Reminisce (Chapters 6 - 11) by Millianna_ohwode

Reviewed by _GinaLexis_

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Overview – If I thought that the first five chapters were an evidence of great writing, the author outdid herself in those following. Like I mentioned in my last review, 'Reminisce' is always a joy to read. The subtle tone of the story and the underlying despair makes us feel as if we are reading an ancient love-lore. Yet, it highlights the contemporary issues such as depression, drug abuse, submission, and toxic relationships.

Grammar/Writing style – I have less issues in this section than I had the last time. Clearly the extensive editing is working. I couldn't spot any spelling or grammatical errors.

I have no qualms with the use of present tense either. I have gotten used to it now and in fact, consider it the best for this story. For a book that dwells on the past of the characters, the present tense of the story is refreshing. It also gives a sense of immediacy that the plot itself lacks.

The small issue with contractions that I had mentioned last time (which only had to do with the particular accent of the character, as explained to me by the author later on) has been cleared up in a very subtle and clever manner.

There is a harmonious balance between telling and showing sentences. The latter being dominant in the story. It is not an easy feat and I commend the author.

Character/Development: The important characters introduced the last time were, Eden, Cassandra/Red, Miguel and Ghazi.

Eden: Perhaps, the character I'm the most conflicted about is Eden. He is the most consistent character, unchanging, firm and empathetic. At the same time, he is the character that has had the least development in all the ten chapters put together. No matter what the situation is, he deals with it in the classic 'Eden-style'. While this may be fine in some situations, enjoyable even, it becomes very tedious to read the chapters in his perspective, especially when all his thoughts always revolve around Cassandra. His personality is that of a deep, soulful, and ancient being, but, he comes off as a very two-dimensional character. I hope the future chapters showcase more of his 'other side' if there is one.

Cassandra: Every chapter of Cassandra is heavenly. She doesn't need deep thoughts or words to convey her emotions. They are raw, magnetic, and unbelievable. I want to know more about her and how she became the current 'her'. Cassandra speaking to the mirror and another 'her' replying is probably the best thing that happened to the story. The amount of beauty conveyed in that one scene is abundant.

Her struggle with drugs, depression and a controlling pimp / lover is grounded in reality. We can't help but pity her and love her. Cassandra's thoughts on her leaving Eden mentioned in Chapter 9 give us a new perspective on her relationship with him. In his thoughts, intentionally or not, she seems selfish for leaving. But the fact that there is much more to the story, and that it is probably riddled with a lot of pain makes her a very sympathetic character.

Although, only under the influence of drugs, she seems to be reverting to her cheerful self that Eden first came to love. This may be dangerous for her and her relationship with Miguel, but, I can't help but love her rebellious side. When she dances in her room and says that this is the most she could do to feel free, that one sentence holds so much power.

She has had so much development in the past few chapters. In the beginning I had believed Red to be stronger than Cassandra. But Cassandra herself feels that the new her is anything but that. She is only coping, only surviving. Whereas, the old Cassandra was living her life. I really do want to see her get out of the hold that Miguel has on her. It's more complicated because she doesn't seem to completely hate him. In fact, I think she is indebted to him. I wonder how this will play out when Eden becomes a big part of her life again.

Miguel: The character that has had the most development is our tentative antagonist. He seemed to be only 'the bad' in the first five chapters, but, now he seems to be much more than that. I already know two people who are indebted to him. Although he is Cassandra's pimp, he treats her in a more special way than the other girls, going so far as to live with her. He is vocal about his love for her. But the scary part is that their relationship is clearly toxic. When Cassandra speaks about him, there is respect, yes, but also fear. She doesn't know when he would start raging on. Intense rage followed by tender love is a clear pointer to an abusive significant other. I really hope Cassandra gets out of his poisonous life and lives the life she deserves.

Ghazi: Ghazi is well... Ghazi. Much like Eden, he is a kind of stock character. A contrasting yet supportive best friend. He doesn't always agree with the personality and thoughts of Eden, yet, he is very supportive. He gives Eden the push he needs to get out of his head and into his life. Ghazi is also a breath of fresh air. Whenever Eden gets too sombre, he brings in humour and lights up the story. He is a consistent character and I'm actually glad about that. I don't want him to change. He is perfect and fun the way he is. He is also flawed yes, but his flaws bring about a wonderful contrast to the almost perfect and understanding Eden.

Vocabulary/Descriptions: I have come to develop certain expectations before reading anything written by @ millianna_ohwode because of how much she excels in this section. She has never disappointed me. These chapters are written in a dignified manner. Even the downtrodden and wretched characters have so much personality and their descriptions hold so much depth. Out of all the characters, Eden's descriptions are the most fun to read because he mixes abstract concepts and weaves them together to form his thoughts. I loved the line where he personified his car and said that since he had parked her with others, she wouldn't feel lonely and in need of company. That made him so relatable because I add life to all inanimate objects around me too.

Although, Eden is the king of descriptions, I have to give it to Cassandra. Her mirror scene stole the spotlight in these chapters. I have no qualms in this section at all. In the first review I had told the author to tone down Eden's thoughts a little and right now it is perfect and wouldn't need any changes at all.

Pace: The pace is pretty consistent in these chapters. In the first review, I had some issues in this section. The author seems to have found the 'balance' that I was talking about. There is no crazy and sudden change of pace. Eden's chapters have increased the pace a little and Cassandra's have decreased. Now they both have almost matched each other to make for a much easier read. I commend the author on that!

Plot: The plot thickens! A simple story of separation of lovers and their reunion has gained much more substance. Now lies the mystery of what exactly happened in the past and how things have come to be as they are now and also what the future holds for our dear characters. The development in the characters has also made the plot much more interesting. I am very curious about the dynamics between Miguel and Cassandra. At the same time, I am genuinely rooting for Cassandra and Eden to end up together. I really hope this is not a tragedy. The tone of the story has always been dark and sad from the beginning. I sincerely want Cassandra to end up being happy in the end, in spite of the foreshadowing tone.

Summary: 'Reminisce' is a wonderful read. It deserves recognition and I hope more people will come to love it as I have. I repeat, like my last review, this may not be for everyone. It has dark themes, characters in pathetic states and a tone that makes you feel really sad, deep and soulful. But, it has the capacity to churn your heart and leave it unsteady.

It has some of the most beautiful dialogues and descriptions I have come across on Wattpad. The simple ones speak so much. For example when Miguel says, "I love you" to Cassandra and she replies with, "Yeah, same," their entire relationship dynamics is laid bare for us to see.

The transition of scenes is beautiful. In chapter 10, a memory is perfectly weaved into Cassandra's normal life. It is sad, yet you want to read on, because it's real. This 'realness' of this story is what makes it so appealing. 'Reminisce' is a definite charmer!