Name: RonsGirlFriday (Signed) · Date: 10 Jul 2020 08:34 AM · For: Dark Legacy

Hi Dan! I'm here with review #5 for your BLM donation. I see the Death Hunters series has only two entries and you had said there might be a third eventually, but I also see these are a few years old by now. Do you ever plan to write more? I'd be so interested to read more of these Auror stories by you (something focused on Terry and Neville, maybe???)

 

This was a fascinating idea (I mean, intensely creepy as well, and the mystery and horror unfolded very slowly, I thought it was really nicely done) -- I don't think I've ever seen anyone write about the idea of witches and wizards living apart from modern wizarding society in quite this manner, to this degree -- and I liked how you created a reason for the Aurors to be coming into contact with this village so it all made sense the way you introduced it even though it was entirely from the Aurors' POV.

 

This one really raises a lot of complex questions and issues about cultural differences and freedoms. I mean, I'm with Justin and Susan, at some point personal freedom ends when it means you're actively harming opther people -- and what is the authority of the government for if not to protect people at that very basic level? But on the other hand, I mean, this coven clearly doesn't think they're doing harm to anyone. From their perspective, they're prolonging life, and life is the soul, not the body -- and I suppose arguably the baby didn't even die, it was just transformed? (Though, I mean, on the other hand, two souls go in, and one comes out, still seems problematic, to say the least.)

 

And I find myself with so many questions (in a good way) about this coven and how they operate, and about the Ministry's knowledge of them and their practices, and the history there. Susan seemed to know some basic information about them but clearly wasn't prepared or informed about their reincarnation rituals. I wonder how many people before Justin and Susan have learned this information and tried to do something about it, and what happened.

 

I really enjoyed your decision to do this one with Justin and Susan -- their personalities seemed very well defined and well rounded here, and their rapport with one another is great.

 

Also, I was very amused by the Healer's comments about the Aurors' exploits basically funding his potential yacht. I really just want a ton more fics now about Aurors' and Healers' love-hate dynamics.

 

Super cool idea, awesome execution.

 

Melanie

Author's Response:

Hi, Melanie!

 

I would definitely like to write a third entry, and a fourth and perhaps more. Time and inspiration and balancing this with keeping some sort of reasonable posting schedule for After Destiny... Yeah, it's like that. I do feel like I need to write some more in the vein of Susan pursuing justice against this coven of primitives. But I don't want to come back with that right away. I feel like I should space it out somehow.

 

I felt like pacing this story was everything. If the big reveal works, it's because it's something that the reader didn't see coming until it was nearly on top of them. So finding the right moments to place the key details was challenging.

 

The story definitely was not meant to be morally definitive. Is the primitives' means of perpetuating their existence wrong? Probably, but you can see where they're coming from. They've been doing this for hundreds or perhaps thousands of years. Not sure whether it was clear, but every link on those gold chains they wear is a lifetime lived...

 

The Ministry has pretty much turned a blind eye to the coven and others like them for all of the reasons that Susan explains. There's really no glory in trying to deal with this "problem," nor would every witch and wizard even see it as a problem. So long as they keep to themselves and don't do anything to expose magical society to the muggles, it's hard for a magical government that's dealing with so many other problems to find the energy to care. 

 

Justin and Susan seemed like the right combo for this story. A highly principled pureblood from a well-known light side family and a muggleborn who sometimes looks at the magical world as though everyone has lost their minds. It's the ultimate buddy-cop story!

 

Aurors and Healers are natural enemies. Like Englishmen and Scots! Or Welshmen and Scots! Or Japanese and Scots! Or Scots and other Scots! Damn Scots! They ruined Scotland! Sorry, doing my best Groundskeeper Willie. 

 

Anyhow, I really appreciate the review!

-Dan

Name: potionspartner (Signed) · Date: 05 Jul 2018 01:13 PM · For: Dark Legacy

This story brings up an interesting question. Does one culture have the right to critisize and reform another culture? (Cannibalism is a gruesome yet good example of horrifying use but accepted in some obscure locations.) The concept of morality is definitely different based on personal and societal experiences. Does the "normal" wizarding world have the right to force their beliefs on this rather archaic but still thriving culture? One might (as Susan argued) say yes-when their culture advocates killing infants, but was the child really killed or actually bonded into a symbiotic relationship? (Please ensure I am in no way encouraging infanticide or even androcide (killing of men) I'm just playing devil's advocate.)     

 

What I find most interestings is the "old" wisdom of Leda to the younger Matill. "In time, you’ll discover that knowledge counts for little without the will to act on it." They are thought provoking words that have been proven time and time again in history (policy of appeasement in Munich, 1938 is a good example) Was she talking about themselves or betting that while Justin now had the knowledge, he wouldn't act on it and track them down?  She left her society very vulnuerable for she had to realize that the Ministry did not approve of their version of morality and retaliation was highly probable. 

Dark but fascinating read--one of those dystopians that could lead to a great discussion. 

Author's Response:

Hi, there!

 

I didn't really start off planning to write a story that probed human morality, but sometimes stories go different places as you write them. This one certainly veered in a different direction from what I had in mind. The question of whether the primitives are right or wrong is an interesting one, and I tried not to impose an answer. To some extent, they simply are. This is what they've done for countless generations and they're not going to stop simply because the mainstream magical world disapproves.

 

Thanks for the review!

-Dan

 

Name: dirtydeedsdonedirtcheap (Signed) · Date: 10 May 2017 07:58 PM · For: Dark Legacy

Dan! Why go to the gym when I can read all of your stories? I'm so surprised I haven't read quite a few. Let's change that!

Too many aspiring Dolores Umbridges trying to make a name for themselves.”


I shudder at the thought. One Umbridge is enough for me. Imagine two? Or three? Or more? 

but it’s not because anyone suddenly took an interest their welfare


I think you're missing a word here. :D

This is Justin, and my name is Susan.”


I knew it was Susan and Justin from the get go. You know how much I love my Susie Q!

To your second point, the only reason we don’t understand what we’re meddling in is you didn’t answer my question.”


Susan is such a bad ass. Obviously she has to be because Justin can't think as quickly on his feet and I don't think they would take him seriously anyway. It seems like they do not think too highly of men or accept them into their...I don't even know what to call this. This is quite the set-up you have here. I'm intrigued most definitely but you have created this entirely new universe (almost) that I have to get used to. 

Do you accept this honor?”


OH HECK NO. 
OH. 

NO. 

NO. 

NO. 

I did not see that coming. Why didn't I see that coming? Susan, you better whip out that wand girl. 

Justin had no choice but to watch in mute horror as both the dying and the newly born disappeared into the cauldron.


Why? DAN! What is wrong with you? What goes through your head? You're going to give me nightmares. 

Uh, Dan, I didn't like this story. It was too creepy for my liking. I have chills right now. I wavered on confusion a bit just because the rituals and everything was a bit out of my comfort zone so it was a lot to take in. I feel extremely disturbed after reading this. To me they sounded like these evil creatures these women. Like not entirely human and I guess that's true. But almost like...I kept getting this image from Teen Wolf. You've probably never seen the TV show (because it's nothing like the movie) but there are these women who are earth walkers or sand walkers or something strange like that. I'm not entirely sure what they're called but they gave me this vibe that they're essentially pure evil just like here. I feel like if Justin didn't get out when he did they probably would have skinned him alive or chopped him into a million little pieces and thrown him in the stew. The entire sacrifice scene was completely off putting. So dark. So weird. So unnerving. I'm lucky I drank my lunch (yes, drank my lunch) before because I feel a little queasy after that. It's just sick. This entire piece is just sick and I must be sick because I want more. Even though it has completely unnerved me I desperately need justice to be served. 

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