for Fragments of a Girl Soft and Sentimental6/18/2020 c1 FateDebated
It is hard to review a piece, when you don’t understand the absolute majority of the setting it’s set in, but I am doing it anyway, because it’s just too good of a fic not to. I am not going to be held back by the fact that I do not understand where Claire ran off from (she seemed to be working for some organization, felt caged, wanted a breath of fresh air and it sorta went downhill from there), nor do I understand why the room she is placed in afterwards seems familiar. I am also not aware whether she and Peter shared any sticky kisses, for that matter - I seem to think that not and this is a backstory created by the author, but then again, I am not the right person to be asked this as I have never ever watched the show. But, as with all great fanfiction, I am going to simply forego these technicalities and continue to reviewing this beautifully chilling and ruthless story, or at least what I’ve understood of it.
The writing is very distinctive. I love oneshots in general, but I absolutely adore oneshots written in such a manner – the sentences are short, descriptive, compact, while loaded with meaning. Context. They feel like bullets being shot out in night’s silence and they produce the same effect. It seems to be especially fitting for stories about Sylar.
I love the little hints to Sylar’s identity, left like breadcrumbs scattered throughout the story, for Claire and readers to find. I believe the first one to be the missing of “his very telling expression”, when he actually sees her naked for the first time, although declaring otherwise, to stay in character. The second is the reference to his clockwork predictability. Sylar’s smirk, “an unfamiliar expression” on Peter’s face, is another. So is the swearing aimed at the Puppet Master (I wonder, is this piece set before or after that famous episode where Sylar forces Claire to drink wine and threatens her with “first first lady” status? If yes, Claire should have gotten blaring sirens at this point). Champagne brands are also of importance. But my absolute favorite, the cornerstone of my devotion to this fic is the moment when he blindfolds her and makes love to her in his own body, shedding Peter’s skin, betrayed by larger hands on her breasts. I am absolutely blown away by that.
Sylar is truly ruthless and merciless in this fic. He hurts Claire to unimaginable extent, it’s really hard to stomach. He seems to be genuinely affected by it, though. I believe this is exactly why he refrains from torturing her by his own hands, rather resorting to stolen powers, which, in his mind probably, provides for some kind of a separator, makes him physically removed from the act itself. But he always gets what he wants, ends always justify the means, even if it will force him to torture the object of his affection. No matter, he’s convinced he’ll make it up to her. He needs her to forget Peter and let go of conventional heroes she looks up to. This is the only way he knows how. Per aspera ad astra.
I think most of the readers would connect the summary of this fic to her being snatched from the organization where she enjoyed at least some semblance of freedom and put into chains and binds of Sylar’s torture. But I believe that the true moment of trading one prison for another is when Sylar finally makes her give up on her hope of rescuing herself and shutting the door to possible release by own hands. He no longer bothers with chains after that. She traded a real prison to a mental one now. And that was the exact moment that signaled for him to swoop in and finally become the hero that me molded Claire into needing. He took the fragments of the girl, soft and sentimental, and forged them anew.
This is such a beautiful story, in all its horror. Kudos!
I think it would totally benefit from having another one-shot, connected to this, but with a time-jump, catching up on the dynamic that continued, while presenting a challenge of maintaining the illusion. What would Claire do if she ever learned the truth? Oh, the possibilities…
Here’s to hoping you get tempted into coming back by this humble request from a fan of your work, who is still breathlessly reading your fiction 11 years after it was originally posted and left you a review that is almost as long as the oneshot itself.
Much love.
It is hard to review a piece, when you don’t understand the absolute majority of the setting it’s set in, but I am doing it anyway, because it’s just too good of a fic not to. I am not going to be held back by the fact that I do not understand where Claire ran off from (she seemed to be working for some organization, felt caged, wanted a breath of fresh air and it sorta went downhill from there), nor do I understand why the room she is placed in afterwards seems familiar. I am also not aware whether she and Peter shared any sticky kisses, for that matter - I seem to think that not and this is a backstory created by the author, but then again, I am not the right person to be asked this as I have never ever watched the show. But, as with all great fanfiction, I am going to simply forego these technicalities and continue to reviewing this beautifully chilling and ruthless story, or at least what I’ve understood of it.
The writing is very distinctive. I love oneshots in general, but I absolutely adore oneshots written in such a manner – the sentences are short, descriptive, compact, while loaded with meaning. Context. They feel like bullets being shot out in night’s silence and they produce the same effect. It seems to be especially fitting for stories about Sylar.
I love the little hints to Sylar’s identity, left like breadcrumbs scattered throughout the story, for Claire and readers to find. I believe the first one to be the missing of “his very telling expression”, when he actually sees her naked for the first time, although declaring otherwise, to stay in character. The second is the reference to his clockwork predictability. Sylar’s smirk, “an unfamiliar expression” on Peter’s face, is another. So is the swearing aimed at the Puppet Master (I wonder, is this piece set before or after that famous episode where Sylar forces Claire to drink wine and threatens her with “first first lady” status? If yes, Claire should have gotten blaring sirens at this point). Champagne brands are also of importance. But my absolute favorite, the cornerstone of my devotion to this fic is the moment when he blindfolds her and makes love to her in his own body, shedding Peter’s skin, betrayed by larger hands on her breasts. I am absolutely blown away by that.
Sylar is truly ruthless and merciless in this fic. He hurts Claire to unimaginable extent, it’s really hard to stomach. He seems to be genuinely affected by it, though. I believe this is exactly why he refrains from torturing her by his own hands, rather resorting to stolen powers, which, in his mind probably, provides for some kind of a separator, makes him physically removed from the act itself. But he always gets what he wants, ends always justify the means, even if it will force him to torture the object of his affection. No matter, he’s convinced he’ll make it up to her. He needs her to forget Peter and let go of conventional heroes she looks up to. This is the only way he knows how. Per aspera ad astra.
I think most of the readers would connect the summary of this fic to her being snatched from the organization where she enjoyed at least some semblance of freedom and put into chains and binds of Sylar’s torture. But I believe that the true moment of trading one prison for another is when Sylar finally makes her give up on her hope of rescuing herself and shutting the door to possible release by own hands. He no longer bothers with chains after that. She traded a real prison to a mental one now. And that was the exact moment that signaled for him to swoop in and finally become the hero that me molded Claire into needing. He took the fragments of the girl, soft and sentimental, and forged them anew.
This is such a beautiful story, in all its horror. Kudos!
I think it would totally benefit from having another one-shot, connected to this, but with a time-jump, catching up on the dynamic that continued, while presenting a challenge of maintaining the illusion. What would Claire do if she ever learned the truth? Oh, the possibilities…
Here’s to hoping you get tempted into coming back by this humble request from a fan of your work, who is still breathlessly reading your fiction 11 years after it was originally posted and left you a review that is almost as long as the oneshot itself.
Much love.
6/7/2016 c1 
3RoseRainWithLove25
ok i have to say i like this it's dark but fitting. Honestly you should continue it. you know something short just how he hides what he's done and how he treats could even have it where she finds out but is pregnant or in love with him.
all in all it was pretty cool.
3RoseRainWithLove25ok i have to say i like this it's dark but fitting. Honestly you should continue it. you know something short just how he hides what he's done and how he treats could even have it where she finds out but is pregnant or in love with him.
all in all it was pretty cool.
11/14/2010 c1 15Alexxis T. Swan
There was no Peter I bet it was Sylar ALL along there's no WAY Peter would EVER do that but at least now she at least think she's with someone who'll treat her better.
15Alexxis T. SwanThere was no Peter I bet it was Sylar ALL along there's no WAY Peter would EVER do that but at least now she at least think she's with someone who'll treat her better.
9/2/2010 c1 17randomfan17
No.freaking.way. He pretended to be Peter for months and did all that to make sure she would accept him, that's twisted. I can believe he would think of something like that though and that's why this story was great.
17randomfan17No.freaking.way. He pretended to be Peter for months and did all that to make sure she would accept him, that's twisted. I can believe he would think of something like that though and that's why this story was great.
7/31/2010 c1 phoenix
Had Sylar shapeshifted into Peter? Or was I just getting it wrong?
Had Sylar shapeshifted into Peter? Or was I just getting it wrong?
7/15/2010 c1 2Ccspot
I loved the story I totally though it was sylar doing all the torturing! But he saves her! soo cute I loved it! YOu are a great writter!
2CcspotI loved the story I totally though it was sylar doing all the torturing! But he saves her! soo cute I loved it! YOu are a great writter!
5/25/2010 c1 RiffRaffMeehle
I really liked the way you wrote this story. I felt like even though i already knew it was sylar i kept thinking but what if its not? and the ending was perfect. even though I can't say i fully enjoyed it, it kept me reading and curious through the whole thing so youre doing something right. keep up the good work.
I really liked the way you wrote this story. I felt like even though i already knew it was sylar i kept thinking but what if its not? and the ending was perfect. even though I can't say i fully enjoyed it, it kept me reading and curious through the whole thing so youre doing something right. keep up the good work.
2/19/2010 c1 Sess
Oh I like the plot!
Oh I like the plot!
12/8/2009 c1 3Powerofthewish
great story, your an amazing author, don't usually review but you deserve some nice words.
3Powerofthewishgreat story, your an amazing author, don't usually review but you deserve some nice words.
11/21/2009 c1 49Valerie E. Mackin
Very twisty. I did not see that ending coming. Looking forward to more stories from you.
49Valerie E. MackinVery twisty. I did not see that ending coming. Looking forward to more stories from you.