I don't really have a live journal and generally hold my tongue until the end of the series; but I do actually have some questions about your story line, and your reasoning behind some of your characters actions...
1. Alexandra:
Why exactly hasn't she joined her Daddy's little club?-other than the fact I don't think Abraham would allow it- She sees herself as being victimized and marginalized, she has a temper, has demonstrated a power-thirst and an inclination towards the Dark Arts(even just in the minute "Why doesn't anyone teach these spells?""Oo let me see this obviously dark spellbook"). She has, basically, demonstrated everything that would lead me to conclude that she wants to throw in with her father. Now; at the end of Deathly Regiment, she even has the sense of OMG I'M JUSTIFIED IN REMOVING AN EVIL.
I think, maybe, it has something to do with her friends. On the friendship ground, however, I don't know that it is very sincere based on the facts of the story. Alexandra frequently withdraws from her friends, uses them( citing the elves specifically), and at times acts like they are simply nuisances.
I don't mean this as a criticism but at times it seems like you put a bit too much of your own authorial power to work here; you need a heroic character, if Alex murdered Darla(Like I am still slightly surprised she didn't) you couldn't really hold her up as the hero.
Also, I might be totally off my rocker here(and most likely should have just started a new section dedicated to Mr. Thorn); Was Abraham's decision to have a child with a muggle reflective of Mr. Chu's decision? Essentially, was it based around the hopes of having a child he could grow close to and actually be a father to, without fear of needing to sacrifice said child?
2. The story over all:
Was the Confederation's deal inspired by The Lottery, or The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas? I could certainly see an influence from both in that one... And definitely a concept I would like to see play out in the series.
3.
I have been reading your stories over the course of a couple of years now; I have enjoyed all of them(Not just the AQ ones, I also liked your Houses Divided story) and look forward to reading the next ones.
I personally haven't found the stories overly dark(certainly darker than the HP stories) but not gratuitously so.. There is a meaning to the darkness rather than it being dark just for the sake of appearing edgy and kewl-on-teh-internetz.
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1. Alexandra:
Why exactly hasn't she joined her Daddy's little club?-other than the fact I don't think Abraham would allow it- She sees herself as being victimized and marginalized, she has a temper, has demonstrated a power-thirst and an inclination towards the Dark Arts(even just in the minute "Why doesn't anyone teach these spells?""Oo let me see this obviously dark spellbook"). She has, basically, demonstrated everything that would lead me to conclude that she wants to throw in with her father. Now; at the end of Deathly Regiment, she even has the sense of OMG I'M JUSTIFIED IN REMOVING AN EVIL.
I think, maybe, it has something to do with her friends. On the friendship ground, however, I don't know that it is very sincere based on the facts of the story. Alexandra frequently withdraws from her friends, uses them( citing the elves specifically), and at times acts like they are simply nuisances.
I don't mean this as a criticism but at times it seems like you put a bit too much of your own authorial power to work here; you need a heroic character, if Alex murdered Darla(Like I am still slightly surprised she didn't) you couldn't really hold her up as the hero.
Also, I might be totally off my rocker here(and most likely should have just started a new section dedicated to Mr. Thorn); Was Abraham's decision to have a child with a muggle reflective of Mr. Chu's decision? Essentially, was it based around the hopes of having a child he could grow close to and actually be a father to, without fear of needing to sacrifice said child?
2. The story over all:
Was the Confederation's deal inspired by The Lottery, or The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas? I could certainly see an influence from both in that one... And definitely a concept I would like to see play out in the series.
3.
I have been reading your stories over the course of a couple of years now; I have enjoyed all of them(Not just the AQ ones, I also liked your Houses Divided story) and look forward to reading the next ones.
I personally haven't found the stories overly dark(certainly darker than the HP stories) but not gratuitously so.. There is a meaning to the darkness rather than it being dark just for the sake of appearing edgy and kewl-on-teh-internetz.