@
GreatLordHades
Ooh, I do love a good twist. I didn’t guess precisely what was wrong until it was spelled-out in story, but it felt perfectly plausible because of the foreshadowing you’d done -- I really appreciate that you were able to structure it that way in so short a piece of writing.
@
Dragonartist24
I figured there would probably not be a happy ending the moment coughing blood was mentioned, but the absence of Emily’s letters still instilled a creeping sense of dread, which of course paid off with the tearjerker ending. I really enjoyed your old-fashioned writing style, and the little details you used to set the time period!
@
Egwu
Wow, that’s a ominous progression of events. My favourite part of this is the last letter -- the fact that it conveys everything it needs to in so few words gives it a lot of punch, and of course leaves the audience free to imagine whatever terrible fates may have befallen poor Tony.
@
Mypilot
I really like your writing style -- it reminds me a bit of poetry. My favourite metaphor is “the funeral shroud of our families.” You conveyed the emotions of the writer and his descent into grief very clearly -- the letters were poignant on first readthrough and even more so once I realized who they were addressed to and where the writer was headed.
@
humanityxpeople
With a beginning like “I hate you”, I just have to read your piece all the way through, if only to learn why. The writer’s voice comes across loud and clear, and her anger drips from every sentence. I find the ending pretty cathartic -- having left, Monica no longer has to answer to anyone but herself.
@
lessthan3
Your piece contains only two letters, and that makes it impossible to ignore the contrast between the warm, personal letter from the doomed soldier, and the formal missive announcing his death. I find it very affecting that the first letter humanizes all the soldiers writing letters home to their families, and the second letter kills them.
@
Willowfrost10
I really like how the siblings interact in your writing -- barring Olivia’s initial worry, they’re so cheerful and optimistic and obviously close to each other, which of course makes the inevitable loss more painful. The passing of the sword to Olivia at the end feels oddly fitting, but also reminds me of her warnings about war, and what might’ve been if they’d been heeded.
The next judge is @
Mypilot. Backup is @
Dragonartist24. Thanks for writing, everyone!
