Reviews For Before the Storm
Name: kas reviewed Author's Notes on Aug 27, 2006 07:51 pm
ur story was really good..i just wanted to noe if u would be writing a sequel to it.
Name: CastOffStarter reviewed Chapter Nineteen on Aug 24, 2006 12:09 pm
I'm fairly sure that my heart has just broken. Wow. This chapter is so unbelievably powerful for a wealth of reasons.

Having Goyle meet Ginny made Draco more human to me. He wanted his friend to meet the girl he loves and even went as far as to confess this love to Goyle. With every chapter, you surprise me just a little bit more when it comes to Draco's character.

I also loved Pansy's declaration to Draco about her faith in him as a leader, not a bed mate. It showed Pansy as more than just a puppet. But, of course, she had her moment of Pansy-like triumph when she said she is the one who gets to marry Draco, not Ginny.

I understand Blaise's idolatry of Ginny, but I don't see how any good can come of it. She is never going to be his and that is probably the one thing that will drive him over the edge in the end. This whole storyline, in fact, makes me increasingly nervous.

Poor Ginny. She has absolutely no clue what's going on. She's blissfully unaware of the entire plan Draco and his fellow Slytherins are involved in, and I dread the chapter when it all comes to frutition.

I have come to the realization that the story could end without a happy-Draco-and-Ginny-get-married-extravaganza and I would be okay with it. I would be very upset, mind you, but content with the conclusion. You have made the misery, pain, and reality of the story so believable that an unhappy ending would make me love this story no less. (Though I still want to read about pink-haired babies running around!)

Wonderful chapter, once again, and kudos for writing such a mammoth of a story. Thank you for sharing your talent with the rest of us!
Name: J reviewed Author's Notes on Aug 23, 2006 01:34 pm
Lovely story. As many have asked you said that this was book one. Book two I do hope that you write.
Name: unknown reviewed Chapter Twenty-Three on Aug 23, 2006 09:50 am
omg...this is a wonderful story. i was just upset with the ending. do think it possible to make a happy ending? maybe like a tiny sequel? just for the sake of those who like happy endings... if it was then this story would probably be the best i ever read.
Name: AnimeSiren reviewed Author's Notes on Aug 22, 2006 03:00 pm
In the last chapter you said this was book one. Where is the next book?
Please e-mail me at
AnimeSiren_2006@yahoo.com
Name: CastOffStarter reviewed Chapter Sixteen on Aug 21, 2006 04:38 pm
Just one thing to mention this time around...
""You know what she's like at this time of the month."
One of the boys by the fire snickered, and was promptly elbowed by the annoyed girl beside him."

I sporfled my water at that!
Name: CastOffStarter reviewed Chapter Fifteen on Aug 21, 2006 10:38 am
I must say, Dumbledore has always struck me as being very outspoken in his belief system and in what he thinks a government should really be. The Dumbledore in this chapter doesn't feel the same to me as in previous chapters. His speech on the political subterfuge of Draco seems almost stilted, as if he himself doesn't believe what he is proposing. I may just be reading into things, or perhaps I focus too shredly on Dumbledore from canon, but I almost-but-not-quite let down by his actions in the chapter. When I read that it was going to be a good Dumbledore moment, I was excited to see what kind of light he would shed on the D/G affair, and instead all I got was talk of political intrigue. I still love your Dumbledore, and think he is wrtten well, I was just building it up in my head so much that I let myself down, I guess.

This chapter was very good for exposition, finally uncovering some more of the entire "Political Overthrow Of Voldemort" thing.

I promise I am still completely enamored with your characters and the storyline!
Name: CastOffStarter reviewed Chapter Fourteen on Aug 20, 2006 11:05 am
*dies*

15 chapters...I've been waiting 15 chapters...Draco is a doofus!
Name: CastOffStarter reviewed Chapter Thirteen on Aug 20, 2006 10:49 am
"He was slender, white and empty, his face a blank slate with hatred and prejudice chalked across his skin. And it had hurt her young eyes to see such a figure, a prince of a white castle, framed with anger and darkness. He spat venomous words, contorting his fine features into ugly sneers and hisses, eyes lit with cruel rage. He devoured pain and misery, finding his enemies' weaknesses and exposing them to whatever torture he could devise.
He was a Death Eater, and now, watching him with his shadowed compatriots, she could finally begin to understand what that meant. She had never understood how that left him emotionally.

There is nothing in him but pain.

And she could not decide for herself whether he was built that way by necessity, or choice."

"He did not know love, for he had never felt anything akin to it, but he was madly, destructively obsessed with Ginevra Weasley and in denying her, he had denied himself the very blood in his veins, the beat of his heart, the air to his lungs. He could look but not touch, if he touched he could not taste, and if he tasted, he could not swallow. He had built himself a prison within which he was lock, bar, guard, and executioner."

Beautiful passages. This is the best way of picturing Draco Malfoy and trying to understand his actions that I have ever read. We have been made to see him as evil, spoiled, nasty, when it isn't black or white. No one ever cares to look at the reasons why he does what he does. And no other author I have read, except perhaps where_is_truth, has ever written Draco in such a gritty, unapologetic way. Your Draco is perfectly characterized. Thank you for making him a whole character, with faults and triumphs, and sneering smirks!

And, as always, Luna is a peach. An absolute peach.
Name: CastOffStarter reviewed Chapter Twelve on Aug 20, 2006 09:57 am
I know it's taken me this many chapters to finally review, but I had nothing of substance to say before that you haven't already heard.

Of course, I love, love, love this fic! And I still can't believe I've never read it before.

Draco has just given the only thing in the world that means anything to him away to his greatest enemy. There is something to be said for his enormous growth as a character for being able to act unselfishly in this instance.

I'm kind of pissed off anyway, but hey, it can only get worse before it gets better, I suppose. Thank you for sharing your wonderful storytelling talent with the rest of us, I really enjoy your writing!
Name: cjanerun reviewed Chapter Twenty-Three on Aug 18, 2006 01:51 pm
Love the story! It's one of my favorites.
Name: yourbeautifulnightmare reviewed Author's Notes on Aug 16, 2006 05:22 am
No words do this story justice. It's beautiful. It's heartwrenching, it's deep, it's love... and it's real. Congratulations. This is the best fic I have ever read.
Name: Quidditch3 reviewed Chapter Twenty-Three on Aug 09, 2006 07:44 pm
Well, I started reading your fic for about two weeks and it caught my attention. I finished reading chapter 22. I must say, that Draco came close to cannon. You are very good in describing the characters feelings. I just wish Ginny had more backbone. I was hoping to see her blossom and come head-to-head with Draco. Ginny seem so passive. I was happy in how you wrote Hermione, that was excellent! I did feel sorry for Ron and Harry. I usually don't feel for those two but you made me care for them. Thanks for all your time and energy and writing it.

Author's Response: Ginny... I can't defend my reasons for her any more... I'm all defended out. I'm glad you enjoyed others though. Thanks for your time!
Name: Ophelia reviewed Prologue on Aug 08, 2006 02:12 pm
Last year I auspiciously stumbled into “Before the Storm,” and I remembered being captivated by the sweeping plot, subtle characterization shifts and the stunning, bitter honesty of damaged love. Upon my second reading I found that, while I (shamefully) never take the time to review, I was doing you a disservice by not posting my opinion. As you clearly poured so much of your talent and energy into this piece, so too can I take a moment to thank you for this bittersweet interpretation.

Your love story ran fluid and its inevitable, ensuing heartache was powerfully exquisite. The way you weave words and manipulate emotions are a credit to your craft. The [borrowed] characters and their actions reflected a painful deconstruction of emotions, impossible choices and ultimately broken paths. In Draco you gave me a damaged soul, fighting his past, present and future- who successfully subverted the definition of anti-hero. In Ginny I gained insight into a girl, becoming a woman and grappling with independence, emotions and a first love which surely did not find inspiration in fairy tales. She faces heartache and difficult choices with the perfect mix of fiery indignation and quiet dignity. This star-crossed pair is neither flawless, nor self-less, but neither are they a caricature one often finds in fanfic. Dumbledore reeked of canon humor and honesty, but also boasted the perfect mix of a manipulating chess-master. Blaise, a character I admit I rarely garner attention on, was an eerily haunting yet somehow excruciatingly sympathetic character. I could run down the list to Harry, Snape, Pansy, Hermione, Ron et al, but as “brevity is the soul of wit” (I type that with self-aware tongue- in-cheek) I’ll simply say your characters were genuine, honest and true to the spirit of JKR.

I laughed, I wept, I lived within your story. Thank-you for your words.

While I know “The Storm” is surely, but slowly coming, be sure I eagerly await its arrival.


Author's Response: Thank you for you touching and in depth review. I'm so pleased that you took the time to leave it. I did work hard, and I'm still trying, but its harder than I imagined it would be to continue... It means so much to me that you're encouraging me from afar, and I thank you.
Name: Luv Nikki reviewed Chapter Twenty-One on Aug 04, 2006 10:51 am
This has got to be one the most depressing stories I have ever read. Although it's terribly bittersweet, and the way you word it is incredible. Seriously, other that the fact it's a little drawn out, I have absolutely no criticism to offer you. I’m sure you could get a publisher if you ever tried to write your own stuff because you obviously have a way with words. Anyway back to the story, I think it has got to be one of the saddest stories I have ever read. I really hope there’s a good ending though, because the plot itself is so complex and everything. I will read the ending and review again. : )

~Luv Nikki~

Author's Response: Drawn out? I didn't think so, though I am admittedly biased. :) Thank you for your support, and good luck with the ending!
Name: Luv Nikki reviewed Chapter Twenty-One on Aug 04, 2006 10:50 am
This has got to be one the most depressing stories I have ever read. Although it's terribly bittersweet, and the way you word it is incredible. Seriously, other that the fact it's a little drawn out, I have absolutely no criticism to offer you. I’m sure you could get a publisher if you ever tried to write your own stuff because you obviously have a way with words. Anyway back to the story, I think it has got to be one of the saddest stories I have ever read. I really hope there’s a good ending though, because the plot itself is so complex and everything. I will read the ending and review again. : )

~Luv Nikki~
Name: just_breathe reviewed Author's Notes on Jul 22, 2006 05:49 pm
Just like to drop by and say congrats on the moltifacetd award nomination!! I sure hope you win!!

Author's Response: I didn't, but it was nice to be nominated all the same. The only D/G Awards I ever pay attention to are the Draco and Ginny Awards, which have always guided me to some really amazing stories. The fact that I won this year (2005, really) meant so much to me...
Name: haylie reviewed Author's Notes on Jul 22, 2006 03:31 pm
omg, that was wonderful, have u started the next section yet?
Name: DanRadcliffesgrrl reviewed Chapter Two on Jun 28, 2006 09:17 pm
Even though I am only on chapter 3, I find your story to be very good and captivating. I also like how you put emphasis on the plot by throwing in Lucious' quotes. Good Job!
Name: Isabella reviewed Chapter Twenty-Three on Jun 23, 2006 04:36 pm
Sooo......there will be a book two......right?
Name: Angy reviewed Author's Notes on Jun 16, 2006 02:40 pm
At the end you said it was the end of book 1. So are you going to write more? They were the best that I have read and probably will read. Thanks for writing them. And please write more!
Name: sushinase reviewed Chapter Two on May 17, 2006 09:00 pm
oh how i love a snarky draco :D
Name: Sushinase reviewed Chapter One on May 17, 2006 07:41 pm
:D your draco is simply.. he's perfect. oh so canon *sings praise*
Name: Sushinase reviewed Prologue on May 17, 2006 05:32 pm
what a gripping start! You've got me hooked :)
Name: LilyK reviewed Chapter Twenty-Three on May 03, 2006 06:09 pm
This was one of the most breathtaking and awe inspiring love stories that I've ever read. You write so beautifully and capture so many emotions with words that my brain wouldn't even think to use. I really enjoyed reading this story and I hope you continue soon. LilyK.
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