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I resisted reading this fic for quite a while, despite the author and the rec’s of those I trust. A long future fic featuring Snape’s daughter? Why don’t you just carve the words ‘Mary Sue’ into a baseball bat and then beat me over the head with it. It would be more subtle and ultimately less painful. But what the hell. Sometimes you really need to challenge your own prejudices. In this case, I’m glad I did.
This long future fic is a great ride for those who dig action and plot. Set some 15-20 years in the future, it features a large cast of familiar characters. The majority of the focus is on Harry, now an auror. The fic kicks off in the middle of the action, with an auror raid on a suspected member of the Dark Order. The raid itself is unusual both for the lack of resistance and the lurking presence of a young (15) girl who Harry immediately recognizes, despite never having met her. Unfortunately for Lilith, it seems she’s inherited both her father’s looks and his sparkling personality. The poor kid may be doomed. [READ MORE]
What follows is a real treat for those who love a well developed plot, lots of action, mystery and political intrigue. It’s a great ride, and I particularly enjoyed having to figure out past history. The story is an excellent example of ‘showing not telling’, and it completely kept my interest despite the lack of Snape in the first two sections. Harry really carries the action in those sections, with enough exploration of Lilith to make her ‘real’, but not so much I got bored with the OC factor. The author did a great job of really making this a Harry Potter story, despite the importance of Lilith and the presence of even more OCs. The large cast of familiar characters, including Hermione, Ron, Neville, Remus and others helped to solidify this as part of the Potterverse, and it worked for me in a big way. I also dug the elaboration on the auror college and the politics of the wizarding world.
Of course, Snape is still a critical aspect of the story, and he’s much more prominent in the third act. It doesn’t hurt that I really enjoyed his characterization. He is a very, very dangerous man, and I loved the bits of him we saw in the early stages of the story. I’m not so certain he’s a good father, but I’m convinced he would like to be. I’m convinced he loves his daughter. I’m convinced he’s enough of a pragmatist to sacrifice damned near anybody if he thinks it necessary. Did I mention I really enjoyed this characterization? I think I did. [HIDE]
To sum- a great read for those who dig plot and who get swept up in unraveling a good mystery. Even if you don’t enjoy OCs, you’ll like the read. Lilith is an interesting character in her own right, but she never steals the show from the canon characters. It also provides us with some very interesting backstory on both Harry and Snape, and creates very real, very complex versions of them. I’d like to read more of this universe.
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Thank you! What a lovely review—you’re totally right about the Mary Sue risk. I tried to talk myself out of writing it for that reason, with limited success. (Obviously.) I particularly like your thoughts on Snape, because as odd as this sounds, I’d never quite thought of him as *dangerous* before. And yet, he is. Thoroughly. Thank you. Posted by LizBee on 01/04 at 01:08 AM
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Oh man, it’s very odd to have authors finding these ‘reviews’! It’s easier to natter when I can pretend that I’m just talking to readers or potential readers! Fortunately, I only had good things to say! I’m really glad you didn’t talk yourself out of writing this one- it really is a great universe you’ve created. But yea, the whole MS worry- I had to talk myself into reading it. It’s just so rarely done well. However, there are few things I enjoy as much as a story that manages to overcome my own personal ‘fic prejudices’. Like- second person pov. I rarely like it. However, when I do find a fic that does it well, I LOVE it! Same with this story. And your Snape- just lovely. I mean, the first two sections, he just comes across as absolutely deadly- but not in some contrived, leather pants wearing, ‘Fabio’ kind of way. It just seemed a very realistic portrayal of an older Snape. One who has weathered wars and buried too many people and who is willing and able to do almost anything to protect the wizarding world. Actually, it’s kind of who I personally see Dumbledore- just without the ‘twinkly’ to hide the dark pragmatism. Anyhoo… Thank you for writing this one- and thanks to all of the recers out there who pimped it. Without that, I’d have been hesitant to give it a try, despite the fact I consider you a ‘money author’. Posted by Rob1 screen on 01/06 at 04:15 PM
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