Ooooh, have you ever played a visual novel that really builds up a great mystery, introduces these interesting puzzles that you have to use by taking advantage of all the tools the game gives you, and also throws twist after twist that you can't see coming? This is technically this game, at least most of the time. And generally, I was really enjoying myself. Some of the twists were so dramatic it felt rather like a soap opera, but I am totally fine with that. And I continued to enjoy myself...until I got to the ending. There is something about the ending of this game that, without providing actual spoilers, is legitimately one of the most boring plot twists, and also clearly the easiest way to end the game from a developer's standpoint. I've forgiven a lot of games for shitting the bed on their ending—I will forever be bitter about ME3 but I also have great memories of playing through the game—but it is hard for me to give a high rating when I feel no satisfaction regarding this ending whatsoever. I had a great time playing but I don't think I'd play it again.

This game is fantastic...and catered largely for me. It's a visual novel in the purest way possible—the only choices the player is able to make is whether they prefer the text to be on auto or manual. There's very little interactivity involved, so it's no different than reading a book. A very good book, mind you; this might be my favorite game I've played this year, despite being only the first third of this story. And that's due to how complicated and developed all the characters are. We don't know everything about them, obviously, this story isn't finished yet, but the ones we do get to know are complicated, messy and grieving. And that's not even talking about our main character Hedwig, who is someone who became accustomed to a life of seclusion and solitude as an Anchoress, only to be ripped away from it. The natural thought pattern would be that she's a lot happier outside of it, able to live a life that she wanted and experience the world joyfully. However, this is not at all the case—she is miserable, becomes not only self-conscious, but loathing herself after almost every interaction she has with others. While this is the only way for her to grow as a person, this is also her only option—now that her vows as an Anchoress have been broken, there is no going back. The amount of thought and care put into Hedwig as a character is not only outstanding but also laudable; it is so easy to assume that one would be happy after such a change, much harder to acknowledge the bitterness, how painful it is to interact with people. This review was longer than expected, but I believe that's only right—this game is truly quite good, and I am now HEAVILY anticipating the next installment.