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"Four Seasons: June Revelations" by Crimson Dragon (ff infidelity
& reconciliation) 9, 8, 6
"Four Seasons: June Revelations" by Crimson Dragon. Review by Nick (email: Nick@cassandra.demon.co.uk) ) This is the last story in the set, and I have to confess that I've only read two of them - this one and Harvest Moon. I wondered if I should read the other two before reviewing this; but I decided that since this was a set, not a series, the story ought to stand on its own and be reviewed as such. Those who have read the set will know that it covers the development of a lesbian relationship between two young girls, Kate and Linda, over the period of a year. At this final stage the girls have fallen out over Linda's "infidelity" to Kate with a young man, and the story covers how they get back together. This seems like good material for passionate making-up scenes, but instead the writer has chosen to concentrate on the emotional tension between the two girls. What sex there is, is pretty insignificant and only takes place within the last few paragraphs. For me the only character who works well is Kate's father, who, it turns out, is more knowing about Kate's night-time excursions with Linda than expected (but not *that* knowing!). There is a little technical mess as to whether he has degreased his hands or not after repairing his tractor... (possibilities there perhaps!? - Well not in a story of this type.) As for the slow painful reconciliation of Kate and Linda, this seemed a bit lumpy, and I found myself almost crying out: 'Look, you want it - she wants it, why not just...do it!!' Well, perhaps my understanding of the female mind is lacking! Even so, if Linda's betrayal of Kate hurt that much, I would have expected to see some anger there or at least more insight as to what's going on in her head. Instead we are simply told how difficult Kate finds it to forgive (not really why) and how both of them have been crying every night since *it* happened. Personally I found this just frustrating! In the end, the situation isn't really resolved. It has the potential to be quite a good ending, in showing how the bond between the two girls has matured as a result of the experience. A few more lines could have brought this out, but instead we are left with too much of a question mark which doesn't really suit the end of a set. In short, this may work for some of those who prefer to explore the emotional side rather than the sexual side, but it didn't work for me. I preferred harvest Moon, and I know this writer can do better! In marking this, by my standards I would give it 8 for Technique, 6 for plot and character and 6 for general appeal. Normalizing this to the "Celestial Standard" my ratings are: Athena (Technical) - 9 Venus (Plot & Character) - 8 Nick (Appeal to me) - 6 |