Rebel Town Reviews [OPEN]

What if they meet again (Chapters 1-5) - @nira014

What if they meet again (Chapter 1 - 5) by: nira014

Reviewed by: Nablai

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Cover/Title: I really like the cover and think that the dark shade works well with it. The title is catchy and the font is neat. The red colour on the striked out WHAT IF lends an intrigue and mystery to it. Makes us eager to read more. The clawed hands denote a horror element 

Log line: What if they meet again is Fears beneath all the fears will come alive, when you'll dare to step inside. Be ready to meet an old friend to continue what you have started, to bring it to an end.

Overview: The story starts with Rune returning from home while passing through the woods of The Forest of Stake. She gets a letter from her long-time friend Aiden Milo who she hasn't met in five years. The letter mentioned an incident that occurred in the woods to Janet. She gets kidnapped and wakes up in her bedroom with a hazy memory of the incident. She remembers only when she sees the bruises on her neck.

The story follows the accident that happened to Janet and the aftermath on Rune and Aiden. While Rune believed there were external/mysterious forces in the woods that day, Aiden is hell-bent on proving her wrong. She spies a black figure enroute to the party. She hears a voice over there urging them to finish the game they started and left incomplete. She urges Janet's sister Ivy and their mutual friends to go with her after Aiden in the forest.

Grammar: The grammar needs a bit of fine-tuning. Found a couple of comma issues which I'm sure with a couple of edits, you'll be fine. The spellings are neat, making it a pleasure to read. Didn't find any major typos, to be honest.

Pace: The story progresses slowly through flashbacks and the present time at the same time. The story follows multiple characters moving between the past and the present, retaining interest throughout. It was exciting to see the plot move at a fast pace. With the individual pacing constantly moving fast from flashbacks and to the present, the scenes become confusing at times. In chapter 5, I didn't understand how Rune ended up unconscious in the store room when she clearly stated she didn't go there.

Character Development: Character development is excellent. The dialogue is paced and the scenes are vivid. The story introduces a couple of characters like Rune and Aiden, with ample support from Ivy(Janet's sister), Dylen, Jan, Adriane and Callan. We are acquainted with Rune in the first chapter along with Aiden's letter. Builds up a mystery and keeps us on our toes with the cliffhangers at the end of every chapter. The emotions shine through and we can see the characters play off each others strengths. As friends, It's nice to see the camaraderie, the bond they share.

What I liked the most: The writer's choice to follow two timelines simultaneously works well to engage the reader and showing them different worlds. Like the way you show us that Rune is still haunted by Janet's accident in the woods and hasn't gotten over it as yet. We can feel the fear. Rune's love for her dog Oliver is portrayed nicely. The scene where Aiden's ghost grabs her hand and the subsequent phone call from Aiden himself, sent shivers down my spine. And when she says "Aiden", I had goosebumps all over me. I was like, "Oh no...She's dead!" Brilliant piece of writing.

Concluding Thoughts: This is a story I would definitely recommend. The awards are well-deserved. The plot is taut, well-paced, the scenes are vividly described. Initially, I was confused when Rune wakes up in the store, having no memory of getting there, but as I've read only five, I think that's explained down the line in the future chapters.

My best wishes to the writer for their future works! :)

This review is for all to be touched on and not sugarcoated.