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| Elf Academy 3: The Enemy Within by Fiondil | 15 Review(s) |
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| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 6/23/2014 |
| It was good to see that at least two priests are trying in their own way to help the Elves and fight the prejudices and – in some cases probably – hatred some Mortals have for them. Josiah's approach was rather drastic, but memorable, if you ask me. I was glad his son lept Finrod from leaving; at first sight it might have sounded like Josiah was preaching hate, but in the end, I suspect his approch will at least get the people thinking, and talking with that man and his son will probably be good for Finrod, too. Author Reply: Hi Kitty. Josiah's approach was typical of that particular brand of Christianity and very memorable. Finrod doesn't know it yet, but he has a very powerful friend in Josiah and his family. Thanks for the review. It's appreciated. | |
| Tari | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 3/17/2014 |
| AMEN! That was awesome. Author Reply: Amen, indeed, Tari. Glad you enjoyed the chapter. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it very much. | |
| demeter d | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 3/14/2014 |
| Oh, I do adore your Josiah Makepeace. He is REAL, he feels just like many I have known out here in the "real world". And his son, Marcus, and the fact that Nicholas Greene attends that congregation, do give one hope for the future. I like that Finrod picked up on the fact that Reverend Josiah is fighting a battle. That is exactly what these stories are all about, after all. That reminded me of another little "blast from the past" if you will. During the great Civil Rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s, the "Generals" of the cause may have been the Kings and Abernathys and Jacksons of the world. But the "Front Line Captains", the "Sergeants" on the street, in the busses and the jail cells with the ordinary people who did the marching, were, in many instances, black preachers like Josiah Makepeace. They preached, motivated, scheduled and planned, marched on the streets with their parisioners, and helped them take the blows and went to jail with them as the occasion arised. I am guessing that your Josiah might be about my age, his Marcus certainly feels like one of my children. So he grew up at the feet of those activists, and now is continuing the battle on a more personal scale, and has taught his son to take up the torch in his time. The battle may be more one to one now, but it is every bit as much a battle. Author Reply: Hi Demeter d. I had fun with Josiah and we'll be seeing more of him later in the story. He is proving to be an important supporting character. And the battle for people's souls is probably more important than any physical battle, especially in this case. You are correct that he grew up in the turbulent Civil Rights era and is following in the footsteps of those same activist you describe and we will discover that there's more to him than meets the eye. Anyway, I'm glad you found him to be so real. That is what I strive for with all my characters, that they could be real people in the real world. Thanks for leaving a comment. It's very much appreciated. | |
| obsidianj | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 3/12/2014 |
| I love that title. It made me chuckle. I liked the two pastors. Their sermons were to the point and even when they used different passages, the general message was the same in favor of the elves. I can understand Finrod's reaction to Reverend Josiah's sermon. He just came in to observe and is suddenly the center of the message. Quite an experience. I love the way you wrote Asa. I have seen this type of people in churches before. I just hope he and some of the others get the message. Author Reply: Hi obsidianj. I like the title too. I'm glad you like the way I wrote Asa. There are people like that everywhere if you look hard enough. Hopefully, he and the others got the message. Thanks for reviewing. It's much appreciated. | |
| Ellie | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 3/12/2014 |
| What an eye-opening experience for Finrod. He just got a dose of a different kind of reality, didn't he? I'm fascinated by the spiritual leaders standing in support of the elves. awesome. Author Reply: A very eye-opening experience, Ellie, and quite a different dose of reality. And it is awesome that some of the spriritual leaders of the Wiseman are supporting the Elves. Thanks for leaving a review. I really aprpeciate it. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 3/11/2014 |
| Quite an eye-opening morning for Finrod, I'd say. Two very apropos sermons--and I'd say both preachers have probably had a certain Maia whispering in their ears, to have two separate sermons that landed so perfectly on what Finrod needed to hear (not to mention the congregations). I really *like* this chapter, and having Finrod become more closely acquainted with an important mortal institution like religion is a eye-opener. I also think his steps were probably guided as well: it might not have been good if he had drifted into a different church with a less-enlightened preacher, one who perhaps believed that "devil's spawn" nonsense. Author Reply: Hi Dreamflower. Ooh... you have no idea how close to the truth you are, but you'll find out in the next chapter. LOL! I'm so glad you enjoyed this chapter. It was loads of fun to write, especially the bit at Josiah's church and it was definitely quite an eye-opener for Finrod. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. It's very much appreciated. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 3/10/2014 |
| I, too, can appreciate how he felt more comfortable and welcome at first in the Catholic service and questioned whether he should be in the other service, but good was done by him being there! Enjoy a holy Lent! Author Reply: Very true, Larner. And we will see what good has been done soon enough. May you enjoy a holy Lent as well. Thanks for reading and reviewing. It's very much appreciated. | |
| Laer | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 3/10/2014 |
| Love the Good Samaritan verses. I hope I can be that when anyone should need me. (Go without fear and help them as they need to be helped.) Also loved the other church, sounded like Baptist but I can easily be wrong on that one. My church is the First Christian Church and we are lucky in the fact that our minister reminds me of the good Reverend Josiah. And yes I know it was the good Father who told the verses, but I do like both of their churches. When I go to visit the elves I will have to stop in both churches. LOL! Glad that he did get a chance to see both churches. Maybe they will help him soothe his soul :) Author Reply: Hi Laer. You're very perceptive. I did base Josiah's church somewhat on the Baptists. I'm glad you liked both churches. We'll see what effect (if any) visiting these two churches will have on Finrod in the future. Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it very much. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 3/10/2014 |
| Hmmm. Very interesting. One would almost suspect collusion amongst the spiritual leaders in the town. Or perhaps heavenly influence is the proper explanation. Still working my way through the earlier stories -- it's something of a chore when using my phone to read. Much easier to bring up stories from the SoA front page, than to delve down through menus to find something older. It's rather like picking up an interesting book at the library, that happens to be the latest in a series, and then going back to put the rest of the earlier books on hold to be able to read them -- and then because of the way the hold list works, you almost have to read them out of order if you're to read them at all, because you read them as they become available, and if you don't read one when you get it, you have to give it back before a book from earlier in the series comes up on the list. Whew, that was a long sentence! Don't know if it even makes sense. At least with SoA I can read stories in order -- they're all there, in the archive, unless they're not for some reason -- I just have to work harder to access them. (Still surprised, actually, to have computer access this morning. There ought to be a kid on this computer, doing math or research or writing a paper or something... I am going to have to investigate, even though it means going back to my phone for internet access...) Author Reply: Hi Lindelea. I know what you mean about putting holds on series at the library. It can be haphazard as to which books and in which order you get them. At anyrate, I'm glad you are at least making your way through the Elf Academy series and that you are enjoying it. As for whether there is collusion among the religious leaders of Wiseman, that remains to be seen. We'll be hearing Josiah's story in the next chapter. Thanks for leaving a review. I appreciate it very much. | |
| Sunny | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 3/10/2014 |
| Hm. Both the pastors we've seen so far in the Elf Academy fics have been friendly, open-minded types, who are doing their best to get the congregations to welcome the Elves. Though no doubt there are some less-friendly ones out there as well. For some reason I am reminded of "the first law of the supernatural" (from Sheri S. Tepper's Gibbon's Decline and Fall): No God can be bigger than the gate that lets people into the presence. If the only way to that God is through a narrow little gate with picky little gatekeepers, then that God is no bigger than that gate nor wiser than the keepers. And I see Asa Danforth (and some others) busily trying to shrink the gate Josiah Makepeace is pointing his people at. Maybe when they get to meet Finrod after the service they will become friendlier towards the Elves. Author Reply: Hi Sunny. We may see some of the less open-minded types later. I like the "firt law of the supernatural"; it makes a lot of sense. Of course, one has to realize that the gates are generally built by humans and manned by them. I doubt the Creator has any use for either. I think those who insist on gates and gatekeepers are going to be surprised when they find that there are none. *grin* Anyway, we'll see how things go for Finrod in the next chapter when he and Josiah get together. Thanks for leaving a coment. It's always appreciated. | |