This story is superb \o/
I love Viktor's personality, single-minded but not bigoted, and oh, so complex, real, vulnerable and strong. I love how comfortable he is in his skin, his body, his life - and yet there is still a journey ahead of him, things to accept about himself and the world, things to put behind him. His relationship with his mentor? <3 Norwegian is lingua franca in Durmstrang? <333!
I love how carefully you painted the European wizarding world that we don't get to see in the books, and the shift in perspective - how young Harry sees the wizarding world, and how so many adult characters see it, wizards and Muggles alike - it's AWESOME! We have insights in so many wizarding lives, and they all feel REAL! Oh, I want to swoon over so many spoilery details, this is delicious. Magda! I love Magda! How could anyone not love Magda? She's so... Pansy, in a way. ;)
I love the means of transport and communication. That is BEYOND marvellous. Things like that are what fills me with squeeing joy, obsolete Owl post and cheap international Floo.
I love the concept of W.A.S., the procedures, the means, the goals, the people - you wrote out everything in gritty realistic glory with such rich, deep fantasy elements, it's incredible. There are recognisable things, there are amalgamations, there are abstract concepts, fiction at its best, feeding on the familiar and transforming it into something imagination can toy with.
I love the speed bubbling underneath every detailed description - THINGS were HAPPENING, events were lurking in the corner of my eye, and I want to know all at once and drag it out because this feeling of adventure and suspense was magnificent! Intoxicating! Thrilling!
I love your descriptions, love them, love them to bits. They are so detailed and imaginative, and the pace, and the style - Joliet Farm reads like something straight out of JKR, Privet Drive and Riddle House, and you say so much when you appear to be concealing things, I was biting my nails and drinking up EVERY description. And the action! The action! I still say the plotline is Dumas! I love you so much, mystery author, you have no idea!
I love the relationship Viktor has with his love interest-comrade-companion - EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS STORY - because it's a whole new level of amazing, how they interact, how they match, how they fit each other, how aware they are of their imperfections and how devoted they are to their perfect goal, and oh, when there is this FABULOUS ending, a world of possibilities, all the roads open! I am so happy. So happy, this is such a fantastic read. ♥