The Freezer Bunny Club - A Reading Circle
The Freezer Bunny Club: A Reading Circle https://i.imgur.com/qBYoZ55.png Welcome to The Freezer Bunny Club! This reading circle is an open space for the members to share our stories and discuss...
Forum Discussion
Phew, OK! I'm up to Arc 7, and I really love the story. Sorry for the delay, but here are my responses to all of the discussion questions you initially posted. Sorry for the huge wall of text!
General Questions:
1. All my Sims stories take place in the future (with an alternative history on Earth) on another planet (Simterra). What do you think of the worldbuilding? Does everything make sense? What additional questions do you have about the world building?
Wow, just... wow. Your worldbuilding is magnificent. So many details everywhere! It must have taken you a lot to build a world like this that seems familiar and yet is so richly different from what we know, and I really applaud you for it. I'm not always looking for worldbuilding when I read Sim stories, but I really love stories that incorporate this because I'm a quite voracious reader and love knowing even the most irrelevant minutiae about universes. Your story scratches this itch, and then some! Everything is presented in a way that plunges us into your world, but you also have very useful explanations about everything from the time frame, to the history, to the calendar, to the geography, and to the lifestyle, and even more! What made you interested in creating such an expansive and intricate world with such a rich history?
About your more recent question, I think pages on your blog with detailed descriptions of the worldbuilding elements like timeline, countries, languages, cultures, and things like that would be useful! Almost like a wiki that people like me that are really avid about reading deep details like this can peruse outside of the main story. We mentioned this in the comments of your blog, but I have my own wiki and I use it as a way to have characters and other things laid out in a very structured way and also for deepening characters, etc. outside of the constraints of the story, and I think you have more than enough information about your world to put in a format like this, and that could be an interesting project for you.
2. I put little Author's Notes at the bottom of every chapter. Are they useful? Do you like them? Do they help clarify things from the chapter?
Yes, they're very useful and interesting! I love learning even more details about your world, I'm fascinated by the degree of worldbuilding that you have in the story, so I look forward to your notes after each chapter. They're useful, as well, because you explain things in a way that's clear and concise and that would have been awkward to insert into the chapters themselves. Often, I have questions about the chapters only to find that you help clarify them in the notes, and I like this. I could see that not everyone might like the notes because I suppose they could break the immersion in the story when there's a break in the narration like that between chapters, but I tend to enjoy them very much.
3. The chapters are broken into arcs. Is this helpful? Do you find the breaks natural? (sometimes I use cliffhangers) >:)
I think yes. Having arcs like this helps divide the story into bite-size pieces and I think that's effective. If it was all just chapters with no divisions to help with the reading it would be a little daunting, especially since your story is long. I liked having the arcs, they helped me with setting up breaks in the reading to let things sink in. The breaks are natural to me, they come at good moments and they frequently motivate me to keep reading because the intrigue you leave the readers with at the end of the chapter is just to good to stop. I'm not confused about the arcs or the chapters included in each because I think it flows well.
4. What is your initial impression of Kass, my main character/the protagonist?
Kass is great character. Even from the beginning, you've captured the essence of life at that point with all of the emotions that come with the age. She has a very rich and detailed history, and knowing all of these details about her life helps me to identify with her on some things and sympathize with her in others. You've created a very relatable character with a lot of depth and I really found myself rooting for her from the very beginning.
5. The first part of the story is most definitely slice-of-life with some elements of supernatural/fantasy and mystery thrown in. Do you like it? How is it similar or different to other slice-of-life stories you've read?
I like it a lot. I think that you have a wonderful style of writing that immerses the reader into the life of Kass and the other characters, and the slice-of-life approach is very effective. I'm so immersed in the world you've built that when things like the fantasty and supernatural elements come into play I find myself believing them even though I know they're fictional. I like this because even though the slice-of-life approach is very popular, yours is very detailed and immersive and I truly feel like I'm witnessing the life of a character that I've grown to know well and like.
6. Any thoughts on my writing style? The length of chapters? The pacing?
I love your writing style. The chapters are rich with detail, and I love learning more about not only the characters but the whole world they live in when I read each part. You have a way of writing emotions and interactions that feels very realistic and my immersion as a reader is very satisfying. I think the chapters are a good length, easy to read if I want just a few at a time, but also if I want to binge (like I did over the last couple of days). The pacing also works well, not too much happening in each chapter, but just enough. Things don't seem to go too fast, but I don't feel like any part of the story drags along too much either, even when certain chapters have several parts. I see from your more recent questions that the pacing has been brought up, but honestly it hasn't bothered me.
Arc Specific Questions:
Arc 1:
Arc 2:
Arc 3:
Arc 4:
Arc 5:
Arc 6:
Arc 7:
Arc 8 and beyond
I actually had to stop myself from reading after Arc 7 because I realized I put off a lot of responsibilities for the weekend, but I'm looking forward to reading more! I think now that I have an introduction to your story and I'm mostly caught up with the other stories in the circle, I'll be able to pace myself a little bit more when it comes to yours and not binge-read so much. I'm very excited to see where the story goes after Arc 7!
Other Questions to answer based on where you are (no spoilers in the questions really):
I truly enjoyed reading this first part of KCLKF, I spent almost a whole day immersed in the story, reading, laughing, sighing, commenting, and reading even more, so thank you for creating such a wonderful universe. I'm really looking forward to reading more. Edit: Also, thank you so much for taking the time to read and respond to my comments on your blog! I really liked reading your responses. :blush:
General Questions:
1. All my Sims stories take place in the future (with an alternative history on Earth) on another planet (Simterra). What do you think of the worldbuilding? Does everything make sense? What additional questions do you have about the world building?
Wow, just... wow. Your worldbuilding is magnificent. So many details everywhere! It must have taken you a lot to build a world like this that seems familiar and yet is so richly different from what we know, and I really applaud you for it. I'm not always looking for worldbuilding when I read Sim stories, but I really love stories that incorporate this because I'm a quite voracious reader and love knowing even the most irrelevant minutiae about universes. Your story scratches this itch, and then some! Everything is presented in a way that plunges us into your world, but you also have very useful explanations about everything from the time frame, to the history, to the calendar, to the geography, and to the lifestyle, and even more! What made you interested in creating such an expansive and intricate world with such a rich history?
About your more recent question, I think pages on your blog with detailed descriptions of the worldbuilding elements like timeline, countries, languages, cultures, and things like that would be useful! Almost like a wiki that people like me that are really avid about reading deep details like this can peruse outside of the main story. We mentioned this in the comments of your blog, but I have my own wiki and I use it as a way to have characters and other things laid out in a very structured way and also for deepening characters, etc. outside of the constraints of the story, and I think you have more than enough information about your world to put in a format like this, and that could be an interesting project for you.
2. I put little Author's Notes at the bottom of every chapter. Are they useful? Do you like them? Do they help clarify things from the chapter?
Yes, they're very useful and interesting! I love learning even more details about your world, I'm fascinated by the degree of worldbuilding that you have in the story, so I look forward to your notes after each chapter. They're useful, as well, because you explain things in a way that's clear and concise and that would have been awkward to insert into the chapters themselves. Often, I have questions about the chapters only to find that you help clarify them in the notes, and I like this. I could see that not everyone might like the notes because I suppose they could break the immersion in the story when there's a break in the narration like that between chapters, but I tend to enjoy them very much.
3. The chapters are broken into arcs. Is this helpful? Do you find the breaks natural? (sometimes I use cliffhangers) >:)
I think yes. Having arcs like this helps divide the story into bite-size pieces and I think that's effective. If it was all just chapters with no divisions to help with the reading it would be a little daunting, especially since your story is long. I liked having the arcs, they helped me with setting up breaks in the reading to let things sink in. The breaks are natural to me, they come at good moments and they frequently motivate me to keep reading because the intrigue you leave the readers with at the end of the chapter is just to good to stop. I'm not confused about the arcs or the chapters included in each because I think it flows well.
4. What is your initial impression of Kass, my main character/the protagonist?
Kass is great character. Even from the beginning, you've captured the essence of life at that point with all of the emotions that come with the age. She has a very rich and detailed history, and knowing all of these details about her life helps me to identify with her on some things and sympathize with her in others. You've created a very relatable character with a lot of depth and I really found myself rooting for her from the very beginning.
5. The first part of the story is most definitely slice-of-life with some elements of supernatural/fantasy and mystery thrown in. Do you like it? How is it similar or different to other slice-of-life stories you've read?
I like it a lot. I think that you have a wonderful style of writing that immerses the reader into the life of Kass and the other characters, and the slice-of-life approach is very effective. I'm so immersed in the world you've built that when things like the fantasty and supernatural elements come into play I find myself believing them even though I know they're fictional. I like this because even though the slice-of-life approach is very popular, yours is very detailed and immersive and I truly feel like I'm witnessing the life of a character that I've grown to know well and like.
6. Any thoughts on my writing style? The length of chapters? The pacing?
I love your writing style. The chapters are rich with detail, and I love learning more about not only the characters but the whole world they live in when I read each part. You have a way of writing emotions and interactions that feels very realistic and my immersion as a reader is very satisfying. I think the chapters are a good length, easy to read if I want just a few at a time, but also if I want to binge (like I did over the last couple of days). The pacing also works well, not too much happening in each chapter, but just enough. Things don't seem to go too fast, but I don't feel like any part of the story drags along too much either, even when certain chapters have several parts. I see from your more recent questions that the pacing has been brought up, but honestly it hasn't bothered me.
Arc Specific Questions:
Arc 1:
Spoiler
What do you think of the Prologue (the first five chapters)? Do you feel like it gives you a good introduction to Kass, her family, and backstory? Do you have additional questions about her family/past?
I think this is very well done. From what I read in your notes, this wasn't quite as developed in the first iteration of KCLKF, and I wonder what that looked like. As it is, I think the prologue is a very detailed and wonderful way of getting to know Kass's family and her backstory. I entered the main story with lots of knowledge about her and I think that helped me instantly feel comfortable with the events. I'm really looking forward to seeing how these details come into play at later points in her life, because I'm sure they will and I'm happy I knew about them beforehand. I don't particularly have any further questions about her past at this point because you did such a flawless job of presenting these details.
I think this is very well done. From what I read in your notes, this wasn't quite as developed in the first iteration of KCLKF, and I wonder what that looked like. As it is, I think the prologue is a very detailed and wonderful way of getting to know Kass's family and her backstory. I entered the main story with lots of knowledge about her and I think that helped me instantly feel comfortable with the events. I'm really looking forward to seeing how these details come into play at later points in her life, because I'm sure they will and I'm happy I knew about them beforehand. I don't particularly have any further questions about her past at this point because you did such a flawless job of presenting these details.
Arc 2:
Spoiler
What do you think of the introduction of Kass' relationship with her mom and sisters? Does it feel realistic? What about the introduction of her friends, Ayesha and Gage?
It certainly feels realistic to me! Given that they're at different ages (but not too different), it's normal to see these sort of playful, sometimes annoying, interactions. I enjoyed Kass's interactions with her mom, as well. I think the little details you placed here and there of how they interact (Kass giving her mom a little sass, Amy almost babying her in the way she speaks to her, the descriptions of Amy's smell and the temperature of her feet, little things like this) makes them feel natural and realistic. I can almost feel my own mom coming through in Amy's character...
About Ayesha and Gage, well. I like Ayesha a lot, she seems like a grounded, motivated young woman who wants to move away from the strict limitations of her family and their religion. I especially like how she's a great friend to Kass. I'm looking forward to seeing more of her! Gage, well, I had a less-than-stellar first impression of him with how he spoke to Kass in Future Plans, Part 2, but his interlude really helped to make him more sympathetic, and I enjoyed the glimpse into his family life that we got. I can't say I like him quite yet, but I'm certainly interested by him.
It certainly feels realistic to me! Given that they're at different ages (but not too different), it's normal to see these sort of playful, sometimes annoying, interactions. I enjoyed Kass's interactions with her mom, as well. I think the little details you placed here and there of how they interact (Kass giving her mom a little sass, Amy almost babying her in the way she speaks to her, the descriptions of Amy's smell and the temperature of her feet, little things like this) makes them feel natural and realistic. I can almost feel my own mom coming through in Amy's character...
About Ayesha and Gage, well. I like Ayesha a lot, she seems like a grounded, motivated young woman who wants to move away from the strict limitations of her family and their religion. I especially like how she's a great friend to Kass. I'm looking forward to seeing more of her! Gage, well, I had a less-than-stellar first impression of him with how he spoke to Kass in Future Plans, Part 2, but his interlude really helped to make him more sympathetic, and I enjoyed the glimpse into his family life that we got. I can't say I like him quite yet, but I'm certainly interested by him.
Arc 3:
Spoiler
a) What are your thoughts about Clark? Thoughts about VJ?
VJ seems like a great guy! I felt almost predisposed to dislike him because of the way we first meet him, but honestly he seems like he genuinely cares for and respects Andi and wants the best for her, so I like him. Clark... well, he seems really sketchy. What is it with him and the fake accent? Not to mention the sketchy meeting at the park. He seems nice enough when he's interacting with Kass and her family, but knowing that it's likely a front makes him really unlikable. Similarly to Gage (back when I first read about him! My thoughts have changed by now), I can't say I like him, but he's certainly interesting.
b) Andi and Kass discuss faith. What are your thoughts about my take on the Jacoban/Peteran faith from Sims Medieval?
I actually haven't played The Sims Medieval before, so I can't quite answer this question as fully as I would like, but I did do a bit of reading on the Sims wiki and I think you've taken the basics and introduced religion into your world very well. I'm not particularly religious, but I appreciated that the character that brings it up in the story seems to be very faithful and excited by it. It's a refreshing perspective considering that so much modern fiction tends to look at religion as a bad thing.
c) Andi and Kass also discuss dating and Kass proceeds to think about her love life. Did it feel realistic?
Yes, I think it's pretty realistic! I've spent many nights reminiscing about my little crushes from my childhood and pre-teenage years. The way she thought about them and remembered their little moments together was cute.
d) Also, this arc introduces one of the many mysteries in this story. How do you think I handled its introduction?
The mystery you introduced with Clark is interesting! I think the way that you first presented it, with us witnessing what Kass heard and saw, was the perfect way to do it because it didn't seem forced or hamfisted. Kass was out looking for her sister and just happened to run into a man who was already coming to her home, it's believable. Also, the mystery isn't some sort of enormous conspiracy, it's something more mundane (not that this is a bad thing, and also this isn't to mean that the things that Kass suspects are mundane, haha) and that seems pretty realistic to me!
a) What are your thoughts about Clark? Thoughts about VJ?
VJ seems like a great guy! I felt almost predisposed to dislike him because of the way we first meet him, but honestly he seems like he genuinely cares for and respects Andi and wants the best for her, so I like him. Clark... well, he seems really sketchy. What is it with him and the fake accent? Not to mention the sketchy meeting at the park. He seems nice enough when he's interacting with Kass and her family, but knowing that it's likely a front makes him really unlikable. Similarly to Gage (back when I first read about him! My thoughts have changed by now), I can't say I like him, but he's certainly interesting.
b) Andi and Kass discuss faith. What are your thoughts about my take on the Jacoban/Peteran faith from Sims Medieval?
I actually haven't played The Sims Medieval before, so I can't quite answer this question as fully as I would like, but I did do a bit of reading on the Sims wiki and I think you've taken the basics and introduced religion into your world very well. I'm not particularly religious, but I appreciated that the character that brings it up in the story seems to be very faithful and excited by it. It's a refreshing perspective considering that so much modern fiction tends to look at religion as a bad thing.
c) Andi and Kass also discuss dating and Kass proceeds to think about her love life. Did it feel realistic?
Yes, I think it's pretty realistic! I've spent many nights reminiscing about my little crushes from my childhood and pre-teenage years. The way she thought about them and remembered their little moments together was cute.
d) Also, this arc introduces one of the many mysteries in this story. How do you think I handled its introduction?
The mystery you introduced with Clark is interesting! I think the way that you first presented it, with us witnessing what Kass heard and saw, was the perfect way to do it because it didn't seem forced or hamfisted. Kass was out looking for her sister and just happened to run into a man who was already coming to her home, it's believable. Also, the mystery isn't some sort of enormous conspiracy, it's something more mundane (not that this is a bad thing, and also this isn't to mean that the things that Kass suspects are mundane, haha) and that seems pretty realistic to me!
Arc 4:
Spoiler
What are your thoughts about Davis? Did you like his interlude?
I like him. He seems authentic and good. He's also interesting; I, like Kass, am intrigued about his studying biology. His flirting with Kass wasn't over the top at all, it was more subtle and suave than overbearing. Kass obviously feels that he's into her, but it's not creepy or too much, it's just right. Seeing her swoon over him was fun! And the interlude, well. That put me firmly on Davis's team, consider me a Davis fan! I liked seeing what he thought about Kass and seeing glimpses of his own vulnerability when he doubted if Kass was even into him. He's a delight, and I'm really looking forward to seeing where his story with Kass goes!
Also P.S. I really loved the hints he threw about Kass's conversation with Howard not going very well, I like seeing little details of the story unfold like this without Kass's insight specifically. I mean, it's going to be interesting to see her discuss her talk with her dad, but I liked getting a piece of information from another character's perspective.
What are your thoughts about Davis? Did you like his interlude?
I like him. He seems authentic and good. He's also interesting; I, like Kass, am intrigued about his studying biology. His flirting with Kass wasn't over the top at all, it was more subtle and suave than overbearing. Kass obviously feels that he's into her, but it's not creepy or too much, it's just right. Seeing her swoon over him was fun! And the interlude, well. That put me firmly on Davis's team, consider me a Davis fan! I liked seeing what he thought about Kass and seeing glimpses of his own vulnerability when he doubted if Kass was even into him. He's a delight, and I'm really looking forward to seeing where his story with Kass goes!
Also P.S. I really loved the hints he threw about Kass's conversation with Howard not going very well, I like seeing little details of the story unfold like this without Kass's insight specifically. I mean, it's going to be interesting to see her discuss her talk with her dad, but I liked getting a piece of information from another character's perspective.
Arc 5:
Spoiler
a) Howard drops a bit of a shock on Kass. How do you feel about this father/daughter reunion? What about the introduction of EXCES?
Wow! I wasn't expecting him to be dying, even though I imagined that he had some sort of big bombshell to drop on Kass given the way he approached her prior to the coffee date. I think it's selfish of him to want to reconnect after all this time just because HE wants to feel some sort of fulfillment by reaching out to his daughters. What about THEIR feelings? I don't know. I understand him, but he hasn't cared about their feelings for years and suddenly he wants Kass to forgive him and move on? Again, I understand his reasons and I feel bad for him that he's going through such a terrible disease, but I can't help but be angry at him. And EXCES, wow! It's a fictional disease but you did such a good job of explaining the basics of it and the treatment, I felt like it could be real. Your detailed writing really helps when you introduce things like this.
b) Amy struggles with depression. Did that show in the chapters?
Yes, it really did. I mean, it was very relevant in the prologue within the text, and I saw glimpses here and there when Kass was interacting with her. I like that you didn't make it the main talking point when mentioning Amy, and instead you built up her character slowly as time went along, adding details and interactions that pointed to her depression. You can really tell that Amy has long been self-effacing when it comes to her daughters and this (among other things, I'm sure) has led to her becoming depressed to the point where Kass feels like she has to tell her outright that she deserves to be happy. It's sad but pretty realistic.
c) Kass also exhibits signs of anxiety. Does that show in the chapters?
I think so, yes. Especially in the way that she thinks about the things happening in her life. The way she's terrified about all the changes happening around her, I think, is very telling. She obviously has a problem with this and it's manifesting in anxiety about things she can't really, and shouldn't, control.
d) What do you think about Kass' job offer?
It's interesting! I like this idea for her, I think it will be good for her to do something that's not quite related to what she's been doing so far. It will be a nice change of environment for her, will look good on her CV, and it might be a convenient way of investigating Clark. I hope she accepts the offer.
a) Howard drops a bit of a shock on Kass. How do you feel about this father/daughter reunion? What about the introduction of EXCES?
Wow! I wasn't expecting him to be dying, even though I imagined that he had some sort of big bombshell to drop on Kass given the way he approached her prior to the coffee date. I think it's selfish of him to want to reconnect after all this time just because HE wants to feel some sort of fulfillment by reaching out to his daughters. What about THEIR feelings? I don't know. I understand him, but he hasn't cared about their feelings for years and suddenly he wants Kass to forgive him and move on? Again, I understand his reasons and I feel bad for him that he's going through such a terrible disease, but I can't help but be angry at him. And EXCES, wow! It's a fictional disease but you did such a good job of explaining the basics of it and the treatment, I felt like it could be real. Your detailed writing really helps when you introduce things like this.
b) Amy struggles with depression. Did that show in the chapters?
Yes, it really did. I mean, it was very relevant in the prologue within the text, and I saw glimpses here and there when Kass was interacting with her. I like that you didn't make it the main talking point when mentioning Amy, and instead you built up her character slowly as time went along, adding details and interactions that pointed to her depression. You can really tell that Amy has long been self-effacing when it comes to her daughters and this (among other things, I'm sure) has led to her becoming depressed to the point where Kass feels like she has to tell her outright that she deserves to be happy. It's sad but pretty realistic.
c) Kass also exhibits signs of anxiety. Does that show in the chapters?
I think so, yes. Especially in the way that she thinks about the things happening in her life. The way she's terrified about all the changes happening around her, I think, is very telling. She obviously has a problem with this and it's manifesting in anxiety about things she can't really, and shouldn't, control.
d) What do you think about Kass' job offer?
It's interesting! I like this idea for her, I think it will be good for her to do something that's not quite related to what she's been doing so far. It will be a nice change of environment for her, will look good on her CV, and it might be a convenient way of investigating Clark. I hope she accepts the offer.
Arc 6:
Spoiler
Okay now for some fun...
a) what did you think of Kass and Ayesha's interactions?
I LOVE THEM! I really love who Ayesha is, she's fun, kind, sweet, but also gives Kass a little bit of sass and has a great sense of humor. She's the kind of friend I am, honestly, and I love seeing her interactions with Kass. I like Kass a lot, of course, but sometimes she seems like she's too serious for her age, and having some levity in the story through her friendship with Ayesha is really lovely. I'm a huge Ayesha fan! Favorite character by far. :)
b) What about the meetup with Davis? How do you feel about a relationship between Kass and Davis?
I think you've captured the feeling of awkwardly flirting with a teenage crush quite well. I mean, I remember exactly what that was like, and this reflected it wonderfully. Kass is a nervous mess when it comes to him, and I love seeing how he's still suave and smooth even when it's quite obvious that she's into him. I think having his interlude earlier where he also expressed nervousness was instrumental in me really rooting for them to be a thing. I really like them together! Kass deserves someone like this, who's going to excite her but also respect her and treat her well.
I do wonder, though, where this will go because Kass is... leaving for another city, no? How is this going to work out if it becomes a romantic relationship?
c) What about when the girls went to the high school to "spy?"
I wasn't expecting Kass to come up with an idea like this! I can see why she thinks it's useful to find out more things about Clark, who's definitely a shady character, but I really hope she doesn't get caught because that would be super awkward and could cause trouble between Amy and Clark. Edit: Phew, they didn't get caught. I'm glad! Though I'm not sure how useful to Kass this breaking and entering will be in the long run. And it's bad that their intrusion caused such a commotion.
a) what did you think of Kass and Ayesha's interactions?
I LOVE THEM! I really love who Ayesha is, she's fun, kind, sweet, but also gives Kass a little bit of sass and has a great sense of humor. She's the kind of friend I am, honestly, and I love seeing her interactions with Kass. I like Kass a lot, of course, but sometimes she seems like she's too serious for her age, and having some levity in the story through her friendship with Ayesha is really lovely. I'm a huge Ayesha fan! Favorite character by far. :)
b) What about the meetup with Davis? How do you feel about a relationship between Kass and Davis?
I think you've captured the feeling of awkwardly flirting with a teenage crush quite well. I mean, I remember exactly what that was like, and this reflected it wonderfully. Kass is a nervous mess when it comes to him, and I love seeing how he's still suave and smooth even when it's quite obvious that she's into him. I think having his interlude earlier where he also expressed nervousness was instrumental in me really rooting for them to be a thing. I really like them together! Kass deserves someone like this, who's going to excite her but also respect her and treat her well.
I do wonder, though, where this will go because Kass is... leaving for another city, no? How is this going to work out if it becomes a romantic relationship?
c) What about when the girls went to the high school to "spy?"
I wasn't expecting Kass to come up with an idea like this! I can see why she thinks it's useful to find out more things about Clark, who's definitely a shady character, but I really hope she doesn't get caught because that would be super awkward and could cause trouble between Amy and Clark. Edit: Phew, they didn't get caught. I'm glad! Though I'm not sure how useful to Kass this breaking and entering will be in the long run. And it's bad that their intrusion caused such a commotion.
Arc 7:
Spoiler
How do you feel about Gage's confession? Do you think Kass could've reacted/responded differently? Did you like Gage's interlude?
I'm not a huge fan of his timing. I'm happy he spoke up about it, though. I think Kass needed to hear it because she's been insecure about their friendship/relationship since she realized she likes him. I think her reaction to it was very appropriate, given the last few days. I am very here for her having a relationship with someone she has an uncomplicated connection with, Davis, and I think she should allow herself the liberty of pursuing this, because she deserves to have a bit of fun and excitement in her life without all the baggage that a romantic relationship with Gage would entail. Not to mention that he'd probably grow to resent her if he sets aside everything that he's been wanting to do AND his dream school for her, even though he does say that he already has a family that he loves (I particularly enjoyed this bit, I always thought it was a little harsh that he didn't consider call his foster parents his parents). I liked his interlude, it was interesting to see his perspective on everything that happened in that moment.
How do you feel about Gage's confession? Do you think Kass could've reacted/responded differently? Did you like Gage's interlude?
I'm not a huge fan of his timing. I'm happy he spoke up about it, though. I think Kass needed to hear it because she's been insecure about their friendship/relationship since she realized she likes him. I think her reaction to it was very appropriate, given the last few days. I am very here for her having a relationship with someone she has an uncomplicated connection with, Davis, and I think she should allow herself the liberty of pursuing this, because she deserves to have a bit of fun and excitement in her life without all the baggage that a romantic relationship with Gage would entail. Not to mention that he'd probably grow to resent her if he sets aside everything that he's been wanting to do AND his dream school for her, even though he does say that he already has a family that he loves (I particularly enjoyed this bit, I always thought it was a little harsh that he didn't consider call his foster parents his parents). I liked his interlude, it was interesting to see his perspective on everything that happened in that moment.
Arc 8 and beyond
I actually had to stop myself from reading after Arc 7 because I realized I put off a lot of responsibilities for the weekend, but I'm looking forward to reading more! I think now that I have an introduction to your story and I'm mostly caught up with the other stories in the circle, I'll be able to pace myself a little bit more when it comes to yours and not binge-read so much. I'm very excited to see where the story goes after Arc 7!
Other Questions to answer based on where you are (no spoilers in the questions really):
Spoiler
1. Kass is intended to be a flawed character. She isn't perfect, but I feel this makes her more realistic. Do her flaws annoy you or deepen her character? Or something else entirely? What do you see as her strengths/gifts?
Kass seems very realistic to me. Her flaws don't annoy me, personally, but I can see why they would other people because she seems to be stubborn in some ways and naive in others. I think this deepens her character and makes her more relatable and/or likable; nobody really wants to root for a Mary Sue, we want to see weakness and growth. Her strengths?... I think she's a very intelligent young woman with a very big heart, and even though this leads her to have many anxieties about how she relates to other characters, I think these are ultimately her biggest strengths because they make her a likable person with much depth.
2. Do you have a favorite character so far? Do you have a least favorite character? Who do you want to know more about?
I think it was pretty obvious from my comments on your blog :P but I really love Ayesha! She's a breath of fresh air in your story and adds a lot of lighthearted moments that make me enjoy the story even more. I mentioned this, but I think she allows Kass to be fun and have fun, because Kass tends to be anxious and serious. She's a great friend, and I find myself really relating to her a lot of the time.
A least favorite character... oh gosh. If I answer honestly, I think Howard so far is my least favorite. I liked having his history in the prologue, because he seems like a good person, but he has a lot of flaws and comes off as pretty selfish a lot of the time, so I find myself disliking him in most of his scenes. I'm interested to see where his story goes, and hopefully he will be able to be a less selfish person.
I would love to know more about Kate. One thing that bothered me a little during my read through the story was the constant vilifying of her by Kass and her sisters. I mean, it's completely understandable that they feel this way but I think it was a bit much and annoyed me, especially since I don't think Kate deserves that. I mean, as far as I can remember, it wasn't her fault Kass's parents separated, and she came into Howard's life and it was him that pursued her, no? I didn't get the impression that she was purposefully a homewrecker, I dunno, maybe it went over my head? This might be an unexpected answer as she's been one of the most irrelevant of side characters in terms of screen time, but I found myself thinking a lot about her and her story.
3. Do you have a favorite scene/chapter thus far?
I love Arc 6! Kass seems like she's trying to be a grown-up a lot of the time, and I get it, she had to grow up pretty quickly after the heartbreak with her parents' divorce, but I like seeing moments when she's just a teenager and living the awkward, fun, and exciting emotions that come with the age. I especially like that Ayesha gets to shine a lot in this arc, and since I'm #teamdavis, I loved seeing the interactions between him and Kass.
4. Any future predictions based on where you are in the story?
I think Davis and Kass will have a very intense summer, but cracks in their relationship will begin to show when Kass realizes she's leaving and he's not coming with her. Clark will continue to be shady and this will eventually affect Kass's relationship with Amy since she knows more than Amy knows, that can't be good. Kass's relationship with Gage will be awkward for a while after his confession, I wonder where their friendship will end up.
5. What questions do you have for me? Any other thoughts you'd like to share?
Phew! I think I asked a couple questions in my answers, but I'm especially curious about the worldbuilding. You've probably answered that by now, but that's the main questions about the story I have at this point. Other questions; I know you have a busy life from what you've shared here about your job, how do you balance your writing, reading, and your professional and personal life? Sorry if this is personal, but I find it fascinating that you have SO much writing and intricate worldbuilding with multiple stories, and on top of that you make the time to read others' stories, even with what seems like a very full "real world" life. I really admire that!
Kass seems very realistic to me. Her flaws don't annoy me, personally, but I can see why they would other people because she seems to be stubborn in some ways and naive in others. I think this deepens her character and makes her more relatable and/or likable; nobody really wants to root for a Mary Sue, we want to see weakness and growth. Her strengths?... I think she's a very intelligent young woman with a very big heart, and even though this leads her to have many anxieties about how she relates to other characters, I think these are ultimately her biggest strengths because they make her a likable person with much depth.
2. Do you have a favorite character so far? Do you have a least favorite character? Who do you want to know more about?
I think it was pretty obvious from my comments on your blog :P but I really love Ayesha! She's a breath of fresh air in your story and adds a lot of lighthearted moments that make me enjoy the story even more. I mentioned this, but I think she allows Kass to be fun and have fun, because Kass tends to be anxious and serious. She's a great friend, and I find myself really relating to her a lot of the time.
A least favorite character... oh gosh. If I answer honestly, I think Howard so far is my least favorite. I liked having his history in the prologue, because he seems like a good person, but he has a lot of flaws and comes off as pretty selfish a lot of the time, so I find myself disliking him in most of his scenes. I'm interested to see where his story goes, and hopefully he will be able to be a less selfish person.
I would love to know more about Kate. One thing that bothered me a little during my read through the story was the constant vilifying of her by Kass and her sisters. I mean, it's completely understandable that they feel this way but I think it was a bit much and annoyed me, especially since I don't think Kate deserves that. I mean, as far as I can remember, it wasn't her fault Kass's parents separated, and she came into Howard's life and it was him that pursued her, no? I didn't get the impression that she was purposefully a homewrecker, I dunno, maybe it went over my head? This might be an unexpected answer as she's been one of the most irrelevant of side characters in terms of screen time, but I found myself thinking a lot about her and her story.
3. Do you have a favorite scene/chapter thus far?
I love Arc 6! Kass seems like she's trying to be a grown-up a lot of the time, and I get it, she had to grow up pretty quickly after the heartbreak with her parents' divorce, but I like seeing moments when she's just a teenager and living the awkward, fun, and exciting emotions that come with the age. I especially like that Ayesha gets to shine a lot in this arc, and since I'm #teamdavis, I loved seeing the interactions between him and Kass.
4. Any future predictions based on where you are in the story?
I think Davis and Kass will have a very intense summer, but cracks in their relationship will begin to show when Kass realizes she's leaving and he's not coming with her. Clark will continue to be shady and this will eventually affect Kass's relationship with Amy since she knows more than Amy knows, that can't be good. Kass's relationship with Gage will be awkward for a while after his confession, I wonder where their friendship will end up.
5. What questions do you have for me? Any other thoughts you'd like to share?
Phew! I think I asked a couple questions in my answers, but I'm especially curious about the worldbuilding. You've probably answered that by now, but that's the main questions about the story I have at this point. Other questions; I know you have a busy life from what you've shared here about your job, how do you balance your writing, reading, and your professional and personal life? Sorry if this is personal, but I find it fascinating that you have SO much writing and intricate worldbuilding with multiple stories, and on top of that you make the time to read others' stories, even with what seems like a very full "real world" life. I really admire that!
I truly enjoyed reading this first part of KCLKF, I spent almost a whole day immersed in the story, reading, laughing, sighing, commenting, and reading even more, so thank you for creating such a wonderful universe. I'm really looking forward to reading more. Edit: Also, thank you so much for taking the time to read and respond to my comments on your blog! I really liked reading your responses. :blush:
