QuillofClark

WHY?

I personally do not read a lot of romance stories because I tend to find them repetitive and formulaic, but WHY? is definitely a breath of fresh air and is worth the read. Every story, every genre has respective traits and elements that make it a part of said genre. Romance stories require well-rounded and complex characters that grow from their starting archetypes, a compelling plot that reveals the best and worst from the lovers, a believable premise as to how they meet and why they get together, and a number of obstacles that encourages their union or separation. WHY? has all these things and puts them to great use, making it such a unique romance that can be both fantastical but also real. In a world full of cliche and bland love stories, WHY? stands out as creative, innovative, and impactful. As for suggestions, I highly suggest that the author work on the SHOW DON'T TELL. This is so that the information (the things that make the characters unique) is not shown right away. Instead, it would be great if readers are led on a trail as to why they are this way. I cite here Alex's particular beef with how Rebecca looks down on the working class. The reveal of WHY he felt an ick there would have a better pay off if it was revealed later on rather than right away in Chapter 6. Other than that, this remains an amazing piece of work from a talented writer. Keep it up!

Silk and Shadows

The author has an amazing command of the language and vocabulary. Her descriptions really paint the world for the reader, showing us exactly what she wants us to experience. She knows when to use dialogue and description for her scenes and chapters. What I will say, however, is that there is a recurring issue of showing and not telling. I wish the characters spoke with more personality and nuance; people don’t always say exactly what they want to say — they lie and sometimes even become poetic with their word. Remember to pace dialogue with description and vice versa. Other than that, the story is truly promising and holds potential! She knows how to get a reader to turn a page or keep on scrolling 🫡🫡🫡