Name: Felpata_Lupin (Signed) · Date: 23 May 2020 09:44 AM · For: Chapter 1

Jo!!! Hello, my love!!! <3 <3 <3

I'm here checking out Chalices' noms and I'm not going to leave a very long review because I still have too many stories to check out, but I wanted to at least stop by and tell you how much I loved this! <3

And this was so lovely! <3 Sad, because it break my heart to see Leo die so soon and suddenly, but also so sweet and hopeful at the same time! It's almost like Leo's positive and optimistic spirit is still with Magda and their children and I do believe that they will still have a wonderful life! And it's such a sweet way to look at it! <3

I absolutely loved the descriptions in the beginning, of the sky and the trees and the way Magda felt for Leo! And of course I loved how sweet and supportive he was when she gave him the news of the pregnancy! I feel so much love and affection for your characters, despite having met them for so little, which shows how brilliant of a job you did with this! I'm so glad I got an excuse to check out this story! <3

Love you so much!!!

Chiara

Author's Response:

Lovely Chiara!

Thank you for stopping by. I'm always extra moved when people can relate to and enjoy my original fiction characters, because I feel with canon characters we have so much character development to default to. So reading that I managed to craft characters that work for someone all on my own always gives me a huge confidence boost.

I'm happy you could feel the hopeful vibe I was going for with the end. And it is a good way to look at loss – that the ones we miss shaped us in such a way that they'll always influence our lives.

Thank you for leaving a review!

Love,
Jo

Name: grumpy cat (Signed) · Date: 13 Sep 2019 09:40 AM · For: Chapter 1

hey jo, i'm here for the hc opener!

 

this story was both incredibly sad but also sweet.

 

your way with words and your descriptions are absolutely beautiful. that's especially evident in the first part of the story when you describe the summer, the apricot trees and everything is sort of dreamy and hazy and very summer-like and extremely fitting for the description of a first love.

 

when magda and leo first find out about the baby was handled really well - obviously, they're young, they're worried but they love each other and they've managed to laugh about this huge thing, this whole other person that's about to come into their life and turn it upside down. i also thought that the reaction of magda's parents was appropriate but even though they were shocked at first, blamed leo (though...it takes two to make a baby haha :P) i'm happy that eventually they got over it and helped them as much as they could.

 

magda and leo's life truly seems perfect (i loved the spain/barcelona description - you once again managed to describe everything with just a sentence or two, a couple of words but they conveyed everything they needed to) up until the point when leo dies which was simply heartbreaking. but, the fact that magda didn't fall apart, that she stayed strong for her children and for herself, means she's such a strong person that i really love her characterisation.

 

kris

Name: Renacera (Signed) · Date: 18 Jul 2019 12:13 AM · For: Chapter 1

Jo, it's basically a crime that I haven't left you reviews for all of your stories I've read. So, at last, here I am!

I've read this one at least four times, yet I haven't had the time to review and tell you what I think. Which is that this is amazing. You write so beautifully, and this story is no exception.

The world you've created in these words is beautiful. I can see the orchard and the apricots, feel the sun on my skin, hear Leo's laugh. There's such wonder in these paragraphs. You've built a complete world, and I want to curl up in it and read forever.

Your characterization of Magda and Leo is wonderful. They're both so real and deep. I love the support and devotion that Leo shows to Magda throughout their lives, even when things are difficult or don't go according to plan. His love for her feels so solid through everything.

The emotions that run through this floor me. When Leo dies...ugh. Every time I read it, I feel my heart start to hurt. There's so much pain in losing someone before their time. The repetition of the last line, from when Leo said it about Markus to Magda saying it about her new normal, was wonderful. The fact that she knows she has to go on, even though the pain is so much...it shows her strength.

Amazing job, dear. I love this.

Best,
Emily

Name: FireCrest (Signed) · Date: 25 Feb 2019 07:54 PM · For: Chapter 1

Hi Jo! 

Me again, sorry it took a little longer to get this one to you.

 

Once again, I really enjoyed reading your writing. I loved the tone and style of this piece, plus the imagry of the orrchard was amazing. I really could get immersed into the story as to where it felt like I was actually on the orchard looking up at the sky. Beautiful.

 

I also liked how you let us know from the start that Leo wasn't going to make it. It added a nice touch to the story, but I was able to still read the story and it came as a bit of a shock when he died. I might of liked to see a little bit more to Magda's reaction to losing him before the funeral. But either way I thought it was really well done.

Leo was just so sweet and amazing. Everyone needs a Leo in their life.  and I'm glad that they got to go to Spain together affter all. 

Overall like I said before, I really enjoyed this story. It was well paced and just overal hopeful in an otherwise sad situation.

 

I can't wait to read more of your stories!

Hugs and Hufflepuffs 

-Kyle