dramionereview

[dramionereview]

We couldn't agree more.

The Why is crucial when examining a work or fanfiction and its appeal or lack thereof. It's the only way a critique can transcend mere opining—and an opinion piece is zero helpful when deciding whether to read a story or not.

The How is the adequate form of respect we pay the creators who have poured many unpaid hours into creating a story for free.

What are your thoughts on so-called god tier fanfictions and the hyper critique directed at them? Also, do you have a position on the binding controversy?

'God-tier Fics' & Critique

'God-tier fics', I gather, refer to fics that are recommended as 'must reads'? That list is different for everyone. One person's god-tier is another person's DNF.

I think you're asking me what I think about these fics attracting more instances of criticism by virtue of the fact they're discussed more often?

To be honest, my views have changed over the last few months.

I was initially irritated by the rudeness of some negative, unconstructive reviews attached to the more oft-recommended stories. This is not to say I have thin skin. I've had my professional work torn to (constructive) shreds as part of the academic journal peer review process. The difference is that it happens in private, not in public and there are specified rules for how authors write and how reviewers review.

I'm firmly in the 'dinner party rules' camp when it comes to giving feedback on a public fanwork. Say it nicely or learn to say it nicely. Some people will critique fanworks like it's commercially published and professionally edited. It's like writing a detailed critique of someone's charity bake-sale cookies. Most of us would never. The one time I raised this issue explicitly in one of my fic review threads on A03, I was told I needed to suck it up because anything published for public consumption is fair game.

I kinda agree with them now, not in principle, but simply with the inevitability of it.

That being said, I wish people who engage with fanworks understand that their thoughts and feelings about a piece of work sometimes has more to do with their individual preferences, than it being a reflection of the objective value of the work. I wish there was more self-awareness involved when people interact with a work.

When I discuss with my own kid what she's reading for school, the best, most interesting, most informative conversations are about why she feels a certain way, not merely that she feels it. I think both consumers and creators benefit from these kinds of discussions.

On Binding

I've updated my Transformative Works Policy on my author website to clarify that my fanworks should be freely available and not reproduced and sold for profit. This applies to binding projects, too.

[dramionereview]

Mudblood by ComfortableSilences

Ooooooh Boy. Straight out the bat! Ok first of all I want to pretext it by saying that at this point I was really craving a Dramione that wasn't dark or broody or angsty (at least not that much). I was also looking for a Dramione that was not a 8th year Post-Battle. Most of those dealt with trauma. Really really was not in the mood for that. Like seriously. Without further ado, here is my thoughts of Mudblood by ComfortableSilences.

NSFW PEOPLE!

. . . . . . . . and I read it at work. . . . . . . . . . hahahaha

First of all. . .

I did not expect that. I have a recent fascination with wormholes or disembodied hands basically anything that's invisible that can catch me off guard. Without giving too much away, I was incredibly pleased that a certain scene was there as well as another.

I was pleasantly surprised by how intense some of the situations were. I'm a huge fan of spice, but after you've read smut after smut it becomes just another thing to read. All the omegas and alpha-verses were that to me. It became tasteless and ash in my mouth because at this point in time of my life, it's just too much for me now. I guess it's too rough for me now.

Anyways, other than the smut, I feel like this iteration of Draco and Hermione is believable to a certain extent. I felt that it was too easy for Draco to have gotten over the whole she's a Mudblood thing. Granted thinking about it now, I didn't want the broodiness - so that may be on me - hahahaha. Hermione was somewhat uncharacteristically herself - I didn't mind it at all. In a lot of ways, she was still the old Hermione. She never backed down from a verbal sparring and was still studious as ever, but the author brought out her trait of actually being cunning and sly when she wanted to be. I liked it a lot and dare I say it was a lot hotter when used in the right way - wink wink.

To the main conflict in this was of course the Pureblood ideology but not necessarily from Draco himself. It came from a not-so unexpected source and rather than it having grave consequences like in other fanfics, it was a driving point to spur them together. The resolution was quite hastily packed up, and I wish that there was more oomph to the ending of it all, but nonetheless I understood why it had to be that way as the main source of conflict was gone and they were transitioning out of Hogwarts. Fine by me. Epilogue was great too, but again I wished that I had more leading up to it.

Drumroll please . . . . . . . .

I rate this one 4/5!

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and to be quite honest. I was extremely pleased with the smut and the descriptions in the fic. YAY! I recommend this if you're looking for a non-Voldy world that has very slight angst, fluffy moments, and sexy turns. Although, I wish the ending and epilogue were better, I fully understood the plot of things and prolonging it would have left be worse. I don't know yet as to whether I will become a fan of this particular author, but it's shaping up to be good if she continues to write like she has with this one - particularly with that handsy scene - and you'll know which one.

Anyways toodaloo for now! Here's a hot gif to tide you all til then.

Gotcha! Toodaloo!

[dramionereview]

Frequently Asked Questions What types of reviews do you accept?

As long as you don’t abuse the author/creator, we're pretty much open to sharing anything. You can be as positive or critical as you like, though if a review leans heavily towards one side, we might pair it with an opposing view.

To be clear: we will not reblog abuses towards authors, artists, or fans. This site is dedicated to helping readers navigate the world of dramione. We don’t want any toxic behaviour.

If you need a pointer of what to include in a review, check our Checklist for Reviewers!

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Since this is a review blog, we like for our readers to get an idea of the story first before being introduced to an opinion. Let us know about the who/what/when/where’s of a story before detailing what you did or didn’t like. Don’t be shy about using examples!

For more information, check out our Checklist for Reviewers!

What’s the difference between an “opinion” and a “review”? Isn’t that the same thing?

Opinions and reviews are not the same thing. Though the reviewing system on fanfiction sites doesn’t differentiate between the two, in publishing, they are entirely different approaches to media. A review usually entails a summary of the work in question, an analysis of its style, content, themes, etc., and, finally, a judgement about the piece. So, while any review is necessarily coloured by the POV of its author, it’s supposed to offer context and analysis as a basis for its opinion — or, in simpler terms:

Opinion: Fic XYZ has the best Hermione characterisation! Review: The characterisation of Hermione in Fic XYZ is outstanding to me because of Reasons A, B, and C.

I sent in a review, but you didn’t publish it! Why?

If you sent in your review with a blogname/email attached, we likely already explained why (and if not, please give us a little time!). If you sent in your review anonymously and we didn’t blog it within a week, it was very likely because your take was all opinion, no review. If you’re committed to sharing your write-up, review our Checklist for Reviewers and amend where necessary. If you don’t want to make any changes, that’s fair, too! In that case, consider sharing your opinion with our friends at dramionediscussion.

I’m an author and I don’t want my work to be reviewed. What can I do?

We’re acutely aware that writing is an extraordinarily vulnerable form of artistic self-expression. However, this blog is first and foremost a blog for readers. That doesn’t mean we don’t take your concerns seriously. If you generally disagree with writing reviews of fanfiction, we suggest blocking us and the tag #dramionereview or #dhr review. If you just don’t want to read any criticism of your own work, we suggest blocking your author name underline crit (#AUTHORNAME_crit). That should keep your dash free of unwanted opinions!

I’ve got another question that isn’t answered here!

No problem! Slide into our asks!

[dramionereview]

The Auction by Lovesbitca8

Synopsis:

In the wake of the Dark Lord’s triumph over Harry Potter, the defeated must learn their new place. Hermione Granger, former Golden Girl, has been captured and reduced to human chattel. Sold to the highest bidder as the top prize at an auction of Order members and sympathizers, she is thrust into the rabid, waiting hands of the Death Eaters. But despite the horrors of Voldemort’s new world, help—and hope—seem to arise from the most unlikely of places.

Review : (Contain Spoilers)

*PURELY MY OPINION, AND I UNDERSTAND IF YOURS IS DIFFERENT FROM MINE.

This is the AU for the Rights and Wrongs series of Lovesbitca8 where Voldemort won and the women and men who were on the other side of the war were captured and sold in an Auction, bided on by the Death Eaters or any influential family for that matter who is on the side of the Dark Lord. You can read this on its own or after the first two parts of the series since this is an AU. I preferred and what I did was read the first two before this one since it gives more of that impact on what could have been or what would have happened if things were different. So you can check out the fanfiction here -> The Auction (do read the trigger warnings)

The Auction was tackled on the TRTTD/ATWT story, it was a catalyst for “The Wall” that Hermione made, and I’m glad that the author made an AU diving into this darker reality of going through that event. Having said that, let’s get on with the review.

Keep reading

[dramionereview]

once again, our blog as a handy-dandy clickable link

Bit awkward, but maybe as good a time as any to invite everyone (except transphobes, racists and other bigots) to write a review for our blog! If you're interested in reviewing a fanfic for us, drop by www.dramionereview.tumblr.com and check out our *Submission Checklist*. If you're an author thinking "FML not this", but you don't want to block us outright, drop by our FAQ to mute specific tags.

Cool concept! Best of luck as you build!

[dramionereview]

➺Status: Complete  ➺Genre: Adventure, Drama, Humor, Romance,  ➺Length: 225K+ words, 61 chapters ➺Rating: M

➺Score: ❤❤❤❤ ➺Review: I read this ages ago, but it still remains as one of my most favorite fanfics. Draco and Hermione have a mind-blowing night together and wake up to find themselves married. Trouble brews, drama ensues. People almost die. But don’t worry! It’s a happy ending. Admittedly, the writer slightly botched the ending (it definitely left something to be desired) but The Dragon’s Bride is still one of the most sought out fanfics and has one of the best characterizations of Draco and Hermione out there. You can easily reread this fic any day, too. Do give this a try! 

[dramionereview]

Review: Divination for Skeptics by olivieblake

Summary: The latest in magical advancements is an enchantment that reveals romantic compatibility. Effectively eliminating uncertainty from dating, the charm’s Hermione Granger-approved calculation of traits and preferences is a foolproof method of determining whether or not you’ve found The One. It’s also, for Hermione, positively dreadful news. Dramione, post-war, soulmate AU.

Romance/Humor -  [Draco M., Hermione G.] Harry P., Theodore N. - 10 Chapters, Words: 95,984, Rated M

Read it on ff.net or AO3

Status: WIP (last updated August 27, 2019)

Review: Once in a while, you’ll find a guilty pleasure that’s just so fun that you don’t even feel guilty for liking it. For me, Divination for Skeptics is that story.

In Divination for Skeptics, witty, snarky banter is the name of the game. The characters are ridiculous, over-the-top, and totally entertaining. That, combined with the twist on the soulmate trope makes this story an uproarious read to liven up your afternoon. One of the other strengths of this story is how the writing makes you look forward to predictable and unpredictable plot elements alike.

When it comes to her characters, olivieblake really leans into one particular facet of their personality and exaggerates it (ex. Hermione’s logical side) such that the characters don’t feel super well-rounded. However, their over-the-top antics were just so successful at being entertaining that I didn’t even mind.

To me, Divination for Skeptics isn’t trying to be more than a fun story, and frankly it’s one of those stories that I feel content with being a one-time read (albeit an enjoyable one-time read). It’s definitely not for everyone, especially those that really like their characters to undergo more character development, but if you enjoy fast character repartee, this may be a story for you.

Rating: 4 / 5

[dramionereview]

‘Beginning and End’ by @mightbewriting

4,5/5⭐️ 3,5/5🌶

Okay, 2/3 of ‘The Wait and Hope Series’ (they are actually 5). This is one is the actual chronological story before Wait and Hope. This is how they fell in love for the first time. Hermione is working on freeing The Malfoy Manor of all dark objects and Draco is forced to supervise her work by his father which makes them interact for quite a long period of time, this is long (550+ pages) and a damn slow burn as well, but since it is quite long we can see them develop bit by bit a very wholesome relationship, not without its trials there is a part (no spoilers) where I wanted to kill them both for their stubbornness, but it’s just so sweet. The smut is quite good, my compliments to @mightbewriting for her skills, I truly adore everything she writes. ‘That you’ll be my undoing’ he said And a special mention to the Potter-Weasley-Malfoy trio and of course the Slytherin gang (Theo, Blaise and Pansy), some of the most hilarious scenes are with the latter drinking and having a blast. All in all, I adored this story but it’s even sweeter if you read it after Wait and Hope, don’t question just do it and thank me later ‘I suppose we have to thank Potter for saving us all from having to deal with another redhead’ I actually read and listened to this book thanks to the audiobook format by @etl-echo-audiobooks highly recommend the narrative is great and they have the whole series on Spotify. P.D: Another cover by me Yours truly, Mrs Fanfics

[dramionereview]

DHR REVIEW : Welcome & About

Welcome to DHR REVIEW,

your fanfiction review periodical aka a blog feat. reviews written by the readers for the readers !

We started as a means to share and collect reviews in one space that was both easily accessible for readers and easy for writers to tune out. Like many readers in fandom, we have been looking for reviews of a certain story in order to decide if a fic goes onto the reading list. And while many have a tight-knit circle of fandom friends that supplies them with recommendations suiting their likes and dislikes, not everyone is as lucky.

Here's where DHR REVIEW comes in !

We're dedicated to sharing reviews from readers for readers; reviews that tell you what any given story is about, what the reviewer liked about it, and what you might expect going into it. It's basically what your bestie would tell you about a book they just read.

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