Title: A Dangerous Game
Author: Cybrid
Rating: X-17/ Explicit
Genre: Adventure/Romance
Status: WiP
Library Category: Restricted Section
Pairings: Harry Potter/Voldemort, Harry Potter/Tom Riddle
Summary:
Tom Riddle opens the Chamber of Secrets in Harry’s fifth year at Hogwarts. After a botched attempt to extract the Horcrux in Harry’s scar leaves their souls tied together, Tom is forced to take the Gryffindor with him when he makes his escape.

A story of Horcrux hunting, adventure and unwilling attraction.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/13059681/chapters/29871909

This is a well written, well plotted story. A tad fast paced in some parts, but gripping none the less. An enjoyable read for pretty much anyone. I don't want to give too much away, because y'all need to go read it and spoilers suck) but yeah, the twist at the end of the 1st chapter had me *screaming* and I loved it.

Tom is spot on, character-wise. He'sdifficultt to get right (little sod), but Cy makes it look easy. Harry is just adorable. Relateable reactions to the goings on around him.



3.5/5

 

You must be a very brave soul.

...

Ah, sure, I'll give it a read.

 

Of course! I'm British, we're born with spines made out of greatness and bravery.

At least the formatting is right this time? I had the sticky open as a reference so I could double and triple check, lmao.

 

*clicks edit*

 

So I'm only about two chapters in, but it's been interesting so far.

The technical writing itself could use some polishing up, but it's otherwise serviceable.

The biggest draw for me so far is the nice AU going on here. Anyone who knows me knows I don't use the term lightly - this is an AU in the truest sense of the word. Stations of canon is entirely thrown out and there doesn't seem to be any hint of the story retreading well worn paths.

I haven't gotten enough of a feel of Harry and Tom's dynamic to see if the chemistry works quite yet, but from what I've read so far, it's definitely worth being given the benefit of doubt (for now). The author's writing warrants that much.

More to follow as I progress (and obviously not yet locking in my vote for now, not having read it all yet), but I rate this a tentative 4/5.

 

1) Background Slytherins using Voldemort's name conversationally
2) Harry/Voldemort
3) The "weapon" Voldemort didn't have last time is implied to be the diary horcrux

Ugh.

But in spite of all the trash, and who suggested this, this was better than expected. There are a few novel twists which surprised me - you never see that kind of boldness from shitty slash writers - but ultimately it's not enough to hold things up.

Spoiler

Pansy took a quick step closer to him and whipped her wand up before he could react. It dug painfully into his throat below his Adam’s apple. Harry suddenly registered that she was holding it with her left hand - he could have sworn that Pansy was right handed --

Pansy - or whoever it was who was wearing Pansy’s face, for Harry was suddenly certain that it was not her - smiled up at him. Harry’s hand was curled white-knuckled around his wand, but it was at his side, pointed down at the floor. The girl leant in, standing on tiptoe to whisper in his ear like a lover.

“~ Open ~”

There was a great groan from behind him and the sound of stone scraping past stone. The sink against Harry’s back seemed to slide away and upwards. Harry’s arms windmilled as he scrambled for balance - to his horror, a gaping black maw was opening beneath him, and his feet were halfway over the edge.

He tried to grab onto the sinks, the plinth, Pansy herself. His eyes found her face for a split second. It was disfigured by a malevolent, victorious smirk. She laid her small hand on his chest and pushed.

Riddle is the worst offender. He never feels like a young Voldemort, just an older boy with a sadistic streak. If you treat horcrux!Riddle as a separate character and not an OOC young Voldemort, this almost works. Almost. The dynamic between Harry and Riddle is super weird - Harry basically forces Riddle to kidnap and roofie him.

But in all honesty, I wanted to despise this for myriad reasons. It's better than I could have expected. Not good, but good for the genre. I would kill myself rather than write this, but I wouldn't be too ashamed to post it as a slash rec for the next Earthie along with a disclaimer that their tastes are shit.

3/5