I'm disappointed that David's personality is I'm black and hotheaded boy

Ms. troublesome really alex well

I'm currently re-reading the series and am *loving* it. Thank you for this amazing series, Invarity!

This story kept coming up in suggestions for a good OC story but I haven't picked it up until now and I regret picking it up at all.
The first few chapters were amazing at setting up Alexandra's character, but as soon as Dean Grimm arrived, things just got confusing. There are all these facets of the wizarding culture that just aren't explained. I know I'm not far into this, but on the bus ride, you have the characters 'getting to know each other' but no explanations for their various backgrounds or what they're referring to. A half-dozen different communities and facets of culture are brought up, but no explanation is given for any of them and the narration doesn't give any guidance on what's important to remember or what questions the readers should be asking. I really don't appreciate it when people talk over my head, and that's what has been happening for the last two chapters, with no attempt to explain things. I get that the story is in third-person-limited and Alexandra is rather lost, but as a reader, I feel like I'm being treated like an eleven-year-old that doesn't deserve to have the world explained to her, not seeing through the perspective of an eleven-year-old character trying to understand the world around her.
I might have been able to deal with that, but I simply don't like Alexandra. She has a lot of potential in terms of character development, but as of the moment, she's cruel, self-centered, and has no respect for anyone or anything around her, which garners her no sympathy from me, much less the empathy needed for the reader to connect with the character. The only character I like so far is Brian, but he's clearly not a mainstay of the story. In fact, I'm fairly certain he's just a plot device character who is going to end up dead halfway through, or at least never mentioned again. The characters all rely heavily on archetypes mushed together in a setting that has yet to make sense 30,000 words into the story.
I'm putting this down and I feel like I wasted my morning reading as much of it as I have.
TLDR: The setting/AU hasn't been explained/doesn't make sense, the characters are unlikable, and the tone is patronizing to the reader.

I'd been considering reading your work for a while, but the length and the cult following are both intimidating, so I put it off. I'm so glad I've finally experienced it. I just love the way you wrote Alexandra. Don't get me wrong- she is HARD to take in the early chapters because she's self-centered and arrogant and sometimes vicious. But that's what makes it such a pleasure to watch her learn and grow and become a person who's capable of caring about her friends more than she cares about herself at least on occasion.

Partway through the climax, I started to wonder who would play the main characters in the film version... before I remembered that despite the original characters, original settings, and original plot, this is fanfiction. Fanfiction at its best. Thanks for sharing.

That's a lot of big talk coming from the woman who okayed usage of a magically constructed bridge over which the entirety of the student body traverses, with zero redundancies to ensure student well-being should it be dispelled. Thinking of the liability charges that could be levied against me, I would be sweating a lot more were I in Grimm's shoes. Like seriously, how hard would it be to charm an existing bridge to be invisible? Or to charm vegetation on the cliffsides underneath to catch anything possessing a wand that's falling? At least then there wouldn't be a single point of failure. What an oversight, holy crap, don't lord your mastery of magic over the muggle student body when you can't even handle a damn bridge for god's sake.

I like it. I love Alexandra's characteristics, the adventures she experienced, and how the world building is in this story.

I really dont like how Alexandra is so set back from everyone else

the very end gives me flashbacks to when harry was accusing snape of everything when it was quirall

I've just finished my second time through this story, and starting my reread of the series. I am profoundly moved by the intricately of Alexandra's thoughts and actions, motivations and fears that you paint. I see some of my self reflected in her and greatly appreciate the journey she is on. I hope that you continue writing and finish it.
My thanks!
Nick

omg she's a psycho idiot

This was so good! I cannot believe i haven't heard of your series before but at least now i have lots of stuff to read. I loved the characterization and the worldbuilding, the little quirks of american culture and school life (standardized tests lol) and you seriously have me torn on the dean. On one hand i'm in love but on the other dammit woman why are you working with children? Anyways, when i find a story like yours i always marvel at the fact that fanfic is free and you're doing this in your free time.

I almost wish this weren’t a fanfiction so you could publish it independently, but am happy I have stumbled across it. Great plot, great repurposing of JKR’s world, and lively characters. Great to have a female protagonist, and such a well-articulated one! Thanks

Uhm, so... none of them did anything with their wands?
No sparks, no wind, nothing - even when they 'flourshed' them?
So, well... what exactly made him know it was the right wand since not one of the kids gave any indication - even Alexandra in first person?

Huh, interesting concepts abounding here, lots to digest and imagine even more impact on the future story.

"
She guessed that Ms. Grimm must have had some way of knowing that Alexandra was alone in the house, and that no one outside the house would hear her "message." But the irony of such noisy magic being used to scold her for one quiet little charm that no one else could possibly have noticed had her simmering with indignation.
"
Oh crap, this girl! She's completely oblivious to the concept of learning from her mistakes, let alone to the very idea of shame :p

Huh, an interesting group of kids. I like the concept the Ozarkers :)