Reviewed:
I am once again reviewing an incomplete story.
The author has been fairly slow at updates, but there is enough for me to base a qualified review that I do not know how it is going to end.
The story doesn't actually begin like most NIS stories - with the main character completely nude. We start with hearing about it and getting used to it.
It's also unconventional in that Stephanie is a transgender student. That is an interesting conundrum - identifying a girl, while your dick flops around on your thighs.
It's a risk as an author (and a new one at that) because there are a lot of trolls on this site, and recent political changes have made life even more difficult for trans people.
The hard fought battles to just have rights and dignity have been erased for the most part. I won't get into the soapbox of it - but I think you know where I stand on it from the fact that I like this story and I am not a complete fucking asshole.
(I am in incomplete asshole, at best).
This review isn't about me - it's about this brilliant story though.
Here are my thoughts - this version of NIS is not student voluntary and the main character is not a fan of having to participate.
In this version of reality, the NIS program sees sexual activity as part of education to be acceptable and so you may see a teacher direct two students to engage in sexual activities.
If that squicks you - don't read this.
The author isn't saying they advocate non consensual NIS program anymore than Stephen King is saying they advocate morbid cats coming back to life in a graveyard. It's a work of fiction and an exploration in "What would happen if.."
Which I dig, very much.
I would love to see the character's family life, and know that they have support at home, and other interests because the author has written a very believable, sensitive character that feels authentic.
If you like NIS stories, this is probably your jam. The fact that the character is trans is not celebrated by the other students, and I think it's fairly realistic in terms of attitudes.
Even in the so-called progressive future of the NIS where the stigma of nudity and taboos about sexuality are being addressed, I am sure trans teens will still have work to do to gain total acceptance and be seen as just as valid as anybody else for the way they live.
There are a few VERY minor errors in tense. I sent my notes to the author when I found those. It's still very readable.
The pacing is nice - the story has a good energy in terms of the way it progresses and continues to evolve and reveal things.
If I were the author, I'd turn off comments because people tend to leave nasty grams on NIS stories. I am not sure why they read these stories at all if they are going to be dickheads and leave a snotty gram.