I'm not sure if I've ever reviewed your story before, and if I haven't, then I apologize and beg forgiveness for being so enthralled with your story that I couldn't stop and write you a note.

That being said, I'd like to say I've had this story favourited forever it seems, and I read it almost yearly. It's one of the most interesting, reimagined stories from the ME universe that I've ever read! I instantly fell in love with the additional personality tidbits and back-stories you added. Your writing style is wonderful and easy to read, and your story makes me so happy.

So thank you for writing it, and sharing it with us!

Wow. Your depiction of both Shepard and Kaidan blew me away. I'm always a bit hesitant when authors extend the liberty of characters, but how well you formed each of them just felt so...right. It really brought them that much more to life. This was an incredible read, thank you so much for sharing it! I look forward to reading it more than once. Fantastic piece!

I'm really floored by how good this story is. Everthing about it is very well done :
- the plot : you managed to add a main twist with the failed resurrection that had so many interesting ramifications, it's genius really
- the characterization : that's what I really care about in a story, and everything the characters do is spot on. The autistic behavior of Shepard is coherent throughout the story, and you managed to make Kaidan's slowly changing feelings perfectly understandable, whereas they were hard to follow in game. Every time I started questioning some action it was explained right after, there was no loose end at all. It's rarely the case in novels so in a fanfiction that's written chapter by chapter it's really an accomplishment.
- the writing : the way you adapted the writing style to each very different mind of the characters is brilliant. Shepard of course, and the very logical way her brain works and how the writing gets more colorful as she gets more emotional. But I loved the others also, especially Mordin, his thinking style was so funny. What I liked the most is that you manage to make the reader get the subtext without feeling the need to clearly write things down. I hate it when a writer makes subtle hints at something ant it works well, but then ruins everything by having the characters spell it out just in case the reader didn't get it... I'm thinking for example of when Kaidan realizes Shepard's never been hugged before. What's beautiful about that scene is that neither one of them needs to say it for us to grasp the intensity of the moment. And Shepard's behavior of course, which is never clearly explained but is so well described we get her completely.

I realize there might be too many superlatives in my review, but I swear I'm not usually fangirling like that :) Your story is just that good.

I can't believe I've read a full Shenko story and even enjoyed it! That says quite a lot about your abilities as a writer. Well done!

Wow... I'm a few years late to the party, but just... wow. This fic is absolutely stunning. Beautifully written, amazing concept behind it, the character development is incredible, and just... wow. Words can't even begin to tell you how good this fic is, there is so much to compliment and comment on but there is no way I could fit into just this review! So I will just say thank you so so much for writing it.

This story gets a five star review from me. Great job!

Dawwww. That whole story was lovely! I never had any romantic interest in Kaidan in the actual ME games because I felt like he didn't suit ANY of the femsheps you could be. Like... Utterly unmatched. It didn't help that ME1 shoved the romances down your throat when you were even vaguely cordial to your crew... And I was holding out for Thane, when suddenly I'm kissing this guy I barely know before Ilos! Ugh! This though... This Shepard and Alenko are so good together. I really missed the stutter when it got fixed. Thanks for writing!

The best I ever read

***SPOILERS in this review, consider yourself warned.
Oh wow, I don't know where to start. This was such a wonderful story. Your writing style flows so well, everything fits together nicely and makes sense. The way you wound together threads from all the games was masterful. The plot worked, and I especially liked the way you explained the 3 choices at the end.
But the best thing about the story was the characterisation. It was just incredible. I fell in love with Ivy, with all her quirks and flaws. I love that even though she is so different to my own Shepard, I was 100% with you every step of the way. And I loved Kaidan too. I could understand his motivations. Even though I wanted to punch him a lot of the time for being the world's biggest idiot, I could never go through with it because I felt for him so much.
All that said, I do have to mention one thing. I spent the last third of the story fully psyching myself up to be a complete blubbering mess like I was after finishing ME3 for the first time. I was prepared to be reading through tears for the last 4-5 chapters, after the goodbye scenes. But... the last two chapters really threw me. I loved them, just like I loved this whole story, but I ended up feeling like the ending you chose really didn't fit. As soon as Ivy got brought to see Kaidan in hospital I got thrown out of the story. After everyone else reinforcing the idea that he was dead, for who knows how long - a significant amount of time seemed to pass with her in that hospital bed - it was jarring to see that he was actually alive, *somehow*. It was too convenient. And then miraculously, Miranda turns up out of nowhere. I completely thought she was dead, after the scene with Tali, Ivy and EDI drinking on the obs deck. Weren't they toasting her? And after that, Ivy actually agrees to Miranda "fixing" Kaidan, even though she absolutely HATED that it was done to her? I just didn't believe it.
Overall this story reminds me of ME3 in the sense that it was an absolute masterpiece... right up until the last five minutes.
But please, don't let that take anything away from the fact that it *is* a masterpiece. One of the best fanfics I've ever read, with some of the best writing I've seen. Overall, I absolutely loved it. Thank you so much for writing it and posting it here for us to enjoy.

Dear god she's adorable.

This fic was so good!

cool story

It took me a couple days, but I just wasn't going to be ok until I'd read the whole thing.

There is so much detail, and character development in here, so much perfect dialogue, so much catharsis...

All of the motivations are perfect, the actions and the conflict and everything to do with everyone's reactions to Lazarus...this is all perfect. I don't even ship this, and this the best Mass Effect fic I've read. The people are so human. They're so flawed and they're perfect.

When I got to the line in the Epilogue where Ivy asks Kaidan's Ma if she's ever had pancakes, I laughed, and then started crying.

I think this is the only ME fanfic that evoked feelings as strong as the actual games did for me.

that was great ow typing hurts with a sprained wrist
thank you for the great after noon i quite enjoyed your story

I found this on AO3. I am so happy it is complete, even IF I just made dying whale noises.

She's a savant! A rainman! As soon as her thought processes were laid out, it was so obvious! Beautiful! Read it in just over 5 hours. 3