I apologize in advanced for this extremely long comment. I also apologize if it is a bit scattered. I only just finished reading maybe 15 minutes ago, and I'm still reeling. I have a lot of thoughts, and writing them down always helps me get through them. I want to first congratulate you on completing this visual novel. It is a feat to be proud of, and I am so happy that I got the chance to read your work. In all honesty, I feel a weird sense of regret with reading it. It was such a fantastic story, and I struggle to imagine getting over it any time soon. I enjoyed it so much that I feel almost hollow now that it is over. I know this will pass with time, however.
I first found this VN when the penultimate update was released to the public. I decided to hold off on reading it until it was completed. To that end, I started reading four days ago. Now that I have completed the story, I find myself regretting not taking more time to savor it. I spent about nine hours reading through. I still need to go back to try the other choices at some point, but I think I will give it a few days to settle. I really loved the way choices were handled. I think my favorite scene of the entire VN was when Chris woke up being cuddled by Tonraq in the cave. Having the choice to wiggle out because both should be in on that decision was really cool. Consent is sexy, and I really appreciated that choice. I ended up completely passing on sex scenes for this read through. I am always much more interested in the romantic buildup, so this was a pleasant surprise for me. And my god, what a buildup it was.
I'm gonna bold the topic of each of the following paragraphs. I wanna give as thorough of feedback as possible, but don't worry, it is all positive :3
Relationship
I have read a lot of furry visual novels in the last couple years. I won't try to rank Hearthfire compared to any other, because I feel that diminishes the value of each unique story. That said, I think the progression of the relationship between Chris and Tonraq might be the best I've ever read. The pace felt perfect, and the little moments where Tonraq started to open up a bit followed by retreating into his shell were really well done. The way the reader could feel him start to open up with each passing scene was really touching. I found myself really concerned with how the story would go due to reading some comments of people crying. I tend to do really bad with bittersweet endings, so I was worried something would go wrong for the duo. I am so happy I gave it a chance and kept reading. My only wish is that we'd gotten to see a little more of their relationship after declaring their love. Maybe in the summer episode?
Side Characters
God the side characters are good. All the different personalities were balanced really well, and they all played nicely off each other. I loved the other relationships in this VN almost as much as the main one. Yuka and Phillip's relationship was really fun to read from an observer's perspective. It was fun to watch Yuka's pissy personality melt away whenever Phillip was near. It was also so heartwarming to see Yuka open up to Chris as the story progressed. The other pair of Hallie and Lily was a surprise. It's rare to see much in the way of sapphic romance in this space, so it was cool to see the start of theirs. Once again, really hope to see more of them in the summer episode. Hallie's personality was a touch overbearing for my tastes, but I think she was such a wonderful part of the story.
It would be a mistake to not at least mention the rest of the side cast. I find myself torn on Darryl. One of my exes was very similar to Darryl, and I found myself jumping firmly into the hate camp for him very early. I definitely struggle to let that go a bit, but I am so happy he had a redemption. My only wish is that he got a tiny bit more screen time at the end. The scene at the diner was really fun, but I find myself craving a bit more of their friendship. Finally, I'll talk about both Kuak and Panuk. I'm definitely still not the biggest fan of Kuak, but I was very happy that he saw some kind of reason towards the end. Owning up for your own shitty mistakes is a big step, and I'm glad he sought to explain rather than excuse his actions. For Panuk, I don't have too much to say. I loved him. I always love the sagely grandpa type that helps set the rest of the cast straight, even in the background. OH! I almost forgot about Tonraq's mom. I could feel his love for her throughout the entire story, and the scene at the end of visiting her grave was so touching. Side note, I'm guessing the fresh flowers were from Kuak.
Writing and Art
I actually don't have too much to say here. Everything was tight. There were very few if any moments where I felt the writing or art was out of place or off. Everything tied together very well. I think the thing that surprised me the most was the style of comedy. I rarely see a more dry style of humor, so it was refreshing to read how Tonraq joked around with Chris. The tense moments were also done really well. The scene towards the end of their trip to meet Darryl was so freaking good. The action on the lake was top notch, and the payoff of their confession after added much needed levity. As for the art, I just wish there was a gallery or the CGs were posted on their own somewhere. There were quite a few that I would love to use as a wallpaper. I might end up having to go back through on my computer at some point and screenshot my favorites (which were most of them). I think my absolute favorite was either the surprise kiss in the shower or the one with the northern lights. The kiss because my god it was cute and the northern lights for the emotional impact of it.
I think I will leave this massive comment here. I definitely have more to say, but I feel I've overstayed my welcome a tad bit lol. The lull until I find the next story to read is gonna be rough after this one. Once again, thank you for such a wonderful story. It is one I won't soon forget. Truly an 11/10 experience!