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Featured Story: Circumnavigation


Trebs

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Here, without any need for introduction (since I wrote it myself), is a review of Circumnavigation by our Hosted Author, C James.

 




by


C James

 

Reviewer: Trebs
Status: In Progress
Word Count: 906,898 to date

 

Do you ever get tired of just getting to enjoy a story, and then hitting the end of the story and there's nothing more to read. Well - start reading Circumnavigation and it will be a while before you get that feeling (if you ever do).

 

Now as many of us realize, length is nothing without someone there who knows how to use it. And CJ definitely knows how to use it.

 

Circumnavigation is mainly the story of seventeen year old Trevor and his boat, Atlantis. Atlantis is a large catamaran - a two hulled ship with five passenger cabins. He lost his mother more than 8 years before, when she was sailing Ares, a similar boat to Atlantis, and had an emergency at sea and was lost. Despite this loss, Trevor loves sailing (and Atlantis) and is frequently on the water, occasionally taking charters, sailing near his home of Fort Pierce, Florida. Trevor's two best friends, Lisa and Joel, are dating but also both very concerned with their friend Trevor, and how he tends to isolate himself.

 

CJ builds a lot of background of each of the characters, so you really get to know not only Trevor, but Lisa, Joel, Dirk (Trevor's dad) and many of the other characters you come across. To make sure that some of the additional ship or travelling information doesn't get too much, he includes diagrams of what Atlantis looks like, and how it's laid out as well as googlemaps of some of the locations that Trevor travels to in the story.

 

What starts as part of a simple story of Trevor trying to find the wreckage of the Ares, and some trace of what happened to his mom, leads to a complex and intriguing tale. CJ is a master of laying out many details that you may glance by, only to find them all coming together many chapters later. He builds up this massive epic tale in a clear way, with excellent writing, that will draw you in and keep you hooked, even through his many cliffhangers and shock revelations.

 

If you haven't tried Circumnavigation yet, it's a great time to start as the story is almost to its conclusion. I've read it weekly since he started the story and give it my highest recommendation. His Let the Music Play and it's sequel, Changing Lanes are also favorites of mine!

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"He builds up this massive epic tale in a clear way, with excellent writing, that will draw you in and keep you hooked, even through his many cliffhangers and shock revelations." Well said Trebs :P

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I keep meaning to start reading this one, but it took me six months to read Castaway Hotel.

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  • Site Moderator

This story definitely took on a life of its own. What was supposed to be 20 to 30 chapters in length is well over 100 chapters. The story will be wrapping up soon and the holder of four "King of Cliffhangers" will be leaving us with another cliffhanger wondering when he will start posting his next story.

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Two words, 'read it'. You'll be occupied for ages as it is very long, but is one of the best stories on the web.

 

Well researched, good and varied characterisations and a plot whose complications and machinations keep the reader hungry for more. Chris usually posts on a Tuesday morning and I for one won't know what to do with myself on Tuesdays once the story is finished.

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It's like one big cliff, reading this story. You'll be on the edge of your seat. CJ has a way of keeping you clinging to the edge.

 

It's what goats do. Also, eating anything in sight, and bleating. They do like their cliffs, those goats.

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A well informed (inside) source assures me that there are no cliffhangers in this story. I believe him. :)

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  • Site Administrator

A well informed (inside) source assures me that there are no cliffhangers in this story. I believe him. smile.png

 

 

Thanks Conner, I needed a good laugh tongue.png

 

I would also forewarn anyone, if you start this, you might not put it down until you are done. As someone also who has read since day one, I have to say there hasn't been a single chapter that has not kept me wanting more tongue.png

 

If you want to go through the torture that many have, read a chapter a day...BUT do not start the next chapter until the next day. You'll see why CJ has won 4 out of 5 years of the king.gif King of Evil Cliffhangers king.gif awards.

 

I also should say that I have learned a heck of a lot about a heck of a lot of stuff in this story but all in a good way smile.png

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Thank you Trebs!!!!

 

Yep, it's a long story... I had it plotted out before I started posting, but I massively underestimated the amount of verbiage that it would take. I was notorious for this in prior novels too. The consensus is that I cannot count, and it looks like the consensus is right! smile.png

 

I've been working on this story for over two years... and now just a few chapters left. I never thought it would take this long, so I would like to give my sincere thanks to those who have stuck with it.

 

The story is a team effort, and I am indeed fortunate to have a superb team!

 

BTW, a note to anyone who hasn't started the story; the "cliffhanger" stuff is an inside joke, poking fun at the fact that I'm well known for not using cliffhangers. So, nothing to worry about, there are no cliffhangers in Circumnavigation. 0:) 0:) 0:):whistle:

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I've been working on this story for over two years...

 

Getting very close to three years, CJ. I've been beta reading Circumnavigation for you since October 21, 2009. That's 133 chapters in 148 weeks.

 

...the "cliffhanger" stuff is an inside joke...

 

Not a joke. The only amusing thing about the cliffhangers is CJ's feeble attempts at denying their existence or blaming them on a team member.

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