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Tide of Destiny - Part One: Choices  by Lady Bluejay 7 Review(s)
EluthaunReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/16/2008
What a fantastic opening!
In particular I felt the part featuring the young Eomer was very moving!
The characters in your keeping spring to life, little guestures in the choice of words, and the tone. I felt I could perceive the deeper feelings and motives of the characters without you having to explicitly write them out word for word.
I will certainly be reading on!
Can't wait!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/10/2007
Between the orcs and the scuzzy prince, I think the prince is worse. At least the orcs are just barely above beasts and behaving according to character. The 'sophisticated' tastes of the highly civilised scuzzball, however - he has no excuse.

Beautifully atmospheric start! And I love Eomer's youth and trust! I hope Bergit's fiance doesn't turn away from her and force the youngster into attempting to thrash him.

I hope Lothiriel is planning on telling her father what happened on her outing and just why the sight of the prince turns her stomach.

Author Reply: Oh - the Prince is evil - makes for a good story. Eomer however, is always apealing.

And Lothiriel can't face telling her father which gets her into all sorts of more trouble.

Thanks for reviewing. LBJ

InglorReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/6/2007
I recognized the first part of the chapter with the Haradrim, but not the Rohirrim. You get a Mark Twain award for the end of the chapter: saying so much in so small a space. Brilliant.

The descriptions of the carnage was perfect, gross enough to get the point across without being nauseating.

You definitely have a lot of skill getting the reader inside the character.

More of the same good stuff that keeps me reading.

Author Reply: Hi Inglor,

Yes, the Rohirrim story is new. In the original story Eomer had some issues in his past that I slightly alluded to. I have changed them somewhat and developed then into a complete story, running alongside Lothiriel's.
Two in one until they eventualy meet and their stories join up!

Thanks for reviewing. LBJ

PryderiReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/5/2007
I have been looking forward to your promised epic and this is an auspicious start. I enjoyed both scenes but I found the adolescent boy's response to violent war particularly moving. The little girl is naughty but that is no bad thing. I hope (and expect) that her frightening experience has not cured her of it permanently!
The character you portrayed particularly well, I thought, was Elfhelm. I have come to admire him since reading The Battles of the Fords of Isen in Unfinished Tales. You portray the man I admire who does not die heroically with all his men. He survives heroically with as many men as possible. John Garth in his excellent book Tolkien and the Great War describes how officers as young as 18, much younger than Tolkien, were promoted to senior ranks partly because they held thir own lives cheap and held their men's lives no dearer. I think Tolkien was making a point with Elfhelm and that your portrayal of him chimes nicely. Thank you.
Two points that the spell check may have missed: Surely Imrahil bowed his head imperceptibly? I think you may not have intended "imperceptivity" here. I was also slightly baffled by your sentence "The horseman galloped in pairs". I have tried it in front of the mirror and have only found it possible when drunk.
Well thanks for starting this. I may not review every chapter but I can assure you that I will be reading them.
Pryderi.


Author Reply: Hi Pryderi,

Thanks for your comprehensive review. It is very much appreciated.

I am glad you like my Elfhelm; I have always portrayed him like this. It is just how I see him, so I am glad you do, too.

Lothíriel will have her wings clipped a bit but eventually her adventurous nature will get her into more trouble. However somewhere along the line she will grow up and choose her path.

Thanks for the typos. I have changed them. I am always grateful for eagle eyes as spotting mistakes in ones own work is difficult.

Thanks, LBJ

PryderiReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/5/2007
I have been looking forward to your promised epic and this is an auspicious start. I enjoyed both scenes but I found the adolescent boy's response to violent war particularly moving. The little girl is naughty but that is no bad thing. I hope (and expect) that her frightening experience has not cured her of it permanently!
The character you portrayed particularly well, I thought, was Elfhelm. I have come to admire him since reading The Battles of the Fords of Isen in Unfinished Tales. You portray the man I admire who does not die heroically with all his men. He survives heroically with as many men as possible. John Garth in his excellent book Tolkien and the Great War describes how officers as young as 18, much younger than Tolkien, were promoted to senior ranks partly because they held thir own lives cheap and held their men's lives no dearer. I think Tolkien was making a point with Elfhelm and that your portrayal of him chimes nicely. Thank you.
Two points that the spell check may have missed: Surely Imrahil bowed his head imperceptibly? I think you may not have intended "imperceptivity" here. I was also slightly baffled by your sentence "The horseman galloped in pairs". I have tried it in front of the mirror and have only found it possible when drunk.
Well thanks for starting this. I may not review every chapter but I can assure you that I will be reading them.
Pryderi.

cassoReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/4/2007
Hooray Hooray!! Another Eomer story from my favorite Eomer writer. What a great start. I thinks a certain young princess might have to stop roaming around bareback on a pony in a cotton shift before she's too much older. She should upgrade to something a little faster, maybe one of her brothers has a used war horse?

I liked that Eomer realised that perhaps he's not quite up to an orcs weight yet. A few more years though and look out.

As usual, I can't wait for Eomer to meet his future bride. Hope its full of fireworks.

Ok, so now I've reviewed, next chapter/s please.

Author Reply: A special horse will arrive for our Lothy, but until then she borrows one. But farther down the line she gets to ride a few warhorses!

Fireworks? They happen before the lovers meet. By then they are just grateful for a peaceful life!

Thanks for reviewing. It helps to know readers are enjoying my stories. LBJ

Alison HReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/4/2007
My, Lady Bluejay, that was a very powerful opening to what apperas to be an epic story.I enjoyed both of your tales from Lothiriel and Eomer's POV and they were each very gripping and well paced.

Lothiriel, at nine years of age, is already a firecracker and Imrahil will have to rein in her adventurous spirit...but the encounter with the Haradrim may yet act as a catalyst to her future behaviour.I'm sure she will cling to her brothers and father more closely now.I know that girls as young as Lothiriel were groomed for marriage but the idea still gives me the creeps!

It was good to see Eomer's compassionate nature aligned with his urge to seek revenge for the death of his parents.He is hot-headed but must follow orders from his elders for a few more years yet.He has much to learn but he has experienced men around him.

I really enjoyed this first chapter, LBJ.Looking forward to the next update!

Ali.


Author Reply: Thank you for reviewing, Alison. It is very much appreciated.

You are right, Lothiriel clings to her family for the next couple of years before becoming more confident again.

Eomer does learn quickly and soon starts to show the leadership qualities we know he is capable of. LBJ

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