Biscuits and Ghosts

This storygame is like a watercolor or an Impressionist painting with blurred edges, colors and emotions shading into each other. There are a lot left to the reader's imagination--questions about death and loss and lack of control, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I guess it's no secret that I am a huge fan of MHD's writing, and this didn't disappoint.

What struck me most about this story was how the choices were usually relatively quiet verbs (flicker, touch) used to drive the narrative and the emotion because, well, more active verbs don't make any sense. We are watching the narrative, and propelling it, and then watching and waiting and hoping that they can do what we want them to do. In that context, rattling the shutters, for example is the only way we can express sorrow or the desire to communicate or a warning, or whatever.

All we've got here are some choices, and we want to say "I love you" and all we can do is make a book fall or something. The gigantic gap between our verbs, what we want to say, and the result of our choice is huge, and affecting, and I wish I had thought of it first, because it is brilliant. We spend so much time trying to make the reader feel like they are in the shoes and head of the main character of a storygame that one feels adrift and frustrated and sad when you have only these choices to affect things, and that's great.

I enjoyed that so much that when the exposition (Memories/Continue) happens in the middle, it felt like learning this information over someone's shoulder. And the verbs after that--at least on the paths I've played--start to become more powerful--opening, and unlocking, and speaking, and showing, and slapping... The game would have been spectacular without that movement, without that progression, but with it, the game feels like it has so much emotional momentum.

I think this is right up there with my very favorites on the site.

Before arriving at Bicuits and Ghosts' front page, I wasn't aware that I was a clever ghost. Seems I am though. I always knew it to be true. Anyway, the way BG is tied to the other stories, immediately piques my interest level. Edithe Zilonis was one of the best stories I've read on this site, so I entered BG with high hopes. And you know what? I left with them just as high.

In terms of proper grammar, there are certainly more than a few "mistakes." I hesitate to call them such as MHD's style tends to break the rules a bit. It's not because she lacks the understanding, though. Each story within the Blackwood Chronicles is written in the same way. Fragmented sentences, commas where they shouldn't be, untraditional paragraph breaks: it creates a unique setting for the reader, one in which I find myself drawn into (get it?). In fact, the entire read feels less like a novel, and more like an experienced story, like I'm sitting around a fireplace and being told a story.

As far as criticism goes, there's not much to offer in my opinion. Perhaps the main one mentioned will be the story's linear nature. It's similar in that regard to the other stories in the Chronicles, however, I don't think it takes away from the story at all. True, most people on the site would rather see several branches, complete with a 12 epilogue arsenal. MHD's writing is about perspective, which is fitting for her artistic nature. It's about viewing a story from different views, admiring the beauty of it from different angles. My rating wasn't affected negatively by the "lack of branching."

Most often, you're presented with two choices, none of which are END GAME links, to continue the story. MHD isn't out here to play "gotcha!" with a sudden death link. I can appreciate this as the reader as there's a sense of trust created, knowing full-well that a nonsensical death link isn't in my future. Often that's the case or mistake made by the author; they sense the story's linear and throw a few "sudden deaths" in the mix, which tend to be stupid, no-brainer choices to make. Instead, I'm corralled into a wonderful story with the option to experience it differently depending on the choices presented.

It's, in fact, quite as the title page suggests: a stunning conclusion to the Blackwood Chronicles. The story flows nicely, the characters are presented almost play-like, and it's a unique experience for a storygame. From one clever ghost to another, I *implore* you to give Biscuits and Ghosts a read.

loved it

Incredible story!! So the premise of the story being in letter form is unorthodox but appealing, and the dynamic of Death and Life as they help you navigate the story of how your love died had me smiling despite the dark undertones of the story.

I noticed and enjoyed the sharp contrast between the beginning, where the protagonist is depressed and unable to accept the death of their love, and the ending, where the protagonist, after meeting their departed sweetheart, is more accepting of what happened, even wishing her well in the afterlife.

I loved it

!!! Wow. Nice.

Like the other one I've read by MHD, the grammar is intentionally quirky in a good way (such as Oberon's dialog having no quotes). The story is interesting despite being very linear, though it's not really a problem. I liked it!

It's pretty good.

It is a really good story with very hooking plot. It kept me wondering what was going to happen next the whole time. There was a few parts where I was not sure who’s point of view it was in so it was a little confusing but others then that I really enjoyed reading it and think everyone should read it.

I really enjoyed this story even though I am not "a clever ghost". The writing was fun and descriptive, and even without the other Blackwood stories, I was able to get into the characters.