Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

By Choice or By Blood  by Ellie 4 Review(s)
Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/26/2009
You capture the horror well.... I had not thought of what might have happened to the 'innocent' who happened to be in the city at the time....

Excellent writing. I have not read your tales before, but will put you on my fav author's list and hopefully get a chance to peruse your other offerings!

Author Reply: I think the innocents are often overlooked in the first Kinslaying because Tolkien focused so much on the Noldor and their role in it.

Thank you very much and the fav list addition :-) I'm glad you enjoyed the story so far and I hope you like the others of mine that you read

RedheredhReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/25/2009
Ellie, I do so enjoy your romantic writing style. The language is artful. I love reading your Finarfin stories for the settings and also the situations.

A couple of things that stood out for me were his abrupt doubt about the power of the Valar and his feelings of dread over the death of one of Earwen's brothers.

Concerning the first point, he believes he can prevent his brothers' from could killing each other. The Valar should be able to keep elves from killing elves. I like that Earwen is the one to perpetrate a glimmer of doubt in the power of intervention. In the end, he cannot stop his brothers' quarrel, which is halted not by him but banishment by a higher power. Now, the Valar are as helpless as he to prevent mad murder. The higher power is as helpless to interfere as he.

On the second point, it says in the Silm that Finarfin was friends with the sons of Olwe, and that is a reason he came to visit Alqualonde frequently, learning the language and wedding their sister. Too many people ignore this little bit of background. But, you used it very well!

What a dramatic scenario and a very *nice* cliffhanger!


Author Reply: I'm glad you enjoy my romantic writing style. I have fun writing romantic scenes :-)

The first point you made about interevention and the Valar will figure again in the second chapter. There was so much turmoil for Finarfin to have to come to terms with.

This story really made me explore the motivations of Finarfin and his attraction to the Telerin lifestyle. I can't comment too much more because much of what I want to say is brought out in chapter 2.

I'm pleased you like the drama and the cliffy:-)

Thanks for reading and reviewing!

AiwenReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/24/2009
Rather a cliffhanger you have left us with. Will there be a sequel?

Author Reply: There is another chapter to be posted in a day or two. I like cliffhangers, personally- unless I'm the reader :-)

Thanks for reading and reviewing!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/24/2009
Unfortunately, grief can be such a destructive force, as it has been here on both sides. I can so appreciate the shock and fatalism Finarfin displays, and his horror at what has been wrought and lost on all sides. And the final question must tear deeply at him!

Well done.

Author Reply: No one was prepared for the horrors of the first kinslaying. It had to have been especially horrible for those with close ties to the Teleri.

I'm glad you liked it! Thank you for reading and reviewing!

Return to Chapter List