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Ring Around the Merry (non-slash version)  by Aelfgifu 3 Review(s)
Noldo wiseReviewed Chapter: 56 on 11/25/2006
Ah. I have seen many Tolkien fanfics but none however has ever captured me like this one has. One of the most fasinateing yet heartbreaking things about RATM is the way all the torment that Frodo must go wallow in is done out of love. In comparison to other angst fanfiction like Shatterd Dreams Frodo knows what he is doing to Sam but in this fanfic Merry thinks he is keeping everyone safe, that is one of the many things that fasinate me with this fanfic. I turly enjoyed reading it.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 56 on 12/2/2005
How I managed to finish this I can't say, and I can't say I enjoyed it overmuch.

That in the space of three days Merry would undergo such a full change of personality and that he would become so adept at torture and brainwashing and personality destruction is unrealistic.

Then, to get to the end of the thing to find that the torture apparently goes on is most disappointing.

I, of course, caught many lines stolen from here and there throughout the books and the movies as well, and appreciated them. But I'm not certain I'll put myself through the horrors of reading this ones sequel.

I was proud of Pippin, though, and very disappointed in Sam.

Author Reply: Well, in part two Merry will get his conscience back, and Frodo will get back his mind. I won't say it has no violence, but it is not by hobbits, and Frodo won't be harmed at all. Strider also joins the mix when Sam and Pip get to Bree.

Others have made the comment about Merry change being unrealistic. They are probably right, though as I envisioned it, Merry began to have contact with and interest in the Ring for 16 years before the journey began(Per the book - A conspiracy unmasked). I applified the interest in the AU, though I don't think I made clear it was a long and not sudden process. Comment well taken.

I was told Pippin was too weak in the early chapters, so in the end here - and in part two, I made him hopefully stronger.

Sorry you did not enjoy it - I think more than half who read have no idea why they keep reading! And why on earth do I keep writing! Don't I have a doctorate to finish?????


ArielReviewed Chapter: 56 on 11/25/2005
You got through the whole thing! Yeah! I am glad to see the story up here and I will be delighted to read through Redemption again as it's posted. I have really enjoyed seeing your writing improve through the course of the story. You always have had a twistedly entertaining plot idea and a pulp fiction style that you couldn't stop reading, no matter how angsty it got - LOL! - but the response you've had to my bullwhip and hatchet have been very gratifying. Keep up the good work.

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