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24 Public Reviews Given
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Public Reviews
1
1
Review of The Fisher's Son  Open in new Window.
Review by Mantis Author IconMail Icon
Rated: 18+ | (4.0)
Welcome to WDC Brandonn *Smile*

General comments: This was a well written and, at the end, quite a chilling story. Very well done considering the word limit and the dialogue flows very well.

Other comments and suggestions: Inserted in text.
I've used red for spelling mistakes,
blue for grammar,
and green for other comments and suggestions.

         The Fishers are different though. [comma] Especially Richard.

         

         They don't know what its like for me, how everyone laughs at me when they think I can't see. [comma] Just because I'm smarter than them.

"Um..two commas what's that?" I asked him.

I was kind of nervous, like I said [comma] I didn't know him very well yet.

"What [comma] you aren't coming?" he asked,

Of course not! Capital was what I meant to say. But I found myself reaching for it instead, [semi-colon] there was something beautiful


My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Go NoticedOpen in new Window..
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Review of Eden's Eye  Open in new Window.
Review by Mantis Author IconMail Icon
Rated: 13+ | (3.5)
General comments: This was an interesting little piece, with a very ambiguous ending that leaves the reader wondering. I think you're referring to racist views of 'acceptable relations,' but I'm not entirely sure. It's a good place to leave it *Smile*

Other comments and suggestions: Inserted in text.
I've used red for spelling mistakes,
blue for grammar,
and green for other comments and suggestions.

         It was a story I came became to memorize over the years of his telling.

Even though he has long since passed [comma] past I can still remember the night nights he would sit

         

         Grandpa would say its it’s because they didn't want a mixing of breeds.

I could understand that [comma] but what if you

         
Its true. Don’t need it’s true here, as you say in the next sentence that some of the story will come true.I will always don’t need always remember the story for the rest of my life [comma] but little did I know [comma] that some of the story will come true.
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Review by Mantis Author IconMail Icon
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
General comments: This item contains alot of grammatical mistakes, however, the story and (grammar aside) the expression, are very very good. You give alot of detail, without slowing the story, painting a vivid image in the reader's mind, and the character of Griswold is very very well portrayed. The story does beg alot of questions, and you might perhaps consider writing a prequel? (I'm the nosey kind, and this story really roused my curiosity.)

The grammar mistakes will fade over time, especially if you continue writing, editing and reviewing, and your storytelling skills are wonderful. It might be a good idea if you started to write your stories in a program such as word, then copied and pasted it over to writing.com (if you turn off the autocorrect, looking through for the errors it points out and correct them yourself, it will help you more.)

Word won't catch the paragraph problem. Always have a new paragraph if you are going from one character speaking, to another speaking, whenever there is a change in subject, and you can add additional new paragraphs just to break them up more so they are easier to read.

Other comments and suggestions: Inserted in text.
I've used red for spelling mistakes,
blue for grammar,
and green for other comments and suggestions.

         The windows of a nearby building cast light onto the cobblestone road that ran in [space] front of it,

         

         The building itself was of good proportions, two stories high, constructed mainly from stone at it's lower level [comma] which flowed into the wood and plaster that comprised its second. flowing into wood and plaster comprising it's second. A heavy looking wooden door, bound in iron [comma] stood between

         

         The sign swayed slightly as the breeze coaxed it and it named the building "The Traveler's Way Inn". The sign which named the building “The Traveler’s Way Inn” swayed slightly as the breeze coaxed it.

Never charging too much for his wares and services, even though he did have the deffinate definite advantage of having one of the only inns for miles around, with the exception of the smaller and less frequented "Foaming Mug [comma]" which resided in the town

         

         growing bald spot on the center of his head confirmed the man's age, or at [space] least

         

         a gut peeking from under his shirt [comma] he wasn't in too bad a of shape.

Pouring a bit of water onto the stained area that he was obsessively scrubbing [comma] Griswold looked around his place of business,

         

         with a hinged door where the countertop ran up to the staircase [comma] so Griswold could get behind and back out from the long counter.

         

         Across from the long countertop, spaced across the rest of the floor [comma] were at [space] least a dozen round, wooden tables. Each of the tables hosted four simple, wooden chairs. The tables seemed to give way to the stone hearth that rested upon the wall opposite the countertop. [comma] The fire within it crackling and popping in regular intervals. The staircase was pinched between the countertop and the front wall of the inn. This front wall contained two good sized windows and a heavy looking, iron bound door. [comma] The entrance to

         
"Another please", [comma inside speech-marks, not after] a well kept looking man seated at the bar said to Griswold as he held up his mug. New paragraph "Not a problem", Griswold replied as he collected the man's mug and walked over to a nearby, tapped keg. New paragraphGriswold knew the man, as nearly everyone else in the inn that night did. He was one of the councilmen of the town just over the hill, the town called Brinford. Griswold sat the mug of warm mead down in [space] front of the

         

         It might be better to put Griswold’s thoughts in Italics, rather than just using speechmarps {I} and {/I} where you want them to end. "Tonight will be good business" Griswold thought as he watched a lone performer take her seat on the small stage, a flute in her hand. His assumptions were not far from fruition, as most … off in any case, as most of the tables were full, and eleven of the twelve stools at the bar supported men from Brinford, out for a drink after a long day of whatever work they performed. New paragraph While serving a

         

         Several times he had considered hiring on don’t need on a young girl as a barmaid, but he wasn't about to go looking for one himself as he had decided that a suitable maid would not no doubt eventually

         

         was suprised surprised when he scanned the room and found the person [comma] still wearing the cloak with the hood still drawn up, face and features still a mystery. (I presume you used their to avoid stating the sex of this person, but it doesn’t read right.) with their cloak about them, hood still drawn up, their face and featured still a mystery. What made Griswold even more uneasy about this person is that they seemed to be staring intently at him, but as he could… would sound better and although he could not truly see the cloaked person's face [comma] nor the direction of their gaze, he let his feeling pass away as mere paranoia. Another hour had passed, and Griswold swore he could still feel the cloaked figure's eyes peircing piercing into him from across the room. Cloak still wrapped tight, the hood… around them, the hood still drawn up, Griswold began to feel the paranoia creep back into his mind. "Can I get you anything?", [no comma] Griswold

         

         "Can I get you anything or not?". [no full-stop] The figure still only sat,

         

         Griswold looked up as the young [space] man took to the stage, lighting fire to the black ends of the sticks. The young [comma] man then proceeded to toss them about in a rather entertaining juggling routine. Griswold smiled thinly, and turned back to the menacing stain don’t need in front of him (saves repeat in next sentence) in front of him. He nearly gasped when he saw the cloaked figure standing right in front of him. The cloaked person then took a seat at the bar directly in front of Griswold. New paragraph "I know who you are", the cloaked man almost hissed, it's his? voice to too deep to have been a woman's. New paragraph Griswold froze in his attempt to move further down the bar, away from the man in the cloak. "E-excuse m-me?" Griswold stammered as he turned once again to face this man who seemed to enjoy terrorizing him. New paragraph "I said I know who you are", the cloaked man said once again. New paragraph Griswold's face had gone pale, and though he stared directly at the hooded man he still could'nt couldn’t see even a hint of who he was.

         

         "I am the proprietor of the most celebrated inn within a hundred miles or more.". loose second full-stop

         

         "Now, may I get you a drink?", [no comma] Griswold asked in an even tone. New paragraph "Yes, some wine if you please.", [comma then speech-mark (no second comma)]

         
Who was this man?", [no full-stop] thought Griswold, "More importantly, how does he know of things that happened to me, or loose to so long ago and so far away?" Griswold had no clue as to whom the man might be, but he could guess at his intentions anyway don’t need anyway.

         

         "Who are you?", [no comma] Griswold asked as he topped off the glass, "An assassin from the guild sent to kill me after all these years?". [no full-stop] New paragraph

         

         "I am no assassin, just someone sent to observe", [no comma] New paragraph Griswold felt some of his tensions ease at the news that this man hadn't been paid to kill him. "Then what are you supposed to be observing?", [no comma] Griswold asked when the man in the cloak offered no further explanation. New paragraph "I was sent to make sure that the assassin who sat at this very bar last night performed the duties for which he has been paid.". [no full-stop] New paragraph Griswold nearly laughed as he replied, "Well I suppose he didn't do too well seeing as I'm still quite alive and well.". [no full-stop] New paragraph The hooded man

         

         "Do you know what this is?", [no comma] he asked in his hissing tone. "It is a vial of a strong venom found in some spiders and other large vermin.", [no comma] the man answered his own question after noting Griswold's confused look. New paragraph Griswold looked slightly amused at the cloaked man's apparent mistake in revealing his plan, [full-stop] "Well I've not drank or eaten a single thing since you've been here.", [comma speech-mark no comma] Griswold said in an amused tone [no space| No capital on and], "And if I'd have been poisoned last night I wouldn't be where I am right now, that's for sure.". [loose second full-stop] Griswold said as he picked up the small vial.

The man sat and watched him a moment more before offering an explanation, "You see," he began [no space], "[small t] This particular poison is not meant to be ingested." , [no comma] the man explained, drawing a confused look from Griswold. "It is topical.", [no comma] the man

         

         ...the hand that had held the rag. New paragraph The juggler's act was in full flight now,


My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Go NoticedOpen in new Window..
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Review of Snow Black  Open in new Window.
Review by Mantis Author IconMail Icon
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
General comments: I greatly enjoyed this story. You've given an interesting twist to the tale, which with her ivory skin and famous red lips, fits in very well with the physical description of Snow White. You've very successfully tied up all the loose ends, making the story work very well, and the story is very well written. I greatly enjoyed the imagery and descriptions, though I thought some of the explanations were a little out of place. All in all, a very enjoyable read *Smile*

Other comments and suggestions: Inserted in text.
I've used red for spelling mistakes,
blue for grammar,
and green for other comments and suggestions.

         and resolutely agreed with herself [comma] it would be best for everyone if princess Alyssa died.

She died of a wasting disease several years ago, but not before causing months of hasslpree
not sure what this word is meant to say

         

         starve her stepchildren whilst lavishing attention on her own [comma] but Bryony had more in mind than working the poor princess’s fingers to the bone and stopping her from marrying some handsome ponce.

         

         “Do not lose these,” She warned. The woodsman knew new what he had to do.

They looked like they didn’t care, but had wept tears of dew and lichens that stained their trunks.
This is a contradiction, if they didn’t care, why would they have wept? I think you mean – They looked like they didn’t care, but for the wept tears of …

         

         Although there was no light, his crucifix glimmered when he ducked behind the stump, intent on of abandoning her and hoping she succumbed to the elements.

         

         Maybe in years to come, Queen Bryony would be accused of murdering him herself, angry at his failure. But when she found out, she simply wept. Might this part be better left until the queen dreams of his death?

         Moonlight poured through cracks in the canopy, no need for that veil anymore. He Her skin would not smoke in damp night air.

The woodsman’s mutilated body was paraded before her by mocking nightmare beasts
[comma] and she knew the princess was a murderer now as well, an unholy paragon.

         
She bit into it instantly. He
Her throat smoked. “It's poisoned!” she gagged.

         

         But the apple drenched in holy water stuck in her throat for always, and the spirits dare dared not touch it.

The first sound heard in that forest for more years than fallen leaves in autumn
[comma] was a steady cadence of hoof beats.


My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Go NoticedOpen in new Window..
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Review of City Eyes  Open in new Window.
Review by Mantis Author IconMail Icon
Rated: 13+ | (2.5)
This seems like a very imaginative story, and you have obviously put alot of thought into the world that you portray in it. The idea that you have is very indepth considering the length of the story. You do need to try to be a little more clear in the description, especially in the brief history.

The world is full of alchemists, and the one they call God is an alchemist. Unless from this point you refer to him as God, rather than the alchemist, I think you should give him his own name to make it easier for the reader to know that you are talking about that particular person. I was also confused by who created the world. Was it one alchemist who made the world, then was corrupted by power, or was there a good alchemist and a bad alchemist?

The Windencia Flame is the thing that gives the god alchemist power, but so is the mind of Marcelaron, so are they two different powers, or is the Windencia Flame within Marcelaron's mind, or are there two god alchemists, and one is using the Windencia Flame and the other using the mind of Marcelaron?

At one point when reading this, I thought that the world was an imaginary world created by Marcelaron, but this would make Marcelaron god of that world, as he was the one that created it, which means it wouldn't have been made by alchemists.

You have alot of ideas here, and this has the potential to be a very good story, but you need to try to make things clearer for the reader. It would also be good, as this is written in first person perspective, to give an idea of who the narrator is, and how they became directly involved in events. It might be helpful to you to write a quick history of the world before you begin to rewrite, so that the ideas are already down and ordered as you begin to write the story, because I honestly think that you were bombarded with ideas, and couldn't get them down fast enough (lucky you *Smile*)

This story has great potential,
Keep writing,
Mantis
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Review by Mantis Author IconMail Icon
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
General comments: This is a greatly enjoyable start, to what sounds like a very interesting story. The descriptions of the fight are very clear, and the reader can easily visualise events as they happen. Many questions are opened up in the readers mind, arousing interest, and Baelen's character is already starting to develope and gain substance.

I greatly enjoyed reading this item, and look foward to being able to read more. It was an exciting piece, very well expressed. Very well done *Smile*

I do however think that you've been over-cautious with the rating of this piece. I'm not a moderator, so I'm no expert, but personally I would have put this piece as a 13+. If you wanted to play safe, you could set it as 18+, but having it as GC is definately extreme, and restricts the people who can read and review it. See "Content Rating System (CRS)Open in new Window.

Other comments and suggestions: Inserted in text.
I've used red for spelling mistakes,
blue for grammar,
and green for other comments and suggestions.

         His father had slain many of the bandits, [semi-colon instead of comma] several of them lay at his feet as more came on. He had raised his weapon to strike them down as they came, [semi-colon instead of comma] it was then that an arrow had taken him just below his heart. Baelen had watched his father fall too to his knees from the mortal blow, [semi-colon instead of comma] then he had watched

         
Fighting back the urge to run away, the urge to save himself so that his father's sacrifice would not be have been? in vain

         
vantage point if he was going to have any hope of deffending defending himself. He crested the hill easily enough, but rather than finding safety (saves repeating the hill) the safety of the hill,

         
Baelen held his ground as the bandit approached approched, holding his father's sword up in [space] front of himself him [comma/and] hoping for at [space] least some semblance of a defensive deffensive posture. Baelen tried to size up his opponent as best he could, but being a farmboy [comma] or and lacking the… without the military training his father had [comma] Baelen didn't really

         
Lashing out with his shorter blade, the bandit, while still out of range of the farmboy, took pleasure in taunting his young, inexperienced inexpeirienced opponent.

         

         Baelen flinched and stumbled backwards, which brought bringing a wicked smile to the bandit's face.

Baelen knew that he was about to be killed, like his father and the rest of the villagers don’t need that day that day, and he knew that there was nothing he could possibly don’t need possibly do about it.

         
With his father's sword held in [space] front of him, Baelen charged forward,

         
The blade cut through muscle and bone until it protruded several inches out the back don’t need side (makes me think of bums) ‘out of his back’ would sound better side.

         
Baelen tried to shake the dizziness from his head. [capital] he regained his wits just in time, as the bandit poised his blade to strike.

         

         The bandit screamed as the farmboy tried to roll away, not out of anger, but from the pain in his injured shoulder as the blade was ripped out of it by the farmboy trying to escape him. This sentence seemed overly ponderous. The bandit screamed in pain as the farmboy tried to roll away, ripping the blade out of his injured shoulder. Overcome by both both by pain and loss of blood,

         



My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Go NoticedOpen in new Window..
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Review by Mantis Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (3.5)
General comments: I found this piece to be fluently written, and well planned in that it had a logical structure. Unfortunately, I also thought it lacked essential content, and that it was biased and emotionally driven.

Unless you are willing to back up a statement properly, I don't think it should be included in an argument, and "To libertarians, taxation is theft." is a very big statement. I know this piece is primarily against the BBC, but it's there and it's very important, so I can criticise it.

Who wouldn't want to pay less tax. Immediately, you grab the reader's attention, using their greed to draw them away from thoughts of what the country would be like in the absence of tax (or at least attempting to.) No law enforcement, at least of a neutral and balanced nature, no institutions to uphold people's rights, and people unable to find jobs, (as demand exceeds supply) starving to death. (Charity has always proven inadequate to face poverty, and the workhouses of the past give all the evidence needed about how it can be used as an umbrella term to abuse the weak. On the positive side, they were a form of "voluntary human association," at least when looked at from the POV of their owners.) People who have risked life, and sometimes given limbs in defence of the country, freezing to death, or dying through inadequate healthcare. Not my idea of bliss.

You have tried to dazzle the reader with a nice sounding promise, without exploring the other side of it. Tax is a necessary evil in any society where the means of production is controlled by individuals, in fact, of any country that wishes to stay an independent country, a status that isn't likely to last long in the absence of the tax funded army.

TV licence money on the other hand, does not go towards any service needed to maintain people's basic human rights or freedoms. Taxes, while used for many other things, do. I am therefore confused, as to why you would wish to draw this parallel. I would recommend losing this statement, but you talk about tax so much, that I feel you think it is of central importance in this essay. Perhaps it is because you wish to voice your support of the libertarian ethos, in which case keep it, but try to back it up properly, as it serves no other purpose, and at the moment, cheapens the entire piece.

You have also missed a very important line of argument, that would be considered of great import to libertarians, and their belief that people should have more power, and governments less.

In 1978, James Callaghan (Prime Minister at the time) was quoted as saying to BBC executives, "hell will freeze over before you get a licence increase unless we get a better deal out of you."

The government control the purse strings, so although the BBC might kick back against the pressure to support the current powers occassionally, they never kick too hard. Doing so, could result in the same punishment that was administered to ITV when they criticised Margaret Thatcher over the trade union disputes. Not only was their licence funding stopped, they were threatened that if they did it again, they would lose their broadcasting licence. All forms of the media are subject to some form of bias, and all that require licences are to some degree government controlled. The government sanctioned TV licence funding, means the BBC are more tightly controlled, as their actions can be punished to varying degrees by controlling their financing. Information is power, and the BBC helps the government restrict it.

I know that our viewpoints are very different, but I hope this was useful. You really do need to back up statements if you wish your argument to stand a chance of convincing people.

Other comments and suggestions: Inserted in text.
I've used red for spelling mistakes,
blue for grammar,
and green for other comments and suggestions.

Since it’s foundation in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, the British Broadcasting Corporation has been a the supposed “pride” of the British nation
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Review by Mantis Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (4.5)
You could fill a pinhead with what I know about poetry, but I found this particular poem very touching. I wasn't sure what you meant by 'if its alright', but I can say I enjoyed it, and that it would make a wonderful momento to your daughter.

Just one thing, aren't the first letters of every line meant to be capitalised? Aside from this, I can see nothing that needs changing.
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Review by Mantis Author IconMail Icon
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
General comments: A wonderfully well written and hilarious story. The writing style was perfectly suited to the content, and I particularly liked the way you eased the historical information about the battle sites into the story.

So many things went wrong, so it's great you still came away feeling good about the trip, and it rounded the story off well.


Other comments and suggestions: Inserted in text.
I've used red for spelling mistakes,
blue for grammar,
and green for other comments and suggestions.

I thought this would be a great way to see the sites, this sounds weird. I know it was battle sites that you went to see, but I still read it as see the sights. Perhaps you could put the word battle in for the slow ones like me *Blush*

I hoped this wasn’t a prelude of what was to happen for this trip.

I ran alongside the bike, pushing it as fast as I can could

The driver, The comma makes it seem that the driver and owner are two different people and owner, [no comma] of the towing company

My goal was somewhere in New York [comma] north of Pennsylvania.
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