Okay so, I found this IF a few months ago and have been waiting for the release of chapter 10 impatiently...AND HOLY HELL! I did not expect the ending of this chapter in R's route. I wonder what you're planning next cherry! I rarely comment under games and stuff, but I had to because this is absolutely amazing. The way the culture is pretended? The personalities of the characters? The lore of the story and world? It's simply gorgeous and breathtaking. You are an amazing writer with an amazing personality. I love your work and can't wait for the next chapter ;D Thank you for writing this and sharing it with us you amazing human being! Have a wonderful day or night! ^^
I am literally in love with this game. My standards for romance games have been absolutely ruined by this masterpiece. There was never a dull moment once. I genuinely can't wait for the next chapter (this is a threat /j)
Genuinely the first longform IF game I've played multiple times just to enjoy different routes. Besotted with Rezan and Dara, and Xelef makes a very sweet friend. The differences in how you've constructed their romances and the dynamics between the LIs themselves is incredible. Looking forward to future updates!
Normally I'm quite decided on my pick of a LI the first time I play a game, but all of the characters were incredibly appealing, and their friendship/platonic routes were thoroughly satisfying as well. Rezan's good route was my first 'true' playthrough, but playing it again and selecting Dara from the same screen (I had unlocked both of theirs) was too tempting to pass up. You've a real knack for character voice. Thanks for sharing this with all of us.
Obviously since this isn’t downloadable yet (or not at all idk your plans) you have to save, but is there some way I can stop my tab from reloading when I come back on to Safari randomly? It keeps making me lose all my progress. ^^
Just finished my first playthrough! Well, my first two, since I couldn't decide between A and X and ended up running two saves simultaneously to not miss out haha! I absolutely adored every moment! My partner actually got a bit annoyed because I just could not stop gushing to them about the characters you've created and the world you've built. I had to make an account just to say: thank you so much for sharing this with the world.
Also, and I apologize if a comment is an inappropriate place to say so, I'd love to offer to support in proofreading the text, even if just for the currently released chapters. The only thing that occasionally pulled me out of the story were the small grammatical / syntactical errors one cannot help but make when writing a text of such length. I'd be more than happy to discuss it more via private message, if you're interested, and can provide a bit of background information on myself and experience in this area.
Thank you, again, forth this story. I look forward to following and supporting it for a long time to come!
Thanks for the offer, but I already have beta readers who I'm quite happy with! I prefer to have feedback regarding the substance (plot, characters, worldbuilding), typos and things of that nature I can correct while continuing to update the story. You can always report any typos or errors you find using the Google form for bug reports.
I chose the sky stone at the choice to choose between the 4 its the first option.
At the ceremony I chose humbling, grateful, Its no longer my home and I walk in their footsteps. Thats what got me sun blessing.
I chose the same options at the ceremony every time but if I chose a different stone it changed my magic so I'm not completely sure but I hope this helps.
Also I think outer or inner magic is also a decider. I chose outer each time.
Help! I followed the guide on prioritizing the people to the letter but it still does not allow me. Its been about a month or more since I last played because I was frustrated :,) also, does anyone know how many affinities there are and what the differences are? I'm on Rozerîn'sroute.
I dont know if this will help, but in my playthrough I got the prioritize the public choice and did: do not reveal to Kham nor the nobility, didn't exclude the public to the Crowning ceremony, threw both the nobility and the public extra celebrations, and I don't know if this is relevant, but I defended the artists at the banquet.
also, unrelated, but I think it might be a cool idea to add an option for headscarves/veiling in character design!! just a thought tho so no pressure ! ! ! ! ! K LOVE U BYE <3
The setting is pre-Islamic, and the religious influences are Zoroastrian, which used to be a huge part of Kurdish culture before colonization and forced conversion. It wouldn't make sense in the story's cultural context.
omg. "patiently yours" "yours as well" . cherry i actually cried. also the way you write?????? insane. actually incredible. i dont remember the exact wording but it was an analogy/image about xelef's villages bones and how he was carrying it and i was literally like. i could write ten billion essays on this phrase alone. insane. another explosive display of talent from esteemed author and philanthropist cherry
i also love love love how the story is progressing with x so far, and i love love love the way courtly intrigue is starting to pick up (crazy theory, but i'm kindaaaaa sus of keko..... what the heck.........i better be wrong cherry or i will cry !) and also kham is best character. wonderful wood woman. also heval! ! ! ! ! !! such a slay character. their interactions with x??? especially in this chapter?? AUGH!
also what the hell cherry i know me and x are not in a commitied relationship yet but them sleeping with someone else had me ! surprised! but then it forced me to consider their character in a more intimate and reflective fashion and it just made me value them all the more as a unique individual and it was just. real. like so real. ur such a good writer what the heck.
this is the longest spam i've spammed u with. i'll leave u alone now. but absolutely adored this chapter, and you should be sos so sos os so PROUD of what you've done and what you've accomplished and just who u r as a person. i love u.s o much. i love AToC so. much.
X is actually handling ALL of their problems without you, they're cutting you out for a very good reason. I wouldn't mistake their personal trauma and their very real concerns about the Crown as them just "being an idiot"? X is one of the smartest characters in the whole game, the Crown literally would be dead without them. At this point in time X has no obligations or loyalty towards your Crown, because you haven't done anything to earn it.
From all your comments you've posted on this page, it sounds like you don't understand X's character arc whatsoever, and it seems X doesn't like your character either since you have a low relationship with them. I would recommend trying another LI lol.
Hmm, gotcha. I guess I felt like they were close. I know I made one mistake with him for sure. I might try to go for another few runs, do another X and an A then maybe. Thanks for the insight :)
Not at all what I meant when I posted my initial comment/review on the chapter and X's route! Please do not misconstrue my opinions with this commenter's.
X is a fiercely independent character, who possesses astounding strength, both physically and mentally. They do not need the Crown--they have known each other for like a month at most (if I remember correctly).
And I really, really dislike the phrase, "He needs us to pressure him." Does not sit well with me.
No hate at all intended--just wanted to specify my own feelings!
Sorry to have caused such turmoil amongst the group! I should have definitely rephrased that, more that he hides from everything and needs somebody to tell him "no nonsense" every once in awhile.
TY TY ISTG IF I CAN'T ROMANCE DELAL LATER ON I'M GOING TO CRY (/j) I LOVE UNSTEADY RELATIONSHIPS BC IT FEELS REALISTIC AND MAKES ME SAD, I'LL TRY AND FIX IT SOON THO
OH MY GOD MUSCULAR GENERAL WOMAN CONFUSED ABOUT HOW HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CROWN SHOULD BE AND CONCERNED FOR HER REPUTATION, AS WELL AS TRYING TO RIGHT HER MOTHER'S WRONG THAT SHE BLAMES HERSELF FOR???? HELL YEAH I KEEP SHAKING MY LEGS OR FLAPPING MY HAND WHENEER THERE'S A ROMANTIC SCENE TYSM FOR THIS CAN'T WAIT FOR CHAPTER 10!!!! I RLLY RLLY HOPE YOU FIND JOY IN MAKING THIS
Oh by the way, I am really curious about this one detail. When I used my last save from last year March, I saw that I have chosen a different family name from all the current available choices. I don't remember if it was a customized one or a choice, regardless, it caused me wonder if there were any reasons for the change. May you just sate a little bit of my curiosity,please? :3
"FYI: With the most recent update to the game, starting from today, it’s no longer possible to insert a custom family name for your Crown. You can only choose from among the fixed range of suggestions given to you.
I decided I wanted to make the Crown's ethnicity as explicitly, canonically, Kurdish as possible regardless of the first name inserted by the player, so using a fixed range of Kurdish last names was the easiest way to do that. Each suggested last name is taken from a renowned Kurdish poet 💖"
This game is just really amazing and I love it so much. Actually, it is too well written that it scares the shit outta me every time I made a choice though, like heaven knows whose necks gonna get broken because I chose the wrong choice , right?
Keep up with the great work! Cheers for you right there for all the efforts you and your peers have put in this game. Though I guess when I can see to the ending of this I would possibily be well ready for a child or two even though I have not even get married yet lol XD
A little update: I have just finished chap 9 X's route and read through your tumblr and realize the reason why this is the first time (and maybe the ever time) I have fallen for this type of character lol. Turn out it is because we both hate how this character, the narration and the plot progress in the other games XD Spending time with him has been stressful but it is like empathism where balance is in place, whereas in other game, this type character has just been straight out depressed all the time, and the MC in most of these routes demanded to know about all the pain and secrets that they hide or they were like "I don't know why but I feel relaxed with you, even though we have just met and I think I want to share my past with you" and it is kinda uncomfortable. So, thank you for having made it so, I dunno, relaxing I suppose? I don't know how to describe it but it truly feels I am getting gradually and slowly untangle his worries, making him more trustful in me and patiently waiting for him to open up. A scarred heart need more time to trust someone, reveal their invulnerability, so it feels just so real and this time, I do not have to be so annoyed by the personality depicted by the MC lol.
Thanks so much!! 💖💖 I totally agree that most routes like that end up getting so depressing and a slog to play through. X especially has a lot of reasons to be guarded around the Crown, and the Crown also has their own limits in terms of what they can tolerate. I'm glad you could appreciate it!!
My pleasure :3 And I forgot to mention how I love how you write their scene at the end of chapter nine :33 It's just so soft that I have to save it right there to reread it again. The soft, warmth and a big pink fluff Ư v Ư
This is absolutely fantastic, such a wide array of emotions, feeling attached to such wonderful characters and the weight of the MC and your choices. Wonderfully written.
this story is like a fairy tale, something like cinderella in terms of what happens to the crown - i love it soo much and feel very very lucky to have stumbled upon this story! i'm only on chapter 3, but i can't wait to see which way the story turns next <3
As an Iraqi woman myself, this game makes me feel so seen. All my life I've felt disappointed at the lack of accurate Middle Eastern representation and I was so overjoyed when I found ATOC :)
The writing is beautiful, immersive, and captivating. Even with my short attention span, I could not stop reading. The balance between fantasy and romance is perfect. The dialogue is charming and incredibly funny (the argument about olives and cheese makes me laugh every time I read it). It took me a while to decide on which route to follow first because the LIs are so amazing (ended up starting with D because I love a slow burn!). They all feel so authentic with their own ambitions, boundaries, and realistic reactions. I love that none of them are obsessed with the Crown and continue to have a life outside of serving them. I genuinely love the Crown since they feel like a character of their own and not just a self-insert for the reader.
I've already recommended this game to many of my friends and I will definitely come back to play future chapters :) Cherry, the work that you're doing is absolutely incredible! Please remember to take care of yourself and I hope 2023 is an amazing year for you <3
I got unsteady relationship with Xelef and ????? I have no clue what I did wrong???? Should I have pushed about the Mir instead of letting it go? Man it felt like a breakup what a depressing ending to ch9 and I have no clue what I did wrong I wss trying to be good to him ????
I just tried that and got a worse reaction. So letting it go seems the right choice. But they still break up in ch9. This is depressing zi have no idea what I did to get X to do this...
So I digged and found a comment that said that I had to make X apologize. It feels a bit much that ONE choice completely ruins the relatioship... Now I'm afraid I'll have the same issue with the others of making 1 "wrong" choice and suddenly it's over for them.
omg same i think it happens after the scene with the dead body and how u react to that gives u an unsteady relationship bc thats what happened to me :( hopefully we can fix the relationship in later chapters
That one choice doesn't "ruin" the entire relationship. Your previous choices with X were likely incorrect as well.
Also, getting an "unsteady relationship" in CH9 doesn't mean that your entire relationship is ruined. There's literally 15+ more chapters to be added in the story - this is just a first indication of how X feels towards your Crown.
You can course-correct in future chapters. Try thinking more about the kind of character X is and which choices they would appreciate. The romance routes depend entirely on if you are able to understand your LI.
[Spoilers for CH9]
Edit: To clarify, X always leaves at the end of CH9 no matter what, even if your relationship isn't unsteady. It's part of the story.
Your Crown and X have literally known each other for a week, and X is a mercenary who needs to work. There is no "break-up", your Crown is not in a committed relationship with Xyet. X is not going to stick around the palace just to romance your Crown lol, they have their own stuff going on. You'll see them again in future chapters
You didn't get close enough to anyone. I'd pick the LI you like best and focus on them; if you're still struggling, there's a walkthrough you can use. The game splits into 4 separate routes for each LI after CH4 so it's important to get close to one of them in order to progress.
I just finished making an account because I had to say that it's really really good!! I hope you enjoy the holidays and I wish you a wonderful year ahead. Thank you for sharing this world and these characters with us!
hi cherry checkin in on u to tell u i love u (mwah) and to wish u happy HOLIDAYS!!!! cant wait to see whats to come, and i wish u all the best for the upcoming year!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3
I genuinely adore this game so much and it had a hold on me since the begining! I adore the customization features especially the pronoun feature as someone who uses more than one set of pronouns! The story telling and history is beautiful and I love how the character information and relationship information updates as it goes on. I am not often someone to leave reviews but this game has earned my praises.
Heyyy, I managed to have a good relationship with them and here's a list of choices I made, no idea how significant most of them are but I hope it'll help!
I love this game so much and replayed it so many times over the last few months, going down different routes and picking other answers! And I can't wait until the next update! Great work, keep it up!
Thank you, I'm so glad to hear that!! I've always wanted to see us represented better in media so I hoped to contribute. Even though I am limited to my Kurdish background when there are so many cultures in the region, it's definitely also a Middle Eastern story 💖💖
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THE NEW CHAPTER IM ON THE FLOUR ;;;;;;;;
Rozerin is my beloved, she MUST BE PROTECTED. (also her scene has made my breath hitch every time i've read it)
Okay so, I found this IF a few months ago and have been waiting for the release of chapter 10 impatiently...AND HOLY HELL! I did not expect the ending of this chapter in R's route. I wonder what you're planning next cherry! I rarely comment under games and stuff, but I had to because this is absolutely amazing. The way the culture is pretended? The personalities of the characters? The lore of the story and world? It's simply gorgeous and breathtaking. You are an amazing writer with an amazing personality. I love your work and can't wait for the next chapter ;D Thank you for writing this and sharing it with us you amazing human being! Have a wonderful day or night! ^^
just finished chapter ten… im speechless
I am literally in love with this game. My standards for romance games have been absolutely ruined by this masterpiece. There was never a dull moment once. I genuinely can't wait for the next chapter (this is a threat /j)
same. This game ruined old romance games for me, my standarts are so high rn I revisited some of them and I felt like eating glass
I blame this game entirely
Thanks so much, that's such high praise!! Enjoy the update💖💖
Genuinely the first longform IF game I've played multiple times just to enjoy different routes. Besotted with Rezan and Dara, and Xelef makes a very sweet friend. The differences in how you've constructed their romances and the dynamics between the LIs themselves is incredible. Looking forward to future updates!
Normally I'm quite decided on my pick of a LI the first time I play a game, but all of the characters were incredibly appealing, and their friendship/platonic routes were thoroughly satisfying as well. Rezan's good route was my first 'true' playthrough, but playing it again and selecting Dara from the same screen (I had unlocked both of theirs) was too tempting to pass up. You've a real knack for character voice. Thanks for sharing this with all of us.
Thanks so much, that means a lot!! I really appreciate the compliments, hope you enjoy the update 💖💖
Obviously since this isn’t downloadable yet (or not at all idk your plans) you have to save, but is there some way I can stop my tab from reloading when I come back on to Safari randomly? It keeps making me lose all my progress. ^^
I don't know about Safari specifically, but make sure your browser isn't deleting browser cookies. That is how save progress gets deleted.
Alternatively, download your saves to your device files using "Save To Disk" and manually load them in (see the FAQ).
ashti stole my heart
Just finished my first playthrough! Well, my first two, since I couldn't decide between A and X and ended up running two saves simultaneously to not miss out haha! I absolutely adored every moment! My partner actually got a bit annoyed because I just could not stop gushing to them about the characters you've created and the world you've built. I had to make an account just to say: thank you so much for sharing this with the world.
Also, and I apologize if a comment is an inappropriate place to say so, I'd love to offer to support in proofreading the text, even if just for the currently released chapters. The only thing that occasionally pulled me out of the story were the small grammatical / syntactical errors one cannot help but make when writing a text of such length. I'd be more than happy to discuss it more via private message, if you're interested, and can provide a bit of background information on myself and experience in this area.
Thank you, again, forth this story. I look forward to following and supporting it for a long time to come!
Thanks for the offer, but I already have beta readers who I'm quite happy with! I prefer to have feedback regarding the substance (plot, characters, worldbuilding), typos and things of that nature I can correct while continuing to update the story. You can always report any typos or errors you find using the Google form for bug reports.
Thanks for the lovely comment as well 💖
Anyone have a walkthrough on how to get elements at ceremony? Like suns blessing? Stuck..Like so frustrated i quit playing until someone helps
Okay so spoilers I think.
I chose the sky stone at the choice to choose between the 4 its the first option.
At the ceremony I chose humbling, grateful, Its no longer my home and I walk in their footsteps. Thats what got me sun blessing.
I chose the same options at the ceremony every time but if I chose a different stone it changed my magic so I'm not completely sure but I hope this helps.
Also I think outer or inner magic is also a decider. I chose outer each time.
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
Help! I followed the guide on prioritizing the people to the letter but it still does not allow me. Its been about a month or more since I last played because I was frustrated :,) also, does anyone know how many affinities there are and what the differences are? I'm on Rozerîn's route.
I dont know if this will help, but in my playthrough I got the prioritize the public choice and did: do not reveal to Kham nor the nobility, didn't exclude the public to the Crowning ceremony, threw both the nobility and the public extra celebrations, and I don't know if this is relevant, but I defended the artists at the banquet.
Ive started chapter 10 babes....... wish me luck.......... (also!! patreon content's so slay!!! everyone go pledge!!!!!)
also, unrelated, but I think it might be a cool idea to add an option for headscarves/veiling in character design!! just a thought tho so no pressure ! ! ! ! ! K LOVE U BYE <3
The setting is pre-Islamic, and the religious influences are Zoroastrian, which used to be a huge part of Kurdish culture before colonization and forced conversion. It wouldn't make sense in the story's cultural context.
Of course!! Thank you for explaining!
YESYES LUCK BE WITH YOU
I READ IT
(SPOILOERS BELOW!!!!!!!!!)
omg. "patiently yours" "yours as well" . cherry i actually cried. also the way you write?????? insane. actually incredible. i dont remember the exact wording but it was an analogy/image about xelef's villages bones and how he was carrying it and i was literally like. i could write ten billion essays on this phrase alone. insane. another explosive display of talent from esteemed author and philanthropist cherry
i also love love love how the story is progressing with x so far, and i love love love the way courtly intrigue is starting to pick up (crazy theory, but i'm kindaaaaa sus of keko..... what the heck.........i better be wrong cherry or i will cry !) and also kham is best character. wonderful wood woman. also heval! ! ! ! ! !! such a slay character. their interactions with x??? especially in this chapter?? AUGH!
also what the hell cherry i know me and x are not in a commitied relationship yet but them sleeping with someone else had me ! surprised! but then it forced me to consider their character in a more intimate and reflective fashion and it just made me value them all the more as a unique individual and it was just. real. like so real. ur such a good writer what the heck.
this is the longest spam i've spammed u with. i'll leave u alone now. but absolutely adored this chapter, and you should be sos so sos os so PROUD of what you've done and what you've accomplished and just who u r as a person. i love u.s o much. i love AToC so. much.
k love u bye <3
Thanks so much for the lovely comment , it was fun to read!! I'm especially glad you could appreciate X's evolving character arc in this chapter 💖💖
Agreed, I was surprised, but then I realized that X can't handle any of his problems correctly without us XD He needs us to pressure him. The idiot.
X is actually handling ALL of their problems without you, they're cutting you out for a very good reason. I wouldn't mistake their personal trauma and their very real concerns about the Crown as them just "being an idiot"? X is one of the smartest characters in the whole game, the Crown literally would be dead without them. At this point in time X has no obligations or loyalty towards your Crown, because you haven't done anything to earn it.
From all your comments you've posted on this page, it sounds like you don't understand X's character arc whatsoever, and it seems X doesn't like your character either since you have a low relationship with them. I would recommend trying another LI lol.
Hmm, gotcha. I guess I felt like they were close. I know I made one mistake with him for sure. I might try to go for another few runs, do another X and an A then maybe. Thanks for the insight :)
Not at all what I meant when I posted my initial comment/review on the chapter and X's route! Please do not misconstrue my opinions with this commenter's.
X is a fiercely independent character, who possesses astounding strength, both physically and mentally. They do not need the Crown--they have known each other for like a month at most (if I remember correctly).
And I really, really dislike the phrase, "He needs us to pressure him." Does not sit well with me.
No hate at all intended--just wanted to specify my own feelings!
I was replying specifically to the commenter, not you!! Itch.io just doesn't know how to handle multiple replies in a single thread lol
Sorry to have caused such turmoil amongst the group! I should have definitely rephrased that, more that he hides from everything and needs somebody to tell him "no nonsense" every once in awhile.
BTW DO UNSTEADY RELATIONSHIPS AFFECT THE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE LONG RUN???? IF SO THEN I HAVE A LOT OF RESETTING TO DO FOR DELAL
im prETTY SURE UR GOOD BESTIE !!! there are also some guides to getting steady relationships out there just in case!
TY TY ISTG IF I CAN'T ROMANCE DELAL LATER ON I'M GOING TO CRY (/j) I LOVE UNSTEADY RELATIONSHIPS BC IT FEELS REALISTIC AND MAKES ME SAD, I'LL TRY AND FIX IT SOON THO
Is there a guide for D?? In in ch 9 and have an unsteady relationship with them :(
OH MY GOD MUSCULAR GENERAL WOMAN CONFUSED ABOUT HOW HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CROWN SHOULD BE AND CONCERNED FOR HER REPUTATION, AS WELL AS TRYING TO RIGHT HER MOTHER'S WRONG THAT SHE BLAMES HERSELF FOR???? HELL YEAH I KEEP SHAKING MY LEGS OR FLAPPING MY HAND WHENEER THERE'S A ROMANTIC SCENE TYSM FOR THIS CAN'T WAIT FOR CHAPTER 10!!!! I RLLY RLLY HOPE YOU FIND JOY IN MAKING THIS
Would love to see more images of the characters (one of my favs being heval ) but the story is great and I have played it too many times to count
I actually have commissioned art for Heval, Tûjo and Şanazî! It will be added to the codex once CH10 comes out 💖
I'll also be commissioning more art in the future for the palace servants, like Siham and Ishrah, and the Imperial Guards like Ezo and Kaja as well!!
Oh by the way, I am really curious about this one detail. When I used my last save from last year March, I saw that I have chosen a different family name from all the current available choices. I don't remember if it was a customized one or a choice, regardless, it caused me wonder if there were any reasons for the change. May you just sate a little bit of my curiosity,please? :3
"FYI: With the most recent update to the game, starting from today, it’s no longer possible to insert a custom family name for your Crown. You can only choose from among the fixed range of suggestions given to you.
I decided I wanted to make the Crown's ethnicity as explicitly, canonically, Kurdish as possible regardless of the first name inserted by the player, so using a fixed range of Kurdish last names was the easiest way to do that. Each suggested last name is taken from a renowned Kurdish poet 💖"
This is from the Tumblr :)
Ou that explains a lot, thank you for your information!
This game is just really amazing and I love it so much. Actually, it is too well written that it scares the shit outta me every time I made a choice though, like heaven knows whose necks gonna get broken because I chose the wrong choice , right?
Keep up with the great work! Cheers for you right there for all the efforts you and your peers have put in this game. Though I guess when I can see to the ending of this I would possibily be well ready for a child or two even though I have not even get married yet lol XD
A little update: I have just finished chap 9 X's route and read through your tumblr and realize the reason why this is the first time (and maybe the ever time) I have fallen for this type of character lol. Turn out it is because we both hate how this character, the narration and the plot progress in the other games XD Spending time with him has been stressful but it is like empathism where balance is in place, whereas in other game, this type character has just been straight out depressed all the time, and the MC in most of these routes demanded to know about all the pain and secrets that they hide or they were like "I don't know why but I feel relaxed with you, even though we have just met and I think I want to share my past with you" and it is kinda uncomfortable. So, thank you for having made it so, I dunno, relaxing I suppose? I don't know how to describe it but it truly feels I am getting gradually and slowly untangle his worries, making him more trustful in me and patiently waiting for him to open up. A scarred heart need more time to trust someone, reveal their invulnerability, so it feels just so real and this time, I do not have to be so annoyed by the personality depicted by the MC lol.
Thanks so much!! 💖💖 I totally agree that most routes like that end up getting so depressing and a slog to play through. X especially has a lot of reasons to be guarded around the Crown, and the Crown also has their own limits in terms of what they can tolerate. I'm glad you could appreciate it!!
My pleasure :3 And I forgot to mention how I love how you write their scene at the end of chapter nine :33 It's just so soft that I have to save it right there to reread it again. The soft, warmth and a big pink fluff Ư v Ư
just finished chapter seven and first off just to get it out of the way why I feel bad for R… but much more importantly how you know my parents?!?!
(I JUST CLOSED THE GAME AND CONTINUED FROM MY LATEST SAFE DONT WORRY LOL)
help i went to the artists tumblr in the credits and idk how to get back i havent saved in a while so i dont want to close the game aaa
I love this so much <333
I'm sorry if this is silly to ask but um, is there a way to stay steady with X? how did I become unsteady with X? I'm very lost ;v;
I love this game but I have to ask… why are there names red like three of them are black but one of them is red… why? What does mean?
The red one is your main love interest that you chose at the end of CH4.
oh make sense thanks
This is absolutely fantastic, such a wide array of emotions, feeling attached to such wonderful characters and the weight of the MC and your choices. Wonderfully written.
Thank you, I really appreciate the kind words 💖💖
this story is like a fairy tale, something like cinderella in terms of what happens to the crown - i love it soo much and feel very very lucky to have stumbled upon this story! i'm only on chapter 3, but i can't wait to see which way the story turns next <3
I hope you enjoy the rest of the game!! 💖
As an Iraqi woman myself, this game makes me feel so seen. All my life I've felt disappointed at the lack of accurate Middle Eastern representation and I was so overjoyed when I found ATOC :)
The writing is beautiful, immersive, and captivating. Even with my short attention span, I could not stop reading. The balance between fantasy and romance is perfect. The dialogue is charming and incredibly funny (the argument about olives and cheese makes me laugh every time I read it). It took me a while to decide on which route to follow first because the LIs are so amazing (ended up starting with D because I love a slow burn!). They all feel so authentic with their own ambitions, boundaries, and realistic reactions. I love that none of them are obsessed with the Crown and continue to have a life outside of serving them. I genuinely love the Crown since they feel like a character of their own and not just a self-insert for the reader.
I've already recommended this game to many of my friends and I will definitely come back to play future chapters :) Cherry, the work that you're doing is absolutely incredible! Please remember to take care of yourself and I hope 2023 is an amazing year for you <3
Thanks so much!! I'm so happy to get messages and comments like these from other Middle Eastern people, it means a lot 💖💖
The D route is the best but it moves as fast as a dried up snail /vvpos
How to not get distracted with A dimple when playing A route (A's dimples makes me fall in love much more <33333)
Do Not Get Distracted By A's Dimples Challenge: Impossible
happy new yearrr<3
Happy new year!! 💖💖
This is brilliant. I'm just blown away at the sheer amount of work that must have gone into this. Good job!!
I got unsteady relationship with Xelef and ????? I have no clue what I did wrong???? Should I have pushed about the Mir instead of letting it go? Man it felt like a breakup what a depressing ending to ch9 and I have no clue what I did wrong I wss trying to be good to him ????
I just tried that and got a worse reaction. So letting it go seems the right choice. But they still break up in ch9. This is depressing zi have no idea what I did to get X to do this...
So I digged and found a comment that said that I had to make X apologize. It feels a bit much that ONE choice completely ruins the relatioship... Now I'm afraid I'll have the same issue with the others of making 1 "wrong" choice and suddenly it's over for them.
omg same i think it happens after the scene with the dead body and how u react to that gives u an unsteady relationship bc thats what happened to me :( hopefully we can fix the relationship in later chapters
That one choice doesn't "ruin" the entire relationship. Your previous choices with X were likely incorrect as well.
Also, getting an "unsteady relationship" in CH9 doesn't mean that your entire relationship is ruined. There's literally 15+ more chapters to be added in the story - this is just a first indication of how X feels towards your Crown.
You can course-correct in future chapters. Try thinking more about the kind of character X is and which choices they would appreciate. The romance routes depend entirely on if you are able to understand your LI.
[Spoilers for CH9]
Edit: To clarify, X always leaves at the end of CH9 no matter what, even if your relationship isn't unsteady. It's part of the story.
Your Crown and X have literally known each other for a week, and X is a mercenary who needs to work. There is no "break-up", your Crown is not in a committed relationship with X yet. X is not going to stick around the palace just to romance your Crown lol, they have their own stuff going on. You'll see them again in future chapters
15???? JESUS /VVPOs
I just played through the first time and I got a bad end on Chapter 4, am I the only one? Is it because I didn't get close to anyone?
You didn't get close enough to anyone. I'd pick the LI you like best and focus on them; if you're still struggling, there's a walkthrough you can use. The game splits into 4 separate routes for each LI after CH4 so it's important to get close to one of them in order to progress.
thanks for the walkthrough!!
I DID IT R IS NOT ON UNSTEADY TERMS WITH ME!!!
OMG HOW I NEED TO KNOQ PLS
for R you:
let them confide in you
trust them to handle the nobility
don’t intervene when given the choice
and then (i think these are the most important choices for steady relationship)
continue talking about it
- tell them to seek the truth about their family
I don't understand, I keep getting an unsteady relationship with R.
Same, I don't know how to improve it
I just finished making an account because I had to say that it's really really good!! I hope you enjoy the holidays and I wish you a wonderful year ahead. Thank you for sharing this world and these characters with us!
Thanks so much for the kind words, happy holidays 💖💖
hi cherry checkin in on u to tell u i love u (mwah) and to wish u happy HOLIDAYS!!!! cant wait to see whats to come, and i wish u all the best for the upcoming year!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3
Thank you, that's so sweet!! Happy holidays to you as well 💖💖
I genuinely adore this game so much and it had a hold on me since the begining! I adore the customization features especially the pronoun feature as someone who uses more than one set of pronouns! The story telling and history is beautiful and I love how the character information and relationship information updates as it goes on. I am not often someone to leave reviews but this game has earned my praises.
Thanks so much, that means a lot!! I really appreciate the compliments 💖💖
SOMEONE TELL ME HOW TO HAVE GOOD RELATIONS WITH A ITS KILLING MEEEE
Heyyy, I managed to have a good relationship with them and here's a list of choices I made, no idea how significant most of them are but I hope it'll help!
thank you so much!
I love this game so much and replayed it so many times over the last few months, going down different routes and picking other answers! And I can't wait until the next update! Great work, keep it up!
I'm glad to hear that!! 😊 Replaying the other routes is def the recommended way to do it 💖
you made me make an acc ngl! love your work. solid 10/10
Thanks so much!! For the thoughtful review as well, it was lovely to read 💖💖
This game is amazing, especially since my family comes from middle-eastern background. It gives me so much joy to see this made.
Thank you, I'm so glad to hear that!! I've always wanted to see us represented better in media so I hoped to contribute. Even though I am limited to my Kurdish background when there are so many cultures in the region, it's definitely also a Middle Eastern story 💖💖