Name: PinsandKneazles (Signed) · Date: 13 Dec 2021 06:00 AM · For: Tree

Hello! Thought I'd drop by with a holiday review for you :)

 

I love how you've packed so much into such a short introduction here, and how you've interpreted the 'fate/prophecy' theme. I wonder who Jenny is, and who her siblings are. Was it pure chance that she chose this particular tree or were there other factors at play - a feeling, perhaps, or something she saw, or heard? Was it a joint decision between Jenny and her siblings or did Jenny act alone whilst her siblings watched? Aunt Daisy and the note with the single word of 'beyond' intrigued me; is she leading Jenny somewhere or showing her something? I felt the anticipation build between Jenny resting her hand on the roughened bark and the tree swaying...I wonder if Jenny's thoughts of the word had transmitted something to the tree and catalysed a reaction?

 

The final two lines 'the answer of your path' and that Jenny finally understood what the word meant...I'm left curious as to what might happen next?

 

This beautiful piece of writing is left wide open to interpretation and I really love that; it means I can return to read it again and again, and take a different message from it each time. <3

 

Happy holidays,

 

Meera <3

 

 

Name: grumpy cat (Signed) · Date: 04 Feb 2021 08:03 AM · For: Tree

oh wow oracle woods and a mysterious maple tree in the middle of it, with an ominous note from jenny's aunt daisy has me all intrigued at what is going on, what is the path that jenny and her siblings are taking and what answers do they all need? it's super interesting because this drabble at the same time feels like a small, contained story working well on its own, with really beautiful descriptions, but it also speaks of a much greater story, opens up so many questions that we may never know the answer to and that also feels like it's fine, like maybe we aren't supposed to know, we're supposed to be left in wonder at jenny's fate and her aunt's prophecy and construe our own ideas on what it all might mean! jenny might understand, but we as readers are kept in the delicious dark ahhh.

 

(for foxy glory!)

Name: Oregonian (Signed) · Date: 04 Feb 2021 06:58 AM · For: Tree

Hi, Anni.

 

I'm here for the Winter in Fairyland review event.  How much can we get out of a little drabble?  A lot!

 

In these few words you have certainly launched a mystery.  The action starts in the very first sentence.  We are in a forest of maple trees in the Oracle Woods (which is a spooky name that hints that paranormal stuff has happened here in the past and may happen again).  The fact that Jenny slowly puts her hand on the tree trunk while her siblings all watch indicates that this is not just a casual leaning up against a tree; she has been somehow instructed to do this (or figured it out herself by clues), and her slowness of motion suggests that she is unsure and a little fearful about what might happen.  So in one sentence of 60 words you have shown us not only the present action in a certain place with certain onlookers, but you have hinted at a considerable backstory.  That's pretty good for the opening sentence!

 

Your third sentence, where as they all wait for something to happen, Jenny thinks back to the paper her Aunt Daisy gave her, is a flashback to a previous event.  But it's a very short flashback, only one line, and it may be closely connected with what's going on now, so it's a good flashback.

 

And sure enough, three strange things happen, which you describe succinctly but clearly: the leaves sway, the wind increases, the earth trembles.  And a glowing purple thing appears flashing a message plainly linked to what was on Aunt Daisy's paper.

 

We are all intensely interested in what is going to happen next.

 

Your writing is smooth and flowing.  Your sentences are pleasingly complex in their construction and incorporate the details effortlessly.  Since this piece was a drabble on a particular theme for a Hallowe'en event, I don't suppose we will ever find out how the story ends.  Our bad luck.

 

It was fun to read it.  Thank you for writing.

 

Vicki

Name: la_topolina (Signed) · Date: 02 Feb 2021 03:12 AM · For: Tree

Hi Anni! I’m here for the fairyland review event :D

 

Often in fiction we see the hero going to find out their destiny alone. There’s something very heartening about the hero here, Jenny, going to find out her fate with her siblings. I like that she has that connection and support in this important moment.

 

I’m very curious to know more about a place called Oracle Woods. I liked how you described the impressive trees, and how Jenny physically had to touch the tree before anything happened.

 

You use a lot of colors in this short piece, and I love that too. If I were going to suggest anything, I would say that there are a few very long sentences that you could probably break up to give each part of them more impact.

 

I love that Jenny went to this place with one word—Beyond. Which raises so many questions. Beyond what? Beyond where? And even the answer she gets—that her path is beyond—is appropriately enigmatic, as oracles often are. 

 

I’d love to know what happens next!

 

Nice work on this :)

 

Yours,

Noelle

Name: Renacera (Signed) · Date: 23 Jan 2021 10:15 AM · For: Tree

Hi Anni!!

I can't believe this is your only story! You did such a great job with it. :)

I love the idea of a group of kids standing around a mysterious tree, only knowing that there was something magical that might happen. This scene threw me right back to my childhood. I used to run around the forest with the other neighborhood kids and make up all sorts of games. Nothing magical ever happened, but I don't think I knew that as a kid. Everything seems amazing when you're that little. <3

This is the type of story that can either be continued and sprawl into a huge world of adventure or can stop right where it's at. As is, it's a lovely look into childhood and wonder and magic. There's just enough here that we as readers know that these kids' lives will never be the same. But we're happy for them. I'm happy, having read this.

Really, Anni. You did a great job! Thank you for a lovely read. :)

Best,
Emily


*for the Fairyland review event*

Name: Felpata_Lupin (Signed) · Date: 04 Jan 2020 05:29 PM · For: Tree

Hey, there, Anni! Hello, sweety! :)

I'm here for your wishlist! Hope you had a great holiday season and a great start to 2020! Also, happy belated birthday!!! <3 <3 <3

I had no idea you had a story posted? :O

I really enjoyed reading this. Even if it's very short and we don't know exactly what happens, I really loved the atmosphere of magic and mystery you created. The description is brilliant, incredibly vivid, and even if I don't know anything about your MC Jenny, I find myself rooting for her and holding my breath with her family, which shows how well you built this scene!

I wish there was more to this, I want to know what Jenny found beyond, but it's not like the story needs more... we know that the answers are there, if one is brave enough to seek them. It's very cool.

I do have a very small bit of CC (you don't mind, do you?) and that's that I would've used some more punctuation. The first sentence in particular is very long and I think it could've used a couple of commas somewhere, or even breaking it in a couple of sentences. Otherwise, this was really well written and interesting! :)

Snowball hug!

Chiara

Name: Ineke (Signed) · Date: 31 Dec 2019 09:45 PM · For: Tree

Hiya <3 Hope you had a great holiday season and also hope you’ve got a wonderful year ahead of you! Here’s some holiday cheer!

I know you said you mostly wanted gifts for others/picspams for yourself, I unfortunately have no talent re picspams and decided to leave you a little review instead <3

 

This story is only a drabble, but it’s so promising and I wonder how it goes on. We don’t know much about Jenny, but the fact that she’s got a few siblings and a very cryptic aunt makes me curious. Because why are they here, what does her aunt mean, what is the answer she;s been looking for and what is beyond here? Beyond the tree? Beyond this path in her life? I’ve got so many questions that I can’t help but wonder how it all continues, because now I want to know more about Jenny and all that revolves around this drabble! It’s a brilliant piece of writing for a drabble, which leaves you hooked the entire time and that truly is a gift to have! Happy holidays x

Name: TreacleTart (Signed) · Date: 29 Jan 2019 05:23 PM · For: Tree

Hey there!

 

I'm here with a review for the Magical Menagerie Review Event as well as the Gryffindor Red vs Gold Review event for January 2019! I was scanning through the lists of stories and happened across this one! It sounded interesting and I love a good spooky story, so I thought I'd check it out.

 

Ooh. This seems very ominous. I feel like mysterious letters with only one word written on them are never going to result in anything particularly good. It's just enough to drag her into something, but without her really knowing what she's getting herself into.

 

I wonder how Jenny knew that this tree was the one she should touch. Did she have a gut feeling about it? Was there some life event that had happened at it that made her think it would be special? What called her there?

 

Yikes! Those words don't necessarily seem threatening, but the whole setting seems so ominous.

 

You did a really good job of telling such an interesting story in such a short span of words. I'm always amazed how much people can pack into a drabble. I was impressed with how much description you were able to include in such a short word limit too. It really helped me imagine the situation going on aroud her.

 

Good job!

 

~Kaitlin

 

Name: Chemical_Pixie (Signed) · Date: 19 Jan 2019 11:38 AM · For: Tree

Hello! Here for Gryffindor's Janaury RvG and the Magical Menagerie!

 

As a Gryffindor, we had dark-themed drabbles, so it's so cool to see another House use another theme (and it's fate/prophecy--how awesome is THAT!!).

 

I appreciate how you are using some original fiction here. It adds an extra layer of mystery to this whole piece. Jenny seems to be the eldest child here, since she is the one touching the maple tree while her siblings watch. I wonder how many siblings she has and why exactly they are there... I have gleaned that they are there mainly in part because of Aunt Daisy and her cryptic message. Has she passed? Has she disappeared? Or has she sent them onto their destined path? I love all of these questions, sparked from only a couple hundred words!

 

Of course, when the prophecy is revealed, it still does not answer all of my questions, and I am okay with that. You have spend the entire piece building the mystery... only to add more mystery at the end... except, to Jenny, it's no longer a mystery, so she gets the sense of closure that her character needs. That being said, I am curious to learn more, so well done in getting the reader to want more at the end.... and, just saying, I can totally see this drabble as a prologue to a longer piece (hint, hint). ;)

 

Great job with this original fiction! I'm glad I have had the chance to read and review it!

Name: Rumpelstiltskin (Signed) · Date: 13 Jan 2019 09:29 AM · For: Tree

Hey, I'm here with the Magical Menagerie Reviewing Event! 

 

I immediately like the concept of Oracle Woods in relation to the whole fate/prophecy theme -- I think it ties the theme to the story really nicely and had certainly left me wondering what sort of mysticism can be found in this particular forest. Furthermore, I think it's amazing that Oracle Woods did not disappoint living up to its name. I do wonder, is this forest well-known to the people of this universe, or is it something of a family secret (as the focus here seems to be on Jenny, her siblings, and memories from their aunt)? 

 

I feel like this is definitely setting up for some awesome adventure, as Jenny and her siblings see the message on the tree, as it is something of an omen. I can't help but wonder what the answer is they're searching for and what sort of amazing journey (or hazardous adventure) is going to be down the path. Clearly, given from the message that she sent, Aunt Daisy has either done this before in search of her own answers or has known someone who has. Either way, it's definitely setting something up and I would love to know what that is! 

 

My curiosity is killing me!

 

-Rumpels