Name: RonsGirlFriday (Signed) · Date: 26 Mar 2023 06:28 AM · For: subculture

I love this concept of being trapped in a place of freedom. Like this thing you're taught to fear, if you get stuck there you can never go back, but that's really the draw of it. Underground, away from the "responsibilities of the sun" (love that) and the "world of consequence."

 

(mystery reviewing event)

Name: RonsGirlFriday (Signed) · Date: 26 Mar 2023 06:22 AM · For: stained

Something about Rowan feels kind of witchy, I think? So I'm intrigued by the whole "the prince wants a report on the witches thing." Probably more intrigued though about who Rowan has just killed and why. Such incredible description here, Rowan sitting in the rust-colored water as she scrubs herself raw.

 

Melanie

 

(mystery review event)

Name: RonsGirlFriday (Signed) · Date: 26 Mar 2023 06:17 AM · For: once upon a time

Hi Deni! Here to give some love to this Inkys finalist for the mystery reviewing event! <3

 

This is so atmospheric, such a dark and foreboding setting. The way the cottage seems both aged and ageless, the way it's sort of become part of the forest itself, like it's so deeply entwined with the trees and everyhting. The way it's basically held together structurally by the ivy. <3

Name: Felpata_Lupin (Signed) · Date: 04 Mar 2023 11:04 AM · For: subculture

Hey Deni! Here for the review event! I was curious to check out some more of your OF and I was especially excited since Abbi recommended this... hope you don't mind if I just review all three chapters in one go! :P

I love the mysterious, dark fairytale vibes of this collection so far! Your descriptions are stunning, as always, and there's something so intriguing about this world you've created: witches, dark forests and abandoned cottages, murders (maybe?), ethereal creatures dancing in the dark... it's intriguing and scary and beautiful at the same time, I want to know more about this world and the characters that inhabit it and everything else.

I especially loved this last chapter, I loved the feeling of it, the idea of seeking something forbidden, the want for a freedom you can only get in the night, away from responsibilities and societal expectations... at least, that's how I'm interpreting it, in a more metaphorical way... only it's a deeper, more self-consuming escape, and I'm not quite sure what Otherlanders are exactly, but still, I love the mental image you paint here!

And talking about things I don't know... I also really loved the chapter before this one, and I want to know more about Rowan and Kier and their relationship and why Rowan's house was full of blood... I have a lot of questions, but I suppose the answers aren't so important, because it's more about the feels, right? Anyway, I love your writing throughout and everything you've built so far!

I'm not sure I'm making any sense with this review or making your story any justice, but I did love reading through it! Brilliant work as always, love! <3

Snowball hug,

Chiara

Name: Crimson Quill (Signed) · Date: 02 Mar 2023 11:09 AM · For: subculture

 

hi deni,

 

here for murder mystery reviewing event :)

 

you've changed up your style throughout this piece as a whole, it has led us through different lens. it was very interesting to see this part from first person pov for the first time. i'm assuming that it's rowen because she's the only character that we know so much about it. it feels more personal.

 

you've planted a few strands of worldbuilding now the idea of 'outlanders', people turning into monster or something unrecognized. the imagery in this chapter about the jewels and opulence feeling of the setting which is in contrast to the little cottage in the first chapter here is also very interesting. it has very different feeling completely. is that someone totally different from rowen?? where in this timeline is this? you've done a really good job at showing the emotions of the character and i'm hooked to know more.

 

Abbi xx

 

Name: Crimson Quill (Signed) · Date: 02 Mar 2023 10:48 AM · For: stained

 

hi deni,

 

here for the murder mystery reviewing event :)

 

this is such a hook, there is so much for the reader to unpick and some much left for us to wonder. i'm really interested in rowen's character, who is she? what happened? keir seems shocked by her appearance/actions. you always offer such brilliant and moving descriptions, your use of similes is particularly effective at creating such a vivid and rich imagine of the scene. i can feel like that kinda of tension within the room and rowen's mental state in this piece (though you don't give too much away about her situation.).

 

you've captured this unsettled mood of the piece - rowen's actions - the imagery of her in the bath emotionally and physically trying to work her through whatever happened. 'the prince wants a report on the witches' is an interesting statement from keir. is this a clue to rowen's job or mission or spying that she's doing?? I'll be interested to know more about it. the relationship between rowen/keir. there are so many fabulous seeds laid in this chapter.

 

Abbi xx

 

Name: Crimson Quill (Signed) · Date: 01 Mar 2023 09:20 PM · For: once upon a time

 

hi deni,

 

i missed your writing so much! i know you've said that this is just bits and pieces of ideas but i love how you're getting it all down now. this piece is so short but it has so much fantastic imagery which really sets the mood of the wider collection that this will become. I like how this really leans into that fairytale aesthetic. i love how you've descripted the ivy as 'a second, living skin', there is something quite interesting but creepy about that description.

 

the few lines are such a great hook for what else might be coming in this new universe. i want to know about 'witch queen', is she a villain or an anti-hero?? there is so much potential for such a beautiful, rich and vivid universe. i can't wait to see more of it as you develop it further. 

 

abbi

 

(reviewing event!)

 

 

Name: blackballet (Signed) · Date: 25 Feb 2023 06:10 PM · For: subculture

Hi again,

back for another murdery review :)

 

Ughhhh idk if this is from Rowan's point of view or not, but I love the way that you've written this! I imagine that this is her before whatever happened with the Prince or with Keir. 

The carelessness, the jewels, the dancing and the echoes, it's such a beautiful but haunting image. And the warnings of being the Otherlanders...it makes me wonder if she's some sort of magical being besides the Witches, and wonder how it all ties in (also, still not sure that this is Rowan, but that's how I'm reading it)

The memory of him complimenting her eyes and being swept away hurts so much, especially when she says "Memories from before never matter here". Where's here? Why doesn't it matter anymore?? </3 

AND she's undying, that just makes me think of the pale, red and raw skin from the chapter before. I can't wait to know more!

 

thanks again,

Cat

Name: blackballet (Signed) · Date: 25 Feb 2023 06:00 PM · For: stained

back for another murder mystery review!

 

Woww, that is a great entrance. I love this description of the slam of the door. Whether or not this is the same cottage, youuse personification again so deftly. And that continues with the description of the hair wrapped around her throat like fingers, just such a good image!

The way that Rowan talks about Keir and how she can smell him, hear his heartbeat, it's almost like she has certain powers that haven't been revealed yet...but it sounds like she's a witch hunter? Or is at least tracking the Witches in some way...I love how Keir is clearly taken aback by the fierceness and feralness that Rowan displays, it just makes me more interested in their relationship and her position in the world. 

Also, "hardly recognising her" makes me think that he knew her in a different way at some point...Who is Rowan?? I can't wait to learn more about the prince and the witches, too. 

 

thanks again,

Cat

Name: blackballet (Signed) · Date: 25 Feb 2023 05:50 PM · For: once upon a time

Hi there,

here for some murder mystery reviews!

 

I firstly love "set in one very old forest," really sets the tone <3

The way you ppersonify the cottage is so believable. I feel like it's really alive, the clinging ivy and the fact taht the trunks are growing too close to it. And describing the roof as shifting -- either it's very old, or it's alive in itself. I get a sense that it has a long history and almost knows something. 

I feel like I'm walking through the forest, arriving at the cottage, wondering why the smoke never stops. It's written so well, I'm immersed in the world. Ooohh I can't wait to learn more about the Witch Queen and her sisters...I love this cliffhanger (but only because there's more to come).

 

Thank you!

Cat