Talk:The Gallery of Henri Beauchamp/@comment-5757488-20160426220540

I've never been the biggest fan of ritual pastas, but this one really pulls it off. Often in this genre - at least from what I've seen - events and steps to the ritual get added just to bulk out the story. However, here each stage of the ritual has meaning and symbolism, so every single one builds on the story and feels important. The craft is also very solid. The conversational tone lends itself very well to the genre here, while establishing the narrator as an important character, something a lot of pastas miss out on. Your description is never excessive - the prose effortlessly creates the setting and mood by leaving just the right elements to our imaginations. The sinister, dream-like atmosphere is brilliant.

I also have to give you props for the little details included here. From the preparation of Absinthe to surrealist art, you clearly know your stuff. I'm not really familiar with either of those topics, but it always stands out when an author has done their research. The immersion is really complemented by the trappings of the real world.

And finally - the ending. Not only is the final line a kicker, but the entire ending is great. The mystery of the 13th painting is really well executed and gets our imaginations salivating. I think it's the perfect note to go out on; it really sums up the sense of mystery and dread sensed through the story as a whole.

If I have one criticism, it is the images. While some of them do add to the story, others - namely the first and last ones - just seem like stock photos, and maybe aren't needed, especially when the writing is vivid enough to stand on its own. But hey, that's just my opinion.

Anyway, overall this is a top-notch story, and in genre that's especially difficult to pull off too. This is my second time reviewing this because wikia wiped my first comment, but this piece deserves congratulating so it's worth it. I look forward to seeing what you cook up next.