Mini-Reviews Round 176

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Go out and enjoy your terrible, terrible green beer if you must; just try not to throw up on me, if you please.  Or if you're not the over-imbibing type, do like me and make yourself some corned beef and soda bread.  Okay, so I'll have a beer or two with that as well... but at least it won't be green beer.

Either way, check below the break for a couple of short reviews, one of which is even seasonal.





Lyra and the Little People, by Not_A_Hat

Zero-ish spoiler summary:  On the day they first meet, Lyra tells Bon-Bon her cutie mark story--a story a little heavier on mythological tricksters than the average pony's.

A few thoughts:  If you've ever read Darby O'Gill and the Little People, the inspiration for this story will be obvious, but the author does just enough with this plot to make it feel setting-appropriate.  The just-so nature of the humans (yes, they're humans) and the strange rules which govern them feel at home in Equestria, and there's a nice contrast between the narrative tone of Lyra's story (as told by her) and the framing around it.  My only real complaint is that, at it's core, it is a story I've read before... but it's one I enjoyed before, too, and it's been gussied up just enough to make it feel... if not original, then at least "sufficiently so."

Recommendation:  Fans of fey stylings and folklore should definitely give this a go, especially if they have fond memories of Darby O'Gill.



Withywindle, by psychosis

Zero-ish spoiler summary:  Fluttershy goes into the Whitetail Woods to meet an old friend (and an old willow) from back when the woods were known as the Old Forest.

A few thoughts:  The author plays coy with who Fluttershy's meeting, so I will as well... but if you recognize the title, you already know.  Anyway, I read this story specifically because I have a particular and excessive fondness for that character, and although this fic is really just a Fluttershy scenelet, it did scratch that itch.  Unfortunately, writing is a big letdown; misspelled words, telly narration, repetitive phrasing, and more make this story feel more tedious than it really is.

Recommendation:  If you get the title reference and are as intrigued by it as I was, then this might be worth a few minutes--it's barely 1000 words, so it's a small enough investment in any event.  But if you're looking for strong construction or a significant plot, this fic isn't what you're seeking.