Vren55 On Changeling Stories as they stand, and a review on "A Change in Fashion" · 8:22am Jan 27th, 2016
Everybody knows that I wrote Princess Celestia: The Changeling Queen.... well everybody that's followed me for that story. That is most people lol.
What some people don't know is I read a LOT of changeling stories before I felt even brave enough to write Princess Celestia: The Changeling Queen, mainly to get a good idea about what the audience at the time wanted.
Here's the list:
Wanderer D's "The Three Sisters" series, which is awesome, READ IT!.
Affliction of the Heart by Anonymous Pegasus. It's romantic and all and it was quite interesting, but unfortunately I can't say I liked it due to a major plot twist which put me off.
Flitter by Nyerguds, which is recommended because its a nice read.
Smoke and Mirrors, which I recommended, mainly because it was such a genre setter and the writing is decent.
Visionary, which I don't like for several reasons, mainly due to the nature of the main character who I think is a Gary Stu, but the writing itself is decent. Take a look if you want
Adaptation- A Changeling's Story, which is unfortunately has a sequel on hiatus and the author hasn't been on for three weeks. The first one is pretty good though and is complete.
All of these stories were published shortly after the Season 2 finale during the hiatus between Seasons 2-3 and also during Season 3. Perhaps the major titans and trendsetters among these that I have listed (and the list isn't extensive) are Smoke and Mirrors, An Affliction of the Heart, The Three Sisters and Flitter. During this period, changeling fics were the rage. They cluttered the featured box, they stacked the deck, lets put it this way, they were INSANELY popular.
So popular I wrote a blog post about them, explaining "Why are Changelings so Popular".
Perhaps I'm being bold, but I suppose Princess Celestia: The Changeling Queen came on the tail end of this popular trend, riding on the last wave of "the great changeling boom" so to speak, which was probably wrapped up by Bucking Nonsense's "The King is Dead, Long Live the Emperor" (which is incomplete and has been for a while, so be aware of that before reading).
This is a bit of a shame, because I found fairly recently, a great romantic story involving a changeling and a pony, and its SOOO FREAKING GOOD and yet somehow it doesn't have the extremely high ratings that these other stories I mentioned have.
I don't know why, but I think, after comparing it to some of the other stories on my list, that its lack of super-popularity is simply by virtue of the fact changelings aren't as popular as they used to be.
I must rectify this! So without further ado, my review/bump for:
A Change in Fashion
By KevinItk
After the invasion of Canterlot, ponies became aware of the frightening changeling race. As a result, they had adopted methods of exposing and countering the love-feeding parasites.
Glamour, like other changelings, have found it more challenging to find a stable supply of love. Seeing the flaws in posing as a pony's loved one, she tries a new way of getting love.
By becoming a fashion model.
All she had to do was become famous and bask in the adoration of her fans. However, the world of fashion is not as easy as it looks, and Glamour finds her life become much more complicated when she gets paired up with Manehattan's newest fashion designer, Coco Pommel.
What should I say about this story, apart from its great, I can't wait to see what happens next, and the author never does anything wrong while still subverting expectations of the audience nicely?
Well in more serious terms, KevinItk has done quite a few things right.
First, he created a very nice and convincing changeling OC protagonist who slowly falls in love with one of our favorite MLP side characters, Coco Pommel, and Coco Pommel with her. Glamour, the main character, is interesting in that she has built in flaws, but is altogether a relatable and fun character to have rooting for. She has inner pain, but it isn't too angsty and portrayed realistically and yet... in a way that influences her character in a concrete fashion. To some extent, this harkens back to the OC changelings featured in stories like "Smoke in Mirrors" and "Affliction of the Heart." Glamour though, has a humor to her character that makes you like her more and inject some much needed comedy to follow up the tense moments.
But what really makes a story is the plot, so how well does KevinItk does his romance?
Very well actually, very well. Its a slow burn kind of romance, but all the more realistic and true at the same time because he takes the time to actually develop the characters relationship through events in the story. Not a lot of writers can pull this off well, and he does it very well-paced manner that may be bit on the slow side, but still keeps the reader interested. As such, the tension over Glamour and her changeling identity gradually increases as the romance between Glamour and Coco deepen.
There's even a good conflict in the story with the presence of Suri Polomare. I won't elaborate too much, but its an effective threat, and its development propels the story forward and so far has me at the edge of my seats... not for the reasons you may think, but you'll get it when you read it.
Finally, as if this story couldn't be any better, the grammar and stylistic manner to which the author conveys the story allows for the audience to understand what is going on. I suppose it could be a bit more dramatic at times, but it conveys the emotions of the characters to the audience effectively.
So I highly recommend this story, even though its not complete yet, because damnit, I haven't not waited so hard for the next chapter in a story for this long! Now go read it!
Hope you've enjoyed the blog post, good night.
Vren55
With The Substitute Demon, Mirror's Image and Shifting Melodies? I think this trend is alive and well.
I like the a change in fashion story. I loved it when she went and found the joys of expresso haha
Thanks, your recommendations always nice and clear.
If you're interested I'd vote for these two:
Mirror's Image by Evilpresident - If anyone here have never like Chrysalis before, show him this. He'll join us and the 2 nations in the hunt for Blueblood.
Of the Hive by Law Abiding Pony, we have good storyline and characters, changeling's history with epic boss fight in the ancient tomb... and Cadista! The exemplary image of a caring mother changeling, you'll love her.
This is very good. I have read some of the changeling stories that you have read too. Have you read Hiver's two stories? His second story just updated today. It was a funny chapter.
3715677 the name sound familiar. Links?
3715293 Thanks for the rec. Though. I have one question.
Of the hive has gotten to the point its in its 4th book of the series... so I know some parts of what happens next and therefore, my question is "How do they treat Celestia in the series?" I mean I'm very interested, but i'm hesitant to because I don't know how the author treats Celestia and i'm worried I wont' like it.
One thing to note though, these fics have been published during the big changeling fic boom, while "A Change in Fashion" hasn't. SO while interest in existing changeling fic series has continued (mine being proof of this as well) new changeling fics don't get that much of a n interest boost :P
3715320 Oh I heard of those two, but haven't seen them update as of late. Will take a look.
3715303 I know right?
3715320 3715293 I should really be reading Mirror's image because Zervziel my editor edits for Mirror's Image as well. If he sticks around there to edit, that means its got to be pretty good.
3715854 Sure! New Beginnings and Normal Life.
I'm extremely flattered that you wrote this. Hopefully, I can live up to your expectations.
Damn it...
3716001 XD Don't think about the expectations, just do what feels right. Its worked so far hasn't it XD
3715854
Good.
In character, I think. 
The Substitute Demon and Shifting Melodies were started later. This fics are somewhat less... dramatic than Mirror's image, but fluff parts are good.
There is RD's level of modesty here.
(My own list of "pretty good" fics includes Princess Celestia: The Changeling Queen too. 
)
I would recommend Changing Views