Thank you very much for your review. I’m sorry it took so long to unlock. I somehow missed it and went on to the others… But I understand how it could be hard to judge alone. I’m hoping to post the first chapter next Wednesday or Thursday. I haven’t had much time to work on this lately. But again, thanks for the review!
Please login to continue.
Novel Treatments / The Nexus Door
Prologue
Andarius glanced about himself as he entered another room. This one was much larger than the others. It had a high, domed ceiling and pure white marble floors. It was empty with the exception of marble pillars encircling the middle of the room. Andarius knew this was the end of his hunt. He had been tracking his opponent for quite some time now and this room was the obvious place for a showdown. Andarius came to the center of the room and was greeted with the crackle of electricity as another being appeared in front of him.
“Morik,” Andarius spat. “It’s about time that you stop running.” Andarius watched his enemy carefully with his pitch black eyes. Morik grinned and returned Andarius’s gaze with equally empty eyes. Both beings were in human form yet both emanated a deeper power. “You have to stop your plans, Morik. You will destroy everything if you go through with this.”
“I disagree,” Morik returned. “I will create a new existence, a place where we will rule.” Morik continued to watch Andarius, feigning calmness. He was betrayed by the sweat pouring down his face. It was then that understanding came to Andarius. His eyes grew wide as he took a second glance around the room.
“You see it now,” Morik continued. “This is the room to hold the first door. You can feel the power radiating from the walls. It feels magnificent, does it not?” Morik closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“I can’t let you do this,” Andarius whispered. In an instant, he was on the move. Andarius caught nothing but air. He was alone in the room once more, but Morik’s voice echoed throughout the emptiness.
“You are the key to the door, Andarius, and you will open it for me.” Andarius could feel his power seeping away and knew the cause instantly. “You feel it already, don’t you?” came Morik’s hideous voice once more. “The spell has already begun. There is no chance for you now.”
It was so simple. If only Andarius had paid more attention, then he might have recognized the room. It was in all of the books. He had stared at it for hours with ignorant longing. Now he had stumbled into this place without thought. There was no telling how many have died before Andarius in this room.
Andarius had to act quickly. He had lost this battle, and would soon lose his life if he didn’t do something. He began to chant the spell. It was an ancient spell and one that only a handful of beings knew. It had never been used in recorded history, however. The consequences and risks were too great, but Andarius saw no other choice.
His vision blurred and he fell to his knees. The laughter of his enemy echoed throughout the room. Finally, Andarius gave in and he fell to the cold marble floor. Morik entered the room as he watched the door appear in the middle of the pillars while Andarius’s body faded away. He had expected noise and great claps of thunder, but what Morik saw was a plain, wooden door. Still, he smiled as the door slowly swung open and the connection between worlds was revealed.
You need to log in to urbis or create an urbis account to review this writing.
Reviews
Sort Reviews by Newest | Oldest | Highest Quality | Lowest Quality | Newest Comments |
Pritsos reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
I don’t believe that you utilized enough description in your piece. You need to reveal more about how the characters look and feel, and take your time with it before having what feels like a protagonist destroyed or faded away. Description of characters, of setting, and change a little of the diction that they use as well.
- add/view comments (2)
davek reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
Well --- it’s a prologue. i guess that means it’s bound to be a little light on plot and characterization. It also means that as a stand-alone piece it’s hard to judge the merits of the story.
As you come in, the reader gets the feeling that there’s some history here. That’s good. It also feels like this prologue is kind of an epilogue, which is kind of unique. i look forward to reading more.
You’ve got a grasp of the language and the skills to use it. Your sentence structure is even and tight; there’s little here to fault. Nice work.
dave.
transcriber reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
Good stuff.
Watch out for repetition and redundant words:
First sentence – is he likely to glance around anyone else? Delete ‘himself’.
Tricky I know, but the word ‘door’ is used a lot.
‘He was betrayed by the sweat pouring down his face.’ wouldn’t he be betrayed by a single drop rather than an obvious downpour of sweat?
’... his pitch black eyes.’ is a bit of a cliche. just ‘black’ is okay imho.
And, there’s nothing wrong with ‘said’. You didn’t use it once.
All in all – good effort.
SophiaStJohn reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
I really liked it. I’m slowly getting into this particular genre of writing and I have to say it’s growing on me. I found this captivating. I hope that there is more to come!
alinde reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
Awesome, you had me in chills right from the beginning. I love the setting and the character were thrilling and exciting. I know it’s only the beginning, but I really loved everything about it. Other than a few punctuation problems, I don’t see why you couldn’t get it published. Here are the a few samples of what I saw in punctuation problems…
What it is: Andarius spat. “It’s about time that you stop running.” Andarius watched his enemy
Morik returned. “I will create a new existence, a place where we will rule.” Morik continued
Andarius, and you will open it for me.” Andarius could feel his
This is what it should be:
Andarius spat, “it’s about time that you stop running,” Andarius watched his enemy
Morik returned, “I will create a new existence, a place where we will rule,” Morik continued
Andarius, and you will open it for me,” Andarius could feel his
As for a book name suggestion: if I could read more I may be able to come up with something. If you’re interested.
EdWoodV2 reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
Wow, after reading this, I could see this either becoming a movie or a really cool video game. It has all the basic elements present. There is good characters, great descriptions, an awesome futile battle, and a mysterious door that appears out of nowhere.
I have to say, though, I would like Andarius and Mortik developed a little more. Who are they? Why are they fighting? Why is Mortik hell-bent on creating a new world? does he feel that old one is too corrupt, or that his world would be a better solution to the way the old one was?
Also, it seems that at one point the two had either been friends or acquaintainces, and if so, how and why did they end up fighting? Where was the point that caused their friendship to turn into hate? But I definitely want to see more of this story, and find out what lies on the other side of the door. You have me very interested in where this story is going to lead.
LoBo reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
I’m interested in seeing more of this story, but I have a few suggestions for you. The most glaring is the dulling repetition of your sentence structure. It’s always “[subject] [does this]” and so on and so forth for every sentence. I suggest making use of dependant clauses and such to vary things and make the reading experience more interesting overall. For example,
‘This one was much larger than the others. It had a high, domed ceiling and pure white marble floors.’
could easily become
‘This one, with its high, domed ceiling and pure white marble floors, was much larger than the others.’
Instantly, it is a more dynamic sentence. Do this more than once throughout your stories and you will have a piece of writing that really flows and takes the reader on a mental ride.
Mechanically, I would also suggest working to make some of the actions clearer to the reader. I don’t have any exact examples now that I’ve gone over it, but my first read through had me stuttering and stopping in places to understand what was going on.
Finally, a flavor critique as opposed to the actual practice of writing, so you may take this or leave it as you wish. So far, your story is playing out in a mildly cliche’d manner, but then, this is only a prologue. It may diverge and prove me completely incompetent. As it stands now, though, I’m seeing references to ‘great spells never used by any but known to few’ and long-time rivals, or enemies who make their ‘final stand’ with no explained background. You may have plans for these, or you may not. I’m only examining what you’ve given us and these are my thoughts.
I hope to see more of your work sometime soon. You have potential, so don’t waste it.
LoBo
jenniferb29 reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
I like this story and I like where it is going. They only suggestions I would have is if this is to be your prolouge it should open up more. I agree that it shouldn’t detail everything in the first chapter, however I would set up the scene some. What kind of land are we talking of, what is the relationship between the two characters, maybe even how long has this Andarius been tracking Morik? I would try to enhance it some with this information and see if it doesn’t shape up a little more. Definitely a cliff hanger and I would love to read more after you make some changes.
RoadHousePress reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
Perhaps an opening statement is needed to introduce Andarius before jumping in with an action by Andarius. Like why is he there going from room to room? What time frame is it? You do get me involved and eventually I figure it out for myself but the reader should not have to struggle for primary information. And the only other suggestions I have are found in the following excerpts:
”..another being appeared in front of him…”
I would say as “Morik appeared in front of him.”
*
and just a question here: ”..Morik continued to watch Andarius, feigning calmness. He was betrayed by the sweat pouring down his face…” who is feigning calmness? Morik or Andarius? I think the description, betrayed by the sweat pouring down his face, is excellent, and can stand without the feigning calmness, but who is this describing?
Other than that.. I enjoyed this proloque and found it raised my interest. The ending made me want to read on ..excellent potential.
planetaryexit reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
Hey thats really cool its alot like something I am currently working on. The pace was set right, the action was not jummbled like most storys, the only thing that was sketchy is the fact that its bordering on the golden compass which is not really all big of a deal. All and all I enjoyed it and shall look ahead for when I shall read more.
Showing 1 - 10 of 19
Next →
Review item
Add to favesCreator
Relevant Links
Item Stats
GENERAL
15 Reviews 16 Comments
Version 1
Latest Activity: about 1 year ago
REVIEW QUEUE
Appeared in Queue: 0 Times
Skipped: 0 Times
Ratings & Rankings
