Soul Games [13+] A planet devoted to the afterlife. A game called the contest. |
Disclaimer: The views and opinions on this review are mainly the things discovered by the reader and therefore, do not reflect necessarily to the group, activity and/or event being affiliated herein. This is only the opinion and suggestions of the reviewer and it is still up to the author of this piece to consider this review as a corrective action or otherwise. Greetings Troyizen ! I am currently reviewing as part of the tasks set by the "Game of Thrones" . I especially visited your port to dig your most precious gems then this short story entitled "Soul Games" appeared. In this review, I mainly focus on the positives of your piece and I may point some Areas for Improvement if found any. Without much a do, here are the things I noticed after delving deeper into the contents: Strengths Unique World-building: The story crafts an intriguing sci-fi fantasy setting where angels and demons work for corporations that compete to harvest souls. Moral Ambiguity: The lines between good and evil are blurred throughout the story. Even James, a Seraph agent, uses trickery to acquire souls, while Carl from DSR shows a moment of compassion. Engaging Premise: The concept of souls as a commodity within a cosmic contest presents an immediate hook. Fast-paced and Action-Oriented: The story offers a good balance between character moments and action sequences involving zombies and the dangers of soul collection. Weaknesses Underdeveloped Characters: James and Carl feel more like archetypes than fully fleshed-out characters. We don't learn much about their backgrounds or motivations outside of their roles in the contest. Predictable Plot Progression: The story's events follow a fairly predictable pattern, leading to James' death and arrival in the afterlife. A twist or subversion of expectations could add depth. Some Clichéd Elements: The reliance on zombies as a primary threat feels a bit overused in genre fiction. Abrupt Ending: The story ends quite suddenly, leaving readers potentially wanting to know more about James and Carl's situation in the afterlife. Potential Areas of Improvement Character Building: Adding more dimension to James and Carl beyond simply being adversaries would make their interactions and the story resonate more strongly. Twists and Surprises: Injecting a plot twist regarding the contest's rules, or the true nature of the afterlife, could elevate the narrative. Stakes and Consequences: Exploring the larger impact of this soul contest on humanity or the cosmic order would provide greater weight to the events. Overall Themes Morality in a Corporate World: The story examines the question of whether morality can exist in a corporate environment driven by goals and profit, even if that profit is souls. The Nature of Good vs. Evil: James and Carl's rivalry challenges the traditional notions of good and evil, blurring the lines between the two sides competing for souls. The Afterlife: The story presents a unique concept of the afterlife as a bureaucratic sorting process for souls based on their sins. In Conclusion "Soul Games" offers a promising premise and has the foundation for a compelling sci-fi fantasy story. If it invests in stronger characterization, twists the predictable plot progression, and explores the ramifications of its world-building, this story has the potential to be much more impactful and memorable. The story itself is a good foundation for a sci-fi novel. Perhaps you could write a novel for this to introduce more about the characters' backgrounds. Certainly, I had a wonderful read. Thank you for sharing this. Write on! Best regards, Gervic My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .
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