I'm not normally a fan of romance-focused fiction. I think we see so many iterations of it on Wattpad and elsewhere that it can be overwhelming for anyone trolling through the copious amounts of content on this site, and even more disappointing when it's written poorly or with generic characters. That being said, there are always exceptions to the rule - when an author brings something new to the table and energizes a tried and true genre. Bonus points if they do this through combining it with the conventions of another or multiple other genres.
On that note, my shoutout for this week is 'Edge of Everlasting Life' by @LennaAbel. This story might seem like a regular (but well written) teenage romance story at first sight, but when I saw the reference to a VR RPG experience I knew there was more going on under the surface of this piece.
Broadly, the story can be split into two halves thus far: in the first half, Alice, our relatively shy protagonist, is focussed on her school crush Vincent. She 's an introspective character who spends a lot of time in her own head, pondering what her friends, and potential boyfriend, think of her. Her teenage perspective is convincingly written, and her inner monologues portray the kind of angst and preoccupation with appearances that make her feel real (this motif of 'reflection' is an important detail throughout the story, and takes on new significance later on). We follow Alice as she chats with friends, prepares for a date with Victor, and actually shares a really beautiful dinner scene with him. Both these characters' innocence is infectious, and you'll find yourself rooting for them right off the bat.
But throughout this section, there's something hiding under the surface. Constantly, we are told about 'Edge of Everlasting Life' (or EEL) – a Virtual Reality fantasy roleplaying experience being developed by Alice's friend Dean's uncle. And what group of friends do you think decide to sign up as the first test subjects for this new 'game'...
The game itself is what the second half of the story focusses on, as Alice finds herself separated from her friends in the castle of the chauvinistic and possessive Prince Aiden. Her Avatar – a bird-human hybrid (incidentally my favorite kind) just happens to match Aiden's race, and his mind is set on one thing alone – marrying Alice, even if it's against her will. So far, it seems that Alice only spends some hours in the game world, and the narrative starts to switch between reality and the world of the game, sometimes leading to some truly creepy moments (such as Alice catching a reflection of herself as her character in the real world). These moments make the reader start to wonder: what's real and what isn't? Is EEL more a malevolent experiment than an actual game? And how can Alice escape her plight at the claws of her captor in the world of the game?
I'd recommend this story if you're a fan of convincingly written romance, fantasy, or speculative fiction. It's still an ongoing tale, and I don't want to give too much away, but suffice to say that this story has me questioning everything and thoroughly seeking answers in each new chapter. A successful hybrid of romance and fantasy, this story will definitely keep you engaged. Just don't get too hooked, or you may never return to reality...
YOU ARE READING
Milestones and Visions
Non-FictionA breakdown of both milestone celebrations on Wattpad and a place to see concept artwork and images that inspire me (and might even prove helpful in your own writing!) I also will be sharing some writing activities I've found useful, so check these...
