Sigh.
I have to be honest, despite the good writing style and having enjoyed other stories by shadowlady, I really didn't like this story.
I forced myself to read it 'til the end, but it felt like reading one of those books you don't enjoy but want to give it a chance and finish it just so you know what happens and can have an honest opinion.

It was extremely dark, but that's not what ruined it for me. I like dark, and I like angst, but I would say that whilst being explicit to make a point is one thing, the constant repetition here felt rather self indulgent.

I liked the new characters, Helen, Tank, etc, but our well loved characters just aren't recognisable in this story. I rather agree with what the reviewer (darkstar) before me wrote, though I can't express myself as well.

The guys sitting and watching the girls torture Iceman / Jean? Xavier not caring wat happens to anyone?
Just not believable.

Also, it was very drawn out and repetitive, I felt like I was reading the same thing over and over in different chapters. The girls just sounded like a broken record, endlessly repeating the same mantra about what had happened to them. The guys too actually.

I'm sorry, I hate being negative but I just didn't like this one. A lot of others seem to have loved it though, so I must be missing something.

Author's Response: Thank you August Dawn for your response - even now so long after i\'ve moved on from this story. Admittedly after reading this one over again it was a bit darker than my usual fare. However, it was therapeautic for me to write. While I value your honesty and your critical response, I\'m also glad that you enjoy my other work - most of which is a lot lighter. This was one story that I think you have to have the right mindset to read. Thanks again for the feedback - as always its appreciated be it a fountain of praise or a more realistic down to earth reply!

Great story, I like how you mixed in originality with scenes from 'V' and Casablanca ;)
Also, the 'round up the usual suspects' line near the end managed to cheer me up despite the sad logan/rogue parting.

Aaah, so sweet. I love your style of writing, you manage to depict emotions so well and tell everything so concisely.

Another great, well written, story.
Stands out from the usual. Love the AU, without the mutations and Logan/Scott being cops, and how you still managed to keep the characters true to themselves.
Maybe could have done with a bit more build up, instead of Logan falling for Marie at first sight, just for a change ;)

ha ha, made me laugh ;)

He he, great chapter!
I love how Jean tries to get her grubby hands on Logan ;)
Plus the humorous bickering that ensues.
Particularly like the line when Rogue tells Kurt that she "don't want ta" love Logan.

Author's Response: Thanks. I\'m glad you enjoyed the chapter :)

Wow, really liked this story,
enjoyed the Victor/Louise scenes so much,
more so than the Logan/Rogue (sorry!).
Was so sad at the end that Victor left instead of giving in to Lou. *Sob*

Short but such great descriptive writing! Strong, concise, yet fulfilling end.
Really liked it.

Wow, that was a really great scene :D

You said you don't like writing smut but frankly it's one of the best I've read here! It felt fresh compared to a lot of stuff that just seems repetitive. You managed to be highly descriptive whilst avoiding a lot of the overused phrases that make me cringe ;)

Could have done with a beta read though as there were quite a lot of wrong words dotted around.

Thanks for sharing :)

That wasn't so bad as you think.
I thought the scene with Victor and Mystique ended a bit suddenly though, hard to believe that Victor wouldn't say anything else / make a scene after finding out that Mystique hid a son from him but would just get on with the mission in silence.
I like the shortcuts you took so you could get the story moving along, can't wait to read what happens next and when Logan starts to remember..

Oh dear, I didn't like this one..

The fight description was too long only to turn out to be a dange room sequence! Not happy :(

Also, the conversation between Logan and Rogue seemed rather OOC, including the part where Logan doesn't even notice Rogue is hurt because he's too busy asking inane questions.

Then you have a line like:
"I look back at Logan as we beginning to go greet the Professor and I know from his look that this conversation is far from over."
and next thing Logan is leaving the mansion and the conversation was never continued, so it obviously *was* over.

This one started out weird after the angst of the last chapter in so far as Marie was suddenly all lighthearted and considering what to wear. I would have expected her to still be in shock and just go through the motions of having a shower and getting dressed rather than phoning up Scott for a girly chat.

However, it got better ;) and the end was fab.

I like how Logan managed to surprise her after she'd given up expecting anything. Very hot kiss!

It's also funny how Logan was all nervous last chapter after having turned Marie down and he's all cocky and self-assured once again now that he has the upper hand (in that he's sure Marie still wants him).

Author's Response: \"This one started out weird after the angst of the last chapter in so far as Marie was suddenly all lighthearted and considering what to wear.\" Yeah I know - it gets mentioned a bit in the next chapter. I didn\'t want to go all out and just write that she was emotionally unstable, I wanted to try and show it in highs and lows & the fact that she careers from one to the other far too easily (hence the chapter title *g*)\r\n\r\nAnd Logan - yeah, in this he\'s very good at hiding things. The cocky-ness is just a mask. Rogue\'ll realise than sooner or later, but for the moment we just see things from her point of view. They\'ll need to talk it all through properly at some point though. I\'m trying to write that part at the moment - and it\'s a frickin nightmare! I\'ve already re-written it from scratch 4 times!\r\n\r\nGlad you liked the kiss *g*