my reviews for the feedback challenge
Jun. 27th, 2004 03:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tommygirlSo I was assigned to read stories by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
vivien529 from her website, Vivien’s Vault and it was a great surprise. I'd never read any of her stuff and it was fantabulousness. She's got a great mix of short and long stories that I'm still making my way through, but...
I think the first great sign of a good fanfiction writer is that they can draw you into a story, despite the fact the main pairings—in this case Gilderoy Lockhart/Narcissa Malfoy and Spike/Caleb—aren’t your typical reading pleasures. I had never read either of the pairings and must admit that while I was oddly curious as to how it would work, especially with the Harry Potter story (seeing as Lockhart seems only to love himself), I wasn’t sure this would be my cup of tea.
I was wrong. I loved both of them. Very unique takes on things, but managed to maintain the character’s integrity (or lack there of).
1. Whispered Reflections – Harry Potter – Gilderoy/Narcissa
Vivien managed to use Lockhart’s vanity and match it with someone’s who seemed almost as strong as his.
I think my favorite passages to support this were the following:
He and Narcissa had always shared in their love of self from the first day they met on the Hogwarts Express admiring each other's hand mirrors. He fondly remembered stealing off together during Quidditch matches to leisurely leaf through her Parisian fashion magazines or to practice kissing while watching mirrors to make sure they learned the most flattering way to tilt their heads and place their hands.
I can so easily picture this occurring—meeting on the train and exchanging secrets on caring for their hand mirrors.
Every surface of the room was paneled in mirrors. Floor, ceiling, walls... He walked further into the room and began laughing in delight. Even the four poster bed was reflective - the very sheets had been enchanted. He could see his glorious visage everywhere, and everywhere he looked he was surrounded by her cool beauty as well.
I love how their vanity has grown with them as adults. For most people, it’s something they grow out of, or at least pretend to, but with these two they get off on their own self-importance.
I loved the characterizations here. So often in fanfiction characters can be portrayed in ways that so go against their personalities—but what Vivien does is embraces these traits that not everyone loves and works it in a way that’s fresh and interesting to read.
I definitely recommend everyone read “Whispered Reflection.”
2. Ghosts – the sequel to Whispered Reflections – Harry Potter – Gilderoy/Narcissa
I was hooked right from the beginning. It’s an interesting idea—the woman from the family that had it all, only to lose it in the outcome of war.
Narcissa had never sought to be evil; she had simply sought the easiest path possible that got her what she wanted. The Dark Arts were often smelly, bloody affairs that required entirely too much effort. She left that for Lucius. She wanted to while away her hours in leisure and gossip, to wear the most beautiful clothes and have the most beautiful lovers. And of course, she wanted the world for Draco. He was her darling boy, her main occupation. When she'd lost Lucius, she'd been sad, for she had loved him – loved his drive, his passion, his reputation and power. If she lost Draco, she'd be broken with grief.
I think this is a great look at Narcissa. I don’t see her as innately evil the way we’ve been led to believe Lucius is. Narcissa is just someone who wanted a certain life and did what she had to get it. Does that make her evil? No.
I loved how in the beginning of this story it seems that due to her circumstances, Narcissa may have changed, but upon meeting with Gilderoy again, she is once again concerned with her vanity, but it’s not such a horrible thing when they’re together in this one. They are oddly a good fit.
But really, must we kill Draco? I’m partial to Draco. Heh.
Again, a great read. An unexpected find that is a wonderful companion piece to the first, a way to see where life has lead these two often-overlooked characters.
3. Godforsaken – Buffy – Spike/Caleb
It was an interesting pairing and how they stumbled upon one another. I think I’m most fond of how well Caleb is portrayed here. It’s like Joss wrote this himself with the way Caleb reacts, thinks, and says things. I loved that especially.
I also loved the idea that Spike was viewed as Satan and therefore, the devil made him do the things he really wanted.
Very nice. Very interesting read that if you enjoy slash, you will like.
vivien529 from her website, Vivien’s Vault and it was a great surprise. I'd never read any of her stuff and it was fantabulousness. She's got a great mix of short and long stories that I'm still making my way through, but...I think the first great sign of a good fanfiction writer is that they can draw you into a story, despite the fact the main pairings—in this case Gilderoy Lockhart/Narcissa Malfoy and Spike/Caleb—aren’t your typical reading pleasures. I had never read either of the pairings and must admit that while I was oddly curious as to how it would work, especially with the Harry Potter story (seeing as Lockhart seems only to love himself), I wasn’t sure this would be my cup of tea.
I was wrong. I loved both of them. Very unique takes on things, but managed to maintain the character’s integrity (or lack there of).
1. Whispered Reflections – Harry Potter – Gilderoy/Narcissa
Vivien managed to use Lockhart’s vanity and match it with someone’s who seemed almost as strong as his.
I think my favorite passages to support this were the following:
He and Narcissa had always shared in their love of self from the first day they met on the Hogwarts Express admiring each other's hand mirrors. He fondly remembered stealing off together during Quidditch matches to leisurely leaf through her Parisian fashion magazines or to practice kissing while watching mirrors to make sure they learned the most flattering way to tilt their heads and place their hands.
I can so easily picture this occurring—meeting on the train and exchanging secrets on caring for their hand mirrors.
Every surface of the room was paneled in mirrors. Floor, ceiling, walls... He walked further into the room and began laughing in delight. Even the four poster bed was reflective - the very sheets had been enchanted. He could see his glorious visage everywhere, and everywhere he looked he was surrounded by her cool beauty as well.
I love how their vanity has grown with them as adults. For most people, it’s something they grow out of, or at least pretend to, but with these two they get off on their own self-importance.
I loved the characterizations here. So often in fanfiction characters can be portrayed in ways that so go against their personalities—but what Vivien does is embraces these traits that not everyone loves and works it in a way that’s fresh and interesting to read.
I definitely recommend everyone read “Whispered Reflection.”
2. Ghosts – the sequel to Whispered Reflections – Harry Potter – Gilderoy/Narcissa
I was hooked right from the beginning. It’s an interesting idea—the woman from the family that had it all, only to lose it in the outcome of war.
Narcissa had never sought to be evil; she had simply sought the easiest path possible that got her what she wanted. The Dark Arts were often smelly, bloody affairs that required entirely too much effort. She left that for Lucius. She wanted to while away her hours in leisure and gossip, to wear the most beautiful clothes and have the most beautiful lovers. And of course, she wanted the world for Draco. He was her darling boy, her main occupation. When she'd lost Lucius, she'd been sad, for she had loved him – loved his drive, his passion, his reputation and power. If she lost Draco, she'd be broken with grief.
I think this is a great look at Narcissa. I don’t see her as innately evil the way we’ve been led to believe Lucius is. Narcissa is just someone who wanted a certain life and did what she had to get it. Does that make her evil? No.
I loved how in the beginning of this story it seems that due to her circumstances, Narcissa may have changed, but upon meeting with Gilderoy again, she is once again concerned with her vanity, but it’s not such a horrible thing when they’re together in this one. They are oddly a good fit.
But really, must we kill Draco? I’m partial to Draco. Heh.
Again, a great read. An unexpected find that is a wonderful companion piece to the first, a way to see where life has lead these two often-overlooked characters.
3. Godforsaken – Buffy – Spike/Caleb
It was an interesting pairing and how they stumbled upon one another. I think I’m most fond of how well Caleb is portrayed here. It’s like Joss wrote this himself with the way Caleb reacts, thinks, and says things. I loved that especially.
I also loved the idea that Spike was viewed as Satan and therefore, the devil made him do the things he really wanted.
Very nice. Very interesting read that if you enjoy slash, you will like.
