Passerine Hills: Just a Bite
This project is intended for mature readers.
Each year, Passerine Hills Academy opens its Golden Gates before those who are young, rich, and famous. Hidden away in an undisclosed location, it's a perfect spot for those in need of escape from the relentless paparazzi, endless scandals, and various other burdens, all under one condition: what happens behind the Golden Gates, stays behind the Golden Gates.
In 2024, Tiffany Ragnell – a famous influencer – entered the Academy and even though the experience clearly changed her, she remained faithful to the rule and didn't say a word. Her story remained unknown to those who weren't there to see it unfold... until now.
You are yet another student in Passerine Hills and you just found an account of what went down, written by no other than Tiffany Ragnell herself.
[all points are about Amare Fest Version and will be updated for the full release]
>around 14k words
>1 set protagonist, Tiffany Ragnell
>an introduction to 6/7 main cast characters, since there's also...
>...1 mysterious disappearance
>save system, in case you need to step away for a moment
[All for Amare Fest Version; full version CWs/TWs pending]
MENTIONED:
Sale and consumption of drugs and alcohol, self-harm behavior, blackmail
IMPLIED:
Assault (in the past)
ON-SCREEN:
Blood (nosebleed)
OTHER:
Frequent use of profanity. Headaches are being compared to graphic head injuries. In one scene, a character who's normally non-speaking (Tara) talks - this is somewhat internally sensationalized by the main character, though no comments are made out loud.
If I missed something, please let me know in the comments.
>big thank you for patience and playtesting from my beloved Inner Circle, which was here for this journey for a long time: Bee, Dani, and Hardest of Hearts
>thank you to Domi for the first versions of Holly
>thank you to everyone who listened to me babble about this project for literal months by now
Check out the sidestories in the Passerine Hills collection!
Comments
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It's been an honour and a privilege to have witnessed Passarine Hills grow from an AU of an AU to a multi-game series with multiple love interests.
I still remember the conversation that led to you sharing the first instalment of an old fanfic you wrote for a dead fandom, and how in subsequent days you'd surprise me with new chapters because you just couldn't get those characters out of your head.
What's even more fascinating is seeing how they've grown and changed over time, until the story stood on its own and the characters were brand new entities.
The world of passerine hills is vast, intricate and deeply immersive.
Through JAB and the other games in the series, we get glimpses of its rich lore, its slang and lingo, and character relationships that feel lived-in, grounded in a way that’s rare in romance games.
These character's lives don't seem to hinge on the player's existence. They all have lives, conflicts, and histories that unfold with out without Tiffany. And they're all different and varied. I really appreciate the effort that went into crafting such distinct characters.
And while I don’t typically play games with set protagonists, Tiffany is exactly the kind of rich bitch with a layered, complex inner world that I love dissecting.
She’s like a little bug under a microscope, and I just have to analyze her.
I adore the writing style and how it comes across as Tiffany trying to remain detached as she recounts all the details in her little tale while we can read the little moments of vulnerability that slip through.
It reads like an exclusive slumber party thrown by someone you barely know, where you’re not entirely sure why you were invited-- but the other girls are spilling the absolute juiciest details in an ever-expanding gossip session. And it’s glorious.
On top of that, it’s especially fun to pick up on all the tiny inconsistencies and hints at a bigger mystery lurking beneath the surface.
There’s a real sense of care woven into every little detail. It’s a delight to see this level of thought and craftsmanship go into a wlw game, when so few exist, and I couldn’t be more excited to see where the story goes next!