Spell of Slumber

***DISCLAIMER*** to the author, It should first be stated, that you should NOT take anything i say with a grain of salt. Everything i say i mean, and i mean it with my chest puffed out, so, take everything i say to heart.  To the readers, this review will contain lots of spoilers, so I suggest you read the storygame first. 



First Impressions:

I have to say, this story took my breath away. It wasn’t just a read; it felt like an emotional journey that touched something deep within me. The love story between Corlix and Aubrynne was so delicately and authentically crafted that I found myself completely immersed in their world.

Right from their first meeting, there’s an undeniable chemistry between Corlix and Aubrynne. Their playful (yet mean-spirited) banter, the way they exchange jabs and witty insults—it all felt so real. I could sense, even before they did, that their connection ran deeper than they were willing to admit. Aubrynne’s ease in sparring with Corlix was so telling; it reminded me of how the strongest relationships often begin with that rare ability to just be ourselves, flaws and all, with someone else.

The shared trauma between Corlix and Aubrynne was what really pulled me in. Corlix’s struggle with guilt and the burden of his curse, paired with Aubrynne’s battles with self-doubt and the impossible standards set by her mother, added such depth to their characters. Seeing them find comfort and understanding in each other was truly beautiful. Their love felt like it was forged in the fires of their pain, making it so much more profound and unbreakable.

Aubrynne’s character, in particular, struck a chord with me. Her introspective moments, especially those filled with self-doubt and the weight of her mother’s expectations, were so relatable. That feeling of having your achievements overshadowed by someone else’s legacy is something that hits close to home for many of us. The way the story captures that universal struggle for self-worth and recognition is truly poignant.

What really hit home as well is when Aubrynne realizes that no matter what she does, her mother will always somehow claim it as her own achievement. So many parents are like that. If you worked hard and somehow became a millionaire, many parents (mine included) would attribute your success solely to their parenting, as opposed to any merit of your own.

I couldn’t help but imagine how amazing this story would be as a Disney/Pixar film. The magical world of Romantica, with its potential for stunning musical numbers and lively dance sequences, seems perfect for animation. It’s easy to picture it alongside classics like The Little Mermaid, where music and visuals come together to create something unforgettable.

In the end, this story is a masterpiece of emotional storytelling. It explores love, self-worth, and personal growth with such grace and depth that it left a lasting impact on me. The journey from antagonism to a deep, transformative love is a powerful reminder of the healing power of understanding and acceptance. This isn’t just a story that entertains; it’s one that resonates, inspires, and leaves a mark on the heart.

Evelithe is just like Aubrynne, except she chose to go down a darker path to please her mother, which I think was effectively conveyed in one of the alternate epilogues, highlighting just how similar they actually were.

Writing Style:

The writing in this story is truly exceptional, achieving a level of descriptiveness and beauty that’s rare to find. Every sentence flows so seamlessly, creating an immersive experience that pulls you deeper into the narrative. One line, in particular, left a lasting impact on me: "I slam my fists against the mirror, letting anger drown out the sadness. This isn’t about Mother. It’s about my faults, my mistakes. She’s only the reflective glass upon which I can so clearly see my failure. And try as I might, I can’t run from myself."

This line resonates on such a profound philosophical level. It’s a raw and honest reflection on self-perception and the human tendency to project our inner turmoil onto others. The mirror becomes a powerful metaphor, not just for self-reflection, but for the harsh reality of confronting one’s flaws. The character isn’t merely blaming external forces—here, the mother—for their pain. Instead, they recognize that these external figures only serve to highlight what’s already broken within.

The idea that "I can’t run from myself" captures the inescapable nature of self-awareness. No matter how much we try to shift the blame or avoid the truth, we ultimately have to face our own shortcomings. This line speaks to the internal struggle many of us go through, where anger and sadness often intertwine as we grapple with the realization that the root of our suffering lies within. It’s a moment of painful clarity, a confrontation with the self that is as unavoidable as it is transformative. There are many other lines scattered throughout the story that carry similar depth, making this narrative a true masterclass in writing. This story is going to stay with me for a long time—it was that good of a read.

Other important philosophical lessons woven into the narrative include the nature of love itself. Mystic_Warrior masterfully distinguishes between infatuation and genuine love, a distinction that is often blurred but is so crucial. The story shows that true love isn’t just about passion; it’s about communication, acceptance, and embracing each other’s flaws.

Worldbuilding:

The worldbuilding in this story is phenomenal, adding layers of depth that truly bring the setting to life. One of the most delightful touches is the inclusion of a world map, which not only serves as a visual guide but also enhances the reader's immersion in this beautifully crafted world. The use of distinct color schemes and palettes throughout the narrative further contributes to the story's atmosphere, making it feel elegant, cozy, and visually rich.

Each nation within this world is fleshed out just enough to give readers a sense of their unique identity and culture. The subtle differences between them are conveyed in a way that feels effortless, allowing the reader to grasp their essence without feeling overwhelmed. The clever use of nation names that hint at their characteristics is a particularly nice touch. It simplifies the process of remembering who’s who and where’s where, ensuring that the world feels complex and vibrant without being overly complicated.

This attention to detail in the worldbuilding makes the story not just a read, but an experience. The thoughtfully constructed nations and the visual elements woven into the narrative combine to create a setting that’s as engaging as the characters themselves. It’s a world you want to linger in, to explore further, and that’s a testament to the author’s skill in creating a fully realized, immersive environment.

Each civilisation and city was truly unique, from the horse riding nation to the land of the repressive love nation.

Overall:

Spell of Slumber is a story that is a solid 8/8. It feels like true love is expressed throughout the narrative, as Darius also mentioned in his review. The raw emotion conveyed, the sense of love, and the healing process that unfolds through Corlix and Aubrynne’s interactions are almost spiritual in nature. It’s a deeply healing story, one that offers alternate endings with darker tones, but if you find the true intended ending, it’s breathtakingly beautiful.

I can’t help but think that Mystic_Warrior must have a rich, complex, and beautiful inner world to be able to write something like this—so philosophically and thematically real, yet ultimately wholesome. I did notice a seemingly very subtle self insert aswell, where Aubrynne compares herself to a warrior sage, which is oddly reminiscent of your name! Which was wholesome to see : )

This was genuinely great. Mystic claims that it’s a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but for me, this was much more engaging than the original.

All in all, I recommend this story to everyone who can read. Don’t be put off by the romance genre, it’s great in an action/adventure kind of way too. I also recommend going and finding every epilogue. While the main two epilogues are great, the others reveal so much about the characters and the world that was carefully crafted.

SPOILERS

First, I really liked the world building. The inclusion of the map was a valuable addition and made the world much more real. The places and cultures also weren’t made too strictly realistic, but focused on a single characteristic. This helped it keep a lighter “fairy tale” kind of tone throughout.

Another piece of world building that I really enjoyed was the magic system. Without any real info dumps, except the one where we read the book, we’re introduced to an engaging magic system. We get the requirements: fairy descent, the materials: a spell scroll, and the method: singing. We’re given countless other details, but it’s not overwhelming. We’re not given much at all on spellscreeching, but the protagonist also doesn’t know much about them, so it fits.

I also really like how the alternate epilogues add to world building and details of the story in general. The one where Aubrynne thinks her mother is the spellscreecher revealed a bit about why her mother blamed herself so much for the king’s curse. My favorite one (other than the main one), where you flee to the Unchained Empire was also great. The fact that there was at least one other time travelled there was a twist that I greatly appreciated.

Darius already gushed about the romance so I’ll leave that alone, but the characterization of the characters is pretty great. In particular, I think Aubrynne’s relationship with her mother was realistic and helped to drive the story forward. In fairy tales, it’s easy for the guardian or parent to be flatly portrayed as “evil,” but the mother in this story is sympathetic. She views herself as a failure for allowing the king’s curse and lives vicariously through her daughter’s accomplishments. Personally, I felt the most emotion at the scene just before the final battle when Aubrynne had the option of either accepting or rejecting her mother’s attempt to make amends.

I also liked that even though several characters had already claimed that spellscreechers were incapable of love, through Evelithe’s sacrifice, she proves this false, and through the emperor of the Unchained Empire’s gratitude for the sparing of his parents, it’s proved that everyone is capable of love.

The only thing that I genuinely didn’t enjoy about the story was Tobalt’s speech impediment. To me, it was not really funny and even annoyed me when I had to figure out what he was supposed to be saying. I understand that he can’t lie, and this is supposed to be a clever workaround, but the whole ‘spellscreechers’ can’t lie thing didn’t really come up much and felt like a sort of afterthought.

All in all, fantastic job. This is a story worth geeking out over.

Okay, since no one is praising Mystic over here, I'll be the self appointed simper of Spell of slumber.

Mystic, it seems like you're always improving haha. To be fair, I think I like this romance a lot more than that of moonlit waters, which was surprising because I remembered that I liked that couple's dynamic a lot haha.

While lots of people stumble and fall while writing romance, Mystic's one is soaring up the sky effortlessly. The magic of a good romance is for me that the couple has to have a life of their own beyond their romantic interest, but by being together with their loved one makes them a better person overall.

Corlix starts of as a tired aloof person who's pretty much resigned to his fate, not caring whether he died today or tomorrow, while Aubrynne is a person riddled with a huge complex about her magic coupled with a strained relationship with her mother. Their personalities clash hard in the beginning, but somehow Aubrynne's stubbornness gives Corlix hope that he can be cured while protecting him during their journey. Corlix also helps Aubrynne to have more confidence and love for herself. Both characters come out of this story as completely different people and better more self realised ones too. I love it.

One thing that makes the romance also work is that the characters also have other things to do than to flirt, because they need to get the support of other countries. There's a certain amount of branching due to that, a very smart choice to make the story not too linear and maintain this high level of characterization and development we currently see (something actually quite rare in interactive fiction). I like the challenges like the race, super exciting to read. Although those characters have known each other less to than a week, their love for each other is made very believable based on what they went through. Very impressive.

It's also very funny that Aubrynne kinda changed the curse into something less harsh (shes kind of a mixture between a fairy god mother and the prince in the original sleeping beauty story hehe) and that everyone misunderstood her deed as her fucking up the spell. It also added a lot of tension that Corlix didn't know in the beginning that she's a spellsinger while of course harboring lots of resentment to spelldingers due to his curse. It made every interaction they have and every spell Aubrynne cast filled with another layer of tension. "How will Corlix react if he knew the full truth etc"

Then some light critique; maybe one can wave it away due to fantasy bullshit, but I found that the distances and travel time were ehh, very short. One day on a horse, even a very fast magical one, will not bring you to a whole other country that easily. It's just sometimes difficult to believe that Aubrynne and Corlix can cover so much distance. (One exception to this minor critique is that we have also seen them teleporting and stuff. So yeah, just fantasy logic).

Then we have the twist villain, the butler who always misspeaks words, ehh, I was actually surprised, but at the same time I had the feeling that he didn't add too much to the climax to be honest. Unlike Corlix's sister, I just don't think he's a proper foil to any of the other characters like Aubrynne, Corlix or Aubrynne's mum.

Speaking of the climax, I love the climax, although I'm still a bit frowning about the idea that Corlix's sister, who tried to assassinate him even when he was young, that she still somehow loves him? Haha, still not seeing that.

However, the true love's kiss is brilliant. I was laughing and crying at the same time. It was so very fitting for Aubrynne and Corlix to constantly try to one up each other and sacrifice themselves so that the other may live, it reminds me so much of their previous banter.

Fun, memorable side characters too, my favorite side character must be the lovey dovey couple in Romantica. I was squealing through that part so much.

All in all, great story, best romance I've ever read on CYS. (Yes, it triumphs Natalie, Eternal and Innkeeper). The two main leads are just so likeable, their dynamic so engaging with fun action scenes sprinkled in between, that I cannot help but recommend to everyone, even those not that fond of the romance genre.

A delight to read (and reread). Beautiful writing, variable endings, and easy-on-the-eyes formatting.

WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! Absolutely BEAUTIFUL from start to finish.

Well written storygame! This deserves more praise.

Greatest gamebook ive read in my life!
I had some negative comments, but I've forgotten what they were..lol.. No, I do remember but let's not go there. Very nicely written.
Its quite long, but well worth the read, and I like happy endings.

I do not enjoy romance stories. This was a romance story. I enjoyed every second of it

Great story game. I loved it!

Great story game. I loved it!