That is easily the most original and well written fanfiction I'v seen so far. I'm not an expert, but I think you are very talented. Will be eagerly waiting for the updates.

THANK YOU

Author's Response:

No, thank you. I'm so happy you think so highly of my story, and hope you enjoy future chapters just as much. Thanks again!

your writing is extraordinary - fluent, nuanced and compelling.  You should be doing this professionally - think of your own story and get it published!  In the meantime, post more chapters - desperate to read more!!  Original and inventive.  Sigh....wish I could write like this.

 

EJ

Author's Response:

*blush* Thank you! Now, if only I had my own story to write, lol. Actually, I have one original idea, but at this point I'm not sure if it's better off as a novel or a script. We'll see. In any case, this story keeps me busy enough, and I'm happy you like it so much. Thanks again!

You do write professionally, right???

Author's Response:

No, but thank you anyway. :)

I never understood the point of rotting potatos anyway!

LOVE your story.

Author's Response:

Thanks! I didn't feel too badly about getting rid of the potatoes anyway, since they weren't even grown in Europe during the 17th century. That was a historical boo-boo on Steph's part. Of course, there weren't underground sewers in London during that time either, but I digress...

wow.  I've read a bit of fan fiction.  And enjoyed most.  But this is so well written, quite professional.  Wonderful characterizations.  Thank you.

Author's Response:

You're welcome, and thanks for reading. I'm glad you like it.

Great chapter :)
Brilliant twist at the end - didn't see that one coming!

Author's Response:

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

Ah, this is just divine.

The poem quoted at the beginning brought tears to my eyes, as your choices often do.

The two of them waiting for the unwelcome guests, the underlying tension in the air, very palpable.  Carlisle's fixation with "Paradise Lost' -- of course we all know what Paradise he is making soul offering to with this kind of remembrance.  You see, it's little details like this that just make the characters so achingly alive.

Likewise Edward's sad frisson of loss at word of Debussy's death.  The cold edge of eternity touches him in precisely such unlooked for moments as this.

Fletcher ... I can not help but think of Fletcher Gull in the story Jonathan Livingstone Seagull.  Dear me.

All of the dialogue with its multiple currents and layers was just masterfully done.  You show how ruthless - soulless - the Volturi are.  Which brings me to an interesting thought: perhaps the essence of soul is compassion, and when it is cast aside, so is the soul ... I wonder ....

I suspect that the distinct feeling of wanderlust, and subsequent musings in Edward's head were courtesy of Chelsea's horrid little gift.  (Is it she, then, who is to plant the seed that will lead Edward to eventually go on his vigilante hegira ... ?)   (And interesting that the most hateful of the Volturi are the women.  I wonder if Meyer was aware of that as she was writing her universe?)

I do feel sorry for Fletcher.  I fear he is not long for this world.

Just wonderful writing all around.

Author's Response:

"Likewise Edward's sad frisson of loss at word of Debussy's death. The cold edge of eternity touches him in precisely such unlooked for moments as this."

Very nicely put, and those moments really do come up spontaneously as this is written. 

Once again, you've touched me with your comments. It's interesting to see the thoughts and questions this story is prompting in your mind. Some of your insights/predictions are right on... but some aren't. In the interest of keeping things spoiler-free, I won't say which are which. ;)

Thank you for yet another wonderful review.

 

 

YAY UPDATE!!!!!!

that was awesome

I love all the classical works you mention...i'm not as into classical music as I want to be. I really want to get into but i have no clue where to even start lol. I have/love Ahn Trio's album Lullaby for my Favorite Insomniac.

Of course I like Debussy's "clair de lune", and I liked it before twilight, just didn't know what it was called.

And I LOVE THAT YOU MENTION RAVEL lol...again, i'm not familiar with all his work except for one piece...my favorite piece...ever. Piano Trio in A Minor: II. Pantoum Assez Vif..that's my favorite piano piece ever.

Can't wait to see what other works by him you mention.

I definitely liked the meeting of the Vultori and WOW at that ending..lol Fletcher is the vampire version of Mystique from X-men, it sounds like. COOL

can't wait, i'm so happy thing will be going faster.

Author's Response:

I really like the suite that Phantoum is from, and have thought about featuring it at some point. The fourth movement, Anime, is my fave, but Phantoum is a close second. Since you like it so much, you ought to check out more of Ravel's stuff. It would make a great springboard to dive off into other classical if you really want to get familiar with it. It's like getting to know any other genre of music- just start with what you like and let it lead you on from there. For Ravel, a good place to start are the 1979 recordings of Vlado Perlemuter's renditions of Ravel's solo piano works. Perlemuter studied with Ravel himself. As for what's coming up... I'll give you a hint: "Treasurer of the Night."

 

The good news is that the next chapters are going to come out so much more quickly than we're all used to. I promise.

Can we hold you to that? The problem with such a delightful story is that we, your readers, want more, and quickly.

I get a kick out of Carlisle bantering with Edward...it's such a "guy" thing.

I don't know what's more disturbing at this point, Fletcher's gift, or the lure of Volterra being dangled before an all too susceptible, far too naive Edward.

Even though I've read this already on FF.net, it's just as chilling the second time around. And now I'm all the more eager for the next chapter!

 

Author's Response:

You rock.

 

That's all.

 

You just rock.

Really enjoying this story so far :)

Can't wait to see what happens next - especially with the Volturi on their way!

Author's Response:

Thank you so much for commenting!

The next chapter should be validated soon, I hope. It's been in the queue for about a week and a half now, so my validation beta must be swamped. If you're especially anxious you can check it out on ff.net, as it's already posted there, but it should be up here soon, too.

I love the way you write. :) If I cited all the examples, this review would be much too long, but I did enjoy Carlisle kissing her hand, and the description of Esme's memory as a place of extremes.

My relationship with poetry is contentious at best, but when I saw that you ended the first part with a mention of Shakespeare's sonnet 26, and then ended the second part by specifically mentioning that Esme was 26, I decided I'd better go read the sonnet. I'm glad I did, or I would have missed what it describes of Esme's feelings for Carlisle. They are not equals (although she doesn't realize how profoundly unequal they are), so she just dreams of him until, as we know, she becomes "worth of [his] sweet respect." I especially appreciate your interpretation that she let herself fall -- echoing line 9, right?

I think I'm going to read through your chapters one every few days, so I can think about each one. It's always tempting to race through, clicking *Next* as fast as possible, though.

(Just an aside, R is usually as racy as I'll go, 'cause I'm a prude... my sisters tease me when they catch the pursed lips... It's embarrassing, but oh well.)

Author's Response:

Thank you for trying an NC-17 fic! There's not much worrisome content in the chapters posted so far- nothing more than R-worthy, at any rate. It's in future chapters, especially when Edward's on his own, that the story really starts to earn its rating... in spades. There will be content warnings when appropriate, though, so you'll know to skip something if you want to.

Believe it or not, it started as pure coicidence that Esme's sonnet and her age at her death are the same number. I already had sonnet XXVI in mind for Esme and Carlisle, and since her age was 26, I thought it would be fun to work it in as a buried meaning. ;)

You may or may not remember from the prologue thread, but in it I mentioned a chapter that was nixed. Originally, the chapter that started off the story after the prologue was about some of Carlisle and Esme's courtship after she's changed, and it was titled, "Thy Soul's Thought, All Naked." The sonnet was the epigraphical poem for the chapter, and it figured into the events in it as well. I removed the chapter, though, because it put a chink into the flow of the narrative- it was just the wrong place in the story for it. It'll make a comeback appearance later, however.

In the meantime, I'm thrilled that you went off and read sonnet XXVI ater catching the numerical "coincidence."  It really does lend a tender dimension to the nature of their relationship. You're dead-on with the interpretation of "worthy of thy sweet respect." That, I definitely had in mind. The ninth line ('til whatsoever star that guides my moving)... you know, I didn't see that as having a relationship to the way she fell, but I can see where you got it and it's a lovely interpretation all the same.

Thanks for yet another fantastic review. :)

 

Please tell me there's a new chapter coming soon?! I wonder if your plot is going to include how each of the family came to be counted a Cullen, I really hope so! I've always wanted to read an intimate account of Esme's change and Alice & Jasper's arrival.. even if you don't plan to go down this path, I still hope there will be more soon x it's been a pleasure to read so far.

A lot of fics here on Twilighted are enjoyable but the quality of your writing here stands out to me.

My screen name has a cute story.. I'm glad you like it! I might write a little explanation in my bio notes before I submit my first ever fanfic sometime this week :)) Wish me luck! I hope it's not terrible..!!

Author's Response:

Yes, there is a new chapter coming very soon. :D It's in the validation queue right now.

My Lost Youth is going to continue up through Esme's transformation and her romance with Carlisle, into the dark waters of Edward's time away from them during his "rebellious" period, and then a little beyond. But we won't get to Rosalie and the other siblings, I'm sorry to say.

I'm grateful that you're liking it so much, though.

It would be fun to know the story about your screen name- I'll keep an eye out for it. In the meantime, good luck with your story, and congrats on writing your first fanfic! I'll be sure to check it out.