Not sure if you still read these reviews, but I wanted to say thank you so much for this charming story. I love gentle giantess stories (especially with a real giantess, not shrinking), and while I appreciate all those who try, it's not often one finds one so enjoyable and well-written.

About mixing sass with fantasy (responding to someone else's comment): This took me by surprise as well at first, though I quickly got used to it and enjoyed Rowena's lively personality immensely. My rule of thumb is, as long as blatantly modern-day expressions or words aren't used (such as "as slow as an old computer" or "don't have a cow, man!"), then having a character with a dry sense of humor and a little sass is fine by me. Heck, in real life people use a dry sense of humor or sass to get through, survive, or overcome obstacles in their life (such as, in Rowena's case, being a giant in a land of humans).

I throughly enjoyed Rowena, and now look forward to reading Parts II & III of the series (I've just finished Chapter 1 of Part II, and it looks like I will not be disappointed).

Thank you so much for all your hard work on such a great story.

And should you ever want to create any other gentle giantess stories or series... please don't hesitate!

Author's Response:

Glad you liked it! I do pop in and check for new reviews now and then. Always nice to see new readers. As for the sass, I gave Rowena a sassy personality because I think it makes her a fun and sexy character. Gentle she may be but she can still be playful and dominant.

Thank you so much for your reply. In it, you mentioned the possibility of perhaps continuing with these characters in future stories. First of all, let me say that I really appreciated you giving "Rise" a real ending. One of my pet peeves is when an author keeps continuing a story just to continue (with no thought to the story's arc or an ending). Thankfully, "Rise" is a wonderfully full, complete story. I enjoyed it immensely, and would not mind at all reading another story with these great characters!

That said, my question is: if you ever were to continue, how would the rest of us be able to find it?

Since Giantess World is mostly for giantess stories, would you still post it here even if it didn't have any giantess content (since it would at least be a continuation of a story that did)? Or do you have another site where you post your non-giantess writings? (If so, where is it?)

I guess what I'm saying is, if you were to contine with these characters, either please continue to post it here (even without giantess content), or at least put a little notice up somewhere (perhaps in the description area for "Rise", or edit in a note at the end of the final chapter... something like that) so that if you ever start a new story with these characters, people here on Giantess World in the future will be able to know where to find and enjoy it.

Once again, I know it's been a few years, but thank you so much for "Rise". And if you ever do decide to write a new story with these characters, please either continue to post it here, or at least let us know where we could find it! :)

Author's Response:

Sure. There actually will be giantess content in the (eventual) sequel, so it'll be posted here too. I'd had the idea for a potential sequel since the end of this one but hadn't really started thinking seriously about it until this year, so that's why it's taken so long. I can't guess exactly when it would actually appear, but I am putting thought into it.

DOES ANYONE KNOW?

Is there a reason why Uncle Funkle deleted both his stories (Olympus and Spirited Away)? If Uncle Funkle is reading this (or anyone else who knows) please post. Was he angry at the site? Is he posting elsewhere? Were his stories banned from giantessworld? Is he angry? I can understand just not updating, but to delete them... doesn't make sense. I, too was following Olympus, it was one of my favorite stories! And I tried to write honestly and encourage it to continue in my reviews.

If anyone knows anything about why Olympus (as well as Uncle Funkle's other story) were deleted, please post here so we can understand. And Uncle Funkle, if you're reading this by some chance, will you post to let us know? And if you're going to be putting your content elsewhere or there's some way you will be continuing your stories, please let us know? If anything happened, please don't penalize those of us who have really enjoyed your works (and have let you know!) We're sad and confused...?

Wow, I thought you had dropped this -- so glad you haven't! Please continue with this story (I hope you didn't mind my mild criticism earlier -- honestly, I wouldn't have even bothered if Olympus wasn't one of my favorites). Always a pleasure to read more on Sierra and Nathan, and to watch their relationship grow (and also Lavender and Olivine, and the world they're in). Great to see a new chapter, and please do continue! :)

Not sure if you actually read these comments, but... very nice story! Just read 1-10, and a few thoughts:
(1) I'm so glad to see all 3 sisters are gentle and kind (even if a bit playful). It's so much better than having one be the "evil sister" (please don't go overboard too much with Olivine's playfulness, I like that she's kind, too). And most importantly: hopefully in time, all 3 sisters will no longer see Nathan as somewhat of a pet, but instead, as real of a person as they are.
(2) You've woven a wonderful story with realistic characters where everything could be explained -- until Rina, I felt. I just thought she was far too extreme (sadistic-wise) compared to the even tone of her people (and the story in general). Her hatred of humans can be explained by events without having to go into the whole sadist/addicted-to-crushing arena. Perhaps tone that down a bit. Unfortunately, most GTS stories rely on extremes (where yours thankfully doesn't), so it's really been a refreshing pleasure to read one that's more like a real book.
(3) I like very much that Sierra's blood has healing qualities. Perhaps someone kind, with abilities like hers, might one day be the leader of her people.
(4) If time permits, perhaps Lavender (the shyer one) and Olivine might find themselves human friends, too?
(5) This is a thoroughly enjoyable story, with clearly much more to look forward to. I have no idea what your intentions are, but please don't feel that it has to go on forever. The best stories have a beginning, middle, and end, and this one is definitely worthy of that. I guess what I'm saying is, when you've told the story you want to tell, don't be afraid to end it.

Thanks so much for this great story (really!) Looking forward to the next chapters!

Wow, I don't know what else to say, except what a chapter! I couldn't even wait until I read it a 2nd time, I just had to post here right away. It was perfect, all the way around. I'm not sure what you wanted to re-do, but one couldn't have asked for a better chapter. As I'm sure you know, every creative work evolves as part of the process. No symphony, song or story is ever what its creator's first scribbles were. And the fact that you're writing it chapter-by-chapter (instead of being able to do it as a block, and go back and change things if needed) makes it even more impressive. (And yes, I definitely caught some hints and foreshadowing that you left throughout the story here and there, in case you chose to expand on them). While most authors don't have to work chapter-by-chapter, some really good books have actually been written that way, including the original "101 Dalmations" (the wonderful original novel by Dodie Smith, not the Disney movie adaptations). It was originally written in serial form in a British magazine, one chapter a month.

You asked if people reading this story felt as if they were reading a book. I ABSOLUTELY do feel that way with this. A really good story will stay with the reader long after one has finished reading it, as this has definitely done with me. It's a testament to how well you've written it, as well as the characters you've created, that I can't help myself but want to read it again, and think about this story even after setting it down.

This brings up another point (you mentioned you didn't mind long posts) :) Normally with something this good, I'd very much be posting my thoughts on things such as what might happen next, comment on any foreshadowing I've noticed, offer some possible outcomes I've thought of, etc. It's a story very much worthy of that. But I haven't done so for one very important reason: the creator of the work (who is still creating it) is reading this forum. I don't know how you work as a writer, but I know if it were myself writing the story, as much as one part of me might want to see others actively participate and take an interest with posts like that, I would (if I was honest to myself) in the end not really want to see such thoughts and suggestions from others while still writing the story. If someone out there were to think of something I hadn't thought of that I liked, I'd feel weird about using it, and bad if I didn't. And even if all they did was guess exactly what I had already planned to do anyway, having someone else mention it publically first would make it like a spoiler to others, and I'd almost feel pressured to go another route, instead.

I'm writing all this to let you know that, if you were, say, a TV writer who I knew would never see these comments (at least while the work was still being created), I'd be commenting much more on this story, with thoughts, ideas, possible outcomes, etc  -- because it is very much that good of a story. But the reason why I won't do so, is precisely because I want to let you write the story your way. If you are actually curious and feel sure that hearing such things won't affect you (I don't know if I could ever feel that way) I'd be happy to send you my thoughts in private email, even to a disposable email address somewhere, but will not post those kind of comments publically -- not because I don't want to, but because I like this story too much, and don't want to influence it or spoil it for others.

I guess what I'm saying is, it can seem strange seeing comments every chapter that say only "great chapter!" but I'm limiting my comments to reviews only, exactly because I love this story too much. Please remember that, if all you see in a future review from me is simply "another great chapter!" :)

This was indeed a really good chapter, with way too many good parts to mention, as the entire chapter was amazing. With Annallya's mom showing up at the end, the next chapter(s) are going to be very crucial. As much as I enjoyed this whole chapter from start to finish, for some reason, one line that stood out was when Annallya said: "When Titans are little girls, we are taught of our unique ability to change our size, though we understand almost nothing about it. Despite our gift, we rarely use it." That line tells a lot more than at just first glance -- that being able to grow small can indeed be a gift, even if others of her kind don't see it that way.

Anyway, keep up the great work!

Hi! Since you asked, I tried to send you some of my thoughts via the contact system here a couple days ago, but just realized my account here is set up not to notify or forward, so not sure if you ever got it. Honestly, no worries if you decided not to read it or feel it's better not to comment on it (didn't expect you to), but if you you could, just let me know if you got it or not. If not, I'll try sending it again. (You can just reply here... though if for some reason you wanted to comment on it, probably best to reply to the yahoo email I included in the message).

And to keep this as a review as well... I just read Chapter 15 again (for a great book-like story like this, I make sure to print out the chapters and have them in my hand) and wow, I'll say it again... what a great chapter! This is such an amazing story!

Another excellent chapter! As you said, it appears to be setting up the next chapter, but even a shorter chapter like this one was a great one.

Annallya now realizes that she doesn't know everything about Gaelin, but she's been with him for some time now, and has her intuition and gut to trust. Also, as she stated, she's now reached the point where she can no longer simply go back home and pretend like everything is fine. I also enjoyed the bit where the temporarily-small prison guards were quite nervous being around Gaelin. Maybe they have good intuition, too.

One thing I've been meaning to mention in my reviews of this story, has been how much I have appreciated the pacing of it. While nothing has ever been slow, the author has taken the time to let the story unfold at its own pace, and not be hurried or rushed. I cannot tell you how much this is appreciated. Having gone back and re-read it from the beginning recently (all 17 chapters now), I'm utterly amazed at how much it actually does read like a book -- and a major reason for that is the detail and pacing of the story.

Keep up the excellent work!

Just noticed that a new chapter was posted, and read it today. Once again, another great chapter!

I figured Annallya would be devistated upon hearing the truth of how Titans actually reproduce... but through her devistation, it seems her determination to do the right thing has only strengthened, and in a way, her wanting to do the right thing is helping her get through the pain and horror of hearing the truth. It was also interesting to note that she had her own (near) experience with something similar herself (almost being raped by the bandits) that she could relate to personally.

Now I normally wouldn't post anything that might influence the story while it's being created, but will make an exception today only because other readers already posted my exact thoughts in their comments! The moment where Annallya realizes she has a father, my first thought was if she would try to find him -- or at least by the whims of fate, manage to meet him at some point. Even if it's not a major plot point, I thought it would be interesting to have the two of them meet, and the father (whoever he may be) see that his daughter isn't "just another Titan", but someone that he could be proud of.

As far as another poster's comments on their ability to have kids impacting their relationship, very good point. But perhaps there are other possibilities that have never been thought of or tried before (if a Titan actually decided to stay at human size and live as a human, would that still preclude her from having a male child? What if the partner was a Guardian?) Lots of possibilities. Or, it could indeed be true that no matter what, it's an absolute fact that a Titan can only bare a female child, end of story. We'll just have to see what happens.

As far as Thoren goes, Annallya was probably corrent in her analysis of the situation, for even with herself, she had to actually spend time among the humans before being able to see them for what they were truly like. We'll have to see what the future holds, if Thoren can somehow learn to see humans as Annallya does. Meanwhile, Gaelin is keeping busy trying to do the (harder) right thing by trying to survive without killing -- while having his non-lethal justice be commensurate with the humantiy (or lack thereof) of his opponents. And of course, with armies sneaking around in the night, something's going to happen soon. I also wonder if we'll see more of Nefferel at some point.

I guess we'll all just have to wait and see! But this is one great story, and a pleasure to read.

Another amazing chapter to add to the story! Yay, Nefferel is back (great character!), genuinely moved by Gaelin's actions, both towards herself and others, and it was a really nice chapter with the two of them.

I wonder, when Gaelin said that she reminded him of someone, did he mean Annallya or the Titan from his past?

It's hopeful that Gaelin has slowly been managing to change the minds of at least some of the Titans.

As well, we now know the rest of the backstory for Gaelin. Compliments on the way you revealed some of it, too -- only after reading all of the gruesome details of his bloody fight with the Titans back in his village, did we find out that the attacking Titans were so young. It had an impact that it wouldn't have had, had you revealed that beforehand. Nicely done.

Gaelin had it right: children learn from their parents and society around them. I don't know if an answer can be found between the Titans' need of humans to reproduce and the hope of changing how they're treated, but if anyone can do it, it's these characters.

I also wanted to give a shout out about something one doesn't normally think of: the names of the characters. From the special names given to famous Titans in society ("Tiana Farstrider") to simply the names for all your characters (Annallya, Gaelin, Nefferel, etc) you've managed to find perfect names for your characters -- and that isn't easy (whoever said naming a cat was hard, never tried to come up with a dozen character names!)

Anyway, thank you for another great chapter! Looking forward to joining Annallya again!

PS: I sent you an email tonight, when you have a chance.