Thank you for sharing this very personal and touching story. You have certainly been through a lot and I am glad to see that you have recovered from it. You have my sympathies for the loss of your mother as well.
On a more personal note, I know what you mean by having fallen into a dark place. I've found over the recent handful of years that I have to fight more and more to feel any kind of joy at Christmastime. Whether this stems from the stressors of my life right now, to being away from my family in another state and unable to visit, I do not know. But your story give me hope that maybe, next Chsitmas, I'll find my sparkle again as well.
Oh wow! You seriously have me hooked on this plot and characters! I've always been a fan of norse mythology and setting, so that was an added bonus.
I was thrilled to see the devotion Ragnarok holds for his father, and his character is well developed and thought out with a solid personality. He is proud and strong, so it's understandable that he would view something as small and insigificant as a flower to be the prescious cure he desired, being so opposite to himself in nature.
I also was pleased with your presentation of the setting. You painted the images clearly enough that I was able to form my own mental pictures of setting, people, and themes without trouble.
I found only a tiny bit of typos, things that were easy to overread. ( but I'm not sober. Tell me, what it is that I cn (can) do to aid the Nobel Ragnarok, ) but otherwise, a flawless story! I would love to read more!
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Hi! This is Gelendra! I just read "The Sentinel" and here's what I thought:
You have a strong way with words that literally painted a picture in my mind. I saw everything that was present, from the sentinel, to the stone he guarded, to his taunting shade double.
Maybe it was just me, but I got a strange sense of allegory as I read this. Maybe it was the use of the word 'Master,' and the caretaker/steward-like role of the sentinel, but I almost saw this as a parallel for God and man. God set man, the sentinel, at his duty of guarding what he wanted, the stone (perhaps a substitute for the world as a whole?). This he did faithfully, until another like himself (whom I noticed vanished like a ghost or mirage) pointed out that the Master seemed to be gone, also seeming to mock him in the process. Rather than have faith the poor sentinel defied his Master, and well, we know what happened then. This change of heart made me think of when a person falls to temptation, as it is the person's own desires, the mockery of himself (the second sentinel) that leads them to defiance and to go their own way, instead of trusting that the current task is right.
About the only thing that even dropped this the half-point that it did, was that I was a little baffled by the mention of the other sentinels. Were any in sight, or were only their empty posts remain? Was our sentinel aware of their having left, even subconsciously, or was this a true shock?
A superb poem, with good rhythm and rhyme and a compelling tale! Inspirational, in fact. Bravo!
The Heart of the Story/Poem: I thought this was a cute little story, taking something that would be very familiar when one thought about it and showing it in a different way. This struck me as a sort of clockmaker view of the universe, where it's made to run on its own, as it was set to do from the beginning.
Things That Might Make It Better: I admit some of the concepts went a bit over my head at times, mostly the section on the What Cat. It took me about three read-throughs to fully grasp it, which did take away a tiny bit from my enjoyment. But that could be just my own lack of initial understanding, rather than any flaw in the writing itself.
Things I Like: I liked how the animals personified the traits as they did, which when it was displayed were easy to grasp and understand. You did a fine job on selecting which animals were the pets named. I also found myself smiling at Iblis' mischief, which I could honestly find no real ill-content in, and in Khaliq's responds of allowing it, despite the danger, both to honor the terms of their agreement and I think because he saw that some of them could do just as much good.
The Heart of the Story: I thought this was a wonderful tale. I was honestly feeling a little blue despite the holiday season and reading this cheered me right up. You gave superb descriptions on the setting, like how the house had hard-packed earth in the kitchen but wooden floors elsewhere, and what life was like. It was like stepping back in time.
Things That Might Make It Better: As you might be able to tell by my rating, I think this story is perfect the way it is.
Things I Like: The heart and warmth in the story really touched me. My childhood had strong traditions like the Christmas Pageant in your tale, and reading Christmas on Star Mountain really reminded me of all those good times. Santa falling asleep himself got some giggles too.
A sweet story! Romance from the beyond, a chance for them both to experience what might have been. It may have not been the reincarnation that he thought he would get, but I'm certain that when she eventually follows him, he'll be there waiting for an eternity together. Nicely done!
I found this story very touching in a sad way. How hard it must be to know something horrible is happening to something you cherish, yet have to walk away, not be able to do anything to save it! There's a small part of me that would like to see a follow-up to this, where perhaps this visitor comes back and sees mankind, and what his take on them would be. I think he might find some similarities in what he indicated happened to his own planet. History repeating itself?
Makes you wonder how people would adapt if such a thing really did happen. I play DnD, and it's one of our favorite worlds to play in where things we take for granted, like electricity, is a thing of the past that we can't have. Like playing in this kind of world for example, where there used to be modern technology, but something has happened, and we are trying to survive this new world, which is all we've ever known. I like your take on seeing it through a child's eyes, since they see things differently than us adults.
A rather sad piece this time. But you hear all the time about couples who were so madly in love that they never realized that they were actually wrong for each other. Then they either suffer in silence or one breaks free. I suppose every marriage has those moments.
A charming tale of true love. Maybe the girl was what she said, maybe he was only hoping against hope that he could see her again. I suppose what is truth is left up to interpretation. My take on it is that I see the couple happily together for all of eternity, for after all true love itself is eternal.
Superb story! This reminds me of my favorite article in a magazine I read at work, where people send in real angel stories, about how when they were in need they'd hear a voice or see a stranger who would help them and then vanish, and no one else would have seen them. I just love these things! I completely believe there are angels out there that watch over us and send us messages if we are aware enough to receive them.
A nice little story and venture into the supernatural! Perhaps the people in the story, the narrator and his friends, were reborn spirits of those who danced long ago, taken back for another sort of reunion altogether! It's a rather fascinating way how you can create so many stories that can provoke such thoughts and discussion-worthy material.
This is the kind of story that I really wish I had known about during some of my college classes; I think it would have opened up some interesting discussions! Of course I realize what Number U459 -may- have been, or this could perhaps be a conception of our own future, when one of us will 'play God' to another universe. I think the narrator displays something I feel is inherent in everyone: the desire to create, to birth something and care for it, watch it change and grow, and preserve it, even if it means one day letting it go.
Very nice story! It struck me as one of those be careful what you wish for type stories. When he saw the warning section missing, he shouldn't have tried it, but then again I guess we are all bound by our own natures. It's hard to fight against what we are, like for me to resist a good book! And magicians are born to dare the impossible.
Again, another thought-provoking story. In a way, perhaps we are all aliens on a alien world, our bodies the machines we can't live without and trapped within, strange creatures that know we don't belong here and are looking for someone else who understands we are different. Nicely written!
Kind of an odd little tale. I can relate to searching to find meaning in things; I think everyone does that, consciously or not. Though I felt like I missed something with the key. I understand that it was his answer, that it opened the door to a different life for him, one where maybe things made sense for him, but I think there's more I can get out of it. Maybe from another read-through.
A sad piece, yet often so true. We go through life rushing and hurrying, trying to find our special, personal message and follow our stars, that when the message finally arrives, we may see it but not for what it is, until it's too late for us to act on it. Imagine what a person's life would be if they really saw that message? This piece is the type that could provoke a very deep conversation! I like it!
A very touching little story. The dog certainly was 'Lucky,' both in having found someone kind enough to help it and in bringing his owner and the narrator together. I'd say it was a miracle in it's own right, finding the wallet that night. I have to wonder, in that what-if sort of way, what he would have found if he had been able to open the wallet. Maybe enough money to last for a time, but how would that have changed the events that followed? I guess he made the right call.
A nice little tale. It brings to mind the saying "And the little children will lead them." Of course it's natural that the children, who naturally know no fear and are trusting and open to being proven wrong, would see and know the truth of Heaven's Tree and accept it without hesitation. You could almost draw an parallel from this to the real world, which may have been your intent.
Another captivating chapter. Things are getting interesting, and now dangerous for Susie! I have curiosity about events in chapter 4, Miah's letter and Jake's destiny, an how things will develop together. I also wonder how Elizabeth will come into play, and the final showdown between Miah and Dan. Looking forward to more!
An interesting start! I note that there seem to be many that can shapeshift in this world:the main hero, this girl, and it even references one of the slavers being able to turn into a dragon. I wonder what will happen when feline and canine are working together against what seems to be fate.
Wow... that is the only way I can describe this. I had a vague hintings at first that this was something larger than it appeared, making me think of a folk talk about magic and mystery. But then you evolved it into a analogy on our own existence that was really touching. This was a wonderful piece.
A rather nice little jaunt for a pair of monster hunters. Sadly there wasn't as much about the characters as I would've liked to see, but then again this is just a small segment as it were of their lives. Perhaps another installment, a longer story maybe? I would like to see how they work against other creatures.
A rather charming beginning. I like the characters, and the unique race you have presented is a nice touch. I don't blame Adam for his reaction to Tinnus' treatment on board the pirate ship: I would've been pretty ticked off too. Can't wait to see how this continues.
Ok, back to the action and intensity! You've got me curious again; so many question unanswered. How does Pete factor into all this? Was there any significance to those squirrels? How does Katrina step in? (given that the synopsis mentioned two women, I'm assuming the other is her) What story did Katrina's father never tell? Definitely the things that get a reader hooked. I look forward to more.
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