Hello! I really enjoyed your piece and first and foremost would like to thank you for sharing.
Thank you for requesting another review, I hope the following is helpful.
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Grammar/Punctuation ▼I like that you vary your sentence structures and length. It keeps the reading interesting rather than with choppy sentences or constant long ones. It adds to meaning and pacing and I think you accomplished that well.
You do have some awkward language in places. I suggest reading your piece aloud to find the places that just don't sound right. I mentioned some of them here, but I suggest separating some of the longer sentences that seem to go on and on. That's where I noticed the most awkward spots.
This chapter seems much more finished than the last one--I noticed less errors, but made the following notes:
Ishmael--who was ten years her senior--sought out her father, a man known for his faith and prayers, in a desperate attempt to find favor with God again.
Beneath its shade, an old stool was set before a hand millstone and every morning she would grind spelt to make bread, a skill practiced by only a handful of women in the community; public bakeries strives on every street corner in the city of Antioch and bread was easily attainable for those who could afford it.
So, first I would put an emdash between "make bread" and "a skill". The second part of the sentence confuses me. The public bakeries strive to what? I'd consider breaking this sentence up to concentrate on developing each part of it into a separate thought.
The pomegranate tree to the far right was laden with fruits baring red seeds of tiny edible jewels--a holy fruit visible in the hems of the High Priest's robe.
she hadn’t used since the rain drenched it in the winter months.
The jewels chinking on his sandals bespoke his family's wealth; ever reminding her of her humble lifestyle.
All were gifts brought with his money.
as if not a single word she said had registered.
Before Ishmael, lavender was a lovely and emotionally-uplifting scent, now it had become a revolting stench to her nostrils.
Ishmael said it himself: her beauty caused him
He asks as if he doesn't know why I can't be near him.
Is waiting until my father leaves for his night trade and getting on to my bedroll acceptable?
Awkward. Try: Is he waiting until my father leaves for his night trade before getting on my bedroll?
The word acceptable feels off and misplaced in this sentence unless you completely rewrite it or maybe make it two sentences.
"Please don't come near me!" she exclaimed frightfully.
legumes--a precious commodity for poor families--became costly.
She waited all day to receive it so she could
Zahara wanted to tell her father it was because the plain and the mount Casius were the only places she now felt safe,
"Zahara, aren't you forgetting something?"
All her life, Zahara only had one dream: to be a good wife and have many sons
Setting ▼This chapter has a lot more setting with the characters interacting with their surroundings. I think in the last one if you just have them interact with the setting just to give a hint of where they're at, that could help. I think you set up this piece well in the first chapter. You gave a lot of description, but backed it up with some action to keep the piece interesting to the reader. I read a lot of symbolism in your imagery such as dirty and clean. I really liked what you did with the gardening and I'd like to see something like that in the other chapter I read.
Plot ▼As I mentioned in the setting section, you balanced scenery with action well. I think this is a good introduction to the piece. You introduce Zahara's shame while characterizing her and those around her. I don't really have any suggestions here, you seem to have a good handle on your plot and you left off with a good cliffhanger.
Voice ▼The third person limited omniscient works well with this piece. You keep a certain distance while following Zahara that is compelling to the reader.
Characters ▼I think this chapter is a good development on Zahara. You have a good handle on balancing her past with her present and you revealed a lot about her to get the reader interested and invested in her future. The only reason I gave you a yellow flag is because I'd like to see more appearance of the characters. I don't really know what they look like. I think it be interesting to give them some mannerisms or quirks of their own just to differentiate them, but that's only a suggestion. Other than the appearance aspect, I think you introduced them and their motives well.
Overall, I think you've got a strong first chapter and I'd draw on your writing in this chapter when you revise your other one. I think the way the characters interact with the scenery is really strong here and you developed your characters and their pasts well. Great job!
Thanks again! And write on!
My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!"
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