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August 23, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Well...I just finished this for the SECOND time...the first was about a year and a half ago. I don't know why I didn't review it the first time, but the fact that I chose to reread it could be considered a review in and of itself. While there were a few spelling/gramar/punctuation errors as others before me pointed out, over all I would say this is one of the best fanfics I ever read. Well, maybe best is not the right word because qualifications of how good something are can be highly subjective, but it is certainly very high up on my list of one's I enjoy the most. Of every fandom I have ever been a part of, Riku/Sora is probably my favorite pairing of all time--just narrowly edging out Draco/Harry. And to me, your portrayal of the two main characters captures the way I see them and how I feel they would interact with each other in this type of situation. Your characterization of Kairi was a bit off of how she was in the video games, but then again...the boys weren't gay in the games either! While I like what you did with Kairi, I enjoyed it more in a "fanservice" sort of way. Most of the fangirls (and fanboys like me) who want Riku and Sora to end up together see Kairi as being in the way and thus do whatever necessary to get her out of the way. Some kill her. Some pretend she never existed. Some just simply turn her into a raving bitch. The problem is, when you get right down to it, fanservice takes away from realism and readability. The thing is with your story though...Without Kairi turning into the raving bitch she was, there would have been no story. It wouldn't have worked otherwise. And since this is, as I said, one of my favorite fanfics ever, I'm willing to deal!
You did at least make her somewhat sympathetic. I really do feel sorry for her through most of the story, feeling like the man she loves is being stolen from her by another girl (even if the other girl IS really a boy!), and not knowing what to do. Her unrequited love for Riku makes her very sympathetic, but all the lies she told make it very hard to hold onto that sympathy. The ending is a good start to making her sympathetic again, though I feel it was a bit rushed. I don't think that things could have possibly happened so quickly, nor do I believe that it makes ANY logical sense (despite the "easy access" comment or whatever) to put Sora BACK in a dress after everything that's happened. Dressing that way is what got him into all that trouble in the first place, so that he would choose to do so again when everything's finally cooled down and coming to an end? Add to that, it contradicts the idea of changing for the better that was heavily emphasized at the end. He's going back to his old ways, even if he's not trying to fool anyone by doing so.
The best part in my opinion is the Leon/Sora/Riku triangle. The fact that you actually managed to make me feel sympathy for Leon (and even at moments want him to get back with Sora) when I came into this story as a hardcore Riku/Sora fan speaks volumes. I feel that that particular love triangle was crafter carefully, and I only wished you had been able to put that much careful planning into the rest of the story. Please don't think I'm criticizing too harshly because after all, I do LOVE this story incredibly. It just felt like there were some things you could have done to make it better.
You did at least make her somewhat sympathetic. I really do feel sorry for her through most of the story, feeling like the man she loves is being stolen from her by another girl (even if the other girl IS really a boy!), and not knowing what to do. Her unrequited love for Riku makes her very sympathetic, but all the lies she told make it very hard to hold onto that sympathy. The ending is a good start to making her sympathetic again, though I feel it was a bit rushed. I don't think that things could have possibly happened so quickly, nor do I believe that it makes ANY logical sense (despite the "easy access" comment or whatever) to put Sora BACK in a dress after everything that's happened. Dressing that way is what got him into all that trouble in the first place, so that he would choose to do so again when everything's finally cooled down and coming to an end? Add to that, it contradicts the idea of changing for the better that was heavily emphasized at the end. He's going back to his old ways, even if he's not trying to fool anyone by doing so.
The best part in my opinion is the Leon/Sora/Riku triangle. The fact that you actually managed to make me feel sympathy for Leon (and even at moments want him to get back with Sora) when I came into this story as a hardcore Riku/Sora fan speaks volumes. I feel that that particular love triangle was crafter carefully, and I only wished you had been able to put that much careful planning into the rest of the story. Please don't think I'm criticizing too harshly because after all, I do LOVE this story incredibly. It just felt like there were some things you could have done to make it better.
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January 12, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Oh my gawd, chapter 20's "I might have been a witch in a past life, but you’re a modern day bitch!" Was well said! Kudos!
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May 13, 2007 at 12:00 AM
::bitch slaps Kairi for Sora after reading the extra chapter:: There. Now I feel better. A LOT better.
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November 26, 2006 at 12:00 AM
Ummm... speachless. I can't believe I haven't reviewed yet. I've read this story from the time you started it. (Bows low... So Sorry!) Love all of it. Unexpected ending, which made it so great. There sould be an epilogue... Please. I almost cried when I saw the 'completed' thing on the first unfinished edition. Then I saw this one. Yay! The characters should give you a cookie.
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October 22, 2006 at 12:00 AM
Whew! well that took a while!! lol i was all tipsy-drunk and i sobered up while reading this fic! awesome story one of the best i have read of riku and sora, cute kids.
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September 25, 2006 at 12:00 AM
I think there's a rather significantly displeasing turn of events about Sora getting mad at Riku for not trusting him and his friends, then Sora making out with one of his friends cheating on Riku.
That's like the meanest thing he could do.
That's like the meanest thing he could do.
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July 24, 2006 at 12:00 AM
Best Riku/Sora fic EVER!!!! Spelling was a bit awry, but I got over that. Thank you soooo much for writing this wonderful story! I loved it.
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July 13, 2006 at 12:00 AM
Wow, that was an awesome ending. I'm in awe. I really loved that three-way convo thinger, you don't see many of them. And it all the angst just melted, I feel all fuzzy now. :3 *sigh* I really enjoyed reading it.
Beca
Beca
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July 13, 2006 at 12:00 AM
*cough* Yes... I read through the reviews just after I had posted my own. This just my personal views concerning our dearest Squall Leonhart/Leon. Despite Leon being an older version of Squall they are not entirely the same person.
Someone commented that in FF8 Squall did everything he could for Rinoa and he wouldn't act as you had portrayed him in this fic. Sure, maybe *Squall* wouldn't have. But Leon's 8-flipping-years older (and 8-flipping-years more rational I'd like to think). It's makes sense to me that when he finally got an excuse to go after Sora he took it and in the end that he realized it was better leaving everything alone. I do agree he seems still somewhat out of charater, that he probably would have come to terms with Riku and Sora being together and backed of sooner in the fic. He may have taken any excuse to go after Sora, but I get the feeling his conscience would not need much to convince him that the two of them weren't going to work out, especially with the silver head bishie ;D. Then, I can't see Leon and Sora together in any fic whatsoever, the pairing doesn't quite seem to fit for me.
Also, the SephyxCloud pairing made sense with the idea of realism, though it was pretty random, I don't remember them being mentioned elsewhere in there story as it probably would have been in real life. D:
Isn't it tragic that I have more to say about someone's else's points than about your fic? O' course, I usually only talk a lot when I... 'disagree' with something... So it's a good thing, 'kay?
*glompage*
Beca (x2)
Someone commented that in FF8 Squall did everything he could for Rinoa and he wouldn't act as you had portrayed him in this fic. Sure, maybe *Squall* wouldn't have. But Leon's 8-flipping-years older (and 8-flipping-years more rational I'd like to think). It's makes sense to me that when he finally got an excuse to go after Sora he took it and in the end that he realized it was better leaving everything alone. I do agree he seems still somewhat out of charater, that he probably would have come to terms with Riku and Sora being together and backed of sooner in the fic. He may have taken any excuse to go after Sora, but I get the feeling his conscience would not need much to convince him that the two of them weren't going to work out, especially with the silver head bishie ;D. Then, I can't see Leon and Sora together in any fic whatsoever, the pairing doesn't quite seem to fit for me.
Also, the SephyxCloud pairing made sense with the idea of realism, though it was pretty random, I don't remember them being mentioned elsewhere in there story as it probably would have been in real life. D:
Isn't it tragic that I have more to say about someone's else's points than about your fic? O' course, I usually only talk a lot when I... 'disagree' with something... So it's a good thing, 'kay?
*glompage*
Beca (x2)
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July 6, 2006 at 12:00 AM
I've just read your story in one night and i absolutely loved it! You have to write a little oneshot or something pwease <3 I loved your story