Manacled

I’ll be honest, I’ve not had much experience with Dramione works before. My tastes have kept me to Harry, as a rule, although I did enjoy The Arithmancer and its sequels.

This is different, though. Dark doesn’t really cover it, and I think it fair to call it a siering, seething story. There’s a lot to pluck at the heartstrings, a lot to hate. Much to respect, too, and the final line of the very last epilogue draws the entire story into sharp relief. I can’t say I enjoyed reading every scene and chapter because quite frankly, some of it is grim and wearing. The middle section of the book, the flashbacks, felt very drawn-out. Soul-destroying, which is clever because of course that is what happens to the characters. Memory after memory of horrible times, the clash of emotion and duty and all that, and the way it all slots together is cleverly handled by the author.

So not a story to read to see our characters in new and exciting adventures. Not, I think, a story for the enjoyment of writing in the Potterverse, either. But for sheer, brutal reality? For a call to love, and show of strength, and the inner grit and power of some very potent people? Yes. This worked. I’m gladI read it.