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I really wanna know what smashing song it is this guy is singing and dancing to. Its been so long since I've seen the movies. xD
This last two weeks or so I've been working my way through TCOST:DA by @ChristinaSilva9. This is a long one folks. I finally decided to give it a rest at 15 chapters of the currently 23, not to mention the non-chapters at the start. 1) Because it is finally the point when we reach Darkwood Academy. 2) We finish the first major act that will either make or break the story. 3) The chapters are quite long and I got a lot of people who want me beta reading or smashing, not to mention my own stuff.
This story is supposed to be the first one in a series of books aimed at pre-teens. It will be treated as such.
TLDR; Childhood fantasy with a colorful and cute cast, a well developed world, looooots of imagery and fluffiness, and everything is rainbows and unicorns except for the fact everyone you love and know are dead or dieing. So yeah there's that.
Overall I'd rate it 4 smashing out of 5. Its strengths outweigh its flaws.
Main Character - Smashing! - The main character is a little girl with long flowing hair and an unusual heritage. She is not a Chosen One but having parents of different nationalities comes with its own problems that is relatable, believable, simple, easy to work with both as a writer and reader, and offers so much to the world-building while giving a very believable way of making her special. Her curiosity is cute and her motivations and drives are understandable. perhaps a bit unrealistic how easily she copes with so many pressures, but then children can surprise you when they have to carry heavy burdens and grow up quickly. She is surrounded in love and care and gentleness that is trying to shield her, but can't because unfortunately, reality is just crap. I found her adorable from the start to finish, and love how innocent she is while not blind to the reality around her that is chasing her and her family. There are a few oddities with her worth mentioning for the author's sake, but I don't think it's enough to be a big problem in the long run.
I can't tell if this is meant to be a growing-up story when she already behaves like adult shouldering responsibilities and knowledge and burdens and traumas even a lot of adults don't want or have, with an intelligence far beyond her age. It is an unfortunate reality that kids grow up quickly when their parents both cant take care of themselves properly, but the tone of the story makes it hard to tell if this is meant to be a mystery by a very mature kid or a growing-up tale. Not a problem because the MC manages to balance both for the most part, but it makes me wonder if the author knows completely which side of the line she wants to work on or if she is trying to ride the line down the middle. It mostly works thus far but it is a very fine line that can break easily at any time.
My second problem with her comes down to the fact she is labeled as having a photographic memory. It is one thing to say the kid is smart. It is one thing to say the kid is book smart and studied under her father in a very believable fashion and has a passion for languages and things. But when you label someone with what is more or less a super-power, it does something completely different to the character that alters them. It removes relatability. People, in reality, can be smart and confident, but not have a photographic memory, and so few do that those that are still smart won't be able to relate to the girl because 'oh she is just that much better than me. i don't have that super-power.' Its like Captain Marvel or a Mary Sue or Supergirl or the early versions of Superman. You are not MEANT to relate. At all.
