Jan 11 - Jan 14
And in my own version of the waaayback machine I bring you: two month old reviews! Hurrah!
Actually, I cut my volunteer time short today at the local no-kill shelter because I had appointments - and they all cancelled. This meant I had quite an large hunk of extra time to catch up on these. And this one was short and easy.
Sight Unseen by unbroken_halo NC-17 Rec - - - (see explanation)
Post Voldemort
I think with a proper edit and a rewrite this would be a decent fic. Actually this author frustrates me because I feel like she has the tools within her grasp to write well, and chooses the instant gratification of sleepwriting her way through another Snarry cliché instead. There's no subtlety and finesse - and I know KNOW there could be. Which tends to make me irritable and picky about things that wouldn't otherwise bother me. Like:
Why do this author's titles all sound like Steven Segal movies?
Why does Salazar Slytherin sound like a character from Eastenders? Blighter?! I don't think so...
Why is Ron acting like a 14 year old girl?
But I kept reading, and then something else bothered me. I was halfway through the fic and had no idea where she was going: After Harry defeats Voldemort he is so harassed that for his own protection he is given his own quarters. Then the fic took a U turn and all of a sudden seemed... familiar. Once there he wishes he could just "blend in" and he becomes invisible. And then I read this:
"We are going to have to hang a bell around your neck, Potter, so I can find you." Snape sneered at him.
and it hit me. It was familiar. It was part of my favorite children’s series as a child: Moomintroll by Tove Janssen, specifically "The Invisible Child" in Finn Family Moomintroll. In that story, "Ninny" is an orphan who has faded to invisibility (thanks to a bitterly sarcastic foster mother. They call her "ironic" but dude, that's like calling a sledgehammer a "fly-swatter"). "Too-ticky" brings Ninny to Moominmama so she can receive the love she needs to become visible again. Like this fic, various potions and concoctions are attempted to bring the character back to visibility. And like this fic, the cure for Ninny's invisibility is love (or what passes for "love" in slash: hawt boysex). And oh yeah, she wears a bell.
I saw no mention of inspiration on Inkstain, I'm curious: did she credit Tove Janssen on her LJ? Because if not, at the very least, I think a remedial course on attribution may be in order. Until I see one this fic gets my lowest rating.
Volere du Corps by unbroken_halo NC-17 Rec - to Rec - -
After "Sight Unseen" I was somewhat leery of this author. I probably take a harsher view on that sort of thing than some, but when I was growing up Mom was an English professor (before becoming professor of God only knows what - something about logic and structuring your arguments so you can successfully defend your dissertation in the European system. Mom's hella smart) I was raised that you use quotation marks, credit ideas and don't rewrite stories/papers without crediting your inspiration/sources. Not unless you want to wear a scarlet "P". I know some people don't use that word except in C & P jobs, but well: here's Georgetown on it and here's one of the Schools mum teaches at take on it.
Just saying.
But, so, "Volere du Corps". I did read it. And reviewed it here, giving it a "rec". Meh, either it doesn't stand up to a second reading or I'm wondering if those bursts of originality I saw (that prompted me to rec it despite problem) are hers or some other authors. Because as I noted in the earlier review, the veering off course into badfic land was obviously ripped straight from a craptastic movie.
Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me by splitpea NC-17 Warning: forced fellatio, religious squick. Rec!
Post War
This is a bizarre AU. Harry quoting Bible passages to cover the demon he has become is... odd, but I liked it. I like Harry embraces the darkness themes, and this short fic has it in spades. It's dark. And sort of anti-hot. And it has issues. But I still liked it.
Poor Mans Riches by the_con_cept NC-17 Warning: CHAN rec+ HOT
Hogwarts
One of the things I absolutely adore about this author is that even in the middle of the disturbingly hot CHANsex she'll manage to slip in some sly humor, completely distracting me from the no doubt illegal-in-37-states goings on in her fic. I LOVE her style, pacing, the fun twist of perspective that makes the old new again, just wonderful. Before I start sounding like Madonna in "Like a Virgin" I should probably get to specifics of this fic.
Often in chan fics I either don't get that channish aspect, or I am completely revolted. In other words it either reads like Harry's technically underage but has the body of a 25 year old, or it reads like he's 5. This actually his that perfect balance where it was what it claimed, and yet somehow managed not to be a huge turn-off. If there is any area I think she should work on it's probably a broader plot. This starts and ends so abruptly it feels pwpish. I would dearly love to see something in the 55k word range by her.
Actually, I cut my volunteer time short today at the local no-kill shelter because I had appointments - and they all cancelled. This meant I had quite an large hunk of extra time to catch up on these. And this one was short and easy.
Sight Unseen by unbroken_halo NC-17 Rec - - - (see explanation)
Post Voldemort
I think with a proper edit and a rewrite this would be a decent fic. Actually this author frustrates me because I feel like she has the tools within her grasp to write well, and chooses the instant gratification of sleepwriting her way through another Snarry cliché instead. There's no subtlety and finesse - and I know KNOW there could be. Which tends to make me irritable and picky about things that wouldn't otherwise bother me. Like:
Why do this author's titles all sound like Steven Segal movies?
Why does Salazar Slytherin sound like a character from Eastenders? Blighter?! I don't think so...
Why is Ron acting like a 14 year old girl?
But I kept reading, and then something else bothered me. I was halfway through the fic and had no idea where she was going: After Harry defeats Voldemort he is so harassed that for his own protection he is given his own quarters. Then the fic took a U turn and all of a sudden seemed... familiar. Once there he wishes he could just "blend in" and he becomes invisible. And then I read this:
"We are going to have to hang a bell around your neck, Potter, so I can find you." Snape sneered at him.
and it hit me. It was familiar. It was part of my favorite children’s series as a child: Moomintroll by Tove Janssen, specifically "The Invisible Child" in Finn Family Moomintroll. In that story, "Ninny" is an orphan who has faded to invisibility (thanks to a bitterly sarcastic foster mother. They call her "ironic" but dude, that's like calling a sledgehammer a "fly-swatter"). "Too-ticky" brings Ninny to Moominmama so she can receive the love she needs to become visible again. Like this fic, various potions and concoctions are attempted to bring the character back to visibility. And like this fic, the cure for Ninny's invisibility is love (or what passes for "love" in slash: hawt boysex). And oh yeah, she wears a bell.
I saw no mention of inspiration on Inkstain, I'm curious: did she credit Tove Janssen on her LJ? Because if not, at the very least, I think a remedial course on attribution may be in order. Until I see one this fic gets my lowest rating.
Volere du Corps by unbroken_halo NC-17 Rec - to Rec - -
After "Sight Unseen" I was somewhat leery of this author. I probably take a harsher view on that sort of thing than some, but when I was growing up Mom was an English professor (before becoming professor of God only knows what - something about logic and structuring your arguments so you can successfully defend your dissertation in the European system. Mom's hella smart) I was raised that you use quotation marks, credit ideas and don't rewrite stories/papers without crediting your inspiration/sources. Not unless you want to wear a scarlet "P". I know some people don't use that word except in C & P jobs, but well: here's Georgetown on it and here's one of the Schools mum teaches at take on it.
Just saying.
But, so, "Volere du Corps". I did read it. And reviewed it here, giving it a "rec". Meh, either it doesn't stand up to a second reading or I'm wondering if those bursts of originality I saw (that prompted me to rec it despite problem) are hers or some other authors. Because as I noted in the earlier review, the veering off course into badfic land was obviously ripped straight from a craptastic movie.
Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me by splitpea NC-17 Warning: forced fellatio, religious squick. Rec!
Post War
This is a bizarre AU. Harry quoting Bible passages to cover the demon he has become is... odd, but I liked it. I like Harry embraces the darkness themes, and this short fic has it in spades. It's dark. And sort of anti-hot. And it has issues. But I still liked it.
Poor Mans Riches by the_con_cept NC-17 Warning: CHAN rec+ HOT
Hogwarts
One of the things I absolutely adore about this author is that even in the middle of the disturbingly hot CHANsex she'll manage to slip in some sly humor, completely distracting me from the no doubt illegal-in-37-states goings on in her fic. I LOVE her style, pacing, the fun twist of perspective that makes the old new again, just wonderful. Before I start sounding like Madonna in "Like a Virgin" I should probably get to specifics of this fic.
Often in chan fics I either don't get that channish aspect, or I am completely revolted. In other words it either reads like Harry's technically underage but has the body of a 25 year old, or it reads like he's 5. This actually his that perfect balance where it was what it claimed, and yet somehow managed not to be a huge turn-off. If there is any area I think she should work on it's probably a broader plot. This starts and ends so abruptly it feels pwpish. I would dearly love to see something in the 55k word range by her.