Hey, you got yourself a new faithful reader!
I fully support Alice Wright here - I think that this should get published. It just might save us from the likes of "Twilight". (Sorry if I'm offending anyone but to me that's not literature, that's more like a rather bad Mary-Sue type fan fiction.)
I would also like to know how your original fiction is coming along, because I will be among the first to buy it. Being an aspiring writer myself with one published novel (selfish bragging, sorry) I wish you all the best of luck with that!
I admire the effort you have put into this because, admittedly, most of my fan fiction sucks big time. It's strange how I try hard to perfect my original work but I write fics in a completely different way. Sometimes when I read them later it feels like I must have been under one of Javert's epileptic spells while writing. I cringe. Only very recently have I started to consider actually writing fics the right way - making them border on literature rather than teenage ramblings. Especially since I'm not a teen anymore. Mind you, I'm exactly against somewhat trashy fics. They are necessary and I sometimes enjoy both reading and writing them. But I take them for what they are. And this is something entirely different. Kudos to you for not writing 'barricade slash' or 'bridge angst'! Man, I laughed so hard at those descriptions XD. Fandoms are so very prone to cliches, aren't they? But I'm a fine one to talk - I write horrible cliches all the time. But it's so much better when we don't! Probably my most favorite piece of work that I've done for this site is one that paired movie Phantom of the Opera with Carlotta.
Anyway...
All of the following is in no way meant to be criticism. I am commenting on your story the way I comment on my favorite authors' novels, with great appreciation and without claiming to know better, just because when you're a true fan you pick everything apart.
I also agree that this has as little to do with Les Miserables as Wicked has to do with The Wizard of Oz. Once people realize and accept that, they'll stop making silly comments (I remember you mentioning that they were). Your Javert is entrancing. But of course you meant him to be. I've written characters like that and they are addictive! It's such fun to write people who are crazy in a way that appeals tot he audience! He is even perhaps slightly too cool. At this point in the story I would personally enjoy Valjean taking the lead a little more, just in order not to blow 'Sasha's' omnipotence out of proportion. I don't know, maybe it doesn't strike you the same way being the author but in my eyes he is really way too good for his own good. I don't completely buy Fantine being in love with him but that's just me. It's not that I'm that big of a fan of Fantine, it just feels like a bit of a far cry. It works for the story but you are being so convincing that I sort of fit your facts into canon and in the end it may turn out that Javert was never at fault in anything. Was there ever a time when he was simply an ** with no secret motivation? Well, if not it still won't stop me from liking this new Javert. But he's a bit like Wodhouse's Jeeves - I kind of want to hug him and punch him at the same time for being such a know it all. And wow - you have just made me sympathize with Valjean more than I ever did before. Good job - I don't normally find him all that interesting but he's absolutely adorable here. They make a fine couple. Speaking of which, I'll join the big crowd who is vouching for a cozy little happy ending of this story. I'm a sucker for happy endings and since it wouldn't be implausible here, I'm really hoping that's where you're headed.
Okay, I realize this already way too long and not everyone enjoys long reviews as much as I do. All I want to say is, I'm hoping for an update soon. Happy writing!

~ Yana

this is such a great fic. One of the best I´ve ever read. Your writing style is wonderful and the construction of characters are perfect.
The only thing I don´t get is...will Jean and Javert ever get together?! Please, please let them stay!

This is the second time I've read this and it's almost better the second time. Your puzzle pieces fit together perfectly.

I have to say, your Javert is one of the most interesting characters I have seen, even outside of fandom. He has almost a Sherlockian quality mixed with a certain amount of... I don't know. The one thing I'd argue is that he is mostly your own now and not Hugo's. Hugo's "Les Miserables"* seems to be mostly a social commentary, like Dickens' "Oliver Twist". You've added a human element that seems to be sorely missing in Hugo's work. Mind, I'm not going against Hugo. That was the style of the time. One cannot argue that Shakespeare should have written all of his plays in free verse because that wasn't the acceptable format. He would have been disregarded as a hack that couldn't even rhyme. So Hugo would've been argued as a wobbler who can't make up his mind as to whom he supports had he given the depth of character to his villains that you have done with Javert.


You've done here what Gregory Macguire did with the wicked witch of the west, and we all know how that took off. I'd argue, in addition to publishing your non-fandom book (by the way, what is it called? Is it going to be released anytime soon?) you might want to consider publishing this. Several popular books, such as "Mr. Darcy's Diary", "Wicked", and "the Merlin Trilogy" are arguably very refined fanfiction, yours could do the same. Just a thought.

Anyway, please keep writing.

*I know that these should be in italics or underlined, I just don't know how to do so in a review. :D

More interesting insight into the mechanisms of how Javert's personal philosophy on law functions in pragmatic reality (with some good specific illustrative examples of the internal politics going on and some nice hypotheticals).

Strange plan, anyway...
I just loved the keyhole conversation, as well as the idea about Valjean as a cow. Ah, now this picture will be stuck in my head for the whole day!

Thinking of Jean le Vache makes me laugh a lot. Heehee.

Magnificent as always! Valjean-the-cow is a hysterically fun idea, and your Javert so perfectly expresses the philosophy that one would expect from him that it's impossible not to be delighted every time there's a new chapter of this out. And Valjean's little subterfuge towards the end was just great!

Hm, lying in the name of truth. A risky concept I'd think for Javert, but it's tough staying a pure idealist in such a system.

Aw, they finally share a laugh! Yay! There's still hope yet. For what? I'm not really sure . . . but still!

Valjean, stop being so ** yourself for one minute! Just because Watson can't keep up with Holmes doesn't make him an idiot! Valjean is plenty smart in his own right.

FINALLY! Something's gonna happen! "When we get out of here, I'll put another one on your other arm, for symmetry!" = wins life.

For some reason, I found this dialogue immensely funny:

“I’m a religious man, you know,” said Valjean.

“You’re a ninny.”

Heh, Valjean getting dissed by a drunk. I wonder what those two have in store for the poor guy. That IS pretty clever though, even if Valjean nearly blew it with his little arm-burning episode..speaking of which, I love seeing the two guys get to dredge stuff like that up, those strange little things that they would never have otherwise discussed if not for being imprisoned together in wine cellar. Can't wait for the update!

Oh, I like this! Javert saved Marius! (well, someone had to make the effort - not even Valjean really wanted to do it). I'm sitting here grinning like a fool - that is too gorgeous. And loving the kiss bestowed on Valjean for his simplicity.

Another great chapter! I really like your explanation about why Javert was so determined to proclaim Marius dead. Your interpretation makes sense, especially about how "only the state has the right to take a life" - this certainly sounds like Javert. I was always a bit confused why he was emphatic on this point, but then I decided that maybe Javert was trying to convince HIMSELF that Marius was dead, because he couldn't deal with trying to arrest them both, and obviously JVJ's arrest would take priority. But yeah, your explanation makes more sense :).

And aw, the kiss. Bless Valjean and his simplicity. :D

I was ready for Javert to give Valjean a smack upside the head. XD I liked the other gesture, though. ;) I seem to recall this idea about Javert declaring Marius 'dead' as being hinted at in another medium (forum, perhaps?), but I never thought it all the way through.

I wonder why they're specifically after Guelemer. Or maybe they're just taking precautions with the rope - it really will be like lassoing an elephant. But what sort of criminal hodgepodge can they expect to see? And do Valjean and Javert have hope for backup at some point?

Aw, I love this explanation of Javert's insistence that "the boy is dead" when he so very clearly wasn't! And that kiss on the forehead. *g*

Psht - you dropped an "l":
"Despein is a fantastic grouch"

Doesn't really matter that they have so much to tell to one another (ok, mostly Jvert explaining the world to Valjean), gives the reader a chance to catch up. Very nice explanation about Marius, I would otherwise have thought the same thing as Valjean.
And hurray for desplein and Bianchon!

m... first kiss. very sweet. ^^

Happy 50th (51st now) chapter anniversary/celebration/milestone-thing! :)