New Chapter for The Essence of Sunset
The Essence of Sunset
shefa65 Reviews | 5.51/10 (65 Ratings, 0 Likes, 8 Favorites )
My chambers are dark, lit only by the glow of the midnight moon.
The castle creaks with rawness of stone and antiquity of magic, filled with the power welling up from beneath the mountain and the fire of intention fuelled by our four vibrant streams of magic, combined.
It is nearly impossible to recognise this expanse of land from just six months ago: pristine grasses as far as the eye could see, cresting on a tidal wave of green, the shadow of grey stone a skeleton underneath. A spider’s web holding together an enterprise that, tonight, feels like folly.
I had expected to feel exultant.
**
This story is ten chapters, and complete. I will be posting one chapter every couple of days. :)
Chapters (10)
About shefa
Author
shefa
Member Since 2007 | 24 Stories | Favorited by 151 | 73 Reviews Written | 944 Review Responses
Relatively longtime reader of this OTP, fervent SSHG shipper.
Reviews for The Essence of Sunset
What a promising and intriguing premise! I'm off to eagerly read more!
Response from shefa (Author of The Essence of Sunset)
*grins...Thank you! So glad you're enjoying this so far. Chapter 2 is up and 3 will be up soon. :)
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!! You have me so totally hooked! My heart is racing right now, wondering what happens and where you're taking this. This alternate reality you've created is utterly ingenious, and the way you weave those differences into the story is so nonchalant in the writing of it yet completely shifts the paradigm of the Potterverse. I can't wait to see what comes next.
Response from shefa (Author of The Essence of Sunset)
*beams Yay! Thank you. I'm SO glad you're enjoying this. More to come soon!
so I was right.Something happened. Hermione is in a different universe - if I can call it that.History is rewritten.Is it a parallel universe, or ar there two time zones corresponding, holding a silent conversation.This is thrilling.how did that happen.What will be discovered.magic magic magic.A matriarchat not a patriarchat.What else has changed in this world.she doesn't recognise Snape. So everything is erased in her and everybodies mind?So curious to read on.thanks for sharing!
Response from shefa (Author of The Essence of Sunset)
*grins... Great observations and questions. More to come soon!
Response from salvamea (Reviewer)
sorry to say, but: cruel you!
What in the world? This story has turned surreal, like some wizarding version of Alice in Wonderland, where everything is topsy turvy. But instead of only seeing one way in, who is on the "other side" can see out, too.
Response from shefa (Author of The Essence of Sunset)
Surreal is a good word. *grins... Keep reading! :)
I am astonished at the ease with which you interweave the two threads of this story. Would that I could write like that. Am I jealous? Hell, yeah! ^_^
Response from shefa (Author of The Essence of Sunset)
*beams... Thank you! I may make it look easy, but you should have *heard* the moaning and groaning as I was world building.
can I just say what a pleasure it is to read this again. I'm enjoying all the little details and savouring the nuances knowing where it's going this time round. I loved the idea of the cloak being woven into the building to protect it and presumably hide it from view.
Response from shefa (Author of The Essence of Sunset)
*beams... Thank you! It is a different experience when you're not trying to guess the endgame. When I saw DH2, the sequence when the teachers are casting spells to protect the school made me cry. I had *already* written the passage where the cloak was woven into the building to protect it and I was just overwhelmed with the visual image to accompany that idea... I'm really looking forward to your comments on the rereading. Thank you, my dear!
this is thrillingyou put Hermione in a rather odd world.What has happened?where is she?what is going onyou are writing from 3 different positions and time "zones" as I understand?will there be more?curious to read.thanks for sharing!!
Response from salvamea (Reviewer)
oh ,fine, just read, that there will be 9 or 10 more chapters.good to know!
Response from shefa (Author of The Essence of Sunset)
Sorry about initially marking the story "complete." It is complete, but this was only the first chapter. Great questions! Keep reading! :)
am very much looking forward to follow this story, well done, very intriguing. the "decorations" are pretty, did you do them also?
Response from shefa (Author of The Essence of Sunset)
Thank you! The illuminated letters were chosen by me, but I didn't do the art itself this time. :)
Squee! This is so favourited
Response from shefa (Author of The Essence of Sunset)
*beams... I'm so glad you're rereading! *bounces
This is really intriguing. I agree with Severus49's review. Hermione's story line seems to involve the Ministry butting their noses in where they don't belong and somehow screwed with Lily's life so that she didn't end up marrying James and Harry was never born. I'm not sure yet where that puts Voldemort. I like how you focused on Helga. Not many people do. I see a lot of Salazar in SSHG stories and sometimes Godric, but not a lot of Rowena or Helga. I also like how you've portrayed Salazar and Godric as lovers. That's sweet and it makes it so much more sad, knowing from canon that they were close and then had a major disagreement about muggle-borns and stopped being friends. (I think I'm remembering that right). I'm glad that this is a finished story and we'll get regular updates. I'm really looking forward to how this gets resolved.
Response from shefa (Author of The Essence of Sunset)
I'm really enjoying your reflection and speculation. I'm thrilled you're enjoying it so far. :)
This story seems to have three separate lives, like threads in a tapestry. I know they'll all come together to form a bigger picture at some point, but right now it's too soon to tell. I've read one imagined story here - the story of the Founders; one unknown story - of Hermione and of a Professor Evans that strangely reminds me of Lily; and one familiar story of Severus during his short tenure as Headmaster. But which thread will end up the one that weaves the final story is the real question.
Response from shefa (Author of The Essence of Sunset)
It does, indeed. And 'tapestry' is one of my favorite metaphors. :) The story is complete in ten chapters, so stay tuned!
Wow...that was one of the most imaginative and original stories I think I've ever read. :)
Response from shefa (Author of The Essence of Sunset)
There's more! And, thank you. :) I marked it complete b/c it's not a WIP. It's ten chapters long... but this is just the beginning. :)
The chapter description says this is complete. Please tell me it isn't and that there's more to come. Please? It's a fascinating and exceptional story and leaves you hanging -- wanting more. ^_^
Response from shefa (Author of The Essence of Sunset)
There is more! Ack. The story is not a WIP, it is complete. But it has ten chapters, not one. So, stay tuned! I'm glad you're enjoying it so far. :)
Response from MsTree (Reviewer)
Cool! Thanks! ^_^
Excellent story.
Such a wonderful treasure. To see the canon universe expanded so masterfully into a realm of much greater possibility has been an absolute joy. Thanks so much for sharing this classy, beautifully written work of art.