Title: A Life Alone
Author: LoonyLivesOn
Genre: Action/Adventure/General
Rating: T
Status: WIP (started writing again)
Pairings: None
Suggested category: "Alternates"
Summary: Harry learns of the prophecy from Petunia at the age of eight and escapes to the streets when the house is attacked. Trying to hide his true identity, can he live on his own? Full summary inside. Alternate Universe, Independant!Harry
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2661709/1/

This is an AU story, where Harry spends several years on the streets, before getting picked up by wizards, who 'force' him to Hogwarts. There are a bunch of really strange twists and turns here (from Harry going to Hogwarts under disguise to him getting training from Voldemort's spirit), so it can't be said it's your standard street-rat!Harry story.

Unfortunately, this story is held down by some really annoying elements, especially Harry's general stupidity (of non-whiny type) and bunch of blatant plot-holes of all kinds.

Also, this story has been through lots of shit lately - first hiatus, then removed by author for rewrite and then the author lost all her files and declared the story abandoned. Fortunately, I stumbled upon her profile and sent her the old chapters I dug up from somewhere on my HD. So now, the author is back in full swing, posting new chapters every few days...

...which is one of the main reasons why I follow this story. All the other elements are rather average. 3/5

 

Geez IP, you sure know how to suggest a story and then make me not want to read it. Considering the author seems to be so disorganized and unconcerned about her work, and your assessment of the story is that in its bright points the fic is "rather average," I'm kinda curious why you even put it up for review?

Feels like you tolerate the fic, but don't really like it. I'll trust you in that it's rather average, and see if the author manages to finish this before checking it out.

Unless someone else out there has read this and highly recommends it?

 

Heh, nothing wrong with reading average fics or watching average movies. Hell, majority of everything falls into this category. Would you miss movies like "16 blocks" or "King Kong" or for example "Terminator 3", just because they are average blockbusters? There's some pleasure in watching them too.

As for this story, it's not bad. But thanks to some stupid elements, it's not excellent either. Thus it's average - OK to read, but won't blow you off your feet.

 

The difference between the two is that an average fic may not make it out of 'For Review'

 

This is a 3 story.

Edit. This story gets a 1.

 

I got to like chapter 8 a few days ago, and I found it very average, with some stupid parts.

Such as Petunia in chapter 1. As much as I enjoy a different personality of Petunia, how she knows Dumbledore is manipulative, and that Peter was chosen as the Keeper at the last possible moment, is beyond me.

Very average, though it is rather riddled with cliches and the occasional plothole.

2/5 from me.

 

The one redeeming thing about this fic is that Harry has dear old Tom in his head. Or at least a full-blown telepathic link with him. And the way he acts towards the other students is funny. I dub this 3/5.

 

The first chapters I thought were rather painfull to read(streetwise!Harry grates me the wrong way most of the time, and his aunt was...), but if you can last it out till hogwarts its not that bad of a fic. For now, I would have to agree with the rest of the thread and say 3/5

 

A Life Alone, by Snuffdragon - T - Complete

Title: A Life Alone
Author: Snuffdragon
Rating: T
Genre: Adventure/General
DLP Category: The Alternates
Pairing: None
Status: Complete
Summary: Harry learns of the prophecy from Petunia at the age of eight and escapes to the streets when the house is attacked. Trying to hide his true identity, can he live on his own? Full summary inside. Alternate Universe, Independant!Harry
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2661709/1/A_Life_Alone

Did a search of the site and nothing. Enjoy~

 

I am pretty sure this has been posted here for review. Will look again.

I vaguely recall this wasn't half bad.

Edit: Well can't find it but I know I was linked to this story from DLP. Maybe it was in IRC. I'll re-read a bit and rate. I recall Petunia is very OC in this but the rest is decent.

 

There's one that failed to make the Recycle Bin or the Library called:

A Life Alone by LoonyLivesOn

Different pen name but it might've changed given the length of time this story's been out.


Edit: Just checked. In the first chapter he utilizes "Loony" under the Chapter Title. So yeah, same story.

 

How do you find the stories that fail both bin and library?

 

I read this story a while back, and if I remember correctly, it didn't hold my interest. Can't really remember why. Gonna re-read now for proper rating.

 

You find them here: http://forums.darklordpotter.net/showthread.php?t=2803
It's a list of stories suggested but not worth the library.

I followed the story for a while but only skimmed through most chapters. It was ok at first, though not brilliant. The story covers the first three years in detail, and the last chapter covers the triwizard tournament and the showdown. The author apparently lost his interest in writing and provided a condensed end.

Some parts deserve a 3/5, others 2/5, together 2.5/5 and below library standards.

Some content spoilers:

Spoiler

Harry has a voice in his head named 'Sir' who is bossing him around. Sir insists Dumbledore is bad, and Harry believes him. He is forced to attend Hogwarts, but escapes every year, though returns on his own September 1.

Harry is rather a tool than acting himself. In the end he helps recreate both Voldemort's and Sir's bodies and learns, Sir is in fact 'Lord' Grindelwald. During the showdown he kills all three, Voldemort, Grindelwald, Dumbledore, and then leaves the scene, finally free of all who tried to manipulate him.