Reviews for What's in a name
Guest chapter 13 . 7/26
This was the fic I never thought I needed. I really loved the pace and the amount of historical details you put into this!

I felt it was just the right amount of emotional hurt, comfort and growth. There was just enough information in there to understand Quasimodo's past to understand how it warp his perspective. You really understand his insecurities and appreciate his friends and those around him making an effort to help him think in a more healthy manor.

Over all I loved this. Thank you for the amazing read!
Guest chapter 12 . 11/18/2018
Now, this is how you do a sequel RIGHT. (I'm looking at you Hunckback of Notre Dame II) This is seriously great!
LeslieTheSorceress chapter 13 . 12/8/2017
Hi, there! I absolutely adored reading this story. I'm so glad that you took a risk and addressed a very important subject often left untouched by Hunchback fanfic writers- the toll that the events of the Disney movie took on Quasimodo's mental and physical health and how his legal and emotional dependency on Frollo would impact his future. It goes to show that psychological exploration can be just as interesting and riveting as a fanfic stuffed to the brim with action, maybe even more so. I commend all of the research that you put into this project, it was such a pleasure reading something so accurate. You're obviously incredibly talented and I can't wait to read more from you!

- SBR
dreamkeaper chapter 12 . 10/29/2017
I would like to "Thank you", but somehow the word don't seem to be enough. This story is amazing and I feel more than blessed that you completed it. I hope you will continue to write stories about Quasimodo because not every writer has the talent and the heart to write about this special person.
congressmanmabel chapter 12 . 10/29/2017
I loved this chapter!

I was looking forward to seeing Quasimodo at the meeting with Justice Moreau and that entire scene was a joy to read! The awful accusations made at Quasi by the other two judges and the vassal of Frollo's fief, calling him a 'murderer' and an 'idiot', and Quasi not listening due to being hard of hearing was disheartening. But once Quasimodo was able to properly position himself on the chair and had a clear view of the Justice's lips, things started to improve for him. Quasi passing the literacy test with flying colors along with Phoebus defending his friend and Justice Moreau stating the evidence of Frollo's destruction of the cathedral to validate Quasi's innocence were great!

Quasimodo having a self-deprecating sense of humor was also a great touch. The funniest bit was when he tried to keep himself from bursting into laughter after the Justice mentioned that if Quasi produced an heir the fief would still be in the family name.

Finally, I really liked how you ended the story. Quasi isn't miraculously healed or got over his grief, but things are beginning to improve and he's on the road to recovery. This was a great conclusion to a wonderful story!
Carina L chapter 13 . 10/29/2017
There wasn't enough space for finishing the review for chapter 12, so the rest will be posted for chapter 13.

Quasimodo was grateful for the Justice's support but he was devastated of how lowly Frollo had been thinking of him according to his will. It must have been hard for him that his love towards his foster father was never returned, rather the contrary. :( Is it true that Quasimodo would never get used to being called "Monsieur Frollo", wouldn't he?
When returning to Notre Dame, the door with the hole due to the attack with the beam at the siege was finally repaired, and Quasimodo was sent home into the bell-tower at last with Father Lacroix' consent. :)
Did Esmeralda braid the green fabric - it was one of Quasimodo's old tunics, wasn't it? - to the handle of the key? Quasimodo was overjoyed and happy with having both the key and seeing the door with both a keyhole and a handle, meaning that the bell-tower was no longer a prison to him but a home whose access he could open and close at his will. :) After being a prisoner for twenty years he didn't want the door being closed but being open instead. I liked this ending with Quasimodo being that happy and meeting his friends in the bell-tower after scaling the steps. :)

Now I go on with the review for chapter 13.

I appreciate very much how many efforts you did with writing this fanfiction, doing research in so many areas and uniting the events from both novel and Disney movie. It's interesting to know where you got the idea and inspiration for writing. Where did you read that "Frollo" means "one who kills Arthur" and why? I like it how you used this information for the last chapter. ;) Thanks also for the information about the literacy test and Quasimodo's education and how it saved Quasimodo from much trouble at the appointment at the Palae of Justice. I like the symbolism at the end of this fanfiction, ham-fisted or not. ;)
I like that you added the deleted scenes as well. Quasimodo was very much unhappy with both his first name and his surname, but after Esmeralda's question if his life was different with another name he had to think about it and to realize that this wasn't the case. I think the meaning of his first name bothered Quasimodo most and his connection to his adoptive father Claude Frollo because of his surname.
In the last deleted scene, Esmeralda appeared to be much nervous because of the appointment at the Palace of Justice, and I think she was much relieved when Phoebus and Quasimodo finally emerged from there. It appears that she and Quasimodo would discuss the content of the scroll after that, wouldn't they?

Thank you very much for writing this fanfiction, I enjoyed reading and reviewing for it very much, and I've been looking forward to each chapter after discovering this amazing and awesome fanfiction last year. :)
Carina L chapter 12 . 10/29/2017
Brother Rocher appeared to be quite angry at the beginning when he noticed Quasimodo's disappearance from his infirmary cell but he became less annoyed when he learned where his patient had gone instead. It seems that the clergy knew about the content of Quasimodo's conversation with the archdeacon. I've got the impression that Quasimodo simply didn't get along well with the infirmarian; the latter disapproved that Quasimodo left his cell while Quasimodo disapproved of the infirmarian addressing him with his surname and him having made the novice addressing him with his surname as well. Brother Rocher must actually be very old when he was older than Brother Laurent who was an aged monk himself. Brother Laurent was right that Quasimodo had nothing to do with Frollo's treatment of Brother Rocher's family - did he kill them? - but Brother Rocher didn't disapprove of Quasimodo himself as he went to Brother Laurent for fetching his cloak and he also approved of Brother Laurent standing up against Frollo. At the end of their discussion and this chapter they appear to agree with discharging Quasimodo from the infirmary on the next day with sending Dion to the bell-tower for Quasimodo's medical treatment, didn't they? Plus Brother Rocher wanted the bells to be rung by Quasimodo again. ;) I guess that's also the reason why Brother Rocher wanted Quasimodo to take over his new duties on the actual day to make him used to work again, didn't he? At least he made Dion helping him with that. I wonder if the wax from the candle nubs were used for making new candles as there apparently many candles to replace. Dion left so Quasimodo and Phoebus could chat in private, it seems he was an attentive person. What did Phoebus mean with "Nothing is out of place, Esmeralda would be impressed"? It appeared that Quasimodo got a haircut in the bathhouse after washing himself and shaving, how short was it at the end? I wonder if it's actually possible snuffing candles with pinching them, doesn't that burn the fingers? It appeared that Quasimodo slept only lightly as he couldn't remember to have slept at all, but under this circumstances almost everyone would have had a light sleep. When he was awake he wanted to keep himself busy, thus dressing and grooming himself carefully apart from caring about the fire, something that he wouldn't have done some days before due to his dream.
The air in the Palace of Justice didn't appear to be healthy in contrast to the cathedral's air. Why was the meeting moved to Justice Moreau's office instead of being held in the East Hall? At least both the novice - why was he working in the Palace of Justice? - and the Justice were neutral to Quasimodo, that couldn't be said about the other three men who were entering the office. The two robed men were Claude Frollo's lawyers and the Gauthier guy was caring about the fief, weren't they?
It's horrible that Quasimodo was accused by Gauthier and one of the lawyers of having killed Claude Frollo but the other lawyer disapproved of Quasimodo as well. He appeared to be too much intimidated by the accusations of the others to say anything, thus being regarded as an idiot but I've got the impression that Quasimodo's deformity also played a role, wasn't it? The problem increased as Quasimodo hardly spoke even after the Justice's order. It was much easier for him answering the Justice's questions as he then didn't have to speak that much; it seems that the Justice noticed that Quasimodo felt uncomfortable with telling much at once. I had to grin when the Justice misspelled Esmeralda's name and Phoebus correcting him as Phoebus himself misspelled Esmeralda as "Similar" in the novel. :D Phoebus then did a lot with defending Quasimodo against the accusations of the others, he was acting like a fast and close friend of Quasimodo that he actually was. :) 3 I guess that this was an important reason why Quasimodo finally plucked up the courage to speak up for and defend himself against the accusations of the others. It was certainly a great relief to Quasimodo that his statement was confirmed by the Justice, proving that Quasimodo and Phoebus had told the truth and the accusations of the others were disproved.
Did the Justice actually believe that there were more than one bell-ringer at Notre Dame? Quasimodo's answers to his other questions made the Justice guess that Quasimodo was certainly educated at the church as he grew up there, thus he had to pass the literacy test. At this situation, Quasimodo benefitted much from his education as he passed this test without difficulty apart from his small problems with reading in Greek. Were they present because Quasimodo learned this language later than Latin, or when he was already deaf then so he didn't know how it was correctly spoken and the words pronounced? This test disproved that Quasimodo was just like a well-trained dog according to Gauthier. Quasimodo's education embarrassed the lawyers and vassal, and the Justice himself couldn't keep silent that Quasimodo wasn't an idiot at all, and as being a member of the church he couldn't be judged except by a Church Court. ;)
It appeared that Gauthier's only hope now was that Quasimodo was a foundling but not Claude Frollo's heir but that was also disproved by the baptismal certificate where Claude Frollo was stated as the father. I was surprised that the full name of the chamberlain was Joseph Laurent, I have always believed that Laurent was his first name. Now it makes sense that he cared so much about Quasimodo as it was revealed that he was his godfather; did the Archdeacon choose the chamberlain or did Brother Laurent volunteer to be the godfather for Quasimodo's christening? It's nice that the Archdeacon christened him himself. :)
What would include Quasimodo's responsibility for Claude Frollo's fief that he legally inherited from his adoptive father in the future, and how would his needs be met by the estate? Of course did Quasimodo believe at this time that he would never produce an heir as he never considered finding a woman who would once become his wife.
It appears that this issue wouldn't be brought before the Court of the Church according to the Justice, would it? I've got the impression that the lawyers and the Vassal thought that Frollo's fief would become theirs with them as the new owners, thus being that hostile towards Quasimodo amongst other reasons. It's good to know that the Justice supported Quasimodo and Phoebus with believing them with all the evidence he knew about Frollo's death.
Why did Claude Frollo write his will in Greek? He would certainly be angry that his will put Quasimodo as an heir as there was no living relative of Frollo except Quasimodo, making the part of his will that Quasimodo should remain in the bell-tower forever obsolete, and he wasn't buried at the place according to his will either.
The Justice appeared to be glad that he lived longer than Frollo as he was disapproving of him and his actions. Is it correct that he stopped working as a Justice shortly after this appointment as he was that old? I'm curious what is in the letter to Quasimodo; what will happen to the letter to Jehan if he never came to claim it?
Signing the page with his first name wasn't a problem for Quasimodo but he was very reluctant signing the letter with his surname as well. It's good that the Justice placed Paris under Phoebus' care as he knew that Phoebus would do his job well and show responsibility. Phoebus did have a scrawly handwriting, didn't he?
Guest chapter 11 . 10/27/2017
I really didn't expect it when I began to read this chapter. But the scene when Quasimodo entered the altar a prayed really got me and finally made me cry. That's not something I do every day. I'm not a girl who cries at the end of every sentimental film. That's not me. But that scene touched me so deep and I guess I wont't forget it for the rest of my life.
I hope you know that you are very talented and that you will keep on writing.
Guest chapter 10 . 10/27/2017
At the words "He was alone. Truly alone, for the entire time", I felt my hear ache. Of coure we all know that Quasimodo was alone for the entire time. Esmeralda knew as well. But to know a something and to really feel what it means is a different thing.

Your story is so sensitive written and it also shows what an understanding, compassionate and sensitive person you must be. Please keep that good qualities as long as you life.
dreamkeaper chapter 7 . 10/21/2017
Every chapter of this story is just very intelligent, sensitive and excellent written. The way you deal with difficult topics says so much about you as a person and as a writer. It's really a gift to have this story
dreamkeaper chapter 4 . 10/20/2017
I have so much respect for how much work and research you must have put in this story. It's a blessing that you wrote it for is and reading it is a gift we should worship. Thanks
dreamkeaper chapter 2 . 10/20/2017
The flashback brought tears to my eyes. Your story is just breathtaking and one of the best sequels to Hugo's novel I have ever read. Please continue and finish this story!
Carina L chapter 11 . 9/14/2017
I've got the impression that Dion liked Quasimodo as he noticed everything concerning him and did everything for making him comfortable: first he ensured that Quasimodo was warm with covering with the blanket and lighting the fire until it emitted heat, then he cared about his bruise and talked to him.
You did mean Brother Rocher, the infirmarian, not Brother Laurent the chamberlain having an argument with Esmeralda, didn't you? It seemed that Dian agreed much with her concerning Dion's boss. ;) However, Quasimodo was rather feeling upset due to feeling guilty for that argument. Dion made sure that Quasimodo felt more comfortable with speaking about the infirmarian's behaviour and how Esmeralda dealt with him. Dion also noticed that Quasimodo wanted to leave the infirmary, 11 days seemed to be an eternity for him.
So there are several reasons why Dion usually addressed Quasimodo with his surname; apart from being polite, he disapproved of Quasimodo's first name due to its meaning. Did Quasimodo think of the name or the appointment at the Palace of Justice being important when he said "It does, quite well"?
At least, Dion decided to call Quasimodo with his job position both agree and were comfortable with. :) He was also concerned of Quasimodo due to his weakness, thus the advice of eating and resting makes sense.
However, Quasimodo seemed a bit frustrated that no images were present in the recipe book, thus he didnt know what cuttlefish croquettes looked like. Dion knew about them as the recipes made him hungry, didn't he?
Apart from giving Quasimodo some stew, Phoebus certainly visited to retrieve his cloak. I guess Phoebus was allowed to visit because he was male, wasn't he? He appeared to be relieved that Quasimodo finished the stew this time since he didn't eat much when bringing him some when he was still living in the bell-tower. The content of the letter changed as well; unlike the first one with only discussing Claude Frollo's estate at the appointment, the second one also told that his death would be discussed as well which seemed very important. Will Quasimodo or someone else tell Brother Rocher about this appointment since the infirmarian was responsible for Quasimodo now, thus he should decide if Quasimodo was fit enough for leaving the infirmary for this appointment? At least, Phoebus would be at the appointment as well for moral support, looking at Notre Dame might comfort him as well.
What did Quasimodo mean with "That's not who I am" after asking why they wanted him for the appointment at the Palace of Justice? I was also a bit confused by Phoebus' answer who then advised that Quasimodo should do some personal hygiene before appearing at the appointment before he left. At least, he had also brought Quasimodo's tools to do that; I didn't know that hinged blades were already common in medieval times. Quasimodo seemed relieved but also a bit taken aback due to the mirror.
It seemed that the clergy at Notre Dame usually washed on a Saturday, I guess it's for being clean on Sunday for mass. I think Quasimodo felt awkward with seeing the monks without robes in the bathhouse, he apparently was much relieved that he could take the bath and shave himself without anyone watching (and vice versa, wasn't it?). Quasimodo's health was actually important to the infirmarian, otherwise he wouldn't have examined Quasimodo's strength although it appeared a bit harsh to me that he addressed Quasimodo only with his surname. Brother Rocher wanted to know if Quasimodo was fit enough for shaving himself without help, didn't he? Quasimodo was in need of a bath and shaving himself, it was some days ago since doing the latter. Despite his weakness, Quasimodo was very skilled with shaving himself without a mirror that he apparently didn't have used for years. He seemed to have gained some appetite as well since he finished the meal after returning to his room. However, he was still weak as he had to place his hand on the wall for balance to pick up the letter from the floor, and he often needed the hands of others for standing up. I imagine the letter helped him with the decision for carving the bowl from the wood and praying at the altar. I liked how you described the carving process with making the bowl from a piece of wood that was difficult to carve. I guess he thought about many things in the meantime as he was carving the bowl for many hours.
Quasimodo seemed to miss his home in the bell-tower very much since he imagined it and the bells after finishing the carving. He also seemed to be familiar walking in complete darkness as he managed to get to the nave of Notre Dame without light, at least there were some candles present so he could take one of them with him when walking to the altar.
Quasimodo was very much confused with what he knew due to Frollo's teachings, and the clergy telling him the opposite; at the end, he let god decide himself if he was allowed to approach the altar despite of his deformities he was distinctly aware of. I guess he was encouraged by the signs preventing his access to the altar were missing.
Quasimodo's confession of his sins to god at the altar was actually very moving and touching. Did Frollo actually injure Quasimodo when striking him with his sword during their fight on the balcony of Notre Dame? It seems that Quasimodo regretted not doing anything apart from watching the Romani being arrested and executed. It was also touching that he expressed his feelings for his foster father whom he actually loved and missed after his death. Archdeacon Chevrier would be the one who could answer Quasimodo's questions why Frollo raised Quasimodo and adopted him, hence he was christened with Claude Frollo's surname, wasn't he?
I've got the impression that this confession was mentally very much exhausting for Quasimodo considering his actions, feelings and sensations he had during talking to god. Wasn't he confused that he didn't get any answer? However, he finally came to the conclusion to forgive Frollo and to pray for him after lighting the candle for him, something that he didn't dare to do when returning to the cathedral after burying his foster father. After doing that, he was ready to ask god for forgiveness of his sins. This confession must have been very straining for Quasimodo since he fell asleep at the altar when he had finished.
I liked the scene with the Romani woman. :) Although she was shocked at the beginning due to Quasimodo's presence and appearance but lost her fear quickly and studying him. Like Dion at the beginning of this chapter, she was concerned that Quasimodo was freezing and, like the novice covered him with a blanket. I've got the impression that she didn't regard him as fearsome and she cared about him; after tending him, she was offering her prayer as well.
Father Vanier finally awoke him, both him and Quasimodo noticed the Romani's blanket covering him. Will the priest find the woman whom the blanket belonged to?
I liked this chapter very much, revealing many persons caring very much about Quasimodo's well-being, and Quasimodo's gratitude towards his stepfather despite the treatment he got by him. I think Quasimodo appreciated the support he got from the others, didn't he? I guess he felt much better after the confession that he did as told him by Archdeacon Chevrier. Will Quasimodo visit him soon for telling him that he did the penance, so the archdeacon could absolve him from his sins?
Imagi77 chapter 11 . 9/11/2017
Forgive me for not reviewing that much, but it's needed that I tell you how much I appreciate this story so much. I could only hope for Quasimodo's recovery ~ His opinion of his christened name stings my heart because there's just so much trauma and confusion linked into that single name.
InkWizard chapter 1 . 9/10/2017
Great update. Poor Quasi, I hope he gets better before the hearing
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