Name: forever_dreaming (Signed) · Date: 13 Aug 2018 12:49 AM · For: she's overboard

Hi there! I'm here to leave a review for Quadpot (Match 3) and BvB! 

 

I love your depiction of Minerva. Her ambition, her self-motivating work ethic—she's such an admirable character and you've really done her justice here. I especially liked how you shed some light into her vulnerabilities, especially with her relationship with her mother. I like that you gave some rationale for her sort-of coldness—witnessing a parent being hurt because they loved is a pretty good way to ruin the idea of love in a child's mind, though honestly, so tragic—and I especially liked that she wasn't completely cold, and still felt guilty for her treatment of Elphinstone. 

 

Her coldness and Tom's coldness are what make their dynamic so interesting to me. I love the way you really preserved Tom's creepiness, while still acknowledging his undeniable charm; I loved the description of Minerva's neck feeling raw and her skin feeling heated after she talked to Tom. It was a good contrast to the description of the girls with their hands to their lips and their chests heaving. Possibly similar conversations—I can imagne that in both instances, Tom was using all of his charm to manipulate them—and very adverse reactions. I love how Minerva's physical reaction really emphasized how disconcerting Tom can be, and yet, so charming. He's such a compelling character and so difficult to write well, but I think you've preserved his qualities very well. 

 

I'm sort of saddened that Minerva refused Elphinstone's proposal. I think it was interesting that you likened her to Moody, because we know canonically that Moody is also alone... and I think perhaps his words were sort of meant as a warning to Minerva, rather than a challenge? Initially I thought it was his sort of bravado and wanting everyone to follow his principles, constant vigilance and all that—but at the end of the fic, I couldn't help think that Moody wouldn't want Minerva to give up an opportunity to find something greater than work, greater than herself—especially when time is running out, as evidenced by her interaction with Tom. And I'm especially saddened by Minerva's recollections of Dougal. A missed opportunity—like Elphinstone. Sigh. You've created a wonderfully heartbreaking character study of Minerva, and I'm truly very impressed by the amount of nuances you've captured. 

 

Superb job, thank you for sharing <3