Reviews from

Shadows of the Past

Viewing comments for Chapter 1 "Chapter 1"
Traumatized by her past, Annie seeks an escape.

41 total reviews 
Comment from Jane Jane King
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This chapter is very compelling...kept me on the edge of my seat...the writing is sweet, alluring and mysterious and beautifully poetic and atmospheric as well. I was taking the journey with her. Beautiful writing

 Comment Written 10-Feb-2023


reply by the author on 15-Apr-2023
    Hi there, Jane Jane King. I want to apologize for my lack of response. For several months, I've dealt with sicknesses (my own and my roommates) and countless activities at the school where I teach. Today was the first time in a long while I could log onto this site for more than a few seconds. Again, I'm so sorry.

    Thank you so much for your review and comments. I do appreciate them. I've decided to revamp Chasing Shadows. It's not going the way I wanted, specifically Gabriel's character. Once I've had time to rewrite and tweak the plot, I'll repost it, and I would love your feedback. The basis of the story will stay the same, but I've decided not to tell it as a flashback. Thank you again for your comments. I appreciate them. Take care! :D :D
Comment from Mark Kuglin
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

That was amazing. It hooked me from the start and kept me intrigued to the final word.

So far, the story is compelling yet written vague enough to leave a reader with questions and craving chapter two.

Xxxxxxx

At first, I found the notepad section jarring. As I neared it's conclusion I discovered the effective it was having...It places you looking over her shoulder or stealing a look at it....Either way, great choice.

Congrats on a great start.

 Comment Written 08-Feb-2023


reply by the author on 15-Apr-2023
    Hi there, Mark Kuglin. I want to apologize for my lack of response. For several months, I've dealt with sicknesses (my own and my roommates) and countless activities at the school where I teach. Today was the first time in a long while I could log onto this site for more than a few seconds. Again, I'm so sorry.

    Thank you so much for your review and comments. I do appreciate them. I've decided to revamp Chasing Shadows. It's not going the way I wanted, specifically Gabriel's character. Once I've had time to rewrite and tweak the plot, I'll repost it, and I would love your feedback. The basis of the story will stay the same, but I've decided not to tell it as a flashback. Thank you again for your comments. I appreciate them. Take care! :D :D
Comment from MissMerri
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I'm definitely intrigued by this story, and your writing is excellent. My confusion, I suppose, will clear up when I have read a little more. I have only one suggestion: It seems like there are so many different fonts. I can't figure out what this is supposed to accomplish. It is a bit distracting, but if there is a purpose... then I just need to know what that purpose is. If not, I'd suggest you pick one or two and stick to those.
Congratulations on your first Milestone. Keep going!!

 Comment Written 08-Feb-2023


reply by the author on 15-Apr-2023
    Hi there, MissMerri. I want to apologize for my lack of response. For several months, I've dealt with sicknesses (my own and my roommates) and countless activities at the school where I teach. Today was the first time in a long while I could log onto this site for more than a few seconds. Again, I'm so sorry.

    Thank you so much for your review and comments. I do appreciate them. I've decided to revamp Chasing Shadows. It's not going the way I wanted, specifically Gabriel's character. Once I've had time to rewrite and tweak the plot, I'll repost it, and I would love your feedback. The basis of the story will stay the same, but I've decided not to tell it as a flashback. Thank you again for your comments. I appreciate them. Take care! :D :D
Comment from patcelaw
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This is very well written. It kept me engaged all the way through your story. It is just a truth in life that we cannot run away from our past even though we try. I am glad that in the end, and he has Gabriel to keep her safe. God bless and have a good day Patricia.

 Comment Written 08-Feb-2023


reply by the author on 15-Apr-2023
    Hi there, patelaw. I want to apologize for my lack of response. For several months, I've dealt with sicknesses (my own and my roommates) and countless activities at the school where I teach. Today was the first time in a long while I could log onto this site for more than a few seconds. Again, I'm so sorry.

    Thank you so much for your review and comments. I do appreciate them. I've decided to revamp Chasing Shadows. It's not going the way I wanted, specifically Gabriel's character. Once I've had time to rewrite and tweak the plot, I'll repost it, and I would love your feedback. The basis of the story will stay the same, but I've decided not to tell it as a flashback. Thank you again for your comments. I appreciate them. Take care! :D :D
reply by patcelaw on 15-Apr-2023
    There is no need to apologize for your absent. We all have times such as you have experienced. Welcome back. I look forward to reading the revision.
    I just finished publishing a new book and one of my poems is called Casting Shadows. My book is called A Masterpiece for Him. It is 100 devotional poems. It is written in the name of Patricia Lawrence and is available on Amazon.
reply by the author on 15-Apr-2023
    Thank you. I appreciate that. I'll have to check those out. :D :D
Comment from giraffmang
Good
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hi there,

it's weird, I thought I'd already reviewed this piece but seeing as you're paying out a ridiculous amount of reward I'll chip in this time!

I'd look at your presentation first off. I get wanting to present the hand-written form but sometimes it jars, just something to watch out for.

That being said, what is more jarring is the fact that it appears as highlighted text, white on off-white. The presentation really does matter and you should want it to be spot on.

To be honest, I'm not exactly sold on the diary entry anyway. The narrative is in first person so the diary entry seems a little redundant as we're being told the tale in first person narrative anyway.

Hi there,

There's a nice emotional quotient to this instalment but I think there may a bit of an issue with the framework.

I made some notes as I read through-

There's no differentiation between the diary entry and the remembrance, and the narrative. These techniques and devices are used to add something extra. for example, in a third person narrative, a diary would be used to give a different perspective and show innermost thoughts, that doesn't happen when the narrator is the one doing the diary, it's all their perspective and perception.

All the best
GMG

 Comment Written 08-Feb-2023


reply by the author on 15-Apr-2023
    Thank you for pointing that out, GMG. I will keep that in mind during my rewrite. :D
Comment from Maria Millsaps
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Interesting story, got my attention. There seems to be so much going on and I wonder if the parents are vampires? Sounds like they are involved in some kind of cult.

 Comment Written 07-Feb-2023


reply by the author on 07-Feb-2023
    Thank you for reading and reviewing, Maria. I appreciate it and your feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. The story behind the parents is in the second chapter. Thank you again for reading. Take care. :D :D
reply by Maria Millsaps on 13-Feb-2023
    Welcom
Comment from Jay Squires
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This was certainly a fine example of good suspenseful writing. Your students are fortunate to have such a creative person as their teacher, though they may only realize it later. Yours was a fine story with excellent character development. Here are a few notes I took:

Dark chuckles trailed me, [What an opening for a paragraph of tension!]

I bolt upright and, seeing shadows dancing closer, [Put the comma before the "and", not after it. And is one of several coordinating conjunctions and does not have a comma following it. "But" is another one. I'm guilty of the same thing. I have to put "and" and "but" in the find/delete function of Microsoft Word to bring each up and make sure there are no commas after them.]


 Comment Written 07-Feb-2023


reply by the author on 07-Feb-2023
    Thank you for reading and reviewing, Jay! I appreciate it and your feedback. Awww, thank you! That means a lot to me. I'm thrilled you enjoyed the story. Thank you again for reading and pointing out those corrections. Take care. :D :D
Comment from Sanku
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

welcome back to fanstory ,It is a brilliant beginning. it feels like a Romance cum supernatural story .The first chapter itself is very intriguing and I am sure to follow it .

 Comment Written 07-Feb-2023


reply by the author on 07-Feb-2023
    Thank you for reading and reviewing! I appreciate it and your feedback. Thank you! I'm thrilled to be back. I'm thrilled you enjoyed the story. I'm working on chapter 3; it may take a bit as I want to make sure I do it justice. Thank you again for reading. Take care. :D :D
Comment from Ulla
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hi there, Annie did go through quite a lot and I can understand if she has flashbacks and bad dreams about it. But Gabriel seems to be there for her. I will be looking forward to this. Ulla:)))

 Comment Written 06-Feb-2023


reply by the author on 06-Feb-2023
    Thank you for reading and reviewing, Ulla. I appreciate it and your feedback. I'm thrilled you enjoyed it. It's slow going with chapter 3, but I want to make sure I do it justice. Thank you again for reading. Take care. :D :D
Comment from LJbutterfly
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I enjoyed your writing style and sentence structures. Each sentence provided a lot of information.

"Dark chuckles trailed me, his footsteps an easy, unhurried pace." A man was behind her with a frightening laugh and slow but steady footsteps.

"Backlit by the moonlight, I couldn't see much, but I still glimpsed the telltale pale skin, and then his lips peeled back, revealing a row of unmistakable fangs, gleaming white and sharp." There is a lot of information and rich imagery in this sentence.

I look forward to reading more.

 Comment Written 06-Feb-2023


reply by the author on 06-Feb-2023
    Thank you for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it and your feedback. I'm thrilled you enjoyed it. It's slow going with chapter 3, but I want to make sure I do it justice. Thank you again for reading. Take care. :D :D