Reviewer: Divediveburners Signed [Report This]
Date: August 07 2022 7:52 PM Title: Second Star to the Right (End)

There's a typo in Chapter 16. It's supposed to be "Of all the soulsIveever ... met ... her's wasthemost ............ 'uman" 

Speaking of Shatnerese, I think I've seen this before, but Kurt's origin of Iowa is supposed to be a reference to Kirk right (along with what I believe is the general appearance, and the phonetic similarities of the names. Gee, even in Giantessworld, Kirk is living it up with the green ladies). This means that I'll have to read the story again, but imagine Bill Shatner, speech patterns and all, as Kurt. "No Nea! I .... don'twannabeunderyour ...... feet".

And how about that story! It turned out as good as I was hoping it to be. I do agree with some other reviewers, I believe we could have spent a chapter or two with more mean green Nea, that would have made her redemption more dramatic. There's a reason why Darth Vader isn't on the good side until the end of Return of the Jedi. But, that being said, I did like the teasing interaction between her and Tiberiu- I mean Kurt. And hey, how the turn is pulled off in story is still pretty believable to me, heck, I'd change my mind if someone saved me from a life or death situation.

Joey and Telma were actually my favorite couple, Joey's the hotheaded daredevil, and Telman's the sensible one. It's fun when the giantess has to put a damper on a tiny's ambitions.

Jolene and her crew were a bundle of fun. It kind of tickles my Terran pride having greenskins taking a shine to us in that way, although we all don't look and act like Clint Eastwood (my jaw would hurt from all that clinching). I have a feeling Jolene's last name was an obvious reference to something (red dead redemption?), but it went over my head I think. It would have been fun, with an evil Nea, having Jolene giving her just desserts which starts her redemption, but overall, her character was a huge boon to the story.

Heck, there's a lot more to cover, I tend to like to sandwich my reviews when it comes to a longer story, one at the beginning to let people know that I'm reading them, and initial thoughts, and one at the end to summarize, but I'm rather scatterbrained in this tome. This was a fantastic entry to your repertoire, although I think I still like "We Help Each Other Get By" just a tad more. This has far more narrative flair, so I'll be returning to this no doubt. 

Author's Response:

Yeah I think the people who wanted a more prolonged Nea redemption arc are right, but live and learn I guess, glad the story held up overall.

There are a ton of Star Trek references throughout this thing, I imagine Kurt as a little more shaggy that James T. Kirk if that makes sense, like messier hair maybe, but overall the appearance isn't too far off, though I don't imagine him speaking with the long reflective pauses of classic Shatner. In action and character Kurt's a little closer to pulp era sci fi heroes than he is to Star Trek types though.

Jolene on the other hand is more of a Star Wars or Firefly type character, the bounty hunting cowgirl in space. Obviously the attire and attitude are very reminiscent of the old west. Her last name isn't a Red Dead reference but rather to the Masterson brothers of the old west, the most famous of which was Bartholomew "Bat" Masterson, a contemporary of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday. You can take another reference from the fact that she names her colony New Tombstone, after Tombstone, Arizona where many of the old west's famous figures, Masterson included, ended up at one point or another. It's almost certain that Jolene's new planet will become a similar hotbed of gambling and rowdyness, she can do whatever she wants out there after all.

Anyways any other thoughts you've got on it I'd love to read, I'm pretty happy with how this story turned out overall and I'm glad people liked it.

Reviewer: Kessler Signed [Report This]
Date: August 07 2022 4:28 AM Title: Second Star to the Right (End)

Honestly really happy about this ending, though Kurt and Joey probably should've been rewarded a bit more for their role in things. They definitely deserve it and it would've served as a decent way for the empress to look after her now "dead" daughter since they're obviously sticking together. The false death serves as both a suitable punishment for Nea's crimes and a reward for her heroics toward the end which seems rather fitting given the circumstances. All in all a rather satisfying ending to things. Always hate it when the giantess/shrinker gets away scott free with an entirely happy ending after doing evil shit, in this case you were able to give her actual consequences and still have the satisfying romance at the end which is really nice to see in contrast to some other stories. One Year Lease also had that to a degree but I think you did it better here.

Author's Response: Personally I don't like to see giantesses/shrinkers get away with their evil antics in stories either. Nea's death is, as you said, both a punishment and a reward. Is it a one hundred percent equal punishment for what she did? Probably not, a the same time it seems appropriate given the growth and sacrifice she's had since then. From a larger narrative standpoint letting her go like that is echoing other themes in the story. Nea's life is forever changed, she won't ever be able to be a princess again or enjoy the standard of living she had, but eking out a living with Kurt on the frontier might bring her more happiness anyway.