A "musing" Ruminations

[Kingsdotr]

Yay! Reviews for everybody! Might as well jump on board.....

For those who weren't here last year, these reviews I do aren't full of gems of writing wisdom like Tooley's or Matra's. These will be full of effusive, zany glass bead observations about what I liked, or didn't, and are purely for fun! So, hope you enjoy my insane babbling. Ich werde beginnen!

[Kingsdotr]

Aaaaand because I have mild CDO, I will do them in order, so first is

CRAZY OR NOT, HERE I COME

Azalea

Alright, besides the delightful Gollum flashbacks (I am now craving fish and chips) SNAAAAAKKEEEEE!!!! That was a squeal of joy, by the way. I've always been curious as to how RS would handle a character without thumbs, or... well, limbs of any kind. I love the way she moves and speaks, and the total 180 when she.... boops Roe's nose? Not expecting a cutsie character, but hey, it's cute! And riddles in the dark are always fun.

......

And suddenly, lunch.

.......

I love how sudden that ending was, and it made my brain do a slow clap..... in my head......

Anyhow, really enjoyed that one, and I'm excited to see how she does in the arena....

Leota

Granny Hannibal was definitely the most disturbing of the crazy critters. First the serious Bedlam vibes, then the room decorations, then.... oof, gives one shudders.

The overall bright tone of the writing coupled with the descriptions really gives it the edge of your seat feeling, like those movies that made me burn my dolls, but it's the little touches in the cell that get me. Where on earth did she get doilies? And who let her keep them and the other nice things?

Ugh. Does... does she.... get sent crazy beasts that have crossed the Todd's line, or are on their last legs, and Do they pay her with nice things?!

Ugh. Well done app, very well written, but not a character I would be really comfortable with following in the contest, per se.....

Kentigern

Whew! Nice little break from being eaten alive or being.... eaten. Yeah.

The feeling of inherited nostalgia is nice, and I love the interaction with his daughter. Out of the app, though, I don't really see the *crazy* aspect very well. Sure, his wife is kicking him out for going on his quest, and he seems determined, but..... crazy? I don't really get that out of this.

LOVE. THE. ACCENT.

So, pretty nice showing for this batch, and I will try to review the others as I find the time. Well done, crazies! I look forward to seeing any of you move on!

[Kingsdotr]

Whoop Whoop! These are really fun! It's so cool seeing everybody's views and what they got from the apps. So, next up,

CRAFTY, AINCHA?

Aldridge

This one grabbed me from the get-go! A lot more background/looking backwards going on than most apps, but it really gave Al solid ground to work from. The attention to detail, especially when it came to the house and the bow, was really riveting.

I am really excited to see how this character develops!

Strathcomb

I really enjoyed this one too! The showing off of his new pickax was especially endearing to me. The accents were fantastic!

I love his loyalty to the other workers. The fact that his pay would stay the same didn't even faze him. He stuck by the workers' rights, and cares for them. This really made me interested in his character, and it would be interesting to see what he does in the Crater.

So, this category will be very hard for me to vote on, as I like both characters very much! Good job, guys, for making it so difficult!

[Kingsdotr]

Yikes! I need to get these done! Doing reviews really has helped my decision making process. I hope you all are enjoying them! Onward! To!

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE...OR ELSE

Malukh

I thoroughly enjoyed Malukh, with his exhuberance and one-sided world view! I really hope he can swing a sword, too... Also, his reactions to such inferior treatment ought to be interesting. What will it take to change his attitude, or will he refuse to be cowed?

He unfortunately has the potential to get rather old, but the possibility for his growth is intriguing. I really hope to see how he continues on.

Kali

....In case it isn't apparent, I am a girl. And Kali made me squeal for how cute she is. Her enthusiasm is quite endearing, and her eagerness for her music leads up to..... disaster..... Oh boy.

Dead ferret.

Her optimism at the end is heart-warming, and makes me want to help her on her journey.

I hope that she is able to accept criticism/instruction.... perhaps a suggestion that she sticks to instruments?

*****

Agh! You guys are so.... good!!!! It makes it hard to pick between any of you! Well, there is only one thing left to say.

Why did the ferret cross the road?

No, really, I need to know this.

[Kingsdotr]

Like a famous frog once said: Moving right along. I'm hoping to get as many of these done as soon as I can, and hopefully stop biting my fingernails.....

So, without further ado....

HUSH LITTLE BABY, DON'T YOU CRY, MAMA'S GONNA MAKE SOME VERMIN DIE

Ander

Malukh, we meet again! and you bring followers! I was not expecting this turn in the category, someone who LOVES themselves, but it added a bit of fun to the category. The quick jog into the exterior of the camp was different, and sets this app apart from Malukh's, where we actually get to see how others feel about the main character.....

Also, a bit odd that pirates wouldn't jump the six that were still following Ander.

Why were they following Ander again?

The little scene at the end where he's begging for his life.... makes one wonder at the rumor hinted previously... What if it was true?

Blu

This one really tugged at my heart strings. Mom is down on her luck, may or may not have stolen/been in the process of stealing something, and gets kicked out of the house. To top it all off, robbers? Sheesh, can't she catch a break?

Sometimes people will put up with an awful lot, because things need to be endured. There comes a time to put your paw down, though......

Minerva

This was.... my least favorite, but only because slasher moms are not.... my favorite people..... to read about..... But, at least Minerva will be able to fight... or something... I mean, the mom took out a band of brigands.... with a fishhook. Whew.

I wonder what the daughter was dreaming of? Children tend to pick up on more than we expect.... Poor little mite.


Another difficult category, with lots of possibilities. Anxious to see what you come up with!

[Kingsdotr]

Halfway done! YUSS..... Now for a most difficult category, mostly because, while many stories can come from revenge, it is so destructive.... WHY IS IT SO SATISFYING TO READ ABOUT?!

Well, here goes, anyway.... speaking of dishes....

IS IT JUST ME, OR IS IT REALLY COLD IN HERE?

Silas

This one really spoke to me, because the vengeance part of it doesn't come until the end. It really sets up the story nicely, for only 750 (or so) words. And you really feel for the guy.

Struck me as odd, how an object of greed (beaver pelts) was the greedy guts himself....

How is this related to the Crater? How will Silas do in such an environment? Will he lose motivation to live after the object of his hatred is dead?

Altra

If anyone needs relaxing pink, it's Altra. She's arrogant, she's repulsive, and dang, but she throws her height around! But why is she this way? We don't really get a good picture of what makes her like this, and really, there's no reason to like her, to draw you to her. But, hey, she can use a spear pretty well..... Maybe she could work off some of her issues in the ring?

What does a clan symbol look like, anyway?

Tope

Honeybadger don't care. He'll smash you with a club, and count the stones afterward. Uh..... just how many are on his list? Who's left? AND WHO'S THE GOODBEAST?!

This might have been a good character for the may or may not be crazy category. The stoat uses pebbles to determine his morality, and either way, somebody dies. Sounds like the premise for a thriller movie....

So, in a category full of tragedy (seriously, do we read this stuff so our own troubles don't seem so bad?) there's definitely a lot of plotting, vengeful beasts going around..... kind of frightening..... Good job, guys!

[Kingsdotr]

Must.... keep.... going..... Hey, I've got the time, and some brain power left, so let's keep going!

CHITTY CHITTY, CHAT, CHAT

Sly

I giggled all the way through this one. His story was ridiculous, his reactions over the top, and his attitude.... "a smarmy salute" Too funny! And the little things scattered throughout the story were little nuggets of fun, several twists that you don't really see coming.

Hoober

Wait... another vole?

This little guy, I found endearingly clumsy. Seems he might have packed more than he could carry.... He might have a little trouble in the Crater, though.... definitely not a fighter. Hoped to see a little more gab for him, cause he's not really very gabby..... Also, some more background would be nice....

Bechtel

Very different than I was expecting for a gabber.... Like Hoober, I was hoping for a bit more of a silver tongue, a bit more talkative.... I mean, he should be able to convince the other beasts to buy from him , and not Gurry....

Maybe the gift was his large vocabulary, and his exuberant way of speaking!

Boss..... So, he's not in business for himself?

I love the way that the echolocation was handled! Very nicely done on that....


So, some lovely gabbers! Excited to see where it leads!

[Ashleg]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but is the "chitty chitty chat chat" line from Kung Fu Panda? ;D

[Kingsdotr]

...............


................


Maybe.

;D

[Kingsdotr]

Okay.... One more for tonight, and then I'll pack it in......

DARN IT, JIM, I'M A DOCTOR, NOT A FIGHT.....OH, HANG IT ALL, HAND ME THAT PHASER

Jasper

Arrows, arrows, everywhere, and all the beasts did fall.... Very vivid mental pictures here, and good descriptions. Jasper is a gung ho guy! He should put in a request for all the miles he's running! Hazard pay?

The account was a little....gruesome, but, these are healers, and I suppose they shine in their own environment...

Kentrith

Blood, blood, blood, and DEATH! Okay, this category is not for squeamish people.... or the faint of heart, which Kentrith is most decidedly NOT. I mean, "Are you volunteering your own coat?" That's a little gutsy.... The detail throughout is thorough, but again, not for the faint of heart, and the writing is a little choppy.

Maeve

Balance and blood....  I thought this was a very interesting view to take, and the relationship of the twins is endearing. Wasn't expecting the Long Patrol to advocate slavery, though......

Maeve seemed to heal rather fast from her bout with..... More arrows? can't get away from them!

"The underbrush of Mossflower hungered for the silver ferret's footpaws".......... Huh? Not sure I get this turn of phrase......

Another difficult category to decide on, with improvements to be made, but strong foundations laid. Can't wait!