Most Recent NetFic Reviews

This contains the 40 most recent reviews, for those who want to see what's new. They are listed in reverse date order (though the oldest date section may not contain all the reviews which were done on that date).

8th April 2015

A Study in Magic (Harry Potter/Sherlock Holmes)

By Vixit
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen (1)
Tags: Novella, Crossover, Adventure, First Year, Adoption, Worldbuilding, Manipulative Dumbledore, AU Divergent Timeline
Characters: Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Albus Dumbledore
(130K, 45097 words)

Summary: When Albus Dumbledore shows up at Baker Street with strange demands and baby-filled picnic baskets, Sherlock Holmes is less than thrilled. Featuring Detective!Harry, Competent!Quirrell, and the world's only private consulting detective. No slash.

Yes, another story which wonders how things might have been different if Harry had been brought up by someone else; in this case, Sherlock Holmes. Despite the 20th Century setting, this Holmes is based on the Jeremy Brett version of Holmes, not the Benedict Cumberbatch version. Nature versus nurture? This Harry is brought up to be a superb detective - tested almost to destruction by the very thorough and ever-curious Holmes, with a leavening of kindness from Dr. Watson. But this isn't a super!Harry, because he's a superb detective with hardly any social skills.

This is really very well done, with its extracts from Dr. Watson's journal, and the cold brilliance of Holmes, the tenacity of Harry, and that's just the start. Featuring a determined Neville Longbottom, a flabbergasted Hermione, a manipulative Dumbledore, and an absolutely brilliant non-possessed Quirrell.

A Study in Magic (Harry Potter/Sherlock)

By Books Of Change
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen (2)
Tags: Long Novel, Crossover, Family, Adoption, Genderbending, Worldbuilding, AU Divergent Timeline, First Year, Second Year, Third Year, Fourth Year
Characters: Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Albus Dumbledore, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black
(1223K, 492408 words)

Summary: When Professor McGonagall went to visit Harry Watson, son of Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, to deliver his Hogwarts letter, she was in the mindset of performing a familiar if stressful annual routine. Consequently she was unprepared for the shock of finding the cause behind Harry Potter's disappearance. BBC Sherlock HP crossover AU

Brilliant. Characterisation, world-building, mysteries, deductions, clever plans, relationships, character growth, mistakes, consequences, they're all there, and all well done. This is an epic because it covers Harry's first four years at Hogwarts; you might want to take a breather in between each year... except that you won't want to, because this will drag you in and not let you go.

Lunch And Other Obscenities (ST-Reboot)

By Rheanna
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen (3)
Tags: Novelette, Friendship, Culture, Starfleet Academy
Characters: Nyota Uhura, Gaila , 9868 words

Summary: Nyota liked her roommate just fine until she met her.

I meant to review this ages and ages ago, alas, it kept on being put off. Well, I'm here now, and I have to say this story is awesome. Linguistics, culture clash, learning, friendship. So very well done; creative world-building, sympathetic characterisation.

6th April 2015

The Scarlet Pimpernel (Harry Potter)

By A Marguerite
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen (1)
Tags: Novel, Adventure, Humour, Romance, DH-compatible, Behind-the-scenes
Characters: Percy Weasley, Penelope Clearwater, Oliver Wood, Dolores Umbridge
(133K, 51914 words)

Summary: Percy Weasley receives some fictional inspiration before realizing that Authority, though Authority, is not always right. Through DH, he tries to do the right thing, rescue Muggleborns without losing his life or his job, and find the right laws.

An absolutely fabulous Percy-centric story, behind the scenes at the Ministry during the events of The Deathly Hallows. This really gets inside Percy's head; precise, awkward, detail-oriented, competent, full of veneration for the Law; his confusion, resolution, fear and determination when his illusions shatter and he decides to do the right thing... because he has nothing to lose. The banality of the evil of Dolores Umbridge: chilling and sickening. A light touch of humour where dashing heroics turn out not to be particularly dashing at all. Heartbreaking moments when Percy feels all alone in this world. And a happy ending, don't forget that.

Arithmantic Equations as a Second Language (Harry Potter)

By Absolute Tash
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen (2)
Tags: Novelette, AU Divergent Timeline, Voldemort-wins, Romance, Angst, Worldbuilding, Arithmancy, SSHG2012, SSHG
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(23K, 8873 words)

Summary: Missing memories, alternate futures, and the ancient power of Arithmancy combine as Hermione Granger promises Severus Snape that she is coming to save him.

This story is amazing; nonlinear, a puzzle of fragments, a sonata of numbers, full of darkness and light, wonder and terror, love and sacrifice. I'm not sure what else to say; there is fascinating world-building with its interpretation of Arithmancy, a sense of wonder and balance and otherness with what Hermione does with it, there is the horribleness of a world in which Voldemort won, and the endurance test on both Severus and Hermione to survive in it, and the angst of the sacrifices each of them is willing to make for the other, and for the world.

Never Say Remember (Harry Potter)

By Malora
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen (3)
Tags: Long Novel, Angst, AU, Parallel Universe, Adoption, ?PoA-compatible, Third Year
Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Lily Evans, Albus Dumbledore, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Remus Lupin
(232K, 94901 words)

Summary: 13-year-old Harry is dragged into another world where he was adopted by Snape. Where his mother is still alive. Where he can't stop feeling like a stranger. And Snape discovers that a new Potter has appeared. One who won't leave him alone. Who knows Snape's deepest secret. As both Harrys search for a way home, they begin to question what home really is.

This was not what I expected. I was expecting a there-and-back-again story, where everyone came out of the incident with warm fuzzies and wisdom. This was much deeper and less simple and less easy than that.

What can you do to a man who has lost everything? Give him back something broken. Yet this story goes beyond even that, and says that, yes, you cannot always mend what is broken, but you still need to go forward, snatching the light from the darkness. That despair is easy, and choosing to hope can be the hardest choice of all.

28th January 2015

The Boy Who Spoke With Ghosts (Inception/Sixth Sense)

By AvocadoLove
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen (1)
Tags: Novelette, Crossover, Ghosts, Fusion
Characters: Arthur, Dom Cobb, Mal Cobb
(61K, 21794 words)

Summary: No one suspects Arthur. He's too practical, too organized, too sensible to believe in the supernatural. Based on the kink meme prompt: Arthur's real name is Cole Sear.

I love this, not just for the crossover idea, but because, like both Inception and Sixth Sense, the characters are forced to wrestle with their demons in order to overcome the real dangers they were facing.

Caveat Emptor: this is marked as both slash and gen. I think one can read it either way.

I Deduce In My Sleep (Inception/Sherlock)

By BrighteyedJill
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen (2)
Tags: Short Story, Crossover
Characters: John Watson, Ariadne, Dom Cobb, Arthur, Sherlock Holmes
(15K, 4362 words)

Summary: John Watson is dreaming a dream that's dreadfully familiar, but he's not sure he's had a tag-along before.

I love the idea of this, and I love the execution of this. Imagine a character study of John and Sherlock, by looking at them through the eyes of the Inception team wandering through John's dreams.

What Dreams May Come (Inception/Highlander)

By MarbleGlove
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen (3)
Tags: Short Story, Crossover
Characters: Eames, Methos
(7K, 2235 words)

Summary: Methos' mind is not one you'd want to be stuck in, aka the one where the inception team attempts extraction on Adam Pierson.

Wonderfully chilling. Methos' mind is indeed somewhere you would not want to be stuck in.

2nd February 2014

Pet Project (Harry Potter)

By Caeria
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen (1)
Tags: Long Novel, AU Jossed, SSHG, Friendship, Romance, Mentor, Culture, Worldbuilding, Spy, OOTP-compatible, Pureblood-Snape, House Elves
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(2023K, 332179 words)

Summary: Hermione overhears something she shouldn't and decides that the house-elves aren't the only ones who need protection.

It's hard to figure out what to say about this story, because there is so much goodness in this story. A complex, brilliant and manipulative Snape. This Hermione is critical in the outcome of the war, but not because she's Super!Hermione, but because, just by being herself and growing into her maturity, she is a catalyst for so many other things to happen, a lynch-pin behind the scenes, a bringer-together of people and ideas. Fantastic world-building: Old Magic, Arithmancy, Dark Arts, and the best portrayal of House Elf culture I've seen.

Yes, it's an Epic, but it's still a must-read story.

Shadows and Ice On a Dying Planet (2) From Out of the Wilderness (Highlander)

By Morgyn Leri
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen (2)
Tags: Short Story, Future, Space
Characters: Methos, Amanda
(12K, 3769 words)

Summary: The planet was dying. Methos was still there.

Not quite a sequel to "Shadow of the Valley", since it is set centuries later. But again we get more of Methos on an alien planet, more chills, more atmosphere.

Brought to Light (Sunshine)

By Innocentsmith
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen (3)
Tags: Short Story, Post-Series
Characters: Sunshine, Constantine, Pat, Mel, Charlie, Yolande
(15K, 4298 words)

Summary: There were actual things we actually needed to discuss, if I could figure out a good way to say, hey, so I seem to be working a lot with people whose entire purpose is wiping out your kind. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but the world appears to need saving. Is that something you could maybe help with? (Coda to the novel, gen-ish, in which Sunshine needs a good night's sleep.)

This is good; it feels like the book, it has Sunshine's voice, and the torn-in-different-directions feel of the book. It also gives us the people around Sunshine with their different sorts of wisdom. And, like the book, it is open-ended; it gives us a mere taste of what-happened-next.

3rd December 2012

Seven Brides For Seven Snapes (Harry Potter)

By Dick Gloucester
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novella, SSHG, Romance, Humour, EWE, Post-Voldemort, House Elves
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(96K, 35164 words)

Summary: Severus Snape has decided he needs a wife, and Hermione is the lucky woman he picks for the job. But he hasn't told her everything she needs to know...

This is amusing, chaotic, angsty, quirky. Angsty because of the mis-steps that happen between Severus and Hermione, because he's still a stubborn, smug, sneaky git; yet Hermione does love him anyway.

All Snape's brothers are amusingly sketched; similar yet different. It's really rather unbelievable how the other romances worked out; as unbelievable as any musical... and one goes along with it for the same reasons that one goes along with a musical.

I also have to mention the House Elves; I love how Hermione gets them onside.

Incarnate (Harry Potter/Sandman)

By FayJay
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Short Story, Crossover, AU Divergent Timeline, Post-Voldemort, GOF-compatible
Characters: Severus Snape, Death
(15K, 6544 words)

Summary: In which Severus Snape summons Death, and endeavours to bend her to his will.

Like so many good Sandman crossovers, this is light and dark, deep and quirky. Also, hanky warning!

I'm not going to tell you how this ends. Read it and find out.

Liason (1) Liaison (Harry Potter)

By Nadagio
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Short Story, Worldbuilding, Post-Voldemort, EWE, SSHG
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(13K, 4639 words)

Summary: Hermione has a new job and runs into some difficulty. Some information from Snape changes everything and nothing.

An interesting bit of world-building in the nature of the HP universe; an intriguing but sad idea which indeed changes everything, and nothing.

4th October 2012

Felix Infelicis (Harry Potter)

By Juniperus
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, Hurt-Comfort, Potion, Manipulative Dumbledore, Angst, Illustrated, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(35K, 12502 words)

Summary: It is said that angels are bright still, though the brightest fell, but we know what the road to Hell is paved with...

Hermione isn't quite a fallen angel, but her road is certainly paved with good intentions. The most interesting aspect of this story is that it subverts the trope of "super-Hermione nurses Snape back to health and he's eternally grateful". Not that I dislike that trope, but this took a much more realistic approach, first addressing the foolishness of trying to do such a thing without help, and second, that such gratitude is not enough for more than a "Hello".

Beware, if you like Dumbledore, the Dumbledore here is not just manipulative, but cold. He's on the edge of what I would think is a "possible" Dumbledore, if you take Dumbledore's reaction in canon when Snape begged Dumbledore to save Lily, and assume that Dumbledore always had contempt for Snape. Because what Dumbledore does here is despicable. As I said, on the edge, but it doesn't quite fall over. Otherwise I would be angry at the author, rather than the character. If you don't like your Dumbledore dark, don't read it. If you do, this is a good example of the genre.

The Power of Suggestion (Harry Potter)

By Leandra713
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, Romance, Amnesia, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(24K, 9056 words)

Summary: Hermione suffers an accident and Severus must come to her rescue.

Amnesia with a twist. Hermione wakes up in St. Mungos after an accident, but not everything is as it appears. This had very good characterisation of both Snape and Hermione. I really liked how plausibly this was constructed, and how the consequences worked out.

On the Other Side of Hate (Harry Potter)

By Lin Lawless
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Novel, EWE, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, Drama, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011, Headmaster-Snape, Teacher-Hermione
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy
(142K, 50779 words)

Summary: Severus has spent three years making Hermione's life as difficult as possible, in hopes that she'll resign her post and leave Hogwarts. When she does, however, he discovers that it's not in his best interest if she leaves, after all.

Here we have a vicious Snape who makes us wonder what on earth Hermione could have done to make him hate her so much. And a Hermione who has been incredibly long-suffering but has been worn down in the end. How could such a pair go from hatred to love? Read the story and find out. It manages to make the characterisation plausible and the reasons make sense, which is rather impressive given the starting premise.

An honourable mention to the portrayal of Lucius here; he's cunning and observant and well-intentioned and can't help plotting like breathing.

3rd October 2012

Detectives, Adventurers and Girls Who Don't Wait Around: The Paradox of Amelia J. Williams (Doctor Who)

By LizBee
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Short Story, Post Episode
Characters: Amy Pond
(9KK, 2215 words)

Summary: Between her debut in 1938 and her death in 1993, Amelia Williams probably wrote over five hundred novels, short stories and articles.

This story is the perfect coda to the episode "The Angels Take Manhattan". But it isn't just Amy (Amelia Williams) that it celebrates, but children's literature and old-skool Who companions of various eras. All brought together with a verisimilitude and spot-on illustrations. It made me feel sad and happy and gleeful and delighted. Read it.

In Shining Armour (Harry Potter)

By CoffeeOnThePatio
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Long Novel, Romance, Drama, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, EWE, House Elves
Characters: Severus Snape, OFC, Minerva McGonagall
(243KK, 102304 words)

Summary: Snape's only saving the unborn child of a strange woman. He never signed up for having his house invaded and a stranger and her child caring for him after the snake bite. Rated M for language only.

The title of this story is wonderfully ironic... at first. Because neither of the rescuers has shining armour; their armour is very tarnished. But they certainly do have armour. Very thick emotional armour. None of this Gryffindorish nobility or gratitude for Snape and Christine, it's all anger and self-defence... at first.

This author again demonstrates that she is the mistress of the slow build, taking two characters that are almost hostile and bringing them together. The characterisation of Minerva is a foil for that of Christine; because Christine had grown up in the same destitute working-class neighbourhood as Snape, she understands him in ways that Minerva doesn't; while as a contrast, Minerva represents snooty middle-class morality and prejudice. That is something that hadn't occurred to me but is obvious once it's pointed out: Hogwarts is very middle-class, and Minerva oozes middle-class privilege. No, Minerva isn't being character-bashed, it's just a weakness that Minerva isn't aware of. She means well. She wants to make it up to Snape, and sometimes she succeeds, and sometimes her meddling makes things worse.

As ever with this author, there is the occasional grammar mistake because English is a second language. But it is worth the stumbles to stick with the story.

Absolutely Elsewhere (Harry Potter)

By Wallyflower
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, Mystery, Friendship, Romance, Worldbuilding, SSHG, SSHG2011, Unspeakable-Snape, Auror-Hermione, Time Travel, DH-compatible
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy
(38KK, 14009 words)

Summary: Over the course of a week, Severus Snape solves a small mystery.

First, this is a cracking good mystery. Then there is good characterisation, not just of Severus and Hermione, but a supporting role from Draco too, with insights into all of them. Friendship and attraction creeps up on Severus and Hermione, with enough caring that each is more interested in the happiness of the other than of themselves. Add to this a tablespoonful of snappy dialogue and a sprinkling of pleasing turns of phrase, and you have yourself a treat.

8th July 2012

Neither the Laurel Nor the Rose (Harry Potter)

By Darned Child
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, Friendship, Romance, Epistolary, SSHG, SSHG2011, Teacher-Snape, Teacher-Hermione
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy
(40K, 15773 words)

Summary: The Malfoy family expects to receive the finest service possible, no matter what the task. When Draco seeks the affections of Hermione Granger, he enlists the aid of a careful wordsmith - one Severus Snape.

We have clueless Draco, clueful Hermione, and angsty Snape. There is wit, banter, friendship, gossip, bargains struck, letters written, pangs of the heart, and true love.

A Prince's Tale (Harry Potter)

By Shairi11
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Novel, EWE, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, Mystery, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(145K, 60704 words)

Summary: Seven years after the war, a Prince asks Hermione to find Severus Snape's body.

First of all, I think this would have been much improved if it hadn't had the framing story. It really put me off at the start, and pulled me down out of the beautiful ending.

But apart from that, the story gets better and better as it goes along. I love how it all comes together in a mythic fairytale way in the end. It's as if there are two stories, and the "inside" story is the good one.

SSESSTINA (Harry Potter)

By Duniazade
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, Humour, Romance, Poetry, SSHG, SSHG2011, Headmaster-Snape, Teacher-Hermione
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Sorting Hat
(39K, 14333 words)

Summary: Not a ssingle word of this sstory is true.

The Sorting Hat has a huge crush on Headmaster Snape...

This is mad, clever, silly, profound, erudite, hilarious, inventive, poetic.

5th July 2012

Babble On (Harry Potter)

By Aurette
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Short Story, Romance, Humour, SSHG, EWE, Post-Voldemort
Characters: Severus Snape, Hermione Granger
(13K, 4976 words)

Summary: One person's nervous tic, is another's nervous joy.

That was lovely. Hermione here babbles on as a post-war nervous tic... and then we discover why Severus keeps on meeting her in the library...

Fourteen Fathoms (Harry Potter)

By Vain
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Short Story, AU Divergent Timeline, Abusive Dursleys, First Year
Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape
(10K, 3292 words)

Summary: Snape discovers something disturbing about Harry and acts... like Snape.

This is an "abusive Dursleys" story. There's a lot of them about. So what makes this one different? The way it is told. Not just that it is second-person present tense, but the way it holds your attention, the expressive and vivid language. No melodrama here: Snape is very Snape-ish, still plotting and taking off points even as he helps Harry.

The Case of the Unwelcome Owl (Sherlock/Harry Potter)

By FayJay
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Novelette, Crossover, Post-Voldemort, Unexpected Relatives
Characters: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Luna Lovegood
(44K, 14649 words)

Summary: 'So,' said John, feeling out of his depth once again. 'An owl.' It was the same mild, politely curious tone of voice with which he had previously found himself uttering such things as: 'So -- three bags of frozen AB negative,' and 'So -- a selection of human ears.' Goodness, John, with deductive prowess like that you'll soon be putting me in the shade,' Sherlock said tartly. 'Can't sneak anything past you, can we?'

This is delightful! A perfect meshing of both worlds. Wonderfully in character.

4th July 2012

The Quest for the Magical MacGuffin (Harry Potter)

By Annie Talbot
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, DH-compatible, Worldbuilding, Drama, Humour, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(53K, 17525 words)

Summary: There's nothing like a quest to promote romance. Valkyries help, too.

The original prompt for this story gives us "Snape, despite his bad temper and acid tongue, has turned into one of the Wizarding world's most eligible bachelors and is enjoying the benefits, whatever he perceives the benefits to be. To his own dismay, he ends up attracted to Hermione - the one witch who doesn't seem to be interested in him, and is neither gorgeous nor willing to fall easily into his bed."

I like this story; it's like champagne and dark unsweetened chocolate, delightful fun with an underlying note of seriousness.

Split (Harry Potter)

By Windwings Writes
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Novella, EWE, Post-Voldemort, Worldbuilding, Mystery, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(92K, 32065 words)

Summary: One fine day, Severus Snape makes a disturbing discovery. Who is messing with his life? And why?

Vivid descriptions, fantastic world-building, good characterisation, intriguing mystery, slowly developing attraction, heart-wrenching angst, sacrifice and love.

Practically Perfect (Doctor Who/Mary Poppins)

By Bethan-B-Bad
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Short Story, Crossover
Characters: Mary Poppins
(11K, 3315 words)

Summary: Silents in the nursery do not bode well for the future of Earth; luckily, however, there is at least one Time Lady who is willing to do what must be done. To tidy matters up.

Beautiful. This makes Mary Poppins as a Time Lord work, and still keeps her in character. Rather than being frivolous, there is depth and breadth and context. Good stuff.

Note: this has spoilers for Season Six of New Who.

4th March 2012

Familiar (Harry Potter)

By Sita Z
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Short Story, AU Divergent Timeline, Dialogue, Humour, First Year
Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape
(11K, 3249 words)

Summary: What if Harry came across Slytherin's monster before the diary incident... and asked it to help him deal with his least favorite teacher?

Short, amusing, dialogue-only alternative universe story. It will give you a chuckle, and a smile, and a warm feeling.

Pot Luck (Harry Potter)

By Sita Z
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Short Story, AU Divergent Timeline, Abusive Dursleys, First Year
Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Dudley Dursley, Hedwig, Petunia Dursley, Ron Weasley, Vernon Dursley
(18K, 6695 words)

Summary: Raised to despise magic, eleven-year-old Harry Potter isn't sure being a wizard is a good thing... although a certain snarky Potions Master might just change his mind.

This gives a good point-of-view of wee!Harry, the influence the Dursleys have on him, both positive and negative. It's intriguing to see how this Harry interprets things differently, and fun to read between the lines of Snape's reactions.

Root of the Matter (Harry Potter)

By Noxiaa
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Novel, AU, Post-Voldemort, Drama, Worldbuilding, Hurt-Comfort, Romance, Creature, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(135K, 54059 words)

Summary: Hermione Granger thought she knew exactly who, or what, she was, but an unexpected run-in with a former Death Eater reveals a part of her that she could never have dreamed existed.

This is good. This is very good. It has: (a) inventive creative masterful world-building, (b) a mystery with twists and turns (and clues), (c) emotional depths and heights, from horror and torment to true love, (d) good characterisation of Hermione and Snape, (e) good characterisation of Mrs. Figg, (f) a creepy original character, the Wizarding equivalent of a Mad Scientist, (g) friendship and love and self-sacrifice, (h) foolishness and desperation and the things we do for love.

28th February 2012

In a Glass, Darkly (Harry Potter)

By Tales Of Snape
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novelette, AU, Post-Voldemort, Drama, Angst, Friendship, SSHG, SSHG2011, Magic Mirror, Manipulative Dumbledore
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(32K, 12161 words)

Summary: Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? Not Severus Snape, that's for sure...

The original prompt for this story was: Post Hogwarts, Hermione acquires a magical mirror for her personal use (why? how? when?). Just one of those things that bugs you in the bathroom in the morning about your looks and all. But hers is not your regular magical mirror. Somehow, what is supposed to look like her reflection, looks like Severus Snape, talks like Severus Snape and acts like one, too.

The author took a prompt that could have been pure comedy, and turned it into something that had me figuratively biting my nails with fear and hope. Very good.

Through a Glass Darkly (Harry Potter)

By Lookfar
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, Worldbuilding, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011, Teacher-Hermione, Divorced-Hermione, Magic Mirror
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(34K, 12552 words)

Summary: Professor Hermione Granger hoped that returning to Hogwarts as a teacher would provide a balanced and peaceful life after her divorce. She hardly expected to be called on to rescue someone from her past.

Haunting and mysterious, black eyes look out of a mirror. Is it a ghost? Is it something else? Here we have Hermione, who looks at a puzzle to be solved like it's a Christmas present. And her daughter Rose, who is a sensible teenager with silly romantic notions. Intriguing world-building, emotionally layered words, a love which is a necessity. Well worth reading.

The Mirror Crack'd (Harry Potter)

By Hannah 1888
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Novella, EWE, Post-Voldemort, Angst, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011, Magic Mirror
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape
(59K, 20555 words)

Summary: Severus wants to move on, but the Mirror of Erised is both a help and a hindrance.

The characterisation in this story is excellent. First we have Severus, whose obsession with Lily won't let him go, even though he wants it to. Then we have Hermione, whose curiosity turns to obsession, and that obsession makes her miserable. What really impressed me was the end, because the author did NOT take the easy way out, the expected ending, but one which was harder and more realistic.

19th February 2012

Bitch's Brew (Harry Potter)

By Death ofme
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novelette, EWE, Post-Voldemort, Mystery, Horror, Angst, Friendship, Cross-dressing, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Bellatrix Lestrange
(45K, 15288 words)

Summary: Re-telling of "Fitcher's Bird". Investigating the disappearances of several young wizards, Hermione finds the trail leading to a dead woman: Bellatrix Lestrange. What lies in the lost Black estate? What dark secrets does the last room hold?

Be prepared, if you read this, for role reversal, gruesome sights, compelling characterisation, angst and horror and hope and despair, unexpected sympathy, poignant madness. Hermione, even in the midst of the horror and seeming helplessness, manages to keep her wits about her. Severus is ruthlessly practical. And the end is both happy and sad. If you can't cope with written horror, avoid this - I did say "gruesome" - but otherwise, this is definitely worth reading.

The Ethernet Chronicles (Harry Potter)

By Pythia Delphi
Reviewed by Kathryn A (2)
Tags: Novella, AU, Post-Voldemort, Epistolary, Illustrated, Humour, Friendship, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Ron Weasley, Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Luna Lovegood
(71K, 21502 words)

Summary: Post Vold-War II, the Wizarding World has adopted a new-fangled notion: blogging!

If the Wizarding World did discover blogging, this is what it would be like. This is spot-on in both the medium and the characterisation (apart from Molly, IMHO, who gets the short straw). It was delightful watching this story unfold; all the silliness and the wit and the snark, with occasional sprinkles of seriousness.

Archaeology (Stargate)

By Penknife
Reviewed by Kathryn A (3)
Tags: Short Story, Missing Scene, Character Study
Characters: ?Teal'c
(11K, 2984 words)

Summary: The Tau'ri seem not to mind having more questions than answers.

Just after "Enemy Within"; Teal'c in a brave new world, solemnly considering its people. This is just the kind of story I like, the familiar made strange by an outsider's eyes.

16th February 2012

Book Club (Harry Potter)

By M McGonagall 65
Reviewed by Kathryn A (1)
Tags: Novella, EWE, Post-Voldemort, Humour, Romance, SSHG, SSHG2011, Teacher-Hermione, Teacher-Snape, Books
Characters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Pomona Sprout, Septima Vector
(84K, 32067 words)

Summary: Hermione attempts to bring Muggle appreciation to the staff at Hogwarts through Muggle literature.

Hogwarts staff discuss The Lord Of The Rings! That idea in itself is fun enough, but what makes this story stand out even more is the way that the discussions reveal just as much about the participants as they do the book itself; sometimes much more than they had intended.

Anyone who loves The Lord Of The Rings should get a kick out of this story, not only for the insights and comparisons between Middle Earth and the Wizarding World, but also for the sprinkling of little things throughout the story that reference back to LotR. It's fun!

It's also a Severus Snape/Hermione Granger story, and, yes, the book club brings them together, but not in a trite or sentimental way. Private things are confessed, and deep issues discussed along the way. And the path of true love does not run smooth, either. But they do get there in the end, and the wedding is delightful.

This is a must-read.