Branwyn

Author at http://branwyn.mirrordance.net/.

A Moment's Grace (Doctor Who)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th March 2008 (5)
Tags: Short Story
(25K)

Summary:On the eve of her return to England, a weary Martha Jones meets an old friend for the first time.

This is like a cool breeze in a hot, dank cave.

Set just before the start of "The Last of the Timelords", Martha is given a moment of grace indeed, with an unexpected (and perhaps impossible) encounter with the Second Doctor. The portrayal of Two here makes me want to go off and see more of his canonical appearances. Martha here is herself; worn and edgy by her experiences, but still with an agile mind.

One of These Mornings (Doctor Who)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th August 2008 (3)
Tags: Short Story
(14K)

Summary:Donna comes back to herself.

Not only is this an original idea for a post-JE Donna-fixit story, but it's beautifully written,

Providence (Doctor Who)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 7th June 2008 (3)
Tags: Short Story
(14K)

Summary: Not all the monsters in the TARDIS are locked safely in the attic.

I like this because: - it's deep and introspective, shadowed and shivery - there's a touch of time-twisting - references to companions past - the inescapable consequences of meddling - the Doctor is more self-aware than he presents himself as - there is still a sliver of hope

With Her Own Wings (Doctor Who)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 7th June 2008 (4)
Tags: Short Story, AU Jossed
(11K)

Summary: Martha was once the Doctor's maid. Now the Doctor seems to have become Martha's secretary.

Canon has relegated this delightful possibility into the realm of the Alternative Universe, but it is plausible nonetheless. The Doctor's reactions to all the different callers on Martha's mobile range from the funny to the poignant (and sometimes both at once). And I really liked the end.

Chivalry

(1) The Guiltless (Harry Potter)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 23rd September 2009 (1)
Tags: Novella, AU, Reconciliation, Friendship
Characters: Severus Snape, Harry Potter
(149K)

Summary: When Harry appears at the Welcoming Feast wearing a glamor only Snape notices, Snape decides to find out what the glamor is hiding. His investigation leads to a number of shocking revelations - both about The Boy Who Lived, and about Snape's understanding of himself. Sixth year AU.

I like this. A good proper Harry-Snape reconciliation story where Snape is snarky and tossing multisyllabic insults, and Harry is resigned and defiant in turns, and yet they still manage to come to an understanding. The style was a bit disconcerting at first - I'm not used to third-person present-tense - but I got used to it.

(2) The Poor of God (Harry Potter)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 23rd September 2009 (2)
Tags: Novel, AU, Reconciliation, Friendship
Characters: Severus Snape, Harry Potter, Luna Lovegood
(557K)

Summary: After Snape's visit to Surrey, Harry writes a thank-you letter that triggers an extended correspondence and a tentative friendship between the two of them.

I really liked this. Yes, it does have the third-person present-tense of the previous story, but as with that story, one gets used to it. And, yes, the ending was more of an overview, an epilogue; as if the author wanted to satisfy people with what happened next, but didn't want to write another story to do so. So, yes, not perfect, but really good anyway.

This story has awesome Luna as well as more Snape & Harry, with highs, lows, angst, snark, misunderstanding, unexpected insight, unconditional love, self-loathing, injuries, self-revealing nightmares, curses and brushes with death. The characterisation of Snape, Harry and Luna was more than spot-on. There were also flashes of lovely prose.