Reviewed by: Keleos
Carol of the Bells - Christmas One Shots – by JiShin
Carol of the Bells - Christmas One Shots – by JiShin
URL: http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/jishin7/
First Impressions
Title ~ 8/10
A very Christmassy title and it’s really got a great imagery. It paints a picture of a… snowy Christmas day, no one on the streets and well, just a nice romantic feel. It is a good title for a Christmas story, but in the midst of the Christmas stories on winglin, this one didn’t really stand out very well. I guess that was the main problem with this title.
But upon clicking on the title and entering the main story… I suppose we can say that the whole fact that the title isn’t eye catching enough just disappears, and we’re transported into another dimension. J
Posters & background ~ 10/10
Ooh… I really liked this one. The poster really captures the main points of the whole story. It isn’t easy making a poster for a series of One-shots, but this one really worked. It reminded me a little of Eric Khoo’s “Be With Me” movie posters, where three stories are filmed into a movie. The poster was very nice, and it didn’t forget the Christmas feel too!
The main star of the whole thing was actually the background. I love the background! It’s so snowy and romantic that I felt that it really enhanced the effect of reading the stories. So yay for this section, and full marks for you. J
Foreword ~ 5/10
Well… It is a series of one-shots, so it’s a bit difficult to write a foreword, I guess. But I wish you could have said more, like maybe, write a short summary on each of the stories that were going to come, so that the readers actually have an idea of what was going to come on. But this one really didn’t say anything about the piece at all, except that it was a Christmas special and a one-liner on the cast.
Upon closer examination…
Storyline/plotting ~ 13/15
Well. What can I say? It’s a series of one-shots, so there really isn’t a solid plot going through the chapters. I expected some sort of a storyline going through each one, but instead, what this presented was a myriad of different feelings and emotions pulsing through each different story. Wow.
If I had to choose my favourite, it would be the first one, because Christmas is a happy time and that one ended happily. :P But in a way, the other two look a little similar. Not much, just a little, so it’s a two mark off from the total score for you.
Cast used ~ 3.5/5
Not many problems with the cast as a whole, and I guess it is a little unfair to judge your casting here, because the stories are dedicated to people. It wouldn’t seem right to take off marks because they are “original characters” and therefore score more lowly in creativity. But that’s how it is.
I still like the way how you took the DBSK boys and turned them into your own. The characterisation is unique here, and it really works very well for the story.
Language ~ 10/10
Beautiful language, as always. I made a resolution to read the rest of your stories after reviewing the last one, and I love your command of language. And this one definitely did not disappoint. Excellent work! J
Readability ~ 5/5
Great responses to the readers, with your interaction and full comments.
Overall feel… So far.
Creativity of the story ~ 13/15
Argh, its Christmas, so what the heck. I suppose the mark wouldn’t be that way if this wasn’t a Christmas special. :P The effect of Christmas is dreamy, romantic love stories, and this one did just that. Clichéd becomes in, and this one did just that! The first story is lingering and beautiful, the second one is… Melancholic? It’s a bit sad. And the last one is poignant. It falls into being “beautiful love stories” but like I said, it IS Christmas, and if there’s anytime to be sweet and just generally in the mood for love, it’s this one.
It isn’t different from so many other fics out there associated with Christmas in its ideas, but it scores high on creativity for just the fact that it’s beyond beautiful.
Overall enjoyment ~ 20/20
It’s a great story! Or should I say, stories?
Well, there’s really nothing I can say about this part at all. It’s hauntingly beautiful, all of them, and each piece is different from the normal stories we’d expect. I really would forgo the plot, even, just for the wonderful writing that was presented in here.
This is just… Pure Christmas magic.
Link Back To Us: 0/3
First Impressions
Title ~ 8/10
A very Christmassy title and it’s really got a great imagery. It paints a picture of a… snowy Christmas day, no one on the streets and well, just a nice romantic feel. It is a good title for a Christmas story, but in the midst of the Christmas stories on winglin, this one didn’t really stand out very well. I guess that was the main problem with this title.
But upon clicking on the title and entering the main story… I suppose we can say that the whole fact that the title isn’t eye catching enough just disappears, and we’re transported into another dimension. J
Posters & background ~ 10/10
Ooh… I really liked this one. The poster really captures the main points of the whole story. It isn’t easy making a poster for a series of One-shots, but this one really worked. It reminded me a little of Eric Khoo’s “Be With Me” movie posters, where three stories are filmed into a movie. The poster was very nice, and it didn’t forget the Christmas feel too!
The main star of the whole thing was actually the background. I love the background! It’s so snowy and romantic that I felt that it really enhanced the effect of reading the stories. So yay for this section, and full marks for you. J
Foreword ~ 5/10
Well… It is a series of one-shots, so it’s a bit difficult to write a foreword, I guess. But I wish you could have said more, like maybe, write a short summary on each of the stories that were going to come, so that the readers actually have an idea of what was going to come on. But this one really didn’t say anything about the piece at all, except that it was a Christmas special and a one-liner on the cast.
Upon closer examination…
Storyline/plotting ~ 13/15
Well. What can I say? It’s a series of one-shots, so there really isn’t a solid plot going through the chapters. I expected some sort of a storyline going through each one, but instead, what this presented was a myriad of different feelings and emotions pulsing through each different story. Wow.
If I had to choose my favourite, it would be the first one, because Christmas is a happy time and that one ended happily. :P But in a way, the other two look a little similar. Not much, just a little, so it’s a two mark off from the total score for you.
Cast used ~ 3.5/5
Not many problems with the cast as a whole, and I guess it is a little unfair to judge your casting here, because the stories are dedicated to people. It wouldn’t seem right to take off marks because they are “original characters” and therefore score more lowly in creativity. But that’s how it is.
I still like the way how you took the DBSK boys and turned them into your own. The characterisation is unique here, and it really works very well for the story.
Language ~ 10/10
Beautiful language, as always. I made a resolution to read the rest of your stories after reviewing the last one, and I love your command of language. And this one definitely did not disappoint. Excellent work! J
Readability ~ 5/5
Great responses to the readers, with your interaction and full comments.
Overall feel… So far.
Creativity of the story ~ 13/15
Argh, its Christmas, so what the heck. I suppose the mark wouldn’t be that way if this wasn’t a Christmas special. :P The effect of Christmas is dreamy, romantic love stories, and this one did just that. Clichéd becomes in, and this one did just that! The first story is lingering and beautiful, the second one is… Melancholic? It’s a bit sad. And the last one is poignant. It falls into being “beautiful love stories” but like I said, it IS Christmas, and if there’s anytime to be sweet and just generally in the mood for love, it’s this one.
It isn’t different from so many other fics out there associated with Christmas in its ideas, but it scores high on creativity for just the fact that it’s beyond beautiful.
Overall enjoyment ~ 20/20
It’s a great story! Or should I say, stories?
Well, there’s really nothing I can say about this part at all. It’s hauntingly beautiful, all of them, and each piece is different from the normal stories we’d expect. I really would forgo the plot, even, just for the wonderful writing that was presented in here.
This is just… Pure Christmas magic.
Link Back To Us: 0/3
None here.
Overall review scoring: 87.5/100 :)
Comments: What a wonderful read. It’s a joy reading your stories, and I suppose… I really am sorry that I took so long to review this fic (its post-post Christmas). Anyway, have a belated Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, and I’m really, really hoping to read and see more from you soon!
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