Well, it's not January anymore, sooo... Mixed Favourite Reviews #6? · 2:14pm Mar 4th, 2015
Oh boy, more reviews! Well, it’s about time I did some more reading. Here’s some more from my incomplete favourites list that have recently updated, as well as a surprise (but very welcome) one-shot entry. You’ll want to check this particular one out for sure.
Previously-reviewed stories with new chapters read: The Gentle Nights: Audience of One, Not The Hero, Love, Sugar, and Sails
Story: Heart Invasion 101
Author: BloodyFamousLastWords
Synopsis:
Spike decides he wants some spending money, so he gets a job as an assistant to the local DJ, Vinyl Scratch.
What starts off as a part-time 'errand boy' job, quickly evolves into a close friendship, and may become something more in time. Apparently, they have more in common than they ever would have thought.
Current Length: 39,431 words over 13 chapters, averaging 3,033 words per chapter
Status: Incomplete
Review: This one’s been floating around for a while, updating sporadically while the author deals with various irl issues. I remember it making a rather large splash when it debuted, being one of the first Spike x Vinyl Scratch shipfics in history. Whether you’re a fan of Spike being portrayed like an almost-adult or not will probably affect your enjoyment or SoD levels with this one, given that Vinyl is clearly a full-grown mare. Spike and Twilight are written well together, as is Octavia, and the shipping itself isn’t rushed or forced either. It takes its time, setting itself up via what the two have in common (which I prefer reading about over why two characters are so different and therefore perfect for each other, bleh), While it starts out as a worker/boss scenario, the two develop a friendship within their partnership. The events leading up to the eventual pairing can be quite amusing such as Spike getting plastered at a gig after-party and Vinyl having to explain to Twilight, among others. There’s also a smattering of references to heavy music, so that of course earns approval from me. Could do with a thorough proofread for grammar, though; there are lots of easily-fixed little errors in most chapters (although the latest one didn’t seem too bad). A bit preachy in parts, like it expects you to believe something just because the author says so, but not a bad read.
Story: Responses to a Disgruntled Friendship Student
Author: keaton-furman-prower
Synopsis:
Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's most prized and faithful student, is being sent to Ponyville to learn about the magic of friendship.
This is going to be fun!
A spinoff of Letters From A Disgruntled Friendship Student by milesprower06.
Current Length: 44,140 words over 118 chapters, averaging 374 words per chapter
Status: Incomplete
Review: Long story short, if you haven’t read Letters From A Disgruntled Friendship Student, you will be completely lost by this one. If you have read LFADFS, and you like it, this might just be a fun trip, although odds are that if you are reading LFADFS, you’re already reading this as well. So… wow, this was a really useless review. 
Oh, I like the part when the hilarious lack of sex happens. If you’re easily offended by potentially sensitive meta-material, you’ll want to stay away. Otherwise, enjoy the ride.
Story: Book of Days
Author: Warren Hutch
Synopsis:
Centuries ago, Clover the Clever recorded in her personal diary the events surrounding the origins and early lives of Celestia and Luna. Now, thanks to the princesses' gracious consent and the scholarship of Twilight Sparkle, this account may now be read by modern Equestrians.
Current Length: 53,048 words over 15 chapters, averaging 3,537 words per chapter
Status: Incomplete
Review: World-building stories do not get much more endearing, more adorable, than this. Written by Clover the Clever (restored and translated into modern Equestrian by Twilight Sparkle), barely a decade after the founding of Harmony, this charming story scribed in diary-entry format fills us in on the lives and going-ons of the Founders, their civilisation, and—taking centre stage—the birth of Celestia. It is written in a very olden-day style, which flows beautifully and ensnares the mind. The pictures this story paints in my head are absolutely beautiful, especially Clover’s depiction of (very) young foal Celestia (“Wake up, Cwovuh! Wake up, Cwimson!”). While I’m sure that canon will find a way to one day destroy this story’s lore, so far it has managed to avoid the crushing blow, but even if it does get hit eventually, I don’t think I could love it any less. If the story itself wasn’t entertaining and entrancing enough, we even have some ‘Translator’s Hoofnotes’ from Twilight Sparkle, with some occasional (and hilarious) additions by the Princesses themselves. While slow to update over the past year, it seems to have gained speed recently. Apart from Equestria’s Twilight, I’m pretty sure this is the longest-running fic I’ve been following since its debut. I squee a little whenever I see an update for it, and if you start reading this (or already are), I fully expect you to as well.
Story: Pioneer
Author: OleGrayMane
Synopsis:
Sixteen years old and still without a cutie mark, Apple Bloom faces an existential crisis. But a new opportunity presents itself, one that might solve her problem—if she can take the first step.
Current Length: 12,693 words (oneshot)
Status: Complete
Review: Cutie Mark Crusader stories about finding their marks have been done to death. Some people like to go out of their way to give them outrageous marks for the sake of comedy, while others prefer to go with what we might call the “logical” route that The Show Stoppers gave us back in season one. It’s not often though that one sees a story in which two of them have their marks, but the third doesn’t. Pioneer follows Apple Bloom, now sixteen and still without her mark, growing steadily more depressed as her friends gained theirs and have to follow their dreams and destinies away from Ponyville. Then, along came a stranger… This fic focuses on how a person with heavy family ties can feel about having to leave, versus whether they should stay because of “tradition” or “expectation” and whether they really want to leave. Granny Smith is a standout character here, but Mister Stock’s exchanges with Apple Bloom dig at the heart of the story, touching on the sensitive issues. Apple Bloom is well-portrayed as an adolescent still on the cusp of self-discovery, and the story does her character great justice. This is a tale that should be read by all fans of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. You might clench up a little in the family dinner scene at Applejack’s attitude, but if you do, it’s for good reasons. Brilliantly executed story.
Story: Of Swords and Hearts
Author: vren55 and Comet Burst
Synopsis:
“Chains” is a sadistic dominatrix who loves to torture the stallions under her control. Winding Sheets is a cunning courtesan. Love is just a fairy tale to them.
When circumstances force them to assist with Celestia’s Veterans Rehabilitation Program, they find themselves charged with the life, stability and trust of two mentally-scarred stallions. Despite their hardened hearts, will these two mares rediscover what love actually is?
Current Length: 41,032 words over 7 chapters, averaging 5,862 words per chapter
Status: Incomplete
Review: Set a little over a hundred years before modern Equestria, Swords and Hearts Is the tale of two down-on-their-luck, body-bartering mares tasked with the rehabilitation of two unruly ex-military stallions with severe mental scarring. You might think the premise odd and completely unbelievable; I know I certainly did. But I think the unique idea behind it is what grabbed me in the first place. The cover art certainly helped. Black Lace and Winding Sheets are showing fantastic potential to be two of the most developed characters I’ve ever seen in pony fanfiction. Will Celestia’s plan to rehabilitate not only the stallions, but the mares as well, bear fruit? It’s early days yet, and there is a considerable time between updates, but so far the writing has been superb, the editing is pretty thorough, and I’ll be damned if I can get enough of either the racy, fun-loving Lace, or the refined, elegant Sheets. It’s worth keeping an eye on for the next update.
That’s all I’ve got for now. Once I get my butt into gear and actually work on Sunset of Time some more, I’ll be throwing up some newer reviews. I have more free time these days than ever before… although that’s not necessarily a good thing where life is concerned. Oh well.
Hey, you! Yes, you! No, not you, the pretty one! You should totally join the Golden Oaks Book Club while you’re here. Every so often we suggest, vote for, and read quality stories as a group. Since we give stories two chances to be chosen, with the winner being a majority vote, you can be sure we will only ever read stories that truly deserve the read, be they immensely popular or criminally underviewed. Check us out sometime!
Don't tell me how to live my life!
2848803
2848819
Woooooow
So rude
2848819 CERULEAN YOU FORGOT SWORDS AND HEARTS IS A JOINT EFFORT FROM MOISELF AND COMET BURST!!!!!
2848927
No I didn't.
2848949 ... you so edited your blog post
Thank you most kindly for the review.
I'm pleased as punch you're enjoying the story.
I wish I could update it faster but between life and a million other projects it gets set aside a lot.
Actually, the big slowdown kind of coincided with the upcoming release of "The Journal of the Two Sisters" (which I haven't read, and shan't until I wrap up Book of Days) I was kind of fearing a big baseball bat across the kneecaps of my little headcanon tale, but it doesn't seem to have put folks off.
Here I am!
2849015
Well, I'll let you know one thing that might ease your mind: the sisters are already adults in the Journal, and they don't talk about the past much, only their present and future at the time. You should be pretty safe continuing exactly how you are.
And please do. It's an awesome story.
2849360
You joined.
2850096 Well derrr
Btw, check this underground band out. #EZrevival2k15
FFX reference all the way...
2850096
I had kind of wondered at the dearth of "YOU GOT IT RONG!"
comments.
That is really good to know.
Ah well, I've taken hits from canon before. I still find it tremendously ironic that Twilight sprouted a pair of alicorn wings right after I finished my epic length future fic about her and Rarity inventing artificial ones.
Thanks!