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Review #4740740
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Soul Games Open in new Window. [13+]
A planet devoted to the afterlife. A game called the contest.
by Troyizen Author Icon
Review of Soul Games  Open in new Window.
Review by GERVIC Author IconMail Icon
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Access:  Public | Hide Review (?)
House Targaryen image for G.o.T.
In House Targaryen,
there'll be

*Fire* FIRE *Fire* & *DropR* BLOOD *DropR*

IN AFFILIATION WITH:
"The WDC Angel ArmyOpen in new Window.


Disclaimer:

The views and opinions on this review are mainly the things discovered by the reader and therefore, do not reflect necessarily to the group, activity and/or event being affiliated herein. This is only the opinion and suggestions of the reviewer and it is still up to the author of this piece to consider this review as a corrective action or otherwise.



Greetings Troyizen Author IconMail Icon!

I am currently reviewing as part of the tasks set by the "Game of ThronesOpen in new Window.. I especially visited your port to dig your most precious gems then this short story entitled "Soul Games" appeared. In this review, I mainly focus on the positives of your piece and I may point some Areas for Improvement if found any. Without much a do, here are the things I noticed after delving deeper into the contents:


Strengths

Unique World-building: The story crafts an intriguing sci-fi fantasy setting where angels and demons work for corporations that compete to harvest souls.

Moral Ambiguity: The lines between good and evil are blurred throughout the story. Even James, a Seraph agent, uses trickery to acquire souls, while Carl from DSR shows a moment of compassion.

Engaging Premise: The concept of souls as a commodity within a cosmic contest presents an immediate hook.

Fast-paced and Action-Oriented: The story offers a good balance between character moments and action sequences involving zombies and the dangers of soul collection.



Weaknesses

Underdeveloped Characters: James and Carl feel more like archetypes than fully fleshed-out characters. We don't learn much about their backgrounds or motivations outside of their roles in the contest.

Predictable Plot Progression: The story's events follow a fairly predictable pattern, leading to James' death and arrival in the afterlife. A twist or subversion of expectations could add depth.

Some Clichéd Elements: The reliance on zombies as a primary threat feels a bit overused in genre fiction.

Abrupt Ending: The story ends quite suddenly, leaving readers potentially wanting to know more about James and Carl's situation in the afterlife.



Potential Areas of Improvement

Character Building: Adding more dimension to James and Carl beyond simply being adversaries would make their interactions and the story resonate more strongly.

Twists and Surprises: Injecting a plot twist regarding the contest's rules, or the true nature of the afterlife, could elevate the narrative.

Stakes and Consequences: Exploring the larger impact of this soul contest on humanity or the cosmic order would provide greater weight to the events.



Overall Themes

Morality in a Corporate World: The story examines the question of whether morality can exist in a corporate environment driven by goals and profit, even if that profit is souls.

The Nature of Good vs. Evil: James and Carl's rivalry challenges the traditional notions of good and evil, blurring the lines between the two sides competing for souls.

The Afterlife: The story presents a unique concept of the afterlife as a bureaucratic sorting process for souls based on their sins.



In Conclusion

"Soul Games" offers a promising premise and has the foundation for a compelling sci-fi fantasy story. If it invests in stronger characterization, twists the predictable plot progression, and explores the ramifications of its world-building, this story has the potential to be much more impactful and memorable. The story itself is a good foundation for a sci-fi novel. Perhaps you could write a novel for this to introduce more about the characters' backgrounds. Certainly, I had a wonderful read. Thank you for sharing this. Write on!

Best regards,
Gervic

GoT House Targaryen :: Gervic


*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
   *CheckG* You responded to this review 04/01/2024 @ 1:35pm EDT
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