True Loaf

by L. Austen Johnson

SYNOPSIS

When a stranger steps into the bakery where Riley works, and places a peculiar request, she departs on a quest to find the ingredient in need to complete the task. Thus begins a journey through the forest at the darkening of night, where everything she encounters, and the events that lead up to it, isn’t as simple as they may seem.

REVIEW

To be direct and honest, it seemed more on the brink of a conceptual or symbolistic tale, rather than an actual complete story.

There were barely any character backgrounds nor story settings for readers to fully grasp the concrete existence of the world-building & magical system, as I wasn’t even able to thoroughly understand the meaning behind the ending. It was like a “almost-there-but-why-did-you-stop-here“ feeling of confusion.

However, my opinions shifted drastically after reading the analysis at the back of the story.

As a modern-day retelling inspired by a Balkan folklore story, the structure of the story was set accordingly so, with each of the substantial elements placed precisely within the story—I’m refraining from elaborating the details here in case of spoilers—leading up to the signification behind the characters’ actions & outcomes.

We may be so used to the usual contemporary retellings, rich in details, plot twists & character development, that may tend to overlook the originality of the structural aspects, symbolism, and imagery of folklores & fairytales, that we had our expectations misguided.

In conclusion, though it may have fell short for me as a slightly vague story, it was a beautiful reconstruction of a magical folklore.