TITLE: MG
GENRE: Secret
The Shanofen’s wings rose and fell in rhythm with a song playing in his head. Higher and higher he flew, and then, turning, he plunged back toward the Great Pond, far below. The warm summer air rushed by the bird’s body, pressing his colorful feathers toward the sky while he clutched his wings to his sides. Just as his beak was about to plunge into the waters of the Great Pond, the Shanofen spread his wings to soar up and out over the land.
Below him, in the hamlet of Halliwell, villagers and visitors hurried along as they noisily arranged shops and booths, hung flower garlands and prepared for a great celebration. Halliwell’s famous Fountain gushed with great enthusiasm at one end of the town Square. The Shanofen’s heart smiled, for he loved the village.
He turned his gaze to the mountains and the fertile valleys and thick lush forests...
Fantasy
ReplyDeleteSounds like the Shanofen might be the great protector of the little village. That would indicate that something bad is about to happen to it's happy people.
Fantasy.
ReplyDeleteHard to pronounce names, flying, etc
Fantasy
ReplyDeleteBecause of all the unusual names and the flying.
Fantasy. Right away, we are introduced to a 'shanofen', which sounds like a mythical creature to me.
ReplyDeleteFantasy.
ReplyDeleteThe flying 'shanofen,' who has a bird's body but human/god/spirit-like thoughts.
Fantasy
ReplyDeleteThe made up words and the language used with fantasy.
Fantasy
ReplyDeleteThe made up words and the language used with fantasy.
Fantasy
ReplyDeleteThe thinking bird/man and made up words.
Fantasy. Not sure if this creature is half-human or not.
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ReplyDeleteFantasy
ReplyDeleteDistant 3rd POV of a large bird who loves a village suggests this is a prologue for a fantasy.
Fantasy, as the Shanofen bird appears to be a godlet or some such, protecting the village.
ReplyDeleteFantasy, as the Shanofen bird appears to be a godlet or some such, protecting the village.
ReplyDeleteFantasy
ReplyDeleteThe names and the bird (I thought it was a dragon at first) gives this a fantasy feel.
High Fantasy
ReplyDeletethe mention of the shanofen creature and hamlet.
Fantasy
ReplyDeleteThe introduction of the mythical creature that looks over the village.
FANTASY, sub-genre mythical.
ReplyDeleteFantasy.
ReplyDeleteThe anthropomorphic aspect and that the bird thinks of itself as protector of the village. It must be big. Shanofen is an intriguing word.
Fantasy
ReplyDeleteNarrator is clearly not human
Fantasy.
ReplyDeleteFantasy
ReplyDeleteBecause of the bird MC.
Animal Fantasy.
ReplyDeleteM.C. is a bird.
Fantasy
ReplyDeleteYour prose is pretty - the Shanofen sounds lovely!
For whatever it's worth, I had to work pretty hard to imagine the bird's flight path in those first few sentences -- I wonder if you can simplify his actions, perhaps less of a list of movements? He's about to divebomb, right? Although that's not as elegant a word as the bird suggests. :)
At any rate, I had a hard time staying connected through all that.
Good luck!'
Thank you! I'll take a look at it again.
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DeleteHistorical Fantasy. "Villagers" preparing for a celebration makes me think it's historical.
ReplyDeleteFantasy.
ReplyDeleteFantasy. Alternative POV.
ReplyDeleteFantasy.
ReplyDeleteBird type creature who thinks like humans.
Fantasy
ReplyDeletebecause in the bird's POV
The story is a Middle Grade FANTASY! My gratitude to those who shared thoughts and ideas. They are all quite beneficial and helpful. The Shanofen, whose character recurs throughout the story, leads us to the main character in the next paragraph. She throws a book at the bird (missing him) when he sits in her window, telling her to wake up. Thank you all again!
ReplyDeleteSomething, perhaps a ghost in the machine, caused my comments on other entries to repeat and repeat and repeat. Maybe I have an typing stutter! Anyway - sorry about that! Thanks again for all of the input and thank you, Authoress, for this opportunity! It was lovely!
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