A Second Chance at Life

A second chance at life by Miranda Flairgold can be found at http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2488754/1/A_Second_Chance_at_Life

Independent Harry, AU, Adventure

A second chance is an AU Independent Harry Potter story full of original characters, creatures, and abilities. Voldemort calls on assassins to take care of Harry and so he decides to take his life into his own hands and disappear. Harry makes plans, trains, and finds a school to attend outside of Hogwarts and the United Kingdom that will help him with his fight against Voldemort. Journey with Harry as he attends a new school, meets new friends and usual and unusual creatures, learns, does a little time travel, and generally becomes a whole new person.

This is my number one favorite story series. Miranda Flairgold has completed this story and continues it in the second part of what is to be a 3 part series. This is a long story with lots and lots of original characters, creatures, and magic. While this starts out with what you see in many of the clichéd Independent Harry stories do not let that fool you. This is one of the most original stories I have read in Harry potter fan fiction. There are no ships or major romance’s, though the author states when she is done she may go back and rewrite it with some. It’s not very angsty but if you like good battles there are plenty here. She writes some very good battle scenes.

Survival of the fittest is a definite theme to this story from the school Harry attends to the time travel scene through all the battles. While Harry gets new abilities, new magic, and talents he is not a super unbeatable Harry. I think the author is able to very convincingly portray him as human while giving him talents and other abilities. I fell in love with the world she wrote and the characters and creatures she introduced in this fic and I believe you will as well. Not only does she insert very original characters without making Mary sues but she also gives a link to a webpage where she has listed all the original characters and creatures and given a little more info on them.

The story had me on the edge of my seat like any good book or movie and has me still waiting anxiously for updates on her sequel. The characters as rich and full of life as any of the characters in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Unlike so many fics I’ve read where the author has turned Harry into a different person (personality and outlook on life wise) she does it in a manner that is true to life. Harry doesn’t just wake up and bam he’s someone else. You watch him grow and see why and how his opinions and idea’s change. You see him adapt to his new environment with some stops and starts as anyone would have in reality if put in a new situation.

The plot in this is also very original. While destroying Voldemort is a main goal of Harry’s that is just a part of the plot. The plot so far is well thought out and very well written. I’ve read novels from published authors that were less than this story. Miranda Flairgold should definitely consider a career in writing. I would have to give this story a 10 of 10. I’ve read this work at least 12 times now and wait impatiently for the next chapter. If you read any work this year at all make it this one, you will not be disappointed. She has everything you could want in a story right there in one fic. Well unless your heavy into romance fics. There is not much romance. I promise though you wont miss it among the elves and the Fae, the Vampires, and the Werewolfs, the Travel back to an ancient civilization, learning new types of magic, and the battles with old Voldy.

I highly recommend not missing this fic. If I was asked to recommend just one work of fiction this would be it. I would recommend this before any books you could buy from a published author. Before I read this I would have recommended the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan as my all time favorite. I believe Miranda’s writing skill is right there on par with his. This is a highly superb read.