Reviewer: Foxinbox Signed
Date: April 23 2021
Title: Chapter 20: The New World
I love this story so fucking much, but I could never read it in full because it would make my anxiety flare up and I would have to put it down, and when it did that it would make my anxiety go off harder. I’m caught in a spiral of not being able to read it because of my anxiety and not being able to put it down because of my anxiety lol. So, I’ve been skimming the last few chapters and some others chapters here and there. It seems that stories that deal with betrayal or being accused of crimes while being innocent really fucking set me off. I’m not surprised though thinking back this stuff happened to a lesser degree all my life. I don’t mind though this is kind of a guilty pleasure for me. Seeing that we kind of got a happy ending with Brian’s innocence revealed makes reading through this so much easier for me. I’m kind of rambling lol, anyway this story is phenomenal just flat-out phenomenal. I worried with all the time skips that it would feel rushed but fuck me you handled it well.
I’m so fucking excited for the 3rd part oh my god. There are a few things I really want to see like Brian and Jen reuniting, every fucking person that had a hand in Brians's downfall to get ABSOLUTELY FUCKED. I want to know how the hell this could even happen. One part of me wants to see him confront his EX-mother and another part of me just wants him to ignore her, forget about that lady, but I don’t know, I could rationalize her behavior with disowning on live tv to try and protect Jen but that all kind of goes out the window when the last time they meet she says all that terrible shit when it was just them two and two guards tells me she didn’t love Brian. But who knows, I can't put myself in her shoes being a single mother of two while having the world just fucking hate you. One thing is for sure though I can't excuse her actions at all.
Now about the chevalier and Cathy. Fuck where do I even begin, the chevalier are fucking monsters no two ways about it, just sick fucking monsters that the government employs to do its dirty work. The way you described them from the neighborly-looking guy to the fat man with Viagra just really freak me out. Like they could be anywhere and you wouldn’t know. Allisons body count was around 250 I can only imagine the body count of Cathy and any other chevalier that’s been in the line of work for longer than six months. Now on to Cathy, I saw someone in an earlier review mention Cathy redemption and I’m a bit interested. She at first seems like a warm and kind person when interacting with Allison but she is still the same person that gets off on torturing and killing shrunken “criminals” so I don’t know. But then I remember that Elizebeth mentioned that mutually assured destruction with Allie and Cathy knowing each other's secrets and it makes me think that she might not be redeemable. Also, if I was Brain, I would be terrified of Cathy
Another thing I’m going to miss Brian being small and Allie and Elisebeth's interaction with him, it was so damn wholesome (most of the time) I kind of hope that Brian doesn’t grow back to his full height immediately, like his growth is a gradual process lol I just want to see more interactions with smol Brian at various heights, but this is your story and I trust you.
Finally, please for the love of God I’m begging you please get Brian some god damn THERAPY
Author's Response: Thank you so much for reviewing again! I truly appreciate your kind words, although I'm extremely sorry to hear that my story worsened your anxiety. I know how it feels to grapple with anxiety, so I hope it didn't negatively impact you too much. For sure, stories about betrayal/wrongful convictions really sting. I'm sorry to hear that you have experience with that, and I wish you the best! Still, I'm grateful that the emotions resonated with you so much. I'm also glad that his innocence being revealed has helped make it easier to read! Hopefully, from here on out, we can leave the 'wrongful conviction' aspect of the story behind. Nobody is going to remember Brian as a killer!!
I'm so happy that you're excited for part 3! I hope to get started on it sooner rather than later. My semester is ending really soon (thanks Covid), so after that I'll be able to focus on it.
Thanks for letting me know what you're hoping to see! I'll absolutely keep that in mind, and I hope it ultimately doesn't disappoint. Brian will definitely confront his mother (if for no other storytelling reason than because it would be more dramatic than ignoring her), but there are a lot of ways the encounter could go. For sure, what she said to him in prison is inexcusable, and he's not about to forgive that any time soon. I hope you enjoy what I have planned.
You're absolutely right about Chevaliers! They're damaged people that the government is exploiting for their political system. You're right on about what I was going for with those descriptions, as well- they could be anybody. As for Cathy, I hope you enjoy my planned direction with her, as well! She's a complicated character, and she's got plenty of paragon *and* renegade points, so to speak. Whether she's redeemable or not, we'll find out.
Don't worry, there's plenty of smol Brian left! I absolutely love writing those wholesome interactions, so I'm not about to give that up right away. Lastly, don't worry- Brian will absolutely be getting some therapy. Now that his innocence is known, and they're about to go public, *and* they already know a therapist who's on their side, there'll be nothing stopping him from getting the help he needs. Aside from his own stubbornness, of course. Thanks for thinking of him, and thanks again for your very kind review! I hope you enjoy where we go from here, and take care.
-Pluto