Story Review: Under His Watch (16th Century Valois-Orléans-Angoulême Romance)

yeah I am writing another review... 'cuz I have nothing else to do (well I suppose I can organise my room more than what I have done so far.. but com'on who wants to do that!).. so I am just gonna pass time until 5 when the floor meeting is...

oyeah... I am at ANU in Canberra atm.... first day... mom = fuss.... 'nough said =3

forward to the review!

Title

I am assuming 'Valois-Orléans-Angoulême' is French (cuz the story was set in France)... but I don't speak the language... I am not even sure what it means.. or whether it's a place or an era or whatever.... so yeah.. just pointless ramble...

well imo.... the stuff inside the brackets isn't needed in the title... coulda been put in the blurb instead.. but well doesn't really matter.. no biggie =3

I like the title 'Under His Watch'.. I think it sets the tone for the story... you know the sexism stuff... 'cuz it is historical.... so yeah I like it =3 

Grammar/spelling/punctuation/all-those-English-things

I am not too sure whether it's this story or another... I am pretty sure it's not this story.... well I am not too sure but one of the stories I read these past few days had well... a lot of missing words or words that were out of order and the like ^^" made it hard to read...

I am pretty sure it wasn't this story.. but again I am not too sure... so just a warning in case I am wrong and it is this story.....

Plot/Characterisation/General Comment/What-not-and-stuff/SPOILER(probs)

First thing first: I love how the sexism and racism is actually expressed in this story. Like it is actually expressed and it is actually used as a 'problem' (shit my tired mind can't remember my vocab) which I like. 

There are other historical fics that mention the sexism/racism stuff.. but it's kinda like: "oh yeah that was a problem... let's mention it..." but they are just not really expressed well and isn't actually incorporated into the character's personalities and mindset.... 

so yeah I like the overall plotline (although it really just focuses on romance.. so yeah ^^")

So yeah a problem I have with this fic is the fact that I feel like I got whiplashed quite a few times.... ^^" so what I mean by that is the flow of something of the things is a bit abrupt... so imo some of the changes in the character's mindset and stuff happened kinda outta nowhere.... like it just kinda like there wasn't a good enough reason or event that triggered the change.... I don't know how to describe it (esp. since I am kinda falling asleep on my keyboard)... 

but yeah the characterisation is not bad.... but like I said in the paragraph above.. that was a issue for me....

End Note

I am really sleepy... I am sorry if nothing makes sense.... and it is probs not as thorough as it shoulda been but I just can't conjure anything up in my tired state of existence......

♥W=3ndu

Story Review: SwEeT MaDnEsS

well.. I thought I should try this out... reviewing stuff that is =3 

I mean I think it's much healthier for my friends' ears if I let out my pent up reviewing-feelings online than into their poor abused eardrums ;P

So yeah... this review thing is probs only gonna happen when my big mouth needs another outlet (cuz, fortunately for my friends' poor abused eardrums, there are no one to yell out my pent-up review-iness to =P)

so to kick-off the review I like to say: the name is such a bother to type out ^^" I keep missing one of the 'e's 'cuz I am too busy making sure the capitals are where it's meant to be ^^"

Owait... I should probs link you to the story first.. yeah might be a good idea.. oops ^^"

SwEeT MaDnEsS: http://www.wattpad.com/story/810374-sweet-madness-watty-awards-2012

the link is down at the bottom of the page on my Red List too =3

So yeah how do I start reviewing...

okay.. let's get this started =3

The Title

well I like the title...  but I am not particularly fond of the alternating capitalism of the letters.. but okay.. maybe their is a meaning for it... I am not too sure... cuz I can't think of anything.. so any ideas people? (I realise I might as well as message the author for an answer.. but knowing my laziness... not gonna happen ==)

Grammar/spelling/punctuation/all-those-English-things

I am the worse person to judge grammar ^^" I am kinda self-taught in this area.. and let's just say... well I discover the internet and then it messed up my subconscious understanding of grammar.... ^^" 

So yeah... I don't recall any major hiccups... and well minor hiccups are completely understandable cuz lack of edit and even publish books have occasional hiccups... 

so basically I am really lenient for these sorta things.... well I still have my limit.. as long as it's nothing major I don't really complain =3

Plot/Characterisation/General Comment/What-not-and-stuff/SPOILER(probs)

knowing my big mouth I probs just start sprouting and never stop so that's why all under the same heading =3.... and I don't think that made much sense.......................................

Anyway!

Let me just point this out. This is classified under the genre of 'horror' so don't expect romance.. don't expect happy things.. like srsly don't...

Tbh.. It isn't exactly what I would consider horror, it's more like suspense imo.. but then again horror to me = ghosts and/or undead things (which are not vampires, zombies that are not skeletal, demons, etc).. so yeah ^^" more thriller or suspense imo but then again I have been told I am weird......

My opinion: I really love this. I like how it make my heart thump in suspense (not in horror mind you). I love how it makes me question reality. Am I mad? Am I insane? Is the person I thought was insane actually not insane?

I love question/thought provoking stuff =3 (although I have been told my definition of thought provoking-ness is weird and disturbing at times...........)

Obviously this is fantastical.. but I like the realism of it... It really makes you think (and get paranoid) that maybe this could be real... hence the thought provoking questions...

and honestly.. I like the fact that (Spoiler alert. You have been warned) the ending was not happy

well it wasn't like it wasn't exactly unhappy.. okay nevermind it is not happy.. but it's more like the ending signified hopelessness (and imo has very little to do with being happy ^^" you can be hopeful and still be unhappy just saying)

I am not too sure how other ppl feel about the ending.. but honestly I like it... it feels real... scary... but real.. and well if this was set under the romance genre then I can think of other ways this story could have ended (most of which are very very cliche).. but for the fact that it is not a romance story the ending is very suitable..

I have to admit though.. I did go into the story not knowing what genre it was.. I think I was under the impression that it was romance... so I did assume too much from the characters' interactions and stuff ^^" but I wasn't disappointed by the lack of romance... a good story is a good story despite genres =3

(sorry I am kinda jumping around here.. 'cuz I  am just typing things as they come to mind)

there was something I didn't particularly like about the ending... and well I don't mind it per say... it just makes me very anxious (for the lack of a better word).... I feel like there was so many unanswered questions... and the questions that were kinda answered makes me a bit confuse... but then I realise that was probably the point............................... but I am a curious person okay! >~<

but really it's not something I can complain about.. 'cuz the unknowing and confusion adds to the realism/horror/suspense/blahblah of the story

there was one other thing I am not too fond of (note: it's not dislike.. I am just not fond of it.. there's a diff).. is it just me or is the protagonist extremely dim-witted? ^^" it's kinda grates on my nerves a bit... but at the same time I kinda sympathise (at times)... still not too fond of her...

But yeah the confusion is great in the story... makes you confuse enough that you get paranoid about Madness but not enough that to not understand the flow of the story (imo) =3 and sides confusion is good. makes you think. makes you learn =3

So overall, it is one of my favourites. I hesitate with ranking it because there are too many elements to consider - especially cuz this isn't a romance unlike the rest of the stories up in my heaven of favourites. But yes this story is up in my heaven of favourites... I just hesitate to rank =3

End Note

Heard the author is probs gonna write an epilogue or a sequel... honestly I would prefer an epilogue.. I don't particular want a sequel (although I probs end up reading it ^^").. I find that usually, not always 'cuz I can think of some amazing exceptions, sequels tend to disappoint and take away the something of amazingness of the original (I was gonna say "take away the toppings of the original" but then I was afraid I would confuse people too much ^^") so an epilogue would be nice.. maybe clarify few things... but I would probs read the sequel if she writes one anyway ^^"

♥W=3ndu

ANU (and omg google chrome going insane)

lol~ goodbye sydney~ looks like I am going ANU for uni~ =3

haha~ I am officially leaving in 5days~ =3

I am shit scared but excited at the same time.. 'cuz like what if I don't make friends (cuz I am shy and all) and then I will be FOREVERALONE!

haha~ but it's still an adventure so yeah~ excited =3

and omg....

just updated google chrome (the extension or something like that)

and I swear every site it's like: MALWARE WARNING!

it's kinda driving me insane ==

♥W=3ndu