IanFlat

This is a rich, deeply-rendered world, full of beautiful details. It reminds me a little big of Greg van Eekhout's California Bones series ... even though that's contemporary California (ish) and this is a gritty, strange, dark, textured second world.

The sentences are sometimes dense, but that is a perfect match to the content, because everything, from the the magic to the politics to the setting, is layered in fascinating and often surprising ways. 

Overall, this is a beautiful story, though maybe not for someone looking for a light, mindless read to binge!

In terms of style, as I mentioned, this can read a little dense. Yet that added to the impact of the story, instead of the reverse. I needed to pay more attention than I often do ... and I wanted to.

So the grammar--or not really grammar, but the sentence structure--likewise can be non-simple. But in this case, that's a virtue.

The characters work extremely well. They're the one thing that I found maybe slightly on-the-nose. Though actually, I wouldn't have even noticed that if everything else wasn't so stellar. So 4.5 stars, just cause giving all 5 stars feels cheesy! (Forgive me!)

The story is strong ... and somehow, the absolutely exceptional worldbuilding feels like story to me. I'm not sure how else to say it, but it's definitely a compliment. Beautifully done.

(NOTE: This review is transferred over from a previous page that only had 'Sturmblitz Kunst'. Looking forward to reading the whole thing now!)

This is just starting, and it's already one of my favorite approaches to iseki and to litrpg! The former is handled clearly and cleanly. Moving us somewhat simplisticly into a new world ... but then there are many excellent details. I don't want to spoiler too many, but the issue about colors I find extremely intriguing! The first character he meets has more layers than at first appears, and not only the ones we expect ... or at least that's my guess.

There's just enough intrigue. The 'progression' element is extremely strong and interesting.

Most important, the _character_ is great. His motivation is clear. His weaknesses and strengths are clear, too. He makes mistakes, he faces consequences. The world is interesting, as is the magic. Everything is familiar enough that I never felt unmoored, but new enough that I never felt bored. Very well done.

The style is fine. Quick, clear, competent. It's not lyrical or anything, but it doesn't have to be. it matches the character and the story perfectly.

The grammar, likewise. I didn't stumble over anything. I kind of think that scoring on grammer is a bit silly anyway. 

Vince is a great character. He's almost the default isekei character, a smart kid with a penchant for video games ... but his health issues elevate him beyond that. And the fact that the author doesn't just, well, wave a magic wand at the first opportunity to get ride of the health issues is extremely well done, too. But at the same time, the symptoms are handled, which makes the read much smoother.

The story contains many great moments! The religious conflict, the issue with telling the truth. The Skill. The way the litrpg element is introduced and handled. My only caveat is the prologue. I'm sure that the author included it for a good reason, but I _think_ this would be better without. It's extemely well-written, and I actually would've be happy reading a book that truly started with that chapter. But as is, I'm not convinced it's necessary.

This is a rich, deeply-rendered world, full of beautiful details. It reminds me a little big of Greg van Eekhout's California Bones series ... even though that's contemporary California (ish) and this is a gritty, strange, dark, textured second world.

The sentences are sometimes dense, but that is a perfect match to the content, because everything, from the the magic to the politics to the setting, is layered in fascinating and often surprising ways. 

Overall, this is a beautiful story, though maybe not for someone looking for a light, mindless read to binge!

In terms of style, as I mentioned, this can read a little dense. Yet that added to the impact of the story, instead of the reverse. I needed to pay more attention than I often do ... and I wanted to.

So the grammar--or not really grammar, but the sentence structure--likewise can be non-simple. But in this case, that's a virtue.

The characters work extremely well. They're the one thing that I found maybe slightly on-the-nose. Though actually, I wouldn't have even noticed that if everything else wasn't so stellar. So 4.5 stars, just cause giving all 5 stars feels cheesy! (Forgive me!)

The story is strong ... and somehow, the absolutely exceptional worldbuilding feels like story to me. I'm not sure how else to say it, but it's definitely a compliment. Beautifully done.

This is a wonderful, compelling, fast-paced story. Five stars. The character cares, which made me care for her. She was raised ... strict, and instead of immediately rebelling for Story Purposes, we see that she really internalized her upbringing. That's handled in a believable way ... that also avances the plot and the conflict. She had tremendous potential and fascinating powers, in an extremely well-drawn world, but she also has real limitations, which makes everything that much more compelling.

The elements of dystopia--a bunch of kids raised by Keepers--did not go in the direction I suspected. The switch to a more spaceship-y story is seamless. The action is fun and the scenes are crisp. 

Also, found family. Found family! If you love a found family in a fiction, and you should, you'll love this.

The style is seamless. The dialogue is sharp, the pace is fast but not rushed.

Didn't notice the grammar ... which means it's five-star.

The story might introduce a few too many characters too quickly, without giving the reader a chance to really get to know all of them. But the ones who stick out are extremely strong ... and this requires five stars for Astrid alone. She's caring, scared, nervous, brave. She's learning to use her powers. 

A lovely story. Highly recommended!

PRIVATEER is a Golden Age science fiction story updated to the modern day! Action, adventure. Cool tech, awesome space battles. Aliens, treachery, warfare, diplomacy, a crew that becomes a found family--this has it all!

GRAMMAR:

I very rarely stumbled across a word or phrase, and even when I did it never mattered.

STYLE:

The style suits the story to a T. It's fast, compelling, and effective. There isn't much to say about the style because it's almost transparent in exactly the right way for a story like this.

CHARACTER:

I vacillated between 4.5 and 5 stars, because there simply isn't much complexity or depth to the characters. But in the end, they're perfectly pitched for a story like this. There isn't much depth to Luke Skywalker or Han Solo or Leia Organa either. Because that's absolutely unnecessary in a thrillride of a science fantasy story! Good banter, some sweet moments, but mostly the characters as just effective.

STORY:

This is the big one. Five stars … plus. The story is a rocket. Propulsive, explosive, and literally a blast! The overall pacing, the elevation of stakes, the introduction of new elements ... all are handled perfectly. The twists build on what you already know of the world--and the world is built with the perfect balance of realism and fantasy to serve the story.

I think that's the key to PRIVATEER's success: every element supports the impact of the story as a whole. Extremely well done.

Everything happens too fast. The protagonist has no personality beyond 'overwhelmed and befuddled.' He gains power too fast, levels rain down upon him like a monsoon, and he's so passive that he doesn't earn them. He doesn't deserve them. The world is breathtakingly goofy, with dozens of immortal sexy murderous obedient fox-babes utterly devoted to their new 'master' ...

And yet! And yet, there's something about it that absolutely does work. Maybe it's fact that this shlub turns into a walking blast zone just by stumbling around? He's not carefully planning how to optimize his build; he's almost literally just lighting things on fire! Maybe it's the gleeful homicide, where he racks up terribly ominous titles and powers, and a horrendous bodycount? Maybe it's just because this is blessedly unlike anything I've ever read before?

I'm not sure why this works, but I found myself reading to the final chapter and wishing there were more.

It's completely deranged ... and if the author keeps going, I'd bet money it'll rocket to the top of the Royal Road lists. Utter madness. Well done!

This is a dreamy, surreal story that read, to me, like a fairytale. There's violence, yet still I came away with a real sense of sweetness. 

I very much enjoyed the length, as I seem to find verrrrrry loooooong stories on Royal Road. So a nice contained story is a relief. And one in which magic feels magical--unknown, mysterious, misty--instead of being reduced to statitics and percentages is lovely, too.

That said, and definitely contradictorily, I sort of wish that it had been longer. Not overall, in terms of the arc of the story, but just in terms of development along the way. More details, maybe? More depth to the other characters? However, I'm not sure if that would improve the story or merely undermine the surreal dreaminess!

Forgotten dolls in the cabinet immediately make me beware of creepiness. Add in namelessness and a smiling, angry doll in a pretty dress, and I braced myself for a grim turn.

And certainly there's something here, thematically, about the inevitability of decline and death--and being forgotten. But instead of the grimdark Toy Story that I expected, this angled toward a much more effective sweetness and hope. And, really, toward an inspiring message of reclaiming our own names, or at least of the power of relationships between equals.

This is the first short story I've read on RR. Some of the stories I've read are not just long but loooooong. It made a lovely change, both in terms of length and tone. 

The language is strong. There are a couple of very minor stumbles (such as the repetition of 'out' here: 'her hands out as if to reach out ') but everything flowed, and despite the fact that there isn't much 'plot,' the mood and the writing kept me engaged. Very nicely done!

Three bodies? Bloody brilliant idea.

This starts very much in the middle of the protagonist(s) being confused, disoriented, grappling with their new reality. Which makes the chapter itself a little confused and disoriented … but effective. And the threat of Shouty Man really helps orient the reader. We know there's trouble …

(Should be 'two pairs of eyes, two pairs of ears'; each body only has one pair.)

Clever of the author to begin with one body meditating. Not only to help the protagonist, but mostly so the reader doesn't have too many new characters to worry about.

Extremely nice range of characters: absolutely ordinary, scrawny, cowardly, victimized human. Arrogant piece of shit. Soft-spoken maybe spiritual elf.

The exposition about the characters is … very expository. I'd normally say 'show don't tell,' but with the one soul in three bodies, this might be the best way to help the reader orient to the situation.  

The author does a great job putting two of the bodies into immediate action/conflict. The interactions with the maid and with Lambert are both clear despite the protag's multiplicity, as are the issue of the army meeting, and the Ceremony. Very nicely handled. And, most importantly, it makes me wonder what'll happen next.