What a wonderfully dark tale. You managed to tell a story that could have been an entire book in so few words and I'm still getting shivers. Well done. I love where you took the prompt. I've always liked writing from the perspective of the villain myself. They've always been the most interesting characters in a story for me. A villain has never just been evil. That is too simple a word to describe them. They are so much more then that. Just as a hero can turn to the dark, a villain can find the light, if only in the end. They have a very different outlook on life as a whole and I think you explored the idea brilliantly. If you ever decided to continue this story I'd definitely be on board.

Very nice, I think you took the prompt in a pretty interesting direction with this and I also like the humour. (I don't think I'll ever not laugh at "This gnome is just asking to be tossed" but maybe that's just me :P ) I think all that stuff would make a good story. Unless you've already written it, I haven't actually checked.

Yum.

This has the feel of a Prologue, Augie, and I hope you treat it as such. You have created a character in Lofae Red who has been badly damaged and undergone fundamental change. She is poised to go out and act upon that change, to make a new start. There is great potential here for exploration of layers of identity, of self-doubt, of forgiveness, and continual choice-making all against the backdrop of a fairly straight-forward, accessible fantasy environment.

I've not read anything about Red yet, and the Netheren, the Darklings, and their assorted Realms and Councils do not ring any bells for me - it's been a long time since I've read straight-up fantasy.

I also write to music - as a side note, I was only peripherally aware of The Fray, so I popped up the song 'Rainy Zurich' on YouTube. The album is now tucked safely in my Amazon basket.

Hi, I really like the way you speak to the reader at the beginning of your story. It makes the relationship between reader and story that much more personal. A very good start. Your writing has great strength. That is why I was suprised to find this statement (has a kind of magnetism.) I know kind of is kind of trendy but I think the power of the statement would be increased if you just said "...has a magnetism..."

A brilliant idea, made better by the mutuality of the characters, and the fact that your villian is only partly evil. A great tale.

I only hope you will return the review on my story, Psychics v Terrorists, as I like getting feedback from trully good writers.