Goodness... where to even begin? You're most likely already acquainted with the astonishingly obvious fact that this is among the best Matrix fanfiction out there (and personally the best Smith story I've come across). The plot was highly original and - for once - I wasn't able to accurately guess just where certain decisions or actions would lead the protagonist.

If there is a sequel to this I wouldn't hesitate in reading it. Excellent, excellent job! Your writing abilities just blew me away.

x. Ara

I've been trying to write this review for over a month now, ever since you posted the final chapter to "Awakenings". I've gone over drafts after draft trying to distill why I love this story so much: how you make the such precise use of language to create beauty; how you write such interesting characters, original and otherwise; how you provide a mystical take on a mathematical world; how you develop romance in such a way that feel mature and fresh and true all at once.

Your story is one of my favorite, fanfic or otherwise. If there's more published, excellent. If "Awakenings" is all there is to be, I'll be hungry for more but will still cherish what I've read so far.

Thank you.

Bravo! Bravo! Wonderful! Lived up to every expectation! Oh, so fantastic!

Your story is bloody fantastic. You probably get that a lot.

This story is the best of its kind, certainly of any that I've ever read. Your plot is excellent, mesmerizing - deftly woven into a work of sheer and utter brilliance.

I find it both amusing and incredibly humbling that you were able to write a romance story in which the physical intimacy between your protagonists consists of two kisses, a hug and an instance of hand-holding; yet, by the final chapter readers are met with two characters who are hopelessly, completely and incontestably in love in a way that a 'raunchier' tale could never accomplish. Furthermore, your story was never boring – I read every word (all 159,868 of them...)
As a fellow writer, this awes me, and fills me with the kind of gaping wonder one experiences when watching a convincing magician, or one of those Chinese kids who can stack and un-stack cups really, really fast.

Are you published? You should be.

- Looking forward to an excellent sequel, Sarah S.

Incredibly awesome fic! You did a great job! OMG!! *worships*

And I second enigma81 here - really romantic Smith fics should *NEVER* have sweaty sex scenes. A hug is better than 10 throbbing and thrusting graphic sex scenes. The day Smith and Aleph have sex is the day the story dies.

Excellent. Flawless. Fierce. Superb. Seductive. Sexy. Intriguing. Intoxicating. Addicting.


More.

*gasp* oh my goodness, I had no idea this would be the last chapter. So many emotions.. I'm so sad that it's over. But you will make the follow up right? Because you left us on such a cliffhanger!



Now, on to give my full review of this story.



I can't remember how I found this fanfic, but I'm just glad that I did. It's amazing. This has to be one of the best fanfictions I have ever read (and let me tell you, I have slogged through many a fanfic). The overall characterization of Smith was above and beyond wonderful. You managed to keep him just the way he was in the movie, yet expound on his character in a believable way. I could actually picture Smith doing and saying the things he said in this story. Mind boggling.


The character of Aleph was another surprise. When I first started, I thought she was going to be your average, typical mary sue character. But no! You gave her a real personality, and real motivations (even if the motivations were not clear at first). Her exact nature is not quite clear to me (I have to read the story over I think) but from what I gathered, she's literally Smith's "other half", as in, he's the lock and she's the key? Is this why she was always so drawn to him? and he to her? Clarification is needed I'm afraid ^-^;

I loved your inclusion on some of the more minor characters of the series. The Mervingion (ha ha, can't spell his name) and the Key Maker especially. I also loved how the story sort of told what was going on behind the action of the movies.

I must admit, I enjoyed this fanfiction better then the sequels! You handled the philosophy better then the Wachowski's did, (who I'm afraid, got a little mixed up with the last two movies, which was a shame of course). You explored a lot of questions that the sequels didn't answer, especially the nature of the robots. I've always sympathized with the robots in the movie, and this fanfiction explains why.


This is how a fanfiction involving a relationship between a canon character and an OC should be done. This is probably one of the most romantic fanfics I read, without a single drop of sappy, gooey OOC fluffiness. You kept the fluff small and few, and made them poignant instead of saccharine. You made a simple hug ten times more romantic and SQUEE worhty then twenty pages of raunchy, sweaty monkey sex, or cooing and ear nibbling. For that, I commend you. *claps* You touched my cold, shriveled heart and made me sigh from reading a fanfiction. That's quite an amazing feat.


All in all, this was a FANTASTICSUPERAMAZING fanfic, I thank you for taking your time to write it and share with us. You better get working on that sequel soon though!

bravo! bravo! and if possible, (hopefully) encore! I demand it!

just kidding, but this story has truly captured me and didn't let go till the very end. I loved it. I thank you for the wonderful experience you have given me.

Bravo.

-Kishu

Oh. Wow.


...the FIRST PART? I am torn between joy and anger. Joy, because this incredible story will continue, though I cannot imagine at all where it will go from here. Anger, because this story has made me stay up far too late at night, reading it when I should be doing work. Ah well. It is very much worth it.

Now that the first part is at an end, perhaps it is time to review the entire thing: masterfully done, plot-wise. Everything tied together brilliantly while still leaving several strands open-ended. You could stop here. But no one wants you to I'm sure.

My one niggle is that Aleph and Smith could perhaps have a little more chemistry, although awkwardness is probably to be expected considering who they are.

Also: I am hoping for more of the Merovingian, because he is possibly my favorite character from the franchise and you write him so well.

In short: it has been an incredible journey, and I am overjoyed beyond words that there is more to come. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

This is epic. Absolutely epic. I'm in loss of words.

I am in great hurry now, so I just skimmed the chapter. I have to go back and read it when I have more time.

But I can tell, that the way you ended it (is it *really* and ending - or a new beginning...?) is perfect. No live-happily-ever-afters. No getting married and having children. No overly romantic hot lovemaking scenes.

You leave a lot to our imagination and let the story continue in our hearts. I adore you for that.

I will go back and give you a more detailed review as soon as possible. Perhaps I have to re-read the entire story, to get a better view on it.

And the fan art will soon follow.


Love,
Sel, your #1 Fan

"You have died already, Smith. You have died by sword, and by light, and by falling from high places. You have been torn and burnt and taken apart, piece by piece." Fear evaporated, and she enunciated each syllable with absolute clarity. "You have died far too many times. Now live. Live. Live."

I nearly cried at these lines. I'm so happy that you posted this chapter on Memorial Day.:D *Gives chocolate chip cookie* And...and there's going to be a second story?
Yay!*Squee* My inner self is spazzing with joy!

I have truly enjoyed this story! I've followed it from, if not the beginning, early on, and I have anticipated each chapter with anticipation. I'm relieved to find out that this is only a first in a series, as I've really come to love Aleph as an OC (I don't normally view them as 'real' characters, but she's been developed so well that I couldn't imagine the Matrix without her). I look forward to your sequel with much excitement!

O_O you astound me...you are a true artist and a genius. I cannot wait until your next update. I have never been more enthusiastic or as excited about a story than yours. it is a true work of art and I cannot wait until your next update. so hurry up please? =D

-kishu

Why must you always do this to us...?!

Btw, did you know there are some theories that The Second Renaissance was pro-machine propaganda or that it was created to facilitate peace between the factions? I think I like your ideas better. And I love the way you can introduce new ideas out of the blue but then when I think about it they tied in all along...

fantastically excellent as ever!

AH!*tears out hair*
Another cliffhanger!
I am rendered speechless to describe the epic awesomness of this story. It's so detailed, so complex and delicately crafted--everything from the plot to the characters and the settings--that I probably need a second reading to digest all the information. This is one of the BEST Matrix fanfics I have ever read. Please update soon.