Sounds great, been looking for an "at-school" fic to get me back into reading fics, this is a placeholder to remind me to review when I read it.

 

It's not bad, although the Luna characterization irks me. Other than that, it's interesting.

3/5

 

I've been reading this for quite a while now, and at first it was something that did grab my attention, but as the updates are heading on, it is becoming more and more average.

The interactions are fun because at first everyone have their own preconceptions, and these preconceptions get ruined by the actions they witness.
That part is interestingly written, and it's fun for the four fighters to interact with the new dimension, and almost kill the spies for the order.

Also, there's the Ron, who could have been bashed but whas simply killed (another lazy excuse), Lily, who in the absence of James in the picture, I feared would be with Snape, well, you know how those things usually go, but in the end she was paired with Remus, and that kind of works.

Sirius and Snape friendship is weird, but with the changes they set at the beginning it's kind of believable.

If I had to rate it before, it would have gotten four. Now, I'll give it 3,5 rounded down to 3/5

 

One of the greatest things about this story is the way with which it conveys emotion and the artistry with which the character development is portrayed. Each character, while not quite themselves, is Human in a way that few stories can truly achieve.

Rare is the author who can draw you into the mind of a different person and share their thoughts and feelings and hopes and fears with you so well. I find myself in almost-breathless anticipation of the end of this journey of a story, having read it all tonight.

Each (important) character has a Voice, one that speaks to you and lets you understand them and why they act the way they do, one that allows you to empathize instead of sympathize, so that they feel more real than you expect from non-professional writing.

Some of the characters take longer to reveal themselves than others, and I can see how some would find issue with their portrayals before the defining moment comes, but it's there for each of them, if you stick with it.

4.5/5, rounded down to 4/5 for the occasional technical error and rare bits of unwieldy sentence structure.

 

Pretty good, but the borderline James bashing is a real pain in the ass.

4/5

 

This. Liked it overall, could be better in some parts. Borderline James bashing for no other reason then to bash was annoying, could of just left him out of the story, or had him dead too. Makes few appearances though, so hardly noticeable.

4/5. Interesting read.

 

I couldn't enjoy this at all. There's a lot of telling instead of showing. Characterization is pretty bland. You could replace one character with another for most of the dialogue and there would be no difference.

I think the premise can lead to a really interesting fic. This fic isn't it.

2.5 at best.

 

I've known this story for some time now, always returning to it in a moment of absolute boredom. It has a really interesting Harry in it; however, it has an insufferable Hermione as well. She's obviously author's favourite character, if I can tell by her other stories. I like Hermione, too - but only if she's helping by quietly looking for solutions in library, maybe once in a while advising Harry on some emotional stuff. But not when she's doing all of the research, making all of the plans, leading all of the important conversations, and killing Death Eaters wielding a sword, while Harry is crying in the corner.

I get that the circumstances have forced them to change, but Hermione was always the one screaming to the troll's face, frozen in panic, while Harry always thrived in stressful situations. I think hardly anything could so drastically change that.

Another thing – while the first chapters were filled with exciting events and the newest ones seem to have some more; ten or so chapters between were quite dull. The author took whole six chapters to get through uneventful Christmas. I stopped reading by then.

For me, it’s 2,5 rounded up to 3/5. For someone who likes Hermione, the cool heroine, this could be a win.

 

This began well, but became bland once it got past showing how insane and broken the heroes are. None of the adults were very interesting characters, which is a big problem when two-thirds of the story is about them coming to understand the travelers. The plot, action and humor basically come to an end once they finish rescuing Luna and Neville, and they aren't replaced by much of anything. The travelers aren't really changed in any significant way by their experiences, and when they return to their home dimension they will be the same people as they were when they left, leaving me wondering what exactly the point of the last 20 chapters was.

 

Meh. The story really never clicked with me. I first saw it shortly after it was posted and followed it for a while 16 or 17 chapters I think. But even 7 or 8 chapters in I was already getting bored with the story.

I seem to recall reviewing it, and saying some thing to the effect that the story was positively drowning in uninterrupted angst. Which has not changed at all over 20 chapters later. The rather limited drama felt contrived and bland, and the characters, which are the most interesting part of the story, are smothered by the never ceasing, "Harry doesn't believe his life is worth living", "the people we love are dead", "we have to keep going on", etc. etc. etc.

The characters seem to have no inclination to even attempt to move beyond this, which I found incredibly off-putting. I read through the 10 or so new ones since I stopped following, and nothing has really changed. If anything I feel worse about the story, because the character depth has gotten better, but it is still overshadowed by the ridiculous angst that has plagued it since chapter two.

I feel like the story has a lot of wasted potential, even if it is competently written for the most part.

2/5

 

I loved this story, being that I'm a giant fan of Hermione. I enjoyed the Ginny and Ron being dead thing as well. At times the story got a bit preachy.

For what its worth though, I thought Luna's characterization was one of the most fun portrayals of her I've ever seen. Her nearly 'seeresque' story telling was a fun way to keep the mystery going. The person she's talking to, (Remus) has no idea what she's saying while the Reader is left awed by the twisted way Canon has been decorated.

4.5/5 for me, rounded down to 4/5 for the lame ending. I got the feeling the author just wanted to get it over with for the last two or three chapters.

 

Stages of Hope by kayly silverstorm

Edit: Moved. - Sesc

Title: Stages of Hope
Author: kayly silverstorm
Rating: T
Genre: Adventure/Drama
Status: Complete
Library Category: The Alternates
Pairings: not important
Summary: Professor Sirius Black, Head of Slytherin house, is confused. Who are these two strangers found at Hogwarts, and why does one of them claim to be the son of Lily Lupin and that git James Potter? Dimension travel AU, no pairings. Dark humour.
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6892925/1/Stages-of-Hope

The story explores what could have happened if more things went wrong in DH and the effects that would have on canon Harry and Hermione, and to a lesser extent Luna and Neville.

It is in a sense an extra long character study a bit like Mira Mirth's Across the Universe.

Why do I like it? Strong characterisation and a relatively low powered, darkish Harry - good fanfiction should breath life into JK's 2D world and I think this does.

4/5