Title: Letters
Author: TheEndless7
Rating: M
Genre: Romance
DLP Category: Romance
Pairing: Harry/Fleur
Status: WIP
Summary: Students are required to write to a pen pal in the spirit of 'International Cooperation.' New friendships and a new romance arise going into the fourth year at Hogwarts.
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6535391/1/Letters

I did a search and didn't find this posted. If it was . . . oops.

I get the feeling that most of you've read that summary and are thinking "Christ, what a fucking cliché and boring idea." Well, I'll just tell you to give it a try. While they have the pen pal system it only initially lasts for about 3 chapters before Harry goes back to Hogwarts.

There are some times early in the first few chapters that might make you want to close the story out, but they really become nothing major.

As for the story itself I enjoyed it because it isn't your typical 4th year fic. There are some shades of JBern with the author mixing up the Triwizard tournament with other school competitions, but Harry isn't really involved in them except for

Spoiler

quidditch

. I thought the characterizations were decent, and the slow build up to a Harry/Fleur have kept me hooked.

In a nutshell I'd say it's better than about 90% of the Harry/Fleur fics around.

4/5

 

I'm about 90% sure this was posted in Almost Recommended. Didn't get many good reviews there, either. I was one of those who hit the x button within the first few chapters, so I'll refrain from voting.

 

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF.

 

I was the one who posted it in the Almost Recommended thread, back when only the first chapter was out and when it still had chances of being a decent HP fanfic.

That chance went out of the window after the author posted the next couple of chapters.

I wouldn't call it terrible, not by any margin. But its far from good either. I think personally this resides just about at the limits of being an almost recommended story. Okay -ish, if you are very much bored and don't have anything to read.

While there were plenty of points about the writing and the story in general that I did not like, one that I thought ruined it completely, was Harry's characteristation, or its lack thereof. He doesn't feel like a real character, nowhere close to it. Just as if the author is making him behave the way he wants to without developing Harry as a protagonist.

2/5, for legible writing and grammar but virtually no story to tell.

 

Its not good, and its not terrible. If your a sucker for Harry/Fleur its better than 90% of the fics out there....

It has its strengths and weaknesses. Harry's character is a bit on the "flat" side. Nothing really stands out about him in any sense of power, personality, quirks. The dialog can get stale at times. But for the positive notes it doesnt adhere strictly to cannon. Theres slight changes in the tournament that allow Harry other more realistic facets to shine and compete in. There no magical mystical "bonds". Harry has to actively work to make Fleur see him as more than a kid.

In a nuthell, the authors not amazing but he/she is atleast attempting to create a more realistic environment and not taking to many shortcuts in the Harry/Fleur aspect of the story. So if you like the pairing it can easily be a guilty pleasure.

 

Speaking of the devil, it updated. And it's getting worse and worse.

Like seriously, what the fuck? Like Johnny said, Harry just doesn't have any character in this fic. I'm getting vibes of School Days here, and they are not good.

Is it better than "90% of all Harry/Fleur" out there? Considering that I could probably hold all the good ones in one hand, that isn't hard.

 

I disagree. This fic is a disappointment. It starts with promise, but rarely (if ever) delivers. The letters were poorly written (Harry revealed way too much, way too quick). Dialogue is often terrible (though some of it is decent). Harry's a boring character.

But what bugs me the most is where what chances the author takes are overshadowed by the ones the author did not take. The author adds aspects to the tournament (such as the aforementioned Quidditch, as well as Dueling and academic competitions), however leaves the main tournament the same. Harry spends his year with new people, including some OCs, yet events largely transpire in a similar manner. We simply take a different route to the same place.

Not so much a criticism as something rather random: the author loves Formula 1 racing and has integrated three companies into the Wizarding world, providing brooms for the Quidditch tournament. I can't say I've ever seen that...

I'd rate it a 2/5. It's not the worst thing. But it's not enjoyable.

That anime depressed the crap out of me. While I don't feel the same vibe, I'd welcome that here. That would be taking a chance and a half.

Edit: I'm reading the latest chapter. What the hell is the point of the Sirius/Weasley twins storyline? The twins aren't getting anything out of it, and Sirius isn't providing anything useful in return. It's achieving nothing. Ugh.

Also, seems like this Harry spends most of his time with Ron patronising him. Lovely.

 

If this did turn out to have a Bad End, it would go on my favorites.

As is, it's not that great.

 

The story isn't a complete trainwreck, but it isn't good either, and that's only because nothing ever happens; the characters are bad, and while I like that Fleur isn't simply throwing herself at Harry, I hate her rationale. It's only an age thing with her, nothing else (and that disappears in the newest chapter).
The only thing I've enjoyed about this story is Daphne. She's a normal teenage girl with a crush; not an overbearing crush like some authors do with characters, but an average teenage crush.

 

Jesus fucking Christ. Ron is so fucking unimportant to Harry that, quote, "Ron talked about it for a few more minutes, but Harry didn't find the conversation overly appealing." WTF?

 

Sorry about that. This is the first thread I made in about 2 years (not counting that Naruto fic I posted in wba). I was never clear on how to do tags, but I think I figured it out. Is it good now?

 

This is a terrible fucking story. I tried to read it earlier this week, and couldn't get past chapter 5 because it failed in every category. Fleurs' Hogwart's oc friend is the most tilting thing ever. The plot idea is alright, but the execution is piss poor.

1/5

 

No.

/filler

 

Don't worry, there's a pseudo petunia!redemption, an OC female ravenclaw prefect who just happens to be best friends with Fleur, and Harry just happens to want to learn french, and Hermione conveniently has a bunch of books to lend him. Harry rants about his complete life to someone who he's never met in a letter. Harry has 'thoughts' about every single action every character says/does, and conveniently sets up an obvious future plot line. Oh, and Sirius may or may not be conveniently in France in the same town as Fleur and the OC. Thats the first 3 chapters pretty much, not a single redeeming paragraph.

Not even good enough for the recycling bin IMO.

 

I'll simply be glad if they no longer try to merge Formula 1 and Brooms. Never sully the name of Senna. Never. It will get you butthurt by angry motorsport fans like myself.

I stopped reading this after 5 chapter, and after scanning through the subsequent updates I can safely say that it has done the opposite of improve. It's truly bad, now.

1/5

 

How does one "hold" a piece of fiction published on the internet? Not sure whether to facepalm or be confused over this.

Oh, as for the recommended story, mediocre tripe that gets worse as it goes on. Author's own summary condemns it sufficiently. 1/5

 

:facepalm

/10char

 

Have just read it. This story is terrible. Most Harry/Fleur are, but this one... Well, read last chapter posted today and you'll see what shit this story became.

1/5 without a question.