Quest Reviews (CLOSED FOR CATCH UP)

Faye's review

Title: Ivy

Author:  ChiddyE01

Status: Ongoing.

Focus: Plot, characterisation, relationships.

Title and Cover (4/5)

I love a simple title. No need to complicate things. Ivy is the name of the main character; a beautiful name that in itself encourages intrigue within a reader. A great choice!

I love the use of greens in your cover! They reflect the ideas that the name “Ivy" inflict in the mind – green Ivy leaves. The picture of the high-heels and stocking covered legs, with the gun hanging limply beside them is a fabulous choice. I also like the font used for the title. However, the placement of the title doesn't sit right with me, at first glance I didn't even see it there. I thought at first the cover was missing the title all together. I think if you want to keep the title going up the side like that it needs to be brighter so that it stands out or you could place it along the bottom, where the background is at its darkest. As this is the place the eye falls natural on a book cover to read the title.

Description (5/5)

What an intriguing description! The more I read it the more I wanted to read your story! It is executed wonderfully giving glimpses into many different windows in your story and altogether sells your story well! It is also structured beautiful and is pleasing to the eye. Great job!

Writing Style (5/5)

You have a unique writing style. The way you described the streets of New York and Hal's Joint reminded me of classical writing similar to mysteries set in the 1920s. I found this an interesting choice that works wonderfully for this story. It shows quite plainly how human nature doesn't easily change no matter how many years pass us by. 

Your descriptions of places and people are vivid, I could clearly picture them in my mind. You kept a consistent mood throughout the book of murky depravity and small rays of light that bring pieces of hope within such a bleak tale. The way you described the colours in the sky and the grey city buildings surrounding her reflected this. She lived amongst darkness and abuse within her work but went home to brightness and love when she saw Emily.

The ways you described people Ivy encountered were very well handled, you didn’t forget any aspect within their appearances. You even included fashion tastes and habits – for example, Hal's flamboyant attire and his cigars, which help him express his inner thoughts. I liked how you changed your writing style to show how him and other men talk, clearly showing their unique accents.

I liked that Ivy was called “Poison Ivy” in both the orphanage and Hal's joint – the comparison of her feelings towards her name in both of these places were very well expressed. Making me feel even more sorry for the poor soul. The name being inflicted on her by an abusive guardian and her using it herself within her work in the club, showing her acceptance of the title through learned self-hate.

Having Ivy repeat things that the Mother Superior said to her as a child to her own child was a clever choice and an effective way to bring out more of Ivy’s backstory.

The imagery used to describe Ivy's anger issues as an adolescent was really inspired. Calling her a puppet on a string, controlled by ferocious beasts representing violence and hatred. The parallels of this imagery to the tragedy/crime that happens in the next chapter was also incredibly clever!

Characterisation (4/5)

I was so impressed by your characterisation. Especially the work you put into Ivy. A lonely soul, brought up to hate herself as well as others around her. Her back story and personality are incredibly well thought out and written so vividly. I liked how you explored how Ivy's mind copes with the terrible things that she does, as if she's walking in a dreamlike state which is out of her control – a very clever idea that really shows how her traumatic past affected her mind. I also like that Ivy is a fighter and not a quivering wreck. An individual who had gone through what she has can become either of these things. You made the better choice for this story.