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Lust Over Pendle
Lust Over Pendle is a comedy of manners set in the Golden Age detective thriller genre, and is presumed to take place after the end of the seventh Harry Potter book, and, therefore, after the fall of Voldemort.
Readers are advised that this book contains spoilers for all the Harry Potter novels, Quidditch Through The Ages and Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them.
Readers are advised that this book contains spoilers for all the Harry Potter novels, Quidditch Through The Ages and Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them.
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About the author
A.J. Hall
13 books4 followersA.J. Hall is resident in Greater Manchester, which was once, before the infamous depredations of the 1974 Local Government Acts, rightfully part of the County Palatine of Lancashire.
Hall was educated at one of the older Universities of this kingdom, and encountered sufficient like-minded nutters there to use as case-studies so as to argue convincingly against compulsory committal ever since (though luck on this point may be starting to run out). Fandoms include Torchwood, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey stories, Mary Renault, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and, most recently, Sherlock.
Besides writing, Hall's hobbies include sailing obsessively around the Irish Sea and Western Scotland, drinking and arguing about trivialities endlessly in various on-line forums.
Hall's most significant SF fandom moment was possibly meeting Terry Pratchett in the kitchen at a party in West Croydon in the late 1980s, though it is fair to say that a friend who was also at the party recalls the host telling her that Terry Pratchett had been unavoidably prevented from attending.
Hall was educated at one of the older Universities of this kingdom, and encountered sufficient like-minded nutters there to use as case-studies so as to argue convincingly against compulsory committal ever since (though luck on this point may be starting to run out). Fandoms include Torchwood, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey stories, Mary Renault, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and, most recently, Sherlock.
Besides writing, Hall's hobbies include sailing obsessively around the Irish Sea and Western Scotland, drinking and arguing about trivialities endlessly in various on-line forums.
Hall's most significant SF fandom moment was possibly meeting Terry Pratchett in the kitchen at a party in West Croydon in the late 1980s, though it is fair to say that a friend who was also at the party recalls the host telling her that Terry Pratchett had been unavoidably prevented from attending.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 13, 2019
The unexpected pairing Draco and Neville leads one of the best fanfics I've read. It was multiply recommended in a Facebook group I'm in (I believe Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate Group), so I went to the site to read a sample and see if I agreed it'd be worth my time. I read the whole thing! (N.b., it's available for download as MOBI or EPUB, as well as in an online reader interface.)
It's witty and charming, then gets emotionally powerful and exciting, with kidnaps and rescues and a last-minute action-movie-type climax (I started to write something more specific here, but decided not to even offer that as a hidden spoiler), with an oddly-assorted group of primary and secondary protagonists.
It was interesting to see Harry from this perspective, though he barely appears in person, unlike Hermione and a couple much-less-likable characters. I won't spoil one revelation of identity for you, but much of the plot involves Rita Skeeter's scheming for a major story about presumed Malfoy evil intentions. If you're a house-elf fan, they too play a part. So does Neville's not-to-be-underestimated grandmother.
Draco and his fascinating mother's already-ambiguous positions post-Voldemort are added to by prejudice and more erroneous assumptions after a scandal-sheet paparazzo reveals his and Neville's romance, leading to unexpected deals and alliances, even with Muggles (though Draco is pretty clueless about many Muggle things).
The emotional wounds of Recent Events (i.e., the wizarding world's secret war with Voldemort) linger, and are treated with respect. The ethical dilemmas are thoughtful. The romance is sensitive, with both of them at times being awkward, or the one who provides strength and support. The sexual content is minor, fade-to-black, for both the primary relationship and another that develops.
The editing is good. If it were in my regular Kindle library, I'd have a bunch of highlights to share. I only caught a couple of minor goofs.
In short, recommended. I plan to read more of this universe, including the backstory/prequels.
EDITED TO ADD: Also in this series, there's a crossover of the Potterverse with Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan-verse, and AJH gives praise to E.H. Smith's Snape-meets-Vorkosigans set of three fanfics (of varying short lengths) which inspired it. I naturally had to try those too, since LMB is one of my absolute faves. They're not on Goodreads, AFAICT, so I'm mentioning them here. Very well written. Snapily angst-y, but insightful. Over 3 stars, though since I'm not a Snape-adorer I'm not sure I would round up if I could give a rating; I'm star-stingy.
It's witty and charming, then gets emotionally powerful and exciting, with kidnaps and rescues and a last-minute action-movie-type climax (I started to write something more specific here, but decided not to even offer that as a hidden spoiler), with an oddly-assorted group of primary and secondary protagonists.
It was interesting to see Harry from this perspective, though he barely appears in person, unlike Hermione and a couple much-less-likable characters. I won't spoil one revelation of identity for you, but much of the plot involves Rita Skeeter's scheming for a major story about presumed Malfoy evil intentions. If you're a house-elf fan, they too play a part. So does Neville's not-to-be-underestimated grandmother.
Draco and his fascinating mother's already-ambiguous positions post-Voldemort are added to by prejudice and more erroneous assumptions after a scandal-sheet paparazzo reveals his and Neville's romance, leading to unexpected deals and alliances, even with Muggles (though Draco is pretty clueless about many Muggle things).
The emotional wounds of Recent Events (i.e., the wizarding world's secret war with Voldemort) linger, and are treated with respect. The ethical dilemmas are thoughtful. The romance is sensitive, with both of them at times being awkward, or the one who provides strength and support. The sexual content is minor, fade-to-black, for both the primary relationship and another that develops.
The editing is good. If it were in my regular Kindle library, I'd have a bunch of highlights to share. I only caught a couple of minor goofs.
In short, recommended. I plan to read more of this universe, including the backstory/prequels.
EDITED TO ADD: Also in this series, there's a crossover of the Potterverse with Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan-verse, and AJH gives praise to E.H. Smith's Snape-meets-Vorkosigans set of three fanfics (of varying short lengths) which inspired it. I naturally had to try those too, since LMB is one of my absolute faves. They're not on Goodreads, AFAICT, so I'm mentioning them here. Very well written. Snapily angst-y, but insightful. Over 3 stars, though since I'm not a Snape-adorer I'm not sure I would round up if I could give a rating; I'm star-stingy.
June 21, 2020
I wouldn’t usually categorise a piece of fanfiction in my Goodreads list, but I think this is an exception. It’s not just that it’s novel-length (I read lots of novel-length fics, many that could have the serial numbers filed off and stand perfectly well as original fiction) but that it is A Work in a way lots of other aren’t.
I tend to re-read this series every few years, and it’s so well-constructed that I get more out of it every time. It’s definitely fanfic - it’s so solidly set in the Harry Potter universe that there would be no way of conceiving it as anything else - but it is also SO MUCH MORE. It’s so tremendously *clever* - witty, well-written, heartbreaking, amazingly subtle characterisations. I’m fairly sure that, having not had a solid English classical education, I’m missing a fair number of literary references, but the author kindly included a guide to some of the references at the end of the book.
Neville and Draco is such an unlikely pairing, but I’m so invested in them as written - I love the combination of them both as impetuous young men, and also world-weary veterans who can really appreciate the support they find in one another. I also adore the female characters in this Mrs Longbottom, Narcissa, Hermione and OPs Melanie and Caitlin (Naismith - which is 100% a nod!) are a fantastic example of how to create Strong Female Characters - their different strengths and wits are so much fun to read, and this series takes the Bechdel test and hit it SO much farther out of the water than the HP series did (alas).
I’ve re-read this series about four times now, and it is so rewarding every time. A.J. Hall has an incredibly nuanced and insightful way of creating plot, characters and just, well, writing.
I tend to re-read this series every few years, and it’s so well-constructed that I get more out of it every time. It’s definitely fanfic - it’s so solidly set in the Harry Potter universe that there would be no way of conceiving it as anything else - but it is also SO MUCH MORE. It’s so tremendously *clever* - witty, well-written, heartbreaking, amazingly subtle characterisations. I’m fairly sure that, having not had a solid English classical education, I’m missing a fair number of literary references, but the author kindly included a guide to some of the references at the end of the book.
Neville and Draco is such an unlikely pairing, but I’m so invested in them as written - I love the combination of them both as impetuous young men, and also world-weary veterans who can really appreciate the support they find in one another. I also adore the female characters in this Mrs Longbottom, Narcissa, Hermione and OPs Melanie and Caitlin (Naismith - which is 100% a nod!) are a fantastic example of how to create Strong Female Characters - their different strengths and wits are so much fun to read, and this series takes the Bechdel test and hit it SO much farther out of the water than the HP series did (alas).
I’ve re-read this series about four times now, and it is so rewarding every time. A.J. Hall has an incredibly nuanced and insightful way of creating plot, characters and just, well, writing.
June 26, 2020
Such a comfort read. It never fails to amuse. There is a coda to be found in the short story, You Must Remember This.
"Obliviate is one hell of a drug. With the emphasis on the hell.
One of the unintended consequences of the events of Lust Over Pendle. "
https://archiveofourown.org/works/174...
"Obliviate is one hell of a drug. With the emphasis on the hell.
One of the unintended consequences of the events of Lust Over Pendle. "
https://archiveofourown.org/works/174...
December 29, 2023
Not nearly as explicit as the title might suggest, this is first-rate Harry Potter fanfic. I think it was written before book 6, so it's AU from that point. Harry is a fairly minor character here, with the focus on Neville and Draco. It turns out having his father sacrifice him caused a major improvement in Draco's personality.
March 7, 2016
Sure, it's fanfic, but it's *really entertaining* fanfic! Well and consistently written. Features a male/male romance and a mystery, both in the mildest of terms (nothing to steamy or violent).
September 16, 2018
Everything about this story is the best! The characters were strong and fully developed in the most delightful ways. Can't wait to read more!
September 22, 2022
Fanfaction, whatever. It's GOOD. And that's because it's very well-plotted and characters are much more realised than JKR could ever dream. Heck, on the strength of the first chapter alone I'd love to read three books about Neville's Gran alone.
It's one of the best of the genre that it so fully merges worlds and characters, gives them plausible motivations and a heck of a plot. If I can find one fault, though, it's that the novel is billed as a mystery - it takes a heck of a time until that plot even starts.
The whole thing is a very, very dense text, full of literary allusions that I loved (come one, D.L.Sayers is the GOAT). It also made me very uncomfortable at times: Neville's "conversion therapy" punches you in the gut. (I fully know that this book precedes - most - of JKR's problematic opinions, but I do love that it shows how downright horrible it is when society/some people decide that everything you are, love and do is wrong and should be fixed.)
It's one of the best of the genre that it so fully merges worlds and characters, gives them plausible motivations and a heck of a plot. If I can find one fault, though, it's that the novel is billed as a mystery - it takes a heck of a time until that plot even starts.
The whole thing is a very, very dense text, full of literary allusions that I loved (come one, D.L.Sayers is the GOAT). It also made me very uncomfortable at times: Neville's "conversion therapy" punches you in the gut. (I fully know that this book precedes - most - of JKR's problematic opinions, but I do love that it shows how downright horrible it is when society/some people decide that everything you are, love and do is wrong and should be fixed.)
February 20, 2020
I reread this every couple of years and without fail it gets better. every. time. J K who?
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews