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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
A good book that takes you back to Hogwarts. As a great HP fan, I loved going reading this book, almost as good as the original series. Can't wait to read the second book!
This is a wonderful piece of fanfiction. Loads of fun to read, however as it is a fanfiction it sometimes seems to stray away from the HP universe a little too much.
Going into this first book of the James Potter series, I really didn't know what to expect. I mean, I love the Harry Potter series, and the idea of reading fan fiction was a little unsettling for me. I mean, on one hand, it could be a totally amazing book that brings back all of the fun, excitement and, well, magic, of the Potter franchise.....or, it could, you know, suck.
In the end, I decided to give it a go. After all, the book is a free download, so there was nothing to lose.
So how did it turn out? I think it is a really excellent piece of fan fiction.
Ok, ok, cannon police, you can stop throwing the tomatoes at me, I agree with you, there are some problems:
* As implied by the above statement, there are canon problems.... There are others, but those were the items that are coming to mind right now.
* The American voice. Now, I now that the author is American, but I think it would have done the manuscript a world of good to be run past a Brit so it could have been checked for regional colloquialisms and such.Also, I found it strange that the American characters in the book sounded a little on the...cartoonish (for lack of a better word) side...they seem over exaggerated. If the rest of the characters had been a bit more Brit and the Americans the way the rest of the book reads, it might have been better,
* Another voice problem is that the characters don't seem age appropriate. James and his friends sound like they could easily be four years older than the 11 years they are supposed to be. One really great thing about the original series is how well the characters aged throughout the 7 books. There is a very big difference between Harry at 11 and Harry at 17.
So if there is so much to complain about, why the high rating?
Because this book was fun!
The plot was original and believable within the Potter world. I was engaged as a reader, and wanted to know what would happen next. Frankly, it was just so exciting to be back at Hogwarts that I didn't care It didn't matter. You can change all of the above aspects of a book with an editor, but you can't make someone a good writer. This is a well written effort and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
In the end, I decided to give it a go. After all, the book is a free download, so there was nothing to lose.
So how did it turn out? I think it is a really excellent piece of fan fiction.
Ok, ok, cannon police, you can stop throwing the tomatoes at me, I agree with you, there are some problems:
* As implied by the above statement, there are canon problems....
Spoiler
first years wouldn't be taking classes like divination. First years wouldn't be bunking in the same dorm as older students...nor would they have classes together. I was deeply troubled by the fact that students of different houses were hanging out in each other's common rooms....I mean, I know time has passed since Harry Potter's time at the castle and rules change, but it seems like a big shift and a security risk....I mean for instance, why have a password for Gryffindor tower if Zane a Ravenclaw and Ralph a Slytherin can hear James say it?* The American voice. Now, I now that the author is American, but I think it would have done the manuscript a world of good to be run past a Brit so it could have been checked for regional colloquialisms and such.
* Another voice problem is that the characters don't seem age appropriate. James and his friends sound like they could easily be four years older than the 11 years they are supposed to be. One really great thing about the original series is how well the characters aged throughout the 7 books. There is a very big difference between Harry at 11 and Harry at 17.
So if there is so much to complain about, why the high rating?
Because this book was fun!
The plot was original and believable within the Potter world. I was engaged as a reader, and wanted to know what would happen next. Frankly, it was just so exciting to be back at Hogwarts that I didn't care
Spoiler
if first years and seventh years were in class together or if James was allowed to lounge around in the Slytherin dungeons.
Brilliant piece of fanfiction. it's a real treat for any harry potter fan. it reads easily, and keeps you so interested! would love to reread it once again :) who knows, maybe i will!
I hate this book. I'm not normally one to drag down authors or be a snob just because something is fanfiction but this was terrible.
Clearly this book was written by an American. It includes an American Wizarding school, American teachers and the constant reminder that British people are all so fascinated with Americans.
Next issue: I hated the way they spoke.
I can forgive it for Hagrid because he speaks like that in the original books but the rest of the students? No. There have also been multiple things altered that were never in cannon at all. I don't mind changing something in cannon if it adds to the plot but what the author changed was so irrelevant and adds nothing.
Then we have Benjamin Franklin, or should I say, Benjamin Franklyn?
It was totally useless. The thing that annoyed me most was the changed spelling of his name. The plot was consistent but the ugly dialogue and the Romanised version of England overruled it for me. I will not be reading the series.
Clearly this book was written by an American. It includes an American Wizarding school, American teachers and the constant reminder that British people are all so fascinated with Americans.
Next issue: I hated the way they spoke.
I can forgive it for Hagrid because he speaks like that in the original books but the rest of the students? No. There have also been multiple things altered that were never in cannon at all. I don't mind changing something in cannon if it adds to the plot but what the author changed was so irrelevant and adds nothing.
Then we have Benjamin Franklin, or should I say, Benjamin Franklyn?
It was totally useless. The thing that annoyed me most was the changed spelling of his name. The plot was consistent but the ugly dialogue and the Romanised version of England overruled it for me. I will not be reading the series.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While you won't mistake this work for one penned by JK Rowling (it does lack some of her exquisite phrasing), if you are a Harry Potter fan eager for another trip to Hogwarts, you won't be disappointed!
I should note I had trouble getting into it at first, but gave it until the plot started to get going, and then (suspending disbelief of some of the new elements that were introduced by this author) I enjoyed the ride quite a lot.
I should note I had trouble getting into it at first, but gave it until the plot started to get going, and then (suspending disbelief of some of the new elements that were introduced by this author) I enjoyed the ride quite a lot.
Marcado como leido pero en realidad no lo he terminado, ni creo poder hacerlo, ni lo pienso terminarlo después pronto.
No sé que pasó, si me estaba gustando pero me dio un bloqueo terrible con este libro en especial.
En el futuro lo intetaré de nuevo para no quedarme intranquila que lo deje solo así.
No sé que pasó, si me estaba gustando pero me dio un bloqueo terrible con este libro en especial.
En el futuro lo intetaré de nuevo para no quedarme intranquila que lo deje solo así.
Pretty good for fan fiction . . . . not nearly the obsession inducing page turner of the original Potter books but a fun read.
Alright, being an avid Harry Potter fan I'm going to give a bit more of a review than other books that I've read.
I was absolutely pleasantly surprised with this book. When a friend has mentioned these books to me I have to say I had mixed feelings. One one hand, it's so important to me to stay true to J.K. Rowling's story and world she created, I wasn't sure if I even wanted to read them. On the other however, this was the perfect opportunity to continue on and be thrown right back into the world that I loved so much. So, I decided I had to give it a shot. At first, there were a few things that bothered me. Ben Franklyn being alive and a wizard seemed a bit weird. Merlin seemed a bit already told. And it bothered me how it seemed no one cared that much about who Harry Potter was. I mean he's HARRY POTTER! However as I pursued I was continuously impressed. There was a point where I almost forgot it wasn't J.K. Rowling telling the story, honestly. I love how he stays so true to the world she created, down to the personalities of the original characters. Though all the same, James is definitely his own person. It isn't just a copy of the Harry Potter books. It is James's story. I ended up enjoying where he was taking, and took the Merlin plot. I loved this book. Harry Potter will forever be my favorite series but, I would say James Potter is a close runner up. So good job.
I was absolutely pleasantly surprised with this book. When a friend has mentioned these books to me I have to say I had mixed feelings. One one hand, it's so important to me to stay true to J.K. Rowling's story and world she created, I wasn't sure if I even wanted to read them. On the other however, this was the perfect opportunity to continue on and be thrown right back into the world that I loved so much. So, I decided I had to give it a shot. At first, there were a few things that bothered me. Ben Franklyn being alive and a wizard seemed a bit weird. Merlin seemed a bit already told. And it bothered me how it seemed no one cared that much about who Harry Potter was. I mean he's HARRY POTTER! However as I pursued I was continuously impressed. There was a point where I almost forgot it wasn't J.K. Rowling telling the story, honestly. I love how he stays so true to the world she created, down to the personalities of the original characters. Though all the same, James is definitely his own person. It isn't just a copy of the Harry Potter books. It is James's story. I ended up enjoying where he was taking, and took the Merlin plot. I loved this book. Harry Potter will forever be my favorite series but, I would say James Potter is a close runner up. So good job.