Caffeinated Reviews - Installment 1 · 9:59am Mar 19th, 2020
(Art by rainbow).
Greetings, exalted ones!
I'm Not Enough Coffee, and I read a lot of horsewords. Heck, I consider myself a bit of a bibliophile. I am positively overflowing with books in my room, and my personal library shows no signs of ceasing its ever encroaching advance into my personal bubble. Not that I'm complaining. I love the English language, I love diction, I love everything there is to do with how we communicate and spread ideas from one another. It's really fascinating, and has been one of my favorite, and best subjects since I was in school.
If only I realized how passionate I was about it while I was in school, but that seems to be something I see in a lot of folks. School, and teenage angst, tend to zap the mind of what they actually found enjoyment in while studying one thing or another.
But Words! Big, bad, beautiful words! So many good words, and many ways to alliterate and write. And so I have, but most importantly today, so have you! Today, or rather this morning, I'm up rather late, I've gotten around to doing something I've been dying to do in a long while, and that's talk about the stories I've been reading between my own dribble and work. Stuff that I've enjoyed, or stuff I find fascinating. Even if it's not personally recommended, just sitting down and writing about the stories I've read so others might find themselves invested in them, or that the author's themselves can learn something for personal growth, is just so wonderful.
Truly, one of the biggest forms of flattery I can extend to those who have put a smile on my face in my solemn times.
Without further ado, let's get to the first story on the chopping block!
Emotional Support Changeling
(Story by Twinkletail).
I fancy myself a man of romance. Despite not liking the genre in the actual books I read, shipping is something I've been drawn to since my earliest times on the interwebs. As such, I friggin' adore romantic stories on this site, especially those that involve ships I particularly enjoy. Though, despite my clear bias, this story stands as one of the juiciest little nuggets of great romantic writing I've read on this site.
Ocellus, after getting an assignment over break involving using one's unique talents to show generosity to friend's, starts doing sessions on getting others to open up about their feelings for one another. Obviously, since this takes place after 'She's All Yak,' Ocellus helps out Sandbar with coming out clear for his feelings for Yona. Which is great, but the meat lies in the details. While she helps others with their love, she notices how it feels off, like the love she is feeling is misplaced.
All the while she is battling the thought of Smolder perhaps being correct in thinking this was all a bad idea. Which, to the part of the story that gets me, she was obviously hinting at her interest in Ocellus, yet the hints always went over her head.
I won't spoil the outcome of it all, it's some of the most adorafuzzy writing I've ever read, and truly worth reading if you lurve romantic shipping like me! The resolution is show like, in the best way possible, and the moral was slipped in smoothly. It all came together, and it goes to show that the Student Six are some serious untapped potential for writing on this site.
This one goes into my Highly Caffeinated Folder, for sure!
Set Sail
(Story by Jack of a Few Trades).
This one has some personal history behind it. I've known the author personally for almost as long as I've been on this lovely site. He's one of my oldest buds on here, and I fully support his writing. Which, to the enjoyment of myself and others, is very good!
I also read the last three chapters allowed to him in Discord voice chat, so that's also fun.
If you're a fan of Gallus, and especially a fan of world-building, you need to check this one out. You really get a feel for the inner turmoil Gallus feels about his life as a griffon in the hippogriff navy. Which, he ended up getting into because of his connection with Silverstream, and her connection to the royal authorities. Gallus just wanted to stay with a friend while on summer vacation, because Griffonstone is a bummer.
I can't blame him, but because of this he is in for a world of self-growth and inner change. Plus some romantic feelings coming to blossom for a certain hippogriff. The title has more than one meaning people! Oh my gosh! How clever...
While reading this you'll get to see an ever growing expansion on canon with Mount Aris and the surrounding ocean. There is a lot being built, and we've only seen the surface of what's to come, and I'm excited to see what happens next. After all, I've heard there will be more pirates and adventure in the next update! Who doesn't like pirates and adventure?
You will also see some of the most well-crafted writing, or the best, of Gallus. Jack truly understands his character inside and out, and you can't help but think you're actually reading something that would happen if Gallus did become part of the hippogiff navy.
Yet another easy highly caffeinated read, and it's still on-going! Catch the hype train while you can!
This one is rather short, and I don't have too much to say. I will, however, say that this got one of the biggest laughs out of me in a long time. It goes at a quick pace, building the conversation between Silverstream and Twilight up and up and up until it all pays off with one last zinger at the end that nearly split my sides in two.
There is also Flash bashing like the good ol' days, and it hasn't gotten old.
I don't have an overall gripe with this, other than it didn't quite capture me like the other stories on this review list. It's sorta ephemeral, in that sense. I will remember the joke at the end down the line, but I won't quite fondly hold onto this like I would others. It's a fun read none-the-less, and if you want a laugh, I fully support reading it. However, it will only be sent into the caffeinated folder.
Semillion is an underrated writer. I look forward to reading more of their writing, and if this is an indication for their quality, I'm sure I'll be recommending more of their stories.
That was really fun! I am glad I got this out there, and shared with you some works of fiction I've found myself enjoying. Hopefully I find improvement in my reviewing skills with each installment, and that from this, my own writing flourishes with growth and nourishment. I really want to keep expanding my repertoire of writing skills, and writing about what I've read in short little reviews should do just the trick!
I think I should do more than three next time, but for now starting small should be desired. I don't want to overwhelm myself on top of my current work load. Busy, busy, busy, as I always am... I am starting to sound and act more like my father. Perhaps being a workaholic runs in the family?
Who knows! But it sure does keep me being productive, so that's nice.
I don't know how frequent these will be, but I can say it's something I'll be working on between all the noise as a way to creatively make use of all the horsey-ness inside my little ol' noggin' from all the reading I do. I sincerely hope you guys enjoy it as much as I have writing it.
With love.
~ Not Enough Coffee
IMHO: It's a good idea, I like these small reviews of yours.
Thanks for recommended this stories) Reviews of this type a really nice done - short and interest!
5223855
No problem. I plan to make this a regular on my page!
5223893
Nice to hear it)
I forgot to press the button to post my comment a couple days ago
I am so glad to know that you're truly enjoying Set Sail. Every ounce of the effort I've poured into that story over the last year has been purely for that purpose: To give people an enjoyable story. Seeing this review and knowing that I'm accomplishing that goal means so much. Thanks for writing this up, man. I just hope it continues to be an engaging read for you. :)
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