Have you finished it yet? I'm completely in love with it, even though I kind of stopped near the end of the 4th book (mostly because I need to gird my loins for the angst).
OMG, you're READING IT? I mean, yes, I've finished it, in that I was one of the poor unfortunates reading the last few books live as they were posted, but in this particular re-read, I'm in the first quarter of book five.
THE END OF BOOK FOUR. This was the first runthrough where I actually skipped all but the last of the graveyard bit, because sometimes an author can be too good at what she does, yes?
I keep wanting to shriek at people about how amazing it all is, though. The worldbuilding is just the best. Like, I straight up want to read antire novels about Calypso McGonagall, because she sounds so badass that I've fallen completely in love with her through the scattered and random historical anecdotes. That is some skill. Also, Calypso McGonagall is an archetypal figure of good who just happens to kidnap herself two spouses over her lifetime and I find that hilarious/fascinating.
That is basically my reaction every time I realize someone's talking about the Sacrifices Arc. It's just so incredibly well-built and so far it's been like the Holy Grail for me, because almost everything I have a problem with in the Harry Potter series is being addressed and fixed right before my very eyes.
The pain you must have gone through, I wouldn't have been able to stand the suspense.
Calypso! She brings out all the feelings in me. Does the author go more in depth about her life in the later books?
I just keep telling people it's my perfect piece of fiction and seeing them not get it. I'm not saying it's flawless, I'm just saying that IT IS EVERYTHING I EVER WANTED TO SEE, ALL WRAPPED UP TOGETHER, AND OH YEAH, IT IS NEARLY THREE MILLION WORDS *AND* CONTAINS ONE OF THE MOST PERFECT EPILOGUES TO EVER LOG. Because my HP fic kinks are basically mentoring + plots + logistics + the DA + Parseltongue + the Chamber of Secrets + crazy wizarding traditions + comeuppance + socially awkward and/or abused Harry + revolution, and hey, guess which of these the SA has? THAT'S RIGHT, FUCKING ALL OF THEM (Harry's tutoring sessions basically = the DA).
I freaked in the comments so often around book six, even though lightningwave swore she wasn't going to kill *everybody* (but she was killing/torturing a BUNCH of people while innocently warning us that book seven would be much darker - I did a lot of reading through my fingers).
She is the BEST. Seriously, she kidnaps Achernar off the battlefield and holds her prisoner - and the book said Achernar stopped constantly trying to kill herself or escape after seven years, not that she stopped completely or was ever offered her freedom - and then they get married and become A FAMOUS EXAMPLE OF TRUE LOVE, what is that. But no, it is basically just several anecdotes.
I think the stories not told really are one of the series' strengths, because they do give you a very authentic feeling, that this world existed before, and will exist after, the explicit span of time. I'm not saying I wouldn't cheerfully punch somebody in the throat for that Calypso novel, or Lucius and Narcissa's Cheerfully Violent and Evil Teenage Courtship (he maims a dude for her! she and her sister flirt with murdering each other!), or the Morally Grey Adventures of Snape and [SPOILER], or the Spooky True Love of a Necromancer and the Red Death. ALL OF THE BACKSTORIES/AUs/HISTORIES, basically.
Ughhh yesss. It's beautiful, even with the soul-crushing angst (SYLARANA. I legit shed some tears during that scene). *__* The maze was my favorite part, so far.
I wouldn't have survived! I mean, I was literally forcing myself to continue even when my eyelids were drooping, because some of those cliff-hangers JFC. They are terrifying.
gjasfkljh I remember that. Calypso, why so badass and merciful at the same time. And the different kinds of love, I've ran into some people who didn't like that part of the book, but my heart grew three sizes when Harry realized Draco wanted the same thing.
Lucius and Narcissa's Cheerfully Violent and Evil Teenage Courtship
Omg can I have this please? I want this like burning. The dynamic between them is so fresh, and so interesting! Narcissa definitely wields the bigger wand in their relationship, and it is glorious. So much about that universe is glorious. I think when I actually finish it I'm just going to sit on my bed and sigh with satisfaction forever.
Although, honestly: where the fuck is Regulus. D: And that closet in 12 Grimmauld Place freaked me the fuck out (genetic experiments WTF totally didn't see that coming).
THERE IS SOME INTENSE WEEPING IN YOUR FUTURE - FUCKING BOOK SIX. Like, book seven is legitimately fucking dark, and I totally cried, but six is definitely the most full of weeping for me. Like, at one point I listed nine characters that I really, really loved and wanted to live. FIVE OF THEM DIE.
I love the different kinds of love! And you will get to a couple that shares darkness love and it is horrifying but kind of amazing. I ship this Harry and Draco SO HARD, but there are also a bunch of other awesome ships.
I love the totally creepy and/or awesome nonsense that shows up in this 'verse from other worlds - the Maze, and the Thing in the Closet, and the Stone.
I am definitely in that EVERYONE SHOULD BE READING THIS phase again. All of my hearts are for this series.
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THE END OF BOOK FOUR. This was the first runthrough where I actually skipped all but the last of the graveyard bit, because sometimes an author can be too good at what she does, yes?
I keep wanting to shriek at people about how amazing it all is, though. The worldbuilding is just the best. Like, I straight up want to read antire novels about Calypso McGonagall, because she sounds so badass that I've fallen completely in love with her through the scattered and random historical anecdotes. That is some skill. Also, Calypso McGonagall is an archetypal figure of good who just happens to kidnap herself two spouses over her lifetime and I find that hilarious/fascinating.
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The pain you must have gone through, I wouldn't have been able to stand the suspense.
Calypso! She brings out all the feelings in me. Does the author go more in depth about her life in the later books?
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I freaked in the comments so often around book six, even though
She is the BEST. Seriously, she kidnaps Achernar off the battlefield and holds her prisoner - and the book said Achernar stopped constantly trying to kill herself or escape after seven years, not that she stopped completely or was ever offered her freedom - and then they get married and become A FAMOUS EXAMPLE OF TRUE LOVE, what is that. But no, it is basically just several anecdotes.
I think the stories not told really are one of the series' strengths, because they do give you a very authentic feeling, that this world existed before, and will exist after, the explicit span of time. I'm not saying I wouldn't cheerfully punch somebody in the throat for that Calypso novel, or Lucius and Narcissa's Cheerfully Violent and Evil Teenage Courtship (he maims a dude for her! she and her sister flirt with murdering each other!), or the Morally Grey Adventures of Snape and [SPOILER], or the Spooky True Love of a Necromancer and the Red Death. ALL OF THE BACKSTORIES/AUs/HISTORIES, basically.
no subject
I wouldn't have survived! I mean, I was literally forcing myself to continue even when my eyelids were drooping, because some of those cliff-hangers JFC. They are terrifying.
gjasfkljh I remember that. Calypso, why so badass and merciful at the same time. And the different kinds of love, I've ran into some people who didn't like that part of the book, but my heart grew three sizes when Harry realized Draco wanted the same thing.
Lucius and Narcissa's Cheerfully Violent and Evil Teenage Courtship
Omg can I have this please? I want this like burning. The dynamic between them is so fresh, and so interesting! Narcissa definitely wields the bigger wand in their relationship, and it is glorious. So much about that universe is glorious. I think when I actually finish it I'm just going to sit on my bed and sigh with satisfaction forever.
Although, honestly: where the fuck is Regulus. D: And that closet in 12 Grimmauld Place freaked me the fuck out (genetic experiments WTF totally didn't see that coming).
no subject
I love the different kinds of love! And you will get to a couple that shares darkness love and it is horrifying but kind of amazing. I ship this Harry and Draco SO HARD, but there are also a bunch of other awesome ships.
I love the totally creepy and/or awesome nonsense that shows up in this 'verse from other worlds - the Maze, and the Thing in the Closet, and the Stone.
I am definitely in that EVERYONE SHOULD BE READING THIS phase again. All of my hearts are for this series.