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| The Queen's Orc by jodancingtree | 13 Review(s) |
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| Eirinn Leigh | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 11/15/2015 |
| The story you presented here was so outlandish at first sight that I would never have read it - and never thought it could be anything more than Crack!fiction - had I not first read 'Following the other Wizard' as an introduction to Frodo's Orc-brother. But I am very glad that I was wrong and very very glad to have found your works. They are wonderfully and poignantly executed. | |
| Eluthaun | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 6/20/2010 |
| I would very much like to make mention, so as to honour, the vast humanity of your writing. I wish there was a different word than "humanity" -as we are often savage, and capable of the sort of deparavity I dare not imagine- but so too we make works of our mind and hand like your writing. A blessing on your mind and hand. Eluthaun Author Reply: I'm so touched by your comment that I hardly know what to say - except thank you! A blessing on you as well, Eluthaun - you gave me a wonderful gift. Jo | |
| rrappelle | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 3/29/2005 |
| Thank you so much for a very fine tale. I also read the whole story as one piece, and was very impressed at the integration of images across the chapters. It is a long way from the prologue to the end, but I loved the fact that ultimately Canohando came to see the Shire as Frodo did. My favorite example perhaps was the parallel descriptions of the sky, " so intensely blue, [Frodo] thought he could have swam in it," and 40 chapters later, Canohando felt that he was "travelling under an inverted sea." Visually graphic closure for characters who also experience emotional and spiritual closure and reunion. I too cried over the grave, and am just as happy that Canohando will be able to visit it again, and that someone will be there to remember him for a long time. Thank you for sharing his journey with us. | |
| Morannun | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 2/5/2005 |
| I loved all 41 chapters from beginning to end! I sat for more than five hours reading the whole thing and I adored it all! My goodness! This fic is so well-written, poignant, with excellent fleshed out OC characters, from elves, orcs to hobbits. I'd say that my favourite characters have to be the main ones, Canohando and Malawen, at first I was a bit wary of the orc/elf pairing, but the way you have written it is simply fabulous, genuine and heartfelt. Half the time I wanted to cuddle and squeeze Canohando and Malawen to cheer them up in the sad pieces of the fic and the other half I wanted to shoot Itaril in the rear with his own bow and arrows. The hobbit characters too were memorable, especially little RosyPosy, who had about a quarter page of writing and one or two sentences, "Baby" and "Baby sick?", she was wonderfully portrayed. All in all a wonderful read! Author Reply: Thank you, Morannun! I'm so glad you enjoyed The Queen's Orc - holy smoke, you read the whole thing through in one sitting? That's quite a marathon! And I'm glad the romance of Canohando and Malawen turned out believable for you - I have to admit, I was leery of it myself at first, but it grew on me... jo | |
| Calime | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 1/25/2005 |
| Now to confess my great sin of leaving so many excellent chapters unreviewed. Sorry; my only excuse is that I was too wrapped up in your story to take the time. And what a story it was! Your bittersweet ending was a lovely mirror to the ending of Tolkien's story. For the love of others, Canohando gave up his heart's desire to sail West. Frodo gave up the Shire and the love of his friends, for their sake as well as his own. In a sense, he had to sail West. You also mirrored "Following the Other Wizard" in that Frodo desperately wished to go and was denied, while Canohando was adimtted and turned away. This story nicely fit the canon that you had established in your previous story. Elves could go West (and we must face the fact that Canohando was indeed an elf in the sense that he descended from their immortal strain); mortals could not. Of course our hero did not go, but here too there seems to be some right sense in his staying (other than the rightness of his noble sacrifice) in that, I'm not sure how we would have felt having Frodo denied only that he might open the door for another. I enjoyed turning over all the stones in this piece, as I'm sure you can tell. ;-) A favorite part was the appearance of the hidden but ever important Frodo--a most satisfying and happy event. I felt that I, too, was skipping alongside. You do your Frodo well, even when he's not around, but around is best. A fabulous story Jo! You're my favorite fan fiction author. Put me on your mailing list; let me know when you post something else--I'll be there. Calime Author Reply: Dear Calime - I just realized to my great embarrassment, that I hadn't answered your final review - and you've been so faithful with your comments, you've been a great encouragement to me! My only excuse is that RL has been quite hairy lately. But I do deeply appreciate your reviews, and I'm so glad Frodo's last appearance worked for you - I was a little worried about that, but I couldn't get him to leave! I'm taking a little break from fan fiction right now - time to work on other things - but there are two more stories simmering on the back burner, so... jo | |
| Frodo_B | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 1/6/2005 |
| Another great story by a master. I feel privileged to read your stories that cover the essence of what it is to be a human being. The part about Canohando weeping on Frodo's grave had me in tears - reliving a similar moment in my past. Thank-you and don't let us wait too long for another one. Like Esamen I would be interested in reading other samples of your work. D.G. Author Reply: Thank you so much, Frodo_B! I have to admit, Canohando had me crying as well... And I'd be honored to have your comments on my original story, if you'd like to see it - I should add the warning, though, that it is rather sad. I write fanfic to cheer myself up, when the "real" work starts getting me down. Let me know, if you'd like to read it anyhow. And thank you for persevering all the way to the end of this very long epic! jo | |
| esamen | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 12/11/2004 |
| Oh, this is beautiful. A truly beautiful story. I love the way you left Radagast a little open for a sequel . . . I have come to know him and love him. You have given this story a wonderful growth, with the characters learning and changing. It's a great tale. And Frodo is here! Now that is a bit of sheer writer's genius. Wow, what a scene. These lines will remain with me as one of the amazing pieces of writing that I've ever read: “And here is Bag End,” said Farador, but Canohando knew that already by the rush of glad homecoming at his side. He felt a flash of great joy from the invisible presence, and for an instant his runt’s face was clear before his eyes. Then the moment passed and they were only four travelers once more. Oh, I almost cried. I hope that you will continue writing. I absolutely love everything you do. Please note my email address -- If you develop something besides what you post here, be sure to let me know. I would love to R & R. You've got talent, woman! My best congratulations on a work very well written, Esamen Author Reply: Thank you, Esamen! Oh, I had to get Frodo into it at the end - I missed him as much as Canohando did. I would love to have you R & R -- if you're interested -- a story I'm working on which is not famfiction, or anything remotely like it. Let me know if you want to see it. But I'm so glad you enjoyed the Radagast series... the Brown Wizard has become very real to me, I have to admit, and very dear. jo | |
| Debbie Adams | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 12/9/2004 |
| What an absolutely lovely story! Like the rest of your alternate universe stories, it keeps us wanting for more. I hope you continue on with this line. Thank you Jo, for your hard work and the love you pour into the characters. Author Reply: Thank you, Debbie. It humbles and amazes me that you could still "want more" at the end of this 41-chapter marathon (I confess to some fantisizing about Canohando's later life, but I intend to try to let him live it in grateful privacy from my prying eyes...) jo | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 12/8/2004 |
| I haven't been very faithful in leaving reviews, but I have been reading and enjoying this story, and now that it's finished I want to offer you congratulations and accolade. Canohando is a great character - complex in his motivations and feelings, with a fully reallized story and evoking true sympathy. His choice seems right to me: sometimes someone must give up what they have longed for, for the sake of the greater good. That is maybe the most important thing he learned from his runt, along with the knowledge that peace and reward are to be found in that choice as well. I loved the little glimpse of Frodo in this chapter, welcoming his brother to the Shire. Like Canohando, I was pleased that he was not forgotten by those that he loved and sacrificed for. Good job! (what's next?) Author Reply: Thank you so much, FantasyFan! I do treasure your reviews; they are so insightful, and I'm glad that Canohando's ultimate choice seems right to you. I thought that ultimately he would care most about making some return to Frodo (by protecting the Shire) and having his children grow up to be noble-minded, even at the cost of giving up Valinor for himself. And as you say, that is something he learned from Frodo. What's next? Oh dear, I should really get back to writing my "real" book - but I'll probably slip into Middle Earth from time to time! jo | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 12/7/2004 |
| What an absolutely gorgeous ending! And it's fitting, since in your AU, Frodo didn't go to Valinor either. So now, after long pain, there's peace and love and happiness. :-) Author Reply: Thank you, Daw! Yes, it seems right to me that Canohando would come "home" to Frodo's homeland, and find contentment there. Thank you for all your faithful reviews! jo | |