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| Elf Academy 3: The Enemy Within by Fiondil | 14 Review(s) |
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| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 5/24/2014 |
| Well, the unusual way of calming someone down has worked rather well. Alex certainly knows his mum. Why do I suspect the Valar or at least Maiar are responsible for the lights going out, just to give Anne the chance to see the Elves glowing as a way to prove their story? A good idea, by the way. Anne knowing Námo was rather unexpected. He certainly helped her back then when she was so desperate. I am glad he convinced her to keep Alex. And his disappearing act probably helped to prove to Anne and Andy that the Elves were saying the truth. The last line left me laughing. Oh well, as long as it helps her to believe in Elves :D Author Reply: Oh, there's no doubt that the lights going out and only at Edhellond is the work of the Maiar or more likely a certain Vala who shows up. And we see in Anne's story just how far back the Valar were interested in Alex and the plans they eventually had for him. Poor guy never stood a chance but I don't think even he really comprehends the significance of his mother's story of meeting 'Nate'. Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it very much. | |
| Laer | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/1/2014 |
| what a story to be told; and to hear it from his mom in front of anyone. Poor Alex. Guess he should have taken her serious after all. Namo does have some style when he does things don't he. LOL I hope it all works for the "boys" and their parents. Anne seems a bit better at expressing herself than Andy, but well...it should all be alright...shouldn't it? Author Reply: Yeah, it's not something you hear everyday and from your own mother. And Námo does nothing without style. LOL! We'll see how it all works out for everyone, including Andy. Thanks for reading and reviewing, Laer! | |
| demeter d | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/31/2014 |
| Greetings! No, Kevana and Fiondil, I am not psychic. There are many believable, real characters in this story. You have given very good clues so far in all of these stories. And, I have a lot in common with Anne! At one point, in this chapter or the next, you said that "Anne was feeling every one of her almost sixty years." I am fifty eight. And, my first born child is a son. I was a year out of five years of college when I married and had mine, so he is not quite as old as I guessed Artemus to be, from adding how long he had worked to how old he was out of college. And, I am fortunate enough to still be married to his father! We have not always had perfection. We have had some serious, even violent, ups and downs over the years. But we are still hanging in there. My own mother was not only a rabid "Wild Wild West" fan, so I caught the reference instantly. She was also a High School English and Literature teacher. My bedtime stories growing up included quite a lot of Greek and Roman mythology, which were her particular favorites. (Demeter, yes, and I do have a daughter who is a wandering Persephone, whose choices I have not always agreed with. That is also where my own real given name came from.) And yes, my Mother was also a good, Christian woman! I was told that these were the stories that people crafted as they spread out across the wide world, and forgot the things they had originally known when people walked and talked more closely with God. I liked how Anne said "well of course I believe in angels, they are in the Bible"! But her belief in direct intervention in Mortal lives does seem to be a BIT limited. Except for once. And THAT was what really surprised me! There was a particular comment which caught my attention. She is visiting the grave of a man for whom she is grieving, "and she sees someone whom she believes to be a caretaker"? Need I say "and she perceived him to be the GARDENER"? That other woman from a long distant work of literature also received life-changing news from someone who was most definitely NOT the gardener.(Oh, all right, on one level THAT ONE was the CREATOR of ALL GARDENS!) The full story of her encounter with Namo would make a nice addition to "Tales From Vaire's Loom" someday? She called him her Angel. Just what about that visit led her to think that? I would never have guessed that her extra intervention would be him! One more comment about names. For our Mentor, Professor Tolkien, the proper name was everything. To name something was to create it. The Elven languages came before the stories. ("In the beginning was the WORD!) For Anne, for Artemus/Alex to reject the name she gave him would be like rejecting much else of what she gave him, even rejecting her. For her to be comfortable with that, he will have to share with her just what he feels that "Artemus" has become. And how he has tried to recreate himself. Even then, I suspect he will always be "Artemus" to her. I can very much identify with her on this one. Author Reply: Hi Demeter d. Whoa! And out of all that I latched on to two thoughts: 1. You find my characters believable and real. Thank you for that. You don't know how I struggle to not only make my characters believable but make them consistently believable and that's harder than it looks; and 2. Anne's feelings of rejection from her son over the Artemus/Alex naming. That is certainly true and until and unless Alex sits down with her and tells her why he is changing his name and that, no, it's not a rejection of her, then there will be that between them. And you're right that he will always be "Artemus" to her whatever name he uses otherwise. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to comment here. I appreciate you doing so. | |
| obsidianj | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/28/2014 |
| And Anne didn't meet any angel, she met Namo. That was a touching story. Now I'm convinced that Anne will join the club. Lovely chapter, it left me grinning all the way through. Radioactive elves, that is a thought, but with Anne's mindset a likely explanation. Author Reply: Hi obsidianj. I'm glad you found Anne's story of her first encounter with Námo touching. I thought it was too. I'm sure Anne and Andy will both join the club now. I thought the radioactive Elves a nice touch and certainly plausible from Anne's point-of-view. Thanks for leaving a review. I appreciate it very much. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/28/2014 |
| First a Maia interferes and then Namo himself! Poor mortals are being overwhelmed by all these experiences, although it appears Anne is more familiar with angels than anyone else expected. Now, to see if she does come to trust Alex and the Elves! Author Reply: Well, of course, I don't think either Andy or Anne understood the Maia reference, but certainly Námo made an impression on them both. Anne is full of surprises and secrets Alex knows nothing about, and that is as it should be. Thanks for reviewing, Larner. I really appreciate it. | |
| Lyana | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/27/2014 |
| Oh, I *loved* this chapter! I always enjoy your writing, but every once in a while, there's a chapter that leaves me breathless, or very much moved, or just grinning from ear to ear. This one had the ear to ear effect. :-) I love that Anne is a skeptic, that her son knows and loves her so well, that..., well, I've just come to really, really like Anne! And I love that she got one over on her son by having previous acquaintance with Namo. I was glad I wasn't drinking anything when I got to her last comment. *happy sigh* Now, to go re-read it at a leisurely pace... Author Reply: Hi Lyana. To paraphrase a famous quote: I love it when a chapter comes together. *grin* And this chapter came together like a house on fire. Some chapters just flow out and they're loads of fun to write, and this is one of them. I'm glad you really like Anne. I wasn't too sure about her at first, but I enjoy her no-nonsense attitude. Anne being a skeptic just seemed natural since she teaches history. She's not going to accept anything at face value, especially since she teaches high school; she's learned to be very skeptical where her students are concerned. *grin* And her last comment is priceless, I agree. Enjoy your re-read and thanks for a lovely review. I really appreciate it. | |
| Sunny | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/27/2014 |
| I wonder, Fiondil - is Namo a fan of the Dresden series by Jim Butcher, by any chance? ;-) Author Reply: I wouldn't be at all surprised if he did, Sunny. I certainly enjoyed it, though I've not kept up with the series of late. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/27/2014 |
| Makes sense that Ann would need Maian intervention; but the glow-in-the-dark part was really cool! I loved that! Hopefully she is now convinced. And very interesting that it was felt necessary to have an intervention when she was pregnant with Alex. Clearly Someone felt it was important that she be the one to raise him. Author Reply: Hi Dreamflower. Glad you liked the glow-in-the-dark part. I'm sure Anne will be more accepting of things after having remet Námo. And clearly, Someone knew this day would come and that Alex would need to be in Wiseman, but only if Anne raised him. Thanks for commenting. It's much appreciated. | |
| Ellie | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/27/2014 |
| Derek's dad is a hoot. Love his comment about fainting away ro not and no one caring. Anne is a riot wiht that "you're radioactive!" comment. LOL! "That was weird" "No, that was a maia" "Are there Mayans living in Wiseman?" LOL!!! Love the ending of this chapter. Beautifully done! Nate is alwasy entertaining anyway. Author Reply: Hi Ellie. Andy is a lot of fun and we see where Derek gets his weird sense of humor. And I couldn't resist the Maia > Mayan joke. That was too good to pass up. And Nate is always entertaining, which is why I don't mind him showing up whenver he feels like it. Thanks for reviewing. It's always appreciated. | |
| Kevana | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/27/2014 |
| demeter d, are you psychic? LOL! You nailed this one on the head. The bit with Anne having met Nate all those years ago was so wonderfully bittersweet, as was the explanation for the dancing. Did you ever mention how Alex's dad died? It kind of parallels Aragorn and Gilraen. Yes, radioactive Elves! I knew it! I'm right there with you, Anne. *grin* But really, I've wondered if they actually do have some sort of spiritual "radiation effect" and that's partly why Mortals who hung out with them tended to end up...well, the way Mortals who hung out with Elves tended to end up. Speaking of silly, looks like Alex and/or Amroth might have some dance students to teach if they're up for it. Tangoing Elves. Great chapter, lots of questions answered. Now Anne will go home and have a lot to think about. Thanks and have a frabjous week! -Kevana Author Reply: Hi Kevana. Oh, I couldn't believe how close demeter d was to the truth. It was positiviely scary. LOL! I think Howard died in a car accident, which is pretty typical these days, though I've never come right out and said it. The bit with Anne and Námo is indeed bittersweet. Just shows how far reaching the Valar are in "arranging" matters. Don't know if Alex and Amroth will open a dance studio together or not, but I'm sure more than one Elf and maybe some Mortals will be wanting to learn the tango. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, Kevana. I hope you have a frabjous week as well. Thanks for leaving a comment. It's always appreciated. | |