For a free visual novel, the design, story and lore are more than really good. Beautiful illustrations, endearing characters who all have different well-constructed stories that make us want to discoveir their mysteries. First I played in the recommended order, then when I unlocked Waltz I went straight to his route. So let's start with Rod.
!!! SPOILERS !!!
For anyone who says Rod's route is incest, I disagree. Firstly, they're not related by blood. Secondly, Rod and Lucette didn't grow up together and only knew each other for a few months at the start of the game. Rod doesn't see Lucette as his sister, and vice versa. In fact, Rod tells her so on several occasions. And even later, when he begins to have feelings for her, she's not his family because she's more important. Of all the routes, Rod is currently my favorite. It's the one I found best written, and I really enjoyed the dynamic between him and Lucette. And their illustrations are really beautiful.
Then I played Karma's. I had a hard time getting into her story at first. I wasn't really interested in his story until chapter 7 or 8. Karma isn't a bad character, and he's pretty well written. It's all a matter of taste. His curse was very interesting, however, and I wasn't expecting such an ending. Fritz's death, on the other hand, made my heart ache a little. What I really like is the fact that Lucette learns to stand up for herself. No longer a helpless princess, she eventually learns to fight and protect the people she cares about.
The last route I played was Waltz, which I really enjoyed, even if it didn't win first place, being definitely won by Rod. Like Karma's road, Lucette learns to defend herself. Waltz is really lovely with Lucette, she's a good person and her illustrations are just beautiful. He was the one I was most attracted to before starting the game. And once again, the end of the waltz route almost made me cry. His discussion with his father, the fact that he (finally) apologizes for his behavior, only to die in his daughter's arms some time later, was just terrible. Parfait's disappearance also did something to me.
I don't intend to play the Rumpel route, it doesn't interest me at all. As for Fritz, I'll probably play his route later.
However, I must point out that Lucette, the character we play, is deeply misunderstood. No one, not even the king, who in my opinion is a bad father, ever told her that she wasn't guilty of her mother's actions in manipulating her into being a perfect opinionles dool. I know the kinh explains his reasons, but in my opinion, he is largely responsible for what happens to Lucette. Not to mention the fact that no one has ever tried (except Waltz, Rumpel but he's lost his memory, Parfait, Amelaigne, Ophelia and Karma) to see Lucette as anything other than "Hildyr's daughter".
In any case, I recommend the game. Thank you for your work !