Background:The fanfiction Chameleons is a fanfiction from the universe Encanto. For those who do not know Encanto is place with a village surrounded by mountains and in their this family called the madrigal with gifts (magical powers) that helped the villagers. In this fanfiction a character is added to the story. This new character happens to be the twin of Camilo Madrigal. They are very similar michevious and likes food but Camilo twin "Carla" has very extreme case of social anxiety and she gues ob this arc that she doesn't need to be anxious around people and that she is Carla Madrigal
Likes: Probably the best thing in this fanfiction is the relationship between Camilo Madrigal her twin. They are their for each other in the beginning when they received their gifts which Carls gift was turing invisible which I will touch on later. As camilo doesn't leave Carla no matter what you ayve this small smile on your face while you are reading it. He cares. Carla feels hopeless. When you put two very simiar people together one who has social anixety and one who ongoing and attention seeker. Both of them love eachother so dearly so dearly. They both learn off eachother, Carla afraid of changed as this was seen when she was literally forced in a family picture in public and knew who was their for her with every second in that picture? Camilo. The brother who will hold her hand even when he can't see it. I do really feel like the author balanced it just right on fun moments and story driven moments. So the depressing stuff wasn't overwhelming to me, and most authors/movie directors/etc now days struggle with this and this great plot gets ruined because it to depressing or it to grey. When Carla has her breakdown with her siblings it gut wrenching to read and I admitly almost cried when she hold onto her brother shoulder it breaks your heart because her gift helps people but it failed her. You know this is not good for carla especially when she says "I'm hopeless" when someone knows they are hopeless when they are actually hopeless that the end. That will remain with you even if you get through that and that what gets you to sit and think about every thing. About real life and I think this fanfiction demonstrates this better then the movie. A person can be helpful in your life, but in return they are harming themselves and you need to be their for them. Which is what happened with Carla she goes on this arc and this sweet old lady that I think was their from the beginning helps Carla find her courage and finally gets her out of her shell and show herself out in public and she doesnt have to be scared to leave the house no more and this just touches all the heart strings. The author even excuted Camilo Madrigal character arc better then any other author. Now disclaimer I am not transphobic and I have nothing against trans. Most authors make Camilo trans which is fine, but dear god the execution horrible. Camilo shiftshaping into other people makes him not know who he is? That dumb. He michevious boy who does michevious things with his gift and it fun to watch might I add. The thing is tho even without his powers he is still the same Camilo as we know because he made the house comment (you better know what line i'm talking about) and he never wanted Abuela approved because if he did he wouldn't be doing this mischievous stuff. The author touches on Camilo gift and does it in very different direction. Camilo scared that he won't be able to make people smile without his gift. I know that he likes to make everyone around him smile because it literally in the first song in the movie "My primo Camilo won't stop until he makes you smile today" indicating that doing this make his family happy and in returned makes him happy. Carla teaches him that he doesn't need to be magical to make the family smile. They both learned from each other because they are both so similar to each other and may I mention this all through a song.
Dislikes: Although their is a very strong plot with character development with our main characters that are very emotion and inspiring, but the biggest flaw is that this book is not happy to read. The plot and story very well done, but it not something that I go back and read unless their is a new chapter which their won't be ever new chapter since it is completed. I don't feel entertain reading it and their aren't this moments that brighten up the mood. Is the book balanced when ti be serious and when not to be? That absolutely yes. It was always be a yes, but if you look at ATLA or STCW their are these moments that put a smile on your face even with a show that has genocide and war crimes in it. It still pleasant to read and this is not the case for the story "Chameleons" and to me that very disappointing for book with such a good story line and plot that inspired me when I read those chapters with the Carla and Camilo finding out who they are.
Verdict: 8/10. Great story overall but is not something I will not go back and read very often.
