I see. I see. I understand what you mean entirely, and I'll keep it to heart. Read what I can, what I want, and review when I feel like it. Wise words, which I should keep to heart. Definitively.
It's true I'm not getting paid for it, but I did start the reviews nonetheless. I didn't feel forced to it. I did it, because A) I'd just left a group of forum RPers, who made me feel extremely unappreciated, and I realized how a good pat on the back felt. I wanted to give that to a group of writers who I thought deserved it, and that led to B ) I loved being able to talk about the stories, and discuss how it all felt. I felt like I had a bit of an impact, and at the same time, I was making a difference, and I wasn't alone into it. That really drove me. Those two parts were my carrots at the end of the stick. Guess that may have slipped after a bit.
What was the last story I was supposed to review? Looking back? Oh yeah. The Parent's day. Wonderful story, a lot of points of views, and lots of things going on. But every time I was about to review it, I told myself I had to re-read it all, then divide it into sections, since it's all done by different authors, and different styles, it felt like such a task, I never got to pull up the drive not to go for something else... So I kept reading after.... And kept reading. I hungered for more stories.
Hrmmm. Let me play a little catchup then on some of the noteworthy content.
Boston Brawl 2: Good action story, more development on some villains, there's some story developing there, and it was interesting to see things unfold, and change this way, especially when the villains make a few idiotic mistakes, but most of it was action sequences, and with so many characters, it was a little hard to keep a straight head.
For Merry... Well, me and Merry have some history, I'm afraid, and although it gets better, and I can definitively sympathize with her, it makes a painful thing to follow. Painful, is that nothing seems to really settle down with her. There's always a new threat, or a new even that changes everything. The escape was handled... So quick, in a fashion, it was underwhelming? Well, it worked...
One of the moments I will admit though, was when Merry was being picked up by the were-people, got turned, and her arm chopped off. I don't say it often, but I had a murderous feeling climbing up in my veins. My blood was boiling. She was about to have some peace, she was about to get to Whateley. I thought those were had instructions too! But the FUDGE IT UP! AGH! All for politics! Luckily, it all turned out for the best, but thinking back on it, I just wanted to shake the whole lot of them.
But I've read some of the Petra stories, and... I don't know. It doesn't seem like things will stabilize anytime soon, and it might not affect what's happening in Whateley. It's on my short list.
Jade 6 - Dreams and Awakenings: Poor, poor Jade. Things were looking up, she was having a good thing, and then the BIT slicer doesn't work, so she starts cutting herself up...And then the ritual robs her of her female form as a spirit. If what happened to Merry upset me, Jade here really slammed into me. It was a tragedy, and she didn't deserve to have so much taken from her. At least things got patched up in the end.
Ayla and the Networks - This one was interesting, again, like most Dianne stories, filled with so many details, it's hard to tell filler from core elements, and it's both interesting, and loooong for it. What I do want to mention on this one though, is that although there is a mostly central plot to the story, there are WAAAYYY too many characters involved. There were at least six teams involved, each one of them going from three to six characters each? So when the action and the climax happens at the end, and they all match up together? I got so lost in no time flat. I'm lucky though, that each teams had their own quirks, and personalities to make them feel different, so I could appreciate them, and properly put them apart, otherwise, I would have had trouble. It's the story that needs a map, and a chart to keep track of.
Caitlin, the Grunts, and Outcast Corner - I've been through a lot of these stories, and to be honest, I've been eating through them. like crazy. I looooooooved reading them, especially Caitlin... Though part of it, might be the TG element involved, but it wasn't completely central to what was happening, there was a lot of other baggage put on the front stage.
The characters are funny, hilarious at times, even if they feel miserable at some moments, or full of themselves. In real life, they would cause so much trouble, and so many issues to the establishment, but written as they are, you're taken through a ride, and you can get why they act this way. You can get why Caitlin is so rough, and enjoys tormenting others, like the recruiters, or those who deserve it. You get to enjoy Jericho's reaction to everything, even when most people would feel down at some point. It's not always about jokes either, there's a lot of issues going on, lots of hard work, trauma, and danger, but I kept on wanting to read more. It was a roller coaster of emotions. When they had a victory, I was pumping my fist with them. When Caitlin was almost enslaved, I felt genuinely worried, even if I knew she'd get out of it. The only issue I might have, is the repeat of 'I know I need to solve this thing, but I need to do it myself' routine'. I get why it's said, I get why it's explained to every characters offering to help, but when they repeat it to Fey, as a reader, I had enough, and just wanted her to get some help. When she finally told the Outcast, I had a mental moment of 'FINALLY!'
Unfortunately, I heard a few times, that these stories aren't finished, and that's... Really sad. I do wish I'd seen much, much more out of these characters. It was so good.
So far, I've skipped Tennyo goes to Hell, Aquerna, and some of the one-shot combat finals (though certainly not all of them). I'll have to turn back, and read some of those then.
Still, these notes were written quickly, and some, I wish I could elaborate, and pick out a few moments, but my memory may be a bit off kilter...
... And it is currently 2 AM. This is what happens when my brain decides I've got to put it all into words 'right now', and I get into a run.
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