I'm familiar with the original fairy tale, so it'll be interesting to see what sort of twist is put on it! I do have some theories of course. Though given the story's opening I am curious on whether this is going to be a linear story, or one with branching narratives and multiple outcomes?
I loved the artwork! The sprites are so detailed! Specifically I like the variety of facial structures, folds and textures of clothing, and curling of the hair. I feel each design gives me a good idea of the character at a glance. The backgrounds fit the fairy tale theme well and compliment the sprites and storytelling.
The music does a good job of establishing the tone and setting of the piece without being too distracting, exactly what I like to see.
In terms of storytelling, I think the introduction was the most polished and well executed. With the narrator facing the gallows and the cold princesses silently observing the spectacle. It promises us a tale of suspense, betrayal, drama, and intrigue, delivering a powerful message to the player in showing how high the stakes are. It immediately makes me curious to know how it all plays out. Compared to the rest, it left the biggest impression and got my theory brain buzzing and I love it.
In the way of constructive criticism, I feel the writing (after the gallows) is a bit over narrated for a visual novel. There were a few times when we were presented with nothing more than a background and several paragraphs worth of exposition. When reading a visual novel, I expect to see less explanatory narration and more character interactions. Considering this is just a demo made for a jam with a time limit, it's understandable that the balance might be off, but I'm definitely hoping to see more opportunities of interacting and getting to know the characters as individuals and witness their relationship dynamics going forward.
This might be a more subjective take, but the fact that the gardener is a stranger, makes the progression of the story feel a bit forced. I wish they had a more personal reason for being present in the story rather than simply it is their "destiny". Say for example, they've been loyally serving The King for years or were a childhood friend of one of the princesses, then their role of being someone who The King can confide in or the Princesses like to flirt and tease one another about being interested in them would feel more natural conversations to have. On the other hand, the concept of strangers being drawn together based on fate or noble deeds rather than by choice is a common concept in fairy tales, so at the very least, it kind of fits the theme.
Now that's not to say that I didn't enjoy the writing, I think it is quite detailed and I always do enjoy a good retelling of a classic fairy tale. I am simply sharing my first impressions based on the current version. I am definitely looking forward to seeing how this project flourishes over time as it off to a nice start with a lot of potential behind a fun and intriguing concept. Keep up the good work! ^^