What is your opinion?
This is not Fern Gully!
"2023-06-05, “A Hearts Crucible” TAGS: Read to Chapter 18 (Full Story) SUMMARY: Return to Earth, in the time of the past when god still watched over the world. A diabolical plot between the forces of darkness and the remnants of the faery race known as the Peri. These happy little sprites would be happier just lounging about and eating, but a darkness has been hunting the Peri, and now it is springing into action. Follow Joq and her friends as they hope and pray to save their friends from a deadly fate. PROS: A decent fantasy set on Earth in the past, when monsters and demons still roamed the Earth. A good series of characters and villains, you get to see both sides of the story, the good, the bad, and the spidery. The characters are likable, and I each have a unique personality, some playful, others reserved. Plenty of action to be found in the chapters as well, the authority explored several different action scenes to build suspense and surprise. CONS: A bit wordy, the story is put squarely in my Word Salid category. I am not saying, the wording is long, just words I am unfamiliar with some of the words, and they are used to add flare to the descriptions and help fuel the imagination. QUOTE: “Love is the softness of wet kisses, the mystery of skin's touch. Love is the rapture of lips twined, the openness of a heart's saturation complete.” OVERALL: Worth a read; I enjoyed the story. "
High-flying Fantasy
"A Heart’s Crucible is definitely high-level fantasy; set amidst a world in which Dev, sprites, seraphim, and all manner of creatures exist alongside humanity, this story has some extensive world building at its core. There are a plethora of characters that run the gamut between evil and mischievous, but its main antagonist is Ahriman and the Dev he helped spawn. Imprisoned in Mount Kaf until he can capture and feast upon the thousand Peri sprites, Ahriman is a sinister and well-developed character. There are a whole host of Dev with colorful and creative names (i.e. Thirsty Sea), each with their own distinct personalities which inspired their names. As for the Peri, they were created by the falling ashes of saints that were en route to heave at the behest of the Seraphim; they are neutral, mischievous, and by virtue of their desires, missed becoming angels. Each one, like the Dev, is unique and well thought out. The author’s writing style is at times dense, but beautiful and well-crafted. This is a story that requires you to read at a slow pace in order to fully absorb what is going on/keep track of all the characters, but it is well worth the effort."
Poetic Storytelling at its Finest
"Buckle up and hold on, for Luke has brought us a fantasy that not only showcases the impressive usage of his carefully curated vocabulary, but is both intriguing and terrifying. Poetic in nature, this prose begins with the magical and vividly entertaining world of the Peri. But just as he draws you into their world, Luke turns the tables, introducing us to the extremely dark world of Abandon, where hideous, feral creatures live and plot to decimate the Peri. I don't want to give too much away, but I was thoroughly entertained (thus far) as each chapter leads into dreadful suspense. I was also enthralled with Luke's worldbuilding. Reminiscent of the imagery found in Tolkien's stories, but with tidbits of even more exotic locales, I'm now interested to know more about Thomas Moore's "Lalla Rookh," which Luke states was an inspiration for his tale. Grammar and technical aspects were on point! I'm looking forward to continuing the story, but I won't lie... the text might be a bit steep for some; it's not a quick-read by any means—nor do I feel like it should be. If you're looking for something to tantalize the imagination and exercise your mind with poetic storytelling, this is a story worth your while! *While I typically don't like giving reviews prior to finishing a story, this review regards chapters 1-5 solely, per the requirements of the Green Exchange Awards '23."
The Green Exchange Awards 2023
"Having read only seven chapters of this story, I can already tell the author has an amazing talent for words. The narrative is deeply poetic and vastly different from what I’m accustomed to on this app or even traditionally published fiction. That said, this care for wording backfires and makes the reading experience a bit of a chore. This level of craftsmanship is something I would love to find on a shorter piece where following the plot doesn’t demand a level of concentration that pulls you out of the story. What I enjoyed the most was the combination of different cultures’ mythology and folklore. I loved the portrayal of these magical creatures coexisting with humanity and the ease with which they traveled the world. The story unravels in a very organic way from the mischievous antics of the Peri and their games to the horror of demons and their cruel machinations. Definitely a different style of book for those who seek something new. "
