it took me about a year and a half to get round to reading this, first because i wanted to save it for the right time and then because i was scared i'd hyped it up so much in my head that it'd be underwhelming.

It far, far surpassed any expectations i had.

i could write pages of continuous commentary on how much love this writing and the characterization within it and how incredibly beautiful and REAL it is but feel there's nothing i could say that would do it justice better than just reading the damn thing, seriously.

thank you s much for writing this, marsh. it is so f*cking wonderful. i look forward to your future writings with elated anticipation.

(incidentally i am currently reading this time round whilst listening to William Basinski's 'Disintegration Loops' this time round and i've found it suitably otherworldly and surreal considering the context. highly recommended for anyone moderately interested with ambient/experimental musical leanings.

again, thank you marsh. your writing is so, so wonderful, and i find it hard to express in words just how much it touches to me.

This story was amazing to read. Your writing is fantastic and sucked me right in. Absolutely amazing.

Hi!

I really enjoyed this, even though it was a little creepy cause I'm afraid of zombies and all but still fascinated by them, if you get what I mean? This was really well done, very descriptive, I like how they both were needed for the cure

Thank you for writing!

I had to walk away from this chapter a few times to keep from bawling. My throat is still a bit tight even with the happy ending... Ugh! The feels. (﹏)

Yep. I'm crying...

Good gravy this was fantastic (and perfect to read right before Halloween)! Your writing is glorious; it truly sucks you in and makes you want to keep reading more. The characters and their relationships with one another were excellently portrayed, and the story never felt stale despite the fact that zombie apocalypse stories have been done to death (no pun intended).

Thank you very much for sharing this piece, is all I have to say.

Well, I can only add to the flurry of voices praising this work, cause it's great. Thanks for all the time you spend in creating this stuff. I at least, and I'm sure everyone else, appreciates the effort. Well written, like everything else from you, etc. etc. Publish-worthy quality.

I want to thank you so much for this story. It is hands down one of the most spectacular and beautifully written stories I have ever had the pleasure and honor of coming across. I can't even come up with the right words to say to let you know just how breathtakingly beautiful this story is. I started this and was finished within hours, ending at 1 AM. I refused to sleep until I'd finished it because I wasn't able to out it down. I love everything about this, and I hope to one day reach the level of writing you're at. Thank you again!

Hii, so yesterday i was reading an edited version of "Rayuela" which included a pretty big introduction written by some guy, who said something like (please excuse my atempt at translating) "what great novelists try to do is to enclose the ocean into a tiny sand hole", and i swear to god THE FIRST PERSON THAT CAME TO MIND WAS YOU. so i guess i couldn't contain myself and i needed to tell you this, and which better place to say it than on a review of (in my opinion) the best thing you have ever written. (im gonna ramble a bit now im so sorry).
the authour continued to say that the tiny sand hole is the novel, obviously, so by definition it will always be impossible to shove all the ocean down the hole, meaning that you will never be able to show the "vital experience" or "world" you wish to convey in its total state. But it got me thinking, and i came to the conclusion that its not necessary a bad thing. you can glimpse the tiny portion of the ocean in that tiny hole, but you KNOW, you actually know that that litttle body of water came from an ocean.
I guess that what i mean to say, is that your writing (at least al the SE fanfic i have read throughout the years) means so much to me, because you have kind of mastered the ability of limiting those tiny glimpses just enough so that the reader goes hungry for more you know, like you actually make me think of scenes or situations WITHIN YOUR FICS (like fanfiction of fanfiction lol).
And i don't think it has anything to do with the fact that, in fanfiction, you always know there is an "ocean of cannon" behind it, like the author and the reader already have a background to rely on. Because you do rely on cannon (duh), but you somehow make it your own.
I don't know if you remember, but last week (i think?) I sent you an anon (did i say that right?) freakin out about the quantum entaglement fic, in which i said that i do not know how are you able to write a scene about Maka and Soul kissing, which is a scene i have read a trizillion times, and still make something new about it, and i guess i now have my answer.

This story was BEYOND incredible! This is my first real fanficton that I've read because I saw it suggested on Tumblr and MAN! They were so right to suggest such a masterpiece. I loved every moment and the way you wrote with a sort of poetry to your regular sentences was astounding. I plan on reading more of your stories in the future... or even right now! Soul and Maka have always been a couple I wish had been more delved into and this story had quite the illustration for their build-up of trust amongst such a deep rooted fear and need for survival, but also a build up of learning to love and know what being human is like. I just... am so happy with this! I will definitely be reading this again and maybe even sending you some fanart because I feel this story deserves some!

So I'm rereading IOTWCS for like the umpteenth time and I really have to say how mind blowing well written this is. And I sincerely mean this. I recently read a novel and it was so ... shallow? and predictable? and it was published?! While I can't help but read your story again and STILL feel the suspense. Even when I feel myself preparing for Granny, Wes or Harver, I still find myself feeling startled and heartbroken. Idk, what my original point was except GJ, A, you are an amazing author and I hope you know that.

I LOVED this! I have GOT to read more because MAN this is impressive! And I get some pretty intense SoMa feels so... haha

This reminds me a lot of the hunger games because Maka is the hardcore girl who knows how to climb and move through trees, is called The Little Sparrow and is a weapon for the the Resistance. Im not sayings It lacks creativity or anything, cause It definately does not, It just reminds me of the hunger games. This story is awesome man 3

Holy shit, this is great.