Crows of a Feather

Information

Status

Completed

Year

2022

Author

Max Anthony

• 26. Santa brings me a band shirt
  Aug 9, 2022
• 25. Killian finally talks
  Aug 8, 2022
• 24. We hide in a pillow fort, except the pillows are sofas and rock
  Aug 7, 2022
• 23. Spider-Ram, Spider-Ram, does whatever a spider can
  Jul 15, 2022
• 22. Fiona tells me a story
  Jul 11, 2022
• 21. I experience really bad growing pains
  Jul 7, 2022
• 20. I fly out a window
  Jul 3, 2022
• 19. I make important phone calls
  Jun 27, 2022
• 18. Our trip to the evil lair
  Jun 23, 2022
• 17. We read the prophecy
  Jun 20, 2022
• 16. I explore a haunted house
  Jun 16, 2022
• 15. Amelia
  Jun 13, 2022
• 14. Two people who are not vampires attempt to seduce me
  Jun 9, 2022
• 13. I make a wish
  Jun 6, 2022
• 12. We take a detour
  Jun 2, 2022
• 11. I crash a car into a national memorial
  May 30, 2022
• 10. An old lady offers me a finger
  May 26, 2022
• 9. I get into a fistfight
  May 23, 2022
• 8. Killian makes a promise
  May 19, 2022
• 7. Elvira has a party
  May 16, 2022

Reviews

Community Reviews(7)

• DreameroftheUnknownRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This story, about a teenager named Oscar in 90s San Francisco is definitely a unique setting, and honestly, one of the most delightfully interesting stories I've read here on Royal Road.
  Style: This is probably the best part. The prose in particular is just so magnificent. It's so detailed, yet at the same time, it doesn't go overly into schematics and information. Instead, it somehow allows the reader to form their own interpretation, while keeping the core ideals of the scene in their mind. It's hard to explain, but I can say with ease that this is one of the best styles I've seen here.
  Grammar: I don't have much to say here, other than good job, author! No spelling mistakes, good punctuation, nice consistent tense, everything seems great!
  Story: I have to say, this story is something that I've never thought I would read. This is because I don't like stories set in the 90's or so. However, the author has completely ensnared me with their story. It's just a wonderfully rich blend of magic and mystery, woven together with that masterful prose. It makes you want to know what's happening, yet at the same time, you want to stop and try to theorize. The story is taking its time to develop its character, setting, and plot. While for some authors, they have the problem of making the story too boring for those parts, this author has managed to avoid that by showing us different factions, and completely sucking us into the world building.
  Characters: Every single character has their own quirks and personalities. They're not archetypes of anything, they feel so realistic. The interactions in particular are immaculate, and seeing the relationships blossom are always a delight to see.
  Overall: 5/5. I'm definitely going to follow this and revisit it when there's more!
• Banner CaygeonRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  The story is about Oscar, a young teenager who's parents have died and is sent to live with his uncle in mid-ninties San Francisco. The strange and intersting world starts to open up from there.
  Grammar: There's a couple mistyped words, but nothing jarring. Full marks, as I think the author will clean those up.
  Characters: 5 stars. Every character is hyper interesting and has their own little edges and traits. The author does a masterful job of putting them in situations and conversations that allow them to be unveiled at just the right pace. There's very little telling, it's very much showing, even if narrated by the main character.
  Story Score: 5 stars: The story is one of magic and creatures, set in 90's SF and it works beautifully. To top it all off, it isn't just a 'slice of life' or 'coming of age' story for a teen, there's a war brewing between factions of some groups and at the last posted chapter seems to be arriving at the MC's doorstep. It is not a wam bam story, nor should it be. This is one of the few stories that I can honestly say I couldn't put down.
  Style: 10 stars. All the stars. The prose is absolutely brilliant. It's written like a highly intelligent, emotionally intuitive teen might talk or write. There's no gradiose asides, no indulgent passages requiring a thesaurus. The writing is clean, melodic and let's the story the author has crafted ring true. At least once or twice a chapter there was a line delivered matter-of-factly that just gobsmacked me. (in a good way). I've left a few comments on those in the chapters if you want to refer to them. No, I need to leave an example..
  She handed me a leather bag, the kind fancy professors carry their books in.
  This just happened to be at the end of the last chapter posted in another window. MC needed to be handed a bag, and author wanted to describe it. Instead of talking about rich-leather, worn at the edges, with two straps lashed over top and fastened with brass buckles...we get 'the kind fancy pro
• Rebecca LangRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  So far, I've only read the first three chapters, but I'm really enjoying what I read. The prose is smooth and reads easily. It has enough description where I can see what's going on, without getting bogged down. I care about the characters, and I am intrigued by the world-building and by the larger plot: the mystery of the mother's loss of magic and death, the uncle who is running almost killed, the new kid who may not be trustworthy, and the dark forces that might be brewing in a supposedly safe city. I'm interested in seeing what happens next.
• AlexZinaRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  Reviewing as of end of chapter 4.
  In just a few chapters, the author managed to blend wonderfully a contemporary urban setting with a hidden world of the occult. Oscar is a relatable lead, and we got some solid characterization into his inner circle, particularly Amelia and Killian. It will be interesting to see how their relationship develops in the future, when expectedly Oscar becomes a witch himself rather than being on the sidelines.
  The writing style is very "clean" and polished, and honestly gives off the feel that this is far from the author's first work. I am also impressed by the dialogue, as the author manages to stay concise without a constant use of "said/told/spoke, etc." and it flows along nicely.
  It is obvious that the story is just in its early stages with Oscar about to dabble in magic and then discover all the fantasy creatures. I am looking forward to see where it goes.
  Finally, I think it would be a nice touch to give a bigger glimpse of Oscar's school life, of course as long as it stays relevant to the plot.
  Fully recommend giving this story a try.
• Ellen TaylorRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  An interesting start to a YA story. The author has built quite the interesting world, one that is quite rich in detail. It also does a great job of answering questions and having a few left unanswered to keep the intrigue going. I can tell this author knows a lot about their world, and it's interesting to see it unfold. I believe this is an urban fantasy, and I'd have liked to see more of the "regular" world just to see how magical and mystical the "fantasy" one is, but it's a small critique. Overall, a wonderful beginning to a YA novel.
• Lewis AldanisRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  There is an emotional charge right from the beginning of the protagonist's mother's death. There is delightfully insightful characterization shown with nuanced detailed descriptions.
  The gripe I have, which is more of a compliment, is that I want to know more with longer scenes e.g. how Oscar interacts with people at school, how he felt leaving home to San Francisco, the sights, tastes, and sounds. Why I'm saying this is because there is a depth of subtlety to the characterization that I believe can be applied to the world also. There is a bit of white room syndrome in this story, and I feel that could be easily fixed with the wonderful descriptions, dialogue, and scenes the writer is able to create.
  It feels like the writer is trying to speed through to the most exciting plot, but I suggest perhaps seeing how the story flows naturally as a novel. Despite my criticisms, this is great stuff and the writer has a distinct and captivating voice perfect for YA imo.
• Casey BacaRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  Story: A bit of a slow start that picks up with the mystery about who or what Oscar actually is and why he is important. There's a hidden prophecy involved which I'm not sure if I care about at the moment, but so far has little impact on the story. So far it's mostly set up, and when the story shines is in it's character interactions.
  Character: They feel like real people who could actually be living in 90s San Francisco. The era specific lingo is a nice touch in dialogues and really reminds me how cringe worthy we could sound back then.
  Grammar: proof reading is on point. I didn't come across many errors at all and just a couple of awkward phrases
  Style: I think this just comes down to me having a thing against prologues. This one in particular feels like a giant backstory info dump that I really wish just wasn't included. The big points could be sprinkled in along the way and other parts just left out without much of difference. I wanted to get into the meat of the story, but I also have a thing about not skipping anything the author has put down.
  The rest of the story reads nicely.
  Good setup to an urban witch mystery.