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Interrupted Journeys: Part 1 New Journeys  by elliska 8 Review(s)
ZardiReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 7/1/2014
Reading this story after having read parts 3-12, I feel a definite sense of foreboding. As sweet as Thranduil and Lindomiel's relationship is, I have been thinking more about Marti and how truly twisted she seemed even then. I don't want to leave too many spoilers in a review in case some new reader comes across this, but it's really clear in this part how innocent elves are as a people, even their warriors who have seen the kinslayings, that they can't imagine certain things happening.

lwarrenReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 1/10/2006
elliska, I read this wonderful story quite some time ago, but never reviewed. I reread it night before last and was thinking, something this good should not go unremarked. So, here, belatedly, I want you to know how much I enjoyed this! The character of Thranduil is so very clear and you portray him with just the right amount of temper, humor, and that soft marshmallow center he keeps hidden, reserved only for those he loves (and his forest, of course). The whole business of the council held in Lothlorien was hilarious - I loved the interactions with Amglaur, in particular...and of course, Thranduil's reaction to Galadriel had its moments, too. (But the twins - LOL - I almost choked...those little monsters, indeed!!!!) And Halion - he is wonderful. And Aradunnon... and Diernyn....uh, you get the point, I'm sure!

The courtship of Lindomiel was wonderful, and the last few chapters leading up to that steamy (whew!!) wedding night had just the right amount of intrigue and danger to keep me on the edge of my seat (and I knew what happened...are you good, or what?). This is a great story, elliska. I reread Part II last night, and I am going to review that one, as well!!!!! *salutes the author for a job most excellently done and marches off to the next installment*

linda

Author Reply: Wow, I am just seeing this review! I am so sorry to be so long in replying to it. RL has been too busy recently.

It is always so much fun to get reviews from people who are re-reading. I really appreciate hearing that you enjoyed the story. This one is one of my favorites from the series. I love Thranduil, I am glad you like him in this. And I love getting Thranduil and Galadriel together (*evil grin*)

Thank you so much for the review. It really means a lot to me. :-)

FindaReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 7/31/2005

Hi:)

I just finished rading this story in one run. It took me about six hours, but I just couldn't stop. I loved it. For so long I looked for a story that deals with Thranduil in his 'early' years and I never found one- until now. I'm already looking forward to read the other stories you have written so far. I really liked the homour of this story and the bantering in it. It was just a lot of fun to read it. Thank you so much for writing this!



Author Reply: Well this was such a fun surprise to find in my email! Thank you so much for the review! I can't believe you read the whole thing in one run! Your eyes must be crossing. :-)

I love Thranduil too, so I love to write him. The next portion of the story is set about 900 years later, so he is much more secure in his role of king and husband, but this story follows him as the primary character right through to the Fourth Age, so I hope you continue to like it. Some parts get fairly complex. The third part, which is the last I've posted, is the most complex and serious part of all (except the part during the War of the Ring, which is serious as well, of course). I plan on starting to post the fourth part, which is pure fluff and fun, this week. I am also going to start posting a First Age fic which will begin with Oropher and follow a very young Thranduil through to the beginning of the Third Age. It is the pre-quel to this series, with all the same OCs, and it is called Dawn of a New Age. You might like that too. Finally, you might want to check out Coriel's writing. I very much like her First/Second Age Thranduil.

But thank you so much for the review. It made my day and inspired me to get going on posting the next story. :-)

perellethReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 7/7/2005
Well, I've finally had time to go through this on one shot! Planes and airports are too good for upadating ff reading, and this was a true pleasure to have around while waiting!

I'm amazed at the detailed world you all have managed to build.. I mean, I ran into daw's arc in "good neighbours", and before that I had never read stories with many OCs... and no Greenwood stories, as they tended to show an evil Thrnaduil or something.. (I discovered fanfiction very late, by sept /octobre last year...and it took me some time to find out the stories and the authors that truly interested me..) Then I read Karenator's stories and discovered that there was a kind of web of people writing about Mirkwood, and it truly amazed me, seriously, how each of you seem to have picked up different threads and wove them into credible, much missed views of the elusive wood elves, their culture and their realms.

I enjoyed this tale because of the lot of thought you seem to have dedicated to the intricacies of the family relationships, the haughty and "resentful" (in a way)Lorien and greenwood elves dissent between them and against the Noldorin kin.. Amglaur's grudges against Orpoher, the young princesss and the burdened new king... and the wonderful courtship in Lórien and then in Mirkwood. It is, too, kind of a fairy tale, with the evil witch included in the pack!

Everything's been created with such detail and credibility that seems almost canon ( despite the canon facts, of course :-)

I still have trouble following the names of the characters (Oropher's queen's is beautiful, if somewhat imposible for me to remember, I know it sounds something very "hindi" to me.. ;-) but the story is so well woven that I don't mind.

I loved the tension at the council dinner, as well as Thrnaduil tiredness of official meetings and delegations. The picnic part with Elladan and ELrohir making their guest appearance was a hoot, and Elrond looked so in character to me as if it was a cameo right from one of NIlmandra's stories..:-)

Vey well done, elliska, I'm sorry that it took me so long before finally daring to make my way through your cycle, although, on the other hand, I'm truly happy that I stil have two more long and wonderful stories to go through! :-)





Author Reply: I am so sorry that it took me so long to reply to this--I really do appreciate the review greatly. I have just been buried, recently.

I didn't read a lot of Mirkwood stuff either initially fearing the same evil Thranduil obstacle. Evil Thranduil was what actually encouraged me to write this series because I couldn't stand that. I hadn't read any of the other wonderful Mirkwood writers here until I was almost finished with this and I was browsing around trying to find someplace better to post it than the fic sites I knew at the time. You cannot imagine how hungrily I read all the wonderful stories here when I happened upon this site!

But I always loved the Woodelves best of all the elves. I had far too much fun making up a very complex little story for Thranduil here. I'm glad you think it seems detailed because it became so for me as I wrote and revised and thought of little things to add here and there.

I laughed at what you said about the names. Sometimes when I am editting parts, I still curse some of the names I chose. I know them all now, obviously, (though I initially had to have a 'cast list' for some of them) but that doesn't make it any easier to type Dieneryn and such names! But most of them have a meaning that is significant in Sindarin, so there we are. :-)

I'm glad you enjoyed the council scenes, because the next part has a fair number of those. :-) I seem to like writing them. And I'm glad you mentioned E&E's little appearance. I couldn't resist soing something like that when I realized they would be children around this time. I am truly honored by your comment about Elrond. I love him as a character too, though I do not write him much. In my mind, Nilmandra has his character completely covered, so your comment was a true compliment.

I'm glad you enjoyed and I hope you read some more when you have more airports to wait in. :-)(I know what you mean about that--when I taught, I traveled a lot for conferences and taking students overseas).

PS. I appreciate you telling me about your job, btw. It sounds very cool to me. No matter how frustrating parts of it might be, when you go to slepp at night, you have the undeniable satisfaction of knowing that you dedicated your day to doing your best to make a positive impact. Not many people can honestly say that. Brava to you! And I love how you wove your experiences into Many Fruitless Victories and A Chance Meeting--especially the Live 8 thing with the water bottles. My husband and I both got a kick out of that. Too true!

Jay of LasgalenReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 9/18/2004
Mmm ... that was very nice. Very restrained, very chaste, very discreet. Nothing too graphic (though there's nothing wrong with graphic!) or detailed. Thank you, Elliska.


Jay

Author Reply: Thanks Jay. Glad you liked it. It is discreet because I know I am just not a good enough writer to write a good, tense, graphic scene and because, as silly as it sounds, even if I could write it, I would feel bad describing their wedding night any more graphically than that. It's their wedding night! A little respect, please! :) I do like a good, well written scene of this type and there are some out there. :) Thank you for the reviews!

French PonyReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 9/18/2004
Nicely written, although I must confess that I find sex scenes as a species kind of dull. I think the story would have worked just as well without it as with it. But if there is going to be a sex scene, better that it be tasteful, and this was definitely tasteful. The other problem is that, once you mentioned Thranduil hearing Lindomiel's song inside him, I started to get this paranoid feeling that I would be required to write something about it for my Gender and Music class. But that's entirely due to a lively discussion of a particularly spicy scene in Caccini's Liberation of Ruggiero that we had in class on Friday.

At the moment I'm at work and listening to a CD of Custer LaRue singing Anglo ballads, which she does superbly well. It makes a nice soundtrack when one is reading romance.

Author Reply: Thank you. Generally speaking, I agree with you. Most of these types of scenes don't interest me because they are graphic and that is all. I certainly intended for the story to stand without this chapter because I know many people would not even consider reading this content and I respect that. I'm glad you thought this was tasteful. I intended for it to be to comply with the guidelines on this site.

Enjoy the musical interlude you are having. Sounds like you take some interesting classes.

Thanks for the reviews!

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 9/18/2004
This was lovely. I am so happy to see the newlyweds be rewarded at last. Let them enjoy themselves while they can.

Author Reply: Thank you. I find that stuff amazingly hard to write. Exactly--let them enjoy themselves. Life in Mirkwood is a challenge, I think. Thanks so much for the reviews!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 9/18/2004
End of part one. To be continued.

What an excellent point to conclude. Thranduil and Lindomiel appear to be having a pleasant evening. Let's leave them to go on with getting acquainted!

Good story. Looking forward to part two.

Author Reply: :) Yes, they seem happy and it is time to give them some privacy :) . Thank you so much for the reviews! Part two will start soon. I hope you like it.

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