#the crown and the flame choices

[marvelnaturalock]

Yes. Just yes. Chefs kiss. There is no way this scene can be improved.

Val is SUCH a tsundere. Like literally. You can’t change my mind. JUST LOOK AT HER.

[ladylucitor]

Rightful queen of Stormholt

@playchoices

[coeluvr]

Me when chapter 4 was so nice that I must go back to my roots and edit the prologue so I can be who I am but then also pretend I'm totally normal 😋

[reneechoices]

The GOATs of Choices imo:

[wildfairies]

enter the...

hiiiii 👉👈 i got a tumblr community approved without a plan... but i want it to be for interactive fiction fans !!

most discords are if-specific, so i think it'd be fun to have a place on tumblr to discuss all our favorite ifs! a cozy spot for casual posting, theories, mc development, and random thoughts <3

invite link

tagging some favorite IFs but all are welcome!

[2nd-toughest-in-the-infants]

Crown of Ashes and Flames (WIP) on itch.io Review

Author: @coeluvr

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Choice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Replayability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall: 4/5

Pros: ANGST ANGST ANGST‼️, absolute monster of an antagonist, compelling characters, regular updates.

Cons: awkward dialogue from younger characters, no return button on UI.

**SLIGHT SPOILERS**

Notes:

TW!: Family Death, Murder, Forced Marriage, Child Marriage, Bullying, Isolation, Struggles with Mental Health

Crown of Ashes and Flames is another really strong IF WIP on itch.io with a very active author and so far it’s been receiving regular updates so I’m quite excited to see how the story develops as the game updates further. As it stands, I still want to share my thoughts on what is available to play so far.

So, Crown of ashes follows the MC who is the last surviving royal of Vesphire after King Luceris of a neighbouring kingdom, Rosea, declares war on Vesphire, murders MCs entire family, takes them back with him to Rosea and forces MC to marry him and become the new Royal Consort (at age 9?!?!) all for the sake of avenging the death of his wife, who he believes was killed by MCs older sister. As you can probably tell by that quick summary, this is an IF that is absolutely LOADED with Angst and drama, so, naturally, I was drawn right in!

I have to start off by saying how good of a job the author did in managing to create a cast of characters that are all so uniquely compelling in their own right. It can be the case that sometimes IF authors will focus too intently on just one or two main ROs while the others can feel like a bit of an afterthought, but in CoAaF, I feel as though all the characters are given equal opportunity to shine. That isn’t to say that there aren’t stand out characters, because there absolutely are and the first that comes to mind has to be Luceris. For me he stands out because not only is he an incredibly well-written, complex villain I find it rare that I have as much of visceral hatred of a fiction character as I do for him. I mean, what he does to MC in the name of ‘vengeance’ and the way he justifies himself just solidifies him as one of the most delusional and twisted villains I’ve read in an IF.

Also, the setting and minor characters in the story really serve to highlight how the MC is ostracised in their new ‘home’ as punishment for their sisters crimes. And it really is sickening how both adult and young characters justify the way they effectively bully MC because of something MC doesn’t have any control over and really serves to highlight the theme of injustice vs. justice that has been present throughout the game so far.

Furthermore, I enjoyed the amount of choice given to the player over the way MC reacts to what they’ve been through as well as to how the people around them treat them (both good and bad) and provides the player with the opportunity to explore how the traumatic events of the game impacts the MCs attitude and mental state.

It’s also quite interesting to see how the MC develops as they grow as the story starts with the MC as a nine year old and eventually grows up. This however, can be quite tricky from a writting perspective as typically authors can have difficulty with writing young child characters. Unfortunately, this is something that I have noticed was the case with this author as I felt that a lot of the dialogue exchanges between the younger characters (particularly the MC) just didn’t really feel accurate coming from a nine year olds mouth. Aside from that however, I feel as though the rest of the dialogue fits very well and overall I would say the writing is of a good quality.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this game to anyone interested in picking up a new, angsty WIP and I will certainly be patiently awaiting updates!

[puredoesnotmeankind]

If we had a nickel for each time we met the crafty LI with a dark, secretive past's sister, then we'd have two nickels which is not a lot of money but it's weird it happened twice

[playchoicesconfessions]

Sent by anonymous

‘This is a kenna rys appreciation post. I love her and I miss her and thank you, goodbye’

POST/CONFESSIONS DO NOT REFLECT THE MOD’S PERSONAL OPINIONS!

[zoeywades-spouse]

Can you imagine making a company that’s based around interactive and engaging books that were full of talking about serious issues (transphobia, trauma, mental health, misogyny, etc.) and that were truly immersive with complex characters and plots. And years later all those wonderful books have been pushed to the side and replaced with superficial, boring, and harmful books with the only goal to make money

The moment PB pushed away books like ILITW, TC&TF, ES and so forth and began writing books like Surrender, TNA, WB, etc., they lost their passion for writing complex and engaging books

[babylovestruck]

I’m sure this is done before but this is all I could think about when Val introduced Bubbles:

I love too with barley knowing each other Val already fully understands bubbles.

They needed more screen time

[thelonewolfstar]

Blades of Light and Shadow 2 (3 ending pros and cons and which ending is better in my opinion)

Sealing the Barrier

Advantage: Your LIs will come with you to the Shadow Realm, Nia still practices treatment by using plants.

Disadvantage: With the sealed barrier, magic starts fading out. The elves’ aged start to feel weak, goblins are also disappearing, dwarves are also affected but not as bad as Goblins and Elves. Wren missing Mal, Kade is looking for ways to reopen the portal to bring MC back.

This one is definitely the worst ending among the 3 endings.

Despite of fulfilling Watcher’s mission the Queen which I suspected to be Nifara still disappointed with MC staying in the Shadow Realm with Valax.

Keeping the Realms connected

Advantage: Daywalkers and Ashen can enter freely into both realms. Goblins finally settle in Deadwood and revive the place. Everyone is happy with the new set up.

Disadvantage: Some Daywalkers can be influenced by corruption and some Ashen can feel weak from too much light exposure. Being away from the portal will weaken the magic.

Best ending among the 3 endings.

Combining two realms as one.

Advantage: Magic becomes whole. Shadow’s corruption and using Light magic draining Life force no longer exists.

Disadvantage: 2 realms collide and some of the structure are destroyed. Everyone are upset with MC for making such a decision. Daywalkers and Ashen keep fighting because they don’t trust each other. Valax settle in Port Parnassus but daywalkers are still have a hard time trusting Valax, blaming her people for the destruction of their city.

This ending is the tolerable one.

Theory:

What if Azura from TCTF is the queen’s descendant since both using lightning, and have ability to give life and take life. What if Azura is like the Watcher, a creation of the Queen. After BoLaS MC beats the Queen they decided to get rid of magic for good to balance the world, leading to the extinction of dwarves, elves, goblins, and other creatures that use magic. Except dragons because Sei and Dom could be Valax’s descendants. I wonder if there’s connection between two books.

[ratanslily]

Queen Kenna Rys👑

[choicesficwriterscreations]

CFWC F/AotW - Mar 31 - Apr 6, 2024

✒️ = Fanfic | 📱= Text Fics/Edits | 🎨 = Fanart Ⓜ️ = Mature Content 18+ | 🔥 = Explicit/NSFW 18+ 🏳️‍🌈 = LGBTQIA

BLADES OF LIGHT & SHADOW

Darling, Dearest, Dead ✒️ | Tyril Starfury x F!human!MC - @thosehallowedhalls

It's Your Lucky Day, Traitor 🎨🏳️‍🌈| Aerin Valleros - @oh-so-youre-a-nerd

Safe 🎨| Mal Volari x F!human!MC by @wisejazz (C: @storyofmychoices)

Tyril Starfury Fanart 🎨 by @megas-choices

Unreleased and Incomplete ✒️| Tyril Starfury x F!MC - @a-cloud-for-dreams

BLOODBOUND

Be An Amazing Mother 2 ✒️| Adrian Raines x F!MC - @stanathanxoox

The Bigfoot Roadtrip ✒️| Gaius Augustine, Lily Spencer - @thosehallowedhalls

Lily Spencer Fanart 🎨by @artbyalz

CRIMES OF PASSION

Booped! ✒️🏳️‍🌈| m!Trystan Thorne x F!MC - @jerzwriter

Sitting at a Park Bench ✒️| Trystan Thorne x F!MC - @inlocusmads

A Special Gift ✒️| m!Trystan Thorne x F!MC - @thosehallowedhalls for @moominofthevalley

Trial by Dinner ✒️| Sebastyan Thorne x F!MC - @thosehallowedhalls

The Shirt 🎨by @oh-so-youre-a-nerd (C: @thosehallowedhalls

THE CROWN & THE FLAME

TCATF F!OC Fanart 🎨by @lupinobi

Zenobia Nevrakis Fanart 🎨 by @lupinobi

Prince Baltair Nevrakis Fanart 🎨by @lupinobi

THE FRESHMAN SERIES

The Freshman Series MC 🎨by @/mxcameronrose (C: @choiceswithmika)

THE HEIST MONACO

TH:M MC Fanart 🎨by @oh-so-youre-a-nerd

HIGH SCHOOL STORY

The Voice of an Angel ✒️🏳️‍🌈 | Aiden Zhou x F!MC - @cadybear420

HOLLYWOOD U

Hollywood U Art 🎨| Multiple Characters - @hsslilly-blog

IMMORTAL DESIRES

Immortal Desires Fanart 🎨🏳️‍🌈 | Cas Harlow x MC x Gabe Adalhard by @urdilfred

Immortal Desires MC Fanart 🎨by @aria-ashryver

My Girl and Her Guys 🎨| Cas Harlow x MC x Gabe Adalhard by @sizzleissues C: @senatorraines

Snow in Crimson, Starlight in Gold (Series) ✒️🏳️‍🌈Ⓜ️| m!cas harlow x m!gabe adalhard x nb!mc - @aria-ashryver Chapters 39 - Sometimes, we just want a little moment to rest, recover, and enjoy the company of our loved ones 🔥Ⓜ️ and Chapter 40 - ...before reality comes crashing back down 🔥Ⓜ️

IT LIVES

The Egg: An Easter Special ✒️| Stacy Green x M!MC - @korgbelmont

ILW Angst Fic ✒️| ILW MC - @abelflints

MULTIPLE STORIES / CROSSOVERS

Crimes of Passion / The Royal Romance / Rules of Engagement

Three Princes Walk Into a Bar ✒️| Trystan Thorne, Liam Rys, Leo Rys - @thosehallowedhalls

NIGHTBOUND

One Special Day ✒️| Nik Ryder x F!MC - @ladylamrian

OPEN HEART

Complete Open Heart F/AotW List Week of March 31st

[leyacer]

The annoying (affectionate) thing about The Crown and the Flame is that Book 3 is the best book in that series, but only because the first two books built up to it really well. So even though it's easily my favorite, I can't replay it without replaying the other two books first.

TCATF has this great sense of increasing scope over the course of the series. It starts with Kenna reclaiming her own kingdom, then liberating the other kingdoms from Luther, and then she faces down a rival empire that has threatened the Five Kingdoms for centuries.

And what's so great is that the threat of the Iron Empire was present from the very beginning. The alliance that queen Arianna called for, the one that led to the meeting of the rulers of the Five Kingdoms that ended in disaster, was so they could stand together against the Iron Empire. Luther conquered the Five Kingdoms for the same reason, he saw it as the best way to unify the kingdoms against the Iron Empire. The only reason Kenna could reclaim her kingdom was because Luther was off fighting the Empire overseas. The Iron Empire has been present long before Azura ever makes an appearance.

So it really comes full circle: Kenna not only defeats the man that terrorized her kingdom and the neighboring kingdoms, but also the threat that caused that man to rise to power in the first place.

[choices-binglebonkus]

Once again going to bitch about the endings they give us these days because damn it, they suck!

Old Choices endings were profound, bittersweet at times, and they made you reflect on the series/book as it comes to its conclusion. Some of the best endings were The Crown & The Flame where we come full circle, Endless Summer where your final decision impacts the fate of you, your friends, and the rest of the world, and It Lives (both ILITW and ILB) where you either get a bittersweet but happy ending or a straight up sad, despondent ending where you and maybe even some of your friends are dead.

Nowadays the endings are just like…empty. Hollow. Soulless. Wake the Dead’s ending tried to be bittersweet but it was so rushed and just not remotely impactful that it didn’t come across that way at all.

Murder at Homecoming’s ending also went for a more bittersweet feel, but the conclusion was also rushed and it really just left me frustrated.

Immortal Desires was originally meant to be a standalone, so looking at it from that lens, the ending was ridiculous. It dropped the reveal that we were a vampire and we were like “wow, I can’t wait for more adventures!” And that was it. Now, thankfully, we’re getting a sequel, but THAT was the ending they wrote for what was originally a standalone.

All in all, a lot of the modern Choices book endings are essentially “and no more bad guys ever bothered them again and they lived happily ever after :)”.

And compared to, I don’t know, tearfully sacrificing ourself to fix the timelines, saving the world, and dying for our friends, possibly even leaving our spouse a widow/widower after a single day of marriage? These modern endings just don’t cut it.

[the-unconquered-queen]