ehhh.... I have a mixed review lol 

 

I REALLY liked the story, and even the ending was good - but tbh I didn't feel like the two quite matched. The story was incredibly character-driven - relying on their emotions and experiences both separate and together to keep the flow going and making it easy for the reader to become immersed. But the ending felt like it contradicted that, to me. It's not just that it wasn't "happy", either, but that it's slightly rushed and cuts off so abruptly with no real resolution - for the plot or the characters. It frustrated me a bit - I don't mind character death or even dark/artsy stories, but I kinda prefer more closure than I felt this gave; a smoother transition out, a broader point to the events. A feeling like - if something drastic happens, even if it's senseless and meant to be: make it count. Make it contribute something to the fic. Be consistent. This felt like it was really building and growing into an epic fic and really exploring the characters with SO much potential to really go anywhere it wanted - and I was anxious to see where that would be - but then it just kinda gave up midway through the last chapter. 

 

I don't mean to come down on you either, though, just wanted to explain my reaction to it as a reader - when I finished reading it, I actually didn't even realize it WAS the end until I saw "The End" at the bottom. lol Then I thought, "...*blink* that's it? seriously? O.o hmm. *sigh* ok, on to another fic, I guess. I really liked that one, though, I can't believe it just cut off like that :/". I like the intention of it logically, but it just kinda detached me emotionally, I guess and it didn't feel end-y. I hope that makes sense lol

 

Despite that, I did still very much enjoy the story otherwise. I loved the character portrayal and detail and I did kinda like that it's at least somewhat open (and thus kinda leaving room for interpretation as far as "what happens next" lol). 

 

My only real disappointment, though, was the lack of warning - and not even for me, but the bigger point of it. I know a lot of authors don't want to include one with some things because it gives too much of the story away - but there ARE ways to work it without doing that (ie: we know there's character death - but no clue who it is, or how or why it happens, etc; and misdirection in the story can be used to cover it if necessary) - and warnings exist for a reason.. *especially* for things like death, cutting, and suicide, because they're triggering for some people. Stories are meant to be felt - making the reader think and feel is the goal to reach - but some feelings can be harmful for some people. For all any author knows, someone could be at the very edge of their sanity or emotional rope reading a fic and while it IS fiction, the place it takes them to - emotionally and mentally - could be very real for them, and have very real consequences. 

 

Warnings help people prepare for what to avoid if it's triggering for them - they have no clue what they're getting into otherwise, and at that point, readers are basically left choiceless as to the feelings and concepts they're exposed to reading a fic because by the time they realize something is there that could disturb them, they've already read at least part of it (and often that's really all it takes). I'm always a little disappointed when I see fics/authors that don't take that into account. I see it from the author's POV, too, because I'm a writer myself lol, but I know I always feel the responsibility to "take care" of my readers in that way, so it's a prevalent thought for me.