I Will Touch the Skies - A Pokemon Fanfiction

This story feels like a good beginning for a Pokémon fanfic. I enjoy that our main character's, Grace, starting Pokémon isn't a typical "starter" Pokémon nor is it a Lucario/Gardevoir/dragon-type. She's beginning her journey from the start with her literal baby Pokémon and we get to travel along with them as they take their first steps.

Grace's reaction to getting the battle high is relatable to anyone who ever gets that rush of adrenaline from doing something new. Getting up on stage and delivering your lines for the first time, cliff jumping, sprinting as hard as you can to beat your opponent in a race that last 100 meters and getting that runner's high. A nerve-wracking experience, but so exhilarating at the same time.

Plus, we get a glimpse into the life of Grace's family. It's not a happy-go-lucky family where everything is handed to her. There's some drama and tension, just like any normal family has, making this story feel more relatable and real.

Take what you will from this, but I have high hopes for this story. The grammar is good and the dialogue is smooth, not feeling forced like some stories have. Can't wait to see what's in store for our heroine and what her Pokémon journey will be like!

It's always nice finding pokemon fanfictions on rising stars. Doubly so if they're suitable to binge, which this definately is. The prose isn't perfect, but it works very well with the narrative. The setting is consistent and coherant, establishing rules and then following them. Characters are very well done, tending towards realistic individuals rather than caricatures. The plot is about what you would expect, a quest to become a Pokemon master. If you're at all familiar with the Pokemon universe (and who isn't, honestly), definately give this a shot. 

This story takes me back to my first Pokemon game as a kid. I watched the show and was familiar with a lot of Pokemon already, but starting a new game for the first time filled me with wonder and a sense of exploration. 

I think the same can be said for Grace’s journey. There’s no world hopping to allow for meta knowledge to be introduced into the world or seeing the world in a new light. This is Grace’s world as she starts her journey to champion, just like the protagonists in the games. 

Grace is really enjoyable to read and has tons of room for growth. She acts and talks as a 15 year old and while she seems to switch her priorities and focus often, I feel that fits her character of a teenager learning and trying to figure out what they want. Her interactions with friends and family are really solid. Every line of dialogue does a great job at conveying a little more of each character as we're intorduced to the relationship history between many of them.

The world also is well thought out. Injury and death are real dangers on the journey and even new encounter with Pokemon aren’t resolved instantly. Scale is also handled very well with process and procedures explained for handling the hundreds to thousands of young kids going on their journey. The realism added is the perfect amount imo.

Very excited to continue following Grace and add yet another Pokemon fanfic to my reading list. 

Chapter 100 Edit: I'm not sure how Soussouni does it but they manage to put out a chapter a day like clockwork. The story has perceptibly increased in quality and depth without sacrificing what made it great at the outset. Graces journey is honestly a joy to experience and honestly something I look forward to catching up with in a morning when I get a free moment. It's absolutely worth your time if you're looking for something grounded in the Pokemon universe.  

Original Review:

A great addition and serious competition to the collection of pokemon fanfics emerging lately. Soussouni has done a fantastic job in roping me into the story of their protagonist Grace and her pokemon journey. At the stage of this review it is absolutely worth a look. Regular updates and reception to reader feedback is just the icing on the cake. 

Style

The author has a strong clean writing style that isn't overly embellished. The story is a breeze to read and the chapters flow well from one scene to the next. While I have never really found myself in literary awe of what's being conveyed, far more importantly it does not read like cheap fanfiction with cringeworthy dialogue. In my opinion, style does seem to be the area the author is most improving on as the story evolves as the later chapters are far better than the initial few. 

Story

What I love most about this fiction is that it does not fall into the obvious pokemon fanfic traps. As of this review, there are no superpowered starters, early praise meetings with gym leaders, elite four or established cannon powerhouses gushing over the protagonist. This does a lot to ground the story in belivability. They don't feel like a self insert trying to ursurp some story from one of the games or television media. It's a great nuts and bolts story, an imagining of what the pokemon world might be like for the people who live there, not a visitors excursion. The story also covers interesting themes in the pokemon universe, like wild pokemon habits, privelage, finances (how do you feed animals the size of trucks?) and filling the gaps on how the society might work outside what cannon media describes. 

Character

I don't want to spoil too much about the story, so I'll just say that Grace and those around her are so far decently fleshed out and don't overly suspend your ability to believe they would do as their established character traits suggest. Grace is a pretty great protagonist overall, not abrasive, nor a saint or onipotent either. She has real (fairly realistic) goals for her situation and isn't some cold progression automoton. The pokemon in her team are also fleshed out well. The author has done a particularly good job in characterising them inside the obvious challenges around them being pokemon. 

Grammar

No real complaints here. The story is well edited and mistakes that are picked up by the readers are corrected promptly. It's formatted well and easy to read. 

For the style I really enjoy the pacing of the story and I like the pokemon choice so far as there are a lot of fairly unique pokemon so far. I also like the fact that we get both a view on the other characters and mystery towards there emotions.

The story is good for a pokemon one, there isn't a lot here as pokemon stories on average have less direction. That isn't a detriment however. I am just saying that pokemon stories kinda have a set path to them as there is a track set up. Maybe you could, unless I missed it, show more where the story takes place. Not the region, but whether its; anime, game, manga or combo. We have seen some of the game plot but I am having trouble telling if were replacing the mc of a game?

The grammer is great so far. I would like to say if you want to add to the section that talks about the pokemon used maybe check out The Type Specialists use of quicklinks in their chapters.

The characters so far are okay. I enjoy the mc but a few of the sides are a bit lacking to me, but it is early and that should fix itself with time. 

Don't worry too much about anything I have said here to be honest. It is still really early in the story and unless you get a flood of negative comments and reviews any small issues should smooth out with time.

Really well done Pokémon Fic! One of the few Pokémon stories I've read on RR that has a protagonist that's not from our world and abusing game knowledge. excited to see where this goes, and am ecstatic about the upload speed. 

Style 5/5: good so far, the author is doing a good job of making the world seem real and fleshed out. 

story 4/5: Good so far, no big overarching plot quite yet (or at least it's early stages right now) other than to tackle the gym circuit and become champion, but honestly I love the simplicity of that. The team is looking promising so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing how things progress!
grammer 5/5: No complaints, easy to read, didn't notice any grammer or spelling mistakes that broke my immersion. 
Character 4.5/5: Really liking the Characters so far, the main cast is likable, you can tell people are still learning and making mistakes, but nothing so egregious like not knowing type matchups or something. Lots of characters have multiple motivations and goals, so aren't too 2 dimensional. Only complaint would be a couple of side characters are a little generic, like the spoilt rich kid, but even then it's not overdone. 

If you enjoy Pokémon fics, give this a shot, you won't regret it!

This is generally a good pokemon fan fiction. The start is a little bit rough and the background of the MC and family somewhat weak but I think the story gets better and better. 

Regarding the worldbuilding an important point to note is that the take on the pokemon world in this story is really brutal. It is a do or die world and especially many pokemon do die (mostly wild).  The world is quite advanced with big cities and the combination of an advanced world with the pokemon universe is managed in a realistic way. Mass media and internet forums exist and play an important role for communication of trainers bringing all the good points but also the annoyances of the modern internet era into the story.

I did read until I caught up (ch 91) and especially the latest chapters were quite exciting. 

Loved the story so far, most fun I've had with pokemon fan fica since pokemon trainer Vicky. It's great that new chapters are realeased almost every day.

Even though it is fun and a great read it still manages to bring realism to the pokemon world with absolutely great characters, can't wait to read more.

Even after 100 almost daily uploads, the story just continues to get better and better each time with an intriguing plot both in the foreground and the background.

Additionally, the character development is fantastic. I've come to enjoy all the characters presented thus far, even Chase! They each have come into their own and I am looking forward to where they're headed

Original Review
Enjoyable story with a different take on the pokemon world and how it functions, fleshing out details that are usually left out or vague, I always look forward to the next chapter each day. The team that the MC uses is also unique which makes it interesting. While some characters are annoying and unlikable .. *cough* Chase *cough*, the rest of the cast are interesting enough.

10/10 would recommend 

In many ways I feel writing a fabric must be harder than an original setting. You have to balance the feel of the original with any changes you want to make for a more conducive story. Couscous has pulled this off marvelously making the Pokemon world feel exciting and dangerous in equal meassure.

The characterisation has been enjoyable and Grace being a native to world is a refreshing change to current trends.