Hello! This is your TGS Secret Santa, stopping by with a review for you -- though, of course, there will be more than one when this is all said and done. I'm hoping to leave you two more reviews tomorrow, too!

One of my favorite things is the Every Word Counts challenge, and I always love reading the entries of other people who've attempted it, too. I've never read one so symbolic as yours, though, and I really loved everything you pulled into this story. The overarching phoenix symbol, of course, was very well done; the literal and figurative elements to the well-known story of a phoenix being reborn from its ashes was interesting. And the way you set up the story, too, made it mysterious and intriguing. You didn't tell everything right away, and some things were left unsaid -- it's a risky writing maneuver, but you pulled it off skillfully!

The imagery in this story was lovely, too. Especially the colors -- the bit at the end about the red wings licking and feeding the air was one of my favorite lines in the entire one-shot. And the line about the blur of brown and black and white, I loved that too! I think I could live off of beautiful imagery, in some cases, and you wrote it so well here.

I'm almost sad this story wasn't longer! Props to you on finishing the challenge, too -- writing a story in exactly five hundred words really isn't as easy as it might seem. I enjoyed reading this very much! Great work -- and like I said, I'll be back!

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I really like the analogy you drew in the chapter title of this woman and a phoenix. Rising from the ashes. Very interesting.

I think you had wonderful imagery through out this! It was extremely well written and really beautiful! I really enjoyed reading it!

I'll be honest, I never read anything older than Hogwarts Era. No Marauders, no founders, none of that. But I was surprised that I really enjoyed this historical piece. A few more stories like this and I just might be converted!!

:)BaletGir

Author's Response: Hello BaletGir! Thank you for the review :) My apologizes for taking so long to reply to it!

I'm glad you enjoyed the piece and were intrigued by the analogy. Yay converted! Haha, you should hop around to the historical pieces, they (in my opinion obviously) are pretty creative and fresh! Let me know if you find anything worth a read :)

--NRB

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This is truly amazing. It is probably the most original thing I have ever read on the site.

Although the thought of the era of burning witches does cross ones mind it doesn't really hit us and give us the right impact. There is so much you could do in that era and it is a shame there aren't more stories based in those years, but that's what makes your piece so effective.

I honestly don't really know what to say except for "wow". The flow and the content and just everything really was impeccable. It was beautiful and horrifying and engaging.

It's just so... perfect. xxx

Author's Response: Hello Cirque Du Freak :)

-jaw drops- You really know how to flatter a writer haha. "Beautiful and horrifying and engaging" I'm glad you felt all these things at the same time! Very true to what I wanted to accomplish with this piece.

You're right, this era is highly overlooked, but some of the best writers on the site cover it. Check out celticbard ;)

But anywho, thanks a bunch for the fantastic review! (All of your reviews made my day!)

--Ellie

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Hey! Lee from TGS here tagging you! I saw that this had no reviews yet and a very interesting and eye catching summary so I just had to read it. And I am very glad that I did. This was very well written, I could see it all playing out in my head like a movie. Very good. :)

Author's Response: Hey Lee! Thanks for reviewing :) And thanks for the compliment haha. I'm glad you found this one-shot to be well-written and movie like ;)

Best,
NRB

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