Elsa

Author at http://www.fanfiction.net/u/358037/Elsa2.

Taniwha

(1) Taniwha (Harry Potter)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 16th September 2010 (3)
Tags: Novel, AU, Reconciliation, Friendship, Mythic
Characters: Severus Snape, Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy
(313K)

Summary: At the end of his fifth year Harry is sent to stay with Snape. Same old, same old, but with different scenery.

The first thing that this story has going for it is, as the summary says, the "different scenery": New Zealand. Detailed touches that show the author has definitely lived there. Not just the scenery is different, but the Wizarding culture also; different attitudes, and some different magics. Different, but not exoticised; to the people living there, it is Harry who is strange.

Secondly, the well-drawn supporting characters. This gives Snape a completely different family background; it was probably written after GOF, when we didn't know anything about Snape's family, even though this is ostensibly set after fifth year.

Thirdly, the blending of folk-tale with the HP magic; on the one hand, you have the strange made familiar, where those who have grown up with these magics treat it as something normal; on the other hand, there are flashes of terror and wonder, brushes with things beyond human ken, legends walking the Earth.

(2) Chrysalis (Harry Potter)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 16th September 2010 (4)
Tags: Novella, AU, Reconciliation, Friendship, Mythic
Characters: Severus Snape, Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy
(288K)

Summary: Draco is having the semi-traditional identity crisis.

This continues the story; there are Developments, things get complicated. The original characters introduced in the previous story continue to be great, particularly Helen, who is awesome. I like this Draco; still Draco but having grown up somewhat.

On the downside, the story ends with unanswered questions, which are presumably answered in the last story in the trilogy.