What I liked
I like the piece’s fundamental earnestness and positivity. Some of the tunes were quite lovely. Stage effects like the sandstorm and shadow acting added to the world-building and immersion. The story of Amber and Willow was baffling at first but turned out to have a well-developed meaning and touching resolution. I actually found it more compelling than the main plot!
What I didn't like
Character motivations and decisions sometimes felt unclear, including during pivotal moments. This made me spend a lot energy trying to figure out why certain choices were made, and whether I missed an explanation. There is what seems to be a large plot contradiction, though it’s hard to tell as magic is involved. Almost all the songs are either in minor or a minor-esque mode, giving much the score a similar feel.
My overall impression
This is a work by young artists and it therefore has to be greeted with appreciation and encouragement. It is a vast and ambitious piece (and production), an effort to imbue a mythological fantasy story with poignant and relatable human emotions. It’s accompanied by a sometimes-diagetic acoustic score, admirably by live musicians. I’d like to see what the creators do in the future, as there’s a lot of talent on display here.
