Player Comments on Spell of Slumber

Spell of Slumber stands as Mystic_Warrior’s crown jewel among all her stories, an emotionally honest, tender, and sincere love letter to “Sleeping Beauty”, and to the time honored tradition of fairy tale adaptations itself. It manages to rekindle all of the magic and nostalgia of fairy tales I had loved and cherished as a kid, while breathing fresh life into the long enduring story, bringing in something new and making “Spell of Slumber” truly stand on its own as a literary classic and one of the finest CYOAs I have read till date.

At its core, the story excels at making us truly believe in the lasting power of true love, not in a way that feels naive or implausible, but with a sincerity and clear vision that makes the story come alive. There is something weighty and powerful about this story, and I believe that it stems from the authenticity that lies at its core, woven into each and every word that Mystic probably feverishly wrote while studying for like 10 different exams(who knows, it could have been 11!). Mystic really wrote this story from her heart, pouring herself into this story, and I didn’t need to read the giant text wall reflection posts she wrote describing this process to know that fact. Her passion, discipline to storycraft, and dedication to bring the idea in her head to life, shines from the page, illuminating the reader’s mind and putting them in a trance that they may never wake from, like the aforementioned Spell of Slumber itself. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but my point is that once I started reading, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the page. I had to see the whole thing through, and it’s truly rare when a storygame takes you by the throat and commands your attention in this way. It’s so obvious though when a writer truly cares about their characters, and deeply understands them through and through. That deep understanding translates into characters who feel tangible and also makes the audience care about them just as much, making us, the readers, really feel the story on a much more deeper and intimate level.

Before joining the site, my previous favorite reimagining of classic fairy tales was “The Land of Stories” series by Chris Colfer. He does a great job at presenting fairy tales through a modern-day lens, mixing in YA humor and somewhat simplistic depictions of the fairy tale characters. Then afterwards, I really liked “These Shackled Souls”. But now, my favorite is hands down the “Spell of Slumber” because it manages to take everything I liked about “The Land of Stories” as a kid, and take it to the next level. From the prose, to the more mature depictions of love, and the slow and thoughtful pacing of the work, everything works in harmony, it had all the positives of “The Land of Stories” and none of the negatives that I disliked. Plus, the interactive CYOA element was really good, that obviously took the storygame to a whole new level and I will definitely talk about that in great detail in the rest of my review.

And on the storygame front, “Spell of Slumber” is one of my favorite storygames on the site, and my favorite Mystic_Warrior story. Till now, These Shackled Souls was my favorite Mystic_Warrior story(to be fair, I had only read 2 up until reading Spell of Slumber, and of the 2, Shackled Souls was the clear stand out), but this story legitimately blew me away and by the end, I had to take a second to really process what I had just read. I ended up being so intimidated at reviewing a story so profound and deeply meaningful to me, that I decided to let my thoughts and impressions sit for a while, allowing them to grow and coalesce hopefully into a cogent stream of thoughts, and I went off to read another story. That way, when I came back to Spell of Slumber, I could review it with fresh eyes.

Upon my return, I had to reread the story again just to make sense of all the feelings I had towards it. But that 2nd reread really put everything into perspective. Like a canvas unveiled, the sheet dramatically pulled away to reveal a perfectly framed painting, a masterpiece of the written word. All the poems and spells, the political machinations and the elegantly written witty repartees between Corlix and Aubrynne, crescendoing together into a beautiful symphony, all for the final masterful stroke. The epilogues serve as the last resounding notes that shatter the air like glass, slowly fading into silence but never truly disappearing because they linger in your mind for a while(like at least a few days, if not weeks because it’s some pretty good stuff, not to mention heavy if you get the wrong endings.) So yeah, if you’re going to read this thing properly, read it twice! But that’s just my recommendation, since you’ll find new and delightful things layered into the narrative that you probably didn’t notice before, and it will give you a true sense of appreciation for the way Mystic constructed this complex intertwined narrative.

The art, from the covers to the background/color scheme used, contributes to the emotional tone quite remarkably. The trailer piqued my interest. I did the proper and civilized thing, and watched the trailer before reading the story, and I’m so glad I did. I loved the ominous music paired with the “3,2,1” on the red backdrop with the patchwork of white dots flickering in and out of existence. That gave the trailer this weird, retro, almost homebrew style that really worked for me. I don’t know how to describe it, but I lowkey enjoyed it. I loved the fast-paced tense atmosphere that the trailer establishes, along with the opening message: “This is a story you know, but it is unlike anything you have ever heard before.” Sums it up pretty nicely, to be honest. That’s a great tagline if I’ve ever seen one, and it’s 100% accurate. I loved the rapid sequence of spooky stock images, each photo was well chosen and after reading it, actually relevant to the story. The voices were quite a surprise, I didn’t expect Mystic to get voice actors involved, and they both were quite good! To be fair, I almost didn’t catch the “Ashella” at the end of the dude voice actor’s line because he pronounces it in quite an interesting way, but still that was really cool! From there, the trailer goes into some thematically appropriate images, that also serve as foreshadowing for what’s about to come with the spindle, the hooded figure with knives, the ship, the drop of blood precariously hanging from a needle, the creepy glowing book, they may not appear in the story exactly as they do in the trailer, but all of those images are incredibly significant plot points in the story. The trailer puts the images in our mind, while keeping it just vague enough to keep us guessing, so it really built the hype I already had for this story. I also loved the cute sequence at the end where Mystic plugs her other stories. Each and every one of those images were cool, and once we got to the end where the dramatic music crescendoes to its final note and the beautifully designed “Spell of Slumber” title appeared, along with the little “Read it now!”, I couldn’t help but applaud in my mind. The sync between the music and the images was great, the music was well chosen(although it is a bit on the nose for the generic dramatic trailer music, perhaps a more fairy-tale esque theme would have been even better, but it was still a banger and awesome to listen to), and I loved the way Mystic crafted it. The voice actors were so cool, and less is more, so just those 2 lines were enough. Already, this was a ton of effort for a contest entry, and I was very excited to read the story itself.

The presentation is absolutely phenomenal. I love the design of roses trapped in a glass coffin, especially because of the symbolism/foreshadowing it has later on, and it’s a wonderful homage to the original sleeping beauty. I love the polygon line art that Mystic designed, it looks really pretty and really fancy. The overall effect, everything from the black screen to the design at the center is super pretty! I’m not as good as Mystic at visual design, but I like it a lot, and it looks so good. I feel like with each and every detail, my appreciation for this story keeps improving because it’s a beautiful story that’s also beautifully presented!

The poems at the start of each chapter are so good! I don’t know much about analyzing poetry, so I’m not going to be talking about rhyme schemes or iambic pentameter or stuff like that. But in terms of plot, oh man. Mystic did a great job with each and every line. None of the lines were simply chosen for vibes or just to look pretty. Each and every line has a future implication to a plot point that appears later on, but it’s not super obvious. For instance, one example of this that I found really impressive was the last couplet(I think that’s what it’s called?) at the end of the Solar Kingdoms Poem: “Ashella marks the center of the map. Thus rulers plot its conquest and its trap“ After reading the whole story and coming back to this line, this is pretty glaring foreshadowing to the Queen of Informatica trapping Aubrynne and forcibly revealing her true last name to everyone. But the best part of this line is the fact that it works in multiple layers. Because at that point in the story, we’re already expecting Corlix’s sister, the villainess of the whole story, to lay a trap. That much was pretty obvious, and despite it not being fully revealed that she was the mastermind behind all of this, she was definitely a strong candidate. But we don’t expect the queen of informatica, the king of Warheart, and Tobalt, the emperor of the unchained lands, to all be laying their own traps. So I love how the poem doesn’t just foreshadow what we already know, but also sets up surprises, showing the complex narrative architecture Mystic has built, and how everything, from the art to the poems to the actual written word, is carefully designed and intricately laid out in a planned and deliberate fashion. And that’s what I really love. That’s what keeps me coming back to this story.

I really loved the character of Aubrynne. She’s so messy and contains multitudes, contradictions within herself, characteristics that seem at first to be diametrically opposite, and you might think, how could one person be all of those things? Like, she’s a genuinely kind person, but she can also be selfish. She can be soft and tender-hearted, and ruthless, cold, and calculating. But that’s precisely what makes her human, and what really led me to enjoy this characterization. Aubrynne Spelwinter is a perfect example on how to write a character, because she’s so far from perfect and so human and relatable that you can’t help but root for her. I’ve had so many experiences that were similar to what Aubrynne has been going through, so I felt her struggles and pain on a visceral level. I never quite saw myself in a character recently as much as I did in Aubrynne, whether it be the hole in her heart created by having abandonment issues from her father who left her and her mother, and the way her mother would treat her. I thought that Mystic displayed a really good knowledge of psychology, as Aubrynne seemed like the perfect example of a young child suffering from an avoidant attachment personality type brought on by her childhood trauma. I love the way, right from the beginning, Mystic wastes no time in telling us who Aubrynne is as a person. And she gradually unfolds more and more layers to Aubrynne as the story goes on, but that first page, with the school contest and Aubrynne trying this ridiculously reckless spell even though she has a spell that could easily net her the win, all because she feels that as a Spelwinter, she constantly has to go above and beyond. She hears her mother’s voice, and feels her disapproval at anything ordinary.

Corlix is set up as a really interesting romantic interest who also functions well as a really interesting character himself. In a way, Mystic improved on the original fairy tale, since both the prince and the princess in the original sleeping beauty were flat archetypes of the savoir and the damsel in the distress. I also noticed that Mystic reversed the roles, with Aubrynne being in the role of the saviour and Corlix as the former “damsel in the distress”, yet at the same time, Corlix isn’t completely helpless and is a competent ruler/swordsman in his own right. That’s what I love about this relationship, there’s give and take and a sense of balance. In old fashioned romance stories, there’s a risk of the female character always being relegated to the role of having to be rescued or saved, so I like that in this story, we don’t see that anywhere. Instead, we see a relationship gradually forged on the foundations of mutual trust, from the ashes of secrets and mistrust.

Because from the moment Aubrynne lays on Corlix, she resents him for his hatred of Spellsingers and his arrogance. She has to adjust with him, accepting his naming her as his successor for the sole purpose of proving to the world that she’s the greatest spellsinger of all time by curing his curse, but she still resents the way he boxed her into a corner like that. And from Corlix’s point of view, he’s under an immense amount of stress, dealing with the fallout of the betrayal of his sister, the pressure of ruling, and the impending curse that will put him to sleep forever, only a few days away. So Mystic does a really good job of capturing all of these complicated aspects, and distilling them into each and every one of Corlix’s actions, dialogues, and general demeanor.

A character that surprised me with their depth was Aubrynne’s mother. At the start of the story, she’s a disapproving mother who’s incredibly cold. Seriously, I loved the way Mystic wrote her and Aubrynne’s interactions, especially at the beginning, since you could see her cold heart and refusal to show any love for her daughter on full display. I thought that was a great portrayal of a tiger parenting dynamic typically present in Asian households, although it’s found throughout the world in every single culture. I could totally understand Aubrynne’s motivations and why she pushes herself so hard. I felt so bad for Aubrynne and really hated Madame Spelwinter, especially when Aubrynne gets kicked out of school and all she has to say is that she is disappointed in her daughter, and that Aubrynne ruined the Spelwinter legacy. Never mind the fact that Aubrynne attempted, and did something most would consider impossible. But as the story goes on, we see the effect of generational trauma that gets passed down. Like a vicious cycle of violence, the way Aubrynne’s father berated her mother gets passed down, with the victim becoming the perpatrator. Aubrynne’s mother internalizes her failure in getting accepted into the Spellsinger Council, and because her husband, a loved one, berates her like this, it creates an open wound inside of her that won’t be satisfied unless she holds her daughter up to an unrealistic standard. In Madame Spelwinter’s twisted mindset, she thinks she is protecting her daughter, shielding her from the abuse she received by making Aubrynne perfect, but she does it in a really horrible and abusive way. And when Aubrynne does fall short of her standards, she reacts viciously, but still sees it as a form of love when all it’s doing is making Aubrynne’s psyche fragile like glass, pushing her to the brink of exhaustion and making her guarded and close minded, often putting her ambition above innocent lives or doing the right thing.

Yet despite her mom’s conditioning that Spelwinters are better than everyone else, there is an innate goodness inside Aubrynne that refuses to quit. Despite her acting selfishly at the start, her actions at the outset of the story resulting in several unforeseen and unpredictable consequences that threaten the lives of Prince Corlix, his parents, and by extension, his entire kingdom, she makes up for it by acting selflessly several times later on in the story.

But that’s if you make the right choices. In a stunning display of true player control, the variety of epilogues truly reflect all the shades of Aubrynne, at her best she’s shining brightly having achieved the full capability of her powers, and her worst in the darkest dungeons, having succumbed to the siren call of ambition and power-greed, loving Corlix in a twisted and perverse way that he could never possibly reciprocate.

I loved the way the story flowed. At no point did my attention start to lag. The story is an ambitious one, with a lot of historical lore and world building to cover, but it takes its time, letting things gradually unfold at the right time, and making us, the readers, truly fall in love with the world as a whole. It doesn't even feel like something that was written and imagined, with the way everything fits together and works in-sync, you would think this was a world already formed, lying in wait for Mystic to find and bring to us from the depths of her subconscious. But of course, that's not how writing works, and this work is a testament to how hard Mystic works to create truly great works that entrance the audience. She did such a good job that even though writing this story must have been a truly herculean task, reading it is the opposite, and it feels like this story was always in existence, just waiting to be read by us. So good job, Mystic!

I got all 5 endings: Spell of Sympathy, The Last Spellscreecher, The Greatest Spellscriber, The Greatest Spellscreecher, and The Greatest Spellsinger. Of all the endings, the greatest spell singer was obviously the true ending, and my personal favorite. But The greatest spell screecher was also compelling, because it acts like an interesting counterpart to the good ending, exploring the depths to which Aubrynne could fall, mirroring her rise in the good ending with a tragic fall that's just as deep and powerful, but in a more sinister way this time.

This is a really great story. It has a wonderful magic system, excellent characterization, and it’s a truly magical fairy tale story that will have you soaring the peaks of mountains at its peaks, sharing a quiet moment of thoughtful love with our main leads, or plunged to the depths of despair as our character seemingly loses everything. The prose is incredibly well done, and the lush and detailed imagery adds to the emotional weight of the story. The writing style is truly lyrical, and draws readers in with a welcome invitation of great writing accompanied by a truly wonderful story, and the promise is kept right from the beginning all the way till the very end.

***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.

Words cannot express how wonderful this story was. Author… you have created a masterpiece.

I'm not great with words, but this story was amazing. Definitely recommend.

Amazing Story! Thank you for writing it!

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!

Truly excellent writing in this! Really enjoyed, thanks for writing. The world felt well-defined and the choices were interesting. It was very creative in the map and story design and although some of aspects of the story followed typical tropes of the genre, it broke others (damsel in distress needing rescuing) which was great.

Spoilers Below:

Don't read until you finished at least one or more of the epilogues it's definitely worth it. This felt more cinematic than any of the live-action remakes they've been coming out with lately. In all seriousness this story is awesome and I'm really glad that you told it the way you did. I really felt the tension of each decision Aubrynne made wanting her to succeed as Darius mentioned. I felt I was able to relate to Aubrynne and her arc throughout the story was satisfying to read.

Aesthetically the story was well presented and one of my favorite parts about reading it. I loved the map of the kingdoms and the little logo of each kingdom as you entered it. It really helped me visualize each location Aubrynne visited as I got more immersed in the world and the magic system. I also liked that the story was written with a dark background. It made sense thematically and it's easier on the eyes when reading in the dark. Each song before a major section of the plot commenced really added to the experience and made me want to keep reading.

The moments of action were well executed. I sensed the urgency of some moments like the multiple assassination attempts and the race sequence was probably my favorite moment of action other than the climax of course. Minor nitpick I was a bit confused about why Evelithe wanted to kill Corlix before the curse took effect. Did like the gritty more brutal depiction of combat and spellcasting as far as that's concerned.

The other characters were compelling in their own rights as well with the standouts being Madame Spelwinter and Evelithe. Evelithe was a particularly nasty villain and I wanted to see more of her and of Madame Spelwinter and the history of their family line. I feel like they could've had a duel the night of the coronation just to show off the power of Spell singers.

I've read a lot of bad romance in fantasy as it seems to take a backseat to the action that's going on in the story. I loved how you have woven it into the narrative and how Corlix is able to resist the curse near the end because of Aubrynne's love for him and how it has genuinely made him a better ruler for it. I mean there were many impressive Corlix moments, but that one just stands out to me in particular.

Thank you for sharing this amazing story that certainly deserves to be one of the featured stories on the site.

Great story. I laughed. I cried. I finished it start to finish without stopping and I have a short attention span!

Still simping bout it, still simping

I'm crying, legit crying. Damn you Mystic, damn you with this sappy as hell story that makes me almost want to believe that true love is a thing. Screw you for making me tear up.