Mirror of the Fallen One

Information

Status

Completed

Year

2023

Author

MoonlightGardens

• Part 8
  Jun 13, 2023
• Part 7
  Jun 12, 2023
• Part 6
  Jun 11, 2023
• Part 5
  Jun 10, 2023
• Part 4
  Jun 9, 2023
• Part 3
  Jun 8, 2023
• Part 2
  Jun 7, 2023
• Part 1
  Jun 7, 2023

Reviews

Community Reviews(3)

• JR CastleRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Let me just start by saying that I can see a lot of genuine potential in this story. The prose is what most immediately impressed me; there's a sort of straightforward directness to it that I can really appreciate, and it's clear the author errs on the side of being concise, which is 100% a good thing when compared to the alternative. I genuinely don't see this kind of restraint in like 90% of the stories I stumble across on here, so it really is saying something. Each word feels purposeful, focused on establishing character, tone, momentum. I am so glad this author seems to have an intuitive awareness of this, because it's one of the more ephemeral and therefore hardest things to pick up when it comes to writing.
  I have one big complaint: the plot kicks off without establishing the world, character, or stakes. These are things that are slowly instroduced as the story goes on, and I can appreciate that approach, but I think this story would genuinely benefit from a more straightforward explication of who the protagonist is, who they work for, what kind of world they live in, why they care so much about this job, etc. Related to this, I also think this story would benefit from more description. The setting is introduced as an exorbitant mansion, but the reader is never given anything specific. No mention of fancy chandeliers, gold-framed paintings, polished mahogany furniture, etc. I feel this comes as a product of the author's impulse for concise prose, which again I consider a good thing overall, but in this instance I see it as a kind of overcorrection—I would really appreciate having a good, specific image for what places and people look like. Ultimately, I think the story has a good sense of plot and tone, but needs that spice to really take those things to the next level.
  Overall I enjoyed my time with this story and think, again, it really is something worth reading. I can feel the author's ambition, and there's a life to the prose I greatly appreciate. This i
• oldastronomerRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  An intriguing psychological thriller, with just the right dose of inescapable dread and otherworldly horror. Check it out!
  I'd describe this review as spoiler heavy, so reader be warned!
  Style
  My biggest gripe with the story is that it's held back by the imagination of the reader.  You lean on the style of 'less is more' in describing your scenes, but oftentimes the description is sparse enough that the reader must do some legwork in inferring what you're trying to show. This makes it difficult to follow the narrative in spots.
  The Mirror World being difficult to follow is okay, as it's a warped dimension with little coherence, but you'd be well-served in expanding on changes in scenery as they happen.
  Story
  You've got the bones of something great. There's a dramatic backstory, a vengeful god, and a little girl who I wouldn't want to be in the same room with. You position this work well to stand alone, but leave the reader asking questions about what happens next.
  Personally, I think Nebli is going to start the apocalypse.
  Characters
  Each character feels unique, but the narrator least of all.
  You really, really shine at characterizing through dialogue. Both Nebli and Father speak how I'd expect them to and their words hint at underlying at their motivations. In their cases, the sparse style of the story is actually a boon. Plus, it makes it really creepy when Nebli begins spouting religious jargon.
  I'll also confess that I'm a big fan of false faith as a trope. The character of 'Father' was immediately interesting to me.
  With that said, you go really heavy on humanizing Mernia via her relationship with her father. Their relationship is established through the horrifying images shown to her in the mirror realm, but it's held back by the minimalist descriptions mentioned earlier in the review.
  Grammar
  No issues that impacted my enjoyment of the work.
• ParlaRoyal Road

  ★★★★ 4.0

  The story itself is relatively short, taking part in a larger universe meant to expand later. That being said, the various pieces of information that each chapter adds not only maintain interest but add on it. The character is a brutally honest detective that is one of the best around. The result in this horror story is that any lack of description merely reinforces the idea of the “scary unknown” that the main character faces. The dialogue is well-written and always pushes the plot forward. The size of the chapters themselves supports the shock effect of the story. Definitely recommend it for psychological horror fans.