What do you think?
Rate this book
Rigel Black #4
The Futile Facade
Harriet Potter is back for a fourth year of quietly masquerading as her pureblooded cousin in order to pursue her dream. There are those in the Wizarding World who refuse to see her fade into the background, however, and when the forces she's been ignoring conspire to bring her to the fore, it will take everything she has to see her artifice through.
Book four. Alanna the Lioness take on HP.
Book four. Alanna the Lioness take on HP.
1055 pages, ebook
Published April 24, 2016
10 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 3, 2021
As of chapter 11 (this is where I caught up):
This is super interesting, and it has pulled me away from so much I have to do...
The characters are great - growing as the plot also grows, and also growing irrespective of how much Rigel may interact with them. Don't get me wrong, if not for Rigel none of this change would have occurred, but the fact that these characters are growing away from Rigel adds that bit of motion to the world, that helps create a kinetic society rather than one where a protagonist's interaction is relied upon in order to set the world into motion, and only for so long as the protagonist gazes at them.
Other than that, I entirely cannot resist grinning at the interactions between Caelum and Harry, and I really wish the best for Caelum, for him to be brought to a better place. Like the author noted before, all the characters deserve happy endings, or at least I wish for happy endings to all. Despite my normal tendency to cheer for a misunderstood cusp of antagonist guy x female protagonist usually (and unashamedly), I don't find myself wanting more from those two than a stable friendship ultimately beneficial to both of them (and I've only realised after I typed, but no, I don't mean friends with benefits...).
On that note, I'm a little sad at how little we've had of the fun interactions between Aldon and Rigel, and although I enjoy the discussions within, I'm left still wanting more because I haven't enough from the third book till now. I was extremely pleased with how supportive Aldon was to Rigel despite the politics involved, although I found myself frustrated a little, cos it's so close, so, so close to it ending in a way that satisfies me: Aldon and Harry together. I know, it won't be because Harry has her George in Leo already (and truth be told I would rather them together), but still.
This also reminds me of something else; Harry. I don't know if it's just me, but she seems a little more volatile of late (which is reasonable with the state of her magic as well as her experiences), but not only that, she seems more demanding of a sort. More childish in some actions. I don't know, maybe I'm being too harsh on her, but where she started off as a protagonist who saw the same reason and logic as myself, that seems no longer to be the case often. And you know what, that's not a deal breaker for me at all because a majority of the books I've read have had protagonists whose of actions I've more often than not disagreed with. But I've definitely enjoyed protagonists whose reason I can see and agree with more, or at least books whose protagonist doesn't immediately piss me off. And somehow, Harry's been teetering along the edge of that of late. I don't know, just the way she acts sometimes, or the things she thinks. But maybe It'll pass. I'll find out, though, as I continue reading...
As of finishing the book:
Wow. Shit went down.
I don't know if it was cos I knew the shift in Harry's personality/temperament, but I found it annoyed me less this time around, and I empathised much more with her actions. Besides that, everything was a great time, and I enjoyed this read as always. As much as things came crashing down, it was less crash and more fall (mostly) perfectly in place where the pieces belong (and my respect for Harry's and Violet's planning only grows). I'm glad that Leo knows, and that Harry's come to a point where she fells she can rely on him.
I'm excited for the detective aspects I'm sure will come in through Draco's and Pansy's perspectives (and for possible Beka Cooper elements to shine through? Though probably not, seeing as the Tortall aspects bleed in from the lower alleys and they are far from it...). I think I really want to see the impact Rigel's reveal had to the people who knew him (her?), if the fanfic of fanfic I've been reading is any indication (the Rigel Black Conspiracy Board was a great short, and I love how the conspiracy board was actually drawn up!). I'm also wondering what's going to happen with Harry's schooling. Archie will probably keep going to AIM (once he's retaken all the necessary tests), but Harry has only the owl correspondence course, and of course, she's covered up to NEWT level stuff in whatever Flint studied. So then she'll have all her time to spend in the lower alleys, except for the fact she's semi-grounded? Or at least closely watched. And besides, without Draco's party or the New Years Gala or any of them to go to, what's she gonna do all year? I suppose Dumbledore's Light Soiree could be an option, now that I've thought of it, but still, what's she gonna do with the rest of her time? It could shift into more Land of Tortall content, especially if she gets an apprenticeship, (which would be similar in structure to squire-hood possibly), but my point is, I'm quite lost on what's coming next. Most of the loose ends in the plot have been tied. The one major thing is the wand situation, but that's very much a subplot at most, and one I have little ideas on how to resolve, at that, so in the dark on that too, I guess.
I'm still very much invested in the characters, and I definitely will read the continuation as they come out, but I feel very much blind now, going into the fifth book, for better or for worse :)
This is super interesting, and it has pulled me away from so much I have to do...
The characters are great - growing as the plot also grows, and also growing irrespective of how much Rigel may interact with them. Don't get me wrong, if not for Rigel none of this change would have occurred, but the fact that these characters are growing away from Rigel adds that bit of motion to the world, that helps create a kinetic society rather than one where a protagonist's interaction is relied upon in order to set the world into motion, and only for so long as the protagonist gazes at them.
Other than that, I entirely cannot resist grinning at the interactions between Caelum and Harry, and I really wish the best for Caelum, for him to be brought to a better place. Like the author noted before, all the characters deserve happy endings, or at least I wish for happy endings to all. Despite my normal tendency to cheer for a misunderstood cusp of antagonist guy x female protagonist usually (and unashamedly), I don't find myself wanting more from those two than a stable friendship ultimately beneficial to both of them (and I've only realised after I typed, but no, I don't mean friends with benefits...).
On that note, I'm a little sad at how little we've had of the fun interactions between Aldon and Rigel, and although I enjoy the discussions within, I'm left still wanting more because I haven't enough from the third book till now. I was extremely pleased with how supportive Aldon was to Rigel despite the politics involved, although I found myself frustrated a little, cos it's so close, so, so close to it ending in a way that satisfies me: Aldon and Harry together. I know, it won't be because Harry has her George in Leo already (and truth be told I would rather them together), but still.
This also reminds me of something else; Harry. I don't know if it's just me, but she seems a little more volatile of late (which is reasonable with the state of her magic as well as her experiences), but not only that, she seems more demanding of a sort. More childish in some actions. I don't know, maybe I'm being too harsh on her, but where she started off as a protagonist who saw the same reason and logic as myself, that seems no longer to be the case often. And you know what, that's not a deal breaker for me at all because a majority of the books I've read have had protagonists whose of actions I've more often than not disagreed with. But I've definitely enjoyed protagonists whose reason I can see and agree with more, or at least books whose protagonist doesn't immediately piss me off. And somehow, Harry's been teetering along the edge of that of late. I don't know, just the way she acts sometimes, or the things she thinks. But maybe It'll pass. I'll find out, though, as I continue reading...
As of finishing the book:
Wow. Shit went down.
I don't know if it was cos I knew the shift in Harry's personality/temperament, but I found it annoyed me less this time around, and I empathised much more with her actions. Besides that, everything was a great time, and I enjoyed this read as always. As much as things came crashing down, it was less crash and more fall (mostly) perfectly in place where the pieces belong (and my respect for Harry's and Violet's planning only grows). I'm glad that Leo knows, and that Harry's come to a point where she fells she can rely on him.
I'm excited for the detective aspects I'm sure will come in through Draco's and Pansy's perspectives (and for possible Beka Cooper elements to shine through? Though probably not, seeing as the Tortall aspects bleed in from the lower alleys and they are far from it...). I think I really want to see the impact Rigel's reveal had to the people who knew him (her?), if the fanfic of fanfic I've been reading is any indication (the Rigel Black Conspiracy Board was a great short, and I love how the conspiracy board was actually drawn up!). I'm also wondering what's going to happen with Harry's schooling. Archie will probably keep going to AIM (once he's retaken all the necessary tests), but Harry has only the owl correspondence course, and of course, she's covered up to NEWT level stuff in whatever Flint studied. So then she'll have all her time to spend in the lower alleys, except for the fact she's semi-grounded? Or at least closely watched. And besides, without Draco's party or the New Years Gala or any of them to go to, what's she gonna do all year? I suppose Dumbledore's Light Soiree could be an option, now that I've thought of it, but still, what's she gonna do with the rest of her time? It could shift into more Land of Tortall content, especially if she gets an apprenticeship, (which would be similar in structure to squire-hood possibly), but my point is, I'm quite lost on what's coming next. Most of the loose ends in the plot have been tied. The one major thing is the wand situation, but that's very much a subplot at most, and one I have little ideas on how to resolve, at that, so in the dark on that too, I guess.
I'm still very much invested in the characters, and I definitely will read the continuation as they come out, but I feel very much blind now, going into the fifth book, for better or for worse :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2021
My favourite book of the serie so far (but I'm never reading #3 again; Rigel made time travel utterly terrifying). I've read the whole serie in a month and a half and I've grown so attached to the characters and universe that it physically hurts to have to wait for more. But hey, at least it's not over yet.
April 21, 2020
I actually stopped reading this in the middle of chapter seven because it switched to Draco's pov and he's being gross and I hate him so :)
November 1, 2019
Another excellent instalment in this fascinating series of an alternate Harry Potter universe; a star taken off for the unfinished nature of the work currently and the insanely long chapters which once more make it difficult to read in snippets which is how I tend to read fanfiction. The author ends up with chapters between 25,000 and 45,000 words, which could really do with being split into at least three individual chapters just for practical reasons and ease of reading. It's also not-worthy that there are five huge chapters before you get to Hogwarts which is where most of the interesting stuff actually happens and certainly where the characters that I am most interested in following are located. Whilst the summer holidays aspects didn't leave me quite as dry as they did in The Ambiguous Artifice, I could have done with significantly less of them in order to get to the meat of the story more quickly.
There is a huge amount going on here though and once more the author takes canon and twists it so carefully and adroitly that you have no idea where they are going with it. The way the Triwizard Tournament has been taken and altered into a competition of blood purity is genius and it is executed excellently throughout with real thought having gone into the various tasks and how a whole new set of characters from across the world might handle them. Again, I would say that actually the real interest of the story lies here and it's a pity that you have a good 50% of the current story before this has a chance to get under way; there are so many new characters and cultures introduced that the reader really wants to know more. I enjoyed the way Rigel manages to incorporate potions into the tasks and the way in which she handles the various challenges is managed; it's excellently written and really draws on the tension and the fervour of the tournament.
With slightly older characters also comes the subject of romances; tricky enough for the average adolescent, but more so still when you are a girl managing to pass a male through judicious potion use and utter dedication to the cause. Throughout there is a humour and wit that sparkles off the page and it goes without saying that it is a thoroughly intelligent as well as entertaining read. Aspects of magic that are either ignored or glossed over in canon are brought to the fore here with a larger focus on alchemy, duelling and of course, potions. It's all cleverly handled and rarely feels as though you are being bombarded with information, but instead let in on a whole new world of magic and wonder.
So. Excellently written and a fic that takes canon and weaves it into something so much more complex and multi-dimensional. I am truly sorry that this hasn't been finished yet but at least with the last update being in August this year, I have hope that the author will come back to it.
There is a huge amount going on here though and once more the author takes canon and twists it so carefully and adroitly that you have no idea where they are going with it. The way the Triwizard Tournament has been taken and altered into a competition of blood purity is genius and it is executed excellently throughout with real thought having gone into the various tasks and how a whole new set of characters from across the world might handle them. Again, I would say that actually the real interest of the story lies here and it's a pity that you have a good 50% of the current story before this has a chance to get under way; there are so many new characters and cultures introduced that the reader really wants to know more. I enjoyed the way Rigel manages to incorporate potions into the tasks and the way in which she handles the various challenges is managed; it's excellently written and really draws on the tension and the fervour of the tournament.
With slightly older characters also comes the subject of romances; tricky enough for the average adolescent, but more so still when you are a girl managing to pass a male through judicious potion use and utter dedication to the cause. Throughout there is a humour and wit that sparkles off the page and it goes without saying that it is a thoroughly intelligent as well as entertaining read. Aspects of magic that are either ignored or glossed over in canon are brought to the fore here with a larger focus on alchemy, duelling and of course, potions. It's all cleverly handled and rarely feels as though you are being bombarded with information, but instead let in on a whole new world of magic and wonder.
So. Excellently written and a fic that takes canon and weaves it into something so much more complex and multi-dimensional. I am truly sorry that this hasn't been finished yet but at least with the last update being in August this year, I have hope that the author will come back to it.
Read
May 14, 2023Just my brain dump of reactions, not edited for coherency. Full of spoilers. Covers the first 4 books.
1- Second cousins with Caelum and Draco - everyone's so close not sure why they don't know each other (I guess the split)
2- Yay she tells things to adults. And they can't solve them--that makes the stakes feel higher.
3- Time Turner makes sense. Peter teacher. Snape thought Rigel noticed. Magic suppressant. Get with Leo? Rosier disappeared. Why does everyone like her? Related lestrange? Politics.
Lots of vocab uses of Bemused, sardonically. How many students total at Hogwarts to still introduce and not know them--just because she's unobservant? Snape doesn't recognize Harry?? Seriously how does NO ONE NOTICE when she and Archie switch. AIM no one knows should be a girl. Was it Draco's hair? Is Draco a rat Animagus? Lord level magic--ooo.
What the heck with the Halloween attack on the castle, and then it's over and we go on about our lives for months?
Tell Bill! He's a Weasley and is actively looking for this thing. If you don't trust political people, trust him.
They're both going to the Yule party? This is a terrible terrible plan.
Been kidnapped 3 times--she should work on that.
Yikes this kidnapping business is intense.
4- Free dueling is AWESOME. Nooo why doesn't she love Leo? Can she be best friends with the vampire? Unbreakable vow feels like a bad idea. Will this first task be all original tasks in one? Archie coming? Rigel very prepared for forest--I love all the equipment. Hermione team up--yay! Parseltongue on TV.
Prediction: she could go to Azkaban and be fine because of occlumency and the jewel, then break out, prove she was half blood all along, and undermine Riddle's agenda.
"Harry would never allow herself to be used as leverage against me, she'd die first"--bold and I like it. Cool she can negotiate with Tom Riddle. If Snape meets real Archie he would know. Can they please tell Hermione and make her promise not to tell to protect against truth serum? Could an Animagus escape Azkaban?
Prediction: Maybe he actually wants Fleur and Rigel to win together Hunger Games style to show pureblood plus halfblood is a good combination.
I'm confused why Rigel and Hermione want to solve the Fade and are mad no one's doing anything about it and everyone's opposed to marrying non-purebloods, but they're also against the marriage law. Is the problem that the law wouldn't let people choose who they marry? Because otherwise it sounds like it would solve their concerns. I'm more confused why the purebloods are supporting the law if they're so against halfbloods.
Weird drunk tower challenge.
Harry should not go to parties. Someone always has an attempt on their life and she has to save them.
Prediction: Maybe he wants Owens the muggle born to defeat Rigel at the end, to a) show that Rigel the pureblood would have won, b) not have to fulfill the unbreakable vow, and c) get people angry at muggle borns.
HOT DANG. Voldemort had a crazy cauldron ritual? She survived the killing curse? She made Malfoy promise not to look for her? She figured out her animagus form? They're not going to jail? Leo knows! Caelum and Blaise and Lee Jordan were all involved in the ritual? Holy cow that was a lot.
Hermione sent a very supportive howler. And pansy helped draco not be too mad. And the marriage law failed. And maybe Snape won't have to be with Riddle anymore? And people are buying their story! And the Weasley twins explosives are actually super handy. And none of the thieves gave her away. And her family is so mad. And their escape plan worked!
Poor Draco. He's so sad. That was a heartbreaking goodbye.
1- Second cousins with Caelum and Draco - everyone's so close not sure why they don't know each other (I guess the split)
2- Yay she tells things to adults. And they can't solve them--that makes the stakes feel higher.
3- Time Turner makes sense. Peter teacher. Snape thought Rigel noticed. Magic suppressant. Get with Leo? Rosier disappeared. Why does everyone like her? Related lestrange? Politics.
Lots of vocab uses of Bemused, sardonically. How many students total at Hogwarts to still introduce and not know them--just because she's unobservant? Snape doesn't recognize Harry?? Seriously how does NO ONE NOTICE when she and Archie switch. AIM no one knows should be a girl. Was it Draco's hair? Is Draco a rat Animagus? Lord level magic--ooo.
What the heck with the Halloween attack on the castle, and then it's over and we go on about our lives for months?
Tell Bill! He's a Weasley and is actively looking for this thing. If you don't trust political people, trust him.
They're both going to the Yule party? This is a terrible terrible plan.
Been kidnapped 3 times--she should work on that.
Yikes this kidnapping business is intense.
4- Free dueling is AWESOME. Nooo why doesn't she love Leo? Can she be best friends with the vampire? Unbreakable vow feels like a bad idea. Will this first task be all original tasks in one? Archie coming? Rigel very prepared for forest--I love all the equipment. Hermione team up--yay! Parseltongue on TV.
Prediction: she could go to Azkaban and be fine because of occlumency and the jewel, then break out, prove she was half blood all along, and undermine Riddle's agenda.
"Harry would never allow herself to be used as leverage against me, she'd die first"--bold and I like it. Cool she can negotiate with Tom Riddle. If Snape meets real Archie he would know. Can they please tell Hermione and make her promise not to tell to protect against truth serum? Could an Animagus escape Azkaban?
Prediction: Maybe he actually wants Fleur and Rigel to win together Hunger Games style to show pureblood plus halfblood is a good combination.
I'm confused why Rigel and Hermione want to solve the Fade and are mad no one's doing anything about it and everyone's opposed to marrying non-purebloods, but they're also against the marriage law. Is the problem that the law wouldn't let people choose who they marry? Because otherwise it sounds like it would solve their concerns. I'm more confused why the purebloods are supporting the law if they're so against halfbloods.
Weird drunk tower challenge.
Harry should not go to parties. Someone always has an attempt on their life and she has to save them.
Prediction: Maybe he wants Owens the muggle born to defeat Rigel at the end, to a) show that Rigel the pureblood would have won, b) not have to fulfill the unbreakable vow, and c) get people angry at muggle borns.
HOT DANG. Voldemort had a crazy cauldron ritual? She survived the killing curse? She made Malfoy promise not to look for her? She figured out her animagus form? They're not going to jail? Leo knows! Caelum and Blaise and Lee Jordan were all involved in the ritual? Holy cow that was a lot.
Hermione sent a very supportive howler. And pansy helped draco not be too mad. And the marriage law failed. And maybe Snape won't have to be with Riddle anymore? And people are buying their story! And the Weasley twins explosives are actually super handy. And none of the thieves gave her away. And her family is so mad. And their escape plan worked!
Poor Draco. He's so sad. That was a heartbreaking goodbye.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2024
WOW! I have to say I am speechless after finally finishing this epic fourth installation in the series. It took me months to read the whole thing, not because it was hard to read but just because it is such a huge book. I could not stop reading when I came to the final pages and I had a similar feeling of anticipation as I had when reading the original Harry Potter books. This is so well-written and I have never felt so close to a character as I felt to Harriett/Rigel. The end of the book was a rollercoaster of emotions and I still don't know whether I am happy or sad. I do know, though, that this was one of the best things I ever read and I can't wait for the next chapters.
Read
September 11, 2020Me before the Darthmoor Castle sequence:
yeah so Harri should have harem made of all those awesome characters she has chemistry with
Me after the Darthmoor Castle sequence:
Caelum and Harriet, sitting in front of the cauldron, k-i-s-s-i...
So yeah, i enjoy female badass main character being ace aro. I also have a tragically non canon otp made by two asocial nerds whom i love dearly. My heart will be broken.
(I need place where i can go and read about people as excited about this series as me but without having to speak/write myself.
Is that how discord works??)
yeah so Harri should have harem made of all those awesome characters she has chemistry with
Me after the Darthmoor Castle sequence:
Caelum and Harriet, sitting in front of the cauldron, k-i-s-s-i...
So yeah, i enjoy female badass main character being ace aro. I also have a tragically non canon otp made by two asocial nerds whom i love dearly. My heart will be broken.
(I need place where i can go and read about people as excited about this series as me but without having to speak/write myself.
Is that how discord works??)
June 1, 2024
this shattered me. I am so heavily invested and utterly obsessed with this fanfic series. It is one of the most interesting and entertaining stories I have ever read, and it invokes in me the same feeling as my favourite series Ascendance of a Bookworm. I am going to literally die if the 5th volume remains abandoned, it hasn't been updated since 2022, and I fear the worst for this amazing story. It really has consumed all my waking thoughts since I started to read it, and this instalment was so epic and the stakes so high... I am indeed riding the high of such a great story.
February 3, 2021
The conclusion to this 4th entry in the Rigel Black series was well worth the wait.
Recommended to fans of Alanna: The First Adventure.
Eagerly anticipating Harry's next move.
Recommended to fans of Alanna: The First Adventure.
Eagerly anticipating Harry's next move.
Read
March 2, 2021Ah yasss. The latest in my favorite gender bent Harry Potter fanfiction. As ever, it's a little rough around the edges and could use a couple rounds of intense editing, but the characterization is just delightful and watching Rigel improbably think and magic her way out of this, that, and the other predicament should definitely be more annoying than it is.
June 12, 2021
OH MY GOD.
THAT ENDING.
THIS WAS THE BEST ONE YET.
OH MY GOD.
OH MY GOD.
THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.
it's going to be hard to wait for the rest :(
i want to print these into books to keep
THAT ENDING.
THIS WAS THE BEST ONE YET.
OH MY GOD.
OH MY GOD.
THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.
it's going to be hard to wait for the rest :(
i want to print these into books to keep
June 3, 2022
This was a whole journey. I am so attached to these characters I don't know what to do with myself now that I'm done with what's been posted.
August 28, 2025
[2025 reread]
The third book may be my favorite, but this book is a page-turner, I can never put it down for a minute. The Ruse is at its highest form and this book certainly shows you how much it impacts Harry (and Archie). It is harrowing reading about it and the tournament's tasks. The end still had me on the end of my seat with the desperate need to keep reading.
I can't believe it's been three years since the chapter 3 of MM came out, I just really hope to one day be able to read the next one and eventually the end of such a great series.
This is still the series I would present if someone were to ask me what my favorite story is.
[second 2021 read]
It was terrible to reread this, knowing how the book would end. Harry was so tired, it hurt. I just can't wait to know how she and Archie will make it through for the fifth book.
[first 2021 read]
Well, I didn't know you could find Fanfictions on Goodreads! Now I can finally truly show how much I read the Rigel Black Chronicles! And that makes more books for my 2021 reading challenge. I read it a lot, okay. That's my emotional support fanfiction. The best one ever. Go read it, you fool. You don't know what you miss. (And yes, I'm translating it in French on FFnet because it's so good.)
The third book may be my favorite, but this book is a page-turner, I can never put it down for a minute. The Ruse is at its highest form and this book certainly shows you how much it impacts Harry (and Archie). It is harrowing reading about it and the tournament's tasks. The end still had me on the end of my seat with the desperate need to keep reading.
I can't believe it's been three years since the chapter 3 of MM came out, I just really hope to one day be able to read the next one and eventually the end of such a great series.
This is still the series I would present if someone were to ask me what my favorite story is.
[second 2021 read]
It was terrible to reread this, knowing how the book would end. Harry was so tired, it hurt. I just can't wait to know how she and Archie will make it through for the fifth book.
[first 2021 read]
Well, I didn't know you could find Fanfictions on Goodreads! Now I can finally truly show how much I read the Rigel Black Chronicles! And that makes more books for my 2021 reading challenge. I read it a lot, okay. That's my emotional support fanfiction. The best one ever. Go read it, you fool. You don't know what you miss. (And yes, I'm translating it in French on FFnet because it's so good.)
December 6, 2021
This story continually amazes me in how well it blends the worlds of Alanna/Tortall and Harry Potter. The Triwizard Tournament was no exception. I blasted through the end and have gone back to read the climax several times to pick up all the nuances and just enjoy the thrill of the ending of this part of the epic journey.
January 28, 2021
holy shit
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews