Title: Promises Unbroken
Author: Robin4
Rating: T
Genre: Drama/Adventure
DLP Category: The Alternates
Pairing: None
Status: WIP
Summary: Sirius Black remained the Secret Keeper and everything he feared came to pass. Ten years later, James and Lily live, Harry attends Hogwarts, and Voldemort remains…yet the world is different and nothing is as it seems. AU, updated for HBP.

Links: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1248431/1/Promises_Unbroken
Sequels: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1567001/1/Promises_Remembered
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2204188/1/Promises_Defended

I remember this fondly for the combat scenes and overall top-notch writing.

 

Is this a Sirius POV or what? I read Harry Potter for Harry, not Sirius Black or Ron Weasley.

 

I've read the first few chapters and there's no denying that it's good, and pretty original, but I find it strangely unappealing. I just don't have an interest in it: there's no hook.

Good, but unremarkable. For all that the universe he has created is Alternative, it is still too...plain, normal.

 

Agreed. It is well written, but it just doesn't make me want to read more. It doesn't really explore outside of canon enough, unless it changes further on? I've only read a couple chapters, but so far, nothing has really caught my attention.

 

I have to second Taure and LogrusMage. I tried to read this ages ago, but it couldn't catch my attention.

It is one of the "Harry's parents are alive" stories, describing what might have happened if Sirius hadn't switched with Peter. So Voldemort was never vanquished, the war is still going on and it doesn't look too good for the 'Light'.

As far as I have read the story features good!Trio, evil!Malfoy, Headmaster!Lupin, Deputy!Snape, Minister-for-Magic!Dumbledore, and lots of Marauders+Lily. The Potters are the heirs of Gryffindor, not as the usual cliché but as a burden for Harry. It switches the pov, so I can't say if it focusses more on Harry&co or on the Marauders.

The story is better than most or perhaps even best of that kind. So for those who like the genre or plot it certainly is a great read. But if you are not interested in this kind of AU, then it is just another of these "Parents are alive"-fics.

I can't rate it. If there is a fan-base for this it should be moved into the library. But somehow I doubt many DLP-members really like this stuff.

 

It all seems the same. Fair, but not nice, Gryffindor head, benevolent yet strong headmaster (with blue eyes rather than Lupin's golden ones), and tough leader of the aurors. The names change, but the characterizations are all the same as canon, and it's dull.

 

Many moons ago I stayed up all night and read a huge chunk of this fic. Then I got distracted, went several months and tried to start up again but I'd forgotten the plot and couldn't bring myself to pick up where I'd left off or backtrack and reread it.

So it gets 3/5 for me. Well written, some interesting concepts but too fucking bland to actually recommend.

 

Has anyone actually read this?

I remember spotting it in a number of favorite lists and such way, way, way back. But the summaries sounded way too focused on the older generation and Harry and the others were relegated to boring old typical school-children, i.e. the least interesting parts of canon.

For me it was the sequels summaries that seemed the most telling

The whole four friends bit could be Harry's generation but I was guessing it was a Marauders reference. And I need Harry involved usually to even give a shit about the fic. That and I can't stand Harry acting like an idiot child while the adults fix everything like adults always do, which was part of the vibe I got from this series.

So has anyone actually read these and can answer some questions?

 

I think the whole think is called "The Unbroken Universe" not the "Promises Series" and second I quite like this fic. Why? First: it takes its time to built up, you get your time to adjust to the new version instead of being flung in and think Wtf. Second: it doesn't make sweet of the fact, what would have happened, had the war raged on. Things aren't nice, they are quite dark actually. Harry is in the story, but the focus is on others, on the adults fighting the war. The longe the story gets, the more it shifts towards that focus, one of the major focus points is Sirius.
I only have to read the last two updates, so I can claim to be fairly up-to-date when it comes the that fic, and the author is actually trying to keep canon and alternate well balanced, meaning he doesn't change canon facts needlessly and is still creating a good alternate.

 

The Unbroken Universe is one of my favorite AUs, primarily because it is well thought out and well written. The dynamics between the four Marauders is excellent; all of them, even Peter, have their role to play, and friendship is paramount to their survival. The story can be very surreal at times, too, such as the dinner between Sirius and Voldemort in Chapter 28 (The World In Balance) of Promises Defended. Can you find another fic that not only does that, but does it well? The series is now complete (well, excluding the prequel), so perhaps it is time to revisit this.

In my opinion, the fact that this fic is in the recycling bin is unforgivable. Yes the story is not Harry-centric, so yes, it breaks Potter Law #1. But why does it matter so much that it revolves around the Maraders instead of Harry when it is engaging and written better than a lot of fics that do revolve around Harry & Co.? I don't believe that this deserves anything less than 4/5, and my own personal rating is 4.5/5, which, for the purposes of rating, is rounded up to 5/5.

 

That’s the point. It’s your personal opinion.

You neither understand DLP nor the DLP library. Of course it does matter if the fic is well written or not, but it also matters if people are actually interested in the plot. And for the few people who reviewed it the story wasn’t of interest. Do you read Harry/Draco mpreg slash fics just because they are well written?

And once more: It’s your personal opinion.

 

Gah, I'm not that far gone. I am of the opinion that someone who writes this in seriousness can literally not write well, but I digress.

And I was simply using rhetoric to make my case. I am aware that multiple opinions exist, and accept the fact that mine may be much different than what is standard at DLP. Nevertheless, I felt from the previous posts that people gave up the fic too early, and while it is important for the story to grab your attention early, as a fan of the series, I felt the need to point out that it does get better, starting ~Chapter 17 of the first story (looking over my initial post, I realize that I did not make that point, so, my bad). I stand by what I said; I do believe that this fic belongs in the Library, and hope that my bringing this up will cause others will agree. If they don't agree, there isn't much that I can do.

tl;dr: It gets better, so go in with an open mind and soldier through the entire story and I doubt you'll regret it.

 

Can you say strawman?

Robin's Unbroken Universe is vastly superior to the majority of Harry-centric fan fiction, in terms of mechanics, plot, characterization, interest, etc.

Also, the few people who reviewed didn't appear to give it too much of a chance.

 

Like Nonjon said almost two years ago if a Harry Potter fanfic isnt about Harry Potter, I cant bring myself to give a damn. That being said, the few chapters I did read were well written and composed very well. Just for that I'll give it a 2/5.