Review for caleesia // Reviewed by: AutumnsConcierto

Title and Story link:  

Time is Finite (Ongoing, reviewed with 7 chapters)

Title: (18/20)

I find the title refreshing in a sense. It's a normal and plain title, but it's opposite of what you'd typically see. Basic and simple, time is finite, not infinite as most people would have it. It's applicable to the story as well with the recent arrival of Sehun, and seeing as how so much time has passed since the friendship between him and Arang came to a stop. I have yet to see how the story will shape to fit in complete with the title, though. It's a bit too early to tell.

Overall Appearance: (1/5) 

Uh oh. I really don't want to give you the one, but there's no poster or background. With me, I don't see a problem with that, but a lot of people typically click on stories and connect with the poster and overall look of the page first. Posters can especially portray the theme or emotions of a story quicker than reading the words in a summary. There are plenty of great poster shops on AFF and I suggest you thoroughly go through the portfolio's of designers before deciding on one if you do choose to get a poster and background! 

Description and Foreword: (20/20)

The description is on point. I love that you provide a little glimpse as to how the story will play out, especially the second paragraph (and more specifically the line, "things lying in dusty corners that we had yet to return"). You don't give too much information away so it piques my interest and I got very curious because of the last line, which was a pleasant surprise. The beginning part of the description described such fond and nostalgic memories that the last sentence really had a great impact. 

The foreword is more of an author's note, so nothing to talk about. Although, I find Arang a character all the more meaningful due to the fact that she's based off of an assortment of real-life people thanks to the heads up.

Plot: (26/30)

I completely understand what is going on in the story and I love it so far, but I can' help but wonder what will happen down the line. Needless to say, I don't have much to write about this section for once. Typically, I'd at least have one paragraph of things to be noted/corrected, but I can't find anything to nitpick. Actually, just one, and that is because I really don't know exactly where you're headed with for this story. That is good to a certain extent, but the tiny issue I find in with that is my anticipation for the story becomes inconsistent. That might not be the case for all readers, that was more of a personal preference, but I just wanted to put that out there. Did that make sense?

Other than that, I absolutely love how realistic this story is first of all, there are lingering feelings of nostalgia, yet that tiny heart-clenching pain because of the heartbreak of first love. Although, to be honest, I can only relate to the daily occurences, the actions, and the thoughts of the characters. I don't have two best guy friends that I've been together forever with, doing everything together, not even female friends. Most of the friends that I've made and that I believe I'll actually have lasting relations with only occurred freshman year of highschool. Even though the three friend situation isn't applicable to me, Arang, Sehun, and Jongin seemed to have beautiful relationships. I haven't had a first love either (oh how painful yet exciting it would be though), but the honest way Arang describes and explains her feelings place me in her position. My question is this, how did she fall for Sehun? Maybe I was careless and missed out on something, but you haven't exactly delved into what or how Arang fell for Sehun. 

I only have more good points that I will point out later on in their respective sections. Heehee.  

Actually, thinking back, I have one thing, but it totally has no effect on the score or anything... it was just, Jongin won the rap contest over Mino. Whut? o-o LOL  

Originality: (18/20)

The use of three friends, two being boys and one being the female main character has never always struck a good chord with me. Those types of stories somehow always end up being replicas of each other, just characters with different names. Girl falls in love with one guy although the other likes her, heartbreak, oh no! Tragedy strikes, oh no! Another girl comes in to break the friendship, oh no! Etc. That sarcasm though. ._.

You manage to differentiate yourself from that typical scheme, which again, I love. Nothing is obviously put out there, so i don't know what to expect. There aren't any plot twists or anything dramatic, but this story never seemed to fit that category anyways. It's straight up, simple, and just bleeds emotion. I'm always left thinking and wondering, and sometimes, to do that to a reader, it really means dealing strictly with reality. Reality is original. Frankly, everyone's reality is individual, no one's life is the same as the there... Boy do I sound confusing. I'll try using an example then.

The best way I can put it is I live my own life, let's say I'm a rich millionaire (hah.) and my next door neighbor is also a millionaire. Just because we're both millionaires doesn't mean we lead the same lifestyle, nor does it mean we share the same mindsets or worries. But in the end, we're both human beings who experience different realities of life. Does that make sense? So, no matter what, anything that can realistically apply to a reader is my criteria to being original. 

Wow do I at trying to write deep. =_=" Never again. 

Language: (20/20)

While reading, I don't remember seeing any grammar/spelling issues. There may be a couple that passed by me, but they were too small of errors for me to even go back and look for. Keep it up!

Writing Style: (18/20)

 Agh, I love a writing style like yours. Every author has his/her own style, but I especially appreciate those who lightly produce images without writing too much unnecessary descriptions, and yep, the writing bleeds emotion. The scene where Arang visited her mother deeply moved me, as evidenced, Arang didn't need that many words to describe the pain of the situation. Also, props for always ending the separate scenes/sections of the events with perfect closing sentences. What I mean, for example I'll take them from chapter one:

"I smiled before I closed the door. "

"I would be fine."

Not the best ones, but the shorter sentences at the end of a scene really have an impact and play with my feelings, as well as leave me thinking because sometimes, I think like Arang. I'll get more into that the next section, characterization. 

My only complaint is that because this story is in first-person, the feelings of the other characters aren't expressed as well as I would have hoped. That's always a flaw with first-person, but then again, no one's psychic. I do like how you attempt to make up for that with their reactions and facial expressions though, it helps.

Characterization: (28/30)

*plays some glorious song in the background*

The fact that Arang is based off of you and many other people just makes her so fresh and alive, contrary to the usual female protagonist of a story. Too many times have I been so disconnected or unsympathetic of the females, they are always portrayed so one-dimensionally and dimwitted. Like, gurl, do I need to slap you for you to snap into reality?

Back to Arang, she's not the only female character I love in stories I've read, but this is definitely the most connected I've ever felt to one. I can't give a very thorough explanation since it's quite hard to pinpoint how exactly I like her so much. It's not only that I connect with her on a personal level, but there are other aspects of her that I admire that I wish would be a part of my personality as well. She herself does possess flaws, and deals withugly  external conflicts because of her relationships with others as well as family, but that's what makes her all the more wholesome and down-to-earth.

 Ah, Jongin. He seems way too sweet for his own good and is just so dedicated and loyal to Arang. As of now, he is most understanding of Arang and her feelings, but makes me think about his feelings. Jongin's like that BFF who always has your back and takes action before you even say a word.

Now onto Sehun, who has been away from the gang for quite some time. I can't understand him just quite yet as he just came back to Korea, but I'll hold onto some expectations for now. Um, he seems cool. That's all I can get from him. But, I do have a bunch of questions about him. Why did he never contact Arang, nor even tell her that he was leaving? Was there a critical breaking point in their past? I'll just have to find out later.

Flow: (30/30)

The pace you set for this story is perfect. The flashbacks are placed only when needed to introduce pieces of information at a time. The flow from moving from one onto the next is smooth like butta (butter). Or avocado if you want to be healthy. Hee.

Reader's Scope/ Overall Enjoyment: (5/5) 

I think my excitement has explained it all. 

Bonus: (+2) 

Final Score/ Total (186/200) = 93%

A/N:

This is the story I've most enjoyed since being reviewer.  ^^ *cough cough* update soon? >< i need moar. Anyways, you can see I'm a rambly reviewer. I know you wanted something specific, but I can't fix something that isn't broken.

Song suggestion, if I may: Goodbye- Kris Leone

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