Name: blackballet (Signed) · Date: 23 Sep 2024 12:14 AM · For: Chapter 1

Hello and I'm back for another Camp FFT review reward!

 

I was blown away by this story! To answer your question, I didn't difure it out until the very end when she spelled it out for us.  I love the idea, it's so creative. I defitinely didn't catch onto the meaning of Mihaela's name, but I did recognize the reference to The Giver. I was thinking that she was somehow related to another fandom, and I was wracking my brain trying to think of a character who had those sorts of powers, but of course I couldn't. 

I loved the beginning, too. I was so intriguied by all she knew, and the little things she didn't. The little details that Rowling didn't include because they weren't important, and the other details that Mihaela knew that the other characters didn't. It was such a cool interaction, and it was really like the only explanation in the end.

I have to admit, I kind of wish she could have just killed Voldemort haha. But it was satisfying to hear that she couldn't change this story, but she could change another one; her own. And then she throws Dumbledore's own line (that he hasn't even said yet!!!) back at him. chef's kiss. I love how it creates little circles and ripples in the story.

 

Awesome idea! So glad I stopped by to read this one

Cat

Name: Noelle Zingarella (Signed) · Date: 17 Aug 2019 09:56 PM · For: Chapter 1

Hi Barbara! I’m here to review this really creative story :D

 

 

I hope that I’ve said this before but, if I haven’t, I’m going to say it now: you have the most creative, wonderful ideas for your stories! This one here, with Mihaela somehow stumbling into her own imagination—and really conversing with these characters—stunning. 

 

But first I want to talk about these characters. Dumbledore and Snape—two very powerful and in-the-know wizards in Rowling’s—and Mihaela’s—imaginations are, I think, on point in the way you’ve written them meeting this mysterious being who is so powerful. Dumbledore is unflappable and polite. I also suspect that he’s trying to figure out a way to turn this to his advantage. Snape is snarky and unwilling to believe and, when he does, he’s horrified. And who wouldn’t be? To realize that you are a figment of someone else’s imagination?? I mean, we all know that these characters are real to us, as Mihaela observes, but for them to know that? 

 

Mihaela herself is darling. I love that her response to going to Number 12 Grimmauld place is “neat!” And that she’s nonchalant about knowing the way around the place and talking to Dumbledore. She seems to be wavering between confidence and terror though. She can use her powers happily to create for herself a cup of tea, and then change it to be just the way she likes, or she can transport them to Dumbledore’s office and bring Hermione in for a little chat—but she can only control the world insofar as she can control her thoughts. That’s a little scary for everyone.

 

The humor you put in was delightful! I loved the idea of the peacock Death Eaters (oh my, so much!) and the multiple Malfoys and what an insane time Tom Riddle must have had trying to deal with her. And whatever she did to Bella that you just hinted at. And Sirius turning into a statue (lol!). I also appreciated that Snape’s one of her favorites (that’s my girl!) and that he’s being decent to her (sort of, for him). I also really liked when Mihaela made Hermione appear and then changed Hermione’s thoughts from scared to relaxed. Both a kind action—and  little bit of a creepy one.

 

It seemed to me that Mihaela doesn’t to exactly understand how she got into her own imagination. And is she only allowed to be in this story? It’s an amazing touch that Dumbledore’s office didn’t look exactly the way Mihaela had imagined it. It makes this surreal adventure seem real. But is Mihaela trapped there I wonder? And I wonder if she will be able to get out. I don’t need to have those questions answered—I sort of love it when stories that leave you with lots of questions.

 

You mention The Neverending Story as a point of reference for what is going on here. Does it work the same as it does in that story? I mean, is Mihaela losing her memories of her real life as she makes things happen in this story? I wasn’t totally sure how much you were trying to say what happens in Neverending Story is happening here. I could see putting a little more explanation about the plot of Ende’s novel, just in case the reader is not familiar with it, either by working it into the dialogue or as a footnote. 

As a side note, if Mihaela is, in fact, losing her memories the way Bastian does in Ende’s novel, that’s kind of an amazing commentary on fanfic writers in general. Because don’t we all want to spend some time escaping real life and living in our imaginations??

 

I really like this story a lot. It’s so creative—such an awesome idea!

 

Yours,

Noelle

Author's Response:

Thank you for your kind review. You completely got the story and my intentions behind it. I wonder if that is because you've read The Neverending Story. 

It had been years since I read the story and I honestly hadn't thought about the second half of The Neverending story when Bastian forgot about the real world. I was basing it more on the blending of lines between fantansy and reality and how Bastian traveled to Fantasia. I hadn't really thought abou taking this story further but that might be an interesting idea to add to it. Suppose Mia doesn't want to go back to reality (or can't.) However, I will add something either to the dialogue or a footnote.

The reason I added the part about Dumbledore's office is because when reading a story, I don't imagine every detail of a room, so somehow my "blind spots" would have to be filled in. 

I loved the peacocks, too. Obviously Malfoy's white peacocks modified a bit.

I think you are right, she is wavering between terror and confidence. She has more power than I would ever want but then again, we do have that power, in writing our stories. 

Name: sibilant (Signed) · Date: 06 Jul 2019 03:27 PM · For: Chapter 1

Hi Barbara! I’m here with your requested review :)

 

This is such a creative idea. It reminds me a little of the self-insert fics that I read when I was first getting into fic, but it’s just so much more clever and self-aware than those fics, and just so wildly entertaining. I adore Mia beyond reason—she’s so charming and clever, and I love how she’s just totally rolling with this rather strange situation she has found herself in. I guess that makes sense though, because really, who wouldn’t be excited to find themselves in the world of Harry Potter.

 

I thought it was really smart of you to introduce us to Mia through Severus and Dumbledore. I feel like they’re kind of masterminds and know a lot in the universe, so it was really fun to watch them meet someone who knows more than they do. (That also explains why Hermione was introduced too—another person who knows so much). I really enjoyed the parts where Severus was trying to figure out how Mia knew everything, and idk, perhaps out of some sort of vindictiveness, I love seeing him flustered haha :P 

 

I’m really curious about the nature of Mia’s powers. She seems almost at the level of Rowling in that she can just will something to happen and it’ll just...happen, which is a little wild. But I feel like that’ll make for a really interesting plot device! I also really enjoyed seeing all the times when she almost slipped up and broke the fourth wall haha. 

 

You asked specifically about the ending, so let me address that! It didn’t feel abrupt at all. I felt like there was a natural progression in the fic to that point, and it felt like a good reveal. I also think you did an excellent job using dramatic irony to your benefit here to create a really entertaining and amusing effect. 

 

Great first chapter! I’m looking forward to read more of this delightfully wacky story :D Thanks for sharing and thanks for requesting a review!

 

<3 Shreya

Author's Response:

Thanks for the review, Shreya. Her powers are because she is a fanfiction writer and, like all stories, it's all her imagination. You can do whatever you want in your own imagination which Mia is discovering is great until the line of fantasy and reality blend a bit too much.