User:BigLenny

I discovered the Choices app through several ads, which I ignored until I decided to give it a try. At first, I was skeptical because of the premium choices and how they're better than the non-premium choices. Over time, however, I've come to enjoy the game even if that means not picking premium choices all the time.

My Personal Ranking (from Favorite to Least Favorite)

 * 1) Endless Summer: This is, in my opinion, the best book in Choices. It also happens to be the first story I read when I first downloaded the app, and I became instantly hooked by the intriguing storyline and colorful cast. My biggest concern is that too many details on the storyline and characters can only be accessed through premium options. Not to mention Book 3 is a mess because of the uneven pacing of the story, new stuff I find unnecessary, and the rushed ending. Nevertheless, I highly encourage people to give this a try if they haven't despite the overwhelming number of premium options.
 * 2) It Lives: I'm usually not into horror, but this series is one of a kind. Even though the effects of the nerve system came too late for It Lives In The Woods, I still appreciate how interesting the main cast and plot are. Despite the first book's ending (with all characters except Noah alive in my game), I'm still dying to see the cast in some way or another. It Lives Beneath is definitely the story I look forward to every time it updates because of the intriguing mystery behind Rebekah Davenshort the lake monster and the local cult. The new main cast looks great, and it's awesome to see Tom again.
 * 3) Veil of Secrets: The mysteries behind this book got me hooked immediately. Every time I learn something new about the town of Birchport makes me want to learn more, up to and including the ultimate mystery behind the crimes in the town. Even the mastermind behind it all is a well-written villain who has scored notable victories before the reveal, has sympathetic motives that still doesn't excuse such heinous actions, and really scares me to the core. Definitely a recommendation from me.
 * The Crown &amp; The Flame: This story is very enjoyable. I love how it challenges me to understand tactics in the game to gain troops for upcoming battles and special choices that give me a further edge. My main concern is that so many potentially characters are doomed to oblivion if I don't pick certain choices, especially premium ones. Despite this, the story is something I also highly recommend.
 * 1) Perfect Match: I was already intrigued by the plot when the first two chapters were released, mainly because I was curious of the whole deal with Eros. It captured my interest even more with the events of Chapter 10, starting with the revelation that Hayden's a robot in the previous chapter and him/her coming to terms with it. Some things are predictable, such as Eros being up to no good and Hayden being a robot, but other things like Hayden's realization of his/her own identity are not. In fact, I'm impressed at Hayden developing into his/her own character as the series progresses. As for the ending, it was satisfying to take down Eros and declare my love for the love interests, but there are a few things that kept me wondering, such as Keegan and Dames. Overall, an awesome story.
 * 2) The Heist: Monaco: A score system that determines the ending I'll get, good choices for roles I'm filling, and a fun take as a criminal? I'm sold!
 * A Courtesan of Rome: As a big fan of Ancient Rome, I'm excited for this story, the political intrigue behind it, and my eagerness to see my protagonist reunite with her family. I'm still concerned about the historical inaccuracies, though.
 * The Elementalists: This series makes excellent use of introducing the reader to a whole new setting, which I'm proud of. Not to mention it also allows the player to determine the protagonist's sexuality. What I don't like is shoving Beckett Harrington in every chapter as of late. He's fine personality-wise, but Pixelberry has milked him more than enough while hiding details relevant to plot and setting behind premium options.
 * The Royal Romance: I didn't expect myself to enjoy this series, especially because Book 1 is all about trying to impress other people at court in order to rise to the top. To me, Book 2 is when the series starts to shine as a political thriller, where I clear my name amidst formal situations, and that caught my interest. Book 3 is still great, albeit less so than Book 2 because I find it too stretched regarding the assassin threat and the wedding plans. It's a good thing this series has a spectacular ending.
 * 1) Bloodbound: Despite my worries about clichés in vampire fiction, I'm hooked by the backstory behind the vampires and the direction the story is heading towards. This series became even more exciting for me with the showdown against Nicole and Vega, as well as the ability to give my character badass moments.
 * High School Story: This story proved to be much more fun than expected. Instead of being merely romance, it also allows me to experience high school drama in an ideal high school. My only concern is that the idealism overwhelms me at times and Book 3's plot is absurd because it's forcing the protagonist to act like prom is serious business, making them no different from Max and Kara. Fortunately, Class Act is a fun take on the theatre club, which gets me interested to the point that I want my new protagonist to succeed in his play and see who he'll end up pursuing. Overall, it's at least a nice story for escapism.
 * Hero: This story is great, but the plot isn't put into action until the last third of Book 1. Another complaints I have on this series is that the love interests except Kenji aren't given enough face time and the Poppy and Dax drama is exaggerated despite being a trivial issue in the context of the story's narrative. I still have high hopes for Book 2 despite the hiatus, however.
 * Desire &amp; Decorum: As a history geek, I find it a pity that a lot of people tend to associate the Regency era with merely romance and high society when it's actually more than that. It doesn't help that this series comes across as a rehash of The Royal Romance at first, and the presence of historical inaccuracy doesn't help matters. Fortunately, it improves as the series progresses, and I'm enjoying it to some extent. It helps that I love my protagonist for being deliciously savage and fearsome in some of her choices, polite or no, and that it's the first book where the protagonist's race affects the dialogue. Moreover, this series also has choices with meaningful consequences, especially regarding relationships with others. Sadly, Book 1's ending sucks because it's Rules of Engagement Book 1's ending all over again, this time disguised as a perdictable "twist" that unnecessarily triggers victims of sexual assult and disregards the responsibilities of nobility. As for Book 2, it better not disappoint me with the mystery element.
 * 1) America's Most Eligible: I've been having fun with this story at times. I was first put off by the fact that the book is focused on reality TV, but the first few chapters already captured my interest on my relationship with the other contestants and my desire to eject Piper from the show. Unfortunately, the fact that choices still matter little despite its seeming importance in this story lowered my interest. It doesn't help that I'm forced to loathe Ivy with a passion even though I'm also told not to take game moves personally, which rankles me because it's ultimately a game. Nevertheless, it's a welcome distraction in some ways.
 * Most Wanted: After playing, I find this series okay, not super good but not bad either. It's a shame that work on Book 2 has been put on hold for too long because the first book is far less lucrative than the first books of The Freshman and The Crown and The Flame. I still have high hopes that the second book will be awesome.
 * Rules of Engagement: This series has some good parts, especially when it comes to the cousin, the party girl sister, and, to a lesser extent, the brother. The main character is so boring that I can't relate to her at all. I also feel like Pixelberry exaggerated her marriage issue, particularly on who to marry and what kind of wedding preparations there should be. The Newlyweds epilogue was a sweet distraction, however.
 * 1) The Haunting of Braidwood Manor: It's pretty short but fairly enjoyable. It would've been much better if it's longer. Nevertheless, it's okay in my book.
 * 2) Big Sky Country: This story has an average start, but it's still somewhat enjoyable until it progresses because of the blatant preference of one love interest (Sawyer in this case) over the others pisses me off. The only characters I care for are Brooklynne Shao-Oakley and Miles Roanhorse. Every love interest who isn't Sawyer has untapped potential deliberately ignored in favor of the Oakleys despite their lack of reason. I sometimes wish this story would end soon.
 * Across the Void: At first, I'm excited for this series because of the space travel. Unfortunately, as this series progresses, the quality drops because I know practically nothing about the Vanguard vs. Jura conflict and the pacing of the plot is too slow. It doesn't help that the only remotely interesting characters are Kepler and, to a lesser extent, Lyra. The other love interests are either boring (Meridian), absent for too long (Zekei, Sol, and Titania), annoying (Holmes), or are last-minute editions (Zaniah, Deimos, and Oberon). Meanwhile, Eos and Pax take up too much of the screentime despite how annoying they are. I wish the post-break chapters will improve, but that's just wishful thinking.
 * The Freshman/The Sophomore/The Junior/The Senior: To me, the best thing about this series is Professor Vasquez, with Becca, Madison, and, to a lesser extent, Sebastian as the only characters as close seconds as the story progresses, but even so they couldn't compare to Vasquez, and not enough to make the series appeal to me further. Moreover, Book 1 of The Sophomore is really aimless. There's no goal for the gang until the end, which introduces Book 2, which is slightly better, but not enough for me to feel super excited for The Junior, which I find a failure in many ways. Pixelberry could've do better with this series. As for The Senior, I'd say it's average, with a few good parts like the opportunity to know more about Vasquez, Becca's mock trial, and the interview.
 * Red Carpet Diaries: I was initially excited about the book, especially with the struggles of climbing to the top. Unfortunately, my hopes were dashed as the book progresses because the protagonist feels like a Mary Sue for landing a major role without much effort shown. In fact, the only characters I like in this series (not counting the HWU characters) are Victoria Fontaine, Gloria, and the ocelot, and even so the writers treat Victoria like crap by delaying her storyline. As for the second book, I find it a utter mess because of the mishandling of the Viktor Montmartre arc and the love interests except Matt shoved aside. At least working with the HWU characters (especially Holly Chang; her advice is much appreciated) was fun even if it's distracting, leading me to the conclusion that this scenario should've been in the first book instead. At the same time, however, I really hate that Thomas Hunt is a love interest because he's from HWU and already has a story that paid its due, so why make him a love interest in Choices again?
 * #LoveHacks: I find this story extremely aimless, especially the first book, where all the main character does is date some random guys just to appease her annoying boss. Even the individual characters' stories go nowhere. The series got better in the second book, but that was when the story had to wrap up. Even the ending was underwhelming because I didn't get to see Martin and TJ's expressions when they lost.
 * 1) Home for the Holidays: At first, I thought this story will be short and sweet, but it dragged on for too long and became unenjoyable with its boring story. Not to mention that it has the worst love interest in all of Choices (Nick Peralta). Pixelberry should've released this book on November or late October rather than December.

My Favorite Characters

 * Enrique Vasquez: At first, I thought he was just a stubborn old man who should've known better than to nitpick on students. Over time, however, his soft side shows and with it his desire to make amends. After thinking about it, I realized that all he wants is to provide the best things to the main character, James, and Gabriela.
 * Luther Nevrakis: I normally don't want to include villains, but Luther has been a fascinating man since his debut. On one hand, I don't condone his slaughtering and reign of terror, but on the other hand, I admire his charisma and acumen as he provide a lot of challenges for Kenna and her friends. It helps that he has a believable motive for his actions: uniting the Five Kingdoms in order to fight against Azura, especially since he lost family members to her. He plays his cards well, and I respect that.
 * Cousin A.K.A. Violet: She was definitely unpleasant at first because of her actions towards the main character and her siblings. Her character development in Book 3, where she gets into good terms with her cousins as she yearns for closure, finally seals her as my favorite character in Rules of Engagement.
 * Jake McKenzie: His sarcasm and sense of humor immediately won me over. Even more so when he uses his skills to help the group overcome their misadventures in La Huerta.
 * Estela Montoya: She may be aloof and abrasive, but I also respect her for not getting herself tangled with inner conflict. My respect for her grew even more when she showed that she cares about others deep down.
 * Michelle Nguyen: I didn't like her at first because of her clingy attitude towards Sean and dismissive attitude towards other people. I ended up appreciating her gradually when I notice that she never intends to act mean towards others and learns that she works her way up from the bottom. It helps that she gradually warms up to other people, which shows that she really cares for them.
 * Maxwell Beaumont: Adorkable, loyal, bubbly. These are the traits I describe my favorite character from The Royal Romance. A friend in need is a friend indeed, and Maxwell abides by this saying.
 * Olivia Nevrakis: She started out as snobby and condescending, but I found her rather funny as well. As the story progresses, however, I gradually appreciate her for her loyalty, resilience, and character development as she warms up to the MC and co., even supporting them in dire times. It helps that she still has her witty and humorous snark.
 * Aiden Zhou: Let's be honest. I have a soft spot for socially awkward geniuses struggling to open up to other people, and I can relate to that.
 * Michael Harrison: I admit that I see a lot of myself in Michael, especially with having to put up with bullying in the past and staying away from most people as a result. I also like his fun takes on many situations.
 * Maria Flores: I really enjoy a lot of moments when Maria appears, mainly because of her resolute personality and dedication to her goals. She either inspires, amuses, or interests me in her scenes. Definitely a character who has my respect.
 * Naomi Silverhawk: I'm really impressed at her loyalty to her principles and the spirit of her job even when Chief Tommy Walsh chose to save his skin by staying in the Sterlings' good graces. She may be a bit of a stickler to the rules that allows less flexibility, I still find her a much better option than Walsh or Duffy.
 * Jeff Duffy: To me, Duffy is no doubt one of the greatest villains Choices has ever produced. His sympathetic motive to commit crimes, his success in diverting attention away from others, and his clever use of resources and other people makes him a terrifying foe to face against.

Honorable Mentions

 * Becca Davenport: She started out as really unpleasant because of her elitist attitude, but she can be of great help even then, such as sabotaging Sebastian's election campaign because of his embezzlement of election funds. She shows that she's more than just a "mean girl" in Books 3 and 4 of The Freshman, but faced a setback in The Sophomore, Book 1, which I consider the low point of the series. Book 2 is when she shines for real because of her character development, which I admire. I may not be dating her, but her presence is pretty much one of a few saving graces of the series, which has become an utter disappointment as it drags on.
 * Party-Girl Sister A.K.A. Jess: Honestly, she cracks me up most of the time she shows up, making her one of a few saving graces (aside from her cousin) of the series. Even her storyline is pretty fun to follow through because I enjoy her journey from being a party animal to someone who values work.
 * Aleister Rourke: He may be a snob, but I also like his approval of intelligence, and his interaction with Grace is super adorable and one of the best developed in the midst of ups and downs. It's awesome to watch him start as a know-it-all who looks down on others to someone who cares for the greater good. His "betrayal" in the end of Book 2 is understandable because of his awareness that his father's the only person with a plan. I also admire his willingness to sacrifice his reputation for the sake of the bigger picture. The part where he stabbed the Omega Mech in Book 3, Chapter 6? Genuinely badass scene that cements him as good all along.
 * Flynn O'Malley: I'm a bit cautious of Flynn at first because of his thuggish background, but he has proven to be a great friend and companion as well as a good big brother to his sister Kate. I like his zeal and gradual willingness to cooperate despite his hot temper.

My Main Characters and Their Love Interests

 * The Freshman/The Sophomore/The Junior/The Senior: Grace Shen – Chris Powell
 * Rules of Engagement: Diane Perkins-Lim – Stanley Sloan (Business Guy)
 * Endless Summer: Kevin Thomas Leary – Jake McKenzie
 * #LoveHacks: Rani Nisha Joshi – Ben Park
 * The Haunting of Braidwood Manor: Serena Hopkins – Victor
 * The Royal Romance: Cassandra Trent – King Leonard (Liam; Asian)
 * Hero: Zack Budiman AKA 天使 (tiānshǐ; written as Tianshi in the game) – Eva¹
 * High School Story: Joseph Edward Grierson – Aiden Zhou
 * High School Story: Class Act: Akzhurek Serik – Skye Crandall
 * It Lives In The Woods: Wesley Paul Bowers-Fragonard – Stacy Green
 * It Lives Beneath: Samuel Vance – toss-up between Tom Sato, Imogen Wescott, and Danni²
 * Home for the Holidays: Patricia Joy – Wyatt Hart
 * Red Carpet Diaries: Jessica Inoue – Victoria Fontaine
 * Perfect Match: Ian Park – open relationship with Hayden Young (Asian female), Damien Nazario, and Sloane Washington, though I have a slight bias towards Sloane, and I added Alana Kusuma into the mix
 * Bloodbound: Esther Castro – Kamilah Sayeed
 * Veil of Secrets: Paul Higgins – Naomi Silverhawk¹
 * America's Most Eligible: Anthony Lopez – Guilherme (Handsome Stranger; white)¹
 * Desire &amp; Decorum: Charlotte Parkinson – Prince Hamid
 * Across the Void: Aibek Elara –
 * Big Sky Country: Gary Suharja – Dallas James²
 * The Elementalists: Cole Calvin Conroy – Beckett Harrington²
 * A Courtesan of Rome: Cornelia – Syphax²
 * The Heist: Monaco: Jason Feng –

¹ While I'm also spending time with other LIs, the LI shown here gets top priority when the situation gives me the option to choose any of them.

² Choice not finalized yet

Animals I Adopted, Named, or Plan to Adopt
¹ Not yet named and/or adopted
 * The Freshman/The Sophomore/The Junior/The Senior:
 * Lobster: Snapchat
 * Puppy: Champion
 * Cat: MVP
 * The Crown &amp; The Flame:
 * The Hawk: Cluckity
 * The Bear: Adriana¹
 * Phoenix: Ignis¹
 * Mechawolf Pup: Scooby Doo¹
 * Rules of Engagement:
 * Lizard: Martini
 * Endless Summer:
 * Fox: Sundae
 * #LoveHacks:
 * Pigeon: Gelato
 * The Royal Romance:
 * Marabelle's Dream: Jet Rocket
 * Corgi: Max
 * Red Panda Cubs: Kit and Kat
 * High School Story:
 * Hamster: Platinum
 * It Lives In The Woods:
 * Crow: Mascara
 * Kitten: Danielle
 * Moss creature: Shish Kebab
 * Red Carpet Diaries:
 * Ocelot: Garfield
 * Desire &amp; Decorum:
 * Horse: Gold Star
 * Pug: Frederick
 * Big Sky Country:
 * Kitten: Tulip
 * Horse: Obsidian¹
 * Cow: Wagyu
 * High School Story: Class Act:
 * Dog: Denis
 * It Lives Beneath
 * Otter: Santa Maria
 * Coyote: Gnasher
 * Owl: Hedwig
 * Jackalope: Bugs Bunny
 * A Courtesan of Rome:
 * Greyhound: Claudia
 * Monkey: Callidus¹
 * Asp: Tia