Re-Review: The Spellbook
Well, I guess since I can't find any decent fics I haven't already reviewed yet, I'll have to move up the schedule on the Re-Reviews. Also, to shut up all the people who complain about my reviewing format (all 1 of them) I would like to say that this revierw is entorely my opinion. If you don't want to hear it, then click your back button and go read something else. In re-reviewing The Spellbook, I feel a strong temtation to bitchslap the fic's biggest flaw. But since I always strive to challenge myself, I solemly vow to get through this entire review without making any reference to Matt's Screentime. So with that in mind, let's get rolling.
So the first few chapters of The Spellbook were snore-worthy bordem fests, and were strung together in a somewhat-continious format. Not to mention the massive number of spelling and grammer errors, but then again, these ones actually have a good excuse behind them, so I'll let that slide. I'll keep the summary of the story of the fic short, because I'm sure all you Meg-centric nerds already know. Meg get's a Spellbook that used to belong to a trio of deadly, yet attractive witches, and starts using it to make her life better. The Spellbook is a massive Meg's Family clone...make that the only Meg's Family clone. However, The Spellbook had a good way of using plot points, by introducing new spells that Peter would misuse, only to fuck his world up royally.
Being a Meg/OC fic, The Spellbook really seemed to be lacking in the OC department. No this is not a screentime reference! I promised I wouldn't do that! What I mean is that there isn't a clear personality in the OCs. Take Rosie for example. She, like Jaina Ryder, tends to flit schizophrenically back and forth between adorable little girl, super-cilious badass action girl (this is only used when she feels like showing off her powers), and straight woman. Also, the characters never seems to vent their frustrations, nothing like a halfway decent "FUCK YOU PETER!" as well as there being no real conflict.
You see, for a story to work, you need to have some kind of regular conflict, a gimmick of some sort. Family guy used the "Stewie killing Lois" gimmick as their conflict, and it was incredibly popular...that is until he was turned into a stereotypical gay guy that gave the rest of us a bad name. The Spellbook doesn't have a regular conflict, or rather any conflict at all. But oh well, it's funny, and does a little more than pointless humor, it's just a shame that all of it's attemps make me want to cough up blood.
Let's look at the biggest one, the one that made me spit out chunks of lung, the fucking hybrid mechanic. I don't care if you come from a land where everyone has a dog's head on a person's body, or from a planet of the Apes type world where everyone is a puppy, but human women giving birth to puppies is not okay! Why won't anyone believe me when I say Brian/human pairings are shit? I feel like that support character running around yelling "Brian's poo! Stop making fics for him!" but here we go again, with the god damn hybrids. In this story, Jillian gave birth to twins. One was a puppy, which as I just stated, is wrong on so many levels, and the other was a baby girl with blonde hair...uh...fuck...(taps head with fingers) where have I seen that before...AHA!
Anyway, species/hybrid buttfuck aside, The Spellbook is not really a fic that excels in the OC department. Ander has this horrible habit of introducing a character, then making them either a multi-personality character that confuses you, or is a boring, still, unreal person with all the warmth and emotion of a glass of water. It's male protagonist is a good place to start. Matt has been given several key points to his character, such as his talent with computers, and being able to build cathedrals out of matches. Nice work Ander, we're finally seeing some actual character development. But the biggest thing about Matt that pisses me off is his total lack of...uh...hair.
(Phew, that was a close one.)
Aside from Brian/Jillian, The Spellbook lacks an unusual pairing. You know, something either gay, zoophiliac, incestuous, or otherwise. You know, something you hint at, but never really explore. Meg's Family and WI2 do this, and they do it well. But really, I can't say I like a good portion of the mechanics fo the story.
Now, I know what you're saying. "Material, you confusing faggot! If you have so much to complain about the story, but it's on your list of top 5 fics of all time." Well that's a good point. I guess I've danced around the shittiness pile long enough, so let's dig around the other dirt pile of the good bits.
For all it's faults, The Spellbook can really draw you in and cheer you up. It also has some dramatic moments, like when Meg was about to be burned at the stake, and it keeps in step with much of Family Guy's content. If you can get past the confusing nature that comes from the spelling and grammer errors, you will se a story that shines of excellent storytelling, as well as having an unintentional plot constantly running underneath all the episodes. The canon characters are well written, and the humor works crazy well with the supernatural plots. As you all know, The Spellbook is in the group of my fanficiton superstar tag team (right alongside WI2 and AGMIHTF) and I really reccomend it to you if you like magic. You may not like it if your into depressing, grey Romantic/Angst, but hey, to each is own. I liked it, and chances are you will to. BUt then again, you've probably already read it, so to hell with this review anyway.
~Have these little closing messages grown on you yet?~
~Material~