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| Adagio by Rose Sared | 36 Review(s) |
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| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/10/2005 |
| Well, in this chapter it looks like Legolas is a match for Minuiel, and she's not such a toughie after all once you get past the hard exterior. (Or if you are a beautiful elf-lord whom she can't resist) Still, she's no powder-puff. The hair-grabbing bit had implications attached. I think I like her. Speaking of implication, Minuiel's and Gimili's musings indicate quite a toll taken on Legolas by this adventure. He keeps his friendship at a price. So sad that Gimli is haunted by his experience, though I imagine he will overcome it with determination. Then there is the wedding! This story concludes nicely, with most things settled but a few realistically dangling threads. It was a very satisfying read throughout. I imagine you've figured out I plan to read through all of your stories in order. *rubs hands together gleefully* I've only read a couple of them before. Expect more harrassment. ~TF Author Reply: Harrass away, or should I be like the rabbit and beg you not to throw me in the briar patch? Your insightful comments (that's because they are relentlessly positive!)have given me a permanent smile this week or so. lovely to hear from you but don't forget your own writing now. Rose | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/10/2005 |
| Gleowyn's speech to the mob was brilliant, and it seemed very realistic that in spite of her wit she was terrified. She is quite a gal.I like it that you are fixing her up with Telfaren. It gave me a chuckle that Elfwine considered the possibility that Legolas had bounced him on his knee when he was a babe. I loved this description of the elf entering the hall: "...the Lord of Ithilien was announced and then strode down the dim length of the great hall towards him, shining slightly in the shafts of light like some legend embroidered on the venerable tapestries that decorated the walls." I could see that. Elves should always seem magical. ~TF Author Reply: Yes, I try to make elves magical, and most importantly not human, with all the complications of culture and relationships that such an alien to us species would create. I have always felt that inherited power must feel a little shaky in the prescence of those that have known them as powerless, that difference again as above. Rose | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 11/9/2005 |
| More good stuff with your trolls. I liked this bit of history from Granite-Glinting. Just her curiosity proved fatal for the dwarf, though he might also have died from the avalanche. "She had found a dwarf, one day, pinned under a pile of slipped rock, and poked at him with her finger until he went still and cold." I had this visualization of Gliver and Legolas looking tiny and fragile next to the mother troll thumping at her son. I loved Legolas' shooting the rock out of Stone-Water's hand I think you must have spent some time around horses to write the nipping-and-prancing scene with Ascallon and Cloudfoot. It seemed very authentic. Then I loved the healer putting a blanket over the exhausted elf. Poor Legolas has been through the wringer, but again you give it a light touch. Very nice. ~TF Author Reply: Rose hands TF a bunch of spring flowers from her garden. White daisies with blue middles sourrounding sixteen overblown red roses scented like grandma's talcum framed by sprays of leggy cream mock-orange smelling so sweet they make you sneeze. Tucked among them sticks of violet lavender, like a handful of candles, and one enormous sunflower curling into yellow life; because you brighten my day. Thanks. | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/8/2005 |
| Another chapter over lunch. Good for Gleowyn, giving Frecern a part of the thrashing he deserves. I suspect it's not over yet. The distaste and tension between Legolas and Gliver was well done, as was this subtle angsty moment: "Legolas leapt lightly from Ascallon's back. Then reached, out of pure habit, to swing down his companion. His jolt of hesitation as he remembered that this was not his friend of years was obvious even to Gliver." The both of them are hoping against slim hope and you make their restrained anguish quite palpable. It's just as good on the second reading. ~TF Author Reply: May flowers strew your footsteps and the sun shine ever on your head(could be inconvenient at midnight I suppose) ahem. Thanks again TF, brightened up my lunchtime no end. Rose | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/8/2005 |
| Rose, this is without a doubt the best chapter yet! There is so much of this that is inventive and well done. I remeber from the last time how much I enjoyed the trolls, with their marvelously descriptive, rock-themed names. You have brought this species to life with believeable detail. It was so amusing to me that, as an author I admire for what I consider sophisticated use of words, you craft the simplistic, shorthand thoughts and language of these creatures so effectively. I loved it that Granite-Glinting is considered a great beauty and yet from your description she's obvously a huge hulk of a creature, maybe with a sparkly-rock skin? And then Stone-Water's misinterpretation of Oval-Pebble running over to "tickle" him with his tusks. These characters are just great. I truly felt sorry for Aragorn, trapped in his gilded cage, feeling useless and missing the freedom of the old days. But his compassion becomes apparentin his dealings with the Wose chieftan. Ghunkor was pretty neat. I loved it that he felt remorse over how the kidnapping went down. He may be a savage, but a decent one. That he is a good leader is evident in the way he took responsibility for the mess, humbled himself and offered his own life for his tribe. Gleowyn also seems very real. She has the spunk to defy Ghunkor to his face and yet was stunned into silence by his decisive form of justice. I do wonder, what is the yellow stain on the mountain, and how is it making the Woses sick? Some kind of toxic ore, perhaps? Gimli was very Gimli, stubborn to the last. I liked his ability to "see" a heat trail. A little-known special dwarvwen ability, eh? Now, you know I love the elf, even as an unlikely clam. He came off as quite enigmatic in this chapter, very elf-y. He obviously is less changed or fettered by his circumstances than Aragorn. Best of all was the scene in which he hears that Gimli has been killed. (and we know he hasn't) Legolas seemed so bewildered and hurt; it was an extremely vunerable moment and yet it was done so delicatly. I think it was excellent that he was not simply grieving his own loss, but the seemingly senseless end of a hero. Wonderful chapter! ~TF Author Reply: If only my writing was as good as your reviews - LOL - I almost had to rush off to read this wonderful chapter from this wonderful fic - Haha - goose of the week me! Thank you, TF. I was not having a good morning, my children, although adult, still somehow manage to sow dissention and riot in my otherwise peaceful life. I do not like having to say no, and now I feel about as unworthy as Grima WT. Then I read your review and felt all good again - skips away. Rose | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/6/2005 |
| First of all, Frecern is a jerk. If nothing else, I hope Legolas glares a hole through him. I loved the exchange between Aragorn and Arwen. They are just like any old, happily married couple who are comfortable together. Who wouldn't like to sit back and watch Aragorn undress? In every chapter it seems I find a favorite sentence or phrase, and this time it is this one: "Gleowyn managed a watery twitch of her lips and accepted the cloth gratefully. If nothing else it gave her something to hide behind." It's just such a true observation. Gleowyn is so overwrought and embarrased as well. She'd probably like to hide under a rock. I really liked the stick growing from Gimli's chest as an alternative to the usual, "suddenly an arrow flew in out if the dark and hit X in the chest". I was with Gleowyn, not getting it until the second arrow came. And it was a nice little touch to include that although he didn't get enuogh of the paralytic poison to kill him outright, he could have stopped breathing before it began to wear off. It was fighting as he did that saved him. I love the way he just keeps on plugging on. ~TF Author Reply: Ah Frecern, I almost miss the big lunk, he is my best baddy by far so far. Thanks for your appreciation of my efforts to avoid cliche - and that's my Gimli, keeps going and going and going ... Thanks for the kind words, as ever they are treasured and make my day. Rose | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/5/2005 |
| I liked the opening, with Gimli's thoughts punctuated by his physical activity. In the first section you created a strong feeling of the world according to dwarves: their perfect ease being underground, their absorption in their work and craft. But then Gimli does not quite fit the mold any more. I loved the bit where he spotted Earendil, and your lovely description: "...Earendil, visible even through the misted window, sailing his ship forever in the frost bright heavens." I don't think dwarves normally bother looking up to the stars much. He must have learned that from Legolas. I so enjoyed the build-up to Gleowyn's suicide attempt, then the dramatic way she cut her bodice and her hair and the way her hair was blown to blind her and smear her blood. Every detail was an picture of her desolation and anguish. But I'm glad Gimli stopped her. Obviously this sets up how Gimli was accused of assault. It was beautifully done. ~TF Author Reply: Well he jokes about it, but there is no doubt that Legolas has ruined Gimli for polite (dwarven) company, and vice-versa. Something new in Middle-earth was formed by their friendship - and new is sometimes uncomfortable. Thank you again for your review - poor Gleowyn, melodramitic to the core but hurting as only the young allow themselves to hurt. Rose | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/4/2005 |
| What strikes me most about this chapter is the compliment of realism and immediacy that propells it along. The description of the bustling markets and the ever increasing affluence of each new level made a vivid, progressive backdrop for the conversation between the characters. It was so full of life, I could easily imagine the sounds and smells and see that the city was all mostly stone. I loved Tolman's observation about coming home to a stange place. The gulls blowing in and away like a bunch of tumbling leaves was a neat image. I really liked your version of an attack of sea-longing as a sort of dream state. I'm not sure if you meant it to be funny, but the elf-bane knocking Legolas on his heinie and his subsequent ignoring everyone around him reminded me a lot of a cat trying to cover an embarassing moment. Then the meeting of the royal everybody was also amusing in a low key way. Clearly they had A Situation on their hands. You managed to do that and still get across the impression that the Situation was potentially serious. With all those points and parts, the chapter just flows. I had forgotten all this, so it's fun rediscovering it. By the way, good luck on your scfifi piece. ~TF Author Reply: Thanks TF, I am glad I brought the city to life for you, and the affronted cat was exactly what I was trying to convey with the elf and the herb. Elves have always struck me as most feline. The kind words are treasured, thanks. Rose | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/3/2005 |
| I read this story long ago, before I figured out that authors enjoy the reviews they get, even mine. It's been long enough that the tale reads like new again. First, as always, I love the wonderfully original phrases that populate your writing. They are scattered throughout this chapter. For me the pick of the litter is below. "He watched as his Captain stumped asymmetrically back to his reviewing post..." I got a visual and didn't stop laughing for a while. The dialogue about "feast-day friends" was surprising but believeable, and poor Legolas' discomfort with the subject was quite amusing. I wonder how he ever got hooked up with someone like Minuial. The introduction of Tolman was interesting but again, very plausible. You make Middle-earth familiar and real. Reading your stuff is an education, Rose. ~TF Author Reply: Even yours, indeed! I'll have you know you write vintage reviews that make the whole process of writing seem possible. I am trying to think of a decent short scifi story for a writers workshop with Joan Vinge at the moment ( with a notable lack of sucess I might add - sigh) so fanfic land is off limits. But I have to tell you getting a lovely surprise like your appreciation of my wobbly style makes the thing much more likely. Thank you.Rose goes off and hugs herself. BTW - Our fav. elf is such a boy, he just loves all the hunt'n, 'venturing and shoot'n stuff,aye? So I figured he would be attracted by a female that embodied quite a few of those traits, and then, having got her, not know at all what he was supposed to do with her. Simple at heart most males, heh, most females are notably not! Sorry, can you tell I am procrastinating about writing? LOL Rose | |
| Aloysius | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 8/24/2004 |
| I absolutely loved this - so many wonderful things to comment on: - the friendship drawn between Legolas and Aragorn at the start - the picture you draw of their characters in the future - Legolas' influence over the women in the crowd, the donkey and the gate chain - Tom is a wonderfully drawn character, as are Cirion and Eldarion - the accusations against Gimli, and the others' reactions to them, are hilarious - the fact that Aragorn is forced to take a huge entourage when he leaves the city is amusingly and refreshingly realistic - Gleowyn is a great character and the way you work through the plot is really interesting and well thought out - the cave trolls are hilarious and I love the way you portray their culture in just a few short paragraphs - I love Legolas acknowledging that it's Gimli who is keeping him in Middle Earth - I love Elfwine's reaction to his meeting with Legolas; the stage fright comment is brilliant - Gleowyn dealing with the crowd is pure genius and I love the way you work in her romance with Telfaren so naturally - seeing Minuial in a good light at the end is a nice touch - and I love how you end on a bittersweet note, with a wonderful understanding of how the events of the story have affected Gimli Apologies for the disjointed nature of the feedback - the whole thing is brilliant. Action, suspence, wonderful sentiment, lovely descriptions, perfect characterisation, interesting plot - this story has it all. Author Reply: Well how lovely to get a new review of my first child Adagio! Thanks so much for your kind words. To be a writer, for me, is to forever thinking my writing is not so good, the plots are hackneyed, why do I bother etc.( That is except for when I think I am the best writer since the old man himself). A tad conflicted, huh? So to realise that i have met my goal and entertained a new reader is just as good as any medal winner must feel at those games. Thanks Rosemary | |