Paul's Thursday Reviews CCXXVI · 8:25pm Oct 29th, 2020
No reviews next week, folks! Break time.
You know, maybe it's no coincidence that election day and Halloween are practically side-by-side. Whoever thought of that was a genius.
I admit, I went and wrote an entire blog about people living in their bubbles. Then I re-read the blog and realized that if anyone’s going to pop all those bubbles, it won’t be me. So I said “screw it” and wrote this instead.
I’m just gonna go with an earnest plea. If someone disagrees with you, don’t be dismissive. Don’t get defensive. Don’t be insulting. Listen to what they are saying and look it up for yourself. Use independent sources. Don’t take what you hear on social media at face value. If someone says “they’ve got a video of that”, ignore the pundits and try to find an unedited version. You might find out that what you’ve been told isn’t true. Or maybe it is. Or maybe there’s not enough evidence either way. The important thing is to get all the information you can from both sides of the argument before picking one.
If we can start doing that, maybe we can stop holding our noses every time we go to the ballot box.
A final note: please, no political bashing on this blog. I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re on, I don’t want this thing turned into a political cage match.
Alright, that's my political talk for the year. See you on the other side. Reviews!
Stories for This Week:
Lean on Me by Tranquil Serenity
Here Kitty Kitty! by Midknight_Stardust
Hope You Dance by PapierSam
Chrysalis Saves Hearth's Warming by Kris Overstreet
Derpy's Hoofington Route by AstralMouse
All Foals Are Born Equal by Roranicus
Burning Sirens by Lonarion
Self-Control by Trick Question
Ponies Protecting Ponies: The Return of Chaos by Venates
Pony Courtship Rituals by Codex Ex Equus
Total Word Count: 162,573
Rating System
Why Haven't You Read These Yet?: 3
Pretty Good: 3
Worth It: 3
Needs Work: 1
None: 0
Lean on Me
1,553 Words
By Tranquil Serenity
Applejack jumps to stupid conclusions for stupid reasons.
This story takes on the very rare but fun-to-consider Applejack/Fancy Pants ship. Though it would be far more interesting if the story was based in some kind of realism and had anything to do with their relationship. Instead, Applejack hears Fancy talking about making some deal and sending suitcases to Manehattan and, somehow, leaps to the conclusion that Fancy is leaving her. Which is spectacularly dumb. He’s a businesspony. He might have to travel a little. And people travel with suitcases. Has she never seen Rarity off on one of her trips to Canterlot? It’s got to be one of the dumbest excuses for melodrama I’ve ever seen in a story, short of perhaps that one where Princess Luna threw the moon into Tartarus because she somehow thought it would make Celestia happy.
I added this one to my RiL because I was hoping to see a bit of exploration as to how the FancyJack ship might work. Alas, the story doesn’t bother to justify it in any way, it just ‘is’, and you are expected to roll with it. I suppose that’s fine if all you want is a brief scene of two ponies reconciling after a fight. I had hoped for something more. As such, the story falls flat for me. It’s no fault of the writing (although Tranquil Serenity does abuse italics for no apparent reason), it’s just a lack of plot.
Bookshelf: Worth It
Previous stories reviewed for this author:
New Author!
Here Kitty Kitty!
2,460 Words
By Midknight_Stardust
Look at that cover art. You already know everything you need to know in regards to a summary.
This is one of those stories that lures you in via a concept with mass appeal, only to turn around and reveal a true horror.
Yelping and falling down with a slight thud and rustle of leaves that got caught in her hair Rarity sighed and pouted getting up and brushing herself off.
Groaning in annoyance she sagged to the grass beneath her and pouted and while she didn't wish to cry in public as mommy said it was 'unbecoming of a lady' to do so?
Rarity warned. While only a kitten? Opal had a bit of a temper and tended to claw people she wasn't familiar with. Rarity warned as she saw Applejack begin to approach the tree.
Yeeeeah. Midknight_Stardust has zero concept of grammar, at least at the time this story was written. Those are just three samples I picked at random. This is pretty much the entire story, beginning to end. I could not possibly rate this story well so long as it looks like this.
The story in and of itself isn’t bad. It’s predictable, sure, but the people wanting to read something like this don’t care about that, they just want the cuteness. Which is perfectly understandable. It’s why I RiL’d this in the first place, after all. But I’m afraid I can’t appreciate the story at all as it is written. Perhaps a more recent entry will reveal that the author has learned how to grammar and their stories are more palatable. As for this one…
Bookshelf: Needs Work
Previous stories reviewed for this author:
New Author!
Hope You Dance
1,820 Words
By PapierSam
CHS Prom Night. You would think that the school’s most eligible young lady would be living it up in the spotlight as the inevitable prom queen, or something of that ilk. Instead, Rarity sits in the corner. She’s bitter and cynical of all that’s happening around her, as is typical of the heartbroken. Then Rainbow Dash shows up, because misery loves company.
Was I shallowly drawn in by that awesome cover art? Yes, yes I was. I don’t regret it.
In this little slice-of-life, we watch as two rejected girls bond over their mutual loathing for everything “prom night”. It’s an interesting dynamic, as everything the girls say and don’t say – narrative included – is colored by their mutual cynicism. This leads to them and the narrative saying things that feel false, and you have to wonder; is it that the author believes it, or is it just the bitter bite of the rejected talking without thinking? After reading through all of it, I’m reasonably sure it’s the latter, and that makes me like this story all the more.
You would be forgiven if you thought this was a sadfic. While it’s true that our two protagonists are indeed unhappy, there’s far too much bonding and friendship going on to really qualify. This is Rarity and Rainbow making the most of their situation, in a way that feels surprisingly not melodramatic. Which is an achievement when these two are involved.
Nor is this a story where two heartbroken girls ‘find something more in each other’, or whatever eye-rolling banality is used to sell the cheaper romances that litter the medium. This may be the best aspect of the story, in that it rejects the fantasy premise that if two characters star in a story, they must be in a relationship before it’s over. The end result is a tale that feels real and relatable.
There are no big reveals, no great lesson learned. It’s just two girls helping one another get over one of life’s disappointments. I find it odd to say, and I can’t explain why I feel this way, but the word ‘humble’ comes to mind. At any rate, it’s a pleasant slice-of-life that I wholeheartedly approve of, with wonderfully crafted dialogue and a good sense of mood. I can think of no reason not to recommend it.
Bookshelf: Pretty Good!
Previous stories reviewed for this author:
New Author!
Chrysalis Saves Hearth's Warming
6,554 words
By Kris Overstreet
Long, long ago, Chrysalis made a pact with a creature known as the Moochick. Now every year she and her changelings accept gifts from the Moochick to deliver to foals across Equestria, each of them taking on the beloved role of the reindeer Santa Hooves in the process. Chrysalis absolutely hates it, but it is worth it as the Moochick, in return, gives them enough love to survive the winter. Another Hearth’s Warming has come and the changelings have been reformed, but still Chrysalis joins her traitorous children to perform the annual ritual. This, however, will not be her usual gift run…
This was delightful. The changelings as a reindeer Santa Clause, with Chrysalis forced to join in? Talk about fun stuff. Better yet is that one of the changelings every year gets to play the role of the Ogdinew, Equestria’s version of the Krampus. Oh, yeah, you can bet Chrysalis has fun with that role. Curious that Thorax is playing it this year. No, Chrysalis gets assigned to visit a special filly, which leads to some unexpected events in Ponyville.
My favorite bit is just how hammy Chrysalis gets as a villain, sometimes intentionally and sometimes not. I especially enjoyed how she delights in maniacal laughter, as villains do. And yet this unquestionably bad changeling is stuck doing such sickeningly good things as to risk driving her to vomit because, as the story description states, some ancient beings you just don't cross. Her adamant refusal to acknowledge any value for herself in the night’s actions is the icing on the cake.
A delightful holiday story, and it even comes with a hint of worldbuilding! I can think of no reason not to recommend it, especially if you like to see Chrysalis outside her comfort zone. And who doesn’t like that? Weirdos, that’s who.
Bookshelf: Why Haven’t You Read These Yet?
Previous stories reviewed for this author:
Rarity Dreams of Non-Electric Sheep — Pretty Good!
Derpy's Hoofington Route
6,458 words
By AstralMouse
Scoop is a journalist from Manehattan, and he’s been assigned a very annoying story. Rumor has it a wall-eyed pegasus is able to cross the Everfree Forest on foot in the same amount of time it takes other pegasi to fly the route. Scoop is confident it’s a gimmick, that Derpy’s very good at making ponies believe her lies. He never imagined, even for an instant, that the route might be real… or what it might do to him if he tried it himself.
This one caught my curiosity because it is labeled a horror yet stars Derpy, and that’s not a combination I’m familiar with. AstralMouse openly admits in the Author’s Notes, however, that he wasn’t sure if this qualified as a horror. I would say with confidence that it is not, but I understand the uncertainty with the tagging; FIMFiction doesn’t have a tag that suits this kind of story. And what kind of story is it?
My favorite, and a variety I have mentioned again and again in my reviews: the Weird Tale. Weird Tales share a certain mood, an uncomfortable unknowing. They invite us to explore the mysterious and the consequences of that exploration, usually without clarifying what those consequences are or mean. They are a story centered more around questions than answers, leaving behind a banquet of puzzles to theorize and confound oneself over. Often, Weird Tales are considered dark or, yes, horror – many of Lovecraft’s works fall into the category, for example – but they don’t have to.
Derpy’s Hoofington Route is quirky. It starts off feeling like a normal story about a jerk journalist trying to create a sensational lie for his newspaper at Derpy’s expense. Then it plunges – quite literally – into a brief flash of the surreal. The end result leaves both us and the protagonist stuck in a limbo of confusion as we try to figure what the heck just happened. Scoop is forever changed by his experience, perhaps for the better, and Derpy? Well, that’s the thing about Weird Tales: who knows?
It took a while to get to the point, but I feel that played an important role for the story. It felt like AstralMouse was going to lengths to demonstrate how normal the world is, what kind of jerk Scoop was, and lulling us into a false sense of security. It got to the point where I was wondering why this was labelled as a ‘horror’ at all. Then the rug gets pulled out from under Scoop, and all that ‘normalcy’ goes flying out the window. I found it to be very effective.
The “Need to Know” crowd should probably avoid this one, but if you like stories that leave you theorizing or just going WTF?, absolutely read it.
Bookshelf: Pretty Good!
Previous stories reviewed for this author:
New Author!
All Foals Are Born Equal
6,711 words
By Roranicus
Radiant Wish and her husband Cloudshaper only wanted the best for their child. When common society makes that hard, they decide to visit a little town where all ponies are said to be equally happy. They soon learn that Starlight Glimmer’s methods are more about everyone being equally miserable.
This is a hard-hitting piece in which a young, expectant mother finds herself trapped alone in one of Starlight’s brainwashing rooms, fighting to retain her sanity despite her husband having already succumbed. We’re not told how long Radiant wish is imprisoned, but we do get to watch her mental defenses gradually wither away. Along the way we are given flashbacks that show why they came to Our Town in the first place.
On the one hand, I like the intention of the story. It’s dark and reminds us, in this day when Starlight is a beloved friend, that she was once one of the most horrible kinds of monsters there are. The only issue I have is the flashbacks, which I think were… misused. I’m honestly not sure what benefit they offer to the story as a whole. Roranicus could have kept us in that little house the entire time, pulled off the same results and either could have done it in a smaller wordcount or used that extra wordcount to make the main event more interesting.
My first thought was that the flashbacks demonstrate the desperation that would drive a pony to visit and try out Our Town’s little social experiment. Yet that’s not what’s happening with this story; at no point is the truth of Our Town known to the couple before they arrive. They only know that ponies are supposed to all be equally cared for. More fascinating and apropos would have been if the couple had known ahead of time that they’d have to sacrifice their cutie marks; then their visit to Our Town would have demonstrated a desperate couple with no other options available instead of a couple just testing the waters to see if they like it. It would have made for a fascinating statement, the whole “first world vs. third world problems” thing.
On the third hand (thanks again, Pinkie!), the story might have been intended as nothing more than a demonstration of how ponies are lured to Starlight’s trap. Which is less interesting on the whole considering Starlight doesn’t really have anything to do with said luring, but still a legitimate reasoning for how the story is written.
Regardless, the primary aspect of the story is Radiant’s fight to stay sane, and in that I have nothing but approval. It’s a very dark piece, even if it isn’t given the full treatment it could have received.
Bookshelf: Worth It
Previous stories reviewed for this author:
A Dream of Sunny Days — WHYRTY?
Burning Sirens
20,383 Words
By Lonarion
Centuries before the events of Rainbow Rocks, the Sirens end up in a city looking for a way home. Well, Adagio is looking. Aria and Sonata are more ‘tagging along’. What brought Adagio to this place in particular is rumors of witches. As far as she’s concerned, any hint of real magic in this world is a chance to go home she’s willing to take, even if Aria thinks it’s a bad idea.
And what do you know? Aria was right.
Simply put, the Sirens get accused of witchcraft and find themselves running for their lives. But it goes deeper than that; here Lonarion explores each of the sirens individually, letting us see their interests, their personalities, their fears and wants. None of them are evil, but they are certainly frightening in their own ways. Adagio’s the schemer (of course), but also feels responsible for her two companions, especially since she feels at fault for them being stuck in this wretched world in the first place. Yet at the same time, she has distinct moral boundaries, boundaries she might have to cross to deal with this latest problem. Aria is cold and aloof, bored of the human world if not outright hating it, which makes her indifferent to what happens to the people around her. Then you have Sonata, who is at once the most innocent and the most disturbing; she views cuddling a dog with the same pleasure as drowning it in a river. No, that’s not an exaggeration.
The end result is three strange girls who are not the best you might encounter. And yet, through demonstrations of their anxieties, their outlook, and the things they do care about, Lonarion still manages to make us root for them. Even as we wonder how many might have died because of their actions. Sound confusing? Contradictory?
I’d say it’s a sign of how well done this story is.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It’s a strongly character-driven adventure that makes out a trio of villains into shockingly relatable protagonists. There’s no attempt here to paint the Sirens as good or bad, only as three girls struggling for survival and a way home.
Bookshelf: Why Haven’t You Read These Yet?
Previous stories reviewed for this author:
Waiting for Adagio — Pretty Good
The One Who Cuts Santa's Beard — Worth It
Self-Control
4,841 Words
By Trick Question
Requested by Trick Question
Things haven’t been going well for Princess Twilight Sparkle. She’s constantly woken by night terrors, and her stress levels are through the roof. She knows something is wrong and assumes there is a scientific explanation for it. Her friends adamantly disagree. They know what’s wrong. They know how to fix it. They just can’t tell her.
This is a bit of sadfic in which we learn that something terrible happened, but Twilight has no idea what and her friends are literally unable to explain it to her. Sadly, I also can’t explain it to you, as it’s not something to spoil. I will say that this is yet another example of Twilight freaking out in epic ways.
I liked it on the whole, yet it feels like there’s something missing. It’s hard to put my finger on it. I want to say the conclusion isn’t foreshadowed, but it is. Maybe it’s not foreshadowed enough? I’m not sure. Or maybe it’s Twilight’s behavior throughout most of the story, which doesn’t strike me as the kind of behavior one goes through if they’re spending every night being woken up shrieking because of night terrors they can’t explain. Or maybe it has to do with Spike being inexplicably sick throughout the entire ordeal, perhaps even for a much longer period of time than just the events of this story – unless he’s not so much sick as he is miserable, but that’s a hard call to make. Whatever the problem is, something feels off about this that prevents me from liking it as much as I feel I should.
It’s not a bad story by any means. Heck, the sadficionados out there will absolutely love it (not so much the Happy Ending Crusaders). I see no reason not to recommend it. But somehow, this one doesn’t feel quite on par with Trick Question’s usual works.
Bookshelf: Worth It
Previous stories reviewed for this author:
Broken Symmetry — WHYRTY?
The Price of a Smile — WHYRTY?
Dead and Loving It — Pretty Good!
Back to Normal — Pretty Good
Flash in the Pan — Pretty Good
Ponies Protecting Ponies: The Return of Chaos
36,653 Words
By Venates
Sequel to Ponies Protecting Ponies
The PPP is a clandestine organization of secret agents responsible for securing Equestria’s safety. The Ponyville branch consists of Lyra Heartstrings, Amethyst Star, Doctor Hooves, Golden HarvestCarrot Top, Derpy Doo, and its leader, Bon Bon. Together, they work to protect an unwitting Twilight Sparkle from the many threats that seem to come out of the woodwork on a daily basis just for her. Their latest mission? The Grand Galloping Gala.
You read that right, a story titled “the Return of Chaos” starts at the Grand Galloping Gala. It surprised me more than a little. But no worries, this is centered on Discord’s return, it just begins a little earlier in canon than expected.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It greatly expands upon the nature of the individual characters, which is wonderful since they are all interesting in their own ways. Dr. Hooves’ questionable sanity, Bon Bon’s effort to distance her emotions from her work, even Lyra’s grouchiness are all explored, amongst other things. The only one who doesn’t really get this treatment seems to be Amethyst, but I don’t mind that considering she was the primary character of the previous story.
The most important aspect of the story, at least to me, is that this is also one about Celestia. Particularly, it’s about how she tends to value the overarching good of Equestria over the overarching good of its citizens, and the intricate web of deceit she’s built over the centuries in subservience to that perspective. It’s a dose of Tyrantlestia while still making her perfectly understandable and even, as the story nears its end, relatable. This is as much about her learning a lesson long in coming as it is about Discord’s return. I can’t help but think that, if we assume canon continues uninterrupted after this, Twilight took in these events, misunderstood the lesson being applied, and thus made the choice she did in Twilight’s Kingdom entirely because of this story.
There are a few things that get in the way. I would have liked more character growth for Amethyst. Luna’s presence was more plot tool than anything, and she was relegated to the background afterwards, which is unfortunate. And we never did get to hear of the ultimate fate of Havoc. Or Octavia, for that matter. That last one in particular bugs me, because as this story clarifies over the previous one, these ponies are doing work that could get them killed or worse, and I’ve got a soft spot for Best Background Pony. But I understand it wasn’t pivotal to the plot (her appearance is little more than a cameo), so I won’t let it affect my grade for the story.
Overall, I must approve. This story brings back all the things I enjoyed about the previous one and then does it better. It’s got drama, it’s got disturbing reveals, it’s got twists and turns. It’s a fun adventure filled with character and relationship growth. It has strong ties to canon and a lesson learned for Celestia. The stakes are high both for Equestria and for the individual ponies. Really, this thing is solid all around. I can think of no reason not to recommend it.
I only wish Venates had kept the series going. I’d have loved to have seen the ongoing adventures of other branches of the PPP, for example.
Bookshelf: Why Haven’t You Read These Yet?
Previous stories reviewed for this author:
The Longevity Theory — Pretty Good!
Pinkie Pie and The Quest for Missing Smiles — Pretty Good
Ponies Protecting Ponies — Pretty Good
Early in the Horn: A Ponies Protecting Ponies Tale — Pretty Good
Twilight Sparkle's School of Harmony — Worth It
Pony Courtship Rituals
75,140 Words
By Codex Ex Equus
Sequel to Changeling Courtship Rituals
In Changeling Courtship Rituals, we learned that all the years of Chrysalis attacking Twilight was merely the changeling concept of dating, and now the two are married. Twilight spent the story coming to terms with this and figuring out how to let Chrysalis down, despite technically having already tied the knot. Pony Courtship Rituals, set a few months later, has Twilight giving Chrysalis a chance to earn her love in the pony way. Or it would be, were it not for a meddling Cadance.
That’s a grossly simplified rendition of what’s going on here, but it works for our purposes. The primary thing you need to know is that Twilight doesn’t love Chrysalis, Chrysalis is trying to change that using pony methods, and Cadance is out to sabotage the whole affair. I particularly enjoyed Cadance, who acted as the villain of the piece and performed those duties quite well. I can see some considering her behavior sudden, but then she has the canon background relationship with both Twilight and Chrysalis to easily justify it.
There’s a bit of silliness in there, much like in the first story. The most blatant aspect of this is in Rarity, whose… theatrical behavior is over-the-top. I found it in-line with the show’s kind of humor, and this is an instance where I feel that worked. The only thing I’d really care to complain about is the final showdown, which I wish Twilight had won. It would have demonstrated her having learned from the past, been a nice reversal from the first story, and may have led to some interesting new consequences given changeling cultural views. But it’s a subjective issue, so I didn’t let it bother me too much.
As a romantic comedy, this was a ton of fun. The splashes of seriousness, especially in the conflict with Cadance halfway through, worked wonderfully to spice things up, and I’m happy that Codes Ex Equus made sure to tidy up that particular loose end. It did feel a little disjointed at times – the frequent flashbacks always struck me as iffy – but not so much as to detract from the overarching plot.
If you’re interested in watching these polar opposites struggle to get along, then have at it. The romantics will absolutely love this continuation.
Bookshelf: Pretty Good
Previous stories reviewed for this author:
Changeling Courtship Rituals — Pretty Good!
To Dethrone A Princess — Worth It
Stories for Next Week:
Perfect Pitch by Wolfie 03
The House Remembered by Waxworks
Even Emvoweling by ChibiRenamon
The Bird Feeder by shortskirtsandexplosions
Caring Less... by MyLittleGeneration
Sunshipped by Masterweaver
Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, Nor Grappleglorp... by Dash The Stampede
The Element of Surprise by Trick Question
Party Every Day by Esle Ynopemos
The Next Best Thing by Posh
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After four "Pretty Good" and a "Worth it," I have to say that I am beyond humbled to finally break the "Why Haven’t You Read These Yet?" barrier! If I'm honest, it's been a secret goal of mine since your first review.
I am also humbled to see that you've read and reviewed almost my whole catalog at this point! Maybe it's conceited of me to think it, but part of me wants to write again just so that the nice words don't ever stop.
I have to tell you now then, that this review has really meant a lot to me. Hitting a goal like this stirred something in me that I haven't felt in a few years now. I've written two stories that I'm publishing today, both in the PPP universe, and I hope that maybe someday they wind up on your desk. They're nothing too crazy, just little shorts (though one does feature Best Background Pony in more than a simple cameo; maybe of interest?), but I hope they are still enjoyable, both to you and to anyone else who has enjoyed the other stories. And I promise I didn't whip these out today just to appeal to you; I've been sitting on them for a few weeks, the ideas in the footnotes of my brain for a few years, and I'm just happy to have them out there :)
In the meantime, I hope you are well! Keep doing what you're doing! I can't believe I let the joy of writing slip away from me for so long, and I can't thank you enough for being part of bringing it back. Thanks again! Cheers!
Oh, Grappleglorp was good, as I recall. :D
I've only read "All Foals are Born Equal" of these, and I had about the same overall opinion of it, but for different reasons. I found a fair amount of the in-story behavior didn't make a lot of sense to me. It's kind of grim once Cloudshaper starts to fall victim to the town's influence, but Radiant doesn't ever seem concerned about it. There's the reader knowing something the character doesn't, and then there's the reader realizing something that any reasonable character would. The story's high point should have been during the painting scene, but Radiant's emotions are likewise fairly blandly portrayed there as well. Their goal has been to make a safe home for their child, but they never philosophize about how they'll raise this child in this town. I'd think you'd have to feel out what the kid's special talents are so you can carefully avoid them thereafter, right? And I agree that Starlight herself was a non-factor.
I haven't read that particular story by PapierSam, but I've enjoyed everything I have read by him, and I'm surprised you're just now reading something by him. Definitely keep him on your radar.
An unexpected and pleasant surprise to see this review. Thanks a bunch, it's an honor, especially for a story that I have mixed feelings about to be called "pretty good".
Thanks for reviewing All Foals are Born Equal. Honestly, you enjoyed it more than I thought you would. I pretty much wrote and published it in a single week after I had the idea. I remember writing it being a fun distraction. In hindsight, maybe it would have deserved more time and a few more rewrites.
If it's not too presumptuous of me, I'd like to share my website, since I now write my own original science fiction stories. https://roryprice.net/ I self-published my first book not too long ago.
I have concept of grammar I just don't have an editor to help double check my work cause I have a habit of typing fast 😅
5388460
Good to know I helped bring a strong author back into the writing mood! That's the kind of thing I like to hear.
My general rule is to fast-track sequels or side stories to ones I've just reviewed. If there aren't any, it can be a very long wait for me to get back to an author's library. Luckily, your two latest stories are indeed directly linked to the PPP series, so I can do that! They're also short, which makes it a lot easier for me to get to them (length has become the dominant factor on how long it takes).
So yeah, you can expect to hear from me again. Probably not until next year, but it'll certainly happen.
5388496
I agree, not addressing the specifics of raising the child is an issue, especially if it's the entire reason they're at Our Town. In fact, I agree with pretty much all your points, especially the painting part. Been a while since I read the story though (I had a huge lead at the time), but that's usually the kind of thing that would bother me.
It may be a while before I read another by PapierSam due to how I handle going back to past authors now. Unless I abandon my own rules and pick another story by him. Or I could change the rules... which I admit I'm seriously considering. The list of authors to re-read has gotten so long that my current method of using it is no longer feasible.
5388529
To be fair, I am biased towards stories of this variety, have been all my life. But for what it seemed like you were going for, I thought you did well.
5388540
It's not uncommon for the stories we worked the least on to be the ones that get the most attention. *coughTyranthack* I enjoyed it for what it was, I suppose.
Oh-ho, an original release, is it? It just so happens I've started a list of books I want to read whenever the time comes for me to start reviewing original works. That's still a long ways away, but nowhere near as long as it was, say, two years ago. I might be able to start doing it regularly late next year. 2022 for sure. I'll add Opt Out to the list!
5388569
There's a reason I wrote multi-chapter story starring her and made her a major figure in my No Heroes series. What can I say? I've got a thing for the classy types.
5388747
Thank you very much. I admit that I definitely miss Fimfiction when it comes to promoting my book. Doing everything within the confine of a single, easy to understand, community helps a lot. Still, I do try to keep people here in the loop as to what I'm doing now. Fanfiction is how I started out, after all.
Hey, at least it made the 'Worth It' pile.
Thanks for the review of Burning Sirens! I'm really glad you liked it that much :)
Aww shucks :) thanks for the review!
5388496
Double Aww shucks :D
Thanks very much for the gushing review! Chrysalis Saves Hearth's Warming was a ton of fun to write, and I'm glad you found it fun to read.