Review #99 - Starlight Gets Shipped, The Mane Six Regret Playing Truth or Dare, Hang · 5:26am May 3rd, 2017
Well, would you look at that, Review #99. I do, actually, have a thing planned for #100.
You know what's really sad? I had this amazing story idea about Twilight and something, but I can't remember what the something was.
I also need to find motivation to do SA stuff... But for now, have a review or three:
Starlight Gets Shipped by Jay-The-Brony
The Mane Six Regret Playing Truth or Dare by Diamond_Emblem
Hang by AShadowOfCygnus
Starlight Gets Shipped by Jay-The-Brony
(Comedy, Random)
The day began so well. Starlight was simply spending her time with a good book, all to have her peaceful time interrupted by everypony around her suddenly wanting her. Will the former villain be able to figure out what's going on? Or will she simply be overwhelmed by the sudden interest others are showing her?
Review
I don't know what I was expecting when I read this, but what I got was not of my ideas. It is mostly just a random fic, with a few silly-could-be-kinda-comical moments. It might, and this is a slight stretch, classify as a drama. Anyway, Starlight's character. Starlight is, in my opinion, the only plot device in this story. And that's weird since she's the main character. But, as I must describe her, I would say rightfully confused, horrified, and makes rash decisions. And then she just leaves. To be completely honest, though, I would have left in much the same way. And I talk about Twilight now. TwiTwi here is a bookhorse. And I love that. What I don't like, is how giggly she is. She's like a teenage girl with a crush with those giggles. Trixie and Sunburst are there for no reason, and Spike gets like he is with Rarity. That's it for characters, so I guess idea time! I really like the idea of multiple base magical energies, in fact, it's been on my list for awhile. However, I'm not so sure of the author's choice to make a comedy of it. Without too much work, this could have been a dark fic, or a horror, or even a mystery!
So, the greatest weakness of this one is how non-comedy it is. Okay, it is mostly a subjective problem, but this truly could have done better. It has a few nearly-crack-a-smile parts, but nothing substantial.
Recommendation: Worth Reading if you have nothing better. (Yup, not the greatest, but still good for lighthearted silliness).
The Mane Six Regret Playing Truth or Dare by Diamond_Emblem
(Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life)
Every Saturday night, it became a tradition to have a slumber party ever since the Mane Six helped Starlight Glimmer turn away from evil and embrace the light. The part of the week that has them staying up all night. During this particular slumber party, Rainbow Dash suggests playing Truth or Dare. And the rules are simple: 1. If choosing Truth, you must tell the truth when some pony asks you a question. 2. If choosing Dare, you must perform the dare some pony dares you to do. 3. The game doesn't end until midnight. Twilight has a pretty good way of making sure the game lasts for a long time.
Review
This one is mainly about the main six daring each other to do silly things. And on a few occasions, hurtful ones. I'd really like to talk about the characters individually, but I can only think of one word for all of them except Twilight. Said word, however, I cannot put on this review, so I shall just say trolling jerks in the extreme. Twilight is at least concerned about everyone's safety, even if she does invent Daylight Savings Time just so she can torment her friends more. Luna, surprisingly, plays along with Twilight's idea of Daylight Savings Time really well. So, what I liked. I liked seeing how the main six reacted to each other's dares, even if I don't agree with all the author's headcannons.
This one's greatest weakness just had to go and be spread out over literally everything. If I had to choose just one, I would pick the narrative. Not only does it make it seem twice the word count, it is incredibly dry. And next on my list is the characters, who, as stated above, are complete jerks that like to torment their friends no matter the damage to others.
Reccommendation: Intermediate. (It was, simply put, an alright read).
Hang by AShadowOfCygnus
(Dark, Drama, Tragedy)
Recent archaeological expeditions to far-flung corners of the Old Kingdoms have revealed a wealth of pre-Celestian artefacts, dating as far back as the Hearthfire Wars. These artefacts shed a light on an era we of contemporary Equestria really know very little about, and the stories they share range from the highest court intrigues to the humblest backwater folktales. This account, found engraved in the wall of an old Pegasi garrison known as the Eastmarch, relates the final night of a condemned mare, in one of the last wars of the pre-Celestian era. It has been translated for the benefit of the modern reader.
Review
Yeah, I'd say this is a dark fic. I can't really discuss the character without spoilers, so I guess I find something else to speak of. First off, the world-building is superb for 1.2k words. It sets it up in the past, and then the author adjusted his voice to go with it. Sentences are shorter and choppier, race names are different but still clear, and I can feel the animosity between the tribes. The Diarchs are slowly becoming the rulers of Equestria, but some ponies respond with violence. Some because they think they will lose their identities and others because they believe the tribes are not equal. And this is partly where the main character's conflict comes into play. She, yes, I said she, is both for the Pegasi and the Diarchs. Because of that, she makes a few controversial decisions that lead to her death. I want more of this universe so much! I really can't go into it anymore without major spoilers, so I believe I shall quote FoME:
An excellent tragedy that says so much with so little. (#17)
The greatest weakness would have to be how subtle several aspects of this story are. It is the type of story one re-reads a great many times so as to "peel back the layers" of this story. And yet, even with my eighth-or-so reading, I still do not have the full spectrum of meanings.
Recommendation: Very Highly Recommended for dark lovers. (While this story is short, and very subtle during the first read, it is a truly beautiful work of art).
XD, I just read Hang the other day. Cool. And yeah, it was a really good read.
~Melly~
Thank you for your kind words.
I'm surprised and more than a little confused that people found an angry little story I knocked out in six hours so rewarding, but, hey.
(Also, you may wish to double-check your formatting; my name appears in the middle of the second review.
)
4519145
It was a great story, and well worth the words I said.
Also, so that's what happened to the link I lost... thanks for pointing that out.
4519229 No worries! xD