Scan barcode
tashery's review
4.0
More like 4.5 stars. Lippert does well to stay true to J. K. Rowling's writing style. Although the story isn't quite as unputdownable as the HP series, I still loved the adventures of James Potter and all the appearances by the original characters. This is definitely the book to read if you're still craving more from the Harry Potter world!
catnipfields's review against another edition
4.0
It took me almost half a book to actually get into it, perhaps it was due to bunch of new characters introduced at once (I tend to have this problem, and I kept confusing Ralph with Zane for quite a while), but when it started getting interesting for me, it was great (it was good even when it was a bit boring though). You pretty much have your HP world back in your head: with all the adventures, magic, the-one-who-seems-to-be-the-villain-is-actually-not plot twist, a danger to the world, young boys/girls fooling around,getting into trouble and not listening to their sensible teachers, and even some of the original characters from the good old initial Harry Potter series. Even though the first half had me struggling, when I finished it, it made me decide to read the second book as well, and that's what matters in a series.
seknight61's review
5.0
I felt like I was reading Jk rowlings words. I loved revisiting characters and excited to read more
octobertune's review
I wanted so badly to like this story. But I just have to admit that I did not like it at all. I found out about this about two years ago, when I was desperate to find some nice fanfics about Harry Potter. But when I first started reading it, I couldn't really get into it. So I tried two more times to read it, and eventually the third time I finally got further than the part I got stuck at before. If you are still planning on reading James Potter and the Hall of Elder's Crossing, beware for this review might have some spoilers in it.
Even though at the beginning, I said I liked it so far, I ended up disliking it the more I read. Mainly because the author decided to throw almost everything that was canon. There were relationships in this story that did not make any sense. I mean it was well known that these characters had relationships with OTHER characters than the ones they were dating in this story (Luna and Neville did not date, they married Rolf Scamander and Hannah Abbott; Teddy Lupin (whose name was shortened to 'Ted') is not dating a girl named Petra Morganstern but definitely dating Victoire Weasley already). And the main reason I got angry was George Weasley. According to this author, he was a bachelor and currently dating Katie Bell. But he was actually married to Angelina Johnson, and they had two beautiful children together. This author ERASED that marriage, and ERASED those two children; GEORGE WEASLEY'S SON, NAMED AFTER HIS DECEASED TWIN BROTHER WAS ERASED FROM THIS STORY BECAUSE THE AUTHOR WANTED HIM TO DATE KATIE BELL. No. No no no no no.
I know it's fanfiction; but just - I don't get it. Why you would erase Fred Weasley II. I guess I could live with the other two (because at the end of this book Teddy did start 'holding Victoire's hand' though they could not be seen by her parents (I can't imagine why? I think Bill and Fleur would have happily accepted their daughter dating Teddy because they KNOW Teddy. And they KNOW he's a good guy)). But I can NEVER get over the thing he did to George.
The fact that James Potter, a first year, was apparently able to perform a Protean charm, something that is - according to someone in Order of the Phoenix - a charm that is N.E.W.T. standard. It was very unbelievable for me that James was able to do this charm, especially since he's nothing like Hermione, and Hermione was only able to do it in her fifth year. (It's the charm she used on the coins for the DA, which James used on a bunch of rubber ducks).
Ralph joined James for Christmas break, because his dad was busy or something - and the thing that made me a bit pissed off was that they celebrated it in 12 Grimmauld Place. I do not think Harry would have wanted to come back there after Deathly Hallows, I mean it has too many bad memories, Sirius never loved that house and nor did Harry. But that aside, I liked seeing the Weasley/Potter/Granger family together (apart from the whole George thing); but then there was the presents. Of course, they all got nice presents, and then Ginny and Harry had a present for Ralph as well.
Snape's copy of Advanced Potion Making. Which was in the Room of Hidden Things, which got very very burned by Crabbe's Fiendfyre in Deathly Hallows. The Room of Requirement might have repaired itself, but I do not think it could have repaired all the items that were in that specific room, especially not some stupid book. Which is also a book for sixth years. And something that Ginny would NOT have approved of giving to anyone, let alone a first year. I don't care that he's a Slytherin, Ginny Weasley would NEVER have given that book, that has some horrible spells in it, to ANYONE.
Also apparently the author thought it would be nice to let every student from every year sleep together in the same room; of course girls still separated from boys, but first years slept in the same room as seventh years (and everything in between). And this was the same for the lessons. We know from the Harry Potter books that the Gryffindors had lessons with another house - just one other house (for example, they had Herbology with the Hufflepuffs, and Potions with the Slytherins); but Lippert mashed it all together.
James had Muggle Studies (a subject that they weren't taught until third year, which was also NOT mandatory) with Teddy who was a Seventh year, Tabitha who was a fifth year Slytherin and I believe some Hufflepuffs or Ravenclaws as well. To me, it felt like the author only did this because he wanted James to spend time with Teddy. Because why not have him have classes with his two friends, Zane and Ralph, who are in the SAME YEAR?
The only thing I was really happy with, was that James was not a SUPER MEGA AWESOME QUDDITCH PLAYER in his first year. In fact, his Quidditch try-out (because apparently first years were allowed to try out all of a sudden, while after Harry got in the team this rule was not changed throughout the HP books) he was horrible. So horrible, he nearly fell off a broom and died. Until Ralph saved him, that is. (In my head, Albus isn't a great flier either, but Lily Luna turns out to have gotten their parents' awesome quidditch genes).
Yes, I had a lot of problems with this book, and I think that if I wrote them all down here, this would probably be such a long post, I could make it into a book (hmmmm, maybe I could do it).
I think my main issue with this story, is that it wasn't written by J.K. Rowling. The writing was quite good, though sometimes the author was confused on whether it was 'The Hall of Elder's Crossing' or 'The Hall of Elders' Crossing'. But yeah, I just had too many problems with this story. This story reminded me of the reason I don't read fanfiction anymore, because I find it hard to agree with headcanons/fanon.
Do I recommend James Potter and the Hall of Elders'/Elder's Crossing to anyone? No. Unless you don't care about the things that are canon. No, even then, I do not recommend this story to you. I have read much better fanfiction on fanfiction.net, and they don't have their own website, their own pages on Goodreads. Will I be reading the rest of the series? Maybe. I am not sure yet. I do have the other two available books on my e-reader, but first I need to get over this book. I might try the second one in a couple of months, or years. Or something like that.
Even though at the beginning, I said I liked it so far, I ended up disliking it the more I read. Mainly because the author decided to throw almost everything that was canon. There were relationships in this story that did not make any sense. I mean it was well known that these characters had relationships with OTHER characters than the ones they were dating in this story (Luna and Neville did not date, they married Rolf Scamander and Hannah Abbott; Teddy Lupin (whose name was shortened to 'Ted') is not dating a girl named Petra Morganstern but definitely dating Victoire Weasley already). And the main reason I got angry was George Weasley. According to this author, he was a bachelor and currently dating Katie Bell. But he was actually married to Angelina Johnson, and they had two beautiful children together. This author ERASED that marriage, and ERASED those two children; GEORGE WEASLEY'S SON, NAMED AFTER HIS DECEASED TWIN BROTHER WAS ERASED FROM THIS STORY BECAUSE THE AUTHOR WANTED HIM TO DATE KATIE BELL. No. No no no no no.
I know it's fanfiction; but just - I don't get it. Why you would erase Fred Weasley II. I guess I could live with the other two (because at the end of this book Teddy did start 'holding Victoire's hand' though they could not be seen by her parents (I can't imagine why? I think Bill and Fleur would have happily accepted their daughter dating Teddy because they KNOW Teddy. And they KNOW he's a good guy)). But I can NEVER get over the thing he did to George.
The fact that James Potter, a first year, was apparently able to perform a Protean charm, something that is - according to someone in Order of the Phoenix - a charm that is N.E.W.T. standard. It was very unbelievable for me that James was able to do this charm, especially since he's nothing like Hermione, and Hermione was only able to do it in her fifth year. (It's the charm she used on the coins for the DA, which James used on a bunch of rubber ducks).
Ralph joined James for Christmas break, because his dad was busy or something - and the thing that made me a bit pissed off was that they celebrated it in 12 Grimmauld Place. I do not think Harry would have wanted to come back there after Deathly Hallows, I mean it has too many bad memories, Sirius never loved that house and nor did Harry. But that aside, I liked seeing the Weasley/Potter/Granger family together (apart from the whole George thing); but then there was the presents. Of course, they all got nice presents, and then Ginny and Harry had a present for Ralph as well.
Snape's copy of Advanced Potion Making. Which was in the Room of Hidden Things, which got very very burned by Crabbe's Fiendfyre in Deathly Hallows. The Room of Requirement might have repaired itself, but I do not think it could have repaired all the items that were in that specific room, especially not some stupid book. Which is also a book for sixth years. And something that Ginny would NOT have approved of giving to anyone, let alone a first year. I don't care that he's a Slytherin, Ginny Weasley would NEVER have given that book, that has some horrible spells in it, to ANYONE.
Also apparently the author thought it would be nice to let every student from every year sleep together in the same room; of course girls still separated from boys, but first years slept in the same room as seventh years (and everything in between). And this was the same for the lessons. We know from the Harry Potter books that the Gryffindors had lessons with another house - just one other house (for example, they had Herbology with the Hufflepuffs, and Potions with the Slytherins); but Lippert mashed it all together.
James had Muggle Studies (a subject that they weren't taught until third year, which was also NOT mandatory) with Teddy who was a Seventh year, Tabitha who was a fifth year Slytherin and I believe some Hufflepuffs or Ravenclaws as well. To me, it felt like the author only did this because he wanted James to spend time with Teddy. Because why not have him have classes with his two friends, Zane and Ralph, who are in the SAME YEAR?
The only thing I was really happy with, was that James was not a SUPER MEGA AWESOME QUDDITCH PLAYER in his first year. In fact, his Quidditch try-out (because apparently first years were allowed to try out all of a sudden, while after Harry got in the team this rule was not changed throughout the HP books) he was horrible. So horrible, he nearly fell off a broom and died. Until Ralph saved him, that is. (In my head, Albus isn't a great flier either, but Lily Luna turns out to have gotten their parents' awesome quidditch genes).
Yes, I had a lot of problems with this book, and I think that if I wrote them all down here, this would probably be such a long post, I could make it into a book (hmmmm, maybe I could do it).
I think my main issue with this story, is that it wasn't written by J.K. Rowling. The writing was quite good, though sometimes the author was confused on whether it was 'The Hall of Elder's Crossing' or 'The Hall of Elders' Crossing'. But yeah, I just had too many problems with this story. This story reminded me of the reason I don't read fanfiction anymore, because I find it hard to agree with headcanons/fanon.
Do I recommend James Potter and the Hall of Elders'/Elder's Crossing to anyone? No. Unless you don't care about the things that are canon. No, even then, I do not recommend this story to you. I have read much better fanfiction on fanfiction.net, and they don't have their own website, their own pages on Goodreads. Will I be reading the rest of the series? Maybe. I am not sure yet. I do have the other two available books on my e-reader, but first I need to get over this book. I might try the second one in a couple of months, or years. Or something like that.
kathlgpa's review
4.0
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. If you go into it knowing it is not to be a direct sequel to the Harry Potter series and is the author's own take on the world, I believe you will enjoy it.
alyshadeshae's review
4.0
I was quite impressed with this. At times, I did indeed forget that I was reading fanfiction. At other times, it was all too obvious that it wasn't a Rowling-original work. However, I am continuing the series and will happily be looking at Lippert's original works as well. :-D
guyro's review
2.0
i dislike the americanisations brought into the authors harry potter fanfiction, but that might be personal taste.
I particuarly dislike that the author asks people to buy his books because writing his harry potter fanfictions costs "time and money" it only costs money because you let it Mr Author. many many thousands of harry potter fanfiction authors are donating their time for free, the bit that annoys me is that it only costs money because you make it so, you have decided to build a fancy dynamic website, you decided to get covers. other fanfiction authors dont do this and it is no reason for you to ask for money.
i like your writing of james. I find it very weird that you write ginny weasley as molly weasley, granted she will have grown up but if your going for that type of character why not just use molly weasley?
your story seems well planned and thought out with reasonably good writing.
if it wasn't for the glaring annoyances, i would rate this average to good. much better than alot of the drivel fanfictions (this has reasonably good writing) but along way off the very very good fanfictions
I particuarly dislike that the author asks people to buy his books because writing his harry potter fanfictions costs "time and money" it only costs money because you let it Mr Author. many many thousands of harry potter fanfiction authors are donating their time for free, the bit that annoys me is that it only costs money because you make it so, you have decided to build a fancy dynamic website, you decided to get covers. other fanfiction authors dont do this and it is no reason for you to ask for money.
i like your writing of james. I find it very weird that you write ginny weasley as molly weasley, granted she will have grown up but if your going for that type of character why not just use molly weasley?
your story seems well planned and thought out with reasonably good writing.
if it wasn't for the glaring annoyances, i would rate this average to good. much better than alot of the drivel fanfictions (this has reasonably good writing) but along way off the very very good fanfictions
brittniphillips's review
3.0
Although this is not written by JKR herself I am grateful to GNL for extending her story as best as he could though James's eyes. It's a nice to visit this world again, I've missed it so much. :)
rarebird_15's review
5.0
Wow! I loved this book! I was sad when the Harry Potter series ended, so when I heard about the James Potter series, I had to get it. I'm so glad I did! This book was amazing and definitely lived up to my expectations! I'll be reading the other four books in the series for sure! If you loved the Harry Potter books the way I did, you'll love this series, too.
ryanjamesburt's review
4.0
This was entertaining. Although it was more because I am a Harry Potter fan then the writting itself. But hey with no new Harry Potters coming out this was better then quiting cold turkey.