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Lady Love an Outlaw - Parts 1 through 4  by Chathol-linn 7 Review(s)
LindorienReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/10/2004
This is a really good character study of the, um...characters! Gosh, that sounds lame. Anyway, probably the best I've seen so far of how Grima gets enticed to the dark side. Pleasant story-telling style also. Excellent pacing.

An aside: I tried to post this over at TFF, but the system wouldn't take it. Hopefully, it is not now crashing around Mike's ears as I type. Technology and I were not made to co-exist peacefully. Lindorien

Author Reply: Hey, Lindorien. Great to hear from you. "Lady Love an Outlaw" is actually the end part of a trilogy that tells how Saruman manipulated
2 families (Grima's, Theoden's) for 3 generations to place an agent near the throne of Rohan. I spent a lot of time thinking about Grima and Saruman in this context. So especially thanks for commenting on the characterization. Regards - Chathol-linn

Chathol-linnReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/19/2004
Hello. I originally published this story in 4 parts, like a serial. So the parts appear on other pages, separately, in Stories of Arda. In March 2004 I suffered an attack of re-write fever and revised the 4 chapters to add missing detail on dreams, horses, and fighting. Then I put them all together here, under the original Part 1, Deceit and Danger. For those of you who read the original chapters and especially those who commented so favorably, thank you very much. The major story elements are unchanged. Regards - Chathol-linn

NiharReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/8/2003
I really liked it. I like it how you humanized Wormtongue. Showed people that he had a human side. I can't wait for the 2nd piece.

Nihar

ChiggerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/1/2003
I'm glad I'm finding this after most of it, is already up, or I would be very impatient. So far it's very, very good and it has me hooked like a fish, so you had better hurry up and post the last quarter before I catch up with you.

NilmandraReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/26/2003
I like the view you give of Grima, of how Saruman turned him to his purpose. Most like to make Grima inherently evil, yet most are not that way. Somehow they allow themselves to be led to that point, or a choice is made to cross the line. Most of us, if we are honest, should be glad never to be in such a position (whether by chance or choice) or we might be saying 'there, but for the grace of God, go I'.

So Grima has crossed the line - and Eomer is now the target?

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/25/2003
'a fire start to burn in his lonely, divided heart: the anger of the clever who has been cleverly duped" -- that's wonderful line for a number of reasons, starting with the sympathy for Grima in that word "lonely."

This whole story felt very real to me. Eomer and Theodred came alive in very few words. I think it was the dialogue, but it could also have been the nice detail.

LevadeReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/25/2003
I don't think I'm really qualified to comment on Rohan or the Rohirrim as I know little of them, but I am enjoying this story. The idea that Grima had a choice and chose the easy way is good. I liked the scene where his mother's spirit comes to him and he still continues on his path. The roads before us that we choose....

Looking forward to more. :)

Regards,
Levade

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