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August 11, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Tambra, you are indeed great! I just finished Chapter 1 & 2 (Penance), and I already feel compelled to offer up my praise. The introductory set up with Goyle was a nice change of pace; we don't often get his point-of-view. It was written richly enough that I was curious enough to continue. What you've done in the following scene was amazing. You have an obvious mastery of the English language, and with the placing of a few well chosen words, you convey extensive information on the state of each character.
I have a particular predilection for dark, harrowing stories and this has usually lead me to the most twisted offerings in the HP fandom. My bent is typically towards non-con style fiction, but it's hard to find it written episodically, and written well (the genre seems almost exclusive to one-shots devoted to ficfests on lj). Interestingly enough, it is my Gryffindors who take the most abuse and torture in the stories I read, but you've reminded me that the Slytherin students were not without their trials and tribulations. Exposure to more horrors than their brave counterparts is a likely event in their training as young Death Eaters, and exploring their reactions to that kind of treatment is a worthwhile endeavor. After all, one would have to be inured to torture in order to partake in it. Draco's words in his letter are so bleak and resigned. He's had a long, hard road to travel. The juxtaposition of the wretchedness of the letter to Harry's blissful home life is not lost on this reader. I loved how you ended this chapter, too, surprising us with the reveal of Ginny as the second reader and her tearful reaction to the contents.
You know, I always imagined that an addicted Draco would find comfort in something old-fashioned and elite, like opium. I mean, his pale, wan visage, that slender, sinewy body seems made for the opium dens, being catered to by busy house-elves. But I suppose with his fortune gone, he had to hit the very bottom in a very Muggle way.
Anyway, I'm on to the next installment, but bravo on some wonderful characterization. You say it's all AU, but it feels so canon. Oh, and a HUGE thumbs-up for making Snape a virgin. I can never get over just how much fanfic depicts the Potions professor as some sex god. I always thought of him as asexual in the books, and after our glimpse into his memories of Lily, I was convinced he had remained faithful to her his whole life in the ways of the flesh.
I have a particular predilection for dark, harrowing stories and this has usually lead me to the most twisted offerings in the HP fandom. My bent is typically towards non-con style fiction, but it's hard to find it written episodically, and written well (the genre seems almost exclusive to one-shots devoted to ficfests on lj). Interestingly enough, it is my Gryffindors who take the most abuse and torture in the stories I read, but you've reminded me that the Slytherin students were not without their trials and tribulations. Exposure to more horrors than their brave counterparts is a likely event in their training as young Death Eaters, and exploring their reactions to that kind of treatment is a worthwhile endeavor. After all, one would have to be inured to torture in order to partake in it. Draco's words in his letter are so bleak and resigned. He's had a long, hard road to travel. The juxtaposition of the wretchedness of the letter to Harry's blissful home life is not lost on this reader. I loved how you ended this chapter, too, surprising us with the reveal of Ginny as the second reader and her tearful reaction to the contents.
You know, I always imagined that an addicted Draco would find comfort in something old-fashioned and elite, like opium. I mean, his pale, wan visage, that slender, sinewy body seems made for the opium dens, being catered to by busy house-elves. But I suppose with his fortune gone, he had to hit the very bottom in a very Muggle way.
Anyway, I'm on to the next installment, but bravo on some wonderful characterization. You say it's all AU, but it feels so canon. Oh, and a HUGE thumbs-up for making Snape a virgin. I can never get over just how much fanfic depicts the Potions professor as some sex god. I always thought of him as asexual in the books, and after our glimpse into his memories of Lily, I was convinced he had remained faithful to her his whole life in the ways of the flesh.
schedule
July 30, 2008 at 12:00 AM
(Chapter 14)
OMG.....this story is even better the second time around!
What a twist to have Lucius be the one accepting of Draco's son and Narcissa be the pure-blood who-won't-dirty-her-hands. I'm sorry, think what you will, but I was cheering Lucius on when he had his hands around Narcissa's neck for the way she treated poor little Scorpius. She wouldn't even touch her own grandson!
The part with Lucius in Kings Cross was a nice touch. This is Lucius' real epiphany, I think. And Tish's words about Severus.....interesting.
More please!!
OMG.....this story is even better the second time around!
What a twist to have Lucius be the one accepting of Draco's son and Narcissa be the pure-blood who-won't-dirty-her-hands. I'm sorry, think what you will, but I was cheering Lucius on when he had his hands around Narcissa's neck for the way she treated poor little Scorpius. She wouldn't even touch her own grandson!
The part with Lucius in Kings Cross was a nice touch. This is Lucius' real epiphany, I think. And Tish's words about Severus.....interesting.
More please!!
schedule
July 29, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Amazing. It's been a long while since I read a story so emotionally intense. An insighful look into the often forgotten post-war consequences and the long, hard road of rehab. And what the hell was Parvati thinking?
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July 22, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Poor Draco, and he doesn't even know that date is the Ball at Hogwarts. I bet he is thinking she'll go with him and now he will have to see her in Neville's arms.
I like that you work out your characters so well. That is rare in general and especially on this board.
And i have a weakness for Lucius Malfoy - aspecially is someone succeeds in portraying him as 'not nice'. So I really look forward to the next parts of this story and whatever else you have written in this series.
I like that you work out your characters so well. That is rare in general and especially on this board.
And i have a weakness for Lucius Malfoy - aspecially is someone succeeds in portraying him as 'not nice'. So I really look forward to the next parts of this story and whatever else you have written in this series.
schedule
July 22, 2008 at 12:00 AM
(Chapter 12)
Dammit, Draco! I'm glad to see Liz stand up for herself. I like her character, she's a survivor and feisty and won't be taken for granted.
Although I think Liz and Draco belong together, I'm glad that she accepted the date with Neville. It won't hurt Draco to sweat it a little.
Two more excellently written chapters in this awesome series. Can't wait for more.
Dammit, Draco! I'm glad to see Liz stand up for herself. I like her character, she's a survivor and feisty and won't be taken for granted.
Although I think Liz and Draco belong together, I'm glad that she accepted the date with Neville. It won't hurt Draco to sweat it a little.
Two more excellently written chapters in this awesome series. Can't wait for more.
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July 20, 2008 at 12:00 AM
I love this story. Read it from the first to the last letter and I have only one question: Please update soon!
ps - I'm trilled to see that Lucius wasn't all bad either...
ps - I'm trilled to see that Lucius wasn't all bad either...
schedule
July 17, 2008 at 12:00 AM
*gasp* my favorite monty python. "He's not dead, he's asleep!" *bangs dead parrot on shop counter, stiffened by rigor mortis* "WAKE UP POLLY!!" LOL. lovely so far. i couldn't resisit commenting on the first chappie. ^.^
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July 17, 2008 at 12:00 AM
(Chapter 11)
".....and left to explore the final resting place of his childhood."
*sniff* that line always makes me teary!
I'm glad that Toby decided to stay on at Hogwarts, and that Liz allowed him to. His words, that there are others like him and that he belongs there are so poignant.
Poor Blaise...and poor Pansy as well, crucioed (or is it "cruciated") by her own father to the verge of madness. And what a surprise for Draco to finally learn the truth about his father.
I'll say it again. The scope, originality, the emotionality of this story is absolutely riveting, and I'm just as enthralled reading it this second time around as I was the first time I read it.
Again, simply excellent.
".....and left to explore the final resting place of his childhood."
*sniff* that line always makes me teary!
I'm glad that Toby decided to stay on at Hogwarts, and that Liz allowed him to. His words, that there are others like him and that he belongs there are so poignant.
Poor Blaise...and poor Pansy as well, crucioed (or is it "cruciated") by her own father to the verge of madness. And what a surprise for Draco to finally learn the truth about his father.
I'll say it again. The scope, originality, the emotionality of this story is absolutely riveting, and I'm just as enthralled reading it this second time around as I was the first time I read it.
Again, simply excellent.
schedule
July 13, 2008 at 12:00 AM
(Chapters 7 & 8 of Penance thru Chapters 5 & 6 of Salvation)
I feel really horrible about not reviewing for so long, especially since I sort of begged you to post these stories on AFF, and I know how awesome they are, having read them all on FF.net. That makes it sort of difficult to review though, because I already know what happens, and (I apologise ahead of time if this happens!) I'm afraid I'll inadvertently blab out something that hasn't been posted yet!
I love your Draco. I love how, through his pain and fear and grief, you've given him a humanity he's never had before. I feel for him, for all he's endured, but I love how it's made him a better person. He overcame addiction and poverty, he learned humility, he overcame his fear and his feelings of unworthiness, became a better person, and built a life for himself and his son. Tish's death was sad and heartbreaking, and poor Draco, having overcome all he did, having found a reason to live, having found love, only to have it cruelly taken from him. His feelings of rage and helplessness were so touching and poignant, the hell he must have been in to know that even magic couldn't save her. I love it that he didn't give up or fall back into addiction even though he was tempted, that he found strength in his son, his God, and his friends. Now it seems Draco has another chance at happiness, if he'll only open his eyes and see what's in front of him. Liz can give him what he wants and needs, so let's hope he gets a clue before it's too late.
There's just so many things to love about this story along with Draco's redemption. That Lucius and Severus rescued and helped these poor women like Liz and Tish who were raped at the hands of the Death Eaters, the liasion office helping the resulting children with their struggle to understand their abilities and to fit into the wizarding world, Toby's adventures at Hogwarts, Draco and Harry's tentative relationship, Blaise and Pansy.....I just love it all, you make it so real and believable, your writing is entirely captivating and this story is completely enthralling, with grit, heart, and feeling.
Simply excellent.
I feel really horrible about not reviewing for so long, especially since I sort of begged you to post these stories on AFF, and I know how awesome they are, having read them all on FF.net. That makes it sort of difficult to review though, because I already know what happens, and (I apologise ahead of time if this happens!) I'm afraid I'll inadvertently blab out something that hasn't been posted yet!
I love your Draco. I love how, through his pain and fear and grief, you've given him a humanity he's never had before. I feel for him, for all he's endured, but I love how it's made him a better person. He overcame addiction and poverty, he learned humility, he overcame his fear and his feelings of unworthiness, became a better person, and built a life for himself and his son. Tish's death was sad and heartbreaking, and poor Draco, having overcome all he did, having found a reason to live, having found love, only to have it cruelly taken from him. His feelings of rage and helplessness were so touching and poignant, the hell he must have been in to know that even magic couldn't save her. I love it that he didn't give up or fall back into addiction even though he was tempted, that he found strength in his son, his God, and his friends. Now it seems Draco has another chance at happiness, if he'll only open his eyes and see what's in front of him. Liz can give him what he wants and needs, so let's hope he gets a clue before it's too late.
There's just so many things to love about this story along with Draco's redemption. That Lucius and Severus rescued and helped these poor women like Liz and Tish who were raped at the hands of the Death Eaters, the liasion office helping the resulting children with their struggle to understand their abilities and to fit into the wizarding world, Toby's adventures at Hogwarts, Draco and Harry's tentative relationship, Blaise and Pansy.....I just love it all, you make it so real and believable, your writing is entirely captivating and this story is completely enthralling, with grit, heart, and feeling.
Simply excellent.
schedule
July 4, 2008 at 12:00 AM
The little boy squirmed under the scrutiny of the
wht???? I recently became hooked on this story! Fabulous...Minor spelling and grammatical errors, but hey..don't we all? So, is there more that's missing? :-)
Marti
wht???? I recently became hooked on this story! Fabulous...Minor spelling and grammatical errors, but hey..don't we all? So, is there more that's missing? :-)
Marti