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arwenauthor 's review for:
James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing
by G. Norman Lippert
It's books like this that make me wish I wasn't so stubborn about finishing things that I have started.
I used to read a LOT of fan fiction. And I mean a LOT. All the big ones - the Draco Trilogy, A Year Like None Other, maya's stuff... So, then I came across this on GoodReads and saw the huge number of downloads and the millions of positive reviews and thought: why not? It's been a while, but I still love Harry Potter, and this could be a nice bit of fun.
How wrong I was.
It has taken me so long to get through because I had to force myself to read it. It was so disappointing. I feel mean writing such a negative review, but I always strive to be honest. This felt like the sort of fan fiction written by quite young American teens, wanting to insert lots of their own stuff into JK's world in a way that doesn't really fit. Why did we have to have the American exchange thing? It didn't fit. Why were James and co, as first years, so incredibly powerful? (accepting the part about Ralph's ridiculous wand). Why were they suddenly learning arithmancy and divination in first year?
It just didn't sit right. If you're going to write fan fiction, you have to strike a balance. It is your story, but it is not your world. Don't mess with what works. And JK's world works.
The writing was mediocre at best, cringey at worst. The characters were mostly one-dimensional. But it was mostly the STORY that got me: it was so unrealistic, and just did NOT hang together. These are 11 year olds we're talking about! For crying out loud, why did such huge and drastic stuff happen in what is meant to be the FIRST book in a series of seven? Where to go? And why was James involved in so much of the big decision making? Just because his father is Harry Potter?
I apologise to the author for my negativity; I do feel guilty. The best part about this book was the illustrations on the chapter pages. Those, and the relief I feel that I have finally finished it and don't have to read it anymore.
I used to read a LOT of fan fiction. And I mean a LOT. All the big ones - the Draco Trilogy, A Year Like None Other, maya's stuff... So, then I came across this on GoodReads and saw the huge number of downloads and the millions of positive reviews and thought: why not? It's been a while, but I still love Harry Potter, and this could be a nice bit of fun.
How wrong I was.
It has taken me so long to get through because I had to force myself to read it. It was so disappointing. I feel mean writing such a negative review, but I always strive to be honest. This felt like the sort of fan fiction written by quite young American teens, wanting to insert lots of their own stuff into JK's world in a way that doesn't really fit. Why did we have to have the American exchange thing? It didn't fit. Why were James and co, as first years, so incredibly powerful? (accepting the part about Ralph's ridiculous wand). Why were they suddenly learning arithmancy and divination in first year?
It just didn't sit right. If you're going to write fan fiction, you have to strike a balance. It is your story, but it is not your world. Don't mess with what works. And JK's world works.
The writing was mediocre at best, cringey at worst. The characters were mostly one-dimensional. But it was mostly the STORY that got me: it was so unrealistic, and just did NOT hang together. These are 11 year olds we're talking about! For crying out loud, why did such huge and drastic stuff happen in what is meant to be the FIRST book in a series of seven? Where to go? And why was James involved in so much of the big decision making? Just because his father is Harry Potter?
I apologise to the author for my negativity; I do feel guilty. The best part about this book was the illustrations on the chapter pages. Those, and the relief I feel that I have finally finished it and don't have to read it anymore.