First Impression Reviews: Episode Seven [NSFW]

Below are two fanfic reviews based purely on the initial impressions provided by the first chapter (or first 3k words.) For an outline of what my reviewing guidelines are, go here. Please do not request reviews!

One NSFW Mature story review is below. I don't believe I can link directly to the story, even on my blog, so I linked to the author's profile instead. Just to be safe, get the deets after the break!

Pondering Pinkie Pie’s Plot by Megapone
Rating: Mature
Tags: Sex, Romance, Slice of Life
Summary: Pinkie Pie possesses an extremely large, soft rump. Princess Twilight Sparkle has never taken the time to really appreciate this before.
Grammar: 5/5 - Very solid writing. I saw nothing amiss.

My Thoughts:

Not all mature stories I review will require a NSFW tag, but this particular episode just can’t escape it. If you’ve ever read any of Megapone’s work, you’ll know why. This isn’t the first fic I’ve read from him. That honor belongs to Cummuppance, a story where Trixie is publicly gangbanged by futa Main 6. It was a shameless piece of fetish trash that I absolutely adored, and I don’t usually go for futa.

It’s true that I’m not into everything Megapone writes (foalcon and incest…*shiver*) but instead of reading his work seriously, one really just has to pay attention to the (fairly obvious) tone of humor that is present in most of his stuff. It’s over the top and sometimes just outright silly. What I like about his stories is that they are technically very well written--not a lot of clop fics can say that. I also appreciate his ability to use “bedroom” language effectively.

For example, in this fic, Twilight finds herself suddenly gripped with an intense appreciation for Pinkie’s plump plot, and refers to it as such:

Her ass. Twilight tasted the word and shivered. Such a dirty word. Such a fun word. And so deliciously appropriate.

I like how Megapone always manages to release the reader from feeling awkward about reading this stuff. At least, he does that for me. In Cummuppance we encounter much of the same sex talk, but it’s used in a manner that doesn’t feel like a crutch. That’s what makes it so effective and fitting in these fics. Lesser authors rely on dirty words to try and incite a feeling of arousal and excitement, but Megapone knows better. He vividly describes what is happening without relying solely on the strength of porn vernacular. By weaving these words in, they feel...sexier. Less awkward and lazy.

This episode may be NSFW, but I don’t really feel it’s necessary to go into a play-by-play of what this fic is about. It’s fairly straightforward. Megapone is even considerate enough to list what fetishes can be encountered within: (Light) butt-worship, cunnilingus, and a particularly plump flank. One should really take the last one seriously. Pinkie’s ass is huge in this. Ridiculously so. Observe:

Each cheek—so perfectly rounded. Twilight pictured it now: Pinkie walking, her buttcheeks sliding against one another, slapping against the tops of her thighs with every step. Her Cutie Marks rippled like water at the slightest disturbance; when she’d stop short, her whole body would quiver, her ass retaining its inertia and pushing the rest of Pinkie’s body forward.

Damn. Dat ass doh.

Okay, yes. This is silly and over-the-top...and yet...it kind of works. I mean, Megapone is really heightening the sensory details for us to the point that it becomes easy to imagine what burying your face in that plot would feel like. A big soft marshmallow. I bet Pinkie would even smell like frosting and cupcakes. (Mmmm...)

Final Verdict: I recommend this one for any partialists out there. If you know what this is (an exaggerated butt fetish fic) and don’t try to judge it with standards that can’t (and shouldn’t) be applied, then this is a pretty good piece of clop. It’s fun and sexy. High brow, though? Yeah, no… But who cares?

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Equestria Girls: Caverns and Critters by Loyal
Rating: Teen
Tags: Adventure, Comedy, Crossover, Equestria Girls
Summary: Twilight's transfer from Crystal Prep hasn't exactly gone over that smoothly. She's terribly closeted and hates branching out to other things. Her interests lie in pen, paper, and books. So what is it that can bring all of those things together into one sociable, friendship-buidling (or destroying) activity?
Caverns and Critters, a fantasy tabletop game.
Sunset Shimmer has her reservations, but Twilight seems to enjoy building these fantasy worlds for them, and all of the other girls are enjoying themselves as well (even Fluttershy and Rarity, surprisingly enough.) Far be it from her to deny her friends their indulgence, and if she's being perfectly honest with herself, all the talk of magic and kingdoms and fantasy errata has her pining for Equestria and her old life.
Grammar: 4/5 - Alright is not all right with me. Dialogue lacking tags for new speakers.

My Thoughts:

I know the first installment of this is technically the prologue, not the first chapter, but I still think reviewing the prologue fits the goal of this series. Whatever the author puts in front of me first has to be able to grab me. If it can’t, I move on. So…

Before I get into my thoughts, I just want to say that I am a fairly enthusiastic RP tabletop gamer. I’m not crazy good or anything--my husband is a far better power gamer than I am, for instance. But I have participated in many tabletop games from Dungeons and Dragons, to Pathfinder, to Savage Worlds, to World of Darkness, and even the Star Wars RPGs, among other things. When I saw this story, it was pretty much guaranteed a spot on my to-read shelf.

I like the premise it opens up with. I dislike it when authors fail to recognize that Sci-Twi is basically season one Twilight Sparkle. She should be more socially awkward and lacking in confidence. The author portrays her brilliantly here, and I really like the exchange between the group. Everyone feels more or less in character. I have a serious soft spot for the Equestria Girls, despite the obvious flaws of that spin-off series. I’m really glad that someone took the opportunity to explore something fun from our world that the “Humane 7” could do.

It feels real, too. The author is obviously a tabletop gamer. The way Twilight and co. start to plan the game (“I’ve got digital copies of the book! I’ll email them to you all.” and “Oh hey, we can play in our basement! There’s a table and chairs from when my sisters used to play!”) feels very much like my own experiences trying to get a game group together. I can just see the gamer archetype jokes coming--the snack fiend, the thespian, the rule monger, the “whose turn is it?” guy… Anywhere else they would feel tired, but the fact that we’re getting this through the EQG lens kind of gives it new life. (Mind you, I’m saying this without having gotten to those jokes yet, but I’m honestly looking forward to them.)

Final Verdict: I definitely recommend this one! In fact… It’s going into my favorites! The characterizations are just so solid. Rarity was a difficult character to sit down at a gaming table, but Loyal manages to do it in a way that feels believable. (She’s a diplomatic rogue. I could see her doing a bard, but a rogue still works.) The various attitudes and reactions of the characters to the game are just...hilarious. It’s great! My only lingering nitpick is that Applejack’s dialogue teeters over the edge of overdone, but it just manages to keep from feeling too “try hard”. Otherwise--yeah. Great read. A definite must for tabletop gamers!

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Current To-Read Count: 169/184