New Chapter for sandalwood
sandalwood
bellarossi28 Reviews | 6.75/10 (28 Ratings, 0 Likes, 40 Favorites )
A tale of unexpected discoveries, exotic places and intoxicating scents.
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About bellarossi
Author
bellarossi
Member Since 2007 | 10 Stories | Favorited by 23 | 35 Reviews Written | 709 Review Responses
known as Coco; also bella, gildedglamour on LJ, etc.
i'm a great many things, including:
indian & burmese
a proud harpy
a little crazy
creative and lovable... most of the time!
always vanishing at inappropriate times thanks to that dreaded 'RL'
really bad at updating regularly
apparently 'elegant', probably really not.
i like writing, slytherin men, writing about slytherin men... oh and reviews too.
:]
REGARDING ALL THAT'S LEFT
In case you were wondering why it vanished off the face of the earth, not to worry. It's undergoing a significant bit of revision, but it'll be back eventually. It'll probably be under a different name, too, but the premise will largely be the same. Thanks to everyone who supported me through it; I just wanted to make a few changes but it'll be back, I promise.
Reviews for sandalwood
Your lovely hpcon_envy piece had me browsing your works, and I read this one, because it was short enough to read, and because it was written for our beloved Portugal_Faro.Oh, my dear, this was so lovely! I was a-tingle with excitement as they kissed; my heart raced and I could not wait to see how they would proceed. I melted when he sniffed her hair and her throat and behind her ear and told her all the things she smelled of. Gah, so romantic. I am of the firm opinion that you should write for us more often!
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thank you so much! *blushes* I'm so flattered, I hero-worship you and your brilliant stories! I think I've read Draught of Delicate Poison at least, oh, I don't know, maybe a hundred times or so? :P I'm really glad you liked it, that is precisely what I was hoping for! Haha, I'm on a roll thanks to hpcon_envy but I'm afraid it doesn't happen too often because I'm so busy! But I really enjoy writing pieces like Sandalwood and au clair de lune and I'm so glad that you really like them. :] Thanks so much for leaving a review, I hope you enjoy my other stories too!
The descriptions you used made your story a very sensual one.Now I long to stroll around a mediterrean market myself. Who knows whom I will met there?Good work!
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thank you! Do let me know who you stumble upon. :D
You've never been to Portugal? Brilliantly researched then, congratulations! Loved reading your fic, the descriptions, the sense that everything is happening as I read it (it's not just the present tense that makes it so, though it helps, it's something I can't quite put my finger on but that you clearly have in spades), and especially loved the fact that, even though it's only been a few short hours, their romance seems right and not rushed.Oh and, should Severus decide to see more of Portugal, kindly send him my way to Lisbon? Thank you!Mónica
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thanks! So nice to hear about everything you like. Hmm, I'm not sure what it is either! I tried to get the atmospheric sense through a variety of different ways, mostly present tense but also through the use of smell and a lack of dialogue, so you read thoughts rather than words and often you anticipate what will come next. I can't think of much else though! It's so interesting to see that a lot of readers are actually Portuguese! I think you're the third so far. Maybe I should make a round-the-world series just to see where everyone is from! :)
Lovely. I enjoyed their interactions and the way they opened up to each other so fully.
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thank you! I hope it was realistic and made sense for their characters. :)
Response from debjunk (Reviewer)
It was. I think that the time gap between the war and this story made Severus' milder manner believable. It's how I would see Severus if he'd *sniff* survived. Of course, he did survive... right?
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
You know it. :)
glorious! i love the way you write, so deliciously. thanks so much
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
What a lovely review! Thank you very much. :)
Wow, I just-- wow. I ... ah. ''laughs" The emotion that is portrayed by your words is wonderful. I absolutely loved how you used present tense. When done correctly, it can be amazingly exciting. Let me see... I liked the bit about him have Portuguese background. I always find it interesting when authors look into his background... I mean, he's described as being pale, but dark, so it's intriguing. I loved the repetition of certain words. Your description of the setting and of Snape. Sandlewood. There's just something about it. It can almost be cliche... but it represents something and it works and well, that's why it's cliche... because it works. :)Also, this was fascinating: Because you want to forget?’He shakes his head ever so slightly. ‘I don’t want to remember. There’s a difference.’As well as this was funny: She smiles, her affection unconcealed. ‘Not Granger. Hermione. Her-my-oh-knee.’The side of his lip twitches. ‘Herm-own-ninny.’It all just worked. Even the romance despite it being a short time. But the romance as tasteful and not really, er, descriptive, if you know what I mean. The reader focuses on the other parts of the story.Well, I believe this is one of longest reviews I've written.Great job!
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
And probably one of the longest I've received! But I love long reviews so write me more! :DI'm really glad you took the time to point out everything you liked about the story. I always try to understand my characters before I write them, whether it's fanfiction or original. I give them a full profile with traits, likes, dislikes, etc. Even if I don't use these in the story, it's important because they feel real to me. I really enjoyed using present tense because it's the first time I've used it this way. I was inspired by a writer called Jhumpha Lahiri who you should definitely look up if you're interested. My favourites by her are 'interpreter of maladies' and 'the namesake'. Thanks very much for the wonderful review!
This was absolutely gorgeous! I loved it and read it through greedily as your descriptive powers were just wonderful. Well done :-)
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thank you! It makes me so happy to hear that.
I liked this very much:) Well done:) Warm regards:)Fizzabella
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thank you so much!
A nice, refreshig and peaceful story. Thank you :)
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thank you for the lovely review! :)
Intoxicating story...it was like you were there too. Very lovely
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thank you so much! So nice to hear things like that.
Let me guess - are you Portuguese? If anything, your story had me yearning for the summer holidays which I will spend somewhere on a Mediterranean coast (not necessarily Portugal, but maybe...). Meanwhile, I ruin my car on streets full of frozen slush and stay indoors because it's too fucking cold out there... Thanks for the feeling and the images in my mind!
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Goodness, no! I've never been, actually. I just did a lot of research. :] It's now on my list of summer destinations, though! I'm glad to hear it invoked so many images and I hope you do end up going to Portugal soon! I've never been to the Mediterranean but I plan to go sometime in the next few years. In the meantime I hear about it... and write about it!
What a wonderful story, I loved it! Excellent plot and wonderfully written!
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thank you so much!
oooooohhhhhhhh!!!!!! what a lovely pg story. coule we maybe get a sequel where she goes back , gets her things from england, and returns to portugal to be with him???? something a little R or at least pg-13?? this is such a nice start. Thanks for writing, Huanita
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
hahaha maybe I will write a spicier sequel! We'll have to see. Thanks for reviewing!
That was absolutely lovely; I really enjoyed it. Although it stands alone beautifully, I would be very happy to read more of this story. Thank you very much for posting this, Cat
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thank you! I'm surprised at how many people have asked for me to write a sequel. Maybe if my muse comes calling I will! :] Thanks a lot for the lovely review.
Oh! Perfectly unified, a glorious snapshot of a perfect day. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious work!
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Hahaha thank you! That's the first time my work has been described like that! (and long may it remain so!)
This is a marvelously lovely little gem. I enjoyed it greatly!
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thank you so much! I'm so glad to hear it!
Ahh you had me at the title. I absolutely love the scent of sandalwood... incense, candles, essential oils you name it. I wear it as cologne and scent my house with it. Now I can say my home smells like Severus. :)
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
I love it too! Funnily enough, I didn't end up picking a lot of scents I associated with him and then narrowing it down... somehow the minute I sat down to start writing, sandalwood just seemed so right. That doesn't happen very often at all, as I am always very picky about central themes and names and things like that. In my country we have Mysore sandalwood which is famous because it is so pure and beautiful. As I was writing I could smell it very clearly. Hahaha, yes it certainly does! Maybe I should bottle sandalwood, patchouli, cloves and peppermint and sell it! (eau de potions master?)
Ohhhh -- Severus in Lagos... Heck Severus in Portugal... now I'm going to be looking for him on every corner... do you think he might come to Oporto? XD Your story was intoxicating from beginning to end. I could see what Hermione was seeing, smell the air, taste what she tasted... of course I do know what bacalhau com broa tastes like and my diet isn't complete without chouriço... but even so, your imagery makes me yearn for it. And I have to admit it... reading about my country in such a beautiful, poetic way makes me feel prouder than a peacock. Thank you so much for writing such a beautiful story.
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thank you! To hear it from a Portuguese reader really makes me feel honoured. I've never been to Portugal but I've always wanted to go, so I did a lot of research beforehand and I'm so glad it was convincing. Writers often tip the balances on either side of experiences and imagination and I'm one of those people who likes to write about the exotic, so I'm more on the imagination side. I love chouriço sausages and just about all Mediterranean food so that was a pleasure to write. Someday I will come to Portugal and have real bacalhau! :) Thank you so much for such a wonderful review, I can't express how good it makes me feel that you felt so strongly for this story. Thank you!
Yummy! Well written, excellent pace, satisfying ending. I enjoyed myself very much! Thank you!
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thank you so much! That's wonderful to hear.
That was a lovely story, thanks!
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thank you very much!
lOVED IT WHEN I FIRST READ IT AND LOVE IT EVEN MORE NOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. MANY THANKS PORTUGAL_FARO
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
And thank you as always for loving it the way you do! :)
What a marvelously sensual piece. And so richly descriptive that I felt I was in Portugal too.
Well done!
Response from bellarossi (Author of sandalwood)
Thank you! I'm so thrilled to hear it.