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fawn
Heaven is rays of sunlight dancing slowly on wheat stalks. It's wind twirling itself around chimes hung from low tree branches, and robust bursts of scent and color, far beyond anything describable with words.
Heaven is a flightless crow, a promise of forever tied to a necklace, and hidden love letters tucked away safely inside a tree.
Heaven is a fire-haired boy named Rust and his love for Ancel, a boy full of storm clouds.
Heaven is all the tiny threads of hope that hold them together.
Heaven is a flightless crow, a promise of forever tied to a necklace, and hidden love letters tucked away safely inside a tree.
Heaven is a fire-haired boy named Rust and his love for Ancel, a boy full of storm clouds.
Heaven is all the tiny threads of hope that hold them together.
ebook
First published June 3, 2015
197 people are currently reading
1358 people want to read
About the author
Nash Summers
19 books577 followersNash Summers rarely has any idea what she’s doing. But when she likes to pretend, she pretends by writing stories at the pace of drying paint. As if that wasn’t exhilarating enough, Nash also enjoys absolute silence, general politeness, and waiting her turn in line.
Needless to say, she’s a bona fide hell raiser.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nash.summers...
Nash also has a super cool newsletter which can be found here: http://eepurl.com/boD5TP
Needless to say, she’s a bona fide hell raiser.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nash.summers...
Nash also has a super cool newsletter which can be found here: http://eepurl.com/boD5TP
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 406 reviews
June 6, 2015
Thanks to the author for ripping my heart out of my chest.
Some stories reflect the initial prompt, and some stories transcend it. The prompt for this story was fairly open ended, but Nash Summers made it MORE; she made it sing.
The writing here is evocative and raw. These are words to be savored.
The story spans 20 years and is a testament to the abiding power of love.
Love that hurts. And love that saves. Love that leaves ... and returns.
When Rust first sees Ancel in a field, he doesn't even know his name, but he knows Ancel will break his heart. And he does. More than once.
Rust is the only pretty, worthwhile, pure thing in Ancel's bleak life.
Ancel, so calm and cool and collected, is a sharp arrow, ready to strike, haunted by his own shadow.
Rust sees the beauty in everything ... the broken, the useless, the gray ... the crow with a broken wing who soars through the magic of a kite.
This book will break you.
But there are fields and notes in a tree. There's Heaven.
And a boy just waiting for you to come home.
Some stories reflect the initial prompt, and some stories transcend it. The prompt for this story was fairly open ended, but Nash Summers made it MORE; she made it sing.
The writing here is evocative and raw. These are words to be savored.
The story spans 20 years and is a testament to the abiding power of love.
Love that hurts. And love that saves. Love that leaves ... and returns.
When Rust first sees Ancel in a field, he doesn't even know his name, but he knows Ancel will break his heart. And he does. More than once.
You're those frozen moments that everyone forgets to breathe during. You're what I reach out for, but just can't seem to touch. You're those hours of silence that pull themselves longer and longer until there's nothing left of them but a faint memory of Once Upon a Time.
Rust is the only pretty, worthwhile, pure thing in Ancel's bleak life.
He wasn't of this world, this blood-haired boy. He was from a fantasy where faeries and pixies danced through the woods and slept in dewy beds of twigs and petals ... He was born from alchemy, created by twisting storm clouds and rays of sunshine together.
Ancel, so calm and cool and collected, is a sharp arrow, ready to strike, haunted by his own shadow.
Rust sees the beauty in everything ... the broken, the useless, the gray ... the crow with a broken wing who soars through the magic of a kite.
Why would I want to catch dreams? Dreams should be free to wander and explore, learning where they belong and to whom. I'd never want to hold something so precious in my hands.
This book will break you.
But there are fields and notes in a tree. There's Heaven.
And a boy just waiting for you to come home.
June 22, 2024
this was so boring. nothing happened. i yawned like five times.
i’m glad it was was a free purchase.
i’m glad it was was a free purchase.
September 18, 2015
2 stars. Review posted September 18, 2015.
fawn is a mixed bag for me. Sugary sweet, cheesy and sappy in places and actually quite beautiful in others. If the author had toned down her overly descriptive, OTT lyrical, flowery and very sweet and melodramatic writing style, this would have appealed much more to me. Oh, and authors should keep their waterworks in check. Thank you.
Favorite quote:
You? You're all those special times in between.
You're those frozen moments that everyone forgets to breathe during. You're what I reach out for, but just can't seem to touch. You're those hours of silence that pull themselves longer and longer until there's nothing left of them but a faint memory of a Once Upon a Time.
Unfortunately, it went downhill fast.
Instant love doesn't work for me, but here I could have made an exception because Rust fell for Ancel when he was a boy. However, the fact that they never really interacted much over all those many years didn't help to make me believe in that instant love. It lacked a foundation and boys grow up eventually; they become men and I think that they get over their infatuated puppy love in the end. Well…occasionally they don't.
There was hardly any verbal communication between the MCs up to the 50% mark. That's.Not.Good. Fawn is divided in three parts and in between we have huge time gaps (it's a coming of age story). I guess that made it feel choppy. As I saw it, I just needed way more interaction between Rust and Ancel, thus there was no real relationship development either. They were never really together but, of course, in the end they got their happy ending.
This went from adoration, infatuated first love and instant love from afar on Rust's side across to Ancel's crappy behavior to "let's-get-it-on-and-where's-the-lube, sweetheart?" all too fast. Seriously, they hardly talk to each other and yet the perfect, pure and beautifulboy young man is a sweetheart within a blink of an eye. Of course the other one, Ancel, is magnetic and beautiful and breathtaking, too. Whatever.
He was beautiful--perfect--sculpted from marble or iron or gold. The most wonderful things in life held no flame near him.
When Ancel did smile, it was breathtaking.
"Only blue makeup around your eyes and feathers in your hair," he said.
"Yes," I breathed.
Baba breathes a pure and perfect no.
Rust and yet this happened…
Ancel was surrounded by people magnitudes more beautiful than I. Men and women leaned into him, touched his arms, his back, all wanting his attention. The years had done nothing to douse his allure. He was simply magnetic.
He stopped in front of where I was sitting on the cool countertop. His voice sounded husky when he leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Little fawn, where have you been?"
I am neither the grass nor the trees but I know something: I did not buy it. Now you can even throw dirt at me but it's not going to change how I feel.
Also, I've had a hard time distinguishing between Rust and Ancel because their voices felt so interchangeable which threw me off numerous times and I caught myself thinking, "Who the hell is talking now?"
The narrative and dialogue felt unrealistic and describing a person as being the leaves, the sun, the grass and dirt made me roll my eyes. Worse, it was so repetitive. I was like, Can we talk about something else now? Anyway, fawn reads like a colorful, overwritten and super-duper sweet fairytale.
Suddenly, I felt nervous. I was nothing like Ancel. I wasn't made of glaciers and the midnight sky; I was made of the grass in the field, the warm breeze that flowed through it, and the dirt under the heels of my shoes.
Rust was the rain and the sky and the storm clouds above our heads.
"Ancel." When he said my name, it sounded like a secret, something spoken in hushed hymns from an ancient book about dreams.
They'd taken the purity and naivety from Rust's eyes and left him with nothing more than my dad had left me. They'd stripped him of his hope, of the light he carried around. In doing that, even for a second, they'd made my mind up for me.
It didn't bother me that he had popular friends or beautiful girls hanging off his every word. I would've thought less of the people in my town if they weren't. Ancel was something special--something beautiful and rare that deserved to be admired and praised for all it was worth.
Beautiful people as far as the eye can reach. Ugh.
That paragraph, however, is quite interesting. Only beautiful people deserve to be admired? Physically unfavored people are not worthy of our praise because they are not rare, because they are not special?
I felt stinging moisture pool up in my eyes like a half-frozen river in the spring about to flood over the shores.
I knew to someone like him, I was the grass, the trees, the twigs on the ground, and the leaves falling from the branches.
Told you so. Repetitiveness.
"You're friends with the crow? I asked skeptically.
He grinned and closed his eyes. "Yes. And the field mice, and the owls, and the gophers, and the wind, and the trees, and the clouds in the sky, and the pebbles in the dirt, and the light in your eyes."
His eyes twinkled when he looked at me, and all I could think about was how beautiful he was.
The gentle glow of the sunlight was just beginning to slide out of existence, casting long, deep shadows across the field. The grass and wheat danced for us, celebrated us, as we breathed in the sweet smell of lilac in the air. Birds sang in the distance, and the clouds that had once loomed overhead filtered through into the vast redness of the sky.
Hallelujah.
As far as sappy and fairytale-like endings go, fawn definitely provided one.
Plenty of readers will fawn over it and others won't. Sorry but I'm a member of the latter category which happens to be a minority. Be that as it may, I got a taste of Nash Summer's writing style and I'm definitely in no hurry to try another of her books anytime soon. Just not my cup of tea.
Pre-reading fawn:
Reading a freebie is always a good way to check out a new-to-me author. I had my eye on another of her books but I don't intend to spend 5.36 euro for 143 pages. It's a rip-off. Well, in case I should end up wowed by fawn, I can always change my mind and give the other one a go. We shall see.
fawn is a mixed bag for me. Sugary sweet, cheesy and sappy in places and actually quite beautiful in others. If the author had toned down her overly descriptive, OTT lyrical, flowery and very sweet and melodramatic writing style, this would have appealed much more to me. Oh, and authors should keep their waterworks in check. Thank you.
Favorite quote:
You? You're all those special times in between.
You're those frozen moments that everyone forgets to breathe during. You're what I reach out for, but just can't seem to touch. You're those hours of silence that pull themselves longer and longer until there's nothing left of them but a faint memory of a Once Upon a Time.
Unfortunately, it went downhill fast.
Instant love doesn't work for me, but here I could have made an exception because Rust fell for Ancel when he was a boy. However, the fact that they never really interacted much over all those many years didn't help to make me believe in that instant love. It lacked a foundation and boys grow up eventually; they become men and I think that they get over their infatuated puppy love in the end. Well…occasionally they don't.
There was hardly any verbal communication between the MCs up to the 50% mark. That's.Not.Good. Fawn is divided in three parts and in between we have huge time gaps (it's a coming of age story). I guess that made it feel choppy. As I saw it, I just needed way more interaction between Rust and Ancel, thus there was no real relationship development either. They were never really together but, of course, in the end they got their happy ending.
This went from adoration, infatuated first love and instant love from afar on Rust's side across to Ancel's crappy behavior to "let's-get-it-on-and-where's-the-lube, sweetheart?" all too fast. Seriously, they hardly talk to each other and yet the perfect, pure and beautiful
He was beautiful--perfect--sculpted from marble or iron or gold. The most wonderful things in life held no flame near him.
When Ancel did smile, it was breathtaking.
"Only blue makeup around your eyes and feathers in your hair," he said.
"Yes," I breathed.
Baba breathes a pure and perfect no.
Rust and yet this happened…
Ancel was surrounded by people magnitudes more beautiful than I. Men and women leaned into him, touched his arms, his back, all wanting his attention. The years had done nothing to douse his allure. He was simply magnetic.
He stopped in front of where I was sitting on the cool countertop. His voice sounded husky when he leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Little fawn, where have you been?"
I am neither the grass nor the trees but I know something: I did not buy it. Now you can even throw dirt at me but it's not going to change how I feel.
Also, I've had a hard time distinguishing between Rust and Ancel because their voices felt so interchangeable which threw me off numerous times and I caught myself thinking, "Who the hell is talking now?"
The narrative and dialogue felt unrealistic and describing a person as being the leaves, the sun, the grass and dirt made me roll my eyes. Worse, it was so repetitive. I was like, Can we talk about something else now? Anyway, fawn reads like a colorful, overwritten and super-duper sweet fairytale.
Suddenly, I felt nervous. I was nothing like Ancel. I wasn't made of glaciers and the midnight sky; I was made of the grass in the field, the warm breeze that flowed through it, and the dirt under the heels of my shoes.
Rust was the rain and the sky and the storm clouds above our heads.
"Ancel." When he said my name, it sounded like a secret, something spoken in hushed hymns from an ancient book about dreams.
They'd taken the purity and naivety from Rust's eyes and left him with nothing more than my dad had left me. They'd stripped him of his hope, of the light he carried around. In doing that, even for a second, they'd made my mind up for me.
It didn't bother me that he had popular friends or beautiful girls hanging off his every word. I would've thought less of the people in my town if they weren't. Ancel was something special--something beautiful and rare that deserved to be admired and praised for all it was worth.
Beautiful people as far as the eye can reach. Ugh.
That paragraph, however, is quite interesting. Only beautiful people deserve to be admired? Physically unfavored people are not worthy of our praise because they are not rare, because they are not special?
I felt stinging moisture pool up in my eyes like a half-frozen river in the spring about to flood over the shores.
I knew to someone like him, I was the grass, the trees, the twigs on the ground, and the leaves falling from the branches.
Told you so. Repetitiveness.
"You're friends with the crow? I asked skeptically.
He grinned and closed his eyes. "Yes. And the field mice, and the owls, and the gophers, and the wind, and the trees, and the clouds in the sky, and the pebbles in the dirt, and the light in your eyes."
His eyes twinkled when he looked at me, and all I could think about was how beautiful he was.
The gentle glow of the sunlight was just beginning to slide out of existence, casting long, deep shadows across the field. The grass and wheat danced for us, celebrated us, as we breathed in the sweet smell of lilac in the air. Birds sang in the distance, and the clouds that had once loomed overhead filtered through into the vast redness of the sky.
Hallelujah.
As far as sappy and fairytale-like endings go, fawn definitely provided one.
Plenty of readers will fawn over it and others won't. Sorry but I'm a member of the latter category which happens to be a minority. Be that as it may, I got a taste of Nash Summer's writing style and I'm definitely in no hurry to try another of her books anytime soon. Just not my cup of tea.
Pre-reading fawn:
Reading a freebie is always a good way to check out a new-to-me author. I had my eye on another of her books but I don't intend to spend 5.36 euro for 143 pages. It's a rip-off. Well, in case I should end up wowed by fawn, I can always change my mind and give the other one a go. We shall see.
July 12, 2015
Confession time. People often talk about books being poetic, then I read them and all that comes to mind is flowery or pretentious. And possibly that the author is trying a bit too hard. (Yes, I'm shaking my pointy little finger at you, "Waiting for the Flood.")
But after reading this short book, yes, I must agree that poetic doesn't begin to cover the writing. From start to finish, the book was sheer poetry at its best. The words just flowed. Simply beautiful.
I do admit though, that I didn't get a true sense of the story from reading the majority of the previous reviews or the blurb.
In those that I'd read, it seemed as though Ancel was possibly a wandering soul (an old friend of mine from the UK called it "itchy feet,") someone who had to find his way, while weaving his way in and out of Rust's life.
Instead, what I found to be true was that Ancel was tethered to his abusive father, who would simply up and move on a moment's notice, uprooting young Ancel in the process.
So, no, Ancel only consciously 'chose' to leave Rust once, when in their early twenties. Not that Rust's heartache was any less, regardless of the reason for Ancel's departure.
Another misconception that I had as I began reading was that Rust and Ancel had been in an actual relationship over the course of the story. They had not.
What they did have was a soul-deep connection from the first moment that they met in a field between their two houses when, I think, they were beginning high school. (The timeline is vague as to their ages at that time, but my guess would be around puberty, so 13-14'ish.)
--------------------
WARNING: There's a bit of semi-outline of a lot of the plot points following, so bail now if you want your plot virginity to remain intact. : )
--------------------
Ancel's father moves him away, but returns when Rust is 16, with Ancel still feeling drawn to Rust. Then after sticking up for Rust against bullies (Ancel's "friends",) they share a beautiful moment and a rain-soaked kiss in the field.
“What are you doing out here? You’re going to be struck by lightning.”Followed again by Ancel's abrupt, immediate departure, but it's his father who's running away. Not Ancel.
“Ancel.” When he said my name, it sounded like a secret, something spoken in hushed hymns from an ancient book about dreams. His eyes bore into my own when he said, “I already have been.”
I closed the space between us. My fingers easily slipped into his hair to keep me rooted to the earth. And then I kissed him, and suddenly the world was clear.
Rust tasted like sweet cherry ice cream and rain water. He said my name in between breaths, and I knew each time our lips touched again, that breathing was a waste of air.
Fast forward almost 6 years and, on the eve of Rust's departure from the art school in the city to return to his hometown, Heaven, the two cross paths at a party and their pent-up longing is finally consummated.
“It struck me too, Rust.”The morning after is the one and only time when Ancel consciously chooses to leave Rust, with only a short note in his wake.
“What did?” I asked, my voice unsteady.
“Lightning.”
Rust,This leaves Rust devastated for years after his return to Heaven. Eight long years, to be precise.
Heaven isn’t enough.
Ancel
The finale of the book is both touching and amazing, as Rust discovers letters from Ancel hidden in the same hole in the tree where Rust would stuff letters containing his most private thoughts from the time he was a young child.
Between the letters, a gifted necklace containing a piece of Rust's very soul and the sheer longing between these characters, several times I found myself holding my breath due to the emotions held in the author's captivating words.
For so few pages, Rust's character is very well-defined and his emotions spill onto the page almost like blood from his veins. It's extremely touching to see such a joyous soul so deeply affected by a boy he barely knows.
Ancel's character is less well-defined; however, I believe that was probably to add to his air of mystery, but I did still get a very good sense of who he was and felt deeply for his situation.
This book is both short and *FREE*, but I have to admit, few lengthier books that I've actually bought have I found as impactful as this one.
I know many of us tend to toss the word "amazing" around like candy on Halloween at times, but that's the only single-word description that comes to mind for this extremely touching story.
Since it's free, there really is no reason to not pick up this highly-recommended 5 *necklace-and-broken-wings* stars book.
May 17, 2018
5 “New favorite short story” Stars
➽ FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED:
Buddy-reading this with my bae.💕
[Quick thoughts before my eloquent review:
+This was so fucking magical
+I want more Rust. He is precious.
+I need a Pinterest aesthetic for this book.
+The cover for this author books are on point. Have me drooling, to be honest
+Everything The Wicker King didn’t give me
+Fast and re-readable]
When I came across this novel for free on Amazon, I added to my kindle with low expectations. Experience has taught me I don’t roll very well with short stories or books with less than 200 pages. I need to get myself emerged in the author’s creation, invest myself over the characters, dig the writing style and just feel something. Not many authors can deliver all these in a short span, but Nash Summers did it. This short story those touch upon physical and emotional abuse, so just be aware.
A contemporary story of two boys falling in love in the small town of Heaven. Although set in the real world, it feels so magical thanks to the writing style and our main character Rust. I know not everyone is going to enjoy the writing and even the way the story is constructed, but for me was just extremely captivating. The prose is heavy on a lot description and metaphors, but after 10 pages I was just blown away by the beautiful way words were put together. The romance is sweet and cute, but a bit unrealistic and kind of sad. Yet I was invested all throughout the 80 pages.
My favorite part of the story was Rust. He is my definition of a cinnamon roll, brought my protective instincts to life. His character is so unique and pure, I kept feeling he deserved so much more than this world. His unique fascination with weird art and love for nature. He is a perfect boy for a fairytale. I did like Ansel and they way he viewed Rust, but he just kept disappearing ugh, and honestly, Rust just overshadows him for me.
I wanna go more in-depth on the story itself, but because it is so short I am just going to tell you to read it. For sure is not gonna be everyone’s cup of tea but it was refreshing and cute for in between heavier and big books. And I repeat is FREE, so really nothing to lose.
For sure will check out Nash Summers full-length novels.
“Everything was beautiful in its own way— you just had to look close enough.”
➽ FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED:
Buddy-reading this with my bae.💕
[Quick thoughts before my eloquent review:
+This was so fucking magical
+I want more Rust. He is precious.
+I need a Pinterest aesthetic for this book.
+The cover for this author books are on point. Have me drooling, to be honest
+Everything The Wicker King didn’t give me
+Fast and re-readable]
When I came across this novel for free on Amazon, I added to my kindle with low expectations. Experience has taught me I don’t roll very well with short stories or books with less than 200 pages. I need to get myself emerged in the author’s creation, invest myself over the characters, dig the writing style and just feel something. Not many authors can deliver all these in a short span, but Nash Summers did it. This short story those touch upon physical and emotional abuse, so just be aware.
A contemporary story of two boys falling in love in the small town of Heaven. Although set in the real world, it feels so magical thanks to the writing style and our main character Rust. I know not everyone is going to enjoy the writing and even the way the story is constructed, but for me was just extremely captivating. The prose is heavy on a lot description and metaphors, but after 10 pages I was just blown away by the beautiful way words were put together. The romance is sweet and cute, but a bit unrealistic and kind of sad. Yet I was invested all throughout the 80 pages.
My favorite part of the story was Rust. He is my definition of a cinnamon roll, brought my protective instincts to life. His character is so unique and pure, I kept feeling he deserved so much more than this world. His unique fascination with weird art and love for nature. He is a perfect boy for a fairytale. I did like Ansel and they way he viewed Rust, but he just kept disappearing ugh, and honestly, Rust just overshadows him for me.
I wanna go more in-depth on the story itself, but because it is so short I am just going to tell you to read it. For sure is not gonna be everyone’s cup of tea but it was refreshing and cute for in between heavier and big books. And I repeat is FREE, so really nothing to lose.
For sure will check out Nash Summers full-length novels.
May 19, 2020
4 Solid Stars
I loved spring, sure, but I loved the frost of winter, and the leaves of fall, and the unbridled heat of summer. I couldn’t pick a favorite season any more easily than I could pick a favorite song, or a favorite smell. Everything was beautiful in its own way— you just had to look close enough.
This was beautiful! Loved it and would love it more if it was a full-length novel! Loved the writing, it was emotional and felt a bit magical. And I love that cover! Just why there wasn’t more about them after being together?!?! Told in dual POV, 1st person. It’s a standalone novella and a very short read. All in all, I had a good time reading this and hope you enjoy it as well!
I loved spring, sure, but I loved the frost of winter, and the leaves of fall, and the unbridled heat of summer. I couldn’t pick a favorite season any more easily than I could pick a favorite song, or a favorite smell. Everything was beautiful in its own way— you just had to look close enough.
This was beautiful! Loved it and would love it more if it was a full-length novel! Loved the writing, it was emotional and felt a bit magical. And I love that cover! Just why there wasn’t more about them after being together?!?! Told in dual POV, 1st person. It’s a standalone novella and a very short read. All in all, I had a good time reading this and hope you enjoy it as well!
September 27, 2016
*hugs book and doesn't let go*
This is the kind of story and the kind of writing and the kind of author that totally ruins me for future reads.
Sometimes a book is exactly what it should be.
Sometimes I want to capture the essence of a book and put in into a glass bottle and carry it with me around the world.
Sometimes I listen to the Silence and I’m not sure and still imagine sounds coming to my ears.
Sometimes all of this happen in one single story.
The mystical perspective of a little boy surrounded by nature. Everything is magical and beautiful. Everything is perfect. As it should be.
When he glances a sad boy through the field, he knows that boy is magical and beautiful.
That boy will never be his, but Rust will always belong to him.
In other circumstances, I’d say that’s bollocks.
But when my heart is bleeding, when there is a lump where my throat should be, when there is a limpid look where tears should be, when my skin can’t contain my emotions anymore, I know it’s true.
This feeling is true.
It struck me indeed.
This is the kind of story and the kind of writing and the kind of author that totally ruins me for future reads.
“Rust,” she said, “what are you doing out here still?”
“I think I might’ve seen a miracle, Mom,” I replied.
“Oh? And what kind of miracle is that?”
“A boy.”
Sometimes a book is exactly what it should be.
Sometimes I want to capture the essence of a book and put in into a glass bottle and carry it with me around the world.
Sometimes I listen to the Silence and I’m not sure and still imagine sounds coming to my ears.
Sometimes all of this happen in one single story.
The mystical perspective of a little boy surrounded by nature. Everything is magical and beautiful. Everything is perfect. As it should be.
When he glances a sad boy through the field, he knows that boy is magical and beautiful.
That boy will never be his, but Rust will always belong to him.
In other circumstances, I’d say that’s bollocks.
But when my heart is bleeding, when there is a lump where my throat should be, when there is a limpid look where tears should be, when my skin can’t contain my emotions anymore, I know it’s true.
This feeling is true.
“Rust!”
Startled and off-balance, I quickly spun around.
Ancel was standing a few feet away from me, breathing heavily, looking wild.
“Ancel,” I said softly as he came closer.
“It struck me too, Rust.”
“What did?” I asked, my voice unsteady.
“Lightning.”
It struck me indeed.
August 22, 2022
✦ this was beautifully written overall, and i think it had a lot of potential to be great, but sadly, it lacked in several aspects for me. a couple tiny spoilers incoming below.
✦ the truth is, the relationship development left a lot to be desired. and yes, i know this is a novella, but c'mon, you gotta give me something more than this.
✦ i just don't understand how, or why, the mcs developed this near "magical" connection, basically out of nowhere, that ends up lasting YEARS (there were several time jumps where they meet after not seeing each other for years).
✦ you mean to tell me they meet as kids, have like one and a half conversations, spend like ten minutes together at most, have one innocent kiss, and then can't forget about each other for years to come?? they don't even know each other, like AT ALL.
✦ but anywayssss... if you just want to read something short, emotional and nicely written, and don't mind the aspects i mentioned above, i suppose this might work for you.
✦ the truth is, the relationship development left a lot to be desired. and yes, i know this is a novella, but c'mon, you gotta give me something more than this.
✦ i just don't understand how, or why, the mcs developed this near "magical" connection, basically out of nowhere, that ends up lasting YEARS (there were several time jumps where they meet after not seeing each other for years).
✦ you mean to tell me they meet as kids, have like one and a half conversations, spend like ten minutes together at most, have one innocent kiss, and then can't forget about each other for years to come?? they don't even know each other, like AT ALL.
✦ but anywayssss... if you just want to read something short, emotional and nicely written, and don't mind the aspects i mentioned above, i suppose this might work for you.
August 29, 2018
****4.5 Stars ****
This was powerfully evocative.
A mixture of poetry, ethereal magic, melancholy, longing, yearning and I wish I could go on and on, but limited English vocabulary for something like this.
This was powerfully evocative.
A mixture of poetry, ethereal magic, melancholy, longing, yearning and I wish I could go on and on, but limited English vocabulary for something like this.
December 22, 2020
3.75 stars ⭐️
I knew he’d never be mine. But I knew just as well that I’d always be his.
I knew he’d never be mine. But I knew just as well that I’d always be his.
June 3, 2015
Review as soon as I've read the story for my prompt. Just - y'all need to read this. It's so FREAKING good. Nash Summers strikes again!
Aaaaaand, I'm back.
Okay, if you've yet to discover Nash Summers, you are in for a treat. A wonderfully unique voice, Nash is a skilled author who can write stories across the board, from short and sweet, to long and gritty. One thing I know I'm going to find before I even open the first page is characters that are quirky, that are different, that are wonderfully interesting. Characters that I am invested in from the first word. Fawn proved to me this is not a fluke - this is the mark of a talented author.
I'm not going to give the plot away in this review, but I want you all to read it so much. Rust - how much did I love Rust? Anyone who looks at the world in a slightly different way is a winner in my book. I've given him the label quirky, because that is how we, as a society, do things. We label them. But he's not quirky - he's just not afraid to be himself. He's not trying to squeeze himself into a society-shaped box. He is he. Nothing more and nothing less - and boy did I love him hard for it.
Ancel - Ancel is not like Rust. His disposition is shaped by the life he's had - and that life is far from the one that Rust has experienced. He was the perfect other MC though. He countered Rust so beautifully. I adored watching their friendship develop - as hard as it was at times. As short lived as it was. As hard as it was. It was also absolutely right. Especially for Ancel.
Of course, nothing in a story runs smoothly - what story would there be if it did? But I'm going to let you discover that for yourself.
I can't leave this review without commenting on a couple of things. Firstly; I want to live in Heaven. Not the ethereal in the clouds one, but the one Nash wrote about. The picture perfect place that she has created as the background for this story.. I can't tell you how much I want to live there.
And secondly; part of the reason I want to live there so badly is due to the beautifully lyrical prose Nash uses to describe it. It is everything I ever wanted in a home.
The beautiful prose goes beyond the description of Heaven though, it is there throughout the story.
I'm so tempted to add an example - but I won't, I'll let you find the story and experience it yourself. The imagery in chapter 1 - the opening paragraph...be still my beating heart.
Thank you Nash, this story is stunning.
A huge thank you to all those who make this event possible. :)
Aaaaaand, I'm back.
Okay, if you've yet to discover Nash Summers, you are in for a treat. A wonderfully unique voice, Nash is a skilled author who can write stories across the board, from short and sweet, to long and gritty. One thing I know I'm going to find before I even open the first page is characters that are quirky, that are different, that are wonderfully interesting. Characters that I am invested in from the first word. Fawn proved to me this is not a fluke - this is the mark of a talented author.
I'm not going to give the plot away in this review, but I want you all to read it so much. Rust - how much did I love Rust? Anyone who looks at the world in a slightly different way is a winner in my book. I've given him the label quirky, because that is how we, as a society, do things. We label them. But he's not quirky - he's just not afraid to be himself. He's not trying to squeeze himself into a society-shaped box. He is he. Nothing more and nothing less - and boy did I love him hard for it.
Ancel - Ancel is not like Rust. His disposition is shaped by the life he's had - and that life is far from the one that Rust has experienced. He was the perfect other MC though. He countered Rust so beautifully. I adored watching their friendship develop - as hard as it was at times. As short lived as it was. As hard as it was. It was also absolutely right. Especially for Ancel.
Of course, nothing in a story runs smoothly - what story would there be if it did? But I'm going to let you discover that for yourself.
I can't leave this review without commenting on a couple of things. Firstly; I want to live in Heaven. Not the ethereal in the clouds one, but the one Nash wrote about. The picture perfect place that she has created as the background for this story.. I can't tell you how much I want to live there.
And secondly; part of the reason I want to live there so badly is due to the beautifully lyrical prose Nash uses to describe it. It is everything I ever wanted in a home.
The beautiful prose goes beyond the description of Heaven though, it is there throughout the story.
I'm so tempted to add an example - but I won't, I'll let you find the story and experience it yourself. The imagery in chapter 1 - the opening paragraph...be still my beating heart.
Thank you Nash, this story is stunning.
A huge thank you to all those who make this event possible. :)
June 6, 2015
My, that was beautiful. Heartbreaking in parts, but so, so beautiful.
I know it's early days, but I'm calling it now: if you read just ONE Love is an Open Road story this year, THIS is the one to read.
I know it's early days, but I'm calling it now: if you read just ONE Love is an Open Road story this year, THIS is the one to read.
December 10, 2024
This story is beautiful and cruel because it broke my heart into so many pieces. I expected it to make such an impact on me. Absolutely stunning.
I wanted him to stay with me. I needed him to stay with me. I wanted to tell him my name, and how beautiful he was, and how since the first moment I saw him, I hadn’t been able to think of anything else. As the back of him disappeared through the gate to his yard, I knew he’d never be mine. But I knew just as well that I’d always be his. 💔🥺💔
Rust tasted like sweet cherry ice cream and rain water. He said my name in between breaths, and I knew each time our lips touched again, that breathing was a waste of air. 🫠💞🫠
I cried because even though he’d broken my heart three times, it still belonged to him. 💔🤧💔
Hmm, so I don't really know what to say. A story that's probably not for everyone. The plot, which is hardly a plot at all, it's more a recounting of feelings and impressions than anything really happening, is fragmented with big gaps in between. There are snippets that show important moments in Rust's life, whenever Ancel makes an appearance.
Yes there is a HEA, but the book itself is so super sad, I go back to my couch corner now and cry some more.
I wanted him to stay with me. I needed him to stay with me. I wanted to tell him my name, and how beautiful he was, and how since the first moment I saw him, I hadn’t been able to think of anything else. As the back of him disappeared through the gate to his yard, I knew he’d never be mine. But I knew just as well that I’d always be his. 💔🥺💔
Rust tasted like sweet cherry ice cream and rain water. He said my name in between breaths, and I knew each time our lips touched again, that breathing was a waste of air. 🫠💞🫠
I cried because even though he’d broken my heart three times, it still belonged to him. 💔🤧💔
Hmm, so I don't really know what to say. A story that's probably not for everyone. The plot, which is hardly a plot at all, it's more a recounting of feelings and impressions than anything really happening, is fragmented with big gaps in between. There are snippets that show important moments in Rust's life, whenever Ancel makes an appearance.
Yes there is a HEA, but the book itself is so super sad, I go back to my couch corner now and cry some more.
December 26, 2017
3.5 stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. While it was beautiful and emotional, it was also frustrating because the MCs spent more time apart then they did together during what I'm guessing to have been a 15 year time span. I wish the book had ended with an epilogue to make up for the time jumps and separation.
I have mixed feelings about this book. While it was beautiful and emotional, it was also frustrating because the MCs spent more time apart then they did together during what I'm guessing to have been a 15 year time span. I wish the book had ended with an epilogue to make up for the time jumps and separation.
August 3, 2021
I don’t know how I feel about this book. The writing is so beautiful, like everything this author writes. It’s a love story, but it’s not a typical romance. It’s a series of encounters where Ancel breaks Rust’s heart, again and again and again. Over years and years. This left me feeling so sad.
There is a HEA but be prepared to cry for it. So many feelings in such a short story.
And maybe it’s the short format, but I feel like the MCs don’t spend enough time together to fall in love. Not that kind of love, the kind that lasts forever. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me. Still a beautiful story.
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
There is a HEA but be prepared to cry for it. So many feelings in such a short story.
And maybe it’s the short format, but I feel like the MCs don’t spend enough time together to fall in love. Not that kind of love, the kind that lasts forever. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me. Still a beautiful story.
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
June 3, 2016
Be still, my heart!
This story was so wonderful, so amazing! It was like reading poetry. Delicate and fragile, just like the characters. So beautifully written!
Whatever I say, I know it won't be enough to do right by it.
..."I wanted to sit in the silence and wait, listening, hoping that the silence would reach out to me and whisper. "
Little red haired Rust is a child of Earth, a child of Nature. With flowers in his hair and sunshine in his eyes, he sees all the beautiful things around him and his soul is the brightest and most colorful thing in existence. I've never encountered someone like him. Someone who loves life in this capacity. Someone who refuses to break no matter what life throws at him.
“You’re friends with the crow?” I asked skeptically.
He grinned and closed his eyes. “Yes. And the field mice, and the owls, and the gophers, and the wind, and the trees, and the clouds in the sky, and the pebbles in the dirt, and the light in your eyes."
The story includes different time periods, from when Rust and Ancel were kids to when they are in their late twenties or early thirties. It was so amazing watching them as innocent kids, teenagers and then grown ups. They both changed so much, they lost their innocence but never their pure souls.
Ancel has so many demons to fight. He hurts Rust continuously. I didn't particularly like him, but I understood all his reasons to act like he did.
I've never been more enamored with a character like I'm with Rust. He shines so brightly. He is just like a little fawn, just like Bambi, so adorable! Awww <3
No matter how many times his big heart gets broken, he never stops loving Ancel, never stops waiting for him. He lives all his life with Ancel's ghost, never letting him go, always believing.
"I didn’t like that word: dream catcher. Why would I want to catch dreams? Dreams should be free to wander and explore, learning where they belong and to whom.”
That ending warmed my heart. I was so happy, I shed some happy tears. Finally!
This story was so wonderful, so amazing! It was like reading poetry. Delicate and fragile, just like the characters. So beautifully written!
Whatever I say, I know it won't be enough to do right by it.
..."I wanted to sit in the silence and wait, listening, hoping that the silence would reach out to me and whisper. "
Little red haired Rust is a child of Earth, a child of Nature. With flowers in his hair and sunshine in his eyes, he sees all the beautiful things around him and his soul is the brightest and most colorful thing in existence. I've never encountered someone like him. Someone who loves life in this capacity. Someone who refuses to break no matter what life throws at him.
“You’re friends with the crow?” I asked skeptically.
He grinned and closed his eyes. “Yes. And the field mice, and the owls, and the gophers, and the wind, and the trees, and the clouds in the sky, and the pebbles in the dirt, and the light in your eyes."
The story includes different time periods, from when Rust and Ancel were kids to when they are in their late twenties or early thirties. It was so amazing watching them as innocent kids, teenagers and then grown ups. They both changed so much, they lost their innocence but never their pure souls.
Ancel has so many demons to fight. He hurts Rust continuously. I didn't particularly like him, but I understood all his reasons to act like he did.
I've never been more enamored with a character like I'm with Rust. He shines so brightly. He is just like a little fawn, just like Bambi, so adorable! Awww <3
No matter how many times his big heart gets broken, he never stops loving Ancel, never stops waiting for him. He lives all his life with Ancel's ghost, never letting him go, always believing.
"I didn’t like that word: dream catcher. Why would I want to catch dreams? Dreams should be free to wander and explore, learning where they belong and to whom.”
That ending warmed my heart. I was so happy, I shed some happy tears. Finally!
October 28, 2016
4 stars!
"Fawn" is part of the m/m romance group "love is an open road" I'm so fascinated by the concept of this stories coming up with a short story just by the description of a photo is incredible. I probably sound like a broke record but, I love this!
Photo description: the backs of two teenage boys holding hands, one slightly leaning in toward the other. They're walking through a field, illuminated by the sunlight in front of them. Around are tall grasses and yellow stalks of wheat.
This was a fantastic story, it was so sweet and heartbreaking and frustratingly beautiful at the same time. The MC's meet for the first time when they are just kids they have encounters over the course of years. Each time they met it was frustrating because I wanted them together. But circumstances kept pulling them apart, my heart broke for both of them when they shared those precious moments.
Rust, was really innocent boy who lived in his own happy world, loves witting letters and nature he lives such a sheltered life. Ancel, was the total opposite his jaded has an abusive father both physically and mentally.
But from the moment they met they're in sync with each other.
Ancel's behavior with Rust drove me crazy but I kinda understood him with all the things his father kept telling him. Rust, always so forgiving and loving, too forgiving imo but that was his nature. At the end I would of liked for for Ancel to have grovel some to Rust, he deserved it and an epilogue just to see them established as a couple. Of course as usual with short stories the just wanting more & more......but its always a good sign of how much you're enjoying the story.
loved the writing of this author it had a lyrical feel to it. This was my first book by her and I'm looking forward to reading more. <3
**mil gracias elsa**
"Fawn" is part of the m/m romance group "love is an open road" I'm so fascinated by the concept of this stories coming up with a short story just by the description of a photo is incredible. I probably sound like a broke record but, I love this!
Photo description: the backs of two teenage boys holding hands, one slightly leaning in toward the other. They're walking through a field, illuminated by the sunlight in front of them. Around are tall grasses and yellow stalks of wheat.
This was a fantastic story, it was so sweet and heartbreaking and frustratingly beautiful at the same time. The MC's meet for the first time when they are just kids they have encounters over the course of years. Each time they met it was frustrating because I wanted them together. But circumstances kept pulling them apart, my heart broke for both of them when they shared those precious moments.
Rust, was really innocent boy who lived in his own happy world, loves witting letters and nature he lives such a sheltered life. Ancel, was the total opposite his jaded has an abusive father both physically and mentally.
But from the moment they met they're in sync with each other.
Ancel's behavior with Rust drove me crazy but I kinda understood him with all the things his father kept telling him. Rust, always so forgiving and loving, too forgiving imo but that was his nature. At the end I would of liked for for Ancel to have grovel some to Rust, he deserved it and an epilogue just to see them established as a couple. Of course as usual with short stories the just wanting more & more......but its always a good sign of how much you're enjoying the story.
loved the writing of this author it had a lyrical feel to it. This was my first book by her and I'm looking forward to reading more. <3
**mil gracias elsa**
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2015
Ohh this was such a special story. I fell in love with Rust. I was so sad and upset for Ancel. At times my heart was beating hard, thinking that this story won't have a happy ending. Thank God that it did, and such a sweet one. One of my favorite books!!:-)
May 12, 2018
How is possible that this tiny little book made me feel so much?
“It struck me too, Rust.”
“What did?”
“Lightning.”
October 1, 2022
Damn. They deserved a full book instead of a novella!☹️ Pretty underdeveloped relationship but I still felt their connection so much. Like I absolutely acknowledge that it feels like they talked about three times. It’s true. But idk man, as Rust and Ancel say, lightning. Lightning struck when they did have their moments. The metaphors and motifs in this novella…just divine. So memorable and not in that we get it!!!!! sorta way that symbolism in books can be. The sex scene was so beautiful. Poetry. Just. I’m in awe! Bottom line - I just wanted more development from this novella than I got but it was still beautiful and so worth reading but I didn’t love it.
June 8, 2015
Rust,
Heaven isn’t enough.
Ancel
This story is hard to talk about. It ripped my heart out of my chest and left me desperate for some happiness. Some light.
Ancel and Rust can never seem to catch a break. Rust knows from the moment he meets Ancel, that Ancel will break his heart one day. And he did. More than once. And it broke my heart every time, too.
But I couldn't hate Ancel. He was broken. He hated himself. And he wasn't a bad guy. Not at all.
Rust was such a lovable character. I really liked him from the start and I wanted him to be happy. I wanted things to work out for them.
Ancel closed the distance between us, wrapping his warm arms around me, pulling me tight against his chest. Nothing in the world was wrong. Everything was right.
I love these two. I love the ending. And if the author ever wanted to write more, I would happily read it.
“I don’t need a chance at heaven. I just need a chance with you.”
May 7, 2018
I don't need a chance with heaven. I need a chance with you.
wow, i have a lot of feelings for such a short book. overall, i actually did like this.
it was less than 100 pages and was a dreamy, purple prose story about 2 guys who grow from boys to men. and also how their relationship develops over the span of 10+ years. and i was genuinely impressed with that aspect. i typically detest novellas that try and span more than a year because i think it can be nearly impossible to properly tell a full fledged narrative in that few words.
but it worked here, and i really do think that was because of the floaty way that everything was told.
that being said, there were moments where the writing style rubbed me the wrong way. cigarettes and orange soda are not a sexy way to describe what someone tastes like. also describing someone's scars from their childhood abuse as "right where they were meant to be," felt a little weird. i think setting the scene with the flowery writing would have been enough (i.e. should have been toned down when describing interactions)
also, this will totally be a personal preference thing but i didn't like that ancel always seemed to leave after any "big" interaction with rust. i understand that some of the leaving couldn't be helped but it didn't really instill any confidence for me in their relationship long term if ancel is just going to leave after any sort of interaction.
that being said! 2 more things i liked.
1. i really enjoyed that there was CONSENT here. rust was a very naive (and virginal in this case) character who seemed almost childlike so i think verbal consent was even more necessary than usual. glad that it happened, glad that it was also sexy in the moment.
2. that when ancel finally decided to be with rust that he explained that he had dealt with his own personal issues and was now able to accept a relationship & the love that comes with it. come thruuuu personal growth & responsibility!
i think i'm getting more critical in my old age lol, but i think a lot of people will genuinely enjoy this book. it was a really nice quick read.
*********************************
a short & sweet buddy read with a short & sweet friend, sara
wow, i have a lot of feelings for such a short book. overall, i actually did like this.
it was less than 100 pages and was a dreamy, purple prose story about 2 guys who grow from boys to men. and also how their relationship develops over the span of 10+ years. and i was genuinely impressed with that aspect. i typically detest novellas that try and span more than a year because i think it can be nearly impossible to properly tell a full fledged narrative in that few words.
but it worked here, and i really do think that was because of the floaty way that everything was told.
that being said, there were moments where the writing style rubbed me the wrong way. cigarettes and orange soda are not a sexy way to describe what someone tastes like. also describing someone's scars from their childhood abuse as "right where they were meant to be," felt a little weird. i think setting the scene with the flowery writing would have been enough (i.e. should have been toned down when describing interactions)
also, this will totally be a personal preference thing but i didn't like that ancel always seemed to leave after any "big" interaction with rust. i understand that some of the leaving couldn't be helped but it didn't really instill any confidence for me in their relationship long term if ancel is just going to leave after any sort of interaction.
that being said! 2 more things i liked.
1. i really enjoyed that there was CONSENT here. rust was a very naive (and virginal in this case) character who seemed almost childlike so i think verbal consent was even more necessary than usual. glad that it happened, glad that it was also sexy in the moment.
2. that when ancel finally decided to be with rust that he explained that he had dealt with his own personal issues and was now able to accept a relationship & the love that comes with it. come thruuuu personal growth & responsibility!
i think i'm getting more critical in my old age lol, but i think a lot of people will genuinely enjoy this book. it was a really nice quick read.
*********************************
a short & sweet buddy read with a short & sweet friend, sara
March 29, 2020
Can a story ever be more perfect?
Can a story fill you with such wonder that its utterly incomprehensible?
Can a story fill your soul so thoroughly, you don’t know if any that come after it will ever be enough?
Can the words float off the page and swarm you with the most intangible of emotions?
Fawn is everything. Everything that is beautiful about storytelling. It is an example of what words, wielded in the right hands, could create. Such beauty that you’re afraid to breath, afraid to take your eyes off the page because it just might disappear.
I could read this story forever.
I will come back to it, over and over to remind me of the power of words, the power of story, the power of romance.
I could tell you so many things…
Things about a beautiful magical boy that looks at the world with such awe.
Things about a boy that writes love letters and tucks them into a tree trunk.
Things about watching a boy grow into a man and still hold on to the innocence of youth and an appreciation for life like no other.
Then, I could tell you about another boy.
A boy that is dark, hurt, and hunted.
I could tell you about a boy that struggles and claws his way out of his pain.
I could tell you about his resilience.
I could tell you about a love that comes to life like no other kind of love.
A romance that had tears in my eyes even before the story had unfolded. Words that created a sensory overload that left me awed. Beautiful metaphors, beautiful imagery, beautiful paragraphs that I want to savor and paste all over my wall so that I never forget it.
This story destroyed me and I welcomed it. I only wish that it took me hours, days, months, years to finish it… because hours were just not enough.
Can a story fill you with such wonder that its utterly incomprehensible?
Can a story fill your soul so thoroughly, you don’t know if any that come after it will ever be enough?
Can the words float off the page and swarm you with the most intangible of emotions?
Fawn is everything. Everything that is beautiful about storytelling. It is an example of what words, wielded in the right hands, could create. Such beauty that you’re afraid to breath, afraid to take your eyes off the page because it just might disappear.
I could read this story forever.
I will come back to it, over and over to remind me of the power of words, the power of story, the power of romance.
I could tell you so many things…
Things about a beautiful magical boy that looks at the world with such awe.
Things about a boy that writes love letters and tucks them into a tree trunk.
Things about watching a boy grow into a man and still hold on to the innocence of youth and an appreciation for life like no other.
Then, I could tell you about another boy.
A boy that is dark, hurt, and hunted.
I could tell you about a boy that struggles and claws his way out of his pain.
I could tell you about his resilience.
I could tell you about a love that comes to life like no other kind of love.
A romance that had tears in my eyes even before the story had unfolded. Words that created a sensory overload that left me awed. Beautiful metaphors, beautiful imagery, beautiful paragraphs that I want to savor and paste all over my wall so that I never forget it.
This story destroyed me and I welcomed it. I only wish that it took me hours, days, months, years to finish it… because hours were just not enough.
June 7, 2015
Beautiful and heartbreaking. Made me freaking cry. Thank you, Nash Summers, for writing such a wonderful story!
You gave me a necklace yesterday and made me promise to hold on to it. I’ll hold on to it forever.
Want to read
June 3, 2015dear god, would you look at that cover!?
I don't even have to check now to know that's Natasha Snow's handiwork.
NTS: gotta read this asap
and it's FREEEEEEEEEE
I don't even have to check now to know that's Natasha Snow's handiwork.
NTS: gotta read this asap
and it's FREEEEEEEEEE
June 15, 2015
4.25 stars
Dreamy. Heartbreaking. Beautiful. I cried when I reached the ending. Clearly Nash Summers just SLAYED me again
It has been almost 2-weeks since I actually read " fawn " -- and I still had no idea how to do this story justice. In its short length, "fawn" was able to deliver a story with a big punch. I think the key element of the story relies on Rust -- this fascinating boy that was unlike any (common) characters I found in my reading. Rust saw the world in his own innocent-colorful-introspective way that made him a bit otherwordly. Rust was like the color in otherwise black and white painting.
Interestingly, you could actually felt the progress of Rust's personal growth in the way Nash Summers wrote Rust's chapters. When the story started, when Rust was just a boy, the language was more lyrical and innocuous. It was like we could see the world from Rust's wide-eyed innocent view. As Rust grew older, the words become more grounded, like the harsh reality that Rust must see become the burden that acts like gravity; it tied Rust to the ground.
The reason why I couldn't give this my 5-stars yet was mainly because I thought Ancel, as the other character, was left a little undeveloped. I thought the conflict that Ancel was facing was too big and I wanted to see how he finally made peace with himself. I wanted to read how Ancel finally able to slayed his demons and returned to Rust. But then again, maybe the mystery was one of the beautiful things about this short story. It just made me a little unsatisfied, that was all.
Simply put, this was amazing -- I would never stop being in awe over Nash Summer's talent and would forever follow her writing, wherever she would like to take me.
Dreamy. Heartbreaking. Beautiful. I cried when I reached the ending. Clearly Nash Summers just SLAYED me again
It has been almost 2-weeks since I actually read " fawn " -- and I still had no idea how to do this story justice. In its short length, "fawn" was able to deliver a story with a big punch. I think the key element of the story relies on Rust -- this fascinating boy that was unlike any (common) characters I found in my reading. Rust saw the world in his own innocent-colorful-introspective way that made him a bit otherwordly. Rust was like the color in otherwise black and white painting.
Interestingly, you could actually felt the progress of Rust's personal growth in the way Nash Summers wrote Rust's chapters. When the story started, when Rust was just a boy, the language was more lyrical and innocuous. It was like we could see the world from Rust's wide-eyed innocent view. As Rust grew older, the words become more grounded, like the harsh reality that Rust must see become the burden that acts like gravity; it tied Rust to the ground.
The reason why I couldn't give this my 5-stars yet was mainly because I thought Ancel, as the other character, was left a little undeveloped. I thought the conflict that Ancel was facing was too big and I wanted to see how he finally made peace with himself. I wanted to read how Ancel finally able to slayed his demons and returned to Rust. But then again, maybe the mystery was one of the beautiful things about this short story. It just made me a little unsatisfied, that was all.
Simply put, this was amazing -- I would never stop being in awe over Nash Summer's talent and would forever follow her writing, wherever she would like to take me.
August 19, 2018
Sad. Intense. Beautiful. Full of nostalgia and longing.
This is a little master piece and I consider it a must for those who love young adult stories. Lyrical, heartwarming and precious, that’s what Nash Summers’ Fawn is. A little treasure.
A special boy who finds beauty in the sight of a field, flowers feathers and little animals. He’s surrounded by ugliness, abuse, bullies... but Rust knows how to find that beauty, that peace. He even finds it in death. A unique artist. A pure soul. A bright human being.
“Little fawn, where have you been?”
A personality to envy. A character to love. He owns an unusual and beautiful sight of the world and this is his world. He deserves heaven and more. He deserves happiness and everything. And those parents... those awesome parents. I wish every kid with a singularity could be born in a family like Rust’s, because we really are in need of people who understand and brace weirdness and oddity.
This is about two kind souls living opposite lives just because of the family they were born into. This short story is near to poetry so please read it, enjoy it and feel it.
(One of my corniest, I know...and I really don’t care)
▶️
This is a little master piece and I consider it a must for those who love young adult stories. Lyrical, heartwarming and precious, that’s what Nash Summers’ Fawn is. A little treasure.
A special boy who finds beauty in the sight of a field, flowers feathers and little animals. He’s surrounded by ugliness, abuse, bullies... but Rust knows how to find that beauty, that peace. He even finds it in death. A unique artist. A pure soul. A bright human being.
“Little fawn, where have you been?”
A personality to envy. A character to love. He owns an unusual and beautiful sight of the world and this is his world. He deserves heaven and more. He deserves happiness and everything. And those parents... those awesome parents. I wish every kid with a singularity could be born in a family like Rust’s, because we really are in need of people who understand and brace weirdness and oddity.
This is about two kind souls living opposite lives just because of the family they were born into. This short story is near to poetry so please read it, enjoy it and feel it.
(One of my corniest, I know...and I really don’t care)
▶️
June 9, 2017
4.5 Stars
With a prompt like that, things could’ve totally gone awry, but in the skillful hands of this author it became something quite amazing.
One day Rust glimpses Ancel, and immediately like a moth to a flame, he’s forever caught. What he doesn’t know is that it goes both ways. Over the years, these two just barely touch each other’s lives, but each instance is like a brand on their soul - painful, exhilarating, permanent. Circumstance and fears conspire to keep them apart, but just when you think all is lost, love prevails.
This story should not be overlooked. Poignant, lyrical, and so beautifully done.
With a prompt like that, things could’ve totally gone awry, but in the skillful hands of this author it became something quite amazing.
One day Rust glimpses Ancel, and immediately like a moth to a flame, he’s forever caught. What he doesn’t know is that it goes both ways. Over the years, these two just barely touch each other’s lives, but each instance is like a brand on their soul - painful, exhilarating, permanent. Circumstance and fears conspire to keep them apart, but just when you think all is lost, love prevails.
This story should not be overlooked. Poignant, lyrical, and so beautifully done.
June 5, 2015
Today I learned that my heart could be broken in to pieces, and then put back together, in less than 80 pages.
Rust is very different. He likes to make art out of twigs and animal bones, likes to dance in the rain, and likes to wear hair-clips. He's weird, and he's totally okay with that, even if the other kids aren't. One day, Rust sees a new boy, Ancel. Ancel is popular and good-looking, though he hasn't had the best life. Rust doesn't completely understand what he feels for him, but he knows that he belongs with Ancel.
What really stands out in 'fawn' is the writing. The writing is descriptive and full of emotion. There's a very thin line between poetical prose and purple prose, and Nash Summers handled it brilliantly. Her writing made me want to visit the small town of Heaven, just so that I could experience this small corner of the world with Rust.
For such a short story, 'fawn' is quite angst-filled. But it's the type of angst that you know is leading to something good, so you just have to grit your teeth and keep reading. And the payoff is so worth it. This is a coming-of-age story, and a reunited-lovers story, and an accepting-yourself story all wrapped in to one.
My only complaint is that I wanted more from Ancel's POV, particularly . But other than that, I can't fault anything. Nash Summers just bumped up the bar for this year's 'Love is an Open Road' event!
Rust is very different. He likes to make art out of twigs and animal bones, likes to dance in the rain, and likes to wear hair-clips. He's weird, and he's totally okay with that, even if the other kids aren't. One day, Rust sees a new boy, Ancel. Ancel is popular and good-looking, though he hasn't had the best life. Rust doesn't completely understand what he feels for him, but he knows that he belongs with Ancel.
What really stands out in 'fawn' is the writing. The writing is descriptive and full of emotion. There's a very thin line between poetical prose and purple prose, and Nash Summers handled it brilliantly. Her writing made me want to visit the small town of Heaven, just so that I could experience this small corner of the world with Rust.
For such a short story, 'fawn' is quite angst-filled. But it's the type of angst that you know is leading to something good, so you just have to grit your teeth and keep reading. And the payoff is so worth it. This is a coming-of-age story, and a reunited-lovers story, and an accepting-yourself story all wrapped in to one.
My only complaint is that I wanted more from Ancel's POV, particularly . But other than that, I can't fault anything. Nash Summers just bumped up the bar for this year's 'Love is an Open Road' event!
June 3, 2015
So this is going to be short because I don’t have enough water to stay hydrated and the tears are back just writing a review of this.
Let me get this out first… Ms. Summers truly is a talented author and I am not saying that as being biased. I read books to feel, to have the story take over me and fall in love with every single word. Summers does that for me each time and with each story. Her work is amazing, I could look up a better word in a thesaurus, but amazing is the first to come to mind. Summers is the type of author that makes me throw up my hands with my own writing attempts and either give up entirely or strive to write half as well as she does.
I was blessed, yes blessed, with the opportunity to beta read this story and all I can tell you is I fell in love immediately with the characters. I fell in love with Rust and his unusual craftsmanship of all things left by animals. I fell in love with his parents and how they supported him, I fell in love with Ancel right alongside Rust and I fell in love with a tree. Yeah, a tree. Just wait, when you meet that tree and all it holds. Make sure you have plenty of tissue and enough water to re-hydrate after you bawl your eyes out.
I am not going to get into the plot of the story, honestly it needs to be read first hand to experience all the wonderful emotions Ms. Summers’ puts into it and pulls out of you. There are so many small details that add up to so much in the story that I am truly in awe of the author and her talent. Summers writes as if this were a poem, a song, a sonnet and a story of true love. The kind of true love that really can save you and triumph over all.
Ancel… ugh. The boy whose name in French means; one who follows a nobleman. I mean, who else could be noble but Rust in all that he does. Rust is marvelous, so damn extraordinary, strong, and steadfast in his devotion and so… Rust. Yep, I am talking in circles because if I let myself get drawn back into this story I will get lost again and I actually have work to do today.
Heaven. Have you ever wanted to visit Heaven? Not the proverbial place among the clouds but this wondrous town the story takes place in. The description of Heaven itself is exquisite, ethereal and resplendent. Sure, there are a lot of places that hold beauty but Heaven IS beauty and who would ever want to leave once they get there?
I will say there are a few difficult parts to read in the story, and yet while they are difficult, the reaction to them is gorgeous. Oh my goodness. I just looked at my notes and on one scene wrote “This is so incredibly sweet and so incredibly sad.” Yup. That.
fawn is a beautiful and bittersweet tale of finding your truth. I would say more but that is the heart of it. Your truth isn’t always right in front of you and at times you have to fight for it or shove it away until it needs to be found and brings you home.
OH! Let me not forget to mention the cover. Not only is stunning, the imagery of it and through the book?
*dies* <---THAT!
Let me get this out first… Ms. Summers truly is a talented author and I am not saying that as being biased. I read books to feel, to have the story take over me and fall in love with every single word. Summers does that for me each time and with each story. Her work is amazing, I could look up a better word in a thesaurus, but amazing is the first to come to mind. Summers is the type of author that makes me throw up my hands with my own writing attempts and either give up entirely or strive to write half as well as she does.
I was blessed, yes blessed, with the opportunity to beta read this story and all I can tell you is I fell in love immediately with the characters. I fell in love with Rust and his unusual craftsmanship of all things left by animals. I fell in love with his parents and how they supported him, I fell in love with Ancel right alongside Rust and I fell in love with a tree. Yeah, a tree. Just wait, when you meet that tree and all it holds. Make sure you have plenty of tissue and enough water to re-hydrate after you bawl your eyes out.
I am not going to get into the plot of the story, honestly it needs to be read first hand to experience all the wonderful emotions Ms. Summers’ puts into it and pulls out of you. There are so many small details that add up to so much in the story that I am truly in awe of the author and her talent. Summers writes as if this were a poem, a song, a sonnet and a story of true love. The kind of true love that really can save you and triumph over all.
Ancel… ugh. The boy whose name in French means; one who follows a nobleman. I mean, who else could be noble but Rust in all that he does. Rust is marvelous, so damn extraordinary, strong, and steadfast in his devotion and so… Rust. Yep, I am talking in circles because if I let myself get drawn back into this story I will get lost again and I actually have work to do today.
Heaven. Have you ever wanted to visit Heaven? Not the proverbial place among the clouds but this wondrous town the story takes place in. The description of Heaven itself is exquisite, ethereal and resplendent. Sure, there are a lot of places that hold beauty but Heaven IS beauty and who would ever want to leave once they get there?
I will say there are a few difficult parts to read in the story, and yet while they are difficult, the reaction to them is gorgeous. Oh my goodness. I just looked at my notes and on one scene wrote “This is so incredibly sweet and so incredibly sad.” Yup. That.
fawn is a beautiful and bittersweet tale of finding your truth. I would say more but that is the heart of it. Your truth isn’t always right in front of you and at times you have to fight for it or shove it away until it needs to be found and brings you home.
OH! Let me not forget to mention the cover. Not only is stunning, the imagery of it and through the book?
*dies* <---THAT!
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