Review: James Potter and the Vault of Destinies

James Potter and the Vault of Destinies by G. Norman Lippert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Of the three James Potter books, this one took me the longest time to read. I liked the book but I wasn't absorbed by it. Of all the characters, Petra was one of my least favorites and I wasn't thrilled that this book would focus on her. However, I'm not a fan of Merlin, either, so it was an even trade.

This book made me realize what Lippert sacrificed to write these books. By associating with the Harry Potter series, I don't believe he can profit from any use of the characters or ideas...but this book, with someone else as the main character, could have been the start of a stand-alone series. He could have contrived an American magical world, swapped out the obvious references and built an entire series of his own. While the characters were born in Harry Potter, they could have been any other children and a new wizard world would be born. I wish that he had because the details that I don't like wouldn't be in place - for instance, the changes to the way houses at Hogwarts inter-relate in the future - and there would be new magical terms to learn.

I stopped reading the first time after the silver thread bit. I mean, here's this 13 year old kid and this unstable adult and he loves her enough to die for her? Creepy and weird. I picked it back up but quit reading again when the crimson thread was stolen and he covered up the eyewitness account of Petra's presence just because he "knew" she was innocent. I started reading again for the 3rd time and got caught up in clutchcudgel and enjoyed hearing more from Albus...and then the end stunned me. I am really, really shocked by the character loss and the torch event (trying to be vague to avoid spoilers) and now I'm ready to start the next book...but it's not out there yet!

I want to read number four and I'll keep checking back and hoping it gets written. And if the author sees this, I vote for more Albus and Scorpius - they are two of my favorite characters!



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Review: James Potter and the Curse of the Gate Keeper

James Potter and the Curse of the Gate Keeper by G. Norman Lippert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



After finishing book 1, I was excited to start this one as the First Years would include Albus, Rose and Scorpius. I expected certain actions on Albus' part and will admit that I had a good guess about Scorpius's personality as well. I will admit that I was wrong - and I'm glad about it because the story is so much more interesting with the twists!

It's interesting because I have always been a bit of a Harry Potter geek and had unknowingly placed Harry on a bit of a hero platform. Seeing a new Potter generation have a chance to follow in their father's footsteps without making the same mistakes has been fabulous. And seeing Harry as an adult...and more shockingly as a Ministry employee...gives me a chance to take him off that pedestal and appreciate him for what life must have been like. (okay, okay...what life would have been like if any of this was real. I can't help it. I'm a geek and Harry is truly alive in my head.) Self-deprecating family man Harry Potter is both a surprise and something I felt I should have recognized.

I'm starting book 3 now and I can hardly wait. I wish that there was enough (as in ANY) financial incentive to keep the author writing. As he said in the closing comments, I just want to see how everything ends.



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Review: James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing

James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing by G. Norman Lippert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The first few chapters were a bit overwhelming in their changes and I wasn't sure that I would finish reading it. In fact, I didn't even tell my daughter (who is a huge Harry Potter fan) about the book because I didn't want to re-read it if it was terrible!

Once I accepted that houses were friendly and welcomed others into their common rooms, that Slytherins weren't vicious, powerful and evil, that kids weren't placed in dorms by years, that Americans were around and completely changing the curriculum, well...after all of that, I was okay.

All in all, it was a good book. I loved that Snape and my other favorite characters were still around. Even Voldemort is mentioned regularly! And SPEW! The best part of the book was that James was finally overcoming that "Potters need to work alone and be the hero" mentality that was so strong in his father. Now, if we could get rid of Ralph's over-sized, lime green wand, perhaps the book would feel more magical :)

This book is fan fiction...but it's very well thought out and the writer carried Rowling's habits into this story, giving it a very familiar feel. I'll definitely read the next book!



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