May is thinking the same thing ;-;

Frick, Carlotta ;-; Man, it's so heartbreaking to watch people grieving.. And especially with Carlotta's insistence on not wanting to.. a h I just. love her so much ;-;

A w Tesla crying out for Carlotta I'm. ;-; Also her holding Anthracite's hand a h.. lol to go along with Anthracite's Katniss parallel.. so Tesla is her Rue and Mattock is her Peeta, but the order is reversed here, with Mattock dying before Tesla ;-; Oh no, they're going back to the forest, oof.. ;-;

Ooh, trouble between Elixane and Ashlar.. I hope they can work it out, bc between rn, they're on p even footing with the other Careers. Ooh Astra.. girl that is not the way to make it through the Games lmao.. (I'm not sure if they would let that little speech play through in the Capitol, given the rebellion plans..) and ye s the Pit ! I love that.. that's much better than going after Astra ;-;

my duudeee hjjhggj use your Eyes man.. also oh shoot, I bet the only reason the hydra disappeared was bc there's something more interesting around the corner.. oof. O h big oof, Teslaaa a h ;-; Like we all knew it was going to happen but still a h ;-;

/o h my goddd/ my fucking hea r t.. R u s t.. and fucking. Ashlar and Elixane being there for him o h that was so tense but also just so good.. like rip Cordelia but this was Excellent ;-; It was definitely necessary story-wise I think, to have poor Rust kill someone.. and you did such a good job with it too though, like.. I like how you didn't have him like flip a switch and go all psycho-killer; the way you've done this here just makes for such a good character arc for the poor lad ;-; I'm glad he's still allying with Ashlar and Elixane too, I did not expect to enjoy their alliance this much ;-;

Oh fuck Oh fuck Carlotta lore.. Carlotta god I love her so muc h ;-; Like everything about her character.. and learning more about how she operates.. (as I think she's learning this about herself, too..) Ah man... o h I'm glad she just ended up leaving instead of killing them.. She's a self-fulfilling prophecy for her own words ;-;

Ooh, Violet and Astra interactions.. I love the brutal honesty of it, even if it's probably a bad sign for Astra's future prospects lmao..

t... Bru h h god, this is s d.. I just. I just love this very much.. you execute all of this so well it's. really excellent to rea love seeing things come togetherrr

Omg Serena May and Titania Really Did That.. Absolute legends.. I love them ;-; also "Almost enough to make her forget that Titania was not made of satin and lace, but wire and steel, a skyscraper among humans." My dude, again with thes s... its So good ;-; o h and "a reminder that for all her strength, she was made of flesh and blood just like everyone else." DUUUDE.. I am feeling Many Things.

A a h Dash and Tanner, rip.. ;-; And Diamond blaming himself o o f.. man, if he makes it out, that one's gonna stay with him ;-;

O h "'They will never see you for yourself, so you don't owe them your kindness and you /certainly/ don't owe them your life.'" b r o again with thes s... Damn Elixane, that was just very Good ;-; I Love.. (also if she does manage to convince Rust to turn to violence.. perhaps she'll regret it jhfdhj) and Rust deciding to stay with them :'00 I love that though.. The shifting alliances are super neat to watch ;-;