).(#FebFIMFanFicLove) Review: The Cold Heart of the Moon by HallyConn · 7:13am Feb 5th, 2015
Sup Everypony! 
Pirate's got something a wee bit different for ya tonight (this morning? Man, I can't even tell anymore...). Some of the cool folks over at the new group Tag-a-long's Book Club decided to get in on the '#FebFIMFanFicLove' action, and are holding a contest (well, it's not really a contest... event? Yeah, let's go with that) an event where a dozen or so authors all recommended a story that they felt was excellent and yet under-viewed (criminally so in some cases). The stories were mixed up in a hat (by a bunny, no less) and reassigned to different authors, whose job it was to read and review their assigned fic.
Well, I've read; and now it's time for the review!
The Cold Heart of the Moon
by HallyConn
cover art by GenjiLim
[Romance][Tragedy][Sad][Dark][Crossover]
Princess Luna is beset by the evils that haunt her soul. Her older sister, Princess Celestia, believes that only true love is able to conquer her dark ways and return her to her former self. Yet Luna, discontented with the premise of Celestia's proposal, decides that any noble suitor must answer three riddles in order to test their bravery, cunning and dedication to her.
The challenge is for anypony to accept. But should they fail, they risk permanent exile and shame. A punishment evident of Luna's darker side.
As pony after pony tries and fails, a single earth pony, taken by Princess Luna's beauty, is determined to prove himself worthy of her.
First of all, dat description. UNF. That's a Hook with a capital 'H' if I've ever seen one. The description actually goes on to say that this story is inspired by an opera called Turandot. The closest I've ever gotten to opera is working stage crew for a local production of Phantom. I had zero foreknowledge of what this story was going to contain, but as it turned out that didn't hinder the tale from drawing me in in the slightest so don't be wary of that [Crossover] tag. As for the other tags, this tale earns every one of them.
The story takes place in Canterlot before Luna's fall from grace; something that isn't implicitly stated but isn't all that hard to figure out. In essence, it is an interpretation of (or perhaps an addendum to) the events that eventually led Luna to becoming Nightmare Moon, and in true operatic form treats us to a tale where Luna finds herself on the very verge of being rescued from her dark fate, only to have salvation ripped away from her in such a way that you can't help but get punched in the feels even though you knew it eventually had to happen.
One very interesting aspect of the storytelling that HallyConn brought out was the very subtle ways in which he defined the relationship between Celestia and Luna. Celestia's seemingly innocent choice of words at key points in the dialogue ('my kingdom' instead of 'our kingdom'; 'my subjects', etc.) combined with the somewhat blunt way in which Celestia laments how far Luna has fallen helps sell the idea that Celestia truly doesn't have any inkling as to why Luna is suffering. It's stated that trying to find romantic love to heal Luna's heart is Celestia's idea, but in trying to force that on her when it is sisterly love and the love of her people that she craves creates a wonderful irony. Celestia is trying but she just doesn't quite get it, and Luna is either too prideful or too childish to admit the truth.
Instead, Luna subverts her sister's efforts to find her a suitor into something that she knows will strike very deeply at Celestia: banishing those who fail to obtain her hoof in marriage from Equestria. It's almost like she's saying to Celly 'If I can't have the adoration of our little ponies, then neither will you... one by one I will send them all away.'
The story does have some formatting inconsistencies and a few minor spelling errors that take away from the overall experience, but it's nothing that a good editing run couldn't fix, and the weight and depth of the story still shines through regardless. If you're the type of person who likes the classic Greek Tragedies or the impassioned but ill-fated romances of Shakespeare, I suggest you give this one a read; you won't be disappointed, 
Awesomely done! And fortunate that you know your classical literature, because I think the references would have gone way over my head if I'd read it. :)
This does actually sound really cool. Well-meaning-but-oblivious Celestia is my headcanon.
Great review formatting too, I should have added the cover art to mine. Thanks for taking part and spreading the love! ^_^
It's heartwarming to see someone critically analyse my story with a deeper understanding of what I had tried to portray as well as crossing Puccini and Ponies. (My two biggest loves)
It took a while to come up with the plot. But I decided that the story of Turandot so adequately fit my rendition of how Luna fell from grace. In truth, it was simply an idea sparked by listening to Nessun Dorma! while on the road and I believed it would be an excellent idea. It was initially received very well by most of my readers and I'm honored that someone took the time to review it as you have done.
Thanks once again
2774295
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You're very welcome! I'm glad this was the story that was assigned to me or else I might never have read it (I tend to avoid the dark tag; it's hit or miss for me and unfortunately it's more often miss,
Coincidentally, thanks for the follow!
Ooh yeah, gonna have to read this one. Glad that the Tag-a-Long summary post pointed me at it.
2774422
Holy shit... this was an excellent review... i never even knew this was done for HallyConn.